- Jan 20, 2006
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With good reason.
Fact of the matter is he has history as a troublemaker, do we let that continue or do we chance that he feels "ok" next season.
We don't really know that, do we? We've had one story that it was an argument over a beanie and a mobile, which is ridiculously trivial enough to be true, and another that Ade told the Bearded Wonder his tactics wouldn't work, which is also believable and also happened to be on the money. One can equally well argue that AVB acted like a dick.
Yes, he has a history of going off on one, right back to when he left Monaco (which is a good reason why he's not too likely to go back there). Again—and this really can't be stressed too much—that's the reason he's with us and not a CL club. Every window since 2009 we've had people banging on about how appalling it is we can't sign a top-class striker, apparently oblivious to the fact that we can't offer CL on a regular basis, or the insane wages City offer to compensate. We've done better out of him than some of his clubs, and he's contributed far more as a team player than Berbatov ever did.
And what's the alternative? Soldado, who seems to need his chances served up on a silver salver? Remy, whose form has been erratic all through his career and really isn't in the same class? Lukaku? Yes, of course Chelsea will flog him to us. Bony? Arsenal are already in, apparently, and I'd like a little insurance anyway. Kane? I really rate him, but I don't see him turning into a 15-20 goal a season striker just yet.
So, yes, I think it would be a good idea for Pochettino to humour Ade, because he really hasn't earned the right to be a 'My Way Or The Highway' boss in the Ferguson or van Gaal style.