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05 Aug 2015 22:12:38
Evening all
With all the talk about Benzema and really not looking likely at the moment. What about Austin cheap, proven goal scorer, prem experience. Think he would fit in well!
05 Aug 2015 22:26:24
Is that you Dags?
05 Aug 2015 22:31:24
Ed007 has warned you about this sort of thing Spursmanandydags :-)
05 Aug 2015 23:34:31
Innocent until proven guilty m'lud :-)
05 Aug 2015 20:52:05
Theres nothing goiñg into this season that screams at me ' no way can we be proeprr contenders in this seasons title race "
Yes there are question marks about Olly Theo and Danny up top but they are question marks not glaringly obvious barriers that all but end our challenge before it even begin's.
Last season it wasn't the case with no real DM at all and only 2 recognised CBs were never realistically at the races when the moment the summer window closed.
I'd like us to sign a proven goal machine from somewhere but if we don't I'm still well happy going into this season
05 Aug 2015 21:16:15
For the first time, in at least 8/9 years, in quietly confident/optimistic that we are going to win the league.
Sure,would like another top striker, but there are none available.
We have (almost) everything in place to mount a massive challenge. We are there or thereabouts.
{Ed025's Note - i agree dags..
05 Aug 2015 21:42:49
Now we are playing with a true defensive midfielder in Coquelin and have learned how to defend as a team I have every confidence we will make a real go of it.
I feel we can win anywhere and that feeling of failing to be able to defend a lead has long gone. Whilst I appreciate Villa were far from a top team, the way we went about winning was so different from the nervy win the year before.
We can stand toe to toe with anyone in my opinion and the team is on a par with Chelsea, bar Costa, on talent and togetherness.
I know there are concerns over another DM but Matic played 35 games last season with Mikel as his back up. If Coquelin can do the same with the odd appearance from Arteta I'm ok with that. Mikel is no better than Arteta.
As for a striker, it's clear Wenger would like Benzema but for me the hurdle will be wages, he was on 150k a week, so I'm led to believe, before he signed a new 4 yr deal earlier this year.
I also think a lot forget how good a player Gabriel was in Spain before we signed him.
05 Aug 2015 22:29:26
Totally agree Jen.
I'm not a massive Mertesacker fan, but he does pretty well, but would love to see Gabriel integrated more into the starting 11 this season.
Kos/gab would be a wicked combo.
05 Aug 2015 23:44:53
Just had a wicked chicken and lamb combo kebab here on holiday in Crete.
06 Aug 2015 00:28:28
Sussex,
Without sounding rude, love the way you slipped that in.
Have a nice holibob.
06 Aug 2015 09:23:40
Hi Jenny good post and really good to have you back again. Lots of Chelsea players played lots of games last season and it did them no harm at all, there will be games when we don't absolutely need to play with a DM should Le Coq need a rest but he seems more than capable of doing 40 plus games in a season as many top players have to.
Neither we or anyone else can cover for every possible scenario I mean what if both Cech and Ospina are both abducted by ailiens in the same week that Kos is eaten by an escaped crocodile? Has anyone even considered how we cope in this event?
05 Aug 2015 20:47:53
Would anyone take NIR bitton? He's improving all the time.
05 Aug 2015 21:11:48
Sounds like a porn star to me :-)
05 Aug 2015 21:44:39
Hey Derby,
What do you make of these comments by Mr Usmanov today?
Usmanov, Arsenal's second largest shareholder, believes it was the club's move to the Emirates Stadium in 2006 that hampered Wenger's ability to challenge for more trophies.
"Arsene had a very, very difficult position when club shareholders didn't want to put their money into constructing the new stadium," added Uzbek-born billionaire Usmanov, who is not on the club's board.
"Because of this Wenger lost five years, maybe the best of his career, without a trophy. In reality, 10 years.
"If I had the right, I would keep Arsene until he wants because until he cannot perform his activity as a manager, it is a gift for any club to have a coach like Arsene Wenger."
05 Aug 2015 23:27:10
Sorry for late reply jenny not on here as much as I like to be :(
Usmanov is correct and everyone knows my thoughts on him he should be our owner and should of been for the last decade while we moved.
Wenger has wasted it in a way and the club owe him alot. In terms of that final hurdle though I don't believe he has that bite now to push us over the line. We moved just as oil money was coming in. And it changed the landscape.
If you look at him keeping us in champs league and paying stadium off quick the club owe him a lot more than his 8mil a year. He knew all along the aim of top4 and what players would go
Like uamanov said share holders weren't willing to pay for the move.
4weekz to go we need a DM I feel and a top striker time will tell hope your OK catch u next week. And dags u kill me mate big lol
05 Aug 2015 23:52:35
Totally justified comments.
Give Wenger as long as he wants, as long as he needs.
06 Aug 2015 00:30:26
Pleasure Derby.
Hope everything is OK in Sparta.
(300. Get it?) :-)
05 Aug 2015 19:02:36
question for football fans a like, with the seemingly endless pit of money in football these days e.g multimillion pound sponsorship deals flying around, do you think the likes of Ronaldo or Messi with ever become buyable? If so how much money do you think they would cost? Another thing though would it be ethical to actually spend the sort of money needed. Bored waiting for my takeaway hence the question lol
05 Aug 2015 20:05:06
Football finances and ethics parted company a long long time ago Essex mate, its a fantasy world we all indulge in where we urge our clubs to pay fee's and wages at figure we can't fully comprehend, it isn't real to us so we don't think about the ethics of it
05 Aug 2015 20:51:55
I honestly cannot see Messi leaving Barca, irrespective of the amount of money sploshing around football.
Messi and Barca are pretty much a marriage made in heaven.
Ronaldo?
Will go back to Manchester United within 2 years.
05 Aug 2015 23:28:15
Dags ronaldo will never play in the prem again. If he moves in europe its psg. But he will go America in the end and the league will finally have arrived
05 Aug 2015 23:39:36
Ronaldo is buyable, Isn't that what Madrid did? There are probably 2/3 clubs that could prise him away from Madrid tomorrow , Messi on the other hand is priceless!
05 Aug 2015 18:01:57
It's always looked like we wasn't looking for a new striker. The squad really needed a world class keeper and we got that. Looking at our net spend over the last few seasons, don't think we'd want to spend 40m on a striker, plus the new contract signed by Theo, Santi and Giroud is showing the club is faithfully sticking to the team thereby having a loyal squad. This team can win the league, problem is the usual injuries, it's random can't always be prevented. Benzema won't win us the league, that's my opinion and that's why I ask why spend 40-45mil on someone if that isn't the prem winning formula. Chelsea bought Costa and fab and knew they were going to be title challengers, would Benzema or even worse off Higuan guarantee such challenge, I highly doubt that, hence why our club might feel it's a waste of money on transfer and wages.
{Ed025's Note - you do know its the club that pays the money and not you dont you mate?.. :)
05 Aug 2015 18:14:17
Is that you arsene, because you sound like you don't like spending money,even when it is burning a hole in your pocket. If it isn't , i don't agree.
05 Aug 2015 18:16:32
Sometimes I think I'm Wenger lol. Yeah, it's not my money but still like the way we've been sensibly spending money unlike city and Liverpool.
05 Aug 2015 18:36:20
If spending the money was going to put us in financial difficulty then I would agree. But the fact of the matter is we could spend another 100m this window and it would not hurt us one bit. I do believe that we could possibly push for the title with the current squad but all our players would have to stay fit and then it would be very tight with no room for error. Imo not worth the risk buy Benzema get cover for le coq get another defender pref LB. Get Gourcuff on a free
{Ed025's Note - sounds good to me brow..
05 Aug 2015 18:49:11
I think many of us gooners have over the years become mini finance managers, i'm not sure if fans on other pages are as concerned about fee's and wages as we are? But as much as we like players to have good hair we do worry about value for money far too much for fans of a very wealthy club in great shape financially
05 Aug 2015 18:53:20
If we don't buy ed we could win the leauge (could) but if we get a few knocks and the hard british winter fixtures kick in we could be in a dog fight and just as conceivably finish out of the top four. Buying the above mentioned doesn't guarantee the leauge but it would defo keep us in champions leauge and keep the Europe money and then be in same possition as now. We have to buy simple as
05 Aug 2015 18:57:52
The skill is recognising where the money needs spending when you are close, or not spending when you should have. There are places we are really strong and there are places we are vunerable. You spend money wisely wether it be small or large, it doesn't matter, but you spend to strengthen your weaker areas, wecstill have vulnerable areas and he has to spend and spend what it costs to make it stronger. Only cech is not going to bridge the gap, no matter how its dressed up. We are close so make it happen that's how you win leagues, not stubbornly denying it.
05 Aug 2015 19:01:20
Exactly it G62
05 Aug 2015 19:59:48
Steve, what do believe Wenger is stubbornly denying?
05 Aug 2015 20:54:14
Spot on Steve.r
05 Aug 2015 23:36:12
Get little pea
06 Aug 2015 00:52:15
Stoner in the past wenger has denied lots of positions needed strengthening and was proved wrong. Lots of people can see were the team is strong and weak. If we only buy cech, then in my opinion he has missed a trick but if he gets players in in positions a lot of people say aren't up to standard, opinions again, then he maybe has changed, we have afew days to wait to find out.
06 Aug 2015 03:58:37
Stephen you'd be better having a pea. No thanks.
05 Aug 2015 17:43:14
It seems you Gooners got rid of Diaby at the right time (although any time seemed like "the right time"). He's already injured. It's quite incredible how a player can be that injured so frequently...
05 Aug 2015 17:54:27
It isn't really. When I was in my late teens, I was playing footy every day, sometimes twice a day. At 19 I had such a bad meniscus tear that I couldn't even walk for months; nowadays every time I lace up my boots there's a 50% chance I'll be out of commission for a month due to knee tendon problems.
One bad injury can ruin your career permanently; the best I could have hoped for was a Ledley King style arrangement if I was a pro, just playing once a week and taking the rest of the week to recover at the training ground.
05 Aug 2015 18:35:13
Thecguy is made of glass, but bloody bouncy glass, what a desire he must have, what a shame.
05 Aug 2015 14:39:53
Gimme a J
Gimme an E
Gimme a N
Gimme a N
Gimme a Y
What have you got?
J E N N Y.
Thank you.
Welcome back Jenny Taylor.
05 Aug 2015 16:38:30
So as I was saying to you the other day, I'm going to quietly pop back in and...
Oh maybe not then :-)
{Ed025's Note - welcome home jenny..
05 Aug 2015 17:46:02
It's never quiet with dags around:)
05 Aug 2015 19:20:20
Thanks ed and you're right MgM he is never quiet. ;-)
05 Aug 2015 20:40:32
I'm getting bad press here :-)
Jenny, have you been backpacking around the globe for the past 12 months? :-)
05 Aug 2015 20:48:24
hi JT :)
WB:) nice to see you here again
COYG andi
05 Aug 2015 21:22:40
Hi Andi and no Dags I had to go into hiding after a failed bank robbery with Doc Green. Last time I trust him as the getaway driver. Who does that in a Ford Ka! :-)
{Ed025's Note - love it jenny..
05 Aug 2015 21:39:53
Jeez,
Would love to see crimewatch reconstruct that one.
05 Aug 2015 13:29:23
Guardian writer Emanuele Giulianelli reporting we have Karim Benzema on a four year deal is there any credibility in the author?
05 Aug 2015 14:15:22
Unfortunately I don't think anything via Twitter could be believed really, although he did say Sanchez would sign for us and quoted the right money..........
I guess we will just have to wait and see aye
05 Aug 2015 13:07:10
Earlier in the summer we were linked with Baba Rahman and that Ghoulam from Naples.
Both are really really promising, but it seems as if they are going to Chelsea and PSG respectively.
Were we not interested in either?
Even though Monty has been solid, he is on the wrong side of 30, no?
Would be a shame if we didn't try to compete for one of them.
Oh well, let me get the Cech :D
05 Aug 2015 17:55:44
Nacho is 29, and Gibbs is a solid defender (really his only flaw is his limited play in the final third, but if Bellerin provides the attacking component of being a fullback I'd be happy enough)
05 Aug 2015 18:18:30
Monreal has improved a lot, but in truth both he and gibbs are average at best and both lack positional sense defending and going forward.
{Ed025's Note - unhappy about something steve?...now theres a bloody change.. :)
05 Aug 2015 19:07:21
Au contrere ed just pointing the obvious, as i do.
{Ed025's Note - you do like a good moan though steve..
05 Aug 2015 20:41:59
Harsh Ed, very harsh.
Oh wait, sorry mate.
Spot on (love you really Steve mate).
06 Aug 2015 00:56:54
Lets hope i'm in the minority moaning in few weeks and months. I just take a lot of persuading and i'm not a dreamer or change my views with the weather. Although the winters coming and who knows.
05 Aug 2015 09:56:43
I was in denial about Danny Welbeck for a really long time. There was a an embarrassing point where I truly believed he had the ability to do for us what Muller does for Germany/Munich. Sadly as I so often am I was wrong. He is a hard worker but that's really about it. Really gutted he didn't turn out the way I hoped.
05 Aug 2015 10:31:21
I was the same Rosie,
I once thought Cleverley was going to be the next Gazza, that Smalling was a future captain of England, that Jones was the next Duncan Edwards and Rafael a future Brazillian legend and World class right back. So disappointed in Evans too, he had it all.
Funny how I was so wrong. ;-)
05 Aug 2015 10:37:18
Time will tell Rosie, he's got a brilliant attitude which gives him the best possible chance.
05 Aug 2015 10:46:18
He was never going to be anything like Muller Rosie no mater how many drugs you were taking. And I agree life is full of disapointments. Good luck in the season ahead
05 Aug 2015 11:30:48
as long as welbeck gets a run around for cup games and premier league fixtures which don't involve the bigger teams and is a ready substitute for those I have no problem with his game.
he won't score 20 goals but he works hard and he is a team player and he will chip in with goals and can be counted on against lesser opposition. no disrespect to teams 7-20 but I think on our day we are better than them in terms of quality. not like we always get results.
05 Aug 2015 11:50:36
Stoner - Cleverly looked like having a bright future before an injury put him out and he never managed to recover properly and became a safe sideways passing player. Shame. You'll recall he paired the midfield with an overweight Anderson in a MUFC - AFC classic in 2011.
Smalling I've never been sold on, he looked better in the second half of last season but from day 1 I always thought he was an odd signing from Fulham.
Rafael is a decent right back. He just struggles with temperament and is too often beaten in the air.
Jones can't stay fit enough to gain the experience he needs. If he was put next to a calmer head and played most of a full season it would do it a world of good. Doesn't look like it will happen.
Evans looked like a dominant defender when partnered with Vidic a while back but he seems to be a confidence player and now has none of it.
My comparisons between Muller and Welbeck were mainly down to the way they play. Both look awkward and off balance in possession and have pace and power. Unfortunately Muller only looks awkward but he never actually is. His movement might be the best in the world. Welbeck sadly is just awkward.
05 Aug 2015 12:10:10
Rosie,
Whilst pulling your leg a little, we all have players we hope will go on and become special, whilst I genuinely couldn't understand the clamour over Cleverley I did think that Smalling and Jones would become quality CB's.
Evans did have that period when he too looked like he had something about him but it fizzled out and Rafael never seemed to be able to control his wild side.
Welbeck, well I've never been a fan and not certain he'll ever get rid of the bambi on ice tag given to him by you guys. He does look a better player in an England shirt and for £16 million is a good squad player. Beyond that I'm yet to be convinced.
05 Aug 2015 12:18:27
I recall having many a discussion with Sydney! over Cleverley and Wilshere on your page RedRosie and could never see him making it.
Did it drive you nuts him pointing at his feet when he wanted the ball like the other player wouldn't have a clue where to pass it.
Smalling and Jones have been a huge disappointment to be honest, I actually thought they were two great signings when it happened. :-)
05 Aug 2015 12:35:47
Good response Jenny. Nice to read an objective and honest analysis. I think for United fans we were so desperate for a CM to take over from Scholes when Cleverly had a good game we were all over it. Desperation can make fools of us all!
05 Aug 2015 12:40:07
Well I must be watching two different players in a different dimension Rosie. It dosent matter I can't read your thoughts and I'm sure you know what your going on about so that's all that matters I guess!
Not really one for bashing other teams players and the whole smalling, Jones and cleverly stuff thankfully they are not arsenals problem. Every team has them sort of players stinking the place up
05 Aug 2015 15:24:02
Quality post jenny, bang on.
05 Aug 2015 09:25:02
Hi guys I was thinking wouldn't it be worth going for Hernandez from man united I think he would be a great player for us what are you thoughts
05 Aug 2015 17:57:47
0 approach play, glorified poacher. Basically a Mexican Theo with worse passing
05 Aug 2015 18:17:05
Yeah i like him, I would take him off Uniteds hands if Benzema and Lewandowski are not available.
05 Aug 2015 09:18:05
In a poll of the BBC pundits their overall prediction is
Chelsea
Arsenal
Man utd
Man city
I'd agree apart from I think city 3rd utd 4th
05 Aug 2015 09:53:10
I think at this moment ourselves and Chelsea have the most settled, cohesive and talented squads but the window is far from closed.
City will still do business and United must be looking to make a truly big signing or two as they have hardly spent anything so far, that said they have to gel as a group so would say of the top 4 they have the most to do in that respect. They need to get a flying start to get that going.
Playing Liverpool and Chelsea in our first 6 fixtures may give us more of a clue but feel confident we will be right in it till the end.
05 Aug 2015 10:49:48
It's us v chelsea don't care who finishes bellow that. United will be better and City I think will finish bellow United . We need to push on this season it's our biggest chance in years. United will be back in the fold after next season and City will change manager so who knows with them
04 Aug 2015 23:40:56
Ed025,
Doofy and Clevs signed.
Assuming no more arrivals, what are your realistic expectations for Everton?
{Ed025's Note - seeing as we have signed...tom and gerri..another cartoon of a season dags.. :(
05 Aug 2015 07:41:51
Tom and Gerri, love it :-)
{Ed025's Note - i actually stole that off pb on the everton page dags..i just wish i had thought of it first mate.. :)
05 Aug 2015 18:53:25
are you n for austin ed? he would be good for you i think, especially if lukaku carries on with the i'm bigger than this bs
{Ed025's Note - we have asked about him eden, but i doubt we will pay the asking rate, as our board are as tight as a ducks arse mate..
05 Aug 2015 21:17:38
that would be a shame, in todays market he's reasonably priced