Quote Originally Posted by Niall_Quinn View Post
You keep mentioning players that have at least basic footballing skills. They wouldn't do their best jobs played out of position but they could still contribute. Still hold a ball. Still lay a pass. Still cross a ball. Still beat a man. We just wouldn't be using them to their best effect. With Theo it's very different. He lacks certain basic skills. Why is he going to prosper in a more demanding role? Pace alone? If talent is not the key attribute then why should it be merely pace? Why not just play somebody better than him and be done with it? Two different arguments going ion here. You're saying Theo would be better played elsewhere, I'm saying he's already inferior to Ox so why not ditch him and play Ox? Wing or in the middle, makes no odds. Ox is the better player. All you have to do is watch him play for 5 minutes.
That's a joke. You think Dennis Bergkamp could contribute a lot as a defensive midfielder or on the flanks with his slow pace? Wrong footing your man and get a yard of space is different to beating your man on the wing and having the legs to get past him then whip in a great cross. It takes more than the basics to be a top four side I'm afraid.

Ox is a special player and has better ball control, passing and dribbling compared to Theo. That is why he's more suited to playing on the wing. But if Wenger had that kid playing as wingback or playing as a defensive midfielder....it would be silly to compare him to someone like Coquelin or Sagna.

Some players are versatile, some ain't. Van Nistelrooy had no flair about him as a striker and play him anywhere else outside of that role and he'd look shit. But what he does, he does well. Not saying Theo can finish anywhere near that level, but if his pace is his best asset, have him playing as a striker in the mold of Defoe, Owen, Welbeck etc. I'd argue the same point if Wenger kept playing Vela on the left wing.

How comes other managers are able to exploit such players but Wenger can't?

On another note, Bergkamp was saying RVP was being played out of position and I agree. He's more than a goal scorer and in games where we struggle and playing off another striker, he'd some damage. He'd create loads and score loads.