kremlyn
Well-Known Member
- Jul 30, 2004
- 1,826
- 2,809
A few years back i had my "High Fidelity" moment. I looked in the mirror and said to myself "you are never going to be an architect". I'd suspected the day would come and had passively feared it but, when it happened, I felt a great weight lifted and the realization that I am going to be good at and improve at what I already do. I hadn't realised my potential; I'd realised my limitations and it felt great.
I'd like to think that, about a year ago 'Arry had the same experience. I suspect it isn't the first thing that pops into his mind when he looks in the mirror or when he looks a a photo of his son, but 'Arry doesn't strike me as the kind of guy who gets too hung up on vanity. I think he was looking at his team sheet and thought, "I've got a great chance of getting into the Champions League this season; Arsenal & Liverpool look shakey and the others (AV, Ev,MC etc) don't look up to it." He knew the squads limitations but reckoned that they had it in them to play 4-4-2 through the season and win more than they lost to get the neccessary points. It was a gamble but it paid off because it was a shrewd gamble. We had a real superiority on the flanks through Lennon, Bentley, Modric, Kranky and a host of very competent full-backs.
'Arry gambled on the fact that we had the potential to make it but he also realised that we had some serious limitations. 4-4-2 just doesn't cut it in away games in cup competitions, let alone the CL. The major issue was the centre of midfield. He had players with real potential but also with serious flaws. All he needed them to do was spread the play to the flanks and concentrate when out of possession.
We got lucky. 'Arry must also have realised that in order to make an impact on the CL he was going to have to make changes. We all knew exactly what that change would be - 4-5-1.
He placed an early bet on a kid from Brazil called Sandro. Sandro went on to win the Copa Libertadores and, as we saw last night, looks like he'll make it over here too. Sandro is like an insurance bet. A hugely gifted DM: disciplined, athletic, aggressive. Above all, essential if you're going to play with 5 in midfield.
I think he also gambled twice in the transfer window. First that he would be able to persuade a top class striker to come to the Lane for a reasonable fee. He lost. Second, that he would find a solution to the "hole" position in a 4-5-1. He won and we got VDV.
Is it perfect? No. Will it be enough? Maybe.
I reckon Harry is still working out the odds but I'm beginning to understand why we made so few changes in the summer. If you've only got 1 striker to aim for then your midfield has to be the difference and here's the thing. All our midfielders are seriously flawed. In order to play 4-4-2 against any other system you have to have a dominant box-to-box midfielder like a Robson, Keane (Roy), Ince and we don't. In a 3 man central midfield you can rely on players with different disciplines to cover for their difficiencies. The only question is: Which combinations?
That's where i decided that I doff my cap to Harry. He hasn't got it totally right yet but he has got the options available to generate combinations that negate their limitations and unleash their potential. I'm not saying anything new here. Who hasn't speculated at what that central 3 should look like? I'd like to think that for weaker teams it'll be:
For Stronger teams it'll be:
For Inter Milan it'll be:
For Bus-Conductor it'll be:
Who knows. The point is that when I listen to the debate about Palacios, thudd, Jenas etc. I realise that they all have their weaknesses but 'Arry may have worked out how they can all realise their potential despite their limitations.
He may not have, but, over the season, it's a decent bet.
What do you think?
I'd like to think that, about a year ago 'Arry had the same experience. I suspect it isn't the first thing that pops into his mind when he looks in the mirror or when he looks a a photo of his son, but 'Arry doesn't strike me as the kind of guy who gets too hung up on vanity. I think he was looking at his team sheet and thought, "I've got a great chance of getting into the Champions League this season; Arsenal & Liverpool look shakey and the others (AV, Ev,MC etc) don't look up to it." He knew the squads limitations but reckoned that they had it in them to play 4-4-2 through the season and win more than they lost to get the neccessary points. It was a gamble but it paid off because it was a shrewd gamble. We had a real superiority on the flanks through Lennon, Bentley, Modric, Kranky and a host of very competent full-backs.
'Arry gambled on the fact that we had the potential to make it but he also realised that we had some serious limitations. 4-4-2 just doesn't cut it in away games in cup competitions, let alone the CL. The major issue was the centre of midfield. He had players with real potential but also with serious flaws. All he needed them to do was spread the play to the flanks and concentrate when out of possession.
We got lucky. 'Arry must also have realised that in order to make an impact on the CL he was going to have to make changes. We all knew exactly what that change would be - 4-5-1.
He placed an early bet on a kid from Brazil called Sandro. Sandro went on to win the Copa Libertadores and, as we saw last night, looks like he'll make it over here too. Sandro is like an insurance bet. A hugely gifted DM: disciplined, athletic, aggressive. Above all, essential if you're going to play with 5 in midfield.
I think he also gambled twice in the transfer window. First that he would be able to persuade a top class striker to come to the Lane for a reasonable fee. He lost. Second, that he would find a solution to the "hole" position in a 4-5-1. He won and we got VDV.
Is it perfect? No. Will it be enough? Maybe.
I reckon Harry is still working out the odds but I'm beginning to understand why we made so few changes in the summer. If you've only got 1 striker to aim for then your midfield has to be the difference and here's the thing. All our midfielders are seriously flawed. In order to play 4-4-2 against any other system you have to have a dominant box-to-box midfielder like a Robson, Keane (Roy), Ince and we don't. In a 3 man central midfield you can rely on players with different disciplines to cover for their difficiencies. The only question is: Which combinations?
That's where i decided that I doff my cap to Harry. He hasn't got it totally right yet but he has got the options available to generate combinations that negate their limitations and unleash their potential. I'm not saying anything new here. Who hasn't speculated at what that central 3 should look like? I'd like to think that for weaker teams it'll be:
VDV Modric
Sandro
Sandro
For Stronger teams it'll be:
VDV
Thudd Sandro
Thudd Sandro
For Inter Milan it'll be:
VDV
Palacios Sandro
Palacios Sandro
(with Modric on Left wing)
For Bus-Conductor it'll be:
Jenas Jenas Jenas
Who knows. The point is that when I listen to the debate about Palacios, thudd, Jenas etc. I realise that they all have their weaknesses but 'Arry may have worked out how they can all realise their potential despite their limitations.
He may not have, but, over the season, it's a decent bet.
What do you think?
