Dementia Gets Worse

I think i'll focus on my theory that the time has come and gone for Wenger to win the league. When Wenger last won the league he had at his dispense a wealth of talent, experience, and highly intelligent players. Football-intelligent. If a player went out, the bench was well stocked with equals, not lessers. Injury forced rotation. And ultimately, Wenger didn't have to manage with great depth because all eleven were of the highest pedigree. Wenger had to simply pick the best.

Today, Wenger picks the very best each week. Just like he did last time we won the league. And he doesn't tinker with what he knows. Today's blunder is that Wenger put a Center Back, Djourou, at Right Back because he must be looking at the other defenders and went with most experience. Surely he looked at pulling up a regular, reserve Right Back [RB]. Surely. But instead he would rather move an experienced defender into that position for cover. That really is the logical solution to the problem so i'm not surprised he went that route. One would assume that a defender can play any type of defense. But this is tactical naivete. Only some can switch positions and switch minds, and that's the other half of the battle. If the player can't switch his mind to that new position then he'll always be a step behind. And that is what we saw from Djourou. And it's not his fault. He stepped up as best as he can, but it's Wenger's selection that is to blame.

Why not select a player who actually plays right back? One could argue that a reserve is too raw. And i'd tend to agree. But we've seen other youngsters make the leap i.e. Jack, Ramsey, Theo. If given the chance. And maybe just maybe some other could make that leap. I see Eastmond tweeting so I know he is available for selection. And so is Yennaris. Both apply their trade and have the correct frame to play RB. And surely they can make the leap to the 1sts, something they claim to strive for, Away to Fulham. But most importantly is if we are going to lose a game like that, Away, then we might as well develop some youth instead of losing a man to a red card for lank-related lack of pace and timing. I truly believe it is worth playing a RB who is a RB then just moving a player around who may have more experience or talent. I think the risk of error is actually minimized independent of raw talent.

For a moment I thought Wenger was following me on Twitter. I asked for a sub for Theo and requested Rosicky. And then Wenger made it so. I then asked for a sub for Ramsey and instead Wenger subbed out Gervinho, for Benayoun. I wanted Ramsey out for Benayoun. I would have kept Gervinho on as an outlet. Gervinho wasn't finishing anything but he was stretching the defense and creating space. And I felt that he could do that for 90 minutes. Also, in the back of my mind I wanted to use him as much as possible before he went to Africa. Then shortly after the subs happened Djourou got caught off the pace and was given his second card and marching orders. Now, down a man, Arsenal did not have a speedy outlet with Gervinho but a crafty one with Rosicky. And then Fulham scored the equalizer. And then finished the match off on another shambolic incident. Arsenal had a few chances to try to win the match down a man but by losing Gervinho the passes got shorter, space narrower, and Fulham was able to settle, go forward, and defend with the extra man. If Gervinho had stayed on there is at least the chance that a quick counter could occur. But with Rosicky on, there was never a chance.

And I don't even want to mention the Squillaci sub.

But ultimately the result comes down to playing a center back in an unfamiliar position instead of promoting an inexperienced but regular right back from the reserves. If we are going to lose i'd at least prefer that we'd lose with a young talent getting some experience. I prefer to think that a player in waiting will step up and take his chance, though. And I believe either Eastmond or Yennaris is better than Djourou at right back.

Wenger has struggled and will continue to struggle with selections. Wenger won't change formations to suit availability. That is just stubbornly stupid. And Wenger won't promote a reserve, who plays the needed position regularly, because of whatever reasoning. I tend to think he doesn't want to take the risk on a total failure; if the young player has a howler, Wenger looks like a fool and that player's confidence is potentially Eboue-ruined. It's a valid worry. Again, I think this worry is mitigated by playing his players in their trained position. And these things are not going to change under Wenger's reign. And buying new players won't change this fact. The game, the league, is far more tactical than it was years ago. And Wenger has failed to adapt. In the end, get used to this type of debacle until Wenger can again pick the very best team. And that means the best players in their given position. So until these best of the best return from injury expect more should-have-won moments and continued what-the-fucks!

ArsenaLos