Why is everyone going ballistic at the idea of Vermaelen at leftback? He was a natural leftback before RKC Waalwijk, the team he went on loan to, converted him to CB.
It won't be suprising if Wenger signs Samba and Cahill to make our backline look something like this -
1st choice: Sagna--Samba--Cahill--Vermaelen
or
Sagna--Cahill--Koscielny--Vermaelen
or
Sagna--Samba--Djourou--Vermaelen
or
Sagna--Koscielny--Vermaelen--Gibbs
or
Sagna--Samba--Vermaelen--Gibbs
Seriously, so many different combo's that we'll never get touched by injury. A bit like United with the Rio/Vidic, Smalling/Evans, Smalling/Vidic combos.
Now is it only me that thinks that this 1st choice line-up will be the hardest we've had in ages if Wenger makes this move? Beastly.
Many of you will think Vermaelen will be wasted at Lb but to be honest he'll be an improvement on Clichy defensively and whoever's in front of him can have the freedom of attack without the need to trackback. And if he ever goes forward, he'll have the liberty to unleash those monster shots we saw in his early Arsenal career.
Thoughts?
Vermaelen at Leftback
posted on 17/6/11
No.
Vermaelen, I believe will be excellent at Lb IF we manage to sign Cahill AND Samba. Then, I'll believe that this line-up-
Sagna-Samba-Cahill-Vermaelen
Will be one of the best in the league.
posted on 17/6/11
We all know he likes to get forward and Wenger encourages his full-backs to roam forward at every opportunity so he would enjoy it.
The most important aspect though in my opinion is that he defends first and obviously is a natural defender, definitely more so than Clichy and Gibbs at present.
posted on 17/6/11
Can you imagine Ferguson, when considering a new left back, thinking lets move Vidic...
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No, but when was Vidic ever a left back? Silly comparison really. Plus, I'm not sold on Vermaelen at CB anyway, he seems to be caught out of position easily. I do feel Vermaelen is slighty over rated, a good player, but frankly I believe that Koscielny is more talented.
posted on 17/6/11
I'm not convinced by the idea i understand that he would be better defencively and probly get a better cross and shot in than clichy or gibbs but he is our best cb imo, i don't see him being as effective on the flank as in the centre and i wonder whether he is athletic enough to get up and down all game, while its fine to drive forward once or twice a game from cb would he be able to do that 3 times a week? He doesn't seem as athletic naturally as clichy, gibbs, sagna, eboue. But if he would be happy to play there and could provide the defencive stability aswell as some power going forward i'd be all for it i just dont know if he can...
posted on 17/6/11
No, but when was Vidic ever a left back? Silly comparison really. Plus, I'm not sold on Vermaelen at CB anyway, he seems to be caught out of position easily. I do feel Vermaelen is slighty over rated, a good player, but frankly I believe that Koscielny is more talented.
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Sergio, you're spot on when you say Vermaelen isn't completely rounded when at CB due to his poor positioning. Zonal marking have pointed this out numerous times on the site : http://tinyurl.com/ybjg5kf
Anyway, I have noticed that Advocaat uses Vermaelen as a left back, maybe because of this problem, or maybe because he doesn’t have other players for that position (and Belgium has good players on the central position). I’m absolutely sure he will become a great leader and who knows maybe he’ll be the new captain if Fabregas leaves.
Vermaelen is a top, top defender but I feel that we'll see the real Verm at Lb
posted on 17/6/11
Yeah, and when RVP gets a knock lets stick him upfront too.
If we need a left back go and buy one! Have we even seen TV play consecutive games at left back? Probably not. Certainly haven't seen him play 10+ games there in a row and now we want him to play 38. So if we need a left back why not lets buy a proven one?
Or maybe not. Lets just shift deck chairs on the Titanic and watch our rivals buy proven players in their favoured position.
posted on 17/6/11
Finally a few posters that see things from my point of view in that we should move Vermaelen to left back.
It would shore up our defence alot and probably make our attack better as he can cross better than clichy.
posted on 17/6/11
"No, but when was Vidic ever a left back? Silly comparison really. Plus, I'm not sold on Vermaelen at CB anyway, he seems to be caught out of position easily. I do feel Vermaelen is slighty over rated, a good player, but frankly I believe that Koscielny is more talented."
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Agreed.
Vermaelen made twice as many mistakes as Koscielny made in his debut season, but he didn't get criticized half as much as Kossy because he chipped in with a few goals.
Don't get me wrong, I think Vermaelen is a very good player, but I think Koscielny is a our best CB.
Top, top defender.
posted on 17/6/11
We all know he likes to get forward and Wenger encourages his full-backs to roam forward at every opportunity so he would enjoy it.
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There is a big difference between coming forward once in a blue moon from the centre back position and getting forward on the left wing taking on players and making crosses.
posted on 17/6/11
SAF has played, Evans, Snmalling and Brown at full back this season so he ain't averse to doing it.
Vermaelen was billed as a CB/LB when we bought, him (people even wanted him playing as DM) he has played in that position. But I want to see him back in the centre next season.