Wenger beginning to worry me
Tuesday, 17 June 08, 09:17 AM · Comments(29)
Ok, I know it's only June and I've published time and again that there's plenty of time for new recruitments by le boss. However, I just can't help but be alarmed by recent quotes from Arsene Wenger. They appeared last week, but I ignored them as the usual fanciful paper talk, but since more-detailed quotes cropped up again yesterday I feel the uncontrollable urge to pass comment.
So what am I fretting about? Well, these quotes printed in The Sun newspaper - that bastion of intelligesia - where Wenger admits: "I have been interested in Vincent Kompany ever since he was 16, but I am not interested in him this year... There is nobody I need for my team's defensive department."
Yes, it's the second, bolded part of that sentence that most alarms me, draining my head of red plasma. Since the second half of last season, it's become as obvious as day that Arsenal's big problem lies in the heart of the defence. In fact, I am pretty confident that had Wenger bolstered the defence in January, however problematic that may have been, Arsenal could well have been walking away with at least one major trophy last season.
There is no doubting that Kolo Toure and William Gallas are generally both fine players, everybody is assured of that, but it appears that they ceased to be fine players for about 3 months of the season - the most crucical part, the part where strength of character, composure and nerve is undoubtedly tested the most. It's all well and good displaying neat and tidy defensive characteristics in the first half of the season - and I'm not belittling how important that is, but it's really not so good if all the hard work is going to be thrown out the window come February, when the title race takes full shape and the Champions League knockout rounds begin.
Between 12th August and 11th February (over 6 months), Arsenal conceded 30 goals in all competitions - that includes a 5-0 hammering from arch rivals Tottenham in the Carling Cup semi-final, but when the pressure was really on towards the end of the season, Arsenal conceded 20 goals in less than eight weeks, winning just 2 matches in 13 and getting slowly but surely (or in fact quickly) taken out of every major competition partaken in. Liverpool put 6 past Arsenal in 6 days, Chelsea breached the defence twice in 15 crucial minutes, and Man Utd banged another 6 past the back line in during the 4-0 FA cup rout and league game combined.
Chief protagonists in Arsenal's downfall were Philippe Senderos and Kolo Toure - the former proving for the 5th season running that he is incapable of keeping his composure in pressurised situations, and the latter having a fair nightmare second half to the season.
One would think that Kolo Toure would be a shoe-in for club captain - enthusisatic, loyal and very popular amongst the fans, yet that Wenger has never considered the Ivorian for the role full time tells you enough about what the manager thinks about placing added responsibility on the player's shoulders. Only Gallas seems suitable captaincy material, yet even he has let the club down at times with some questionably bizarre antics, whilst the player tend to have an annoying habit of talking more to the players during pre-match warm ups than when we really need it, on the pitch during the game.
Much as though I admire the player, Toure has major aerial weaknesses that have been cruelly exposed since the departure of Sol Campbell . Unfortunately, Gallas does not seem capable enough in the air to compensate for Toure's continual 'miscalculations' in this department, and it seems fanciful that - short of emplying Tony Adams as defensive coach - further improvement can be coached into the Toure/Gallas partnership at the ages of 27 and 30 respectively.
As far as back-up for these positions is concerned, my opinion of Philippe Senderos is pretty much set in stone - too slow, lacks concentration, and in pressurised situations is prone to completely losing his bearings. Johanne Djourou did not particularly impress whilst on loan at relegated Birmingham, whilst Alex Song performed reasonably well towards the tail end of the season as Wenger toyed with playing Toure at right back instead of the untrustworthy Eboue, but again, you would have to emphasise that Song has not yet shown he can perform in a pressure cooker environment.
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To be honest I think he is using it as a smoke screen.
Wenger stated end of the season that he needed to strengthen the squad in a few places and included a Big defender a midfielder and possibly a striker. Stating that he felt perhaps 3 players needed. I personally think we need maybe 5 but hey..
The last couple of season when the boss has let slipped who he might be interested in other teams simply have outbid us..
I.E. Essien / Babel / Wright philips to name 3.
Nice piece mate... and I can 100% see where you are coming from...
But you've gotta remember mate, if he was going to buy any defenders, he's not going to announce it, is he?
I think he'll get cover in, but they won't be 1st teamers!
He needed to say that, after earlier talking about adding in defense, so we don't get stuck with accelerating prices.
The real question is 'who goes?' if we DO sign a big experienced central defender. Would you bench Toure or trade Gallas?
I guess I have some pretty deep rooted fears about the defence, I just can't help speculating about that area of the team. If we bought a commanding centre half, I wouldn't mind who was dropped - Gallas or Toure.
However, I think Gallas would leave if he was dropped and we need cover, so I'd want Gallas to keep his place as club captain and would like to see Toure cover for centre-back and right back positions. That's the sort of strength in depth we need.
That is the more ruthless option, but it probably would be best to drop Toure. However, that could backfire if it's true that Gallas is not appreciated by the team. And if we did ship Gallas out that would give Wenger a chance to try again to find the right person for captain.
none of you have a clue. you are all playing fantasy football. drop Kolo, buy this and that guy because I seen him do a few tricks once. A manager sees his players daily, scouts watch players daily - not the match but follow the players over the pitch throughout.
You guys post articles that are absolute fantasy.
As someone else said - who else has been active in the market, exactly, no one.
Wenger worries me, yer right. He has achieve a hell of alot on the system he has had to manage with due to whatever reasons. He is building teams not making them. He is developing youth and at an affordable price, he is competing with all teams on a fraction of their spendage.
Think before you write
29 Comments · Add yours
Some of you people make me laugh. It is June and mid Euros and have you seen a lot of transfers…no. Most top sides are waiting to see what happens, in fact Arsenal have been the most active in the market, although only signing Ramsey (Good deal) and Nasri (yet to be confirmed). You just need to get on with your life and not be too concerned with transfer rumours. Arsene will sign what we need when and where appropriate, if he doesn’t then we have enough good players anyway.
Fine piece. I couldn't agree more. If Wenger only buys one more player, it has to be a tall, commanding center-half. I hope his comments are a smoke-screen and that,in actuality, we are after Zapata or Albiol. Ramsey and Nasri are exciting, but not what we need to win something next year.