[FabregasTED]

It's been in my mind recently, but I think Tomas Rosicky's injury in the spring of 08 was a far bigger loss for us than Flamini or Eduardo at the end of that year, and watching what our attack has been able to to with him back in the fold over the last two matches has been astonishing. He's the perfect foil for Cesc, a one touch player that shows for the ball and makes intelligent runs, as well as a deadly accurate passer. People underrate how important he is for our side. He was our best attacker for some spell before he was injured, and once we reintroduce him we see how much better Cesc plays, and as I've said before, when Cesc's purring, we're insatiable.

I always thought that Rosicky was a far more important cog in our machine than people wanted to admit, mostly because he didn't score the goals that Pires did (the man Tom was brought in to replace) and because his first season here was in effect a transition year. It's alot to ask of a guy coming back from a nearly career-ending injury to be a vital piece of our chance to win the title, but you can see in just two starts how revelatory our attack has become.

I'd thought for some time (and even mentioned it here) that people overrated the loss of Flamini. It wasn't the lack of an explosive box to box presence that changed our fortunes at the end of the 2008 campaign, it was our inability to play to the strengths of our best players. Sure, Hleb played very well as the #10 in our 4-4-1-1 at the end of that season, but as a team we didn't perform as well as we probably should have, and I always felt he served us better playing from the outside, as he had a tendency to crowd out Cesc, the man who could truly be devastating.

The change in formation this year has allowed Cesc the freedom to dictate play, retain possession, and support going forward without compromising the stability of the midfield. Those who called for a direct Flamini replacement were, in my opinion, missing the point of what made the first half of the 07-08 campaign special. Last year we never had enough of the ball, with really only Nasri, van Persie, and Cesc (when fit) able to play the possession game with any effectiveness. With Rosicky, Arshavin, Cesc, and van Persie all in the side of late, possession and movement have been top class, and we once again look a world beating side. I've long said that this team required a more sitting midfielder rather than a marauder, and although Alex Song hasn't quite been that, it's his type of play that this side needed more than the rail-to-rail breathless running of Flamini.

Bottom line: a fit Rosicky is a huge asset to this new side, and I believe that what this team cried for was a holding presence, which Song (in combination with Denilson and and underrated Diaby, he's really been good in the midfield since Denilson was injured) has provided.

This thread can be open to all talk of tactics and formations, but these are the points I wanted to make to start. What say you?

[Silock]

I suppose it really doesn't matter if we can just outscore everyone, but our overall defense is still lacking something, and I think it starts in the midfield. The defense there still needs a little tweak. Maybe we can get there out of the 4-3-3. I hope so. But something is still off about it.

[DaPrince84]

yeah, in the 442, I really thought his injury was a far bigger issue because of Rosicky's movement and the fact that he and Clichy had a good repoire...


if he never got injured, I really believe we win the title that year

[Flyemirates2491]

I agree with most of what you're saying but the title is sort of a misnomer. This has a lot to do with Rosicky and very little to do with Flamini. Flamini was a great player for us, but the point to focus on should be that Rosicky has a huge impact on our squad, not that Flamini didn't.

[bmoregooner23]

so when Nasri returns, will he start in Diaby's place? and then Denilson would be a sub when he returns if everyone else is still healthy?

[FabregasTED]

Originally Posted by Flyemirates2491

I agree with most of what you're saying but the title is sort of a misnomer. This has a lot to do with Rosicky and very little to do with Flamini. Flamini was a great player for us, but the point to focus on should be that Rosicky has a huge impact on our squad, not that Flamini didn't.

Well yes the particular post I made is more about Rosicky, but I've felt for a long time that people here have put way too much stock in Flamini's departure as to why we faltered last year.

Plus, I thought it was a damn fine thread title and needed a topic for it to fit

[flyerhawk]

Originally Posted by bmoregooner23

so when Nasri returns, will he start in Diaby's place? and then Denilson would be a sub when he returns if everyone else is still healthy?

In the unlikely* event that we have all of our midfielders health at the same time I suspect you will see a lot of mix and match depending on the opponent. When a more defensive minded team is needed then I suspect you see a Denilson in there. When there is a full on attack lineup then Nasri with TR7, Cesc, AA, RVP, and Song.

* - I say unlikely because most teams have a midfielder or 2 nicked up at any given time and we are particularly susceptible to it given the style of players we have. While it would be wonderful if the guys I mentioned, as well as Gallas and Vermaelen, stayed healthy it isn't likely. Let's just hope Gallas and TV stay healthy. They are the key to the season.

[flyerhawk]

Originally Posted by FabregasTED

Well yes the particular post I made is more about Rosicky, but I've felt for a long time that people here have put way too much stock in Flamini's departure as to why we faltered last year.

Plus, I thought it was a damn fine thread title and needed a topic for it to fit

Lots of reasons we faltered but the main reason was key injuries to the wrong players and fielding a grab bag of defensive players.

[Silva 5]

The reason we did so well in 07/08 was not solely because of Flamini, Rosicky or Eduardo. We did very well because we had a prefect balance within the squad that we were unable to attain as the season ran on for various reasons.

The losses of both Eduardo and Rosicky were the major blows, however. Which one was more significant? I don't know and I'm not convinced one way or the other, but I think the phycological blow at Birmingham may have pushed us over the edge.

[thebigman]

rosicky getting injured and eduardos leg break just hit the team too hard

we looked great untill the birmingham game and it went up the shitter

rosicky and hleb are 2 very underrated players because they offered defensive stability and an attacking threat from multiple angles on the pitch