Centre-half!

[DoctorK]

Gallas (hamstring) and Silverstre (thigh) out for three weeks. :eek: Perhaps Toure will stay?

Could we recall Senderos? Should we?

[DaPrince84]

this will be merged soon...

but Sendeross cant be recalled, I believe...

[DoctorK]

Given Toure's recent transfer request, I think we've a special problem at the position (arguably our weak spot with all hands on deck).

Wouldn't mind this being merged with something else but given the breaking news I didn't see another thread that I thought appropriate. :o

[deaner1971]

So, if Toure is healthy our starting CBs are Toure/Djourou and if not, Song/Djourou...

Yeah, given that neither Gallas nor Silvestre is getting any younger (and such injuries should be expected no less ferquently), this is not good.

Especially as we will have a "3 games in 7 days" period in the time they are out (including our away in the FA Cup).

[Silva 5]

Toure starts on sat. Plays like the Toure we all love and in some cases "loved". Wins his first team place back. Djourou plays out of his skin, Gallas stays on the bench even after he has recovered. All is right with the world.

EDIT

And then signs a new contract keeping him here for another 4 seasons.

[jimcarp]

I think we should shell out money for Giorgio Chiellini from Juventus. We could make this our record January. 18 million pounds for Arshavin and 12 million pounds for Chiellini. That should work for us.

[Just Blaze]

I will make myself available for selection.

Problem: SOLVED.

[voltman]

I will make myself available for selection.

Problem: SOLVED.

Aren't you being linked with Manchester City though?

[Just Blaze]

Aren't you being linked with Manchester City though?

They can't afford my wages. Arsenal gets a 95% discount.

[juanca]

I think our CB depth must be looked at this summer.

Toure, 27, according to Wiki signed a 4 year deal running up to about 2010. Seems like an Arsenal man through and through, despite the transfer request issue, and i hope he signs one more Contract with AFC. He once was called the African Cannavaro and i feel his best years are still to come.

Gallas, 31, according to Wiki, his contract ends 2010. Now, defenders generally get better with age, but considering all the Issues and Little problems around Gallas, its hard to see the Club offering him a new contract IMO after his ends.

Djorou, 21, IIRC Arsenal.com had a report a few months back where he penned a new "long term contract" . At 6"4 and with his ability, he certainly seems to be a CB who will be at the club for many years to come.

Silvestre, Honestly, i wont bother saying much. Hes a United reject, we took on the cheap to offer some sort of experience and cover along the back line. Simply a stop gap, on a 2 year contract IIRC.

Senderos. Technically, he is under contract at AFC for this season and the next. I dont think he'll play again, but i could be wrong.



I feel that Gallas will go in the Summer. Its probably the best thing for both club & player.

I also think senderos is going as i said above.
So that leaves us with toure, djorou, and silvestre as our 3 CB's with Song and maybe even Sagna as an emergency CB.

Im sure maybe Nortdveit, or bartley if they impress might get a look in.

[CommonSense]

I know Toure's had some real rough patches this season, but I have confidence he'll come good. I really think the arm-band will help, I loved watching him speak to the boys before the Bolton match. He seemed really fired up.

Djourou is going to be a good one.

I've tired of Gallas, and if we really did table a 5 million bid for Diakite (who has a huge upside), I'd not mind at all selling him to AC Milan for 3 or 4 and adding that onto a renewed Diakite bid. That said, no way should we meet Lazio's 10 million evaluation.

All the previous in entirely based on The Sun's speculation. :rolleyes:

I think Prince is right, and it's a 1 year loan....

I wont be bummed if we do nothing at the back, I think a good defensive minded CM is the key to shoring up our defensive problems.

[juanca]

If we dont strengthen the defense, i wont be bummed either.

i wasnt too clear i guess, but my point was-

The only CB we have tied down on a long term deal and who is young, talented, is JD.

Toure, who is our Senior CB, has i think 18 months left on contract. Is it a certainty that he'll resign, heck, AFC might not even offer him a new contract, who knows these days.

Gallas is nearing the end of his arsenal career.
Silvestre for me doesnt factor , neither does senderos.

The CB position needs looking at, maybe not immediately, but very, very soon.

[Shen-O]

I really think it will take a lot more than that 12 million someone mentioned for Chiellini. He's Juve next hardman for years to come, we'll have to throw some real cash at them for them to sell.

Bring back Senderos!

[tpjkevin]

Chellini - Toure combination might be what we need.. a mix of athleticism and positioning.

[railhawksfan]

Senderos and Djourou are our future. They are both very solid but lack experience. Last time I checked, we have not been blown away by anyone in a long time. We have trouble closing out games but that to me is because our more experienced CBs are getting gassed with 10 minutes or so to go every half.

I'd rather hedge on the future and give these guys a chance to develop. Senderos is learning to play defense in arguably the world's best defensive league and is being tutored by none else than Maldini.

[tpjkevin]

I'd rather hedge on the future and give these guys a chance to develop. Senderos is learning to play defense in arguably the world's best defensive league and is being tutored by none else than Maldini.

You have an interesting point..

[yossarian]

I'd rather hedge on the future and give these guys a chance to develop. Senderos is learning to play defense in arguably the world's best defensive league and is being tutored by none else than Maldini.

But is he really? I was under the impression that he was not getting much playing time at all. Is that incorrect?

[juanca]

But is he really? I was under the impression that he was not getting much playing time at all. Is that incorrect?

From what i've gathered, he isn't playing bar a few appearances here and there.

IIRC, in his last match, the own Milan fans were chanting "Go back to Arsenal".

I think its fair to say that his future is up in the air IMO.

he's under contract with us, and i dont *Think* Milan will make his move permanent.
So maybe we're hoping that training next to maldini & nesta will have sorted him out, and he can return and go on to feature for us again?

Because lets not all forget, that senderos had HUGE potential with us, i think he captained the side during last years pre-season warmup, and he was collosal during the CL final run.

[railhawksfan]

He is not getting much time at Milan but neither are a lot of big name players like Shevchenko and Inzagi to name a couple. The point is, he is training with some very talented defenders. I liked the way Djorou played to day at Hull. He was aggressive and poised versus Kolo who looked slow and heavy footed. I think Senderos will be fine once he is back.

[yossarian]

He is not getting much time at Milan but neither are a lot of big name players like Shevchenko and Inzagi to name a couple. The point is, he is training with some very talented defenders. I liked the way Djorou played to day at Hull. He was aggressive and poised versus Kolo who looked slow and heavy footed. I think Senderos will be fine once he is back.

But I don't care about Shevchenko or Pippo. I care about our player, so the reasons he's not playing much don't matter to me. And sure, training with top notch players is great....but it's not anywhere near the same as match play. If he's not getting much time in matches, he won't improve nearly as much as he would otherwise.