Lets talk from Arsenal point of view. Why are we behind him ?
1. Russian league Player
2. That too 27 years old
3. Arsenal's record breaking transfer fee
4. High salary demand - for what?
5. Totally desperate and would surely sulk in future
And compare Nasri at 21 who came for around 11 miilion. Thats Wenger. Then why Arshavin?
Because
1. For fabregas, who might think of leaving this summer (quite likely)
2. To increase the atendance and restore the fans' faith (unlikely)
3. In Arsene's words, just to add the creative spark in midfield (I doubt it, why didnt he move for him in last summer then?)
Please enlighten me with any other reason or argument in favor of this transfer. I am sick of reading, he is in... no, he is not.. he will come.. he refused..his gay agent wants more money..his mood changed..he will talk on monday..he wants a cradle too
January 27, 2009
January 8, 2009
Half Term Report Card (Part 3)
Now coming to the top half of the table, we have a couple of interesting ones here. A small club venturing in the unknown arena and Hull City to name just two!
West Ham
Zola has been the only rather inexperienced manager to be doing a decent job with his club. Paul Ince and Tony Adams are the others in the category and both have struggled, the former losing his job before the turn of the year. Zola's assistant Steve Clarke's hand in the whole picture cannot be doubted. The latter's experience as an assistant coach in the top flight is second to none. Its ironical that two of Chelsea's biggest legends are working for one of Chelsea's rivals and doing a good job. Hammers are destined for mid table anonymity at best, at worst they could lose a couple of key players in the Jan transfer window due to the financial crisis the club is going through, and their season could fall apart.
Verdict : 9th
Fulham
Roy Hodgson was one of the best managers of last year. When he took over, Fulham were in deep mire with relegation looking directly in their faces. He not only turned it around in the last game of last season, but has also managed to take them to 9th place by the end of the same calender year, a remarkable achievement by all means. Fulham are pushing for UEFA cup places but with Wigan, Everton and Aston Villa apart from the four usual suspects definitely better than them, it will be a near impossible task.
Verdict: 13th
Hull City
Hull City have been one of the stories of the season. With almost everyone predicting struggle in the club's first ever adventure in the top flight, they have not only defied the odds but also done it in style. Last couple of months have seen them struggle a bit and they've slipped a couple of places but another run of good results is long due and that could well see them in a UEFA cup spot....icing on the cake one has to say! But whatever the tigers achieve this season, they can hold their heads high and look forward to avaoiding the second season syndrome for promoted clubs next season.
Verdict : 8th
Wigan
Another club which has achieved an overturn of fortunes in a calendar year is Wigan. Struggling in the relegation zone at the start of 2008, they have their sights on UEFA cup at the end. Enjoying an excellent form of late(5 wins in last 6 games), the FA cup break might have come at hte wrong time for them. Still they should be good enough to give the likes of Everton and Hull a run for their money in the battle for UEFA cup spot.
Verdict: 6th
Everton
Without a recognized striker for a good few weeks, toffees have tremendously well to be where they are now. David Moyes should be in the look out for a recognized striker in the transfer window if only on loan, but recent form suggests he can as well manage without one. Hull, Liverpool and Arsenal are their next three opponents and 3 points or above is what they should be aiming at to put pressure on Arsenal and Aston Villa for the automatic UEFA cup place.
Verdict : 7th
the final bit to follow soon...
West Ham
Zola has been the only rather inexperienced manager to be doing a decent job with his club. Paul Ince and Tony Adams are the others in the category and both have struggled, the former losing his job before the turn of the year. Zola's assistant Steve Clarke's hand in the whole picture cannot be doubted. The latter's experience as an assistant coach in the top flight is second to none. Its ironical that two of Chelsea's biggest legends are working for one of Chelsea's rivals and doing a good job. Hammers are destined for mid table anonymity at best, at worst they could lose a couple of key players in the Jan transfer window due to the financial crisis the club is going through, and their season could fall apart.
Verdict : 9th
Fulham
Roy Hodgson was one of the best managers of last year. When he took over, Fulham were in deep mire with relegation looking directly in their faces. He not only turned it around in the last game of last season, but has also managed to take them to 9th place by the end of the same calender year, a remarkable achievement by all means. Fulham are pushing for UEFA cup places but with Wigan, Everton and Aston Villa apart from the four usual suspects definitely better than them, it will be a near impossible task.
Verdict: 13th
Hull City
Hull City have been one of the stories of the season. With almost everyone predicting struggle in the club's first ever adventure in the top flight, they have not only defied the odds but also done it in style. Last couple of months have seen them struggle a bit and they've slipped a couple of places but another run of good results is long due and that could well see them in a UEFA cup spot....icing on the cake one has to say! But whatever the tigers achieve this season, they can hold their heads high and look forward to avaoiding the second season syndrome for promoted clubs next season.
Verdict : 8th
Wigan
Another club which has achieved an overturn of fortunes in a calendar year is Wigan. Struggling in the relegation zone at the start of 2008, they have their sights on UEFA cup at the end. Enjoying an excellent form of late(5 wins in last 6 games), the FA cup break might have come at hte wrong time for them. Still they should be good enough to give the likes of Everton and Hull a run for their money in the battle for UEFA cup spot.
Verdict: 6th
Everton
Without a recognized striker for a good few weeks, toffees have tremendously well to be where they are now. David Moyes should be in the look out for a recognized striker in the transfer window if only on loan, but recent form suggests he can as well manage without one. Hull, Liverpool and Arsenal are their next three opponents and 3 points or above is what they should be aiming at to put pressure on Arsenal and Aston Villa for the automatic UEFA cup place.
Verdict : 7th
the final bit to follow soon...
January 4, 2009
Half Term Report Card (Part 2)
Sunderland
Roy Keane showed some ambition in the transfer market when he bought the likes of Cisse, Chimbonda, Malbranque and Anton Ferdinand. Yet spending huge amounts of money did not guarantee a smooth sailing in the mid table. With an awful away form continuing from last season, Keane saw his team faltering at home too. A relegation scrap was all but certain and Keane took the responsibility and resigned. His assistant, replacing him temporarily, had a good couple of games with comfortable victories but that was what is called the honeymoon period. Currently sitting at 15th, future does not look to bright for the Stadium of Light(love the name!) outfit. A decent run until the end of the season is too much to ask for from the inconsistent black cats, hence a relegation is more likely this season.
Verdict: Relegation
Newcastle United
Joe Kinnear has done wonders at Newcastle since taking over the troubled club. He's getting results and more importantly the confidence is back in the team which looked doomed a couple of months back. The form and most importantly fitness of Michael Owen is a crucial factor for Kinnear to keep them away from relegation scrap and if the current form is anything to go by, they will stay clear comfortably. Still as I said before, with the bottom half of the table so tight, a couple of games can change it all around.
Verdict: 12th
Manchester City
The cliche 'Money can't buy success' goes around a lot in football. And Sparky is learning it the hard way. Inconsistency coupled with an abysmal away form has seen them in the bottom half of the table. The only positive for the richest club in the world has been the forms of Robinho and Ireland. Defensively City still remain fragile, but the January acquisition of Bridge should add some steel. There could be a lot more ins and outs in the blue half of Manchester before the window closes shut on Feb 2nd. There is still a lot to play for and a good second half of the season could see City in reckoning for European places, but much will depend on the wheelings and dealings of the current transfer window.
Verdict : 10th
Portsmouth
We've seen this so many times in the past. A manager takes a below average team and over achieves with them year after after, then as he leaves, the club goes back to where it belonged. It happened with Bolton a season back, Blackburn at the start of this season and now the same with Pompey. The on field woes coupled with financial mini crisis has let to the fear of a mass exodus of the most talented of Pompey players. Diarra left for Real before the window even opened. The futures of Defoe, Glen Johnson, Kranjcar, Distin are far from certain. And if most of them leave, it could spell big trouble at Fratton Park. Relegation scrap is most likely.
Verdict: 16th
Bolton Wanderers
With a difficult start to the season, Bolton looked in trouble but Gary Megson has pulled it together somewhat and collected a lot of points of late, especially away from home. They've been rising steadily in the league table and currently top the bottom half of the table. Mid table is what Gary should be content with, but a European place is not out of question. A good run of form and a bad one for those above can see them push for UEFA cup spot. But thats too many ifs and buts right? Right!
Verdict: 11th
still more to follow...
Roy Keane showed some ambition in the transfer market when he bought the likes of Cisse, Chimbonda, Malbranque and Anton Ferdinand. Yet spending huge amounts of money did not guarantee a smooth sailing in the mid table. With an awful away form continuing from last season, Keane saw his team faltering at home too. A relegation scrap was all but certain and Keane took the responsibility and resigned. His assistant, replacing him temporarily, had a good couple of games with comfortable victories but that was what is called the honeymoon period. Currently sitting at 15th, future does not look to bright for the Stadium of Light(love the name!) outfit. A decent run until the end of the season is too much to ask for from the inconsistent black cats, hence a relegation is more likely this season.
Verdict: Relegation
Newcastle United
Joe Kinnear has done wonders at Newcastle since taking over the troubled club. He's getting results and more importantly the confidence is back in the team which looked doomed a couple of months back. The form and most importantly fitness of Michael Owen is a crucial factor for Kinnear to keep them away from relegation scrap and if the current form is anything to go by, they will stay clear comfortably. Still as I said before, with the bottom half of the table so tight, a couple of games can change it all around.
Verdict: 12th
Manchester City
The cliche 'Money can't buy success' goes around a lot in football. And Sparky is learning it the hard way. Inconsistency coupled with an abysmal away form has seen them in the bottom half of the table. The only positive for the richest club in the world has been the forms of Robinho and Ireland. Defensively City still remain fragile, but the January acquisition of Bridge should add some steel. There could be a lot more ins and outs in the blue half of Manchester before the window closes shut on Feb 2nd. There is still a lot to play for and a good second half of the season could see City in reckoning for European places, but much will depend on the wheelings and dealings of the current transfer window.
Verdict : 10th
Portsmouth
We've seen this so many times in the past. A manager takes a below average team and over achieves with them year after after, then as he leaves, the club goes back to where it belonged. It happened with Bolton a season back, Blackburn at the start of this season and now the same with Pompey. The on field woes coupled with financial mini crisis has let to the fear of a mass exodus of the most talented of Pompey players. Diarra left for Real before the window even opened. The futures of Defoe, Glen Johnson, Kranjcar, Distin are far from certain. And if most of them leave, it could spell big trouble at Fratton Park. Relegation scrap is most likely.
Verdict: 16th
Bolton Wanderers
With a difficult start to the season, Bolton looked in trouble but Gary Megson has pulled it together somewhat and collected a lot of points of late, especially away from home. They've been rising steadily in the league table and currently top the bottom half of the table. Mid table is what Gary should be content with, but a European place is not out of question. A good run of form and a bad one for those above can see them push for UEFA cup spot. But thats too many ifs and buts right? Right!
Verdict: 11th
still more to follow...
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