Here we go again!
This feels like the shortest summer ever. Was it not a mere few weeks ago that we were meekly surrendering to Norwich and kicking back to dream of the multi-million pound arrivals that would surely pepper our break.
Well something went wrong; perhaps wrong is not the correct word…something went awry! Not all bad mind, a summer of the freshly minted Rogue Jr and a very exciting Euro 2008 were both very positive though tempered by watching he endless rain and realising that every passport in our house had run out and we couldn’t afford to escape the misery.
But one subject stood out above all others…where’s the taint of flashy new money? Where’s the embarrassment of trying to buy the league?
It’s almost as if the club is trying to be as low key as possible, as if all the ‘bookies favourites tosh’ has frightened Gianni and the rest into shutting up shop (in Gianni’s case no bad thing mind!).
Talk of Zamora, Shittu and Philips disappeared very quickly, the hammer headed Dowie was left repeating the mantra ‘Gorkss Gorkss Gorkss…’ until Blackpool finally got tired and said ‘oh alright then’.
But…
…And there’s always a but…
…The devils in the detail, in return Blackpool were to receive, not only the unfortunate Nardiello, but…and I never thought I’d ever get to type this…Zesh Rehman too! Now that’s what I call business!
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve never been totally against Zesh, always prepared to give him a chance, but enough was enough really. Personally I’ll always remember the 3-3 against Norwich and his contribution, an utterly pointless penalty conceded virtually over the dead ball line. I hope he has a good career and I hope he limits his mistakes to the odd one against us.
Then the floodgates opened, the return of Cookie, no finer news all summer. Like most I’m delighted, it’s a risk, but one I’m inclined to agree with, if only to thank him properly for his money…and like a lot of you I’d like to see him get it back now.
Then there’s the boy from Madrid…I’ll leave a pause there…oh yes…the boy from Madrid. When did you ever think you’d hear that whispered amongst the message boards? Naturally I didn’t believe it. The rumour was he was to play in the tournament at Arsenal. So I tuned in to the last half hour of Madrid and Hamburg. It took a while to realise it but there he was, a long streak of noting topped with an Alice band and your typical Latin floppy hair. He looked the part, though all I saw was an awkward youth hitting a succession of weak corners at the first defender. Ideal for our level but hardly a world-beater. Then he scored!
And now I’m a believer!
I know it was only a two yard header and I think I could’ve scored it, but fair do’s, he didn’t look the type to be throwing himself betwixt two fat central defenders so I’m impressed.
So is everyone else. Monday morning, ‘is it true you are buying the best young footballer in Europe?’ well…not buying exactly…
He’s here for experience, I hope it’s a good one, for my fantasy team if nothing else, I guess Gareth will teach him how to run on and off very fast and presumably Barker will sort out his turning circle.
So after a succession of unimpressive friendlies the new season is here. We shouldn’t get too excited either way after Barnsley. They are a decent team who we ought to beat, but given their recent record they might see us as another scalp…lets wait ‘til the end of September eh! Then we can crack the champagne or the safety glass, whichever is most appropriate.
Rogue Male
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