Chris Samba's move to Russia proven to be right decision

When Christopher Samba announced that he was due to move from Premier League side Blackburn Rovers to relatively unknown but recently wealthy Russian Premier League outfit Anzhi Makhachkala he was heavily criticised on all fronts. Those critics have been forced to eat a huge slice of humble pie since.

There were those who claimed Samba only moved for the money as he would see his weekly wage sky-rocket to around £100,000 per week. Steve Kean at the time called for Samba to “respect the club” and honour his contract to stay with the chaotic Rovers, who were then languishing at the bottom of the Premier League. Samba himself even felt the need to defend his actions coming out strongly and defiantly, pointing out to everybody that the club had potential to reach the highest level of European competition and naming current players Roberto Carlos, Yuri Zhirkov and Samuel Eto'o in a bid to legitimise his move. Certainly legendary manager Guus Hiddink must also have played a role in convincing Samba his future lied within Eastern Europe.

Samba could not have chosen a better club. Firstly he was certainly right to criticise the club that had promised so much to him but delivered so little. For all the criticisms of him dis-respecting the club, Samba had spent a total of 5 years playing for Blackburn Rovers and produced performance after performance during that time. Blackburn, under the ownership of Venky's became a national laughing stock and the pressure and protests at every home match must not have been a welcoming environment for a footballer to produce a performance of Premier League quality.

Anzhi on the other hand oozed ambition in a rapidly developing league. Fast forward to October and Anzhi currently sit top of the league following an impressive 2-0 victory away to Dinamo Moscow. They are also impressing on the European stage taking 4 points from their opening two games against Udinese and Young Boys. Having acquired the likes of Lassana Diarra who made over a century of appearances for Real Madrid over the summer the future has never looked better. Blackburn on the other hand currently sit outside the play-off positions in the Championship following relegation from the Premier League and are once again in disarray and without a manager following the departure of Steve Kean.

On the pitch Samba has proven that taking the chance to move to the Russian Premier league was in fact a step up and not a step down based on the inflation of his wage packet. However the events of 17 March provided an upsetting experience for Samba as he was the subject of racist abuse, including the throwing of a banana aimed towards him in a match against Lokomotiv Moscow. Recent events, hearings and court cases in England reflect the disgusting fact that racism has not yet been kicked out of the game. Russia's past may have placed a bigger spotlight on those events but racism is a universal problem that can appear from an idiotic minority of fans in any country, in any culture. Samba himself admitted that he would not allow those events to spoil his enjoyable time in Russia claiming that they are no different to racist abuse he has suffered in other countries.

On the whole those who criticised Samba for his greedy motives must take stock and realise that Anzhi are a growing force not only in Russia but on the European stage. Anzhi's double clash against Liverpool in their Europa League group will provide not only a stiff test for the Reds but will be proof, no matter what team is put out by Brendan Rodgers, that Russia is fast catching up with the best in the business.

Tomos Llewellyn

Comments

[MxMave]

Yes, what a move for Samba. Moved to the freezing cold, travelling thousands of miles to each home game, racial chants and a league that boasts 2 or 3 championship level teams.

BRFC on the other hand were always destined for relegation, weather or not they will hire a good manager and achieve promotion is yet to be seen.

Samba should have moved to a top prem club, apart from the fact that no-one wanted him at his price tag. Anzhi were the only club stupid enough to pay silly money.

[Alfonso]

"future lied within eastern europe"
*lay, and Russia is not in Europe

Anzhi Mackhahckalaka are just a nouvou riche overinflated club who are the epitome of a nothing outfit balancing on a mountain of cash. There is nothing noble or good about them. Whether Samba was right to move, (perhaps, I agree with the previous poster) or is a success there is totally different. They may be successful, but they'll never be good and I fully expect them to fall short of any FFP requirements like the dodgy club they are.

But it was interesting to see how he is getting on and I like these pieces, thanks to the author for taking the time.

[rick c]

samba leaving rovers was one of the main reasons blackburn went down. A team cant survive without its best players, what a fucking stupid article.

[Tomos Llewelyn]

@MxMave, Like I said in the article, Samba has come out and said at the time of the racism incident that he is enjoying his time in Russia, so the freezing cold and the traveling thousands of miles really doesn't seem to affect him. As for the racist chants, there were plenty of those knocking about when he played in England, the minority will always manage to show up the vast majority who behave well.

The Russian Premier League this season has seen two teams enter the Champions League, with four entering the Europa League. With CSKA Moscow and Zenit both winning the Europa League since 2005, the standard of the league is far superior to the Championship.

@Alfonso, I'm glad that you enjoy the articles. I agree with your comment regarding FFP, it will be very interesting to see whether Anzhi will be punished, however the same applies across the whole of Europe (think Man City, Chelsea, Man United in spiralling debt, PSG, Zenit, the list goes on). As for them not being "good", they drew with Udinese and boast a world class manager in Guus Hiddink and world class players in Eto'o, Zhirkov, Diarra, etc.

@rick c, Blackburn were bottom as Samba was leaving the club. Considering the fact he was left out of the team due to his attitude towards the end of his time there, would Blackburn have survived with him? Debatable. However the crippling tension as a consequence of fans protests and instability off the pitch would have remained.

[rick c]

Actually the previous season we finished 10th in the league. It was Steve kean the reason for samba leaving. Samba said he was prepared to stay as our new owners was 'ambitious' but like the rest of the players/fans he was lied too

[Teacher]

Tomos, unfortunately a C Minus for this article.

Confused and lacks direction, not sure what the point of your article is, he moved to Anzhi Makhachkala, why the humble pie? All rather subjective whether moving to Anzhi Makhachkala was the best move. Or are you trying to write an article about the strenght of the Russian League, Liverpool beware! You need to think about what you write a little more carefully.

As for Samba, he moved to Anzhi Makhachkala because they offered him the most money, simple. He would be lucky to earn £40,000 anywhere else. But good on him for taking cash off a Russian billionaire.

Keep plugging away.