What to do with Aaron Ramsey?

TotalArsenal

Aaron Ramsey is a player I have always supported, and more than once defended when he was being slated by fellow Gooners. I was there in Stoke when his leg got smashed by Shawcross, and ever since that horrific injury I have developed a special interest in the Welshman. In fact, I feel quite protective over him.

He is now in his second proper season, since he fully recovered from his leg break, and it is fair to say he is struggling to claim a first team place. He was given a proper chance by Arsene last year, and he did really well at the start of the season. However, towards the end of the season his performances became less impressive. This was probably caused by fatigue, as Wenger had used him a lot during the season.

This season, as a result of Diaby’s long injury, Aaron has been given a proper chance to claim the position that should suit him best in our 4-3-3 formation: the one next to Arteta, which links up defence with midfield. Unfortunately, except for the odd game against Man City, Ramsey has not really been able to play with the required quality in the lynchpin role until now.

I am starting to get the feeling that Aaron is not going to make it in that role: he is not quick and nimble enough, as he appears to need too much time and space to be really effective. On top of that, his forward passing and crossing is not of the required standard in that pivotal position.

The competition for this role will soon be very strong, with Jack, Abou and Tomas all coming back into the team within the next few weeks. I reckon Jack and Diaby are better footballers than Aaron and function significantly better in the lynchpin position.

Aaron has done better on the right in midfield, but his lack of speed means he cannot add much in terms of wing play. Again there are better players who can play there: Theo and The Ox – and it looks unlikely that Aaron will claim that spot either.

I reckon Aaron is a great squad player to have, but it looks like he will lose out on any of the first team places from now onwards.

I hope he will somehow find his form again and still manages to claim a first team spot, but I fear he will end up more and more on the bench from now on.

Total Arsenal

71 thoughts on “What to do with Aaron Ramsey?”

  • Good Post, TA, 🙂

    I could not agree more.

    Like you, I am very sympathetic towards Rambo, and I have been a big fan of his football.

    Sadly I think that he is trying too hard, and because of injuries to Tomas and Diaby he has been played too much.

    I say he tries too hard because he covers every blade of grass on the pitch and frankly does more that his job description requires of him. Exhaustion slows his pace and makes him error prone in the second half of games too.

    He quite definitely has regressed this season and that is supported by his losing his Wales captaincy too.

    I have not given up on him as he has a big heart and can come good still, but the sooner he has a break the better.

  • Hi Redders,
    I’m not advocating sectarianism, I’m sick of hearing about Glitter ans Savile, and if people are going to be punished retrospectively, then clear the whole mess up, name and shame, get it all out in the open, regardless of religion. Personally, I’m in agreement with Richard Dawkins.

  • Interesting post Total.
    If the two sick notes were fit tomorrow, I wonder if Ramsey would actually get in a match day squad. Not forgetting Gibbs, Oxo and soon Gnabry who will possibly be challenging for a squad place. How many can you have on a bench on Match days ?. Obviously one place has to be a Goalie !.

  • By the way, Redders, Jock Stein was a Protestant. And my original question was football-related.
    It was a journalist called Annie Smith who uncovered the scandal in 1996.
    Another Celtic youth coach, Frank Cairney was also implicated. Celtic Chairman at the time, Jack McGinn covered it up.
    A pervert photographer – John Cullen – was captured when a bin bag full of pictures of naked and semi-naked boys was found at Celtic Park. He worked for the official club magazine, ‘The Celtic View’.
    Sectarianism is when different religions clash, it has nothing to do with paedophilia.

  • Thanks TA

    A very interesting post. i think the time is getting closer when the question of wether Ramsey will ever be good enough for Arsenal is drawing closer. Like you, i feel he needs time and space that is rarely found in the PL. Reading Redders comment that he trys too hard ties in with his stats. He covered the most ground on the pitch yesterday and was involved in both penalty areas but somehow is generaly ineffective.

    I realy hope he makes it because i have a soft spot for him after the leg break, but the competition for places is hotting up and he does look a bit short to claim a regular place.

  • I would just like to add that when you compare Aarons technique to Jacks, its simply inferior. Wilsheres first touch is sublime were as Ramsey needs that bit extra time to control it and get his head up. Though its unfair to compare him with Wilshere, even Santi cant come close to Wilsheres technique

  • Stretch
    I would say Santi`s touch is as good as Jacks. Both have great awareness of whats happening around them. Jack has that ability of letting the ball run across him without even taking a touch, which gives him a split second advantage, it is a lot harder than it looks and I have not seen many players do it .

  • Evening again 🙂

    Hi RA – very true about Aaron trying to hard at times and often being too exhausted when it matters: over hitting passes and crosses for example.

    Hi Abdul – what do you mean with Aaron not being a good team player. I don’t regard him as egotistical: do you?

    Hi Glic, agreed on the quality of his competition.

    Hi Terry, agreed, Jack really showed how it should be done yesterday.

  • Hi Total…hope you and your family have an awesome holiday up there in Jock land, enjoy.

    Evening guys…….I’m afraid I’m going to be the odd one out here. Arron Ramsey is not my favourite Arsenal player by and stretch (excuse the pun). Nice guy he may be, but for me he is not top four material, mid table player at best. Agreed he had a career threatening injury and has made a miraculous recovery, but if we are talking players that can make the difference, he is not that player for me.

  • Hi VCC, I think we are mostly agreeng with you. It looks like he is not going to make it at Arsenal, other than a good squad player for us. 😦

  • You could be right there VCC.. Would any of the top european clubs take the Ramsey of today?, i doubt it. At the time we got him Utd were after him too so he was obviously a teenager with hugh potential. i do feel the injury has himdered him more than people appreciate but he dosnt need sympathy, he needs performaces.

    Herbie Baby. I hear Arsene has contacted Paul Mariner about the possibility of coming out of retirement. Could be the big name signing we all crave. hahaha

  • I’d just like to say that it is a complete lie that Wenger said that van Persie was sold for football reasons at the recent AGM.

  • Terry…..a good barometer there. Ramsey up for sale, how many top clubs would be interested? I fear there would be no takers. He tries the Hollywood pass far too often, he just can’t pull them off. He has no pace, slows the game down, and hardly a prolific goal scorer. So, although a fine young player, he is just not top class IMO. Trouble is, I am a hard task master when it comes to Arsenal. As Tina Turner would sing, I want “Simply the best”

  • Herb/Terry…..your both wrong about Henry or Mariner. I have it on good authority Mr.Wenger is bringing Perry Groves back.

  • Herb….can I ask you question?

    If you were the current Arsenal manager, what three players in what positions would you buy.

    Please don’t say you don’t have a network of scouts as you are extremely learned in the art of professional footballers.

  • VCC, Herb, ime a bit worried about Giroud. I know its early, but is he good enough to handle the burden of carrying Arsenals attack? I am not a big believer in splashing the cash for thes ake of it but i would love another striker at the Club,

  • VCC, watching Giroud for the first time live, what did you make of him?

  • Terry….again he is not one of my favourite players. He’s not my type at all. I would like to see my centre forward have a quicker brain to foot co-ordination. We all know the importance of a proven goalscorer, it’s perhaps the most technical part of football, the art of scoring is paramount. It sounds so obvious a statement, but I’m not sure Wenger looks at this in depth. I think he would have been better trying a punt on a cheaper version proven poacher from the premiership. Don’t forget he cost the club £11 million. I’m sure we could have picked up someone for short term fix.

    Having said all that, I did pay attention to him quite a bit yesterday and thought he made lots of runs off the ball and tried hard. His best contributions were his lay offs, but this in itself is just not good enough for my centre forward if I want my team to win things. I may be a bit hard on him as he has only played a few games. My question to Wenger would be why pay £11 million and not play him regularly? A tad baffling that one.

  • VCC,
    GK – Simon Mignolet (Sunderland)
    LB – Lee Wallace (Rangers)
    Striker – Karim Benzema
    I’d like a winger too, but off the top of my head I can’t think of who is available. Thomas Muller would be my first pick with the system we play, but he has only recently moved.

  • Thanks for that Herb. I enjoy your posts and think you have a clever football head, I like your input.

    I would like to see Wenger have a punt on Lewinowski.

  • Right, off to watch match of the day. Don’t usually watch the Manc scum but want to see ManUres latest signing Clattenburg.

  • Morning Guys, 🙂

    Much milder today, altho top temperatures of approx 10C does not compare too well with Oz’s 30C.

    Not fair is it? 🙂

  • I cannot believe that Chelsea having rubbished Clattenberg’s refereeing have now also accused him of racism!

    This by a club who stood by Terry and have since kept him as captain, even after the FA found that he had used ‘inappropriate’ language.

    The idea that any player let alone an official would use disgusting racist language after all the furore about football racism absolutely baffles me.
    If true, Clattenberg should be thrown out — as Terry should have been.

    Very upsetting that this should all start again!

  • Morning Red Arse…..how are you today? Well I hope, after a pleasing three points gained by our beloved Arsenal.

    It’s a crazy world we live in right now. Or is it the world? You almost feel its only here in England where we have to be sooooo politically perfect. Chelsea = talk about double standards.

  • Morning Girls 🙂
    I cant believe in this day and age, that the referees conversations are not recorded. Either the player or the Reff` is lying, recording`s would clear this type of accusation up quickly.

  • GLiC my darling, how are we this bright and crisp morning? Fine I hope after our win on Saturday.

    I see our Tuesday game against Reading is being televised on Sky 4. Cool, I will be having a few jars down the local with my Arsenal shirt on. COYG.

    Have you listened to the cd yet?

  • Red Arse, good morning sir. I’m chilling this morning so jumping between sites. Coffee morning old chap, nice and civilised.

  • VCC
    It`s a beautifull here in Glicdom. The inbreds all look happy, singing whilst they comb their beards, while their husbands are at work down the treacle mines !
    Thanks for the CD, It`s in the car and haven`t had a chance to listen to it yet, as I haven`t been in the car since coming back from the game and when I came back, I was listening to Talksport all the way home. I will take it to work with me and listen whilst driving to Orc Land !.

  • Hi Herbs.. I agree with you about Simon Mignolet.. Simon is a great GK.. And will be great to us..
    Seaman.. Lehmann.. Simon.. hehe..

    Jenkinson is a strong RB.. And so do Sagna.. Seeing Jenkinson in the bench is such a waste.. I wonder if somehow he can play as LB or even CB.. we never know..

    For winger I choose ISCO..

  • I cant wait for the Reading game. I find these games stressless, you can come out from behind the sofa, put your feet up, chill out and enjoy watching a few of the youngsters without chewing your nails down to your elbows and have plenty of time to get the sofa back ready for Saturdays game where I can play hide `n` seek for two hours !. hahaha

  • Hi Henry, hope life in Indonesia is treating you well. You’re right, Jenks has really stepped up this year and is starting to look the part.
    I’d be surprised if Mr Wenger bought a goalkeeper, but we do need one of quality. I think he’s pinning his hopes on Szczesny, which is still a 50-50 shout for me.
    As for Isco, I’ve heard the name, not seen the player, so I’m happy to take
    your recommendation if he’s the player you say he is.

  • GLiC…..surely Wenger will make several changes for the Reading game, as we need refreshed players for Old Toilet.

    I wouldn’t mind seeing at least half the side made up of youngsters and just having a go. We need to come out all guns blazing next week end.

    Also, don’t forget the Mancs have a tricky game themselves on Wednesday.

  • Hi guys 🙂

    Just a quickie before we get onto the Ferry to Mull.

    Good to read your discussions and lots of good banter.

    Hope to issue a post again tomorrow if I can get a decent wifi signal.

    Keep rockin

  • A little Irishman goes into an elevator, looks up and sees this huge black guy standing next to him.
    The big guy sees the little Irishman staring at him. He looks down and says.
    “7 feet tall, 350 pounds, 20 inch penis, 6 pounds of testicles, Turner Brown”

    The Irishman faints and falls to the floor.

    The big guy kneels down and brings him too, shaking him.

    Big guy says “what’s wrong with you.?”

    In a weak voice the Little guy says “what exactly did you say to me?”

    The big dude says ” I saw your curious look and figured I’d just give you the answers to the questions everyone always asks me………”I’m 7 feet tall, I weigh 350 pounds, I have a 20 inch penis, my testicles weigh 3 pounds each, and my name is Turner Brown”.

    Little Irishman says “Turner Brown?, sweet Jazus, I thought you said Turn around”

  • We have some venerable Gooners around, so I wonder if they can empathize with this.

    “WHERE is my SUNDAY paper?!”

    The irate customer called the newsagent, loudly demanding to know where his Sunday edition was.

    “Excuse me sir”, said the newsagent, “today is Saturday. The Sunday paper is not delivered until tomorrow, on SUNDAY”.

    There was quite a long pause on the other end of the phone, followed by a ray of recognition as the old boy was heard to mutter.

    “Well, bugger me, that explains why no one was at church either.”

    God I am not looking forward to getting old!! 🙂

  • VCC,

    The thing about being a teenager in the ’60s in the States is …………… well read on!!

    It was a hot Saturday evening in the summer of 1960, and Fred had a date with Peggy Sue.

    He arrived at her house and rang the bell.

    ‘Oh, come on in!’ Peggy Sue’s mother said as she welcomed Fred in.
    ‘Have a seat in the living room. Would you like something to drink? Lemonade? tea?’

    ‘Tea, please,’ Fred said. Mum brought the tea.

    ‘So, what are you and Peggy planning to do tonight?’ she asked.

    ‘Oh, probably watch a film, and then maybe grab a bite to eat at the milk bar, maybe take a walk on the beach.’

    ‘Peggy likes to screw, you know,’ Mum informed him.

    ‘Really?’ Fred replied; eyebrows raised.

    ‘Oh yes,’ mother continued, ‘When she goes out with her friends, that’s all they do!’

    ‘Is that so?’ asked Fred, incredulous.

    ‘Yes,’ said the mother.

    ‘As a matter of fact, she’d screw all night if we let her!’

    ‘Well, thanks for the tip!’ Fred said as he began thinking about alternate plans for the evening.

    A moment later, Peggy Sue came down the stairs looking pretty as a picture, wearing a pink blouse and a hoop skirt, and with her hair tied back in a bouncy ponytail.

    She greeted Fred. ‘Have fun, kids!’ mother said as they left.

    Half an hour later, a completely dishevelled Peggy Sue burst into the house and slammed the front door behind her.

    ‘The Twist, Mum!’ she angrily yelled to her mother in the kitchen. ‘The bloody dance is called the ….Twist!’

  • Red Arse 15:55. …too late for me, I’m already old.

    At least I’m not ugly like that man from Cornwall.

  • hahaha, dont know any jokes, can never remember them. One thing i do know though is if i was Peggy sues date i would have been very excited, and if i was that Irishman i would have started crying. hahaha

  • VCC,

    That “man from Cornwall”, known locally as the “handsome bastard, Pixie”, has become bewitched by not just his evil mirror, but the distorting reflection from Terry’s head. 🙂

  • I have spent hours doing a video of saturday, but xtranormal are having problems, so I might have lost it all. 😦
    Trying to get Gervinho and Giroud pronounced is hard, getting VCC is a lot easier, I write in vee see see, writing ugly mother f**ker was easy aswell , I write in VCC ! hahaha

  • How weird is that guys. After writing my last comment, I got an email from xtranormal, they said it was experiencing some technical problems, but hope to solve it as soon as possible. The email was from a women, which had her picture on it and she was gorgeous ( like me ), her name was Brenda. ” Brenda, Brenda, let me stick in your blender ! hahaha
    I also had an email ( honest to dennis ) from some company called VIMAX. It said their tablets would; ” give me a bigger, firmer and stronger penis. give a more intense orgasm, stop premature ejaculation and give me erections when I want them !”.
    I`d love to know how they thought I was in need ?. For a start, I can get an erection in seconds, I just look in the mirror !. More intense orgasms ?, just look at previous answer !. Stronger and firmer ?, the missus whacks it with a club hammer, it will swell !. Stop premature ejaculation ?, I have a photo of VCC !. hahaha
    Redders, once they have sorted their problems out, I will make the video again and put a warning on it !. Hope you dont mind some strong language ! hahaha

  • GLiC….quality. That was funny. I’m so pleased to have stared in your opening film.

    I’m going to have a go at that.

  • VCC
    Maybe I should have put some credits up, like………Starring and narrated by glic, played by Brad Pit……….VCC, played, Arm Pit………Redders, played by Cess Pit……..TMHT, as Stretch, played by, Haircules……..Stretche`s syrup, played by Skippy, the dead bush kangaroo……….Total, played by, Dennis Bergkamp`s clog . hahaha

  • GLiC….I was going to try and have a go today. It the Wife has put paid to that, I have plenty to do if I want to make the game tonight.

    You still crack me up GLiC.

    Where,s Terry and Red Arse?

    Ava g8 day y’all.

  • hahahaha, brilliant Cornwall. To be honest i expected more swearing, but instead its perfectly good family entertaiment. I have Mrs Terrys mum over tommorow, so in order to get rid of her quickly i will wait for Mrs Terry to pop out and play your masterpiece to her followed by a Porno film.

    Like last time, she wil freak out and tell Mrs Terry of my wretched behaviour, but i will just deny all knowledge and bring the “senile old bat” card into play. hahaha

  • Terry/GLiC, I had tears running down my cheeks. Was going to have a go but I don’t think I could top that GLiC. Soooooooofunny.

  • Glic, that is amazing!! And I loved you in that yellow/red suit imitating my accent!! 🙂

    What an imagination!!

    You are quite a guy. 🙂

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