It is no surprise that it is Spaniards that are making the difference at the top clubs (note in the top 6, all but Tottenham possess at least one in their starting XI): Mata, Romeu, Silva, Arteta, De Gea, Reina and Jose Enrique are all proving vital to their club’s successes and what with them coming from the country of international and club champions of the World and Europe, it really is no surprise that they are the definitive factor. However for Chelsea, while his talent has influenced a resurgence with the Barca product happily destroying other teams as they come forward and thus instigating his team’s next wave of attack, it has also influenced Pep Guardiola into bringing him home much sooner than he did Cesc.
Oriol Romeu’s defensive displays as part of a midfield unit, has been the difference between Chelsea and many of their opponents and it hasn’t gone unnoticed: a lack of out-and-out anchormen in the Manchester United squad, previously filled by Scholes, Keane and even Butt in bouts, had seen them, up until the ultimate fixture before Christmas, concede the 5th highest amount of shots on target in the PL this season.
Furthermore, Barry has done the defending and dispatching in the City side, Tottenham have Scott Parker, as do England now, chopping and chastising in the midfield and Romeu’s first club are benefiting from Sergio Busquet’s unselfish committal to the cause, in purely his own half. Meanwhile, Manchester United keep the pace with City out of sheer ingenious from Sir Alex Ferguson, combating his, not only lack of holding midfielders, but lack of players in general.
However, unlike Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United, Andre Villas-Boas cannot cope without a holding midfielder; his attacking style, his high wing backs, his general high line and his zonal marking, won’t allow it and losing Romeu will be an ultimate blow to a slowly growing Chelsea side. His impressively confident self-assurance has understandably kindled an interest from back home and Marcia, a Spanish paper, are reporting that Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola is interested in signing him back as part of the two-year agreement built into his contract. As it stands, allegedly, should Chelsea agree, Barcelona can buy back the u-21 Spanish international for one of two agreed fees depending on when the prospective purchase is made.
Chelsea, though, simply can’t afford for him to go and Andre Villas-Boas is insistent on keeping him – he has to be. However, if Barcelona choose that they want him back, regardless of the finer details of contracts and pleasantries, the appeal of playing for the team you grew up playing for, the lure of lining up with your fellow nationals for the best team in the world, is unmatched and the Premier League has already bore witness to one boy that left home for the Premier League and ended up returning the prodigal son.
If they don’t achieve success in Europe this season – it is unlikely – the potential loss of Romeu remains as the dead albatross around their neck and Andre Villas-Boas will have the constant threat of losing a player that he can build his team on and manage his transition around. Wenger lost his cornerstone in one prolonged transfer to Barcelona and he is handling the aftermath well, but Villas-Boas so early in his Chelsea career, cannot afford the same circumstances. If Barcelona take him back, Chelsea’s European hopes are derailed.
Written by Jordan Florit for www.maycauseoffence.com/ For more articles visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit
Introducing the neat little app that’ll pay you to view content tailored to your interests:
ThisisFutbol.com are seeking new writers to join the team! If you’re passionate about football, drop us a line at “thisisfutbol.com@snack-media.com” to learn more.
As I’ve said, Keito (or whatever his name is) is leaving Barca due to insufficient playing time with two players far ahead of him in that position; why would Romeu even want to go back as a direct replacement merely to bench warm waiting on a double injury opening. Yes in a few years time, it may be more difficult if Barca can then assure him of first team regularity and he may have made his name sufficiently at Chelsea to demand just that but you’d think that, fee aside, we’d probably be forced anyway, like Cesc. In the meantime, we can use him well for the team and work on his back up for the future if the worst happens but I don’t see him leaving Chelsea first team football before January 2013 or more likely summer. All assuming he’d say yes; it remains his final decision.
Romeu will always hope that there’s a place for him at Barcelona in the future but he’s happy where he is at the moment and is playing regular football, so won’t be leaving before 2013.
As for Barcelona, their manager is Pep Guardiola and contrary to what the English press like to tell us he isn’t as much of a fan of Romeu as many other of their young products.
Barca aren’t mulling over bringing him back and already have a long-term option in deep midfield with Sergio Busquets, who is only 23.
I’m not sure I understand why Romeu would want to go back. I would also like to point out that it is only in the Chelsea team this year where Spaniards have really had a positive influence. Most of my Arsenal fan friends would say whilst Arteta has been a solid performer he hasn’t set the world alight. DeGea has been awful for Man Utd. Reina has had a very average year by his standards. Silva is the best player in the premier league but he is surrounded by players that allow him to play the way he knows best, and there can be no doubt that this certain helps. Romeu hasn’t grown up in the Barca ranks his entire life, he started at Espanyol, and doesn’t have the same Cesc style connection to the club… Sure if Pep said you’ll be playing every week it would be a lure, but its not the same as Fabregas who adored watching his club play for years.
whoever Barca put in midfield whether it is a returning Romeu (which for now i personally doubt) or another product of their hugely successful youth conveyor belt, one thing for sure is that the highly successful Spanish side will continue to be the top team in Europe and possibly the world for a few more years to come yet.