Per Mertesacker

[selassie]

I think he deserves a thread. I'll admit I wasn't that thrilled when we signed him last season. Sure he has quite a few German caps and a solid reputation in World Football but his lack of pace was one thing that always put me off him as a player.

Last season he was getting use to the league and put in more dodgy than good performances IMHO. He wasn't awful, just not great.

This season I think he's been our best Centre half by a country mile and IMHO has been one of the best CB's in the League, he's currently playing at a very high level. What he lacks in pace, he sure makes up for in his reading of the game and tactical awareness, he's a very clean tackler too.

I'm really warming to him and love him as a player.

What does everybody else think?

[Injury Time]

No.
/thread

[Injury Time]

Nah only kidding I like the BFG, no pace but a good brain, seems to be able to organise the defence at set pieces (last season I actually could relax at corners).

[Cripps_orig]

Our best CB

[Xhaka Can’t]

I think that Merts reads the game better than any of our other defenders.

Would make an excellent Captain.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

No.
/thread

Nah but seriously, he has done well and deserves his place in the team. Lets hope his form continues tbh. Think TV 5 being captain has screwed us a bit because no matter how poor he is we can't drop him.

[Cripps_orig]

People always mention his lack of pace

Plenty of quality CBs lacked it but made up for it in other ways and Mert is doing likewise

Good last season, brilliant this

[Cripps_orig]

Nah but seriously, he has done well and deserves his place in the team. Lets hope his form continues tbh. Think TV 5 being captain has screwed us a bit because no matter how poor he is we can't drop him.

Hes our 2nd best CB....he deserves to play

[Syn]

I put him at fault for the goal today. Very, very slow off the mark to allow the shot in after Ramsey didn't cover himself with glory either.

I think he's an excellent defender - and so are the other two. But it seems that every goal we are conceding these days is down to the CBs so maybe they're not as 'excellent' as I think they are.

[Cripps_orig]

Ramsey was to blame