Do we need more Britishness?

[biglunn]

I think its more down to the character of the player, rather than the nationality. Non british players like Vermaalen, Lehmann (younger), Vidic, Cantona, Vieira - all have that `fight` and aggression in them - yes they are also technically great too, but this element of their character bodes well in England where the game is a bit fast n furious. English players seem to have this character - more often than foreign players.

Wenger seems to be shying away from this sort of character, preferring to buy characterless gormless players that he wants to mould into technically brilliant players. And thats one of the biggest problems - he has deliberately sanitised the squad. He has become so stubborn that he fails to recognise that in his earlier teams he had that type of (British) player scattered around the squad - the squad had a great balance of grit & technical talent. He even bought that sort of player in Vieira, but again, he progressively tried to eliminate this sort of player.

Not too long ago, we saw Flamini develop that character - instead of really trying to keep him, he mismanaged him (yes, he was a mercinary, but he knew that Arsenal needed this type of player), and off he went. Wenger needs to have players like this, and yes they may be a bit difficult to manage, but that is Wengers job to handle. Fergie and Mourinho knows how to handle these sort of player - Wenger shys away from them.

I suppose some here would blame the board for this, but I blame Wenger, only Wenger.

[g88ner]

An old but very relevent defensive cliche is; "When in doubt, put it out."

yes, and "you can't score from row Z!" .....


however, if like Cesc you blindly back heel the ball on the edge of your area at the Nou Camp...

[donaldo]

An old but very relevent defensive cliche is; "When in doubt, put it out."

Except if you name is Gael Cliche

[cameron326]

^ donaldo - you see that FA cup and Premier League trophy in that picture? Any one of those players in that photo would tell you they wouldn't have achieved that feat - twice - were it not for Wenger - the man you want to get rid of.

[donaldo]

^ donaldo - you see that FA cup and Premier League trophy in that picture? Any one of those players in that photo would tell you they wouldn't have achieved that feat - twice - were it not for Wenger - the man you want to get rid of.

And the man who bought 3 of them and who made them great defenders was a certain George Graham,remember him he used to manage us before the club turned into Arsene FC.They all won league titles FA and League cups and a European trophy before Wenger even arrived

[SpanishJoe]

I'm always nervous about discussing the need for more British players becuse it's easy to sound jingoistic and even racist. I certainly never had a problem with PV's Frenchness. However, I think a clubs needs, and fans need to see, that a player cares for and feels strongly about a club and will put his body on the line for it. That doesn't have to mean that a player is British but imo it is more likely if the player is from North London rather than North Africa.

Players can of course grow to love the club and I think that most of AW's early signings did, and they became a part of the same spirit that was epitomised by Tony and the boys, but the Arshavins etc of this world only seem interested in themselves and that type of player seems to dominate the character of the team at the moment.

I saw Lee Dixon tell the story of how, prior to his first North London derby, he was pinned to the wall by his throat by a certain Mr Adams who just wanted to check that Lee understood that one dodn't lose these games. Sadly, I can't see anybody in the current squad with that passion and commitment.

[Revgoon89]

There is a certain irony at the fact that Graham was able to get success in Europe with a side he assembled.

[goonersid]

A great manager instills and demands fighting spirit, Wenger neither does or is either.

[FrenchGun]

Yes please! More english players! More Walcott's, more Gibbs's! English players have so much more grit than foreign players!

As said earlier, whether you get a pair of balls or not is not based on your birth place. As for the loyalty.... Our most loyal player is Dutch so I'm not sure picking up players from north london will make them more commited than any other player.

And if the likes of Terry and ferdinand put their body on the line to prevent a goal, it's probably because they were coached by Mourinho and Ferguscum and that both managers can teach how to defend, unlike Wenger....

[safcftm]

I dont think being British is too important- I imagine you would be very near to winning the league if you were to have Vidic and a younger Vieira or Gattuso in your side. What I would say is that obviously British players dont need as long to settle, and they are less of a risk as you will get some powerful, aggressive players from abroad that simply cant settle in the league or in the country and are therefore a waste of money. For now, maybe target one or two "overpriced" British players, and then try to target the right foreign players having spent a considerable amount of time scouting them etc

[no. 1 is Perry Groves....]

hmmm - experienced british players.......

the first one in our squad that springs to mind - theo walcott

would i like more theo walcotts - no thanks

do we need a bit more grit about us - yes almost definitely, but they do not necessarily have to be british.

More importantly i think we need some winners in that team, someone who has actually won something who can hopefully get rid of the big yellow streak that runs throigh that team.

[g88ner]

It's all been said really, but this "Britishness" is a lazy and inaccurate stereotype that needs to be shoved into a dark cupboard.

I don't want David Bentley's "British" work ethic... nor Tom Huddlestone's "British" never-say-die attitude... nor Jenas' "British" grit... BUT what I DO want is the work ethic of Carlos Tevez, the never-say-die attitude of S-J Park and the grit of Nemanja Vidic!

Yes, there's British players who have grit, determination and a cracking work ethic like Rooney, Gerrard, Cashley, Wilshere and Bale... but the vast majority don't have these characteristics even if they are blessed with the holy grail that is "British DNA"

[Magic Hat]

We needed someone to organise the defence, we need people who can calm things down and get a foot on the ball when others around him are starting to give it away, a leader who can rally the team when heads are down, we need some who have been there and done it. These aren't, as many have pointed out, qualities only to be found in British players and there are plenty, as g88ner says, of British players who can't lead or don't have the right attitude.

We also need a new manager, where he comes from doesn't matter.

[1989]

@ 1989. The picture on the bottom of your posts is brilliant!

Thanks.

[Barriecuda]

If you mean "Britishness" in the sense of what the word implies, then absolutely. Bollocks. Heart. Pride, passion, determination. You don't need players of British nationality to get that necessarily, but the French players we've had of late definitely don't do the stereotypes any favors. Where's another Vieira when you need him?

One thing I can't stand is the apparent lack of communication in the team. Bunch of shy, soft voiced little pansies. When Lehmann was in net this season, on the set pieces you could clearly hear him sorting things out. Need more players of that mould, especially at CB and DMF.