The Alex Song Question

[I Hate Hleb]

MM99,

So Gilberto wasn't a defensive midfielder then? And did the 2009/10 season pass you by? That season was arguably Alex Song's best for Arsenal in terms of solid performances and it was playing the role of the most defensive midfielder that helped him cement a regular place in the side.

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archiv ... to-my-game

Thereafter he got a bit cocky and his ever growing ego, coupled with Wenger's refusal to teach and discipline him properly - to the extent that the manager bought an attacking midfield in Arteta but actually forces him to place more defensively because Song can't be trusted to do it - now has the guy thinking he's Zinedine Zidane!!

Just seen Quartz's response and he has summed things up well.

[MM99]

MM99,

So Gilberto wasn't a defensive midfielder then? And did the 2009/10 season pass you by? That season was arguably Alex Song's best for Arsenal in terms of solid performances and it was playing the role of the most defensive midfielder that helped him cement a regular place in the side.

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archiv ... to-my-game

Thereafter he got a bit cocky and his ever growing ego, coupled with Wenger's refusal to teach and discipline him properly - to the extent that the manager bought an attacking midfield in Arteta but actually forces him to place more defensively because Song can't be trusted to do it - now has the guy thinking he's Zinedine Zidane!!

Just seen Quartz's response and he has summed things up well.

The formation we played with Gilbert Silva, especially in our Champions League away games from 2005 onwards, tended to be an orthodox 4-5-1 where we had a proper DM sitting behind two central midfielders.

I'm sure you can agree that we now play with two centre midfielders, one attacking midfieler and two wingers either side of van persie. So we no longer have that one 'holding midfielder' but instead have two central midfielders who are supposed to be paying behind a third attacking midfielder.

Nothing i have seen in the formation or the players used would suggest that Song has been assigned that 'holding midfierlder' role so why are we criticising him for not playing like one?

Criticise him for his shit tackling where he lamely sticks out a foot and i wholeheartedly agree. Criticise him for dallying in possession and again i agree 100%. But I don't buy into this "Wenger has refused to discipline him" or "he's supposed to be a DM but makes runs forward" line of thought.

[Supagoon]

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.

I hope you're not pinning the fact that Song playing is the only reason we concede goals.

We concede goals because Arsene doesn't believe in the virtues of defending. Although im sure he shipped andrey out because he offered no cover. Our CBs are still iffy including Vermaelen, and our GK is anything but solid.

We conceded goals for fun when we had flamini and Gilberto as well. I have nothing against the coq, but I am very resistant to us not buying players like MVila because Coq, Frimpong or Diaby won't get games.

[I Hate Hleb]

....But I don't buy into this "Wenger has refused to discipline him" or "he's supposed to be a DM but makes runs forward" line of thought.

Why not? After all this is the same Wenger that initially said Song was really a Centre Half and wouldn't be a midfielder because 'he wasn't mobile enough'; then decided that perhaps he was a midfielder but only in a more defensively minded role because 'he wasn't fit enough'; then decided that he was in fact an all-round midfielder because 'he could take advantage of the space in front of him'; then obviously decided that he was in fact so good at doing that part of the job that it didn't matter about the other aspects of it, thus the need for Arteta to cover so much; then claiming that we didn't need to sign a centre-back because 'we have Alex Song who can play there' - and we all saw the results of that at the back end of last season!!

[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.

I hope you're not pinning the fact that Song playing is the only reason we concede goals.

We concede goals because Arsene doesn't believe in the virtues of defending. Although im sure he shipped andrey out because he offered no cover. Our CBs are still iffy including Vermaelen, and our GK is anything but solid.

We conceded goals for fun when we had flamini and Gilberto as well. I have nothing against the coq, but I am very resistant to us not buying players like MVila because Coq, Frimpong or Diaby won't get games.

Never claimed Song was our only reason for shipping goals.

Many reasons.

Defence is not as well organised as it could be.
Keeper is still learning.
Gibbs at left back goes walkies too often.
Santos at left back is rarely in a defensive position.
Jenkinson still learning.
Vermaelen has been a bit iffy since return from injury.
Mertesacker not fully adapted to English game (hope he does).
Djourou lost confidence since injury, has suspect positioning.
Two deep lying midfielders have yet to fully gel..hope an M'Vila - Arteta partnership is used next season with Wilshere pushed forward?

Hope Keown/Bould/Adams/Dixon is brought in to work with defense and defensive midfield on organisation and pressing.
Hope we buy M'Vila because we need to strengthen squad. We should buy Vertoghen as well, and sell Diaby.
I have said we should buy those two on a few threads so I am not one who says buying them is a bad thing.

[SWLGooner]

all the big sides in Europe would like to have him,

Sorry mate, you must be on a wind-up.

[northbankbren]

He just isnt good enough as a defensive midfeilder which is the position he is being player. And not a real flair center mid player either.

So no he isnt.

[terry henry]

Defensively he is awful. As an attacking player he isn't the bad but we already have players much better than him at going forward. All in all a big fat no from me

[DB10GOONER]

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.

This post is so incredibly stupid that it is borderline WUMing tbh.

[SteveO 35]

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.

This post is so incredibly stupid that it is borderline WUMing tbh.

Perhaps Song hasn't been quite as good this season because 'arrogant moron' Chesney has been unsettling the side. If we could call on the big match experience of Almunia in the final game to settle the nerves I'm sure all of the team including Song will look magnificent once more

[DB10GOONER]

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.

This post is so incredibly stupid that it is borderline WUMing tbh.

Perhaps Song hasn't been quite as good this season because 'arrogant moron' Chesney has been unsettling the side. If we could call on the big match experience of Almunia in the final game to settle the nerves I'm sure all of the team including Song will look magnificent once more

[I Hate Hleb]

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.

This post is so incredibly stupid that it is borderline WUMing tbh.

Bordering? It's already breached security lines and has been helping smuggle it's relatives across into the territory for a few months now!!

[augie]

The anchor role I’m giving to Alex Song. Arsenal will be disappointed with their season’s work but he has been terrific. The quality of his passing continues to improve and the weight on his deliveries for Van Persie has been a highlight of their season.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... z1ubBZQPVC


Yes this is the quote from "expert pundit" twitchy junior Note the reference to song as an anchor man in midfield and also how redkrapp also wanks himself into oblivion thinking about the "quality" of song's passing. What is really ironic is that on the same page it lists the top 13 midfielders with the highest passing accuracy and yes you have guessed it......song is nowhere on that list Beside that list it has another list that contains the names of the top 14 midfielders at creating goal chances and guess what.........song is nowhere on that list too Lastly is shows a list of the top 13 goalscoring midfielders and yet again the lumbersome cameroon bufoon is nowhere to be found. Of course it wont surprise many of you to see that one Arsenal player is listed on all three lists........step forward mr arteta who has been our best midfielder by a distance this season

It really amazes me how blinded some pundits get watching song create the odd chance here or there with an brilliant pass - it seems that 85 minutes of pure shite can be wiped out with 1 fcuking pass

[g88ner]

Yes this is the quote from "expert pundit" twitchy junior

The amount of praise Song gets in the media is maddening.

Last week, I was watching a stream and the commentator actually said, and I shit you not... "Alex song misplaces a pass... you don't here that very often"

[DB10GOONER]

The anchor role I’m giving to Alex Song. Arsenal will be disappointed with their season’s work but he has been terrific. The quality of his passing continues to improve and the weight on his deliveries for Van Persie has been a highlight of their season.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... z1ubBZQPVC


Yes this is the quote from "expert pundit" twitchy junior Note the reference to song as an anchor man in midfield and also how redkrapp also wanks himself into oblivion thinking about the "quality" of song's passing. What is really ironic is that on the same page it lists the top 13 midfielders with the highest passing accuracy and yes you have guessed it......song is nowhere on that list Beside that list it has another list that contains the names of the top 14 midfielders at creating goal chances and guess what.........song is nowhere on that list too Lastly is shows a list of the top 13 goalscoring midfielders and yet again the lumbersome cameroon bufoon is nowhere to be found. Of course it wont surprise many of you to see that one Arsenal player is listed on all three lists........step forward mr arteta who has been our best midfielder by a distance this season

It really amazes me how blinded some pundits get watching song create the odd chance here or there with an brilliant pass - it seems that 85 minutes of pure shite can be wiped out with 1 fcuking pass

Post of the week right there.