What we've lost from the Invincibles
Written by Joel Che on Saturday, April 26, 2008
Manchester United were made to look pretty average by Barcelona. But Barcelona suffered an Arsenal disease; they got stuck in front of a defensive wall all the time because they could not effectively counter-attack.
United returned with a flattering score line and Barcelona left happy that they had played better (like Arsenal usually do) but with nothing.
Counter-attacking is by far the best and most lethal form of attacking. It is the one form of attacking that has no respect for the quality of the opposition.
All it needs is speed and good touch from the team and an opposition that will attack you. Even though United were rubbish, it was always possible that they could score. That is why they are in the position they are in.
I am sorry for going back to the Invincibles so often but they were the best counter-attacking side I have ever seen. Ashley Cole, Lauren, Robert Píres, Patrick Vieira or Dennis Bergkamp could move the ball 60 yards in 5-9 seconds after winning it.
And then they would find a runner in Thierry Henry or Freddie Ljungberg or Píres himself in the 9th to 11th second and there would be a goal. No defence or team could recover in 11 seconds after losing the ball if they had made a commitment in the attack.
United always look like they will score because they are the best counter-attacking team in the league and in the Champions League. But unlike Arsenal's Invincibles who used 3 quick passes to move the ball 60 yards, United rely solely on Ronaldo to run the ball 60 yards in 9 seconds with the ball.
He can. But if he's in the wrong place, or if he fails to beat the first man then it's all over. United are therefore have a much more vulnerable counter-attacking style because it relies too much on one player.
In compensation United have a defence that can pretty much hold out for 90 minutes. It makes them a little more boring than Barcelona or the Invincibles but there is no one with good enough counter-attacking to really punish them.
Intricate passing around the box (like Barcelona) and as most Arsenal fans know is so dependent on precision that even the smallest issue with the playing surface or the sharpness of one player can totally render it useless.
In summary, Messi looks cute but Ronaldo looks lethal.
Anyway, I look forward to the second legs. I have got over the fact that Arsenal are not there so I am relaxed and watching. I just don't want Chelsea or United to win. I don't think United deserve it as much as others think.
User Comments
20adeshomoye
Posted on 29 Apr, 2008 at 09:55 AM - Reply
The title is deceptive and the article itself is full of unfounded leaps of logic and false assumptions.
Who says counter-attacking is the most lethal form of attack? What makes it more potent than an aerial attack through a targetman or a brazilian, slow tempo, technique-based passing game?
You say all a counter-attacking system needs is players with speed and a good touch and then you used Ronaldo as an example, how many of players of his calibre do you know? Even Pires and Ljungberg didn't have Ronaldo's pace.
Arsenal can't play that counter-attacking system anymore because no team attacks Arsenal anymore; simple! We still have the players to pull it off if we had the opportunity.
Every premiership manager knows he stands a better chance if he only commits 2 or 3 players when he attacks Arsenal-even in his own home. He might still get a goal (because our defence is prone to error) and also the fans will accept a 0-0 draw with Arsenal as a good result.
As for Man.U, they don't really counter-attack (at least not until they take the lead); they play very wide, with direct passing. They stretch the opposition so that their skill players (Ronaldo, Nani,Giggs etc.)are one-on-one against opposition players, then they beat them-thereby unhinging the defence-and score. When the opponent comes in search of the equalizer the tactic works even better. Thats all. I don't agree with most of your articles, your crtique's are rarely constructive and your analysis is rarely objective.Also you're too fickle.
19Aussie Fan
Posted on 29 Apr, 2008 at 12:04 AM - Reply
Joel if this season goes according to your vision throughout the year your new name would be nostra damus! If the last 2 points aren't guaranteed for either of the top 3 teams, who has the easiest run to the title? I Say neither of the top 3 and how much have we improved? i can just barely remember going into the last 2 games and having 3 teams mathematically able to win the League!!
18Ron
Posted on 28 Apr, 2008 at 01:49 PM - Reply
The only difference between The Invincibles and the current squad is mental strength. The attacking prowess of the Invincibles were second to none, their technique of moving the ball around and their method of finishing the game is just breath taking. Fans from other clubs condemned me for watching them then, saying that each Arsenal game is only good for their first 25 minutes because they usually bury their opponents by then. However what the Invincibles lack was mental strength- to come back from going a goal down. Unlike the current squad who truly lacks the finishing of the Invincibles, they had the mental strength to fight back on any day. That is why we hold a stunning record of winning games after going a goal down this season.
17Lance
Posted on 27 Apr, 2008 at 12:14 PM - Reply
Whether or not you agree with the article; write your own before you dismiss someone with the balls to offer an opinion in such a public fashion. I'm talking to you Sly and JamesP.
16Seymour
Posted on 27 Apr, 2008 at 11:21 AM - Reply
First things first, lets remember that the arsenal 04 team won the league unbeaten and probably to this day are the best team ever to play in the premiership, thats always going to be hard to replicate. As for the current team I had so many hopes for this season, so why havnt we won anything?? Well the style of football we play is excellent to wotch and is very effective but when you start getting key injuries and people arent on their game its tough, add that to the fact that we dont seem to know when we have to defend as a team. I think the difference between this team and the 04 team is players like Pires (an out and out winger). I wotched both semi-finals (painfull I know) and was heartbroken we wernt still in it, Chelsea Vs Liverpool both looked average and the nou camp game wasnt much beta either, barca i like arsenal but they pass the ball slower. I think an out and out winger could solve some of our problems as could an experienced holding midfielder. I dont think we're too far away from winning the league next yr, with the right addittions I think it'll be us or Manchester United, as for the champions league, we just need that bit of luck!
15Nikolas
Posted on 27 Apr, 2008 at 06:05 AM - Reply
its no use saying who should we get, who should stay, who should go and all that stuff. its not down to us to decide, we have no power what so ever over it. its down to the boss himself.
14Harshal Gooner
Posted on 27 Apr, 2008 at 05:17 AM - Reply
Completely agree with your view here. I guess besides counter attack, the goals from midfield has been the telling difference between now and then. Having said that, we still have the second most number of goals scored in the league. Defence has not been solid obviously as well, though on paper it looks great.
As far as the Champions league, only Barcelona should win it this year, with our dear and beloved Henry living his dream.
13Wayne Cramp
Posted on 27 Apr, 2008 at 01:48 AM - Reply
Good read.
I think the goal that most typifies the old Arsenal counter attck was the goal we scored against sperrrzzz that year, of a SPERRRRZZZ corner!!
Ball comes in, Arsenal intercepts, quick pass to Bergkamp, Bergie finds Henry on a dead sprint into sperrrzz end, Henry clinically finishes it off. The whole goal took about what you estimated, about 9 to 11 seconds.
Man do I miss those days....
12sly
Posted on 27 Apr, 2008 at 12:50 AM - Reply
A very confused article. It doesn't answer what the heading asks. It conflates views about Man U, Barca and Arsenal. Just who were you wanting to talk about really?
11Baj A
Posted on 26 Apr, 2008 at 11:41 PM - Reply
I agree that we need more wingers. Rosicky is so injury prone, and even though he is a great player his continual absence is a big blow to Arsenal's season. Ben Arfa of Lyon would be perfect. Sagna and Clichy are probably two of the best wing backs in the world. Both have a load of pace, are intelligent in defense, and attack extremely well, especially Clichy. I don't think there is a problem there but more so with the centre backs. Kolo and Gallas are very alike in their playing styles and are truly not compatible. They are both great players, but that pairing just doesn't work. Wenger should buy a tall, experienced center half like Lucio, which would truly make Arsenal's defense impeccable.
10Big M
Posted on 26 Apr, 2008 at 10:49 PM - Reply
In short we need more wingers to make-up for the Rosicky's absence and Walcott's inexperience. The full-backs need to improve their attacking play...
Pires and Ljungberg haven't been replaced yet. I've forgotten what Rosicky looks like and Theo needs more confidence (although the last couple of games he's massively improved).
Hleb shouldn't play on the wing, he's not quick enough. Cesc should never play on the wing - it's a waste of his talent; when it happens we know the squad is too small...
Gael Clichy is a truely great defender but has never scored, and should have more assists to his name. Sagna is better than Lauren but doesn't have the attacking mind of Dixon.
9JamesP
Posted on 26 Apr, 2008 at 09:19 PM - Reply
What a load of bollocks
8delboy
Posted on 26 Apr, 2008 at 09:07 PM - Reply
i totally disagree with your comments about messsi and ronaldo. Messi mad eworld class the other night and is much better team player than ronaldo. Ronaldo gets a lot of goals and great goals, but his team play is suspect and it is a flaw in his game.
7Edwin
Posted on 26 Apr, 2008 at 06:54 PM - Reply
cant agree with you more. United were totally outclassed by barcelona, who are supposed to be in a form crisis and to think this is probably the best united squad in the last three years. United can be happy that they held off barcelona. I hear united fans saying that they went out there to defend and not concede so they did the job but i dont agree with this. They clearly went out there to attack, the fact that they replaced an injured defender with a midfielder and started with rooney, ronaldo and tevez proves this( mind you ferguson has put tevez on the bench on numerous occasions this season). They just couldn't pass the ball as good as they have been doing this season and barcelona forced them to put numbers behind the ball and defend.
6king gooner
Posted on 26 Apr, 2008 at 06:52 PM - Reply
good article-agree with you 100% old chap
5JG
Posted on 26 Apr, 2008 at 06:48 PM - Reply
I think that the counter-attacking of the invincibles will return with Walcott getting more time.
4sven bertil
Posted on 26 Apr, 2008 at 05:17 PM - Reply
So true.
3geoffreid
Posted on 26 Apr, 2008 at 04:36 PM - Reply
Yes we are all watching other teams now-all because arsenal wont put money out for top class players.
2Tyrone Annor
Posted on 26 Apr, 2008 at 04:17 PM - Reply
You would rather have Liverpool (who beat us in the quarters due to bad descisions), or Barcelona (who beat us in the final with an offside goal) to win it instead?
Wow... you are really quick to forgive.
1Donjohnni
Posted on 26 Apr, 2008 at 12:21 PM - Reply
Thing is, the invincible never won anything in the Champions League. I love them, think they were the best team I've ever seen - but something must have been missing to consistently fail in Europe.
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