End of the Essien Saga!
The Essien saga which has been dragging on ever since the transfer window opened, has finally come to an end with Lyon accepting Chelsea's 27 million pound offer.
Essien is now a happy man and moves on to the club he had always wanted play for, ever since he trained at Old Trafford many years back but was attracted to Chelsea's rich tradition(??) and colourful history. Surely he must be kidding!
After Roman Abromovic spent more than 200 million dollars to bring in players, Chelsea played amazing football last season. Money speaks after all. Chelsea fans may point out that clubs like ManUtd and Real Madrid too spend large amounts of money on players. Yes, they do. But I have noticed that these clubs usually make one expensive buy every summer and that is just peanuts compared to what Chelsea have been spending for the past 3 years.
Drogba for 24 million pounds, Ferreira for more than 10 and Del Horno for eight?? I will have to painfully agree with Arsenal manager Wenger on this issue. The value of a player increases multiple times if Chelsea is interested in him. Essien and SWPhillips are the most recent examples.
SWP should not have gone for more than 15 million pounds. But at least, he is a proven player in the Premiership unlike Essien who is not. Essien played really well it seems in the French League and only when ManUtd became interested in him did other teams like Chelsea and Arsenal too noticed him. But is it possible for Essien to adapt to the Premiership? I remember he did not play too well in the Champions League quarter finals last season when they lost against PSV Eidhoven.
Essien is neither much of a defending midfielder like Makelele nor an attacking player like Lampard but I hear he is an excellent box-to-box player. At 22, he is young and energetic and will have a lot to offer to the Chelsea team but I believe I will see him on the bench more than often. Let's see if he is or isn't just an expensive Djemba-Djemba!
Essien is now a happy man and moves on to the club he had always wanted play for, ever since he trained at Old Trafford many years back but was attracted to Chelsea's rich tradition(??) and colourful history. Surely he must be kidding!
After Roman Abromovic spent more than 200 million dollars to bring in players, Chelsea played amazing football last season. Money speaks after all. Chelsea fans may point out that clubs like ManUtd and Real Madrid too spend large amounts of money on players. Yes, they do. But I have noticed that these clubs usually make one expensive buy every summer and that is just peanuts compared to what Chelsea have been spending for the past 3 years.
Drogba for 24 million pounds, Ferreira for more than 10 and Del Horno for eight?? I will have to painfully agree with Arsenal manager Wenger on this issue. The value of a player increases multiple times if Chelsea is interested in him. Essien and SWPhillips are the most recent examples.
SWP should not have gone for more than 15 million pounds. But at least, he is a proven player in the Premiership unlike Essien who is not. Essien played really well it seems in the French League and only when ManUtd became interested in him did other teams like Chelsea and Arsenal too noticed him. But is it possible for Essien to adapt to the Premiership? I remember he did not play too well in the Champions League quarter finals last season when they lost against PSV Eidhoven.
Essien is neither much of a defending midfielder like Makelele nor an attacking player like Lampard but I hear he is an excellent box-to-box player. At 22, he is young and energetic and will have a lot to offer to the Chelsea team but I believe I will see him on the bench more than often. Let's see if he is or isn't just an expensive Djemba-Djemba!
posted by Lucas @ 1:25 PM
2 Comments:
Maybe Manchester United were the firct english club to offer 18 year old Essien a trial.But once he declined the chance to go to their feeder club at antwerp,after 4 years the next english club manager who set his eyes on Essien was wenger. I think you have a short term memory loss. In december transfer window, because of Gilberto's career threatening back injury and a motivationless Edu Arsenal decided to bid for Essien. To his dismay, Lyon asked for an exorbitant-for-wenger-peanuts-for-Roman 15 million pounds.So he backed off. If a budding star has some connection with france in any possible means, the first person to spot him would be wenger.Likewise, Kompany,SWP,Patrice Evra,Sergio Ramos,Jesus Navas and many more bright talents have been spotted by wenger early.Just that he does not have courage and money to bid for these bright fellas.
Where have I said no other club came in for Essien?? Plz do read it carefully before commenting on my memory...maybe u shd get ur eyes checked!
ManU was the first to identify him as a teenager and in one of his interviews, Essien himself has stated that he had always wanted to play for ManU ever since he saw his idol Cantona play for them and later when he went there on trial.
All managers spot talented youngsters...it's just that they can sign only if they have money and courage...Wenger is just one among the many!
About Fergie, in recent years he may have become loony with age and may have made some bad choices but the fact is that he is appreciated by one and all for creating a team out of youngsters and also making some inspired signings like Keane and Cantona.
Btw, do you know Cantona is considered to be the best Premiership player in the last decade and Keane, at 34 may have become old but he is still the considered to be one among the best defensive midfielders in the world. Hope u still remember the thrashing Arsenal got at the hands of ManU last season and how Keane easily dwarfed Viera in midfield!
Post a Comment
<< Home