It's Real tomorrow, but I'd rather not think about it
Is Hleb a misfit? I don't think so. I think Hleb's main strength is his instinctive play, creative passing and dribbling skill. Post injury, he has somewhat lost his confidence in his dribbling. I thiink he watches Pires on training too many times. But that confidence will return. What about his sloppy passing? It's amusing how the supposedly one of the best passers in the team has now turned out to be this sloppy. But we forget that almost all Arsenal's players have suffered with their passing this season. Though not everyone manages to go as low as no.19 could, thank goodness.
The problem is there is no more dynamic and fludity in the team. Opponent's close marking disrupt our movement and with so many disillutioned senior players and inexperienced young players around, we tend to go forward for the sake of going forward at times. While Cesc is notably always trying to move into a good position to receive pass, so often the other seem to make useless run into difficult position to receive passes. Also, there is this urgency in the team to pass the ball quickly, as if they are afraid to get tackled if they hold onto the ball for a bit longer. It's fine to play one-touch passes but only if your team is full of good passers with good teamwork. Otherwise you are just giving away possession. Just ask no.19.
On top of all that, Hleb has been getting so little playing time to adjust himself during his first season. After all, he is so clearly a centre midfielder with flair so why force him to play winger and expect him adapt immediately? To me Hleb is quality and it is Wenger who does not use him in the right way. Not that Wenger doesn't want to, but he couldn't do so.
Wenger has and maybe, will always get his team to play for Henry. He doesn't buy strikers to form partnership with Henry, he buy them to play for Henry. He doesn't retain good crossers such as Pennant for he knows such players can't help Henry. The whole intention, when Arsenal move forwards, is to give the ball to Henry. Once the maestro receive the ball, it's up to him whatever he wants to do. This season and many times in the previous seasons, such strategy backfired because Henry isn't always fully interested in the games. He loves Arsenal and the fans, that I am sure. But he is just human with flaw, a genious with flaw.
You don't count on a striker who, when playing to his 100% potential, is the number one in the world. You don't count on one player to make differences season after season. But you have to count on a team consisting of quality players who can and want to work for each other. I like Henry to stay but he really needs to stop acting like a bigshot and respect his teammates.
I say, if Henry still hasn't signed come May 2006, Wenger should sell him instead of persisting with his faith. Pires should just pursue what he wants and move to Spain. Ljungberg is keen to stay but it's sad that he is just not good enough to carry on. The determination is there, and I respect that. But he may not be good enough for Premiership, let alone CL come next season. Campbell could probably be the one that has better chance to recover and rediscover his form.
And now we come to the remaining two senior players whose replacement should also be considered. Lehmann has been great but he will be 36 next season and unless Almunia is the person Wenger has in mind as the successor, the new keeper should really be bought before the start of next season. The next person is no.19. I think he will be useful as a squad player. There is no need to sell him but there is a need to replace his position in the first eleven with an established holding midfielder. Yaya Toure or Didier Zokora can fit the bill.
So it seems that 2006-2007 will yet be another season of transition.
The problem is there is no more dynamic and fludity in the team. Opponent's close marking disrupt our movement and with so many disillutioned senior players and inexperienced young players around, we tend to go forward for the sake of going forward at times. While Cesc is notably always trying to move into a good position to receive pass, so often the other seem to make useless run into difficult position to receive passes. Also, there is this urgency in the team to pass the ball quickly, as if they are afraid to get tackled if they hold onto the ball for a bit longer. It's fine to play one-touch passes but only if your team is full of good passers with good teamwork. Otherwise you are just giving away possession. Just ask no.19.
On top of all that, Hleb has been getting so little playing time to adjust himself during his first season. After all, he is so clearly a centre midfielder with flair so why force him to play winger and expect him adapt immediately? To me Hleb is quality and it is Wenger who does not use him in the right way. Not that Wenger doesn't want to, but he couldn't do so.
Wenger has and maybe, will always get his team to play for Henry. He doesn't buy strikers to form partnership with Henry, he buy them to play for Henry. He doesn't retain good crossers such as Pennant for he knows such players can't help Henry. The whole intention, when Arsenal move forwards, is to give the ball to Henry. Once the maestro receive the ball, it's up to him whatever he wants to do. This season and many times in the previous seasons, such strategy backfired because Henry isn't always fully interested in the games. He loves Arsenal and the fans, that I am sure. But he is just human with flaw, a genious with flaw.
You don't count on a striker who, when playing to his 100% potential, is the number one in the world. You don't count on one player to make differences season after season. But you have to count on a team consisting of quality players who can and want to work for each other. I like Henry to stay but he really needs to stop acting like a bigshot and respect his teammates.
I say, if Henry still hasn't signed come May 2006, Wenger should sell him instead of persisting with his faith. Pires should just pursue what he wants and move to Spain. Ljungberg is keen to stay but it's sad that he is just not good enough to carry on. The determination is there, and I respect that. But he may not be good enough for Premiership, let alone CL come next season. Campbell could probably be the one that has better chance to recover and rediscover his form.
And now we come to the remaining two senior players whose replacement should also be considered. Lehmann has been great but he will be 36 next season and unless Almunia is the person Wenger has in mind as the successor, the new keeper should really be bought before the start of next season. The next person is no.19. I think he will be useful as a squad player. There is no need to sell him but there is a need to replace his position in the first eleven with an established holding midfielder. Yaya Toure or Didier Zokora can fit the bill.
So it seems that 2006-2007 will yet be another season of transition.
posted by phoenix chix at 10:04 AM
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