No big intro today, other than to highlight the fact that Rooney and Chicharito being back probably has us all scrambling to figure out how to align our teams to get as many United players as possible into our line-ups against Norwich.
Showing posts with label Gervinho. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gervinho. Show all posts
The Week Ahead, Part Two - Player Picks
Sometimes we, and by we I mean the blog, pay the price for this not being a full time job. There are times when the job that pays the bills takes precedence over the enjoyment of bringing you blog posts so long that your bosses, significant others, non-fantasy-playing friends, and children complain about the time spent on them on occasion. I enjoy writing them as much as (I hope) you enjoy reading them. Unfortunately, Wednesday and yesterday found me focused from dawn until dusk on my day job and with only enough energy to write part 1 of The Week Ahead. Because I'm guessing you'd rather have the player picks as soon as I can get them to you versus waiting until I come up with a good-sized rant to open the column, I'll dispense with the usual prelude and get right to the picks.
The Week Ahead: Part 1
The Best Interests of the Game.
For all of the imperfections that have existed in the past and continue to exist in Major League Baseball, the governance of the game has embedded within it a clause that the commissioner can use to fill in when the rules as written just don't apply properly to the situation at hand.
There are two reasons I mention this in a column about the Premier League. First, baseball sensibly has an "out" clause that the Premier League clearly lacks to help facilitate the right thing being done. Second, baseball (and all American sports) rightly have appointed individuals (Commissioners) who are charged with overseeing their leagues, acting as figureheads/PR talking heads, and acting as the lightning rod for controversy when things go wrong. The controversy at St. James Park on the opening Saturday of the season underscored the lack of an individual in the driver's seat with sufficient latitude to ensure that the right thing happens.
If the Premier League had a single Commissioner who the public generally held accountable (and feared in any way for the ability to hold down what is generally a high-paying, high-profile job) then the end result of this past weekend's melee would have been entirely different. I could be talked into red cards for everyone involved (Song, Barton, and Gervinho). I could be talked into yellow cards for all involved. I could be talked into reds for Song and Barton and a yellow for Gervinho. What I and any public-facing Commissioner would never be talked into under the confines of American sports is letting a technicality like "we already awarded Barton a yellow card so we can't even review it and get it right" because that's the way our screwed up system works.
A Commissioner that is forced to meet regularly with reporters, go on sports talk radio, and watch his name crushed on social media would find a way to get it right, and fast. Apologies would be issued for the way things turned out. Slowly but surely, the tide of public opinion would force even the most traditional of traditionalists (you listening Mr. Selig) to do things like enlist video replay to get more things right.
Instead, the Premier League continues on with a Chairman, a Chief Executive, and a Board of Directors to oversee day-to-day operations. If ever there was a way to diffuse responsibility for things going wrong, this would be the way. A Google search for "Barton" and "Scudamore" (the Chief Executive of the Prem) yielded exactly 13 hits under the "news" tab. You have to try hard to find a search that yields only 13 hits. A similar search for "Artest" and "Stern" yielded 30x more hits associated with a particularly ugly incident in the National Basketball Association. Another similar search on "Selig" (MLB commissioner) and Dodgers (a financially troubled team where he had to step in) yielded even more than that.
My point is that with a diffused management structure at the league and even more ability to avoid responsibility by hiding behind the FA, UEFA, and FIFA there's almost no chance that the Premier League as currently constituted will ever be serious about making things better. It would be like expecting FIFA to not be corrupt or the NCAA to make decisions that are in the best interests of the fans or the players.
Sadly, unlike most of my rants, I don't really have a proposed solution here. The league has to WANT to change and make things better. The clubs have to decide that there's some risk to their financial health to not making the change. The way things are going with TV revenues, etc. that seems highly unlikely. We'll just have to suffer through poor decisions left un-reviewed, no video replays, and an absence of even modest improvements like referees using spray paint to keep walls from encroaching like they do in the US and Argentina.
For all of the imperfections that have existed in the past and continue to exist in Major League Baseball, the governance of the game has embedded within it a clause that the commissioner can use to fill in when the rules as written just don't apply properly to the situation at hand.
There are two reasons I mention this in a column about the Premier League. First, baseball sensibly has an "out" clause that the Premier League clearly lacks to help facilitate the right thing being done. Second, baseball (and all American sports) rightly have appointed individuals (Commissioners) who are charged with overseeing their leagues, acting as figureheads/PR talking heads, and acting as the lightning rod for controversy when things go wrong. The controversy at St. James Park on the opening Saturday of the season underscored the lack of an individual in the driver's seat with sufficient latitude to ensure that the right thing happens.
If the Premier League had a single Commissioner who the public generally held accountable (and feared in any way for the ability to hold down what is generally a high-paying, high-profile job) then the end result of this past weekend's melee would have been entirely different. I could be talked into red cards for everyone involved (Song, Barton, and Gervinho). I could be talked into yellow cards for all involved. I could be talked into reds for Song and Barton and a yellow for Gervinho. What I and any public-facing Commissioner would never be talked into under the confines of American sports is letting a technicality like "we already awarded Barton a yellow card so we can't even review it and get it right" because that's the way our screwed up system works.
A Commissioner that is forced to meet regularly with reporters, go on sports talk radio, and watch his name crushed on social media would find a way to get it right, and fast. Apologies would be issued for the way things turned out. Slowly but surely, the tide of public opinion would force even the most traditional of traditionalists (you listening Mr. Selig) to do things like enlist video replay to get more things right.
Instead, the Premier League continues on with a Chairman, a Chief Executive, and a Board of Directors to oversee day-to-day operations. If ever there was a way to diffuse responsibility for things going wrong, this would be the way. A Google search for "Barton" and "Scudamore" (the Chief Executive of the Prem) yielded exactly 13 hits under the "news" tab. You have to try hard to find a search that yields only 13 hits. A similar search for "Artest" and "Stern" yielded 30x more hits associated with a particularly ugly incident in the National Basketball Association. Another similar search on "Selig" (MLB commissioner) and Dodgers (a financially troubled team where he had to step in) yielded even more than that.
My point is that with a diffused management structure at the league and even more ability to avoid responsibility by hiding behind the FA, UEFA, and FIFA there's almost no chance that the Premier League as currently constituted will ever be serious about making things better. It would be like expecting FIFA to not be corrupt or the NCAA to make decisions that are in the best interests of the fans or the players.
Sadly, unlike most of my rants, I don't really have a proposed solution here. The league has to WANT to change and make things better. The clubs have to decide that there's some risk to their financial health to not making the change. The way things are going with TV revenues, etc. that seems highly unlikely. We'll just have to suffer through poor decisions left un-reviewed, no video replays, and an absence of even modest improvements like referees using spray paint to keep walls from encroaching like they do in the US and Argentina.
Season Preview - Arsenal
Quick Reminder, Real Life
As we are all constantly reminded, Arsenal experienced what is becoming their typical season again last term. They looked to be contenders on a number of fronts from August until about February and then everything pretty much fell apart. The injuries mounted, the tragi-comic errors re-surfaced, and all was lost in about the time it takes to soft-boil an egg. Lest we forget all the positives,
Quick Reminder, Fantasy
Robin van Persie was fantasy gold when healthy (which was more than usual). Samir Nasri was a stud in the first half but dropped off significantly in the second half. Cesc Fabregas was solid but nowhere near his fantasy peak, though he was still priced as an elite fantasy player. Wilshere reminded us that you can be both talented and effective but still be mediocre for fantasy purposes. The combination of injuries and attacking rotation - Theo Walcott, Andrei Arshavin, Marouane Chamakh, Niklas Bendtner, Tomas Rosicky, Denilson, Abou Diaby - meant that there was little long term value to be had but plenty of fantasy points still scored.
Summer Changes
Weekend Notes
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| Pre-season Grinds On |
Before we get to the reason for the post, I'll also take a moment to bask in the excitement of the incredible weekend in Philadelphia sports. The Phillies (baseball for those who aren't into the American sports) started the weekend with the best record in baseball. The Eagles (American football) one-upped the Phillies by acquiring a ton of defensive talent as the season gets ready to start which firmly entrenches them as one of the top contenders for the Super Bowl title. The Phillies, not to be outdone, also made a strong acquisition to fill one of the few gaps in their line-up as they prepare for their playoffs in October. Oh, and on the field the Phillies have won both of their games thus far this weekend. Good weekend to be a Philly sports fan.
So, aside from writing and basking in the glow of being a Philly sports fan in 2011, I also got to watch a decent amount of pre-season action. For those who had better things to do with their time, here are some observations from the Emirates Cup and a few Manchester United pre-season friendlies.
Emirates Cup
Theo Walcott Injured Again
Groundhog Day.
Theo Walcott has been forced to fly home with an ankle injury.
Walcott will now undergo further scans with the new Premier League season just two weeks away.
"Theo went home early and was due to have an MRI on Tuesday," Wenger said.
"It is an old ankle injury from the end of last season. It's one that comes and goes.
"We need some more investigation because sometimes he's completely free of it and sometimes it affects him.
"But we had to send him back because he couldn't practice anymore."
At least it is not a new injury, but this is not how he wanted to start the new season. Especially with Gervinho ready to play on the right of a front three.
Gervinho's First Goal for Arsenal
Wenger: Gervinho can play on the right, on the left or through the middle. He can be an instant hit. http://t.co/rqwcEezless than a minute ago via web 
FFScout
First game, first touch, first goal. I'd say that yes, he's an instant hit!
UPDATE: He does it again!
16' GOAL!! Gervinho again. Great goal. Wilshere sprays it out to Walcott who races through before squaring to the striker. He taps it in from 6 yards.
Nice to see Wilshere, who assisted on the first goal, creating the second as well. He's going to have to be huge for Arsenal this season. It remains to be seen if he's going to ever be a fantasy stud - I think a Modric-type return is his ceiling - but Arsenal are going to go as far as he takes them this season. Assuming he's the last man standing in that midfield.
The Worst Hair This Side of Trump Coming to the Emirates
ESPN Soccernet - On The Move
15.31 We're hearing that Gervinho's move to Arsenal in a £10.5 million deal from Lille is all but a done deal. Confirmation imminent.
With the news that Gervinho is extremely likely to arrive at The Emirates, here are some quick thoughts.
The Player
My expectations range from "good" to "very good" as a player. He will add an element of speed that Arsenal only currently have when Walcott is healthy/playing/in form. He is also likely to be a little more refined than Theo which is nice. I don't think he will be a superstar in the Premier League but he certainly should be a more than solid contributor.
Playing Time
Here's the big question since Arsenal are already pretty well stocked with attackers who like to play in similar spaces. I think we can all agree that Bendtner is gone but he really didn't get much playing time when everyone was healthy so that doesn't open up much for Gervinho. That brings up the possibility that Gervinho is a preemptive move to replace one or more of the players rumored to be leaving. If the rumor mill is to be believed then Nasri is the most likely to need replacing but here's my theory: Gervinho looked to me, in limited viewing, like more of an Arshavin replacement as far as positioning on the field and skills than a Nasri replacement.
If you consider that Wenger essentially replaced Bendtner last season (with Chamakh) then this move could the the continuation of a trend in which he is buying logical replacements a year ahead rather than waiting until a player is gone to replace them. Arshavin and Gervinho could split that spot in the starting line-up this season with Arsh leaving in January or next summer once Wenger is comfortable that Gervinho is settled and up to the task.
Fantasy Value
If my assumption above is correct, this will be a really annoying situation for fantasy managers. Position-sharing is one of the more annoying things that we have to confront as we look to put our teams together. If I'm wrong and Arshavin is sold over the summer paving the way for Gervinho to start regularly then I'll be very excited about him in the Yahoo! format and at least somewhat excited about him in the PremierLeague.com format (where his initial price will inevitably be higher). I will be even more excited if he is listed as a midfielder in one or both formats.
Regardless of the above, I'm happy about this move although there are others that I'll be happier about (see, Samba, Cahill, and Hazard).
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