Klaus wrote:
It's all relative of course, but our centrebacks don't play deep either. It's just an ineviteable consequence of attacking football. In my opinion a player's role isn't defined by a position relative to the field but rather what he does on the field.
Personally I think football went to shit the moment people started to categorise players in terms of defensive, central and attacking midfielders. Whatever happened to the term "midfielder"? When did it lose its connotative meaning?
Well, that's my point. Iniesta plays in central midfield, so does Xavi. Exactly what position they take up is irrelevant. They move where they move because that is what helps the team.
I would describe the 3 players who roam behind van Persie as attacking midfielders too, but I don't think they should be. Cesc should be brought back into the midfield, and made to play and move where best helps the team, as part of a cohesive unit. And the two wide players should be pushed right up in support of van Persie, free to make the runs and movements that give them the maximum chance of threatening the defensive line or at goal.
That's why I don't want a Kagawa here, or a Valbuena, or a similar style player who would be called in most circles "attacking midfielders". I want proper forwards, like Walcott, whose every move is based around getting behind the defence and in on goal, and central midfielders than help them do that.
But I have said this towards the end of every season for years, when it's obvious we're not going to win sod all and thoughts turn to how we can improve for next season, and obviously nothing changes. Wenger likes this shitty playmaker system. Cesc will continue in the hole, our wide players will continue to be "attacking midfielders", and we'll continue to try and get Cesc and the other two to do all the running ahead of the ball, whilst we also ask them at the same time to try and control possession and protect the back four. It worked when we played counter-attack, but that playmaker system doesn't work with the way we try to play now, not for me. We over commit the midfielders and end up with nobody to protect the back 4. I just want the midfield to do what a midfield is supposed to do; facilitate the defence and the attack.
