Bad luck Bendtner: Everybody loves the new strikeforce
1 comment October 12th, 2007
If you’re Nicklas Bendtner, every goal scored by Robin van Persie or Emmanuel Adebayor must turn your stomach a little. Each strike makes it even less likely he’ll be in the starting line-up the following week. And seeing as they’ve banged in thirteen goals between them, you can see why he’s feeling the heat.
Adebayor, who is being driven by a hunger very different to that of, say, Mark Viduka, has been talking about his partnership with Van Persie:
“The understanding between us is magnificent. That is what is giving us strength at the moment.
He likes to have the ball at his feet more than I do. He likes to get off the front line and he has the technical skills to do that. I am tall, I can climb high and I can go deep. I am more of a pivot for the team.
At the training ground in the 10 v 10 games and the 8 v 8 we are always on the same team. Automatically he tells me where he wants the ball to go and I’ll tell him where I want it to go.
We do enjoy each other’s company and we talk a lot. There is a lot of discussion.
But there is no jealousy. If it is not me who scores then it is going to be him and that is good for the team”
I think Ade hits the proverbial nail on the head. It’s less about some remarkable chemistry between the two – their link-up play is infrequent and often inaccurate. It’s more about the pair being able to appreciate their respective talents, and each play a very specific role in the team. I’m sure Van Persie appreciated Adebayor’s hard-work and movement, just as Ade respects the awesome technique of the Dutchman.
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You can be sure the work of both is appreciated by Cesc Fabregas, whose raking passes now have players with a genuine desire to reach the ball chasing after them. Whilst Thierry Henry’s talent was never in question, for me his desire clearly was.
With Eduardo settling in too, it seems Bendtner will have to be patient a while yet.
Have a good Friday.
