Like my underwear, I'll keep it brief!
I just want to give credit & garner opinion from you dear folk on the recent performances of Thomas Vermaelen. The FA Cup game against Everton at the weekend saw Vermaelen reunited with Mertesacker due to Koscielny being injured. Vermaeln had only recently returned from an injury lay-off himself, so I expected him to be a tad ring rusty.
Whilst he did make one error that could have ended in tears, slipping over onto his backside & gift-wrapping an opportunity for a Blue shirt to run in on goal. Thankfully for him (& Arsenal) the chance was spurned.
Against Bayern last night, arguably the best team in Europe, if not the World, Vermaelen filled in at leftback, due to Gibbs and Monreal being out injured. I'll be honest, I expected a horror-show. To my surprise and subsequent delight, the big-donged Belgian gave a brilliant display.
I can't look past Vermaelen moving on this summer. Flying the Emirates nest & looking for new pastures is very probably the natural progression for the guy's career. He needs 1st-team football & he's unlikely to unsurp the partnership of Mertesacker & Koscielny. It's a shame, because as shown last night in Bavaria, Vermaelen offers dedication, professionalism and versatility. From a squad point of view,he'll be difficult to replace.
Well played Tommy V, well played...
MOIST
Vermaelen - Good Will Hunting
posted on 12/3/14
I still wonder why he cant be used in the DM position. Is it stamina problems of lack of positional awareness in that role?????
Please somebody tell me how long he has remaining on his contract with Arsenal?
I like TV and would be very sad to see him leave us.
posted on 12/3/14
If Sagna leaves the club this summer, which is looking more likely with every passing week, as well as Vermaelen, the club will be in the situation of HAVING to sign a minimum of 2 NEW defenders, but more likely 3 (even 4, at a push) players, due to Sagna and Vermaelen being able to cover various positions along the back 4.
Wenger doesn't like (traditionally) to make bulk signings, but IF that pair (Sagna & TV) fly th nest this summer, there'll be little option but to go into the market for defenders.
posted on 12/3/14
Moist, do you know now long TV has on his contract?
posted on 12/3/14
comment by ubad9jagooner (U7978)
posted 4 minutes ago
I still wonder why he cant be used in the DM position. Is it stamina problems of lack of positional awareness in that role?????
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Lack of positional intelligence (he gets caught out in his natural position as a defender so God knows what he'd be like in midfield). Also there's no evidence that his ball retention and passing is anywhere near good enough to play that role.
posted on 12/3/14
Moist, do you know now long TV has on his contract?
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2016?
posted on 12/3/14
Lack of positional intelligence (he gets caught out in his natural position as a defender so God knows what he'd be like in midfield). Also there's no evidence that his ball retention and passing is anywhere near good enough to play that role.
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Fair point; but he seems comfortable to carry the ball out of defence and fairly aggressive in the tackles.
That said, arsene see him everyday in training and surely have a better assessment of TV's strength and weaknesses.
posted on 12/3/14
I hope if sagna and Verm leave wenger doesn't think he'll just need squad players. Could see him signing a squilaci and silvestre type player again.
posted on 12/3/14
If Sagna and TV leave, we would need at the very least, three defenders-a replacement right back and two CBs.
Every top team require a minimum of four natural CBs and I hope the fact that we have been lucky with injuries in that department do not cloud arsene's judgement in the summer's recruitment exercise.
posted on 12/3/14
I hope if sagna and Verm leave wenger doesn't think he'll just need squad players. Could see him signing a squilaci and silvestre type player again.
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You'd think (hope) that Wenger's had his fingers burnt once too often with that kind of behaviour. Once bitten, twice shy & all that...
posted on 12/3/14
It was great seeing TV in the last couple of games. Rather than say more on that, I'll just say I agree with everything you said in the article, Moist.
I think he's been caught out by circumstances a lot. Last year, he started the season well. Wenger did rotate - remember when Kos came back in for his 1st game of the season vs Chelsea and cost us the game? - but it didn't work out well. If I remember correctly, that happened pretty much whenever he changed center backs last season. Then TV got injured and Mert and Kos cemented an excellent partnership. When TV came back in for the odd game or two he didn't do well (exactly like Kos when he came back vs Chelsea, for example) and hasn't been able to really break back into the side. Wenger is now loathe to swap CBs too often since the formula works with Mert+Kos, and he got stung when he tried to rotate last season.