Klaus wrote:

You forgot to close a [ quote ] tag.

Thanks.

Our midfield was much worse yesterday with Diaby in it rather than Song, and that was without Sunderland even attacking. We are seriously short in midfield now.

timBO! wrote:

Kos and Vermaelen on the other hand have both just signed long new deals and have never been seriously linked with a move. They're not superstars being chased by all the big clubs. Football is unpredictable, but there is no tangible reason to expect either to leave.

Sounds exactly like Clichys contract dealings until he decided he was off.

Wasn't the story for his last contract signing that he just told his agent to accept whatever Arsenal offered. Now he has a league winners medal.

I'm just talking about next summer though. I said that despite the fear that more of our good players will be off in 12 months, there are currently no obvious candidates for that, certainly not in the Nasri, RVP, Cesc etc catagory.

Obviously a year in football is a long time, so we'll see. But no point worrying about it now at any rate.

Well, that was a quick transfer done fairly quietly and quickly...
Sounded like something happened at the training ground...
Something with Bould?
Bing, bang boom and gone....

qs! wrote:

Our midfield was much worse yesterday with Diaby in it rather than Song, and that was without Sunderland even attacking.

If you were to replace Diaby with a third player who knows how to win the ball and release it quickly we'd improve significantly on the other hand. I think that's what we're building towards this summer. Arteta and Cazorla are both no-nonsense players who rely mostly on superior balance. They never shy away from a duel, stay on their feet and usually get the ball without fouling someone.

Then on the other hand you've got Diaby who suddenly comes lunging in with a two-footed tackle when there's no need for it, who can't win the ball back for shit and tries to nutmeg opponents in his own half. He sticks out like a sore thumb in midfield. He goes on a power run every now and then and people think he brings something useful.

Klaus wrote:

qs! wrote:

Our midfield was much worse yesterday with Diaby in it rather than Song, and that was without Sunderland even attacking.

If you were to replace Diaby with a third player who knows how to win the ball and release it quickly we'd improve significantly on the other hand. I think that's what we're building towards this summer. Arteta and Cazorla are both no-nonsense players who rely mostly on superior balance. They never shy away from a duel, stay on their feet and usually get the ball without fouling someone.

Then on the other hand you've got Diaby who suddenly comes lunging in with a two-footed tackle when there's no need for it, who can't win the ball back for shit and tries to nutmeg opponents in his own half. He sticks out like a sore thumb in midfield. He goes on a power run every now and then and people think he brings something useful.

That's why we should do every thing to get Sahin, imagine Arteta---Sahin----Santi.

By time anybody gets close to us the ball will be long gone.

Diaby did a solid job yesterday Klaus. You're taking the vilification over the top in my opinion, the fact he can be improved upon (and it seems like we are) doesn't justify writing him off.

Feel similarly about the Song criticism. Barcelona buying him seems to have convinced quite a few people that he was always shit.

@ Burnwinter

I can tell you I never believe Song was shit, I just think he was a liability and give a false sense of security in the midfield.

Thought Diaby was no better than average yesterday. Been out for a long time though, so it's understandable. Although, like Klaus, I don't expect too much even if he ever gets up and running.

I think anyone that thinks we missed Song in general play yesterday is clutching. He may have produced a quality through ball in the 90 granted.

Think it's undeniable that we missed RVp though, unfortunately.

Undeniably true.
Cazorla + van Persie - won't even go there.

y va marquer wrote:

Undeniably true.
Cazorla + van Persie - won't even go there.

Cazorla + llorente - go there

Keeping it in mind.
We'll have to take Juve out of the running though.

Rose tinted glasses to an extent, in my opinion. Robin might have scored 30 League goals, but he missed good chances in just about every game he played.

In fact, I'd go as far as saying that in one of his first games of the season, still rusty, and on his right foot, I'd have put serious money on him missing that chance yesterday.

I'd like us to sign a lively striker who can latch on to through balls which roll on the ground; the type cazorla feeds through

Odemwingie would be a good pick up

Ricky, we missed his movement hugely.

We missed Robin's presence in the box yesterday, not his general movement.

Burnwinter wrote:

Diaby did a solid job yesterday Klaus. You're taking the vilification over the top in my opinion, the fact he can be improved upon (and it seems like we are) doesn't justify writing him off.

Well, conversely, the fact that he's technically able doesn't justify the way people constantly talk him up for doing the bare minimum.

timBO! wrote:

Ricky, we missed his movement hugely.

Maybe. But I think there were a load of games last season where the wide men struggled to create and chances were few and far between, just the same.