I think that with a 4-4-2 system, the first team size should be 24-25 players
- 3 GKs
- 4 players in each outfield position (CB, FB, CM, WM, FW)
- 1-2 utility players
There should be a good mix of players in each position. The first choice players should be experienced and established. The backups for each position should have atleast one young player. Let’s see how the current squad fares…
GK - Lehmann, Almunia, Poom
A good assortment for the coming season. However, we face problems later. Poom is very old, Lehmann is old and Almunia is not good enough to be first choice. We need a younger first choice GK, but it can wait for a year (or till Jan).
CB - Campbell, Toure, Senderos, Djourou
Perfect, until you consider Campbell’s physical and mental record. If anything, we may need to replace him with a quality defender.
FB - Lauren, Cole, Clichy, Eboue
Perfect again. But what of Hoyte and Gilbert? Gilbert can go on loan. More on Hoyte later.
CM - Gilberto, Rosicky, Fabregas, Diaby
Yes, I do see Rosicky playing in the middle. This is an excellent mix except that Diaby is out for the whole season. We may need another player here.
WM - Hleb, Reyes, Ljungberg, Walcott
A good collection except for Reyes’ inconsistency (especially in the cold winter days) and Ljungberg fading slowly. But Rosicky can play wide, so we should fine.
FW - Henry, Ade, RvP, Lupoli/Bendtner/Aliadiere?
The mix is right except that Ade is not experienced enough and hasn’t established himself yet. If he takes off next season, we are all set.
Utility - Flamini, Hoyte
I think Flamini is best suited for an utility role. He can slot into different positions (CM, LB, RB) like Toure (before he became a CB) and Grimandi. I don’t think Hoyte will agree to be a utility defender unless Lauren is moved to CM and Hoyte is asked to fight for RB with Eboue. So he will probably leave.
All in all, I think the side is good. What do we need?
1. Central Midfielder - Diaby is injured. Flamini is not good enough. Lauren is unlikely to play in that position.
2. Centre Back - Unless AW fully trusts Campbell, we need a replacement.
3. Striker - If AW decides that RvP hasn’t done enough and won’t improve.
4. GK - Not this season, but definitely for the next.
#1 is needed now. #2 is conditional. #3 is optional. #4 is for later.
24 Responses to “Team Layout”
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May 31st, 2006 at 8:46 am
Yes Sol did walk out from the team, there is no excuse for what he had done, it’s wrong. But I don’t think he has any mental problem. In fact, this is one of the few guys in our team who has the ability to rise to occassion when things matter most. Not just the CL final goal he scored. With a bit of luck, he could have got the match winner in both World Cup 98 (Vs Argentina), and Euro 04 (Vs Portgual).
Every major tournament he involved, he never let England down. And in fact, he was one of the best England players in last World Cup. A player without mental strength would never be able to achieve that in the biggest event of world football.
Tony Adams played until 35, Keown 38. Sol’s still in his early 30s, he’s not finished yet. I would rather keep him than letting him go and getting ourselves a new central half. New players take time to settle in, however good they are. And if he’s a defender, it’d be more tricky. As defenders play as an unit, the understanding between them is even more crucial than the strikers. If there is no understanding between our strikers, to the worst we don’t score. If there is a lack of understanding between defenders, we would concede goals. So less changes is the best.
Besides, if we r going to bring in any new central half, he’s not going to be a starter. Senderos is clearly our first choice central half (in AW’s plan at least). I look around, which central half who’s good, or at least as good as Sol Campbell, yet still willing coming to Arsenal sitting on the bench?
May 31st, 2006 at 8:58 am
And you think that Sol Campbell is willing to sit on the bench?
May 31st, 2006 at 8:59 am
Campbell’s decision rests with the boss. Wenger will understand his mental state the best. All the reports linking him to other clubs can’t be ignored. There is no smoke without a fire. I think Wenger has informed him that he is no longer first choice and if he wants to leave, he can.
May 31st, 2006 at 9:33 am
Watched Walcott play last night and I must say I wasn’t too impressed. I know it’s ridiculously early to start drawing conclusions but in my opinion Rooney was a far greater talent at that age. With Rooney you saw something special straight away, the way he commanded the ball and dicated the game. With Walcott I saw your typical dime-a-dozen pacy player who can’t control the ball and is easily nullified unless a team plays a very high line.
Typical of Wenger to buy another Reyes type player who will frustrate with poor touch as well as show some moments.
Just my first impressions. Hope he proves me wrong. I wouldn’t usually be this harsh on a young player but many were saying Walcott is better than Rooney at the same age.
He doesn’t even seem that quick.
May 31st, 2006 at 10:28 am
bit harsh based on 2 lots of 30 mins minutes for a pretty poor and disorganised engerland side! Patience.
My opinion, his touch and control looks pretty decent and he has a good shot on him. Probably doesn’t help when you make a run, but instead of passing to you Joe Cole takes on 3 players and then when you make a second run he passes it behind you.
May 31st, 2006 at 11:34 am
Foetus Walcott, as some in the English press are calling him, has played as many minutes as there are in one half at this level of football. I guess when your a foetus, 40 odd minutes must seem like ten years of playing but in reality it’s still only 40.
Give the kid a chance and let’s see how he does, he might be as good as Reyes or better (just a little jibe Mazza).
I haven’t seen him yet.
I once flew over the Sudan for about 10 minutes and I could tell I never want to visit there even from 30,000 ft.
Maybe we should see him in a league game before we judge him based on 40 minutes of international friendlies.
May 31st, 2006 at 11:47 am
That’s way too early to judge a player by roughly half an hour’s action in a friendly.
let’s don’t forget, we weren’t the only club that went for him, so did Chelsea, Man U, Liverpool and Spurs. AW could be wrong sometimes, but all those football ppl in the top clubs were wrong at the same time (not to mention the England boss as well) is very unlikely.
having said that, i don’t really want to see Walcott playing in the World Cup. All those pressure generated from his price tag will be too much for a 17-yr-old. One poor game inevitably we would hear what a waste of money. It’s not good for the kid’s confidence.
It’ll be a valuable experience for Walcott, training with the top players in England, and soak in the atmosphere the biggest football event of the world. Just… don’t play him. Let him do a Ronaldo at WC94, or Kaka at WC2002.
May 31st, 2006 at 12:27 pm
Rumor has us showing interest in anybody and everybody. The one rumor that I find interesting is a bid for Podolski from Cologne. That kid is a real baller. He has incredible confidence and ability for a 20-year-old. He’s the type that is so explosive and confident that he would be just as dangerous against ManU as he is against Watford. We could use some of that attitude. I would rather pay $10M for him than $15M for Yaya. Of course, we do need another central midfield player. I just can’t see us paying that much unless it was Diarra or someone of that caliber. Since we are unlikely to get Diarra, we will probably sign someone we haven’t heard of yet.
Also, I don’t think Hoyte and Aliadiere are going to be with the club for much longer. I have a hard time seeing Hoyte come back after a full year of first team action only to sit on the bench. Somebody will offer him a chance to start, and he will probably go. As for Aliadiere, I personally like him, mostly for his attitude, but he is not going to unseat any of the players in front of him. Furthermore, I think Walcott, Lupoli, and Bendtner are better long-term prospects. He would be better served if he could find a place to play, especially if his boyhood club, PSG, showed interest.
Finally, I doubt Campbell will go anywhere. Wenger has already stated that he wants Sol to stay, and I can’t imagine Sol wanting to leave London, especially for a lesser club. If Sol stays, Wenger will not buy anybody.
May 31st, 2006 at 12:37 pm
Walcott seems more introverted than Rooney. The jump to the national team probably came too soon as I think Theo will require more patience and nuturing than Wayne did. Fortunately, he has the perfect mentor for that in Wenger.
Also, Reyes’s skill and touch are great. It’s his decision making and eagerness to go to ground that sometimes frustrate.
May 31st, 2006 at 1:33 pm
Yeah, we need a central midfielder to replace Diaby without a doubt - but knowing Wenger he will gamble - then Fabregas or Gilberto will get injured for 6 months and the whole season will go down the toilet. Every so called “bad” season Arsenal have had under Wenger has been because he didn’t strengthen when it was obvious he needed to.
Yes, we badly need a centre back. Still don’t trust Senderos playing 4-4-2 - he pushes up and gets done for pace time and time again. We need a player to complement Toure, with pace and also good on the ball. It’s about time we had a central defender who is good on the ball - but we’ll have to go foreign for that.
Striker - definitely need one. Van Persie has done bugger all this year, just a few flashes of brilliance against second rate teams. Adebayor is well worth a go alongside Henry, but if Wenger won’t buy I’d rather see Lupoli given his chance than Van Persie.
GK - I think we need one now. Lehman’s motivation all season long has been the World Cup. He could be under-motivated next season.
Rosicky fills in the left wing option for when Reyes is playing like a **AYE CARUMBA**(censored). So that seems ok to me.
May 31st, 2006 at 3:22 pm
Yaya was rumored to be 10mill GBP.
and what more has Podolski shown than Yaya?
What about Vieira being rumored to be a MAN UTD target!?!!
He would be exactly what they need, thats for sure… but I don’t think he’d actually go to them. Too much class.
May 31st, 2006 at 4:01 pm
Podolski scored 17 goals for club and country this past season. He scored 12 for Cologne which finished second to last in the Bundesliga. Check him out on Youtube.com. I hate the comparisons that papers make because every player is different, but he does play like Rooney does - Myles Palmer suggests that he is more like Overmars. He is very fast, very strong, very direct, but also has a deft touch. He is the future of German football. I will definitely be watching for him during the WC.
Viera’s world has turned upside down recently. First, he and his family are gassed and robbed in their home, which is downright terrifying. Now, his club are threatened with the possibility of relegation for a match-fixing scandal. Poor guy, he certainly doesn’t deserve any of this. No matter what though, I can’t possibly see him landing at ManU. It’s inconceivable, anything but that!
P.S. Arseblog reported the 15 million figure. Of course, it’s all made up numbers at this point, so who knows?
May 31st, 2006 at 4:27 pm
No one argues that we have a good squad, the problem that we had soo many injuries last season and had to suffer from the left back. sometimes 2 for one position is not enough. See CB can play RCB or LCB so 4 is enough.
While the RB and LB is a very critical position. You can be the best on the right, but the shitiest on the left for example. Hoyte can play both, and I can see him fitting well there. I would sell Cygan and get a good Central back to rotate.
I think we need more stars. The blend would be perfect with a star name beside Henry. Stars bring confidence to the none stars.
I think Theo will play as striker with Henry up. It would be a good idea to rotate …
GK: We neeed one … I’d sell Almunia or Poom and get a young Goalie to play out carling cup games and such. Till next year, he can take the second keeper shoes. Lehman can still go for 1 more season for sure, but whitha competetion from a young goalie it will be great !.
May 31st, 2006 at 5:12 pm
Good article. Sets out the situation clearly.
1. Central Midfielder - Have we signed Song to a long-term contract? If so, will Wenger bring in someone else to replace Diaby? I still think that Fabregas, Gilberto, Rosicky(if wenger plays him there), Flamini and Song is not quite good enough for the start of the season. Then again, Wenger has said that the wider pitch will suit Flamini better. Are Larsson or Muamba good enough to come through next season? There is a good chance therefore that Wenger won’t buy anyone.
2. Agree definitely. I don’t fully trust Campbell so I think we need a replacement. Wenger may look and seee four centre-backs at the World Cup, why do we need anyone, especially as Eboue, Hoyte and Cygan can also play there.
3. Striker? Bendtner, Lupoli or Aliadiere as fourth striker? If we play 4-5-1 more often Wenger may be happy to leave as is.
4.Goalkeeper - would be a higher priority for me.
I am rambling a bit but with a nearly full squad and not being able to see into Wenger’s mind, it is hard to see where he will sign. Perhaps he has a number of alternatives in mind and will pick up a player who shines at the World Cup or someone from the Juventus firesale.
Of course, if someone else leaves, fringe or first-team, that changes the equation and may mean signings are needed.
May 31st, 2006 at 6:57 pm
I think Walcott could play a big role next season for us. He didn’t look great last night but I though int he game vs. Belarus he showed some real good signs. Don’t give up on him yet-not many kids are like Wayne Rooney at that age.
May 31st, 2006 at 7:20 pm
i think all tht has been seen of walcott so far has been encouraging- good pace, skill, guts (getting knocked all the time), good shot, good turner and confidence. no final product as yet, but then thts y AW hasnt played him yet, it will come.
also not man players r like rooney at any age
May 31st, 2006 at 8:10 pm
Well Chek$ki signed Shevchenko and Ballack before the WC. If Arsenal is to compete in the EPL and CL, we will need more than just Rosicky. Vieira coming back will be good. Next season will have to be a breakthru season for RvP - otherwise he might be gone after that. Not sure why Wenger wants to keep Reyes. Ljundberg’s best years are over. Can Walcott step in on the right side? Flamini is a fringe player like Cygan and will remain so. I am prepared to trust Sendoros over Campbell - at least we know where Sendoros’s head is. The current team is still weak against robust opponents and against the likes of Manure and Chel$ki. I am not sure if Wenger has fixed the team weaknesses against those opponents.
May 31st, 2006 at 8:51 pm
the difference btw Yaya and Podolski is that one is a striker and will score goals while another is a defensive player.
both have their uses but attacking players are always far more expensive than defensive…especially when the defensive guy is unproven and unheralded.
also podolski is available for 10 million euros (7.5 pounds), yes … while Yaya is quoted at 15 mill euros.
in the end…the yaya figure is utterly ridiculous! and i hope its just a rumor.
May 31st, 2006 at 8:51 pm
Good analysis Nipuna.
I agree that the centre of midfield and defence are the 2 areas most worthy of further attention.
Midfield:
I?m still unconvinced about the centre of our midfield in a 4-4-2 formation when we revisit the northern (and like-minded) teams?.Blackburn, Bolton, Man U, etc.
None of us know what tactics Wenger has in store for The Emirates?.be it 4-4-2 or 4-1-4-1?.but whatever the case we need someone to compete with/back-up Gilberto. We have lotsa little midfield Cossacks (Reyes, Ljungberg, Hleb, Flamini, and now Rosicky) who are adept at tearing around and mugging opposing midfields in 2?s and 3?s but nobody apart from Gilberto with a defensive midfielder?s mindset. Perhaps Lauren could do that role?.like others that thought has crossed my mind.
Defence:
I can just hear Wenger saying?..?I do not think it is a problem, we have 4 centre backs at the World Cup?!!
The problem is 2 are a ?work-in-progress?, 1 is ?fragile? and the other fantastico.
I get the feeling Wenger is willing to let Campbell go but is also happy to work with him if he senses his attitude is coming right.
Walcott:
I saw him play.
Mazza understand what you mean, I was hoping for something special but didn?t see it. BUT that doesn?t matter. He is very much a kid and he showed glimpses of some good qualities.
Comparisons with Rooney are pointless. They have wholly different games. Walcott?s is pace-centric and Rooney?s isn?t. Walcott looks to thrieve in space Rooney creates space. Walcott looks the athelete, Rooney robust and pugnacious.
Rooney:
How good would Henry and Rooney be???!!!
I know it?s wild but what a gift it would be to bestow on The Emirates?a Henry-Rooney partnership.
Their gifts and styles would be wonderfully complimentary.
Henry up-front with the licence to move left and Rooney in the middle assuming the Bergkamp role.
Like I say ?complimentary?, 2 superstars able to display their ability without detracting from the others game.
I know, I know?..day dreaming?.
June 1st, 2006 at 1:58 am
I still don’t understand how Wenger missed Rooney. When he first scored the goal against us, it was quite clear that he was a little special. If we had signed him right then, we could have got him for around the same price as Walcott. Someone’s comment that Wenger likes pacy strikers and not strong robust ones could very well be true. Henry + Rooney would have been a dream pairing.
June 1st, 2006 at 2:49 am
“Every so called “bad” season Arsenal have had under Wenger has been because he didn’t strengthen when it was obvious he needed to.”
Spot on. It gives the impression that Wenger is a reactive manager when it comes to signing players instead of being a proactive one.
June 1st, 2006 at 4:25 am
as said….it is very, very unfair to compare walcott to rooney, they play the game differently AND how many players at their peak have what rooney has??
i would be perfectly ok, if he finally explodes at age 19…if he explodes next year, that is a bonus to me.
also i think the MAIN reason AW bought walcott was becos he was very scared on losing out on “another rooney”…. i hate him for what he as done against us……but i would absolutely love it if he were playing for us…..
apart from his other abilities he has that quintissential english quality, he runs straight at defenders and attempts to bulldoze them…nightmare scenario for any defender really.
without rooney, will the mancs still be a top 3 club…….i somehow dont think so….they have no other spark. but i wont gloat too much a lot of ppl will say the same about henry and arsenal….and lets face it without henry we wont have been top four last season. taking this further, where will liverpool be without gerrard?? hmm….similar scenarios playing out with the 3 of us. these 3 players separates us from the pretenders like spurs,etc.
next season will be very interesting….that is for sure….
Rooney and Henry?? my God, thats the best possible partnership ever. that said, he is a manc and a fuc king bast ard at that………………………………………..until he comes to arsenal and then becomes installed as god. unfortunately that aint gonna happen.
June 1st, 2006 at 12:15 pm
See, that’s funny b/c we won the league in 98 before Henry got here… yes, he’s important, yes, he’s the best player we’ve ever heard but it’s certainly not the end of the club when he retires.
June 1st, 2006 at 12:35 pm
my post above!
i am talking about over the last 1 or 2 seasons……not way back to 1998….not even back to 2004….
also i’m not saying that without these 3 players the 3 teams will be crap….its just that we’ll be closer to the chasing pack (spurs, blackburn, etc)