tmaker
14 Apr 2004, 07:25 PM
It's like this, you see...
Lauren is a much better than average right back, and while he's not Mancini or Cafu, so what? But this brings me to another observation.
I've been watching (again) past Arsenal games this year. Especially Fulham, Man Ure, and @ Rovers. While TV coverage remains complete shite for getting an overall view of strategy and tactics on pitch, still it reveals a couple of things.
1) Of the games I have in my collection from this year (including @ Man City), very seldom are goals scored against Arsenal from the right. When there is an attack down the right at all, generally the strike comes from well out of the PA, or just in it. As a right back myself, this is hardly "my area" to defend alone, but is very much the province of the midfield and center half. Goals that *have* come from the right, such as @ Leicester, seem to come a) when Pascal Cygan is in, b) through the air on a cross, c) near the top of the Six, and/or d) on a rebound or redirect. This is not a problem with right fullback defending.
2) Lauren's own goal @ City was a fluke, I think, and could easily have been Lehmann's fault for not communicating on the backpass. But this also was extremely early in the season, and certainly before the back four knew how to communicate with the keeper (and vice versa). Had this pass gone to Seaman I don't think it would have looked even remotely awkward, as Seaman tended to be precisely so out of position on such passes.
3) The very worst period, for me, to watch the Arsenal defense was with Lauren serving his suspension/injury time in Nov-Dec. It showed me how very thin the defense is, and indeed, this is the period of far too many drawn games that should have been wins. And when Lauren finally came back, the next drawn game wasn't until Everton, and that was Ashley Cole's bungle allowing Radzinski to score.
4) Contrary to what phishy seems to think, Lauren early in the season was virtually never "beaten," but regularly outpaced attackers and had excellent positioning. After coming back from knee and ankle injuries, his speed shows noticeable decrease, and his defending more hesitancy. Coincidence?
Draw your own conclusions from all this. My conclusion is that the weak link on the defensive right isn't Lauren, who will surely be fully recovered soon, but the right midfielder--and who would that be? This is especially noticeable when the defense moves forward into attack.
Now, if I were to suggest selling Freddie and moving for a defensive mid on the right, I'd probably be shot by any Gooner. Yet this makes way more sense than offing Lauren. Particularly lately, as everyone is chattering teeth about acquiring Trezeguet, which is highly unlikely IMHO, Freddie seems more disposable than ever. Though our midfield is certainly thin, our defense is thinner still.
I think I agree with BayouGooner on one point at least: Arsenal would benefit greatly from depth at every position. Certainly they need a spare right back, and a real alternative striker who can, if not dominate in the air, at least challenge for it. I think the need for a stronger midfield has certainly been shown--just watch the Champions League game vs. Chelsea at Highbury. Not to take anything from Bridge's brilliant goal, but with some less tired legs on the pitch, I doubt Chelsea would have got their second goal at all, and I'm even more convinced that Arsenal would have made better plays (and decisions!) in the center third.
What Man Ure and Chelsea have that Arsenal do not is very obvious from the past two weeks. Say what you will about the Red Devils, at least when one of their shite players is out, they have at least two others to back him up. Even Buster Brown is looking like a soccer player lately, and "Jim" Carroll is looking like a solid keeper and a git, so he fits in well. Chelsea of course have more midfielders than we can ever dream of, and double coverage for their entire back line. Where's ours? Probably awaiting the next Carling Cup.
Having said all of this, my next sentence will be a Zen koan-like non sequitur.
Lauren can always play in the midfield.
Lauren is a much better than average right back, and while he's not Mancini or Cafu, so what? But this brings me to another observation.
I've been watching (again) past Arsenal games this year. Especially Fulham, Man Ure, and @ Rovers. While TV coverage remains complete shite for getting an overall view of strategy and tactics on pitch, still it reveals a couple of things.
1) Of the games I have in my collection from this year (including @ Man City), very seldom are goals scored against Arsenal from the right. When there is an attack down the right at all, generally the strike comes from well out of the PA, or just in it. As a right back myself, this is hardly "my area" to defend alone, but is very much the province of the midfield and center half. Goals that *have* come from the right, such as @ Leicester, seem to come a) when Pascal Cygan is in, b) through the air on a cross, c) near the top of the Six, and/or d) on a rebound or redirect. This is not a problem with right fullback defending.
2) Lauren's own goal @ City was a fluke, I think, and could easily have been Lehmann's fault for not communicating on the backpass. But this also was extremely early in the season, and certainly before the back four knew how to communicate with the keeper (and vice versa). Had this pass gone to Seaman I don't think it would have looked even remotely awkward, as Seaman tended to be precisely so out of position on such passes.
3) The very worst period, for me, to watch the Arsenal defense was with Lauren serving his suspension/injury time in Nov-Dec. It showed me how very thin the defense is, and indeed, this is the period of far too many drawn games that should have been wins. And when Lauren finally came back, the next drawn game wasn't until Everton, and that was Ashley Cole's bungle allowing Radzinski to score.
4) Contrary to what phishy seems to think, Lauren early in the season was virtually never "beaten," but regularly outpaced attackers and had excellent positioning. After coming back from knee and ankle injuries, his speed shows noticeable decrease, and his defending more hesitancy. Coincidence?
Draw your own conclusions from all this. My conclusion is that the weak link on the defensive right isn't Lauren, who will surely be fully recovered soon, but the right midfielder--and who would that be? This is especially noticeable when the defense moves forward into attack.
Now, if I were to suggest selling Freddie and moving for a defensive mid on the right, I'd probably be shot by any Gooner. Yet this makes way more sense than offing Lauren. Particularly lately, as everyone is chattering teeth about acquiring Trezeguet, which is highly unlikely IMHO, Freddie seems more disposable than ever. Though our midfield is certainly thin, our defense is thinner still.
I think I agree with BayouGooner on one point at least: Arsenal would benefit greatly from depth at every position. Certainly they need a spare right back, and a real alternative striker who can, if not dominate in the air, at least challenge for it. I think the need for a stronger midfield has certainly been shown--just watch the Champions League game vs. Chelsea at Highbury. Not to take anything from Bridge's brilliant goal, but with some less tired legs on the pitch, I doubt Chelsea would have got their second goal at all, and I'm even more convinced that Arsenal would have made better plays (and decisions!) in the center third.
What Man Ure and Chelsea have that Arsenal do not is very obvious from the past two weeks. Say what you will about the Red Devils, at least when one of their shite players is out, they have at least two others to back him up. Even Buster Brown is looking like a soccer player lately, and "Jim" Carroll is looking like a solid keeper and a git, so he fits in well. Chelsea of course have more midfielders than we can ever dream of, and double coverage for their entire back line. Where's ours? Probably awaiting the next Carling Cup.
Having said all of this, my next sentence will be a Zen koan-like non sequitur.
Lauren can always play in the midfield.