How I would reshape the defense

[arseofacrow]

in my opinion we need to protect the back four, the two central defenders are constantly exposed by either gibbs or santos being too far advanced. the same happend when clichy was at the club. its obvious squilaci and djourou are not up to the task and need replacing so for sure we need an experienced centre back. more importantly we need a defensive midfielder to play in front of the defence. added to that the hope that our manager realises that there is a need to change tactics depending on the opposition. that means not only before the game but sometimes during it.

We have Vermaelen, Koscielny, Mertesacker and the newly becontracted Djourou so don't expect any new centre back.

Also, Wenger has never changed tactics so often according to the opposition - only through neccessity or through the versatility of great players who changed the game.

I hope we get a decent central midfielder though - but I don't hold out a great deal of hope either.

Other than that, I'm pretty contented.

[cusamano]

Vertonghen plus M´Vila as DM would be great

[cusamano]

Vertonghen plus M´Vila as DM would be great

[Top Londoner]

Vertonghen plus M´Vila as DM would be great

Vertonghen is showing a bit of ankle and making come to bed eyes in the direction of Milan, apparently.

[nexum5me]

i thought vertonghen had been sucking off spurs all week? (and allegedly was at the spurs fulham game, and had a tour of the stadium after).

as for the earlier comment on jenkinson in the wba game, i completely agree. i can't remember who the striker was, but at 3-2 jenkinson was leaning all over him and had handfuls of his shirt in the area, had he decided to go down it would've been a stonewall pen all day long. saying that i do WANT to like him as a player, and will happily give him the benefit of a few more seasons as back up (hopefully not relied upon too much though)

[1989]

From the very start of the season it was clear we lacked strength in depth and as the season wore on it became at times desperate watching them trying to find a way to keep the opposition out.
Given the players we have on the books I would like to see the following happen:

KEEP
Woj S - best keeper at the club, but then there is no competition for that title!!
Bacary Sagna - best right back in the league. Just hope another break is not the sign of a continual problem for him
Laurent Koscielny - most improved player by miles and lets hope for another good season from him next year
Tomas Vermaelen - a class act who we need fit all season
Kieran Giibs - is a better left back than he gets credit for, lets hope he tsays injury free
Carl Jenkinson - he is going to develop into a very good right back lets hope he learns from Sagna
Andre Santos - not a left back as he can't defend but could he play left wing and use his attcking prowess to balance out our midfield?

SELL
Per Mertersacker - awful in the air, no pace and poor with the ball at his feet. The premier league is to quick and physical for him
Sebastien Squilaci - need I say anything more??
Johan Djourou - accident waiting to happen, his new contract will probably price him out of a move sadly!!
Pedro Botelho - spent to long in Spain (and not with good teams) not sure he could adapt to England
Lukas Fabianski - useless keeper who has had his chance and failed numerous times
Manuel Almunia - enough said!!

BUY
Allan McGregor - Rangers need the money and he would be excellent back up
Leighton Baines - good defender, carries a threat going forwards and is at the prime time of his career
jan Vertonghen - by all accounts better than Vermaelen was which is a big statement

I think this would give us a balanced and competitve defensive set of options at long last

Sell Mertesacker? What a stupid idea.

I don't understand this vilification of big Per. If you can't see that he's a very good defender, then with all due respect, you don't much about defending.

Yet Vermaelen is described as a "class act" by you, the same Vermaelen who made twice the number of mistakes Per did this season which directly resulted in goals conceded, but I guess his goals have done well to mask that.

As a defender, Mertesacker is light years ahead of Vermaelen in terms of positioning, reading of the game, intelligence, strength and composure.

Next season I bet our CB partnership will be Mertesacker and Koscielny, and rightly so.

This is all without considering the fact Mertesacker has only had one season's experience of English football, and his season has been largely interrupted by injury.