Default Reserves: West Ham United v Arsenal [R] http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?...s:+West+Ham+United+0-5+Arsenal+-+Match+report A good one for the American kids...Simek and Karbassiyoon both score. WEST HAM UNITED 0 Laws sent off 52 ARSENAL 5 Quincy 43, Simek 51, Karbassiyoon 64 Spicer 71, Lupoli 84 Danny also setup Spicers goal.
How old is Karby? Simek turns 20 this October, and although there is much lamenting of him 'wasting away'..really if he can get a good loan deal- a la Cooper- after first of next year, or beginning of next season...he'll still be on a pretty good career path. Can't see how he makes it in Central Defense giving new-world realities (he's short for a CB- even the article mentions), but outside back or defensive mid would seem great possibilities. And, no, I don't want to participate in another discussion about how height doesn't matter in central defense...it does now as far as I'm concern (IF you want to be selected, that is). Rightly or wrongly. So nice to have these type kids rising in the ranks...the more, the merrier...the more, and one/two/three are going to break thru in a stud-like fashion..
Danny went over as a striker but he's been playing as a left back, which means he's got his work cut out for him to unseat Ash Cole and Gael Clichy.
Let's discuss height... Sorry if you've answered this before but why would Arsenal develop him as a central defender if he is better suited for outside back or d-mid? Not that Arsenal is the last word in youth development but they are far from Podunk SC. Perhaps he'll never crack the Arsenal starting XI but if they wanted to get some sort of value out of him wouldn't they try to maximize his potential? Just asking...
Well, until otherwise proven, I think Simek is the classic AAA baseball player type..good enough to play a strong role at that level..but not necessarily at the next level. If there was true conviction (by Arsenal), he'd be in 1st team NOW IMO. This is not to say he can't make it. Some players are late bloomers. Funny to say that 20 is late blooming, but nowadays it kindof is (the real prodigies are first-teamers in their teens for the most part) I think Arsenal is still figuring out what to do w/him at the next level. I think we will know the answer in next year. Whoever gets him on loan, let's see what they do (I don't see anyway that Frankie breaks into Arsenal lineup a la Spector)..
teens tend to get a shot as forwards and to a lesser extent in the midfield (especially attacking midfield spots), where talent is more a key than responsibility / maturity. young forward loses his positioning and you lose a goal scoring opportunity, defender does it and you give up a goal. really makes spector's success quite impressive, but a 20-year old defender has some time left for seasoning, before not gaining a first team place (especially at arsenal) is troubling
At 20, I think this is a bit aggressive but thanks for letting me drag you back in to the discussion.
Believe me, I looked at that sentence a bit before typing it...but if you think about the near-term trend (last 5 years)...there are many, many examples of 17-19 year olds considered "superstuds" playing in 1st team for an extended run- a la Spector, or Reyes, or the other Arsenal guy (Spain) or Ronaldo, or Rooney or Owen (etc)...Frankie is obviously NOT considered at that level (talent-wise), but doesn't mean he can't wind up there (you take the high road/me, low road) IMHO...
There is one defender on that list. He's not a regular starter, yet, either. Name 5 defenders that start on world class teams at 21 or younger. If it's so bad to be the captain of the reserves for the best team in the world, I would think there would be plenty of examples of young defenders starting for great teams.
By no means am I slagging on Frankie.....he's accomplished a lot I just saying as far as Arsenal is concerned, its hard to see the fit at the moment, and time is a wastin'.. He probably needs that loan in next 6-9 months, but it likely isn't going to be starting Premiership (so you are talking proving oneself over again for a couple years at least)... There are many roads......he's just on a different one.
Your post made it sound like you thought that it was a bad indicator of his ability to play at a high level that he's not starting for a top, or near top, team. I agree that a loan would be nice.
How many games have people here seen either of these guys play recently? From what people have seen what is your judgment on how good either of these guys could be or how good are they already? I'm asking this because I have not seen either of them play. I would like to know if the analysis of their situations is based off people actually seeing them play or just conjecture and second hand information. If someone has a good source like a website or Arsenal message board that has info on their potential and ability that would be cool. Kind of like the redcafe/articles on Spector.
There are folks on the Arsenal boards here that regularly (or at least frequently) attend reserve matches and have commented on Karby and Simek's progress in the past.
Either of these gentleman have any chance of being loaned out though? I don't follow Arsenal, so I have no idea. Maybe MLS could step in for a loan spell if nothing comes of any loan talk.