Abou Diaby watch?

[Marc Overmars]

Wenget has confirmed Diaby is out for 3 weeks.

[LDG]

Wenget has confirmed Diaby is out for 3 weeks.

Dear lord.

[Fist of Lehmann]

another concern is that we're now going to see the opposition use the 'get in their faces' tactic like they did a couple of seasons back. with no diaby in the midfield we have no enforcer, someone who's willing to stick a foot in. teams will see that so will base their tactics on kicking us off the park.

I'm less concerned by that.

If this team allows itself to be bullied, then no single 'enforcer' can alter that. Nor would 1 player significantly alter opposition tactics if those tactics have proven to work. Combatting physical tactics requires the whole team to compete, a more physical player helps in that regard, but isn't in himself a fix.

Neither Sahin or Cabaye are what I would call enforcers, but would have added depth. The 3 midfielder formation we use seems to contain increasingly specialised roles, and it requires either a large pool of midfielders or a few super quality versatile ones. Arteta is pivotal in the pivote, Cazorla critical in the CAM.

Our inability to compensate for Arteta's occasional absence last season, or Fabregas permanent one suggests to me that just because a player can play in a position, doesn't mean they'll be adequate there.

[Globalgunner]

Incompetence of the highest order. This team has Diaby, Rosicky on its roster, players who cant play a month of football w.o requiring 3 months off it. Yet he keeps making them part of his core plans. Wenger man will win nothing in the time left on his current deal. If this man is given a new contract, I swear I will do harm to someone. Ach.LDG..u have been warned.

[Fist of Lehmann]

Legitimate point - but its the old issue of not being able to keep top players happy on the bench. My guess would be that AW sees Coquelin ready to step up to DM. Clearly, he's regarded as a first team player now. Frimpong is also back up.

I accept that AW is taking probably his final risk with Diaby. The issue is really whether he should have got rid and bought a Sahin or M'Villa - rather than get them in addition. After all, we have a wage bill to manage as well - not to mention that Wilshere will basically play in the same space (albeit a different type of player). Ramsey can also play there.

Attacking-wise, Jack could be used higher up the pitch to save Carzola. Rosicky and Arshavin can also deputise - in fact I would like to see the latter player in the Carzola role.

I don't disagree with anything you just said IBK (except for the Arshavin bit - Cazorla's workrate and his care with the ball is light years ahead of the Russian).

The issue of keeping top players on the bench is a problem, but at least having top players in reserve allows you to rotate without losing too much quality, nor should they require much game time to get up to speed.
What we have now is a situation where if Arteta and Cazorla are fit then they play, COC and dead Euro rubbers excepted, because our backups are a significant drop in class. We played Wilshire to death because his backup was Denilson.

Players in general aren't happy if they don't play, even guys like Coq who was making noises during the InterBreak, so I don't have a solution.
I agree with Wenger to the extent that, no you can't buy just to cover an injury. But when you think about it, Wilshere and Frimpong are coming off lengthy injuries, Rosicky and Diaby have long and storied injury histories. Which is why a loan was considered I think.

Cabaye is a player I like, and there was talk of being back in for him in Jan, however the real stretch period was the first 3 months of the season. If Jack comes back fit, I think Wenget will be tempted to leave it.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Wenger said in an interview yesterday that he decided to take a gamble on diaby's fitness by not replacing Song.

That is just down right incompetence. I wouldnt expect any top flight manager to take such a risk if they had the finances and opportunity to buy a replacement - which we had.

This season isnt the time for more patience, it is the time for action.

[Cripps_orig]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19802166

I think its more to do with Diaby being a bit shit physically and being injury prone than him playing for France

[fakeyank]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19802166

I think its more to do with Diaby being a bit shit physically and being injury prone than him playing for France

Wenger will blame anyone and everyone for his incompetence- Les Blues, Chelsea, Man City, 2%, neighbors dog etc. Bottom line is that he took a gamble on a player to carry us the entire season when he could barely put together a total of 90 mins last season. Sometimes I wonder how the cow got his MBA!

[Syn]

Yeah, Wenget can fuck off on that one. How come Alex Ferguson never gets into this situation? He tell his players to play dead during the International break and there's nothing anyone can do. If Wenger tells Diaby "Turn down the call-up, say you're little bit knock on right ankle swollen up globally, or else I'll freeze you out worse than Theodore" then Diaby won't go anywhere. I have it on good authority the conversation actually went:

Wenget: Turn down the call-up?
Diaby: Nah....
Wenget: Go on, please...?
Diaby: Nah....
Wenget: Ok. Want a new contract?
Diaby: Go on then.
Wenget: Now turn down the call-up?
Diaby: Nah...

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Yeah, Wenget can fuck off on that one. How come Alex Ferguson never gets into this situation? He tell his players to play dead during the International break and there's nothing anyone can do. If Wenger tells Diaby "Turn down the call-up, say you're little bit knock on right ankle swollen up globally, or else I'll freeze you out worse than Theodore" then Diaby won't go anywhere. I have it on good authority the conversation actually went:

Wenget: Turn down the call-up?
Diaby: Nah....
Wenget: Go on, please...?
Diaby: Nah....
Wenget: Ok. Want a new contract?
Diaby: Go on then.
Wenget: Now turn down the call-up?
Diaby: Nah...

Wenget