march 25th
And a Good Friday to you all. Unless your name is Jesus in which case I’m sorry to say your afternoon is going to be particularly unpleasant.
Patrick Vieira has spoken out about the strength of the Arsenal squad and, in so many words, been critical of Arsene Wenger for his failure to reinforce the team after winning the league last season. Vieira says “I wouldn’t say that this Arsenal side is too young but there is an imbalance between older players and youngsters. As far as our ambitions are concerned, we are still awaiting reinforcements.”
Perhaps if the club hadn’t spent all summer tied up wondering whether or not Vieira was going to move to Madrid we might have had time to make another transfer or two. Talking about his own indifferent form this season the captain, who has carried on the perpetuating cycle by ruling out a move to Madrid this summer, revealed he’s been playing through the pain barrier after picking up an ankle injury. Some people, myself included, have questioned his commitment to the club and his performances this season, but Paddy’s quite happy to be the scapegoat. “There have been plenty of occasions when I’ve had to grit my teeth. In my case there was the perfect excuse of my potential transfer to Real Madrid last year. People said I should have joined them as my mind was no longer on Arsenal. I knew I’d be a target. We’d won everything in England at Arsenal for 18 months and the moment we fell away a scapegoat had to be found. But I’ve broad shoulders.”
Now, without wishing to dent his fragile ego any further, any criticism levelled at Vieira was nothing to do with finding a scapegoat. There were other issues in the team that had to be addressed too. With him it was about seeing our captain fanny around the pitch like he didn’t really care, it was about lazy play, passing the ball to opposition time and time again and not doing anything to win it back, it was about seeing him jog back watching the play, about seeing him playing too far up the pitch. After his third consecutive summer of flirting seriously with Real Madrid, and after previously saying he had no intentions of doing any such thing, is it any wonder some people asked questions of him? Anyway, if he’s decided he’s 100% commited to Arsenal then great. When he’s on form he’s a top, top player. I just hope this marks a return to the kind of form we know he’s capable of and isn’t just another example of Vieira talking the talk in the papers.
Peter Hill-Wood has spoken about the Ashley Cole saga and said “We only want players who want to play for us. I would just hope that it is sorted out sooner rather than later. Those charged have 14 days in which to respond and I hope a decision will come soon after that. For Ashley Cole’s sake as well as Arsenal’s sake I want that to be the case.”
The Sun, very briefly in its online edition, reports that Cole has decided to let his contract run down and leave on a free in 2007. I can’t see the club letting that happen. If no agreement regarding a new contract is made this summer then he’ll be sold. No question. The Mirror reports that Chelsea have sewn up the £20m signing of Shaun Wright-Phillips. Good player, I’d be seriously pissed off if we paid anywhere near £20m for him though. If the fee is true then it’s just another reason why Arsene doesn’t buy English players. Young defender Frankie Simek has joined Bournmouth on one month’s loan while another young defender, Dominic Shimmin, has signed for QPR. Good luck to them both.
From Marca (link in Spanish) with regard to José Antonio Reyes: They ask him “Is one of the keys to your leaving Arsenal that you haven’t acclimatised to the country?”
José replies, “Yes, it’s for this reason I said I wasn’t happy. Not for the team, or the people because playing football there is fantastic. With the people there is no problem. But it’s true I haven’t adapated to the climate or the language and I think this is the main reason for me. I’ve had the opportunity to talk the President (I think he means Double-D) and the boss and I’ve told them everything.”
What happens next is anybody’s guess. Finally for today point your browsers in the direction of my esteemed blogging colleague, or blogeague if you will, over at East Lower. He’s back up and running after Easyspace lost two years of his blog then blamed it on him. Just a quick note to him though, ‘Needs more red’.
Have a good one.
