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Wayne Bridge

Glovegun

Glovegun

Established Member
Re: Wayne Bridge on loan?

Vermaelen shouldn't really be considered as a left-back. Sat a couple of rows from the front at Villa Park and you can tell by his body language etc that he really doesn't like playing there. Koscielny doesn't seem quite so out of water on the other side, so if we do bring in a new full-back I think it should be a left sided one, allowing us to move Vermaelen back into the middle and Koscielny to right-back.
 
D

dpt49

Established Member
Re: Wayne Bridge on loan?

Glovegun said:
Vermaelen shouldn't really be considered as a left-back. Sat a couple of rows from the front at Villa Park and you can tell by his body language etc that he really doesn't like playing there. Koscielny doesn't seem quite so out of water on the other side, so if we do bring in a new full-back I think it should be a left sided one, allowing us to move Vermaelen back into the middle and Koscielny to right-back.
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I agree,
Playing Verms at LB is not ideal. He is one of the best CB in Europe and he is being played out of position.
What next? Song gets injured and we have RVP as DM.

If Wenger doesn't buy a quality LB, or at worst a defender who can play LB as well as other positions, then he wil have let us down once again.

When I say quality LB, I do not mean Bridge.

Gibbs is a crock and a liability and Santos is not the best defender in the world.

In all the years I have been supporting Arsenal, apart from Sagna, this is the first time we haven't had top quality FB's.

McNab, Rice, Sansom, Anderson, Dixon, Winterburn, Cole, Lauren, Clichy, and now we have Sagna (excellent) Jenkinson (not ready) Santos (ok) Gibbs (crock)

Just shows how far our standards and expectations have fallen, being linked with rubbish like Bridge.
As Dokaka said, after seeing him on loan at West Ham, "He is better than nothing."
A glowing tribute indeed
 
Big Poppa

Big Poppa

Established Member
Trusted ⭐

Country: USA

Player:Saliba
Re: Wayne Bridge on loan?

I genuinely think we'd be better off switching to 3-5-2 and adding Coquelin to midfield than trying to fit a very poor player in like Bridge.
 
Bossa

Bossa

Established Member
Re: Wayne Bridge on loan?

No team in the EPL ever played succesfully with 3 at the back. You can do that in Italy but if you play 3 in the back in the EPL you will get murdered.
 
Irish_Owen

Irish_Owen

Established Member
Re: Wayne Bridge on loan?

Bossa said:
No team in the EPL ever played succesfully with 3 at the back. You can do that in Italy but if you play 3 in the back in the EPL you will get murdered.
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It's largely dependant on the players you're playing in the formation, rather than the league you're playing it in, tbf.
 
jmsmtthw28

jmsmtthw28

Established Member
Trusted ⭐
Re: Wayne Bridge on loan?

We have to get him but he has to take a pay cut to come here
Makes the most sense
 
Floating

Floating

Established Member
Re: Wayne Bridge on loan?

mavelous said:
Seems like a good place to pick up our discussion with Anzac :)

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That's **** - not even a proper 3-5-2, which traditionally utilizes 2 wingbacks.
 
mavelous

mavelous

Tinfoil hat aficionado
Re: Wayne Bridge on loan?

Thanks. it was only a starting point in a conversation, earlier one I had with Anzac. i had asked him a question about those very wingbacks which would make it effectively 5 defenders, otherwise there's too much space on the wings, so either the CB's are stretched too far from each other, or you need to keep constantly shuffling and shifting players from side to side.

And no, it's not a proper 3-5-2, it's supposed to be 3-1-4-2 which Anzac believes can work with proper conditions.
 
Invincible

Invincible

Established Member
Re: Wayne Bridge on loan?

No to Wayne Bridge. I'd rather give Miquel a run at left back. Bridge is utter pish.
 
DK Gooner

DK Gooner

Well-Known Member
Re: Wayne Bridge on loan?

I wouldn't mind Bridge on loan, but it all depends on Man City as to how the deal can structured to suit us.

We need experienced cover over a short-term period because we are in a freak situation where we have four FBs out. Bringing someone good in on a permanent deal is not really an option because we don't have the space in the squad once our FBs return.

Bridge ticks most of the boxes, but his lack of action is the major downside as he is unlikely to be match fit at the moment and our need is for the short-term. That said, we have no idea how long it will take our returning FBs to hit form again and whether they will remain injury free for the rest of the campaign. A sensible course may be to take a three-month loan option with a view to extending to the end of the season if it works out.

The internal alternatives to Bridge are not that great. Miquel is not good enough in that position yet and while he will get better the more he plays, we are not in a position to carry another developing player in a key position. Vermaelen is OK there, but not the best and we need him more in the centre.

Bridge has been a good player in the past though recent history has not shown him in the best light. However IMO he does have the ingredients we need for a FB and maybe Wenger can coax him to play the kind of football that he is capable of while solving our short-term problem. He doesn't have to start straight away like he was forced to at West Ham. His poor showing that day has coloured most thoughts on his abilities, but he did improve significantly after that.

If anybody can suggest a better alternative who fits our current requirements than fine, but I am not happy relying on our existing options to see this troubled period through.
 
Flow

Flow

Well-Known Member
Re: Wayne Bridge on loan?

He won't buy a proper one. Like he didn't buy a CB or a GK.

Even with Santos and Gibbs fit, LB is by far our worst position. I think we need a long-term replacement for Gibbs and not a short-term (à la Bridge).
 
USArsenal

USArsenal

H.Y.I.C.
Re: Wayne Bridge on loan?

i dont want Bridge anywhere near the club.. that said, i could see Wenger trying to sign him on loan. we are fresh out of LB's with TV getting hurt now and Miquel not ready..
 
TheJoyofCesc

TheJoyofCesc

Active Member
Re: Wayne Bridge on loan?

USArsenal said:
i dont want Bridge anywhere near the club.. that said, i could see Wenger trying to sign him on loan. we are fresh out of LB's with TV getting hurt now and Miquel not ready..
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Agree. Bridge not wanted anywhere near the club. Miguel has performed well considering he was not expected to get many chances other than CC or FA cup much like Jenkinson when he was thrown in under difficult circumstances. Both not ready and have been unnecessarily criticised by many on here.

Wouldn't want him back, but Traore has looked much improved from what I have seen this season. More composed and with better decision making and quality going forward although still plenty of question marks defensively. Probably an improvement on what we can expect of Gibbs given his fragility. A fit and available LB of average quality is better than a crocked player of similar ability.

I would prefer a permanent LB replacement as I don't think Gibbs should be persevered with. He has not shown enough quality defensively when he has been available but Wenger unlikely to let him go.
 
ricky1985

ricky1985

Established Member
Re: Wayne Bridge on loan?

We can do better than Wayne Bridge. Surely.

I'd rather wait for Gibbs and play Coquelin or Miquel there for the time being.
 
D

dpt49

Established Member
Re: Wayne Bridge on loan?

It is obvious we need a LB.
Gibbs is a crock, Santos is ok and Verms not comfortable playing out of position.
It is ridiculous playing our best CB at LB anyway. What kind of cheapskate team does that.

It is clear Bridge is not the answer, so Wenger has two choices

either get a specialized LB or get a utility defender that can cover at FB and CB.

I would prefer a specialised LB but I doubt if we will get one.
I think Wenger will do the usual cheap option, which is the cheapest one, get a player on loan.

A very risky strategy looking at our defensive injury list
 
celestis

celestis

Arsenal-Mania Veteran
Moderator

Country: Australia
Re: Wayne Bridge on loan?

Isn't Bridge going to QPR that seems to be the latest .
 
D

dpt49

Established Member
Re: Wayne Bridge on loan?

celestis said:
Isn't Bridge going to QPR that seems to be the latest .
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Let's hope so.
He can join Warnocks growing army of has beens and cast offs
 
KY

KY

Established Member
Re: Wayne Bridge on loan?

Seeing as Bridge was one of them who caused West Ham's relegation (and our resounding victory against them), my patience would really sorely be tested if he came.
 
VancouverCanuck

VancouverCanuck

Well-Known Member

Country: Canada
Re: Wayne Bridge on loan?

KY said:
Seeing as Bridge was one of them who caused West Ham's relegation (and our resounding victory against them), my patience would really sorely be tested if he came.
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No question Bridge was awful against us. But that was his first game at West Ham. According to Dokaka (a West Ham fan on this forum), he had much improved since then and was one of their better players. So you can't really blame him for the relegation, just like you can blame Scott Parker for the relegation either. If Dokaka's scouting report is accurate (I myself didn't watch West Ham since their match against ours), I wouldn't getting Bridge on loan.

Ideally, I'd like to see Gibbs replaced by Baines. But we all know that's not going to happen.
 
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