First off before we can even THINK about turning our best defender into a CDM, we’d need to buy a replacement as Senderos and Silvestre should never see the pitch again.

Second, while I think Verm has some speed, he would not be quick enough to provide cover for the back four. Song has done a decent job at the position (possibly better than Denilson). The goals that we’re conceding aren’t coming from the middle of the park, they’re coming from the out wide positions while our right and particularly left backs (Yes, you Clichy) have been caught too far forward and unable to get back in time to help Willy G. and Verm share the defensive responsibilities.

Maybe in someone’s dreams he’ll play CDM, but in real life he’ll stay a defender as he’s doing a smash up job!

Cheers.

Same goes for Denilson but since he doesn’t have the same physical traits as Song his game must develop in other methods. However, his footballing brain is faster and seems a bit more experienced than Songs and his stamina is absolutly incredible. Cannot downplay the importance of good stamina. In terms of tactical awarness, positional sense, and doing his job as “the facilitator”. Keeping the ball moving, shooting when the opportunity arises, and again KEEP THE BALL MOVING.

Now back to the Song issue…once he is gone for the ACN I believe Wenger needs to buy cover for 3 reasons: 1. Denilson is good and will grow to be exceptional but is not ready quite yet to truely anchor the midfield-more experience and some muscle is needed. 2. Diaby isn’t a player who can accomomdate Denilson’s definite need for some kind of midfield assistance. I for one do not rate Diaby and I do not belive he will come of any good. Him being the oldest of the 3 DCM/CM’s (Song, Denilson, Diaby) he simply doesn’t seem to get his role and doesn’t know when to give up the D@MN BALL! 3. Who knows what kind of shape Song will come back in after a grueling ACN campaign. We all saw how useless Eboue, Toure, and Song came back after the last ACN and it didn’t do us any good.

A cover for Song must be bought in january or we will suffer the consequence and for you who say Coquelline could step in or Ramsey I would say I have faith in the youngsters as well but theres a point when faith can be detrimental to title-winning aspirations. And you all know what I’m talking about.

Oh, almost forgot about Vermaelen…ummm no, he should not be put in as a CDM because he was bought as a CB and thats the way uhh huhh uhhh huhhh we like it lol.

Gooner4lyf

For me – for a DM – he gets caught too high up the pitch to often, leaving us exposed at the back. Same for our full backs. Look at the game at the weekend, the second goal. It’s not the first time and it won’t be the last. Petit and Vieira used to take it in turns to burst forward, Gilberto rarely ventured past the centre circle.

As for Fellaini – I like him! Aggressive, scores goals and wins headers. It’s not like we couldn’t use someone like in the Arsenal midfield.

What is interesting to note is yes we were shaky against Blackburn, but that is largely down to the slow, shaky start to begin with. Not that surprising considering 10 of the 11 played against Olympiakos and were probably tired from ripping the Greeks apart.

Another thing I noticed was how defensively secure Arsenal were when we went 4-4-2 (Eduardo and RVP as strikers) vs the Greeks. Arshavin in particular took a lot more responsibility in midfield, chasing back. He understood the need to do this more often when Diaby was subbed.

The second blackburn goal is hopefully a lesson that all of song, sagna and clichy can’t go forward at the same time – they need to sort the comms out and make sure that we are properly covered at the back. But thats a relatively minor thing to iron out.

I think at City the emotions got to us and the team just wanted to cane them so badly they lost discipline and got caught on the break. Blackburn was probably over confidence – which was well placed ultimately. Against tougher teams i hope we start to see more caution though as we can’t expect to simply outscore the better teams, we need to get way tighter defensively if we are to win anything.