With his
adopted homeland and place of birth having similar populations and a propensity
for old geysers, it's no wonder that Hermann feels so settled at Fratton Park.
And
thank your Aunty Marge that he does.
With Sol
rumbling on about this that and the other and with Davis joining Johnson in pie
land, it's a relief to know that at least one of our fit and ables has signed
up for another ride on the Pompey roller coaster. And here's you thinking that
the Wild Mouse rusted away years ago.
You can see
that Hermann likes a fight. Just watch him closely on the pitch. When he's not,
with his Thor like majesty, out jumping everybody and hammering in goals against mega funded teams, he's
winding up the opposition, a combination of mad glaring eyes and the odd tweaked
nipple.
Just what
we need when the going gets tough on or off the pitch. In many respects Hermann
reminds me of Linvoy. Perhaps not the world's best talent when it comes to
controlling a ball, but exactly the type of player you need when guts and gumption
rank higher than agent led self importance.
Now with
the season just a chunk of due diligence away and players, what's left of them,
due to return, it's players like Hermann that will see us through next season,
new money or not.
But we can't
just rely on the aging Hammer or Zimmerman Kanu. We need youth and talent to succeed
at this level. Benitez knows this too, hence why he promised Johnson tapas and
trophies up north.
With so
many of the squad now departed, what we have left is a good quality core in the
form of James, Hermann, Distin, Kranjcar and Crouch. But it's just that, a core
and no more.
With decent
enough players such as Pamarot and Mvuemba either gone or considering leaving,
you do have to question who the Club have in mind to replace not just these
Frenchmen, but also the likes of Davis, who between them have left a sizable, some might say none too skilful, hole
in the squad.
Ok, if the
new owners do put money in then we can assume new quality players will arrive. But
forget the idea of lots of new top quality talent gracing Fratton Towers next
season, because Peter Storrie has made it clear that spending this summer, even
assuming the bank gets topped up, will be a modest affair.
So, roll on
next week when the players arrive back with burger concealing lose fitting
clothes. For then it will surely dawn on Hart, Kidd and co that we need to be
bringing players in, not letting them go.
With this
in mind, I hope that as we hit pre-season, letting so many go won't be viewed
as a tragic mistake, but will instead will be looked upon as an inspired clear-out
ready for a refreshing new era.
Odin's Palace
Posted
Thu, Jul 2 2009 10:35 AM
by
Pompeii