Arsenal Banter Archive August 04 2014

04 Aug 2014 23:21:01
Is Wenger right to have a moan about Man Titty?

They have secured the services of Frank Lampard on a 6 month loan from Man City's 'Sister' club, New York City.

Now, I'm no expert, but apparently they can get any player on loan from another club that they have a part-share in, and this will not impact any sanctions that have been brought against them with the Financial Fair Play rules.

Illegal, dodgy or just plain clever?

{Ed025's Note - clever for me dags..

05 Aug 2014 00:16:58
Agree Ed,
But shouldn't FIFA be covering all angles?

It's like grounding a naughty child, sending him to his room, than turning a blind eye when he climb's out of bedroom window to go and play with his mates.

Doesn't make sense to me.

Unethical.

But ethics don't seem to have much of a place in the modern game.

05 Aug 2014 06:06:04
Certainly something that should be looked at. You can only loan 1 player from another team, maybe that rule should apply to affiliate teams, regardless of where they are. It needs to be nipped in the bud, for me. If they're allowed to do this now, a precedent is set. As far as I know, this is a new situation, where clubs own other clubs. They'll need to get rules sorted out for it, asap.

Its up to uafa and city to sort out and Arsene should concentrate on us in my opinion.
I don't see city have done anything but play the cards their dealt to their advantage and surely that's to their credit and uafa's embarrassment.
Uafa are at fault here for not introducing the champions league ban on new players they suggested which would have been both fair and effective.

I don't think my post went through, I was wondering can another city owned club buy players from them to balance the books? I'm guessing not or they probs would of done it already, I was just wondering cheers

So theoretically new York could buy messi and loan him to city each season? If that is the plan I'm surprised they used lampard the first time they did it I would of thought they would keep it as a surprise for a massive signing incase FIFA/UEFA bring in new rules. What's the rules on buying from a team you own? Could new York just buy rodwell for 100mil?

{Ed002's Note - This is nonsense - Manchester City are paying Lampard's wages.}

04 Aug 2014 20:24:43
Radio tonite, talking about how possibly in 10 + years if the premiership keeps expanding and getting bigger globally there's a possibility top English teams could move abroad and play games overseas.

Personally I would hate to see Arsenal and any other premier league team at the time move abroad. Wouldn't be the English premier league then. Keep English teams in England think it would totally destroy the traditions of the English leagues. I no were along way off this but just wouldn't like to see it happen!

What's everyone's views on this topic? Is anyone for English teams moving abroad and playing games in America or Dubai for example?

That wouldn't be a surprise, European league will happen

{Ed002's Note - Without going in to too much detail: (a) A number of clubs take the opportunity a once or twice a year to discuss various issues including changes in rules, television rights, the power of UEFA, exploitation issues for new technology streams, etc.. These discussions, the last of which were in late March in Monte Carlo, also always turn to the possibility and structure of a breakaway pan European league. Several are ex-G14 clubs, several are not, and some clubs decline involvement in such discussions. (b) The plan is that at some point a number of clubs would break away from their national leagues and UEFA. They accept that they would be banned from all existing club competition and the players would initially be banned from all FIFA competitions as well, but know that FIFA would be looking to negotiate in any case. It would be the end of UEFA in all probability and UEFA are very aware of this. It would also result in a restructuring of many of the national leagues. (c) The clubs would renegotiate their television rights, rights of distribution via other streams etc.. (d) It remains the greatest fear of UEFA and all major national authorities that one day this will happen.

There is every likelihood that the big money from television, sponsorship etc. would go with a breakaway league. It would completely rupture the operations of UEFA and I would expect it would require national associations like the FA to restructure their leagues. Nobody wants this but it is the eventual consequence I would expect. If I had to speculate, I would think (1) you might eventually see something like five or six EPL teams leave for two-tier pan European league; (2) the Premier League would be disbanded as an organisation; (3) the FA would restructure in to two 20 team divisions with lower leagues regionalised as they were many years ago; (4) FIFA would ban all players from the breakaway teams from International football - perhaps rescinding that position to stop FIFA breaking up as well. I could also see many teams lose their professional status. I would think we are probably 10 years away from any significant move at this time.

I hold a reasonably strong view in terms of the need to restructure football in Europe in any case. For me an eventual a breakaway pan-European league would force the restructuring of many of the national leagues, possibly resulting in a British league with perhaps only a couple of professional tiers and then regionalised amateur leagues below that. Financially I do not see that so many pro sides can be sustained within the sport which, like it or not, will see more and more money going in to the highest levels of the game. Governments will ensure that grassroots sport get funding but everything in the middle (Southern, Northern, Conference, Division 2, Scottish Divisions 1-3, League of Wales will not get the funding needed to continue on any sort of professional basis.}

Thanks ed, very informative

Cheers ED, it has to happen, the game is evolving all the time mainly due to the money being offered and the demands to watch world wide

05 Aug 2014 11:31:04
If you can find Ed002's post on a break away European League, have a read at it. Very interesting and insightful.

I highly doubt you will see the EPL being played in a different country but certainly the top teams from England playing in a European league.

05 Aug 2014 11:31:18
Wow Ed002, impressed.

Respect.

05 Aug 2014 11:32:13
And IMO it would be the beginning of the end for football, as the move towards American style games finally turns the fans away from the clubs to start their own clubs back at root level.

It's funny but as a red member most of the Arsenal games I go to see are the Champions league games, as the Saturday PL games tend to sell out quickly but CL games don't trend to sell out for quite a while, so not a good advert for a European league! At the end of the day I don't want to see Arsenal in any league where every away game would cost a fortune to go to, and you would end up having virtually no away fans and no or little local derbies, which as I mentioned, would be just like American franchised sports of today.

You would'nt get to play Barca every week, and let's be honest I wouldn't give a monkey for Arsenal versus Ajax or the like. So although Ed002 thinks it's going to happen, I really hope not, and if it does I might just find my attendance at Leyton Orient versus any other English club becoming a lot more common.

Ed 2 your on fire… great post, Thanks!

Now about Carvalho? ;-))

04 Aug 2014 18:31:52
If the rumours are true then hummels is likely to cost arnd 25-30 mill! Buying him would definitely mean playing him in the first 11 and breaking per-kos partnership! I'd rather us buy a younger and cheaper cb who will be ready to play as 3rd choice and wait for his chance. Fabian schaer or hinteregger would be ideal!

At what price success? And I'm not talking about money.
Personally I don't want to win the title at all costs, I'm happy to fill gaps that need filling but not for the sake of it.
Get a quality DM and let the dice fall where they fall imo

Makes a lot of sense that ;-))

04 Aug 2014 21:54:58
Agree,

No way will a player of Hummel's quality and experience join us to sit on the bench.

Sorry but if Arsenal were willing and able to buy a player of Hummels quality I would be more than happy.
Would you really not want it because he would play ahead of mertesacker or koscielny?
I understand fans love for koscielny and mertesacker but come on if we could improve we should.

{Ed025's Note - its a fair point rocky, but maybe the money could be spent on a DM or striker mate..

You make a fair point Rocky but by the same token if Aaron Ox and Theo all have outstanding seasons is it ok if they demand a move?
If you want and demand loyalty from players you also have to show it to them sometimes.
With Arteta and Flamini it would be taking loyalty to far but Merts and Kos no where close imo

04 Aug 2014 17:21:12
With vermaelen likely to leave what do you guys think about vlar pl experience decent World Cup and is at the right age

He won't sit on the bench. good player though

Needs to play in a 3 at the back for him to work.

04 Aug 2014 16:59:47
606493-233268 Join if you want guys

04 Aug 2014 15:42:53
Not Arsenal related but I thought I'd share this as footballers get a lot of stick so it's nice when one does something nice.

Everton's Steven Naismith has purchased four season tickets for games at Goodison Park this season which will be distributed among unemployed people across Liverpool.

The 27-year-old Scotland striker, who joined the club from Rangers in 2012, said: "I come from Ayrshire in the west of Scotland and spent a lot of my life in Glasgow which suffers from high unemployment. "Liverpool has a similar history and I am aware that, through no fault of their own, there are many unemployed in Liverpool trying hard to find a job and may not be able to afford a ticket to watch football.

"I thought this might be a small gesture to help those in that situation to enjoy a day out at one of our league matches. Hopefully it can bring some joy to many people."

Naismith added: "Every day I feel very fortunate for the opportunities and lifestyle my job as a footballer has afforded my family and me and also to be in the position where I can help the community in some small way."

What a nice gesture from a bloody nice bloke!

{Ed025's Note - the guy is a diamond greeny..he gave presents and food to the homeless last christmas as well mate..

Greeny
Levy does the same at spurs, only he goes one better and plays um.

Top man in my book after reading this Dr G, the fact that he doesn't take what he has for granted makes him a shining example to young pro's every where, an early injury or one bad game at the wrong time their lives would be very different today.
Enjoy your luck and the life it brings by all means just don't forget where your from

04 Aug 2014 21:32:13
In this era, when we read about average players buying bottles of Champagne for £17,000, its a breath of fresh air.

Take a bow son, take a bow.

To be fair there are a few good eggs. Ozil donated the fee for winning the WC to 23 childeren so they could have life saving operations.

Why asked why he is reported to have said 'that is one life for every squad member'

04 Aug 2014 14:49:34
Hello Eds.

Am a regular visitor to the site, but first time posting.
Great work by the way.
Just wondered what your thoughts are on rodwell, with all the inflated prices for players at the moment, I can't help but feel we are missing a trick with not going for him. I admit he has struggled since going to City, but a fit Rodwell would certainly give us the legs and bite that Arteta can't give us at the moment.

{Ed025's Note - the trouble with jack is that he misses too many games richi, really nice guy, but a liability as a player mate..

04 Aug 2014 14:15:51
Younes Kaboul on his way from Tottenham. Fast, physical, experienced. Any opinion/info on him as a 3rd/4th choice CB? Upgrade on Vermaelen/Monreal/Miquel imo.

No thanks, If that was the only option available I would hang on to TV.

04 Aug 2014 15:37:26
This a joke?

You forgot to add forever injured in the description

Not for me. He's a liability IMO.

I would always like it if he was playing against us as there would always be the chance of a red card or him giving away a penalty.

Schaar would be a cheap fourth option

Quite injury prone isn't he?

04 Aug 2014 13:47:16
Can't believe 70% think Wenger won't lift the Premiership trophy this season. It's alright to be logical and we are short about 3 'world class' positions, like Lakerville just now and others have said, but if August isn't the time for Gooners to believe and to dream this is our year, when is?

Winning takes skill and luck, we have skill, and if the 50/50 results go our way, if the ball hits the post and goes in, not out, this year. Just sayin'.

04 Aug 2014 11:06:20
So everyone enjoyed a roller coaster of emotions at the weekend.

High: Sanago scores. And again. And again. No way, not a fourth?! Surely not.

Low: Defensive frailty shown as Benfica score a consolation.

High: We win 5-1 and players like Bellerin and Chambers do themselves no harm by playing really well.

Low: Arsenal leave £50m rated Falcao unmarked at a free kick and he heads in. 1-0 to the rich boys from Monaco.

High: Chambers plays really well as does Debuchy. Our main man Alexis starts for the first time and there's a real sense of excitement everytime he touched the ball.

Low: Referee has a stinker and over rules a decision to give a penalty when Akpom gets taken out by the keeper.

Low: We lose 1-0 and Valencia win the Emirates Cup 2014.

So surely this cues up, "Wenger out!" chants and shouts of spend some money. Oh wait, he has!

Pre-season isn't about winning too much. It's about fitness mainly. Many a time we've ripped it up at Pre-season and then lost our first game. A la Villa last season. Losing isn't the end of the world and we will go on and beat Man City on Sunday and everyone will have us as title favourites!

The life of an Arsenal fan is never boring!

{Ed025's Note - good post that greeny..

Greeny
You forgot to mention we did all that without the Germans and Theo, this can only be good news.

Yes as you say its pre season and fitness and sharpness will improve the more game time each player gets but boy as Wenger got some selection issues to resolve in the comig weeks, can't remember the last time the whole squad looked this good.

Im not worried about the loss, the fact that Kos, Per, Ozil, walcott did not play means that we did not go out to compete, rather go out to try and gather some expereince from the kids, and evaluate them, at the same time trying to get some key players match fit.

however the DM position needs to be addressed and we cannot go into the next season thinking we don't need to fix that position it will only come back to bite us.

Flamini and Arteta are reliable backups and give us depth.

Chambers and bellerin will give us depth, i'm happy with monreal too.

i have nothing to say regards, Ox, wilshere, ramsey, although I feel wilshere needs to prove big time this year, and walcott needs to keep himself fit to prove he can be a big hitter.

Pre season for me is all about gaining fitness. The opposition and result are pretty much irrelevant.
The 2 starting 11's over the weekend were different in that Saturday against Benfica only Joel Campbell had any World Cup involvement. Ox of course was there but played no real part.
So apart from Campbell the other 10 have been back in training for a full pre season. Fitness levels far superior to Benfica. Come Sunday we have 6 World Cup players who have joined pre season at various dates over the last few weeks. Certainly showed for the goal as Falcao was alone in the centre of the box. No spark compared to the Saturday starters.
Could be a tougher few weeks coming than expected as with the 3 German player yet to re join training it will be 2-3 weeks before they are upto near full match fitness. Plus any further additions may too be well short of fitness.
My main concern in the first few weeks is the cohesion in defence. Certainly playing Everton early.
Hopefully next weekend we will see the extra weeks fitness in the World Cup players.

04 Aug 2014 08:24:17
From one of the local beacons of press integrity today. "Midfielder Abou Diaby is also being managed through a hip complaint."

Not sure what to make of that, might need a new DM after all.

04 Aug 2014 02:45:32
Hello Eds

After watching the match today and again seeing us lose again mainly due to our lack of a good defensive midfielder. albeit preseason friendly and all.

I also read what Wenger said after and he almost seemed to say we have enough Defensive midfielders. please tell me this is not true and he is pulling our legs!

I can just about deal with Giroud but i'm sorry Arteta is not capable anymore nor has been for 2 years. Wenger needs to stop this love affair with him

We lost because lack of DM. 'Cause we scored so many goals but just couldn't keep them out. Got it.

We lost because we couldn't man mark at a free kick

Well actually, you can score 0 goals and not lose. Because we got walked all over in CM by Kongdobia and Bakayoko it inhibited us from playing well.

Much in the same way we got smashed by all of our big rivals at certain points of last season.

Fair point Wex.

Just would caution that it will take more than a DM to get us over the top or any other single signing, it will take the whole team coming together.

We still have good footballers playing there in Flamini/Arteta. Still, am encouraged by the Carvalho rumors, he would look great in the rotation.

Cheers

04 Aug 2014 00:35:54
2 enjoyable days at the emirates. Today we lacked a leetle beet sharpness but you could see some promising signs. Overall I think young bellerin will give Debuchy a run for the RB spot. Chambers looks like he could be a star, the Ox looks a couple of games away from something special and Ramsey just oozes confidence. With the cameos of Campbell and Sanogo and a bright showing from the young keeper on sat there was lots to be pleased with. Negatives - the beers gone up, and the left hand side looks a bit vulnerable. Not sure that santi- Gibbs-arteta works defensively and Monreal makes things worse.
A def mid is a must and I'd like a tough left sided CB to add some defensive depth - otherwise I'd say we will still struggle against big, strong "bullying" type midfields.
Sanchez reminds me of DB10 ( before the Southampton goal) - the crowd was buzzing with expectation and just willing for something special and to be honest he didn't do it but showed all the signs that it's only a matter of time - felt good to have such an exciting talent in a red (overly tight) shirt