On the flip side Klaus you were also saying how Chambers is completely pointless and unnecessary signing that adds nothing to the team then a day later started a thread about him.

Ox should be moved back to Right Wing. Looked so sharp and so dangerous when he first joined and we played him wide right.

Never been impressed with him centrally.

Looks like one of these Wenger projects moving him centrally. play him wide, give him freedom and tell him to attack at will. We'll see a much better Alex that way.

Big Willie wrote:

On the flip side Klaus you were also saying how Chambers is completely pointless and unnecessary signing that adds nothing to the team then a day later started a thread about him.

Different things. Chambers has been a pointless signing because we give him two games per season in the position where he needs to play, not because he's a bad player. He hasn't developed since we bought him because we immediately signed another reserve who took his playing time. I don't get that.

Because we needed 4 CBs and Gabriel has been very useful since he came here. Imagine if we only have 3 CBs, we would have dropped plenty if we are forced to play someone like Hayden or Pleguezelo

I'm not saying we should keep 3 CBs in the squad. I'm saying we shouldn't have spent £30 million on two reserve centrebacks.

If Mertesacker didn't improve this season we would have spent £30 million on one backup and one starting centreback.

Klaus wrote:

I'm not saying we should keep 3 CBs in the squad. I'm saying we shouldn't have spent £30 million on two reserve centrebacks.

Is your gripe with the money spent?

Partly. I think we could have spent that money on one top class defender back in 2014 and then picked up a halfassed 4th choice defender who never plays anyway. We needed a starter, not squad bolstring. It's almost two years on now and we still need to find a new starter. Instead we all know that Gabriel is going to be handed the position for free at some point; not because he really deserves it but because Per has soon regressed to the point where he's no longer a viable top 4 option.

Klaus wrote:

Partly. I think we could have spent that money on one top class defender back in 2014 and then picked up a halfassed 4th choice defender who never plays anyway. We needed a starter, not squad bolstring. It's almost two years on now and we still need to find a new starter. Instead we all know that Gabriel is going to be handed the position for free at some point; not because he really deserves it but because Per has soon regressed to the point where he's no longer a viable top 4 option .

Only in your mind, Klaus. And just because he is not in the German NT doesn't prove that either. He has proven to be a perfectly capable defender - can't think of too many goals where one could say "Mertesacker screwed up" this season or the last. He had a few dodgy games early this season, but he has emerged from that now and is as stable as ever. To say that he is not good enough for anyone in the Top 4 is patently untrue.

It's not about committing defensive errors, it's about the compromises we make to accomodate him. The fact that the quality of our defence lives and dies with Koscielny should tell you something. The minute Kos is not playing well - and it's been happening a lot lately - we feel the effect. Per is just about a good enough top four defender right now. I can't see him maintain that level for another season considering the rate he's been regressing though. There's no one at City, Chelsea, Spurs or probably even United who would take him if you offered.

We have an issue with Per's decline, no doubt, but the real risk we're shouldering at the moment is Koscielny experiencing a rapid decline or worse injury problems.

Yeah, I personally think Mertesacker is having a better season than Koscielny.

Citeh look like they're going through, not such a bad thing for us as it'll mean more games for them.

Great finish by Toure for the third goal.

Think City might win it this year

Think Barcelona might win it this year.

You'd have to think one of the usual suspects will win it, most likely Barcelona or Bayern.

barca's run this century is so amazing. i remember going into the 2006 final they had 1 champions league/european cup and we had 0 and if we held on it would be 1 a piece. now they're on 5 going on 6. and in comparison with their rival, it was 9 to 1 now it's 10 to 5 (soon to be 6). messi's time at barca is other worldly.

BWoolley wrote:

Klaus wrote:

Partly. I think we could have spent that money on one top class defender back in 2014 and then picked up a halfassed 4th choice defender who never plays anyway. We needed a starter, not squad bolstring. It's almost two years on now and we still need to find a new starter. Instead we all know that Gabriel is going to be handed the position for free at some point; not because he really deserves it but because Per has soon regressed to the point where he's no longer a viable top 4 option .

Only in your mind, Klaus. And just because he is not in the German NT doesn't prove that either. He has proven to be a perfectly capable defender - can't think of too many goals where one could say "Mertesacker screwed up" this season or the last. He had a few dodgy games early this season, but he has emerged from that now and is as stable as ever. To say that he is not good enough for anyone in the Top 4 is patently untrue.

Rex wrote:

Yeah, I personally think Mertesacker is having a better season than Koscielny.