Arsenal Banter Archive May 16 2013

16 May 2013 21:17:43
Our squad depth will be fantastic if we keep hold of our current starters and sign four or five world class players, in my opinion if we were to sign a righy back at least as good as Sagna was two seasons ago a world class DM and striker then got a bwast of a central defender and Cesc came back I would seriously put money on us wunning one of tge top two trophies next season

So you think we will buy 5 world class players? so about £150m then? I agree that would make us great but it won't happen. If we spend £50m in total I will be happy. We MIGHT get maybe £10m for Sagna and the rest so total outlay of £40m would still be very high for us and make us much stronger

Four or five world class players is a bit far fetched. I'd settle for one and two would be great (Jovetic is not world class, Cesc is, RVP is that's what I'd call world class, Gilberto was not world class but is the player we miss most).

That said four really good player and I think we could be there and the philosophy of improving the first XI and making those first teamers squad players is a good one.

Ideally one or two attacking player (one to to replace Gervinho other for depth. Two of Cesc (unlikely), Higuain, Jovetic, Di Maria would be great). One Gilberto Style player to repalce Diaby and a GK to compete with Chesney. If Sagna leaves use the money for another RB (who can cover CB) to compete with Jenks. If TV leaves use the money for another quality CB.

Easier said than done though.

16 May 2013 20:44:12
Podolski or Giroud up top on Sunday?

Realy hard question because Podolski is in great shape, and has great momentum, while Giroud on the other hand is realy hungry after a spell on the sidelines.

IMO we should start with Giroud, his workrate will tire out the toon defence, then we can put in Podolski to take advantage of the spaces and the tired newcastle defenders.

Both. Stick Poldi on the left with Cazorla through the middle.

Easy - Giroud. I'd put my house on it.

16 May 2013 19:00:14
Bit more of Sagna banter to celebrate the week an all time Gunner calls it a day at Arsenal

As I stated, I believe he is the best right back we have ever had

Dixon: my favorite fullback at Arsenal ever along w Nigel
1. He never played w a poor backline or an inconsistent one
2. He played w the best Gk we have ever had
3. England was a long ball league, best defenders played in Italy. Maldini, Cafu, Nesta, Thuram, Aldair, etc
4. He shared the pitch with a midfield and central partnership that took a lot of the pressure off
5. Played in a 2 team league, us and United

Lauren:
1. Played with Campbell, Toure and Cole. A healthy 5 years of that trio is like 8-10 trophies. let's be serious, Ashley Cole is the best fullback England has ever had.
2. Most of our play went up the other flank with Cole and Pires/Reyes
3. Of all the starters on the invincibles, he is likely the first name you take off, not trying to be harsh, but Toure could play RB and you bring Keown in
4. The year Eboue took over, he played just as convincingly and we made the CL final. To be honest, how did Eboue fall off like he did? Early on he was spectacular
5. Played in a 2 team league, us and United

Sagna:
1. His central partners over the years have been: Gallas, Toure, Senderos, Silvestre, Song, Djourou, Vermaelen, Koscielny and Mertesacker

That's 9 central defenders in 6-7 years

2. Despite that, look at the PL team of the year awards he has piled up
3. In a barren trophy spell, he was known as the best right back in England
4. And this is the pure footballer standpoint, he even played center back for us. That's how good he is
5. He has been a fixed starter for France, which technically is on another planet when compared to England of the 90s and Cameroon
6. Played in a 3 team league when he started and by now a league where 5 teams can win the PL. Chelsea, then City and Spurs

Dixon is a legend. Lauren was tremendous, but aided by the immortality of his squad in general.

Sagna stood out as the best, during a spell in which we won absolutely nothing.

Just my opinion, would love banter to celebrate one of the best and truest Gunners ever

Totally agree mate. He's been a class act since he arrived.

Macc Gooner

Pat Rice

Not sure I'd put Cole above Sansom

I think we have been very lucky over the AW years. R right backs have been great. Lauren, like Sagna, was a very under rated player for Arsenal, but I always enjoyed watching both play. Sagna has got bad press over the last season or so and he does seem to be exposed on occasions, but is it the players directly in front that r the problem. Only a thought.

Gilberto Silva was another undated player who we have never replaced.

He was a great right back but in my opinion still a bit overrated. Most of his crosses didn't get past the first man, he has gone. We need to sell and watch how good a right back Jenkinson will be. The future

Bergkamp5353

Re you forgetting that Peter Storey started as a right back before playing for England as a Midfielder?

He also had a decent pub down Southgate Road!

Ah Sansom slipped my mind, I'd rate him with Cole

And touché on the Pat Rice shout out

Why was Gilberto Silva never dated? He's no Brad Pitt I grant you but some chick somewhere must have thought he was ok looking enough to go on a date?

And as you say he was 'another undated player', who were the rest of them? Ian Dowie?, Neville brothers?

CECEGUaW

16 May 2013 14:45:54
Just secured two season tickets for next year, absolutely buzzing would be the biggest understatement of my life!

Why would you buy a season ticket when it will be a season of mediocrate if you don't buy tickets it will force the club to start spending, and may even get rid of the present board. the only way to tell wenger and the board to start spending is hit them in the pocket.

Well done Bermy. Ignore the post below yours. A true fan would go and support the club whether your at the top of the league or the bottom! Enjoy!

I believe the best way to get the club where it needs to be is to support them as much as possible, thanks for the positive response though!

If you have the chance to get a season ticket you would be a person not to take it. The fact is the waiting list is massive so if you don't take your chance when presented good luck in your 10 year wait for the chance again

If you don't buy season tickets someone else will

16 May 2013 15:42:58
Jheeeez how negative can you get? I for one would love to have a season ticket to support the team I love! So many games I would have loved to have seen, instead screaming my head off in my living room lol. Good on ya pal I'm sure next season there will be some great games that'll be worth paying all that money for, it's all about the memories and being able to say I was there, sure they'll be some games you'd want to forget, but true supporters would be there through thick and thin.

Brighton gooner

Yeah hit them in the pocket and they'll spend! Wait a minute that sounds stupid doesn't it? Seriously enjoy your season mate let them secessionists drown in their frustration and stupidity.

Yeah the best way to get a club spending is for everyone to stop giving them money to spend. possibly the stupidest plan I've heard.

1404

1404, that's the second stupidist plan, the first was when CC and the others suggested BUYING their season tickets and then NOT going to games!

337

Well done mate, enjoy every minute of it! Hopefully we get to lift a trophy next year.

Lucky B. the waiting line is massive.

Two you say?
Flybo

Not sure how you have got two seasons tickets when they don't know how much there going cost yet as league position not secure? Been a holder for 5 yrs not renewed mine yet because of this reason? I will be renewing as I hope next year will be out year COYG

I was fortunate enough to be able to get club level.

17 May 2013 07:08:01
Bermy,

I now officially dub you Sir Minted Gooner. Nice one though, enjoy!

Stoner

Goto support the boys through thick and thin. people that saying why would ya buy tickets ect after this season, we don't need fans like that

You lucky blighter!

I was on the waiting list at Highbury for over 15 years paying the yearly fee for that privilege. In the final year there I was informed I was approx 38,000th on the list! When we moved to the Emirates I was sent a letter congratulating me on being around 14,000th on the list! I thought "Sod this, I could die before I get one". Became a Red member then, paying £33 per year (this year) and getting the odd chance of an August fixture or Feb/March (skiing season) fixture. If you love your club you take what you can get.

Enjoy yours.

CECEGUaW

Thanks for all the positive replies and I can assure you my two seats will provide as much noise as my lungs and vocal chords can muster!

16 May 2013 12:22:17
Ashley Williams is not the class of CB that a great club like Arsenal need to be looking at. I would much prefer Richards, as he can play CB as well. He is British, like Williams, and is an Arsenal fan, whereas Williams supports ;Liverpool. Nothing against Williams, just not Arsenal class. Thoughts please

So Williams doesn't deserve to play for Arsenal as he is not a great CB but Richards is?

Mate you head is well and truly gone.
Last season Ashley Williams was better than Richards, Richards has potential to be a good CB (even though his primary position is RB) but he is also reckless off the pitch,

Williams would be a good solid CB for us that would do a great job but because he plays for Swansea you don't rate him? now if you'd have said Jagielka I may have agreed with you
dandan

Agree, would love to see Richards as our 1st choice RB and as 4th choice CB if we could get him for around £10m

16 May 2013 15:36:45
Koscielny and Mertersacker are a formidable partnership and Vermaelen is a more than capable 3rd choice. I say we promote Miquel and Buy a top RB. Richards, Pisczeck or Nkoluou (Marseille) would be great to play ahead of Jenkinson.
I don't rate Williams, just another Scott Dann, Samba or Rodger Johnson had one great season. CB not a priority anyway. Unless Vermaelen leaves which I highly doubt

Detroit Gooner {Ed027's Note - This is Wiliams 2nd top season in the top flight

Richards is too injury prone.



SM1996

Almost every player in the current squad is injury prone.

So why would we want more?!



SM1996

Can richards cross though. because that is one of sagnas worst attributes. our nx rb has to be able to put in a decent cross now and again

kcider

I'd like either papudapoulas excuse the spell in, or subotic both are young and proven

Bergkamp5353

16 May 2013 08:00:56
hey. guys. since apperently. we are in. for. ashley willams from swansea. so just wanted to know how good is he,.
. thanks

zeet

If he came in he certainly wouldn't be first choice in my book. Seems an odd signing. Mert and Kos are a great pairing and I don't see Williams wanting to be 3rd or even 4th choice. It would make much more sense to sign someone young like Dragovic who'd be happy (ier) with a bit part rotational role.

Having Kos, Mert, TV and Williams would be odd. Two of those players are not going to sit on the bench and they are also all about the same age. I would imagine this will only happen if TV leaves.

Ashley Williams, statistically, is something like the second-best defender in the league this year. I believe it's Rio, then him, then Seb Bassong from Norwich.

He has put in countless die-hard performances and every top club is looking at him.

He is this season's Cahill or Samba.

He would be an amazing addition to what we've got and he would give us real rotation options and the potential to put out first choice CB pairs in cup runs and the champs league.

IMO a massively important, needed signing, a great addition if it comes good, and finally Arsenal will have a selection of CBs to rival the likes of Chelsea, City and United, who all have 4 CBs who play like first choice. Our biggest problem with the likes of Squid and Djourou is that they do not perform like first choice or starting players, ever.

I'd be over the moon if we signed him, he's a no risk type of signing that will just make our defence more solid and improve us, depending who we were against height/speed I would play Per or Ashley


dandan

Problem is if we sign Williams we have four players who can ONLY play CB (ok TV can play LB but for one he's crap there and two we already have plenty of cover there) and so they won't get that many games unless there are injuries and they are all at a stage of their career where they will want to play regualrly. Chelsea has Ivanovic and Luiz who play in other positions, Utd have Smalling and Jones who do the same and are also young and probably happier to play squad game for now.

I'm for having 4 quality CBs but the balance is wrong if we sign Williams. Better would be someone like Richards and then a DM who can also cover there, a bit like Song (but not Song).

For me the idea balance is something like (which we almost already have)

2 LBs - one younger and one about 27
3 CBs in their prime
2 RBs - on younger and one older with one who can play CB.
1 DM - who can play CB too.

Yeah but you could say Vermaelen can play CB or LB, Koscielny can play CB or LB or RB, as well as DM. I know what you're saying though, those other players are actually good at both.