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re: Arsenal Football Club 2011-2012 Season Thread
Posted on 4/9/12 at 6:21 pm to glassman
Posted on 4/9/12 at 6:21 pm to glassman
I just glanced at the table and upcoming fixtures. If we get max points versus Wolves and Wigan we will be 8 points ahead of Spurs and Newcastle, and 10 points ahead of Chelsea. We play two matches before they play any PL matches.
They would have games in hand, but that lead would certainly guarantee 3rd place.
They would have games in hand, but that lead would certainly guarantee 3rd place.
0
Posted on 4/9/12 at 7:24 pm to ATLienTiger
You talk about the back line as if it's the reason we haven't won trophies and as if there's nothing to be done about it. First off, Arsenal have lost exactly one game when the starting back line played together and that was last week against QPR. Secondly, next year we'll actually have some decent cover with Mertesacker. And third Kos has been a friggin rock this year. Most of the goals given up when the starting back 4 play together are on either Gibbs or Vermaelen
This post was edited on 4/9/12 at 7:25 pm
Posted on 4/9/12 at 7:30 pm to tigerfan88
Kos has been our best CB by far. The next two matches with him out are a little worrisome IMO.
Sagna-Mertesacker-Kos-Vermaelen is potentially our best back four. Sagna has been the key to our resurgence IMO. RVP scoring kept us alive, but Sagna's presence has been critical.
Sagna-Mertesacker-Kos-Vermaelen is potentially our best back four. Sagna has been the key to our resurgence IMO. RVP scoring kept us alive, but Sagna's presence has been critical.
Posted on 4/9/12 at 8:12 pm to glassman
quote:
Vermaelen
Never at LB. I'd rather Gibbs and Santos.
Posted on 4/9/12 at 8:19 pm to crazy4lsu
Gotcha. 
Posted on 4/9/12 at 8:32 pm to glassman
The reason for that is he's rather timid at LB. We need someone to motor down the left to give us a sense of balance. He's also a brilliant distributor at LCB, and having two ball playing CB's like Kos and Vermaelean is very underrated in terms of how we play.
Posted on 4/9/12 at 8:47 pm to crazy4lsu
People hating on Kos haven't watched. He has been briliiant since the Barca CL match at the Emirates last season. I am worried about the next two matches with him out. We should take care of business, but it is the EPL.
Posted on 4/9/12 at 9:18 pm to glassman
I'm thrilled with our defense situation compared to what we had last year. Any combination of Koscielny, Vermaelen, and Mertesacker works for me. Also, I want to see Gibbs play a full healthy season before I pass judgment. And how many right backs in the World are better than Sagna?
Posted on 4/9/12 at 9:21 pm to NOTORlOUSD
quote:
Mertesacker
What's his injury look like ATM?
This post was edited on 4/9/12 at 9:21 pm
Posted on 4/9/12 at 9:32 pm to NOTORlOUSD
quote:
And how many right backs in the World are better than Sagna?
The list is very few. I fricking love Sagna. He and Raphael are the two best in the EPL for sure.
Posted on 4/9/12 at 10:18 pm to tigerfan88
quote:
You talk about the back line as if it's the reason we haven't won trophies
Weakest area of squad for years, without a doubt
quote:
as if there's nothing to be done about it.
there certainly is, I just don't know what it is.
Im pretty shocked. Seriously, don't even begin to thing they are all that good. They are never the reason we win, incredibly unstable and leaky. Gibbs has no clue on defense, Vermaelen has been very leaky this season. Sagna can finally cross the ball, and Kos is quick and finally able to track attackers our most solid defender.
Posted on 4/9/12 at 11:51 pm to Jumbeauxlaya
quote:who do you suggest play at lb? Gibbs is a walking injury, and with mert out we need verm in the middle. Do you continue giving gibbs reps, or do you just move on?
In their current form I'd rather Ramsey and Santos not see the pitch.
Posted on 4/9/12 at 11:58 pm to crazy4lsu
quote:
The reason for that is he's rather timid at LB. We need someone to motor down the left to give us a sense of balance.
Hrs been going fowatd a lot at cb. He was in the frighin goal when he stopped rvps header. He plays lb for belgium and i dont mind him on the left as long as we have ox,gerv,walcot on the wings staying up. The guy can def rip it. Of course wit mert and kos out he def needs to play cb. I just hope they sign a decent lb or at least one that can stay injury free.
This post was edited on 4/10/12 at 12:03 am
Posted on 4/10/12 at 1:18 am to ATLienTiger
It's been the health of the defense not the defense themselves. I don't feel like looking up stats so this could be wrong but i'd bet like 20 bucks that Arsenal have the best record in the PL this year when the starting back 4 are all playing. Now i'll grant you that all the top clubs have had stints with their starting 4 defenders out so having cover is crucial. But the first 4 weren't the problem this year
Posted on 4/10/12 at 1:36 am to tigerfan88
quote:
It's been the health of the defense not the defense themselves. I don't feel like looking up stats so this could be wrong but i'd bet like 20 bucks that Arsenal have the best record in the PL this year when the starting back 4 are all playing
Good point about health. The records you mention would be interesting to see. Man City may have a pretty good record with Kompany and Lescott both playing as well. As much as the press loves to pile on Balotelli and Mancini, their swoon coincided with those 2 beginning to miss matches.
Posted on 4/10/12 at 1:53 am to tigerfan88
This is true, but you have to be concerned when you watch them individually.
Kos is very much improved, and by a good margin our best/most dependable defender this season. That said he still needs to improve a good bit before I can claim to have an elite defender back there. He's rash on quite a few tackles, gambles on interceptions and what not and still lacks a bit in tracking strikers between himself and the other center back.
Gibbs we all have been hoping would be our next Cole, or Clichy(pre-injury) but sadly due to Gibbs never being healthy he's not improved much. His awareness and just overall defending ability are very poor.
Sagna I can't complain about at all, he's finally learned to cross, and he's not a liability in defense.
Vermaelen this season has been great distributing, and getting forward(actually a bit too much) but his actual defending has been sub-par and dangerous.
Arsenal definitely need a capable backup/2nd option at LB, or just a downright upgrade. They also need stability at the Center back position. I hope Kos keeps improving since he is very young, but more so the Center back pairing and chemistry just needs to be cleaned up a great deal. Not since pre-Gallas & Toure has Arsenal had a dependable pairing.
Kos is very much improved, and by a good margin our best/most dependable defender this season. That said he still needs to improve a good bit before I can claim to have an elite defender back there. He's rash on quite a few tackles, gambles on interceptions and what not and still lacks a bit in tracking strikers between himself and the other center back.
Gibbs we all have been hoping would be our next Cole, or Clichy(pre-injury) but sadly due to Gibbs never being healthy he's not improved much. His awareness and just overall defending ability are very poor.
Sagna I can't complain about at all, he's finally learned to cross, and he's not a liability in defense.
Vermaelen this season has been great distributing, and getting forward(actually a bit too much) but his actual defending has been sub-par and dangerous.
Arsenal definitely need a capable backup/2nd option at LB, or just a downright upgrade. They also need stability at the Center back position. I hope Kos keeps improving since he is very young, but more so the Center back pairing and chemistry just needs to be cleaned up a great deal. Not since pre-Gallas & Toure has Arsenal had a dependable pairing.
Posted on 4/10/12 at 9:52 am to ATLienTiger
Posted on 4/10/12 at 10:59 am to itawambadog
Here's a crazy stat for you guys - 2010-11 Premier League starts:
Fabregas - 22
Squillaci - 20
Djourou - 20
Van Persie - 19
Walcott - 19
How did we get fourth place with that situation?
Fabregas - 22
Squillaci - 20
Djourou - 20
Van Persie - 19
Walcott - 19
How did we get fourth place with that situation?
Posted on 4/10/12 at 11:05 am to NOTORlOUSD
quote:
How did we get fourth place with that situation?
Wenger.
ETA: We also collapsed and allowed Chelsea and City to pass us in the table.
This post was edited on 4/10/12 at 11:06 am
Posted on 4/10/12 at 1:11 pm to itawambadog
Double Germans. Hazard of a huge thread I suppose.
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