Chelsea’s Foolery With Real Madrid

Posted by admin on Dec 25, 2007 in General | 3 comments

Chelsea’s Foolery With Real Madrid

To few it might seem like a obscure statement but to me it’s true. During the summer market I got really excited reading the news about Real Madrid signing Arjen Robben which Calderon claimed to be the best left winger in the world and one of his promises in his election campaign for the presidency. Half a season has passed now and i don’t remember a single La Liga game or Champions League match where Robben has appeared for 90 minutes or even an hour. By this time I am forced to consider Robben as another Woodgate and now when I look at the team sheet for Real Madrid before a match, it doesn’t surprise me if Robben’s name isn’t mentioned.

A rare site, seeing Robben on the field in a Real Madrid shirt

So why am I blaming Chelsea for it. Well I did get a little suspicious when I read Peter Kenyon’s(Chelsea’s Chief Executive) comments after the deal was completed with Real Madrid in which he said something about doubling your money and Chelsea doing a good business in the transfer market. So after 4 months I can see what he meant there. Robben is an injury plagued player who so early in his career is beginning to run out of fitness required to play at the highest level. Glass knees they called Robben in England and i cannot argue with that. Now I know Real Madrid have their own medical team to look into these matters before the signing of the contract with all the medical tests but I think Chelsea could’ve showed some courtesy informing Real Madrid of Robben’s fitness situation which I think will continue to haunt Real Madrid.

I also think that Robben is not going to get over this injury problem that easily and these type of injuries will stay with him for the rest of his career, although he is young I am not expecting big things from Robben. Do not think that i don’t like him as a player in fact I do think he is one of the best wingers in the world if he plays and stays fit ofcourse.

Roben is definitely struggling there
(Courtesy uk.eurosport.yahoo.com)

So what’s my proposal, I am not going to start a new story here, bluntly put I say trade Robben with Ricardo Quaresma of Fc Porto who is I think 22 and is hailed as Figo’s successor in portugal and I think he is more effective than Cristiano Ronaldo. Quaresma possesses pace, pass, shoot and everything you need in a winger. Biggest edge he has over Robben? he stays fit to play(of course he isn’t injury free), you don’t get a prize for guessing that. He also defends better than Robben as he is physically stronger than Robben.

Ricardo Quaresma controlling an awkward ball
(Courtesy ricardoquaresma.net)

So why did not Real Madrid thought of Quaresma before Robben, well obviously he costs lot and even Real Madrid could not afford both of them as Schuster is a big fan of Dutch players, Real Madrid had to go for Robben. I still think Quaresma can be the best player in the world given that he moves as early as possible to a big club. As far as Robben goes I can just wish him luck to get fit and start playing on regular basis again.

Not the happiest player in the world
(Courtesy newsimg.bbc.co.uk)