Tag Archives: Liverpool

Spurs, Chelsea, Olivier Giroud, Liverpool & Matthias Ginter

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Spurs

When it comes to Spurs v Arsenal, the performance is not of importance, it is all about the result. And what a result it was. 1-0 to The Arsenal. Boring Boring Arsenal. We have not won in the league at the Lane since 2007, so yesterday was sweet. For those moaning about the performance, shame on you. My guess is those moaning this morning were not at the game. They were sitting on their sofa watching on a laptop. They are the type of fan who probably think a game against Chelsea is a bigger, more important game than one against Spurs.

What I remember of yesterday is a blur. An early goal (only realised this morning it was after just 2 minutes!)  was then followed by a disciplined performance. It is testament to the way we played that, even with Spurs having 59% of the possession, and the score just 1-0, I felt comfortable. At no point did it seem like Spurs were dominating play and threatening us. Spurs had no real chances, and Szczesny made just 2 saves.

The victory was a double bonus. We moved closer to Chelsea after their defeat to Aston Villa, and are now 9 points ahead of Spurs, pretty much ensuring we are top 4 again. Are we back in the title race? A victory on Saturday will ensure that.

Chelsea

And onto the next one. Getting the victory against Spurs was a good 3 points. That then needs to be backed up with a victory against Chelsea.

Chelsea play tomorrow at home to Galatasary. Any advantage some might think this gives Arsenal is negligible. They are at home, and will still have 3 days to prepare for Saturday. Arsenal’s biggest advantage could be a mental one.

Whilst we had a great result against Spurs, Chelsea lost away to Aston Villa. Football is all about momentum. Defeat for us v Spurs would have meant we were going into Chelsea risking a 3 straight defeat. Instead, they are the ones now fearful of back to back defeats. If we remain as disciplined as we did against Spurs, a positive result in our grasp. With them missing Willian, Ramires and possible Mourinho, I see no reason why we can not cut the gap to just 1 point.

Olivier Giroud

Olivier Giroud has come in for a lot of stick this season. From his disappearing acts in big games, his tendency to play dead when he perceives himself to be fouled and his off the field shagging. A lot of the criticism Olivier Giroud he does deserve. He is not good enough to be Arsenal’s first choice striker. He was always signed to be back up. Firstly to Robin Van Persie – before he left – then this season to Luis Suarez. An impact sub. And as he showed against Everton, he would be very good in this role.

But also a lot of criticism is undeserved. It was recently highlighted that, with 12 goals in the league this season, his record is fairly similar to that of Didier Drogba, who only twice scored more in a campaign than 12 league goals. It does make you consider, is Olivier Giroud really that poor a player? Or on the other hand, was Drogba vastly overrated.

One big difference between the two is their big game performances. Whilst he could be fairly average at times, Drogba was a big game player. Scoring in 4 FA Cup final’s, 3 League Cup finals & a Champions League final. Giroud is a very important player to Arsenal, and if reports of his wife demanding a move back to France are true, I hope he files for divorce.

Liverpool

The response to Liverpool’s victory against Manchester United once more highlights the media bias against Arsenal. Throughout the season, pundits, journalists and ‘experts’ have lined up to write off Arsenal’s title chances. It showed a complete lack of respect. However, when it comes to media-friendly Liverpool, they are talked about as title contenders by the exact some people writing off Arsenal.

If you had not looked at the league table recently, you would think be the pundits reactions that Arsenal were double figure points off top, and just as far away from Liverpool. The truth however is vastly different. Liverpool and Arsenal are both on 62 points. They are level. And if Arsenal beat Chelsea on Saturday, we will be just 1 point off top, with a game in hand.

Are Liverpool title contenders? Yes. But so are Arsenal.

Matthias Ginter

I usually do not often comment on transfer speculation, especially in March, however, I honestly hope that Arsenal’s pursuit of Matthias Ginter is not only true, but fruitful.

With Thomas Vermaelen likely to leave in the summer, we would do well to recruit the 20 year old German. At such a young age, he would likely be more than happy to sit on our bench for a couple of seasons whilst he progresses. With his potential, he would be a long term option at centre back. I hope we sign him.

Keenos

10 signings who have been bigger flops than Mesut Ozil

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In 50 years time, if they were to label the current age of football, it would be given the title ‘The Reactionary Age’, a time where one win see’s you labelled as title challengers, and one defeat see’s fans demand the managers head. A period where Tottenham reserve Andros Townsend can have 1 good game and be labelled as the future of English football, booking his seat on the plane to Brazil, whilst triple German Player of the Year Mesut Ozil has apparently lost his seat on the plane after going off at half time with an injury.

You have to wonder, with the current reactionary state, what would have happened to the likes of Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Robert Pires had they been making their debuts this season. Would Cristiano Ronaldo, labelled as a “fancy dan cheat” when he first arrived, ever of become the worlds best player? Even more recent players, Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker were written off after barely a season – they are now the best centre back partnership in the world. It seems we are very quick to right off a player as a ‘flop’ and it is dangerous to do so.

Yes, there are many big money flops who have played in the Premier League. Fernando Torres’ and Andriy Shevchenko’s big money moves to Chelsea never paid off, Juan Sebastian Veron’s time at both Manchester United and Chelsea, Andy Carroll, firstly at Liverpool, then  at West Ham, has flopped. And what about Owen Hargreaves contribution to Manchester United? But Mesut Ozil is the 2nd most effective and consistent attacking midfielder in the Premier League. The Premier League spent £630 million in the summer and an additional £130 million in January, and many players have contributed a lot less than the under fire Mesut Ozil. Here is 10:

Erik Lamela (Roma to Tottenham – £25.8m)

The man who was set to replace Gareth Bale at Spurs arrived with a big transfer fee and big expectations. In a deal worth up to £30m, it is unlikely that Spurs will have to ever pay any of the ‘additional bonus payments’ as he is set to become the biggest flop ever in the Premier League. 3 league games started, 0 goals scored. That is nearly £10 million a start. And apparently you can not divide by 0, so I can not work out his goals/cost ratio. He has at least contributed 1 assist in the total of 9 games played in the Premier League. Spurs even tried to sell him in January!

Marouane Felliani (Everton to Manchester United – £27.5m)

When Arsenal were signing Mesut Ozil, Manchester United were signing Marouane Felliani. Many experts claimed Arsenal would have been better off buying the Belgium. Pointing out Arsenal required his strength and steel in defensive midfield rather than Mesut Ozil’s guile. Of course, these experts forgot that Felliani spent most of his time at Everton playing behind the striker. The big man has struggled to get into Manchester United’s midfield, despite it being useless. He has more red cards for Manchester United this season than he does goals and assists.

Willian (Anzhi to Chelsea – £30m)

Snapped up by Chelsea under the noses of Spurs, it could be argued that Tottenham got a lucky escape, until you remember they then turned their sights to Erik Lamela. £30m for an attacking midfielder who had a reputation for a hard shot, Willian has scored 2 goals with 6 assists in all conceptions. Super-flop Mesut Ozil, remember, has 6 goals and 13 assists this campaign. In Willian’s defence, he has not been helped by Mourinho turning him into a defensive forward (later to be known as the ‘Willian Role’). Although his record shows that he is not a goal scoring midfielder. You would certainly expect more for £30m.

Roberto Soldado (Valencia to Tottenham – £26.4m)

It is a pity that Roberto Soldado scored his 2nd league goal from open play against Cardiff City on March 2nd, as it meant the joke “What does Asmir Begovic and Roberto Soldado have in common? They have both scored 1 goal from open play” was no longer as funny. The Spaniard has been so bad that Emmanuel Adebayor has been recalled to the Tottenham 1st team.

Juan Mata (Chelsea to Manchester United – £37.1m)

He might have only just recently joined Manchester United, but in the Reactionary Age, I will happily label him as a flop. In 6 games since his move, he is yet to score and has 3 assists. In the last 6 games for Arsenal, Mesut Ozil has 1 goal and 2 assists. If one is on a poor run of form and makes him a flop, then likewise, we have to chuck Juan Mata into the fold too. You get the feeling with a side who already has Wayne Rooney, Kagawa, Nani and Young in its midst, Mata is a vanity signing, made by Moyes to make him look good.

Stevan Jovetic (Fiorentina to Manchester City – £22m)

A one time, long term Arsenal target, the decision of Arsene Wenger to pursue Gonzalo Higuain, and later Luis Suarez, led to Manchester City jumping in and signing the Montenegrin captain for £22m, despite already having Sergio Aguero, Alvaro Negredo & Edin Dzeko in their squad. A mixture of injuries, unimpressive displays, and the pure weight of players ahead of him has led the 24 year old to start just 2 league games this season.

Andy Carroll (Liverpool to West Ham – £15m)

Last season, Andy Carroll joined West Ham on loan and scored a magnificent 7 goals in 24 years. This led to the Hammers spending £15 million on him. 2 league starts, 0 goals and 1 red card later has led Sam Allardyce saying he is finding it hard to pick between Andy Carroll and Carlton Cole, who they released on a free in the summer.

Ricky van Wolfswinkel, Gary Hooper and Johan Elmander (Sporting, Celtic & Galatasaray to Norwich – £13.5m total)

A 3 in one special here. Struggling for goals? Go out and buy 3 new strikers who scored 56 goals between all of them last season. End result? 10 goals between them over 70 games. Not really what you would expect from 3 high profile summer signings expected to score the goals to keep you up. Norwich are the second lowest goal scorers in the Premier League this year, despite signing the 3 strikers. Crystal Palace would have run them close for this spot had the secured the services of Lord Bendtner alongside Lady Chamakh and Dwight Gayle.

Mamadou Sakho (PSG to Liverpool – £18m)

The long hyped French centre back was sold to Liverpool despite being PSG’s youngest ever captain. Another one linked to Arsenal (more to do with him being young and French) the question on those who know a thing or two about football was ‘why would PSG let him go if he was any good’. And the answer is clear. He is not as good as Football Manager makes it out. Shifted between centre back, the left of a back 3 and full back, the Frenchman is now looking like a very expensive mistake. He has played just 13 games in all competitions for Liverpool, whilst Kolo Toure has been picked ahead of him.

Dani Osvaldo (Roma to Southampton – £15m)

Buy a player who has scored 42 goals in 3 years in Italy and Spain, then watch as he kicked and head butted a team mate, leaving ‘blood everything’ before later reportedly brining a samurai sword into training. They might have got 3 goals out of the Argentine, but it is unlikely he will ever play for again. A £15m buy bombed out within 6 months is surely a flop.

Keenos

Luis Suarez – What can Arsenal do?

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The recent comments from Liverpool owner John W Henry confirming that Luis Suarez did have a release clause in his contract for any bids over £40million has caused a lot of debate amongst Arsenal fans. It has led Wenger loyalists to hit back at journalists who labelled the £40m+£1 bid as derisory.’ It has led to people questioning the future validity of such clauses. And has even led to a #FreeSuarez petition being created on line.article-2355588-1AA7616F000005DC-687_634x416

The loudest comments have been as to why Arsenal did not force the issue, take Liverpool to court and force through a move. A lot of people see this as a simple process which would have seen Suarez be an Arsenal player as the court would have upheld the clause. But that is not the case.

In the first instance, it would have had to be Luis Suarez who would have had to taken Liverpool to court over breach of contract. The clause is in the contract between Suarez and Liverpool, therefore by not honouring the clause, Liverpool were going against Suarez. Arsenal could not have done anything legally. Liverpool had no contract with Arsenal, and therefore had no duty to sell Suarez to Arsenal based on the clause. Their duty was to allow Suarez to leave if the clause was met. Upon the clause being met and Liverpool denying this, they were breaching the agreement between themselves and Luis Suarez, not between themselves and the bidding club.

In summary, it would have been up to Luis Suarez to take Liverpool to court for breach of contract, and not Arsenal to take Liverpool to court to establish the existence of the clause.

Secondly, it can take over a year for a contract law court case to be heard. I have previously had to wait over 2 years for a court case to be heard when someone was in breach of contract with myself. In the fast moving world of football, Arsenal and Suarez would have been silly to initiate a court case which would have taken potentially 2 seasons to resolve. Arsenal would have moved on in that time, leaving Suarez in limbo.

At the time, I felt Henry was playing a very clever game, and was proved right. He knew that by denying the clause would force a court case, and it would take a while to be resolved. In that time, Arsenal would move on and they could discuss a new contract with Suarez, without a release clause, with Suarez receiving a large wage increase.

Suarez himself was also playing a clever game. Had he wanted, he could have pushed through a move to Arsenal. We saw it with Van Persie, with Anelka, with Van Hooijdonk. If a player wants to move, he can get his way. This makes me think “just how much did Luis Suarez want a move to Arsenal.” And for me, the answer was not enough. He would have been happy signing for Arsenal for £180k a week. He would have been happy signing for Real Madrid for £180k a week. And he would have been happy staying at Liverpool for £180k a week. As it turns round, his new contract with Liverpool is worth a reported £200k a week.

In a game where money is king, he got his wish. A big pay rise.

Add in loyalty bonuses, an odd concept in football, not pushing through a move has made Luis Suarez a far richer man. A loyalty bonus is a payment made by the club to the player for fulfilling their contract. It was originally designed to encourage a player to stay at a club, to not hand in a transfer request. The player receives a portion of the loyalty bonus each year of his contact. If he hands in a transfer request, and subsequently leaves, he often has to repay what he has already received in loyalty bonuses.

Likewise, if a club sells a player, without that player demanding a move, then the club will often have to pay up the remaining loyalty bonus. What now happens is the player will simply not hand in a transfer request, and force the issue through other methods, so as to not lose out on a big sum of cash. In some cases, such as with Cesc Fabregas, the club will stand firm despite a lack of transfer request, and the player will pay up. In other cases, the club will fold and pay the player what he is ‘owed’ creating a situation where a player get his loyalty bonus, despite leaving the club (Tevez reportedly got this from Manchester City.)

A final factor is the fact the Luis Suarez could not exactly strike. With him already set to miss the first 6 games of this season, he would already not be available until the end of September. His first game for Liverpool this season was September 25th, nearly a month after the transfer window shut. So what would have happened had he striked? He would have lost pay, Liverpool would have stood still, waited for the transfer window to shut, and he would have pulled on a Liverpool shirt once more on September 25th. Suarez striking to force a move would have been futile.

So why didn’t Suarez push the issue? It is probably because he did not want a move to Arsenal enough. Had it been Real Madrid? Who knows. But Arsenal was not a massive step up, it was not ‘leaving England’ like he originally claimed, and when the new contract offer with Liverpool was mooted, his head was turned.

In the short term, Henry’s stance has benefited Liverpool and damaged Arsenal. With Suarez, Arsenal would have run away with the league. Without Suarez, Liverpool would have been fighting it out with Manchester United in mid table. With the tables turned, Arsenal and Liverpool are level on points.

In the long term, Henry could have done a lot of damage to Liverpool. A lot of players around Europe will still see Liverpool as a stepping stone. A chance to prove themselves in a Premier League side before making a big money move to Chelsea, Manchester City, Real Madrid or Barcelona. Liverpool are in the ‘2nd tier’ at the moment alongside Arsenal where if one of those 4 came hunting, they would quickly become a selling club. With Henry’s stance over Suarez, things will change. Why would the next Luis Suarez want to join Liverpool if, when the time comes for him to ‘make the step up’ Liverpool disregard the clause and fail to release him.

Agents are clever people. They will not let their clients join a club with such a strict stance. Expect in future, contracts to have further clauses that dictate ‘if a minimum release clause is not acted upon once activated, my client doubles his money’. This saga will damage Liverpool in their long term recruitment plans.

As for Arsenal, the damage is short term. We dropped Jovetic when Higuain came available, then let Higuain go to Napoli when Suarez came available. We were so confident of Plan A that we let Plan B & C slip, and had no Plan D. It left us a striker short. In hindsight, we should have settled for Higuain – although I am sure people would have moaned had Higuain joined us, then Madrid signed Suarez for a similar fee.

So what could Arsenal have done in the Suarez saga? Bar encourage Suarez to force the deal, or continue to throw more money at Liverpool above the clause agreement, not much.

Arsenal’s problem is that we did not have a back up for Suarez, and that is what has cost us this season.

Keenos