please log in to view this image Supa made a suggestion in another thread that made me wonder if the team has become too reliant on Arsene Wenger. Watching our much-loved manager go through the various agonies on the sidelines made me wonder why and how it is that more responsibility is not taken by the players once a match has begun. There has to be a limit to the amount a manager can contribute to the outcome of a match once play has begun. That our team had more recently consisted of youngsters does not help. The fabled experiment has only resulted in more expected glances at the bench for solutions on the pitch. I recall the days of Liam Brady when he was described as a little general commanding the field of play. I made a comment in another thread about how Patrick Viera would gather the players round and change tactics to suit a desired outcome. Perhaps with the coming or Micky, Benny and a few " experienced captains " back to front on the pitch, we can now look forward to the players not only organising themselves better but taking responsibility for what happens in a game. It is about time they did. One can't stay young forever. Having laid the onus on the team I wonder if perhaps part of the reason for this situation lies with Arsene himself. How ready is he to relinquish the reins even if for a moment. We've seen on occasion that SAF leaves Mike Phelan to look after a match. I could be wrong but I can't recall an occasion when Arsene has left a match entirely to Pat Rice or Boro Primorac although he may soon have to. Twice, in fact. What say you friends? Fingers crossed for a big win tomorrow
Well Robin I think it is an issue that needs to be addressed because if it is as the title of the thread suggests, then it points to an absence of leadership on the pitch. Arsene cannot do everything from the sidelines and certainly nothing if he is having to sit in the stands. Back in the days of Capt Viera, we had someone who could and did gather everyone round, someone who would pull the team together when their backs were against the wall and inspire them to success. The players need to have someone who would take on the responsibility to change tactics when something doesn't work. In fact as we've seen in the past, we do not have a Plan B. With the captaincy resting on the shoulders of a 22year old I'm not surprised there wasn't a required level of leadership on the pitch. However as I had asked, does Arsene actively encourage leadership or direction on the pitch other than that which comes from him? This is very important since tactics are not Arsene's strength. Finding players, nurturing their skills are areas where he is supreme but in the absence of tactics, you don't win matches.....well at least not consistently. Thus we need a leader on the pitch and one on the benches who knows when to call shots, what shots indeed to call and when to hand over the reins to the man on the pitch. My 2c
