Wiltord Revival?

[NY via SE18]

Love him or hate him (i've felt both ways), it looks like Wenger may be reassessing Wiltord's fit in the team. While his finishing let him down on Friday, he ran well with and without the ball and knew where to be for the chances. In fact, I thought he was a really good fit in much of the link play and his ability to completely change direction with the ball threw Leeds all over the place. I thought he played better on the right than freddy has in a long time.

Do you think he'll be here next season? Should he be?

[martymarts]

Here we go, another can of woop ass!!!

[KingHenryXIV]

age

drop him

[michaec]

Is this thread a poor joke?

[MNGooner]

One word to describe that performance.

Pants.

[jegerpenge]

socks??

[themodelcitizen]

Wiltord as a "5th striker"/midfield link-up man is ideal for next season if you ask me. He's been out for quite some time and it would be unrealistic to expect him to be match-fit already -- when he really gets going he can turn in some good performances (first half hat-trick at Upton Park a few years ago rings a bell). I'll be the first to admit that his 13 million pound transfer was certainly overvalued. Anyone else notice that the days of buying Wiltord and Jeffers as goal-poachers are long gone -- Henry has assumed that role along with his traditional supportive position. No surprise then that Wenger's latest buy was practically Bergkamp's replacement (Reyes). So anyways, props to Wiltord -- why bother replacing one of Arsenal's black french-speaking players when he's already got the chemistry and talent.

[n4100]

So anyways, props to Wiltord -- why bother replacing one of Arsenal's black french-speaking players when he's already got the chemistry and talent.

Not that I give a rat's ass about being PC, but what the hell does him being a "black french-speaking player" have anything to do with his abilities? One could argue that all his bitching and moaning over the past two years about not being a favored striker, or even playing the striker position has caused problems and is reason enough not to resign him. Are you saying we need to keep Ashley Cole because he's a black english-speaking player? Or what about keeping that white dutch-speaking player?

[themodelcitizen]

haha, sorry, I mean to say that a lot of arsenal's team chemistry seems to work around all the french-speaking players (language barrier that seems to screw over Chelsea for example), Henry, Pires, Lauren, Toure now, Wiltord, Clichy now too, Vieira... and coincidentally a lot of them are black, it makes an intimidating picture on the pitch (it reflects in the style -- let's be honest, henry plays like a black guy just for example) if you will. I'm not trying to create any differences that don't exist, just from what I've gathered watching arsenal play.

oh, and about wiltord staying because of him being black and french -- tongue in cheek comment, didn't seriously mean it

[BayouGooner]

Henry, Pires, Lauren, Toure now, Wiltord, Clichy now too, Vieira... and coincidentally a lot of them are black, it makes an intimidating picture on the pitch (it reflects in the style -- let's be honest, henry plays like a black guy just for example) if you will. I'm not trying to create any differences that don't exist, just from what I've gathered watching arsenal play.

So black people intimidate you, then? Sounds like a personal problem to me.

[juice013]

Yeah, you're digging yourself a hole here, Scott.

Anyway, does anyone know if the club is still offering Wiltord a deal? If they are still willing to give him a two year deal, he should take it. He surely won't get anything close to the wage demands he wants, so he might as well stay around and prove himself next year, and look for a transfer the following summer. The club would be able to recoup some of his transfer fee, and maybe they would get a good season out of him as he would be looking to impress.

[themodelcitizen]

lol... bayou, not me, premiership opposition maybe... if even that... can't even mention something touchy without forum-goers getting all moody and cold... forget it then... I'll keep the piss-taking to the pubs and the casual football fans...

[michaec]

Anyway, does anyone know if the club is still offering Wiltord a deal? If they are still willing to give him a two year deal, he should take it. He surely won't get anything close to the wage demands he wants, so he might as well stay around and prove himself next year, and look for a transfer the following summer. The club would be able to recoup some of his transfer fee, and maybe they would get a good season out of him as he would be looking to impress.Wishful thinking. He should be drummed out now.

[martymarts]

Scott you've gone somewhere you shouldn't, so just let it go gracefully! Lord knows I've put my foot in it plenty of times and I'm old enough to know better!

As for Wiltord, I'm not sure I'm with you on this Michaec, and think juice013 is closer to the mark? I've always been in the vanguard of the Anti-SW11 brigade, because he's got a big mouth, is overated and because his signing wasn't good value for money! All that being said, his presence doesn't seem to negatively impact on team spirit and he has experience that we can utilise in a supporting role in the squad. The alternative is to let him walk on a free and on balance (just!) that doesn't make sense! He maybe full of "piss and vim", get caught by the off-side trap too often, have horrible balance and miss open goals, but, he did score at OT (AAAAAAaaaaaagggghhhhh) and plays a decent wide midfield role, in the absence of the regular starters (the important bit!). Soooo, much as it sticks in my gullet, I say let him stay!

[michaec]

The thing that gets me is that people keep on bringing up his goals at Old Trafford (league and FA Cup) and other "important" strikes (if anyone wants to elaborate on what these are feel free). Now my impression is that these strikes in big games will obviously stick in people's minds and skew the argument in Wiltord's direction when he doesn't warrant it. We all watch lots of Arsenal matches, and week in week out we have better players to fill the wide right role in Ljungberg, Parlour, Pennant or Lauren (at a push as he's currently first choice right-back), depending on whether you want an attacking midfielder, one who will get stuck in, an out-and-out winger or a solid citizen (if you'll permit me to drop into a bit of Ronglish). But if you watch his performance week after week, it's not just overpayment for his services, bad attitude, the offsides, horrible balance and scuffed shots, it's also the complete lack of a first touch, the inability to make simple passes and running down blind alleys. In short he messes up the pattern of play which when we are on song is almost unstoppable. I admit he seems to be an amiable chap and his on-field persona seems a happy-go-lucky type, but we're in the business of winning football matches here, not a big love-in.

[martymarts]

All the flaws you state are spot on, to the point where watching said flaws frequent times make the hairs on the back off my neck stand up and I come over all queezy! You'll note from the "AAAAAAaaaaaaagggggghhhh" in my last post that I'm not blinded by the goal at OT or in the FAC semi or anywhere else for that matter!

Perversely, it seems the longer he's in the side the worse he gets! Perhaps he relaxes and gets complacent? When he's second or third string he has to fight harder to get selected and that should keep him sharper? As support for the right I'd put him ahead of Lauren, Pennant (He's a better crosser but whose gonna head it?), Gilberto or Parlour (when we need an attacking option); sometimes better than Ljungberg when he's not fully fit? He doesn't seem to mess up the pattern as much from right midfield. As long as Lauren supports his runs things work fine; that's how we currently work it with FL8!

If he gets a 2 year contract at 10 grand a week, and he comes on as sub 15/20 times, and then we sell him in a year for £1m we've made 500,000 knicker! Even if we pay £20k and break even, where's the harm? Get someone to pay £2 or £3mil and were quids in!!! Besides, we need to play at least a couple of people with experience in the Worthless and FAC next season?

[michaec]

All the flaws you state are spot on, to the point where watching said flaws frequent times make the hairs on the back off my neck stand up and I come over all queezy! You'll note from the "AAAAAAaaaaaaagggggghhhh" in my last post that I'm not blinded by the goal at OT or in the FAC semi or anywhere else for that matter!

Perversely, it seems the longer he's in the side the worse he gets! Perhaps he relaxes and gets complacent? When he's second or third string he has to fight harder to get selected and that should keep him sharper? As support for the right I'd put him ahead of Lauren, Pennant (He's a better crosser but whose gonna head it?), Gilberto or Parlour (when we need an attacking option); sometimes better than Ljungberg when he's not fully fit? He doesn't seem to mess up the pattern as much from right midfield. As long as Lauren supports his runs things work fine; that's how we currently work it with FL8! You watch those things I pointed out the next time you see him play and cringe again.

The thing that really leaves me flummoxed is the way that he seems to be first choice for the French national side, there are untold numbers of better French players.

If he gets a 2 year contract at 10 grand a week, and he comes on as sub 15/20 times, and then we sell him in a year for £1m we've made 500,000 knicker! Even if we pay £20k and break even, where's the harm? Get someone to pay £2 or £3mil and were quids in!!! Besides, we need to play at least a couple of people with experience in the Worthless and FAC next season?500,000 nicker??? That's about what I make in ten years! And I have a good job! For ten large per week, I personally take it as an affront that he's taken my money this long, but I can see where you're coming from. I'd still rather boot him out (and I'd be quite happy to boot him up the arse on his way) and let some younger players come through. I reckon if you found any Sunday league team at least one or two would be able to at least trap the ball. His lack of basic skills is shocking. To me, it just proves the old saying that "You need a bit of luck in this game", he's unbelievably lucky he's making a living from the game.

[Rick B]

500,000 nicker??? That's about what I make in ten years! And I have a good job! For ten large per week, I personally take it as an affront that he's taken my money this long, .


Just to add my two bob's worth, but Mr Moaner gets closer to £40,000 a week at the moment. Apparantly he wanted that upped to be in line with 'senior players who contributed as much to the squad as he did'. And no he wasn't talking about the likes of Igor Stepanovs, he was after the kind of money Vieira and Henry are on - closer to £80,000 a week. Sorry but my opinion - he is a waste of space. His attitude is awful (especially to the fans when countless times the players come over to the away section and applaud the fans he goes straight to the dressing room). Yes he scored some important goals, so his huge transfer fee (remember it was at the time people like Robbie Savage were valued at £10Million) was probably paid off by the goals he scored. So thankyou for what you did Sylvan, now bugger off and enjoy the Millions you've earn't over the past few years.

[michaec]

So thankyou for what you did Sylvan, now bugger off and enjoy the Millions you've earn't over the past few years. What he said.

[michaec]

For anyone thta's been paying attention, the first stage in Real Madrid signing any player is that they deny they are interested. If you want to prove this to yourselves ook back through the reports leading up to the signings of Figo, Zidane, Ronaldo, Beckham et al. I still don't think we'll be selling M. Henry anytime soon though.