Denilsons stats are so last year / £25million dud avoided / Worst player awards!

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The not so coveted Golden Bin award was unveiled in Italy yesterday. It’s the opposite of the Balon D’or. The Italians unveiled the least impressive signings of the year.

The Golden Bin

1. Felipe Melo (Juventus) – 22,87 % [4.289 votes]
2. Ricardo Quaresma (Inter) – 20,63 % [3.868]
3. Tiago Mendes (Juventus) – 9,99 % [1.873]
4. Dida (Milan) – 9,56 % [1.792]
5. Amantino Mancini (Inter) – 9,39 % [1.760]
6. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Milan) – 6,84 % [1.283]
7. Ronaldinho (Milan) – 6,07 % [1.139]
8. Christian Poulsen (Juventus) – 6,06 % [1.137]
9. Juan Pablo Carrizo (Lazio) – 4,37 % [819]
10. Julio Baptista (Roma) – 4,22 % [792]

It’s interesting to note that there are a number of players on that list that I would have liked to have seen at the Grove. Julio Baptista is continuing to flop wherever he goes, Quaresma is still failing to fufill his Christiano hyped potential, Huntelaar is continuing the bomb and even the mighty Ronaldinho is receiving little love. The key name on that list has to be Felipe Melo. The ex-Arsenal target from the summer has failed to impress since his whopping £25million transfer to Juventus. Maybe we’ve dodged a bullet, maybe he is being unfairly singled out by fans of a club failing under inexperienced management. Either way, it’s interesting reading.

Like goalkeepers, defensive midfielders seem to be taking a hammering all over the world this year. Lassana Diarra was pilloried earlier in the season after some drab Madrid results, Yaya Toure has been relegated to the bench in Catalonia, Gareth Barry has been getting bad press up north and even that dirty little Argie from Liverpool has been getting stick from the bindipping faithful.

I think the only defensive midfielders that have received glowing press this season are Essien and Fletcher. Essien because he is undoubtedly the best in the business and Fletcher because he is a thuggish Brit and it’s trendy in the media to back that type of player.

Song and Denilson don’t really do it for me. I like Denilson for his ability to read the game, but he lacks pace and power. I like Song because he works hard and gets in the way, but his lack of speed is frightening and his knack of switching off worries me. Maybe I’m being too harsh, maybe the grass isn’t always greener… I just think we could do with having a Flamini-esque player in the middle.

Talking of disappointments, how about we have a quick vote on the most disappointing Premiership signing of the year? I’ve got some good names in there, but if there are any I’ve missed, let me know. Carlos Tevez, £47million, well, could be worth a vote…!

Results will be announced shortly!

So, onto stats, the ones we love to hate!

The best midfielder in the Premiership so far this season?

Fabregas

The best defender in the Premiership this season?

Vermaelen

Players from Arsenal in the top 100 players?

  • Fabregas (2nd)
  • Robin (10th)
  • Vermaelen (11th)
  • Gallas (27th)
  • Sagna (45th)
  • Arshavin (56th)
  • Diaby (96th

So what does that tell you? I’ll tell you what it tells you. It says that we underrate what Diaby does for the team. It tells us that Denilson stopped sleeping with the editor over at Actim and maybe, just maybe, the omittance of Song is a telling one. Make of that what you will, all I’m saying is the Song Sceptics could use science to back their case…

I guess what it really tells you is that statistics are in the eye of the beholder. If I present figures to people in business, but don’t show them the workings, I get told where the door is… Actim are using closed book science to tell us Jody Craddock is better than Andre Arshavin.

A lot of the amateur statisticians having been sharing numbers garnered from the Guardian chalkboards. I have my doubts there as well. The integrity of the data is often flawed as I’ve counted misplaced passes of a player during a game, referred back to the data and it’s incorrect. Arsenal are arguably the busiest of passers in the league and I’ve never see a player get past 60, yet actim have Essien down as making 92 passes in a game against Blackburn earlier in the year…

I’d never dismiss statistics, however, I’d always throw caution to the wind. A number can’t tell you how good the pass was, how inept the shots on target were or whether an interception occurred because another player hussled a player for 30 yards and his team mate picked up the ball. I guess that’s why we read match reviews and don’t just refer to a spreadsheet after a game.

Artist impression of a web statto

In other news, Theo Walcott reckons Arsenal are no pushovers, well, you are Theo, you spent a lot of time on your ass the other night. Beating the Scousers was fantastic but we must not get too ahead of ourselves… premature gloatation is a dangerous thing. I must say I am more worried about the impending games against Hull and Burnley. If Arsenal couldn’t motivate themselves for the first half at Anfield, how are they going to feel about playing away at Burnley or Hull? These are the testing games that really win you the league and we’ve been doing a blinding job dealing with them compared to seasons past… lets hope Liverpool is a lesson learnt for our young team of title pretenders.

Johann Cruyft has called up Cesc Fabregas to play for Catalonia in an up and coming friendly. Arsene has said no already and FIFA have no say in the matter. So really, it’s a bit like me calling Cesc up for my Sunday league team and expecting a response. Am I the only one who can’t help but think this is some sort of Barcelona unsettling tactic? I can picture the headlines already:

Cesc Fabregas determined to leave after Catalonia snub

In transfer news, Ajax right back Gregory Van Der Wiel has asked RvP to put a good word in for him so he can get a move over here. Well, if it works out as well as the last Ajax signing, I’d be all for it! However, it seems unlikely considering we have two pretty decent players in that position already (I gagged a bit when I wrote that…). The exciting news is that Senderos might be off to Bayern Munich. Rumours have it that we’re willing to part for a whopping €1.5million. I hope he gets his move, he’s certainly not getting the love he used to from Le Boss!

I’m off to lay down in a darkened room… 2 posts from me in two days! I’m knackered, more thoughts from Geoff tomorrow morning!

See you in the comments!

P.S. I just read a report that BA are planning to strike for 12 days over Christmas costing up to a million people their well earned holidays. How out of touch are these union leaders? It’s a recession, you’re working for a company that lost £300million in the first 6 months of the year and we’re living in a country with 2million out of work. Not to mention you apparently earn double what Virgin staff take home. There is no excuse for ruining a special time of the year for thousands of underserving people, you’ll get zero support from the public.

864 Responses to “Denilsons stats are so last year / £25million dud avoided / Worst player awards!”

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  1. Stu

    Mick McCarthy has just cememted as a royal cunt. What the fuck is he doing. Having just won at WHL and united having just been beaten at home he plays a reserve team. What the fuck is he thinking.

    United will give them a spanking now and get all their confidence back…fucking lucky bunch of bastards.

  9. Samir

    Milan’s vice-president Adriano Galliani declared they were not interested in him due to having similar players available. With Pato, Huntelaar, Borriello and Inzaghi all at the club it only makes sense they do not want to purchase another centre-forward.

  10. Samir

    Lets hope Wolves get a few corners and free kick’s.

    The tallest player in the league is leading Wolves line.
    Maierhofer at 2.02 m (6 ft 7 1⁄2 in)!!!!

  12. Stu

    I assume thats about Dzeko Samir?

    Surely Inzaghi is due to retire and under Leonardo Milan play 4-3-3 now so maybe they could do with another forward.

  14. A

    Yeah Stu, I don’t buy that, Inzaghi is getting on, Huntelaar is gonna be sold, and Borrielo isn’t very good, Pato playing out wide too so they could do with Dzeko in there

  17. A

    Even though Fergie said he isn’t in the market for a keeper….

    You can never trust anything the papers say, and gotta take what clubs and managers say with a pinch of salt!

  19. Stu

    I really hope Neuer doesnt sign for united. I dont want them having a quality keeper. They should just stick with VDS, Foster and Kuzszcak (or however its spelt).

  22. A

    Ronaldinho being beyond shit stu?! He’s the main reason they’re where they are in the league this season imo, 3 goals and 8 assists in 13 games! They’ve scored 23 league goals and he’s contributes 11 of them, without him they wouldn’t be able to score for shit!

  27. A

    Ah ok Stu. This season he’s basically Milan’s only creative player, 8 assists, and the next highest assister in their team is Pirlo on 2! Basically he creates goals, or Milan have real trouble scoring.

    He isn’t where he was at Barca, but he was the best in the world by some distance then, but has been constantly getting better since he went to Milan.

  28. dennisdamenace

    “How to be an Arsenal ‘Song is the best thing ever to happen to Arsenal’ in ten easy steps
    1. Take individual moments from games and use them as proof for your point. But avoid seeing these in context.”

    Have you ever seen ANYONE catch Song…???

  39. David

    By the time we play Villa we should have Clichy back. We arent going to struggle against them one bit. Clichy would be back to cover any gabs/leaks that we have if they hit us on the counter in a high line.

    Thats all Villa are good for. Crosses in the box and counters.

  52. Pat

    Fucking lucky bastards. They ALWAYS get penalties when they’re struggling.

    I wish we were gifted games bny opposing managers and players. Fucking bullshit

  56. David

    How the hell do these shite teams get into the premiership for Goodness sake.

    Why would you gift united a goal like that?

  75. skandibird

    Can someone please explain, if AV wins, does that make them 3rd?? If so, I fu*king hope Sunderland beats them or at least draw, BUT at 0-2 I don’t hold out much hope………………………

  84. ethangunner

    nar it wont happen A .
    when traore got taken off silverstre was wengers natural 1st pick to fill in there ..

    unless others in the pecking order like gibbs etc. cannot play i think youll find silvestre get game …

    it was wengers pick on the weekend over eboue then it will be next game also ..

  85. A

    Eboue wasn’t in the squad at the weekend as he was injured so silvestre was the only option to come on. It probably will be Silvestre, but Eboue has played there before, so I wouldn’t rule it out.

  87. A

    Pat isn’t Clichy meant to be back for Hull, as well as Traore? Sure at least one of them will be back for Villa, as will Rosicky.

  91. ethangunner

    Something happened in that 2nd half Vs pool that was close to ground moving ..

    i think if we do get into any position to mount a challenge that game showed me the team has some grit about them still… i think if there is a turning point this year it has to be that half of football and the transition should happen now …

    if its coming …

  92. A

    I dunno HB, it depends on Burnley’s make up, Eboue would offer much more going forward, and has more pace, but obviously Silvestre is better defensively, and with Eagles as their right mid we won’t need pace defensively really.

  95. Stu

    I would rather Silvestre left back than Eboue. Silvestre is a naturally left sided player, is more defensive and knows the role a lot better than Eboue.

    Eagles or whoever they play right midfield may not be the fastest but you dont need much pace when you have no defender around you. Eboue played rightback recently and left his marker in acres of space most of the time. Not because of good movement but because Eboue was too eagre to move forward and too slow to get back.

  96. BigRaddy

    I think the relegation positions are already filled. Pompey, WHU and Wolves.

    WHU were ghastly this evening, and anyone who thinks Green is good enough for AFC is deluded.

    And Wolves should be fined for putting out a team with 10 changes from the side that beat Sp*rs. How insulting is that to there travelling support? If we did it, the FA would hammer us.

  97. choy

    pretty stupid BR..

    when you are winning, why would you need to make 10 changes the very next game, he has banked on 3 points against burnley.

    It’s going to come back and haunt him.

  98. ethangunner

    thank stu it saved me explaining :)
    not to mention when was the last time you saw eboue at LB v’s silvestre ..

    short of silvestre getting injured its fucking doubtful A ..

    very doubtful

    i think are starting to think like wenger too .
    yes lets play eboue at LB now , he’s been in every other position this season apart from goal keeper ..

    and on a few occasions id rather had seen him in goal than almunia :)

  105. A

    Not sure I’d go that far Maciek, but they do have a very negative game plan which is working incredibly well at the moment, and I doubt they’ll make the same mistake as last year and think they can actually compete by playing football. They’ll most likely keep their 10 men behind the ball and rely on breaks, and diving to win set pieces for goals. Bolton but with a bit more ability.

  109. Stu

    Villa too would be my prefered team for the top 4. Simply because they are the least prepared if they do get there.

    Their squad is too small to deal with the pressure and in the eufa cup they were shit because MON wanted to focus on the prem.

    If City, Liverpool or Spuds finished 4th they would all likely spend lots of money to quarentee progression into the group stages…somehow i dont think Randy Lerner would be willing to splash 30m+ on new players.

  120. SUGA3

    no, I think Theo will come good – despite some harsh words I had for him, I love the fella…

    Theoooo, Theoooo, Theoooooo!!!

  121. Pat

    Villa will be a really, really tough game. They mauled us in both games last season and they’re probably better now.

    Hope they play Heskey over Carew.

  123. Maciek

    Well, this time O’Neill will try to avoid same mistakes he has done a year ago. I fear he will bring someone better than Heskey this time. And I fear that Wenger will not make a move as usual and we end up empty handed yet again!We shall see.

  124. Pat

    Theo is shit. I really do hate him. First off, he talks too much. 2ndly, he’s a weaklng.

    3rdly, all he has is pace.

    Milner, Young, Downing, Lennon, And SWP are all better imo

  125. SUGA3

    no, he ain’t – not a winger, but definitely has a few tricks up his sleeve…

    just needs some sharpness, which should come with games – I expect him to tear Burnley a new one with his pace, shame we have no target man…

  128. Pat

    ut Emmanuel Eboue is fit again while Wenger insists that he will standby keeper Manuel Almunia despite his shaky display at Liverpool.

    Wenger added: “I have full confidence in him and I will pick him at Burnley. I have watched the game against Liverpool well.

    “The ball was deflected by Lucas and I did not see that during that game. He came and Lucas touched the ball with his head and deflected the ball.”

    So Wenger thinks that Almunia was not at fault? If a keeper comes out, he HAS to get the ball, simple as that. Szczesny is probably better than all of our keepers already, can’t we just play him?

  130. SUGA3

    MnM,

    you say Theo is shit, but you also happen to rate Denilson – bizarre, if you ask me…

    only SWP of all the mentioned had a sniff in the CL, where Theo was quite something…

    off form? yes…

    shit? fuck no…

  132. MnM

    SUGA3 – I rate Denilson because he is fantastic. He is soooooo much better in his position than Theo is in his. Its not even comparable.

  136. SUGA3

    Pat,

    I am a massive fan of Szczesny, but he is not yet ready to play in the league – still a boy, does not have enough upper body strength to cope with Prem strikers and needs more experience…

    agreed, best keeper (raw talent wise) out of all four, but needs to be loaned out somehwere, as he will not get past useless Mannone…

  137. MnM

    Milner is well above average. How could you say that. Watch Villa man, he is by far their best player. Scored a great goal today.

  138. GoonerGod

    Considering Song has been our best player this season, those stats are bollocks. I’m guessing they are based on goals/assists etc and not on work rate.
    Diaby has only played about 4 games, but has somehow scored a couple of goals and is in the list, however, Song has worked his nuts off and got nothing.
    Anyway, 3 points v Burnley is a must now Villa and the Mancs have won.

  139. Stu

    Maciek, not happening with Elia. He only just joined Hamburg. Too soon for him to move imo.

    As for Milner. Great worker with 2 good feet but not great with either…however he does score the odd spectacular goal. Would be a good squad player for us but no more.

  140. SUGA3

    MnM,

    Denilson is fantastic?

    I’ll have some of what you’re smoking mate – no strength, no pace, which nullifies his intelligence – fair enough, has good anticipation, but if he was to play against Song, he’d get raped…

  142. Stu

    Denilson is smart…whooptie fucking doo..brains along isnt enough. He can read the game very well and see where the ball is going to be. But because he is so slow and has no strength whatsoever knowing where the ball means fuck all because he cant get to it in time.

    Whenever he plays without Song he looks lost because he cant cope with the opposition being physical. He would be perfect fo Spain or some league that doesnt focus too much on muscle.

  144. MnM

    Are you forgetting that Theo has never played as a striker in his life?

    And Denilson is fantastic – end of story. It really doesn’t matter what you think, he just is.

  145. SUGA3

    to be fair, so is Denilson – he is not a DM, period: better going forward than defending: shame that OGL does not see that playing Denilson with Song forms a ‘toxic relationship’, as they each of them plays better without the other ;)

  147. MnM

    Oh god. Are you that stupid? Denilson, Song and Fabregas are the best central midfield trio in England, possibly the World.

  149. Stu

    I dont really follow too many wingers Maciek because Arsenal dont use them but of what i have seen i do like the look of Dzsudzsak.

    Saw him a while ago playing for PSV against Ajax. He was magnificant. Other than him i dont regularly watch any wingers.

  150. Pat

    The lower leagues of Englis football are even more physical for the keepers, no?

    Szczesny is no push over. I think he’d do fine with us now, but Wenger won’t take that risk.

    Di Maria is fucking quality!!

    Theo is shit and I never said I rated Denilson.

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