I haven´t seen anything to suggest he is better than either Vermaelen or Koscielny. Too rash in his defending and abandons his position to go forward too often, just like Vermaelen btw, but TV is both quicker, faster and by far the better passer. Vertonghen is a bit bigger and stronger though.

This signing only makes sense to me if one of our CBs other than Squillaci is leaving, and I can´t see that.

I can see Djourou leaving to be honest. It's maybe a season too soon but if he has any ambition he will move. Not sure I want him to though. Without looking at the squad makeup I think we're short a few homegrown players even when you consider that Ramsey, Coquelin and Wilshere will be included in the next 6-18 months.

You are right about Djourou Klaus. If he has any ambition he will leave. Personally I doubt he will want that move this summer, and I think he is more than good enough as 4th choice here.

How does Djourou match up with 4th choice CBs at other top clubs do you think?
Man U, Chelsea, Tottenham, City?

I'd take Djourou over Evans and Ivanovic at least. Not sure who City has. Is it Savić? He's promising but very inexperienced. That's the thing with Djourou - he's made 130-something appearances for Arsenal and knows the club inside out. You need that kind of experience in a squad.

Evans has been quality this season though.

Djourou over Ivanovic? Seriously?

Djourou doesn't have any ambition, that's why he's about half as good as he should be.

Ivanovic is seriously overrated makes lots of errors when playing central. Thats why hes always put at RB hes a last resort at CB.

I'm a big fan of Mertesacker but im also worried about his 2 ankle reconstructions. It is normal for a 3rd reconstruction to end a playing career. Most worryingly was that it didn't "go" in a tackle. Looked like cronic (straw that breaks the camels back) type of injury. Which means the cause hadn't been resolved.

He could be fine we did finally seem to get a decent physio in at the start of this season. Suppose we have to give Per the benefit of the doubt although its awfully tempting to go for Vert now.

Clrnc wrote:

Djourou over Ivanovic? Seriously?

Easily. He's a good rightback but a mediocre central defender. He's also pushing thirty.

Klaus wrote:

I'd take Djourou over Evans and Ivanovic at least. Not sure who City has. Is it Savić? He's promising but very inexperienced. That's the thing with Djourou - he's made 130-something appearances for Arsenal and knows the club inside out. You need that kind of experience in a squad.

Evans has been way better than Jones or Smalling this season. He's also far better than Djourou now. Things just seem to have clicked for him this year.

Savic has been terrible for City, as much of a liability as Djourou has ever been.

He's added a bit of power to his game much like koscielny

qs! wrote:

Evans has been way better than Jones or Smalling this season. He's also far better than Djourou now. Things just seem to have clicked for him this year.

I'm just not sure about him. Djourou had a good spell last season too when he played regularly. I don't think either one of them has enough in their locker to make it at top level in the long run, but we shall see.

Evans had a really good season, a crap season last year and a good season this year. Hes looked at times like a real ManU player. But Furgusan wont have the same patients Wenger had with his Swiss youngsters I can only see him being replaced. Although the homegrown rule might change that ive no idea how ManU are stacked on that front.

speedy wrote:

But Furgusan wont have the same patients Wenger had with his Swiss youngsters I can only see him being replaced.

Evans has made 120 appearances for United.

Evans doesn't look to be a starter for United in the long term but I could see him settling in and having a long spell there as solid back up like O'Shea was for years.

Doesn't really matter. It's a well-coached team. Ferguson could start Djourou and make it work. There's enough good players and excellent coaching on that team to mask some mediocre players. Imagine Michael Carrick starting on our team. We'd be asking for him to be throw in the same garbage dump as Chamakh

Carrick is a shockingly underrated footballer. Having dross like Barry and Parker starting for England at his expense is such an insult.

No carrick makes numerous errors. He's just as bad as those two

He's an English Denilson without the magic ankles