Father Ted: that money is just resting in our account! The Transfer Thread

Song gets grilled for his attacking running, not his attacking passing.

It is his going out of position that gets him in trouble, and rightly so.

The point is, if Denilson is going to need to stay back, to cover because we don't trust the defensive midfielder, then he would be far more useful if he could actually launch positive attacks from that position.

For most players in his position across the world, who have passing responsibility, but don't have the freedom or license to get forward because of their responsibilities to defending and shape retention, the long pass from deep positions is their primary weapon.

 

Then he was displaced by Ramsey and now Wilshere.

 

It wasn't meant to be a lecture, but if you learned something, great.

What really is sophomoric nonsense is the same tired argument about the legth and direction of his passes. It's so irrelevant. He's just keeping possession be it by passing forward, to the side or to the fullbacks. It does show a lack of understanding.

 

yeah, the pass forward thing is a dumb argument. People said the same thing about Gilberto.

 

That's not true. Alonso has it, and it's this quality that is always brought up when people talk about how good he is. Carrick does it, but he loses possession a lot with it, so I don't see it as a weapon at all. Sergio doesn't do it. Lucas doesn't. Their mahor job is to keep the ball and distribute, and that doesn't mean passing forward all the time.

 

and it was one of the excuses RM used for letting Makelele go.

 

There is more that can be done with the position - as seen when others play in the same spot.

 

Well, he got injured then rightly replaced by others. But it's besides the point. My point was that the idea of him being a starter can't be laughable if he already has done it.

 

Busquets doesn't play anything close to the same role. He has no Song next to him. He plays very deep, including as the deepest defender when Puyol and Pique spread wide.

Carrick loses possession sometimes, but when he is on form also creates more dangerous chances.

And is Lucas a good anything to be an example of how a position should be played?

It certainly doesn't require a player to play the ball forward all of the time, but the position requires the player to be able to, with success, when the option is open. You can move around, be available, hold the position, and still take the good option downfield when it is available. It doesn't mean launching it every time or even every third time you touch the ball. But it means the ability to take advantage of a dangerous position when you can.

 

as opposed to the job of giving the ball away?
its like praising him for breathing. its expected that every player keeps plays alive.

 

It might not be laughable when the only alternative to Denilson was a Diaby who is often ruining our game with his bad passes, but this season we have Wilshere who could do all the "keep plays/possession alive" that Denilson does and much more. In any case shall we return back to the discussion about Holden? I agree that it's LOLworthy to claim that he's good enough to be a starter for us. Not a single Bolton player is good enough to get into our team and they are doing well because Coyle has so far been a very good manager, not because their players are good.

 

I agree to an extent... Coyle is a good manager, but they have a manager that believes they can play football, which Bolton did not have in the past

 

No, it's not. Th holder has to be an outlet - to be the easy way out for players in a bind. He also has to switch the point of attack and to get others involved. Cesc's job no longer is to keep possession. He can lose the ball over and over again trying to unlock the defense, and while it can be frustrating, most people understand. Wingers are supposed to attack the defenders, to take on players from time to time, and to try to exploit space between and behind the back four. Again, they are expected to lose possession from time to time trying to unlock the defnse. Strikers' job is to score goals. The job of the holding player is to keep and distribute the ball. So yes, we hope all of our players keep possession, but not all of them have this requirement as an essential part of their role.

 

I'm not arguing that we should play Denilson. I'm merely talking about the role itself...a role that I've said many times I dislike.

 

Rumours on Twitter of Wigan setting up a loan deal to take JET in Jan for the rest of the season...completely unfounded but Prem experience would be fantastic for him.

http://twitter.com/MrArsenalBlog/status/11474313798492161

 

This, to me at least, is shocking...

John Cross asking Arsene about Song's play high up the field,

....what? I can understand the logic but its at the expense of conceeding chance after counter chance

My head hurts, Goodnight.

 

it could happen, wouldnt be bad

altho "next few days"

dont think the transfer window is open... nor do I know who "MrArsenalblog" is

did you really think Song is playing high up against Arsene's wishes?

 

Yea the only thing that could happen in the next few days is an agreement obviously, like I said completely unfounded but a move id like to see

 

Partly yes, I dont have your insight. Frankly its a dumb tactic, which is the reason why the other part of me put it down to Song's indicipline.

 

all these tactic's have led us to the top of the league, so something must be working okay.

 

That and Chelsea is rubbish right now, which made it easier for us to recover lost points.

 

C'mon Phishy, you know what I mean...look at the points we have dropped this season, and the manner of some of the goals against us.

Looking at the table now we have 32pts from 16 played. At the same stage last year we were two games behind the rest on 14 played and 28pts gained. Hardly an improvment would you say?

Looking at Chelsea they are 6pts back with 16 played on where they were last Dec and Utd. are 2pts back with 15 played this year and last.

Im absolutely stoked that we are top of the league and not trying to complain about it but there has been no improvement from Arsenal in league form and I was just pointing out a big part of the reason I think why.

I still think some of Arsene's tactics are off.

 

The goals are conceded more because of our defenders than because of our midfield; in most of the goals conceded Clichy and Koscielny in particular could have and should have done better. Now that Djourou is replacing Koscielny for the next few matches you'll see how much better our defense can be, and it'll be even better when Verminator returns (and he'll return despite what some of you guys seem to think). With Denilson being replaced by Wilshere, Song finally has someone to share the defensive burden of the midfield with, so I don't see why he can't go forward more.

 

no i hear you scally.
something is odd with the way song is supposed to be our DM, yet is always leading the attack. he has popped up with the odd goal (west ham) though.

 

I don't know if it's because I've been watching old Arsenal videos but I'd really wish we still had Sol. I still think we could of used him and the way he celebrated goals and victories were brilliant.