tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328101106494598665.post3091866135387304629..comments2024-03-27T15:34:33.446+00:00Comments on Another Arsenal Blog: Madrid demolished1979goonerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08783799499006052572noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328101106494598665.post-85927037309882251882008-08-05T09:23:00.000+01:002008-08-05T09:23:00.000+01:00The fact that Liverpool are willing to let him go ...The fact that Liverpool are willing to let him go could aslo be because Benitez is one of the biggest chumps in the game.<BR/><BR/>I am not a huge Alonso fan, but see him as a better player AT THE MOMENT than anything we currently have. And I rate him higher than barry, who got lucky cos McLaren started playing him in a terrible England side.Obsinhohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17682633045526999412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328101106494598665.post-71182844514441588392008-08-04T18:23:00.000+01:002008-08-04T18:23:00.000+01:00Obsinho is correct that defending is a team job, a...Obsinho is correct that defending is a team job, and not down to a few individuals, but the modern game absolutely needs an enforcer in midfield. Its just that the game has got faster so Vinny Jones and Dennis Wise types are rarer than they used to be.<BR/><BR/>I cannot think of a single successful team in world football who has not played with a guy in midfield whose job is to get in the way, Tedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11195190597835036529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328101106494598665.post-7424537797361258942008-08-04T17:58:00.000+01:002008-08-04T17:58:00.000+01:00Well.I forgot Song who is a fantastic player, he m...Well.<BR/><BR/>I forgot Song who is a fantastic player, he may well come into the reckoning.<BR/><BR/>On Alonso, I think we just have a difference of opinion on how good he is, I just don't think he's very good.<BR/><BR/>Senderos and Djorou are very decent players to have as third and fourth choice.<BR/><BR/>If we bring someone in at centre back, you are not going to get someone in who is better 1979goonerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08783799499006052572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328101106494598665.post-49620514373990265322008-08-04T17:19:00.000+01:002008-08-04T17:19:00.000+01:00Obsinho makes some good points but I am concerned,...Obsinho makes some good points but I am concerned, given the fragility of our centre backs last year, that we do need a good tackler. Fab can make a tackle but it's not his bread and butter.<BR/><BR/>We already have Fab, Denilson, Ramsey, Diaby, Song and Bischoff who can play centre mid. Am I the only one who thinks centre back is more of an issue - what happens if Gallas gets crunched first K manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13914600260045669589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328101106494598665.post-67546778285479895542008-08-04T16:56:00.000+01:002008-08-04T16:56:00.000+01:00My point is that Essien isn't a DM, but will often...My point is that Essien isn't a DM, but will often get labelled as one.<BR/><BR/>Alonso is currently a better player than Denilson. That i'd suggest is undeniable. Denilson at 26 has the potential to be better. but he is not as good as Fabregas at 19, and I think it would be detremental to Fab (and therefore the team) to play him as first choice.<BR/><BR/>If we sign Alonso, use him for a season Obsinhohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17682633045526999412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328101106494598665.post-75148719566074641852008-08-04T16:49:00.000+01:002008-08-04T16:49:00.000+01:00Not sure I agree with you on all your points.You'r...Not sure I agree with you on all your points.<BR/><BR/>You're spot on as regards the 'defensive midfielder', the modern game does demand an all round game, having said that you do not someone in there who can get their foot in from time to time.<BR/><BR/>Essien is not defensive, he's very much an all rounder.<BR/><BR/>I must admit that I haven't seen a massive amount of Alonso, only the big games1979goonerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08783799499006052572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328101106494598665.post-85218288111183000852008-08-04T16:21:00.000+01:002008-08-04T16:21:00.000+01:00Also, I don't think there are many out and out hol...Also, I don't think there are many out and out holding midfielders out there.<BR/><BR/>Maybe Mascherano. Maybe Essien, if you restrict the way he plays (which is foolish as he has such an expansive game). Madrid Diarra is cack - very poor last season. Makele, fair enough, but he's older than Kanu actually is.<BR/><BR/>Denilson is alright. Not ready now. Diaby hasn't changed at all - he is too Obsinhohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17682633045526999412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328101106494598665.post-76272819633050068412008-08-04T16:17:00.000+01:002008-08-04T16:17:00.000+01:00Fabregas likes to tackle. As i said he is a more c...Fabregas likes to tackle. As i said he is a more complete player. <BR/><BR/>I think signing an "enforcer" is old school (Vieira, Keane were the start of the movement to more complete midfielders). <BR/><BR/>Defending isn't the job of a back 4 plus a DM, it is the job of a team to be defensively aware, to watch movement on the pitch of their team mates. <BR/><BR/>I still think that an Alonso Obsinhohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17682633045526999412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328101106494598665.post-10392749521260890952008-08-04T14:13:00.000+01:002008-08-04T14:13:00.000+01:00I don't rate Alonso, especially defensively.He's s...I don't rate Alonso, especially defensively.<BR/><BR/>He's slow, beaten easily one on one, and frequently resorts to cynical fouls because of his defensive incompetence.<BR/><BR/>As things stand, I'd be happy with Denilson.1979goonerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08783799499006052572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328101106494598665.post-13974590793425780452008-08-04T13:57:00.000+01:002008-08-04T13:57:00.000+01:00nasri alonso fabregas walcottwho exactly is going ...nasri alonso fabregas walcott<BR/><BR/>who exactly is going to make the tackles in front of our none too solid back 4??K manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13914600260045669589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328101106494598665.post-74341191140805113422008-08-04T12:52:00.000+01:002008-08-04T12:52:00.000+01:00I would take Alonso, I think. I have never agreed ...I would take Alonso, I think. <BR/><BR/>I have never agreed with Scousers saying "he's the best passer in the league", but technically he is solid. <BR/><BR/>I also think that signing someone to sit next to Fab and say "I'll nobble this guy, then you do something magic" also limits Fab to some extent. We all know he is a more complete midfielder than some Totti-esque luxury stroller. <BR/><BR/>"Obsinhohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17682633045526999412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328101106494598665.post-43209191335229310592008-08-04T12:16:00.000+01:002008-08-04T12:16:00.000+01:00The telegraph reports today that AW is actually st...The telegraph reports today that AW is actually still after Barry, rather than Alonso. In view of O'Neill's earlier comments that Arsenal had made enquiries about Barry, I wonder if this not the more likely story.<BR/><BR/>If we have to sign one of the two, I would probably go for Barry. <BR/><BR/>But the whole situation is really like a choice between being kicked in the head or punched in the Tedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11195190597835036529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328101106494598665.post-5055518975511476562008-08-04T12:15:00.000+01:002008-08-04T12:15:00.000+01:00I agree with ted.I don't like Alonso as a player, ...I agree with ted.<BR/><BR/>I don't like Alonso as a player, having said that, I am not keen on Barry either.<BR/><BR/>Neither is what we need for many reasons.<BR/><BR/>I suspect the Alonso rumours are tabloid turkey.1979goonerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08783799499006052572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328101106494598665.post-33949655948969555942008-08-04T11:45:00.000+01:002008-08-04T11:45:00.000+01:00Spot on.Alonso is a good player but I don't see ho...Spot on.<BR/><BR/>Alonso is a good player but I don't see how you play him and Fabregas together without another holding midfielder. Then who are we dropping - Nasri, Walcott?<BR/><BR/>Denilson has looked good pre-season but again I struggle to see him playing alongside Fab. I think he will be on the bench and will rotate with Fab so there are no burn out issues.<BR/><BR/>Diaby does not fill meK manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13914600260045669589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328101106494598665.post-10294545823014491072008-08-04T09:46:00.000+01:002008-08-04T09:46:00.000+01:00Denilson has impressed over these two games and is...Denilson has impressed over these two games and is probably ahead of Diaby, for me, in the pecking order to play alongside Cesc in the center.<BR/><BR/>I see there are more rumours linking us to Xabi Alonso this morning, perhaps on the back of Barry's move to Liverpool being back on.<BR/><BR/>I have said it before and I will say it again. Xabi Alonso is not what we need. Yes, he is a good passer,Tedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11195190597835036529noreply@blogger.com