Gilbert at left back

[Alex]

who says that gilbert will play at rightback when francis is fit. gilbert can play at left back as well. i have a feeling this is why he has be signed. people are saying great we now have loaned a fast right back, however francis is extremely quick and great on the over lap. hammell is not that quick though. imho francis is a better full back than hammell. hammell often gets caught out of possition and doesnt have great pace and doesnt go on the overlap that often. gilbert will start at rightback whilst francis is injured and unless hammell has a great start to the season francis will come back in at rightback with gilbert moving to left back.

 

[Beefy]

Possibly. I'd be surprised if Hammell wasn't first choice left-back whenever he's fit next season, though.

 

[Boreham Shrimper]

I reckon we may have got Gilbert conditional on him getting some matches under his belt though. Wenger doesn't let players go out on loan lightly without knowing that it's going to work for the club and also the player. Gilbert has suffered from injury and needs matches if he is to make it at the Emirates. Otherwise, he will most likely be sold anyway.

 

[Pubey]

i don't see the point of disrupting Hammell at left back for the sake of a 6month loanee... He will have Francis's shirt whilst he is out and compete with him when he comes back but I don't see the point in axing hammell once Francis is back as he might only be around for a couple of months. Hammell had a decent season last year and will be much better this season IMO against inferior opposition and having had a season to gel with the team... i don't see the point in dropping him for a loanee

 

[Alex]

i don't see the point of disrupting Hammell at left back for the sake of a 6month loanee... He will have Francis's shirt whilst he is out and compete with him when he comes back but I don't see the point in axing hammell once Francis is back as he might only be around for a couple of months. Hammell had a decent season last year and will be much better this season IMO against inferior opposition and having had a season to gel with the team... i don't see the point in dropping him for a loanee

same goes with dropping francis for a loanee. basically it has been said that francis is out for another 4 weeks so thats only 2 weeks into the season of which we should use back up in the likes of hunt or wilson or whats the point in having them. like i said francis and gilbert are better full backs than hammell, so they should both play. francis has had a good start to pre season before injury and will be a key player for us and probably league 1 best righback. with gilbert playing, francis wont play until febuary when gilberts loan period is up. if tilly just wanted gilbert as cover then he would have loaned him for just a month.

 

[The Big Shrimp]

Its quite amusing reading various comments about the signing of Gilbert.

Last season we were complaining that we didn't get a loanee from the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs etc, & now we have the question is whether we let him play.

He has the first chance at right back & if he does well, then its his position to lose, regardless of Francis' fitness!

 

[Pubey]

same goes with dropping francis for a loanee. basically it has been said that francis is out for another 4 weeks so thats only 2 weeks into the season of which we should use back up in the likes of hunt or wilson or whats the point in having them. like i said francis and gilbert are better full backs than hammell, so they should both play. francis has had a good start to pre season before injury and will be a key player for us and probably league 1 best righback. with gilbert playing, francis wont play until febuary when gilberts loan period is up. if tilly just wanted gilbert as cover then he would have loaned him for just a month.

i would be very surprised if francis is back that quick. he has a history of ankle problems and so rushing him back would be unwise. It is likely he still has ankle swelling still and wont be likely to be able to do any rehabilitation work for another week or so. I would suggest he won't play until the end of September. Gilbert is decent cover (and perhaps even a better player) and so there is no need to rush Francis back. Once Francis is fit then he will have to fight for his place, like he did with Hunt last season and at the end of the season was our best player IMO. Although Gilbert has played at Left Back before I have no doubt that Hammell is a naturally better LB and would not drop him for Gilbert unless Hammell was really out of form. Hammell has the advantage that he will be starting the season (barring any injuries) and playing for the first month or so and therefore will have a decent chance to make the shirt his own.. and like I said I doubt Gilbert will really be competing with him. I would have thought TnB made the loan length 6months to really give Francis time to recover and fight for his place.

I may be wearing rose-tinted glasses but I have got a feeling that Hammell is going to be special this season, we have yet to see the best from him but believe he will be class, and adds natural width that even a decent right-footed fullback like Gilbert cant provide

 

[Blueshrimper]

I can't see the fuss about Francis. He is good going forward but he got caught out alot of times because of it last season. I prefer Hammell to be hounest.

 

[TTS]

Its quite amusing reading various comments about the signing of Gilbert.

Last season we were complaining that we didn't get a loanee from the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs etc, & now we have the question is whether we let him play.

He has the first chance at right back & if he does well, then its his position to lose, regardless of Francis' fitness!

I agree, it is called competition for places. Gilbert is an awesome right back, that is where he should play. Yes granted Francis is a good player, quick and good on the overlap, but if Gilbert is better, e shouls start. Why play him out of position, if we signed a quality left back on loan, would people then be saying, "he is the same type of player as Hammell, lets play him at Right back".

Everyone was moaning a few weeks back, that the quad was threadbare, now it is filling up , with QUALITY competition in all positions.

THE BEST PLAYER SHOULD PLAY, no disrespect to Francis, but I believe the better right back is Gilbert !!!

 

[leeblue]

I still not sure about francis at all, wasnt really impressed last season, he not a very good defender IMO, good going forward but I like my right backs to defend first, I like the prospect of gilbert and black on the right side. As for playing left back I suppose it nice to have options but Hammell shoud do well against league one players.

 

[SARF]

Francis can play in midfield if needs must.. plenty of Cup games to go round for everyone to get a shot at claiming a place in the first team..

 

[Tilly hates yellow boots]

Even though he is younger maybe Gilbert has also been rbought him to help Francis' development. He proberly can learn both arts to full-back.
And as with any of Arsenals full-backs Gilbert will no when to bomb forward and when to sit and hold.

This could be a very good signing in terms of francis' devlopment IMO

 

[Mr. Benedict]

Its quite amusing reading various comments about the signing of Gilbert.

Last season we were complaining that we didn't get a loanee from the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs etc, & now we have the question is whether we let him play.

He has the first chance at right back & if he does well, then its his position to lose, regardless of Francis' fitness!

Absolutely - I can't see the signing of Gilbert as anything but a good thing. If he plays well in Francis' absence then he will fully deserve to keep the spot until Francis can prove it should be his.

Looking at the squad, I'm almost optimistic about the season ahead....

 

[Cricko2]

Absolutely -

Looking at the squad, I'm almost optimistic about the season ahead....

Me to, all is looking good:)

Good job he never became a Spammer ...The line up from the back Urgh!

Green.
Gilbert.

:eek:

 

[Jam_Man]

My understanding is Gilbert is a right back, he has been called upon to play the left side in emergencies but is far more comfortable on the right.

I dont see him playing ahead of Hammell, but should Hammell pick up an injury it would be interesting to see if Gilbert gets the nod there. What would Che think then? When would he ever get a game! (not a bad thing).

I reckon we will start the season with Gilbert at right back and when Francis is fit again it will be down to him to dislodge him from the side. Whether he does, and whetherif he doesnt thats long term detrimental to his development we will see.

Competition must be a good thing though.

 

[Mr. Benedict]

I was wondering this last night... Gilbert's arrival hass effectively pushed Wilson down to third or fourth choice. Did he sign that new contract.... if he didn't is he now having second thoughts about it?

 

[Jam_Man]

Che is a useful squad player and can cover both full back positions so Id be happy to see him in the squad.

However if I were him Id be wondering why I was a professional footballer if I hadnt played for my club in a year and had little opportunity for most of the next season.

 

[Beefy]

My understanding is Gilbert is a right back, he has been called upon to play the left side in emergencies but is far more comfortable on the right.

I dont see him playing ahead of Hammell, but should Hammell pick up an injury it would be interesting to see if Gilbert gets the nod there. What would Che think then? When would he ever get a game! (not a bad thing).

I reckon we will start the season with Gilbert at right back and when Francis is fit again it will be down to him to dislodge him from the side. Whether he does, and whetherif he doesnt thats long term detrimental to his development we will see.

Competition must be a good thing though.

Francis is a good squad player anyway. He's got the ability to cover at centre-half and across midfield so hopefully he'll get some games once he's fit.

 

[Jam_Man]

Well with the amount of midfielders Im not sure he will have a chance there either.

Whose idea was this big squad malarkey ?

If Francis can play at centre half that would be extremely useful, he is tall and quick. Whether Id trust him there at the moment Im not sure but could be an option.

 

[Rayleigh Weir]

Me to, all is looking good:)

Good job he never became a Spammer ...The line up from the back Urgh!

Green.
Gilbert.

:eek:

Reminds me of Charltons back line a few years ago:

Young Fish Costa Fortune