Arsenal Banter Archive February 25 2013

25 Feb 2013 23:30:48
Hope you're looking forward to Bale destroying your back 4 at the weekend, and also for Adebayor to show up for the only game of the season.

One man team

Paul

Like you lot was with RVP last season!

chin up

26 Feb 2013 08:41:36
I remember the spurs taking the p*ss last year that we were a one man team, not so noisy now!

Is this the West Ham you scraped past 2-3. You scored 3 and conceded 2 well done. Now how about the same team that played the Arsenal, wait for it oh yes we conceded the same 2 goals but this was in 2 games and oh that's right we scored 8 that's a BIG 8 so if I were spurs I would be affraid, VERY affriad. Spud go get a life

Stopping Bale is the key no doubt without him Spurs a pretty average and we have most more cretivity in our side otherwise.

Bold move but I reckon Couquelin should come into the side and do a man mark job on him.

And his name is wilshire

25 Feb 2013 22:33:58
So Gareth bale, although I suspect that man marking him would work as it is not as if Tottenham has a Xabi Alonso supplying a stacked offense. If arsenal presses high up the pitch and force Tottenham to attempt to pass their way through our midfield then I'm positive we will win. I feel like Jenkinson should be started at the weekend at rb again.

I for one am hoping that arsenal rekindle old interest in Adil Rami. Imposing cb who would provide presence and class to the heart of our defense.

25 Feb 2013 21:59:44
1. Set pieces could destroy us

2. Rambo has to essentially man mark Bale all match, Arteta is too slow, as is Diaby

If we leave Bale to Rambo, we are in some serious trouble.

Macc Gooner

The only player we have that is athletic enough to make Bale is KOS even if this means playing him in a midfield role - This needs to be a playback to what Keown did to Batistuta in the CL all those years ago - I still remember the TV guys commentating that he was inside his shirt all night and Batistuta hated it - I would imagine if KOS does this well enough Bale could lose it!

This can't be our tactic. We have to play our game stay focused and just outscore them.

25 Feb 2013 21:46:12
Don't you think it's a sign of the times that we are all watching a sp&rs games hoping them to lose. Things have gone drastically wrong.

25 Feb 2013 21:17:44
Best miss of the season by Adebayor, too casual and as I'm typing this don't you just love Joe Cole.

Not as much as bale lol

25 Feb 2013 20:47:07
Please forget about money. We have enough. You can speculate and accumulate. Basic economics. We could have done this a year ago. We have the stadium and the infrastructure. Something else is wrong, I don't know what!

25 Feb 2013 19:13:16
Jan 2012: Ivan Gazidis, “[Our model] does mean we can't afford to compete with oil money, and we can't afford to compete with super-wealthy individuals from Russia, ”
“Yes, we can't afford to spend £50-70 million on an individual player. But we're proud of the way we do things, and we're proud of the results that we're able to produce from that. ”

Oct 2012: excerpts from the AGM late last year
Q: You’re putting profit on the balance sheet over success on the pitch. You sell our best players. Operating loss of over £16m has affected the transfer dealings. Was RVP sold to comply with UEFA fair play rules?
IVAN: We lose a player like RVP, not because we want to, but have to make sure we are creating a sustainable future for ourselves.

Q: I believe fans and board have different ambitions. Estimates by outside bodies say our uncommitted cash reserves are at £70m. Is this money really available for Wenger to use?
IVAN: We don’t talk publicly about the money we have available despite being transparent. We certainly do make the money we have available for reinvestment into the team. That doesn’t mean that we spend every penny in each transfer window. Within constraints, all money we make is available to make a competitive team. There may be issues with a player in terms of contractual obligations and fitting in with your team. You can buy someone who is available but not top quality, or wait and buy someone who your manager actually wants.

Dec 2012: Ivan Gazidis at a reception with AST members after the Bradford loss, assured them significant funds were available to spend on bringing in players next month.
AST spokesman Tim Payton said: “The Arsenal Supporters’ Trust cannot fathom why £70million was left untouched this summer. Arsene needs to get over his distaste for spending and use the resources that are provided by the hard-pressed fans who watch the team. ”
NOTE- Ivan had not used this “70 million” figure in public.


Jan 2013: Wenger says, "We will spend big (again) because we had restricted finances because we had built the stadium and had to pay that back. ”
"You look at any club who has done that, and they have gone down (in performance). ”
"We stayed at the top level, yes without winning the Premier League, but we were always at the top level. ”
"Now we have come out in a much stronger position financially again, so we can spend. ”

A quick look at the Arsenal books reveals a scary trend. For the past three years, our operational profits have decreased, probably due to growing costs and poor commercial deals, and had it not been for us selling players every year, the club would’ve been run at a loss. We did sell players every year though and we did make a profit as a whole by buying players of lesser quality to replace them. The profits go into the reserve finances and the pennies in Shareholders’ Funds have grown steadily year after year without being put back into the club. The figure as of November 2012 stands at 312, 450,000. It was 297, 548,000 before we sold RVP and Song and bought Santi, Poldi and Ollie. There’s a mention of a “robust financial platform from cash reserves of £123.3 million” in the latest financial holdings report but we’ll have to wait till summer before we can see it being used, if at all.

I’ve tried not to speculate here, like most of us tend to do. I’ve just used quotes from interview quotes and data from the holdings reports available on the Arsenal site. Correct me if any information is wrong.

So in lamens terms we are screwed!

25 Feb 2013 18:38:45
Well we made a profit of 17.8 mill and I will be honest. its like winning a trophy

1404

I hope you're being sarcastic?

Sorry but it definitely isn't desperation that's what it is

Sometimes I feel like Andy Kaufman.

1404

25 Feb 2013 12:10:50
Ed, we were linked with vrsaljko last year is there still intrest and is he good enough to replace sagna I've heard he's great going foward {Ed027's Note - I'd imagine we'd go for someone more experienced, i think he's too young to be thrown in tot he deep end, also the intrest was around the same time we bought Jenkinson

25 Feb 2013 18:08:50
Quick complaint.

Why does Rosicky not play?

He was the best PL midfielder second half of last season. He is now healthy and ready to go, and makes an instant impact. his touch 30m ball to Theo on his first touch against Bayern should tell you everything

Been saying it since November. we need Rosicky on the pitch, I don't care if it means an extra MF.

He's still our best counter attacking mid. maybe as good as anyone out there.

Releasing ball quick on counter is an art. very few do it at a world class level. in Rosicky and Jack we have 2. even Santi isn't as good as them in this facet

How are we not exploiting this.

The best post I have seen on this site.

Agree totally, have rosicky ahead of Ramsey and diaby every time.

Shaneyd

25 Feb 2013 19:36:18
It amazes me why not, recently he wasn't even on the bench having been back for a few weeks. It just doesn't make sense.

25 Feb 2013 17:53:50
Edd do u think wenger will go for shawcross {Ed027's Note - Nope, but i was thinking about him at Arsenal on my walk home

25 Feb 2013 18:07:49
no doubt he is a fantastic defender can't ever see it happening tho, I think that tackle has maybe hampered his development a bit aswell as tarnish his name. I know i'm going to get stick but any 1 could see his reaction after he didn't mean it, in hindsight if he never made that tackle I thunk he would be an england regular and playing for a top 4 team

Anyone see him against Sweden when Ibra made him look like a joke? not to put him down because he's a good defender and does his job well, but we need a really top guy. surely Shawcross isn't the best we can do. {Ed027's Note - I'd have him over any of ours, based on their performances this season, they all have been stupidly poor, which leads me to belive it is the coaching, so i take that back lol}

I am sick of people defending his tackle on Ramsey. same crap like Pulis is saying. he ruined Ramseys career and yet people are sorry for him because poor guy has cryed after tackle. who cares?he should think before he is making those tackles. for example one with koscielny in last game. yes ball was there to win. but koscielny stretched one leg while crazy Shawncross just made two footed tackle not caring about koscielny at all. if he is a bit unlucky he could've end up like Ramsey. for me crazy iiot not a footballer

25 Feb 2013 16:19:37
I watched joel campbell our young striker on loan at Real Betis playing against Malaga a champions league team. I could not believe how good he was. He is very quick, holds the ball up well and has a very powerful shot. He was on from the start and when he came off after 75 minutes having helped his team win 3-0, he got a standing ovation. He plays on the right and cuts in or down the middle. He looks like B afobe but is a much better player. Wenger must bring him back for next season {Ed027's Note - He's a st played wide, but he's one of the few that can do the job on the flank, god only knows how that utd kid got a permit and he did'nt

Ed I thought there was no problem with the work permit because he met the international criteria - I didn't think we ever intended on having him here yet? {Ed027's Note - we applied for 3 permits last summer, Ryo already has his, i'm guessing Wellington, Galindo, Campbell were the 3, Galindo will probably leave now, whilst wellington is proving to be a real pain. If Joel got one we would of gave him experience in the prem

25 Feb 2013 15:44:47
this might seem like a stupid question but who'd take nasri back if city sold him? {Ed027's Note - He'd come back, but wages s the issue, i'd be cautious becasue he's been in poor form

I wouldn't because there are better faster players out there who play from the first to last whistle all season not when it suits them.

I'd take him back. I agree with metal that his commitment has been poor but he is quality.

25 Feb 2013 11:08:59
Cristiano ronaldo has stated he would like to leave real Madrid and this has been public knowledge for awhile and since he only has 2/3 years left on his contract wouldn't he be worth nearly all our war chest since he would be around £65-80mil depending on how good Wenger really is at dealing. With the likes of bentner, squid, arshavin, chamack, park, Santos and maybe a few others leaving that should free up the cash to pay him the massive wages he will ask for? The same goes for falcao for £40mil can we afford NOT to buy him before he goes to city/ Chelsea/ PSG and becomes an even bigger world beater

Eds can I get your opinions on this and keep up the good work

Humble gooner {Ed027's Note - we would'nt pay that sort of money, but if we did would we pay over 100k wages let alone over 200k!

Thats the sort of thing will make the playing field level. but we no its only a dream :)

25 Feb 2013 13:37:07
just a question. most people on this forum claim we should buy experience on the pitch. but when laudrup wins the capital 1 cup evryone wants him to replace wenger. what makes you think the same in experience that plagued us on the pitch in recent years wount affect the coaching staff if laudrup joins? just a question please don't kill me.
iwarutis

Thats an apples and oranges comparison. Landrup will bring new ideas and fresh air, Arsenal in the managing deptt has gone very very very stale.

On pitch, its different we need more experience as we can't hold onto leads, set pieces suck, no bossy mids.

25 Feb 2013 11:53:20
Saw a post about if we had £70m who would you buy. just thought I'd chuck in my two pence worth :)

Honestly, I would try and sign more than 3 players for £70m if I could. However, also, we will be moving on a lot of players in the summer, and should be selling some hopefully. So without predicting how much it would cost, this is what I would try and do.

Big debate over whether players would come to us, but if that wasn't an issue, I would want us to sign -

Defence:
-Ashley Williams (can't see him ever leaving Swans now - welsh side, he's Wales Captain; Swans play in Europe next season)
-Daniel Agger - really don't need to explain this one, top top defender, Liverpool lucky to still have him imo
- Samba - he has not been great since moving from Anzhi but remember, he's not match fit at all. If we could get him to take a wage cut for euro football then great, last season he was one of the best defenders in the league, absolute beast.
-Micah Richards - one of my favourite players. he's a mug not to have handed in a TF request, rotting on the bench, his England career is dead right now, but worst of all is it's hard to think of many better RBs full stop. Still so young, versatile at the back, absolute tank - everything we lack.

So for sake of argument, I'd be chuffed with Richards, any of the CBs, and one more back up CB, which I honestly believe is the minimum our defence needs before it's a title-contending defence. Sell/get rid of Mertesacker and Squillaci, and Sagna.

Midfield - Get rid - Diaby, Coquelin, Frimpong. Tell Ramsey he is to convert to DM or go. Goetze, and a DM e. g. Capoue, whoever the best one is. I'm not going to pretend I know an awful lot about them.

Wingers - Ben Arfa and one more in a similar mould i. e. someone who can actually run with a ball, cross, pass and score. In fact, Gnabry. To replace Gervinho and Arshavin.

Forwards - Seydou Doumbia (comparable to Sturridge who I really wanted us to sign, potential waiting to explode he was, shame we didn't move for him, bargain. ) and one absolutely top top striker in the Suarez/Aguero/Tevez bracket. Someone who terrifies defences truly, someone who makes defenders not want to turn up.

I would sign a first team starting keeper. Give me Vorm or Mignolet. Sell the obvious wastemans lol (yes I am 28!)

This would make us look like this:

GK - Mignolet, Szczesny (youth keepers e. g. Martinez)
CB - Williams, Samba, Koscielny, Vermaelen
RB - Richards, Jenko
LB - Gibbs, Monreal
DM - Capoue/similar, Ramsey
CM - Eisfeld, Rosicky, Arteta, Aneke
ACM - Santi, Goetze, Jack
Wing - Ben Arfa, Gnabry, The Ox, Theo
ST - Podolski, Giroud, Doumbia,? world class

Honestly, forget this season, even if we finish 3rd we'll still be 20 points off United, that's nowhere near 'challenging'. This team yet again needs a total make-over because we've done nothing but waste money that we got for our best players in the last 5 years. We need to sort out the keeper situation badly. If we finish top 4 it really will be a case of how on earth did that happen not yes we belong here. I do think we will finish top 4 maybe even get 3rd again, it's definitely possible. but if we are to win a trophy, challenge for the champs league, or the league, we need wholesale changes. New keeper, total overhaul of the defence, maybe even sell Vermaelen you know, we need a DM who has done that job for years, we need better depth in midfield than we have, we all know we need wingers and we all know we are far too short of options up top.

One signing would improve the team. Selling Gervinho would improve the team. Making all those signings? How on earth would we not challenge?

Before you call me delusional - that's what I would try and do. Wenger proved he can do a deal in a day. he has done before loads of times. Why not aim for two players a week?

Richards has been injured most of the season, hence why he hasn't been playing.

Last season he made the same amount of appearances as Zabeletta.

He was called up to the England team as a standby and refused to be standby. He got injured playing for team GB and injured again when he returned in the league.

He is not "rotting on the bench". He is injured.

25 Feb 2013 12:46:11
No chance of Daniel Agger
He loves liverpool

25 Feb 2013 13:10:02
Metal,

I was in a conversation yesterday about what Newcastle had done in January to change for the better. Two reasons, one we will play a very different team in our last game this year and two and more importantly, I think we missed a trick and adding to quality squad depth at decent prices.

I believe in the summer we are going to get rid of the unusable core of our squad plus some 1st teamers which may include Vermaelen and Mertesacker and I'm hoping will definately include Gervinho.

We do not I

HI METAL,

can you realy see the club spending 70 mill+ on top class players.

it seems every time we have a bad run the rumours come out about a so called war chest.

can you see wenger spending large amounts of money on players if we qualify for the cl next season?

can you see us really making a move for players like falcao?

the arsenal spin doctors are working over time again.

champagne charlie

25 Feb 2013 13:33:31
Metal,

Started to reply then pushed a key, no idea which one and it disappeared so this maybe somewhat of a repeat.

Had a conversation yesterday about January and what Newcastle had done to their team and I really think we did miss an opportunity to add to squad depth. As in we are going to shift those that add nothing to the team and a player like M'bia would have been a great addition for that price.

We not only have to fill a few 1st team holes but like I said fill the gaps left by those players currently bringing zero to the team.

I'm not convinced about Williams and Samba but I'm not really sure why, just I'm thinking a step up again in class would be better. We've done to much of the buy cheap buy twice thing. I know money is not a total garauntee but you know what I mean.

Which leads onto me saying we not only need a few real quality squad players but agree whole heartedly that we need true class, personally 3 players of over £20 million quality.

There are so many players spoken of but after Monreal in January I'm not even going to try and guess who Arsene may buy. He now more than ever must know they need to be the exceptional quality he has spoken of.

I have been up and down with Arsene for reasons we've talked about before but really would like to see him do it next season. It is the last chance saloon for him I know, but I like I've said before, we kind of win either way.

When ever he goes there will be a another quality managers out there capable of filling his shoes.

25 Feb 2013 11:03:51
I know that this season has not been great but there is a silver lining.

If you look at the table it doesn't lie we are 5th but 3rd and 4th are in the cross hairs. spurs and Chelski still have to play some big teams where as we only have Utd and we should beat the spurs and Everton at home so all could end well

I do not think we need to call for Wengers head just keep supporting and get through this season I truely believe we will be catching up sooner rather than later.

All the noises seem much different now and quite frankly any fan who boos the boys during the game need putting down. we could make the Emirates a horrible place to come and play for opponents but we keep quiet! fan support and noise in the ground is up and down but we have a few games left at home that we could really support our boy.

By all means give the board crap at half time and full time but aim it at the board not the guys running there hearts out irrelevant of the quality we all think they have or lack they are trying, no one wants to lose a game!

11 games to go I really believ this has got another 3rd place finish in it again, not want I want but for this seaon it would be a success

COYG

Adam P

Couldn't agree more!, anyone who didn't go to the villa match should give up their season tickets to let real supporters go to the game, some of us stick with our great team through the good times and the bad, leave the Arsenal bassing to those other pricks!

(Apologies to all those on the red memberships scheme who would love to go every game, and are entusiastic genuine supporters- I know this point is very generalistic and not everyone is like the person who posted this ridiculous request for season ticket holder to give up their seaqon tickets).

Sorry, but why should I give up my season ticket?. It costs me £50 return to get to the game on top of the season ticket, plus refreshements. I patiently waited for more than 11 years on the waiting list for my turn to take up the season ticket and used some of my redundancy money from a job I lost at the time I had to decide whether or not to take up the offer.

I cannot afford to go to every game so I pick them and sell the rest when I can through ticket exchange - I wasnt at the Villa game because I've got my car insurance to pay this month!

Lately ticket exchange has been useless because you "genuine" fans aren't buying enough to sell the seats out so I can't sell mine on to you "genuine" fans - unless the opposition is top drawer of course!

That lack of demand for available tickets suggests you "genuine" fans aren't sticking with the team as much as this poster thinks!

It also suggests that the non season ticket holders are less enthusiastic than the season ticket holders!

I don't claim to be any more of a genuine fan than anyone else, I go to as many games as I can and I shout my head off when I am there to support whoever is on the pitch.

Please humour me here and justify why you are more genuine than me and the other season ticket holders?

Soopergooner

I am shocked there were so many empty seats at the Villa game, mostly because we needed the win so badly. However, it has happened now, I am just glad that Silent Stan was there to see it. We aren't like Americans who will turn up to any nice arena and watch any game and pontificate over how good one player is and then spend the rest of the time talking about business and applauding the good play from the opposition - we are football fans, we want good players playing good football and when we get dumped out of competitions we make our feelings known!

I don't think anyone, true, Arsenal fan would put themselves as important as the next you made that assumption!

On having a season ticket, good for you I am still waiting for my chance and I can safely say when I do I will buy it and not complain once! I know like everyone there is more than just the season ticket to pay for but you know what I'll know that when I part with my cash!

As for the ticket exchange I think it's great, yeah some might try push their luck but you know what it happens.

As for your good self I am sure that you are a genuine Gooner like me but I think you are maybe one of the few who will come out and be honest and say I couldn't make it as I have a life to pay for. This is where we need to direct our anger, disappointment and frustration at the board rather than our players!

All us genuine supporters will know that they boys are trying, I for one believe them and I don't care if I'm alone in that

What I am trying to say is let's get behind OUR team on game day and leave the politics for the right time.

Always a Gooner

Adam P

25 Feb 2013 10:14:38
AW has always honoured his contract, he is a man of principles, so for everyone saying who would replace AW, i'd say your a little premature with your proposals. There has been a few reports floating about, about us making approaches for a number of players, obviously not all are true, but for me this shows there is a change in the tide awaiting.

Henry looks to be coming back to the club in a coaching capacity, talk of Bergkamp, and possible Viera circling also.
We desperately need these former gunners coming back to the club, working with the players, instilling the winning ways of the invincibles into them, defend as a unit, attack as one, never say die attitude.

Now with the reports of approaches for players, this says to me that AW wants to get all his transfer targets done and dusted in time for pre-season, thus trying to avoid a bidding war, and also getting the players in early so they hit the ground running in time for the opening game of the league, get them adjusted to the arsenal style of play.

I think AW realises that whatever happens come the end of the season, major re-inforcements are need all over the park,
Defence: New GK, New RB, New CB
Midfield: New DM
Wings: New LW
Striker: 1 or 2 CF.

Obviously depending on the personnel brought in, that would definately have us challenging on all fronts, the contracts have run down on a few players allowing them to leave and saving us a fortune on wages.

N. Wales Gunner

25 Feb 2013 08:13:18
Can't believe people actually think we could get hummels, makes me laugh

25 Feb 2013 02:34:34
With Sagna looking to leave I think a brilliant replacement would be Micah Richards of Manchester City, he's a brilliant RB and can also play CB. Doesn't get enough game time at City. Real Madrid were keen on signing him a season or two ago but nothing happened and I think he would be a brillian signing and he's still only 24.

He doesn't get a game because he is injured!

If last season I had said City should sign Wilshire, brilliant AM, doesn't get a game at Arsenal what would you say?

25 Feb 2013 01:49:38
I know many of you are making suggestions as to who to bring in for next season. I personally think that our defence does not necessarily need individual star defenders, but just for Steve Bould to have the opportunity to sort it out and get them working together. Yes we need re-enforcing with perhaps 3 players defensively (GK, CB and DM), but they don't have to be massive transfers. AC Milan showed that defending as an organised unit proved that even an attack like Barcelona can be quelled.

We do have the joint 2nd best defence in the league and come the end of the season, a Jagielka or Hangeland marshalling the back four would be fantastic, with perhaps Stekelenburg, Vorm (or maybe even Bradford's Matt Duke lol) as GK and the 10 million suggested names for DMC, and they don't have to cost anymore than £25-30m.

We definitely need a ST and maybe even a winger (or bring Miyachi back from loan). That definitely has to be our marquee signing but he has to be damn good.