Pires to Blue Square Premier?

Qwerty27

Please Bobby dont......think it would be a terrible way to finish out his career, he's surely good enough to play a role for someone in the premiership til the end of the season...

From BBC Sport:

Crawley are set to begin talks with former Arsenal midfielder Robert Pires about playing some part of this season, BBC Sussex understands.

The 36-year-old former France international is back in England looking for a club after leaving Spanish side Villarreal in the summer.

The Red Devils have spent heavily this summer in 'Project Promotion' as they bid to win the Blue Square Bet Premier.

Pires played for Arsenal from 2000 to 2006, scoring 84 goals in 284 games.

Crawley boss Steve Evans was given a major cash injection in the summer by owner Bruce Winfield and spent heavily on Salisbury forward Matt Tubbs, Peterborough winger Sergio Torres and York striker Richard Brodie, who was thought to cost around £250,000 - a record for a non-league club.

606: DEBATE
Should Pires contemplate ending his illustrious career in the Blue Square Bet Premier?
But Pires, who has won the World Cup, a European Championship and two Premier League titles, would be by far the biggest coup for the Red Devils, who have never played in the Football League.

The veteran, who started his career at Metz and played for Marseille before joining Arsenal 10 years ago, recently said that he would retire if he does not find a new club by the end of January and mooted Aston Villa, Birmingham and QPR as possible destinations.

Evans denied a newspaper report earlier this month that he would have £1m to spend in January.

Crawley visit Newport County in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round this weekend.

greendom

Come to Barnet, Bobby - closer to your old stomping ground and we really need you

keano_afc

Would hate to see it. As one of my favourite all time Gunners, it would be a sad way to end a career. Can defintiely do a job in the Prem, I'd be surprised if someone doesnt take him on.

MickShamrock

Never mind the Premiership, he would definitely be a great addition to any Championship side.

Diabhal Beag

He'd be very welcome at Galway United

cson

Reckon Bobby would do very well in Italy; not as fast as the other leagues and players regularly play into their late thirties.

Minstrel27

What a shame if he goes to the Blue Square Premier. I am sure that there are plenty of better clubs that would take him in a flash.

Royale with Cheese

Has to be a mistake. Bob Pires playing non league football would be a joke. Even if it were his only option he should just retire.

everdead.ie

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

He'd be very welcome at Galway United

I'd be willing to spot him a pint down at the quays anytime he likes if he came :pac: and he could probably get free mcdonaghs too

everdead.ie

Royale with Cheese wrote: »

Has to be a mistake. Bob Pires playing non league football would be a joke. Even if it were his only option he should just retire.

Could be a stunt to drum up intrest

greendom

on the plus side if he did go he'd have a blast, he would be completely revered there - and this is a club with ambition.

it used to be the done thing as well. As players lost their youthful vigour they would play for smaller clubs. I remember Jimmy Greaves turning out for Barnet when he was younger than Pires is now. (Scored 27 goals from midfield too) It's a shame this doesn't happen anymore. Players are too well paid and too removed from the public nowadays. Kudos to Pires if he does bring back this fine old tradition

Frisbee

I'd be very suprised at this. He could certainly still do a job for one or two clubs in the Premiership, even just to fill out a squad place and play a game every few weeks or so. Even failing that he's be more than good enough still for most Championship clubs.

revz

I hope he goes to a team in the premiership/championship so we can watch him play again!
Absolutely loved Pires in his prime, such a good player.
It always pains me in the "Best premier league 11 ever" topics that you pretty much have to pick Giggs at left mid (& deservedly so) cos I'd love to be able to put bobby there!

PaddyBomb

A few weeks ago he was training with Birmingham. Our whole team will be ex-arsenal in a few years (not a bad thing).

Frisbee

PaddyBomb wrote: »

A few weeks ago he was training with Birmingham. Our whole team will be ex-arsenal in a few years (not a bad thing).

Really? That's mad.

He's been training with Arsenal for the last two weeks since.

eagle eye

I think it would be great for a club like that and their fans to have a player like Pires finish his career there.

I don't get those saying he shouldn't go there. Its a huge thing for a small club whereas going to a Premier League club at this stage of his career would be no big deal for that club.

Always liked Pires and I'll like him even more if he does this. Could be a situation that could end up with him taking a coaching role and learning the ropes for a possible management career down the road.

yahoo_moe

If only Sol was still at Notts County... they could have tried to reunite the Invincibles

For those saying he's still PL standard, I'm not so sure. I absolutely love the guy but the bad knee injury he had in his first year in Spain affected him a good bit. Saw him playing for Villarreal a few times and wasn't anywhere near the player he was at Arsenal.

KeithAFC

One of the greatest ever Arsenal players. Seen every game he was in while he wore the red and white. Don't go to stoke or Birmingham though. The club doesn't like those two.

PaddyBomb

Frisbee wrote: »

Really? That's mad.

He's been training with Arsenal for the last two weeks since.

Yeah someone had pictures up on a Birmingham fan forum. I'll try find them, they looked real aswell.