Thursday 30 December 2010

Anfield of Nightmares

AFTER yet another dismal showing last night in front of a foolishly-expectant home crowd at Anfield, Liverpool Football Club remains in relative-crisis mode. The 1-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers was one that should have been avoided, but now we are subject to more excuses as to why the Merseysiders failed to turn up.

One point argued by Sky Sports pundit Andy Gray last night was that Liverpool looked rusty, having had their last two league games postponed and over a fortnight's rest. Wolves on the other hand, played only three days ago, slumping to a 2-1 home defeat to Wigan Athletic. In Gray’s opinion, Mick McCarthy’s merry men were a whole lot sharper than Roy Hodgson’s Scouse screw-ups.

Gray’s arguments could be seen as perfectly valid if it were not for the fact that throughout the season we are subject to managers complaining about fixture congestion and players underperforming due to too many games in too short a space of time.

Liverpool’s rest period of 17 days would be envied by other teams, but for a team whose best players would seemingly benefit from rest and recuperation from past injury problems, it has not worked out. The recent postponements meant Steven Gerrard was allowed time to return from a hamstring problem and Fernando Torres, if we are to believe what we are constantly subjected to by media sources, was given his first rest since he was 10 years old.

Also within this time period, it seems Glen Johnson has reverted to a Benjamin Button-esque state, now possessing the footballing capabilities of his 12-year-old self. One moment in last night’s first half was of particularly naïve nature, as he needlessly booted the ball out across his own box for a throw-in. Rather than holding his hands-up and admitting the act of travesty, he instead appeared to signal to his forward players that they should have already been in the stands waiting for it. If Liverpool are to miraculously gain a place in Europe by May, expect a 3-year-old nappy-wearing Johnson to be held aloft by Pepe Reina in front of the Kop amidst the celebrations, and then given the opportunity to complete five-yard passes to Martin Skrtel and Jamie Carragher.

The truth is that there is a combination of on-pitch factors which are directly affecting the team’s success. David Ngog is not going to be the next Thierry Henry, and just as it took Sir Alex Ferguson years to realise David Bellion wasn’t either, Liverpool should get rid of the young Frenchman. Any hopes of a possible partnership with Fernando Torres were surely vanquished last night, as both forwards struggled to hold up the ball and allow midfielders to join the attack.

Liverpool’s problems stem from this ability to not keep the ball in the final third. Fernando Torres is not the same player he was two years ago, and it looks often like English defences have him well and truly found out. Those who claim the Spaniard is still unfit must be as tired of their own voices as journalists are. Wolves last night were quick to close down the striker when he was receiving passes, but in reality they didn’t have to try too hard as the Spaniard’s control let him down more as the game went on.

Supporters of Torres who claim the Spaniard has poor support and delivery from teammates should look at the likes of Darren Bent, a player who has never played with a Gerrard, a Beckham or a Bergkamp, yet has consistently scored throughout his career in the Premiership. Torres looks constantly unhappy nowadays, but I’m sure his body language would be even more vitriolic if he were being supplied with through balls by Bent’s current teammates Kieran Richardson and Phil Bardsley.

There is a severe lack of confidence amongst the Liverpool team, but this is not something which the Charlie Chalk-lookalike Hodgson has solely instilled. Rafael Benitez’s Liverpool last season were at times equally awful, bowing out of the FA Cup early to Reading in a pitiful performance, and suffering the same tactical problems as Hodgson faces now.

Tactically, Liverpool’s biggest problem may lie in their reputation. Hodgson may have saved Fulham from relegation and moulded them into a capable outfit, but they were often playing teams who were open and not afraid of going for the jugular. Liverpool however, are still a club that can inspire fear, and with big names likes Gerrard, Torres and Reina, opposing sides often set-up with men behind the ball, frustrating the Merseysiders and limiting their opportunities.

It would be no surprise if at the time this article was published Hodgson had either handed in his resignation or had it terminated. His appointment was generally to be considered as a stop-gap. He was an elderly, experienced coach, who, though often appeared to be going blind, could help guide Liverpool through what was always going to be a transitional period.

The mid-table position comes as no surprise to many who have seen the decline of the team in the last 18 months or so, but many of the Kop faithful have found it hard during this period to accept Hodgson as the bloke responsible for managing their beloved club.

However, Hodgson should surely have not been expected to win titles and trophies. He was hardly achieving such feats at Fulham during his reign at Craven Cottage; instead he was battling against the odds and achieving commendable results and performances on a shoe-string budget. Indeed many Liverpool fans that were aware of financial restraints in the summer saw Hodgson as the perfect replacement to deal with such circumstances, due to his Fulham record.

Inheriting a Liverpool team in decline, Hodgson’s role was to steady the Liverpool ship and rebuild for the future, possibly for another manager to take charge when the team looks like it can win big trophies again, and consequently win all the plaudits. Rather like when former-boss Benitez took over Gerard Houlier's side in 2004.

There is nothing wrong with replacing Hodgson mid-season, and replacing him with someone like the heavily respected but equally-dour Kenny Dalglish. Most Liverpool fans would most probably desire a manager who isn't making decisions like playing Ngog and Torres up front together, employing Raul Meireles in a wide position, or simply playing Paul Konchesky.

Indeed, if something is not working and you don’t intend to continue with the set-up in a few years time anyway, then by all means cut your losses. However, as other teams get richer and rivals improve, Liverpool cannot afford to slip too far away. The club lacks a direction and a plan of attack – on and off the field. A short-term replacement for Hodgson however, is unlikely to have the galvanising effect that most Liverpool fans would like.

Finally, for those of you who wish to see old Roy first step on the shores of Liverpool docks back in the summer, please look at this rare clip...

Sunday 5 December 2010

Why Wenger Should Be Praised

Arsene Wenger seems to split opinion even amongst his own fans. When the relatively-unknown Frenchman first joined the Gunners back in 1996, he revolutionised a club that had been in transition ever since George Graham left over 12 months earlier. His replacement Bruce Rioch had only lasted a year at the club since being appointed boss in 1995, as he struggled to impose himself on the London giants.

Rioch signed Chris Kiwomya. Then again he signed Dennis Bergkamp, thus he will always be remembered somewhat-fondly at Arsenal. However, playing with the likes of Ray Parlour and David Hillier was probably not the experience Arsenal Chairman Peter Hill-Wood had sold to him, and Arsenal fans were rightly worried that Bergkamp may not have been happy if things continued.

We all remember the statements from Arsenal players a month or so into Wenger’s reign, as Arsenal improved dramatically. It almost got tiresome. The once rigid and weary-looking back four suddenly turned into sprightly, yoga-loving teenagers, expressing themselves, and each praised Wenger for giving them mental strength and belief.

Nearly fifteen years on and Wenger is still at the helm. He is now Arsenal’s most successful manager ever, despite the club not having won a trophy since 2005. For a Frenchman with no previous knowledge of English football (a fact Sir Alex Ferguson once famously castrated Wenger for when Wenger began to criticise fixture congestion), achieving such success is nothing short of remarkable. As Jonathan Pearce commented on last night’s Match of the Day, Wenger is soon approaching his 17th semi-final when they meet Wigan in the League Cup .

However, Wenger’s insistence on his policy of filling a team with skilful players who love to pass the ball, feel the ball and caress the ball has attracted criticism from people who are unhappy when this style does not get results. It is an old argument now, one that has been going for years, and one that doesn’t look like going away anytime soon if Match of the Day continues to keep the likes of Alan Hansen and the old biddy Mark Lawrenson in jobs.
It is a criticism often forgotten when Wenger’s side are in-form and picking up results, and those who are in Wenger’s camp must often melt in anger at the hypocrisy at times of the British media. How many times have we lazily heard pundits criticise Arsenal for lacking a more direct ‘Plan B’ when attacking, only to hail the magical passing style of the ‘Plan A’ that rips apart a team the week after with no acknowledgment of the prior criticism dished out. You cannot have it both ways Mr Pundit.

The other criticism of his recent sides has been the perceived ‘lack of backbone’ that supposedly leaves a soft centre for aggressive teams to take advantage off. Wenger’s early Arsenal sides had a strong midfield pairing of Emmanuel Petit and Patrick Vieira, but since the two departed, Wenger has chosen to feature neat, technical centre midfielders instead of a more combative type.

The current midfield features a very similar type of player. Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri, Tomas Rosicky, Denilson, and Andrei Arshavin are all skilful, diminutive right-footed players with great technique. The promising left-footed Jack Wilshire appears to be offering simply a Southpaws version of the aforementioned players, rather than offering an alternative. Alex Song and Abou Diaby have a significantly bigger physique than them, but DIaby is deceptive and is a box to box player with a fine touch, and Alex Song would prefer to stay on his feet than slide in like a rampaging Scott Parker.

Wenger’s team does have a major weakness in that their defence is not up to the standards set by his previous Arsenal sides. Laurent Koscielny and Sebastien Squillachi have not yet settled and they have missed Thomas Vermaelen badly. Those who argue that Arsenal’s defence is not protected enough by its midfield should note that that Manchester United’s first choice defensive partnership of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic are consistently excellent despite United not employing a ‘Makalele-type’ midfielder in front of them.

Arsenal’s midfield, according to some will never win anything, with robust Premiership sides like Stoke and Wolves getting ‘stuck in’, ‘winning the battle’ and making the Gunners drop vital points consistently. It is this that apparently leaves some Arsenal fans frustrated with Wenger, and when pundits every week are saying the same thing, mud sticks.

Wenger’s disbelievers consider Wenger of being either ignorant, naïve, or not good enough to instil physical competencies in midfield, but the simple truth is that the manager, as always, sees it differently. Rather than trying to improve on areas with apparent deficiencies, Wenger tries to improve on his teams strengths.

Let us not forget the first half of the first leg between Arsenal and Barcelona in the Champions League last season. Arsenal were destroyed in that half not by a side who were intent on disrupting their play, but by a side that simply wouldn’t let them have the ball (Although admittedly Barcelona did work extremely hard when they didn’t have the ball).

Barcelona are undoubtedly the benchmark for Wenger, and although some clubs are so far away from the standard of the Catalan giants, Wenger knows that his team are close to emulating them. Consequently Wenger tries to maintain a fluent passing style, which we all know has looked ridiculously good at times and has outplayed the very best.

Wenger entered the Premiership with an open mind, a thinker. It is clear he sees the way Arsenal play as the way to success. He doesn’t want to play like anyone else, he doesn’t want to bow to media and fan pressure to buy more physical and experienced players, but he does want to win trophies.

Does every team have to play the same way? With a defensive midfielder in front of a back 4, a big striker up front with aerial presence or a five-man midfield to suffocate the opposition? All are viable tactics but it is up to the manager to see what he feels best. This is Arsenal’s most successful and longest serving manager after all.

Why thus, should anyone try and mould a free-flowing easy-on-the-eye Arsenal side into something that we believe could be more productive if it means we lose the charm and beauty of their style of play? It would be criminal for Arsenal or Wenger to change their principles. Wenger should stick to his Plan A, just as Spain and Barcelona do, and he deserves a lot more respect from what he currently gets.

Let’s not forget, children growing up playing the game look to those they watch every weekend for influence on their own game, copying their stopovers etc. If the future of England international football is to improve, it will do no harm for children to see players passing the ball to each other patiently and skilfully, with an emphasis on technique and possession. Spain and Barcelona have re-written the rule-book as to how to become successful at the very top level, and the youth of today should aspire to play like them and not like a side managed by Sam Allardyce or Mick McCarthy.

With Robin Van Persie essentially having been out of the first team for 12 months, and Cesc Fabregas suffering from injury problems this season, Arsenal have been shy of arguably their two most talented players this term, yet find themselves top of the league at the time of writing. Samir Nasri’s fantastic double yesterday against Fulham proved that other players are stepping up, and with the lack of a decent top Premiership side left in the League Cup it looks likely that Wenger will finally win a first trophy since 2005, a trophy he has not yet won. It may not be the only trophy he picks up this season.