Arsenal Banter Archive August 22 2014

22 Aug 2014 22:18:10
Rabiot in?
did not play tonight for PSG - was not even on the bench?
as for the striker my guess is that AW would go for (watch this space) Max Kruse - Moenchengladbach - did not play on Thursday in EL game so will not be cup tied in autumn in CL/EL if plays for other team. . but my heart and dream is WE go for Falcao!!!

Let's hope Messi doesn't play in Barcelonas next game. Then we can sign him too.

22 Aug 2014 22:04:10
Ed02. Where are you based mate. If you are not too far would you like to get together too?

{Ed002's Note - Berkshire now, Monte Carlo and Monaco next week - then I don't recall. It is £400 for an evening if you pay for the meal.}

I'd love too meet him aswell ;)

Better go on a diet mate. -:)

I use to be near Beaconsfield after moving from Islington. You near there mate.?

{Ed002's Note - A little south - the cool bit.}

Where abouts in Berkshire ed? (Not for stalking reasons) I'm from Bracknell myself

{Ed002's Note - We live in a village nearby (8 miles) - obviously we don't go to Bracknell ever. People tell me of a tunnel which will get you out. I can get plans for you.}

22 Aug 2014 22:31:13
We should meet out there ed - whereabouts in MC will you be. I'll be the gent riding around town on the flying pig

I found the tunnel nigh on 6 years ago mate, someone called Lè mole showed me. I shouldn't have said that.

22 Aug 2014 23:29:19
I live in Windlesham, right next to Ascot. :)

I live in winkfield :)

{Ed002's Note - I think Ed001 lived there a while ago.}

22 Aug 2014 21:33:58
What's the predictions for tomorrow.?
I'm not going to be brave enough to stick my neck out this time.

22 Aug 2014 22:27:41
Golds,

I'm going for a cheeky 2-1 win.

No idea of goalscorers though.

0-3 Sweet revenge?

22 Aug 2014 21:02:03
Does anyone else think the Ox is severely under utilized?! That run in mid week, pure class!

Yes I've got to say that I'm with you on that one.

Right now I'd have him in the team ahead of Cazorla. Much more direct and has power aswel as pace.

22 Aug 2014 21:54:04
Definitely,

Possibly our most direct player and deserves a place in starting line up.

I can only think Arsene is easing him back gently after his injury, the boys class and I think this season he will come of age as Aaron did last year.
Love his attitude, honesty, work rate the way he wins the ball back when he loses it.
He is my favorite player in the present team for the reasons above plus his outstanding ability of course

Was thinking that the OX will benefit from Wilshere being overused in his early days, can't see wenger making the same mistake with OX.

What's sad in some sense is how so many have passed Jack.

22 Aug 2014 19:16:20
Can I please join the cool gang my post might get posted then 4 post I've done today and none posted

{Ed025's Note - i have not been on WW, but im afraid the cool gang is a closed shop mate.. :)

Thats weird because I've only sent one Witty and they've both been posted ok
It's a funny old game

Have you considered the possibility that your posts don't get posted because most of them are just you trying to wind people up? Because that might be why.

Not at all ted, I asked a question no anws, and I out two post for everyone to anws so no I don't try to get wind people up thanks

{Ed002's Note - Looking at the posts, not cut by me. Normally I am to blame - try the other pages}

There's a couple of yours from today on the "other posts" page. Have a look before you moan they havnt been posted.

{Ed002's Note - I would have dumped them there. That will be me.}

22 Aug 2014 22:00:14
G62,

Quote "I've only sent one and they have both been posted" unquote.

Or was you being sarcastic? Lol.

22 Aug 2014 22:07:58
Witty,

The cool gang does not exist, I should know, I'm the supposed leader remember.

However, if you feel you would like to join "The Cool Gang", send a cheque payable to Dag's, care of Ed025, for £500.

Act now, as this is a limited once in a lifetime offer, which is running for the remainder of the year.

First months membership includes>
1) Guaranteed post's.
2) unlimited use of Ed025's Bat cave.

Yeah Dags I was having a bit of fun about the " cool gang " rubbish thing :-)
There are only two gangs on here, those who respect what the Ed's do for us for free and those who complain at what they don't do.
Its not rocket science to work out which ones cool

22 Aug 2014 17:46:43
Looking at city, money aside, how on earth do the find so many talents?! Fernando was immense against Newcastle and a total steal at the apparent £12m he cost them. Fernandinho is another player who they've managed to get who has been incredible. Last season he was City's unsung hero. He was all over the pitch and runs tirelessly making important interceptions and tackles as well as starting attacks. These are the kinds of players we need, not Tiote. We're obviously a long way off City's midfield, probably the best in the world, but one powerhouse and we'll be up there too. Sorry to sound like a broken record by the way.

Citeh midfield very good. Best in the world? Far from it!

That's a good point NE but the other clubs can't match the amount of wages city pays. I don't exactly know if Fernando is on a very big payroll but in general if a player has a choice he would prefer to go to City.

22 Aug 2014 20:11:34
It's not the fee mate - it's paying them all 100k -200k a week that gets you the player.

22 Aug 2014 15:55:26
With Wenger spending all that cash so early on in the transfer window, I can't help but feel people are getting carried away expecting us to sign or bid for every top player in Europe!
Well I don't claim to live next door to wenger or even know someone who's related to someone who once clipped Steve Bould's dogs nails but just got s personal feeling that we may bring in one more "squad" player & not the superstar that so many are dreaming of. Of course I'd love to be eating humble pie come Sep 1st but I certainly won't be holding my breath.
Probably fed up with being asked, but what do you reckon Ed?
Cheers

22 Aug 2014 14:13:19
Did the fruit fly die or is it still alive :-)))

{Ed002's Note - It is still alive.}

22 Aug 2014 15:10:03
It's alive and hanging upside down in Ed's bat cave.

I thought bats ate flies such.

I've been abroad for the past few weeks and I went to Vienna zoo. There was a big, dimly lit cave filled with bats that you could walk through. It was terrifying.

22 Aug 2014 12:55:25
So we have just over a week to go in the transfer window if I'm not mistaken, and I am of a similar belief to most of you in that we need three signings in the form of a CB, CDM and ST.

Now, Ed says that Manolas is practically done. So that's a good start. He is only 23 (I think) and would be a vast improvement on Ignasi Miquel and will hopefully see him out the door.

CDM is the position we need the most. The lack of a CDM is the reason that we were thrashed multiple times last season, and we will continue to be if this issue is not addressed. Khedira, Bender or Carvalho would fit perfectly in my opinion and would suit our style of play while allowing Ramsey to play further forward. Rabiot, while I believe he has bags of potential and ability, should probably not be signed for this position, although perhaps Wenger could shape him into a more defensive player. Finally, if Tiote signs, I'll cry.

Now onto the striker. I like Olivier Giroud, I really do and was buzzing when he signed for the club, but I just feel that we need a more clinical finisher and someone who can win games on their own. Balotelli, for me, would have been perfect, but obviously that ship sailed a while ago. I can think of two signings that would be a dream. The first is Edinson Cavani. The guy can score goals, and lots of them. He scores plenty from the wing at PSG, so I think he could do some real damage playing down the middle for us. The second dream signing would be Reus, as I'm sure many of you may have guessed. He is a wonderful player and would add pace and danger to our front line. If neither of these two sign, I wouldn't mind Remy, but only as a last resort. I also wouldn't mind Pedro Rodriguez (granted, he's a winger) as if he were to sign then we could see Alexis move through the middle.

Regarding the Everton game, this will be a very difficult game and while a win would be ideal, I think a point would suffice. I'm going for a 1-1 draw, with Giroud scoring for us.

Forgot to add that I think Bony should be considered as another option.

22 Aug 2014 13:58:40
So many of us are guilty of hearing a players name linked with us in certain position and we then believe he is the answer to our teams prayers, often without even seeing the guy actually play.

Worse still, have seen him play, thought my god he looks good without even appreciating he wasn't playing the actual position we need to fill.

The DM is the position we all want to see filled the most, a genuine upgrade on a 32yr old Arteta with names such as Carvalho, Khedira, Bender, Schneiderlin or the least likely Pogba.

Khedira or Carvalho are the two most often linked to us if you read reports on the internet.

Dig a little deeper and you find maybe they are not the answer.

"It appears that Khedira's arrival would compromise Ramsey's role though. Ramsey was the best player in England during the first few months of last season, and while he can help out defensively, khedira is clearly an attacking midfielder."

"Unless Khedira drastically changes his game, Ramsey would have to focus much more on his defensive positioning. A key feature of Arsenal's game last season was Mesut Ozil picking out Ramsey's runs beyond Olivier Giroud, and it would be a huge shame if that was sacrificed."

"Khedira would be a very good alternative to Ramsey in the box-to-box position, but there is little to suggest Khedira would be as effective as Mikel Arteta in the vital defensive role in Arsenal's midfield, and Arsene Wenger may well be better off buying a specialist like Lars Bender or Morgan Schneiderlin."

As stats of Arteta vs Khedira don't paint Khedira in a great light in areas we'd want him to excel :-)

Arteta vs Khedira stats per 90 metrics (this takes into account minutes played)

Tackles made - 2.62 vs 0.84

Pass completion - 92% vs 86%

Passes made - 77.36 vs 51.52

Interceptions - 2.36 vs 1.21

Initial reports raved about Carvalho but more recent ones state he has struggled against the big teams and that's big teams in Portugal.

Bender would seem the best option, good reviews in a much better league and is a German international along with Schneiderlin who is a proven DM in the premiership but not a proven international albeit great premier league stats.

It's a mine field to which we allow, as fans, our desperate want for Wenger to buy the best one sometimes to cloud what is reality about a certain player.

We were also linked with Wanyama for ever last summer and he went to Southampton, these stats show he has turned out to be a great buy for them and he looked good against Liverpool last week.

Southampton averaged 1.47 points per game last season but that jumped to 1.58 when Wanyama started and dropped to 1.28 when he didn't. They conceded on average a goal every 121 minutes when he was on the pitch and that dropped to every 57 minutes when he didn't play.

Pogba is muted as the best but by all accounts is un obtainable, recent links to Tiote seem as crazy as the latest one for Winston Reid as the answer to our CB prayers.

So we have to sit and wait, not even truly knowing if Wenger is really going to buy one or sit with Arteta and Flamini.

Which to some would be like turning up for a gun fight minus your beloved .44 magnum.

22 Aug 2014 14:40:28
I'd be very happy with Bony

Top Post Red dog

Reminded me of the film moneyball with all the stats.

I don't see Khedira as an attacking mid but he's not a defensive one either. IMO he's a centre mid that does both but not a specialist in either.

I think Khedira would still add, size, power and legs that Arteta doesn't have nd more importantly a German world cup winner with a winning mentallity.

22 Aug 2014 16:47:19
Top post Red Dog

Good points there Red Dog. For me though, its still Khediria, even if, as you say, he is not exactly a true DM. I think the bang per buck you would get from him, being a world cup winner, and from plying his trade in the spanish league at RM, is much higher than the others. Also even though he is not a natural DM, physically he is much bigger than we already have and most importantly, has a presence on the pitch which in itself will help. I think he could partner well with Ramsey, just like he partnered with Kroos in the German Team. They are two intelligent footballers who IMO would 'top and tail' very well. If I was being totally selfish, I wouldn't mind both Khediria and a DM signing as well, to play behind Rambo and Khediria if we chose to go down the 4-3-3 route (with Wilshire and the Ox being very handy subs/replacements for the lesser/easier games). But that probably just a pipe dream.

{Ed002's Note - Take the formation stuff to the Team and Formation page please.}

22 Aug 2014 12:16:31
Somehow you just feel Wednesday night will be huge for the rest of our transfer business, on that note, I think no signings till after that game

I think you are absolutely correct, logic tells us that a lot of the deals hinge on Wednesday evening. going to be a good night, I'm convinced

22 Aug 2014 11:46:26
Dream transfer window would be hummels Sami/carvalho rues, I'd be happy with cover cb Sami/tiote and rues what about u lot

Tiote would be worse than what we already have.

22 Aug 2014 12:52:32
Dream transfers would involve Falcao

Your having a laugh

*You're

If you're going to have an input, which let's be honest, is usually to wind people up Witty Wenger, please ensure you're grammatically correct.

Thank you.

22 Aug 2014 16:09:49
*Reus

If you're going to pick at people's grammar greeny, at least be consistent about it. Don't ignore all the ridiculous grammar demonstrated by the regulars and then pick on people like him about it. It's absolutely pathetic, and paints you in a worse light than him. If I had the choice between sitting next to someone who can't spell and has some silly on the bus, and someone that decides to be conceited and arrogant I know who I'd choose.

{Ed025's Note - spelling should not be an issue, as long as other posters can comprehend it its fine..

22 Aug 2014 23:09:26
More people are now picking up on it, interesting.
Good post CS.

23 Aug 2014 01:44:05
"conceited and arrogant" that's rich from you CS

Yes sheeny very clever. I'm impressed.

22 Aug 2014 10:05:01
so i'm hearing that Sporting Lisbon are interested in both Manchester United's Anderson and Newcastle's Chiek Tiote. Both DM's which has to be sign that Carvahlo is leaving! I hope we are serious about this kid because he looks like a world beater and less injury prone than Sami from Madrid

22 Aug 2014 12:54:12
Not sure Anderson qualifies as a footballer, let a lone a DM.

22 Aug 2014 06:27:13
This is a mad post. You all know when you wake up in the morning and you have a dream that is so real that you can't decipher whether it really happened or you actually did dream it. Well last night I dreamt that Thierry Henry was now playing for Arsenal up front. It was so real that I had to check the Internet to see if it hadn't really happened and I hadn't dreamt it. I could see him walking on the pitch and lining up and playing as a striker. It was like watching a film.
It was really crazy. Then I thought! Could it happen?

{Ed025's Note - we wish golds..

22 Aug 2014 08:42:56
I had a dream like that the other day, except it wasn't football related;)

22 Aug 2014 12:35:13
Not mad at all FIBBY, considering you're not sure who you are half the time. :-)

Good to see you found the disagree button on the other page too fella. Hope for you yet.

STONER. Why do you keep calling me FIBBY mate? have you got me mixed up with somebody else . You have said this a couple of times now.

22 Aug 2014 10:03:58
The other funny thing Ed025 was that I rolled over and had to wake up Holly Willoughby tell her about the dream too.
She just told me to go back to sleep as it was too early after a long night!

{Ed025's Note - now thats what i call a dream golds!..

21 Aug 2014 23:54:26
Lots of talk about waiting for confirmation of champs league before the next wave of signings.

Not sure how true this is but I guess it would make sense in one way or another and (as much as Wenger denied it) the financial boost is always welcome!

So what happens if we don't qualify on Wednesday next week. Me personally? I don't even want to think about it! Can you imagine Besiktas getting an early goal from a Demba Ba corner and us just not being able to grind out a result. Nightmares induce.

Luckily I am fairly optimistic and if we can draw with our team playing rubbish on a rubbish pitch with a hostile atmosphere. Then with the Beautiful ground that is the Emirates with the home support and (hopefully) a new turn of form and fluidity, we will be fine. and the transfers will flow.

Still, regardless - I'm still a little nervous.

To be honest I don't think that would be a disaster because let's face it, we don't have the potential to win CL but. But we can use the breather from not having to play so many heavy games to actually get a good shot at league championship. I hope we qualify but if we don't that will be our silver lining.

Unfortunately Aussie that silver lining ain't silver after all mate, if that did happen we'd be dumped into the Thursday night league as punishment.
I'm sure we'll be ok Wednesday night because above the money and the glory of CL football the fear of what would follow will motivate the players much more than Arsene ever could

22 Aug 2014 11:54:48
Think qualifying will make a difference to who we might get. Would ozil have signed last year if we hadn't knocked out fenerbahce in the qualifying round 5 days earlier
Can't see khedira, carvalho or cavani signing up to a Europa league team
Rabiot, manolas maybe