Will we, or won’t we sign Asmir Begovic before the transfer window closes? Well, a week or so ago, Stoke manager Tony Pulis insisted the keeper wasn’t for sale, so that was that…….or was it?
Most of us thought so, and in the wake of Hilario and Turnball’s worrying displays pre-season, it looked as if we’d either have to take our chances on Cech staying injury-free, or look elsewhere.
Even in the last day or two, what we were hearing was that Begovic (who conceded 5 of the 7 goals we scored against Stoke in April) was ‘flattered’ by our interest but accepted he’d be spending the season vying with Thomas Sorensen if he wanted a game. The Bosnian international stated “Obviously I’m aware that the gaffer said there was an enquiry, but nothing is happening. If someone wants to take me and they accept a bid, that’s a different story, but in the meantime I just have to get on with my job. This kind of thing is just part and parcel of the job. Maybe there is people talking and stories being written, but at the end of the day you come to work and do your job. On the other side, it is brilliant and I’m really flattered. Who wouldn’t be if they were mentioned in connection with a great club like Chelsea? “
So, despite being flattered and a bit disappointed to sit games out, the 23 year old was looking forward to getting a game in last night’s Carling Cup tie against Shrewsbury, saying “Of course I was very disappointed because everybody wants to play. All I can do is impress in training and in matches like this if I play. It would be nice to play in the cup because you don’t want to let it be too long without a game.”
As it turned out though, Begovic didn’t play in the cup last night – because he chose not to – and an irate Tony Pulis stated after the game “He said this morning he did not want to play. I find that very disappointing. We pay his wages and he has a responsibility to the club. We have a lot of supporters who idolise this club and love it. We have a management team and people around who have been here a long time. They respect the club and like it as much as the supporters do. To do what he has done is totally disrespectful. Obviously people have been blowing in his ear. That goes on. I will have a chat with him tomorrow.”
However, the fact that Begovic has wound up his manager – and no doubt alienated the majority of Stoke supporters now – doesn’t mean the keeper won’t be staying there to take whatever comes his way according to Pulis, who insists “With our chairman (Peter Coates) it is less likely. I do not think Peter will be pushed around. We won’t be giving him (Begovic) away and doing a deal because of what he has done. There has been interest from one or two clubs but nowhere near our valuation. We think he is a good goalkeeper and we want good players.”
So, have we hear the last of this one? I suspect not.
Blue is the colour
