Remember back in 2006. Some dude with a lethal left foot, whose shooting was deadly and accurate? Who was one of the stars of that World Cup? Ya...the Pod. Just what in the HELL happened to him? How did he have such a downward spiral?!
I'm not sure that he can be blamed too much. It's not like he bricked it up when he was given a chance or went to a big team to have a nice view of the matches, from the bench. He went to Arsenal in order to be the team's main goalscorer. Wenger though for some reason, forced him to play on the wing...where that is not his natural position.
You now had conflict. Pod was not playing as a natural winger which made Wenger fed up and leave him on the bench to be used bit by bit. Can you really then go and blame Podolski? You can't force yourself to play a position that is unnatural to you. He does play out wide, but not as a natural winger. It's a cross between attacking winger and support striker, which is what made him so great at the World Cup in 2006. If Wenger had kept him in that position partnered up with a striker in the same vein as Klose, Arsenal may have won more trophies in their barren era.
Best thing for Podolski to do is return to Germany. Leverkusen or the arising Wolfsburg would be good places to go. The beauty as well about Podolski is his skill is the amazing accuracy and power of his left foot. That does not wane with age. So he can still be an asset to any team, but he needs to be played in his right position and in a system that can benefit him. He is no winger, that position requires other skills that Podolski does not have to play it well enough.
HH
Sent from the Hut
