Goodbye, Arsene’s rose…
Sorry for the time away. Turns out being busy and blogging don’t mix. There’s a surprise.
So – Thierry has finally admitted the inevitable and jetted off to Barcelona to join Messi, Eto’o, Ronaldinho, Deco, Giuly, and Iniesta in what will probably be the most frightening attack in the world. He leaves for something of a paltry £16 million, considering he was being touted for nearer 50 last year. However, his contribution since then, bar a wonder-strike or two, has been relatively negligible. His swansong in English football came in defeat to PSV, and he totalled a mere 12 goals in 2006/7 – a sad and, at times, sulky end to what has been a world class spell at Arsenal.
Nary a summer these days goes by without the speculation, or reality, that one of Arsenal’s stars will leave. Petit, Overmars, Vieira, Henry. Arsenal didn’t want to sell any of them. With Pires and Lauren also departed, Ljungberg likely to move this transfer window, and Fabregas and even Wenger under increasing scrutiny, Arsenal are seemingly in meltdown. They have lost their captain and talisman, and only have the money they’ve made from transfers, and little else, to replace him and plug the fairly gaping holes in their squad from last time around.
And yet, the whispers grow – Arsene knows.
Henry, for all his match-turning brilliance, was not a good captain. He was selfish, egotistical, and impatient – not exactly a role model to hand-hold a generation of kids through their development. He wanted success badly with Arsenal, but was aware of the ticking of the clock, and ultimately it was fair that he moved somewhere where that success would be more immediate. His likely successor, Gilberto Silva, is everything Henry is not. He’s quiet, selfless and works hard. He led by example last year and showed rare fortitude in a team bereft of mental strength. He’s the man for the job. Arsenal, without Henry, will operate in much the same way.
The system’s merits are debatable but, without Henry, the team should be able to play without an Henry-shaped monkey on their back. Thierry’s influence and role within the Gunners was such that often, faced with either a shot or a pass to Henry, Thierry would find himself with the ball. The youngsters now have no-one to hand-off responsibility to in the final third, and this could be their defining moment. In the same way the departure of Van Nistelrooy revitalised a Man U side dragged down by continually looking for him in the box, Arsenal can now play to their strengths and express themselves without fear of recrimination. Wenger’s notorious for unearthing a gem or two – he needs two now more than ever but, as ever, Arsene knows.
Expect the unexpected – to see a resurgent Arsenal next year.
Transfer watch #1. ‘Can anyone say, ‘Scott Parker’?’
It’s that time of the year again. The sun comes out, people start to wear less clothes, and football managers dust off their rolodexes and start the annual callround for new players, whilst desperately trying to offload that lump of a striker you paid a club record for on transfer deadline day last year. I’m looking at you, Wigan. So, I’m going to have a look over the comings and goings over the next couple of months, with a little analysis thrown in. So, today we saw Steve Sidwell agree to join moneybags cup-botherers Chelsea on a (whisper it) free transfer. It’s a good bit of business for the runners-up, gaining a competent midfielder for nix dollars and some much needed cover while Essien and co are off for the African Nations Cup. But why oh why did Steve do it? Money is the simple answer, and a probable England call now he’s ‘Big Four’ material, but he’ll play about ten times a year and be fourth choice while Ballack, Lampard and Essien are fit. If only Scott Parker had had a quick word in his ear.
Meanwhile, NBNC is thinking that most of this column will be devoted to one droopy Redknapp, after Harry secured the services of Sylvain Distin on another free today. Great signing for Pompey, I think – Distin will add some pace and guile alongside the force that is old Sulzeer Campbell and, should Sol stay, link to create one of the best centre half pairing outside of the top four. Pompey really look as if they’re stepping things up a notch this summer, with Muntari and Hreidarsson also nearing signing on the dotted line. Muntari in particular will beef up their midfield no end, having excelled in the World Cup and showing glimpses of class for Udinese. Pompey for the top six? Stranger things have happened.
Much like Spurs signing a young Englishman from the Championship? What do you mean that all Martin Jol does is buy all of the promising youngsters the lower leagues has and wait for a couple to come good? Ah well, the latest to grace the Lane and add some much needed left footedness to Tottenham is Derby youngster Gareth Bale, with a fee all agreed. Bale has undoubted potential, and his ability with a dead ball is impressive. However, he’s defensively extremely vulnerable which, for a full back, seems a pretty important drawback. I’d imagine Jol will not stop at Bale in his left-hand side strengthening, with the teenager’s year next season more of a bedding-in period, a la Huddlestone, than a burst onto the scene.
Finally, sinking stone Charlton yesterday completed the signings of two strikers, Luke Varney and Chris Iwelumo, paving the way for Darren Bent to hotstep it back to the Premiership. Varney in particular is a good buy – sharp and (cliché alert) schooled the Crewe way. Iwelumo has scored a hatful for Colchester over the past year, but I’ve yet to be convinced. He’s a handful, no doubt, but I would bet on Varney to score more, come the end of the season.
Tomorrow’s chip paper – today’s rumours
- Bayern Munich are eyeing Arsenal top scorer (despite this year being mainly injured) Robin ‘Ice Cream’ van Persie. Apparently for £8m. Won’t happen.
- Old
Chelsea favourite Eidur ‘Down’ Gudjohnsen is interesting everyone, from ManU to the Hammers to Roy Keane. I would imagine none of these will happen, though Eidur will move somewhere - One Carlos ‘The Jackal’ Tevez is interesting
Chelsea. If Sheva slings his hook to become ‘the biggest Premiership flop ever’ TM, it’s possible - Antoine ‘The One’ Sibierski is interesting Fulham, apparently. If Fulham become any more mediocre I think I’d cry. Although, given their track record, I’ll get me Kleenex.
