By Myles Palmer
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READERS HAVE emailed to say that I promised to publish my wish-list if Arsenal signed Hleb.
I’d forgotten that throwaway line.
Well, Arsenal have not signed Hleb yet, but he agreed personal terms on Tuesday.
If I could sign three players?
1. SAMUEL ETO’O
In 1996 and 1997 I thought Arsene would sign a fast African warrior to replace Ian Wright – a Julius Aghahowa – type
But there are always work permit problems with these guys.
2. LUCIO.
The tallest great defender and a power athlete who regularly does 50 things that centrebacks should never do.
Things that are not in the text book and never will be.
Not perfect, but an awesome footballer.
3. PABLO AIMAR
Aimar was too young to threaten AFC when they first played Valencia and he didn’t play in the second leg at Highbury, if memory serves.
He may have been injured, but I have a feeling that coach Hector Cuper took the same view as I did at the time.
His multiple talents are now wasted at Valencia.
If I couldn’t sign Kaka to replace Bergkamp, and I couldn’t sign Rooney to replace Bergkamp, I’d buy Aimar.
BRAZIL SPANKED Argentina 4-1 in Frankfurt tonight.
They were seriously competitive. They fouled Riquelme after 75 seconds.
The whistle went and Riquelme looked round to see who had kicked him and thought, “If Ronaldinho’s kicking me, I must be doing something right.”
It was soon clear that Argentina did not have the right machinery on the pitch to give Brazil a game : no Crespo, no Saviola, no Tevez and, most crucially, no Mascherano .
Mascherano is a world class hatchet man who generates momentum.
He is as rough and ruthless as Makelele, but more dynamic. A bit like Heinze, but younger. A core player in 2006, I think.
Mascherano, Ayala and Crespo were rested from the Confederations Cup.
Frankfurt showed clearly that the European Latins are better than the Latin Latins.
The guys who play for Milan, Bayern, Inter and Barcelona are way ahead of the guys who play for Santos and Sao Paulo.
Much more composed, confident and efficient.
Brazil slammed in two goals in the first 16 minutes, both from just outside the box.
ADRIANO erupted beyond Coloccini and blasted a cannonball which keeper Lux did not get near.
Then Kaka scored a magical Bergkamp goal, vintage 1997.
Just outside the D, one touch and floated into the far corner, one of those deadly accurate shots that makes you realise that the goal is 24 feet wide.
RIGHT BACK CICINHO is no defender – that is clear.
But Cicinho sent over two laser-guided crosses.
Ronaldinho volleyed in the first and Adriano headed in the second to make it 4-0.
Aimar netted a brave diving header for 4-1.
ROBINHO has had a frightening year, with his mother being kidnapped.
He is only 70% of what he will be next summer.
The Confederations Cup is a bogus tournament, but it has been a confidence-builder for Robinho.
It’s given him three weeks of training and five matches with Kaka and Ronaldinho.
He building a rapport with them and with Adriano. He is not the real deal yet, but he will be.
BRAZIL : 1-Dida; 13-Cicinho, 3-Lucio, 4-Roque Junior, 6-Gilberto; 8-Kaka, 5-Emerson, 11-Ze Roberto, 10-Ronaldinho (capt); 9-Adriano, 7-Robinho
ARGENTINA: 12-German Lux; 4-Javier Zanetti, 16-Fabricio Coloccini, 6-Gabriel Heinze, 15-Diego Placente; 5-Esteban Cambiasso, 17-Lucas Bernardi, 8-Juan Roman Riquelme, 3-Juan Pablo Sorin (capt); 11-Cesar Delgado, 21-Luciano Figueroa
Referee : Lubos Michel of Slovakia.
THIS MORNING I bought my Guardian as usual and then talked to John, my gambling greengrocer.
He said, “More than two goals tonight, Myles? I’m gonna have two grand on it.”
I said, “I’m sure it will be more than two goals but I wanna see what players are playing. Be sensible, John. Put £200 on it, not £2,000.”
June 29th 2005
PS
John put £500 on more than 2.5 goals in the game.
He got £1,100 back.