From Paul : Ruthless kids
Wenger in for another teen sensation according to some reports, Olsson from Sweden.
Heard an interesting take on Wenger’s policy over the weekend.
Arsenal have embarked on a policy over recent years of raiding academies throughout Europe for their top youth players. Players such as Fabregas, Flamini and Walcott have been convinced to ditch the clubs which provided them with education and their basic football skills from the age of 8 years old to play for Arsenal under, yes, a well-respected manager.
But let’s not ignore the fact that these players at the age 15/16 will have been offered a better pay package than at their academies, certainly a big factor for them and their parents.
Therefore, is anyone surprised at all when these same players (who as teenagers were more than happy to ditch the clubs who gave them their chance and gave them their education) decide that it is time to ditch Arsenal for trophies and money!
Myles replies:
Very good point, Paul
Arsenal’s money talks to teenagers and the parents of teenagers.
Young players were bribed to sign for Arsenal and when they became stars then they were bribed to stay (Henry, Fabregas) and then they were bribed by a rival club to leave.
Except that Fabregas, we are told, will be taking a pay cut to join Barcelona.
Fabregas is a good character.
Pep said last night he was “optimistic” about the deal.
Nasri has an agreement with Man City.
City originally wanted Chilean winger Alexis Sanchez but when Sanchez agreed to leave Udinese and join Barcelona, City switched their attention to Nasri.
The tenor of Wenger’s first press conference in Kuala Lumpur was untypical and reckless.
Even the greatest spin-doctor in football history can’t get away with saying that if he lets Fabregas and Nasri go, Arsenal can not be considered a big club.
What Sir Alex said made more sense.
Alex said Nasri would not be joining United because he was going “somewhere else”. He reckoned Wenger’s “co-directors” would not being happy if Nasri stayed but didn’t extend, then left on a free.
As you know, the fans were promised a “busy summer” in the transfer market.
Gooners are waiting for something good to happen and I’m waiting to see what Rory McIlroy can do in the British Open at Royal St Georges, Sandwich, Kent.
Rory says he is buzzing and will feed in the frenzy around him. He went out on his practice round at 6.30 a.m. with, apparently, the cream of British sportswriters following him.
My guess is that Rory McIlroy is one of those special characters, like Fabregas.
Sport at the highest level is a test of character, not just skill and athletic ability.
For me, Wenger’s policies, reputation and future are in the balance right now.
He must have an exit strategy in place and it could be PSG, which is now owned by Qatar. He already works for Al Jazeera, so that relationship is in place.
I’ve always thought that The Arsenal Boardroom 1945-2011 would make a hilarious stage play that would run for 25 years in the West End.
Before that, though, you could do a movie trilogy: Academy Raider, Academy Raider 2 and Academy Raider Gets Raided.
The DVD Boxed Set would give Gooners something to watch next July, when there’s nothing happening.