Kolo Toure [Merged]

[hotdel1]

Dont know if this is a good move, Wenger was winging last season all the time about how he needs to improve the defence, a defence with Toure leading and ever present, we know Gallas was a plonker but, its been 3 or 4 years from Toure really impressed me. Can we not just buy Lescott and be done with it.

 

[Lomas has a lob on]

Am I being unduly pessimistic about this signing.

Toure was part of the Arsenal defence last season that lost away to the likes of Fulham,Burnley and Stoke, lost at home to Hull and Villa and drew with Boro.
He also played against Notlob away when the Arse struggled for the last couple of seasons.

Just the type of teams we have struggled against in recent years. Is he going to improve us against the hoof it and chase teams

Any thoughts

been reading an arsenal forum and not many of them seem like they will miss him very much

i was reading an arsenal forum earlier and they all seem pretty gutted about it, mind you its that thing all fans use as defence mechanism isn't it . . . . "never wanted him anyway senderos and djohrou are much better" type thing, most fans are guilty of relaying remarks similar

 

[citoeast]

Toure has the experience we need to make the push for Europe happen.

 

[Dribble]

Toure is a better option than what we currently have and Lescott apart, he's better than most available CB's

Debateable. A few years ago I would have agreed 100%, personally don't think he has been as good since Campbell left. Much better with an organiser alongside of him.

Any signing is a chance, but I agree with an earlier poster who said he didn't want to go through another season of Dunne just hoofing the ball into vacant space with only 1 isolated attacker to chase the ball. We were doing it in South Africa so hopefully if we do get him, he will bring Arsenal's play it from the back footballing ethic with him.

We just need another box to box defensive midfielder who can carry the ball 10 yards without losing it. Don't worry mate I reckon Toure will do us a power of good.

 

[Somud]

Debateable. A few years ago I would have agreed 100%, personally don't think he has been as good since Campbell left. Much better with an organiser alongside of him.

Any signing is a chance, but I agree with an earlier poster who said he didn't want to go through another season of Dunne just hoofing the ball into vacant space with only 1 isolated attacker to chase the ball. We were doing it in South Africa so hopefully if we do get him, he will bring Arsenal's play it from the back footballing ethic with him.

We just need another box to box defensive midfielder who can carry the ball 10 yards without losing it. Don't worry mate I reckon Toure will do us a power of good.

I'd say we definitely need another central defender (if not two), in addition to a another box-to-box midfielder.

 

[bluepeter62]

IMO Kolo will be an excellent signing. I really thought he was coming back to something like his best at the end of last season. Also he can play right back (don't be surprised if he starts there) and at a push in the holding midfielders role. Most of all he has the right attitude and loves to win. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I just can't agree with those who say he is past his best. For me his best is yet to come.

 

[Dribble]

Any signing is a chance, but I agree with an earlier poster who said he didn't want to go through another season of Dunne just hoofing the ball into vacant space with only 1 isolated attacker to chase the ball. We were doing it in South Africa so hopefully if we do get him, he will bring Arsenal's play it from the back footballing ethic with him.

We just need another box to box defensive midfielder who can carry the ball 10 yards without losing it. Don't worry mate I reckon Toure will do us a power of good.

I'd say we definitely need another central defender (if not two), in addition to a another box-to-box midfielder.

To be honest mate, I mentioned the same in an earlier post that we need 2 CB's, a right-back, plus the box to box defensive midfielder.

Quote:
"Having a lanky streak of piss for a CB will help in certain situations ie: playing Stoke etc, but I think the modern game has moved on somewhat from the 'Plan A, B, C & D' up and at em approach that besmirched top level football in this country for years.

If we land Toure and we can get Lescott I would say that we still need 3 more players. I still think we need a better right-back than our current options and if Elano goes, we need a creative replacement with markedly better stamina than the Brazillian and I think we still need a proper defensive-midfield lynchpin as I'm not convinced by De Jong or Zabaleta and I think Kompany's long-term future woud be best served as a CB."

I totally agree with you mate.

 

[moomba]

Just saying that I disagreed with the statement that we need a ball playing defender more than anything.

Obviously someone that can do both to a high standard is ideal, not convinced Toure is that person.

i think personally Moomba you underestimate the importance of a ball playing central defender, of course it is important that they defend primarily however i think you simplified it when you mention about playing the ball out to the midfielders.

That option is not always "on" and the easiest way to create space for the midfileders is by a centre half bringing out the ball with composure, we should have sufficient quality in midfield with De Jong and Barry to provide cover for when a defender of kolo's footballing quality brings the ball out - it creates confusion in the opposition as they do not know who to pick up as someone has to go and confront the player bringing the ball out and this is a quality that we have missed badly over the last few years.

imo of course.

I don't underestimate the usefulness of a ball playing defender, but they can only do so much. And there have been hundreds of occasions last season where Dunne or Richards, or Nedum were carrying the ball and were given no options for a pass other than the hoof up forward.

And for me (again) I'm not saying that I don't want us to have a ball playing defender, I think a bigger priority is having a defender that can defend better than anyone. That is where we fell down last season (for whatever reason).

 

[Marvin]

Am I being unduly pessimistic about this signing.

Toure was part of the Arsenal defence last season that lost away to the likes of Fulham,Burnley and Stoke, lost at home to Hull and Villa and drew with Boro.
He also played against Notlob away when the Arse struggled for the last couple of seasons.

Just the type of teams we have struggled against in recent years. Is he going to improve us against the hoof it and chase teams

Any thoughts

Also a mainstay of the Invincible team. He's been unsettled for a season or so and was reported as having handed in a transfer request last season

I agree he's not renowned for his heading ability so we'd need to play him alongside Dunne or Kompany

 

[moomba]

There we go, Marvin and I agree on something.

If he was to come, and be in the first team it would be at the expense of Onuoha, not Dunne.