Still Not Much To Report, But Is That About To Change?
Jul 4th, 2013 by 'holic
Is it really just a year since a Dutch cap shared his view of the way things were going at Arsenal with us ‘guys’? I ask only because the mood a year on seems to be on the change. Maybe the promise of summer finally arriving has raised spirits, but social media sites are alive with rumours of an imminent signing that seemed so unlikely just months ago, with more to follow.
I don’t mind admitting that even I, with my Scrooge like attitude to transfer speculation, am really hopeful that the Gonzalo Higuain thing is happening. The sooner we get the squad strengthened, the sooner we can get the new players initiated and start to build bonds for the coming season. Higuain clearly would address an obvious area of weakness in the squad, but there are others. A side-effect of the timely signing of a player of that calibre could well be the quality of players we could attract to complete the squad rebuilding.
The noises coming out of the club have been positive for a while now, but many will be aware until they are translated into real acquisitions that an air of suspicion will remain, fairly or otherwise. The money is there, we have been told, and the desire is there, we have been told. Let’s capitalise on this optimism while it is around, Arsenal.
A few words too about Vito Mannone, who has now joined those who have been helped out of the door this summer. I wish him well at Sunderland. I was fortunate enough to be in the Putney End at Craven Cottage on the day he produced ‘that‘ performance, you know the one. Fulham were denied a point, in fact probably all three, by his shot-stopping that day. Sadly he was unable to maintain that level and the emergence of Wojciech Szczesny meant he slipped further down the pecking order.
For his sake I hope the Mackems are able to exercise the power of Vito.
I’ll get my coat.
384 Responses to “Still Not Much To Report, But Is That About To Change?”
Gulp,gulp, Ahhhhhhh……..
Evening ‘Holic,
I too have caught the summer bug. It’s amazing what a week off from work will do. I am now optimistic about our targets. Lets just hope the cards all fall in place for us to really make that statement that we want reserve our seat back among the powers in Europe.
Hammersmith End? Were you with the home fans? :s
Holic
I was in the zputney End that day and in the first half he made a save from an Andy Johnson header that compares with almost anything I have seen from an Arsenal goalie – and I have seen a few. He was loyal,appeared not to rock the boat and hopefully will do well at the SOL.
If we can ring the bell on some top quality talent the whole pre- season mood will lift. Higuain is a game- changer I hope we can clinch the deal
Ollie, oops! π
Ah, I too was at THAT game! Right behind one of the goals too. He was blinding that day and I also wish him well. As for transfers, I am finding slightly amusing how the likes of Martin Samuel and other tabloids with a sly agenda are doing their utmost to paint as bleak a picture as possible with regards big name transfers, scoffing at the Sanogo signing and predicting there will be no Higuain and plenty of pain for Gooners.
I would find the snidey negative tabloid spin hugely funny if it wasn’t for the fact it strikes a few bleeding nerves!
Up the Arse and bienvinidos Gonzo!
I think Higuain, if signed, will be the beginning of the renaissance. Fingers crossed. In fact, everything is crossed.
When (N.B. when, not if) he has arrived, others will be more enthusiastic.
And good call H. Best wishes to Vito…….a head like a Roman Emperor. Hope he finds his Cottage form (steady Wolfie) at the Mackems except on the two obvious occasions next season.
I have stayed away from the blogs for a while. I was one of those who believed in the Wenger financial prudence project, but it became difficult to stay rooted in the wake of cynicism and lack of financial understanding. So I had to stay out of the arguments. I feel better now that truth is coming to life. Higuain is real, as will be many other high profile signings, because we have done the right thing, managed the club the right way and have now built a financial base to compete with any other team, as they rack up their debts. Let’s believe, we are almost there.
Too true LB.
I will join in wishing Don Vito goodluck at the Mackems, I always thought his problems were down to not having the nerves of steel required to succeed at a big club and always dwelling on his mistakes, I expect him to put in performances that will make some ‘gooners’ wonder why we sold him.
I’ve said it before and I will say it again, this will be me if/when we announce the signing of Higuain http://25.media.tumblr.com/cf6d91bd87838dabd76063a138442e8c/tumblr_mo1z6qJug81r03eaxo1_r1_400.gif
LB
How refreshing to hear a much more positive view of things . If things come to pass as you suggest it will underline the point made by Gary Neville at the end of last season. Wenger will be portrayed as a remarkable manager able to stand firm in the face of huge opposition and cynicism. Many on this site share your views LB
Ohhhhhh, Vito ! Going to miss him (I was his biggest fan π ) And Johan too ! Such a good sport, never complained and represented the club with dignity and grace. Best of luck to them xx. Holics, share the same enthusiasm about the upcoming season and more than ever, can’t wait for it to begin. C’mon Arsenal ! π
Cheers ttg from last drinks,personally don’t girou is wc either,just a level below.think he will be even better next year thou.nice one LB hope your right.
Some amazed Italian friends and followers of di Canio in Sunderland, wrongly believing that Mannone had been borrowed rather than purchased from Arsenal, were heard to shout on his arrival at the club –
“Don Vito, cor a Loanee !”
* i’ll take my coat too *
All good ‘holic…
And bang on the money LB. Unlike Chelsea and the blue Mancs, we’ll have a sense of pride and some humility when we finally get there. And with Higuain and other, allegedly top quality signings, we will get there
Good evening sir. It is already a long summer. Hopefully the field will be stuffed full of shiny new players when I attend my first game in a long recessionary time. I’m sure you will risk a pint o’ plain on the 17th August.
With you aj, every day of the week π
I must say that I am not sorry to be waving goodbye to Vito or any of the others that have departed the club??? If I’m honest I hope that there will still be more to depart in the near future.
I guess I am also not alone in still having worries that this board can bring in the quality of players we need. The Higuain deal has been close for ages. I would love to see it concluded shortly. There is some talk that the deal will be for only 3 years. I sincerely hope that is not the case.
We need a top signing to remind others that we are still a big player and able to compete.
Don’t let me down Ivan.
Good one holic and another doff of the cap to don Vito.
Djourou is a winner, Abb. Never a complaint and many a decent performance.
Don Vito and Djourou are both decent Premiership quality players who just needed to be playing regularly to establish themselves. Neither will ever be consistently world class, though they may show occasional flashes of it. Good fortune to them both at their new clubs.
Indeed NBN,
They have both sporadically shown quality but couldn’t produce it consistently. Maybe that was a question of opportunity – I’m not quite convinced.
Certainly will join you in wishing them good luck at their new clubs.
Glad to have tortured you in the previous drinks, btw. π
I’m confident the deal with Higuain goes through. Equally so two more higher profile players (maybe not the “top” class expected) will follow, and the defensive midfield problem will be settled. With Carlos giving Szczesny & Fabianski a run for the money for 2-3 years might well be a good thing to do too.
If AW can get rid of all the deadwood, lots of weekly wages freed up should have a positive impact and basically ‘finance’ all acquisitions.
If Higuain has been so certain for so long why the hold up now? Someone must be stalling. I hope it isn’t AW jacking up over the last mil again … the way we lost Mata. Sorry, I’ll still only believe it when I see it.
Oskar
Whale meat again, Trev? Reminds me of the joke…
A male whale and a female whale were swimming off the coast of Japan when they noticed a whaling ship. The male whale recognized it as the same ship that had harpooned his father many years earlier. He said to the female whale, ‘Lets both swim under the ship and blow out of our air hole at the same time and it should cause the ship to turn over and sink.’ They tried it and sure enough, the ship turned over and quickly sank. Soon however, the whales realized the sailors had jumped overboard and were swimming to the safety of land. The male was enraged that they were going to get away and told the female, ‘Let’s swim after them and gobble them up before they reach the shore.’ At this point, he realized the female was becoming reluctant to follow him. ‘Look’, she said, ‘I went along with the blow job, but I absolutely refuse to swallow the seamen.’
Oskar
Also reminds me of a while back when I posted the same among the following ‘fishy’ songs …
Salmon Chanted Evening, The First Cod Is The Deepest, Thatβs A Moray, A Summer Plaice, Never Mind The Pollocks, Smelt Like Teen Spirit, If I Haddock Hammer, Blenny And The Jets, Mackerel The Knife, Sole Man, American Pike, Where Have All The Flounders Gone, If You Knew Sushi (Like I Know Sushi), Over The Rainbow Trout, Maxwellβs Silver Hammerhead, I Donβt Like Barramundis, Devil Skate Drive, Bits And Pisces, Dead Guppies, Whalemeat Again, I Had A Bream, Prawn In The USA, Anchovy In The UK …
Haddock enough yet?
Oskar
Arsenal’s high-profile move for Argentinian hit-man Gonzalo Higuain was in tatters last night as…….
Just preparing you for the counter headline to “Higuain flies to London” splash from yesterday. π
Arsenal Football Club – Premier League Champions 2013-2014.
You can screen grab this and test me in May.
π
Don’t tell me he flew Ryanair zico.
Heh Gars….
Steve
I believe that the “3 year deal” thing came from Sid Lowe, and that last night he was saying he has possibly misunderstood, and that the payments are simply spread over 3 years. Can’t imagine the club would accept a 3 year contract – speculation over the player’s future would begin as early as next summer.
Slightly sad to see Mannone go, but he badly needed a change of scene. I hope he does great things at the SOL, he’s certainly capable of them.
There seems to be a bit of a buzz going on this week, with multiple sources suggesting that Higuain will be the first of several imminent signings. Even some of the more typically negative high profile supporters are suddenly tapping their noses and urging optimism. Personally, I’ll believe it when I see it, but it would appear that the noises coming out of the Arsenal just now are pretty exciting.
It increasingly feels like the next few weeks are going to be amongst the most important in the club’s recent history. Here’s hoping for the right result.
Hey Snir,
I’ll join you ! π
Hey bath !
“Everything crossed ….”
Dick Law has everything double-crossed. Oh …. π
Where do “you guys”, yes, “you guys”, get all this ‘things are buzzing’ information from.
I’m not disbelieving – just don’t have the time to surf the internet for long. Please don’t tell me, though, it’s people on Twatter ?
Aha, I hear Higuain, from Spain, is surely on the plane !
Laters fellas. π
Have we hit the snag I predicted yesterday yet?
I want more puns, Trev.
It’s the weekend. Was going to try and do some work, but weirdly, once I connect to VPN I have no longer any internet/intranet access.
It worked a few days ago, but not anymore.
Annoying, but I’m not in the mood to go back to the office on a Saturday and Sunday (even if today is still called ‘Friday’, but you know what I mean)
Not yet, Ollie.
A song for the Spuds – to the “we’ve got Cesc Fabregas’ tune –
” Our Argentinian’s
Better than your simian”
I must work. Now. π
Trev @ 35
My info sources are mainly tea leaves and the voices in my head.
Somewhere after those comes Twitter.
N7. Presumably the tea leaves are PG Tips π
Ha! @ Uplympian
Morning all. Nice day for Gonzo’s tour of Norff Lundin.
Good morning all,
I shall miss the excitement of the chase today as I shall be clubbing it…
all around Wrag Barn as the North Wilts Gooners Golf day unfolds.
FORE!
Chant for the Hig once it happens
Higgy Higgy Higgy can’t you see, sometimes your goals just hipnotise me!
Have fun, ‘holic!
According to the Club’s official Twitter account Sanogo will wear the jersey number 22, that’s a first team number.
Diaby changes to number 24.
A squad number, Cent.
They’re not going to give a 20 year old who has come in from abroad a number in the 40’s.
Don’t worry – he is not going straight into the first team. π
Coquelin off on loan to SC Freiburg. Is a defensive-midfielder-type signing on the radar?
Silly season silliness.
Well, the sun’s going down so I’m going to go for a walk.
Trev, I think you may have misunderstood my post as a negative one, I’m not worried about him been the only striker we will sign, I was worried he might be chucked in the reserves, good to see that they see him as a first teamer, I expect to watch him in the COCup.
We’ve given Diaby a squad number. That’s as useful as giving boots to a fish??????
π
Been ( metaphorically ) standing outside Highbury House today and no a gonzo so far. This one really has been poorly reported. We just need Wenger’s first press conference ‘ I have no Internet in signing zhiguain’. That would really deflate a lot of the optimism we have all been feeling. What is going on?
Sorry I meant interest not Internet but then I’m not sure what I mean!
What do you all think would be happening regarding some of the promising youngsters?
My guess is Gnabry and Eisfield out on loans.
Iggy as the fourth choice defender, with runs in League Cup.
Bellerin continuing in reserves with opportunities in League Cup. Same for Akpom.
Aneke, Afobe continuing loan. With YaYa in, Afobe may be sold as well. Injuries derailed his development. Same with Frimmers, who may be sold as well.
Ryo is an interesting one. I personally would like to see him involved and fight for first team squad, but if we are doing deals with Everton I won’t be surprised to see him out on loan as a part of that deal. Martinez ran out of accolades last season speaking about Ryo (same as Own Coyle for his time in Bolton, same with the Feynoord management team) … Aresne himself said he has rarely seen anyone with that kind of positive attitude and commitment. The raw abilities and pace were always there.
Also, about Coq leaving on a loan, we have either one or two close-to-complete DM signings ready and/or we will see Aaron more in the role Arteta played last season, sharing the deepest lying midfield role with him. Cannot expect Arteta to go as injury free as he was last season.
Arsene may also be thinking of easing Aneke in, who actually had a pretty decent season with Crewe last year on loan. But I suspect a loan out to a PL team is more likely for him, with hopefully Fellaini joining in.
Interesting thoughts and I agree in many points. As for Ryo, he has been my favourite youngster we have for some time by now and personally, if Gervais was to go, I would love to see him fighting for his place in first team instead of him.
Dr F. Your point about the youngsters is interesting. The way football goes if one of them makes it as a first team regular I will be both surprised and impressed. Re Ryo, what did Martinez say about him? I would be interested to hear his views considering he only played 4 games last season.
I used to be a big fan of project youth. For some reason it just does not inspire me in the same way anymore.
Steve @ 59: I was looking for that BBC report, but couldn’t find it, about Martinez hoping to still have Ryo when he comes back from injury next season. At that time Martinez was very much with Wigan and with no talks of movement, and he said something along the lines of Ryo being a player of highly promising abilities and great attitude and he would love to have him back at Wigan.
With all due respect, I think we will always need to have some players coming up the ranks and growing. You already have Jack, Woz and Gibbo. But Ryo is different from this list: he is similar to Theo or Ox in terms of the age at which and the abilities with which he has joined (IMHO he is better than what Theo was when he joined). He hasn’t really spent almost any time in Arsenal, three seasons out on loan. Played regularly, I think he would be a success. We will see. :–)
Steve, here goes the same quotes but from a tabloid, sorry about polluting the discussion a smidgeon …
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2294302/Roberto-Martinez-keen-Ryo-Miyaichi-Wigan-Athletic-loan-Arsenal-season.html
Doc F. I agree we need a decent youth team although how many actually make it is another matter. I will now to your obvious greater knowledge of Ryo’s abilities. The only real clips I have seen of him have been on you tube. I will be surprised if I see much more.
Thanks for the link. An interesting read. I guess he will want him at Everton then?????????
As I said earlier, I will be very surprised to see him make it with us. I sincerely hope I am wrong.
Dr. F
I think you were pretty on the money with your ideas Re the youngsters. There is a lot of movement of players out- sadly mostly on loan which is freeing up a lot of places in the squad. One hopes there is a plan here ( there wasn’t much of one two years ago when the squad was threadbare)
I think the use of youngsters will be one of a number of questions .
This depends on things like the rules about home- grown players, whether we want to retain Vermaelen and Sagna ( and they want to stay), whether we have got really bold plans to improve the squad( really not convinced yet, ) whether we want a squad goalie or a number one to compete or step in ahead of Woj and if we are willing to gamble before CL qualifying or wait to see if we get through.
I don’t see much of the reserves but I understand from friends who do that the real talents are Gnabry, Akpom and Bellerin, who seems to be very highly thought of. . Eisfeld apparently started well but was not as effective in the second half of the season.
The prodigy is apparently Zelalem who has hardly played but is rated as potentially as good as Wilshere.
We also have Joel Campbell who may get a work permit and could get a place if he does well on the Asia tour but is more likely to go on loan to someone like Palace.
The loan of Coquelin and demotion of Diaby suggest that we will bring in at least one defensive midfielder . Fellaini is my man.
That’s not much help on answering your question but its as clear as mud at the moment!
That midfield looks thin in numbers, TTG. Hope you are right that there is incoming to fill out the ranks.
Also interesting that the Ox is listed on the official site as a forward but Ryo as a midfielder, especially given everything AW has said about centre mid being where the Ox will finally settle.
Good to see Arsenal offering Ramsey as a makeweight for the Fellaini deal, not before time i say.
That appeared on the Sports Direct website rendering it completely without foundation. Anyone who knows anything about football would recognise the great performances by Ramsey at the end of the season The boy is a fine player and has shown great character
Diaby has been demoted? When did that happen?
Fellaini as a DM, do you want him to be neutered like Arteta. Fellaini would be more potent further forward
Ollie’s prediction from yesterday has come to pass. Gutter press reporting now that Higuain signing has indeed hit an obstacle. Real reported to have demanded more money and Gonzo has NOT actually flown to London.
Entirely predictable news manipulation. It’s practically pornographic.
Bath. Is it wrong to ask why these problems were not sorted ages ago or am I expecting too much????
Sky reporting that Higuain is now in Madrid and a deal is not close.
Steve……presumably it can only mean they are still haggling with Real over the transfer fee. Time for the club to get real ;-). Meanwhile what about out other targets…the world is still moving on!
Not wrong at all Steve. I think it’s more difficult to sign a player of Higuain’s quality from a team like Real. He clearly pissed the President off with his statement that he wanted to leave. They haven’t signed a replacement. They probably don’t want him to go unless they get silly money which is clearly not our style. The dance round the maypole continues and there is no guarantee of consummation when it ends.
Why the fuck are we haggling? If that’s the case then it’s pathetic. Send people over that actually know what they are doing and sort it. I’ve said it several times now, I really have very little faith in those entrusted to negotiate transfers at our club.
Bath. Two weeks ago a deal was close. Two days ago he was given permission to negotiate. If you believe his dad and agent that is. I guess we will never know exactly what goes on behind closed doors but I would be fibbing if I said I was impressed.
Evening all,
I’m trying to take comfort in the assumption that if we are going to make big signings, they will be wanted on the Asia tour to sell as many shirts as possible.
That should mean that the agony of waiting and wondering will be over long before the season starts.
Higuain’s father and agent – one and the same – have been quoted in the press saying that Real Madrid have given them permission to negotiate directly with Arsenal, and he is lucky that he will see his son playing in the Premier League.
You would imagine then, that the two clubs have agreed a fee and only the personal terms remain to be sorted out.
Bizarrely, Higuain Snr. then says that negotiations are very advanced but they haven’t discussed a contract yet !! At which point, one might reasonably ask what the bloody hell are they talking about then ?
In the spirit of those rather delicious M&S food adverts of a year or so ago, remember – this is not just a transfer, this is an Arsenal transfer.
The story appears to be that we haven’t formally made a bid. If that’s the case why on earth not and how could we speak to Higuain’s representatives? Sadly this story has been misreported at every turn. It is not helped by websites recycling old news,some guessing without foundation and lots of political utterances by Marca and AS who are effectively mouthpieces of Real.
We appeared to have a clear foe
D to sign one of the best strikers in the world at a very reasonable fee. This may not be the case but it is the story consistently given to us by those apparently ITK. As far as Arsenal s concerned I’m not sure anyone is in the know. It would be very frustrating if we are still being penny pinching when the financial shackles are supposedly enabling us to compete higher up the food chain. And as Trevor rightly keeps reminding us,Gazidis promised a big announcement in 48 hours to a meeting of the AsT – nearly three weeks ago. It is little wonder the natives are restless
Arsenal and transfer windows, particularly this one, where Gazidis has announced that we have half a gazillion quid to spend, also put me in mind of the Lucas / Walliams Come Fly With Me series, and the West Indian lady who runs the airport coffee stall.
“We got the stadium,
We got the fans,
We got the shortcomings in the squad,
We got the targets,
We got the money,
But we got nooooooo f*cking idea how to spend it”
That will irritate some no doubt, but the last few years of transfer windows have done my head in.
Please Arsenal, just once – just do it.
Ttg, the promise was FOUR weeks ago.
You know, around season ticket renewal deadline time. π
For what its worth – I’m staying calm and patient.
I really believe there are big things happening and for the first time in 8 years we really are going to cut loose..!
Here’s hoping, gentlemen. Here’s hoping.
Good on you, Joe.
I’m trying to, too. I’m just fed up with hearing how we know what we want to do, we are going to do it all early in the window, there is money available, we want to add super quality yabbidy yabbidy yah …..
Previously, such outpourings were clearly served with a large pinch of salt. This time I actually believed it.
If we are not going to waste next season with another ruinous start, our “exciting” new additions will need time to settle together. The Arsenal Menswear Department have already seen to it that far too much of pre-sason is spent in the air, flying half way round the world and back.
“Oh, but that is vital”, say the marketing men.
Well, bollocks, says I.
Just get the team together and win something. That will sell more shirts than any time wasting, energy sapping tour.
It seems that all I ever see of any other teams’ attempts to sign a player, is when the signing is announced. You know – “the Arsenal way”.
Our top secret deals seem inevitably to descend into a media circus of misinformation, delays and denials.
I used to think we were just indecisive.
Now I’m not so sure
The Higuain deal was never in the offing as will be explained in two weeks time when Wenger will say: “This was all media speculation we did not talk to Madrid or the player.” Wenger added “We have a strong squad with great spirit who will surprise quite a few people this season.”
My big fear is that we have a champs lge qualifier to play. Do you remember waiting until the last minute??? I sincerely hope that won’t be the case this time.
If we manage to fuck up the Higuain deal I think that board tolerance levels may well just expire.
Evening Bath,
Tonight its Dalmore 15 accompanied by the Stones at Glastonbury!
Re: Steve T. There is only one solution for this concern. The only problem is I don’t know whether it is blind faith or defiant rage.
Evening Trev,
While I havn’t posted in a while – I’ve been dropping in daily to pick up the news and enjoy the occasional chuckle that always seems to come from your entertaining contributions…!
I think Bath and Ttg make very pertinent points – and was re-iterated earlier by “7am kickoff”: there’s a big big difference from signing the Gervinho’s of this world from clubs like Lille against signing a proven goalscorer from RM…!
I genuinely think Higuain is not the only top class player that will arrive during the summer.
And I take your point about the promises that have been made – but I honestly don’t think they’d say such things without following through. They know the angst out there with fans. And I find it hard to believe that Wenger would make such sacrifices over the past years to put us in this position without now taking advantage of it. He really is at a pivotal point in his career at the club now.
Of course I can’t justify anything – I just feel next year will be a breakthrough! I hope you’ll be there, as usual, and that you’ll get to see it first hand with your girls!
Stop using financial constraints as an excuse for lack of success, it’s rank bad Management that’s what it is.
There is an 85% correlation between wage bill and points total for the 2012/2013 premier league season.
What Higuain deal? All I’ve seen is media speculation without a word of confirmation, not even a hint, from Arsenal management. If Higuain’s name has been seeded into the rumour mill I’m inclined to believe it’s because AW’s real target is still Jovetic, about whom it’s gone very quiet recently.
Oskar
..and also, hopefully, Capoue or Fellaini.
Oskar
Oskar, Juve are reportedly interested in Jovetic, and he seems to want to stay in Italy. Just read that we are very close to signing Higuain for 23 million. I’m with Joe on this one. However, like Steve, not looking forward to us having to qualify for Champs League, no doubt will do just fine, but it’s added pressure for us, so early on. Such is life, in the not so fast lane π
abb … I’m at that stage when betting against what I want to happen seems the best way of making it happen. π
Oskar
Abb. And therefore even more important to get the signings in early for that very reason???
Oskar if it is Jovetic then why have we done nothing about that??? Or seemingly nothing about that???
iBath earlier (I won’t quote numbers, cos there might be a cull): you can call me ITK now π
Seriously though, it was so predictable I’m laughing about it.
I don’t know how some of you people muster the energy to get angry about this sort of things.
We don’t know anything, they don’t know anything. The media are all cunts, in the words of Charlie George himself.
May 2008. Going to the Euros with the club cheque book. Signings imminent.
4th April 2009. Arsenal v Man City. AW prog notes. We have identified the areas of weakness. Enquiries are already in hand and we are already speaking to targets.
Oskar, Joe, you might well be right, but you can understand those of us who very much see this as same old same old same old….. Especially when it comes to season ticket renewal time???
Frankly the season ticket renewal time is bollocks. It’s the press who does the rumours all year. Anyway, I’m off for a bit. Don’t rush into assisting/goalscoring positions, it might all change: just avoid posting 2 consecutive drinks π
Morning All,
Just a quick one from me before I’m off to watch the Lions and get thoroughly rat-arsed with the Swedish one.
As regards our transfer activity, I had a drink with the son of a Board member last Sunday. Let’s just say I am very relaxed about what will transpire this Summer.
Patience, fine folks, patience.
Assist?
Wow, mass knickers in twist shock.
Bring on The Ashes.
Have a great day Vikings and pretend Vikings. π
Eh tabs u big tease what did he say?you can’t say that and then bugger off to the pub!
Say hello to Lars from me, tabs!
Vikings Zico????? I hope you have polished your helmet???
Garguns….you can normally read Tabs exclusives in the Daily Fail..under a pseudonym of course. Probably “Fail sources say” etc. π
Also waiting for the massive Lions game shortly….I think neither team will be taking any prisoners! Trust Tabs will keep Lars fully up to speed of the rugby rules.
heh
Kids football commitments. Norsk beer drinking to follow. You can update me later Tabs….
Cheers ups π hope he doesn’t do the super imposing of players as that picture they mocked up of Higuian is freaky looking π
No likely Garsguns, Tabs is better known as a piss artist π
Tabs@99 – that is most reassuring mate. Very reassuring indeed. I will stop sacrificing goats to Wotan.
Fantastic win by the Lions over the Aussies. My local is a rugby pub and it going to get very messy as the drinks continue to flow. No doubt a large volume of alcoholic beverages is also being consumed in Tabs juicer of choice along with Lars….it’ll be a case of Lars on a Bender π
Zico @ 100
“Knickers in a twist shock” – have we signed Chubby Checker?
I’m with Oskar here – has anyone at the club actually stated any interest in said Argentinian striker?
Blame the Press, Blame the Board, Blame the Blah Blah Blah. This bar is starting to lose it’s point of difference.
Bobby Gould – now there was a whole-hearted striker. Always in at the near post. Viva Bobby Gould!
UTA.
Happy Birthday Lars,
Sorry I couldn’t join you – you know the reason why – but you’ll save an absolute fortune by me not claiming my pint.
In the meantime, all the best to everyone on the one true Lars Bender. π
Tabs,
thanks for your reassuring post about our transfer activity. I will now relax safe in the certain knowledge that it’s all under control.
But, hang on, was the son you spoke of the son of Alisher Usmanov (claiming to be a board member), or was it Darren Dein, son of an ex-board member.
Or, indeed, was this information reliable after 16 pints of Guinness – you never have one drink !!!
And, I watched the YouTube video og Higuain last night, and he is BRRIIILLLIIAANNTTT !!! If we don’t get him now, the club will explode and life as we know it will end.
Shit, now I’m more worried than ever. So many negative possibilities I’d never even considered before.
Thanks Pal ! I’m off for a lie down. π
Yellow card Trev. How did you do that?
ah back on?
And Sanogo not only started but scored.
Trev…you’ve gone from halves to doubles π
Don’t panic yet re transfers, trust Tabs, he is Daily Fail hack. Oh, that’s just made it worse.
I think Trev posted on my behalf too (well the first few lines anyway:) ), so that’s OK π
Specially for you Trev (with apologies to Ollie for the Wham tune)
Don’t worry if Gonzos a no go
Cause we’ve got Yaya Sanogo
I’d take my coat on the way out but its too hot to have brought it with me.
Sanogo looks a big strong boy, direct runner with an eye for goal and awareness of those around him. Might prove a good signing.
Birthday drinks are in order for Wind too, it seems.
Wind and Lars, Cheers ! Some of the best peeps are Crabs π
Many happy ones Lars and Wind.
Just off to an anniversary do, will raise a glass to you both there.
I am also a crab. π
*shuttles sideways towards the Shiraz*
Wind’s birthday ? Have a good one !
Bath,
I don’t know – the site failed to respond for ages, and then did it twice.
All a mystery to me.
Crabs ? No thanks …… π
Still a yellow card mate. Unless you want to appeal. But Ollie is on the panel and may turn it red.
Trev @124
I believe there are worse consequences of an unfortunate peccadillo.
Unintentional bath, no malice.
I’m not that kind of poster.
Anyone says I am, gets it in the nuts. π
Peccadillo, bath ?
Sounds like an armadillo on the pecker.
Now that would be serious. π
I was much reassured by Tabs post@99.
Not only am I not sacrificing goats to Wotan I am as chilled as it is possible to be in sub-tropical Kent.
I will just off a small lamb to Thor just to be on the safe side though.
TTG. Pretty chilled myself now mate after a bottle of Shiraz. Couldn’t catch the goat now. Crabs still a possibility. π
Happy birthday Lars! I’m sure you’re having/had a good one.
Ibath
Crabs are still too fast for me but I can outpace Bendtner on a good day
Heh
I had a good birthday π
glad to hear it, young wind. long may your celebration last!
same to lars, have a grand day out.
So it’s not Wayne then tabs? π
Thing is, Steve T, I see nothing BUT ‘same old same old’ so far. Heaps of speculation but just one signing of un autre garΓ§on on a free.
Fingers firmly crossed for Higuain and Fellaini … and if anything is a blind it has to be the nonsensical talk of Suarez/Rooney. Please?
Oskar
I see that Arseblog has initiated a steaming hot rumour that Jenkinson might take Diaby’s number 2 now that Diaby has changed to number 24. He did not mention, however, that 24 is divisible by 2. That is the end of the hot stuff for all you aspiring young numerologists. π
Even more to the point, neither did he mention that 25, Jenks’ current number, is just as indivisible by 2.
Did I spot a CoR on twitter? π
Wind + Lars. Belated birthday wishes to you both – plus you seem to be blessed with the most glorious weather imaginable!
8ball @138,
Oh yes it is – it’s 12.5 π
8ball, that should probably have read “oh, no it’s not – it’s 12.5” π
Has the football started yet ?
There’s football?
Happy hangover wind and lars π we are having a fierce clear out at the mo are we entering a 7 a side next year or something?
You can’t tell from the posts, bath ? π
No footie news π but Ollie has posted some nice pics on twitter ;). And our very own Cor is quite the artist (twitter) π
I probably posted them too early in the day for people to see them. Feel free to retweet π
Thank you everyone who wished me a Happy Birthday here on the drinks & elsewhere, I really appreciate it you guys π
I was at Wimbledon for the day yesterday, thanks to a great friend of mine getting lucky in the Public Ballot, was present to witness the Ladies’ Singles Final, The Men’s Doubles Final & the Ladies’ Doubles Final on Centre Court, as well as Mansour Bahrami & Henri LeConte vs Peter McNamara & Paul McNamee playing an Invitational Doubles Match on Court No.3, 4 Legends of the Game, hilarious stuff especially as Mansour is the greatest Entertainer Tennis has ever seen in my opinion π
I was gutted to see Sabine Lisicki lose the Ladies’ Singles Final to Marion Bartoli because she’s my favourite female Tennis Player, seeing her lose it the way she did was heart-breaking almost but she’s a lovely girl & she’s a fighter, no doubt that she’ll come back stronger for next year’s Wimbledon, maybe even earlier than that π You couldn’t even be angry or resent Bartoli because of how gracious she was in her victory speech, a deserved winner indeed.
The 2nd match on Centre Court was the Men’s Doubles Final, and seeing the Bryan Brothers Bob & Mike Bryan win the Men’s Doubles Title at Wimbledon to complete a Golden Grand Slam, holding all 4 Grand Slam Titles in addition to the Olympic Gold Medal at the Same Time was quite amazing, the sheer brilliance of the achievement only hits me truly as I type this up now the day after.
It was also a pleasure to witness Hsieh Su-Wei and Shuai Peng win the Ladies’ Doubles Title also on the 3rd Match on Centre Court, beating Ashleigh Barty and Casey Dellacqua, in all honest I didn’t know any of these players before the match but their tennis enraptured me and the crowd, with the winners truly playing as a ‘Team’ on the court, I couldn’t do how they played justice to describe how they played.
Seeing Andy Murray play would’ve capped of the day for me, me and my friend headed to Court No.15 as we saw on the Wimbledon Twitter Account that he was going to be there, a shame that they didn’t allude to Practice Court No.15 but a wheelchair player hit a Tennis Ball in my direction, fumbled off my friend’s hand, then a stranger to rest underneath my seat. A lovely memento of the day, more so than anything I bought on the day π
Now its time to watch the Men’s Singles Final, hoping that Andy Murray can win the title for himself and for Britain, Come On Andy! π
Right so, that’s the second-most boring statistic in UK sport disposed of. Here’s to writing off the most boring statistic this coming season.
Yay! The boy has done it! Good call Oxon.
Well done Andy Murray, Wimbledon 2013 Men’s Singles Champion. π Congrats to the British & the Scottish upon us in the Drinks also π
A pack of Evian (6x1l) 37.5 QAR
Full tank of petrol (about 40l) 36 QAR.
Wow! (that’s less than β¬8, and just above Β£6.50)
Thanks a lot for the birthday wishes, but it wasn’t acctually my birthday – it was just a few 40th drinks a couple of weeks early π
Congratulations to Andy Murray who has become more than the great British hope. For our British friends may it not be another 77 year wait until the next champion breaks through.
Happy early birthday then, Lars. And happy late birthday to Wind. If only I could get my timing right. π
The article says they are phasing out champagne. Time to go for something a little stronger??
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23159023
Evening all. Apologies for not posting today. Too hot to stay indoors. Went out for dinner and a pint. Now supping ale in the garden (sorry Ollie) π
There’s enough posts for an off-season, ‘holic.
And heh, apologies accepted, shall I blame the neighbours? π
Wind, nice post @148.
Time to check out the pictures Ollie posted on Twitter.
Somebody, please give me COR’s Twitter handle, thanks.
Neighbours away, so keeping it sensible.
*NEWSFLASH*
No bad influence around ‘holic.
WOW! π
Hehe π
Holic needs a bad influence ??? π
Happy birthdays to the anniversaristas.
‘Holic@157: glad to see you have got your priorities right. Keeping it all in perspective is the hallmark of this bar.
It’s been a Higuain free day on here- or it was……..!
Well done Andy! That’s a hell of an achievement. Now for the Ashes!
Telegraph claiming we offered Β£30m for Suarez last week. Formal bid.
What a strange old summer this is turning out to be.
It’s certainly a mouth-watering prospect, TTG:
o Lions win series
o Brit wins Wimbledon
o England win Ashes
It would almost be enough to make me feel sorry for Australians.
The next thing will be Real saying they have yet to have any contact with us! seriously, I have it on good authority that he will be signing sometime this month, unless they receive the higher offer they are angling for. Also good luck to Don Vito.
Well done, Andy!
Howdy, ‘Holics. Here we go Higuain. [sorry]
BMBD
Oxon- nothing could do that!
Biscuitbum -that’s exactly what one of Spanish papers have said. They have had no formal contact from us. We have dealt with them before– Reyes/ Baptista and Suker to us. And of course Anelka. But presidential elections are upcoming in Madrid and Perez has to look a tough guy. It really is a peculiar situation we find ourselves in. A lot of very well- connected people are very excited but aid love to see something happen sooner rather than later.
Murray is first Scot to win Wimbledon since 1896. That is a trophy drought.
Funny that we are being ‘ linked’ with two players who a lot of Gooners would struggle to accept on past history- Rooney and Suarez. The bookies obviously picked up something last week but Suarez coming to us is extremely unlikely for all sorts of reason.
The Suarez bid has to be a tactic. My guess is it was made to hurry Real into signing him so they will release Higuain.
Meanwhile the neighbours have signed a good Brazilian and according to the rumour mill may also be adding Villa. With Bale looking more and more likely to stay another season this is NOT good news.
Oskar
Oskar, hopefully in a few hours we will have some good news of our own.
Right to be concerned, Otd. The neighbours are starting to look like an AVB team rather than Harry’s Hoofers.
Yes, I am on twitter! I joined so I could post stuff for that Arsenal Manga competition thingee, will use it to display other artwork and troll footy fans. My handle is “jetlifari” is anyone’s interested in following the best artist in the world!
In other news, I think I will take another break from reading transfer rumours. It’s pretty ridiculous now…
Thanks bt8b @ 155 and NBN @ 164 π
Garsguns @ 144, hangover? I wish! The ‘hardest’ stuff I had at Wimbledon was Pimm’s mate π The little cup of Savanna Premium Cider that I was offered on the walk up to the Grounds was indeed delicious though 8)
Thanks Cent @ 159 π
CoR, I’ve followed you and seen the ones you posted, very good job you’re doing, looking forward to more!
Thanks Cent! Will continue working on my stuff and crank them out into the Twitterverse as soon as possible
Not sure I follow the logic that we’ve bid on Suarez to pressure Madrid.
The offer was turned down, so our position re: Higuain is not improved, and if anything it simply demonstrates that we are willing to spend more on a striker.
If, as is still being rumoured, we are genuinely in for Rooney then I wonder if this isn’t more connected to that deal. Similar players, probably similar prices, similar profiles, etc. It almost feels like a bid designed to demonstrate the seriousness of the project.
Either way, it all adds to the sense that something a little different is happening around the club this summer. Clearly, the requisite “super super quality” players are available.
Now I’ve said all that, watch us end up with Gareth Barry and Jermain Defoe.
Or Stewart Downing and Adel Taraabt.
“Feet-toe knees a leg-up into regular first team football”
Have a good week ‘Holic & ‘Holics.
Sorry, but it’s too hot for a coat or a hat.
You may well be correct N7 – this may simply be a demonstration of newly re-established transfer market muscle. Like Nelson sailing the fleet into Copenhagen harbour.
However I think we are more likely to sign Hannibal Lector than Luis Suarez.
I should not have got that excited about Higuain deal, that guy would been perfect signing for us since from what I have seen of him, he is simply brilliant. Now I am more nervous than roes in summer about whole thing and really want it to happen. *yet another victim of silly season madness*
Nelson? He was arm-less enough, I suppose.
Hannibal Lecter? He would certainly add some bite to our mid-field. I wouldn’t want to be sat next to him in the canteen though.
Why do so many automatically assume the leak about the Suarez bid have come from Arsenal? Isn’t it far more likely that it’s been invented and leaked by Liverpool to get the bids for him going? I don’t agree at all that Β£30m would be too cheap for Suarez, in fact I think Liverpool would bite the hand off anyone ready to pay that kind of money for a player they want to get rid off. I maintain that he doesn’t make them a better team, his individual play is good but he’s quite a shit team player most of the time and all the diving and biting and stuff drags the whole club in the dirt.
Lars @ 186.
That sounds about right to me. They would appear to be the party with most to gain here: he surely can’t stay where he is.
Loving the weather but the price we pay is high.
I want to air out my pits but I have sweat patches the size of dinner plates and don’t want to show them to my class.
Have we signed anyone yet?
N7 –
I agree with your contention that Wenger has not bid on Suarez to put pressure on Madrid. But I don’t think it has anything to do with Rooney. I think Wenger would be above playing games like that and he just feels that Suarez is a good enough player that would add to the team. I wouldn’t be one bit surprised if the Higuain deal is done and dusted and they’re just waiting to announce it at an appropriate time.
Unlike Lars, I do think 30m is below the price level for Suarez and feel that the club probably offered that as a lump sum upfront payment to make it more attractive. If my memory doesn’t fail me, but didn’t Liverpool rejected an 18m approach from us for Alonso and then sold him onto Madrid for 27m if memory serves? Someone like Suarez will easily command a fee north of 40m in my estimation. And I know Im probably in the minority but I feel he’d be a great signing.
Don’t get me wrong I neither like Rooney nor Suarez very much. I wouldn’t particularly identify with the culinary habits of Luis or the sexual preferences of Wazza and I can appreciate that many would not regard them as being in the appropriate class to be at the club. But I’m still buoyed that we’re being linked to those players, because like them or not, they’re both very fine footballers and they bring an element of “bite’ to the team that I feel we need (if you excuse the pun). Whatever about Rooney, I think Suarez will eventually go to Madrid mainly because ‘Pool won’t want to see him stay in the PL if they’ve any choice in the matter.
I don’t think Arsene still does our negotiation, Ivan has said this in so many of his recent interviews but so many people seem to NOT have noticed it or did actually notice it but choose to not believe it.
Judging Suarez’ value soberly and with great equanimity, Joe, I would have to take a bite out of your estimated 40 million transfer fee. π
Season Ticket offer has come back again.
Just for Steve T: do I wait until Higuain signs to even just consider? π
I don’t think we’ve bid for Suarez at all. Usual journo bollocks.
The monks at Castle Ned compute Suarez’s fair market value to be Β£36 million, a nibble or two either way.
Ollie. Only if you don’t want one!!!!
Ask them who we are signing and then decide.
π
Cross field pass into the path of…
Mario Gomez reportedly transferred from Bayern to Fiorentina for 16 mil EUR. If the fee is correct than its very good business done by Fiorentina in my opinion, since I rate Gomez quite high personally, really good finisher.
That move is also kinda interesting that it would mean they are already buying replacement for Jovetic..question is ..where is he going to end:P
*Assists…
*nods in*?
Well in Eandy!
Was easy to tap that brilliant pass in Cent π
Eandy @ 198
A really good finisher who sadly went AWOL during the 2012 Champs League final.
I’ll never forgive him for that.
Just looking at some of the hysteria online re: our failure (thus far) to close deals and starting to wonder what it’s going to get like if the club have decided they fancy another 31 August trolley dash…
not Arsenal related but quite an eyeopener
http://m.guardian.co.uk/sport/shortcuts/2013/jul/08/virginia-wade-wimbledon-champion-tennis
David Villa reportedly off to Athletico Madrid for β¬5.1m.
That’s one off the list. And where was that price in January?!
Striker of his calibre for 5.1m? Thats a freaking steal :S
Yup. It’s being reported on Sky as a done deal too.
Sad to see the LWCs miss out. Tremendous shame.
Legs gone Eandy. Used up 9.9m of em after Jan window closed.
At least the remaining fibres are not plying their trade for LWCs.
Imb@204: as Fred Perry became an American do his men’s titles even count as British any more?
Villa transfer from Vallencia probably fully depreciated in Barca’s books by now, and likely tying up a tidy salary. With Neymar’s arrival not much playing time in view so Barca probably more than happy to ship him and his dodgy legs out. Good business on both sides.
What with this one
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23224017
and the earlier signing of the naked pate of Jonjo Shelvey I would certainly say that Swansea’s signings are getting pretty close to the bone.
NBN. Wasn’t America still part of the British empire back then? π
Bony is in it for the money bt8b to provide for his family back in Africa , as he stated many times when playing for Sparta Prague here, I have seen quite a fair share of him and he went from “meh, useless” to first name on team sheet in year and half basically before he was sold for rather fat sum (for czech league) to Arnhem.
Not exactly world class, but good signing for team like Swansea and I think he will adapt well. He is strong on the ball and good finisher. Kinda Drogba-esque kind of footballer.
I have seen some article somewhere else, showing that with strikers from Eredivise its usually a huge gamble but somehow I have a feeling that Bony will become success..not top top success but not flop either. Strikes me as a guy who he is really willing to work hard and improve.
Bt8b, only the Canadian parts, I believe.
Our head of marketing has just confirmed that the new kit launch tomorrow at 3.30 will be kicked off with an “very audacious stunt” which has required “months of planning”.
Either they’re unveiling a new signing or this is going to mark an all time low in the turbulent recent history of Arsenal’s management of fan expectations!
NBN@ 209
considering Fred Perry was a British citizen when he won those, i do think they count. But you are right, fine margins those.
Thinking about it, suspect it’ll be the DB statue unveiling.
Still – a man can dream.
Yay, N7,
It must be the long awaited “very exciting news” !!!!
With N7 on DBs statue unveiling, highly likely to happen in my opinion. Dont think club would publicly announce new signing like this.
A statue unveiling is not an audacious stunt in itself. Think there’ll be something, even if it’s something in the way they do it.
Signings are not an ‘audacious stunt’ either.
Denise Nicholas rocks.
Maybe Higuain will parachute down out of a helicopter while Fellaini juggles flaming Afro wigs?
Or perhaps the Bergkamp statue has a motorised arm and extendable middle digit aimed up the Seven Sisters Road?
Most important Arsenal news of the day – not!
I am about to be disconnected to allow a decorator to start preparing the studio/office/editorial conference facility/spare room for redecoration.
This of course is where all of the broadband connectivity and high tech publishing equipment (also known as Eduardo!) is located. That is having to be shunted into a corner…
I will try and post something from work tomorrow lunchtime. I had an invite to the kit launch which I have had to decline because of the tradesman’s lousy timing.
I will have to discover the nature of the ‘audacious stunt’ by 3G rather than in person.
Bumswizzle!
Please accept my apologies for greatly reduced interaction this week. I will try and deal with mails and dm’s on 3G and lunchtimes at work.
Grrrr.
Eduardo, heh. 5-1!
Enjoy the peace of (temporary) disconnection, ‘holic!
Bollocks to O2. iPad sim disconnected without telling me.
Can’t buy data either.
What shit service.
The audacious stunt might be Bendtner wearing his pants outside the new kit sponsor’s shorts. π
Sky text is reporting Perez as saying that Real Madrid have had no bid from Arsenal for Higuain, and they don’t want him to leave.
That is one hell of a lot of smoke if there is no fire at all. And where did all the ‘father and agent’ quotes come from claiming Madrid had given them permission to negotiate directly with Arsenal.
Spanish, ‘holic, they’re in crisis!
‘holic, sorry for your disconnection. but with epithets like “bumswizzle”, no wonder wolfie likes hanging out here.
trev, i saw that, and have read others’ saying perez is just seeking reelection (so wouldn’t want it to be known higgy was on his piggy to leave).
me, i think they’ve been given permission, but arsenal’s waiting on fiorentina and jovetic before making an offer for higgy. especially based on eandy’s 198 above. i don’t know if it’s an either/both wait, as i actually know nothing (i’m a NITK).
poor snir. he’ll be livid villa went for so little to atletico.
as for audacious, i think it’ll be arsene diving into a 12″ pool of water wearing the new kit. from height.
I actually feel really sorry for the bloke organising this thing tomorrow.
Months of work to pull something together and try to excite us all about the new away kit + here we are with less than 24 hours to go and people on Twitter are suggesting he’s going to unveil Fabregas and Rooney.
The poor fucker hasn’t got a hope.
scruz, Perez has already been reelected a month or two ago.
If you think BarΓ§a election are bad, at least they are fairly democratical. Real Madrid’s are now a joke. There was no opposition.
In fact, Perez himself, last time he got elected, introduced a rule that basically amounts to excluding any other candidate….
I found a link to the new ‘rules’ http://blogs.bettor.com/Real-Madrid-tighten-regulations-for-presidential-elections-a191646
but essentially, as I read here and there around the time of these new ‘elections’, it amounted to him being the only eligible candidate in the world…
And Snir will be far less livid than if Villa had gone to the Spu*s!
Audacious: according to Dictionary.com:
“recklessly brave, fearless, without restriction to prior thoughts”
N7,
If that is how you advertise yourself you are asking for a little bit the trouble. π
N7- Fabregas,Rooney,Fellaini,Messi and Andy Murray. It will be the most cunning stunt of its type ever devised.
I think we all know that it will be some sort of new sponsorship announcement or( and this is serious…..) Wenger’s new contract.
Arsenal don’t do player signings like that,more’s the pity.
Doesn’t Twitter recycle a lot of bollocks?
Howdy folks.
Been busy the last few days, there was also some sunshine that needed someone to sit in, being the kind of chap I am, I ofcourse voluntered.
I have been keeping up with the goings ons, or lack of, via my new phone (Galaxy S4, very nice) here in the bar, some good stuff from the usual suspects with a special shout out to Trev for some absolute crackers. Belated birthday wishes to young Wind and Happy not Birthday to Lars.
As always, I’m not getting flustered by all the supposed transfer gossip, it’s all rubbish and no good can come of getting wound up by it. However I must say that it seems that this years Silly Season has been revved up quite a few notches into the region of Down Right Ridiculous Season. The Higuain Saga is turning into a bit of a Soap Opera with siblings and relatives popping in with their two pence worth lulling us into a state of false security telling us that all is bueno, while the villian of the piece Senor Rosie Perez is telling us that no contact has been made, not even a slight touch…..
Confused? You will be!!!
Now, I’ve also taken all the Rooney stories with the Siberean summat of salt they so richly deserve, but now we have supposedly (I repeat supposedly</bold) have put in a sustaintial bid for the racist canibal chipmonk hybride??????
WTF???
In which universe does it make sense that we offer that kind of money for that walking PR nightmare?
Even more confusing the (so called) fact that Liverpool turned it down, they should of bit our hand off Luis styleeey.
I would really like to see someone from the club coming out and clarifying if there was indeed a bid or not and if so, why?
I've made no secret of how I feel about him and that was even before he came to the U.K. I would have a very hard time getting behind him even if he was in an Arsenal shirt.
Damn you Silly Season, look what you've done now.
Thanks H2H @ 235 π
Considering getting that Samsung Galaxy S4 for myself… 8)
thanks, ollie. i wondered about that one.
and you’re right about snir. still, i think he’s going to need a lot of guinness to choke that one down.
H2H,
Was wondering where you had gone.
Thanks for the compliment too.
I’m convincing myself to stay calm in the wake of Tabs’ post re his chat with the son of a board member.
Of course, “board member” is only what Tabs would have heard the man say.
What if he actually said, “I’m the son of a bored member”.
Too terrible to contemplate. I can’t resist an “audacious stunt” though.
Audacious stunt is Cockney rhyming slang, right?
Tabs has been speaking to a board member? Probably a pawn π
π
Personally I never trust people who talk to their body parts…
Oskar
My prediction on the audacious stunt is that a tightrope walker will walk from one end of the Emirates to the other, and the Premier League officials will be so stunned they will award Arsenal three extra points with which to begin the new season. Actually, this has already occurred and it is only the announcement which will be made in the coming days.
Having come perilously close to getting off topic, here’s something entirely different, and even about Arsenal.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2358545/Arsenals-Thomas-Vermaelen-set-miss-start-new-Premier-League-season-injury.html
It’s the first I’ve heard of Vermaerlen’s “chronic” back problem but it could explain a lot about his dip in form last season. I hope he can get treatment (drugs?) to allow him to bring his form back to where all of us would like to see it.
Audacious stunt is they covered all the panels with legends players on the outside of the stadium to replace with gigantic pictures of current players with new kit.
Some work!
May also be other stuff?
But as I have lengthily explained on twitter, there is no doubt that the head of marketing, whether twitting independently or not (his accounts says it’s not a club account, and you can indeed see club announcements in parallel, different) knows what ‘stunt’ and ‘audacious’ means.
Unlike most people on twitter it seems. An unveiling, of a player or a statue is not an ‘audacious stunt’.
Most people are illiterate or idiots.
And I wanted those three extra points. I guess we will have to earn them.
Months of planning for an audacious stunt means they’ve actually persuaded someone other than Theo Walcott to do the photoshoot.
The unveiling of a new kit??? Wow, can’t wait for that. A new away shirt is just what the doctor ordered during the transfer window. Let’s hope it can bag 20 goals a season and fill in as a holding player when necessary???
π
…..and at centre half if Tommy V is struggling.
An ‘audacious stunt’ has to be more positive and utterly flabbergasting than a ‘cunning stunt’.
It cannot simply be a new signing as a ‘stunt’ is too transient a phenomenon.
Maybe we are pulling in a few ‘old boy network’ favours and Chips has got an old friend who happens to be Air Vice Marshall to send a squadron to bomb the shit out of the lane to assist the marshdwellers in their redevelopment quandry.
That would be an audacious stunt.
But it’ll probably just be some famous busty trollop(s) parading up the Grove.
Heh ST@247
H2H – As usual, ‘Heh’ with a capital H at your musings! Hit the nail on the head again my son!
Rooney rumours: he’s a potato-headed diving c*nt but if he signs he can be OUR diving c*nt.
Suarez rumours: 100% military-grade bullshit. If the Yanks fought wars with lies (pipe down at the back, I’ll remove the “if” later), they’d have this one constantly pointed at Iran.
The Hig: this story about there being no contact must also be bollocks. Remember when they were putting together a bid for Beckham? Their president went on record saying, “Beckham? Never, never, never!”
baff 249. Naked. That’s quite audacious.
Reports coming out of Spain the Gonzo is far from happy that this deal has not been sealed, especially after he was informed that we had bid Β£30 million for Suarez.
I accept that even in the optimistic of opinions we can only take about 10% of what we read seriously, but I can’t be the only one sat wondering what the fuck is going on?????
Surely we can’t fuck this up again; can we??????
Tabs, make a call…….
Our Head of Marketing is a bit of a twat it seems.
Not to worry. Our new yellow away kit I am sure will look lovely. On top of that the boys will apparently receive a very warm welcome in Indonesia.
Which is nice.
Marketing people very often are, tabs….
HAve you got news on the stunt then?
None at all Ollie, your guess as good as mine.
But as you know from our twitter con y’day, I took a very different and much less generous view of the wisdom of his wording than you did π
Bath,
“Some busty trollop parading up the Grove” …. serious chuckling going on here π
heh, won’t have this debate again. I certainly didn’t call him wise, just said I don’t think he’s particularly raising any expections or hinting at unveiling signings, certainly among the normally-brained (which seem to be a minority on Twitter, granted!).
Audacious, not cunning stunt.
I still expect to be disappointing, but then when it comes to a show, I am a demanding sort, me.
Heh Ollie π As you say, we’ll have to agree to disagree on this one.
I reckon it’s Arsene Wenger doing that Robin Thicke number with Lady Nina, Doris the tea lady, and Tina from the North Bank providing the topless titillation.
One of the red tops saying we are a couple of million euros short of ‘No Contact’ Perez’s asking price for Higuain.
So, with TV5, the injury crisis of the season has started even before the season has started. The ranks look at little threadbare in the middle of the defence. Unless one or two of the Academy defenders are thought ready to step up, — Miquel, Hayden, Uade or Fagan — it looks like we’ll be in for a Squillaci 2. Gareth Barry, though a DM, started out as a CB, and has also played LB, so might be tempting utility cover if there is anything to the stories that we are in talks with him. If he is signed, hope he is more of a Yosi than a Squilly.
Actions, as they say, speak louder than words.
Personally, I would pull my stunt – matron – and leave others to decide whether or not it was ‘audacious’.
Where another executive has already told the impatient throng to expect “very exciting news”, I think I would have kept my council.
Which, looking at my latest Council Tax bill, I already appear to be doing.
Work beckons now, so I will return later for a review of the audacious stunt.
Have an exciting afternoon. π
Quote being attributed to Luis Suarez this afternoon: “My agent is in charge. It’s good to know that I am still valued by teams like Arsenal”.
Translation: still waiting for Madrid, but will gladly take Arsenal if Spain isn’t an option.
Hang on – missed the end off that quote:
“My agent is in charge. Itβs good to know that I am still valued by teams like Arsenal. Friends ask if I am moving to Chelsea, to which I laugh”.
Starting to warm to him.
No new signings at the away kit launch. No real audacity either.
Kit looks bloody great though.
This place is beginning to feel Le-grovish, calm down people.
N7, when further pressed, Suarez was asked if he would like to play with John Terry, he replied “I’d bite his hand off”. π
Cent, your are our man on the spot in Nigeria. Looks like some potent strikers are playing in the lower leagues which should interest our development squad. It’s been reported that Plateau Feeders scored 72 goals in the second half of their final match of the season whilst their promotion rivals Police Machine FC scored 67 goals in the second half of their simultaneous final game. The team scoring the most would get promotion. The NNF have apparently suspended all four teams involved suspecting something is amiss!
So what was the audacious stunt, fellas? I’ve been out in the real world (bloody hot).
A big wrap-around banner across the side of the stadium showing the 6 “British core” players wearing the away strip. Will remain in place across the summer.
Oh, and Nik Bendtner jumped half a dozen red buses riding a child’s tricycle.
“The exterior of Emirates Stadium was transformed with a giant banner of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Kieran Gibbs, Carl Jenkinson, Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere all sporting the new Nike strip over the stadium core located at the corner of the Clock End and West Stand.”
THAT is not audacious in my lexicon.
OK, the trike trick was cool.
And, quite audacious for a fat fella.
Really pissed off Lady Nina didn’t disrobe.
“The collar replicates a polo shirt and reflects the best of London style from fine gentlemanβs tailoring to urban street wear.”
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/arsenal-and-nike-reveal-2013/14-away-kit?
Well, I can only say that that is pretty damn audacious. Bless my soul, I am utterly flabbergasted!
Heavens tabs!
What an audacious thought.
You should be ! π
Never in any doubt, mate.
Love the shirt. Love the shorts. What the hell have they done with those socks?????????????
The socks were designed with Speedo-wearers in mind, as they should be.
I will of course look fantastic come the new Season.
Steve T – maybe they are the audacious bit?
Wolfie – you are awful….audacious.
baff 271, I refer you to tabs’ accurate 254
Steve T. I love the socks. I love hooped socks, they are class!
Quite shocked at Ramsey’s boots in that picture, baff! Eurgh
At least Theo had the right idea
Fair point by tabs. Seems like it. Such a shame. The Park of Marketing. Bleugh.
Feck – scorchio. In Edinburgh. Something wrong wih this picture – may have to take scarf and gloves off…..
Met Office in Audacious Stunt.
Cold beer – that’ll fix it.
So, any new shiny players yet?
ATF π
My order for an XXXXXL is already being processed. Mrs TtG is preparing to let it out if its still tight( oo- er).
I’m a marketing consultant and deeply upset that one of my number was harangued because he got confused about what constituted a stunt.I have been in many meetings like this and some people get very excited about unveiling banners. Imagine if Gonzo had been wearing the new shirt as the busty naked trollops traversed the Holloway Road. What a welcome to him that would have been! no imagination ,some people.
Still they didn’t ask me for my input and probably β¬ 30 million was probably thought a tad expensive for the launch.
Still it all changes tomorrow when we sign Gareth Barry and the rest of Europe quakes. If Barry is seen as a direct alternative to Fellaini,Bender,Wanyama etc I will start blabbing uncontrollably because it will also suggest that Wenger can’t resist the Sylvestre – type deal which has proved such a winner for us over the years. As another Englishman he could have gone on the banner too.
I am heading out in the direction of the Holloway Road just in case the girls turned up late for the launch. At least it was warm for them.
Ttg,
I agree wholeheartedly that Barry is hardly a signing that makes any sort of statement…….
But am I the only person on here who thinks that 23m plus 100k a week for a Defensive Midfielder like Fellaini is seriously overpriced..? Currently we’re trying to sign a goal machine from the biggest club in world football for 24/25m but Everton want the same money for a bloody defensive midfielder…!
Barry is worth what 4-6m ? Wanyama 10m or so. While I don’t rate Barry very highly I find it very difficult to say that Fellaini is 4 times the player because it certainly appears that that he’s four times the price!
Or consider it another way, rather than fork out 24 m on a DCM, we could get an England international for a fraction of the money and use the rest to buy a creative midfielder / another striker………??
And just while we’re on the topic of Fellaini, what does it say to Arteta, who has broken his arse playing in DCM (not his preferred position), for the sake of the team, and who also took a drop in wages to come to the club, if we go out and buy one of his team mates for a double the money and a sizeable shift in wages?
Joe,
Honestly! Please don’t come onto this blog and make well-reasoned and sensibly argued points, while keeping firm hold of your temper. There’s a place for that sort of thing and it’s not here.
:-/
Bath, I think you are right.
Ollie. I think you are a freak.
π
Joe. I think that 23 million and 100k a week is reasonable for Fellaini. He cost Everton 15 million when they got him.
Perhaps one day we will get out finger out and just conclude a deal. It’s a controversial one I know but it might just work.
Let’s be audacious!
Lady Nina will be strutting in her skimpies, to Mr Big Stuff, in the Hornsey Road, this evening after dinner in the Diamond Club.
That is a heads-up for all you wearers of fine gentleman’s tailoring, to the scruffs in urban street wear, who would like to witness a nicely wiggled, classy Arse.
Personally, I think the socks are an absolute master stroke. I cannot even look at them in a still photograph without going completely boss eyed. They will wreak havoc on the discombobulated defenses of teams the length and breadth of Europe.
Nike one, I say, nice one.
I think the Fellaini valuation is fair.
He’s relatively young and will improve. Barry, meanwhile, is at a different stage of his career. At approximately Fellaini’s age he cost a very similar sum and commanded a very similar wage.
Suspect Arteta would be happier to see the arrival of Fellaini, who can play any of the three midfield slots, than, say, Bender, who is an out and out DM. Probably gives him a better chance of decent game time.
Let’s be audacious, all day, hooray !
Steve,
Sorry mate, can’t agree that its just down to us being lazy or complacent in concluding a deal. Not this summer anyway because there appears to be so much going on in the backround.
Signing players at this level is never easy or straightforward and rushing it for the sake of completion generally means you get screwed in the process. Just look at Perez who is supposed to have raised the price on Higuain just because he felt like it. How do you conclude a deal with a cunt like that? All you can do is be patient. It all part of the negotiation.
I think Fellaini is overpriced. In fact, if you gave me a direct choice between Arteta and Fellaini at DCM, I know who’d I’d be picking every week. Fellaini has exceptional aerial ability, provide’s a physical presence and gives you an option up front – but for 23m I can’t help but feel there’s better value to be had.
Now I’m out of office I can tell you what I would like to have seen today:
More Busty Trollops – more audaciousness. Indeedy.
Joe, I’m with N7 when it comes to spending some dosh on Fellaini.
He would bring some much needed height and physicality to the midfield and also scored 11 league goals last season….from midfield. I think he suits Arsene’s mentality of being able to pay both DM & ACM.
The cost may appear high but it is slewed even further this year by the oilyglarchs money, more of them (PSG & Monaco) and also the big increase from Sky. This makes the suggested figures as being in tandem with current market conditions. Just look at some of the alleged prices of concluded deals for comparison. As for Gareth Barry, experienced yes but slow…he makes Denilson seem like Theo.
Bang….,,
N7,
Take your point.
Is Fellaini much quicker than Barry or Arteta or Ramsey?
I don’t think so.
What I do feel is that against the top teams in the PL and in the games we play in Europe, we can get exposed at DCM, mainly because of a lack of pace. Therefore if we were going to spend that type of money on a DCM, then I can understand why we went after a specialist like Bender and why we’re somewhat slow to deal with Fellaini.
Don’t get me wrong, I do think that Fellaini is on the radar and I do believe we have a great chance in signing him, but only on terms that make objective sense.
Joe. I hear what you say but you emphasise the problem. At the moment it is all ifs, buts and maybes. No one knows what the hell is going on. Must say I do not agree with just sitting down and waiting. We either sort it or we look elsewhere. It’s not that long ago that Higuain was made available fir transfer. We then heard that he had been given permission to speak with the club. But still nothing. How long do we give it? Do we wait until we get near to September? Do we run the risk of losing out and being outbid? Or do we make every effort to conclude the deal? If we can’t reach an agreement then I would suggest that sitting around and doing nothing but waiting is not an option.
Re Fellaini. Everton paid 15 million for him. He has clearly improved as a player and will be approaching his best years. In this day and age 23 million is not overpriced.
Joe / Steve T …
For example.. Fernadhino to Man City. Β£30 million no premiership experience. Fellaini Β£23 million (guesstimate). Plenty of premiership
experience and regular goal scorer. As a bonus he also gave a Glasgow kiss to Ryan Shawcross π
Fuck, let’s sign Steve T, he scores goals! Well in!
Agree Ollie…well in Steve T.
Talking of goal scorers, Bendtners antithesis, the well named A Modeste had been sold by Bordeaux to a German club – happy or glad Ollie?
He hasn’t played for Bordeaux for a season and a half (Blackburn then Bastia). He’s not very good. Not that Bordeaux are very rich with strikers, mind.
Steve,
These contracts are unilateral. They’re trilateral and complex. If you want to rush them, then I think you’ll generally end up getting screwed.
23m sterling is an enormous amount of money for a DCM imo. When’s the last time you ever saw Wenger spend money like that on any offensive player let alone a defensive one?
Its might be a fee you’d considering paying for a world class DCM. Do you think Fellaini is world class? For me he’s a very effective player in the PL. But I don’t think he’s a world class dcm………absolutely not.
Uplympian,
Citeh are a circus. I just feel no comparisons can be made with that lot on players / football / money / ethics…..any front really.
Schwarzer to Chavs on a free, confirmed. One year deal.
Can’t help but feel we’ve missed a trick there.
…..”not” unilateral
Joe: I’d say Fellaini’s versatility is exactly why he’s not going to go cheap wherever he moves. He can play as a defensive midfielder, an attacking midfielder and as an attacker. I’d wager he could do a decent job at centre-half if needed too.
I also have to say that for me “world class” is a very fuzzy term. Exactly what is that? I think Fellaini is a very good player, perhaps at times a bit too hot-headed (but then again Vieira got his fair share of red cards as well) but still a very good player who has on numerous occasions shown his capabilities against top teams in the PL. For example, I refer you to Everton’s season opener against ManU last season where he was totally unplayable and more or less single-handedly beat ManU.
May I say one more thing:
I felt that the “audacious” release of the away strip today further confirmed what I’ve felt for a long time, in that there is a concerted effort towards the encouragement of home grown players at the club and its something, as a foreigner myself, that I feel is necessary and important.
The “anglicisation” of the club is a return to values and fosters a sense of loyalty amongst the players who are brought through the system as opposed to those who have lifted their skirts at the first blush of more money. Its important that there is a central spine and core to the club and its better for the club is the core is loyal. Thats not to say that foreign players are not important, on the contrary, its sad to say, but the way football is being coached in the British Isle’s means that technique and skill will continue to be imported. But it’s about getting that balance right and I think in the past, with the invincibles, we had that balance but not in latter years.
For that reason alone, I really do think that there is a very high chance that Rooney will be signed. He see’s himself as being the pivotal player in a team that consists of at least 4/5 other England players and he will gain huge profile from that. Its a move that will be good for both parties I think.
Heh @Uply 268, it’s a shame I do not follow the the Nigerian league at all, I only check to see the winners at the end of the season. The corruption in Nigerian Football Federation and the NPL does my head in, these days I don’t even know when the season starts or ends. As for our strikers, Peter Odemwingie is the best we’ve had since Kanu.
There seems to be a whiff of Cesc in the air tonight.
Surely got to be bollocks?
Lars,
I agree with you totally in almost everything you say.
And your right “world class” is a fuzzy term and a matter of opinion I guess. I take the point about his versatility because its the primary factor in reasoning why he is more expensive.
But for me Lars, 23m sterling is approx 27m euros and that type of money is reserved for game changers who play in a strikers/attacking role. Higuain is a more important player and should objectively be priced in the top bracket. Felliani isn’t in that bracket or class for me Lars. He’s “a jack of all trades but a master of none” imo.
I would surmise so, N7.
Joe …. Citeh may be a circus (and not the only one out there) , which has been mainly to our advantage for the past few years. A player is worth the price that a club are willing to pay ( and gamble on). Arsene supposedly bid 23 million euros? for DM Lars Bender, so we are approx in the same ball park here. For me Fellaini would fill a big void in the team manfully covered by Arteta and also Ramsey at the end of the season. This is one we can agree to disagree on.
I do agree with you on the English core and your thesis on Rooney makes good sense. Whether the numbers add up at the end of the day is another question.
What Lars said, plus,
Fellaini is an almost unique player – able to play, and be almost unplayable due to his physique, in a number of positions. He is not just a defensive midfielder.
As to arguing about his worth – what is the point ?
His worth is what someone will pay for him – like anything else. “Worth” is a bizarre concept in the world of top class football, but wait and see who pays what if Fellaini becomes available.
I doubt it will be far off Β£23 million – we will see.
Looks like we cross posted our cross pollenated thoughts, Uply. π
Good discussion on here tonight and fair points made all round.
I don’t buy this argument that goalscorers and attacking midfielders are the only people worth paying big money on. Sometimes teams need a missing piece and that missing piece is a relatively unglamorous player who does a really key job. Possibly Wenger’s second best deal after Vieira was obtaining Gilberto in the prime of his career for bugger all ( I’m remembering about Β£6 million) and seeing him play a big role in the best team we’ve probably ever had and then go on to be a good and influential skipper. He was a DM and his value to the side was enormous. I think Fellaini is a monster with great versatility,plenty of sell- on value and the ability to sell enough red and white Afro wigs to cover half his transfer fee. Interesting that he was recently on holiday with Arteta so there doesnt apear to be too much tension there.IMO Arteta is not a defensive midfielder but possibly one of the most underrated distributors in the League. But he is 32 and Fellaini is several years younger and Fellaini gives you great aerial presence at both ends of the pitch. He was the standout opposition player for me at the Emirates last season. Gareth Barry at Β£75 k or Fellaini at Β£ 100k? I’m with Fellaini every time.
I also agree we missed a trick with Schwarzer. They wanted Ruddy ( who I like very much) but obviously Norwich wanted a fee they wouldn’t pay for a reserve goalkeeper. A lot of gaps are being filled now by our rivals and I’m not sure if Wenger really knows what he wants to do. I’d so love to be proved completely wrong. But recent history is not encouraging!
Nothing to be cross about Trev, unless it is John Cross cross pollinating our cross thinking…….or summit π
Relax Ttg,
Tabs has got it all under control.
TTTAAABBBSSSSS !!!!!
Ttg, completely agree, by the way.
To answer the question in the title of the blog post
No
All, embarrassed of Swindon here. Long story, but after four hours have a netbook running on an old-school broadband dongle.
Never have the room with the broadband cable in decorated. My lifeline is gone!
Today we had a visit from a VP which kept me largely out of the loop. Having had to turn down an invite to the audacious stunt could somebody tell me what it was?
Tell me cannons were fired!
Ollie @ 316
Gotta be, right?
In other news, Bendtner to Frankfurt is reportedly close and there’s talk of Gerv the swerve to Roma for β¬8.
It would seem the decks are being cleared. For what, is the question.
Yikes – should read β¬8m!
‘holic – Has Eduardo turned into a pile of dudu?
Coat! Taxi!!
I saw that π
No, Eduardo is resting. Hopefully not for three weeks…
Evening ‘H,
The, er, audacious stunt was a – now, calm down – a picture of six shirts.
Now, if you can still get to sleep, we’ll wait ’til tomorrow morning for a comment. π
Blimey.
Risk taking buggers, aren’t we?
Have to say I am going to break my vow not to buy another new shirt. Nike going out with a bang. Their best in ages…
Too shocked to comment, I see. π
Oh, timing. π
Agreed, it does look good.
The “Will he? Won’t he? What’s happening? OMG…” daily cycles of ecstasy to despair about Higuain among many of us is really much more confounding that whether we actually sign him or not.
It is a little sad how so many otherwise rational and well-balanced supporters with perspectives fall prey to the blatant media manipulations.
The fantastic, fantastical, hilarious Russian novelist Victor Pelevin in his ‘Generation P’ (Homo Zapiens in English translation) talks about the newly evolved crude organism that is ‘Global’ Economy (‘ORANUS’ , with only oral and anal impulses and not much of awareness, each cell being a single human being ) and how its neurons are the new media … π
At the end of the transfer period either we will have some ‘top’ new players that most will feel good about (not all, never all), or have some okay new players that many will feel hopeful about, or no new players. That is all.
I have always liked Higuain as a player and think if he ever joins us he would be a great fit . I like him more than Suarez, Lewandowski, Cavani, Aguero. He as not as powerful as Benzema or as deadly precise in his finishing as Falcao always is but his movements, with and without the ball, are just superb. His club and country records at such an early age speaks for themselves.
But let us be honest: RM would be somewhat stupid to let him go. He is as close to a Raul like long-term Madrid striker as that club can ever hope for, he is well loved among the supporters, and if not for the Portuguese translator he would have not have fallen out so easily.
@335: “…much more confounding than…”
If Higuain was coming he’d be here by now. Forget him, he’s not coming here.
Cynic @ 337: Unlike a true cynic, you seem to care. π
I care that our team is strengthened in all aspects (including strategy and fitness) and not just new players, but I reserve my judgment until the season starts and the games are actually played.
It is an unbelievably pointless exercise in futility (tautology intended) to be riled up about comings-and-going before then.
That is what a cynic should really say. π
Bugga Β£23m, right now I’d see Fellaini signed for Β£30m as a deal. I mean GET YOUR PEN OUT FOR SOMEONE, ffs AW!
As for Barry I rate him highly and see him as a more than useful bench sitter at the Ems … heaps of experience and cool in a crisis. But not exactly forward-looking, except insofar as he adds to the ‘audacious stunt’ of Britisising the squad.
Apropos which I’m concerned now what ‘Β£70m’ might actually mean coming from our chairman, given ‘audacious’ is apparently a synonym for diddlysquat in his lexicon. Please note that ‘m’ in Latin = 1,000.
Oskar
Ramadan Mubarak.
I only knew Hosni before π
We have to spend over the odds this summer because we allowed to let our reputation on the field drop. Ideally if we take a gamble with some good players who are slightly overpriced now, instead of waiting till the end of the summer hoping to get them cheaper, we’ll have a better pre-season and hopefully a more productive season.
I say whatever Real want, give them (unless it’s an exchange deal for Cazorla!) and if we want Fellaini just pay Everton what they think he’s worth. We made City and Utd and Chelsea pay over the odds for our players in the past, so we need to suck it up this summer…
And that new away shirt is quite good! I too will break my shirt buying ban I reckon 8)
Fellaini definitely represents ‘the grass is always greener’ for a large proportion of our support at the moment. To me he’s useful, maybe worth a punt, but certainly not a Β£23-25m punt, a figure which would smash our record transfer fee paid by Β£8m at least.
The way some people are describing him above beggars belief. If he were that good he would have been snapped up by Real/Barca/Bayern/PSG/Monaco/Chelsea etc., etc. some time ago. Even United under Moyes are yet to make a concrete offer. Does n’t that say something?
Have you seen Olga Korbut lately, Redtruth?
But you’re right about Bernard Manning … he hasn’t been nearly as sprightly since he died.
Better Magoo than Blind Pew, aye.
Oskar
Cynic@337: by that logic, van Persie would still be an Arsenal player. He moved well into August.
CoR@342: but do you remember how we made them pay over the odds? We held on to the players and stalled negotiations for as long as we could, sometimes even past the start of the following season. If the players we get would be, for example, Cesc, Higuain and one other really good player I’d happily wait until the last hours of the window. Remember that we are not (at least as things stand now) in the same kind of rebuilding phase that we have been in the past two summers. For the first time in a while it looks like we are adding and not desperately replacing.
Esso@343: usually I agree that if a player hasn’t been snapped up by other clubs that is a sign of something being wrong, but of all the teams you list I’d say most of them already have cover in his position. Real have Alonso, Barca don’t really play in a way that he would fit in, Man City have Yaya Toure, Bayern aren’t exactly short of options either and so on. And if I am not mistaken he has turned down both ManU and Chelsea in the past few years.
I am most cross. Last week I was asked if I was OK to attend a training ‘week 36’. Fine I said. Now they ask about week 38.
If someone could tell me the draw of the Champions League, I might now. My default answer would be no though.
Every day anyway I am thinking I should change jobs.
@Lars. Never read/heard anything about him turning down United or Chelsea. Also cant see why he would. More chance of winning medals and definitely a higher salary than at Everton. Like I said, I feel people see him in a very ‘rose tinted spectacles’ way; as the new Paddy, the saviour we have been waiting for, for years. I like him and quite rate him, but the fact he is now very well known but not, apparently, any anyone’s shopping list, speaks volumes to me.
I’m with Esso there.
Esso, I can’t swear that he has turned them down (strange as it may sound my memory may not be 100% reliable all the time π ) but a quick google gave me links to articles saying that both Chelsea and ManU want him this summer. True or not I don’t know of course, but then again we don’t know if us being in for him is really true either.
I’m with Esso there too.
My Toffee friends were astonished at how well he played at the beginning of last season and then scandalised by his lack of effort in the cup semifinal against Wigan. They regard him as a big lummox off whom the ball often conveniently bounces.
He would definitely add height and muscle to our midfield but Β£23m is preposterous. I don’t care what Everton paid for him. They owe us over Jeffers….big time.
Bath: true, Jeffers should mean they have to pay us to take Fellaini! π
Guys I think they paid us back with Arteta.
I think we paid a fair price for Arteta. A good buy but 3 years too late for the full impact. Has papered over cracks since he arrived.
Afternoon all
Just read this post re: Jimmy Rimmer. For those of you that have 70s rose-tinteds on, I thought it was an enjoyable read.
http://www.7amkickoff.com/2013/rogues-gallery-jimmy-rimmer/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+7amkickoff+%287amkickoff%29
Drinks are on the bar for those that wish to imbibe.
England 213 for 9.
No need to worry. Ivan and the gang have it all in hand. We will declare at tea tomorrow with 500 plus on the board.
π
What Bath said at 352. Spot on.
Lars @ #344
Good points and with you re: the timing of big/strategic signings. It could well be late August before we seal a couple of big deals.
Also, I believe there is a lot of interdependency on other deals happening before we can close ours. I view it almost as a big mortgage chain where other deals must complete in order for ours to do the same.
I’m sure we’re seeing a high-stakes ‘masterplan’ of some description slowly unfolding. Of course, if it doesn’t work out that way, then heads may well need to roll.
UTA!
Chose to bat and out for 215?
How do you like them apples, beefy?
Dr.Z in the house. Accompanied by Ms. Schadenfreude?
But surely, to have the best chance of success, the way forward is to get your transfer business done as early as possible and to get players integrated??????
The barman seems extremely confident, zico
Miss Schadenfreude just walked π
I agree completely Steve about the relationship between getting transfers done early and success especially early season. I think the key word though is “as possible”. They may have targeted Higuain very early on, but it takes two ( well three if you include the player) to get the deal done. While I truly believe the club has more financial clout now then in the past 8 years they will never be on the level of City a few years back where they just hand RM a blank check to fill in as they see fit.
Any state side holics tearing their hair out because their cable provider will not be carrying the 2013-14 PL season ? Brighthouse (my provider) is clueless over the NBC Live Sports Extra. Will drop them and take a chance with Verizon Fios BUT their rep is also not sure if I can watch the games on TV or just on the net, tablet etc. Funny, Verizon advertises the coverage but has not filled in their customer service people on the details ! If I’m forced to watch the games on my laptop, I’ll miss all the fun at this bar during the game π More than curious how other holics in the states are dealing with this π
Agree with Steve T @ 359, but also TS @ 356.
Specifically:
(i) I’m sure we would ideally want to do our business early. We certainly did so last term, and it’s a major advantage to have new players training with the squad ASAP. That said, perhaps this is less of an issue this season as we’re apparently going to be spared the usual high profile departures from the first XI, so the “blooding in” period is a little less critical.
(ii) A desire to do our business early may not suffice to actually get the deals done. If you’re offering me a second tier player in early July or a top tier player in early August I’ll take the latter. The whole market seems to be moving slowly this summer, for whatever reason, so I think we should cut them some slack. Utd have yet to move, and that says a lot to me.
(iii) I have absolutely no idea what’s going on at the club, and no inside line at all. All I do know is that the noises coming out of Arsenal this summer are that something relatively big is about to happen, that will leave us all very happy come the start of the season. People I trust (tabs) seem to be saying this. People who usually bitch the club out (Tim Payton, some of the moodier blogs) also seem to be getting the same intel. Does this guarantee everything will work out? Absolutely not. Should it be cause for optimism? Yep. The movements so far within the squad (i.e. the big exodus) also suggest that space is being made.
The waiting is agonising, and there’s always the nagging fear that we’ll find a way to balls it up, but I think we need to be patient and give them a little more time to work their magic.
God knows, they’re under enough pressure to do so – expectations are sky-high right now compared to previous summers, and there will be some serious explaining to be done if we limp into early September with nothing more than Sanogo and Gareth Barry to show for the close season (not that I believe this will happen).
In short: we’ve waited 8 years, we can wait another 6 weeks.
COYG
abb, you’ll just have to get another laptop then so you can do both π
What you could actually do is connect your laptop to the tv so that the tv becomes a second screen and then you can still use the laptop as you normally would. How this is done depends on what laptop you have, but it’s not that difficult at all. Ask your local tv/computer dealer, they should be able to help you.
Don’t really mind Villa going to Atletico.
At the time I really wanted him to sign because he was the best we could get, but now surely we can get better, younger players (Higuain anyone?!?).
Wow Lars, thanks for that ! Hope it doesn’t have to come to that but at least that could be a lifeline for me. Just can’t believe these cable providers don’t have this sorted out by now! Apparently, Fox will still carry Champs League. Thank heavens for that. You see holics, it just wouldn’t be the same without the bar during our games. I would miss Eandy saying “Hey hey” , ATG going ballistic, H2H being brave, Trev being Trev ( on those rare occasions when he is with us π ). NorCal, 8ball, Oxon, my word Scuz and Uply too ! π π π Oh and sometimes, if we’re really lucky Toby and Zico are around π Meanwhile, Holic, Ollie, Steve T, Lars, Delia and Tabs are our onscene reporters. But us IN HOUSE holics, are the best!!! Like Centy and umm NBN and everyone else I’m not blurting out right now. Like Snir and Wind. Lovefest over (for now) π
Re: abb @363. Is there a TV crisis? I was hoping not to have to deal with anything serious until mid-August at least. π
Steve T
In an ideal world yes but I suspect it’s very difficult to get the big deals timed to match other events. The clubs of the players that we’re linked with, esp. Rooney, Higuain and Suaracist, will do everything to play the deal out to extract the maximum possible value for their prized assets (ahem).
‘holic, looks like TrΓ©moulinas is finally off π To Kiev.
abb I thought the summer of love had been hijacked by Twitter. π
Thanks for the shoutout, abb, but this, indeed, is a bar filled with the most extraordinary people.
Barry for the reported Β£4 million would be a far better value signing than Fellaini $23 million or up, especially if it meant a few more million freed up to secure Higuain from the rapacious Perez. If Barry is happier sitting on our bench rather than Citeh’s, then we get an experienced squad player still of international — albeit England international — quality, some opportunities to rest Arteta’s legs, which aren’t getting any younger, emergency cover at CB and LB, the option of playing with a double pivot in front of the back four, a bit more physicality at DM than Arteta provides, and some insurance against Jack breaking down again. Clearly not one of the marquee signings we all crave, but a solid bit of squad reinforcement.
TS@369. Spot on. Also there are so many contingencies for the top clubs. They’ll only let a star go if they have a bigger one lined up, and that player’s availability may depend on his club having his replacement lined up and so on down the line. So many potential points of failure in the chain.
Hi fellas ! π
Abb, please keep the lovefest going, there is not enough love in this world. Goodluck with the TV stuff.
Thanks Cent ! Will be sending you an email shortly, kiddo.
Okay, so once again I have to repeat, I love this years away kit, Nikes swansong indeed that they finally produced something likable in their last year. TR7 it is for this one:P
Oh and thanks abb:), I have to agree with you, watching games is not the same without hanging out here simultaneously (although I am bound to streams at all times so have to multitask on pc:P). The emotions of the game are multiplied here both in positive and negative way..and I am really looking forward to experiencing it again π
32 years old Gareth Barry for 4 millions is better than 25 years old Fellaini for 20 millions in prime of his career, with resale value on top. I hope you are joking NBN.
If we can somehow get Fellaini, and one of the forwards we are related to, then sky is the limit for the next year.
In other news, there is Arsenal game on Sunday, nice chance for some drinks at the bar with the holics, and see maybe Gnabry, Zelalem and other young guns.
Speaking of young players, Everton made a very good job today, loaning Gerard Deulofeu from Barcelona. Looking forward to see him in the PL, really exiting player.
Arsenal Promotional Video for Asia Tour 2013
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqHXM7bBMwI&feature=youtu.be
abb @ 363 : All you need is the full NBC package including MSNBC and NBC Sports Network. Arsenal being a top 4 team you will be able to see most of them on TV, and the odd few and a few Cup games you would most likely have to catch on the NBC Online channel. Why the worry?
http://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/2013/04/16/nbc-sports-groups-2013-14-premier-league-programming-plans/
continuing from 380, to quote NBC’s media announcement …
“New York β April 16, 2013 β All 380 games of the 2013-14 Barclays Premier League season will be presented live on NBC Sports Groupβs television and digital properties as well as other NBCUniversal channels. NBC Sports Groupβs schedule, which begins on Saturday, August 17, includes live matches on NBC, NBC Sports Network, Telemundo, Mun2, the Premier League Extra Time package of overflow television channels, the NBC Sports Live Extra website and app, and other NBCUniversal channels including CNBC and USA.”
You should be fine abb. :–)
N7 you produced a very good piece of analysis- excellent stuff.we can wait six weeks IF and it is a very big IF the intention is to improve the side rather than go through the motions.
However NBN,I’m very much with Lurky ? Barry is a very similar signing to Sylvestre in that he is not able to improve the side ( in fact he will probably make it worse) whilst Fellaini might make us 10 or 15% better( you might gather I’m a Fellaini fan. )Fellaini should be coming to his peak,Barry is way past his. If Wenger signs Barry in preference to any other midfielders it says ( very depressingly) everything we need to know about how this club is going to be run despite what Ivan says in his spin sessions. It says we prize keeping cash rather than putting a great side on the field. I won’t accept the Arsene knows argument on a deal like that. It underlines the fact that Wenger cannot compete for marquee players because the prices blow his mind even though we appear to be able to afford them . The old days of snatching better players through a better network are gone. This close season is a Rubicon he needs to cross. If he does that will change our ability to compete. If he doesn’t we may get the fourth place trophy but it won’t be any more.
I have to believe he wants to cross it and he will. But I have this funny voice telling me I’m a sucker!
What TTG said.
Be audacious Arsene!
And I don’t mean wear colourful socks!
1 for Girooooo