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12/10/2006
Time for Ralph to Leave?
Emmanuel Eboue is the most exciting right back in the world. Since his move from Breveren, he has improved in leaps and bounds. He has started this season the same way he finished last season, in great form. He’s been impressive, so impressive that a fair amount of Arsenal fans, myself included seem to have forgotten a certain Bisan Lauren.
I will be honest; Lauren has never been a favorite of mine. As a right back he was strictly ok. Like most Arsenal fans, I rate him defensively. Attacking wise he never really gave us anything. While Eboue is not as defensively strong, he will improve with time. Eboue is our new Ashley Cole. 2 years ago, Thierry Henry, Robert Pires and Ashley Cole were the most destructive left hand side in the world Arsenal’s attacking potency is now concentrated to the right hand side. Hleb and Eboue are a wonderful pairing, they seem to have a telepathic connection.
So what is Lauren’s role in the team? Could he play in the mid-field again? Possible, yes. Probable, no. Diaby, Denilson, Flamini, Song and even Baptista can play in the holding mid-field role. A few friends of mine were discussing the possibility of him playing as a left back. While this could be a short-term solution, he just would not cut it. We need a specialist left back, someone who is left footed.
I expect Lauren to leave at the end of the season. At his age I don’t think he can (or will) settle for a place on the bench. In Kierra Gilbert we have a ready made understudy to Manu.
[Ed. Note: Eboue will never play as a right winger]
02:40 Permalink | Comments (19) | Email this
Comments
King Ralph is better defensively than Eboue and who would be better to lunge at Ca$hley C*** than the man from the Cameroon. Still think he could do a good job on the right of midfield and we only really have 3 players who can play on the wings in a 4-4-2
Posted by: dave | 12/10/2006
What rubbish - Lauren is still an integral member of the squad. whilst Eboue is doing really well, he still needs a LOT of guidance and Lauren is the guy to do it. Ralphie always gives 100%, never gives up and is exactly what Wenger likes - incredibly versatile. It is easy to forget a players attributes when they are out for such a long time and I think Ralphie can still do a fantastic job for Arsenal.
Please stay Ralph!
Posted by: lala | 12/10/2006
Ralph is still a very valuable player for us... He's our hardest player and just the fella you want Bolton away when its dirty and niggly... He is a warrior.. He could even play central midfield when we need to grind out a result.. Eboue is good but wanders still at the back and gets the wrong side far to often yes he's still young and still learning BUT he def needs Ralph around...
Posted by: The Herd | 12/10/2006
Fuck the fuck off.
Ralph stays.
Posted by: Joe | 12/10/2006
Lauren gave us nothing in attack?!? He used to be the only one who could deliver accurate crosses into the box in open play. Problem was, nobody bothered to get into the box. Now that Eboue has learned how to cross, in addition to the fact that players more often venture into the box, I do see your point. But Lauren is still better defensively. I won't cry if something happens, 'tho, as I'm more then happy to see Gilbert get a few games for us next season. He has potential in spades.
Posted by: Le Bob | 12/10/2006
Rubbish. Stop posting crappy opinions as fact - Lauren is a mentor to so many Spanish and Latin players - Fabregas, Merida, and when he was here Reyes ...yet you rubbish his other contributions as well....
Posted by: DOLOMITE BOOM | 12/10/2006
Regardless to what anybody is saying. only Wenger has an idea.
I must say though... Even Eboue's crossing has become good on recent weeks..
I would have concerns if i were lauren. Although i rate him.
And will never forget his goal cutting in from the right and scoring againet chel$ki. Think that was a cup game.
Posted by: Lewis | 12/10/2006
lauren should definatly stay as he can play in the "hard" games (blackburn, bolton etc etc) and eboue who i think will need a rest at some point bearing in mind he also starred in the world cup can play in the other games - its called squad rotation and if a club wants to be succesful it has to have a big enough squad with quality back up which we do. i just hope that when he comes back from his injury hes not like freddie and has lost any pace or anything.
Posted by: skeeny | 12/10/2006
Wake up you pro Lauren supporters, and realised that AFC have moved on from the makeshift Lauren days. He was bought as an attacking right midfielder, but was converted to full back as a short term measure. He was never a great defender, and only looked good when going forward. Man for man Eboue is the better player, and with Gilbert to come back, we have enough cover. Its time to cash in on Ralph, and many spanish clubs will want him. He has served us well but its time to go.
More importantly, lets hope Arsene uses the money to buy Gordon from hearts. I never throught I would ever say this but he is potentially a great Scottish goalie.
With another top French player wanting to join us, you can now see the brilliance of AW's policy of catching them young from all over the world. Kids see this and only want to join AFC.....in fact why would any brilliant young player even think of joining Spuds or Chelski. One club is for losers, and the other is for bench sitting money grabbers.
Posted by: GunnerPete | 12/10/2006
If those make shift Lauren days include a Double and a season unbeaten, lets have a team full of Ralphs.
Posted by: lala | 12/10/2006
If those make shift Lauren days include a Double and a season unbeaten, lets have a team full of Ralphs.
Posted by: lala | 12/10/2006
THis post, is complete and utter rubbish.
Lauren has been the the right back in 3 back to back premiership team of the season. he is absoltuely integral.
He has experience, intergrates youngsters, is a very good defender, a leader, has power.
Eboue is good going forward chaps, but defensively he is naive, as we saw in the CL final, and at old trafford, and in the CL this season.
He is some way off lauren at present.
You need to understand a full backs job primarily is to defend. Lauren is a far better defender than Emmanuel Eboue.
Posted by: Tom | 12/10/2006
I agree with the last, whoever said lauren is better defensivly than offensivley has a seriously warped memory of mr Lauren, but i must admit his last two fit seasons were an extreme improvement defensivly compared to the past. But one thing is for sure, his ball control and distribution have always been world class, and distribution is possibly the only thing i would have pegged him ahead of eboue for until manu's crossing suddenly came alive this season, although he still has some maturity ahead of him, im really lookin forward to it........sorry biscan but i think your time is up and you deserve first team football so i hope he goes somewhere good, cos he still is......But Eboue is really something special, and as for cashely, he doesnt even come close....
Posted by: GunningGeeza | 12/10/2006
when will people realise that diaby is not a defensice midfielder
Posted by: 1 | 12/10/2006
well obviously i dont agree with the 3 beofore mine, im pro eboue.
Posted by: GunningGeeza | 12/10/2006
no shit! lol, not the right thread though.......but you know he hadnt had tim to adapt to the premierships pace before he got injured, i heard he was a midfield general in france, give him time, just because he's looks very creative doesnt mean he cant put a tackle in, must i remind you of a certain captain we used to have...........
Posted by: GunningGeeza | 12/10/2006
what rubbish. lauren is quality. he may have been converted from another position but havent other arsenal players, henry and toure are just two, and they arent seen as 'short term measures'. he also has versatility, leadership and experience and he helps to integrate a lot of the youngsters. if we sold him for a few million quid, who could we buy to replace all of these qualities within the team? its not like we need a few miollion quid that badly!
Posted by: adam | 12/10/2006
One thing no one is considering is that when Eboue plays, his constant attacking threat forces the opposing left winger to track back and defend, therefore helping our defense out by weakening the other team's left-sided attack. Lauren, however, possesses a level of toughness that Arsenal lacks as a team, so he may be useful against the Boltons and Evertons, but he is no longer first choice in my mind, only because Eboue has become the most exciting right back in the world.
Posted by: Joel | 12/10/2006
Well said Joel. Some Gunners have short memories. Ralph is a midfielder and quality, but he was a stand in right back. Yes he did his job very well during our great runs, but Eboue has improved with nearly every game. Ralph can only be fitted in as a midfiled general, and as the occassional emergency full back. Even this would not be secure when Diaby and others return. So, let Ralph go to his beloved Spain because he deserves first team football, and we can get a few Million back. I think it would be bad for morale if some of the kids that have played so well are replaced by more senior players just because of fitness.
Posted by: GunnerPete | 13/10/2006
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