GOLDEN OLDIES?
Here FRANK WORRALL* assesses the wisdom of the moves by Arsenal and Man United to bring back Thierry Henry and Paul Scholes respectively –
And we also launch the first of a new regular weekly series, Frankie’s Flutter, in which our intrepid reporter gives us his verdict on the best bet of the week…
ARSENAL AND THIERRY HENRY
YES, definitely a wise move by Gunners boss Arsene Wenger. Since Cesc Fabregas headed back to Barcelona, Arsenal have lacked leadership and calm old heads to steady the ship. The return of Henry is, therefore, a no-brainer, as Tony Blair was fond of saying. It brings that much-needed calm old head but also carries an inbuilt bonus: Henry is a master at his trade and will score goals, as he proved by netting against Leeds in his very first match back in the red shirt last Monday.
He is fit and well and looks in good shape mentally too. He is clearly pleased to be back and is enthusiasm remains undiminished, even at the age of 34. He has kept fit at his new team, New York Red Bulls, and looked super sharp against Leeds when he came on as a substitute.
Also, I believe Henry’s return gives him a chance to put right wrongs. Yes, the great Henry, the man who now has his own statue outside the Emirates, was a few years back a rather intimidating figure for younger players. It was rumoured he was somewhat arrogant and preoccupied with his own glory to be the role model and mentor that the kids really needed.
Now he has an opportunity to put that right. As an elder statesman he can now help the youngsters at Arsenal and I know he will do just that. He was younger and more foolish back when he was accused of being out simply for self glory. Now he is older, wiser and loves the club – he has nothing to prove having achieved so much in his own career.
So Arsenal are on a real winner – with his goals and experience to the kids.
PAUL SCHOLES AND MAN UTD
BUT Paul Scholes at United? No, I am not as convinced. He is 37 and he admitted he retired after the Champions League loss against Barcelona in May because his legs had gone. So what’s happened since – is he the new Douglas Bader? Has he got new legs…or is he just hoping and praying that he somehow keeps up with the frantic pace and momentum of the Premier League? Don’t get me wrong – I love Scholesy, he was one of my heroes. But the move to resurrect him just doesn’t add up – as that clumsy touch that led to Manchester City scoring just after he came on in Sunday’s FA Cup derby only goes to confirm.
No, my feeling is that it is Fergie who has gone to Scholesy and asked him to help him out of a hole. With his midfield shorn of class through injuries, retirements and a lack of money to reinforce, he needed someone, something to get the fans off his back. So, abracadabra, bish-bash, bosh, he magics up an idol from another era!
The fans aren’t daft though, Alex. They know in their hearts that this is just smoke and mirrors – that the real reason is that you have no money to bring in the likes of Wesley Sneijder or Luka Modric. That the mean old Glazers will only back you for bargain buys – or semi big buys. Chicharito at £6million – or Ashley Young at £16million.
So Scholesy it is. Short of pace and making up the oldest and slowest midfield in the Premier League, along with 38-year-old Ryan Giggs and Mr Tortoise himself, Michael Carrick. What a disaster and what a sad reflection and indictment of the current regime at United. No money – and no clout. Second in England to Man City now…and miles behind the likes of Barca, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in Europe.
Welcome back to the bargain-basement of elite football, Scholesy – those days of shopping in Harrods are long gone…
FRANKIE’S FLUTTER
CHELSEA V SUNDERLAND
Premier League
Saturday
BIG MATCH for Chelsea at the Bridge against a Sunderland team revitalised since the arrival of new boss Martin O’Neill. They are playing well and look as if they would run through brick walls for their new boss – he is that sort of inspirational character…and would make a good England boss next year if Harry Redknapp decides to stay at Spurs.
I can see a score draw at Chelsea – honours shared. Of course, in the days of Jose Mourinho it would have been a certain home win but under new manager Andre Villas-Boas, there are no guarantees. He says he has the dressing room with him but I see – and am told by my sources in West London – that there is a simmering rebellion among some of the players with his methods and success (or lack of it).
So I am going for 2-2.
*FRANK WORRALL
(for more information on Frank and his bestselling sports books, see www.frankworrall.com Weekly Sport readers can buy Frank’s insightful book on Sir Alex Ferguson for the special price of only 89p on Kindle (retail price £17.99 for the hardback)…go to http://www.amazon.co.uk/Walking-Fergie-Wonderland-Biography-ebook/dp/B00603XJB8/ref=sr_1_7?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1326291046&sr=1-7
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