As we're unlikely to see terraces again at football, this is the virtual equivalent where you can chat to your hearts content about all football matters and, obviously, Arsenal in particular. This forum encourages all Gooners to visit and contribute so please keep it respectful, clean and topical.
mike wrote:Why on earth would we play Djourou in midfield when we've got what i think, is a perfectly good Defensive Midfielder in Kolo Toure playing at Centre Half?! Would we not be better off playing players in there natural positions where possible. I find it completely baffling that playing Toure as holding midfielder with Djourou replacing him at centre half has not been experimented with. Completely baffling.
There are a few reasons why not to play Toure in midfield.
I do agree that Djourou should be our long term centre back answer, and that Gallas and Toure is far from ideal as a centre back partnership.
But at the moment we are in terrible danger of finishing fifth, Song in midfield is a major part of our problems, and as Augie has said, Djourou has played central midfield for Switzerland before.
We discussed Toure in midfield at length on the interesting thread below, please check out what G88ner in particular said about it...Toure simply does not have the legs to play central midfield.
The one thing most of us agree on here is that Song never looks bothered. Now surely in the centre midfield one of you has to win the ball and one of you has to distribute it but Song always seems to be no where near the action. His positional sense is fucking awful and he never seems to bust a gut to get back. I was told by somebody thats his style he's laid back ! Bollocks to that this is the Premier League not Hackney Marshes.
I cant actually see what Wenger sees in him and Denilson as the pair of them cant pass , cant tackle , I did see Song win headers against Heskey when we did play Wigan! and they dont like to shoot as their sideways one-twos to each other on Saturday proved. We need a centre midfielder who gets stuck in , doesnt get out muscled , can pass and allow Cesc to play and I dont think the answer is Diaby either !
That's harsh on Denilson Gus, at least he looks like he gives a toss and puts in some effort.
I sat there on Saturday and saw Song look as clumsy and as uncoordinated as anyone I've ever seen in an Arsenal shirt and kept asking myself 'what the flying f@ck does AW see in this guy'?
His body shape is wrong when receiving the ball, he can't pass water, he's not particularly strong in the air, he moves like he's just come out of traction if not a coma, he's not a threat to score a goal, in fact at the present time all he represents is a liability to the team.
I keep thinking that he can't play in training as he does in matches and he must be showing something for the manager to persist with him, however the more I see firsthand of him the more I'm convinced Wenger has lost/is losing it.
Song with work might make up into a decent centre back. When I've seen him play CB he actually looks bothered and motivated, but he just plainly isn't anywhere near the required standard at CM and if anything he's getting worse (if that's possible).
Gunnersaurus wrote:I prefer Song as a centre back, that way he don't need to try and do something usefull or clever with the ball, he just needs to win his challange and get rid of it.
He's not for me in MF although it is working with both him and Denilson sitting there because goals are not being conceded.
I honestly think that is more down to a combination of; the sides we've drawn with (or not conceded against) have been very poor going forward and an improvement in Almunia's form, plus a bit of luck.
We were deffo conceding one on Saturday only Sagna broke his bollocks racing back to put in a last ditch tackle after Song actually stopped running back at the halfway line when they hit us on the break. We've rode our luck a bit in the last few games to a certain extent.
Agreed I'd rather see him as a CB than a CM but tbh I'd rather we got shot of him...
Last edited by DB10GOONER on Tue Feb 24, 2009 8:28 am, edited 1 time in total.
[quote="DB10GOONER"][quote="Gunnersaurus"]I prefer Song as a centre back, that way he don't need to try and do something usefull or clever with the ball, he just needs to win his challange and get rid of it.
He's not for me in MF although it is working with both him and Denilson sitting there because goals are not being conceded.[/quote]
I honestly think that is more down to a combination of; the sides we've drawn with (or not conceded against) have been very poor going forward and an improvement in Almunia's form, plus a bit of luck.
We were deffo conceding one on Saturday only Sagna broke his bollocks racing back to put in a last ditch tackle after Song actually stopped running back at the halfway line when they hit us on the break. We've rode our luck a bit in the last few games to a certain extent.
Agreed I'd rather see him as a CB than a CM but tbh I'd rather we got shot of him...[/quote]
I would like to take the GOT and OF out your last sentence mate.
Gunnersaurus wrote:I prefer Song as a centre back, that way he don't need to try and do something usefull or clever with the ball, he just needs to win his challange and get rid of it.
He's not for me in MF although it is working with both him and Denilson sitting there because goals are not being conceded.[/quote]
I honestly think that is more down to a combination of; the sides we've drawn with (or not conceded against) have been very poor going forward and an improvement in Almunia's form, plus a bit of luck.
We were deffo conceding one on Saturday only Sagna broke his bollocks racing back to put in a last ditch tackle after Song actually stopped running back at the halfway line when they hit us on the break. We've rode our luck a bit in the last few games to a certain extent.
Agreed I'd rather see him as a CB than a CM but tbh I'd rather we got shot of him...[/quote]
I would like to take the GOT and OF out your last sentence mate.
What I meant regarding Toure is that we ORIGINALLY brought him in as a midfielder (that being his natural position!) So I guess playing Toure in midfield wouldn't be an experiment as such.....Djourou is naturally a centre half!! Toure is a very good ball carrier as Is proved when he goes on one of his mad bursts from centre half!! He is also an extremely accomplished striker of a ball from distance. Not sure I could Imagine Djourou doing the same!! Do agree though that as we are not conceeding goals at present that we shouldn't 'rock the boat' in that area. ANYONE but Song though! My midfield for tonight would be Nasri Diaby Denilson Vela.
mike wrote:What I meant regarding Toure is that we ORIGINALLY brought him in as a midfielder (that being his natural position!) So I guess playing Toure in midfield wouldn't be an experiment as such.....Djourou is naturally a centre half!!
Not so Mike.
Toure played in every position bar goalkeeper for his previous club, Aisec in Ivory Coast.
Djourou played as a central midfielder and as a central defender for his previous club and for Switzerland, and in interview has spoken about how he likes to play central midfield.
mike wrote:What I meant regarding Toure is that we ORIGINALLY brought him in as a midfielder (that being his natural position!) So I guess playing Toure in midfield wouldn't be an experiment as such.....Djourou is naturally a centre half!!
Not so Mike.
Toure played in every position bar goalkeeper for his previous club, Aisec in Ivory Coast.
Djourou played as a central midfielder and as a central defender for his previous club and for Switzerland, and in interview has spoken about how he likes to play central midfield.
We have seen him at right back enough to know mr versatility he ain't
