Cole And Board, A Throwback To The Past
May 30th, 2010 by 'holic
So according to the Star on Sunday, Joe Cole will fly back from the England camp to put pen to paper at Highbury House on Tuesday. Interesting one this. On the face of it one might consider the last thing we need is another short, injury-prone, wide midfield player. However, the story has been doing the rounds now for a couple of weeks, and people I have time for have heard it too.
Now if there is any substance to the story it could be that Arsene, likely to lose at least Silvestre and Gallas, wishes to replace some of that experience we are losing with another who has won things being added to the mix. I can understand that.
What I would find hard to believe is that Cole would get many starts if the other short, injury-prone, wide midfielders in the squad were fully fit. Or perhaps, they are not all going to be around in August? Oh blimey, here we go again!
Ivan Gazidis And The Membership Review
Those who were here a couple of weeks back will remember I had a bit of a beef about the proposed review of the membership system. It was a post that generated quite a response. There is a degree of selfishness in us all, so I can quite understand the complexities involved in any appraisal of the system.
You will not be surprised therefore, that the response I received from Ivan Gazidis acknowledged as much, and summed up the sometimes conflicting interests that are involved. The objectives of the review are summed up by him as follows.
– Expand access to Emirates Stadium to as many Arsenal supporters as possible
– Ensure that children can easily access the stadium to become the supporters of the future
– Wherever possible retain the rights of members who are using their membership appropriately
– Remove ‘abuses’ of the membership scheme (whether they be contractual or ‘moral’)
– Ensure that every seat is filled for every game (and not just sold) to maximise atmosphere
– Maintain ticketing revenue to allow us to continue to invest in the team
Pretty comprehensive, I hope you’ll agree, and thanks to Ivan for letting me share it with you. Most interesting though is the point about removing abuses of the scheme. We all know of instances of those who hold multiple memberships, and those who were allowed to maintain silver memberships when allocated gold status will be easily identifiable. More difficult will be to target those who have multiple memberships under different names.
The only way of opening up attendance at matches to more people is still to penalise some of those currently getting the tickets. The hard part remains getting the thousands of empty seats on matchdays filled by those who are currently excluded. I don’t know the answers, but I am encouraged that those in charge at least know the questions to be resolved.
Peter Hill-Wood
While I am on the subject of the board I would like to commend this piece, in Friday’s Telegraph, to those of you who missed it. It is fashionable for the online dissenters to round on Peter Hill-Wood at every opportunity, and I expect a fair few negative comments will follow in the drinks.
For my part, I have been as embarrassed as others on one occasion, when the infamous ‘his sort’ comments about Stan Kroenke were reported. Secretly though, didn’t you nod and smile at that? Weren’t we all nervous about Mr Kroenke’s intentions at the time? In fact a fair few of us still are, I suspect.
I don’t mind admitting I have thought in the last couple of years that it would be good for Peter if he were to pass on the baton to someone else, but who exactly? The uncertainty over Danny Fiszman’s health, the smoking gun that is Lady Nina’s shareholding, and the opposing factions attempting to buy shares at lower prices than they were paying a year ago have made this a crucial moment in Arsenal history.
I suspect that most involved are happy for the status quo to remain until the future of the club is more secure. If nothing else, Peter is a figurehead who is a link to more stable times at the club. Is there a short-term alternative, were he to decide to take a back seat? Ken Friar is the only other true Arsenal man with a link to those days on the board. I doubt he would want to put himself in the firing line though.
So until the future of the club is sorted we should get behind the incumbent. There is no doubt the club would not have got where it is today without the Hill-Wood family, and without the Hill-Wood contacts in the banking industry who have fuelled Arsenal’s meteoric growth in the last decade at very preferential rates.
I’m not asking anybody to start singing his praises from block six, but I am asking people to consider what this man and his family have done for the club down the years before quickly joining the popular condemnations of those who do not consider every side to the story.
If there is any substance in what Jeremy Wilson has written, I for one would jump at the chance of sitting with the chairman “for hours with anecdotes about Arsenal over a cigar and a glass of gin.” Well, I would have to skip the cigar these days, and a couple of large Tyrconnell’s would be preferable to the gin, but you get my gist.
Enjoy what is left of the weekend ‘holics.
67 Responses to “Cole And Board, A Throwback To The Past”
Well said regarding PHW.
Do you think there’s any truth in these joe cole rumours??
I heard he was signing for utd??
maybe we should of got PRIMARK instead of emirates to of sponsored our lovely shiny brand spanking new stadium
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It wouldnt shock me if joe cole signed. I seem to remember years ago him being very complimentary of our style of play. He has always preferred the technical game, but he has gotten to be a physically and mentally strong and experienced player in his time at chelsea, and I think his addition could only be beneficial. So overall he would be a good signing given that there is no fee involved.
Whether we get him or not, he will not be the difference between another “ok” season and a spectacular one. We really need to address the defensive problems. I know arsene recognises this but I dont think anyone will be truly content until we know who is going to be available the center defense, defensive midfield and goalkeeper positions next season.
Joe cole in on a free, arshavin sold to munich as ribery moves to madrid stranger things have happened.
PHW may be a good guy but his speeches don’t make me believe that. What he said about Fabregas is true and I am sure Fab is not angry about that but what he said about Gallas and Cashley in the past is out of hand.
As for Joe Cole, it seems like something is going on behind the screen. If he is going to sign for us as suggested then it means either Fabregas is going and Wenger is already programming Nasri for that role and Cole on the wings.
Or maybe Arshavin is going ( I will be happy if he goes ) and Wenger is getting Cole to replace him.
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Davi, your last question is all important. Let’s say we get Cole on a two-year deal at a hundred grand a week. There may not be a fee involved, but the way we account for transfers that is ten million off whatever fund is available. That sort of experience is expensive, and could lead to us ‘making do’ elsewhere?
He’s a good player with an eye for goal, can’t see it being a bad thing at all. However, I can only really see this being at the expense of say Rosicky and he is very much like-for-like in that aspect.
He was good today for England as well.
Agree with the point though that this would not solve our bigger issues.
I’m still in the Joe Hart for Arsenal fanclub, although every time he plays for England I feel he gets further away from our reach.
Anyway ‘holic, make mine a pint of Copper Dragon!
Wonder piece, again, holic.
I always enjoy your insight into the club.
I wouldn’t mind seeing Cole at the club. Maybe if we get some more English boys we won’t get kicked so much. HA! wishful thinking!
its oke for me… welcome to Arsenal, Joe Cole….
Sell Arshavin to munich? …. cool…
If we got Cole and lost Fabregas could that mean Arshavin is shunted into the centre behind the front 2? It’s not inconceivable!
Holic you forget the part were we sell him to west ham for 6m
Hill-Wood is a clown drawn from a era where people doffed their caps to the landed gentry. He undoubtedly has a man to wipe his arse in the mornings.
He is an embarassment to Arsenal, and has done very little to enhance our club’s reputation. To suggest that his contacts helped get the loan for the new Stadium is a little naive. Banks lend money to get a return, of which they will get a handsome one from Arsenal, and indirectly from my season ticket.
Pete the First.
Banks lend thousands to individuals and make a lot of money so doing. There is a huge difference between that and getting the institutions to stump up hundreds of millions for major commercial developments.
Ken Friar as chairman?
He kindly gave away are cup final ticket allocation to West Ham in 1980.
PHW like his dad DHW were part of the landed gentry a safe pair of hands who quite happy to sell our best assets chippy, Stapleton etc, just as long as we beat spurs, had a good cup run and finished in the top 5.
Goonerholic – I might be wrong but Id be shocked if we offered him a contract that large.
Remember we could have missed out on chamakh cos we offered him 10k a week less than liverpool. We wont break the wage structure for anyone it seems.
Of course the wages count, but any experienced player is going to want between 50 and 100k pw these days. But normally theres a few on top. There will be a signing on fee though, but I doubt that would be as much as a transfer fee either.
Same principle involved when we signed Campbell and paid him £90k a week, Davi.
What should have been the transfer fee is put into the salary pot.
Cole won’t go anywhere for less.
I’d rather Cole on the left than Careless Vela or Tomaz Rosicknote!
*”normally theres a fe[e] on top”
Well, Id be surprised if we offered cole that sort of money (90k), given what we’ve reportedly offered chamakh. Even so, a similarly experienced player these days would cost over £10m AND we’d have to pay them 80-100k pw.
That’s why we tend to go for players who have something still to prove, like hleb, eduardo, rosicky etc and give them ~40-50k pw which is increased when based on their loyalty and performances. Arshavin was a bit different, I suppose. Don’t know what he’s on tbh.
On the same topic, isnt theo on 60k pw? Surely that is far worse than paying an experienced player big money anyway? At least you’re spending big on players who have proven themselves. We’re sending the message that you don’t have to do much to get big rewards, and as you say, taking money from the transfer pot ultimately.
Careless vela? bit harsh.
You try playing with confidence when the manager would rather put a winger who’s never played as a lone forward before up front rather than give you a chance when all other options are exhausted.
And when you see theo playing essentially the same position, starting every game he’s fit and playing consistently poorly (apart from the odd good game) while you cant even get more than 10mins at a time.
Vela was the highlight of the 08/09 season for me, apart from arsh. He deserved a decent run in the side this year, but never got it and fickle fans like roy turned on him instantly.
Wait until he gets as many chances as theo before taking digs like that.
All fair points, but I’m afraid the wages are now determined by what Chelsea and Manchester City are prepared to pay at the top end. That pulls up what those just below the top tier expect to earn as well, sadly.
I agree goonerholic, but you know arsenal. We are quite stubborn with things like this and it has cost us in the past. It could have cost us chamakh, but I think he came more for football reasons than money. Maybe joe cole would be the same, or maybe we are finally willing to change and offered him a big deal? Either way, I think he’d be a good signing, but we need to get some defensive players in really.
Cole in, Someone out, 2 Defenders, DM, Goalie and Cesc staying. Lovely Jubbly.
Actually. This seems like a slight fantasy when I think about it a few times.
Joe Cole a well talented player, if he will be joining Arsenal this summer. he has many styles of scoring goals and i hope he will be a top scorer in the summer because he will play a long Van persie.
I think PHW should keep his mouth shut especially in the transfer window. Every summer he says that Wenger has funds for his transfers, should he choose to do so (why does he keep mentioning “should he choose to do so” which irritates me no end).
The increasing number of players wanting to jump ship is pretty alarming.
Cesc
Arshavin
Clichy
Gallas
Bendtner
Sol
wonder if Wenger would be next.
So the chairman of the club should be muzzled, but you can recycle newspaper gossip and hearsay as fact, and that is perfectly ok?
I rest my case.
Wiould love to see Joe Cole at Arsenal. I think he is a real talent and could be a great addition to the squad.
PHW is part of our history. Just wish he would think a little longer at times before opening his gob.
Just sent you an e mail holic. Be interested to know your thoughts?
Keep the faith.
cesc can leave for all i care before he came there was arsenal when he leaves thre will always be arsenal. in arsenal i trust not arsene.
It’s a bit funny how people think PHW was out of line saying that bit about Cesc maybe not getting into the Barca eleven when every man and his dog has been saying the same thing all the time.
Thanks Steve,
Reply sent.
Lars, exactly. Same with the Kroenke comments.
two hours now and I still don’t get the title and it is doing my head in.
Is Colan Board a new celebrity?
Something to do with chalkboard?
Some coke on a board?
Not very interesting coal,
please help
sorry for the dual post..i just put this on the orginal article too re the ticketing situation.
To lay all claims of bias to one side I will explain my position. I am a lifelong gooner, early 30s. I have been a red member since the scheme existed and was on some other waiting list before that. I have also been on the season ticket waiting list for as long as I can remember. My 1 mistake was one year I was late to renew my red membership as I was working abroad at the time. I assume that’s why I havent been offered silver. I have tried to get tickets on my red membership for most home games, with varying sucess. I would say I managed to make around 8 – 12 games per season. None of the big ones of course. Last season and this coming one I have taken a season ticket from someone who no longer can or wants to have one, but does not want to relinquish it.
I’d say if you include holidays and family commitments etc there are probably 3-4 games per season a ticket holder genuinely can’t get to. Probably another 3 or 4 that they dont really fancy getting to.
The reason there are so many empty seats is because when unofficial ’season ticket holders’ like myself can’t go we do not have access to the fabled exchange system. We either pass our tickets on to someone who can get them back to us before the next game or just leave it.
This is my plan to tweak the current system
Membership cards have pictures on them. If the picture doesnt match the person going, you dont get in. This stops touts and people hogging season tickets and silver membership.
Silver members must attend a miniumum of 5 games per season or drop back down to red.
There is a system to enable all levels of membership to drop their unwanted tickets back into the pool up until the day of the game.
There is a system to allow all members to purchase tickets up until kick off.
There is a one year grace period for season ticket holders who cannot renew for financial or personal reasons. If a season ticket holder does not renew, they have the option of going straight into silver.
There is a one year grace period for silver members who cannot make 5 games in one season before they drop back to red.
A red member must wait a minumum of 4 years before being offered silver.
This of course favours people who want to go, as any ticketing system should, whilst offering season ticket holder and silver members a degree of protection from personal circumstances changing.
Any takers?
I’m an old man, washed up. There was a time when the coal board was the middle man between the government and the most feared union in the land. Anybody under forty will struggle the same as you 😉
Nice ideas ross, but pictures on cards is just as hard to police. It would require everyone to be looked at and compared to their card on entering the ground, not just those with bags.
What is left of the weekend? At least one more day where I am sat ‘holic.
Don’t apologise, ross.
Good points in there about the holders of the (I suspect) thousands, certainly hundreds, of ‘leased’ season tickets.
I suspect even cursory id checks will be unpopular as they will slow up entry to the stadium.
There is one check that is currently done, and that is when a junior ticket is used to access the stadium a light is lit by the turnstile and stewards will challenge any adults getting in this way.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the club were looking at the feasibility of some kind of quick biometric check triggering the light if the holder is not the registered member. I suspect the cost of introducing that may stop it for now, but it’s a fair bet it will happen one day.
Thanks for your post.
cheers Holic ,that’s cleared that up
I’m not yet 50 but when I was 12 or 13 AFC was much more important than old Arthur Scargill and the 3 day week so the coal board must have been wiped out over the years
keep on posting
Hello, young Snail.
Indeed another day to go. Good stuff. As long as the weather holds.
thanks for the positive feedback. forgot to mention, would be well up for Joe Cole. What’s not to like? experienced, skillfull and in recent seasons he added an end product to his game too. of course the financials would all be undisclosed so i wont comment on them
@ross: the only thing that might be not so good about Cole is his fragility, he seems to have been injured quite a lot lately. Other than that, though, I’d be very happy to see him sign for us.
Joe Cole is injury prone and has slagged off Arsenal and our style of play on more than one occasion. I really don’t see what he brings to our team in terms of what we are lacking. Arsene is always polite and just because he says he likes a player, does not necessarily mean he thinks they are right for Arsenal. I think this is people thinking, he’s free, so he’s at a price Arsene would go for. He is not a player we desperately need and the reason he is leaving chelski is due to them not meeting his excessive pay demands. I will be amazed if there is any truth in this rumour.
Davi, don’t label me a fickle fan. What exactly has Vela brought to the table? Not a lot. Id not shed a tear if he left.
It’s hard to take seriously an article (Jeremy Wilson, Telegraph) that , in it’s heading, criticizes someone for their alleged comments.
About Hill-Wood, not sure what exactly he meant by “his sort”; the Telegraph quote is “We don’t need his money and don’t need his sort. He knows sweet FA about our football.” But, the easiest interpretation is it smacks of jingoism.
Most importantly, however, what are the responsibilities and powers of the Chairman? If anything like American corporations, not much. If so, from a distance, coming across his quotes to the media now and then, and not being familiar with his family’s role, he seems at best an irritant.
Blimey, ‘holic. First I’ve heard about this membership review. The KTmother would be most distressed to hear that she is going to lose her silver membership. I fear that long-term commitment to the club is not going to be a particularly important factor when it comes to changing things. I understand that it was considered too difficult to distinguish between Highbury and Dubaibury season tickets, for example, so when we moved stadiums the chance of getting tickets for things that go to a ballot of season-ticket holders was halved if not worse. Nor do I agree with any suggestion that only the individual holder should be able to use a season ticket. As well as being entirely impractical, the club has the money, that is enough. There are lots of ways to meet the objectives for the review that aren’t at the expense of long-term supporters.
Are you writing back to Gazidis?
I’ll drop you a pm elsewhere, KT.
Davi @ 23 – “chamakh came more for football reasons thanthe money”
This, surely, is what applies to just about every Wenger signing I can think of.
Every year thousands of fans put together their dream lists of players, outdone only by the press, but none of the big names or ready made world stars ever arrives.
Plenty leave as world stars though, and mostly, promptly disappear again. I can’t immediately think of one who has gone on to do better things after leaving.
George Graham also worked on the principle that you never sign players who are taking a step down, but you sign those who are eager to prove themselves at a higher level. Note the famous back four – signed from Wimbledon, Stoke, Stoke and Villa (or Everton – can’t remember which one Keown left to rejoin us) – leaving aside TA, who was, of course, born in the Marble Halls.
As for Joe Cole, Arsenal would be a step down for him, it is sad to say, in terms of recent trophies, but a step up in terms of club stature, prestige and tradition, all the things that you would expect not to matter that much to him. So, an interesting one that I can’t make head or tail of, but i instinctively feel won’t happen.
No to Joe Cole. Yes to Eden Hazard
Count me in as one of the PHW supporters. Sure, he is indiscreet sometimes but I’d rather have a chairman with his kind of connections to the club than some suit who professes to love our club but doesn’t. His record of overseeing the hiring some pretty decent managers (cough), speaks for itself.
Also, it takes a big man to admit a mistake and to welcome a previously unwelcome member to the board, so give him some credit to that. If Cesc leaves, it won’t be because of PHW — it’ll be because he thinks that trophies are more forthcoming at Barca and because of a certain Dein (one thinks).
Joe Cole on a free is interesting though the thought of another injury prone player fills me with the “dread sweats”.
Hopefully this is not a replacement for Cesc…
Nice one ‘holic.
I’ll have that cigar and G&T, thanks.
Is Joe Cole injury prone? I know he has had a lengthy spell out and only just come back but that was one injury. Has he missed much else? To be honest I really can not remember?
Good morning Holic & Holic`s
To say PHW is from a different time is a little bit of a understatement and yes like our own Duke has a tendersee to say some unaproperiate things from time to time. But I must say he has had the clubs intrest at heart 95% of the time and this should not be forgotten.
Call the chairman and the board the old school tie brigade if you will but the club has held strong and stayed on a firm financial footing. Not that long ago if you wanted to buy shares in say ManU and you had a spare fiver you could have picked up i dunno say a dozen shares ( ok a little over the top to prove a point ) but if you wanted a share in Arsenal you would need over a £1000 for one share and this was prior to the intrest from east and west.
I am no anyalist but the difference in share prices also shows a strong company with assests you would have to agree. The stadium has put us into debt and a lot of debt you would have to be blind not to notice but the debt is managable and we progress forward and are chipping away at that debt at an arlaming rate which is also a good thing and all with PHW at the helm.
So he is an old fuddy duddy with ways set in the past, but while he continues to put Arsenal first he has my backing. Would you rather a yank who has no comprehension of the history and passion we have for this club in charge. So he can tell his mates that he is now in charge of a English socorer team !
On the Joe cole rummor mill, this is one I dont see. Maybe im wrong but even thou I do rate him as a player I cant see Arsene importing injury prone players in just to keep the physios busy as I think they have their hands full most of the time any way.
Just on the Joe Cole front, Arsenal.com has been running a series of reports on all transfer speculation. Funny but although the site has been updated today but this part of their reporting seems to be missing??? Is there a reason for that I wonder????????
I am a season ticket holder, and when the odd occasion arises where I cannot make the game I lease my ticket out to others privately. The reason I prefer to do it this way, is due to Arsenal rather cheekily taking 10% off the face value of my ticket, (which have alreay paid to them), and pocketing it for themselves. Speaking to other season ticket holders, I think that this also puts them off using the ticket exchange facility. I think this needs to addressed if the exchange scheme is to work effectively.
Honestly I find it puzzling to give that much credit to the Daily Mirror. Every time I travel to the UK I am dismayed by the (new?) lows reached by the tabloids and the Mirror is leading the pack. John Cross is primarily a Mirror writer and then an Arsenal supporter: most of what he writes consists of unsubstantiated rumours like his employer dictates. Granted he doesn’t display the usual venom/bile of the average tabloid sports writer, unfortunately that does not make unnammed sources more credible.
Morning Holic & Holic`s
@Steve T regarding Joe Coles injury woe`s, a chelski mate of mine yes im sorry but will all have friends who we are ashamed of gave me a run down on his appearances over the last 6 years.
09-10 =14
08-09 = 20
07-08 =33
06-07 =13
05-06 =29
04-05 =32
03-04 =22
These account for all competions league,cups and europe. he said the last two seasons have been his worst, I do believe we all know that and the 06-07 season wasnt great either but that this wasnt all down to injury. So over the last 4 seasons he has played 80 times out of about 180 games. Which on the plus side may be even more than RVP.
He did go on to say that some of these were down to lack of form or the player who replaced him was doing a bloody good job. So maybe you are right apart from the recent injuries he dose normally stay fairly fit. He also said that like RVP he dose need 3-4 games to get back up to speed after being out for a while he is not a player who can come back and hit the ground running ( who can ? )
I am still not sure that Arsenal are intrested in him or is this just another silly transfer rumor on a quite day in the office as nothing is on the arsenal web site as you pointed out.
His shirt number is 10 and that number looks like it will be available for the comimg season so who knows ?
Hey Holics
Can anyone confirm that Walcott has not been named to go to the World Cup?
I have heard stories it’s true?
@ArthurThe Gooner
Walcott has been left out of the final 23 man squad.
holic, thanks for the defense of PHW. I’ve always wondered if I was the only one who can’t get upset with him, no matter what faux pas he commits. Perversely, I’ve always thought his gaffes amusing — and sometimes, refreshingly honest (and accurate). He seems guileless, totally clueless of how to speak to the press. Which is also refreshing. He’s from another era, a link to our traditions and history. Yes, he can sometimes be embarrassing but I really don’t care all that much.
I too have been hearing more and more about these JCole whispers, and from people I normally take seriously. So who knows.
How great that Gazidis replied to you and gave his permission to share his response. The club chose well when they hired him. My biggest complaint has always been the abusers, the ones who make it so difficult for ordinary supporters to get tickets. I do hope he can do something about that.
I don’t think Theo has done anything this season (apart from a 20 minute cameo aginst Barcelona at the Emirates) to warrant being picked in the England squad.
Having said that, I can’t understand the logic of picking a fifth centre back (Upson) at the expense of either Adam Johnson or Walcott, two players who could come on and change a game – one through good old-fashioned wing trickery and one through sheer pace. If Lennon gets crocked during the tournament I think Capello will regret leaving one of those two at home.
I bet AW is quite happy with Walcott’s omission from the sqaud – hopefully being dropped will give him the boot up the arse he has needed for quite some time now. He has been living in the comfort zone for far too long, ever since that hat trick in Zagreb nearly two years ago. If he stays fit I would back him to be far more effective for Arsenal in 2010/11 now he has a point to prove, but if he continues to frustrate next season then he’ll be out.
@thebeast: quite frankly, I think being left out of the squad can only be a good thing for Theo. He will now, for the first time in a few years, have a proper pre-season (unless he goes and gets himself crocked walking his dog or something of course) and that will do him good because he will not have to play catch-up with the rest of the team. Actually, when I think about it, because of injuries and summer-time internationals, I don’t think he has ever had a proper pre-season with Arsenal. And, as you say, maybe he has been in a comfort zone because he has never really had to experience any real setbacks in his career so it’ll probably do him good to have that place on the England team to fight for.
here i dont know what to say guys http://www.skysports.com/football/world-cup-2010/story/0,27032,12016_6183786,00.html
@Usama: Are you really left speechless by this? To be honest I’m more surprised he left Adam Johnson at home than Theo.
I remember last season AW erupted at some pre-match press conference after Theo’s England prospects had been brought up apropros of nothing. I got the feeling some of this anger was directed at Theo who had been blabbering away about getting back and playing for England, after he had just missed several months playing for the club who pays his salary.
But I think in the long run being omitted from the squad actually be a good thing for Theo.
THEBEAST:im not surprised i agree with u 100%,johson should have made it not cole!! ps:HAHAH…..we arent signing,GOURCOUFF,COLE!! http://www.arsenal.com/news/transfer-links/transfer-linked-gourcuff-cole-and-powell. ahhhaa ,they listed gourcouff as a DEFENDER!!!
@thebeast, i agree 100% with you on theo. What has he done this season to think he was automaticly getting on that plane ?
He has been doing a lot of talking in the press about the world cup over the past 3 months as if he already was handed his ticket. I am hopping this is the kick up the arse he needs to get him down from cloud nine he has been on since his 3 goals against the crots, how long can you dine out on that for theo, let it go and concetrate on your club for once.
I think the nail was hammered in after the piss poor 45 mins against japan who are lets face it not the best in the world. And before anyone points out that the rest of the team were no better they do have form for their club on there side which theo dosent.
But as said by Lars who i also agree a full pre season will do him the world of good. He is only 21 and im sure he will grace quite a few WC it will still sting to be left out of this one. Which will get him to focus and improve, fingers crossed.
A good kick in the arse for the likes of Nasri and Theo.
Both are much better than what their performances for us have suggested. Lets see how they take these reverses.
I agree that theo hadn’t done much at all to warrant an expected ace on the plane, as was a little skeptical when pundits and the likes starting automatically placing him on there because of “capellos obsession with speed.” I do think this will be a good thing and hopefully all of our players left out start to concentrate on club footba rather than international before the euro 2012. Bug, it could do the opposite like in the case of darren bent who has concentrated and done very well with little service at club level but is still not on the plane, so hopefully this does not make those not on the plane think that hard work with the club is not the answer.