The YouTube Thread: Page 37 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

The YouTube Thread

Klaus

Ricky1985 wrote:
Blame Oliver Kahn for suggesting that. I think most fans would take the same attitude as you - Szczesny's well on his way, but of course he's not there yet. Won't take him long though.

Oliver Kahn said that Szczesny had a world-class performance - something I can agree with, having seen a rerun of the game. There's a big difference between having a world-class performance and claiming world-class consistency though.

Captain

Plus Oliver Kahn is actually insane and probably shouldn't be taken seriously.

Ricky1985

Didn't Kahn say "there's only one world class player on that pitch" or something like that, Klaus?

Anyway, he still has to prove over time that he can play at a very high level, that's the mark of a class footballer. I'd say he's about as good as anything in this League, but still has a few mistakes to make and lessons to learn that players like Reina and Cech have already made/learned a long time ago. But I certainly wouldn't swap him for anyone now, not Casillas, not Buffon, not Julio Cesar, and not anyone in the Premier League.

y va marquer

World class doesn't necessarily mean perfect and for me, in this context, it relates more to talent than proven ability at the highest level.

I think Kahn is correct in his assessment that Szczesny is world class in that he has the reflexes, physique, agility and strength to make saves that look unsaveable.

Sure he will make errors because of his relative inexperience. He is still learning.
There are areas of his game that need work, but he doesn't have any faults that are unfixable or related to an inherent lack of ability.

Along with his superb shot stopping capabilities he has the qualities that are most fundamental to any world class player: absolute confidence in his own skill and the work ethic to back it up.

I guess people won't recognise that he is world class until he consistenly produces the level of performance that he produced in the German game.

Kahn might be a bit of a loon but I think it's silly to dismiss completely his views on something in which he was actively involved at the highest level for years.

I'd trust his judgement on Szczesny over anyone on here and not just because I happen to agree with him anyway 🙂

Klaus

Ricky1985 wrote:
Didn't Kahn say "there's only one world class player on that pitch" or something like that, Klaus?

Actually, he said: "Weltklasse ist für mich, wenn einer die unhaltbaren Bälle hält. Und Szczęsny hat das geschafft." Which directly translated means: "World-class, for me, is when you stop an unstoppable ball. And Szczesny has accomplished that." Which makes is sound like he's referring to a specific save - probably the double-save from Klose from just a few yards out. At any rate it was obvious that he didn't comment on Szczesny's career but rather on the performance for the night.

Ricky1985 wrote:
But I certainly wouldn't swap him for anyone now, not Casillas, not Buffon, not Julio Cesar, and not anyone in the Premier League.

I think that's crazy. I'm perfectly happy with him too and wouldn't swap him for anyone in this league, but if there was ever the slightest chance of us signing Buffon or Cesar any sane man would do it and send Szczesny out on loan for a few seasons.

Ricky1985

I wouldn't. Szczesny is top class, he just needs to go on and show he can keep that up game after game, season after season, but I've no doubt he will.

Y sums my thoughts up nicely in the post above. He's extraordinary and has a rare mix of ability, confidence and physical attributes that will see him become the best.

There were two different quotes from Kahn, Klausie. He also said this:

Oliver Khan: "Tonight There was only one world class player - Szczesny."

Timbob

We can all agree that he's better than Almunia at least.

Klaus

Ricky: He's still talking about the game against Germany.

We all agree that Szczesny is a world-class talent at any rate. I just don't like how people paint him as a world-class player when he's still got much to learn. The kid hasn't even made 20 league starts at top level yet for christ sake. We should be happy for him without trying to compare him to some of the greatest keepers in modern time.

goon

As I said before, world class is just a tag and largely irrelevant when it comes to how good a player is.

Biggus

For Brian.......

Ricky1985

Some great moments in there:

tazmania

I miss this fucker

Timbob

Ridiculous player.

YounGunner

World class compilation. Must watch.

est

These compilations show nicely what Song brings to the team and why we tend to struggle when he's out.

Lukazan

Song is quality. I think the people who don't see his value or want him out of the team are idiots, frankly.

Ricky1985

I have issues with Song and his game, and pretty much hate it when he's asked to play as a more attacking midfielder, but I definitely believe that Wenger has done a brilliant job with him over the years. As a holding midfielder he's a very good player.

Klaus

What's most impressive about Song is that he keeps developing all the time. He doesn't stand still. You look at someone like Diaby and realise that he hasn't moved an inch since he came here five years ago. Song, by contrast, is a much more rounded player today than he was even a season ago. At the start of last season he was much improved compared to where he was a year before that. Look at the goal he scored against Bolton where he nutmegged Knight and then chipped the keeper from a tight angle. When he was seventeen and first arrived no one was sure that he even had feet to play with. He still has to be quicker to release the ball and he gives away clumsy fouls at times, but there are signs of improvement in those areas as well. I think playing with the likes of Arteta, Wilshere and Ramsey will develop him further in that direction. He turned 24 less than a week ago too, so you'd expect him to keep improving for a long time still.

Captain

A video about a defender that actually shows some defending. How revolutionary,

Hleb and Sagna was such a good combination.

Ricky1985

He's the best there is around.

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