Laurent Koscielny

First of all, I would like to say that I am sorry for posting random topics on the main section and not on any banter section (if there is one).

So on with the topics....
Laurent Koscielny can:
*distribute the ball
*he is quite strong for his size
*reads the game well
*Never seen him run out of steam
*and breaks up plays faster than a NFL ref

So that being said, do you all think he could be deployed as the Defencive Mid?
I for one think he is too intelligent of a player to be left to warm the bench. And with vermaelen , and possibly one of Cahill or Samba coming in, I cannot see wenger using him as the starting CB.

So what do you guys think?

No.. Not with Frimpong and Coquelin and Bartley knocking that door.. We'll rotate the CBs.. Koss is good, but a bit raw.. He'll improve into a better CB in a couple of seasons..

Bartley plays as CB, without any of the asset that Kos offers. As for Frimpong, how can you trust him to play that role over Kos, when he does not even have actual experience in top flight? Kos can be turned into a Cambiasso type of DM imo

He is a good player.. I'm not saying he isn't not.. I'd prefer seeing his name in the team sheet over any other defender (except Vermalen) in our squad.. My only point is, his rise has been meteoric from the underwaters of 2nd division french football to us in such a short time.. I just feel he has room to improve.. And some time at the top to really establish himself..

Frimpong would have been in the first team last year over Denilson if not for his injury.. And what I have seen from pre season, he is definitely a beast.. The big problem is the experience..

Bartley - I really don't know whats going to happen with him.. I rate him, but he needs exposure.. A good season long loan spell to a PL club would do him well.. I agree that he is a CB who got played in the DM a bit on his last loan..

But I am really not sold on Kos as a DM.. Something just seems missing when I put him as a DM.. Can't place my finger on it :/

It woudl have been Ideal if Thomas Vermaelen was 6'3", then him playing alongside of Kos woudl really balance the defence.

Lol.. Yeah..

I always rated him.

I also think he's underrated.

I doubt it. He'd be able to pull it off, but we need him at CB. He's probably the best game-reader we have, and his pace is pretty awesome for his size. Fastest CB we have. All he needs to improve is his air game which is strangely lacking.

If we are to pair Koscielny with Vermalaen, One of them needs to be less adventurous. Both of them are ball playing CBs, and i can see us getting roasted on the counter.

needs to stop being easily intimidated and cut out the mistakes

gunnerlistick wrote:needs to stop being easily intimidated and cut out the mistakes

He just came from Ligue 1. Cut him some slack. He improved a lot as time passed.

gunnerlistick wrote:needs to stop being easily intimidated and cut out the mistakes

one of the very few list of CBs that have successfully marked messi without fouling him. If that does not speak volumes about his cool-calmness, then id ont know what else does.

That calmness is good for flashy technical players who dribble 5 times a second, but isn't as good for the aggressive, cannonball type guys we find the PL. It's why he's more suited to a slower, tactical game.

That can be improved, though. He actually gave up a few penalties for being overly aggressive, just needs to learn to time his tackles.

Sushi Master wrote:That calmness is good for flashy technical players who dribble 5 times a second, but isn't as good for the aggressive, cannonball type guys we find the PL. It's why he's more suited to a slower, tactical game.

That can be improved, though. He actually gave up a few penalties for being overly aggressive, just needs to learn to time his tackles.

That is just it tho, If we were to get a brawney CB like the Chris Samba type for the Pl matches, you coudl have Kos guarding the 2 CBs while the wingbacks bomb forward. Almost ends up becoming 3-4-3, from a 4-3-3

Sushi Master wrote:I doubt it. He'd be able to pull it off, but we need him at CB. He's probably the best game-reader we have, and his pace is pretty awesome for his size. Fastest CB we have. All he needs to improve is his air game which is strangely lacking.

This ^^

Pretty much summarised what I wanted to say, needs to become a bit stronger that's all and to be consistently playing with Vermaelen. He's right footed isn't he? Because if Verm is left footed, he'll be playing where Kos was last season and maybe moving on to his right foot will make him even more composed this season. Dunno if it would make a great difference but it's just a thought. He could act more as a sweeper/cover with Verm acting as a stopper as well possibly.

But in general, although he might be good there, I would rather not risk it and would prefer of he stays at CB because he has a lot of potential.

Sushi Master wrote:

gunnerlistick wrote:needs to stop being easily intimidated and cut out the mistakes

He just came from Ligue 1. Cut him some slack. He improved a lot as time passed.

i thought it was ligue 2....

I can see why you suggested he be considered as a DM. But I feel Arsenal have enough money to invest in a bonafide DM who has played their all his career. Initially, I wasn't sure about Kos; I found him to be rash and slightly light. But since that time, he has strengthened up and do indeed, read the game very well. This isn't sour grapes- but when ever we conceded from open play, I noticed Clichy was the one at fault. #justsaying

lenear1030 wrote:

Sushi Master wrote:

gunnerlistick wrote:needs to stop being easily intimidated and cut out the mistakes

He just came from Ligue 1. Cut him some slack. He improved a lot as time passed.

i thought it was ligue 2....

He moved from Tours in Ligue 2 to Lorient in Ligue 1, and then moved to us the season after.

So he spent one year in top flight football before moving to us.

GoonerJay29 wrote:

lenear1030 wrote:

Sushi Master wrote:

gunnerlistick wrote:needs to stop being easily intimidated and cut out the mistakes

He just came from Ligue 1. Cut him some slack. He improved a lot as time passed.

i thought it was ligue 2....

He moved from Tours in Ligue 2 to Lorient in Ligue 1, and then moved to us the season after.

So he spent one year in top flight football before moving to us.

so ??....grow a pair Laurent , i like him if he cuts out the mistakes then we will have a world class centre half in our hands

I hate the idea of cbs being played in dm. It keeps being brought up and its worth a thought, yes, but it won't happen.

I remember when people said this about Kolo Toure playing in DM and Wenger ruled it out saying something like cbs dont have the energy to play this role.

sagna is great at tackling, in the air, and at marking, why dont we put him in DM?

sarcasm

lol

About cb becoming dm.. I think Song is one ??
Also think that we cant play both Vermaelen and Kos at the same time... So its almost sure that he is going to be a second option...

Wilson37 wrote:About cb becoming dm.. I think Song is one ??
Also think that we cant play both Vermaelen and Kos at the same time... So its almost sure that he is going to be a second option...

Even Song struggles with the demand of playing in midfield