Experience, leadership qualities and being affordable means nothing if you're a mediocre player. And no, that's not the CB I wanted. I had expected us to buy a world-class CB after losing both Vidic and Rio.
Thomas Vermaelen
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I am not excited, but he will be a decent capture if we have been unable to sign a top center back. A bit injury prone though like all of our defenders, so that's my biggest worry.
Some people may have wanted that. I wanted a top class CB who'd be the mainstay of our defense....
I guess if LVG wants him then we have to have faith. If Moyes had decided to sign Vermaelen he'd have been crucified though....
Can't get my head round this "signing". If a broadsheet wasn't carrying the story I'd be very sceptical but it is being reported by a decent(ish) journo, so I suppose there must be some truth in it?
Certainly not happy about it, but, as expressed above, if it does materialise then best of luck to him: I do remember him being a decent player a few years back ........... right?
Certainly not happy about it, but, as expressed above, if it does materialise then best of luck to him: I do remember him being a decent player a few years back ........... right?
No he wasn't.. He was in the PFA team of the year 4 seasons ago in 09/10. He has been quite poor and injury prone these last couple of seasons TBH and was superseded by Koscielny. People have every right to be disappointed because we needed a defender whose primary forte is actual defending (he didn't even have to be a world-class player), not someone who's suspect at the back.
Yeah, I thought he was quality for ages after his first season. Then it gradually dawned on me that he wasn't even starting for Arsenal and was actually distinctly average...
Uhhhh.... what. I surely hope that's for depth.
That's what you get for missing out on 4th. Simple. If this signing is an indication of what's to come, we're in for a frustrating summer indeed.
Oh believe me, I wanted a top CB as well. But how many are there available? Hummels won't move, Benatia will be difficult to attract without the CL and we already have enough of the promising ones. Vermaelen is a decent option at £10m because we need numbers at the back as well. His injury problems are a worry though.
I think they were hoping for someone who had better defensive capabilities.
I dont make him anything. You should look at both sides. He is a good player and an experienced leader. He may just act as a squad cover only for our future pairings. At 8 million he is a good buy. It is the harsh reality that we are not in champions league and we need to get back in it to sign the hummels/silva's of this world. I wont be surprised if he turns out to be a good signing who acts as cover for left back, centre back and defensive mid.
Would he really leave Arsenal just to come sit on our bench? And would we really pay 100k for some depth?
If he comes it's as a starter, I fear.
I mean he's the right type of player, just not the right standard.
Even I was! But we need numbers as well and once you look below the top tier of defenders, Vermaelen is a decent option at £10m considering he fits the prototype of what LVG wants in his center backs.
The fact that Arsenal start Koscielny over him tells you something else, no?
A thought: Could this be an indication that we've given up on Shaw? Vermaelen is quite decent at left-back and Evra just extended his contract.
If we can sort his fitness out and get he can regain his confidence then i think this would be a good signing. He was injured for so long that Wenger bought in replacements. When he returned fit he could get back in the team which has effected his confidence. Before this he was one of the best CBs in the league
No.
Surely we'd just sign an actual LB?
Nope, my guess is we have Shaw all but sealed for LB and Vermaelen is our choice for CB as our top class targets were unobtainable.
I suppose there are very few left footed CBs who are comfortable enough on the ball for LVG's liking, but even still I'd have thought there was someone better than Vermaelen out there...
He filled in very well for us last season I thought. Overall he's got some good qualities Thomas. He's very good at defending from the front foot, good at nicking the ball in front of a striker and very decent on the ball with good recovery pace.
However he's absolutely shocking at defending crosses, his positioning is't the greatest and he struggles with long balls. Despite the fact he's our captain he's not really a leader either. Also one thing that has gotten worse and worse is his strength. One of the best things about him when he first came and something that perhaps masked his defensive liabilites was how aggresive he was, nowadays he's been outmuscled by players like Stuart Downing.
Personally I would not want him to leave as I think he provides great cover to our centre halves. If he were to sign for you and become your first choice that would be a step in the wrong direction for your club.
However he's absolutely shocking at defending crosses, his positioning is't the greatest and he struggles with long balls. Despite the fact he's our captain he's not really a leader either. Also one thing that has gotten worse and worse is his strength. One of the best things about him when he first came and something that perhaps masked his defensive liabilites was how aggresive he was, nowadays he's been outmuscled by players like Stuart Downing.
Personally I would not want him to leave as I think he provides great cover to our centre halves. If he were to sign for you and become your first choice that would be a step in the wrong direction for your club.
He's a good footballer, but he's an average defender if that makes sense.
When Vermaelen first signed for Arsenal I thought he was an excellent defender - their answer to Vidic. He never quite kicked on to maximum potential, a lot of which is due to injuries.
But then again, our track record for signing injury prone Arsenal players isn't a bad one, eh?
But then again, our track record for signing injury prone Arsenal players isn't a bad one, eh?
Koschielny is a very good defender. So I'm not sure what to make of that.
It does makes sense and you describe him right.
Although Van Gaal must have seen him closely when he worked as a technical director at Ajax, so maybe he rates him and thinks he can get the best out of him.
I agree.
@sullydnl said it best. He's the right type of player, just not the right standard. I am taking comfort in the fact that at least he is the right type.
Well arsenal changed their style of play when song left. Let me tell you this, In 2012/13 when thomas was made captain, he played behind ALex song. Song dropped back whenever thomas went forward. This way he created space as usually the forward would not track him. This was the startegy wenger used effectively. Then song became a problem and was later on sold to barcelona. Vermalin couldnt function in his new role as this system isnt for him. Lvg uses the same defensive midfielder falling back system, he makes it better. If the dutch played 4-3-3(may be against australia) you will notice it. It is risky yes but carrick has done this constantly under fergie and he wont be a stranger to the role. If lvg wants hhe may use jones as the dm who falls back with thomas goin forward.
The British press on Monday morning were reporting that Thomas Vermaelen had agreed a deal to join Manchester United this summer. It was of course named an exclusive, but a little digging finds it originally reported by Belgium Het Laatse Nieuws on Sunday night as they compiled their Monday newspaper.
On Sunday evening at HLN their sport department was fast putting together a story which claimed, according to their information close to the player, that Thomas Vermaelen had held constructive talks with Manchester United.
Those talks led to an agreement being made and it's all under the instruction of Louis van Gaal who worked with the Arsenal player during his time at Ajax. Negotiations between the clubs haven't even started yet, according to the original Belgium report, and that would be the next step.
Arsenal have an unwelcome record of losing their club captains to rivals but it's different this time, Vermaelen isn't a starter for Arsenal and has somewhat lost his way at the club. The defender has had various injury issues, which some in Belgium feel are at least partly down to Arsenal treatment such as injections.
HLN believe Arsenal will put up something of a fight and want at least to recoup their €13m. It's fair to give more credit to HLN, should this all come off, they've been first throughout and in March explained that Vermaelen's agents had contacted Manchester United to try and make a transfer happen.
On Sunday evening at HLN their sport department was fast putting together a story which claimed, according to their information close to the player, that Thomas Vermaelen had held constructive talks with Manchester United.
Those talks led to an agreement being made and it's all under the instruction of Louis van Gaal who worked with the Arsenal player during his time at Ajax. Negotiations between the clubs haven't even started yet, according to the original Belgium report, and that would be the next step.
Arsenal have an unwelcome record of losing their club captains to rivals but it's different this time, Vermaelen isn't a starter for Arsenal and has somewhat lost his way at the club. The defender has had various injury issues, which some in Belgium feel are at least partly down to Arsenal treatment such as injections.
HLN believe Arsenal will put up something of a fight and want at least to recoup their €13m. It's fair to give more credit to HLN, should this all come off, they've been first throughout and in March explained that Vermaelen's agents had contacted Manchester United to try and make a transfer happen.
Let's blame Woodward for Hummels not wanting to leave and Dortmund not wanting to sell. Fantastic logic.
After all of Ed's big billy talk. . .
After all you lot talking about the likes of Robben, Pogba, Bastian, Sanchez etc, being targets and us pursuing them. . .
This is one signing I was not expecting. . Absolutely bizzare
After all you lot talking about the likes of Robben, Pogba, Bastian, Sanchez etc, being targets and us pursuing them. . .
This is one signing I was not expecting. . Absolutely bizzare
Have you watched Koschienly play? He's not perfect but I'd say he is developing into one of the leagues finest centre halves.
Very good? He makes the usual mistakes, tbh.
All this Woodward blaming is getting a tad pathetic. It can be possible that Van Gaal rates Vermaelen having worked with him before. There's a giant Woodward thread, so moan about him there rather than polluting every thread with the same dull crap.
If van Gaal wants him, that's fine by me, he's a good player who has been coached poorly.
Yes, I have. As good as he is, or can be, he still has an odd mistake in him every match. And that can easily result in something for the opposition.
What do you mean?
I think signing him would point towards a switch to 3-5-2. He can cover the left and central spot in a three at the back, with Evra/hopefully Shaw as the left wing-back. Decent option for less than £10m IMHO, though a bit underwhelming.
For that to happen, we need to have a good DM as well. And lets not forget, Song wasn't that good. He was just another fouling machine the PL has seen for so long. Also, Carrick hasn't played this role under Fergie "a lot". He has played as a holding midfielder, but then our defenders never ventured forward as much.
A defender that can't defend. Woo fecking hoo.
Talk about underwhelming. People love to slag him of but Tancredi called this quite some time ago and everyone just laughed at him at the time.
We lost 2 defenders and the rest is injury prone. If we'd sign him AND Garay nobody would probably complain
I meant carrick playing central defense. We may sign a good DM you never know? Song was a very good defensive midfielder. I think you are underating him by calling him just a fouling machine.
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