a couple of nice recent letters to football365.com
I rarely write in to F365 but after reading the ramblings of 'Fez', I just don't know where to start....
Okay, I do. He's right that it's ridiculous to employ a 'I saw him first!' mentality to transfer policy, but the facts are there. SWP was a realistic target for Arsenal and an unnecessary one for Chelsea (already struggling to accommodate Duff, Robben and Cole in the first team).
Arsenal were out-muscled financially because Chelsea are capable of that. Result? He
doesn't play because Chelsea don't need him, but it prevents him strengthening the Arsenal team. More recently, Chelsea land Maniche and Jose declares he doesn't need any more players this transfer window. Arsenal step up their pursuit of Theo and, surprise, Chelsea weigh in with a larger bid (though thankfully Theo doesn't appear to be one of those mercenary footballers you love employing at the bridge). Again with Liverpool and Simao. Do you need him? No, but he'd be a danger in the Liverpool squad...
Next, how does the Theo situation compare with Pennant, Upson and Jeffers? Last I checked these guys were hardly setting the footballing world alight. Must be Arsenal's fault they didn't fulfil their 'next big thing' potential.
But, to take first prize it has to be:
'Of course the crux of the matter is, that due to the shift in financial muscle, Chelsea are now able to do to Arsenal what Arsenal have been able to do to various other clubs over the last few years'.
Of course! The financial juggernaut that is Arsenal, scourge of the Premiership, raping talent from other clubs the last ten years! What planet are you on?
I'm no bitter gooner, I accept this is what we have to expect from Chelsea given their financial power, but to deny it happens is just retarded.
Stewart 'no comment' Stapleton, London
and another....
...It’s high time a couple of generally accepted sensationalist myths were put to death right now!
'Arsenal kill British talent' - this is the biggest pile of steaming poo I’ve read in a long time (and I read the redtops)! A lot of you anti-Arsenal bigots have continually cited Pennant, Jeffers and Upson as examples of how Arsenal (& Wenger) have somehow stunted their development, but let’s examine these cases for a moment:
Pennant was in and out of trouble while he was at Arsenal, not always concentrating on football nor focusing on using his talent. These misdemeanours forced him out of Arsenal to 'last chance saloon' Birmingham, not an Anti-British attitude held by Wenger. Remember him playing a game wearing an electronic tag? I s’pose that was Arsenal’s fault?
Also, according to reports, Jeffers carried an immense chip on his shoulder, carrying on like a bertie big balls. When his talent failed to match his attitude, he was shown the door (he hasn’t exactly proved Arsenal wrong has he? Charlton &andRangers obviously applied the same logic). Now, I would rather have Upson at Arsenal than the hapless Cygan (who, to be fair, wasn’t a complete disaster while Ashley was recovering) but the fact is he didn’t make the grade during his time at Highbury.
At most, if not all Premiership clubs, young British players are increasingly faced with competition from foreign players. But if they make the grade, they’ll be played (unless the manager is a nut job who hasn’t got a clue). Taking Chelsea as an example, a few years ago Lampard and Terry were faced with major competition, but it’s fair to say they played their way into the team by being consummate professionals who concentrated on developing their talent and becoming better footballers. Now they’re undroppable. If Pennant and Jeffers had adopted the same approach, theirs could have been a different story.
Talking of Chelsea, another couple of myths need to die. That Fez bloke needs to get some football education: Kevin Lowden’s point about Chelsea’s transfer policy actually holds water - I remember watching an interview with Essien last season. When asked who he wanted to play for, he started to gush on about Manchester United and how Keane was his hero yadda yadda. The media concluded that there was no question he’d end up at Old Trafford. Everyone knows that Chelsea were after Gerrard, but when that fell through, who did they go for? Manchester-bound Essien.
Jon Obi Mikel had actually SIGNED AN AGREEMENT with ManYoo, only for Chelsea to come sniffing around. Arsenal had tabled a reasonable bid for SWP, only for Chelsea to come sniffing around and inflate the price. See a pattern? It’s a good thing Wenger’s good at unearthing hidden gems, because if he declared interest in a major target, Chelski would come sniffing around and offer to pay double.
Lastly...'Chelsea are now able to do to Arsenal what Arsenal have been able to do to various other clubs over the last few years'...and doesn't the bitterness just shine through. What does that mean? When have Arsenal EVER hijacked another club’s move for a player? When have Arsenal EVER offered double for a player so as to prevent him from playing for a rival? Absolute piffle and balderdash (I would insert appropriate swear words, but I don’t wanna get sacked)
And those are the facts.
Philip 'I know it’s long, but go on!' Olagunju
seems to say it all really....
