RACHEL ROWE IS BACK AND THAT’S GOOD NEWS
Photo by Andrew Dowling [andrewdowlingphotography.co.uk]
Sam Southall
Make no bones about it, Esther Morgan and Ceri Holland were dependable deputies for Rachel Rowe during her absence due to injury. But, and this is a rather considerable but, they don't offer what Rowe offers.
The winger-turned-full back has been one of the first names on the team sheet under Ludlow and Grainger for Wales and it's clear why. In Grainger's first competitive game in charge against Kazakhstan, Rowe scored a screamer. It was insane. Go watch it again.
Rachel Rowe offers much more than screamers though. Without her in the team, Wales relies on the creativity of our midfield triangle of Ingle, James and Fishlock - if there's three players to rely on, these are the three. But when she's in the team, Rowe forms the basis of the Welsh attack instead. Her presence unlocks the Welsh attack and revolutionises the entire approach.
At this point you might think "attacking fullbacks are in vogue, what's the difference here?" and the answer lies in our defensive shape. Bear with me.
In competitive fixtures under Grainger, with Rowe unavailable, we've mostly lined up with Esther Morgan, Gemma Evans, Hayley Ladd and Rhiannon Roberts as our back four in a 4-3-3 formation. It's a solid back four and we've only conceded three goals, but it's nothing revolutionary. The centre back pairing stay central and the full backs join in the attack when and where they can, but they don't offer thrust. It's not surprising from a back four consisting of three centre backs and an experienced midfielder.
Swap out Esther Morgan for Rachel Rowe and it's all different. Rowe's a good defender but she's even better at attacking and her pace allows her to leave the deep left space. in build-up play, Rowe moves up the wing alongside midfield, as you'd expect from a modern full back in a team playing out from the back. It is a risk sometimes and Rowe can get caught out, as seen against Scotland, but the risk is more than worth the reward and Rowe’s defending is sure to improve again as she gets more match fitness after injury.
As we progress up the pitch, it all changes. Rowe aggressively pushes further up the left wing, but the interesting thing happens back in the defence. Evans shifts across to the left defensive half-space, Ladd occupies the centre of the pitch and Roberts comes off the right wing and occupies the right defensive half-space. It might be hard to visualise, but our formation has transitioned from a 4-3-3 to a 3-4-3 at this point. It seems a modern variation on catenaccio, but it's highly progressive (and also something seen in managers coached in the Welsh Way, but that's a story for another day).
In the final third, it goes a bit wild. Rowe will normally push even further up the left wing, but she can also cut inside and shoot. If she goes up the wing then whoever is ahead of her, usually Ceri Holland or Carrie Jones, will move centrally and become a second striker. The opposite flank will be occupied by Tash Harding, with Fishlock and James in attacking positions behind the two strikers. From 4-3-3 at the start of the move, the formation in the final third appears more like a 3-1-2-4. With 6 players in attacking positions, it's no surprise that this team has scored 17 in World Cup qualifying so far.
Rachel Rowe's specific skill set is the key to how Gemma Grainger wants Wales to play going forward - her defensive and attacking abilities, combined with her pace and decision making is revolutionary for Wales. While she still has work to do until she's fully match fit, Rowe's 45 minute appearance against Scotland in the Pinatar Cup shows that she's still in Grainger's plans and will return to playing a key role in World Cup qualifying.