Well, it seems senor Jose is the latest to join the rapidly growing exit line from the Emirates. He is quoted as saying in the NOTW that he's unhappy with life in London, that he hasn't got used to the culture and the weather, and that it'd be a dream if he could move back to Spain and, specifically, Madrid.
This all seems to ring true. It certainly seems indisputable that Jose has struggled to adapt to English culture. This might have had something to do with shipping his whole family from Spain to live with him in London, not learning English, or getting used to the fact we only have three weeks of sunshine a year in the UK. It's nothing to do with him being Spanish - Fabregas has fitted in: it may have something to do with the fact that players like Fab and Phil lived without their families in almost foster homes when they came over. The immersion strategy might have been better than trying to build a new Spain for Jose.
But before we all start sharpening the knives, it might be worth recognising that Jose would be a loss if he left. He's never hit the goalscoring peaks I would like to have seen, but he is an assist-meister, and he creates problems for defences with his pace and vision. His main problem seems to have been his lightweightness. More than anyone he suffered in the wake of the defeat that ended the winning streak, especially after the damn good kicking the thugish Neville brothers gave him. Because it's worth remembering that until then, Jose had been our best player at the opening of the 04/05 season.
Indeed a summary of the slightly infuriatingly inconsistent nature of his Arsenal career can be summed up in two consecutive games last season. When we played Madrid in Spain Jose was awesome, destroying Cinchinio, and being the hub of so much of our devastating attacking play; against Blackburn the following Saturday, he was so poor he was taken off at half-time. More than anyone he seems to sum up our inability to turn it on in the North-West.
Overall, I'd like Jose to stay because I think we'd be able to sell him just as easily, and for just as much, in another two seasons if thinks don't work out. He still has so much potential that I think it's worth keeping him for now. I'd certainly rather keep him than get Baptista, although if we got an offer for, say, a few million and Robinho, I think Arsene might go for it. swap deals are rather rare though.
It's also worth pointing out that, as the statement on Arsenal.com shows, this may just all be hearsay, if credible hearsay. I think Jose respects Arsenal fans too much to engineer a move this openly.
I also read today that Niall Quinn wants to take out Adebayor on loan at Sunderland. I think not.
I think we may see one or two deals tied up this week. I would certainly be surprised if Ash is still here by 3 August.
Er, also I'll be away for most of next week so there may not be an update until Friday.
Take it easy, Gb.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
17 comments:
excellently written article, mate.
I disagree with some of it; I think Baptista would flourish at Arsenal for example.
And I think Fabregas has settled much better because he hasn't faced the glares, stares and dressing-room bashing.
But let's look back for a while. When Reyes came he was considerd a saviour at an age people will still use as a defence for Fabregas' shortfalls.
He was wiry, a dazzling dribbler who made the world stand up when he belittled what was a fantastic Real Madrid team.
His every touch made your heart leap. Then two seasons ago he returned looking like he mugged 20 pounds of muscle off of someone and he has never been the same.
Added to Wenger's tactic of playing not to his strengths and I can only conclude that we've made Reyes a worse player.
This guy was magic and we took away his wand. We should have let him grow naturally and put him on the wing with the enforced freedom Sir Alex gives Ronaldo.
why are you bothering to speculate on crap written in the NOW. REYES has had to deny the story again and i dont beleive that baptista would suit us.
reyes to stay as at the emirtaes he will have the space to kill defences.
Arsenal is splitting up! Gonnerboy
I think it's too soon to judge Reyes. People forget he's still a kid - just like United's Ronaldo, and he hasn't played much as a second striker, which is his preferred position.
Reyes is good
Reyes will be staying at Arsenal as the story is rubbish. I just love him personally and I think he will be great at Emirates, as there will be loads of space for him to run in and easier to out-pace those defenders.
Why does this even merit discussion ? Jose and Arsenal moved very quickly to rubbish this nonsense story - something we should do more often. That's all we need, end of story.
This all came, of course from our good friends at the ever-reliable Spanish font of all bullshit Marca ! They must really like it, given that they repeat it every six months. Don't miss this week's picture special, as Thierry Henry trains with his new Barcelona teammates...
Good article, goonerboy. I think, unfortunately, he has regressed at Arsenal, because of being played out of position. I don't think he was given enough of a chance at his natural position, partly enforced due to our lack of other wing options when Pires and Freddie were injured or out of form, and partly due to Henry not trying or wanting to adapt to Reyes. He's a free-lancer, as Henry is a free-lancer, and it's difficult to have two in the same team playing together. Also a bit his own fault for not working on his right foot.
It seems a bit pointless getting rid of him now. Last year Wenger said he expected Flamini to benefit from the larger pitch this season but I feel it will more likely see Reyes finally start to develop into the player we all want him to be, adding some much needed confidence & consistency to his undoubted talent game (& might also help him stop running into cul-de-sacs as at Highbury). If it doesn't work out after another season, fine, we can ship him out for a lot of money & with no hard feelings too but this talk seems a bit premature for now.
I agree with Deciduous that JAR will come into his own this season on the bigger pitch. Also agree with the article that we should avoid Baptista at all costs. He is an overrated lardarse who had one good season at Seville.
Reyes must stay and he will stay cause we will see a different Reyes on the bigger pitch at Emirates
We shouldn't be looking at average players like Jaidi. The squad wasn't big enough or good enough last year and from that we have lost Cole, Campbell, Bergkamp and Bobby. That is 4 massive players in terms or talent and experience and we need to get similar quality and experiece in to replace them. It should also be mentioned that Dennis aside the wage bill is considerably reduced with losing these players.
The cut off for European group stages is this Thursday so something big has got to happen this week. I wouldn't be surprised if Chelsea are fucking about with the fee for Cole just to leave us too late to spend the money wisely.
pls JAR should be left alone. he is a very very good player who is just finding difficult playing with henry or the ither way round. but ican assure you he will blossom fully this season on our bigger emiates picth. jus t watch this space.
JAR is a good player but his decision making lets him down....
I would sell him and get ribery in his place.
I take it back. Shilla Illiasu. Suonds like a Wenger buy. We may run into problems around African Cup time, but he'll do. Does anyone know if he can play left back as well?
And if Vieira's going to Man Utd, can we go retro too and drag Roy Keane out of retirement? At the very least, we could hire him to pad up at training and get him to kick the life out of our youngsters. It'll be therapeutic for him too.
Jaidi started out well and is a serious threat on set pieces, but he ended up rather poorly for Bolton to want to get rid. Glad to see Wenger try out a proper 4-3-3 formation against Schwadorf.
Post a Comment