Full disclosure, I?m a Barcelona fan. I love Dutch football(ers), so I?m going to be a fan of Barca. If they play Arsenal in the Champs League I?m 100% for Arsenal, but I enjoy the Catalans. That being said, I have to wonder what colour the sky is in the world that their President, Joan Laporta lives in. Here are some excerpts from a story on sportinglife.com. My comments in parentheses?
Henry Should Come To Barca - Laporta
Barcelona president Joan Laporta believes Arsenal striker Thierry Henry would jump at the chance to join the Catalan side (despite the fact that Henry has repeatedly said he has no interest in going anywhere and has a contract that runs for several more years).
“Arsenal say that he is untouchable but if I was Thierry Henry it would be a dream come true to move to Barca,” Laporta told Spanish television (But you?re not Henry).
“The project for next season is to have a side competing at the highest level, we don’t want just to sign a world star of the moment but we want to have a team of that level (Good for you, Arsenal already have that type of side).
“Barca has always been a team of the first grade in the world when we have had the young players coming through the system (like Cesc? He decided he?d rather play for us than stay at Barca) reinforced by other quality players. We are ambitious, highly ambitious and Barca will have a competitive team (again, good for you. Arsenal are ambitious as well and have a competitive team too).
“We are going upwards and consolidating but we have to be clear that we have nothing yet and we need to go game by game.” (Sounds like he?s reading from the Wenger hymn book, isn?t that what Le Boss said yesterday?)
However, Arsene Wenger has claimed he is more likely to buy Buckingham Palace than the Spanish club are to sign his leading scorer.
Wenger, whose club have flown to Spain ahead of a Champions League tie against Celta Vigo, nevertheless insisted: “I feel, as many people do, bored by all this.
“I want to buy Buckingham Palace but I can’t do it. We have no desire to sell Thierry so that isn’t going to happen either. (Classic)
Laporta set about attemping to lure David Beckham to the Nou Camp last year (How?d that work out for you, Joan?) when he was running for president at Barcelona and he had an offer for the England captain accepted by Manchester United.
Laporta showed his ability to capture a big name, though, when he beat the likes of United to the signature of Paris St Germain playmaker Ronaldinho, the star of their season so far. (And now they are all the way up to fifth!)
Wenger ? How much longer will he stay here?
While Henry isn?t going anywhere, is Wenger? Some interesting recent quotes from him that are, shall we say, open to interpretation?
“I’m prepared to be committed to the club at least until we go into the new stadium.?
?For me, it’s important that the club goes in there and that I make sure the team are at a very good level.”
He added: “After that, whether it’s me or someone else, the club will be able to compete at the highest level. But for me to run away now would not be fair.”
Hold on there Monsieur, run that by me again. That sounds like a man who sees himself somewhere else in three or four years. Now he is opening up negotiations on a new contract, but Wenger is not the type to play that out in the media. My great fear is that the very success that Wenger, and all of Gooner Nation, are hungry for is what will be the cause of his exit. Once we are in the stadium, once we?ve won the Champions League there really will be no reason for him to stay, his legacy will be cemented forever.
5 Responses to “Cries & Whispers ? Sorry Joan, Henry stays; Wenger goes?”
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February 24th, 2004 at 8:43 am
mmmmm tricky one!
It could be interpreted in many ways. Whilst he has stated that he feels responsible for the fact that the club are now in debt for at least the next 14 years - that doesn’t mean to say that he could go to pastures new.
Whilst the very thought of him going fills me with dread. This doesn’t mean that someone couldn’t come in and do as good a job. Different, yes. but getting the results is what counts. George Graham proved this. Our football is far more attractive attractive under Wenger, but if GG had been allowed to stay on - who knows where it could have taken us!
Who would we replace Wenger with? Don’t ask me who, because I don’t actually know! We could be talking 3-5-7 years down the road.
He could even be hinting on taking a position ‘upstairs’ whilst his protege is at work!!!
To be honest - can’t really see where he’ll get the managerial freedom that he craves…… Real Madrid, No chance! Barcelona…… do me a favour! Bayern? mmmmm
Don’t really like to think about to be honest - but something that has to be 2-3 years down the line!!!
February 24th, 2004 at 10:10 am
I think all the speculation as to how long Wenger will stay with the Arsenal is a bit silly, really. Obviously Wenger will not be forever. He may not even be here as long as Sore Alex has been at Mank United, or even Curbishley at Charlton. That being said, I do think he’ll be here for quite some time. Like the anonymous poster just said, where else would he go? Real seems to be satisfied with Quieroz at the moment, and Bayern are in a steep decline, so why would Wenger want to leave his newly-constructed yacht in favour of a sinking steamliner? And as for Barcelona… they couldn’t even sign Becks’ ever-morphing hairstyle, let alone Becks himself. No, I think we’re better off just enjoying things the way they are right now: the Arsenal on the up and up, and soon to be permanently top for some time, without worrying about the inevitable, inexorable decline. (It is inevitable, as no club stays top forever. Look at Sludgepool. Let’s just hope that when we get knocked off the top, it is NEVER by Rottenham.)
February 24th, 2004 at 12:16 pm
I have thought the same about Arsene for quite a while now. In a strange sort of way whenever we’ve been knocked out of the UEFA Cup I’ve gained some solace by thinking that on the positive side it means his work is unfinished and so he’ll stay. I have no doubt he will honour his contract, and may even extend it (as he is hinting), so I don’t have any immediate worries. I seem to remember reading somewhere that he didn’t see himself coaching when he was aound 60, so I sincerely hope we can persuade him to assume some other position in the club at that time. He is a gem, and, having followed the club since the early 60’s, dread to think how far behind United, Liverpool etc we might be if David Dein hadn’t made such an inspired appointment.
February 25th, 2004 at 12:49 am
Today’s lesson: determining the exact amount of horseshit one jumped up president of a Spanish football club can come up with. 2 pages, double spaces, use both sides of the page.
— Geoff
March 3rd, 2004 at 8:22 am
I think Wenger says anthing concerning himself with a great deal of humility. I just think he’s not taking his postion for granted. He’s certainly a person that looks at all perspectives of a situation, and, of course, one possible perspective is him leaving. In any case, he will go one day. Personally, I don’t think he will manage a football club after Arsenal. He will be too old to take on another challenge and joining a ready made successfull club doesn’t seem to be his style. I can well see him getting a directorship at Arsenal and moving upstairs, but not before he has groomed his successor.