mostob:
You want us to start with Saliba's own. Off the top of my head, I remember Saliba catching the ball with his hands inside the box against Leeds.

What of the way he gave away the ball under no pressure against same opponent?

Do you want us to compile the list?

See ehn, Players have off days when nothing just work for them. Moreso, not many of us here really like White because of the transfer fee so that plays a part too.

Do you also want us to compare the team structure, midfield setup and others too?

germaphobe:
in the shot u digged up, mos.. wasn't talking about white alone but rammy too, now uncle raydick do you think rammy was average too in his first season?. White wasn't as bad as you guys are trying to paint him during his first season , yes his first two matches was shiit, especially his first match but then so was the whole team. Arsenal fans didn't like the signing of both white and ramsdale even before the officially kicked a ball as arsenal players just because of their ex clubs and also money involved in their deals which many including I myself thought was too high for them. He came under heavy attacks both from pundits and fans during his early days but gradually grew into the team. I remember going from "nawah for dis Ben white" to "fine play there better baller" during his first season... But then what do I know......

BlueRayDick:


Did u follow the conversation from the onset?

If u follow some of the discussions we had in the past particularly whites first season, I'm one of the few guys here who defended White's addition to the team. At the height of the "defence vs Attack wins u league" discussion, I'm one of the few guys who always pointed it out that addition of Gabriel And White to the team was a step in the right direction by the club management .

So u see, I'm the last person that will use the word "bad" to refer to white. If u noticed all I said was that he's average ( and this is in relation to Saliba). I never said he's bad.

The discussion I was having with mos is that Saliba is one of the unbenchable players in our team which he does not only disagree with, but also made the unpardonable error of saying White would step into his shoes while other Players can't step into the shoes of Saka, Ramsdale and Gabriel. I no gree with that one.

mostob:
Apt! God bless you bro.
Saliba has made us forget how good White was then.

Jodera:
Hmmm... same White?

I'm surprised to see say White was average in his first season as Rcb sha

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Jodera:

Lol... It still doesn't mean anything.

White replaced Tomi the very next season, does that mean Tomi was average 21/22 season?

Jodera:

Lol... It still doesn't mean anything.

White replaced Tomi the very next season, does that mean Tomi was average 21/22 season?

mostob:
He needs to start trusting these guys before Dem go rust. I think players like Kiwior, Nelson, and the new signings should be heavily involved in pre season.

iamoyindamola:

Yes for a cb to replace Tomi it means tomi is below avera

Roland17:


I am with Blue.RayDick on this one. He is Arteta's best student because he plays to Arteta's instruction better than anyone and that is why he is a first team player. I want to careful so I don't denigrate our player because I want to make a case. I will let my screenshots speak, pay close attention to the dates. This isn't even about Saliba because Saliba is levels above him, no cap.

Roland17:


Lets be clear, White playing RB exposed us a lot and limited us offensively. Again, the reason White is benching Tomiyasu is because he plays better to Arteta's instruction and he is always available. This is why I have advocated for him to return to the CB role and compete for a place. Is he a good player? yes but don't hype him to be the 2nd coming of Lillian Thuram in his prime.

iamoyindamola:

Yes for a cb to replace Tomi it means tomi is below avera

Jodera:
Lol, the dates I'm seeing is prior to his signing and the match against crystal palace (2-2) where the team is still struggling for stability.
During that time his signing is being met with consternation especially as we all felt attack needed to be strengthened instead of defence.
I even join attack him and Rammy signing during the early months

Can you please bring me receipts from November upwards where he's being slated for consistently being average or underwhelming that season?

If you don't mind please

Roland17:


Me choosing not to dig further is because it would be easy to misconstrue my position based on my love for Saliba and I don't want this debate to degenerate into a White bashing because he deserves better. White was not the best Brighton defender. When he arrived, he was better than what we had except for Saliba who had to go on loan.

Off the top of my head, I remember the loss to Southampton where he had a horrible showing, you can look for the highlights but this is why I am choosing not to pick instances because it would not be fair to White. I don't think anyone is saying he is bad but don't make him out to be more than he actually is.

Jodera:
You see am na...
I don't know if this is sarcasm or you're serious

iamoyindamola:

But tomi was below average na

Jodera:
Lol... How do I put it? Lemme see

White Is not a 50m defender ... Agreed

White wasn't what we needed since we have Saliba... Agreed

White probably wasn't Brighton best defender... Agreed

But we signed him so we have to move forward;

So the question I'm asking are:

1.. As a whole of his First season, Was he Very Average?(Ignore the 50m we spent on him or whether we needed him and look at solely his performance at the 2021/22 season). Was it an average performance?

2.. During Saliba's injury, would we have felt Saliba's absence much if White Is to stand in during Saliba's injury while Tomi played RB towards the deciding fixtures last season?

This are the two pertinent questions I'm asking that needs answers and I would love to hear your thoughts.

Jodera:
First season??

Tomi??


Hmmmm...

BlueRayDick:


Just see it this way:

1. White was an upgrade to the defenders we had at the time he was signed. Those defenders were actually poor at that time he was signed.

2. White did not bring the level of stability Van Djik brought to Loserpool. Even though he was an upgrade to what we had at that time, his performance was not above average. As in it wasn't exceptional unlike what we had with the introduction of Saliba last season.

3. Saliba was clearly way above average to the extent that rival fans, pundits and sports news blogs kept on showering encomiums on him. Even we the fans could not hold our joy anytime we see the team list and Saliba is on it as expected.

iamoyindamola:

Which earned saliba in the team of the season

BlueRayDick:


Just see it this way:

1. White was an upgrade to the defenders we had at the time he was signed. Those defenders were actually poor at that time he was signed.

2. White did not bring the level of stability Van Djik brought to Loserpool. Even though he was an upgrade to what we had at that time, his performance was not above average. As in it wasn't exceptional unlike what we had with the introduction of Saliba last season.

3. Saliba was clearly way above average to the extent that rival fans, pundits and sports news blogs kept on showering encomiums on him. Even we the fans could not hold our joy anytime we see the team list and Saliba is on it as expected.

iamoyindamola:

You keep mixing it up
White replaced tomi in his second season

Jodera:
You're the one mixing it up.

You claimed White was below average (or average) in his first season reason why Saliba replaced him in the second season.

So I asked, Was Tomi below average in his first season that White replaced him in his second season?

Jodera:
Lol...
Saliba was like a 90/100 performance while White was a 70-75/100 performance.

Let's use Odegaard as an example. Odegaard was very very impressive during the 20/21 season but few pundits nor rival fans showered encomiums on him. In fact the only rival fan whom I knew praised him was Popi from Chelsea thread and this is me who's mostly moving from one sports thread to another.

But this past season, the way pundits and rival fans were raving about him, one would think it's just this past season he started cooking.

While I wouldn't doubt he raised the bar and put in world class performances, I would deny that he was class the previous season.

And that's the same thing with White

iamoyindamola:

If tomi wasn’t average why will white bench instead of white sitting on bench

Roland17:


Again, the reason White is benching Tomiyasu is because he plays better to Arteta's instruction and he is always available..

Jodera:
You're the one mixing it up.

You claimed White was below average (or average) in his first season reason why Saliba replaced him in the second season.

So I asked, Was Tomi below average in his first season that White replaced him in his second season?

Roland17:


Look at it this way..

Saliba has made the team of the season.

Gabu won player of the month 3 times during the period under review

Show us where White won player of the month as a CB during the period.

His only player of the month has come as a RB for Arsenal.

This proves that he did not have consistency in performance to win one as a CB partnering Gabu.

Jodera:
Lol.. lol... Lol.

Anybody wey follow this post knows that's not what you meant in this receipt but for the sake of not prolongation this matter, I accept

Jodera:
Roland answered you here

BlueRayDick:


This should settle it.

If not, I will conclude Spy and Jodera should be in laws cos dem get energy to drag discussion from today till 100 years

Spy360:

I don't understand what you mean by that what I meant. There's a literal interpretation to waht I typed in the first paragraph.

People felt that Arteta was bringing Zinny as a LB because he played there for Man City. But I knew that he was first of all a midfielder. I don't think you have any choice than to accept because I have maintained this stand till date.

Jodera:
Hmmm... same White?

I'm surprised to see say White was average in his first season as Rcb sha

Roland17, iamoyindamola, Spy360, Lush100, daveP, Kodded, germaphobe, ObaIgwe, Shegzdave.(and other active arsenal fans here)

I go like see Una thoughts on this biko!