Morning all.
James Tarkowski, English, Premier League, 6’ 3” and a no nonsense centre back Burnley. 25 years old so the perfect age but annoyingly, he’s a Utd fan.
Shane Duffy, 6’ 4” central defender who plays for Brighton and Northern Ireland. After a nasty injury a few years ago followed by several loans, He was deemed not good enough for Everton. Blackburn signed him before Brighton took him to the South Coast in 2016 and I don’t think he’s looked back since.
Lewis Dunk, another English centre back who plays in the Premier League for Brighton, the town of his birth. He’s 4” tall, 26 years old and out of contract next summer according to the big wide web. Since the 20014/15 season, he’s barely missed a game.
Lastly is Harry Maguire, another English central defender who is doing well at Leicester. Certainly well enough to be called up by Gareth Southgate. He too is 6’ 4” but slightly younger than the other two at 24 years old.
What’s the point of this you might ask. Well, Arsenal need a central defender big time, if not two especially as Merts is soon retiring and Koscielny is unreliable as far as fitness goes, although I think his days at the top are behind him.
So far, neither Chambers or Holding have done enough to cement a place in the heart of our defence. Personally, I have doubts whether either will, in fact I’d say Chambers would make a better central midfielder than he would a defender. He’s not the quickest either with speed or recovery so why not? After all, that’s where he started out, in midfield.
Rob Holding started well but it seems like Arsene Wenger doesn’t trust him enough, not that that means much. I know it’s early days for him still at his new club but for Chambers, he’s been with us a while now and he’s at an age where he should be playing first team football on a regular basis but injury has hardly helped his cause.
The pair of them turn 23 years old next year.
Arsenal have been at their best when the defence includes British players. The famous back five speak for themselves, as does Cole who imo was one of our best left backs ever. These days our defence seldom includes a no nonsense defender like Adams, Bould, Keown, Campbell and going back further, others who you don’t need me to remind you of.
So as Chambers and Holding do their best to prove they are good enough to be regular players in this team, why not throw in an already Premier League central defender to steady our rapidly sinking defensive ship? Three English centre backs and a German might just be a good mix.
Alternatively, there’s always Jonny Evans! Mind you, rumour has it Pep wants him and tomorrow we’ll probably see why.
Just a bit of fun but who if any of the above, would you like to see at Arsenal?
It is really annoying to be able to say ‘I said that two years ago’ but in the case of Maguire and Van Dyke, I had seen them both play that year and wrote to Arsene to recommend them. I got the standard thank youy letter back but of course nothing happened. I for one would have them both over Kossy and Mustafi as both are prone to terrible mistakes which have cost us dearly AGAIN this season. As for Holding and Chambers I would play them both now with one of the above in a back three. Unlike you I think Holding was doing great until exposed by the short comings of their partners. Mainly old left backs who cannot play centre back. Only AW would do this for so long without seeing it! We must clear out people like Monreal, Walcott, Coquelin and Ospina . All good triers but not good enough for AFC. Yes I would buy heavily in January (AW will not) Bring in Fekir, Sell Sanchez to anyone. Bring in Bailey . Bring in Keita etc. Watch out for Liverpool they are starting to build a big strong base to add to the great forwards they brought in. If we do not add strong defenders now that will finish AW off at the end of this year.
Morning Rico and all.
I am not too good at suggesting players but I read our defence when added up together is the smallest and lightest in weight in the PL, if that means anything.
I don’t want AW to buy anyone in the defensive area at all hoping he will leave this Summer.We need change in every department and a new concept of playing especially foremost in attack.
Pete, do you trust Wenger with the clubs money though? I don’t..
I wanted VVD too when he was at Celtic. Just one of many to slip away.
Hasn’t Keita already agreed to move to Liverpool next summer?
Morning Kelsey.
I’d have thought our defending would be the first thing any new manager will rectify. It certainly should be imo.
Of all of the Maguire is best suited to the Arsenal , despite being a no nonsense centre back he is also good on the ball which despite whatever we may think of our style is quite important. At the moment I read that we will have to sell or loan out a squad member before bringing in another so the axe will have to fall on Sanchez , Ozil , Walcott or Debuchy , none of whom are likely to bring in enough to get us 4 replacements. Personally I think that 2 of those may well go albeit in Walcott’s case most likely a loan because they will want us to keep footing his exhorbitant wages.
I’d have taken Maguire last summer. I thought he had a cracking season for Hull despite their relegation. Question is, why didn’t Wenger go for him or VVD?
Answer, he hasn’t bought a decent defender since he went to Poundland and got Campbell! He lost his mojo many years ago when he drowned it in his bath whilst playing with his little ducks!!
He can’t recognise a decent defender, nor has he ever been able to. Lauren was an accidental success, like Bellerin. Kos was an accident waiting to happen for several seasons, he did improve but is now entering his dotage. His performances are less than consistent or convincing. And so it goes on.
Kelsey the s right lets hope he buys no one to shore up our ponderous defence and as a result we lose plenty (do I really mean that’s?) and that he is asked to clear his desk(s) at season’s end.
New signing? Leave them to the new man or woman that comes to sit in his vacant chair!
Morning all. Nearly the dawn of yet another splendid new year. 2018 the year Arsenal came back from the near death experience that Count Wenger has helped to create. Not too sunny here!
Rico good afternoon !
Remove first the pathetic Bold and Le Prof then your suggestion make sense.
Rest assured under this two fools the players you suggest chanses are 90% will disappear in a thin air and 10% will regress if they been touched by Bold and his idiocy.
Hi Rico. Maguire for me. 🙂
Alex you call Stevie Bould a pathetic idiot but bear in mind that he is working for a manager that calls the tune. If he is not given the freedom to work with the defence he can hardly be blamed for it’s shortcomings. On our way to the Champions league final in Paris Martin Keown was handling the defence and in our run to the final we played 9 games and let in 2 goals . This included games against the likes of Ajax , Real Madrid and Juventus and in the final we let in 2 the first being a penalty .
Keown started to get the credit and Wenger got rid of him almost immediately. Until Bould is allowed to do his job properly we will not be in a position to judge.
Potter
Please lets not full.our selves by just blaming Le Prof.
Bold had he had a bit of carachter would have said …..”.thanks but i cannot be anymore associate myself with these shambles that occur week in week out”.
That would be a testament that the failure that you allude solemly at the door of the manager.
He is an absolute idiot that i should pack immediately.
He is just milking the club or another yes man crap.
Hi Adam, me too ?
Afternoon Alex. Not really sure what Bould does wrong, he’s just one of many who Wenger controls..
I’m not fooling myself Alex . The list of ex players that have spent time with and offered their services is quite extensive but they all go after a few weeks . That is no coincidence . Wenger is God almighty and his word goes.
On the other hand I agree Bould should walk but knowing the way that our board work should he do so and Wenger does go then he knows there is little chance that he would get back. It’s a gamble because a new manager may well wish to bring his own team in and Bould would go anyway.
Rico and Potter
A question for you two if i may !
What would you do had you been in Bold situation ?
Maguire all day long. .
He was outstanding at Hull and continued his form with Leicester
I was also very impressed with him when he played for England. .
Definitely missed opportunity by our useless scouts we could have had him from Hull..I don’t think we can afford him now..
Afternoon Rico and all.
Bloody hell !……………I thought I was the first to suggest Maguire, but looks like gunnerpete saw him before me ….damn !
🙂
I was praisling Maguire ages ago and shortly afterwards Keown said he was the best English defender out there, saying he was better than John Stones !…………………..obviously Arsene didn`t think much of Keown`s reccomendation for some reason………..oh yeah, Keown has a mind of his own !
Mosty players are good in the league but some just stand out and Maguire did that for me, as I`ve said many a time before, when watching Arsenal I always have an eye on the other teams decent players, I dont mean when we are playing the likes of the big 3, but the lesser teams, they nearly always have one standout player.
Too late now imo, but N`Zonzi was another who stood out for me when at Blackburn then Stoke !
On the surface I would resign , but I don’t know what is happening if anything below that.
Potter
Spot on….??
If the man does not seem that his messages go through that tick french head the honorable thing to do is to leave the space…….but …no…..then he is just a Bold idiot to me.
Disagree : – but I don’t know if you had the pleasure of watching Seaman , Dixon, Adams , Bould , Winterburn and Keown in action. If you had I would suspect you might have a little more respect for him.
The only downside with maguire is his pace ..but he compensate that with his good positining and foot work ..
Has to be Duffy for me what a player best player for ireland the last few years and a danger in the opposition box put him beside kos he would learn loads and become a rock for arsenal
Saying that mo salah just did a number on maguire. .lol
Alex, probably do what Bould is doing, and that’s waiting for Wenger to leave..
Sorry guys, my Internet has been n and off all day because of weather..
I’d say that anyone who thinks Steve Bould is an idiot is in need of a reality check..
Afternoon Lc..
4pm Potter, well said.
Rico
Perhaps you could en lighting us if you know more about this Bold……..
To me is an equal culprit because through out his stay is one rubbish season after another specially on that defending department.
Changes are coming slowly and we will see if he will stay or go.
Alex. I’d have thought being an Arsenal fan, you’d know his name is Steve Bould. I know no more than anyone else but what I do know is that your views on Bould are odd to say the least. I think we all accept Arsene Wenger is the main man at the club, upset him and you’ll be out the door.
Just look how he’s treated players who’ve had an opinion…
Are you an ST holder by the way?
Rico ..
i would have same opinion as Potter……..If he had quit i would have gave him big respect but if choose to stay for fear of sack then will loose many respect.
Good news Sotton they nick a point from Moanino…..luv it …and they play well
So did Pat Rice and all the other coaches…
Sorry to piss on few bomfires but AW thinks we are good enough(after all he has been managing for 30 years) we are only 20 plus points behind the leaders.!! This tranfer window will be the usual crap. He truely is the worse manager on planet earth when it comes to tranfer dealings in and out now. Since he has had money he has totally f@@led up the last 5 seasons.
Can’t stand the man now, sad really.
Stevey, I’m of a very similar view, as are many on here..
Rico to be honest i am so sick of hearing all he has done for the club etc etc IMO in the last few years he has held us back with his piss poor transfer dealings, team select and tactics his total neglect of our defensive play OK we have won 3 fa cups which is great and has releived the fustation a bit, but the amount of humiliating results
And now players again wanting to leave is a joke and s smear on a reputation .
Stevey, again I agree. Arsene Wenger is nothing like the manager he was but then he inherited a great back five. Bought some great players and had DD to help him, push him.
He changed the PL and English football, but as others moved on, he stood still….
Rico, I wouldn’t go for Lewis Dunk if he’s only 4” tall… ?
I thought that Holding and Chambers played very well against West Ham in the League Cup, in a back four.
?? Kev, so he is. Oops…
Morning to you and all..
Morning Rico. Will it ever stop raining here?
Lovely to watch Mourinho’s meltdown. 🙂
Morning Adam. I much prefer the cold and bright mornings. Fed up with the rain..
Me too re Mourinho, love it…
New post up now.