When Peter Kenyon puts in an appearance on Chelsea TV tonight one of the questions I?m hoping he answers is - just what is going on with Arjen Robben? - because some of us can?t remain loyal to his cause for much longer and others have already disowned him on grounds of ever diminishing usefulness. Naturally, I won?t hold my breath, for in-depth interview it will not be, and weeks of silence on the matter is never going to be followed by sudden PK enlightenment.
Transfer deals are like doors, they have hinges and in Robben?s case the ?hinges? can vary from whether or not he really wants to go, his father wants him to go, or he?s afraid of a little bit of competition. A few thousand pounds a week, on top of a contract culminating in millions a year might be a hinge factor, but everybody bar the Media doubts this and, even in their case, the thinking is selective when it comes to a Chelsea player compared to others, who always deserve, as opposed to demand, salary increases. You lose count of the number of times our players are greedy whilst others secure their long term future, but judgement on Arjen can?t be made by anybody yet and while we await an outcome it?s interesting to contrast Chelsea?s current policy over keeping or nurturing young players with that of our main rival. And no, Loz, I?m not going to use this as an opportunity to regurgitate the Tevez saga and serve it up in a different form, although the Argentinean does get a mention?
Granted that there is no real mileage for the Media in massive coverage of the early days of our academy, or our efforts to develop talent throughout all the age ranges, but ManU are nevertheless forever feted on the subject, following their ?golden generation? of the late Nineties, and it?s galling to have this perpetuated at a time when their policy is clearly changing. For example, Giuseppe Rossi is sold to Villarreal for something in the region of ?7m and there is no mass Media outcry along the lines of ? twenty year old starlet allowed to go? or ?United now grooming players just to sell them on?. Admittedly, you can see why the club have done it - he has immense talent (ask Pauly), but failed to impress on loan at Newcastle and Fergie obviously believes him to be too lightweight to succeed in the Premiership when compared to the more streetwise Tevez.
So, after scoring for fun in their reserves and not getting a real chance at Premiership level, Rossi becomes just a good bit of business, as was Richardson to Sunderland and not long ago the midfielder Jones to Derby, who chose to be part of their promotion winning team while United forked out a fortune for Carrick. As if that evidence of Media myopia wasn?t enough, Nani and Anderson arrive to a fanfare trumpeting United?s great signings for the future - a massive statement of intent, I recall - but no mention of the shift towards chequebook diplomacy for supremacy.
Developing this theme and the change in policy further, let?s imagine how Fergie would have reacted if faced with the Robben issue. Well, doubtless a new contract would have been on the table in a trice, utilising the no longer required Malouda transfer monies, and Scott Sinclair would have been on his bike to any club who didn?t pose a threat, but had a spare ?6 million to spend. Naturally, there wouldn?t be a squeak out of the Media, except from Sky Sports News welcoming the signing of a new improved contract which secured the future of one of the world?s finest stars (we are imagining him as a United player, don?t forget) who would now grace the Premiership for many years to come (remember, his diving would be completely ignored) and continue the tradition of truly great wingers Manchester United have had over the years?who could forget George Best??need I go on?
Okay, it has taken ages to get round to it I know, but my point is that Kenyon may have dithered over Robben?s future at Chelsea, but, looking at the bigger picture, we do have a sturdier model than him already in place in Malouda and a potentially speedier, younger model in the garage called Sinclair, so the Chief Exec can afford to play a waiting game, if that is what he has done. Then again, the whole business may well have been settled ages ago and, as usual, we are the last to know until it is reported as Real getting their man, or Chelsea giving in to Robben?s wage demands.
Transfer deals are like doors, they have hinges and in Robben?s case the ?hinges? can vary from whether or not he really wants to go, his father wants him to go, or he?s afraid of a little bit of competition. A few thousand pounds a week, on top of a contract culminating in millions a year might be a hinge factor, but everybody bar the Media doubts this and, even in their case, the thinking is selective when it comes to a Chelsea player compared to others, who always deserve, as opposed to demand, salary increases. You lose count of the number of times our players are greedy whilst others secure their long term future, but judgement on Arjen can?t be made by anybody yet and while we await an outcome it?s interesting to contrast Chelsea?s current policy over keeping or nurturing young players with that of our main rival. And no, Loz, I?m not going to use this as an opportunity to regurgitate the Tevez saga and serve it up in a different form, although the Argentinean does get a mention?
Granted that there is no real mileage for the Media in massive coverage of the early days of our academy, or our efforts to develop talent throughout all the age ranges, but ManU are nevertheless forever feted on the subject, following their ?golden generation? of the late Nineties, and it?s galling to have this perpetuated at a time when their policy is clearly changing. For example, Giuseppe Rossi is sold to Villarreal for something in the region of ?7m and there is no mass Media outcry along the lines of ? twenty year old starlet allowed to go? or ?United now grooming players just to sell them on?. Admittedly, you can see why the club have done it - he has immense talent (ask Pauly), but failed to impress on loan at Newcastle and Fergie obviously believes him to be too lightweight to succeed in the Premiership when compared to the more streetwise Tevez.
So, after scoring for fun in their reserves and not getting a real chance at Premiership level, Rossi becomes just a good bit of business, as was Richardson to Sunderland and not long ago the midfielder Jones to Derby, who chose to be part of their promotion winning team while United forked out a fortune for Carrick. As if that evidence of Media myopia wasn?t enough, Nani and Anderson arrive to a fanfare trumpeting United?s great signings for the future - a massive statement of intent, I recall - but no mention of the shift towards chequebook diplomacy for supremacy.
Developing this theme and the change in policy further, let?s imagine how Fergie would have reacted if faced with the Robben issue. Well, doubtless a new contract would have been on the table in a trice, utilising the no longer required Malouda transfer monies, and Scott Sinclair would have been on his bike to any club who didn?t pose a threat, but had a spare ?6 million to spend. Naturally, there wouldn?t be a squeak out of the Media, except from Sky Sports News welcoming the signing of a new improved contract which secured the future of one of the world?s finest stars (we are imagining him as a United player, don?t forget) who would now grace the Premiership for many years to come (remember, his diving would be completely ignored) and continue the tradition of truly great wingers Manchester United have had over the years?who could forget George Best??need I go on?
Okay, it has taken ages to get round to it I know, but my point is that Kenyon may have dithered over Robben?s future at Chelsea, but, looking at the bigger picture, we do have a sturdier model than him already in place in Malouda and a potentially speedier, younger model in the garage called Sinclair, so the Chief Exec can afford to play a waiting game, if that is what he has done. Then again, the whole business may well have been settled ages ago and, as usual, we are the last to know until it is reported as Real getting their man, or Chelsea giving in to Robben?s wage demands.
