So the juggernaut that is the Arsenal Ladies team won their 11th FA cup today, and whilst watching something struck me, not only could they play football, but they could defend as a team too. Granted, Bristol didn't offer too much going forward, but, when called upon to do their jobs an air of confidence and assurance was evident throughout the back line.
Now compare this too the men's side. It's a nigh-on guarantee that they concede to their opponents first effort on target, and have they mastered the art of buckling under pressure, prompting many critics (including former players Bobby Pires and Paddy V) to point out a lack of 'English back-bone' or 'lack of experience' was the main hindrance.
Now obviously there is an unquantifiable difference between the men's and women's game, but overall the games follow similar patterns, in that Arsenal's Ladies boss possession and territory, like to play 'tippy-tappy' stuff in the middle of the park and have been known to squander numerous gilt-edged chances this season (sound familiar?).
But the Arsenal Ladies have something the men's team doesn't. Balance.
To match the skill/vision/quick feet of Kim Little there's Katie Chapman doing 'the messy stuff'.
For all the trickery on the wing of Rachel Yankee there is an out and out centre forward in Julie Fleeting.
Everyone knows their role in the team and they stick to it. This simply doesn't happen in the men's team. Take Alex Song, a player who has matured beyond recognition over the last 2 years, and is our leading defensive midfielder. DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER. Now, I don't know about you, but my heart isn't in my mouth when I see him bombing forward and trying to create chances, it's left my body entirely and gone into outer space. Even Wenger has said that he doesn't like it, so why is Song doing it? "Ohh for a Gilberto...."
You can also apply it to our centre backs, especially Djourou, who time after time squander possession when trying to bring it forward themselves. "Just give it to Cesc or Jack!"
Why do they do it? Why doesn't this team stick to it's job? Another case in point, Theo Walcott. A quick winger who is able to run behind the last line of defence or at the full back, yet does it rarely. I haven't done the chalkboard analysis, but I'd imagine that most of his passes are ~5 yards and go backwards to Sanga (who invariable crosses the ball, turning over possession). Why isn't Theo running at the full-back every time? Or making runs in behind consistently? I can't remember him doing it once against Villa last Sunday. Obviously Walcott isn't a great winger, so why does he play there? He's much happier playing through the middle and most of his goals have come this season when he has run onto a through-ball down the middle. Why not play him there Arsene? Just an idea....
This season has been a muddle, this team is muddle, and most of that muddle revolves around the formation (or lack of it). Wenger clearly doesn't trust Fabregas as part of a midfield two, so plays Jack in there to add more 'stability'. We have Nasri playing out wide, yet while Cesc was out injured he played in the middle and was banging the goals in from all angles. Bar the keeper, the defence and Cesc, I think you could say the entire team is played out of their 'natural' position or are asked to fulfil a role not suited to them, Bendtner a right winger? Don't make me laugh.
This results in an inefficient team; look at Barcelona, even with the players of undoubted quality such as theirs they still stick to their roles. You don't see Busquets bombing forward in the 89th minute do you? Xavi and Iniesta get the ball and give it to the forwards. Yes these players do come up with the odd goal here and there, but that's not their role in the team and never will be. That's the role of Messi, Pedro, and Villa. As such Barcelona have a better balance in their side and as such defend more as a team.
If Laura Harvey can dictate the roles of her players and strike a balance with the Ladies team in a year after losing Kelly Smith (our Thierry Henry) why has it taken Wenger so long?
This season our 'pleasing on the eye' football has been rare, whilst at other times has been bloody boring (as much as it grates me to agree with Stoke fans); we've got a 'collection of players' not a team. They're inefficient and are all trying to do the same thing. Pass, pass, pass, pass, pass.....
I don't think Wenger's time is up yet, but he desperately needs to re-shape the squad, there is no point have 9 central midfielders and then making them play elsewhere. I couldn't care less who goes and who comes in as long as they do their job on the pitch.
What is clear though is that it'll need to be an extremely busy summer to rectify this teams flaws and find that balance.
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