Prem: Lost In Translation

By: chris | January 10th, 2008

Communication is one of the keys to relationships, whether it be romantic, platonic or business. It doesn’t seem like two of England’s most high profile coaches have been fostering good relationships lately. Arsene Wenger and Sven Goren Eriksson aren’t exactly on the same page with the clubs they may or may not have been in business discussions with. Sometimes they aren’t even in the same book. And of course, as is the case with everything involving Jens Lehmann this season, nothing is simple.

Arsenal - Borussia Dortmund

“Between us and Lehmann everything has been settled.”

“We are in constant contact. We have even come to terms financially.”

Arsene didn’t agree with this, so he issued his truths:

“It’s not true,” Wenger told Sky Sports 1 regarding the reports from Germany. “Not for Jens and not for us.

“I deny that Jens has agreed personal terms with Dortmund and I deny that we have an agreement with Dortmund.”

And then Borussia came back with their rebuttal, making sure everybody was still confused:

“It is true that we have come to terms financially but we are still waiting for him to iron out a few things that are important for him, like personal matters.

“Then we hope he will join us. But it would be too early to confirm that he’ll come.”

It looks like either Jens hasn’t been informing London what’s been happening, or Jens has an impersonator out there somewhere doing deals with Borussia Dortmund. Or maybe Dortmund is just making stuff up. Or Arsenal. Somebody’s making stuff up.

Seriously, this a 38 year old current back up keeper here. Is it worth all this back and forth jibber jabber? Can we start calling any situation which causes unnecessary drama “pulling a Jens Lehmann”? Is that fair? I’d say it’s pretty accurate.

Oh Sven

On Wednesday, Sven Goran Eriksson could barely keep it in his pants when being asked about his Italian-based transfer target du jour, Roma’s Mancin (not that this should come as a surprise to anyone - Sven has issues keeping it in his pants anyway); telling il Romanista:

“I want Mancini here immediately as he is the ideal man to strengthen my squad,” Eriksson told Il Romanista.

“He could become my Cristiano Ronaldo. Money isn’t a problem for us, but it depends on whether Roma want to sell him. I know that contract talks have hit a brick wall, but we will have to talk to his agent Gilmar Veloz.”

Which was followed on Thursday by:

Sven-Goran Eriksson has emphatically denied that he has any interest in Roma winger Amantino Mancini.

Quotes attributed to the City manager, saying that he wanted to sign the 27-year-old, appeared in Il Romanista and have been repeated elsewhere, but Eriksson states firmly that he has not spoken to anyone about him.

“I don’t know where that has come from, it must have come from Roma. I have never spoken about that player with anyone,” Sven says.

A refusal on the official Manchester City web site. Wait….what?

Either Sven has severe short term memory loss or he got the clue that maybe issuing the declaration that “money is no problem” isn’t the most brilliant of negotiating tactics. Sven, who knows Rome well (being one of the very few scumbags who has crossed party likes and accepted a pay stub from both Roma and Lazio - which is along the lines of coaching Celtic and Rangers), apparently thinks that il Romanista is making things up. I’ve read the paper daily for almost a year, and have never come across either a quote or story which appears fabricated. Take it for what it’s worth.

Sven got his clue, realizing it’s difficult to take a hardline stance with Roma when money ain’t a thang, we’d assume. Or just forgot to take his medication (which means at any moment now he’ll probably trip and fall into bed with another woman).

So remember: keep the lines of communication open, as to avoid all this.

* - Also, Martha did a post on this as well, but because we occasionally use vague title lines and overlap, it went overlooked. Plus, everyone could use more Sven.