Marvin Emnes – International Man of Mystery

Article by Steven McCormick

Depending on which section of the Boro faithful you encounter, the former 100 metre sprinter and Dutch U21 international is either ‘Marvelous Marvin’ or ‘Miserable Marvin’.

Opinions on Marvin are divided. Within the same 90 minute spell he can be the most technically gifted player on the pitch or completely absent and most dis-interested footballer in your team – and makes your Dad consider sticking his Adidas Sambas (circa 1985) in the back of the car just in case Aitor needs a big lad to do a job up top.

So, just why are Swansea courting him again? Which side of Marvin Emnes are they likely to see week in, week out?

Let’s look at the stats. In 11 appearances for Swansea, he’s managed 3 goals over two loan spells. For a young forward in the Premier League, that’s not bad going at all.

Now consider your beloved Premier League club, looking at spending £2-5 million (depending on which tabloid you read) on a centre forward who has scored 36 goals in 207 appearances - the majority of which were spent in Holland and the English Championship. Happy?

The actions of the four permanent managers to be dealt the Dutchman in their respective Riverside hands speak volumes.

Southgate signed him as a future star, played him in the cups and the occasional cameo bench role. Strachan sent him out on loan seemingly never to return. Mowbray recalled him and put him straight in the team. Marv-elous pre Christmas but miserable thereafter. Aitor has played him as a forward, in the hole, wide left and wide right – before outsourcing him for a second spell with the Jacks.

In, out, in, out and positioned all about – we still can’t get him going.

If recent reports are to be believed, Marv is happy at the Liberty Stadium and judging by comments made this week by the now permanent Swansea manager Garry Monk he appears to be doing the business - subject to improving his fitness and ‘one or two other things’.

Given the fact that we have tried and failed for so long with Marv, I would suggest that Messrs. Gibson and Karanka do the business too and try to move one of the top earners at Rockcliffe off the books to free up some wages that could be better spent.

Should the Jacks jump on Marv this summer, a pursuit of Danny Graham may ensue – a proven Championship marksman who joined in January and managed to finish third top scorer for the season.

One off the Rockcliffe production line, we know what we’re getting – a solid 7/10 performer week in week out, not a 1 or a 10 depending on the weather, degree of interest and which pair of briefs have been donned that morning.

It could work out that a Swansea cast off does the business for Boro and a Smoggie sell off works wonders in Wales.

I for one hope this is the case for all parties.

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