Tuesday 15 April 2008

Who's better, Clichy or Evra? And should we dump Gallas?

Read an article by Steven Howard in the Sun. He even made a bit of sense for a change, in parts! Anyway, one thing he wrote about got me thinking.

There was a part where he was going on about the usual pro-United shite he spouts. Near the end he wrote about United's Patrice Evra saying he was the best full-back in the Premiership and that he was outstanding.

Now I will admit that he is a very good left-back. But the best full-back in the Premiership?! That I disagree with.

This will of course come across as being biase, with me obviously being a Gooner, but I'd have thought that Clichy is the better of the two. And if Evra was outstanding in the match on Sunday then Clichy's performance was out of this world.

Clichy should have been made man of the match in my book. He was everywhere and played excellent.

Why doe's man of the match have to be rewarded to a player on the winning side? Clichy deserved it in a tight call between him and Hleb.

I'd rather take our full-backs (Clichy and Sagna) over any in the Premiership and even Europe. So there Steven Howard, are two full-backs better than Evra. Get your facts right! Evra is the third best full-back in the league!

I've also read alot about Gallas lately. Critic's are claiming he isn't a good enough leader and should be stripped of his captaincy. I disagree.

When Arsenal were winning for fun most people were saying that Gallas is a winner and that his winning influence was running through the side, inspiring them to great things and what a captain! I agree totally with this.

I don't agree that he is the main reason for our slump. The slump is down to a lack of cover for key players who got injured. Thats not Gallas's fault. Lets not kick a man when he's down.

People are split over the Birmingham incident. I feel that he showed how much he cared, other's feel he was petulant and let the side down. Thats just difference of opinion, I've no qualm's with that.

We all have different opinion's. Mine is that he's a good captain and I think he should remain as captain of Arsenal. The next captain should be Toure and then after that, Cesc.

Keep it Goonerish.......

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

at the end of the day Arsenal's defensive record is a disgrace
take that to your analysis table when you decide how good a captain Gallas is, how good a player Toure is as well

Anonymous said...

clichy is 2 good 4 evra. evra has no chance agains gael. and i dont think we shoukd dump gallas he is gd player but he hasnt been acting as a captain shoul, if he coukd act as a gd captain im sure he will b a great player

Anonymous said...

I toatally agree great article, I think thts the best way to put it 'dont kick a guy whilst hes down' gallas, toure, clichy and sagna wrere the best defence at the start of the league i think it wasss mainly down to fatigue tht they slumped and sagna what a revelation hes been!!!

Wrighty7 said...

Arsenal's defensive record is a disgrace?! We've conceded 29 goals in 34 games. Is that really a disgrace? I don't think so. Gallas is a great player and Toure is one of the best centre-backs in Europe. They may not be in the best of form but remember form is temperory, class is permanent.

Anonymous said...

There's Wrightys analysis table for ya! I agree with it. Great blog and article. One of the best gooner sites around. Sorry I haven't been on for a while, i've been in south Africa. Keep up the good work mate!

Wrighty7 said...

No problem Top Gun, hope u had a good time mate!

Anonymous said...

Clichy is amazing. I just feel sorry for players like Traore who I highly doubt will be able to break into the first team despite his obvious talent because Clichy's the best full back in the premiership at the age of 22 (apart from maybe Sagna ;)). Clichy was simply amazing on Saturday, along with Hleb as you rightly say. Traore can play LW as well though.

Gallas has not been that bad, he was man of the match in the first leg against Liverpool in my opinion, although he was partly responsible for the goal.

If any one's to blame for the leaky defence it's Wenger for moving players about too much and Toure for leaving for the ACN as one of the best defenders in the country and coming back as a shambles and extremely tired as well (can't blame him though).

Don't even think I'm suggesting Toure should leave but everyone has been going on about Gallas' Birmingham rant for so long it's just annoying, they're just picking on him cos he's not a fans' favourite like Kolo. They should both get their act together and defend properly again, if they can't Gallas may have to leave as Kolo has more years ahead of him and has been very loyal to Arsenal.

Wrighty7 said...

Great comment anon 22:06.

stonroy said...

We have the best left and right backs in Europe. I have been saying this for ages. However I think Evra scores more goals, which is important. I would still take Clichy any day of the week. One more thing. I truly believe that Gallas should not be our captain, even when we were winning I said it. He is an arrogant man trying to come across as humble. He remains a sepratist, when he is supposed to be the glue. I could rattle off so many comments that he has said that have been destructive. Comments about Walcots talent, how he should spend his money, lack of taking responsibility fo losses, better friends at Chelsea....The list goes on. Personally I think he is a destructive force, talented as all hell but even though he is one of the best centre backs there is, his personality is not right for what Wenger is aiming to do with Arsenal.

Anonymous said...

Anon 22:06, I agree about Traore finding it difficult to break into the team at left back, but apparently hes been playing on the left of midfield for reserves recently and has been outstanding. Therefore he could play at either position - he is very skillfull, I remember he had a stormer in the Carling Cup game vs Newcastle, I described him as a Cristiano Ronaldo-like full back.

Clichy possibly just edges Evra, but I think that Sagnas the best full back in the world at the moment, and our fullback combination is definitely the best in the world also. Now we just need to sort out our weaknesses in the centre.

Anonymous said...

sagna n clichy are the best in the world..we arguably have one of the best defence in pl..but the way we play n the way that the defenders are encouraged to go forward cost us a lot..we're very attacking minded and that made us very vulnerable..

mtown said...

best left full in the premiership is cole, much as it pains me to say it. a further loss of character, with edu, parlour, diarra etc.

Anonymous said...

Mtown would u rather have Cole over Clichy?

Anonymous said...

Another excellent article from wrighty. Keep it up. Clichy has overtaken Cole and will be the best leftback in the world after 2008 euros.

Anonymous said...

didn't even have yo read the article mate Clichy hands down and Evra is a very good defender. Clichy should be France's first choice left back ahead of Abidal and Evra, but hopefully he isn't incase i picks up an injury for next season or is just even tired.

Anonymous said...

to compare evra with the god elect Clichy is foolhardy for a variety. let me give you a few examples . evra is already the finished article cannot improve much as is quite muscular clichy has stacks of physical development to go. Clichy is also more creative and possibly quicker o the flat. when this kid starts scoring oh lordy!!!!!. speaking of physical development rooney too is at his peak. This is the unfortunate consequence for Man u they can only get worse...the answer regarding Gallas is one of age is reflexes are going to suffer a some point cover is definately needed. it wouldbe stupid to get rid of him .he still serves a purpose.i must admit that with al the injuries arsenal finally succumbed to the pressure. the only change and i might be unfair by saying this would be Senderos. alex song is just waiting to improve further nut referring to senderos his performances when good have not been ay different to seasons past when he had 'good games'.good isnt a word that you would attach to arsenal....good just doesnt cut it . eboue has had a stinker this year . yet wenger is playing him out of his usual comfort zone.His sheer athletism gives him a chance to improve even though there atre those thatbeg to differ. I do see that he has potential . but I guess there are those that dont relise that his athletism is what get him starts. he i will guaratee will come good next season. cutting edge will come next season i just hope that wenger can keep hold of the awesome foursome...Flamani,Fabregas,Hleb and Rosicky . as arsenal never lost a game whe they were all star
rting........

Anonymous said...

For clichy to be considered the best full back in the EPL he will need to increase the quality of his crossing, so often he fails to beat the first defender, also in picking out players when he gets to the byeline. Another area he can improve 100% is by actually chipping in with 4or5 goals a season. He needs to get his shooting boots on and try and get that elusive first goal. Traore is also wasteful with his crossing and these are areas they must practice to help them improve to become the finished article. And finally Clichy needs to concentrate for the whole of the game and act as a third centre half when we are being attacked down the right. He should never have allowed Kuyt to get in front of him for the equaliser in the first leg.

Anonymous said...

i hope gallas goes!

if you're going to be captain, you better be mentally tough and absolutely solid on the pitch.

he has been neithe of these things!
get him out, replace him with someone who can handle drogba, crouch et al. and give the captaincy to flamini.

Anonymous said...

I think Clichy is an amazing professional, he's been an absolute model player with his attitude, spirit, fairness, etc. The only thing lacking is his ability to pass. its a shame that he always takes a touch to control, then smashes a cross that doesn't really do a whole lot... Whereas Evra is quite a good passer - re: the pass to ronaldo with the outside of his left. other than that, the Clich is amazing.

Contrast Clichy's attitude to that of Eboue, and its obvious that Eboue is a disgrace to the Arsenal shirt.

MeteorMonster said...

The Actim Index, the most highly rated sport statistical combine in the world, rated Clichey as second only to Rio Ferdinand, in the EPL for the current season.

Nuff said!!!!!

Evra is good, but I would have no other than Clichey and Sagna manning our wing back positions. Whilst Toure and Gallas are excellent I would urge us to add more height at CB especially since we also have aerial deficiencies in the midfield.

Anonymous said...

well Wrighty, he has a link to your blog...

come on now.. reciprocate!!

Anonymous said...

well Wrighty, he has a link to your blog...

come on now.. reciprocate!!

1979gooner said...

I'm not sure why we've been a bit sloppy at the back this season, I say this because some of the goals we've conceded at home have been rather sloppy.

Possibly the midfield being a bit small and lightweight means that the defense gets less protection than in days of old.