An Observation...

Post by **T.S** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 11:38 pm

I was reading an interview with 'Arry Redknapp the other day and he was slagging off Edmonton's favourite Bulgarian; Dimitar Berbatov. He was talking about how his attitude is all wrong and the fact that he was sulking on the sidelines (against Newcastle) because he wasn't on the pitch was doing nothing for the morale of the team and only served to make things worse.

Sound familiar?

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not jumping on the 'Thank God we got rid of Thierry Henry - we've finally got a team now' bandwagon just yet, but it would certainly appear that his absence has galvanised the team; something that is backed up by performances and by what major players have said.

What really strikes me about all of this however, is how the two clubs in question dealt with the situation. Arsenal; no one player is bigger than the Club. If his presence in the dressing room is having a detrimental effect on the players, no matter how talented he is, he needs to go. On the other hand, Tottenham; Berbatov was arguably the find of the season last year and he is clearly far too talented a player to be playing at Spurs. So what do they do? Sack the manager who dares leave him out.

Just seems like a striking contrast to me, doesn't it you?

Magic Hat · Post by **Magic Hat** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 8:08 am

According to the Times, one of the board members wanted Harry Redknapp to replace Jol in the summer, maybe the one board member that has sense? Redknapp is a very good manager and clearly the board don't trust Jol so it would have been better for everyone if they sacked him before season started.

Jol had to go after they undermined him but hey, I'm sure Clive Allen or whoever will get Berbs playing

Read somewhere that Jol wanted to sell Berbatov in the summer and was delighted when Man U was going to buy him as he could use the cash to rebuild the team. Did Jol forsee what was going to happen with the players attitude?

augie · Post by **augie** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 9:21 am

Forgive me but I just do not buy into the barbietov is brilliant bullshit. Yes he scored some good goals last season but he has done fcuk all this season. I have watched the **** a few times(for a laugh you understand) and he is without doubt one of the laziest b*stards I have ever seen on any pitch. I have watched him show for a pass from his midfielders and if they pass it elsewhere he totally turns his back on the game and strolls around. I strongly objected in the summer when some Gooners thought it would be nice to see him sign for us and I feel vindicated now. Barbietov & the spurts deserve each other

RaM · Post by **RaM** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 9:44 am

The interview you're talking about is in my thread from a while ago entitled 'Bulgarian Bitch'....

Post by **I Hate Hleb** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 11:06 am

AUGIE,

YOU ARE ENTITLED TO THINK THAT HIS ATTITUDE STINKS OR THAT HE WOULDN'T SUIT OUR FOOTBALL SYSTEM, BUT TO DOUBT BERBATOV IS A WORLD CLASS TALENT IS REALLY FOOTBALL IGNORANCE OR JUST PLAIN STUBBONESS/HATRED, SURELY?

AS FOR NOT PRODUCING THIS SEASON, YOU COULD SAY THE EXACT SAME ABOUT RONALDINHO BUT YOU WOULDN'T CALL HIS TALENT INTO QUESTION ON THAT BASIS, WOULD YOU?

DB10 my Hero · Post by **DB10 my Hero** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 1:20 pm

I don;t think you can doubt the talent and skill of Berbatov (there i said it), but as other's have mentioned his attitude and application is not what you would expect of a top professional footballer.

All the talent in the world is meaningless if the worth ethic and attitude are not there, and they are definitely areas he is weak in, kind of reminds of Jermain Pennant, all the talent in the world, but shitty attitude.

dvbrisgooner1 · Post by **dvbrisgooner1** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 6:42 pm

A friend of mine was saying throughout last season that people should reserve judgement on Berbatov until after his second year - he is now being proved right. IF Berbatov was World-Class then he would be banging the goals in still. I remember Martin Hayes scoring 20-odd goals in 86-87, but that was only one season.

Post by **I Hate Hleb** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 7:18 pm

AS THE CLICHE GOES: FOOTBALL IS A GAME OF OPINIONS. HOWEVER, BERBATOV SCORED A GOAL EVERY 2 GAMES IN GERMANY - NOT A BAD RECORD AND PROOF THAT HE CAN CAN BE CONSISTENT AND CUT IT IN A TOUGH LEAGUE.

HIS RECORD AT INTERNATIONAL LEVEL IS EVEN BETTER AT AROUND 2 GOALS EVERY 3 GAMES!!

YOU CAN ACCUSE BERBATOV OF BEING MANY THINGS BUT ONLY THE UNINFORMED OR A FOOL WOULD DOUBT THAT HE IS WORLD CLASS!!

WengerKnows · Post by **WengerKnows** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 7:41 pm

i would take berbatov over ade anyday

p.s. please dont ban my account for this blasphemy , just being honest .

26may1989 · Post by **26may1989** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 8:42 pm

I'm with augie on this, Berbatov is good but he's not world class, at least not yet. I'm not being stubborn, honest IHH! I just think a very good player like Berbatov can look better, at least for one season, by being in the company of a mediocre bunch of players.

And given his behaviour recently, no, I wouldn't take him over Ade. Technically Berbatov's better but as 'Arry says, that doesn't matter if the player hasn't got the character to match.

I also disagree with the premise of TS's question. Henry didn't cover himself in glory the last 18 months or so, and it's clear he had become a problem for the team dynamic, but he never behaved like Berbatov has. That said, TS's point, that Spurs don't root out the problem as ruthlessly as Arsenal did, is right.

dvbrisgooner1 · Post by **dvbrisgooner1** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 8:30 pm

I Hate Hleb wrote: HIS RECORD AT INTERNATIONAL LEVEL IS EVEN BETTER AT AROUND 2 GOALS EVERY 3 GAMES!!

YOU CAN ACCUSE BERBATOV OF BEING MANY THINGS BUT ONLY THE UNINFORMED OR A FOOL WOULD DOUBT THAT HE IS WORLD CLASS!!

International level? Two words - David Healey.

Magic Hat · Post by **Magic Hat** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 9:04 pm

An inconsistent forward, talent but too prone to suffering bad form as well as good. Your point? Healey suffered it last time and is now flying in a spell of good form

dvbrisgooner1 · Post by **dvbrisgooner1** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 9:11 pm

Not quite. My point is that international level is a myth. David Healey has scored all these goals at international level - but he will never be top player in the Premiership. Peter Crouch is another prime example. Sadly, and I hope to God he isn't, Eduardo may be the same.

Post by **I Hate Hleb** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 1:46 am

ARE YOU SERIOUSLY COMPARING HEALY WITH BERBATOV?

YES THE POINT YOU MAKE ABOUT INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL IS TO SOME EXTENT TRUE BECAUSE IT DEPENDS ON THE OPPOSITION YOU HAVE PLAYED, AND A LOT OF WORLD CUP/EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING GROUPS NOW DAYS HAVE MANY PISS-POOR TEAMS IN THEM.

HOWEVER, I NOTE THAT IN SUPPORT OF YOUR ARGUEMENT YOU CHOSE TO COMPARE HEALY'S INTERNATIONAL RECORD WITH THAT OF BERBATOV BUT NOT HIS CLUB ONE. I WOULD SUBMIT TO YOU THAT THERE-IN LIES THE DIFFERENCE IN CLASS BETWEEN THEM.

Magic Hat · Post by **Magic Hat** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 8:02 am

Crouch scores against championship or lower teams for England (which still makes him more of a threat then Rooney), Healy when on form scores against top eight worth Prem teams as does Dudu for their countries.