Robert Pires

[Concrete John]

Does this mean that we have to learn how to use the French graves accent as in Robert Pirès as well as the acute one as in Gérard?

I'm teaching myself French by watching Officer Crabtree in repeats of 'Allo 'Allo.

[Sister of Top Cat]

Ladies, are you happy with the signing?

Best looking Villa player since Ginola?

Doesn't really float my boat from that point of view unfortunately.  If we'd signed Thierry Henry or David Beckham now that would be different.

Other than that I think we're onto a winner.  Short term contract so if it doesn't work out we've not lost a lot, loads of experience so even if he doesn't play much he'll be a positive influence over the youngsters in the squad.  What is there to moan about?

[Lee]

glad everyone knows someone who hasnt got a contract till november is a decent signing at 37. no wonder we had ellis for so many years.

Perhaps you should have put more effort in like your VT Brethren. There were some right radicals there.

[Lee]

He managed to be involved in 37 games for Villarreal last season which is encouraging on the fitness front - definitely worth a 6 month contract.

The signing is a no brainer and nowhere in the League of Agathe. That's not a critique of MON, its the situation that we are in and we can only gain from it.

[cheltenhamlion]

A talented and experienced player. I really can't grasp what people are complaining about.

[jonzy85]

I wouldn't usually post a picture of a celebrating Arsenal team but this is what his teammates thought of him when they won the FA Cup...

le

Why not post a picture of Stanley Matthews with the FA Cup - it's just as relevant.

In what way would a Stanley Matthews picture be just as relevant as a Robert Pires picture in a Robert Pires thread?

Henry the only smug w**ker who wouldnt kneel down!

Isnt that the PL trophy?

[Reality]

Yes.

[damon loves JT]

I'm not sure games in La Liga count towards fitness. If one of the stands casts a shadow on the pitch, all the players lie down in it and fall asleep

[Bad English]

Does this mean that we have to learn how to use the French graves accent as in Robert Pirès as well as the acute one as in Gérard?

I am a pedant (there's an opening for a comment if anyone wants one).

• GraveS is a wine region of Bordeaux (A bottle of Graves is used by Edgar Allen Poe in the short story "The Cask of Amontillado" for characterisation, and to foreshadow the fate of the luckless Fortunato).
• "The grave accent" is singular, no agreement required (especially as it is in English!)
• The surname 'Pires' does not have an accent anyway.

You wants pedantry, you gets it.

[Bad English]

Henry the only smug w**ker who wouldnt kneel down!

Isnt that the PL trophy?

Indeed. The clue is in 1) The Trophy 2) the letters "Ba**aycard" and "Barc*****rd Cha*****s"

[mozza]

Arrival of Pires albeit initially till end of season could hasten departure
of a certain midfield player that appears not to want to be here ?
(I was thinking of Ireland but could possibly add a couple more)

Albrighton,Bannan & Clark and not forgetting Delph & Gardner will
benefit from having someone like Robert Pires around on the training
ground and increase competition for places

[Bad English]

I think we should all chant "Beef up your game!" when Pires plays.

French World Cup-winning manager Aimé Jacquet famously exhorted Pires to "Muscle ton jeu !" during a dressing room motivational and tactics talk (which was filmed as part of a fly-on-the-wall documentary).

It was fascinating to see how Jacquet spoke to his players, and the bit where he tells Pires that he is "too nice" has gone down in French football history.

Even if you don't speak French it's worth watching the man in the dressing room as he says :

Muscle ton jeu, muscle ton jeu Robert , si tu muscles pas ton jeu, fais attention, je t'assure, tu vas voir, tu vas avoir des déconvenues parce que t'es trop gentil.

Beef up your game Robert, [wags finger] Beef up your game... if you don't beef up your game,  watch out, I'm telling you, you'll see, you are in for a few disappointments because you're too nice

[SO Villa]

glad everyone knows someone who hasnt got a contract till november is a decent signing at 37. no wonder we had ellis for so many years.

All things considered, who do you think would be a good signing at this time?

[PaulTheVillan]

glad everyone knows someone who hasnt got a contract till november is a decent signing at 37. no wonder we had ellis for so many years.

All things considered, who do you think would be a good signing at this time?

I'm waiting for him to say Messi for £1m on £10k a week.

[Dribbler]

The guy has won the premier league, the FA Cup, the European Championship and the World Cup, having played with the likes of Zidane, Henry, Bergkamp etc., so he has a wealth of top notch experience, a winning mentality and has played with some of the best players in the world. More importantly the style of football he has played throughout his career, especially at Arsenal, is the type of football we are aspiring to play and very much in keeping with how our young players have been developed.

He will then be able to come in and bring all of that experience to the team and our youngsters. No doubt his pace will have greatly diminished but that's not something we are really lacking in the team. What we have been lacking is that creative edge and that ability to retain possession and to move the ball about effectively and progressively. He will bring knowledge of that style of play to the team and I doubt there are many players at the club that can't learn something from him, whether on the training pitch or in a game.

It's a signing by necessity, because of injuries, but I also think It will turn out to be an inspired signing. Can it really be a bad signing? He is free, his wages won't be astronomical, and whether we notice it on the pitch or not, just his mere presence at the club will be a big influence.