Youth team development: Page 17 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

Youth team development

Armor

Anyone seen anything of Semi Ajayi? Jeorge Bird said recently that he's making good progress and is a better defender than Miquel but not as good technically. He suggested he could be close to a squad place. We might be pretty desperate in the summer for a 4th choice CB if we also spend our time replacing Fabianski Sagna and Vermaelen.

lorddulaarsenal

He's an absolute tank. Agree with him not being as technically sound as Miquel but the premiership is now all about who has the most athletic team

Irishgunner

Has Wenger ever brought through a good centre back?

Rex

Yes, he has.

frusciante

we signed him as an 18 years old, i wouldnt be surprised if we are counting with him and i wouldnt be surprised if hes fourth choice next season unfortunetly..but guy is physically a freak

Irishgunner

Rex wrote:
Yes, he has.

Who? Senderos?

Song arguably, despite his woeful positioning.

Klaus

Irish gunner wrote:
Has Wenger ever brought through a good centre back?

Klaus

Okay, so Kolo wasn't an academy product, but he was signed as a 20-year-old midfielder. Counts in my book.

Irishgunner

Doesn't count for me, but I understand why some would view him as a Wenger produced centre back.

I'm thinking more along the lines of u18 signings brought through and developed by Wenger.

Klaus

He is a Wenger-produced centreback by definition. He isn't an academy product though.

Timbob

Thuram.

But anyway, most managers at top clubs buy in centre halfs. Not many have the balls to throw an unproven kid in at centre back.

frusciante

Irish gunner wrote:
Doesn't count for me, but I understand why some would view him as a Wenger produced centre back.

I'm thinking more along the lines of u18 signings brought through and developed by Wenger.

djourou would have made it even for us if he wasnt constanty injured

Clrnc

Irish gunner wrote:
Has Wenger ever brought through a good centre back?

Djourou was immense for awhile.

Bold Tone

If by immense you mean okay/adequate, then i agree.

Clrnc

He was outstanding against Barcelona. That period he was by far our best defender.

Klaus

Koscielny was better.

Bold Tone

Far better than Szczesny, Koscielny, Clichy and Eboue who all played out of their respective skins to contain Pedro, Villa and Messi?
edit: i agree with Klaus. Dj was jittery as usual and the fact he did manage not to get dispossessed was his best point.
In any case, one good game every 8 years is not good enough for even Wenger as he has been offloaded to hopefully never return.

Rex

Djourou's main weakness is his temperament. He is far too timid! He is a big bloke, fast, with excellent athleticism and he is really good on the ball for a CB. With an edge to him he'd absolutely bully the majority of strikers. Only problem is that he doesn't use his body very well at all.

Klaus

He has always looked like a child in a man's body. Took an absolute age to get going too after he had been out of the team for a while which made him a pointless backup player. You never got the sense that he had much fight in him. He was comfortable to be 4th choice and just pick up wages for a couple of years. I hope we won't bring him back this summer to replace Vermaelen. It would be such a waste of everyone's time.

Bold Tone

You guys are right, and my ott criticism of him is based on what you have both mentioned, but i would have respected him more if he failed, while trying his best (Senderos).

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