Comments on: Andrei Arshavin – Overrated?

By: Elisa

Elisa — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 21:40:00 +0000

Look it is very difficult for any player to maintain that kind of level over 3, let alone 2 games. That is why the best teams are those with 11 solid players. Arshavin is still new to playing at the highest level day in and day out. Give him a chance. Plus Ramos, Puyol, Senna and Xavi cut out his supply. They made him their B*atch. =).

By: Chad Yarlagadda

Chad Yarlagadda — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 23:43:57 +0000

Daryl brings up a great point: “if Arshavin is so good, why hasn’t anyone come in for him yet?” My question is due to his stellar performance in Euro 2008, will a big team now pick him up? Curious what everyones thoughts are.
http://myguesstimate.com/Comments.aspx?qid=49

By: russian-exile

russian-exile — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 22:59:47 +0000

He’s not over-rated! He just got the whole of Europe talking for one week because a) the Russians actually performed to some of their potential and did well, which was a huge surprise (until they met the Spanish in a rainy pitch) and b) Arshavin is magic to watch, ie pleasant, like Zidane or Ronaldo in 1998, not the Portugese Ronaldo.

So everyone jumped on the band-wagon and now after 1 bad game where non of the team showed up, they jump off? Football fans are PURE idiots. He’s 27, last month he was 26. Was he younger? He’s got a thing called loyalty. He never thought about playing anywhere else other than Zenit.

He didn’t comeup like Sychev, being Russia’s best player at the 2002 World Cup at the age of 18. No, Arshavin had to work his way up from nothing. He got noticed by Morozov (former assistant coach for Lobanovsky in Dynamo Kiev/USSR in the 1980s) while in the reserves and given a chance to start. He wasn’t necessarily a late bloomer, he just didn’t get the full recognition he deserved till Kerzhakov left for Sevilla and he started scoring more goals himself. A lot of teams were interested in him, but why would he leave? He was getting paid well, and he hadn’t won the Russian league yet, and he certainly hadn’t won the UEFA Cup.

I love how you westerners always view the lives of people from developing countries are worth less than yours. And that continues with your footballs views, that playing in the Russian premiere league, winning player of the year in 2006, all of that isn’t worth a 16th place finish in the EPL.

I have some words for you; F**K Y*U*. Zenit are the best team, and with or without Arshavin, (but hopefully with a replacement for Skrtel cause Shirokov is a liability not a center-back), they are going to kick everyone’s ass next champions league and play better than shitty Arsenal or Barcelona who haven’t done jack shit in 3 seasons.

By: Rob

Rob — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 22:33:18 +0000

I don’t think he’s even as good as Poborsky. Or Jordi Cruyff, another Euro 96 starlet who was never quite as good again (though largely because of injury)

He’s a good player, but he wouldn’t be a first teamer as Barca I wouldn’t have thought.

By: bertil

bertil — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 22:32:21 +0000

Since several years, he has been the biggest star in the Premjer-Liga. Under Advocaat he began to play more effective and Zenith won the league title and the UEFA Cup. Surely, we shouldn’t believe the hype but that doesn’t mean that he will not make it in a big team.

Van Nistelrooy also behaved childish against the Andorrans. I don’t know why those Pyreneans evoke such emotions in world class players.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoKX31Rh8Tg

By: gianfranco

gianfranco — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 21:05:29 +0000

Daryl my friend and I had the same convo today and we both agree with you, hope not, but maybe played out of his mind against the Dutch?

By: Chubby

Chubby — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 21:04:41 +0000

Hey gents… Barcelona is a Spanish club, with strong ties and representation on national level. A little unsettlement here and there, and here you go: instead of playing his usual game, he was caught day dreaming about his new blaugrana shirt/career. Not very professional, whichever side you choose.

By: Yevy

Yevy — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 20:51:48 +0000

First time I’ve seen the Andorra incident, but from the looks of that video Arshavin caught a forearm/elbow to the head and lashed out. It’s a rather undisciplined reaction to be sure but not something that would make me worry about him.

As far as why Arshavin hadn’t moved prior to the Euros, I would guess it is because Zenit had no interest to sell him at his previous valuation. According to his agent the offers for Arshavin have gone from 8m pounds in January to 16m pounds at the moment. Zenit certainly does not need the money, so no doubt they were reluctant to send their talisman abroad for a “market value” offer.

Whether Arshavin can be successful at the next level remains to be seen, but he has certainly earned the right to have his shot. I think he is the type of player who would benefit immensely from being surrounded by the creative talent of a club like Barca.

By: Cesco

Cesco — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 20:10:04 +0000

Just to know,
could anyone explain Arshavin grimaces every time he’s picked up by TV cameras?
I mean, watch the videos on this UEFA web page…. isn’t it strange?
http://euro2008.uefa.com/fanzone/motm/match=301701/index.html

HOWEVER, I DON’T THINK HE’S OVERRATED

By: areallaticfromthesouth

areallaticfromthesouth — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 18:42:37 +0000

or perhaps ‘got to him last night.’ Or Spain did their homework and Ashavin ‘did’ his job in the two games he played.

Lets judge him when he goes to Barca – his boyhood club!!!