[Video] Do you prefer the current Alex Song?

By Sp1r0r

Alex Song has had quite an interesting career at Arsenal to date. First he was booed at Fulham and no one gave him a chance. But when he finally developed into a decent player and then a first team player last season as a DM, he starts to change his game.

Song’s job used to be just to sit in front of the back four and defend. When we played 4-4-2, his role as a shield in front of the back four, meant that only one central midfielder was allowed to roam forward, thus limiting our attacking options.

But last season, when Wenger opted for 4-3-3, Song stuck to his role but we had 2 attacking midfielders supporting a front man and 2 wide players. Song had more space to defend and also more responsibility on his shoulders because at times he was tasked to defend against a whole midfield.

But he excelled in his role and was one of our best players last season.

This season, he has tried to be a box-to-box player and even score goals. I have nothing against him scoring at corners or freekicks, but him venturing forward in open play leaves us vulnerable at the back, especially on counter attacks.

His goal vs Shaktar was a result of a corner but his assist for Nasri, though welcomed, is not something we like to see often. He was the 3rd furthest player forward, even ahead of Rosicky, Fabregas and Wilshere.

Although more players in dangerous positions means more options in the final third, I would very much prefer for Song to just sit back and play simple passes to more creative players like Fabregas. If he wants, he should expand his range of passing to include long crossfield passes, but not to venture forward and cross from the byline.

Song may have the stamina but he does not have the speed to cover us in the event he loses the ball at the opponent’s touchline to hurry back and protect his defence.

What with Fabregas, Nasri, Rosicky and now Wilshere all being in the side and being the creative hub, why does Song need to provide more attacking impetus. When Ramsey comes back, we’ll have even more options. If Wenger wants all 3 of his midfielders to attack, he should put Nasri, Fabregas and Wilshere in the middle, and just put Song on the bench.

The fact he wants Song in the team is for his defensive qualities.

What do you guys think ? Debate this more on our forum {HERE}

arsenalaction.com/forum/

By admin · October 20, 2010 · 24 comments

Comments

athlon29 says:

October 20, 2010 at 6:58 pm

i think, Song put the bar a bit high for himself in the last season. We’ll see how he responds. Sometimes I do feel that he wants the prove something up front. But it’s not his task if we have a Wilshere or Nasri. He is more more efficent at back to help the defence.
arsenal4ever says:

October 20, 2010 at 7:05 pm

hope he finally found his form but we need a back up for him if he gets injured. BTW Spurs are loosing, hahahhahahah!!!
nasri75 says:

October 20, 2010 at 7:11 pm

I am worried each time he venture forward seeking goals. I remember before the season started he was saying he wants to score more goals this season. However it seems we are conceding more goals instead. We have only keep one clean sheet this season so far, we won’t win anything conceding that many and we need our DM to do his job and leave creating to the people who can do it.
9jagun says:

October 20, 2010 at 7:43 pm

if he can get the early goals going up front like he did yesterday fine. Jack covers, rosicky nasri all can cover. Hey scoring goal is the most important of the game get the first goal for mancity and i will be happier
totellity says:

October 20, 2010 at 7:46 pm

Look guys, you can say all you want about Song, but I think what he’s doing is commendable. Yes he is ahead of the play at most times during the game, but remember he is our defensive weapon and this makes him responsible for breaking down the play.

In doing this, it means that he has to be one of the first line of destruction. He has to either win the ball, create a foul, or slow down the play and this can only be done very high up the pitch.

I watched the game yesterday, and yes Song got caught out many times in midfield but he was also covering a lot. There was one time that Clichy got caught out of position and Song was the first one back to slow up the play.

Song is eventually adding to his repertoire, and just needs to add striking the ball to become an absolutely complete player. Eventually, when things become tougher, Song will be an added talisman to Arsenal attack.

As a final word, Song did not run up the pitch against Chelsea like he does some of the other games. So check yourself on Song Arsenal fans.
pres says:

October 20, 2010 at 8:05 pm

i think that it is not only his decision to go up front the manager has the word too
junior says:

October 20, 2010 at 8:19 pm

alex song had one of his most complete performances in an arsenal shirt last night.The whole arsenal team defended and attacked as a team when have we seen that before.Do not fret about alex song leaving gaps at the back there was plenty of cover when he went forward.Arsenal only lost there defensive shape when Arshavin and walcott came on.You would have to go back to our run to the champions league final to find aperformance like last nights.Arshavin will have to learn the skill of being able to defend with the team ,at the moment he is best suited to the bench until he loses a few pounds from his rear and learns to play as a TEAM member
Bengunner says:

October 20, 2010 at 8:27 pm

Song is turning to monster in arsenal midfeid, i just love that guy
TERRYJA210 says:

October 20, 2010 at 8:34 pm

I always think watching Song that against many ‘lowly teams’ in the premiership he looks a decent player. In fact above average! But against teams with real attacking talent…and I am talking now about Barcelona and even Chelsea though I hate to say it. He is found wanting and for me that is the real measure of Song as a ‘complete player’.
dilly says:

October 20, 2010 at 9:00 pm

No, stay back, can go foward when 3 goals up.
True Gunner says:

October 20, 2010 at 9:10 pm

Alex Song can score the odd goal now and then, don’t restrict the man to just the holding midfield role.
He know his job on the pitch and he do it very well, if he get forward and score don’t kill him.
Tai Obasi, Lagos says:

October 20, 2010 at 9:25 pm

It is the duty of Arsene to instruct Song or any other player on his duties on the pitch. If he continues like that every match, then Arsene is happy and there’s nothing any of us can do about it.
Dave says:

October 20, 2010 at 9:44 pm

I don’t see in Alex Song a good defensive mlidfielder at all. He is extremely slow, can’t cover our defense and always tries to make a lot of unnecessary fouls from behind.

We’d better find another DM, if Frimpong can’t recover on time from his injury.
guest says:

October 20, 2010 at 10:28 pm

He has now added assist and firing power to his profile,not just a holding MF,which makes him solid but also dangerous to the opposition,so it is a vast improvement.
song says:

October 20, 2010 at 11:24 pm

dave y would you say song is nt a dm and commits foul then wat do u say abt mikel obi.song is d best dm in epl as at now so stop criticising d guy.modern footbal is nt about a dm doin d whole work its team play when he song goes up wilshare or fab covers thats modern footbal for you
denhen says:

October 21, 2010 at 12:03 am

Play to a player’s strength. If Song is effective moving forward and score, let him be. Sitting back will make him ineffective.

Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry were ineffective at Inter and Juventus respectively. Wenger played to their strengths and the fans enjoyed(still enjoying) watching the fabulous goals they scored.
GoOner4life says:

October 21, 2010 at 12:56 am

spot on Sp1r0r,he just needs 2 sit bk der n let the other magicans do their thing,i mean like u have mentioned he can alwyz go up 4 the set pieces and we have many of them most matchs so just hold that plc up and hustle them midfieldrz in the middle,1 last thing 2 mention iwas realliii realliii touched by dudu’s return last nite,honestly almost had tears on ma eyes,and this video had few of his goals which showed what it could have all been 4 him,sad sad sad thing honestly,WE LOVE YOU DUDU.peace
piken79 says:

October 21, 2010 at 1:22 am

its quite simple really..last season..when we played 3 in the midfield, there were two attacking players and one defensive player. this season, its the opposite, with two defensive players and one attacking player. when ever song goes forward, someone always stays back to support him, I think he has been excellent, i dont remember him causing us any games so far. i think you guys should lay off song a little.
josh says:

October 21, 2010 at 2:26 am

There is no iota of doubt that Song is so much in his element when coming to defending and robbing possession from ‘out of sight’ positions! But he has to improve on his timing and accuracy on passing the ball.
Samgunz says:

October 21, 2010 at 4:06 am

He definitely needs to chill, at least in the big games, stay the fuck back Song! looks more assured stopping and starting attacks than continuing them….. know your place in the team, Wilshere is setting an example of how to to play responsibly and i think Song is manipulating that, i think this as well might be a slight change Wenger has made tactically as Song has been doing this in every game.
echelon says:

October 21, 2010 at 7:15 am

for me, i like the present Song for he has develop his game to a new level. So with time he will be the best DM player that scores and defends, finaly his better then John Mikel Obi of chelsea who will never score a goal for life. So so i’m happy with Alex
Jia Hui says:

October 21, 2010 at 2:34 pm

Yes I think everyone would agree that Song should stay behind at all times and rush to break the attacks. this season, he has joined the attack a lot more often than any DM should, but i seriously think that if Arsene Wenger doesn’t like song going forward, he would have dropped him and played Denilson (pray he doesn’t and never do) as the DM.

from the way I see it, at Arsenal, the players only listens to Wenger, we hardly see any player going onto the field and do as they please, players like Robben. Every player listens and play to Wenger’s tactics. I think Wenger is trying to develop Song further, and but rotating the midfielders going forward, it’s harder for the opposition to keep track, and prevents opposition from anticipating our attack easily, like the brick walls we’ve been facing so many times last season. When Song goes up, opponents hesitate to mark him, even thought he doesn’t have the magic of Nasri or Fab, but he confuses them, especially when he has the ball.

Whether this will work fine, we’ll hafta wait and see. I still stand by my feelings, that our captain should not be someone who’s loyalty is in doubt. You want the team to have a winning mentality, then you jolly well go create it, as captain. and not moan about it to the press.

Clichy is the ONLY player so far to play his heart out in every game for the past few years. Look at the match against barca, he ran his socks off, the matches against the spuds. he may not have the qualities but i strongly believe, with the arm band, his contributions and on field play will no doubt bring unforeseeable rewards.
Anbury says:

October 22, 2010 at 5:17 pm

Couple questions….
Are you talking bout his hairstyle or his play???
Are you seriously critizing a guy because he’s scored a couple???
TBH this season I think Song improved, Becoming more Viera-esc, he’s deceptively skillfull & always in the mix.
padity says:

November 26, 2010 at 10:51 am

Dmitri Song can play all the positions in the field.It is left for the coach to position him rightly.
Dmitri keep up.No one like u.

[Video] Do you prefer the current Alex Song?

Comments

Speak Your Mind

Sponsors

Facebook

Babe of the Week

Social Network

Recent Highlights

League Position

Links

Betting

Arsenal Sites

Arsenal.com

SkySports

Featured On