Just my thoughts on our left back position.
Gibbs has been first choice left back all season .Although he is young and English which is always refreshing to see I myself would prefer Monreal to be played at left back with the big games coming thick and fast.
I have a lot more confidence in him, certainly in his defensive side and in my opinion he is as good as Gibbs going forward.
Gibbs get's caught out of position so many times, and has a tendency to rush into a challenge (very similar to Clichy in that respect)
And although people on here praise him for his attacking flair, his final pass or cross never comes to anything. His composure really has to improve. No good getting into those positions and wasting a opportunity.
Monreal has been very patient and always impresses when called upon.
Point is. Against the better teams it's Monreal for me.
Opinion's please.
MONREAL
posted on 27/10/13
I think Gibbs has been very consistent for a long time now, he's undisputed no.1at this moment in time imo. Monreal is a very good left back, and we're lucky to have two of such high quality. You'd be hard pressed to find a club that has two as good as we do. For me it is all about preferences. Gibbs offers us more width than Monreal, which is pretty important considering that we play Cazorla on the left, and with him drifting inside often, Gibbs gives us a much needed option out wide when attacking. His end ball does need improvement, but his ball retention is good, so he can still be a key part of our build up play. Plus it's also useful to have that blistering recovery pace that he possesses over Monreal. He's a fantastically strong tackler as well.
posted on 27/10/13
Monreal is still a very important player to have, gives us good options to rotate, protect the lead as against Spurs, Palace yesterday, etc.
posted on 27/10/13
comment by You Can't Buy Class (U12019)
posted 14 minutes ago
What an outlandish ridiculous assertion to make GT. So Monreal makes one good dribble towards the end of the game when Crystal Palace were caught on the break and you decide he is better offensively. Not only are they bottom of the table with the worst defensive record but his dribble didn't even come to anything and he lost the ball.
Monreal has not even played enough games for us to make any sort of judgement akin to that he is better offensively.
You need a re-think.
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I didnt based my statement on the Palace game mate. I based it on what I have seen so far.
posted on 27/10/13
Did give you an example as well with the Dortmund game...but exposed us in the past as well and cost us points.
posted on 27/10/13
Kos, Mert Verm has also cost us points just like strikers miss chances sometimes.
posted on 27/10/13
Ok buddy, well you could be right, Monreal may be better offensively. This wouldn't be a massive surprise as Spanish players tend to be more well-rounded / versatile because of their technique training from a young age. They have long had attacking full-backs / wing backs before the English game adapted to it somewhat. However, I have not seen enough of Monreal to prove that yet.
posted on 27/10/13
When I say I haven't seen enough it's not because I don't watch us, I haven't missed a game in years. Just that he hasn't played enough. Wenger does place him in front of Gibbs when he's brought on rather than pushing Gibbs forward so perhaps Wenger feels the same.
posted on 27/10/13
Why would Wenger tell Gibbs to go further after playing 80 odd minutes as a LB when he brings on nacho in games
posted on 27/10/13
comment by 8bit- (U2653)
posted 24 minutes ago
Kos, Mert Verm has also cost us pointsjust like strikers miss chances sometimes.
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that is true as well but only wanted to point out how naive he sometimes acts. He is a good player but he must improve to be England's no 1 defender.
posted on 27/10/13
good point Castor.