The South African Cricketers’ Association has clarified that it “fully supports” the national board’s transformation policy after its new president, Boeta Dippenaar, said “a lot of patriotism has been lost” due to the same.”Boeta was recently interviewed in England in his personal capacity as a player who has just been signed by Leicestershire and some of the comments attributed to him could easily be interpreted as being critical in a general sense of transformation in South African cricket,” Tony Irish, the SACA’s chief executive, said. “The players’ association is however fully supportive of transformation in particular where it promotes opportunities for players of colour to compete for selection.”SACA is therefore fully supportive of policies such as the one which provides that 40% of all professional cricket contracts should be reserved for players of colour.”But the SACA maintained that its stand remained the same with regard to selection to the national team. “Last year the top 25 players in the country mandated SACA to take up the issue of quotas / targets in national team selection and of the involvement of non-selectors in the selection process.”Since then we have taken a consistent position on these two issues and have dealt with them under the appropriate process before Cricket South Africa’s transformation review committee. It is important to understand that these two issues relate specifically to national team selection and that we are otherwise fully behind the other aspects of the existing transformation policy.”Meanwhile, Dippenaar, who has retired from international cricket, also clarified his stand. “I was being interviewed on my personal views relating to a wide range of cricket issues,” Dippenaar said. “It was certainly not my intention to generally criticise transformation but I wanted to emphasise that all of us as players at the top level want to be selected on cricketing merit and not for any political reason.”
Allen Stanford, the Texan billionaire who has proposed a US$20 million winner-takes-all contest between England and a West Indies XI, could be prepared to bankroll an English version of the Indian Premier League, but only if the England & Wales Cricket Board can guarantee him a return on his investment.Stanford has been in talks with the ECB all week, because he believes that, if done properly, a proposed English Premier League offers the only realistic rival to India’s riches. He told The Times on Wednesday that he already had a group of investors lined up to get involved if the notion can get off the ground.There are plenty of hurdles to overcome before Stanford’s wishes can be granted, however, not least the likely opposition from the first-class counties who might fear being marginalised in such a deal. “The ECB are conservative,” Stanford told The Times. “”They realise they’re at a crossroads. They either let the Indians do it or they step up and get a game plan.”The ECB, for my estimation, need to be the driver,” said Stanford. “The organisation here is better, the management is better, the structure is better. It’s inevitable that the ECB will create a Twenty20 league, it’s inevitable that it will involve the private sector and it’s inevitable that the game will evolve.”Stanford said that he was willing to be a “big supporter” of English cricket, but warned that the players, fans and administrators shouldn’t just look at him as a benevolent uncle of the game. “There’s two types of investor,” he said. “There’s the philanthropists, who don’t exist. The others look at the return. If I do anything outside the West Indies, I want to see what kind of return I get.”Julian Hunte and Donald Peters, the president and chief executive of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), have also been in London for discussions that have been described by all parties as “very productive”, although the ECB have not commented on the possibility of creating the EPL.
Uttar Pradesh wicketkeeper Eklavya Dwivedi’s maiden List A century anchored the side’s chase of 244 and steered them to a seven-wicket win over Himachal Pradesh in Rajkot. UP were at a shaky 95 for 3 in the 20th over, with their top three dismissed, but Dwivedi and Rinku Singh took charge of the chase with an unbeaten 152-run partnership and sealed the win in the 48th over. Dwivedi’s unbeaten 104 came off 127 deliveries with 15 fours. UP had looked set to restrict Himachal to a lower total than their eventual score of 243 for 8. Praveen Kumar, Piyush Chawla and Saurabh Kumar chipped away at the line-up to reduce the batting side to 197 for 8 in the 45th over. Valuable runs at the end came from Rishi Dhawan, who scored an unbeaten 67 off 64 deliveries.Fifties from openers Shreevats Goswami and Sayan Mondal, and Manoj Tiwary led Bengal to a comfortable six-wicket win over Goa with more than eight overs to spare in their opening match of the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Chasing 236, Bengal were put on track by a 116-run partnership between Goswami and Mondal at the start of the innings. Goswami played a more rapid knock, striking 70 off 77 deliveries, while Mondal’s 54 came off 76 deliveries. Both batsmen were dismissed in the space of four overs but Tiwary ensured the setback was a minor one, striking an unbeaten 62 off 48 deliveries to take the side to a win. Earlier, Goa, who were put in to bat, rebuilt after early wickets – through fifties from Sagun Kamat (55), Reagan Pinto (55) and Saurabh Bandekar (62) – but lost a clump of wickets towards the end of the innings to end at 235 for 9. Ashok Dinda took 3 for 40 off his 10 overs while Sayan Ghosh chipped in with two wickets.
Western Australia coach Justin Langer will get his first taste of life as the national team’s coach when Darren Lehmann avoids the West Indies next year to plan for the challenge of overseas success that stands between his side and the stamp of genuine quality.Lehmann will be spared from a triangular ODI series that will also feature West Indies and South Africa in the Caribbean in mid-2016. He will resume coaching duties for the tour of Sri Lanka, which looms as a staging post on the way to the goal of unseating India at home in 2017.That means a chance for Langer to work as interim mentor – Lehmann has made no secret of his admiration for a former team-mate, though it will be up to the team performance chief Pat Howard whether Langer, who also coaches Perth Scorchers, will be the next coach.During his break Lehmann will spend time at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane, looking at the next tier of players underneath the ODI squad and also formulating plans for Sri Lanka and beyond. After the humiliation of this year’s Ashes tour, Lehmann is aware that his partnership with Steven Smith will be assessed on overseas assignments, starting with New Zealand and Sri Lanka either side of the World Twenty20 in India.”That’s still a burning desire,” Lehmann said of winning the Ashes in England. “I think we let ourselves down this year, 2013 was a different scenario where we were changing the whole setup, last time was disappointing and you’d love to have a crack at that, but you’re guided by results along the way, can’t look that far away.”I’d love us to win on the subcontinent for a start and play better there. The T20 is another one … we’re trying to be the most dynamic side we can be in terms of making sure we can play in all conditions.”You’ll only see that when we go away I suppose, New Zealand’s going to be different to Australia, the wickets will seam a lot more, then you’ve got to go to Sri Lanka where they’ll spin, so we’ve got to make them play all round so they can play in all conditions.”A part of the plan for extended success is to ensure members of the team, whether players, coaches or support staff, are not burned out by a packed schedule. After the ongoing West Indies series, Australia play five ODIs and three T20s at home against India, before the Test and ODI trip to New Zealand, a brief T20 journey to South Africa, the World T20, the Caribbean, Sri Lanka, more ODIs in South Africa then the home summer.Lehmann twice allowed substitutes to take his place as coach – Steve Rixon took the reins in India for an ODI tour prior to the 2013-14 Ashes sweep, and Trevor Bayliss shepherded the T20 side against South Africa the following year when Lehmann and the Test team were in transit from the UAE. He admitted he could have done with a break after the dual tours of the West Indies and England this year, too.”Looking back now, the end of the Ashes campaign and the one day series I was pretty much cooked,” Lehmann said. “You can’t go that long in a run as such. Summer’s easy at home, it’s fantastic at home all the time, but when you’re on tour that was four and a half months in the end. You’ve got to make sure you’re fresh as best you can, whatever coach it is. We’re always trying to give our coaches or support staff a break.”You probably have to think about the timing of it more than anything, and it gives me a chance to see the next rung of players as well in the system. For me it’s a case of working with the younger guys and staying in Brisbane with those NCC boys and seeing what’s coming through as well. So it won’t be a total break but it will be a break from the day to day travelling.”Granted an extension following the home Ashes in 2014, Lehmann is under contract to CA until 2017. He has always stated that being national coach is not a long-term commission, and Langer’s re-entry to the system after serving as assistant to Tim Nielsen and Mickey Arthur between 2009 and 2012 is a significant moment.”I haven’t got any date in mind, hopefully I’ll go for a while yet,” Lehmann said. “I don’t think you can do it long, long term, you’re away 300 days a year. You’ve got to find a happy medium, try to tick off all the boxes you want to as a coach, and hopefully if you’ve achieved them it’s someone else’s term.”I’ve got some things I want to tick the boxes off as a coach, and players have to become better as we’re always trying to do anyway. I think we’ve got a pretty good system at the moment, we seem to be playing reasonably well, that’s a pleasing thing. Now it’s a case of developing other coaches under you all the time to make sure they get opportunities as well.”Since taking over the Western Australia job in 2012, Langer has overseen the regeneration of a once moribund state into one of the nation’s most consistent Sheffield Shield teams while also winning silverware of the 50-over and T20 varieties. A Shield victory after two losing final appearances is high on his list of priorities, but so too is a return to the national team’s staff.”Given the amount of cricket coming up on the international calendar, we’ve tried to find some time for Darren to plan and focus on the next period for the Australian side,” Howard said. “Justin Langer has done an outstanding job, taking his teams to the finals of our three domestic competitions last year, and winning two of them.”He’s also done a very good job preparing WA players to represent Australia. This appointment to cover the limited-overs series in the Caribbean is a great reward for that excellent work.”
February 6, 2016 Start time 1400 local (0100 GMT)Usman Khawaja will not be needing the drinks waiter’s vest in Wellington•Getty Images
Big Picture
Australia’s battering on the field in the first ODI at Eden Park has been mirrored away from the game. Dismissive commentary by the New Zealand press, a frank “honesty session” in the dressing rooms after the defeat and the unusual sight of George Bailey airing his differences of opinion with David Warner over an LBW referral – all this in the space of 24 hours. It was no way to start a tour, particularly one where this series is followed so rapidly by Test matches.The captain Steven Smith will be glad to have the coach Darren Lehmann back with the team for the second match in Wellington, though it does not take a cricket mastermind to define the problems witnessed in Auckland. Australia’s bowling and fielding was flat, their batting overeager and their general composure very much lacking. The inclusion of Usman Khawaja means a likely improvement in the team’s batting output, while that of Adam Zampa’s leg breaks will give Smith a little more variety in the field. However it will take a much improved collective effort to square the series.New Zealand, meanwhile, are purring along smoothly. Helped by a typically supercharged start from Brendon McCullum, Martin Guptill showcased his greater confidence as a limited overs batsman, before strong displays down the order. The bowling unit functioned even more grandly, as Matt Henry and Trent Boult lopped the top off the Australian innings in some style. McCullum’s men have every reason to be confident at home – the only question mark may be the mental hurdle of beating Australia in a series – something they have not done since 2007.
Form guide
(last five completed matches, most recent first) New Zealand: WWWWL Australia: LLWWW
In the spotlight
Australia knew they could expect a searching test from Trent Boult, but it was the support of Matt Henry that allowed New Zealand to sustain their pressure and turn it into wickets. Bowling at good pace and moving the ball subtly both ways, Henry defeated Shaun Marsh, Steven Smith and George Bailey in quick time to set his side on the path to victory. Having performed so well, he will now be a much greater focus of Austrlaian attention, and how he responds to this will be a key to New Zealand’s fortunes in Wellington.A little less than six months into his captaincy tenure, Steven Smith faces his first major trouble spot. While he does not lead the Twenty20 side, Australia’s five consecutive defeats across the two short formats has left Smith with a team short on confidence and recent form, also trying to adjust to the challenges presented by New Zealand as a team and a country. He led a frank discussion with team mates after the Eden Park defeat, and it will be a useful measure of his effectiveness as a motivator and leader to see how the Australians respond in Wellington. Vital, too, will be how Smith can rebound from an Auckland innings where New Zealand had clear plans for him and prevailed through using them.
Team news
New Zealand will not be in a hurry to change their team after a strong collective performance at Eden Park, but the leg breaks of Ish Sodhi are in reserve if required.New Zealand (possible) 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Brendon McCullum (capt.), 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Henry Nicholls, 5 Grant Elliott, 6 Corey Anderson, 7 Luke Ronchi (wk), 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Adam Milne, 10 Matt Henry, 11 Trent Boult.Usman Khawaja will replace Shaun Marsh while Adam Zampa is set to make his international debut in place of James Faulkner, who has left the tour with a hamstring strain.Australia 1 Usman Khawaja, 2 David Warner, 3 Steven Smith (capt.), 4 George Bailey, 5 Glenn Maxwell, 6 Mitchell Marsh, 7 Matthew Wade (wk), 8 John Hastings, 9 Adam Zampa, 10 Kane Richardson, 11 Josh Hazlewood.
Pitch and conditions
Wellington’s forecast is for a cloudy and somewhat humid day. The drop-in pitch has assisted seam bowlers with some slow movement in the past but has more recently been an easy-paced batting track.
Stats and trivia
In five matches at Westpac Stadium, Australia have won twice and New Zealand twice after a washout in 2000
Australia’s most recent win came in December 2005, and New Zealand have won both more recent encounters by wide margins
Since that 2005 defeat – by a mere two runs – New Zealand have built a formidable record in Wellington, losing only two of 14 ODIs played at Westpac, with one no result.
Quotes
“We had a good chat about it – it wasn’t ideal, we got beaten pretty badly. It was [captain Steven Smith]. It was player led. The coaches sort of took a back seat. He was fairly measured … it’s definitely not panic stations by any means but we have to improve.”
YounisKhan in his innings of 46 Photo Arif Ali/CricInfo
LAHORE- Before this match, six times on the trot, Pakistan had posted a score of 400-plus in the first innings. They won each of those six Tests. On the first day of the Asian Test Championship final, their batting caved in for a mere 234, and with Sri Lanka at 94 for one by close, from here on Pakistan would have to do something extraordinary to extend their victorious run and retain their hold on the continental title.To atone for their batting capitulation, Waqar Younis got Pakistan off to a sensational start, his first delivery at a brisk pace was heading right into Marvan Atapattu’s rib cage, and he hooked it straight into Shoaib Akhtar’s hands at fine leg. A wicket first ball was a dream start after a shocking batting display. But that was all the consolation Waqar was going to get on a day which ended with Lankans having an almost vice-like grip on the match. They would’ve to play very poorly to lose, that is unless Pakistan pulls off a miracle. They are quite capable of that, provided they play to their potential.After that initial, lifting success, Sanath Jayasuriya, in his typically aggressive mode, tore into the Pakistan bowling, especially going after Shoaib Akhtar, to swing the balance back in Sri Lanka’s favour. Akhtar was taken off after only a two over-spell as he was clobbered for 24, but the change in bowling didn’t bring any reprieve as now Kumar Sangakkara was matching his skipper stroke for stroke. They mostly dealt in boundaries, sparing none in Pakistan’s four-pronged pace attack. At stumps Jayasuriya was unbeaten at 47 (67 deliveries, 7 fours), with Sangakkara at 39 (60 balls, 6 fours.On a hard and lively wicket that had something to offer to both batsmen and bowlers, with Jayasuriya winning the toss and inserting Pakistan, the hosts’ batting was singularly devoid of application. Brittle as ever, occupation of the crease was so obviously not a priority with the Pakistani batsmen. Most of them got off to a start but then failed to progress, and mostly because of poor shot selection against tight bowling it seemed as if they were gifting their wickets away. All credit too to the Sri Lankan bowlers who concentrated on line and length, never easing the pressure on the batsmen.The start was disastrous enough, as both the openers were gone for 18, within the space of three deliveries. Taufeeq Umar essayed a flick off his pads, only to guide the ball into Thilan Samaraweera’s hands at short leg. Then, for some inexplicable reason, Shahid Afridi charged down for a run where there was none; sent back by Younis Khan, he failed to regain his ground only to trudge back to the pavilion.With Inzamam-ul-Haq out on the crease with Younis Khan, by far the most productive, and also most entertaining partnership of the innings ensued. The two added 86 at almost run a ball, 88 deliveries to be precise. They had mastered the bowling, with some of Inzamam’s shots suggesting that he was almost back to his vintage form. But then both of them visibly lost concentration and threw it away, in a mad four-ball spell of impetuosity that spelt doom for them, and eventually for Pakistan.Their timing for this event was absolutely awry. With just two overs to go for lunch, and Pakistan happily placed at 90 for two, Younis, throwing caution to the winds, went after the ever-dangerous Muralitharan. He off-drove him to the boundary with great panache, clouted him for a six to mid-wicket next ball, and then, to display a delicate touch, late cut him to the third man fence. 14 runs of three deliveries, and Pakistan had raced past 100 in style, with Younis just a stroke from what would have been a well-made personal 50. Here Younis went for the paddle sweep behind his legs, only ending up guiding the ball onto the stumps. Muralitharan had his man.Next over, the last prior to lunch, Inzamam went for that casual flash outside the off-stump, and the resulting edge was pouched with glee by Jayasuriya, whose lunch became all the more palatable by Younis and Inzamam’s untimely generousity.After the lunch break, almost immediately there was further disaster. Yousuf Youhana elegantly drove Muralithran to the extra cover boundary, but then somehow contrived to flash at a widish Buddhika Fernando delivery. Six for 147, and Pakistan was perilously placed.They were not to recover from that as a bogged down Shoaib Malik, drafted in ahead of the senior off-spinning pro Saqlain Mushtaq, rather indifferently edged one from Fernando, Sangakkara obliging with the rest.It seemed all over bar the shouting. That they could achieve some semblance of respectability was because of the rearguard action at which Rashid Latif is becoming increasingly adept, with skipper Waqar Younis, alternately a combination of aggression and caution, being a perfect foil. Both to some extent retrieved the situation at the fag end of the post-lunch session and for a while post tea, in the process taking Pakistan to 216 with a stand of 40 for the eighth wicket.It was some improvement from a hopeless 176 for 7, but just like a couple of occasions earlier, the partnership didn’t flourish. Muralitharan, that wily customer, tossed one up to Waqar, and he couldn’t resist the temptation of going after it. Beaten in flight, Waqar had the mortification to hear the rattle of timber.Waqar’s dismissal for 19 (42 deliveries, four fours) was literally curtains for Pakistan. Muralitharan by now was in his element, and Waqar’s departure had visibly unnerved Latif, who tried to farm the bowling but then fell trying the same paddle sweep that had seen Younis Khan perish. Latif only edged it into Sangakkara’s gloves.Shoaib Akhtar played an entertaining little knock, clubbing Buddhika Fernando for a couple of fours to milk 11 runs off an over, but it was too good to last, and Muralitharan trapped him plumb in front to get his fourth wicket and bring the Pakistan innings to an end. And, to add insult to injury, to dispose off Pakistan Jayasuriya didn’t even have to press all his resources into service; only four of his bowlers were enough to rout Pakistan.
The World Cup is the opportunity for footballers around the world to shine and perform on the biggest stage. The best players from England, Brazil, Spain, Argentina and the rest of the 32 competing countries will all be hoping that they can score the goal that takes their team through to the next round or even the goal that wins the final! World class players such as Lionel Messi and Wayne Rooney cannot say that they are truly great players until they lift the World Cup trophy, and with the 2010 tournament in South Africa upon us, they’ll be going all out to return victorious.
Not only are World Cups and other major international football tournaments graced by some of the best players in the world, but it’s also an opportunity for streakers to get some limelight. It’s always a laugh watching a streaker being chased by the stewards around the ground and it provides some light entertainment aside from the tension of the matches themselves. There’s a new kind of streaker looking to make his mark at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Tiny!
Tiny streaks for a living and is looking to get to the South Africa where he can show off his figure and his amazing beard! You might not have seen him before, but he’s set to become one of the most famous streakers in the world, albeit the smallest as well. Every World Cup has an outstanding individual, whether that be Pele for Brazil in 1970 or Maradona for Argentina in 1986, but the 2010 World Cup in South Africa will be remembered by just one man and his beard, Tiny. Find out more about Tiny on his site.
Wenger clearly believes that if you can’t beat them, then join them, as he has openly declared his interest in Cole, Schwarzer and Pienaar this past fortnight. It does appear the best way to sign up players in the modern football, as the game’s morals and common decency continue to go out of the window.
This week at FFC we have seen a mixed bag of Arsenal blogs which has included…Wenger should move for £30m quartet; Van der Wiel welcomes Arsenal’s interest and Emmanuel Eboue’s unofficial World Cup Diary.
Plus we have taken a look at the best Arsenal stories on the Web this week.
The £30m question that Arsenal fans will be asking
Should Arsenal break the bank for Cole?
Emmanuel EBOUE’s unoffical World Cup Diary – PART II
£30 million quartet is just what Mr Wenger should order
Spain are the international equivalent of Arsenal
Van der Wiel welcomes Arsenal’s interest
How ‘Championship Manager’s’ finest failed to make the big time: Part Two
Why is 11-a-side football dying a slow death in this country?
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Best of Web
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2010/11 Fixtures And Arsene Goes Bah Humbug! – A Cultured Left Foot
Where are the signings? – Online Gooner
Why don’t Arsenal report Barcelona to FIFA? New winger on the horizon? – Le Grove
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Almunia’s Not Worried As Goalkeeping Targets Fail Their Auditions – A Cultured Left Foot
Who was the greatest home grown player we’ve ever had, and who is it now? Read on… – Le Grove
Click image below to see a gallery of the Argentinean babes at the World Cup:
Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has ended his interest in Sol Campbell after agreeing a deal to sign Titus Bramble.
Bruce had held talks with the veteran Arsenal defender last week over a free transfer move to the Stadium of Light.
However, he has since returned to former club Wigan Athletic to sign fellow centre-half Bramble in a £1million deal.
The 28-year-old former Newcastle United defender will join the Black Cats subject to passing a medical.
"Now that we've got Titus, I think that's it for Sol," Bruce told The Journal.
"We had a chat with him and we talked about it, but we've got a better deal with Titus coming in.
"We're not looking to sign Sol Campbell anymore."
Speaking about Bramble, Bruce added:"He was absolutely outstanding for me for two years at Wigan and it is a fantastic deal for this football club.
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"He has done extremely well over the last couple of years and I think he is going to be a big success at Sunderland.
"He was certainly the right player at the right price for me."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Cesc Fabregas’s proposed move to the Nou Camp looks as though it is petering out with each day the midfielder looking more and more likely to be staying put- for now.
While that may be great news for the Gunners, it’s not for the rest of the Premier League with Arsenal starting the season, arguably for the first time in four years with as just as strong a squad- if not stronger than the one before.
Every season for the past four, the Gunners have lost some of their best players in the summer, with the likes of Patrick Vieira, Ashley Cole, Thierry Henry, Alexandr Hleb and Emmanuel Adebayor all departing.
This summer though, Arsene Wenger has managed to not only keep hold of his prized asset but can also look forward to the return of some players who were not readily available last time round.
Jack Wilshere has looked impressive in pre-season and had is coming off the back of a superb season at on loan at Bolton, Wenger has said the midfielder has shown him enough to stop him entering the transfer market for a similar player. There’s a lot to be said for loaning out a younger player to a Premier League club and Wilshere will not face any surprises when the season kicks off.
Theo Walcott is another player who’s impressed in pre-season and following his World Cup omission and rather disappointing time last year may have something to prove. There’s no doubting Walcott’s talents, and if he can find any form of consistency he could be one of Arsenal’s leading lights over the next ten months.
There’s also the case of Robin Van Persie, who’s absence last season arguably cost Arsenal a real shot at the title. Like Walcott, RVP having missed the majority of last season and being fairly anonymous during the World Cup- despite Holland’s run-will be keen to show he’s capable of challenging the Wayne Rooney’s and Didier Drogba’s of this world for the golden boot.
Defensively Arsenal still have certain frailties, particularly in the centre back department.
A lot will depend on new signing Laurent Koscielny and whether he can fit straight into the team, although if his debut season is as good as Thomas Vermaelen’s was then he may be good enough to be part of a title winning side. Wenger has made comments that he may sign another defender and with time running out he will have to act soon. This is the one area I can see being a real Achilles heel for the Gunners, as if they face injuries and suspension, they may have to either play someone out of position or throw a youngster into the fray and centre back more than anywhere else on the pitch is the one place you cannot hide. Recently there have been rumours of German defender Per Mertesacker joining the club- well at least it’s a change from the ubiquitous Mesut Ozil- which if prove to be true could well be the difference between success and failure in the Gunners title bid.
Wenger’s took a step in the right direction by getting rid of some of the older defenders in his ranks. Former centre-spot warmer William Gallas has taken his sulkiness elsewhere, although where that will be is still unknown, and has been joined by Sol Campbell, Mikael Silvestre and former world footballer of the year Phillipe Senderos. While these departures may rob Arsenal’s defence of experience it has also relieved them of three players who all struggled at times to be reliable. Gallas’s problems, including the infamous day at St Andrews, not to mention his criticism of his younger colleagues and subsequent stripping of the captaincy will surely not be too missed in the Emirates dressing room. When it comes to Silvestre the fact that Sir Alex Ferguson was willing to sell one of his defenders to one of his main rivals should have made Wenger see the warning signs. While Silvestre has always been capable of putting in a decent shift, he’s never been a truly world-class player and is at least 3 years past his best, which is about the same amount of time as Campbell. As for Senderos, there are still Italians sitting in the San Siro wondering how on earth the Swiss defender ended up on loan there, and no doubt their bafflement will be shared by a few Fulham fans this season. While Wenger has signed an array of unearthed gems in his time, Senderos surely falls into the Pascal Cygan, Igors Stepanovs school of mistakes.
In the full back departments if Gael Clichy can stay injury-free on his day he’s up there with Patrice Evra’s and Ashley Cole’s as not just one of the Premierships best left back’s but arguably one of the world’s. Bacary Sagna is one of the more reliable right backs around, while in Keiran Gibbs and Emmanuel Eboue- when he’s called to that position, Arsenal have ample cover.
The one position which could make or break the Gunners title aspirations is undoubtedly between the sticks. Manuel Almunia is about as consistent as David James’s barnet and often cited as reasons why Arsenal have failed to in their attempts to finish above Chelsea and Manchester United these past few years.
There’s been talk of Wenger replacing the bleach-haired blunderer with Mark Schwarzer of Fulham, whether this is likely is debatable and at 37 years-old the Australian would certainly be no long-term solution, however for this season he could well be the reliable ‘keeper needed for a championship.
If Wenger does stick with Almunia, then all is not lost, after all, the Spaniard, while never joining the likes of Pepe Riena, Edwin Van Der Sar or Petr Cech in the list of premiership’s best is still capable of turning in enough decent performances that if the defence does it job Arsenal may just get away with it. The same cannot be said for Lukas Fabianski however, although his inept performances last season may have inadvertently done the Gunners a favour as Wenger must have realised he needed to strengthen the goalkeeping department, or at least find a better understudy.
As almost any Gooner will tell you, Arsenal failed to last the title distance due to a list of injuries that would make Owen Hargreaves blush. The quality of some of the fringe players was at best very high and at worst far too inconsistent. While almost every player at the Emirates is capable of top-drawer football, some more than others cannot be relied upon to string a run of good performances together. One such culprit is Niklas Bendtner who the term ‘from the ridiculous to the sublime’ could almost have been based on. Champion’s League hat-tricks are all well and good but if you cannot put away at least one chance in six against average PL opposition then that simply isn’t good enough.
Bendtner, like everyone else at Arsenal is young though and will surely only improve as time progresses, and in new signing Marouane Chamakh, Wenger may have found a useful different option should anything happen to RVP.
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The point is, Arsenal are looking in good shape for the coming season and may now finally be poised to end the Chelsea/Man U recent dominance. There hasn’t been a great deal of improvement at either Old Trafford or Stamford Bridge this summer, while the likes of Javier Hernandez and Yossi Benayoun will no doubt provide goals and excitement at their new employers both Chelsea and United contain a fair amount of squad players the wrong side of 30, who may struggle this season. The same cannot be said for Arsenal who’s almost exclusively young side is looking more and more ready for the task ahead.
The five year trophy drought will also be hanging like the sword of damocles over the heads of many associated with the club and while a League or FA cup would be a good way to end it, winning the title would eclipse either one and justify both Wenger’s transfer policy and his faith in youth. With the prospect of this being Fabregas’s last season at the Emirates, Wenger may know it might just be both his best and last chance to finally silence his critics and give the fans more than just the pride of playing attractive football. The question is if Arsenal should finish yet another season trophy-less will pretty football still be enough?
Read more Justin Mottershead’s work on his excellent blog ‘Name On The Trophy’