Friday 20 August 2010

Overpaid, Redknapp's no-brainer and tomorrow



Armand Traore has apparently turned down a move to Benfica because it would result in his salary halving. I think this shows that we are overpaying some of our younger players who have no even made it as first team players. Obviously we need to attract in the best talent, however I would argue that a lot of lucrative five year deals have been thrown around too early, before players have done enough to justify such rewards. If we were a little stricter then it would inevitably lead to the odd player being lost for free, however it would mean that we wouldn't be paying so much money to a lot of unproven players and maybe there would be a bit of good natural selection at work, as those who left and didn't stay to prove themselves may well be of a less motivated and determined subgroup of player. I wonder how much the likes of Fabianski, Denilson and Vela are on a week?

Harry Redknapp seems to think that it's a 'no-brainer' to sign William Gallas on a free. Other pearls from the interview include the magical:

"He's a footballer"

That's insight for you, thanks Harry. But seriously the undercurrent of the interview is one of slight desperation from Redknapp. He pretends that Arsenal were dying to keep Gallas, but Gallas wanted to play for the spuds. This is a stretch of the truth, Gallas was offered a contract but he was never likely to accept a massive salary cut as Arsenal didn't really want to keep him, Arsenal's attention had gone to Laurent Koscielny as Arsene had admitted.

Arsene is typically polite regarding Gallas' departure. The reality of Gallas' last few years of football has consisted of some deeply average performances in a back four without a rudder, some incredibly disruptive and petulant behaviour, several team mates not speaking to him and no leadership. Whatever one thinks of Gallas, he has only managed to play over thirty league games once in four seasons with us, showing how injury prone he has been. Obviously the lack of silverware in his time with us is not solely down to him, but his indiscipline and poor leadership have undoubtedly played a massive part in it. Chelsea have hardly missed Gallas either. Notably he has only ever been effective in the Premiership as a full back, he has never really got the hang of playing the role of the dominant centre back. Interestingly numerous clubs didn't think Gallas was worth the money, even on a free, after his poor world cup.

Redknapp seems to think that Gallas has been 'professional' in all that he has done in recent years and that there has been no attitude problem. Ignoring numerous incidents, just take Gallas' behaviour at Birmingham in the video above as one example, that is no leader of men, that is more like a small child who didn't get his sweeties. Gallas showed his completely unprofessional side in that Birmingham incident and in retrospect he should have been shown the door straight after that.

A lot of rotting went on in the months after that game and we are only just beginning to clear things up to create a new team spirit and togetherness. Overall it's a strange one because normally Gooners would be fuming at their ex-captain leaving for the spuds, but with Gallas it's different, no one liked him and we won't miss him in footballing terms either. I am just glad he doesn't play for us anymore, I thought he was a w*nker when he played for us and now I can openly say it without guilt.

Tomorrow sees the visit of Blackpool after that amazing win against Wigan. I'd like to see Kieran Gibbs get a run out, Djourou will come in for the suspended Koscielny. In the midfield we may well see Song return from injury, while Cesc and RVP must be close. Personally I'd like to see Rosicky get a start after his great substitute performance at Anfield, I also think Walcott is a must on the right flank and he will scare Blackpool with his pace. This is my team, I'd keep Cesc and RVP on the bench assuming they're not quite ready yet:

Almunia
Sagna Djourou Vermaelen Gibbs
Diaby Song Rosicky
Walcott Chamakh Arshavin

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

I wouldn't have Arshavin any where near the starting XI right now. He needs to know there's a consequence when he plays like he did last week and has for 12 months.

Bala said...

I think your team selection is absolutely perfect.

AlexSongshair said...

No way for Arshavin, absolute rubbish he is. I'd prefer Nordtveit to Djourou who I really don't rate, I'd also prefer Eboue to Sagna for better attacking against a side like Blackpool. I'd like to see Nasri by Fabregas and Song. Rosicky on the left cos he can cross, Chamakh in middle and RvP on left.

AlexSongshair said...

So yeah, that's what I think. I don't want Arshavin because he hasn't performed since the four goals season.

Anonymous said...

Drop Arshavin he has been abismal recently and even though he is one of my favourite players at the moment he doesn't deserve a start. I would put Gibbs or Rosicky there and have Nasri or Clichy fill in whatever space was vacated

Unknown said...

Nasri is out for a month with minor knee surgery. I think Diaby will tear them to pieces surging through the middle and I agree....let Arshavin sit

Anonymous said...

Nasri is out for a month at least.

Up the Arsenal said...

Yeah good point, I wish we could find out who earns what at our club. Our wage bill is only 20m less than Man U, 50% more than the scum.

Then again, I bet Wenger gets at least double the wages of old fish eye.

Really, on that basis, top 4 is the utter MINIMUM we should expect, given the relationship between wages and league position. Please wenger stop telling us that is a great achievement for a club like ours.

1979gooner said...

I think Arshavin needs a chance.

He must have been knackered last week after a return trip to Russia and deserves some slack for that. He was playing with injuries for a lot of last season.

If we can get him fit and on form he is unstoppable.

AlexSongshair said...

So are you saying he was injured for the whole of last season. I like him, but he just doesn't cut the mustard

Drew said...

It's a little harsh to be down on the little Russian. Last season he was sacrificed out of position and struggled with injury. At Anfield (where he played poorly, I admit) he had just traveled back from Russia, it was the first game of the season, and against tough opposition. Arsene will keep him in the team because he capable of magic; more so than any other player at Arsenal.

Also, I think Eboue will start at right back. Arsene usually plays him against weaker opposition.

sanket kambli said...

who thought song would play as CB