Arsenal Banter Archive January 28 2013

28 Jan 2013 22:36:20
So wengers press con tomo morning can't wait to see what he says about David villa tomo they will ask are you in talks with barca for David villa answer no wish I could put money on that because we all know that will be the answer and the other question will be are you close to signing anyone answer no so we will be none the wiser again but I do think there might be something with fellani Everton not got much money an spent 9 million on a player in the same ilk as fellani if you can remember when we got arteta moyes had no time to get a replacement so I think he must think it might happen again so might happen there is always a big deal on the last day of the window but it could be city as Mario will go an they might replace him come on wenger sign fellani an villa an make us a force again

Here buddy, I'll give you some of mine:
...,,,, ??!!

Ezdee

29 Jan 2013 17:40:41
I wonder if he got that joke Edzee.

Stoner

28 Jan 2013 22:22:09
I wonder how much money the Arsenal board have actually allocated AW this transfer window, knowing our tight board, probally 10 mill which is why we can't get anyone... just heard our share holder Alisher Usmanov, is being urged by Henry to buy club out right, because, in earlier statements, he said if he owned vlub outright, he would give arsenal a "warchest" of money to compete top level again, please weird named guy.... buy us now!! and good work Thierry, keep up the pressure!

28 Jan 2013 22:12:46
My God I can't believe I fell into this bloody trap yet again I.E. loyal fan and my reward as always is utter disappointment, no signings is 1 thing but why why why does our manager treat us like fools! One day we busy in market next we not next we now ready to spend big next day Jan window should be abolished. Wenger has made us a laughing stock and yet his arrogance just grows

Perhaps you would be wise to not get so involved in speculation!

And for the record its called negotiations, and last I checked we are the best in the world at finding value!

28 Jan 2013 21:23:14
"Arsenal's FA Cup win over Brighton was overshadowed by a fight among Gunners supporters after a fan unfurled a banner calling for Wenger to leave the club. "...

and so it has begun!

Though Arsene and Arsenal have refused to comment on this I hope internally they sense the frustration and we will see some activity in this last week.

In Arsene I want to trust but everything I have seen in the last so many years makes me distrustful. You could still turn me over AW just sign some good players and let Ramsey play more central.

Ash

Well said Ash "so it begins", you can see from all the arguing and bickering on this site alone that fans are so pi$$ed off now they are fighting amongst eachother. I think everyone is so sick of the lies and false promises now, I know I am, I just want the window to close, if AW hasn't signed a DM by then, this will prove he doesn't listen to what everyone else is saying and it should be his last few months in charge.

as for the bigger picure (board/owners) I can't see anything changing, and it will actually be difficult for a new manager to take us up a level.

redgoon

28 Jan 2013 21:01:00
I woul'd love to believe that we are going to sign Villa and Felliani but I cant.Dose anyone believe this will happen

LimerickGunner

Exactly same as you Limerick mate, I want to believe it, those two players would improve us so much, but I don't think it is going to happen!

gun44

28 Jan 2013 20:41:28
evening every 1

i have had a gut feeling for about a week that were about to make 2 huge signings.

i was thinking about the economy and the way it is at the moment.
when you look at spain and italy and any other country's that is in financial melt down, what would be best way for them to sell a star player and get away with not replacing them with out 2 much anger from their own fans? THE LAST MINUTE!!

look at barcelona, real madrid, malaga, ath madrid, sevilla none of these clubs have done any major business in the last 4 windows.
wenger is being scouted by real madrid because they want to do it his way.
spain is on the brink of collapse and the banks want there money, the tax man wants its money and there is loads of clubs that need cash.foreign players in spain are being taxed 52% each pay day so a player that was being paid 100k a week that is not a spanish national will only recieve 48k a week after tax.

italy is like spain just waiting for the bail out.

this is why there is no excuse for wenger and the board not to spend.the cash is sitting in the bank.
this is why the emirates released money early.

dont let me down arsene...

champagne charlie

Yeah, Charlie, even Real Madrid want Arsene, even the biggest club in Spain want to make football our way, Arsene's way... And some "FM-pros" are trying with some baners and internet BS to force him out of the club. There is no logic here... Mark my words soon every club will be in position to calculate profit/loss. They will have to play by the rules. And then we will realise what a visioner is Arsene and how his management will provide top class football for Arsenal for many years ahead !!

28 Jan 2013 20:12:45
No idea if the Villa rumours are true, but I can't have this "What about Giroud's confidence" stuff. Serious competition is what's needed. Manchester united didn't think "Oh we better not sign RVP, because we don't want to hurt Hernandez's and Welbeck's feelings."
And for those people who don't want Villa because of age and injury, let me just say united bought a 29 year old who was consistantly injured for 6 bloody years. Villa is Spains leading goal scorer and has one everything. Can play on the left, but is best through the middle. Gives us so many options going forward with the Pod, Giroud and Walcott. If we get him then happy days. Just hope he comes with at least one defensive minded player, preferably two.
Fingers and toes crossed :-) UP THE GOONERS
Flybo

Shut up flybo. He ain't coming. Why get your hopes up you deluded person.
Flybo

28 Jan 2013 19:44:09
Everton set to sign leroy fer from fc twente.
Big and strong midfield player.

Now think for a minute big strong midfield player for Everton, surely Fellaini springs to mind. Now moyes wouldn't purchase a player similar to a player who is by far his best performer this season, unless he is to be sold.

I believe either we or united will be the team to purchase him.

Horses mouth

28 Jan 2013 19:34:10
Arsenal have enquired about David Villa..
Which has left me thinking in regards to the majority of posts on here.
Is the priority another striker now Giroud has found his goal scoring boots and with Theo and Podolski also in form.
To me the priority has to be a centre half and or a central defensive midfielder.
We are leaking goals for fun and putting so much pressure on our front players.
Once that area has been dealt with then if there is time another striker to challenge for a start..

Come on Arsene...

You have fallen into the trap of thinking our attacking options have been remedied just because we beat west ham and brighton. If your memory served you well, you would definitely be of the opinion that another striker/attacking mid is a priority.

Don't worry about priority mate, we need strength in depth all over the park and an arsenal with David villa is better than one without and who's to disagree?

Bradders

Wenger has earmarked Villa as a replacement left back to cover for Santos who will be our first team keeper.
In Wenger we trust.

28 Jan 2013 18:51:10
Every fan, pundit and commentator has identified the main weakness of the Arsenal squad over the last three years: we have no strong defensive midfielder(s) to provide protection to the back four.

If Wenger ignores this obvious flaw again this window, I don't think anyone can argue in his favour to carry on managing Arsenal.

I would recommened the NBA to Wenger, as basketball is a non-contact sport, which seems to be his ideology.

Including yourself how many of these fans, pundits and experts could have managed a team to any sort of success in the realms of AW? MNost of the so called pundits change their tune every 10 mins and are either already known as management failures or will never be given a chance because they are without any talent at all!

exiled clockender

28 Jan 2013 17:52:43
According to media, we are in talks with villa it is their headline and they claim the head negotiator (Dicky Law) is in talks with them. Take a look for yourself. Would personally be disappointed with this signing due to villa's age unless we can get him on the cheap.
kb

28 Jan 2013 17:19:54
If you could choose 2 players from any past arsenal team to improve the current crop who would it be?

DB10 and PV4

If you let me have one more it would be RP7

Can you imagine DB exploiting Theo's pace and Paddy adding height plus steal


SY4

Viera without a doubt

+tony adams (only named one before :S)

De-rossi and canavani

champagne charlie

Adams and Vieria

Paul

Sy, all the talk of DB, PV, RP makes me wonder if you only like initials?

Sorry did not read the post properly before I replied.

but I still want my 2 choices

champagne charlie

28 Jan 2013 20:27:35
I'll go with your two pics SY4.

Stoner

When did De-Rossi and Canavani (Cavani) play for Arsenal?

I am just lazy!

Players are that big you know who they are

SY4

Wee Alex James

28 Jan 2013 21:59:47
Dennis was our best....pires great....Henry amazing but we need to tighten things up so tony and Patrick .....leadership power.....make it 3 and I'll have TT for his goals....Pires was scoring around 16-17 a season and assisting around the same....we could do with that now....I wish I'd not responded ....two is not enough....I'll take 5....Adams Dennis paddy bobby pires and TT....along with jack Carzola Tv5...gibbo ehhhhhhh I'm off to bed...done my head in ..

28 Jan 2013 22:28:45
eddie Macgoldrick and jen jenson
jokes

veria and petit to sort out the midfield

Viera and Ian wright

Gilberto Silva and TH14

28 Jan 2013 17:10:22
Usmanovs latest comments seems to suggest Kroenke needs to go. Not sure how credible what he's saying is or what kinda guy he is though. I've heard he's a big arsenal fan and he certainly talks the right talk.

EMG

28 Jan 2013 16:14:21
The majority of tranfer work in regards to the current squad will be done in the summer. Arsenal's main priority was to get the core british players on long term contracts and this has been successful. Wenger is looking to strengthen in a few areas but sees the immediate priority being a striker. This is to provide genuine competition to walcott, giroud and podolski and AW sees this as enough to fire Arsenal to a top-four finish this season to pave for somewhat of an overhaul in the Summer. Striker very well could be Bafetembi Gomis (spelling). Strong, powerful and quick. A player definitely in the arsenal 'mould'. I also believe he is coming into the final year of his contract and available at an affordable price £10m could be enough.

Come the Summer and further on as ed suggests there will be many changes at the grove. Biggest of all is Kroenke selling up to Usmanov. This will start a bit of fantasy football type transfers with a left-back, centre back, right back, striker, goalkeeper, winger and that fabled CDM all coming in. I have no concrete names for the ins but they will be to replace Santos, Sagna (unfortunately), Rosicky, Gervinho (thank god) and dead wood including Arshavin, Bendtner, djourou, squillaci etc...

Names that top the list are Goetze, Cavani, Baines, Hummels and Khedira. Bear in mind that these top the list and will be sought after by many of the 'big boys' in europe and we may or may not be able to compete on wages. (Usmanov Money) This is also subject to Wenger still being in charge.

This is based on snippets of knowledge and opinion. If the above does not transpire don't shoot me. Football changes consistantly and something that is true today may not be true tomorrow. As of today the above is fairly reliable.

Personally I think it's a load of s***e.

After all those sensible years and positioning of the Arsenal Club and finances to be perfect for the FFP when it comes in you think that Kroenke will sell to Usmanov who will just say...oh here is a few hundred million go and buy me some sil ver pots!!

At the present moment I don't think there has been a time during the whole 55 yrs I've supported Arsenal that I have been any prouder of the club, the team or the manager!

Yorky gooner

28 Jan 2013 15:52:00
not paying high wages is fine when your one of the greatest..

but atm were not and this is why we will struggle to attract world class players.

What is the attraction that other clubs don't have?

sad times!


Yorkshire Gooner Joe :D

We have great history, we have great fans, we have AW and we are the mighty Arsenal... That must be enough!! The players, who disagree with that do not deserve to wear our jersey !!

BGGOONER

28 Jan 2013 15:04:00
Who would have thought a few years ago that Eboue would be lining up with the likes of Melo, Altintop, Sneijder and Drogba?

Football ey..

Lwi

Lol Melo is even worse!

To the first replier,

I disagree mate, I really think Melo is top notch, and it was Juventus who ruined his form etc.

They wanted him to play like Artiro Vidal does for them now.
And that's not his style.
Vidal gets forward, makes runs, plays passes and has an eye for goal.
Melo was what we need/ed.

A real powerhouse, who picks up the ball, disposes opponents and plays it to playmakers to start moves.

Melo wasn't and will never be "world class", but when there was rumours we were interested, I was super keen on him joining, but fiorentina sold to Juve.
there's a lot of "what ifs" in my mind, I think he could if done the gilberto job, that we've missed so much.

D

28 Jan 2013 14:30:25
Reported in the Evening Standard

Arsenal shareholder Alisher Usmanov has claimed Gunners legend Thierry Henry is urging him to buy the club outright. Usmanov told L'Equipe: "He's pushing me to buy all of Arsenal's shares but I cannot predict the future."

Wonder if Stan is getting out. lets hope so!

It is shameful how this russian oligarch is playing with the name of one true legend...

Lets hope not

28 Jan 2013 13:46:49
It is worryingly quiet on the transfer front for us gooners. I hope we are all pleasantly surprised but have almost resigned myself that we are signing no one :(


Paul

A good idea paul, because we arent signing anyone.

28 Jan 2013 13:00:34
I'm sorry but wenger why are you more concerned about the striker that's the last place we need to strengthen. Please concentrate on the defensive side everyone can see where need it for god sake. First of all we need a beast in midfield why we didn't get Wanyama when we were interested back in the summer I don't know and also we need a world class CB probably Hummels because there aren't many top class English CBs knocking about anymore. We don't need a striker wenger wants a striker.

I'll get right on it buddy!

AW

You do realise just because Arsenal might want a player, doesn't mean their club or the player themself want to come. It isn't Fifa 13. Why would Celtic or Dortmund sell to us now? And why would hummels want to leave dortmund lol

Ok Hummels Is a bit out of reach but last summer there was some serious interest in Wanyama nod he would've have considerably cheaper than he is now. Oh and not CL tied!

28 Jan 2013 12:41:24
Just a little stat to contemplate-
In Didier Drogbas first and second season at chelski, he played 41 games, and scored 16 goals( in each season).
Olivier Giroud has played 32 games and scored 13 goals so far in his first season.
He (Olivier) will probably give us a better return in his first season than D.D did, cost less than half the amount chelski paid 8 years ago, and will only improve. Not all bad!


WG

'and will only improve'

stupid assumption to be honest, he might get a career ending injury, or he might lose confidence and go into a decline (torres, chamack, bent) and therefore not improve at all.

Lets wait and see.

Daniel

But drogba delivered in the big games

Why so pessimistic, why do we have to be down about everything ! NA NA NA NANAA GIROOOUUUDDDDD

Drogba is a big game player and that's all that matters

28 Jan 2013 12:24:07
Ed, any news on possible Susan Boyle or Stephen Hawking signings either would be better than Santos..

Dan {Ed035's Note - spurs are in advanced talks with both, they are seem as direct replacements for bale and adebayour, I'm sick of the spuds always going for our targets...

Ha ha! Nice ones!!

One look at susan boyle and fergie would gift us any trophy we wanted from the united trophy room...hell he would gift us all of them and even ask the FA to strip them of all their titles...

as my mate spiderman once said...with great power comes great responsibility

Wotcha mean mate - did't you know that Subo is rednoses bit on the side up the clyde.

28 Jan 2013 11:43:11
Can someone explain why AW has not promoted Eisfield, Gnabry or even Meade to the first team? Does AW think we have enough 'talent' already in the first team that they don't need these guys? Not even an FA game?

Gooner Xen

Because had he played the likes of eisfeld and gnabry and we lost, people would have been saying the opposite "why didn't he play the first team?"

I cannot believe that Meade is worse than woeful Santos. Eisfeld is a mystery, when he played against Reading in the League Cup, who was terrific. Gnabry is younger and it is understandable that he will get little first team playing time this season.

This to me is one of the things AW falls down.Eisfeld is a defo, for the first team squad and Gnabry, Meade and Myachi when he returns from loan shold also be given their chance.I think sometimes AW misses the chance to give some of this young players their chance and misses out on their initial impact they have when they are young, raw and have no fear.In the case of Eisfeld I have been banging on about him for some time. As for the transfer window I think we will be dissapointed.

Thanks for the site Ed
The Heybridge Gooner

Well said Heybridge, a case in point for me is Bartley - in both the games against us he was arguably their best player! In the first game he hit the cross bar and sent a perfect long ball over our midfield for Graham to get onto, which he did, cut our whole team out of the game and resulted in a chance on goal. He was awesome in defence he put in two fantastic performances against us. You look at him and then look at Djourou and Squillaci and you just 'really, Arsene? You being serious?!'

28 Jan 2013 17:55:35
Joel Campbell is the beast. I think we have great potential coming through with Meade, Miquel, Aneke, Myaichi, Eisfeld, Campbell, Afobe + add there Wilshere, ramsey, gibbs, Jenks, Ox. Future stars.

KUm

28 Jan 2013 11:06:54
i want to ask every 1 what their take on the transfer window so far and what they think will happen.

how annoyed will people be if wenger decides not to sign any quality in this window.

do people think this will be wengers last transfer window as arsenal manager.

champagne charlie

No...

His contract runs out at the end of next season if i'm not mistaken. I do apologise if I am.

but if he is going to leave it will be at the end of next season.

I think Wenger will go when his contract expires. As far as the transfer window is concerned I'm of the opinion of hope for the best ( two players) expect the worst. I can't see how 10 million for Capoue for example shouldn't be done. Even if he cost more then a Cazorla for example Wenger would say "he's not as good so not worth more." But sometimes a lesser footballer can still have more of an impact on a team if that team NEEDS a quality d.m. Is that impact worth paying slightly more for a 'lesser footballer' if that's what the team is crying out for. In my opinion yes.
Flybo

I doubt very much will happen. Apart from Ba going to Chelsea there's been no incoming transfers for any top teams.
Will I be disappointed. No not really. Being realistic about it the type of player we should be looking at their club won't let them go mid season.
Do I think it will be Wengers last window. No


Paul - Rochester

Good and thoughtful post - nice to see something that doesn't shout for our greatest manager to go - and ignore the fact no one is signing anybody other than the desperate Newcastle. My guess is this will be the quietest January ever.

The ghost of Terry Mancini

The way I see it is if we do not sign any quality I think wenger will be gone in the summer.
there is no reason what so ever why we can not go out and spend even £25 mill on even 1 quality player.

i still have a feeling we will get a marquee signing before the window closes.

if people think the banner that was unfolded at brighton is extreme wait and see what happens if players are not bought in january.

tick-tock-tick- tock

champagne charlie

Paul, I clicked agree on your post, but wanted to raise the idea that maybe the other teams don't need to strengthen? You could say City need a CB, but really apart from Chelsea needing a striker, nobody has needed to add to their squads. man united have 4 top strikers, a packed midfield and an abundance of defenders. Chelsea are short up top but have quality in depth everywhere else. City have far too much in all areas apart from up top where they have a good amount.

Liverpool are short top so they bought Sturridge. Great deal, I think most would agree. they're trying to sign Coutinho from Inter and I am sure they're after another player as well. Big club making moves.

Spurs have a big squad but are still trying to get another striker. Everton have signed a midfielder today when even they felt they wouldn't be able to go beyond a couple of loan deals.

Basically, every club that has needed players is making moves...what are we doing?

Metal Gooner

Metal.
Fair point you have made. but the big 3 did their spending in the summer.
The only people who really know what's going on are people within the club. We see all the speculation but that's all it is. I could see Diame coming in. But I still see fans moaning at that because he will be cheap. My point remains that the type of player we really need and probably want are all playing for titles or in the CL

Paul - Rochester

Charlie, Yes I think it will be his last window as Manager, he will move upstairs at the end of the season.

I said on here at the beginning of the window that Wenger will never be able to please ALL Arsenal fans with with any player(s) he signed, our opinions just vary too much.

BUT if he doesn't sign anyone he will anger ALL Arsenal fans. He just needed to trust himself and take a punt on a couple of players, whether they were cheap/young/unknown didn't matter, just inject some adrenaline into the squad.

At most I think one loan deal might happen for a midfielder like Gustavo or Paulinho or Cuenca.

gun44

28 Jan 2013 10:30:25
I don't know about you guys but I am really annoyed the FA Cup involves replays. Sure it could have backfired for us but only because we're bottlers...but don't you think it's a bit ridiculous that Brentford can put in that display and the only thing they get is a game at Chelsea? We all know what the outcome of that will be...a team costin £250m or so at home against a team that cost about 500k....that tie is as good as dead. People will say you never know but realistically we actually do haha. Chelsea will go through. Whereas on the day it could have gone to ET or pens and with any luck Chelsea could have lost. This replay system is stupid....just puts the lower league teams on a far worse pegging in the long run. {Ed001's Note - but the money can make the difference between teams folding and surviving. Brentford will see a replay at Chelsea as a reward in itself.}

Ed is spot on. If you look at it neutrally, a replay is arguably the better outcome for Brentford since it will do so much for them financially. Of course winning against Chelsea would have been fantastic but it would have only been a short term gain.

28 Jan 2013 12:00:56
Also take into account the Chelsea fans hatred of Benitez, the poisoned atmosphere at their shed and the effect it has on their team. so don't rule out a very possible shock.

Ed that's a really good point - I hadn't considered that at all.

I wonder if they'd make more money had they progressed instead of having to have a replay.

Thanks!

They could have progressed and drew Oldham, then both of those teams wouldn't gain a great deal financially.

Hmm now this is a stupid post. Just when we should be cherishing the FA Cup more, and how I would love to win it again, we have someone who has the bright idea of destroying a cornerstone of it. Ed - yes you are spot on the smaller clubs love replays as it gives much needed income and at times wonderful memorable nights.

The ghost of Terry Mancini

28 Jan 2013 10:12:15
Have never and will never understand why business is left late with us, prices dropping the later in the window is bs. Look at Liverpool, Sturridge has now got 3-4 games under his belt, scored a few, may cause us some problems wed night. Ba, played a few, scored a couple, pressure is off him now. We all knew in december late November where we was struggling, knew what fixtures we had in jan, early buys for players could have helped us this month. Watching santos on Saturday really just made me laugh.

Brilliant post and totally on the ball.

Not sure we will ever learn, still could be worse, we might not buy someone and sick not diaby gets injured again :-(

We never left Giroud, podolski or santi late!
A GOONER

28 Jan 2013 09:08:03
Not a rumour, but Gibbs is quality and defo one for the future, but seems to be made of glass. I don't rate Santos at all. So, why doesn't Arsene go in for Baines, he's English, has a goal in him, and assists, but more than anything, he can defend and unlike many Arsenal players, doesn't seem injury prone. I believe if an attempt was made, we could sign him without having to break our bank.. Also, it would improve Gibbs further, and our defence.

And you will always have one top class LB on the bench... It doesn't work that way... Baines wouldn't come just to sit on the bench and Gibbs is improving every single day and one prolonged stay on the bench could destroy that succsses... I think that in the summer santos will be sold, and Wenger will bring someone young and unknown, but with big potential to cover Gibbs and the problem will be solved...

28 Jan 2013 08:48:33
I am afraid to say it but I beleive we have yet again been led on by Wenger.

Today is the 28th and even allowing for the supposed arguement that players are cheaper at the end of the window (I actually believe the opposite as the selling clud has the upper hand by then) it doesn't look like we will sign anybody. The reason I say this is that the situation of all of our supposed targets have not altered in the last two weeks i.e. if we didn't sign them up then why should we believe we will do so now. Lets look at the supposed wishlist;

Butland - If we were serious we would have done it
Steklenburg - Same
Luke Shaw - Same
Mbiwa - Had plenty of opportunity to go for it
M'Villa - Has been there for the taking
Wanyama - Would have done it by now if serious
Diame - Even if there was an agreement to wait
until we player the Irons it should have
done by now
Gourcuff - Would have acted by now if serious
Lopez - Has gone on too long - obviously no interest
Fellaini - Would have met the release fee if by now
interested
Jetovic - Would have met the release fee if by now
interested
Villa - It's obvious that we will not meet the fee.

To summarise, if we were in for any of the above it would have been done by now as this crap about waiting for value during the last few days is only to lead us on.

I believe that if Wenger does act it will be a last minute deal for an attacker however this will not help as it will result in one of Giroud, Theo or Podolski being rotated / benched but it will not fill the hole in midfield, replace Djourou in the squad or provide cover for Gibbs.

Once again guys we have been sold the same old s**t by the guys who administer sales of both the most expensive tickets in the league and also the clubs best players on an annual basis.

I'm sorry to say it but Wenger must go.
TM

Stankronke SNM, it isn't AW fault

Why Butland and Stekelenburg ? They will not come just to sit on the bench. Shezza is classes above them ! Luke Shaw has just signed new contract, so the offer must be much much above market price for him. M'Biwa not good enough for us. M'Villa not good enough for us. Wanayama with his Celtic are still in the CL. Celtic will be asking absurd price for him now. The summer is the time for those type of transfers.
Diame is class, but he has very bad heart problems(and if you beleive the rumours, he had asked very big salary). Gourcuff... I don't know what his name is doing in this list... Lopez is still a possibility, but he recently said that he don't want to leave atletico just now. So a summer transfer is more possibile.
Fellaini's release clause is for me like Santa Clause. You have all heard him, but there is no real proof for his existance... Jetovic is a guy I have never heard of. Maybe you mean Jovetic. Still a big possibility, we have to wait and see. Villa...C'moon 12+ mil for 32-33 years old guy... It doesn't make sense...

And so for me AW had every reason not to follow the interest(if there was one in the first place) in the players the press connects us to. I think for this transfer window AW had real interest just in Diame, Jovetic and one or two other players which we don't know. The others are summer possibilities or paper BS...

IN AW WE TRUST

BGGOONER

Shezza a class above stekelenburg? Are you serious? Shez looks like a paper boy.too small for me need a proper big goalie like seaman, someone who commands his box and isn't afraid to catch rather than punch

Wolvo gooner

28 Jan 2013 08:14:25
Replying to Flybo's usual sensible post it made me begin to think about a few more things in terms of being careful what you wish for.

The first is the Arsene out craze that seems prevalent among some right now. The concept that some fans thought it was a good idea to unfurl a banner to that effect just shows how badly it is spreading. Let me be clear at the outset I am frustrated by a lot of what he says and does, and indeed by Arsenal as a football club.

However, Arsene out banners? Vitriolic posts on the web about his sanity, his loyalty, or his grip?

Let's be clear we have just experienced the best ever decade in our clubs history. We have been more than blessed. We have won more trophies than since the 30s, we have played in the best style of any club in the footballing world, we have gone from football pariahs to held in the highest esteem. What's more without spending big Arsene has given us the greatest talent ever to be seen at this club - Thierry, Vieira, Overmars, Pires, Ljungberg, Sol, Lauren, Gilberto, Anelka, Cesc, Nasri, RVP, Toure, Jack Wilshere, Ashley Cole (hate admitting it by the way), Hleb (look how god he was the moment he was away from Arsene), and on the list goes.

Yes there have been some rubbish signings along the way. But often they have been cheap and not cst us the standard £20-30m they have cost other clubs - Chamahk, Squilacci etc. Arsene has turned potential into world class, and with it created a dynasty that has secured our future.

Unlike other clubs we have not collapsed with a new stadium, we have, perhaps untl this season, kept in the ECL, kept entertaining, kept a sense of future. Find the other club that have done so well alongside such a history defining experience of a new stadium? Hmm actually Juve, but not that many for sure.

Arsene has incredibly frustrating blind spots, incredibly annoying stubborness, he needs mire challenge, but Arsene out? Be careful what you wish for.

Oh and while you are wishing him out who do you want to replace him? Rodgers at Liverpool? Lambert at Villa? O'Neill at Sunderland? AVB failed at Chelski despite all that money? Where is your next manager coming from? Forget Mourinho he only goes to clubs he is virtually guaranteed a win with. Guardiola - was never going to happen and is never going to happen - he wants to buod a dynasty - remind you of anyone? - not follow on from te greatest in a clubs history.

Yes Arsene needs to sign that CDM we all keep calling out for, Diaby isn't it and sadly will be injured again soon enough. He needs a strong see defender - wow how easily Brighton cut through us. A striket possibly, ideally, but he needs t be careful as it's here most clubs waste most money.

Oh and also I think Giroud improves and improves, and you have to remember it's season one. Next year I think we will see just how brilliant signings Arsene has made with him, Santi, and Podolski.

So I too have my moments of doubt with Arsene, I too some days think maybe he should be allowed to go upstairs with all the massive respect he deserves. But I also live in fear of life without him, I live in fear of us driving him to Paris St Germain. Arsene has defined us, and continues to define us. He has given us a fantasy world - so we need to be careful what we wish for.

The ghost of Terry Mancini

28 Jan 2013 10:36:25
Well said and absolutely agree! The grass is not always greener...yes change is needed, yes Wenger is stubborn, the board seems more interested in profit margins than trophies and yes something has to give. The day Wenger leaves the club will be a sad day indeed and the club will dribble down the table to perhaps mid-league at best. He brought us out of the footballing wilderness and kept us afloat for many years. His youth policies for the squad may seem unsuccessful and may be to some point be true as the obvious lack of trophies show, but that is a direct result of billionaire wages being touted to those talents in more recent years and arsenal can't compete monetarily. Long gone are the days where players wore their clubs' kits with pride and loyalty, money talks and that's a sad but undeniable truth. This is where we cannot compete, but never forget, Wenger gave the club Henry, RVP, Pires, Berkamp, Cesc et al and Arsenal gave them to the world. Yes we should be able to hold onto our own but we don't. So what? Circle of life ppl, deal with it. We should never have finished 4th last year, we did thx to RVP. He wanted to win trophies so he left. Nasri wanted the same and higher wages, and Clichy and Cole etc. Demanding Wenger leave is not the solution, those banners should have read Gadzis out! rubbish ALWAYS starts at the top, it just doesn't stick there. I support our manager, he is dedicated to the club, has always been and made Arsenal, THE ARSENAL. Shameful display from those persons calling themselves supporters...Lp

27 Jan 2013 20:37:49
Ed, you've mentioned in a few replies that you expect big changes in the next 20 months or so. Can you go into a little more detail on these changes please?

Not specifics of course. But I am wondering why you think (or how you know) these changes are coming, and what kind of changes. {Ed002's Note - This is really not the time to go in to any specifics.}

Kronke is getting ready to sell up!

28 Jan 2013 04:09:26
I'm getting really annoyed with people slating Per as a defender. Yes he lacks pace but his positioning and reading of the game are outstanding.
In my opinion he's been far better than Kos and Verm.
Give Jack the armband now, that way Verm doesn't have to start every game he's fit!

Paul

I agree Mert 4 is a machine, I think Sagna pushes foward and then doesn't track back fast enough leaving Mert with too much ground to cover. Look at when Santos plays he leaves Verm wide open with no protection at all, verm has the pace to cover for santos, most of the time! don't seem to have the same problem when gibbs is on the field however.

And the lack of true DM also disturb the defence and especially Per, because he is slower. Even JTerry(one of the very good defenders in PL in the last 7-8 years) maked many mistakes last year when Chelski were playing high defence line. Per was good last year, now he is a beast !!

BGGOONER

AT the end of the day Wenger signed a god defender with a glaring weakness- speed - and stuck him into a champions league club competing in the hardest league in the world and in 4 competitions - you cannot expect people not to get infuriated when we pay the price.

I knew of Mertesacker years ago, I was really glad we were signing him because of his good side. I knew he was slow but even I was convinced it wouldn't matter....I was wrong. It does. Even the league's best defenders concede goals and get left for dead by the world's best strike forces, how we expected it to be any different for Per is anyone's guess.

What we should have done is sign Samba and rotate him Verminator and Kos well, kept Bartley and flogged Djourou and Squid asap. Koscielny was one of the best defenders in the league last season, he was outstanding...to be dropped for someone as slow as Per when you are stronger in the tackle, stronger in the air, twice as fast and already prem adapted with a world class season under your belt after coming through a bad one...well for me that's piss poor management but I am sure people will disagree. As we have learned, Koscielny's game is all about confidence, and yet again we've stripped it from him.

Singing Per was, in hindsight, a bad choice. I don't know why we don't just sign players who are good who don't have some massive weakness in their game.

Podolski - not that fast
Giroud - no pace
Theo - cannot head, cannot volley, goes to ground/can't hold the ball up, one footed
The Ox - no experience, too young
Per - far too slow regardless of quality
Santos - unfit, no quality, poor ethic
Gervinho....well....
Santi - zero aerial game, doesn't like defending.

Now, I love all those players except Santos and Gervinho, but from a neutral perspective (hard for us I know!) you cannot sit there and say those were great managerial choices when far more experienced, higher quality and mobile/all round players were available for similar prices, except Santi, because his sheer talent far outweighs his weaknesses. But Giroud goes missing in games, Podolski can't beat players out wide really, he is always coming inside, and Theo is as Theo does. The Ox has been awful this season. When Per is on the pitch teams rub their hands with glee, get balls into the box and play a nippy striker with a good leap. When Santos plays, all the play comes down that side, just like against Brighton.

If you were to ask the question, with the exception of Podolski and Santi, were better players available for the same total outlay including wages, the answer would have been yes for:

Santos - Enrique
Per - Cahill, Samba, Bartley
Gervinho - jesus, anyone. Jarvis
The Ox - Jarvis.

Now a lot of people might not like the Ox comment, and that's fine. Doesn't mean it's wrong. The Ox has done nothing of note from a wide position this season. Whereas if we'd had a prem-ready winger to bring on, well, who knows. These days £15m will get you a good winger. The Ox is a midfielder playing out wide just waiting for the day he gets drafted inside....why didn't we just buy Zaha?

28 Jan 2013 02:08:06
Looking forward to the "sightings" that will appear on the website in the last 48 hours of the transfer window. Such sentences like
1. I'm at Heathrow, and have just seen...
2. So and so has just arrived / left London colney...
3. My cousin's best mate is a cab driver...
4. The Gunnery is printing out a new shirt number...
5. Was talking to a steward who's in the know...
If there are any others please add.
To be fair that's what this website is all about, and I'm looking forward to them. Anything to get the heart pumping and feeling like a 4 year old on Christmas eve. Wanting a thundercats/heman figure ( showing my age ) but we'll probably end up with a pair of socks. God that was one s##t Christmas. Lol
Question for you.
What was the last signing that when you saw them holding the Arsenal shirt in front of the cameras, brought out the inner child in you, because you got exactly what you wanted?
Flybo :-)

Mertesacker

Probably Podolski, Cazorla was a bit of an unknown for me at the time(my fav player at the mo) Arshavin was also a memorable one! If we sign Villa, Jovetic or Hummels I might just take the day off and go celebrate!
Mark

Except the 4 year old would get presents the next day.
We get nothing.

Nick.

Lukas Podolski, easy... Before then Arshavin

Sussex Gooner

Flybo
Totally agree with your post - as ever accurate and made me smile. However, one small point. When was the last time my inner child was released by an Arsenal signing? Well giving my age away a bit here I can remember three times for certain - Peter Marinello (oh I was a child then), Alan Ball (oops child again), Dennis Bergkamp, and Sol Campbell.

When we signed Pires, Henry, Vieira, Cesc, Ljunberg, Gilberto etc. I don't think we had a clue how great a set of signing they were, so little or no child like erruption of joy. Maybe Ian Wright would have been the fourth real sense of elation.

The key is Marinello was pretty much style and no substance, Ball good but moving past his best, and only Dennis and Sol really were of the class we always dream of. I think there are a number of reasons for this.

First - be careful what you wish for factor. A lot of big name, big money signings are pretty much appaling bits of business. If you are City or Chelski and can afford to waste a £100m no problem, or if you are Barcelona or United and are constantly grafting on a basically fantastic base no problem again.

Seond it's just not in our DNA. It never has been and it probably never will be. We do not as a club ever lead the transfer window (yes I know we did in the 1930's but life has moved on). Why? Hmm simple I guess it's not our ethos (not just Arsene's) nor have we ever had that kind of money.

Too many big signings are in fact just not worth anything like their cost. A few signigns that probably did give fans that inner child moment -
Torres £50m, Shevchenko £30m and Mutu £26m - Chelsea.
Veron £28m - Man Utd.
Henderson £20m, Aquilani £20m and Caroll £35m - Liverpool
Santa Cruz £17m, Robinho £32m and Balotelli £24m

You can add various Spanish waste of monies to that from Denilson, who not only was world record waste of money but also helped to ruin his club, and on to Kaka et al.

So £280m plus for ten players, without the cost of their salaries, who flatteringly might have a real value of around £80m - £200m wasted for nothing.

Like you I want the right signings, I want some risks. But I am very very cautious about what my inner child wants.

The Ghost of Terry Mancini

Dennis Bergkamp and also Marc Overmars.(BRILLIANT)
Braintreegooner

Top post, Ghost !!

Great text- Biggest thrill was Dennis... was a real wow but also later Marc Overmars and I disagree about Alan Ball... we had a rubbish side all round when he arrived and he kept us striving for the top all the time...not only with his own game but with the way he made everyone else play.


yorky gooner

Nice thread y'all !

Ghost I totally agree - I want a mega signing like the rest of them but let's be real, I would never have wanted Arsene to spend what man united spent on Jones, Anderson, or the kind of money on those signings like Downing...I mean such absurd money!

There is, I believe a middle ground where it is really risky. That sort of 15-25m bracket because so much of it is hype. Downing had ONE good season and Liverpool spent a fortune. Henderson had one promising season, it was all hype, boom massive fee. Just crazy business. I would have been embarrassed if we'd spent that.

You always know when a club is paying too much just because they want the guy, and when it's justified. Barcelona spent 38m euros on Alexis Sanchez and he got one more goal than Walcott last year in 41 games! But more to the point, his record at Udi was even worse! A right winger with a habit of doing sod all in terms of scoring or assisting. Going for 38m! I don't even think Chelsea's 50m Torres deal matches such ridiculous posturing...at least he used to score massive amounts of goals and even this season he's on about 15.

The only time it is anywhere near acceptable to pay those sorts of fees is for players like Aguero, who have repeatedly bagged about a goal every 2 games...over 20 a season sorts of records. Those players are few and far between. RVP was one. Aguero was one. Ibra is one. 38m for Sanchez? That's embarrassing.

I would rather we spent 15-20m on a striker who consistently bags 15-25 goals per season with age on their side than spend 3-40m on some hyped up kid who hasn't proved themselves.

Metal Gooner

Yorky Gooner

I actually agree with you about Alan Ball, he was pretty good in the scheme of things - and yes the side was the double side on sharp decline. So no dirsepect to Bally - what I really meant was he may have been a super signing but he couldn't stop the rot which just got worse despite him.

The ghost of Terry Mancini

28 Jan 2013 00:25:19
All this talk about Wilfried Zaha, in all honestly I don't think he's THAT special. Tom Ince has played similar games this season, scored more and has more assists, playing for a team lower down the same division. I personally believe 8m for Tom Ince is a good deal. We have tied down all of our young British players (Jenkinson, Gibbs, Ramsey, Wilshere, Walcott, Chamberlain) for the long term and seem to be building around these. Adding Tom Ince I believe would further enhance our idea of building around these, plus he's a home grown player. He can't be that bad if he's been attracting interest from clubs such as Manchester United and Liverpool. Thoughts?

Gooner Mike

When it comes down to low fee targets, I rather prefer wengers judgement over any of the other managers. If he does not go in for them its likely because he doesn't see the potential, or he feels he already has the same player at arsenal already.

any manager can sign a superstar to spot one takes something special.

remeber how we were in for ronaldo and then came fergie and his team of illegal paperwork and overpaid agents and stole him from us in a deal which saw them take nani with ronaldo to beat us to them....well guess who scouted that player.