Jan Vertonghen

If it is actually done then it is a good move for us! Very versatile player who I will feel confident about stepping into CB (don't trust Djourou or Squid), LB (Gibbs is injured a lot and Santos isn't great at defending) or DM (Song is our only proven DM).

Sami Rockfeller wrote:Where would you accommodate 4 decent CB's? I still find this news hard to believe.

He'll be 4th center back, 3rd left back, 2nd defensive midfielder.

Sami Rockfeller wrote:Where would you accommodate 4 decent CB's? I still find this news hard to believe.

Im with you Sami

I can see Squid and Djourou going this summer, even if the latter signed a new contract. If we got him then I think TV, Kos, Per and Vertonghen would be the 4 main CB's.

But they're not only CB's. Kos has played at right back at times this season, TV at left back several times, TV/Per both have been injured a lot etc If Vertonghen comes then he will get games whether at CB, LB or DM. And from what I hear he is better than our current sub options.

Fuel for you 3-4-3 fans maybe???

Thought about that too Jenks.

a 3-4-3 of

Kos Verm Vertonghen

Walcott Wilshere Song Santos

Ox RVP Podolski


Is not a bad plan B.

The Centre Backs are certainly quick enough to play that way, Santos and Gibbs are both better going forward than at defending, I think Sagna would have to play on the right though with Walcott ahead of him.

In fairness its pure speculation but we do have the personnel to make that work.

Wait. Why are we complaining? Remember the time we had no fit centrebacks we had to play Miquel in CB and LB at games?? It was Olympiakos away, wasn't it?

Lucky we already qualified that time but what if it's a decider or something like that?

We are strengthening our squad with a cheap and really good player. How and when he's going to play, not up to us. Who would have thought Koscielny will be starter when he came? Same thing.

Samritpal Singh wrote:Wait. Why are we complaining? Remember the time we had no fit centrebacks we had to play Miquel in CB and LB at games?? It was Olympiakos away, wasn't it?

Lucky we already qualified that time but what if it's a decider or something like that?

We are strengthening our squad with a cheap and really good player. How and when he's going to play, not up to us. Who would have thought Koscielny will be starter when he came? Same thing.

This.

Samritpal Singh wrote:Wait. Why are we complaining? Remember the time we had no fit centrebacks we had to play Miquel in CB and LB at games?? It was Olympiakos away, wasn't it?

Lucky we already qualified that time but what if it's a decider or something like that?

We are strengthening our squad with a cheap and really good player. How and when he's going to play, not up to us. Who would have thought Koscielny will be starter when he came? Same thing.

Exactly this.
Maybe Wenger will play Vermaelen as striker from now on?

I think we will have lots of defenders and don't know how we will keep all of them happy, but:
a) Wenger probably has something on his mind
b) This is a football club, not somewhere where people are meant to be kept happy
c) Competition for places and all that

Maybe Vertonghen will play as a sweeper.

Maybe Vermaelen will play as a striker.

Maybe Koscielny will assist the lawnmower.

Besides, if we are to offload people who take spots in the 25 man squad and don't contribute with anything with people who come here and improve it, why not?

Or Sagna as a hairdresser

This strikes me as nothing but rumor, I don't see where he would fit in really. The only thing I can think of is that Arsene isn't happy with Mertesacker or is worried about his injury, otherwise - where the hell do we find room for TV, Kos, Mert, DJ, and Vertonghen?

Good player, but there are areas I'd rather see us spend the money.

I remember amongst all the speculation about Vermaelen coming there were people in the group who wanted Vertonghen more. If this is true it will only be a good thing. I hope it happens for the sake of competition and squad depth. Lord knows we need the latter.

i will tell you why.this year djourou had 19 starts and 8 sub appearances.
and comparatively we went out of all the tournaments pretty early this year.
however backups for CB positions we have had in the past,with our luck of injuries we were forced to play our 4th choice or 5th choice center backs for a chunk of our season.and this has been happening from god knows how long.
i remember 3 years back we had to play silvestre against messi at camp nou.
this year we have had to play squid and miquel too sometimes.
cant see how this move can be a bad thing

Joey Schwab wrote:Good player, but there are areas I'd rather see us spend the money.

It's only 2nd May. Window will be open only from July 1st - Aug 31st. One DM and one winger will be good. If RVP leaves then another winger/striker.

Players to clear = Denilson, Vela, Squillaci, Almunia, Mannone/Fabianski (keep one), Bendtner (would keep him but he wants to leave). Who else?

^^ One of Coq/Frimmy on loan if this transfer does happen. and maybe even djourou..

I still want a midfielder, a back up striker, and a goalkeeper.

I don't really think we need a DM so much a really excellent attacking player. Ramsey clearly isn't ready, it would be silly to rely on Jack to be that player after a year out of the game, Arteta is never going to be that player in the eyes of le Boss, and Rosicky (good as he has been) is a huge gamble to rely on for an entire season. That, I think, is where most of our money should go.

We need another striker as well, because for me Podolski will step straight into the starting XI on the left of the front 3, which still leaves us short if RVP gets injured. Out of all of our attacking options (Theo, Gerv, Ox, Podolski, RVP, Benayoun) only van Persie is a real center forward now.

Goalkeeper - if Fabianski leaves we have absolutely no backup for Sczez. We need someone experienced (ie: Sorensen) who isn't afraid to sit the bench, but will be able to push him/ step in if need be.

''Out of all of our attacking options (Theo, Gerv, Ox, Podolski, RVP, Benayoun) only van Persie is a real center forward now.''

Podolski IS a real center forward. He has played there all season for Cologne.

Let's be honest here, anything that makes our squad stronger is good news. Our bench has been terrible over the past few weeks. Yes, we need attacking players now, but look at what City did to shore up the game yesterday.

Brought on De Jong and Micah Richards. That's De Jong, a player that would probably get in any other team in the Prem. Also, let's not forget we're going to be competing on four fronts again next year. That means serious squad rotation, especially with our injury history.

Get in another mid, sign Benayoun permanently, and maybe another winger would be great.

We can't forget that we're going to be operating with some players that are "LANS"

Wilshere, Miyachi, Bartley. All of these players have gone out on loan or been injured to gain important experience for when they could be used next year.

GK : Szczesny, ?? , Mannone

RB : Sagna, Jenkinson
CB : TV, Kos, Per, DJ, Bartley
LB : Santos, Gibbs

DM : Song, Vertonghen, Coquelin, Frimmy
CM : Arteta, Ramsey, Diaby
AM : Rosicky, Wilshere(?)

RW/LW : Theo, Gervinho, Ox, Podolski, Ryo
CF : RVP, ??

That's a pretty good squad, considering we sell all the dead wood but we still need a back up for Szczesny (Sorensen, Jaaskelainen, Hennesey..) and RVP. Other than that we're good.