Rumours again that Behrami may be heading back to Italy or up to Unreal City. There will be some anxiety about this but, if we can really get £15m for him, that would have to represent great business. Yes the guy is all energy and enthusiasm but what does he actually contribute in the final third of the pitch? It is rare to see Behrami play a killer pass and even rarer to see him have a shot on target or break into the box, never mind score.
To my mind, Behrami is part of the "balance problem" that has afflicted us all season. We either look tight defensively but ineffective going forward; or full of goals ourselves but as leaky as a ninety eight year old granny at the back. Behrami offers superb defensive cover for the right back but gives the team very little in a creative sense. Put him in a workmanlike midfield featuring two of Parker, Noble and Kovac and it is easy to understand why goals are hard to come by.
If I was Zola, I would take the money, providing it was made available to strengthen the squad. I don't want to play "Who I would buy" games but I would look to recruit Eagles myself to offer creativity down the flanks. Doubt he would cost more than £3m if Burnley go down, so that would leave £12m to play with.
I would be very sad to see him go, but I must say I agree with you, £15 million is a massive amount of money for a workhorse.
ReplyDeleteWhen Parker was injured, behrami was our saviour, the one player on the pitch noteably playing his heart out, rounding up the troops in our recent hard times.
Now Parker is back doing that job in a more effective position (middle of the park as opposed to right mid) the graft is in a more needed area, and to be honest, Parker and kovac isn't the most creative of CM partnerships, and what with the transfer window giving us a group of strikers who are big, strong, and can header, a 'wing wizard' is the kind of player we need wide right (as we have on the left in Diamanti), which is not the kind of player we have in Behrami.
Must commend you in suggesting Chris Eagles. Creative spark, eye for a cross and the odd goal, and could potenially be a bargain. Thumbs up
He is a player I'd like to keep ... agreed he isn't the most creative however his versatilty is integeral to our long term success, I'd relly like to see him play center mid behind Parker where I feel his energy is best suited to disrupt close down and spoil any oposition midfield ... this is something I see happening if Zola stays ...
ReplyDeletedependant upon wages of course.
However £15m is big bucks and a huge profit ...
I like Behrami a lot. Sometimes when we're taking a kicking and the heads go down you need a player like him with energy and conviction. But I have to agree. If a good enough offer came in I'd let him go.
ReplyDeleteChris Eagles has impressed.
There is no way we will be offered 15m for Valon.
ReplyDeleteSimple as that.
He is one of our best players when fully fit, and one we should be basing our team around.
His agent said at the beginning of the season he will be staying put until the summer "and then we will look at things"
ReplyDeleteLike Tevez we have been used to put a player in the shop window and show other clubs he can cut it in the Premier league.
I have no doubt he will be off along with Upson, Green and Parker....
He's one of our best, hate to see him go.... at whatever price
ReplyDeleteHF - just wondered - was this one of your previous predictions? or is this a new prediction?
ReplyDeletePerhaps you could start a new blog called something like HF predictions, Astrology, Psychics, Psychic Readings, Horoscopes and Football which could be just like Russell Grant with the added bonus of including the beautiful game.
You could also run a premium rate phone line too - just imagine with all those correct predictions, gamblers would pay a fortune.
Just think, if I charged 10p for every hit on this blog, I would have earned £23,000 over the last six months.
ReplyDeleteI would like to see us go for Chris Brunt of West Brom. Also creative, also has an eye for goal and an ugly mug to boot that winds up the opposition.
ReplyDeleteHF - only 10p a hit? you're selling yourself short - I'd pay a tenner!
ReplyDeleteIt has to be said, Behrami has never been the same player since coming back from his injury.
ReplyDelete