Chris Mepham

Valencian said:
Agree with most of this.
I spent a lot of the match talking about Ake to my Arsenal buddies and they agreed that he looked uncomfortable playing alongside Mepham and his body language was showing he’s getting very frustrated with his teammates
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That's understandable though. Ake's been given a new partner to play alongside; must be difficult and definitely has an unsettling affect right across the back line.

They just need time.
 
I think people are being a little harsh(no shock there)
First half particularly, Ozil was supported up their left by a high positioned Arsenal LB (Kolasinac?). This caused Clyne big issues with be in front of him, thus felt Mepham was caught between staying as part of a middle pair, against going across and a little out to support Clyne, leaving gaps inside and behind him
Rather than that being his fault, thats about set-up, and guidance from the more experienced players around him. There were times Arsenal were playing around us for fun, and that isnt the fault of a young CB playing their 2nd game
And cant compare with the impact from game 1 of someone like Brookes, flair players can occasionally do that, different thing altogether for a CB (and Brookes is an exception)
Give him time, he's composed, comfortable and I suspect capable of learning
 
Simpson has played well in the centre of a 3. If that is his best position then Mepham-Simpson-Aké is an option in a back 3 although a big risk given lack of experience.
 
...it is no good over reacting and looking for individual scapegoats for heavy defeats. In this league we will get turned over by once or twice top six clubs each season?...I mean Watford got a good hiding last night and even Chelsea got their backsides handed to them by Man City...

Howe knows our limitations I'm sure and the only way for players like Mepham, Rico and Solanke to learn is to pit their skills against the best players,. They will improve and the mistakes will become less...it is not like we can go and sign a Van Dyk...De Bruyne...Kante or a Hazard is it?

Let's get Saturday out of the way and re-group, hopefully with our best players back in the team and pick up some points against the likes of Fulham, Huddersfield and Southampton!

In the close season we will strengthen further and add to our squad allowing us more quality to be available..

As for defending is that not a team thing rather than just a back four thing?
 
Garbo said:
...it is no good over reacting and looking for individual scapegoats for heavy defeats. In this league we will get turned over by once or twice top six clubs each season?...I mean Watford got a good hiding last night and even Chelsea got their backsides handed to them by Man City...

Howe knows our limitations I'm sure and the only way for players like Mepham, Rico and Solanke to learn is to pit their skills against the best players,. They will improve and the mistakes will become less...it is not like we can go and sign a Van Dyk...De Bruyne...Kante or a Hazard is it?

Let's get Saturday out of the way and re-group, hopefully with our best players back in the team and pick up some points against the likes of Fulham, Huddersfield and Southampton!

In the close season we will strengthen further and add to our squad allowing us more quality to be available..

As for defending is that not a team thing rather than just a back four thing?
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:agree::utc:
 
Is it that important? Genuine question not a sarky one.

There have been many great same footed partnerships over the years in world football. Not least Shaun Maher and Karl Broadhurst...
 
Neil Dawson said:
Is it that important? Genuine question not a sarky one.

There have been many great same footed partnerships over the years in world football. Not least Shaun Maher and Karl Broadhurst...
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The footedness isn’t important but every defender will have a favoured side to play on. I’d imagine switching to the other side affects things like passing angles and hip position when you need to show an attacker onto a particular side.

Probably something similar to an opening batsman adjusting to Test Cricket after playing T20. A good defender ought to be able to make that adjustment after a few matches and a block of training.
 
tednphil said:
A lot of money to pay for a player well below PL quality. As far as I’m aware, no other club were seriously interested in signing him. I just hope he doesn’t become another Rante, Hyndman, Ibe, Afobe, Murray, Tomlin and too many others.

We desperately need a big ugly no-nonsense centre back. Someone like the guy Mings, currently playing at Aston Villa would do fine.
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What a difference a few days make.
It’s almost like young inexperienced players are prone to erratic form as they learn the game and level of the Premier League.
 
Agreed, both Mepham and Simpson had good games, but it’s easier to defend with 9 fellow defenders than it is when playing in a conventional game and thus being exposed at times.

My moan is that we had to pay very top dollar for an average Championship player, with absolutely no PL experience. As far as I am aware, there were no other serious bidders for Mepham!

Maybe Eddie felt pressured into paying over the top, as he was aware Steve Cook would need a rest to recover from his long term injury.
 
tednphil said:
Agreed, both Mepham and Simpson had good games, but it’s easier to defend with 9 fellow defenders than it is when playing in a conventional game and thus being exposed at times.

My moan is that we had to pay very top dollar for an average Championship player, with absolutely no PL experience. As far as I am aware, there were no other serious bidders for Mepham!

Maybe Eddie felt pressured into paying over the top, as he was aware Steve Cook would need a rest to recover from his long term injury.
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Southampton were heavily linked to him as were Leicester.
 
Looked excellent again today. Arsenal clearly just a bump in the road.

I’d like to see Simpson get a run of games, but he’s behind Ake unfortunately. Definitely made the centre of the three position his own, if that’s any consolation.
 
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