Regrets, I’ve had a few
But then again, too few to mention
It isn’t just the hacks who are finding life hard to understand at the moment. A footballer admitting that their performances have been poor enough to warrant being dropped is a rarity in itself. Is Papa Vermaelen just minutes away from haranguanging Arsène via the Belgian media and more importantly will TSSSIMBT hacks be as willing to pass off a mass of supposition as the basis for a rebellion? Wars have been started on less…
I have made mistakes. If I played flawlessly in all the matches I would be Lionel Messi. As a footballer you know you what may happen when you play badly. I’m not worried though – it’s only the last games, I have played about 35 times this season. This is Arsenal, they are not a bad team and there is a lot of competition.
Only the last games? Ouch. Thomas Vermaelen’s defence mechanisms are working as well as the Arsenal defence in his absence. Mind you, when I was a lad 35 games only constituted about half a season…
Vermaelen’s career at Arsenal has been interesting; hailed as a saviour, injured, questioned and now blamed in some quarters for defensive failings. He isn’t perfect – far from it – nor does he claim to be. Captaincy has weighed heavily on him this season, as well as the confusion of the Arsenal defence as the team’s form slumped following defeat at Carrow Road. His natural game was evident during his first season at The Emirates, pressing onto the opposition quickly. That is the antithesis of Mertesacker’s game, his lesser pace not suited to a high line. It led to angled defensive lines and gaps readily exposed. Koscielny’s value to the German or Belgian evident as he seems comfortable in either set-up.
Vermaelen has also been touched by the captain’s disease. Things have not been right on the pitch and he has tried to rectify by forcing himself onto the game. As he observed, he isn’t Messi and cannot impose himself onto matches, influencing their outcome through attacking prowess. Vermaelen’s efforts identified the absence of ‘leaders’ across the pitch, people who could take the game by the scruff of the neck and turn matters around. His own form dropped and his efforts intensified in trying turn things around individually and for the team, entering a vicious spiral for which being dropped is the only solution, to allow clarity to his own thoughts. I have no doubt that Vermaelen will be back in the team soon, injuries have a way of creating such openings but he is well aware that ceteris paribus, he is not going to return to a defence which is not conceding goals.
Grabbing the game by the scruff of its neck comes naturally to Jack Wilshere. Firmly ensconsed in the position of Arsenal saviour, his performance against Brazil saw him ascend to the throne vacated by Wayne Rooney following one of his numerous international transgressions. Despite these, Rooney is still on course to reach a century of caps and becoming the country’s leading goalscorer, 21 and 17 away from the respective benchmarks.
From Arsenal’s perspective, injury is the only England concern. Experience gained at tournaments and in qualifiers for his country benefit the club, it adds depth to his ability to read the game. Out of the squad now through injury, Arsène is seeking to minimise any involvement in England’s end of season friendlies. Whilst there is nothing to be gained in playing the Republic of Ireland, is there any harm in him travelling to Brazil in early June? If he is fit, he will return in time to have a month’s holiday, surely enough to begin pre-season training with the rest of the squad. I understand why people are so protective given that he missed eighteen months through injury but if the club manage his fitness properly – the failure to do so is held as the core reason for his prolonged absence – then recurring problems (if any) can be minimised. There’s more hope of that than England not playing pointless friendlies as Winter turns to Spring each year.
The co-existence of international and club football is strained at the best of times. Clubs are more protective of their assets – rightly – which are used and abused by the national FAs. Moves to unify the football calendar continually fail as friendlies interfere with important phases of the club fixture list. Until that is resolved, the tensions will remain. There is an unseen benefit at this moment. The friendlies are causing expansion plans for the Champions League to be stalled so every cloud has a silver lining, even if it is a microscopic thread.
’til Tomorrow.
I thought Kompany was captain of Belgium?
Lol – having fun lads?
I want to be clear – I meant established central defenders who then changed position to become established central midfielders (like TV) not youngsters who had played in both positions and had yet to fully specialise.
BTW Song had played more in midfield than he had in defence and was, in any case, only used as defender as a last resort.
He scarcely even counts as a defensive midfielder!
I’d also rule out abject failures, like Southgate.
I could see Vermaelen in midfield easier than Arteta in defence…
Kompany is the captain of Belgium and has been the past couple of years.
Song was a midfielder 1st then play CB for a couple matches. Wasn’t Rijkaard always a box midfielder who became dominant DM type? Gilberto Silvia yea Ill give you that but I think the point Jonny was trying to make(unsuccessfully I might add) was yea they played there but how did they fare there.
To put all this to bed we could just buy Gonalos/Capoue/Biglia/Wanyam and be done with it all!!!
Phil Jones doesn’t count either – as like numerous multi-position utility players he wasn’t remotely unfamiliar with the role of defensive midfield or indeed left back.
As far as I know for his entire career (including youth level), TV has only ever played as a centre back – asking him to change now at the age of 27 is not only incomparable but a HUGE unlearning and relearning exercise.
I don’t see it happening.
Thanks C – I think!
I agree, C. Let’s get a physically powerful and defensively disciplined midfielder and be done with it!
surely i get a point for lother mattheus jonny..he started as a defender/sweeper then played in midfield.
Yup – point to Duke.
Mind you he was so classy he could have played anywhere.
I remember ledly king the poor mans sol campbell having a few excellent games for england in midfield.
@Jonny
No problem mate, I was talking about your 1st post not you last one, haha.
You did justify yourself quite properly I must admit.
I do agree with Jonny though as far as on Verm and Phil Jones. Even for Belgium when they are in need they have played Vertoghen there instead.
The Dutch Cunt and Coward is about to be in deep trouble with UEFA. The irony of this article is that he calls UEFA cowards but is one his very self.
http://m.espn.go.com/soccer/story?storyId=1383046
Even funnier is he said Nani’s karate kick wasnt even a yellow or free kick and that he barely touch Arbeloa. He mustbe ttalking about a different Nani red cars event lol.
Dukey, some folks will denigrate the club in the service of extolling our great manager. It isn’t necessary. This was a big club domestically that AW raised to a much higher level during the CL and PL era of expansion. God bless him. He deserves far more respect, in my mind, than he sometimes gets these days. I read the article you mention and think it makes an important point but also is deeply flawed as it is full of assumptions and lacks a sense of historical context. I think a more nuanced account is definitely in order. The good thing is that this time the argument wasn’t accompanied by some silly insults to English people. But it still does underplay the size and importance of Arsenal Football Club in many respects.
Can`t think of too many from our club who were proper centre backs but had a go in midfield.
Martin Keown played there towards the end of Graham`s tenure & was unsurprisingly poor. Going back further Richie Powling actually succeeded by moving forward until injury curtailed his career.
limestone,
I really dont know why there is an argument at all. seriously GG and wenger are both arsenal legends. why the comparison. of course people will look back at the GG era now with fondness ( those that were around not the akbs!!) coz we won things close together in a shorter space of time. but we have always been a top team in england.
the argument is we are now a top european team but its only gg that has won in europe and but for nyiems fluke it could have been twice, wenger has under achieved in europe imhhfo considering the world cup and european winners he has had at his disposal.
we have always been a top team in england.
Crikey – this would be a turn up for the books:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/mar/21/eu-debt-spain-football-clubs
No Deportivo..?!
It is a shame that is has taken Wenger this long to have the balls to drop the keeper and the captain. The story I read that it took the defenders to have a meeting and watch the spuds game to realise the way they defend is crap is a couple of years too late.
Hopefully we can end on a high and make the top 4, not sure we deserve it though looking at the way we have played or have been managed over the season.
http://www.aclfarsenal.co.uk/?p=10866
Morning all, today’s ascent into madness is here.