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It’s long been rumoured that free agent Robert Pires could be coming to Aston Villa and Gary McAllister has just confirmed that the Frenchman will be “joining in the next two or three days“.
We’ll have to see in what capacity he’ll join, although he’s apparently been training with Arsenal, even if he arrives in tip-top shape, he’s still 37. That said, he is, or was, an exceptionally good player and having a World Cup and European Championship winner available for the likes of Albrighton and Bannan to look up to will do absolutely no harm whatsoever. He could be worth his weight in gold.
I, for one, certainly welcome his arrival. As a free agent, since we didn’t use our full quota of the new Premier League 25 man squad, he can be added to play straight away. I wouldn’t expect to see him bombing up and down the flanks for 90 minutes, but I’m certain he can come in to play some significant part in games, injecting some experience and creativity when we need it.
This also must mean that Birmingham is a beautiful city since Pires snubbed a move to Philadelphia earlier this year saying “[I don't] want to be fussy but if I have to go far away with my family, I prefer to do it in a beautiful town.”
Or it’s close. You know, either way.
Hey Bobby, what’s French for Up The Villa? (I know, wrong Frenchman, but it sort of works, cut me some slack).
Instead of “Robert has been training at Arsenal. I know the boss and Arsène Wenger are very friendly and I believe he’s going to join us in the next two or three days”
…you will now find…
“Robert has been training at Arsenal. I know the boss and Arsene Wenger are very friendly and I believe he’s spoken to him.”
The final sentence, an attempt to sell tickets for the Arsenal match as Pires “tie-in” has also been altered.
Oops
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5 Comments to “Robert Pires set for Aston Villa, Birmingham must be “beautiful””
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I’m really not sure what to make of this, if it is indeed true.
My immediate thoughts were “you’ve got to be kidding?”, but I believe he might be coming in a player/coach capacity?
Could be a very good move in that sense, as he’ll seen as a winner amongst the other players.
Sky have been saying the same sort of thing and while I know they’re not always right, they’re usually not far off the mark, so I’d expect this one to happen.
Slight aside, but I’d love Benzema down the Villa for a few months, even if he’s only “getting his hand back in”. Quality player, imo.
I really don’t expect that one to happen though.
What position can we expect Pires to play in? It would be a shame if he went in and “took” the spot instead of downing/albrighton/young when they started finding eachother so good, especially with Gabby infront of them. Maybe Bannan and Pires in the middle though?
I like the idea, if it is true. At 37 I doubt he’ll be playing the full 90-minutes but having a sprinkling of experience among a group of very young players will be important this season. Hopefully Pires can play a role off the bench to help change the game dynamic and help the youngsters learn what it takes to step up to the next level.
As to position, I’d imagine he might slot in anywhere in the midfield as a 80th minute substitute or a game-changer when the younger players have their inevitable off-game.
yeah, i would imagine this would fill a gap while we have so many injured, specifically in the middle, and maybe his experience can help stop us shipping late goals.
hopefully this is a transition to a coaching role though. a coaching staff of mcallister, cowans, pires with the players they have to work with is a tasty prospect in my book.
we’ll have to see if it happens. the whisper is that he’s passed a medical, but houllier isn’t rushing in.
Do we really need more coaching staff? Too many voices, who do you listen to?