I just read that Stan “the man” Collymore is attempting a comeback to football after being out of the Prem. for 5 years!!
First of all, let me just say that I have a soft spot for Stan Collymore. Why? you might ask? Good question.
Well… It was about the time I started “REALLY” getting into English Football and the Arsenal… when I watched what I considered one of the best matches I had ever watched in my life. It still is. In the US… many folks tend to think soccer is 0-0 and boring as f***. Little do those folks know of course. But quite simply, you could hand them the tape of the Liverpool v. Newcastle match from 1996… I think it was March or April.
4-3 Liverpool coming from behind to win, with Collymore getting the amazing winner. Non-stop, end to end action… with the magnificent finish.
So Stan Collymore holds a place in my memory for helping me become “football mad”. Thank you Stan!
Now… Obviously, Arsenal SIMPLY DO NOT do these type of reclamation projects. They don’t buy the Stan Collymores, Robbie Fowlers, Michael Owens… or Nic Anelka.
But… if we were to bring a player back… who do you think would have the best chance of success at the club. Who would have the best chance of re-claiming some of the past greatness… the hope… the promise of their early career.
Jermaine Pennant? Still young.
Matthew Upson? Luis Boa Morte?
I am just throwing some ex-Arsenal players out there… but it can be a player from ANY team, that has gone off the radar a bit.
I still say… Nic Anelka could/would be a VERY good and VERY PRODUCTIVE player for the Arsenal Football Club. He could come back into the fold tomorrow, and I think he would produce. I think in the right enviroment, under Wenger, and with a few friendly French mates in the team… he would/could flourish at the Arsenal. I believe he’s only 27 years old. Still in the prime of his career.
Now, I know he isn’t coming back to the club… its simply for the sake of discussion, during one of these dreaded international weeks… as we are just starting to pick up some momentum.
I hope all our international players come back safe and sound and unhurt… and … Good Luck Mr.Collymore!!
16 Responses to “Anyone want a reclamation project?”
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October 6th, 2006 at 9:22 am
Interesting piece, stag.
For the sake of pure fantasy, I had always been an admirer of Alan Shearer. One of the truly classy central forwards. A great striking technic, and extremely consistent (in his club career at least). He’s the ultimate “fox in the box” Titi talked about. Now just imagine Henry partner Shearer up front…
As for the past player, I think our current team could really use a Tony Adams. Just to provide the leadership, and make sure everyone is on his toe. Particular when we are trailing in a game, with Tony around, I would feel confident that our boys would not give up without a fight.
And Ian Wright. From time to time I would imagine a Henry + Wright partnership, that would be a partnership made in heaven. Both are extremely quick. Wrighty maybe even a better natural finisher than Titi. I doubt any team would be able to stop us with these pair up front.
October 6th, 2006 at 9:33 am
Andez, not past players who are retired, past Arsenal players who play their footie somewhere else, like Pennant at ‘Pool etc.
October 6th, 2006 at 9:38 am
Pascal Cygan, Ash the Cash…
No, I’m kidding.
I’m going for Stevie Sidwell. He is playing really well at Reading this season. He is my tip.
October 6th, 2006 at 9:38 am
Good selections Andez. I hear you on all counts.
I actually meant existing players… one’s actually still playing NOW.
But your choices and reasons are well taken.
Another example of someone who I think could excel here at the Arsenal…
(and I think someone may have mentioned him weeks ago)…
HARRY KEWELL.
Again, just my opinion… I think if he could get/stay healthy for a bit, he’d be a very good player for our club. I KNOW its not going to happen, but we are going with opinions and hypotheticals in the international week!
October 6th, 2006 at 9:52 am
the present players… I think i’ll go for Sheed’s choice - Sidwell.
for the player i would love to see him wearing an Arsenal shirt most probably is Steven Gerrard. Quite many English players are overhyped, but Gerrard is the real deal. A match winner, and i love his will to win.
as for other ex-Gunner, obviously Ashley Cole is the best choice, but i don’t want to see him wearing an Arsenal shirt again. Wouldn’t mind to see Anelka teams up with Henry again though. but overall i think AW had made all the right calls, not too many ex-Gunners are better now than they were with us.
October 6th, 2006 at 10:17 am
Anelka would not be bad .. but we dont need this type of player.
I think that Arsenal can use Upson a bit …I still beleive in Richard Wright and Stuard Taylor, Quincy …
Bergy ( ya I wish)
I noticed that every player ouside Arsenal is different than inside Arsenal. Either way better way worse.
i.e. Anelka or Seaman ..
or Suker in Arsenal — or even Reyes … I thought Reyes will be the new talk of the football show ..but he died here.
October 7th, 2006 at 12:34 am
I remember when Petit was struggling at Barca, AW squashed down the rumours saying that he is not in favour of bringing a player back. At the same, I remember he also said that he was sad to let Sidwell leave and would like to see him back some day. So I am guessing that AW is not a fan of reclamation, but if the player is young, it can happen. That would make Sidwell a good choice.
Otherwise, I go with Gerrard. He is a very dynamic player and a leader.
On another topic, there are reports that we have negotiated first refusal on Ribery. If that move happens, it could be the end of Ljunberg.
October 7th, 2006 at 9:08 am
i hope the ribery thing is true…it would be unfortunate for ljunberg though.
if we can get in ribery and denilson or song can step up big time as back up DM.
then our midfield would be absolutely complete for at least 2 or 3 years.
October 7th, 2006 at 9:17 am
well, a lot of the players that have been let go havent really exploded.
i dont think pennant, boa morte or upson will even break our team now.
i would like sidwell though - over song.
anelka has absolutely no chance of ever playing for us again - because he blasted not just the club but arsene wenger HIMSELF. at least cashley coles problem was with the board…but anelka seriously dissed wenger who brought him up as a 17 yr old teenager. yeah, i know this is a fantasy article but i dont think an ingrate like anelka should be dreamed about. he?s been a failure since hes left. maybe if he made a groveling apology to wenger first….
my reclamation picks. i would say stuart taylor and sidwell.
October 7th, 2006 at 2:13 pm
Easy. Overmars. He’s still got it.
October 8th, 2006 at 12:19 pm
Overmars is too injury prone. He would spend more time on the treatment table than on the pitch. IMO a great replacement for Overmars is Rommedahl. He has the speed of Overmars, can strike the ball well and is an intelligent player. He is underachieving at Charlton and Charlton does not seem to know how to tap his potential - so Wenger should step in to rejuvenate his career. At 28, he will be alot cheaper than Ribery and he has EPL experience.
October 8th, 2006 at 4:53 pm
It is hard to think of an ex-Arsenal player still playing who would get into the first team.
Upson would still be fifth-choice centre-half. Sidwell is interesting but ahead of Cesc or Gilberto? It could be argued that Edu is better than Gilberto but Brazil pick Gilberto where they are in competition. Vieira’s time has gone. Overmars is retired. Ditto Petit. Reyes is still our player so he wouldn’t count. Pennant isn’t a regular for Liverpool, he wouldn’t be one for Arsenal either. Anelka is the only real possibility, but could he play with Henry? I would like to see him score a few goals for Bolton first.
Current ex-Arsenal players are not really setting the world alight. They do the business at a lower level but they are not good enough for the Arsenal first team.
One retired player I would have loved to see play in a Wenger team is Liam Brady.
October 9th, 2006 at 12:17 am
I actually did not mean ex-Arsenal players at all…
as I had mentioned STAN COLLYMORE is coming back to football… (Or trying to)
It was from his comeback try… that I started the thought process.
Harry Kewell…? Nic Anelka??? … Robbie Fowler… etc…
I was thinking of players that have had LOTS of talent, and had a moment or two in the spotlight, who are trying to get back to the TOP.
October 9th, 2006 at 6:56 am
a case can be made for kewell, fowler or even anelka (despite his very bitter divorce from arsenal)
but surely stan collymore?? hell no! he is not so much somebody who screwed up as quite a bad person. the fact that he played in one or two memorable matches does not make up for YEARS of intrangression - my god he was even BATTERING his ex-wife!!! (amongst other **AYE CARUMBA**(censored) he has done).
he is in my view a “bad” person and shouldnt be given a chance (esp. at arsenal). afterall one would not want Paulo DiCanio at arsenal just because he did some memorable things at westham.
October 9th, 2006 at 11:19 am
I think it is impossible for players who have been out of the game for a few years to play again in the EPL.
The pace of the game would have changed and their mental commitment would need to be questioned.
If they were that good why did they stop playing the game?
All the talk of ex Arsenal players on different posts is very funny. Overmars no longer plays. Stuart Taylor is not a first choice keeper at Villa so what would he do at Arsenal.
Sidwell is OK, but where is he in the England U21?
Older players leaving Arsenal forget it.
The young ones? Quincy, does anyone know where he is? Russia, or Siberia or somewhere like that? Does he play for the national team, the U21? Dont think so, he was too selfish and wanted too much money, no wonder Ajax let him go.
Bentley? Pennant? Upson?
They dont set the league on fire week after week, a couple of good performances but not over the season, this is why AW let them go.
October 15th, 2006 at 5:08 pm
Ok. Was not around so didn’t get back to you on this comment.
There are obvious possibilities - the Chelsea reserve team is full of broken careers, Bridge, Geremi, Wright-Philips etc. and remember Parker, Cole, Johnson et al got away. Utd have other players like O’Shea and Fletcher who despite looking like they have the talent haven’t really done it. Wenger could take some of those and make them a player!
What would really interest me would be Wenger taking a foreigner who failed in the Premiership - Sava, Veron, the Portuguese kid at Spurs etc. - and making them a star. We would really get a laugh out of one of our rivals.