Liverpool v Arsenal, 15/08/10, SS1, 4pm GMT

[asajoseph]

Eboue is a good player at this point in time. Many clubs would be delighted to have a squad player like him.

Exactly. He scored two goals yesterday from that position too. I honestly don't know what he has to do to satisfy some people.

Two goals in pre-season against Legia Warsaw aren't really enough to make up for 6 goals and 9 assists in 3 years playing largely as an attacking midfielder.

He has to show more end product, more regularly, when it counts. In his career to date, he's been shocking.

 

[fabo]

At least with Walcott there's a chance he might do something productive in the final third. In general, Eboue will probably offer more to our overall play.

I'd have neither starting. Looks like another weak position in the squad - not sure if Nik or Chamakh will get game time there this year.

 

[celestis]

well maybe this is his season, think it is a good sign that he scored it was also the way he scored the 2nd showed quite a bit of composure . Which is a big improvement to the way he used to aproach shooting .

 

[outlaw_member]

Can't believe we are going into another new season and Eboue is still an option at RWF.

And apparently, we didn't need Joe Cole.

It's absolutely pathetic. I didn't want Joe Cole, but we most definitely need someone in the position. How Eboue is still an option after 3 years of incompetence is unbelievable.

 

[outlaw_member]

Eboue is a good player at this point in time. Many clubs would be delighted to have a squad player like him.

Exactly. He scored two goals yesterday from that position too. I honestly don't know what he has to do to satisfy some people.

Eboue is a top RB backup, but he is completely useless as a RWF. That isn't even up for debate.

 

[Klaus Daimler]

Two goals in pre-season against Legia Warsaw aren't really enough to make up for 6 goals and 9 assists in 3 years playing largely as an attacking midfielder.

He has to show more end product, more regularly, when it counts. In his career to date, he's been shocking.

It's not quite the point I was reaching for though. No one's said he should be a starter all things considered. He does have several good points though, and people tend to largely ignore them.

The game against Legia Warsaw told me that his current form is pretty good. We attacked with a lot more potency in the final third when he came on. It's not disheartening to have him as an option on the right wing as we're heading to Anfield with that in mind - it's encouraging. So much of our attacking problems last season stemed from the fact that our forwards couldn't even beat their man with a stick. Eboue does it all the time, even though he's got other flaws. He's a rather nice catalyst to have around when he's on his game.

 

[asajoseph]

The game against Legia Warsaw was one game - I don't know how it can tell you anything about form.

And I still don't see your point - when Eboue plays as a midfielder, he does so in a very attacking role. If he's unable to contribute almost anything that actually helps us score goals, he's still no use as a backup OR a starter.

 

[Klaus Daimler]

Of course it tells me something about his current form when he scores two goals. How else would you determine such a thing? It was a very encouraging performance.

And I gather that you didn't notice, but I disagree that he doesn't offer anything in an attacking role. I think we look better with him on the field a lot of the time.

 

[asajoseph]

Form, surely, is about how you produce over a run of games, not just on a one-off occasion? Especially not a pre-season friendly against pretty dubious opposition.

 

[MAK 14]

I'd much rather Arsène played Eboue on the right over Walcott or Rosicky for the simple fact that Eboue is a much better crosser than both of them. With Chamakh in the centre we're bound to be a threat to Liverpool in the air. If the game is tied or we're losing we could always stick Theo on at around the 70 minute mark to run at some tired Liverpool defenders.

 

[Klaus Daimler]

It's not like it's an exact science. Form is determined by the performances over whatever span of games you look at. Admittedly a one off game isn't much, but he hasn't had many opportunities either. It still gives you an indication. I'd rather give him a start at Anfield based on a good performance against Legia Warsaw than off the back of a bad one.

 

[asajoseph]

Sure, though based upon the last 3 years, I wouldn't pick him at all, but I suppose it kind of depends on what sort of fitness levels the rest of our squad are at.

Nevertheless, that's by the by with regards to your original point - it should be fairly obvious why some people aren't satisfied with Eboue.

 

[qs]

Eboue will never escape his old reputation with some fans. He's no Bobby Pires but on the wing he has some strengths, his pretty direct, great feet and quick. His final ball has been lacking but its improved dramatically over the last 12-18 months to the point where he is far from hopeless now.

At the moment I'd certainly have him in that position ahead of Rosicky and probably Walcott too.

 

[celestis]

I would like to see sometime this season , RVP ,Chamakh and Arshavin as our front three .

 

[asajoseph]

Theo may be frustrating, but he's still better in the final third, and puts more of a defensive shift in than Eboue.

Neither would get into my first Arsenal XI at the moment, but Walcott would be the one coming off the bench 9 times out of 10.

 

[outlaw_member]

Eboue will never escape his old reputation with some fans. He's no Bobby Pires but on the wing he has some strengths, his pretty direct, great feet and quick. His final ball has been lacking but its improved dramatically over the last 12-18 months to the point where he is far from hopeless now.

At the moment I'd certainly have him in that position ahead of Rosicky and probably Walcott too.

Walcott's better than Eboue without a doubt, but they're all dire options to varying degrees. We need to overhaul our flanks.

 

[scytheavatar]

Theo may be frustrating, but he's still better in the final third, and puts more of a defensive shift in than Eboue.

No he's not; with his very unintelligent plays he most often works himself to great positions and then waste them with bad passes. He's the one who offers nothing; Eboue is easily the best crosser we have in our team and you are underestimating him by claiming that he offers nothing. He doesn't score goals but he is a much more reliable passer than Walcott. He's more skillful too and better at beating full backs. The problem last season was that he was unable to showcase his ability cause Bendtner wasn't good enough to take advantage of his crosses, and I suspect that in the Liverpool game we are going to see Chamakh's superiority over Bendtner.

 

[asajoseph]

Honestly, that's rubbish. Eboue is a decent crosser, but nothing special - you get a lot more than 9 assists than three years by being the best crosser we have in our team.

As for 'showcasing his ability' - what ability? He's had 3 years playing in midfield, and has only showcased incompetence.

 

[MAK 14]

Who would you say is better at crossing than Eboue, asa?

In terms of pin point accuracy Eboue is definitely the best crosser we have.

 

[asajoseph]

'Pin point accuracy' are not words that anyone in our squad has any right to when it comes to crossing, apart from, maybe, van Persie, who is comfortably the best we have.