Transfers ‘n’ Stuff! Sol, Ben Arfa, Keane and Gyan?
Features, News | Marley Anderson | July 30, 2010 at 3:26 pm
So big Sol is finally a magpie and it comes at the ideal time for us, Steven Taylor is reported to be out for up to 3 months with his dodgy shoulder problems so it looks like Sol’s going to have a run in the first XI to prove he’s not too far over the hill.
When he arrived I thought “great, experienced and he knows the Premier League like the back of his hand” but to be honest, the thought of him playing every week slightly worries me. He’s still a top quality defender in my opinion, but the main worry for me is he is unbelievably slow! Seriously, a granny on a mobility scooter could have him in all sorts of trouble!
Obviously pace is a big factor when it comes to playing centre-half but one thing that could compensate for this is his ability to read the play before it happens. His positioning is also top drawer so hopefully this will mask his lack of pace. Another thing Chris Hughton will have to think of is the defensive line when Sol plays, if we defend high up there will be loads of grass for the opposition to exploit at will. And the very thought of someone like Craig Bellamy in a foot race against Sol frightens me! I prefer not to think about Campbell Vs Lennon!
Another thing he will undoubtedly bring is his experience which hopefully he can pass on to Messrs Taylor, Williamson and especially Perch, Kadar and Tozer. If a couple of them could get to even half the level of Campbell at his peak then we would be sorted at the back for a few seasons at least.
As far as other transfer rumours go, Hatem Ben Arfa is a must-buy in my opinion. A lot of people might be thinking “who?!” but trust me, this kid’s a flyer! Left-footed, unbelievably quick and a top class dribbler (as good as Gutierrez) he would be something of a coup for us.
The speculation around us being interested in him isn’t concrete but Hughton knows he’s a good player and could be looking at a loan with an option to buy which would be ideal for us because we would need to know if he can settle in England before we take him permanently. The thing that makes me say this is he’s a small player and he would definitely take a few hefty kicks once people realise how good he is, so whether he has the right temperament is a question mark.
His club, Marseille, want rid of him to fund a move for Newcastle reject Charles N’Zogbia and apparently the sale of Ben Arfa will provide the cash for the Wigan winger. So here’s hoping they can agree a loan deal with us and he can form a deadly wing duo with Gutierrez that would trouble ANY Premier League defence, although admittedly a deal looks far from being done.
I think we still need a striker before the Man United game in just over 2 weeks time, literally anyone with experience would be a good choice, maybe Robbie Keane? The Irishman will be overlooked this season at Spurs and wants out, but I’d only take him on loan for the season because he’s definitely past his best. There was also a rumour that Benjani was training with us during the off-season but let’s face it, he’s crap!
Ghana’s world cup star Asamoah Gyan was briefly linked with us too and he’d be a great signing. Fast, durable and a real handful is ideal for us, and I think he’d go well with Carroll up top.
There haven’t been too many rumours of strikers during the pre-season so I’m unsure as to whether Hughton will be bringing one or two in before the new season kicks off.
We’re not too far away from having a side that can definitely survive next season, maybe one or two more signings in the right areas and we’ll be fine.
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If we don't have a young CB that can come in for 3 months to cover S Taylor then sack the lot now, can't see why we aren't giving any of them a chance rather than a 35 year which is nothing more than a quick fix. Over the past 10 years or so we have lived on scraps from the top teams, this is no good, bring on the youngters and maybe keep Campbell for teams like Bolton as he will head the ball all day long. Fast passing teams like Arsenal and Man U are gonna rip him apart.
I would like us to go for Stephen Ireland, I know we have plenty of midfields but he scores goals too. He would team up well with Barton, Nolan or Smith.
sol was seen to be second fastest over 10 yards in premier last season u fool!!!…terrible article
Agree with Gyan and Ben Arfa! They will fit into the team! World Class players! We really need a new striker and a winger. Galtasaray`s winger Arda Turan would also be a great signing, but think he is too expensive. Would Amr Zaki be a good opinion in the attack?
totally agree with everything said here !!
Supposed to be just slower than Walcott at the Arsenl, but like you say experience and reading the game is more important than pace against most of the Prem,
I`m more concerned about Chris possibly sending Ranger out on loan ?
Keep him here ,play him as an impact sub at home, he`l pressurize the opposition defenders and maybe get a goal or two, He worked his socks off last season early on ,and changed a few games into winning ones ,ones we would prob have drawn or lost.
I say give the lad a chance, or whats the point of the youth policy?
Sol campbell was one of the best center backs in the world and is still one of the best in the country .Last year at arsenal he was probally there best player during his spell there , did you not watch the spurs match when he kept pace with that slow coach gareth bale over 50 mtres ,yes he is slower on the turn than of old ,but when he is match fit you will eat your words,he is so focused you will see a true pro and will be a great signing for you .Get down the training ground and you will find he will be one of the quickest players on the books.
Lovely looking site - how do I register?
thanks Stardust..means a lot :)____unfortunately at the minute the part of the site that allows visitors to register is not working properly so i'll get in touch with admin and get it sorted A.S.A.P for you
____in the meantime you'll just have to keep coming back regularly for updates, transfer rumours, match previews and match reports
sol isnt slow!?!?, anyway have you seen the speed of mobility scooters nowadays, Mr Bolt would struggle against one..
Sol Campbell slow, I don’t think so, maybe slower than he was but still faster than any of our other centre backs, and any centre half would struggle against bellamy or Lennon, remember bellamy against Ferdinand a few years ago? How many players are blessed with the pace they have anyway? As for benjami, he didn’t train with us, this article was done out of pure boredom I think. Crap.
Right, nit picking time! Sol, slow? Nonsense! As stated before, he was one of the quickest CB’s in the EPL! not exactly slow, but never mind! Hatem Ben Arfa… Most people would have heard of him, your slightly behind here! I’d take him on a permanent basis! He’s stupidly quick, amazing technical ability, and for £5-7m it’s a bargain, although he is like Bellamy, slightly short tempered! Gyan is a yes. Enough said! Spurs don’t want rid of Keane, they are looking to use him this season, as they may need back up for the UCL! I think, you need to catch up, and take notice of other blogs mate, a poor post to say the least!
sol might have lost a bit of pace, but when spurs played arsenal he kept up with gareth bale in a straight race, using his strength as well, so hopefully not that slow
I watched Sol keep pace enough with gareth bale over 50 yards to make a tackle.
I also watched Sol make ground up on Rodellega to get the ball before him.
He takes a while to get going, but he certainly can shift. I think its his agility his lacking i.e. turning when he gets turned, not his pace, but i think he has the experience to make up for that.
Maybe its the extra weight?? lol, this guy is quick……
http://www.caughtoffside.com/2009/08/23/top-ten-f...
Makes me laugh how anyone can moan about us signing sol,he is still a top CB if he was past it why would the gooners offer him another year??? He is better than any CB we have now or have had in the last 10years or so n if you can name 5 prem CB who r faster stronger n read the game like he does I will be very impressed!!
No doubt Sol can hold his own against the best, certainly one of the speedier CB`s in the game, have no idea why he was`nt in the W/Cup side ?
Look if people like Wenger rate him, who are we to differ.
He will bring an enormous amount of experience to the back four and hopefully some understanding to a somewhat leaderless defense.
Ben Arfa , a similar player to McGeady, perhaps come cheaper, sure both would add speed ,dribbling ability both lefties, but can play accross the midfield,
Either one would improve the side, but the real gem becomming available is Steve Ireland, possibly the most talented AM in the league, would not come cheap but could install that belief that we are for real and help attract
better quality players to a resurgent club with serious inentions to-wards becoming a top competitive club, not a surviver hunting in the bargain basements of the lower leagues.
Sol is a good short term signing. Good for this season and maybe next. The lad keeps himself fit.
I am happy enough with him being here, good experienced (and honest) signing.
Would like a few more young up and coming promising lads too. Its how Keegan did it when we came up last time.
We need decent midfielders too.
What was OK in the Chumpionship isn't good enough in the Prem.
Think we need a DM with abit of pace,smiths ok there but against the top 6 or 7 clubs in the prem think games will pass him by n he will get overrun I’d like to see Guthrie n Barton play against rangers they r both box to box players n have the vision needed in the prem to pick that killer ball! Best is looking good in pre season got abit of pace bout him n if he can keep it up could be good match with Carroll! Also need cover for LB n wingers!