Changing Of The Guard « A Cultured Left Foot

Posted by: Yogi's Warrior | January 11, 2007

Changing Of The Guard

The transfer talk for the past week has been of moves away from the club by Lauren and Freddie Ljungberg, although how much truth there is in either remains to be seen. However, it is entirely in keeping with Arsene’s management of the squad that those two may be the “big” departures of the this season. Historically, he has changed his team every three seasons, keeping only two or three of the previous incarnation.

Look at the first Double squad of 1997 / 98; how many were members of his second double winning squad? And of the “Invincibles”? There is a regular turnover of players to keep the squad fresh and improved to continue the cycle of success that he has brought to the club.

With that in mind, allowing the two players to leave now makes some sense. With the Premiership title over the hill and far away, the timing represents a good opportunity to allow the younger players to gain half a season of experience before making a genuine title challenge next season. The Champions League, FA Cup and Carling Cup can be played with the current squad, last season’s route to Paris shows that they have the capabilities. Where it does create problems is if injuries strike but considering both players have been on that list for the best part of 2006, is that really an issue?

If they are to go, and Arsene contradicts media reports by stating that he wants both to stay, then it means Arsene has to make a choice to enable the younger players to gain the experience. Take Lauren for instance. Should he leave, it means that the battle for the right back berth is between Emmanuel Eboue and Justin Hoyte. Neither has been entirely convincing this season, both prone to defensive lapses. However, Hoyte is more reliable in this respect at the moment but needs to continue with the consistency. His attacking play is also developing nicely which means that there could be a genuine competition between the two for this place.

With Ljungberg, I am not sure that he creates any problems by leaving. The midfield is fairly settled in Hleb, Rosicky, Fabregas and Gilberto. When you look at it, and add into the equation the deputies to step into positions, the question then becomes do we actually need him? For myself, I think the answer is a resounding “no”. Unfortunately, he is going through a spell whereby injuries mean that he is in and out of the side, unable to gain any consistency of performance and indeed, unable to get back to the level of performance that he has shown in the past. If you consider the players available who can fill the right hand side of midfield - Hleb, Walcott, Fabregas, van Persie - then they are very capable players and to my mind, two are ahead of Ljungberg - van Persie and Fabregas - one is his peer quite comfortably - Hleb - and one is not far behind and will soon overtake - Walcott. £5m offer? Bite their hands off; Freddie will give his new employers good service but his salary may be better used on someone else.

All of which makes the decision to sell, if that is the case, understandable. I did not say that it was right but understandable.

Posted in Arsenal, Football, Soccer, Transfer Gossip

Responses

Ljungberg needs to stay.

Van Persie can play on the wings in a 4-3-3, but not ina 4-4-2. It’s fair to say that Arsene have now fully reverted to 4-4-2.

Febregas cannot play on the right.

That leaves only 3 to play on the wings if Ljungberg were to leave, Hleb, Rosicky and Walcott.

What if 2 of them were injured, suddenly you a player short.

We need 4 winger, and Ljungberg needs to stay until we get Ribery in.

By: amin on January 11, 2007
at 11:01 am

Fabregas can play on the right and has done so in the past; he is more like Beckham though and tends to cross from deep rather than the touchline.

If RvP can play on the right in a 4-3-3, why not a 4-4-2? There is little difference as in Arsene’s team, fluidity of position means that the right hand side would notionally be his before he and others interchange? In any case RvP is more of a wide player than Rosicky.

The point is that the squad have adapted fine without Ljungberg thus far - it is probably fair to say that this season he has only had two games where he has been anywhere near the standard he has set for himself - and could for the rest of the season quite comfortably.

By: Yogi's Warrior on January 11, 2007
at 11:06 am

We need depth and experience as we are challenging on at least three fronts. With Pires gone experience is more important. Granted there is more cover in midfield than in right back but I would much rather have Freddi on the bench ready and raring to go in a Cup final if he was needed. He has socred in Cup finals and played well in Paris - it would be a fairy tale if Walcott did that this year - although he will in time. we need the depth and we need Lauren even mpre. Those two are captains or former captains of their country and have huge battling and winning experience. Even in training it helps. These are then guys who make the young boys they train with into men and they need that influence when times are tough. Lets hang on to them we might just need them. Sod the money we will get it back when we have won the trophy for **** sake!

By: don on January 11, 2007
at 11:40 am

We need to keep em at least till the end of the current season. Look for replacements either by buying in or promoting from inside the club for next season. Their experience and hardworking qualities could come in handy from now till may.

By: DeiseGooner on January 11, 2007
at 11:47 am

Just a couple of points:

Firstly, I don’t think RVP can play on the right. He is completely left-sided. Ok, he can cut in from the right but he can be completely neutralised -is that a word?- by putting a two-footed left-back up against him.

Secondly, I don’t think that is the last we’ll see of a 4-5-1. My opinion is that it should be used on rare occasions; especially in the big games and tough away matches. Think of Real Madrid last season and Man Utd this season.

If Freddie can get back to fitness, he might have a big part to play in that formation.

By: Paul D'Arcy on January 11, 2007
at 12:22 pm

Sorry, Paul but I disagree with you on van Persie. He himself even admits that he is better playing on the right of midfield, despite his reliance on his left foot. Look at the goals he has scored recently against Blackburn, Watford, Blackburn last season. All coming in from the right. He plays there a lot for the Dutch national team as well.

By: Arsenal Almere on January 11, 2007
at 12:40 pm

I think we should leave the squad just as it is - keeping Ralph & Freddie.

Both, assuming their fitness levels are ok, should have much to contribute, unless they become disgruntled faded stars. In Ralph’s case he has been out a long time & was never the quickest, although not slow.

We are almost back to full strength but those injuries can still keep on coming though.

Best to play safe unless mega £s are on the table.

By: Flint McCullough on January 11, 2007
at 1:13 pm

Howdy Arsenal Almere. We’ll have to agree to disagree.

It’s all very well what RVP says; but I would not rely on RVP on the right-side of midfield against the bigger teams.

All those goals which you speak of -I was lucky enough to be there for the Blackburn one last season- were all scored coming in as a right sided centre forward. Big difference to the right wing.

As for his role with Holland, I think you’ll find he plays as a right-forward in a 4-3-3 formation; where he has two men to cover for him defensively on the right flank.

By: Paul D'Arcy on January 11, 2007
at 1:27 pm

Sorry, just to elaborate on the right wing v right centre forward diference; I completely agree that he’s great coming in from the right and is then lethal if he gets the ball on to his left foot.

But there are two problems with this.
a. As a right winger, he has defensive duties too. His over reliance on his left foot could cause major problems for our right back; especially if they’re prone to lapses like Eboue.

b. Ok, Arsenal aren’t over reliant on crosses; but you’d still like your winger to put a least one or two in. Impossible for RVP on the right.

By: Paul D'Arcy on January 11, 2007
at 1:34 pm

In relation to Paul D’Arcy’s opinion that van Persie is not good enough on the right, one man who would disagree with you is Dutch national team manager Marco van Basten, who consistently plays van Persie on the right.

And if he can ‘be neutralised by putting a two-footed left-back up against him’ while playing on the right, the same could be said of a player playing on the left. This argument makes little or no sense at all.

By: MarkFlatts on January 11, 2007
at 1:37 pm

To quote myself;

“As for his role with Holland, I think you’ll find he plays as a right-forward in a 4-3-3 formation; where he has two men to cover for him defensively on the right flank.”

And no, it’s different with a winger who’s depends on his inside foot more than his outside foot.

You’ll find that wingers who are stronger on the ‘outside foot’ have one or both of two skills; sheer pace or fantastic crossing ability. No matter how good the full back is on his outside foot, the’ll find it harder to deal with that.

As for a player who depends more on their inside foot; if they come up a good two-footed full the winger will have no option but to dribble inside; where’ they’ll be met by the opposition centre half and strikers.

Can they pass it to somebody? It’s a lot harder to pass with your inside foot; Especially when it’s crowded.

By: Paul D'Arcy on January 11, 2007
at 1:48 pm

That’s why your career wasn’t a success, Mark Flatts!

By: Paul D'Arcy on January 11, 2007
at 1:49 pm

Sorry, can I just correct my last two paragraphs?

As for a player who depends more on their inside foot; if they come up a good two-footed full BACK the winger will have no option but to dribble inside; where they’ll be met by the opposition centre half and CENTRE MIDFIELDERS.

Can they pass it to somebody? It’s a lot harder to pass with your inside foot; Especially when it’s crowded.

By: Paul D'Arcy on January 11, 2007
at 1:52 pm

There is of course one further option to the right side of midfield; keep Ralph if Freddie goes. That’s where he started his career - my only question is whether he has the pace to play for Arsenal now; they are considerably faster on the break than any other AW team.

By: Yogi's Warrior on January 11, 2007
at 2:11 pm

I agree with Flint, keep them all for the time being. I am sure that Ralph and Freddie are very useful squad players particularly in training, but I am sure they will prove their worth when the going gets tough. The only question mark will be about their own recation to being gradually marginalised. The whole subject has probably been conjured up by hackery anyway.

btw way RvP is completely and utterly a right sided player usually inside right but if he was to play right mid-field his tackling ability would probably be as good as Theo, Alex or Tomas…and I agree with YW that it is academic because we have so much movement in our style of play that players can pop up in all sorts of positions.

By: Frank on January 11, 2007
at 2:46 pm