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“I do what the manager asks me to …but…”

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Good morning and welcome to the breakfast show.

The quotes below hit the back pages of the Sun yesterday and drew some pretty predictable thoughts from me. But first, over to Van der Vaart…

“I have definitely had a series of irritations. You want to play in the position where you do best. But if I have to chase after an attacking full-back every time, I can’t play my own game to my best ability.

“Sunday was not the first time I have played out wide and I was given the freedom to move infield. But you could see from the goal I scored that my strength lies in the centre of midfield.

“It proves that I am more dangerous when I am close to the goal than when I play out on the wing. I do what the manager asks me to but I hope this won’t be a regular occurrence. In my opinion he made a mistake in making his comments about my most recent injury.

“He took me off because he did not want to take any risks with me. I can understand that but I am convinced I could have played for 90 minutes. I was amazed to be taken off. I felt I’d played a great game. I scored and also three times put team-mates in one-on-ones with Arsenal’s keeper.

But I could perhaps understand it from a tactical viewpoint. Arsenal’s left-back was continually moving upfield and I’m not the type of player who consistently runs after opponents.”

Nothing there I can really disagree with in that. He’s right.

The dangers here though are screamingly obvious. Speaking out in the press against your manager can never be described as inspired. This can of course, be viewed as a sauce for the goose, sauce for the gander moment. I can’t think of anyone in football who is more media friendly than our Aitch after all, including those working as full time pundits.

But you must scratch your head and ponder why this can’t be resolved ‘in house.’ There’s nothing controversial there, other than the fact it reveals that Rafa is as depressed by his manager’s infatuation with Defoe as everyone else is.

3MP was torn still suckling from Arry’s breast (what a deeply upsetting image, I apologize) despite the inarguable fact that he was rubbish. I define rubbish in this instance as being hired as a goalscorer and failing to score any.

Defoe will have to be removed by specialist surgeons. 

The entirety of last season was spent hoping someone would score. And while we waited Rafa was juggled about as he doesn’t play the lone striker role. Now Adebayor has landed we are still juggling. 

The NorfLandinDarby™ was partly dogged by Defoe’s selection over Sandro and my fear is that Arry won’t be changing his mind anytime soon. Van der Vaart has his faults but on balance he’s a classy character who routinely assists and scores goals. His name ought to be one of the first on the team sheet.

If Defoe really is –  as we are surely being led to believe – ‘pulling up trees’ in training, then it down to him to then force his way past lesser players. If there aren’t any then he either has to work harder or bide his time. But you cannot have a situation where he’s hogging a place to little purpose.

We’ve been here before though, haven’t we? PSB was fielded endlessly to the mind numbing sorrow of all those unfortunate enough to be watching.

Will Arry see sense, or will this serve as a catalyst for one the best players we’ve signed in my lifetime to be sold off sooner rather than later? 

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201 comments

  • PLN says:

    Not as if Harry can exactly preach to VDV about going public with his opinions.

  • Beadle says:

    D’you think Defoe’s problem is there are no trees to pull up at WHL? Maybe we should plant some. Get that kid from the bogroll adverts in.

  • robbie says:

    Harry should say to him when we play 442 would you prefer to play right mid or on the bench? Off the subject but has anyone seen the reports that we have put in an offer for george green?

  • ScottParkerVsTheWorld says:

    Carlo Ancelotti

  • Essexian76 says:

    As Harry didn’t buy VDV,is he in any position to sell him? Without question a line up starting with Defoe and Rafa wasn’t working, we got away with it in truth.It was only after Sandro’s introduction did we look anything like the side that battered Liverpool, and shoud’ve buried them comprehensivly. Harry’s problem is far greater however because of his nature. He obviously knows Ade and Defoe work well as a spearhead, but is trying to accomodate VDV by the same token, and sorry Harry, it can’t be done old son, you’re paid to manage, but even a child knows that Rafa is no winger and it’s either or, not both! On that note playing Rafa out wide and with his lack of pace and lack defensive abilty detrimental to the teams performance; is it not clearly evident that we don’t need Beckham to add to our selection woe’s?

    • Plod says:

      Oh that’s right Levy didn’t ask Harry if he wanted him when during discussions Real Madrid offered him. This Harry didn’t buy him stuff is bullshit. Levy does all transfers and in the course of discussions another player comes up Levy and Harry will, yes unbelievable as it sounds, talk.

      Without question your without question is wrong. It works but with varying levels of success depending upon the circumstances.

      Sign Beckham we need the commercial revenue he brings to the table and then we can afford to buy another quality striker.

      • Essexian76 says:

        So you’re suggesting that buying Beckham would be a good thing commercially, and in essence there was nothing wrong with the line-up on Sunday, simply because we won? The side looked balanced in your opinion did it?. And will the extra revenue Beckam may yeild compensate for another failure to achieve a CL slot and the probable exodus of quality players resulting in that event? As for who bought or didn’t buy Rafa, it was from Harry’s own words not mine, so yes you’re right in your assessment I guess!

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