an interesting read

[goonerwood]

http://www.arsenalvision.co.uk/articles ... icleid=983

i think i agree with 99% of what is said here

[DB10GOONER]

"2. Arsenal players have no quality

This one is related to Myth 4. Here are the facts: Here is Arsenal's line up with all players fit.


Almunia
Sagna Toure Gallas Clichy
Rosicky Denilson Fabregas Nasri
Adebayor Van Persie

Bench: Walcott, Eduardo, Silvestre, Fabianski, Djourou, Diaby, Vela

If that's not a quality side, I want to see one."

Huh? Denilson? Almunia? Quality?
Rose tinted in the extreme...

Adebayor? Has grown lazy and has the THBW14 "strop" about him. Misses waaaay too many chances.

Gallas & Toure? Both poor for the last 2 seasons.

Rosicky? Who? Never seen him...

Van Persie? Ditto...

Nasri? Too early to tell. Has failed to impress but it's his first season, I'll hang judgement until end of next season.

[g88ner]

Interesting read, but as DB says.... rose tinted to the extreme!

The article is too long to analyse properly, so I'll pick up on his final points....

In the final analysis, everything that has made Wenger great is still in action.

He works harder than ever.

He does work hard. Although, perhaps if he employed a higher calibre of staff, he wouldn't have to!

It's become increasingly clear over Wenger's reign that he doesn't know how to TEACH DEFENDING!
- so why not bring in someone who can?? we've conceded 23 goals in 20 games, and overall in 2008, we've conceded 39 in 38 league games!

That's a shocking stat and DESPERATELY NEEDS addressing!

He knows better than ever about football.

As I mentioned above, he clearly doesn't know enough about defence!

Arsenal's football is still effective.

Our football isn't as effective as our rivals, and the stats show that...

We've WON LESS than ManUre, Chelsea and Liverpool (and Villa!)
We've SCORED LESS than Chelsea, Liverpool and Man City (same as Villa)
We've CONCEDED MORE than Chelsea, Liverpool, ManUre and Villa.
We've LOST MORE than ManUre, Liverpool, Chelsea and Villa (same as Fulham! )

He is still a brilliant man manager.

Really? then why do we only raise ourselves for the glamour games???

Surely his failure to get them "up" for teams likes Hull, Sunderland, etc. is the REAL test of his man management.

He is still a man of deep character.

I have a lot of respect for Wenger, his principles, and the way he's run our club

He is still a brilliant manager of the team's operations and organisation.

Wenger has transformed our club to what it is today, and we'll be reaping the benefits of his superb management for years to come.

The guy is a true Arsenal LEGEND

He is still a winner.

Sadly, 4 years without a trophy suggests that's not the case.

To me, anyone who wants to throw away the best Manager in the world, doesn't want the best for Arsenal. Pure and simple.

Maybe. I'm in the PRO-WENGER camp at the moment, but I'm not going to say he's irreplaceable because if 2008 is anything to go by, then if Wenger left, we wouldn't be missing much!

That said, I'm still behind Wenger and hope he can lead us to glory once more

And yes, Arsene Knows. And I am a Brigadier for that cause

I would never have guessed!

[QuartzGooner]

The original article states:

"Arsenal players have no quality" is a myth because here is Arsenal's line up with all players fit.


Almunia
Sagna Toure Gallas Clichy
Rosicky Denilson Fabregas Nasri
Adebayor Van Persie

Bench: Walcott, Eduardo, Silvestre, Fabianski, Djourou, Diaby, Vela

As G88ner says, it is a long article and G88ner answers the key points well and similarly to my thoughts.

As DB10Gooner has written about the team much the same as I would too, I won't add much, but what I will add is:

Quality individuals do not always make a balanced first eleven.


A) Gallas and Toure?

Two short "Second Ball" centre backs do not work well as a partnership.


B) Cesc and Denilson is not a proper central midfild partnership.

It means two shortish, medium paced, creative midfielders.

It does not offer a conventional, tried and trusted partnership of a creative player plus a midfield enforcer, as we had when Flamini partnered Cesc.

Neither does it offer two "strong in the tackle" players, both of whom could bring the ball forward well and pass well, as we had with Petit and Vieira.

Nor does it give us Gilberto and Vieira, a partnership where Gilbert sat deep and held the team shape, so Vieira could push further forward.


C) Adebayor and Van Persie have no natural understanding.

There is no defined role when they play, neither knows if the other or himself is supposed to be playing deeper as a number 10 or pushed forward as a goal getter.

Even Wenger himself has said that pairing only produces goals because of their individual skills, rather than any understanding!

[Meds]

Agree with what you say guys:

Denilson as DM,WTF???????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Toure and gallas cant play together
Ade and V.persie dont get on

[donaldo]

"2. Arsenal players have no quality

This one is related to Myth 4. Here are the facts: Here is Arsenal's line up with all players fit.


Almunia
Sagna Toure Gallas Clichy
Rosicky Denilson Fabregas Nasri
Adebayor Van Persie

Bench: Walcott, Eduardo, Silvestre, Fabianski, Djourou, Diaby, Vela

If that's not a quality side, I want to see one."

.

Out of that starting line up only 3 of the players would get into the other top 3 teams.Sagna Clichy and Cesc
Toure?????? dont make me laugh he has been crap since the ANC
Denilson average.Holding midfielder thats got to be a joke
Rosicknote does anyone really think he will ever play again? he hasnt kicked a ball in a year
Adebayor has his money and doesnt give two fuck.He is a lazy player now

[Wayno]

Too much reading for me, anyone got a picture version

[goonerwood]

i don't really see what almunia has done wrong this season. he's made some quality saves. ok there was that bentley goal but 9/10 a shot like that would never go in. it would be harsh to blame him solely for that goal.

[Robsy]

i don't really see what almunia has done wrong this season. he's made some quality saves. ok there was that bentley goal but 9/10 a shot like that would never go in. it would be harsh to blame him solely for that goal.

Being a keeper isn't just about shot stopping, although that is crucial!

The problem with Almunia is his complete inability to organise the defence infront of him, coupled with an ability to let in stupid goals.

Personally I think the problems we have in the defenders stems from Almunia.

He is not World Class and if we want to remain at the very top that is what we need.

[tomkingsbury]

im not sure what everyone's beef is with denilson, he has great vision and a passing range whihc is envious - sure he is a little easy to get off the ball, but he is young. ilike him and rate him, but he cant expect to develop unless he has an older head next to him in midfield, and one that cancertainly defend!! like so many of our youngsters, he needs a season on loan to develop!!

on paper, that squad does look good, but in practice it just doesnt work

[QuartzGooner]

i don't really see what almunia has done wrong this season. he's made some quality saves. ok there was that bentley goal but 9/10 a shot like that would never go in. it would be harsh to blame him solely for that goal.

Being a keeper isn't just about shot stopping, although that is crucial!

The problem with Almunia is his complete inability to organise the defence infront of him, coupled with an ability to let in stupid goals.

Personally I think the problems we have in the defenders stems from Almunia.

He is not World Class and if we want to remain at the very top that is what we need.

The problems with Almunia are as you say, his organisational ability.

Plus he is just not commanding enough in claiming the ball at set pieces.

I think he would be a very good second choice keeper, but as a first choice keeper he is Premiership level but not elite level.

I hesitate to blame the entire defensive woes on him though, as the centre backs themselves must take a share of that blame too.