Lukas Podolski
Welcome to Lukas Podolski. Especially welcome in what I hope is a statement of intent from Arsenal that this summer is going different to last year. That there might even be a plan. OK, so we were thoroughly screwed over by Barcelona, but the club’s collective management drifted through the summer with no obvious attempt to control events.
Wrapping up the Podolski deal now is hopefully a sign of a more assertive style. Much of course still hinges on coming third, or fourth at a pinch. Third place means that more early transfer business becomes easier and both will be needed to guarantee Robin Van Persie is with us next season. But a good start has been made with a proven international striker to share the load up front.
Man City
There are plenty of permutations to come this season, but City’s win last night is marginally in our favour. It gives them the strongest incentive to take out Newcastle at the weekend. And that comes after Newcastle’s trip to Stamford Bridge. The game itself wasn’t that exciting. Mancini finished it off the way you would expect from a traditional Italian manager defending a one nil advantage, with five defenders and three holding players.
Roy Hodgson
This season Roy Hodgson has taken a group of mid-range players, pulled them together as a team and guided them to a position where they are punching above their weight. He did the same thing at Fulham. Now it seems he has the same task again. So maybe the Club England committee just decided to get real.
Personally I think that he is as good a choice as any who would take it. It all went horribly wrong at Liverpool, but it’s debatable how much that wad down to Roy Hodgson. Look at all his replacement King Kenny has achieved, with the budget for massive spending on Andy Carroll, Jordan Henderson, Stewart Downing and Charlie Adam and wonder. Raul Meireles, who Hodgson took to Liverpool and King Kenny sold to Chelsea is playing regularly and scoring crucial goals.
Of course being England manager is a thankless task that requires a healthy dose of luck. The media have been laying into the decision, calling it a shock and astonishing. But this is mainly to cover up their embarrassing discovery that it wasn’t their decision to make. They crowned their mate Harry and said he was the only possible choice.
There’s something about Harry
To be fair to Harry, he has handled the announcement of Hodgson’s appointment with a lot of good grace, saying that he is very fortunate in life. And so he is, a very well paid job with some good players, nice house, car etc and a talented dog as well.
I wouldn’t have grumbled of he had got the England job but there is something about him that makes you think twice. Don’t know quite how to define it, but the FA obviously think so too.
The best media excuse is that it came down to some row with Trevor Brooking over West Ham. I doubt it. I think that England have made a pragmatic long-term choice. The long-term bit may be a bit optimistic because I think that the trend to club before country will continue and may even go further to the clubs’ advantage. But good luck to Roy.
Arsenal don’t play tomorrow but it’s a big day with our three rivals all playing their catch-up games. Then it’s just two to go for each. Eyes down for a tight finish.
