The Alex Song Question

[augie]

Makes no difference he will be going in the summer. Don't be surprised to see him join Arsenal's leading sponsor, Man City.

There should be a law against people being that drunk in the middle of the day

[Barriecuda]

Great responses everyone. The jury has been out on Song for a while but it seems like largely he's in the "negative" category than the positive one - though it's split between that being the fault of him or the manager.

Personally I think he's far too irresponsible as a midfielder and he's lazy when it comes to tracking back. For every nicely weighted chip-pass he does to RVP (who, let's be honest, makes Song look good by finishing difficult lobs with aplomb) he has 1 or 2 defensive lapses.

Case in point: The Norwich game, second goal (deflected off Gibbs). Song cantered back and the man closest to him burst past him. The defenders were outnumbered, essentially tried to play zone to make up for it, Gibbs wasn't close enough to his man, Holt let off a shot and Gibbs could only get a piece rather than a block. Had Song been tracking his man tightly the whole time, I have no doubt the defenders would have been able to mop up Holt and the other attacker.

He seems to be a bit of a media darling, but I think that's largely because the average pundit/commentator only sees him enough to see his fancy passes, and not his sloppiness in defense. Much like Cesc did, Arteta makes up for his meandering, and that's why we win games when Arteta is around (and we don't when he's not).

Song, for me, is just one of those players who makes the squad as a whole weaker due to his individualism. He isn't capable of holding nor controlling the midfield, which makes him a liability when you only play with 3 midfielders.

[augie]

I think that you are being way too kind to song when you mention just 1 or 2 defensive lapses.

We are all aware of the stick denilson still gets for the manc goal a few seasons ago when he merely jogged back as rooney (and the ref) sprinted past him and shrek ended up scoring but why has song not been highlighted in this way ? How many times yesterday did the norwich midfielders break on our back 4 without any assistance from our midfield ? Song might think that he is platini on the ball but the fact is that he isnt, but the main thing is that he is older and more experienced than ramsey so if anybody should have been organising that element of our midfield it was him but instead he fcuked off and left gaping holes as he tried to make headlines for himself

[SteveO 35]

He's outstanding. One of the big 3 players at the club.

I'm just pleased that we released shit like Diarra and Gilberto to accomodate him otherwise the club would have lost his wonderous talent to the likes of Barca or Real Madrid.

Without a shadow of doubt the best anchor man to have played for Charlton Athletic in the last few years

[skizz_b]

I voted yes simply because he is another body in a team that is the most injury prone in the league...can;t remember the last time he was injured, so pay him 200k a week and get it over with

[rigsby]

We shouldn't play him as a DM. He clearly has a lot more about him going forward.

[flash gunner]

Song is not a bad player but he is not a good one either. Distinctly average and would be a good reserve DM behind someone who is top class. Arsenal will do nothing with the likes of Song at the club

[Supagoon]

if MVila comes in, and offers us some real protection, then I'm happy Song coming in and out of the team. If he isn't happy so be it he can go.

In my eyes, a midfield three requires a playmaker (Wilshere), a DM ( MVila), and a Box-Box player. Arteta can do that role. But the problem with what I said is, Arteta doesn't have a creative input, Song is much better at that, and Wilshere is not Cesc Fabregas, he aint going to be feeding balls through time after time.

My Concern is injuries they WILL come, and we need squad depth for sure. Song is good for a squad, thats why if he can accept it, I'd have him stick around. If Song goes, prepare for MVila to be injured and Diaby/Ramsey doing a far worse job than Song.

I do cringe when commentators say he has had an outstanding season, because he hasn't. But I could say the same for Woj, Vermaelen.

I can't believe im expecting something logical to happen, and we actually get a true DM.

[DB10GOONER]

Average at best, absolute shite at worst.

Where to start? Oh, I know! He gives away cheap possession when under no pressure, gives away silly free kicks when it's really not necessary, gives the CH's no cover, fires suicide and hospital passes at tightly marked teammates, chooses the wrong pass too often, gets caught standing square-on too high up the pitch then turns and jogs back as the oppo go streaming past him at pace, he's too slow, has the turning circle of an oil tanker with a broken rudder, has no positional sense, doesn't score enough, always looking for the Hollywood pass to RVP because 3 of them have actually worked this season (out of an attempted 30 or so), Christ I could go on all day.

The DM position is key in the modern game. And he is a poor 1st choice DM. We will never win another PL or a CL whilst he is first choice DM. As Babatunde would say - "FACT"!

[Red Member]

what a joke of a poll
I obviously voted yes and thought it would be about 80% in favour.
26%!!!!

Song is one of the first players on the teamsheet, one of the most important players we have, all the big sides in Europe would like to have him, a world class defensive midfielder who can provide exceptional assists for RVP.

Ok well anyway thats my opinion, i guess everyone is entitled to differ from this view.

[Gooner Jim]

I think he is good for us but we could do even better. I feel we disrupted a perfect midfield by not signing Arteta sooner. If we had signed Arteta when Cesc was still there we would have been so much better but theres no point in dwelling in the past. Song has grown as a player and has the exact kind of experience and physical ability needed in a squad, maybe not a first team. We could do better but letting him go would be a huge mistake

[I Hate Hleb]

I think he is good for us but we could do even better. I feel we disrupted a perfect midfield by not signing Arteta sooner. If we had signed Arteta when Cesc was still there we would have been so much better but theres no point in dwelling in the past. Song has grown as a player and has the exact kind of experience and physical ability needed in a squad, maybe not a first team. We could do better but letting him go would be a huge mistake

On the contrary - letting him go and replacing him with a proper footballer who knows the game and his role would be the best thing Wenger could do!! He's shown that he can't play the DM role properly and there are far more talented attacking midfielders available so he's not good enough to play there as of right.

[flash gunner]

what a joke of a poll
I obviously voted yes and thought it would be about 80% in favour.
26%!!!!

Song is one of the first players on the teamsheet, one of the most important players we have, all the big sides in Europe would like to have him, a world class defensive midfielder who can provide exceptional assists for RVP.

Ok well anyway thats my opinion, i guess everyone is entitled to differ from this view.

So its a 'joke of a poll' because you dont agree with the outcome? I'll just check your ip see if it is from Zimbabwe

[MM99]

I don't understand where people seem to get this idea that Song is a DM for.
I'm not excusing his performances as believe me he frustrates me more than anyone when he holds onto the ball for too long or tries dribbling in our own half etc...

But, we have never played with a DM and i don't see why people are constantly berating him for not being a holding midfielder. The formation that we play means that we have 2 CM's, 2 Wingers and 1 AM behind RVP. Neither of the two CM's are supposed to be 'holding' midfielders or 'defensive' midfielders. Instead, looking at all the games we have played over the season, they are supposed to be playing as centre midfielders with one attacking midfielder in front of them.

Slate him all you want for holding onto the ball for too long and losing possession unnecessarily, but don't slate him for not playing in a role he's not supposed to be.

[QuartzGooner]

Song started out playing deeper; it is in the last two seasons he has been pushing further forward.

Opinion seems to be that Wenger has asked him to do this, and it has paid off to an extent with assists for RvP.

But it is to the detriment of the team.

Wilshere and Song and Arteta share defensive duties amongst them, but it has left too many holes in front of defence.

We need to use a defensive midfielder, or we will continue to ship goals.

Hope we buy M'Vila, and Coquelin gets a chance to show what he can do in midfield...a dynamic ball winner.