Fun and Games With Nicolas Anelka

I keep track of all my French guys with Google Alert e-mails. I always save the ones about Nicolas Anelka, (aka my favorite bad boy) for last because I know there’s a higher-than-average chance that there will be something fun there. And this week there has been.

First I get the news that “The Walking Down The Manny Road website readers have voted Nicolas Anelka as the best Bolton Wanderers player throughout January.” No, I have no idea what “The Walking Down The Manny Road website” is. Looks like a Bolton thing. But, whatever it is, the “award” is much deserved. Because where was Bolton before Anelka came in and added some spark this year? And now Bolton is threatening to break into the top four and take over a Champions League spot that either Liverpool or Arsenal had assumed was their right. Nervous nights for the teams with bucks, eh?

I mean, sure, a lot of people consider Bolton rough and classless. I prefer “scrappy.” I like scrappy. (Although I’d prefer they’d overtake Liverpool rather than Arsenal, because Liverpool currently has no French internationals on its roster.)

And then The Mirror says, “NICOLAS ANELKA has insisted he is just as good as Thierry Henry. And the Bolton striker reckons he should play for France ahead of the Arsenal superstar if he’s in better form.”

And even though this came from a tabloid, it’s kind of what he said, although it’s fluffed up to make Anelka seem as egotistical as possible. The full quote:

“When I am in the squad, I never say to myself some players are better than me,” said Anelka. “There are four or five attackers and the best will play. I never think so-and-so is above me in the hierarchy.The competition is always open in attack. Of course, during the time I was not called up, I did not have a lot to say. Now I am called up, I consider all formulas are possible. Until now the coach has never said that any of the attackers were untouchable.”

And you know what? I agree with him. And may he actually be one of the best.

(I love Anelka because he never bores me. And how much would I love to see him actually fulfill his potential someday.)