Regarding the post about Koscielny, I would say that either he is one of those players that Wenger has been able to identify as a great match for what he needs at this time, and he’ll prove a hit – or he’ll be an average, workmanlike defender.
Just looking at the guy’s career – he’s already 25 and his biggest move was to Lorient.. so Lorient is a Ligue 1 side in France, but he went there the a season ago from Ligue 2 club Tours.
A guy who was playing second tier football in the French league aged 23-4… either Wenger really is on to something, or he’s going to be quite average. I wouldn’t discard the possibility that he could be very good, because the French league tends to have these ‘undiscovered’ gems hiding within it.
I hope Koscielny’s great. With my own Polish connections, it’s nice that he’s a Frenchman of Polish origins. Let’s hope he’s as good as another great Polish-Frenchman, Raymond Kopa, a great player in the 1950s..
Although Kopa was more of an attacking player.. But I have to say that I am sceptical.
He would have done better to sign another Polish Frenchman, Ludovic Obraniak – who has now been snapped up by Auxerre.
Myles replies:
Sagna and Vermaelen were instant sucesses.
They hit the ground running and got into the PFA Premier League eleven in their first seasons.
Not many foreign players do that.
Let’s have a look at Koscielny for a few months.
In football, as in life and love, a good rule is : never judge anyone too quickly.