No he shouldn't. Various arsenal sites and personnel on the social media have explained how Flamini's positioning in the 2 clips shown by Shearer were actually not too bad, hence why it's baffling he chose to highlight Flamini's 'lack of cover' when he was actually covering.Originally Posted by Nayan
Excellent player.
Flamini's job is to protect the back 4 by protecting the space between the midfield and defence, the clips they showed clearly highlighted he wasn't doing that and that's the reason Sunderland had so much more play in the 2nd half.
The rest of the midfielders simply can't take that role as they're all attacking players. Flamini puts himself about admirably but in terms of protecting the defence in the game on Saturday he was somewhat lacking.
Shearer was talking crap. I wouldn't trust his analysis or what any of them have to say on MOTD at all.
The only thing Shearer should analyse is strikers, because he's useless at analysing any other position.
The first example:
Flamini was in the right position there just outside the D, marking someone. Wilshere and/or Ramsey should've been behind those two midfielders on the right but they were a little slow to get back.
Second example:
Again, nothing wrong there. Flamini was marking the furthest forward midfielder and on his way back.
Third example (the disallowed goal):
Right where he should be again. According to Shearer he should have been cutting out the pass to Altidore..? And leave a huge gap in front of the defense?
I didn't want Flamini back at Arsenal but I have to admit he's doing a good job so far. It looks like he has learned a bit at Milan as he's improved on the positional side of the game and is far less ball-chasey than he was in his first spell here. He gives our midfield some much needed bite and graft.
He does need to improve on the ball and pass more intelligently though.
There's noone in that gap, everyone else significantly in front of the other midfielders and thus they can track back if they see them moving forward, cutting out the pass to Altidore would be the logical thing to be doing rather than covering empty space where there's no danger.Third example (the disallowed goal):
Right where he should be again. According to Shearer he should have been cutting out the pass to Altidore..? And leave a huge gap in front of the defense?
Being a DM isn't just about sitting in a space waiting, it's anticipating danger as well.
True
The Nananana one is amazing, you can hear it from a mile off !
Superb post.The only thing Shearer should analyse is strikers, because he's useless at analysing any other position.
The first example:
Flamini was in the right position there just outside the D, marking someone. Wilshere and/or Ramsey should've been behind those two midfielders on the right but they were a little slow to get back.
Second example:
Again, nothing wrong there. Flamini was marking the furthest forward midfielder and on his way back.
Third example (the disallowed goal):
Right where he should be again. According to Shearer he should have been cutting out the pass to Altidore..? And leave a huge gap in front of the defense?
I didn't want Flamini back at Arsenal but I have to admit he's doing a good job so far. It looks like he has learned a bit at Milan as he's improved on the positional side of the game and is far less ball-chasey than he was in his first spell here. He gives our midfield some much needed bite and graft.
He does need to improve on the ball and pass more intelligently though.
I was just about to post the videos and analyse them but you've done it all for me.
Flamini's positioning for clip 1 was great, on his way back to stifle their attack.
For clip 2, he's the only midfield player tracking back. He's clearly in between the defence and midfield.
For clip 3, if he goes to Altidore, the other sunderland player will run into the space where he's standing now with a free pass on goal. By standing there he has effectively cut out the massive gap we so often see between the defence and midfield. Then Shearer would say 'he should have been in the gap, he's committed himself and left space in behind'.
As we have gathered by now, Shearer's analysis was shocking.
Flamini was outstanding.
I have it on good word from a friend who worked there that the only one who actually watches the matches in detail is Dixon. The rest have their PA's doing all the work for them and they just talk about what's been highlighted. Explains their nonsense.
If he moves to block the pass, the Sunderland striker sat on Koscielny's shoulder, drops back into the space to pick up the ball, or when Altidore makes the run, dragging Sagna with him, the Sunderland striker (Gardener?) can make the run directly through the middle.
Flamini is in exactly the right spot tbf.
It's better to burn out, than to fade away.
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