The Warm-Up: Samir Nasri and the thin line between inspiration and desperation
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Updated 13/11/2018 at 08:43 GMT
Plus: Moussa Sissoko is an example to us all, Daniel Sturridge potentially being naughty and Boca's Irish connection...
Sevilla's Samir Nasri celebrates scoring a goal
Image credit: Reuters
TUESDAY’S BIG STORIES
Samir Nasri is signing for West Ham…possibly
Thought you’d heard the name Samir Nasri for the last time? A loose memory of a player who was pretty good for Arsenal, then when Manchester City won the league said ‘I told you so’, going on to play for a couple of clubs abroad before getting into some sort of odd snafu involving blood transfusions and a ‘hacked’ Twitter account?
That’s the short version. The slightly longer version is that Nasri has spent most of this year out after being given a doping ban, for an intravenous treatment at a Los Angeles facility called ‘Drip Doctors’. But, a club always willing to give a scoundrel a second chance, West Ham are reportedly keen to invite Samir along for training, in anticipation of signing him in January.
HOWEVER, the Hammers are apparently a little wary about the deal, given there’s really no way Nasri could actually be properly fit, and in a squad that also contains Jack Wilshere, Andy Carroll and assorted other magic sponge regulars, with Andriy Yarmolenko and Manuel Lanzini out long-term they want to be sure their man is in tip-top condition before signing him up. Plus, there’s this…
Do these signings ever work out? The free transfer punt on a player who was good once upon a time, so hey – maybe he is now? Given their injury predicament, you can see why West Ham are getting creative, but there’s a fine line between outside the box thinking and desperation.
Daniel Sturridge in some hot betting water
There are lots of murky and contentious rules in football, both on and off the pitch. But one that is easy to understand, which footballers occasionally still somehow fall foul of, is that you don’t get involved in betting on the game. Not at all. Just don’t touch it. Stay as clear as it’s possible to be from it.
Daniel Sturridge isn’t one of the first players that springs to mind when it comes to involvement with gambling, but he has been charged with misconduct in relation to FA rules on betting, referring specifically to January this year. Most people are taking that to mean his loan move to West Brom, but it’s all very unclear at the moment.
A carefully-worded Liverpool statement said: “Daniel has given his full and unequivocal co-operation throughout this process and has assured the club he will continue to do so. Daniel has also stated categorically that he has never gambled on football. As with any issue of this nature, we will allow the process to be concluded in its entirety before making any further comment.”
Always precarious to comment when we don’t know the full details. But it will never cease to amaze the Warm-Up that footballers sometimes simply can’t get their heads round one of the simplest rules there is in the game.
IN OTHER NEWS
A few days old this, but we can’t in all good conscience not share it with you…
HEROES AND ZEROS
Hero: Moussa Sissoko
There’s a danger of transforming Moussa Sissoko into a punchline. And, frankly, if you subscribe to this way of thinking, rightly so, because most of the time he’s no good. But the Spurs toiler, who very often looks like a man unfamiliar with the basic physics of football, has just been recalled to the France national team – that’s world champions France, by the way – so who’s laughing now?
Zero: Vichai memorial eBayers…
Come on, guys. Really? Can’t find another way to make a few quid? You don’t like to judge because you don’t know everyone’s circumstances, but….come on, guys…
HAT TIP
Paddy McCarthy was born in Cashel, Tipperary in 1871 and in September 1900, he made like myriad of his compatriots and emigrated to Buenos Aires. He began working on the city’s port, but ended up with an illustrious sporting life: he fought in the country’s first professional boxing match, became the first coach of Boca Juniors, and went on to referee the inaugural Superclasico between Boca and River Plate.
Betwixt the two legs of the Copa Libertadores final between Boca Juniors and River Plate, enjoy this fine piece by Gavin Cooney about Paddy McCarthy, the Irishman who was the first Boca coach.
RETRO CORNER
Blooper compilations get a bad name, but the original and best was Danny Baker’s Own Goals and Gaffes. It’s genuinely brilliant. Enjoy.
COMING UP
Ah, the looming dread of international week. Thin gruel for you football obsessives this evening, but there is a Women’s World Cup qualifying play-off between Switzerland and European champions the Netherlands to keep you occupied, which could be spicy.
Tomorrow’s Warm-Up will be brought to you by the always spicy Alex Chick.
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