Robert Pires

[martyn ellis]

An even better question is how you can get from Highbury to Bodymoor Heath in 90 minutes.

Good point Dave. I live 15 minutes drive north of Highbury (that's with a clear road), very near the North Circular. North Circular - M1 - M6 to Villa Park gets me there in around two hours on a good day (there's a long 50mph limit north of Luton to cope with too). When the road is clear I don't exactly hang around, so I don't know what speed his chauffeur is doing - maybe they should review the Pires insurance policy.

[timeoutbigbar]

Wonder if Gerard might be tempted to start him tommorow?

[pedro25]

If Gabby's out I think Pires will start on the left with Ash off Carew, Fonz and Ireland in reserve.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Dont think he will start Pires. He is not gonna be a 90 minute player.  Would rather him save Gabby and make sure he is fit for the "scum" next week ........

[supertom]

Well, not the right game for Bobby. Trouble is, against Arsenal, if you play that withdrawn striker role, you lose something in CM. He just got no ball, and defensively left big gaps. We were fucked. Carew doesn't make up for that with running. Perhaps along with Gabby, Pires might have worked, or might work against better opposition.

However against a team like Arsenal with so much chasing of the ball, you're better with legs, not quality. He was a passenger today though. Just not the right circumstance to play him at all.

[pablopicasso_10]

useless today...

[UK Redsox]

One good run and that was it.

I expected more but its clear now why he didn't find a club for this season.

Looked a lot older than his 37 years

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

I don't think even Ireland has seen so much go past him in the 45 minutes Pires did today.

Seems a little obvious that this was what would happen if you play an ageing player against a team who move the ball quickly.

[supertom]

I think it's as much the problem with that position behind the front man too. It just doesn't work for us. We've not got the mid field solidity behind, or a front man good enough to play it.

Pires was fighting a losing battle from the first minute. He can't run so can't chase back to pick up the ball deep.

For me, Ash Young has been the only one who looks even a little bit comfortable there, but that's mostly because he's got so much running ability he can make up the ground. But the problem still remains, whoever plays there, Ash, Ireland, Pires, they get lost in that hole too often. Especially when we're on the back foot.

When Heskey was our front man it had it's moments, because he held the ball so well, but still, the fact remains, we didn't score enough. Ash doesn't score enough to be a withdrawn striker, and Heskey on his own won't provide enough. Nor would Gabby. Carew is a joke on his own. He needs someone next to him doing the leg work.

I think Pires will have his uses, in games like Blackburn and Blackpool where we have the rub of the green and need a bit of a cultured touch. When we've got to play on counter though and need some energy, he'll be dead weight.

But really, a pointless and slightly desperate signing. But what else could we do? Bring back Salifou and Osbourne? I don't think so.

[SoccerHQ]

An even better question is how you can get from Highbury to Bodymoor Heath in 90 minutes.

Good point Dave. I live 15 minutes drive north of Highbury (that's with a clear road), very near the North Circular. North Circular - M1 - M6 to Villa Park gets me there in around two hours on a good day (there's a long 50mph limit north of Luton to cope with too). When the road is clear I don't exactly hang around, so I don't know what speed his chauffeur is doing - maybe they should review the Pires insurance policy.

Pretty sure Pires lives in Hampstead Heath which is more out of London.

I doubt he uses all of the M1 aswell, probably one of the A roads to get him to Tamworth and then joins the M42 to get to Bodymoor.

[ez]

lumbering

[Dave]

I thought he was the only one of our players to come out of the first half with any credit.

But then again, we only came into the game when he was off the pitch.

Who knows which of the above was more relevant.

[stevenjos]

i thought we all loved him been signed?

having him play was like losing a man. not prem league anymore, and makes us a laughing stock.

[PaulWinch again]

I am not going to abandon him yet, he's played in total for about 65 mins. Give him a chance.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Know we had a terrible first half. But a bit worried if Pires really has the legs at this level anymore. Maybe when he has had more training and games in the reserves. He will step up .......