Made the experienced Gareth Barry look second rate during the Saints» 3 - 0 win over Everton earlier in the season, and just happens to be exactly what England need
in a defensive midfielder at the moment.
Not exact matches
I am angry that we are still short
at the back and
in defensive midfield, quality wise.
But the game does a decent job
at giving you plenty of options — young and old — who are free agents, if you find that your current group of
defensive midfielders don't include Nemanja Matic or Paul Pogba
in their ranks.
Though England are currently well equipped
at centre back, and Rovers boss Sam Allardyce believes that will eventually become Jones» permanent position, there is certainly a void
in defensive midfield that Jones could well fill — especially with poor Owen Hargreaves having suffered another setback.
Buying Morgan, Wanyama, or William would have meant filling
in the
defensive midfield vacancy for
at least four years, and that Granit would not have joined us.
The
midfield is a diamond arrangement with Ozil
at the north of the diamond, Carzola and Xhaka on the sharing the deep lying role
in the west and the east of the diamond and Coquelin on the south of the diamond as
defensive midfield.
The best formation Arsenal could have
in defence and attack would be three
at the back, three man
midfield of a world class
defensive mid, Xhaka and Ramsey just
in front with Sanchez and buy a world class striker (maybe Costa from Chelsea).
But his age is making me to panic of his manning the Gunners
defensive holding
midfield role against the speedy Barca's pouncers
in Feb Ucl clash
at the Ems
in Feb next year.
Monreal
in at CB provides an adept and semi creative ball playing presence
in the
defensive third which I think is important to keep us moving the ball fluidly and intelligently and also means opposition need to compensate for the possibility of Monreal clipping the ball over the top to Lacazette and cutting the
midfield out.
Coutinho is the real problem for me
in that Liverpool team.He can destroy
midfield strategies.That's why I worry when I see us with no DMF.Years back (14/15) I remember Coquelin back pocketing Coutinho yet it's likely Wenger will bench him for no reason.That guy has so much potential if only he's used wisely.He has the abilityto mark players out of a game and intercept many passes.I know many of you will call me stupid and say he's average but imagine if Coquelin was used
in a very
defensive sense.Being brilliant tactically is all about producing the best system with the players you have and clearly that's not what's happening.I already lose hope when I see Kolasinac and Bellerin
at WB whsn clearly it doesn't suit them.WB's are so important
in a 3 back but clearly we've ignored that.
In an interview with the Hull Daily Mail, the 20 - year - old
defensive midfielder explained how he jumped
at the chance to join the Gunners as a teenager when he learned of their interest.
Vidal: Not a
defensive midfielder; Khedira: Not a
defensive midfielder and out injured for 3 months; Kondogbia: From a champions league qualifier club to a club that is not
in Europe
at all.
Emmanuel Frimpong failed to impress Arsene Wenger
in the first team outings he has been handed and following an injury curtailed loan spell
at Wolves last term the
defensive midfielder has been sent to Charlton Athletic until January.
The Gunners may have sorted out most of their problems
at the back and eventually started playing with a
defensive midfielder in Francis Coquelin, but Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott aren't really good enough up front to lead you to the title
Arsenal have had a longstanding problem without a strong intelligent
defensive midfielder for many many years, but a few years ago Wenger got lucky when Francis Coquelin was recalled from a loan
at Charlton and immediately became our beast
in that position.
With Arsenal lacking considerable talent
in the
defensive midfield department and having to often rely on Aaron Ramsey to provide them with cover
in the position, Jankto would certainly be welcome
at the Emirates.
It's difficult to blame Ozil for the difficulties he's faced
at Arsenal without looking
at the big picture... like the fans, he too was lied to by Wenger... there is no doubt
in my mind that he was told by Wenger that he was trying desperately to recreate our earlier success by acquiring players that fit the system he ran when Henry was
in his prime... as we know this hasn't happened...
in order for Ozl to flourish he needs some speed up front, forwards that can make intelligent runs, a boss
in the
midfield to compensate for his obvious
defensive liabilities and defenders who can transition from defence to offence quickly and efficiently... much like he had
in Real and with the German National squad... unfortunately he ended up on a squad that has a striker who plays with his back to goal, very few intelligent runs into the box, minus Sanchez, no one to take pressure off him
in the
midfield, once Cazorla was injured, average
defensive midfielders around him, which simply highlighted his lacking
defensive qualities and defenders who lack the necessary cutting edge when it comes to transitional passing... instead of blaming Ozil, which is simply too easy, especially considering his mopey disposition, we should be asking ownership and / or Wenger why they brought him
in if they didn't intend on doing what was necessary to get the best from him... can you imagine Ozil playing with the likes of Henry, Viera, Petit and Pires, it would be incredibly to watch and even more difficult to stop... so the only thing different between his experiences
in Real and with the German team versus his time
at Arsenal are the players around him and we all know who is
in charge of making those decisions, the Grinch who stole soccer
We
at Arsenal pay the highest ticket prices
in the country, and we have rarely seen all that excess profit spent on players when we need them, such as Arsene Wenger's refusal to sign a
defensive midfielder until this January, despite lacking
in the role since Vieira's departure
in 2005.
Defensive midfielder Victor Wanyama, meanwhile, is expected to join Manchester United
in the summer with Sir Alex Ferguson keen to bring the giant 21 - year - old Kenyan, also valued
at upwards of # 7million, to Old Trafford to provide protection to his back four.
Arsene Wenger will have been impressed by the efforts of Francis Coquelin last term, the Frenchman being ushered back from a loan spell
at Charlton Athletic ahead of a good run of form
in the second half of the campaign, but the Gunners boss is sensibly looking to bring
in another
defensive midfielder solution
in the form of 26 year old German international Bender.
At least one top level centre back is needed
in January, as well as a top level
defensive midfielder, and they are both needed as early as possible if Arsenal want to guarantee a top four finish.
Mathieu Flamini is a fairly one - dimensional
defensive midfield option who is not the same player as he was
in his first spell
at the North London club, whilst veteran Spaniard Mikel Arteta is suffering with continued injury concerns and can not offer the same presence that Krychowiak would offer.
Weaknesses
at centre - back, left - back and
in defensive midfield are partly to blame for Liverpool's leakiness, but Jurgen Klopp's side have also suffered due to their lack of a top - class goalkeeper.
The
midfielder was also admirable
in his time
at centre - back with Barcelona and he was one of the only
defensive players to have come out of the Catalan club with his reputation intact.
Young Greek international is considered by many as one of the best young talents
in Europe and the defender /
defensive midfielder has certainly impressed
at Schalke over the past two seasons.
do nt be surprised if we see song back on a loan would be the easiest
midfield option to get
at short notice just to get him on loan for a season just to fill the gap i think wenger likes familiarity with some players knowing the arsenal way would be an ok squad filler
in case we have injury pile up
at Christmas or new year period as you would expect would be an upgrade on kim kalstrom i think anyways and being
at barca cant have done his skill set any harm maybe he learn to more
defensive responsibility
The Kenyan international has had a highly impressive season
in the Premier League, showing himself to be one of the finest young
defensive midfield players
in England
at the moment.
Despite having Nemanja Matic and Ramires as
defensive minded options to partner Fabregas
in midfield, Mourinho seems to want to bring
in the experienced German international who is currently starring for Joachim Low's side
at the 2014 FIFA World Cup
in Brazil.
Coquelin is better
at closing the opposition down denying them space, intercepting passes, and tackling which is essential
in a
defensive midfielder game.
Impressive
at both left - back and
midfield this season, Daley Blind makes sense as first choice
in the
defensive department next term.
Bellerin and Monreal is always almost on the corner line crossing ball's, we are always leaving defense bankrupt and vulnerable for a take over, by the time Monreal and Bellerin return to their station they have just sprinted the whole of the pitch to make a
defensive tackle sometimes coming
in from behind the player
in our box without giving a penalty or just outside for a free kick which we can not defend set peaces, if we are to use them some
midfield players have to drop back which is not happening
at the moment
Mourinho has a host of
defensive and holding
midfield options
at present, with Serbian Nemanja Matic now the regular
in the Chelsea starting line - up.
Liverpool don't look
in the best shape right now after another crushing defeat
at the weekend, with a more
defensive - minded
midfield player perhaps ideal to offer more protection to the Reds» unconvincing back four.
The north London side could well do with a strong tackling
midfield presence with neither Mikel Arteta or Mathieu Flamini consistently impressing
in either a holding or out and out
defensive midfield roles and having taken a shine to Wanyama during his time
at Celtic Wenger is now ready to re-ignite his interest
in the 23 year old.
If Arsenal stick with three centre backs then Mustafi must be considered a far better choice for the third birth alongside Kos and Holding rather then Monreal.Kolasinac has to come back
in at left eing - back and Bellerin revert to the right.
Midfield is a very different matter.Arsenal still desperately need a proper
defensive central player.Ozil
in this current side can not be considered anything more than a luxury.All of Bournemouth's creativity will come down the flanks so it's necessary to put players on to the pitch who are prepared to fulfill their
defensive duties.This also means that unless Ramsey can work out that he's playing
in midfield not as a number 10 he has no place on the team either.
At the moment I would not need to take a gooner vote to find out which player would make their starting 11
in that
defensive midfield role out of him, Arteta and Flamini.
Also, we are all hoping that Wenger signs a quality centre back and
defensive midfielder at the very least when the transfer window opens
in January.
Our 3 back is just so wrong.We don't have natural wingbacks even
in this formation.It also seems to me that lots of people here believe if you're good
at right or left fullback then automatically you're good
at RWB / LWB which quite frankly is untrue.That's why Oxlade Chamberlain can be considered
at RWB but not right back.
At RWB or LWB you're asking too much
in terms of attack from Bellerin and Kolasinac.A proper wing back can be viewed as a more
defensive winger which quite frankly none of them are and they don't possess the flexibility too to play that way.Our
midfielders are also not disciplined enough because
in 3 back there's a huge gap
in the centre of the field that must be covered by our CM's so indiscipline only means disaster.We also have Ozil who looks like he's playing
at RW
in 3 back.
In that we're limiting his impact because Ozil takes on his man because he wants to not because he likes to.You can't play such players
at the wing.He's a proper No. 10 who likes to be given freedom.That's why Ozil plays likes he's lazy on the ball and stuff.It's because he wants to be free and for that you need to put him
at No. 10.
Lahm, when he plays as the
midfield pivot, is pivotal to the Bavarians maintaining a good
defensive shape but, even he, with his lack of pace, cost Bayern
in the first leg
at the Bernabeu.
The most ideal solution is to sign a world - class
defensive midfielder in January, but if that isn't possible, Wenger has to
at least make an emergency loan signing
in January and then go
in for a renowned
midfield workhorse
in the summer transfer window.
If Gabriel Paulista does leave Arsenal this summer due to his likely becoming surplus to requirements
at Arsenal which himself might have sensed, apart of the 4 specialist defenders of: Koscielny, Monreal, Mustafi and holding who have been regularly manning the Arsenal back three line of recent, other centre backs like Mertersacker & Chambers, and
defensive wingbacks of Bellerin, Kolasinac, and the
defensive midfielders of Elneny & Niles, can all also play as centrebacks
in a back three or back four denfese - line whenever the need arised.
He's a bit overrated I must say.I also don't get those who are asking him to tackle well.The fact is he's not a good tackler.I fear Wenger has made him untouchable
in our team such that even if he plays badly he still starts.I mean if people are saying he's not a DM
in the first place then is he also a CM?If he's a CM does he have the quality to play along side a DM?These are the questions we need to ask ourselves.If he's a CM then he's good
at distributing from deep and also up top but he can't hold thd ball
in tight spaces or dribble which is very important.If he's a DM then he simply can't defend.That's why for us to be successful
in the long term with him we need a hybrid
midfielder or what I call a
defensive box to box
midfielder.
At the moment, the youngster is playing as a
defensive midfielder in the Barca B team, so I'm sure that Wenger will be keeping a close eye on him and whether he gets a chance
in the first team.
In fact, in the modern day game, as much as any team requires a «midfield creator» who can provide assists and be the engineer to break down the defensive walls; it's equally important that you possess a «midfield destroyer» who, at times, proves to be the 3rd Center - Back, ahead of the two men at the heart of the defenc
In fact,
in the modern day game, as much as any team requires a «midfield creator» who can provide assists and be the engineer to break down the defensive walls; it's equally important that you possess a «midfield destroyer» who, at times, proves to be the 3rd Center - Back, ahead of the two men at the heart of the defenc
in the modern day game, as much as any team requires a «
midfield creator» who can provide assists and be the engineer to break down the
defensive walls; it's equally important that you possess a «
midfield destroyer» who,
at times, proves to be the 3rd Center - Back, ahead of the two men
at the heart of the defence.
The versatile Dutch international could also have a role
in the side filling
in at left wing - back or as a
defensive midfielder, but centre - back seems his likeliest position
at the moment due to United's desperate need for new players
in that position.
Lucas played from the start
in his now accustomed
defensive midfield position and put
in a solid display to keep the Reds sured up
in the middle and secure
at the back.
However, the inclusion of Kamara
in particular is an interesting one as it gives an indication of what Arsene Wenger is planning to do
in regards to his lack of
defensive midfielders at the moment.
I've not been convinced that we'll be signing a
defensive midfielder at all, and
in that context not competing for Schneiderlin makes sense.
Right once again I've have to clarify I'm not an aob or akb and I am by no means defending him, He should of signed a striker and a
defensive midfielder or
at least one of them even if he felt we needed one or not, but I do have to say we have a very good squad this is a better squad than stayed 1st longer then anyone else a few seasons ago and with cech I say a better squad then earned more points then anybody
in the 2nd half of the season.
But we have Arteta, Flamini and Coquelin to play as
defensive midfielder, if they all get injured there's not really that much you can do as manager — you can only name 25 players
in your squad
at the end of the day, it can't be an endless list of backups.