Arsenal-Mania

Reyes applies last straw

By Mark Brus on Friday, August 4, 2006

José Antonio Reyes, victim of what seems to be some sort of split personality disorder has again changed his mind, saying he doesn't want to appear in Arsenal's game against Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday night so that he will not be cup tied, which would complicate his dream move to Real Madrid.

"Obviously, if I do (play), it will make a move to Real more difficult. But if I have to, I will play," Reyes told Marca.

"The manager hasn't said anything to me and I don't know if I am going to play or not.

"I hope I don't or that everything will be resolved before then."

The reliability of these quotes is uncertain of course, as it must be said that Marca are practically run by Real Madrid themselves, and some of their writers have made a career out of making up quotes by various players of ours, but to be honest I don't really care anymore.

The way I see it, these quotes, and the first quotes about him wanting to leave England after failing to adapt to the lifestyle and weather here do sound rather believable. From what I've seen and heard of José, he does not seem like the type who would have a strong enough personality to put these niggling problems aside. Whether exaggerated or not, I think the gist of what's being said here is all true.

And if so, that just makes me angrier at him for coming back so soon after those first quotes were released and LYING to us all via Arsenal.com, saying he wasn't looking for a move to Real, but we all know he isn't the brightest, and now his desire to leave us for the Bernebeau has come out once again.

He's really not doing himself any favours. As I've said a few times before, I haven't been happy with Reyes for quite a long time anyway; After a poor first season-and-a-half, I was prepared to be patient and give him another chance last season, but in my opinion he just didn't deliver. Him moaning about it to the Spanish press is now the last staw for me.

The guy is clearly talented, but he's also clearly a bit stupid, both on and off the pitch. His inability to make decisions on the pitch has me tearing my hair out at times; he just isn't really in tune with the way we play our football and every time he gets the ball I fear a good move is going to break down, and most of the time I'm right.

He's had some good moments, which most people on the forum here would argue have come when playing upfront, but I still don't think only six goals and a few assists last season justify his price tag at all; sure, it shows he's not COMPLETELY useless, he's doing what we expect, only problem is, we have the right to expect more.

Again, these quotes might not be true at all, but I wouldn't be sad if he didn't play on Tuesday night anyway. We could make a lot of money off him from mindless big spenders like Real Madrid, so let him leave for a big transfer fee. I wouldn't miss him.

And if these quotes are true, which I think they are, then he definitely shouldn't play out of principle. That attitude is not the kind I want from players at the club I support. That's the attitude that will hopefully see Cole glued to the bench all evening before he finally f*cks off. If these guys want to leave, then fine, but they could be a little more professional about it and be prepared to play and give their best in every game for this club until they finally move to their new one. I'm sick of people like this at Arsenal, and getting rid of them will make us stronger.

Meanwhile, Theo Walcott could finally make his debut for the Gunners in Croatia. Something else to look forward to.

User Comments

19

Arlen

Posted on 5 Aug, 2006 at 09:04 PM - Reply

Sorry, but the article is not good. In fact, the rating sums it up. Typical anti-Reyes views expressed.

18

RtC

Posted on 5 Aug, 2006 at 02:05 PM - Reply

Predictable anti-Reyes sentiment from the author... move along there is nothing to see here.

17

Jose82

Posted on 5 Aug, 2006 at 11:27 AM - Reply

I can nae believe the amount of arse fans taking marca's word on this. from vieira to henry to fab we have so much experience with the sort of game they play and yet people believe this?! of yeah, don't forget TWO OUTRIGHT DENIALS from Reyes himself. i think reyes is still some way off his potential and yeah he wants to live in his insulated london spanish quarter and most of all, he's had madrid issues in the past. but he has declared his commitment to the club without delay. at the end of the day not even Henry himself was so quick to deny marca propaganda. let's get behind him and hope this season he lives up to it.

16

Gunner4life

Posted on 5 Aug, 2006 at 07:53 AM - Reply

im sick of cole n reyes after all arsene is given them its really dissapointin its better if they just leave it can only make us stronger i have a weird feelin fabreegas will do it to us next season. arsenal make the legend and real madrid buy them

15

Jeremy. Bangsar

Posted on 5 Aug, 2006 at 04:00 AM - Reply

Reyes again denies interest in Real Madrid. That's IT. FULL STOP.

How many times you want a player to clear his rumour? This is just a monkey game by those Spanish newspapers

14

rr

Posted on 5 Aug, 2006 at 02:33 AM - Reply

I completely agree. Given his huge price tag, Reyes is probably Wenger's worst signing; although, I could be proved wrong.. Edu took a while to blossom, after all. Somehow, though, I don't think so. He has shown flashes of talent, but I honestly think he is probably far better off playing in the Spanish league - the style probably suits his game. Please, please let's swap him for Robinho.. straight swap, face saved all round (Robinho is out of favour there), nice and quick and easy... we become a better team, and Real get their token Spanish youngster.

13

Razor

Posted on 4 Aug, 2006 at 11:01 PM - Reply

Why doesn't reyes just call for a televised press conference and lay to bed these rumours! Real madrid are clearly trying to unsettle him and it seems to be working. If he has doubts it will reflect in his performance and to be fair it isn't impressive?

12

RC8

Posted on 4 Aug, 2006 at 08:52 PM - Reply

According to Marca Henry signed for Barcelona, Cesc said he wanted to go to Real, Wenger was on his way to manage Real Madrid. Kaka is a Madrid player. Calderon spoke to Chelsea and bought Robben for them, Vieira moved to Madrid 2 years ago, etc. Reyes is not the brightest person in the world, and you can basically have him say that he wants to go to India to an elephant farm to work for the rest of his life if you ask the proper questions and select the proper quotes.

11

Joel

Posted on 4 Aug, 2006 at 08:35 PM - Reply

If you read the initial interview published on this site a few days ago in full context, then these latest comments don't seem like a U-turn at all. Reyes was unconvincing in the full first interview. He said he wanted to stay but he left the door wide open. Read that interview again carefully and you will hear a bloke that was leaving the door wide open.

If Reyes is not happy, he should leave. Reyes plays with a lot of heart because that's the only way he knows but he's not improving and he knows that. He is giving up now because he is not improving and he wants to try something else. That may sound like a quitter but I understand him in a way.

I agree with Consigliere that Henry staying must feel to Reyes like the same thing all over again - same as last season and the season before. No improvement. However, I would prefer if he worked this out through the club rather through the media directly.

Henry is a manager's dream and a manager's nightmare. When you have a player of such talents who finishes better than anyone in the premiership and scores 30 goals per season, you have to play him. It's that simple. When such a player requires the whole team to focus on him and rely on him then every game second he stays at the club the more the club depends on him. The more you depend on one player, the more vulnerable your team becomes to one person's weaknesses.

You cannot take them off because they can score at any second yet every second they stay on the pitch when they are having a bad day ruins everybody's game. Alex Ferguson gets rid of such players, Wenger works with them with patience. Which is better?

10

enki

Posted on 4 Aug, 2006 at 06:47 PM - Reply

i do not feel the same way about him as i do cole. i understand his yearning to go back home. afterall most of us feel that way about our native land. it's a shame that he is not strong enough mentally to deal with this but he is not the first. you must admit that the climate is challenging in england

9

gooner_atheart

Posted on 4 Aug, 2006 at 05:57 PM - Reply

consigliere
sorry mate, i think your thoughts are absolutely ridiculous. No one loves the club more than Henry. Henry played his heart out in the CL final. In fact every single gunner who played, on that day did so. And you say that he was an embarassment? Shocking. He is an inspiration. He is the reason why people like Rosciky wants to come to the club. Sol left because he no longer commanded an automatic place in the starting 11. Pires left because of the stupid 1 year policy. In fact henry asked Wenger to change it for Bobby.
Cashley is a fool. And you say that they are leaving coz of Henry??
Henry is the reason why we finished 4th last season. If it wasnt for his equaliser against spuds and those goals against Wigan and assists against MAn C, Arsenal could have kissed CL goodbye.
Coming to Reyes, these reports have not been substantiated till now. So I ask all gooners to give him a break till he is found guilty. And if he does not want to play, let him leave, though i will feel sad.
Henry expects commitment from his teammates.Why? Coz he wants Arsenal to win. In the absence of Vieira i thought he was a fantastic captain. Again , just one word, inspirational.
Do you knw why AW was so keen on keeping Henry, because players like Henry come once in 20 years. We may never have a player like him again.This does not mean that other players are not important.

8

terry

Posted on 4 Aug, 2006 at 05:51 PM - Reply

now i know reyes is doesnt seems to have his brain sorted out right, but these stories dont make sense. one day, some tabloid prints a story. the next, reyes denies it (on arsenal.com) the following day, the same tabloid prints another version of the same story. who would be that silly to jump back and forth. tomorrow we'll see another story about reyes denying. i dont think anything about the move is true. we'll see him playing at the start of the season, like none of this crap ever happened (and thank god, cause his passing is amazing).

7

Notogas

Posted on 4 Aug, 2006 at 04:29 PM - Reply

Strongly put, but I for one will be glad to see the back of the paella faced rag doll! Let's get someone who respects the badge and has a some fire in his belly

6

King Meatheart

Posted on 4 Aug, 2006 at 04:02 PM - Reply

Ralph has pretty much summed up how a player should behave when they leave the club. Just look at how the fans remember these guys (Edu and Pires). The fact is there are not words strong enough for Coles actions but by no means should Reyes be paired with this Judas left back. The fact is Reyes has not performed well, is not too bright (which is not his fault) and wants to livein Spain. He should not be disliked for these feelings and fans should be more understanding. He should be left to leave as surely he cannot be commited to the club and therefore should not play. Let him go and wish him luck and thank him for having the commitment that he has everytime he plays, the guy works his A** off even if he does not get the desired results. As for the idiot that is ranting about Henry leaving you basically sum up the embarrassingly large percentage of football fans that do not know what they are talking about, pick up a slightly obscure and alternative opinion and put it forward to sound clever, when to anyone who knows the game you sound like a complete fool.

5

Pistol Pete

Posted on 4 Aug, 2006 at 03:33 PM - Reply

I think you're wrong about Henry. He scores more goals than anyone else and creates them too. He is just to important to let go despite the fact that his fame and importance my overshadows others.

Whilst it cring every time he shouts at Reyes I can understand some of the frustration. We have had a long succession of players who play with their heads up - Bergkamp, Pires, Vieira, Ljungberg. Reyes plays with his head down and his decision-making is shaky at best.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a big reyes fan but he needs to make a real step up if he is going to fit into the Arsenal way.

4

Jon Dograt

Posted on 4 Aug, 2006 at 03:18 PM - Reply

How can you possibly say on the one hand that Marca may have fabricated the entire story and then condemn Reyes on the basis of it? If the Spanish press was accurate TH14 would be at Barca now and Paddy would be playing for Real Madrid. Get a grip.

3

Vicky Crescit

Posted on 4 Aug, 2006 at 02:57 PM - Reply

Calm down!

Apparently the Jose Reyes quotes are coming from some bloke in Spain who claims to speak for him but actually has no connection with him at all.

You have to think that nobody but nobody could make so many 180 degree turns in less than a week, without being completely dizzy. This is just mischief making. Don't blame Jose; it his not his fault. Just wait to see if he plays in the Champions League or not, then we'll have some idea of whether he is staying or going.

2

Consigliere

Posted on 4 Aug, 2006 at 02:50 PM - Reply

Mark, while I can understand your bitterness towards Reyes, I just feel fellow gooners should have seen this coming...at least I did-as far back as november. When a club thinks that their priority in a season is to keep one player and make the other players feel like that they are peripheral, then some people are bound to test how far the club is willing to go to keep them also.look at the exodus...bobby, Sol, Cashley, Reyes...
Furthermore, I have always been against henry staying (strange and crazy but true). i think henry heading to barca would have been a natural progression for the club. him staying helps NOBODY improve...bergkamp made people improve, henry improves himself. You think reyes enjoys being shouted upon for every pass misplaced 2inches wide. he's an adult and while he might not be vocal about his frustrations on the field, he cant lie with his facial expressions. In my mind he was abbove henry for player of the season just cos of his heart...no goals, just heart. And that is what sets English football apart (and while Gerrard is a great leader, but I digress).
The way I see it, Arsenal this season is going to be like the LA Lakers...One egomaniac who thinks he can do no wrong but cant deliver at crunch time. Henry's lack of heart at the champ lge final and world cup final was just embarassing. And the prospect of him being captain for the next 5 yrs is scary. Look at the wealth of experience at the club, any arsenal fan that thought we would have sufffered is mistaken...although we will never know how true this is. But to cut myself short... my money is on fabregas to follow Reyes out the door. these guys are spanish and its only natural to want to go home. my suggestion...strip henry of his captaincy and see how much he 'loves' the club. We need heart not prettiness and romantics. I wish all fellow gooners a great premiership season.

1

ralph

Posted on 4 Aug, 2006 at 02:31 PM - Reply

agreeing with your expectations towards arsenal players should they want to leave, I would like to refer to robert pires or edu (even sol campbell) as examples how a player should behave. especially pires has been very professional and respectful in his behavior when he quit.