[craigkillie]

Supras, on 23 January 2012 - 18:41, said:

Sturridge and Romeu.

Fair point, but both of those players were signed as first-team squad members I think.

I was more talking about the younger ones like Gael Kakuta and Fabio Borini who were poached at a young age as part of their plan to emulate Arsenal and Man Utd in having a production line of talent.

[forehead7]

Supras, on 23 January 2012 - 22:22, said:

I think that is a bit harsh, he has made one or two errors but quite a few less than Phil Jones.

Savic isn't English though.

[H_B]

forehead7, on 23 January 2012 - 23:06, said:

Savic isn't English though.

And has played about 1/5th as many games that Phil Jones has this season.

For a reason.

[Supras]

craigkillie, on 23 January 2012 - 22:28, said:

Fair point, but both of those players were signed as first-team squad members I think.

I was more talking about the younger ones like Gael Kakuta and Fabio Borini who were poached at a young age as part of their plan to emulate Arsenal and Man Utd in having a production line of talent.

Was Sturridge really? Didn't play at all at the start and then farmed out on loan.

Wasn't playing for Man City either so unlikely a far bigger and better team (then) in Chelsea would sign him as a first team squad member?

H_B, on 23 January 2012 - 23:16, said:

And has played about 1/5th as many games that Phil Jones has this season.

For a reason.

Well, about a 1/5.

But yeah Man City have a lot more squad depth. I don't think Savic has looked that bad, an error in the big televised game that prompted this thread, he gave away a penalty but apart from that?

[xbl]

H_B, on 23 January 2012 - 23:16, said:

And has played about 1/5th as many games that Phil Jones has this season.

For a reason.

Phil Jones has played alright in midfield, but shopped a load of goals in defence. He definitely has great potential, but he's a long way off being the finished article.

[Thomas4]

craigkillie, on 23 January 2012 - 22:28, said:

Fair point, but both of those players were signed as first-team squad members I think.

I was more talking about the younger ones like Gael Kakuta and Fabio Borini who were poached at a young age as part of their plan to emulate Arsenal and Man Utd in having a production line of talent.

John Obi Mikel?

[Cowden til i die]

He's not made as many mistakes as Jones though. Oh wait someone already bit to that one.

[HEY_SIDNEY]

Tbf theres not a lot between them this season. Savic got rolled off andy Carroll a few times in the Carling cup, and made 2 mistakes against Spurs. Every defender makes them. Perhaps need to see Savic a bit more than the 8 games he has played.

Mertesackers pace gets exposed in this league no doubt. Wellbeck being prime example on Sunday.


They've had a hard start to their careers in their respective clubs. Hard to judge just now whos 'worse'.

Mertesacker certainly seems the 'better' defender tho.

[J_Stewart]

Am I the only one who remembers how atrocious a start Vidic and Evra made to their Man United careers? They seem to have done ok since, y'know, being given some time to bed in to a new country, new culture and new style of football.

God forbid anyone should look at anything other than the short-term and not expect immediate and glowing success though eh.

[Smurph]

In the game against Spurs, Savic won all of his tackles. He also won 6/7 ground duels and all four aerial duels. It was one sloppy mistake that cost him, but people were saying his performance was rotten before that. Strange...

[Ron Aldo]

craigkillie, on 23 January 2012 - 18:03, said:

I'm willing to gamble that neither Boyata not Weiss will "make it" at City. The same goes for Assulin, Suarez, Scapuzzi and any of the other superstar youngsters they've signed.

Have any of Chelsea's youth signings made the breakthrough since Abramovich took over?

Arguably, the last player Chelsea brought through their youth system who could be considered to have made it is John Terry.

I have to admit, I've seen very little of Savic to pass judgement but didn't Kolo Toure rip into him in the papers about his performances? Haven't seen much of Mertesacker in an Arsenal shirt either though I have watched him play for Germany and he has the turning circle of a bus. As has been said though, both players are only halfway through their first season at a new club in a new country so its a bit unfair just to judge them on that.

[Paco]

Mertesacker is coming onto more of a game now, although that may simply be because of the amount of defending Arsenal have had to do over the last few games and it's been a bit more 'backs to the wall' - his kind of style.

He was dreadful to start with though, especially in the 5-3 win at Chelsea. Haven't seen a great deal of Savic but he seems at the moment like he could be one of those centre backs who plays a great 90 minutes aside from throwing away a goal somewhere down the line.

[Shengus Khan]

Smurph, on 24 January 2012 - 14:08, said:

In the game against Spurs, Savic won all of his tackles. He also won 6/7 ground duels and all four aerial duels. It was one sloppy mistake that cost him, but people were saying his performance was rotten before that. Strange...

I would also add in Savic's defence that he was only at fault for one goal and his team won on Sunday. Kyle Walker was at fault for 2 goals yet very little has been mentioned of his performance.

[H_B]

Paco, on 24 January 2012 - 18:18, said:

Mertesacker is coming onto more of a game now, although that may simply be because of the amount of defending Arsenal have had to do over the last few games and it's been a bit more 'backs to the wall' - his kind of style.

Eh? He was fucking terrible against Man Utd.

[Cowden til i die]

Shengus Khan, on 24 January 2012 - 19:57, said:

I would also add in Savic's defence that he was only at fault for one goal and his team won on Sunday. Kyle Walker was at fault for 2 goals yet very little has been mentioned of his performance.

H_B, on 25 January 2012 - 09:28, said:

Eh? He was fucking terrible against Man Utd.

Both true.

Ledley was also badly at fault for a stupid tackle in the final minute. Savic is young and has a great chance to improve. Per is a complete liability.

[Coooombe]

Savic is fucking gash.

[lau03143]

Savic is utter mince, Mertesacker is a good defender, but the way Arsenal play and maybe training techniques and tactics, I think he's finding it hard to adjust.

[H_B]

Savic continues to plumb new depths with that performance last night

I was sure they were going to hook him after half an hour. Mancini definitely considered it.

Can't wait til the next Arsenal game to see if Mertesacker can rise to the challenge and limbo lower with another Bambi on ice performance.

Who says the Premiership isn't entertaining? Will be gutted when Kompany returns.

[H_B]

Sneaky as f**k by Mertesacker to feign injury, just to remove himself from the shitfest Centre Half debate. There's an argument to give him the crown just for that.

But, by the rules of the game, his departure from the scene has left the floor open for Savic.

Another comedy cuts error today.

Well done that man - the title is yours!

[Tynieness]

H_B, on 11 March 2012 - 20:35, said:

Sneaky as f**k by Mertesacker to feign injury, just to remove himself from the shitfest Centre Half debate. There's an argument to give him the crown just for that.

But, by the rules of the game, his departure from the scene has left the floor open for Savic.

Another comedy cuts error today.

Well done that man - the title is yours!

The only thing Savic needs to add to his game are a few fantastic comedy own goals

[H_B]

Tynieness, on 11 March 2012 - 20:37, said:

The only thing Savic needs to add to his game are a few fantastic comedy own goals

Fair shout actually...

I'd like to see him up his game on the comedy penalties front too. I'm thinking like the one Kirk Broadfoor gave away against Celtic where it was a full scale flying rugby challengem like a lion bringing down a gazelle in the wild.

I'm sure he's got it in him. Maybe just needs more games.