Howard Lamb
(Ed’s note, this was submitted yesterday before the Sunderland match kicked off, but too late to be posted on the site)
I’ve just picked up the Sport section of this morning’s Times and I’m incandescent! And that’s putting it mildly. Barely a week after Wenger’s statement that Arsenal were “going for the quadruple” had simplified McLeish’s Birmingham team talk, and whilst the Carling Cup ashes are still warm, I find on the front page of this supplement a prediction by Nana Nasri that “Arsenal are title favourites”! He then continues the theme by pontificating that neither Man Utd nor Barcelona are as strong as they were last season.
What planet is this current squad on? Isn’t it clear to them that this type of statement just serves to fire up the opposition even more? Surely it’s much more subtle to play down your own chances and try to make the other side overconfident. How often have “mortally injured” opposition players with no chance of getting fit in time for the big game risen like Lazarus from the dead to line up against us?
This squad really needs to wise up if they are ever going to win anything - other than the amusement of those who thrive on our continual comeuppance and lack of silverware. Win first, then gloat; as a well-known Chelski fan said - Put Up or Shut Up! I suspect there will soon be wry smiles on the faces of Fergusmoan and Guardiola when they read this – not to mention Steve Bruce as he pins up this morning’s Times in the dressing room this afternoon - job half done lads!
PS - Ironically, there is a brilliant article in the same supplement about Dennis Bergkamp entitled ‘The Iceman Cometh’. Now there was a really streetwise, savvy, quietly confident - WINNER!
