Cesc Feels The Love, Campbell Feels The Way, Technology & Transfer Talk

Spain did not need Cesc last night to beat Portugal, David Villa providing the obligatory offside goal. Still, if he thinks Vincent del Bosque doesn’t love him, he knows that Arsenal fans do, the Spaniard winning the Player of the Season award by a comfortable margin, 27% ahead of Thomas Vermaelen.

To the disappointment of the Spanish media, Wenger was commentating on the match last night but the pair meeting up never happened with Arsene now officially a ‘hack’, using the tradesman’s entrance to get into the ground whilst beforehand, Cesc was 300m from the media, warming up. Arsene also refused to comment on the tedious activities of Barcelona.

Back to the Player of the Year award. The order was probably correct but the inclusion of Robin van Persie highlights the distinctly ordinary form of the rest of the squad towards the backend of the season. It would be interesting to see how much of the vote Sol Campbell received, possibly the best indicator of that.

Sepp Blatter has apologised as convincingly as Tony Hayward to FA and the Mexicans for poor officiating standards in the Round of 16 clashes over the weekend. Two good things might emerge. Firstly, England’s 2018 bid will no doubt garner some sympathy votes when push comes to shove but even Blatter has now admitted that technology is back on the agenda.

There is a place for goal-line technology in the game, the quickness of the decision over the ball’s position in relation to the goal is no hinderance to the flow of the match. However for offside and other decisions, the flow of the game is such that to implement technology is extremely difficult. An easier way to resolve that particular issue would be simplification of the Laws of the Game.

Poor positional sense by the official last night allowed David Villa’s goal to count when it should have been ruled out, something that can only be solved by improved standards. However, there is some light with regards to offside ‘goals’ as replays could be inspected whilst celebrations continue, the screens in most big stadia would allow the replay to be shown to quell anger which is of concern to Fifa.

Blatter has argued spuriously, that football at the top should be the same as amateur. That is never going to happen, especially with fourth and more officials on the agenda. There are enough problems finding referees for matches in Sunday leagues without the added pressure of finding three more to stand behind goals and manage the managers.

The role of the fourth official has long been open to different interpretations. Some countries allow him to meddle more than others; it is time for that to be standardised. Replay-watcher-in-Chief is a good starting point.

As England’s World Cup woes fade into the background, waiting for a quieter day, the transfer talk ups the pace with more stories and linkage to the fore. First up is Madjid Bougherra, the Algerian international who kept Wayne Rooney quiet in South Africa. Not that it took much as the United striker was determined to show just how badly a pub player would cope at the highest level.

Simon Kjaer has lots of admirers around Europe, Arsene reportedly among them. Not that he has done anything about it. As with the Cole saga, Spurs are in the driving seat having reportedly lodged a €35m bid with Palermo for Kjaer and Cavani although no-one has bothered to tell the Dane’s Mr20%, which strikes me as a fundamental flaw in the process.

Kjaer may yet become more prominent in Arsene’s attentions as Sol Campbell has reportedly been looking around Celtic’s facilities, seemingly serious intent on both parties to conclude a deal. Newcastle are reportedly waiting in the wings.

He may yet stay at Arsenal but will the prospect of  being a coach on the pitch appeal to him? It might as that was one of the selling points in his ill-fated spell at Notts County. One can only hope that Kjaer shakes the Danish debacle against Japan out of his system should he join.

Meanwhile, not joining Arsenal this summer is Mario Balotelli according his Mr20%. The player is currently studying for his exams having successfully passed his police entrance exam. Entrance to the local nick that is, following an incident where he fired a toy gun in a Milanese plaza at the weekend.

Equally convincing in the ‘missing the Arsenal boat’ this summer is Loic Remy whose club, Nice, rejected an approach from West Ham. The suitcase stuffed full of Euros was too light for the French club’s tastes, only €9.5m crammed in. However, should the West Ham laundry lady iron them nicely, it is believed that they will be able to cram in a few more. Still, that won’t be enough for Remy who only wants to play for Arsenal or Nice. Which is nice.

Actually, that is not so fanciful as Eduardo has apparently told his agent he wants to leave Arsenal with Aston Villa reportedly enquiring about his availability whilst Newcastle wanting Arsenal starlet, Sol Campbell, no wait, sorry, it’s Henri Lansbury on loan, as well. Oh, and Bolton want Jack Wilshire back but they’ve been saying that for months.

’til Tomorrow.

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