Wednesday 28 March 2012

Alex Song Is (Nearly) World-Class

A few years ago if someone had suggested to me that Alex Song would one day be (nearly) world-class I would have taken them straight to Broadmoor and had them sectioned myself.

At the beginning of his Arsenal career Song looked, in my opinion, horribly out of his depth. When he went on loan to Charlton Athletic I actually believed he had probably found his level. At best.

Well, I'm man enough to hold my hands up, and admit that I was wrong.

I am very wrong. Its the most wrongest I have ever been since 1995 when I believed that Chris Kiwomya would become the highest scoring Arsenal player of all-time. (I didn't really believe that. Honestly) 

The fact is, Alex is now one of the most important members of this Arsenal team and when his name is on the team-sheet I feel more secure than when I do my Internet banking with Barclays. 

His progression has amazed me more than the Tulisa sex-tape and I think that Alex Song is on the borders of being a truly world-class player. In fact, he isn't far from being one at all.

It's my belief that the only thing stopping the Cameroonian from being that world-class player is himself. 

At times he tries to be clever in the wrong areas of the pitch. But maybe Arsene Wenger encourages him to express himself, even in dangerous situations. Who knows?

What I do know is I give it about 20 minutes before the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona start circling Song like vultures. In fact I can almost hear Xavi talking about Song's FC Barca DNA now.

In the past Alex has spoken about his love for Arsenal, and it's that proper deep love, so I believe that he will stay at the club for as long as we, and Arsenal, want him to. So Xavi, and the rest of his crew, can leave well alone.

A player that has really helped with the progress of Song is Mikel Arteta. The Spaniard has rubbed off on him and I think he totally deserves a gee-up for helping turn Alex into the player he is today.

Unless I am wrong about Song, like I have been in the past, then I honestly believe he will make that progression into one of the best midfielder's in the world. I really do. I haven't smoked anything. Or drunk anything.

I'd consider Song to be at his best when holding the midfield. And its a bonus that he can play that lovely little beaut of a pass over the top when needed too. 

Talk of him becoming an attacking midfielder, I think, is the wrong move. He can come from deep and why try fixing something that isn't broken? Because as Rafa Benitez would say, it is FACT that Song isn't broken.

Song has become a very consistent player. Once upon a time he was consistently bad, and gave me a consistent headache, but I have learnt not to judge players so quickly due to his rise as a player.

Its fantastic to see that he has proved a lot of people, including myself, wrong. I would never have believed that Song would become the player he is today. Never. 

So the man deserves a lot of credit for that. And the fact he is currently, after Robin van Persie, the second most important player in this Arsenal team says a lot.

Follow me on Twitter @_Wrighty7

Keep It Goonerish........

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well put wrighty. Couldn't have put it better myself. Had my doubts in past but proved me wrong. Great player.

Anonymous said...

You only need to look at Arsenal's record when he isn't playing to understand why he is key. He is adding to his assist tally, which is impressive for a DM, like Verm he is an attacking option, which shows how unproductive our attacking MF are, Ramsey in particular.

Anonymous said...

Alex Song is absolutely world class...there's no if or almost in there...

I'd say the ability to man a backline, or be a fulcrum in the midfield for Arsenal and a Cameroon world cup team suggests as much...

If you can find me a better def mid in the PL, you must be watching footy on middle earth

Anonymous said...

Absolutely agree. Also on Arteta it seems his experience and positioning has been crucial in allowing Song to express himself. In the past Fabregas would have been upfield, generally leaving Song with an inexperienced player or a twat called Nasri, who no doubt had little interest in moving into shielding positions.

I guess with Arteta and Song playing we can be a more fluid / reliable unit. This seems to have also given Rosicky the solid midfield he needs to work his magic.

Anonymous said...

totally agree. love song.

a little off the topic but is patrick viera starting to annoy you. seems like he's been drinking to much of the man city kool aid.

Anonymous said...

Song is absolute class. All he needs now is to add a few goals to his game. Remember that assist against Dortmund!! Wow.

Btw. I saw him 2 weeks ago buying loads of big bags, and asked him whether he's leaving the arsenal. His response was a "no comment" with a big grin. Analyse that???

Anonymous said...

U'r ryt.song has bin so pivotal 4 us dis season.he's a 4ce 2 reckon with...last sèason i noticed most of d matches we lost.he dint play

Anonymous said...

Song is class. He has plaid for us in most of our biggest games. This adds to his belief - he doesn't flap in the big occasion although he was close to the edge (almost sent off) with fouls against Barca. Scoring in the Barca game also changed RVP it was at that point it must have dawned on him that he could score against anybody. Two players I rate highly (the third is Arteta).

Anonymous said...

You're obviously overstating his ability. I'm a fan of him but his mental speed of play is behind the rest of the team. He sometimes has to take 5,6 touches on the ball to make decisions. When he tries to play faster, he is prone to turnovers. That being said, if he is given time, he will shred defences with killer passes. I believe that coq and frimpong both play faster, and will be better defensively.

Anonymous said...

no hes not world class yet cumbersome and awkward a few years ago but has gone from strength to strength wenger has done a terrific job with him when most would have got rid

Anonymous said...

If he was english they would be calling him the black Bobby Moore.

of course he's world class

Anonymous said...

It's easy to under estimate the value of the more defensive minded midfielders. When Vieira and Gilberto played together, I remember checking the stats and the games we lost most points was when Gilberto was not playing, not when Vieira wasn't.

Alex Song is for me the best DM in the PL. All around, we have a very strong XI and subs.

Fabianski, among the top 3 Goalies in PL, Sagna the best RB, Koscielny and Vermaelen are as individuals and pair up at the very top, probably only pipped to the pinnacle by ManC's. Gibbs/Santos - I am not sure who is the stronger player but both are among the best LB in PL, Song..., Arteta, Rosicky have demonstrated the least few weeks that probably only ManC and Spurs have a midfield close to ours. Of course, we have Wilshere, Diaby and Ramsey as very able back ups. Up front, Walcott, Gervinho and Oxlade-Chamberlain can hold their own against the other wide players in the league. As a central striker, we have this season's outstanding player - van Persie.

What I would like is before we start talking about who to get in, who to release to open up space for the very talented players we have coming up through the ranks or are currently on loan (e.g. Ryo, Coquelin).
Almunia, Denilson, Vela, Squillaci, Bendtner, Hoyte are a few players that I believe need to be moved on. If you are over 21, not home grown and don't get regular games, they need to be replaced.

Anonymous said...

i agree song able to play like this because of arteta. i think we all notice, arteta now plays deeper than song. a natural attacking midfielder, arteta possesses great passing ability. player like this, opponent would want to close him down often & tackle him hard. but with arteta playing deeper, opposition midfielder can't close him down as that would open up space behind them. this is where song become effective. as a natural defensive midfielder, it is common understanding that such player won't be able to pass the ball well, especially a hardman like song. but he's an arsenal player, of course he could at least pass the ball well. opposition don't think they need to close down song, so he can take his time to pick up passes.

Anonymous said...

Im sorry, but dis you say Fabianski is among the 3 beat keepers in the PL?! WDF LOL! Mate, whatever you are smoking, please please please send some my way!!

Anonymous said...

i think SONG is a new breed of midfielder that Wenger has developed.
next year we will be more like barca by challenging much quicker for the ball higher up the pitch.
in order to do that and immediately turn it into an attack with an incisive pass you need players that have ability to both and there not many of those around.
xavi is a classic example.
if we sign mvilla then he will drop back and song can be further up the field breaking up attacks before they reach our penalty box.
ARSENE KNOWS!!!

Anonymous said...

This is utter rubbish, Song is nothing like world class - he's not even a good defensive midfielder. He's slow and his positioning is bad. He does have a good eye for a long ball over the top, but that hardly classifies him as world class. Song is decent, no more. As usual, a few good results and everyone starts bigging up players and spouting total shit.

Anonymous said...

Nice post! Foe me Song is not quite yet world class, but he plays a crucial role in our current set-up, often winning the ball in our half then launching our attacks, which he does well as he rarely goes to ground. On occasion he can appear slow and cumbersome, however I believe his strengths outweigh his weaknesses.

Anonymous said...

Song is definetely world class, he turned world class last season and he never looked back. Considering the amount of games he plays, the guy is solid. I disagree with the idea that Arteta helped Song's game, in the contrary, Arteta is very slow and poor in defending, exposing Song to cover for him. Wait until you see Couqulin or Diaby play with Song, you will see what I am talking about.

Anonymous said...

Narrow blood vessels lie alongside the intestines
of the earthworm and they absorb the nutrients from the alimentary canal feeding
the rest of the body. *Rounds table format. The food is decent and
the drink specials on Tuesdays include $2.

Also visit my page - best pub quiz team names

Anonymous said...

Some were practical, of course, but others were psychological and emotional.
I believe my exact words were "I don't want to be your dirty little secret. 28.

My web-site :: pub quiz and answers general knowledge

Anonymous said...

The decor on the inside of the restaurant is absolutely beautiful.
You must definitely be planning to make it special and memorable by keeping a good theme, ordering the best food and
choosing the best games. They feature almost nightly drink specials and some form of entertainment every
night of the week--DJ's, live music, trivia, you name it.

My web-site :: pub quiz and answers general knowledge

Anonymous said...

squares with various tea leaves and tea flavors inside each
square. For adults, a virtual makeover of hair and makeup may be the equivalent of a little one hood game, with an improved style sensibility that tends to make the knowledge each
entertaining and inspirational. Every Halloween party that people remember later in the year by saying things like "Do you remember so-and-so's Halloween party last year.

Also visit my page home loan

Anonymous said...

On Sunday nights Erin Jaimes hosts a blues jam where anyone from Alan Haynes to Gary Clark, Jr.
Local country clubs are offering trivia fun for as little as forty dollars per couple.
Her father, Bruce Paltrow, produced the critically acclaimed TV
series that is considered the precursor to many medical shows today, St.



my blog post ... pub quiz and answers general knowledge

Anonymous said...

Upon returning to the starting line, the first player must pass
the sugar cube to the next teammate in line and so on.
Unfortunately for me as an addict, I need my crime
fix. Play games all night long in keeping with the twenties theme such
as various card games and crossword puzzles.

Feel free to visit my blog post capitalone

Anonymous said...

The owner decided after the event to donate half of the
proceeds back to the students. This was zero cost because
the students went to local stores and asked for either
donations and gift cards to purchase these items. Play games all
night long in keeping with the twenties theme such as various card games and crossword puzzles.



my homepage ... Happy Birthday

Anonymous said...

' Satanic Ritual - Decorate the space with human sacrifice, goblets of blood, pentagrams, and things draped in black. Unfortunately for me as an addict, I need my crime fix. Play games all night long in keeping with the twenties theme such as various card games and crossword puzzles.

my blog :: Ebay Account

Anonymous said...

In that case, this kind of question should not be taken from any show telecasted
in specific country. Below are listed a few popular pubs where one can chill
in Mumbai. The food is decent and the drink specials on Tuesdays include $2.


Also visit my web-site :: pub quiz aberdeen

Anonymous said...

Also, we need to determine the rounds of the quiz according to
it. * Team answer sheets - Basically a grid lined A4 type sheet with answer write in numbered boxes and a line on top for the team name.
The Bull's Head Pub, Bangkok.

Here is my webpage - pub quiz Austin texas

Anonymous said...

In that case, this kind of question should not be taken from any show telecasted in specific country.
Below are listed a few popular pubs where one can chill in Mumbai.
The Bull's Head Pub, Bangkok.

Also visit my webpage - pub quiz names