Every day this week (apologies for yesterday) Young Guns will be producing a ‘Top 5′ series of articles with the aim to celebrate and educate on all things to do with Arsenal’s Reserves and Youth. In today’s blog we will aim to solve the problem of trying to find a set position for the versatile Jay Emmanuel Thomas.
One of the key ingredients for any footballer is versatility. Being able to play well in numerous positions competently gives a player a much greater chance to get game time, but in the case of Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, it’s proved a bit of a hindrance.
The Arsenal Under 18’s skipper has impressed in no less than SIX positions in the last 12 months as Steve Bould’s side cleared up in both the F.A Youth Cup and Academy Premier League. Even his manager has had trouble pinning down Jay to a regular spot in the side, but Young Guns today attempts to solve that problem.
5. Left Back
The position in which Jay has played in least is also the position where he has made little impact. Whilst possessing many qualities, defensive positioning and reading of defensive situations is low down the list. He can bring the ball forward well but he has been caught attacking too high up the park. Of course, The Gunners have a history of marauding full-backs, but they also know when and how to defend if caught short. Emmanuel-Thomas doesn’t, and doesn’t look likely to any time soon.
4. Centre Back
Steve Bould has openly admitted he would prefer Jay to be a centre back, after his spell playing there towards the end of the 07-08 season. He waslargely a success because he’d blaze out from the back and score long range goals. Plus he had the physical advantage on most Academy League strikers. But when the 18-year-old stepped up to the Reserves he was painfully exposed. His lack of positioning showed through and he’d now lost the physical edge due to the calibre of players in the Reserves League. There was promise there, but there’s a lot to learn before this becomes an option.
3. Winger
There has been many plus points from Jay’s spell on the wings. His super quick feet and agility with the ball mean he can carry the ball beyond full backs or dance inside with possession. The crossing side is good, but still needs some work. Again versatility is mentioned because Emmanuel-Thomas can play either on the left or right and do the job well. The main reason why we don’t think this is he perfect position for the starlet is because it stifles many of his other talents such as getting stuck into tackles.
2. Central Midfielder
It was a tough one, but central midfield finishes second. It’s been the area where Jay’s spent the majority of his time with much success. All of his talents can be shown off here – especially his power, energy and ability to patrol the middle of the park. He loves to be the hub of everything in the team and he can also hone his defensive talents as a box-to-box central midfielder. The main issue is that while Jay’s athletic and full of power, he can be very lazy. Arsenal need their central midfielders to be busy and always on the go and you don’t get the impression that Emmanuel-Thomas will always be up for giving 100% all the time.
So a position where he can still use all the assets mentioned above but one where he’d not be involved all the time would be the perfect one.
1. Play-Maker (Number 10)
And the winner is – play-maker or ‘number 10’. The Youth Cup run showed us how good Jay Emmanuel-Thomas can be as a play-maker. He won’t always have the ball and won’t always be worked meaning the points covered above are addressed. But we saw the potential of the guy when he operated behind a hard working striker in the Reserves at the end of the season. Delicate feet to twist and turn on the edge of the box before calmly slotting behind the ‘keeper against West Brom showed the players danger around the edge of the box.
He’s not ready to play down the middle as a striker, but being on the edge of the box it gives the youngster the chance to deploy his whole array of talents. Quite where he’ll be integrated into the Arsenal team as a number 10 remains to be scene but on Champions League nights the manager likes a midfielder behind a lone striker and Emmanuel-Thomas would be perfect at that.
So that’s our Top 5. Leave your thoughts below!
Article By – J.Sanderson
I think he’ll end up as a CM. The number 10 position is far too specialised and looks to tied down for while both in the first team (Arshavin, RVP etc etc) and the reserves in Wilshere.
Nice site, but please do change the white on black background it’s killing my eyes reading your site!
I feel jay thomas should be playin LW or CM like if arsenal played three in midfield he would be one of the 3 in central midfield.
Frimpong
thomas lansbury like a midfield like that. the problem is there are too many CM.
yeah.. the player role is not his.. wilshere, ramsey, merida and lansbury are all ahead of him.
He would be better player as a CM or a DM. Together with Frimpong and coquelin, we have 3 outstanding DM potentials in the reserves.
However, next season wilshere is likely to be more involved in the first team, and so is lansbury, therefore the reserves would provide us a great chance to see how good jay thomas really is.
When the other youth blog done a similar story last week I said ‘something similar to Iniesta’s free role for Spain’ and I stick with it.
Also that Vela picture: ‘unintential homoerotic sports imagery’ is an internet cult meme.
love your work on this site.. it’s top notch.. and your analysis on Jay-emmanuel was a fantastic read.. but please think about changing the background colour.. it’s killing my eyes..
The main issue is that while Jay’s athletic and full of power, he can be very lazy……….
Sorry, lads if he can’t get past this he won’t make it at all. It’s certainly not a reason to give him the key attacking role on the pitch against super talented guys who do work hard
great article :) please don’t change the text, i’m dyslexic and find it harder reading black on white.
i think we should maybe loan him to a championship club. find one that needs a holding midfielder. i reckon he could becaome a great holding mid play him next to ramsey or merida in centremid. merida and thomas could become the next fabregas and yaya toure???
Jay is a massive talent, along with Wilshire, Coquelin, and Frimpong, he is most likely from the FAYC team to become first teamers and potentially world stars.
I see his best position as a box to box midfielder who is primarily a balancing force, but who’s creative contributions are still critical and devastating at times throughout a match.
JS – do you think he might go out on loan, or stay to feature in the Carling cup side????
When you have a imposing player like JET, they ought to play somewhere central however even if JET is considered as 2nd striker where he can use his fantastic footwork, ball striking and height, his Decision-Making still needs to improve dramatically bcuz thru balls needs to be released to the appropriate player @ the right time otherwise match-winning opportunities may be lost. JET tends hold on to be far too long like or too greedy in front of goal when better options are available.
With so many other talented young players earmarked to so many positions plus current 1st team competition, JET will find it hard to break thru if he doesnt fasten his seatbelt and improve his workrate, decision-making and concentration levels.
It’s interesting a lot of people mention box-to-box midfielder when throughout Europe and South America it’s considered outdated. Think of it this way in simple terms; Modern football is about controlling space therefore would you give JET the whole length whereby to control? I think not.
Fabregas can be regarded as box-to-box but he is ultimately a playmaker dropped down and thereby controlling and dictation play much better. Like SuperGunner says JET’s workrate, decision-making and concentration levels need much improving.
I would say his best position would be as an attacking midfielder but playing in different positions will make him learn and into a better player.
Sounds to me like he’s out of the Steven Gerrard mould. Lanky and physically imposing, has played in defence but not really his perfect position, has had better mileage out on the wing, CM and ’10’ – story of Gerrard’s career. And as JS surmises the best spot is ’10’ or CM. Just take note of Liverpool’s last 8yrs trying to find his best position – and start him there right away :D
Hey J
where is the photo from?
i didnt know vela and JET had played together
The Amsterdam Tournament game with Sevilla. Where we won the Cup I believe.
Pingback: Top Posts « WordPress.com
I find myself unable to render an opinion before Bobby Gee has spoken…
Where are you Bob?
True JS I was there to witness that game. Jay played as a leftback and Vela as a striker. Vela scored an excellent goal after cleverly stealing the ball from a defender and then showing his pace before cooling finishing off with a leftfooted effort.
How excited I was about the season… Well at least Vela scored some delightfull goals, can’t complain about him! :D
Good break down of the players strengths and weakness. Great.. How many of these young players actually go on to have careers in the EPL and other premier leagues around the world..Bobby Gee Thanks for reading USA2 Spain 0.. http://bobbygee.wordpress.com/
JET\’s got CM written all over him. Although as pointed out for #2, he can be quite lazy. Since that is the case then might not make it Arsenal. His situation is sort of like Diaby\’s, lazy when it comes to defending and Diaby is also suppose to be a CM. What he needs is to go out on loan and to be played as a CM, that will a good test for him to see if he can learn the other side of the game, defending and all that. If he can\’t then he won\’t have a place at Arsenal.
Don’t think he will become a No.10 though, too much competition prob CM
It’s all thanks to Arsenal for giving a boost to young talents a earlier break into the big leagues. Emmanuel Thomas has certainly proved his metal but just not enough for the No.10, but knowing Arsenal i will not be surprised if he plays as No.10.
just let him play CM but the coaching stuff must do something about his workrate.
The problem is that he is decent at different positions but does not excel at any of them.
A lot of people state that his attitude is not always right, that he can be lazy and often he lets his concentration wander, but I think that just lacks stamina. He may be build like a brick wall, but he is very slow (a la Huddlestone) and for that reason he will never be a top premiership defensive midfield player.
Because of his lack of recovery pace and extremely poor, he will not be a great centre-half either even if Arsenal irons the concentration lapses from his game.
The problem is that as support striker, he may be the next diaby, great potential but who may need to go somewhere else to fully express it.
I would not be surprised if he ended up at a mid-table premiership rather than getting a chance in the first team.
Pingback: Emmanuel-Thomas Lauded Ahead Of Arsenal Return « [» Young Guns «]
sick man jay hold tight woodgrange rood e7 crip town