Arsenal Banter Archive August 26 2013

26 Aug 2013 22:33:46
Akie, 337, Pastyrash.Thanks boys for your replies to my post. Benteke should have been a no brainier signing for us. A quality striker and a player that we could have improved, no doubt about it . Yet again we fluff about when the obvious is staring us directly in the face! Are WE! in the wrong job?

26 Aug 2013 21:57:06
Do you think Casillas could end up going out on loan? RM are not going to want to sell him but he's not going to sit on the bench in a WC season?

Ok maybe not to arsenal but its a possibility what other CL teams are looking for a GK?

26 Aug 2013 20:26:32
7 days till Jim White puts us out of our misery lol

Having watched him since early in his career north of the border, he has made me feel miserable for decades now.

Jim white should take the next 6 days off and just come to work 2 hours before end of deadline lol. just like wenger (who said that? lol)

26 Aug 2013 19:50:09
I think it's very important for fans like myself to give some kind of support to the manager. When you look at these doom and gloom laden forums. And listen to the radio and watch the tv, it's only the fans who are angry and at their wits end who are voicing their feelings.
It's gives a completely unbalanced view of what's going on as the Arsenal fan base as a whole.
Be patient, players will be bought in. A message for the manager,
Hang in there boss.
Whatever happens after sep2nd I hope we all pull together. 1 family. And we do it the Arsenal way.

Wengerism, good post.
I would say though that the majority of negative/"wenger out" posts are borne out of sheer frustration. i, like many others on this forum, have "voted" for wenger to leave, or indeed gazidis or kroenke or usmanov. deep down, I love wenger to bits and admire/respect the work he did when he arrived at arsenal.
he inherited a great team, added to it and won the double in his first season. he changed the way we played, he changed the way the players ate to enhance their matchday performances. He presided over the move from highbury to the emirates, a move that increased our matchday revenue by 50%. He basically turned us into a monster on and off field. i'm sure I speak for most arsenal supporters on this site when I say nobody wants wenger to leave but we just want "our leader" to keep up with the current market and spend some money and get us back to where we belong. No club has an automatic right to win things but with just a few additions we should be able to compete with the big boys

I admire your staunch defense - can I ask two questions? How long have you supported Arsenal, at 35, and do you or have you ever paid for a season ticket? If you have one, I'm surprised you aren't tearing your hair out with 17 outfield players and injuries to the squad, and a week to go with zero transfers and 4 cups.

Anyway, we will get players in, just hope they are good ones. 2 months of the media putting out more beard than Gandalf's hairier brother has got right up my japs eye.

Baggins my friend, I don't think it matters whether I have a ticket or how long I've supported the club. We all support the club the same.
Maybe I'm younger than some of you guys, but that should not matter. If anything you guys should be with me, because you have seen the Arsenal go through some real struggles. This Is nothing.
But to answer your question Iv supported them since I was 9. And my brother thankfully let's me use his ticket every now and then.

Baggins

Weird question. I don't agree with everything Wengerism posts, bit his logical but passionate support of Arsene does make total sense to me. I keep saying this but will say it again. Arsene has been our greatest ever coach, in fact he has been the greatest individual ever at this club.

Wow he has his faults, and wow he is frustrating and annoying, and yes he does make me want to tear my hair out. But to not see we owe him the loyalty he gave us is beyond mad. To not see that he gave us all we are hungry for more of is crazy. When he does go it should be with quiet dignity and the massive love of the club and fans.

Oh and he did not inherit a 'great' team, he inherited one in decline, and one that was pretty dull too. He rejuvenated Adams and Keown etc and made them even greater - something they happily voice.

One final oh! Oh, and by the way I stood on the terraces through the wilderness years of the seventies, and eighties, supported us through the successful but dull football of Graham (I loved Limpar for bringing real skill to the club), and have had the great and good fortune of seeing the best teams under Arsene.

In fact with the exception of Ferguson and United I would think it is obvious Arsene's Arsenal have been the greatest team in English football history.

I think the timing of the stadium being built, the location of the Club, in London, the advertising and media capabilities for Arsenal. we have come along way from what we were, to what we are now.

before we competed on the pitch with the big dogs, now off it too. and for 7+ years of no trophys, yet we have a bigger recognisable pull, in a world where the fanbase is worldwide, and every stream of revenue helps to be a global brand.

Barcelona, Madrid, Bayern Munich, Manchester United. these are the clubs on top of us in the revenue food chain, yet the only club that can match our self sustainable model is Bayern.

I have no doubt that down the line in 10-15 years, arsenal will be the envy of clubs like Spurs, chelsea and liverpool, when they are faced to compete without the use of their benefactors and no-go with a self sustainable model.

26 Aug 2013 18:47:21
So everyone wants silent stan kronke out of the club.
Jusy wondering about Usmanov. he also owns a high percentage of the club, says he's a true arsenal fan hence the reason why he bought into the club. The point i'm trying to make or ask is. if he is a majority share holder and worth billions could or would it not be possible for him to buy a high profile player for the club from his own pocket and promote it as some form of investment? I mean I love arsenal pretty same if not more than he does, and If I was worth billions had majorty shares I certainly would do it. ed or anyone else's thoughts on this? I am not sure if this is possible but if it was this certainly would show kronke what a waste of space he is at our club. then again if he did propose this, i'm guessing the board would immediately reject his offer. ED'S : your thoughts please?

Pretty sure he tried to invest 100 million and didn't want anything in return but they turned him down said they didn't want it could be wrong but that's what I remember of it.

It has been reported before that usmanov has repeatedly offered to put money in directly for transfers, and also suggested a share issue as an alternative to raise money to cover transfers and debts, the club always rejected his offers

My understanding was if he took control of the club he would then spend £150m on players but this would be debted to the club and not from his own pocket.

26 Aug 2013 19:43:49
Right.

Heard over the weekend the following from someone who works for Man United, admittedly via a third party.

We've mad a second firm enquiry for Rooney which is being entertained. HOWEVER Rooney and his agents have told arsenal that he wants to see who else we sign before he'll negotiate.

So, no Rooney it is then.

ALSO from someone who works in the club:

Club in some disarray internally. Brady left as you know some time ago, he had a personal fall out with Wenger.

Steve Rowley and Wenger have lost confidence in each other and no longer speak. This is due to Wenger ignoring the targets Rowley highlights in favour of the recommendations of the clubs foreign scouts.

Gazidis and Wenger's relationship has totally broken down and they also do not speak, this started after the ill conceived press release he gave at the start of he window about the money we had available.

Wenger apparently angrily accused Gazidis of undermining him, putting him under pressure to spend, and also forcing prices up for players he may be in for. which I have to is about what has happened.

As the window goes on the two camps have been at each other throats and a couple of deals have fallen through as each side try's to get he upper hand.

Dick Law was bought in over Wenger's head by Gazidis and against Wengers recommendations. Law has no football experience and treats every situation as a business takeover deal. He is far too aggressive in his approach and the initial bids are so low he winds the other parties up.

No idea if this is true, just thought I'd pass it on as it makes a lot of sense.

Bloody depressing if true.

If this is true, it's worse news than no signings

Did you see Gazidis and Wenger during the Asia tour?

Not sure if the low bids are down to law, we've been doing it for years and I've always been told wenger controls all aspects of transfers

What a load of rubbish! Opinions are fine, why do people have to pretend factual inside knowledge? Total bilge from start to end is my opinion.

26 Aug 2013 18:20:22
Good evening fellow Gooners.

Does anyone feel like we don't need [you don't want] Cabaye? I really don't think he's going to fix the void in our midfield. I see him as a playmaker, and I don't think that's a position that needs to be strengthened, AT ALL.

I'm not sure what the thinking is behind signing Cabaye, if anyone has any better ideas, please do enlighten me.


Furthermore. WHY IS KONDOGBIA NOT IN AN ARSENAL SHIRT YET?!? *sad face*

Hoping some announcements are made after the Fenerbache match, and in time for the on the weekend.

Keep your heads up lads and ladies. Not all is lost. COYG!

Copthorne Gooner

Yeah I agree mate, not sure what their thinking about cabaye. Would much rather see a strong cdm come in instead. Why buy a player and change their game to fit a position, why not buy a player that fits the position? I would prefer a keeper than cabaye, a position we've needed strengthening for some time.

If only Wenger had continued to play Petit in defence, Henry on the Wing and Lauren in midfield.

or more recently Carzorla had pretty much only played on the wing before we signed him.

26 Aug 2013 18:01:54
just read a post by AK47GUNNER where he said he thinks AW will bring in players not the world class players we have been expecting but solid players.If I remember rightly didn't one of the Eds say something some time back about he heard that AW was going to bring in not world class players but good solid players who will get the job done.Perhaps this is the path we have chosen to take due to our constraints wether that is financial or AW whatever is your opinion .
Heybridge Gooner

26 Aug 2013 19:43:41
You "Fans" make me sick, you have more faith in the media than your own club. I know we're all down but isn't that what SUPPORTING a club is about, I look at the positives, we have some great English and international youth prospects, a fresh and ever growing english core all on long term long contracts, a fantastic new stadium, worthy to highlight a club of our stature, and a manager who loves the club more than any of you know.

Most singing s we've made have been great, and utter genius, by wenger. It all went wrong after the infamous leg break which lost us our hottest prospect. But last few summers we've tried spending a solid 50 mil on players, who could have been ok, but let's face it, weren't, but wasn't TH pulled from the wing/bench at juve and made to be a god, or more recent, kos from a ligue 2 side.

Furthemore, all players wenger has "lost", due to "financial greed" or whatever, has been down to players not wantimg to stay, and being in their last year of contract, do you honestly believe that had them players re-signed, we wouldn't be a dominant force in EPL and CL.

And you all play too much fifa and Football manager, bids are rarely made, they're carefully analysed and are normally only made after an enquiry, you throw around enquires to know which players are worth keeping an eye on. The media latch to this and make it a story. Not wenger, he follows the game fair, plays very few mind tricks and waits for good, quality singings that he knows will benefit the club.

Injury, players personal choices and Media are not factors Wenger can easily control. Please give him a few more seasons, I think it could take us decades, but Arsenal will rise again.

Abbeygooner666. you started your post with "you fans". you are obviously not a football supporter or not even an arsenal supporter, so why post on here?

Don't know where to start with this post, blind optimism will not get us anywhere, time is running out, fast

I disagree with you on every point, so let me summarize it in one word. rubbish!

26 Aug 2013 17:27:32
Wenger tables 100 million bid to London club for special player.

No we are not signing Bale, stop making 2+2 equal to 5.9

AA are you trying to say we are going to sign gareth bale? mate, we have more chance of signing gareth gates

Just as well your AA the talks will breakdown

I'd piss myself if we could have another Sol Campbell moment.

I thought that you went to the AA to try & stop drinking.

I've told him 4times now I won't sign for less than 150mill

26 Aug 2013 17:05:29
Talks have been happening between arsenal and Sevilla regarding kondogbia. However they are moving at a slow pace.

Slow pace? yeah I heard a snail was behind wenger and bibbed him to get out of the way.

The only pace our transfer negotiations ever travel at

26 Aug 2013 16:09:49
After the press conference today, don't think he is in the market for anyone. panic buys again folks.

I agree, more rubbish for the 'faithful' to swallow

26 Aug 2013 16:02:34
Here's my 2 pence worth on what I reckon is going on.
I think firstly saurez. I think arsenal know exactly what they are doing by bidding 40 million and a pound. Get the bid in early able to speak to saurez and agree what they would pay him. I think the whole deal hinges on whether we are in the CL. And if so. Come when we've actually qualified the transfer clause will become active and he's ours. Were a prudent and clever run club.

Secondly he knows where we need strengthening and what needs to be done to improve us. I think what most people tend to forget is that some players regardless of who they are just would rather play for another team rather than us. Its not a dead cert that who ever we go for were nailed on to sign.

He knows we need a new goalkeeper, defensive midfielder, winger and a striker. Is he going to come out and say we them of course not. He's got to keep the balance right and let his players know that he still relies on them for the job done. Wouldn't keep the squad happy if he came out and said his players were sh*t and need improving regardless of wether the squad knows it which they do they need improvements. Wengers never been the kind of person to criticize a player

Who do I reckon we'll get I'd like to see saurez kondogbia sakho and cesar or di maria lamela pogba cabaye williams

I am 100% behind wenger! always have been. I think the past 8 years have been out of his control with spending and selling big players. Why would he not want to keep our best players. He's done miracles with what he's had at his disposal.

I'm looking for a good strong season from us where we are hopefully pushing for the title. There can only be one team to win any trophy and hopefully this is our season to pinch a few. Thanks for reading. Hope you've all enjoyed your bank holiday. Roll on mashing the spurs at the weekend.

You really really have to forget Suarez. He is not going to be sold to Arsenal. John Henry owns Liverpool and he does not mess about.

The latest information apparently is that Suarez is going to sign a contract extension with a proper release clause in it so no doubt he will get his dream move to Madrid next season.

Try going for Rooney as he is your best bet of a major forward signing.

Thanks for Kolo Toure. I know he has been kicking his heels at Citeh but he is Arsenal bred and he is looking brilliant for us so far and he is a great bloke as well.

Have to agree with tommy gunn on that one. suarez would be a dream in an arsenal shirt but it will never ever happen. just to change subject slightly, now I don't mean to be a negative pooh pooh bear but why do some people keep mentioning diaby? now, I love him to bits as he is the closest we have ever had to pat vieira and if he didn't have so many injuries he would be, in my opinion, the best defensive midfielder in england. his attacking play is pretty brilliant too, but but but but but he is a total injury nightmare. the guy pulls a hamstring just putting on his shinpads. I love the guy but let's be realistic, he's finished. (waits for hell to break loose)

Yes but at 31 he ain't round much longer we need more players

26 Aug 2013 15:03:01
I'm hearing from my contact in South America we're back in for Cesar. His desired 4 yr contract at 75 per week won't be granted, but a compromise of a 3 year deal should do it. As for the Cabaye story, simply baffling. Why? Mata is a non starter, even if we could afford him, higher profile teams are in the running. Like I've said all summer, Ba is the only Chelsea player we may end up with. Would be great to get the keeper deal done as he's the real deal, unlike szczesny. Thereafter, in my opinion, it's 2 defenders and a holding midfielder we need. A forward would be nice but a striker's not necessarily a priority. Giroud, Walcott and Pod are top players. Podolski gets criticised but he's a real team player and always contributes. What would he be worth if he was English? Look at his International record and you'll see a guy who is consistently considered invaluable to a team far superior than England.

Completely disagree with you.We will sign 1 defensive player (who plays both CB and CDM), one box to box midfielder and Wayne Rooney. don't know about keeper

26 Aug 2013 14:55:15
Can't wait until this transfer window shuts. Finally will know what we're up against and can finally get behind the team! It's impossible to know what goes on in wengers head, these next 7 days will be interesting

Totally agree mate

26 Aug 2013 14:45:18
Wen·ger·ism  [Ven-ger-riz-uhm] 

 noun

1. A type of brainwashing typified by the victims total blind faith in what they are told, ignoring all factual evidence to the contrary .

2.  The beliefs of a cult following the teachings of the French philosopher Wenger.

3. Psychological disorder where the sufferer fails to process input from their visual cortex, frequently severe cases have a form of "selective blindness" to events that their psyche cannot accept as having occurred, such that they deny having seen them even when video evidence is available to the contrary. 

Origin: 

1996-2013,  British; Wenger + -ism {Ed044's Note - It should be 2014 I am told.}

Ha. U killed me there

HAHA brilliant post!

Wow. Gunny you must be having a really exciting bank holiday!

INteresting yuse of definition!

A GUNNY is described as a Gunnery Sergeant in US Marines - typically someone with a huge mouth who sends everyone else out to fight!

26 Aug 2013 14:06:32
Realistically who do you expect to see come in by the September 2nd?

After his press conference today, no one

26 Aug 2013 13:44:38
Just watched the latest wenger interview, and like always he didn't give any clues away and stayed tight lipped about any transfers coming in, but the smile on his face and him saying we are short and he hopes he can make the press happy, tells me IMO he defo has most of his targets wrapped up already, are they big names prob not but we are defo guna bring in some good quality names

26 Aug 2013 13:04:57
it's a sad day for arsenal football club, it indeed looks like we're losing the man who has carried us for the past few years, he goes by the name. nicklas bendtner. crystal place are close to finalising a £3m move. which would make them a real threat this season seeing as they already have chamakh. possibly the best strike partnership in the premier league. LOL have fun in the championship next season boys!

Let me tell you how I see it.

Chamakh is a good striker when given game time. He was scoring for us until Van Persie returned from injury, then he lost all confidence and stopped scoring in the games he did play in.

Bendtner on the other hand, has always had potential to be a good striker, however he has always let his ego get in the way and therefore will never be as good as he is able to be.

I would hope that Chamakh remains in their first team and Bendtner starts on the bench. Chamakh is a better striker and Bendtner has never done anything to merit a starting XI place in any team. Playing both of them would be silly as they are both target men, but having both of them would give them great depth for a club looking to stay up.

I've said it before and ill say it again, this is Bentner's year, I can feel it. However, I do say this every year.

Ha ha with no bendtner or chamak you don't stand a chance on sunday against us mighty spurs. oh hang on a minute we will be without our key duo of bentley and adebayor and alas no gallas so it will be a boring pointless affair with both of us having our maestro's out/away still should be a good battle if not coming a little early for us. looking forward to the banter do ya worst

To be fair to Bendtner - out of our current squad - he has scored the second most goals for arsenal - only behind Theo.

Bendtner scored 45 goals in 157 apps - which is roughly 1 in 3.5 games

Compare that to a truly World Class striker in Thierry - 1 in 1.6 games

and RVP 1 in 2.09

so in all honesty - yes he wasn't the most prolific of goalscorers - and i'm NOT saying we should keep him around but in fairness - he wasn't *that* bad

GunnerOxley

You also have to factor in substitute appearances, and poor Bendtner was played on the wing for some inexplicable reason :/

26 Aug 2013 09:10:25
Hi Ed's, there's rumours of us going back in for Julio Cesar again this morning not to mention on that i'd love to come off Mesut Ozil coming to the Emirates.

Do you think these could happen along with a CB, CF & Flamini or Kondogbia or Cabaye too?

26 Aug 2013 07:47:13
Morning Gooners, Eds

A while ago, I mused, I wonder if Suarez is waiting for our CL qualification, our qualification looks increasing likely, no chicken counting taking place though, I just have a sneaky feeling something might kick off again to do with Suarez,
I believe we will get 3 new players and re-sign Mathieu Flamini( maaaaaybe)
I don't believe we will get a goalie ( paper talk)
I do believe we will get a CB, maybe Williams
I think we may get a DM midfielder, possibly Cabaya,
not strictly a DM though!
I believe we will get a striker, or attacking winger, Di Maria, Suarez and Rooney, or none of them, as we have Abu Diaby coming back, Thomas Vermaelen, and Bentner, arguably, the greatest player in the world, possibly the universe

You really do need to move on from Suarez. He might be interested in Arsenal qualifying for CL but John Henry owns Liverpool and he will not sell Suarez to Arsenal this season.

You have a much better chance to get Rooney. Spend your money on him and buy Begovic. It will probably cost you 55 million or so but you apparently have the cash.

We are spending at M and S rather than Harrods but we are still confident that we will give everyone a run for their money this season in getting into top 4. Kolo Toure looks to be a really good signing for us. He was under used at Man City and we look to be getting the benefit of that.

Re Suarez, I hear ya, Mr Gunn, just one of them nagging residual, thingy's, I can't quite understand the tense of your sentence regarding Kolo, are you a Liverpool fan?
As of yet Arsenal haven't been to M&S, we have been visiting the pound shop, and after watching Yaya's first bow at Fulham. blimey I think we were robbed on the free transfer

Well if the cap fits Wengerism, I did say "anyone with half a brain ".
The bottom line is - £7.5 million a year and nothing to show for it, for a good few years.
Refusal to buy quality players, yet buys Park and chums etc!
Get real its time for change!

26 Aug 2013 05:18:20
not long left in the transfer window and it looks almost certain that Arsenal will sign no big names. the marquee signings we have all been hoping for are not coming and looks as if Gazidis and Wenger have fed a bunch of lies and made low ball bids to lead fans on and give us false hope. I love Wenger as a coach but he needs David Dein to come in and sign players for him, and that slimeball Gazidis needs to go ASAP along with silent stan the money grabber
on a good note, I think Giroud will have a great season as will Podolski and Ramsey

26 Aug 2013 04:19:56
Does anyone agree with this? I think we should have gone all out to have signed Benteke pure and simple!

Hugely agree with you.

He's a game changer, closest thing to drogba these days

Agreed!

Agree, but Wenger will say he is too similiar to Giroud.
Benteke is a machine.

25 Aug 2013 23:12:44
Just curious but with Wenger and board being very stingy, I wonder if the next signing, if there is another one, will come from a mediocre team in Spain with their current financial problems?

Cough cough Valencia cough cough!

25 Aug 2013 21:32:30
just for fun.
turn back the clock a few months. you are manager of arsenal and have £70-90m to spend, who are the 4 players you would get. mine are,
begovic £12m
suarez £45m
ash williams, £13m
gustavo £15m
probably not everybodys choice but I like it lol

ps wengerism if you say that you wouldn't spend any money and put it into an ISA i'm going to punch you on the nose (smiles)

Oh God, that ISA comment, didn't see it first time I commented, LOOOOL

With 90mil to spend I'd go for:
Hummels- 20mil
Gundogan- 20mil
Reus- 25mil
Lamela/di maria- 25mil.
No need for ST as we have podolski and Walcott capable of playing there aswell.
Believe one of our weak areas has always been lack of goals from the wings.
Schez
Jenk Kosc. Hummels. Gibbs
Gundogan. Wilshere.
Lamela. Cazorla. Reus
Giroud
Subs: podolski, Walcott, ox, ros, arteta, Ramsey, Sagna, verm, mert, fab

I would have got :

Begovic - 12-15m
Sakho - 10 -12m or Williams or Richards
Lars Bender - 20-24m or Fellaini or Capoue
Jesus Navas - 17m or Barkley or Di Maria
Suarez - 45 - 50m or Dzeko or Negredo - Jackson Martinez

Its over by a bit but we've also sold players and have more than the amount we said. If we had bought from that list we could compete. Obviously not Barkley till recently. But he is very direct takes players on works hard defensively. Think he could really work in our team.

Begovic 15M
Sakho 15M
Bender 25M
Turan 15M

70M well spent.

Mignolet 12m
pogba 15m
di Maria 25m
tevez 12m
64m and couple kid's with change, would be challenging with these I believe

Waq u have Wilshire playin and Ramsey not eve. On bench why everyone so blind when it comes to Wilshire he's good but he ain't what he's made out to be

Begovic 15M
Gustavo 15M
Navas 15M
Higuain 25M
all would have been amazing if we had of got in quick enough. I think Navas will prove to be the bargain of the season.

Gk Shwarzer - £1m
Cb Obgonna - £15m
Cf Higuain - £30m

£46m spend, just because you've got all that money doesn't mean you just go and throw it around like a degenerate gambler in a casino.

Waq's reply is incredibly optimistic. All those players are closer to 30m; would have been at the start of the window.

Mine would be:
Julio cesar 4m
ginter 8m
richards 8m
kondogbia 17m
di maria 26m
higuain 24m

25 Aug 2013 21:06:05
Man city lost two of the last 3 games against prem opposition (us and now cardiff) and united aren't all they've been hyped up to be chelsea look good but if we get 2-3 more decent players we could really challenge for the title