Tuesday 13 May 2008

Can Kolo fill the gap left by Fla-money, meaning a new partner for Billy?

With Fla-money leaving for pastures new in Milan, its obvious that we need a replacement.

There will be plenty of names linked with us over the summer no doubt, but one name that may sit well with us Gooners is that of someone already at the club........

Kolo Toure

Now a few articles ago, I wrote about Alex Song being given the chance to step into Fla-money's boots. Now I'm writing about Kolo.

Could Kolo step into midfield? I think it's possible.

Imagine being Cesc and looking over your shoulder to see Kolo stepping next to you. Put it this way, I would rather have Kolo on my side than against me!!!

Over the season its been clear to see that Kolo and Billy haven't gelled completely as a partnership at the back.

At times they have looked solid, at times a shambles.

Could it be an option for Le Boss to move Kolo into midfield and sign a solid big lump of a defender to play alongside Gallas?

It could be the best one.

Both play better with a big dominant partner. Remember Kolo with Sol? And of course Billy with the Chav Terry.

They are too similar to play together and both try to do the cleaning up, not the attacking sense of defending.

Whatever happens, I'm sure Wenger has a plan. This could be one of them.

Keep it Goonerish............

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

No, Tiure would be a rubbish replacement for Flamini. As would Gilberto. Song, Diaby or a new signing.

Anonymous said...

Kolo should be our super sub, cover for willy and new centre back, cover at right back, right midfield and centre midfield, thus leaving nowhere at all for Eboue who we'd easily pick up minimum 5 mill to be used on new players.

Anonymous said...

Kolo: strong, great energy, great recovery speed and firm in the tackle, and, of course, a rocket of a shot. Plus, lately his passing has become quite good, note f.ex. his assist for van P's goal against Derby. Could be an option, but would he mind being moved to a new position once more and what would it do to his form?

Anonymous said...

Diljeet - nah u robbed Fla -Money off me.

Anonymous said...

Well, he joined us as a midfielder, I don't see why not. He'd be a far better anchor than Flamini.

Anonymous said...

He could play there quite easily

Anonymous said...

Diljeet-perhaps you and wrighty7 have great minds!!

Anonymous said...

I think he would be great. Its obvious that the Kolo-Gallas partnership isnt working. they are two great players who posses experience and are proven at the top level, but they are too similar and thus cannot play well together, at one stage of the season it looked like it was working but things just went down-hill from there. They are two world class individuals but dont fucntion well together, simple as that! This would also make a nice place for a much needed centre-half and would be good in the long term. We have Nordveit comming through and when Gallas retires in a few years it could be a good platform for him to start off on.

The futures bright but we must be patient and keep faith!

Cant wait till next season!

Goonerwintrebble08/09 said...

Kolo's definately not the man to fill the role left over by fly money, I think the right man for the job, if we're keeping it gooner is Alex Song. The kid got strength and vision of which Toure lacks the latter which is pivital in that position. It is not all about strength. Furhtermore, he has filled that role well whilst at Charlton during his loan spell and did even better at the African cuo of nations where he won the young player of the tourney award for playing the role.

MeteorMonster said...

I have been asking for this to be done for the past few months even when we still had Flamini. Kolo is a better defender, is quick, powerful shot, attacks from the CB position and therefore why not from the DM, better in the air than Flamini, great recovery speed, was his original position, decent passing skills and bleeds Arsenal.

He also brings more height to a very height challenged mid field.

Nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Anonymous said...

jenas and all the spuds wafflin on about finishin above us AGAIN when r those fuckin dickheads gonna wake up and realise that they never have and never will be good enough tossers

Anonymous said...

I am not trying to sound better than those of you who think Toure would be a great DM but you are either blind or stupid. Im sorry if you genuinley think he would perform well there but it would be a disaster. Woeful in posession and that is what is most important.

Anonymous said...

Kolo has all the attributes for this role - energy, strength commitment, tenacity, defensive positional awareness, etc. Plus hes forays forward at right back have proved he can pick a pass in the final ball and be decisive in attack too. I agree maybe another partner for Gallas would bring better balance but we cant afford to lose Kolo from the 11. If Gallas loses the captaincy maybe he'll move on anyway so it will be Kolo plus another at CB. To answer the ? I think he could fill the gap at centre mid the only doubt in my mind is whether he last 50+ games there. Now can I add another name into the mix - currently residing in the 'where are they now' file but reappeared on Sunday : Johan Djourou. CM is his preferred position and with Song jumping ahead at CB and Nordveit waiting patiently in the wings maybe his time has come. Wenger knows - keep the faith.

Anonymous said...

toure can play dm hes played evry position for the gooners it would be worth a shot kompany beside gallas as stated above walcott wide right vela wide left fab bombing from box to box as he does
rvp just off the foward as pleb does at present or senderos or song playing if kompany doesnt come off what a team

Anonymous said...

I totally agree and have been saying it since it was clear that Flamini was off. He has all the required attributes to be better than Flamini, but will probably need to improve what he does when with the ball. Ideal position for a captain too...

Wrighty7 said...

Seems people have mixed views!

Anonymous said...

I agree completely, and I think le boss may try Djourouh at cb. and by the way great pun on Flamoney, top class sums him right up!

Wrighty7 said...

Thanks, but Diljeet thinks i've nicked it off him!!

I swear Diljeet, I thought of it as well mate!!!

Anonymous said...

How many people thought at the start of last season that the Flemster could perform with such distinction in central midfield. I certainly didnt and from the groans around the whenever he played neither did the majority of the fans at the Grove. I also remember the swear words thrown in the direction of Song. All long since forgotten as first Flemster and later on Song bird proved most of the doubters wrong. If Wenger decides to play my old nan in the team, who are we to argue. Should Arsene decide that Kolo plays at DM then of course ARSENE KNOWS!

Anonymous said...

Kolo is a great centre back, but he's not a midfielder. He can be a little "headless", and his positional sense isn't the greatest.
I'd feel comfortably with Song filling in to be fair. He's proved everyone wrong and deserves a chance.
Diaby is a no for me, he's not a defensive midfielder. People seem to assume that he's tall and physical that he must be defensive (Vieira-like) but he's far from Vieira.

Anonymous said...

I honestly believe Kolo could do a job for us anywhere but in goal. But if there's a Toure playing alongside Cesc next season, let it be the man Yaya.

Indian Gooner said...

I suppose Song will play alongside Willy in defense(The pair were great in the last couple of matches) and Kolo can be moved ahead into that Defenseive midfielder role.

This would allow Song and Kolo to move(as they both can play in the 2 roles).