What’s wrong with Wenger’s vision?

[QuartzGooner]

What’s wrong with Wenger’s vision?
Square pegs don’t go into round holes

By Ian Henry

30 December 2008

http://www.onlinegooner.com/exclusive/index.php?id=938

Wenger has used players "out of position" to great effect in the past.

Freddie Ljungberg was described as, "The fastest player in Europe when running through central midfield" when he arrived.

He ended up on both wings, though mainly the right side.

Pires was a right footed player that was excellent cutting in from the left.

Overmars was originally bought as a right winger, but played mainly on the left because of Ray Parlour's good form on the right.

Emmanuel Petit was mainly though of as a left back when signed, and became the best all round central midfielder (and in my opinion the best player, better than contemporaries Bergkamp, Zidane and Figo) in the world during the later part of the 1997 - 1998 season and early part of the 1998 - 1999 season.

Lauren was a central midfielder converted into a very reasonable right back.


All that considered, why have we lately seen the following ineffective positioning of:

Senderos used on the left wing!

Eboue in central midfield?

Diaby on the left wing?

Bendtner wide midfield?

[proudtosaythatname]

The article holds a good deal of credibility. Fan of Wenger that I am, ever grateful for what he has given to the club and the fans I'm beginning to believe that his pronouncements after performances like Sunday's mean excessive 'corporate-speak' or he really has lost the plot.

ManUre beat Boro 1-0 too, but with total domination and the goal was inevitable. At one point - after the Mancs scored, Arsene please note - their 5 minute possession was a phenomenal 91%! Enough to take the sting out of any opposition response. Villa were a little fortunate to win 1-0 but rarely looked like losing. In contrast Arsenal were somewhat fortunate to get the 3 points. It's an ill wind.

[brady]

Yes I agree that it has been strange to watch players out of position, but with the squad at his disposal, I guess Wenger really has been forced into it. He does not trust the kids enough and cannot admit that the likes of Song and Bendtner are not good enough.

I would say though that you can play players out of position but only if they are good enough, and have a proper supporting cast in place. Freddie used to run the channels very well (frustrating that no one seems to do that now) but he was effective only because we had Bergkamp and Pires playing him in.

So not really an issue of playing out of position but more a case of lack of quality. Has Wenger become a bad manager? I think it's more a case of the players not being good enough to play the way he wants.

[benglenton]

sometimes mr.Wenger had really good ideas for formation and tactics, but players aren't all master-class...i think you can play dennis bergkamp stricker, far from forward or high-central midfield...he remains DB anycase...he had class and supreme attitude...what's going on whit ebouè, song or senderos..nothing! they aren't great players for premier league level...one time, recently, i think mr.wenger has a turn-up demostration from a player...flamini... i remember his presence on the pitch first year...absolutely nightmare...then he improves himself match after match...don't happens anytime...

[StuartL]

I think its Wengers insistance that this current squad is as good as he's ever had and that we are 1 or 2 percent away that actually causes fans to have a complete lack of faith - as anyone who has seen our all too often below par peformances this season realises that certaon players just are not at the level yet, and it is highly debateable if some of them ever will.

So to then compound it by playing them out of position (not the players fault is it ?) and to complain about our team lacking experience when we all could see in the summer what was required just beggers belief.

I do not want Arsene to go, just to stop being the stubborn old goat that he is and get in two international standard players as a ball winning midfielder and a man mountain of a centre half to counteract Drogba / Crouch / Jones / Carew / Rory Delap's throw ins where we have struggled since Sol's departure.

Djourou is a good young player and would benefit from having a colossus at the back leaving him free to do the tidying up and using his oace to cover the full backs.

[benglenton]

Rory Delap's throw ins where we have struggled since Sol's departure.

many teams undestands our centre-defensive header weakness, always tries to throw in dangerous balls in penalty area...only mr.wenger doesn't undestand this