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.
slevinlacey wrote:Song has come on leaps and bounds, but he still is nowhere near the finished article. It seems people like jumping on bandwagons and as someone said previously his role has been simplified, and someone like Diaby could equally do a job of winning the ball and knocking it 5 yards. I would like to see how many forward passes Song has made, and especially in the attacking third?
I was at that Fulham game and I dont think its right to boo any player, and its a shame that its happening at AG regarding Bendtner and Diaby. The boos were more directed to the fact Fabregas was on the bench at Craven Cottage even though and hopefully only a minority were at Song!
No he can't.... unless 'winning the ball' and 'knocking it 5 yards' to the opposition is want you meant...
I've never been a big fan of Song, I've always thought he was a decent Center Back, not a midfielder. But he's proving me wrong since the start of the season. I think he's one of our best player so far with Cesc, Vermaelen, van Persie and Gallas. His role has been simplified, he only does what he does best and has still some weakness but he's still young and there's room for improvement.
Song has improved that is for sure and has looked decent this season, granted he does make the odd unforced error but so do a lot of players in the league.
Like a few have said i want to see him have a good game against chelski cos imo they have the best midfield in the league (defensiveley) so if he can match them guys then peoples opinions of him would have to change for the better, you would hope.
What i have noticed is his willingness to take on players more and being very effictve at it. he isn't the quickest but can drop a shoulder and give a couple of players the slip, seems to be doing it more and more.
Yes he gives fouls away but that is part and parcel of learning your trade as a dcm and will always be the way, what he has to do is erradicate giving fouls away in dangerous areas.
slevinlacey wrote:That 40 yard back pass for a corner against the y1ds was a reminder of what Song can do!
and thats the reason so many people on here are complete berks! Song had a superb game against the spuds, however you have picked out the only thing he did wrong, a misplaced backpass that went out for a corner that nothing came of...
He is having a cracking season, every game he has played well, the only game ill say he had a bad spell was West ham when he did make a few too many fouls and mis place a few passes, other than that he has been immense!
its just unfortunate that so many people on here slated him so badly (unfairly too) that they cant bring themselves to admit they were wrong and he is in fact a bloody good player!
Song is much improved on last year and I would be the first to say he was MOTM against the scum. The problem is though that you are under the impression that Song is the finished article and is already a top player.
The simple fact is that he isn't! He's done really well up to now this season and it is difficult to criticise him much but look at the teams we've been playing too. Do you think he would be that commanding against Manure, Chelsea, Barcelona, Milan???? Those that slated him earlier in the season did so based on his performances up to that time. He deserved the criticism he received on that basis as his performances up until then were nowhere near good enough!
I said in another thread that we are doing much better than I expected us to at the start of the season. Song is a big reason for that but I am also wise enough to know that we have had a run of games against clubs that will scrapping it out toward the bottom of the league come April.
The test of this team and it's players is how they cope come March time when we get to the business end of a campaign. Anyone that makes a final judgement about the team or individuals before that time is frankly an idiot.
Swale_Gooner1985 wrote:Im glad some people are finally realising how bloody good he is...good old alex
Or maybe he's actually, you know, got better? And why do you feel the need to constantly pointscore against other Arsenal fans?
He's looking a good player now, he's still not world class by a long chalk and probably never will be but he's learning that role and becoming a better player for it.
The really impressive improvement this season has been the Wenger tactics. 4-3-3 is getting the best out of our midfielders, brilliant and not so brilliant.
Alex Song is the player who allows the rest of the team the license to attack. Seeing as we are currently the best attacking side on the planet alongside Barcelona I would say that he is doing a fucking good job!!
Yankee_Gooner_Dandee wrote:Song is the 2nd or 3rd best CDM in the Prem. Get off his back.
And who says he couldnt play 442 with Fabregas? I think he could do so if we needed. Last year is no measurement of this year. Hell, Cesc was pretty bad last season compared to this one.
It's a shame that some fans seem unable to give praise as quickly as critcism, I saw one poster cite Song's bad miscue that gifted a corner to Alkmaar the other night as a reason 'not to get carried away'. I was at the game and that was nigh on the only mistake the guy made.
I've been going to games since the 70's and I thought I was quite tough on the players, but some folks on here are at times ridiculously hard to please.
Agree with every word of that.
His role hasnt been "simplified" that sounds derogatory - he has been given a role more suited to his skills, similar to VP and Fabregas have in the new system. Id say that is brilliant management from Wenger!
Song has been excellent this season, and people picking up on the one mistake he makes a game annoys me, every player makes the odd mistake - Song is 21/22 and I think will turn into a top top class player, and is doing a bloody good job in the meantime!
I've been a big critic of Alex Song but will admit that he has improved a lot from his form over the past couple of seasons.
I think there are 2 reasons for that:-
1. He is playing in a role that suits him.
2. More importantly - he has got top, top quality players around him.
When the midfield was Song, Eboue, Denilson etc. we were one paced and plodding - remember those dreadful draws at home last Jan / Feb. Now the front six is Song, Fabregas, Rosicky, Arshavin, van Persie, Eduardo and that is as good as anything in the world.
BUT - we will get a better idea of how far Song has improved in 20 days time when he goes head to head with Michael Essien, the best defensive midfielder in the Premier League.
Andrey's Tongue wrote:Alex Song is the player who allows the rest of the team the license to attack. Seeing as we are currently the best attacking side on the planet alongside Barcelona I would say that he is doing a fucking good job!!
Agree in part, but as the holding defensive midfielder does he also have to take some responsibiltiy for our goals agsinst tally? I think he has improved massively and thought he was superb v the scum.
Andrey's Tongue wrote:Alex Song is the player who allows the rest of the team the license to attack. Seeing as we are currently the best attacking side on the planet alongside Barcelona I would say that he is doing a fucking good job!!
Agree in part, but as the holding defensive midfielder does he also have to take some responsibiltiy for our goals agsinst tally? I think he has improved massively and thought he was superb v the scum.
Andrey's Tongue wrote:Alex Song is the player who allows the rest of the team the license to attack. Seeing as we are currently the best attacking side on the planet alongside Barcelona I would say that he is doing a fucking good job!!
Agree in part, but as the holding defensive midfielder does he also have to take some responsibiltiy for our goals agsinst tally? I think he has improved massively and thought he was superb v the scum.
As I've said before, I always think its harsh that he is blamed as the whole team is set up to attack at every single opportunity, this philosophy means that its inevitable that we will concede. I am a big fan of Song and his improvement makes me think there is even more to come from him.
Andrey's Tongue wrote:Alex Song is the player who allows the rest of the team the license to attack. Seeing as we are currently the best attacking side on the planet alongside Barcelona I would say that he is doing a fucking good job!!
Agree in part, but as the holding defensive midfielder does he also have to take some responsibiltiy for our goals agsinst tally? I think he has improved massively and thought he was superb v the scum.
As I've said before, I always think its harsh that he is blamed as the whole team is set up to attack at every single opportunity, this philosophy means that its inevitable that we will concede. I am a big fan of Song and his improvement makes me think there is even more to come from him.
Surely he has to be accountable for something though? If his job is to defend whilst others go forward then he takes joint responsibiltiy with the back five when we concede?
If we dont score we look at the players in the side with that job, if we concede we look at the players that do that job. As long as its constructive then criticism is part of daily life. I would like more competiton for that place, that can only help?
