It takes a real knowledge of the game to see what Hleb offers and it completely overshadows something as superficial as statistics. The man is a class player, no doubt about it. I want Nasri to succeed as much as anyone, but if you guys are gonna get on Hleb's case because of goals, then think about it a little more...Nasri doesn't have the greatest goal scoring resume either. All I'm saying is that if you think Nasri is gonna be the answer to all your secret Ronaldo man-crush dreams, then you might want to think again.
I hear you, I've been watching some depressing youtube and ifootball videos on Nasri, since I've never seen him play, and he's got very few goals in the clips and some very weak crosses after rather remarkable runs. I don't like to get an impression from highlights clips, but at this point, it's all that I've got.
watch Nasri play... he actually takes shots on goal... and had 6 last year (including a GOY candidate in his last match for OM)... you have Hleb who doesnt even try... he is willing to take a pop, which is good... and a lot of his stats came when he was a teenager... he is still growing... with Hleb, what you see is what you get... stats dont mean everything, but its ironic that we scored more without him, than with him... and won more without him he is a talented player, but a very flawed player...
I haven't seen much of Nasri either, but I have seen two facts repeatedly stated on this board: that he will score much more than Hleb, and that he's never scored many goals. Plus, I remember the same thing happening when Hleb came in. Excitement over goal clips, and warnings that we were nuts if we expected him to score. We see how that turned out.
He had the delicate touch of a surgeon, but the shooting prowess of the French Army. So long paddlepop Lion!
I respect everything you just said, but here's my thing... Every player has their flaws, a few aspects of their game that are not nearly at the same level as their strengths. It could be anything, in Hleb's case it's his eye for goal, but nearly everything else it top notch in my opinion...his control, playing mentality, passing, vision, dribbling...but why does he get so much grief? Because goals are the most elementary part of the game to appreciate, which why so many give him that grief...there's so much more to the game of football than that. It's very unfortunate that Hleb wanted to leave, with the addition of Vela and Nasri, if Hleb stuck around we would without a doubt have the best midfield in Europe in my opinion...now we still could, but the chance is slimmer, we're depending on a 21 year old to adapt quickly...it certainly could happen...I really hope it happens, but who knows.
Was his passing and vision REALLY that good? When did he ever play a ball in the air? Whats the excuse for his pathetically low assist totals? EDIT: Check this stat I stole from another forum Arsenal in the league With Hleb Without Hleb Win % 54% 60% Goals/game 1.70 1.86
So glad I bought a Hleb jersey last year. But anyway, I enjoyed watching Hleb and his crazy dancing feet. Although it pissed me off just as much as the next person that he didn't shoot, let alone score. I'll miss him, and I think he gave us more than most people see but still, he did give us a lot. And all I hope is that he left for what Arseblog reported awhile back that he got a bit freaked out when Eduardo broke his leg rather then just money like Ade. I can understand that a bit more, as he really does get beat in week in and week out. Not happy with how he worked the move, but still, played a large roll in our amazing early season this year!
This will be the last post I ever defend Hleb, because it's too tiring, very few agree with me. I'm tierd of fighting the world. There is more to the game than statistics (goals and assists). He may not have played a lot of finals balls, or scored a lot of goals, but the class he brings the field, to the attack, to the build up is impeccable. He sets people up to take the game over, he was absoloutely essential this past season. Look beyond the numbers, watch the game in depth, instead of watching the ball move around the field, watch the players, watch the movement, see how one second longer of holding onto the ball effects the out come of everything after, etc.
Good because you cant argue the fact that we have won a higher percentage of league games and scored more goals in games in which the cowardly lion diddnt play. http://sport.setanta.com/en/Sport/News/Football/2008/07/16/Opta-Feature-Hleb/
To me Hleb just started to come into his own this past season at times and I think he may well have progressed further if he had stuck around. It's too bad when someone like Hleb or Flamini leaves just as they are or have come into their own, but such the this era of mercenary football. He was great to watch the way he kept the ball at his feet and he did seem to plug in well this past season with Fabregas and company. Hleb's loss hurts, but is hardly cripping and I would expect that Arsenal aren't done in the transfer market this summer.
These things do tend to balance themselves out but it would be interesting to see which games (and how many) he did not play.
This really means nothing, the games without Hleb is only 9, so the two results against Derby (the worst team in Premier League history) are what shoot everything up. with Hleb: 18-9-2 29gms 63pts w/out Hleb: 6-2-1 9gms 20pts (includes both matches v.s. Derby: 5-0 and 6-2)
God I hate crap stats like this.... Here are the teams we played in the league without Hleb last season with their final league position: everton(5) toon (12) boro (13) wigan (14) sunderland (15) derby...played twice without Hleb (20; worst Prem performance ever) Of course the club scored more and had a higher win % against these teams. The breadman might not have developed like we'd have wished but leave the crap Setanta/Opta stats out of the discussion please.
Never been a Hleb fan but I tolerated him, he had his momments. But that ********ing barca badge kissing stunt ********ing kills me. Class player indeed. Take it from someone who watches ligue 1 week in and week out, Nasri is an improvement to our attacking prowness. Don't worry about Sami in front of goal. He scored almost as many goals last year for a Marseille side (that was trash for half the year), as Hleb did in his entire stint with the club. I can't say much for his crosses though, but he's not a winger and doesn't ever play like a winger. I'm glad he's gone, wont miss em.
Can't be bothered to be pissed off with him at the moment, this has been coming all summer and I think we are the beneficial party in all this. In time I will look back at Hleb as an ultimately unfulfilled potential...I don't see how such a shy kind of player will excel in Barcelona so I don't think he will ever be the player he's capable of becoming. Bye anyway.
those stats are from 3 years, and we know he was not only more effective last season, but that over those years a numerous amount of conditions could've lead us to win those games. In addition previous posters have pointed out that he missed out on mostly less difficult matches. I think that he's a wonderful player, and contributed hugely to the style and energy of this team last season; he will be missed. I'll be interested to see if nasri can play on the same level, and if he really can improve upon hleb's role with some goalscoring.
Amen. The larger, scarier issue though is that it's not just the window dressing that's heading out the door, it's guys who have a very high work rate...guys who now have experience at the 'sharp end' of the season. Very frustrating.
Don't let the door hit you on the way out, you whiny, can't hit the ocean from the beach, lying (I don't see Barca as any less hectic of a city) douch@bag!
I'd like to show him my appreciation....for finally going, the whining little two faced ice cream munching ********. Do you thing Barstardloner did what pet trainers do and put a little bit of Ice cream on the badge to get him to kiss it?