We've missed out...twice!!

[Locotoro]

I was at the Barnet v Arsenal friendly, cheering on Barnet of course, as my friend had some spare tickets.

Two things I noticed, and regrettably so, Chamakh came on in the second half and was fantastic with every touch as a target/link striker. Now I have been following him throughout his career as a fellow Moroccan and yes, admittedly it was Barnet, but he looked a step above all the other Arsenal players too. He wont score an awful lot in the Premiership but he will get at least 20 assists playing that way, which is depressing because he would be ideal as one of our forward line.

The other thing I saw, which was bitter sweet, Sam Cox, the recently released was exceptional. He snuffed out Arshavin the whole first half from fullback, he literally had him in the pocket and switched to DM in the second and broke up attack after attack. What a prospect!

We have certainly missed a trick...or two!

 

[Spurs_Bear]

That's more to do with Arshavin being shit though.....

 

[kcmei]

i thought arshavin raped him (not literally) the whole time he was on the pitch...

 

[JustDoggy]

Meh. Seen Sam Cox play a few times and think he will have a career in professional football. Just not anywhere near the Premier League.

 

[brasil_spur]

It's an early pre-season game. Darren Bent and Wayne Routledge both had great pre-seasons for us..... but i wouldn't want either back.

 

[Locotoro]

i thought arshavin raped him (not literally) the whole time he was on the pitch...

Are you serious? Arshavin only managed to get down the line once during that whole half and that was only because Traore doubled up on the fullback to release Arshavin.

Im assuming you were there. What did you think of Chamakh?

 

[brett.spurs]

My Gooner mate said that Chamakh looked off the pace :-| Whilst Arshavin was among their best players, so one of you is lying :wink:

 

[Locotoro]

My Gooner mate said that Chamakh looked off the pace :-| Whilst Arshavin was among their best players, so one of you is lying :wink:

Bloody hell!!

Football can be so subjective. But therein is your answer! He's a Gooner so dont expect him to know a good footballer when he's sees one :wink:

 

[kcmei]

i thought arshavin scored 1 and provided 2 (or 1) assists and nearly more coz i watched the game while arshavin was on

 

[Locotoro]

Admittedly I missed the first goal because I was a bit late so I don't know who scored that. [EDIT: Apparently it was Arshavin so I cede on that point] But after that he hit the bar with a shot from range and didn't make any assists from what I saw. Wilshere set up both of Simpson's goals.

 

[bomberH]

I like Sam Cox a lot, especially since she became a carpet muncher.

 

[tony_parkes]

I like Sam Cox a lot, especially since she became a carpet muncher.

When she became a carpet muncher I thought she changed her name to Sam Fannys?

 

[SpurSince57]

It's an early pre-season game. Darren Bent and Wayne Routledge both had great pre-seasons for us..... but i wouldn't want either back.

Bent actually had a decent season for us, and knocked in 24 goals for Sunderland last season. Yes, the guy's a seriously limited foothaller, but what he does well—popping up in the right place, at the right time, and scoring—he does very well. It's an ability not to be sneered at.

 

[Misfit]

Bent actually had a decent season for us, and knocked in 24 goals for Sunderland last season. Yes, the guy's a seriously limited foothaller, but what he does well—popping up in the right place, at the right time, and scoring—he does very well. It's an ability not to be sneered at.

Pfft, since when did goals win games? Was a signing that never really sat right. Just not a natural fit for the team. Although, as you say, he wasn't a flop in terms goals.

As for the rather absurd Torres vs. Bent threads that popped up all over the interwebz, well - he's still got two hamstrings at least. I wonder when Newcastle will again be in a position to horribly overpay Liverpool for Torres.

 

[brasil_spur]

Bent actually had a decent season for us, and knocked in 24 goals for Sunderland last season. Yes, the guy's a seriously limited foothaller, but what he does well—popping up in the right place, at the right time, and scoring—he does very well. It's an ability not to be sneered at.

Im not sneering, just stating that i wouldn't want Bent at Spurs again which is what the OP was saying about the two gooners.

I'd also take issue with Bent having a decent season for us if i could be bothered.

 

[alamo]

Im not sneering, just stating that i wouldn't want Bent at Spurs again which is what the OP was saying about the two gooners.

I'd also take issue with Bent having a decent season for us if i could be bothered.

Have to agree with you there. As productive as his time was I simply didn't enjoy watching Bent play. Wasn't sad to see him leave and haven't missed him

 

[StartingPrice]

Think what is interesting is that you say he won't score a shed load of goals but will get lots of assists...'cos what the Goons need is a striker who IS gonna get a shed loada goals. That and a few players in defence/midfield capable of standing up to strong, physical sides who bully them and from what I have seen of the TW so far I don't think they have bought either.

 

[SpurSince57]

If the Gooners were unhappy with Adebayor's lack of composure in front of goal, they're absolutely going to love thiis guy.

 

[tommo84]

I don't think you can read anything into pre-season games - especially the first few.

There is a great deal of disparity in fitness from one player to the next and that affects sharpness too, while some players don't really start trying until a week or two before the season starts.

Remember when we beat Roma 5-0 and we all thought we were world beaters, and then couldn't win a real game for toffee? The only thing us fans can really take from pre-season games is an idea of who the manager likes and doesn't like, and as so many of our players are still on holiday we can't even get much of a sense for that for a couple of weeks.

 

[Locotoro]

Think what is interesting is that you say he won't score a shed load of goals but will get lots of assists...'cos what the Goons need is a striker who IS gonna get a shed loada goals. That and a few players in defence/midfield capable of standing up to strong, physical sides who bully them and from what I have seen of the TW so far I don't think they have bought either.

That's a fair point, but if he is capable of increasing the tally of goals by an additional 30 with a combination of goals and assists, which I do think he is capable of then that is surely better that bringing in a guy who will score you a straight 30 goals and contribute nothing else.

I don't think you can read anything into pre-season games - especially the first few.

There is a great deal of disparity in fitness from one player to the next and that affects sharpness too, while some players don't really start trying until a week or two before the season starts.

Yes I agree with the sentiment of your post. But I have been following Chamakh since he broke through into the Moroccan national team and he is the modern day Link/Target man in much the way Kanoute was for us in his prime (When he was sorely under-appreciated). I have seen him in his bad periods and he is capable of doing a decent job. When he's on form, he's unstoppable in the air.

I guess my only concern is whether he would have adapted to the English league but I do think that he has the bottle to dominate a few centre backs in this league.