Robert Pires

[dave.woodhall]

He's here as a player for a few months. If he's crap we'll get rid of him as we did with Agathe. If he's okay he'll do a job and help bring on the kids. If he shows any sort of coaching acumen he'll get a contract to do that. I can't see any drawbacks at all. 

[ozzjim]

Stunning player on his day and can't really see an issue with this one. Sure not the same as a 28 year old Pires was, but will still have the eye for a pass I would imagine.

[dave.woodhall]

If we'd signed him a fortnight ago we could be fifth now.

[TheSandman]

Experienced pro, won it all and seen it all. I'm sure he will educate some of our young players using this.

I'm sure he can still perform the odd cameo BUT if he starts ahead of one of our talented youngsters automatically I wouldn't be happy. Unless, he deserves it in form and performance.

[supertom]

For one thing, I think he'll totally get what Houllier wants. He knows how to pass the ball, and knows how to find space. If he gives us 20 minutes for 15-20 games, and makes things happen, it'll be well worth it. I think his technical ability is second to none, and he could, albeit with less gusto, give us some Mersonesque class in the final 3rd.

[JUAN PABLO]

The young lads will learn loads off him in training, its a no brainer....

[garyshawsknee]

I think this is a smart move,he'll be able to do a job for 20 mins or so,either to close a game out,or to try and create something.

  Im sure the young players will take to him,and try and learn as much as they can in the next few months.

[London Villan]

I'd have liked his experience on the bench against Fulham and Manu.

[Monty]

Can't be a bad thing. He'll provide experience, a good head in the dressing room and on the field (especially closing out games), he's a player with a winning mentality who can help instill that sort of belief in the younger lads. He could also be a sort of tutor to Albrighton, who, while brilliant, could use the sort of variation in his play that Pires had in spades at his peak.

[The Left Side]

Hello Bobby, a few years to late but can still help us develop the babbies!

[Billy Walker]

I'm just thinking aloud here: he'd be the first World Cup winner to put on the famous claret and blue shirt.  That's got to be a good thing.

[garyshawsknee]

Can he have a word with Benzema about spending a few months at VP?

[pedro25]

Bit like when we had Berger, can come on and play a killer pass.  Hopefully help to continue to bring Bannan on as a player.  I think it may push Ireland closer to the door as I think GH would turn to Pires over Ireland for a spark from the bench and Ireland's not getting much game time as it is, think he'll be off in Jan,

[KevinGage]

I don't normally subscribe to this train of thought that  assumes that signing a star player in the twilight (or completely at the end) of his career is automatically good for the kids.

All sounds a bit John Blackwell 'lets sign Rivaldo as head coach' to me.


There is no guarantee that they have the aptitude to coach, teach or mentor in any way, it's a completely different skill to playing. Some of the very best players probably don't even know how they do it themselves, it's just natural to them.

Cantona at Man U was possibly one of the few exceptions, as he was only too happy to stay behind for extra training with the youth players. Most players tend to be self centred sorts, only concerned with their own game et.c

Does anyone really think that someone like Collywobbles or Lee Hendrie would automatically make good coaches/mentors, just because they had a degree of natural ability?

That said, GH probably knows Pires more than most and if he's seen something there to work with still or something that would be good for us in the long run so be it.

[Pete3206]

You have got to be kidding me.