Use our rumours form to send us arsenal transfer rumours.
08 Apr 2014 23:27:34
Great post by Goldboy on 'Arsenal other posts'.
If you haven't read it, go and have a look.
Well done Gold's. It seem's like some of my negativity is rubbing off on you, lol.
Serious though, top top post.
08 Apr 2014 23:00:02
Mourinho, love him or hate him, but you can't deny he is a top top manager.
3-1 down in 2nd leg against a very good PSG.
Team selection. Spot on.
Formation. Spot on.
Tactics. Spot on.
How they played. Spot on.
Coaching from touchline. Spot on.
Substitutions. Spot on.
Result? Semi-final's of CL.
Let's hope Wenger was at the Bridge to witness it.
Hi DG, totally agree. was going to post something like that too. don't know what's wrong with us:( but, Chelsea showed what was what tonight!
COYG andi
Hi Andi,
Not too keen on the bloke, but for me, he set's the standards in management.
He does a fantastic job on the pitch no question and knows how to win a game and titles, he knows how to build, motivate and get the best from his team. He is success wise probably the best manager in the world.
His first spell at chavski I thought he was funny and a breath of fresh air for the EPL and very very successful.
It seems he is still successful, at least he hasn't lost that bit as for the man!
he did say something last night that got me thinking.he said in training they practiced 3 possible scenarios with the strikers which where dependent on how the match progressed, and last night he put those scenarios into effect (plan a, b, c)if you like.the problem with AW is he is so confident in his teams he will never sacrifice his tactics/philosify and is prepared to meet any team for a good old toe toe straight fight, maybe arsenal teams of the past could get away with this, but not anymore unfortunatly, I think its called (cant see the wood for the trees) just thought I would mention it
08 Apr 2014 22:59:52
Who ever is given the job of picking, buillding and motivating the team next season needs to also be given the funds and the ultimatum of the title in 2 seasons or bye bye. Its time for AFC to raise its expectations as a whole club or become Spurs equals.
If that's not a reason for action then there is no hope left at all
Totally agree G62. Accountability should be the new key-word at Arsenal.
Couldn't agree more.
08 Apr 2014 21:38:24
Perhaps Arsenal and PSG will swap Managers now Chelsea have knocked the French club out of the CL. tongue in cheek comment
Can we swap teams too
08 Apr 2014 22:29:15
How about we swap their willingness to spend money :-)
How about we swap the London Eye for the Eiffel Tower?
Ok, it's getting silly now, lol.
08 Apr 2014 20:07:22
In relation to the continued question of should he go or should he stay.
When I think of the Viera, Bergkamp, Henry era and the invincible's I try and recall if Arsene ever used a plan B or certain tactics to suit a game or was it just everyone else who tried to use plans C, D and E to combat us.
Because his teams then, brimmed with pace, power and no shortage of skill. They genuinely feared no one and everyone feared us.
He has the basis to build another great team but having waited for nine years to get the stadium monkey off our backs he's fallen at the first hurdle.
Why is the big question, why didn't we get Lars Bender, why didn't we get Benzema or Higuian, why no Draxler in January. Why did those windows close leaving us excited by Ozil yet wondering why no one else.
Despite the majority thinking that top 3 would be great it turned into a genuine chance at the title. That in turn is now what seems a desperate attempt to get that magical fourth spot.
It's not that I want him to leave but I want him to spend some proper money, make people fear us again not still see us as weak, the team that capitulates year on year, it's expected of us, every one was waiting for it to happen and it's happened.
To reach the promise land of money to spend and still see it sitting in the bank whilst we flounder is mind boggling.
So yes I want him to stay but not if it means another season of failing to buy, failing to challenge, failing to get excited about my team and failing to win anything.
He has rightly had the trust and faith of most of us because of what went before but he stands on the brink of ruining it all by not going the extra mile or should I say few million.
Good post Jen
The fact that we could end up 10 + points behind the winners says our challenge for the title has been no better than previous years, let's face it, it matters not how close you are at the start of March it is where you are after 38 games, it is a waste of time being in the hunt after 30 games and then being a mile off the pace in the last 8.
I'll put it another way. You are not an arsenal fan and you're looking at us in different light. Do you think we are sliding very slowly towards the mid table area. Would you look forward top playing us or be wary. Do you think we are improving. Do you like or dislike the way we play. Do you look at us and see a European or prem powerhouse. Would you wish you had our players. All I'm saying is we are a team other teams poke fun at.
That came out wrong, not poke fun at. No one takes us seriously, the pundits talk us down not up we don't scare anyone anymore and all teams fancy playing us.
Great post, as usual JT.
08 Apr 2014 20:00:12
Well having listened to Lord Wenger I fear he is not going to sign.i hope the wenger out brigade, will be pleased, one thing he will find a BIG club, but will we find a top quality manager, I do chuckle with some of the names that get mentioned.
The same people said we need as trophy are now worried about getting fourth,
Do you know he has kept us in the top four, for the last 8 yrs, .While the club has paid its debts off, a truly amazing feet . I don't think top players will want to come to arsenal if we don't have CL.
Please tell me how many clubs have been as sucsesfull as us under wenger years.
I respect the fans that pay big season tickets, but havnt we had fantastic football, the enve of most teams
How many teams have had CL in the last 8 yrs, I think 6
This is like deal or no deal, lol
me,
we stick with what we have and get behind the man that has made us a club to be proud off.
Im sorry but all things come to an end. As far as wenger is concerned his time is up. His time was ten years ago. He has had money he has had the chance to sign very good players. It is the mistakes he is making year after year game after game, his boring lame excuses, his none existent tactics. Santos, senderos, chamack, sylvestre, park, denilson, bentner, and all the other dros he has signed he's ready to go. He won't, can't compete with the new generation of managers, they make him look foolish. I thank him for guiding the club through the change of stadium and hope somehow we get fourth and thr cup but he is only damaging his respectability. At this moment in time he isn't in the top six tactically astute managerd in the prem. He isn't irreplaceable by far.
Mate you're missing the point there. I don't want to be kept in the four, I want to be kept in the top one.
I will put it another way. Was there a manager who could have done better for us over the last 10 years, maybe not. Is there a manager who can take us forward from here, most definitely.
Steve, I'm sure there are managers that can do as well, maybe better, but unless the purse strings are lossened, it ain't going to happen.
What we need is another Wenger (from 10 years ago), someone who can produce great players/teams get players working for each other, show good movement and composure and inject serious pace into the team.
Financially with the current setup, we simply cannot compete with Man City, Chelsea or even Man Utd, they just have more. The work BR has doen at Liverpool to get them challanging, I guess proves it can be done.
08 Apr 2014 18:22:08
All these big names banded around with regards who we could sign.dream on if we finish outside the top 4. We haven't attracted big names in the last x years why now, we won't pay the money or the wages and apart from the stadium what brings a player to the club.London?
Personally and its only my opinion but I think the club would pay the wages and transfer fees but only if we finished out of the CL.
Only then would they fell it necessary to do so.
The quite american has stated that 4th place is success I in the past.
Its pathetic it has to come to that but I think it might be the case
G62
And tell me who would want to come to a side outside of the CL when they have
PSG Barca, R Madrid, B Munich, M City, Chelsea to name a few to go to, that doesn't leave much world class talent to pick from, we would get a has been or someone with 'much potential' same old story really. And then when people realise we are desperate, what happens? The agents put the players fees up and the clubs increase the transfer fees. back to square one
Banbury I don't disagree with you at all, all I'm saying is all the time Arsene delivers CL football on the cheap the powers that be not in any hurry to spend what they don't feel they need to.
It may well take a disaster to bring about long term change
G62
Spot again my friend, I have hoped we finish 6th to relly wake a few people up
Thursaday night football is the biggest humiliation there is and should it come to it will hurt all where it matters most to them.
The board and players in the pocket
But sadly the fans in pleasure and pride.
Had a good think about the finishing 6th thing, its unacceptable
we need 4th as if its too be a big summer of signings its not going to happen in 6th
we need a wake up call for arsene and the board not sure finishing outside 4th is the one i'd choose
i think we need a protest like an empty stadium against the emirates cup maybe
it might wake them up to show we're not here to have the p*** taken out of us
08 Apr 2014 15:18:33
Below Arsenal Voting poll now added
So how will our season end?
A both fa cup and CL place
B just the cup
C just CL place
D neither
What's your head, heart, gut or your any ever part of you telling you?
Great post mate, couldn't have said it better!
Thanks Ed your a gent
08 Apr 2014 12:37:27
Hi eds, gents and Jenny
Before I start I want to apologize for my poor English.
I've been on this site for a long time. Never been much of a poster, but I read it frequently every day.
Before I start, I would like to thank the eds for creating this wonderful site. I live far from England, far from my beloved Arsenal. I have never been to the Emirates, it's the first thing on my wish list and I hope I can fulfill it some day. But this site brings me closer to the fans who visit the Emirates week in week out. It makes me feel like part of the Arsenal family. So thank you for that and keep up the brilliant work.
Over the years being on this site I've seen a lot of posters, pro Wenger and anti Wenger, some optimistic, some pessimistic etc.
The number of the anti Wenger was a lot smaller than now, but the main thing is over the years almost every optimistic gooner on this site turned anti Wenger, of course I include those who are not posting anymore, or are posting but are using different nick.
On the beginning of the season I wrote a post saying this should be Wenger's last season if he fails to deliver. I still stand by that and think he should leave. He has given us so many beautiful memories, but recent seasons have been really painful for the fans. I want him to leave and be remembered like a legend, rather than like an old, stubborn fart.
In my opinion this is as far as he can take us, we can't progress with him anymore.
His tactics are shocking, we play the same formation all the time, no matter who the opposition are. He plays players in wrong positions all the time, I mean come on what the hell is Cazorla doing on the wings. Why don't you play Gnabry instead, the kid's been excellent whenever he played. He has a blind faith in his players even if they are terrible (Almunia, Santos, Djourou springs to mind).
How can you let your team to lose 6-0 to Chelsea, 6-3 to City, 5-1 to Liverpool, 3-0 to Everton, it's really beyond any rational thinking. By the way even the beautiful football is gone, to be honest this season I haven't seen a game where we convincingly beat any team.
He left us with Giroud as the only recognized striker in the club, who is a back-up striker at best. Everybody knew we needed another striker, except Wenger it seems. Not buying a striker in January costs us the title this year. Instead he bought an injured player.
The period we are going through, tell me honestly are you really surprised. I'm not, we do it every year, we choke and start playing like a mid table team. We did exactly what everybody expected to see. To be honest even if we do finish fourth, we don't deserve it anymore, because what is happening right now is a disgrace. I don't even want to start ranting on the injuries and the squad size.
Arsene It's time to let go and leave this club in another manager's hands. You did all you could, thank you for the great memories and all the joy you brought us.
It's time for us to go forward.
Well said.
Spot on mate,
The problem we have is finding someone who would want the job, if Wenger does leave he has left the squad so short especially if the players out of contract don't sign new deals.
Can you really see a new manager coming in and spending 200 mill on 10 quality first team standard players, because that's what we need.if not more as that's quite a lot of players we should get rid off as no where good enough
It's a big big mess I am afraid to say
Spanner- I think the reality is that IF a new manager comes in, it will be a "project" and take a few seasons to build the squad they want, etc.
Even if the money was there signing 5+ players in one window is generally not a great idea.
I think we have to be prepared for that as fans- that no magic wand is going to happen if AW leaves. Hey it might, but equally it might not as well (at least not straightaway).
So we might have to be patient for a while. That's fine for me, as long as there's a vision and we can see progress.
08 Apr 2014 15:11:09
I'm not sure you are correct about needing a new team, with Wallcott, Ramsey, Wilshere and Ozil back, I think we need the following:
Prolific striker (giroud is fine as a backup)
Center Back
Right back (if as seems, Sagna goes)
Left back (cover for Gibbs, Monreal doesn't cut it for me)
I would love someone, but I don't think he speaks English so could be a problem? but he's young, has new ideas, plays good attacking football and is taking on the two Spanish giants in la liga and champions league this season. Good credentials to me!
We also need a goalkeeper shezza isn't good enough and for all his bravado he doesn't inspire would love to see some of the 100m spent on
Begovic, GK
coleman rb
Schar CB
Morgan Schneiderlin Dm
Morata st
Cavani st
sell to help fund
vermaalen
arteta
sagna
Giroud
{Ed002's Note - Atletico Madrid and Arsenal have been looking at Marseille's Steve Mandanda. And apparently Arsenal and Newcastle have both enquired about Valbuena's availability and Marseille may be willing to sell in the summer.}
Ok so we're looking at mandanda he's a good keeper but there's better keepers than him we should look at Ochoa is certainly a much better keeper and probably the best keeper in ligue 1 and is available for free! And valbuena do we really need him he's like 30 and we have similar players already rather we got a proper winger
Its the dream to field 11 midfielder I think. even the goalkeeper will be a midfielder playing pass pass concede at one point.
08 Apr 2014 11:32:36
Surely Diego Simeone has to be the top target if Wenger decides to leave. Gets players working hard, good European pedigree, top player (commands respect), good tactician and he looks like a South American drugs baron.
We have far more money than athletico plus we have some good young players that he could work well with, he most be near the top of the list at least.
I think they have been a success this season, and while they have done things on a budget, their players are more complete as a team.
also it does not matter if they sell diego costa, they will still buy another striker and make a name of him. that's always impressed me about atheltico. they have had some of the worlds best strikers for quite some time now, they sell one and make another one.
I would take simionne all day long, klopp, de bour with berggy. i'd also take potchetino and me i'd like to see big tone with vierra, or henry given a go. People will say adams asnt done any good, I just think he's just had rubbish jobs. Vierra or henry as assistants would be a stepping stone for next manager.
Viera, Henry, Bergkamp, would not be able to tackle the tactical maze that Mourinho, Rodgers or Martinez throw at them.
If we are to have any success and we can do that with a few additions, we not only need a tactical genius, but we need a charismatic leader. Someone who will be brash and give hope to those who have none.
Pochettinho, is a great manager, but he does not speak english and we do have a few german players, I think that would be a drawback. unless he speaks spanish and cazola and arteta translate it into english and mert and poldi translate it into german.
Martinez is not going to join Arsenal, I think he has a vision at Everton, and it may well come true, if not this season then the next.
We need Klopp, and he is the only one who can give us what we need from a manager, guile, courage and absolute madness in the face of adversity, not to mention he may get some of the players from dortmund, Reus springs to mind and he would do wonders on that left wing, with theo on the right.
we bring in anyone unknown the players will see how this season goes and then become targets for 2015 summer transfer. Ramsey, Ozil, Ox, walcott being the main ones, and the last thing we need is to lose any more players, we need to add quality not sell them.
Ive said this for a while, lack of pace is a big problem, and players who can go past defenders too. AW teams of old always had pace, Overmars, Llundberg, Henry, Wiltord, Bergkamp, Pires to name a few, but not for a long time now apart from TW14. I would say that AW has always had blind faith in players that have cost us dearly in previous seasons. Almuina, Cygan, Stepanovs, Santos, Arshavin, Bendtner, Eboue, Song. also I have a feeling that when our top players leave ie: Van Persie, Fabregas, Nasri, Clichy and soon to be Sagna, reason could be that they don't have belief in the manager anymore so won't sign a new contract?
08 Apr 2014 11:19:20
Hi, I have read items on this site many times but never registered (lazy!)
I see all the relevant posts about lack of fight etc, but for me the main issues are around pace and technique.
From Sundays game, we had a team which included: Giroud, Podolski, Arteta, Flamini, Monreal, Carzola and Per!
The lack of pace was absolutley unbelievable, as soon as the full backs push up, which they do very ofter, we are totally exposed and the way we give the ball away so cheaply, means that exposure proves fatal.
A lot of the players do not just lack pace, they are very slow (sounds daft, but hope you know what I mean), Per has had a good season and leads well, but against the better opposition I feel his lack of pace is a huge problem, the movement of Chelsea, Liverpool etc really pulls him about, coupled with the exposure mentioned earlier, he has no chance.
We keep playing Carzolo, Poldolski out wide, they do not have the pace to go past people.
Apart from Gibbs, the olny real pace is the OX (with Wallcott out), he seems to be either on the bench or in midfield.
I don't get it.
Ilike Wenger and I'm not sure he should go, but I'm not sure he sees the flaws in this side.
Am I wrong with this?
Thats a very good post David.
I think Arsene's biggest problem for the last 4/5 years has been his refusal to see what's wrong in a team he created, things that are obvious to all else.
Almunia is a fantastic example! in 2008 we came 3rd with the leagues 17th or even 18th best keeper, if we had a top 5 keeper that season we would have won it, but it took Arsene another few seasons to finally admit he was good enough.
Pride comes before a fall from grace it seems
Yh g62, but at that time our first choice keeper was Jens Lehman. And you can't predict the form of a top quality keeper to drop so quick.
Thats a fair comment Waq but how many seasons was Almunia our no 1 keeper.
He was never close to being good enough as the world and his dog kept pointing out, but Arsene wouldn't believe them or his own eyes.
If only Arsene had been prepared to admit when he had got it wrong at times rather than try to be proved right against the odds! Things might look very different today.
We all have our faults and Arsene's is his stubbiness
08 Apr 2014 10:05:53
Say winger did leave and we got klopp. They've had a ridiculous amount of injuries this season and he's known for his ultra hard work player attitude, which surely won't help.
I think one thing is for sure, any new manager won't put up with the lack of depth we have at present.
At dortmund his hands are tied because of financial constraints at arsenal he'd likely have 100 mil to spend. No excuses available then!
Wenger was hesitant, perhaps for him spending 40 million took a little piece of him, but he had to do it to please the fans. but if it was always his option, we would still buy youngsters and wait for them to develop into superstars. In this modern day and age of football where patience is lax and success is what keeps the manager from getting his P60, perhaps his time is up, and its time we brought in someone more innovative and inspirational.
Firstly I am not sure how good Klopp is as a winger, I know we need one but there has to be better options.
Secondly, while I agree it would be great to sign someone like Klopp or Simeone. Why would they leave top teams or play in the Champions League for Arsenal? The only way we could get these managers is if we finish in the top 4, otherwise I think Rosler is our best bet. My only concern with Rosler is the lack of experience he has and the fact he has never had serious money to spend.
Lakerville, a manager will get his P60 every year just like any employee. Even if he works for Arsenal contracted through his own Personal Services Company he will still be an employee of that and will still get a P60 under UK tax law.
P45 then.
08 Apr 2014 10:50:40
I’ve seen a lot of articles over the last few weeks about who should replace AW and a number of concerns about who is available and not available…it’s nonsense.
Despite AW shortcomings as a manager over recent years Arsenal remain one of the biggest clubs in the world, with great finances, a world class stadium, training facilities and a huge fan base. All things considered Arsenal are a huge draw and history shows that the opportunity to be manager of this great club does not come around very often.
It says something about the mentality of our club (ourselves even) that we give consideration to who might be available….We’re Arsenal. When the time comes to replace AW we’ll be inundated with interest and would have the pick of >95% of managers across the globe.
Call me crazy but I still think Rijkaard is a good option!
You're crazy
Aha well played sir.
08 Apr 2014 08:34:33
Just to cheer everyone up, Rosler got his tactics spot on against city causing the upset of the season, umm another good tactition plotting against us just what we didn't need.
08 Apr 2014 08:25:25
DG on the Leighton Baines ads your getting mate, don't get paranoid mate every one isn't out to get you, its just one person.
Its just that the whole world knows who they are but won't tell you
That post has made me paranoid now G62, lol
08 Apr 2014 07:36:31
DAGS. Just read your post on the other site and replied to it mate. In all seriousness that would be a massive bit of . A bit scary though for the reason for me it would be like a make or break situation. There would be nowhere to hide if Klopp came in and nothing changed. let's see what happens. As long as you are not turning into another Malaga mate LOL. Because in that case I've heard that Guardiola is going to be joint manager with Klopp. But like Dragons Den when they have two mentors. Hold on!
Maybe I've cracked it? That's where we've been going wrong. All this time Arsenal should have gone on to Dragons Den for a bit help and support and nobody saw it. Amazing! LOL
Goldboy and Akie,
Trust me, I have it from a very reliable sauce, lol.
08 Apr 2014 07:23:50
I'm going to be a bit if an arse here. But it's ironical how a lot of the "Wenger In " people are now swaying to now become
" Maybe he should leave" people. I'd like to ask what's changing their minds now! and can you all see what a lot of people have been seeing for ages.
And your point is?
At one point we were all 'arsene in', if your telling me that in 03/04 you were calling for wenger's head then there is something wrong with you :D
I'm still for wenger to stay
Saint Arsenal. Yeah your right mate there is something wrong with me. Thanks for letting me know. I'll get checked put this week and let you know what the outcome is.
Haha greatly appreciated Golds
07 Apr 2014 21:28:29
Ok guys dust has settled on the debacle at Goodison. I was livid about the way we rolled over without putting up any semblance of a fight, It was the same away at Chelsea and at Liverpool.
The problem we have is that we don't have a single player who will stand up and be counted when someone gets even slightly physical with them so we get bullied out of games.
Wigan know they can't outplay us so I am expecting them to come with a hard but fair physical approach to the game to get under our skin, stop us playing and create the chance for them to play. If they succeed it could be a very long day at Wembley.
All in all I think this is just about what you do when you don't have the ball and how strongly you go about getting it back. Sort that and we have enough creative players to make chances.
We basically have a nice creative European style team trying to compete day to day in England. We need to toughen up big time.
This summer we need a couple of scrappers, one at the back who isn't scared to sort things out around him, a ball winning midfielder who knows how to put a good hard tackle in and a striker who would know what to do with the banjo when he saw the cows arse!
I don't claim to know who those players are but they must add a backbone of steel so the creative players can be allowed to do their stuff.
Soopergooner
08 Apr 2014 07:43:59
I don't think I've ever struggled so much to come up with a positive thought about my club.
We are in real danger of total capitulation, looking like an early season United (no offence Chris) with no cohesion, no confidence and no apparent direction.
In a few short weeks we have effectively fallen apart. I cannot believe as much as I like him how poor Giroud is. I honestly don't want to see him on the pitch, he currently contributes ZERO and every ball that bounces off him to an opposition player drives me crazy.
I thought Vermaelen played ok last week but against Everton he was tragic, he is a shadow of his former self. There is little doubt injuries have cost us but so has the incredulous lack of signings in two transfer windows.
I don't know if Ozil was knee jerk but without the quality required up front it was a waste.
We have to win the FA Cup and get fourth because anything less would be shambolic but at the same time Everton are playing the kind of football that would rightly deserve it and Wigan are not going to roll over.
Playing Ramsey at Wembley after half a game back will be a huge risk too.
How many years have we been saying this for? The fans have known for years we are missing some aggression and leadership.
I for one hope Wenger stays, spends the money on what is needed and makes one final big push.
Mayson in an ideal world that would happen mate, but I think Arsene has already decided to go and even if he hasn't can we really take a another summer of hope rather than action and real expectation
Gunner62, if he has decided which I think like you he will leave then so be it. I think he deserves a chance to finish what he started.
If he leave then let's get the right man in early give him funds and back him.