With apologies to Fatboy Slim, ins, outs and maybes.
I’ll tell you something, it’s good to be home, even if only for a couple of days. Mrs X and I are currently going through the left over booze and there are still two packs on Mince Pies to get through. Plus, we haven’t taken our tree down, but this is, on reflection, because we never got one in the first place.
Can’t really say that anything happened over the Christmas and New Year break really can we. We lost to Chelsea and the Scousers, so nothing new there then. We’ve beat the Baggies, but they are going down quicker than the remaining supply of Bulmers.
Tony Kelly has suggested in his Bolton News column that we are good enough to be in the top four, which would suggest that the bottles of wine that went missing from my car a few days back may have been located. And St Owen has said that, even if the world and his mother came in for David Beckham, we would be the one standing firm with no interest. Although this may have something to do with his wages.
Andy O’Brien has finally completed his move to Leeds, although there was some interest from Cardiff late on. I’ve already wished AOB luck in his new surroundings and, on the final confirmation today, St Owen had this to say:
‘He is a good professional and I would like to wish him all the best for the future. It is a good move for Andy at this stage in his career and I am sure he will do a very good job for Leeds United.’
That Leeds have climbed the table whilst he has been on loan at the club is testament to AOB and proves that he has found the right level to play at. Hopefully we will see him at T’Reebok again next season.
That will, of course, mean that Leeds have been promoted. Not sure whether I should be THAT hopeful.
From one going out to one, potentially, coming in. Mr Vinegar has confirmed Bolton’s interest in Carlos Vela and St Owen has said:
‘We have got a good relationship with Arsenal and Arsene. If you ask if Carlos is available and are Bolton interested the answer would be yes. Arsene will want any player going out on loan to be playing. His belief will be that Carlos Vela would come back to Arsenal a better player for experience.’
The Jack Wilshere loan deal last season was good for us, good for Arsenal, good for England (eventually. hopefully.) and good for the player. Loaning Carlos Vela is a completely different dynamic. Our ‘friend’ Rocky7 had this to say over at Vital Arsenal on New Year’s Eve (with apologies for the poor punctuation):
‘I’ve always been a big fan of Vela and hoped he would go on to bigger and better things, however going on loan at this stage of his career usually spells the beginning of the end, the only player in recent history to go on loan like this and come back to make himself a career at Arsenal is Nicklas Bendtner, and I’m not sure Carlos has quite the same amount of confidence as big Nick has.’
The criticism of Vela, as far as I can see, is that he doesn’t show in big games. Sure, he can score goals, but the ones he has scored this season, the final goal against us and the last two in Arsenal’s drubbing of Braga, have been scored when the result has been decided, suggesting an inability to take chances when they are REALLY needed.
At 21 he isn’t in the same age range as Wilshere and doesn’t appear to have taken any bulls by their horns as Jack has done this season. In fact, he has started just three games in the Premier League. For work permit purposes, he was sent out on loan twice, first to Salamanca in the Spanish Second Division, where he performed adequately, and then to Osasuna, where he didn’t.
Just as with Wilshere, Mr Vinegar would be expecting Vela to be given regular games but it is difficult to find where he would be shoe horned in, unless the intent is for him to play on the wing in Lee’s absence. After that, who knows? I am forced to agree with Rocky and would suggest that any loan deal is being done merely to put Vela in the shop window.
This, however, does not mean that, for Bolton, a loan deal is not worthwhile. With Sean Davis out for the season, again, there are spaces to be filled. With no money available, unless Cahill is sold, there is little doubt that loan deals will make up the bulk of our January dealings again. And with Lee overplayed as it is, the fact that Vela has more experience than the raw Rodrigo, a deal would suit us for the time being. So, I’d give this a qualified yes. For now.
Right, I’ve got half a bottle of Baileys, some Sancerre and a crate of cider to drink. You’ll forgive me if I leave and return, tomorrow, for a Pies preview.
No, honest.