Goonerholic: Eat, Sleep, Breathe, Drink, Arsenal

Never Mind FFP, It’s Time To Sign Up For FFL

Aug 13th, 2013 by 'holic

So in a summer transfer vacuum it was quite a shock to the system to witness fifteen new signings today. The Diab’holical squad for this season was rather rushed into place as if it were September 2nd. Luckily we have more relaxed transfer rules in the Fantasy version so liberal use of the market will be made in order to tweak the squad week by week.

Should you wish to join the Goonerholic FPL for the coming season then log-in to, or register with, http://fantasy.premierleague.com/ and to join our league enter the code 1653590-366073.

It is just for fun (unless any Arsenal sponsors fancy putting up an attractive prize (Citroën, I am thinking the new C4 Picasso looks superb!), but does give you a chance to pit your wits against your fellow ‘holics around the globe.

There are no additional rules to be followed, although you may notice that some of the regulars voluntarily choose not to pick certain ex-players or players from the little club up the road. Don’t be bullied by them into following suit if you are hunting honours in other leagues on the same game (insert smiley thing here).

So that is it. Defer your moaning about the lack of real activity, sign your fifteen players, and come and join us.

Thanks.

Posted in competitions | 229 Drinks

229 Responses to “Never Mind FFP, It’s Time To Sign Up For FFL”

on 13 Aug 2013 at 9:03 pm1Holloway2Holland

I’m in.
on 13 Aug 2013 at 9:03 pm2Ollie

OK OK I might try and sign up again. As long as I can bully the others into following my rules.

I’ve so much not followed this league though, I have no idea who won it last season.
Whoever you are, hearty congrats!*

*except if your team contains people who don’t follow my rules 😉
on 13 Aug 2013 at 9:09 pm3Goonerholic

Ah, glad you two are here. Have last years You Ropey entrants auto signed up if they have registered this season? I am seeing names there already…
on 13 Aug 2013 at 9:11 pm4Holloway2Holland

Lurky won it last year, I was a pretty distant second.

New round, new chances, unlike a certain team, that will go unnamed, H2HFC got it’s business sorted weeks ago. 😉
on 13 Aug 2013 at 9:13 pm5Holloway2Holland

Indeed sir, the normal league too.

It’s easy when you get your business done early. 😮
on 13 Aug 2013 at 9:13 pm6True Storey

Never mind FFL, what about FFF? (where’s Dr.C when you need moral support?)

No Mancs, no LWCs, no Chavs, no Munsters and for this season, no Mickeys? No one will EVER follow those rules.
on 13 Aug 2013 at 9:15 pm7Trev

When is deadline day ?

I’m not signing anyone a single minute sooner. 😉
on 13 Aug 2013 at 9:15 pm8Holloway2Holland

TS, not anyone who wants to get a point or two on the board anyway. 😉
on 13 Aug 2013 at 9:22 pm9Trev

Am I close to signing anyone ?

At the moment , no.

I will try to do something but it is never easy, you know.

If there is a chance to sign one or two then, maybe, but it is hard to find the right quality.
on 13 Aug 2013 at 9:25 pm10Le Bob

I’m in!
on 13 Aug 2013 at 9:29 pm11scruzgooner

in and done. maybe i’ll even do better than last (year). 🙂
on 13 Aug 2013 at 9:29 pm12Ollie

No-one, TS? I do. Assuming that by ‘No Mancs’ you mean Mancs of either hue.

And while my League form was patchy, I made it to the semi-final of the arseblog cup. Had a bad semi-final but still scored more points than either finalist on the weekend of the final.
on 13 Aug 2013 at 9:30 pm13Holloway2Holland

Trev, check the French leagues.
on 13 Aug 2013 at 9:39 pm14Dr Feelgood

Am I invited?

Or is it a League of Gentlemen? 😉

Will I have enough money to “do things that would excite you”?
on 13 Aug 2013 at 9:41 pm15bathgooner

Entered but 2 crocks and 1 suspended aspirant Gooner currently in chains in LiverPoo.

Am I able to do transfers pre-kick off?

Friar Tucked already and I’ve gone to the trouble of signing players, not like another idle or simply parsimonious lot who may also be Friar Tucked for the forthcoming season. 🙁
on 13 Aug 2013 at 9:42 pm16Cent'Berry

I’m in!
on 13 Aug 2013 at 9:44 pm17Holloway2Holland

Bath, you can change your team as much as you want without occuring penalties up to 11:30am (GMT) Saturday morning.
on 13 Aug 2013 at 9:45 pm18True Storey

Excellent points Trev & H2H 🙂

Correct Ollie, either hue represent our direct competition….. in theory 😉

So glad you popped in tonight Dr.F:

“Jonjo got one
Jonjo got oooooooone
How sh*t must you be?
Jonjo got one”

Apologies but couldn’t resist.
on 13 Aug 2013 at 9:47 pm19TJ

I’m in! Fantasy league, now the season feels really close 🙂
on 13 Aug 2013 at 9:48 pm20Porco Rosso

Nice succinct post Holic. Life really is too short to constantly wring our hands about the transfer window.

Screw it. What will be will be. I expect us to properly Donald Duck it up but my support remains 100% the 11 lads on the pitch on Saturday.

Will probably join the league with the solidly mid-table Boy Racers FC if not totally consumed with preparing for the new addition to goonerdom. 😀
on 13 Aug 2013 at 10:08 pm21Trev

Ah TS,

On your ‘financial chants’ theme –

“We’re gonna get our fcuking cheques paid in”

To the chant of “You’re gonna get your fcuking ..etc. etc. …..” 😉

FFL – can you transfer after the league starts ? I’ve not done this before.
on 13 Aug 2013 at 10:25 pm22Holloway2Holland

Trev.

Every week you can make one transfer, without penalties. Every extra transfer will cost you 4pts.

If you don’t make a transfer, then the next week you are allowed two, but it doesn’t go any higher then that.

You have a wildcard which inables you to change as many players as you want without penalties, you get one of these at the start of the season which you can use any time you want (only once) You also recieve a wildcard that you can use only within a certain timeframe, for a few weeks in January, if memory serves.

Good luck.
on 13 Aug 2013 at 10:28 pm23Dr Feelgood

Ah Professor.

And the answer is very! 😛
on 13 Aug 2013 at 10:28 pm24Trev

Cheers H2H – i’ll give it a go this season.
on 13 Aug 2013 at 10:32 pm25bathgooner

H2H@17: Thanks. Crocks and imprisoned Uruguyan ditched.

No Spuds, no Mancs and no ex-either; no treacherous ex-Gooners either. 🙂

Were there any other Ollie exclusions?
on 13 Aug 2013 at 10:34 pm26Jammathon

I’m totes in. Because I know you all love me, deep down.
on 13 Aug 2013 at 10:44 pm27Lurky Oliva

No spuds and no Mancs in my team too. However I will include one ex- Mannone. Good luck to everyone.

In other news, we haven’t signed anyone yet.
on 13 Aug 2013 at 10:52 pm28Goonerholic

Jam, welcome back 😉
on 13 Aug 2013 at 10:55 pm29Lurky Oliva

There are some interesting quotes from Ornstein this evening.

“Arsenal still have transfer plans in place. Market not moved liked they’d expected it to.”

“Arsenal have 3-4 options (other than Suarez), Rooney is one, but club have accepted they might not sign a star striker.”
on 13 Aug 2013 at 10:59 pm30scruzgooner

thanks, h2h@22, my lack of reading skills meant i hadn’t understood that. so my team remained unchanged after i lost transfer points in the second week…doh!
on 13 Aug 2013 at 11:03 pm31Lurky Oliva

Trev, here is one useful basic tip for the FFL if this is your first time.

Pay attention to which team has a double Gameweek.
That happens when a team is playing twice in one Gameweek
Any players you have from the team playing twice will earn two sets of points, assuming that the player plays in both fixtures.

You may implement this rule almost instantly in the Gameweek one, where Chelski and Aston Villa are playing twice in one week. So, you may consider putting 2-3 Chelski and 2-3 Villa players in your starting line-up.
on 13 Aug 2013 at 11:26 pm32Cent'Berry

Thanks for the info H2H.

Bath @25, I presume you mean no Red Mancs, no?
on 13 Aug 2013 at 11:27 pm33Trev

Cheers Lurky.

I’ll bear it in mind although a normal week may leave me struggling for time to even check the results.
on 13 Aug 2013 at 11:28 pm34bathgooner

Yep Cent. The $hitteh gents don’t count as Mancs in my universe. Red is a given.
on 13 Aug 2013 at 11:35 pm35Cent'Berry

Cheers Bath.

Alright, ‘The Cents’ are ready to fight for Lurky’s crown! Come On You Cents!
on 13 Aug 2013 at 11:35 pm36Lurky Oliva

It is late and I am going to sleep. However I would appreciate if anyone can explain the “Market not moved liked they’d expected it to.” phrase.

Does it mean that other clubs haven’t spend money on big players? Because they did.

Does it mean that there weren’t enough transfers?
Because Sunderland signed 11 players this summer, Napoli 6-7. City 6-7, Tots 5, Monaco 784.

Does it mean that the prices of the players are not adequate?
Because, what the f. did they expected. Seriously.

Does that mean that the Market has not moved because of Managerial changes in many clubs?
Because that was like two months ago.

Does that mean that we are incapable in planning the ways Market will move?
Because it seems that we actually are.

Or, what does that mean?

I think that it is good thing that I guess it is just Ornstein interpretation. I would not like to hear that kind of excuse coming from anyone of the Arsenal employers if we do not sign anybody this summer.
It is the same excuse as the disgusting “we-just-haven’t-found-the-real-quality”. In a summer where we had so high expectations I just can’t stand that again.
I must admit, I am feeling exhausted. Let the real football begin. ‘Night all.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 12:21 am37Wind

Think I’ll join FFL this season also, should be fun 🙂
on 14 Aug 2013 at 12:31 am38arsabeatbarca

Porco, Very sorry to have jumped the gun on your precious arrival. Saw the words ‘maternity leave’ and came to the wrong conclusion. 🙁 But must say I’m delighted she gets to relax before the big event. 😉
on 14 Aug 2013 at 12:31 am39Trev

Ok, team entered, confirmed for Saturday, no Spuds, no Chavs, no red Mancs, no Scouse, one blue Manc – pure as they come !

Punslingers Eff See 😉
on 14 Aug 2013 at 12:46 am40scruzgooner

well in, trev. i only have an elka, which gives the dragons the slightest taint… of course, once you’ve got an elka, you’ve got it all!
on 14 Aug 2013 at 1:09 am41iLonestar Gooner

‘Holics!

Vacation at the beach is sadly coming to a close. Kids are tuckered out. Management and I could use two days without said kids in order to recharge our batteries. As trip home and work looms on the horizon, morale is waivering…

But, alas, news arrives from the coast that the British are coming. For once that is good news…;)

BMBD
on 14 Aug 2013 at 1:15 am42Trev

And no Munsters 😉
on 14 Aug 2013 at 1:16 am43Trev

Cheers scruz – what’s an elka ?
on 14 Aug 2013 at 1:21 am44Trev

The first part of this looks to be recycled stuff, but there are also some encouraging quotes from the player himself – decent bit of background too.

And only posted 45 minutes ago !

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/aug/12/arsenal-luiz-gustavo-bayern-munich

Nite’all.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 1:34 am45Oskar the dog

Okay, I’m in … but I haven’t a clue what I’m in FOR. I have heard of fantasy football, but in the same way I’ve heard of Game Of Thrones … something lots of people find absorbing but a game I have personally never played.

Rules? I couldn’t find any. Where should I have been looking?

Oskar
on 14 Aug 2013 at 3:21 am46scruzgooner

trev…west brom’s new striker 😉
on 14 Aug 2013 at 4:07 am47AW

I would like to play, but only if I can find top, top quality.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 5:02 am48iLonestar Gooner

Well it appears that some village has lost its idiot…and I have it on good authority that Bush is currently recovering in Dallas.

BMBD
on 14 Aug 2013 at 5:06 am49behind the 8 ball but gunning for glory

Re: Trev @9. You said it. 🙂

Besides, the market is crazy with inflated valuations. Give me Suarez for 30 pence please.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 5:08 am50behind the 8 ball but gunning for glory

Lonestar. Nine year old is at her first sleep away camp. Awesome quiet in the house. Not tomorrow after she gets back on the bus though. 🙂
on 14 Aug 2013 at 5:13 am51behind the 8 ball but gunning for glory

New identity for FFL team this season is Table Pingers. Please note the hard g as in Ping Pong. As a matter of fact, all the Table Pingers are expert ping pong players in their off hours. 😉
on 14 Aug 2013 at 7:24 am52Goonerholic

Oskar,

Try http://fantasy.premierleague.com/rules/

😉
on 14 Aug 2013 at 8:23 am53Ollie

Biggest news of the day: Ronaldinho had his teeth done:

http://www.francefootball.fr/news/Ronaldinho-se-fait-refaire-les-dents/392719
on 14 Aug 2013 at 8:24 am54Ollie

baff, no particular problem with most of the ex-players, my rules, however are as detailed by TS: No Mancs (Blue or Reds) no Liverpool, no Spu*s, no Chelski, no Stoke.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 8:26 am55Holloway2Holland

Morning all.

H2HFC is tainted, dirty and smelly, it’s just the way it works nowadays, I can understand your morals but find them sadly misplaced If Arsenal are offering large amounts of lolly for a guy who makes JT look like a saint then all bets, as the saying goes, are off.

It’s not like I’ll be the first to use players of a dubious nature, but I’ll be the first to admit it.

By the by, a blue manc is just as scummy as a red one, maybe even more so if you add the mercenary factor. With that in mind where do you draw the line? Can you take one of Fat Sam’s spammers bought with porn money (Johnny Cash!?), how about one of Mrs Doubtfires Hull and backers?

Every other team in the PL is the enemy no matter how you want to slice it and as you’re only allowed three gunners how else are you going to field a team?

ps Don’t take this post too seriously and good luck in the FFL.

pps Fucking hell, it’s early.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 8:49 am56Ollie

Sorted for Spurs. Block 5, an unusually far back row 20, but I don’t know if availability will get better (unless we lose to Villa) 😉 so thought I’d go for peace of mind rather than patience.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 8:53 am57Holloway2Holland

Well in Ollie.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 8:59 am58True Storey

Well played Trev @ #21, that’s the best one to date I think.

Exceptionally well played Dr.F @ #23. Humility and moral high ground in one drink. I almost feel the need to apologise to you (& bath for that matter) for being such an oik.

Ollie – As above, if people stick to those rules I will be amazed. I think even our esteemed Barman was fielding Mr.Rooney last season, no? I can see many trying to secure a front line of RvC, Shrek & Suarez 😉

H2H – My dislike for red Mancs will probably always be greater than blue ones but as you say, the ‘scummy factor’ or quotient or whatever is definitely closing. Especially if we repeat a Na$ri-gate with them i.e. sell them a player that we’d really like to keep (at the time). Then again, they did pay us an awful lot of money for Adebarndoor which was pleasing.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 8:59 am59Ollie

So to recap: beautiful sunny morning. Last day of the week, Spurs ticket sorted.

Anybody moaning today (unless they have personal afflictions of course, in which case my sympathy will be abundant) will get both barrels from me 😉
on 14 Aug 2013 at 9:00 am60Ollie

TS, indeed I know: probably just Snir, you and I or something 🙂
on 14 Aug 2013 at 9:02 am61True Storey

Ollie did you use TX for LWCs at home?
on 14 Aug 2013 at 9:16 am62True Storey

Vous avez un vacance publique Mon.O et vous faisez le pont?
on 14 Aug 2013 at 9:54 am63Wolfgang Smallballs

In, and The Speedo Massive are as pure as the driven snow.

No musgsmashers, no Stoke orcs, no gangster cunts, no Manc cunts of either hue, and no LWCs.

Include any of them and whatever you say, your victory is tainted.

And it can be done. I would like to remind everybody that I was the winner of the inaugural Europy League with purity. It is unlikely that you will be able to repeat my success (I am after all the Greatest Manager ever ever ever), but it’s surely worth a go?

It has to be said that I was almost relegated last season with the same policy, but hey we’ll gloss over that. Every genius suffers setbacks.

And yes, despite the words of the Guv’nor (a man, lest it be forgotten who made Rooney his captain!), you will be bullied if you don’t follow the “rules” 😉

There’s only one competition in town and that’s the Europy League. Any other trophy is meaningless so stop making excuses.

A solid side with a clear strategy in place to buy Luis Suarez at the end of September. Go The Massive.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 9:54 am64Holloway2Holland

THis guy beats Suarez by a nose;

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/video/footballer-bites-opponents-nose-084249554.html

approx 1:55 for slo-mo
on 14 Aug 2013 at 9:55 am65Uplympian

Morning all. Off to sort out my FFL team. Last season my “Geriatrics Purity” team was in compliance with Ollie’s rules and did quite well (had a toe to toe battle with Oxon). Some of the other participants i note had no shame and included various scum and no go players in their teams (no need to name and shame them) 😉 Ollie Rules OK !!
on 14 Aug 2013 at 10:00 am66Ollie

Ts, yes I did. Et oui (apart from your grammar 😉 )
on 14 Aug 2013 at 10:01 am67Ollie

aah, Wolfie. I love you for this 63(but not in that way).
on 14 Aug 2013 at 10:02 am68Uplympian

Or even TaBs’ rules…..it was my initial season last year and TaBs quite rightly admonished me for including a mug masher in my team. This was duly corrected. With this current Suarez shenanigans by Brenda Rodgers
TaBs definitely knows!!
on 14 Aug 2013 at 10:02 am69Ollie

Cheers Ups!
on 14 Aug 2013 at 10:03 am70Wolfgang Smallballs

Tease!
on 14 Aug 2013 at 10:04 am71Wolfgang Smallballs

Up – The name’s Wolfie 😉
on 14 Aug 2013 at 10:04 am72Holloway2Holland

Be thankful that he hadn’t posted that at 69.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 10:06 am73Holloway2Holland

Up.

Tabs may know, but Wolfie’s usually in the dark (room). 😉
on 14 Aug 2013 at 10:09 am74Wolfgang Smallballs

Haha H2H.

Top of the morn to you H2H, a pleasant surprise to see you up and about at this time of the morning.

Did you just get in from a night on the tiles or did the fire alarm go off or something? 😉
on 14 Aug 2013 at 10:15 am75Holloway2Holland

Heh, that would indeed usually be the case, not that I was in bed before 4am anyway, but, I have a local business that needed an area to conduct interviews which I agreed to, without reading the fine print that they would be starting at the ungodly hour of eight in the morning….. I didn’t even know there was an eight in the morning. 😉
on 14 Aug 2013 at 10:19 am76Wolfgang Smallballs

Schoolboy error H2H 🙂
on 14 Aug 2013 at 10:19 am77Holloway2Holland

Since I’m here anyway, I know it’s only the Mirror, but there’s nothing in this article that I don’t like;

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/transfers-arsenal-make-new-plans-2162885

Different striking options, a defender and a transfer for the would be bog cleaner to Malaga (our new bestest friends ever)
on 14 Aug 2013 at 10:21 am78N7 Gooner

Zen7 reporting for duty.

Still feeling good about everything. Every day that passes is a day closer to the arrival of reinforcements.

More importantly, I’m barely looking at Twitter. This window is much more bearable without all the hysteria greeting every new development and/or quasi-development.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 10:22 am79Holloway2Holland

Schoolboy/drunk. Wolfie. 😡
on 14 Aug 2013 at 10:23 am80N7 Gooner

H2H

If we’re going to look at other options, I really hope Michu isn’t one of them. Would far rather look to Benteke, although I suspect Wenger favours a forward who can play more than one position.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 10:28 am81Lars

The team has been signed up and lined up and anyone who tinkers with their team and does transfers and substitutions during the season is a coward and a cheat*. SwedeAsCanBe FC are also pure in the Wolfgangest sense. No Mancs of any variety, no mugsmashers, no LWC:s, no Cavemen-on-Trent players and no CSKA London.

*ok, it’s just me being too lazy to bother with that.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 10:44 am82Uplympian

Ah thanks for advice H2H, could be dangerous to get Wolfie and TaBs mixed up…especially in the dark room after a few bevvies. 😉
Of course apologies to Wolfie….hope my faux pas didn’t send you into a pas de deux and mess up your tutu. 🙂
on 14 Aug 2013 at 10:55 am83Holloway2Holland

Heh @ cavemen-on-Trent.

N.7.

I have no particular aversion to Michu, although I’ll agree he’s not really an out and out striker. At this point I’d welcome Dzecko with open arms, anyone other then Nibbles McRacistcheat to be honest (I’m not that keen on him, incase you missed it)

If your still feeling zen then I shall not offer you a drink, have a hotdog insted…..

One with everything. 🙂
on 14 Aug 2013 at 10:59 am84Trev

Tabs,

Greatest Manager ever, ever, ever …. ?

From what I read you can barely manage to get home ! 😉

No, I’m afraid my debut will prove me to be the greatest manager ever.

I only have one blue Manc – no other undesirables at all – and even he wasn’t my fault, er, Your Honour.

He only slipped onto my team sheet ‘cos I can’t even write properly.

Right, off to take RosieWhateverNumberItWas for a walk and put my tactics together.

Or was it to put my tictacs together ?

Anyway …… 😉
on 14 Aug 2013 at 11:00 am85Ollie

I had to laugh at that :

Unhappy Danish striker Bendtner has asked Arsenal to allow him a free transfer, as his £52,000-a-week wages are proving to be a major stumbling block.

Because the stumbling block is just that, obviously….
on 14 Aug 2013 at 11:05 am86N7 Gooner

Cheers H2H – hotdog gladly accepted.

I’d like to shout the bar a big pint of zen, on my tab. Makes everything so much better. It’s all about becoming at one with the transfer window, understanding that all potential transactions are inter-connected, and that the squad actually exists across seven dimensions, not all of which are visible to the human eye.

It’s actually all quite beautiful.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 11:12 am87Holloway2Holland

Free transfer?

We literaly can’t pay another club to take him off our hands.

I always had a bit of a soft spot for ol’ Nikky B, but he’s oblivious a self indulgent twat, I hope he ends up at a club like Blackburn.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 11:14 am88Holloway2Holland

*oblivious?

That’s bad, even by my bog standards. 😕
on 14 Aug 2013 at 11:20 am89Pangloss

I’m in too. I follow Lars’ rules apart from the bit about Death to All Who Engage In MidSeason Transfers.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 12:02 pm90Lars

H2H, considering TGSTEL seems rather oblivious to the fact that he is a self-indulgent twat I think your choice of word there wasn’t that bad after all 🙂
on 14 Aug 2013 at 12:18 pm91takeabowson

Make N7 right about twitter.

Came in last night and found there’d been yet another mini meltdown there over Suarez. Couldn’t be arsed to find out what the source of all the angst was. This morning I find that it was some report from a chancer Uraguayan journo who said that Suarez had done a U-turn and was was signing a new contract with the mugsmashers. No quotes of course.

Every report is seized upon like its gospel. Complete bollocks.

Well played Lars @81.

Trev @84 – Nothing to do with me Trev. Wolfie is the Fantasy League genius. 😉

Transfer the blue manc and I’m sure Wolfie will find it in his heart to forgive you.

Right, I’m off in search of N7’s seven dimensional world. I shall start with the lotus position. If I’m not back in 4 hours, it probably means I’ve done my hip. Could someone please alert the authorities.

Pass me a scented candle.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 12:20 pm92Wolfgang Smallballs

Up – Apology gratefully accepted. Tutu still intact.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 12:37 pm93Ollie

Power of the media across the Channel too:
yesterday after playing football I was sitting next to a guy who, upon learning I supported Arsenal straight away said ‘they haven’t won a trophy for how long now?’ :s
on 14 Aug 2013 at 1:03 pm94Trev

Ollie,

Did you tell him it was almost 4 days ? 😉
on 14 Aug 2013 at 1:19 pm95behind the 8 ball but gunning for glory

Re: N7 @86. Taking some new drugs? 😉
on 14 Aug 2013 at 1:20 pm96Trev

He swapped medication for meditation – that’s all.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 1:23 pm97Ollie

tabs, couldn’t agree more. I’m seeing a lot of ‘I’ WILL be angry if we haven’t signed anyone by Sep 2′ at the moment, by people who’ve been mostly angry lately.

Twitter is most unpleasant at times and relies on flimsy reports.

I haven’t seen the official announcement on the signing of Alharbi El Jadeyaoui either, despite some pseudo-journo last week saying this would be announced within 48hours. That led to outrage, and I saw this guy claiming ‘look I got something right once so don’t abuse me’. Or something heh. full of pseudo #ITK cunts.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 1:24 pm98Ollie

haha, Trev
on 14 Aug 2013 at 1:29 pm99Holloway2Holland

Looks up and lays it on for………….
on 14 Aug 2013 at 1:31 pm100Bearded Gooner

Lurking
on 14 Aug 2013 at 1:39 pm101NoosaGooner

Tabs it?
on 14 Aug 2013 at 1:39 pm102Bearded Gooner

I’m definitely in for the Ropey league once I get home from work. Silly policy here that blocks any site with “fantasy” in the name.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 1:42 pm103Ollie

Bearded goal!
on 14 Aug 2013 at 1:44 pm104Holloway2Holland

Well in Beardy.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 1:50 pm105Bearded Gooner

Heh Ollie. Reminds me of another great bearded goal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bNBN9XlTK0
on 14 Aug 2013 at 2:09 pm106behind the 8 ball but gunning for glory

The Swansea-Cardiff derbies should make for good entertainment this season. Not sure Cardiff have a chance though. 🙂

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-23532424
on 14 Aug 2013 at 2:33 pm107Cent'Berry

Good day Ladies and Gents.

As regards the new season of FFL the management of The Cents FC have decided to make and play by a single rule;
On no account would we select any player who behaves as or is a cunt to represent our esteemed Football Club, we fully understand that this automatically rules out all Red Mancs, almost all Blue Mancs, all Cavemen-on-Trent, all Spuds, all Mugmashers and almost all Chavs. We will like to add that any player who at any time exhibits cuntish tendencies will be dully removed from our team until said player proves his purity beyond doubt. Thanks for your understanding.

Signed:
Mr Cent.
Non-absentee Owner and dictator-in-chief of The Cents FC.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 2:40 pm108Trev

“Almost” to be interpreted however the hell The Cents FC or any of it’s agents or representatives so choose. We suppose.

See, I’m learning from all the lawyers round here. 😉
on 14 Aug 2013 at 3:02 pm109iLonestar Gooner

Cheers, 8ball. I think I’ll be terrified at camp prospects for the Baby Lady Gooner. But that time is quickly approaching. Midnight Marauders will be ready to pillage come Saturday.

Yo Ho Ho and all that.

BMBD
on 14 Aug 2013 at 3:13 pm110Cent'Berry

Spot on Trev! 😉
on 14 Aug 2013 at 3:20 pm111lordgunner

so are we allowed to make some signing in the fantasy league or do we take arsenal approach 😉
on 14 Aug 2013 at 3:24 pm112Ollie

105, one of the best Bearded goals the world has ever seen for sure!
on 14 Aug 2013 at 3:32 pm113Cent'Berry

105, I’m not ashamed to say that I shed one or two tears of joy when that ball went In!
on 14 Aug 2013 at 4:36 pm114behind the 8 ball but gunning for glory

lordgunner, Actually the best strategy seems to be to work on shirt sales in Malaysia. I already have the Table Pingers marketing strategy half worked out. 😉
on 14 Aug 2013 at 5:25 pm115Lars

Metalist Kharkiv have been thrown out of the CL qualifier, and will be replaced by PAOK in that qualifying round. This should, following the same logic, mean that if Fenerbahce beat us and are subsequently disqualified then we go through.

http://www.uefa.com/uefa/disciplinary/news/newsid=1981184.html#paok+replace+metalist+play+offs
on 14 Aug 2013 at 5:32 pm116Wolfgang Smallballs

Well would you adam an’ eve it? It only turns out diamond geezer ‘Arry is a tranny.

Welcome to the gang ‘Arry!

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BRpD5SxCYAEd-F2.png
on 14 Aug 2013 at 5:55 pm117Uplympian

Wolfie..heh. Thats a far too plain dress sense, perhaps you could give him some more flamboyant advice. Obviously he’s been listen to Rosie too much 😉
on 14 Aug 2013 at 6:02 pm118Wolfgang Smallballs

Up – Haha, this is my normal match day regalia (Speedoes bottom half of course).

http://www.doctormacro.com/Images/Hepburn,%20Audrey/Annex/Annex%20-%20Hepburn,%20Audrey%20(Breakfast%20at%20Tiffany's)_09.jpg

Wasted on ‘Arry though. Very much doubt he has the swagger to carry it off.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 6:11 pm119Ollie

Lost some money again today, how?I do remember that I left in a bit of a huff this morning and half-put notes in my back pocket, but no idea where I lost it or how exactly this time.

Very very pissed off with myself, nearly tempted to sack the going out tonight. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
on 14 Aug 2013 at 6:19 pm120scruzgooner

wolfie, he’d need more than swagger to carry off that look.

lars, that’s excellent news. IF UEFA keeps it consistent, and we happen to lose the tie.

for you stateside gooners, the villa game is on nbc sports network spanish on television, and certainly on their nbc sports live extra, here: http://stream.nbcsports.com/liveextra/

there’s a blank spot at 9:55 edt on nbc sports network english that might be filled with our game, though it could also be filled with sunderland/fulham, norwich city/everton, or west brom (an their elka, eh trev?)/southampton. hopefully they’ll do the right thing.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 6:57 pm121Porco Rosso

Right, signed up for the FFL.

As with last time, NSC (Not Signing Cunts) regulations mostly determine the make-up of the decidedly mid-table Boy Racers.

Bring it on!
on 14 Aug 2013 at 7:17 pm122Trev

Heh @Harry Halfdresser, Tabs.

Where do you legal eagles get the time ? 😉

I only had Zabaleta from the list of undesirables but I guess he will have to go.

As I’ve confirmed Saturday’s starting XI already, do I have to wait ’til next week to Bendtner him out the door ?
on 14 Aug 2013 at 7:49 pm123Harsha

Team made and submitted.

Have always been mid table – Been fairly pure in team selection, mind

Cheers
on 14 Aug 2013 at 7:59 pm124Wind

Anyone watching the England vs Scotland ‘friendly’? 🙂
on 14 Aug 2013 at 8:11 pm125Wind

England 1-0 down to a great James Morrison strike
on 14 Aug 2013 at 8:13 pm126scruzgooner

great strike, wind, and crap hart keeping. i hope that’s his level this year, the blue manc bastards will be in trouble.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 8:13 pm127zicoinexile

I expect us to lose but still enjoying the myth that is English goalkeepers….. 😉
on 14 Aug 2013 at 8:15 pm128scruzgooner

so is morrison, zico. hart definitely mythed it…
on 14 Aug 2013 at 8:17 pm129zicoinexile

Heh scruz
on 14 Aug 2013 at 8:17 pm130scruzgooner

😀
on 14 Aug 2013 at 8:29 pm131arsabeatbarca

Feo goal! 🙂
on 14 Aug 2013 at 8:29 pm132zicoinexile

Theo
on 14 Aug 2013 at 8:29 pm133Wind

Theo!
on 14 Aug 2013 at 8:29 pm134zicoinexile

Take him off now Woy pwease
on 14 Aug 2013 at 8:30 pm135scruzgooner

and now theo. well in, lad.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 8:33 pm136Wind

abb, check my tweets for the Members Day pictures, I sent you a DM also.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 8:34 pm137arsabeatbarca

Thanks Wind! 🙂 Will check @ halftime. xx
on 14 Aug 2013 at 8:38 pm138arsabeatbarca

After watching the replay, think that was one of Theo’s better goals. He was dancing !
on 14 Aug 2013 at 8:39 pm139scruzgooner

agreed, abb. he delivered there in a tough spot, after some good work.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 8:41 pm140arsabeatbarca

Hey Scruz, reminded me just a little of Nasri.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 8:42 pm141scruzgooner

yeah, but with far more grinta than nasri (grinta = backbone). and more chin.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 8:45 pm142arsabeatbarca

Ha ha. Btw,’ That’ Nasri Goal, my fav of all time for the red and white.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 8:46 pm143Wind

Terrible Offside call, England deserve to be 2-1 up. And at Wembley as well, what a disgrace. Nice one The FA 😉
on 14 Aug 2013 at 8:48 pm144scruzgooner

which is that?
on 14 Aug 2013 at 9:03 pm145arsabeatbarca

Wind sent u a DM. Scruz ?! The one where Sami weaved in and out of players, and scored off balance!!!
on 14 Aug 2013 at 9:07 pm146scruzgooner

nice, for the scots.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 9:08 pm147scruzgooner

how bad was cahill, there? and hart didn’t exactly cover himself in glory, either. great work by miller.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 9:08 pm148scruzgooner

abb, i remember a couple of those.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 9:11 pm149scruzgooner

aaaaand welbeck answers. 2-2.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 9:11 pm150arsabeatbarca

Yes scruz 😉 This is a cracking good game! Zico, u should be very proud of your countrymen!
on 14 Aug 2013 at 9:15 pm151arsabeatbarca

OMG, Fight! Poor Theo! 😉
on 14 Aug 2013 at 9:15 pm152Matt (2)

I got 2-chavs and a blue Manc in my team. Shit. The season is over before its even begun. Just like… Ahem…
on 14 Aug 2013 at 9:27 pm153arsabeatbarca

ohhhhhhhhhhh, nice one Ricky!
on 14 Aug 2013 at 9:28 pm154Wind

Cracking Header from Lambert on his England Debut, 3-2 🙂
on 14 Aug 2013 at 9:52 pm155Wind

FT 3-2 to England, good friendly 🙂
on 14 Aug 2013 at 9:52 pm156arsabeatbarca

See that smile on Lambert, how precious is that. What the game is really all about 😉
on 14 Aug 2013 at 10:00 pm157zicoinexile

Hope his next shit is a hedgehog, Abb. 😛
on 14 Aug 2013 at 10:02 pm158pires is king

Hi Holic, all. ABB, I’ll never forget that Nasri goal. Whatever his issues as a human being, I screamed ‘F*#^K OOOOFFFFF!’ so loud when he scored that my neighbors were offended. Brilliant play, too bad he was so spotty for us and such an ass in general. Cest la vie. 🙂
on 14 Aug 2013 at 10:04 pm159pires is king

Also, Giroud missed a sitter late in the game… sigh. I hope his consistency (Vietnamese friendlies aside) gets more ‘patchy’, if you follow.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 10:26 pm160scruzgooner

lol@157, zico. tail first, yes?
on 14 Aug 2013 at 10:30 pm161takeabowson

Trev – not sure. Just bench him 🙂

Well done England. Scots plated well. Great game, tasty atmosphere. Enjoyed it.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 10:31 pm162Oskar the dog

Thanks ‘holic, I’m now a bit the wiser, so expect beginner’s luck to carry the Wellington Wonderers through to victory. Apropos which, could you make the prize a Citroen DS4? I was thinking of buying one anyway…

I had a Citroen Big6 back in the ’60s, a wonderful beast with a back seat big enough for an orgy. 🙂 Don’t need that much space nowadays, sadly. 🙁

Oskar
on 14 Aug 2013 at 10:31 pm163Wolfgang Smallballs

Always a shame to see men in skirts end up on the losing side 😉
on 14 Aug 2013 at 10:36 pm164bathgooner

I thought that was you Wolfie on top of the fountain in Trafalgar Square doing the Marilyn Monroe skirt effect with your kilt?
on 14 Aug 2013 at 10:37 pm165Oskar the dog

Always a shame to see men in skirts, period, Wolfie…

Oskar
on 14 Aug 2013 at 10:38 pm166Cent'Berry

Heh @ Wolfie!
on 14 Aug 2013 at 10:40 pm167Cent'Berry

Trev you can transfer as much as you want now that the league hasn’t started.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 10:43 pm168pires is king

Gol for Santi!
on 14 Aug 2013 at 10:43 pm169Wolfgang Smallballs

Bath – Rumbled 😉

Oscar – You haven’t tried it? Liberating! 🙂
on 14 Aug 2013 at 10:45 pm170Goonerholic

Dr z 😉
on 14 Aug 2013 at 10:52 pm171The Wasp

Telegraph reporting we’re set to make bid for Suarez up to £49m.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 10:57 pm172Trev

Various reports now saying Luiz Gustavo is heading for Arsenal / Napoli have “surged” ahead in the race fir his signature / he has agreed terms with Wolfsburg.

All pretty clear then.

Lurky, where’s your ITK when we need him ?

What’s the latest ?
on 14 Aug 2013 at 11:06 pm173N7 Gooner

Trev @ 172

The ITK has no new info.

Hope the Telegraph is wrong re: this £49m bid. Two weeks of the window left – we’ll have gone too early, blinked first. All this shows is they have us by the short and curlies.

On the upside, if it does fail then it’s enough cash to sign Benteke and Fellaini.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 11:07 pm174Holloway2Holland

Evening all.

It’s been a long day that doesn’t seem like ending any time soon, but a quick pop in to say…..;

Bearded, that was indeed a great strike and one that gives me goosebumps even now.

Heh @ Tranny Harry.

England played Scotland in a meaningless friendly??? My “GIVEASHITOMETRE”didn’t even register a blip.

Cent 107.

Nice morals, but pray tell, what would you do if we sign the racist bucktoothed biter? Would you have him in your team? He’s a cheat and a cuntbucket, would you pick him? Just saying like.

You’ll have to excuse me, there’s a big arse beer on the bar with my name on it that needs to be seen to.

A virtual one on the bar for all y’all too.

Cheers.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 11:14 pm175takeabowson

The Wasp – Got a link?

N7 – Reports tonight (twitter!) that Benteke may have broken a leg. Don’t know if that is true.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 11:20 pm176Oskar the dog

We should sign him immediately, tabs, he’s clearly an Arsenal type!

Oskar
on 14 Aug 2013 at 11:20 pm177N7 Gooner

Tabs

Apparently the Benteke rumours are false. Even if they’re true, he’d still be an upgrade on TGSTEL.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 11:21 pm178arsabeatbarca

Hey holics. Zico, I’m Scottish on me pa’s side 😉 Pik, hi there! I can see that goal in my head, love a great dribbler. That’s why I’m so fond of Gervinho! And need I remind you of this. Goonerholic and his grandson. Grandson, “Grandpa, Nasri sure is something special!” Holic ” He sure is son.” 🙂
on 14 Aug 2013 at 11:22 pm179Oskar the dog

More vulnerable than liberating, Wolfie.

Oskar
on 14 Aug 2013 at 11:26 pm180Trev

@177,

Does that mean Benteke now has a false leg ??? 😉
on 14 Aug 2013 at 11:30 pm181N7 Gooner

Chocolate leg, apparently.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 11:30 pm182Trev

N7 @173,

I heard somewhere that Fellaini’s release clause expires tomorrow.

Surely if we wanted him we wouldn’t have left it until now ?

On the other hand ……
on 14 Aug 2013 at 11:33 pm183N7 Gooner

Trev

I don’t think we’re in for Fellaini. Would surely have done it by now.

Hearing rumours Bac is a doubt for Saturday.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 11:36 pm184takeabowson

Oscar @176 – Heh 🙂

N7 @177 – Ah that’s good if untrue and agreed on the upgrade 🙂
on 14 Aug 2013 at 11:41 pm185Trev

I thought Theo pulled up a bit awkwardly tonight, then he immediately waved to the bench and, a minute later, was off.

Wouldn’t be surprised to hear he is a doubt too.

Starting to get quite angry now at our complete lack of activity. I know, I know, it’s all happening behind the scenes. Well, it would be quite nice to see some of it happening in front of the scenes.

With a squad like ours, every little niggle becomes a serious issue.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 11:45 pm186N7 Gooner

Keep it zen Trev.

Fuck only knows what’s actually going on, but we’ve not much longer to wait now for the moment of truth.
on 14 Aug 2013 at 11:51 pm187zicoinexile

@ 175

There you go

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/10243722/Luis-Suarez-transfer-may-be-back-on-as-Arsenal-consider-final-bid-of-49m-for-Liverpool-striker.html

Looking for hits I think….
on 15 Aug 2013 at 12:11 am188arsabeatbarca

@ 187, whether it is or not (for hits), makes perfect sense we would up our bid for him, by a generous amount (help Liverpool save face). As for injuries, the ‘Physio Room’, list Aaron as the latest victim. Of course, to early to tell on Walcot. Googled Bac , found no injuries reported.
on 15 Aug 2013 at 12:14 am189Holloway2Holland

Trev, you’re right to be angry.

Our inactivaty borders on gross neglegance. There may very well be things going on behind the scenes that we are not privy to, but any additions we now make will be coming in too late, the season starts in three days and our squad is positevly anorexic. It’s beyond ridiculous.

We all know that it’s not easy to sign players, but come on, Spertz, with only the promiss of Thursday night footy have strengthened in almost every area and we’re still fannying around with sweet F.A. to show for it… Oh, hold up…. Sorry, we got a guy on a free from a French second division team that’s now injured. We are getting taken for fools.

It’s so bad that a large portion of the support are pinning their hopes on us landing Suarez…. Not the guy who was one of the top scorers in Belguim, but the utter scumbag that played (cheated his way through games) for Liverpoo’. The same guy that we all berated for his disgraceful behaviour towards Evra, the same guy we called a cheat when he dived all over the place, the same guy who took a lump out of a fellow pro’ for no other reason then that he got frustrated. The same guy that blamed the media for making him “a victim” and blamed everybody else for his disgraceful behaviour. The same guy who was supported through thick and thin by a club and management team that over the last few weeks he has called liars.

Just thinking about him joining us makes me literaly sick to my stomach, but due to the total shambles (yeah I said it) that this summer has been, somehow he has become the be all and end all to all our problems. SAD, SAD, SAD. But when push comes to shove we only have ourselves (and by that I mean our management team) to blame

I hate doing this, because it makes me sound like one of those little bitches that moan about everything, but honestly, when is enough enough? Is the faith that we have put in our leaders misguided? 17 days to go before the window slams shut, who among us honestly believes that we’ll do what we have to do?

I keep hearing that we have to wait ’til the window actually closes before passing judgement, but won’t that be too late? If it isn’t really too late already.
on 15 Aug 2013 at 12:16 am190Wind

The Hurricanes, managed by Wind, have entered the Happy Train You Ropey League 😛

Devoid of all unsightly elements 😉 , they’re looking forward to the new season… 8)
on 15 Aug 2013 at 12:22 am191Lurky Oliva

Trev,

The “source” himself doesn’t conclude the deals, just provides some info about the activities of our beloved club to us the poor ones. That info is correct for the most of the time and his news usually are one or two days ahead of the same ones from the journos.

Anyway, if the reports that Sagna is injured are really true we don’t have any healthy defender on the bench for Saturday’s game. And we have CL qualifier next Wednesday.
on 15 Aug 2013 at 12:29 am192Cent'Berry

H2H @175, I won’t lie, in as much I don’t want us(Arsenal) to sign him a part of me keeps telling me FFL is just a game and therefore I should forgive all his cuntishness and let him become a Cent if Arsenal do sign him. Hopefully we will get Rooney(I can forgive his crimes) instead so I won’t have to mull over that thought.
on 15 Aug 2013 at 12:34 am193Cent'Berry

The French journalist who Tweeted the Sagna news said “saw Sagna after the match, he seemed to be limping, not sure about saturday” let’s not conclude it’s a full blown injury yet.
on 15 Aug 2013 at 12:34 am194Holloway2Holland

Cent my friend, with that logic you can forgive anyone for anything.

H2HFC is full of buttholes I will never try to apologise for. 😎
on 15 Aug 2013 at 12:35 am195Trev

Lurky,

My comment wasn’t meant to be sarcastic, I genuinely wondered if he had any crumbs of comfort. I had a truly great source myself, and that also came to nothing.

Just clutching at straws I suppose as the Gustavo “deal”, if there was an enquiry, also seems to be going down the tubes.

There were all sorts of very positive quotes from him about Arsenal but it, too, appears to be a no-go.
on 15 Aug 2013 at 12:37 am196Lurky Oliva

I was just wondering how many of us would have been happy and relaxed if we’ve signed David Villa, Tevez, Capoue or Fellaini, Cezar and Williams for a combined fee of 30-40 million until today. I know I would.
Was it that hard?
on 15 Aug 2013 at 12:41 am197Lurky Oliva

Trev, Gustavo is off it seems. All about the money. Wolfsburg will pay about 19 mill. to Bayern and 7 mill a year to the player. Out of our range I guess.
on 15 Aug 2013 at 12:46 am198Trev

Really ?

Ivan said we could afford a super star and his wages.

“We could do more than that”.

Somebody is not being absolutely straight if the Gustavo deal really is off because of money.
on 15 Aug 2013 at 1:01 am199Trev

So far we’ve made around a £10 million profit this window and freed around £500,000 per week from the wage bill.

Of course we wouldn’t spend any of that on a top quality replacement. If we just sit and wait, his present club will probably just give him to us.

Or we could offer what WE want to pay and not a penny more. Why wouldn’t they just agree ?
on 15 Aug 2013 at 1:04 am200Goonerholic

Nobody want the double then? 😉
on 15 Aug 2013 at 1:11 am201Trev

Couldn’t self assist. 😉
on 15 Aug 2013 at 1:13 am202Goonerholic

You are a gent Trev.

See you Saturday at opening time?
on 15 Aug 2013 at 1:18 am203Trev

About 12.00 for me.
on 15 Aug 2013 at 1:36 am204Cent'Berry

H2H @194, I guess so, I don’t forget though.

Well in ‘H.

Trev, the latest ‘report’ is that Gustavo just said on National TV in Brazil that his future is not yet decided but that he will make a decision soon. Is that comfortable enough?
on 15 Aug 2013 at 2:47 am205Cynic

I didn’t know Arsenal.com were doing free digital membership with full access to Arsenal Player. Signed up even though I’ll probably never use it.
on 15 Aug 2013 at 3:02 am206Doctor Faustus

Lurky/Trev — I suspect in matters of bringing in quality players from the very top teams (with all respect to Lille or Malaga or Montpellier) the unspoken rules of engagement probably have moved beyond the domain of Arsenal’s experience-expertise-comfort.

Whatever formula/mechanism we are using to evaluate the ‘maximum’ we are willing to spend on a target has been falling short so many times in recent years I guess it is time to change that formula instead of waiting for the market (however unbalanced, irrational and even unethical to a certain extent it may seem) to tune to our evaluation if we are to build a team that has enough strength in depth to compete on all fronts for the finest honors.

Focusing on the process and perfecting it more often than not yields the result, but sometimes that process needs either tuning or an overhaul.

H2H had earlier used the word ‘negligence’, I would rather use ‘incompetence’ if we are to enter the next month without adequate quality additions for DM, defense and striker positions, players than can and will fight for first eleven positions.
on 15 Aug 2013 at 3:02 am207arsabeatbarca

Cynic, I registered for it, don’t know if that means I’ll get it. It’s a really good deal. Player and manager interviews, everything. Just like you said. 🙂
on 15 Aug 2013 at 3:33 am208behind the 8 ball but gunning for glory

Meditation instead of medication? I’ve been thinking we could use an innovative approach. 😉
on 15 Aug 2013 at 5:32 am209goonsterham lincoln

Can I just echo Trev @185? “Starting to get quite angry.” And I have been keeping it SUPER ZEN all summer with just a few momentary lapses…

Yes we’ve still got two weeks. But what’s finally gotten to me is that it appears we’re missing out on good players because we’re not willing to shuck out those few extra $$. Higuain, and now (possibly) Gustavo. Players we desperately need, players of “top quality,” players the club evidently identified as targets and made substantial bids for, and then when the price went up that little bit more, we backed down. Arsene: there is no objective “value” that a player is “worth” that its a sin to go above. A player is worth what it takes to get him in the market. And when we have that money on hand, the sin it NOT to make it happen.

Two weeks. I know we’ll buy players, but I’m just afraid they’ll be Santoses and Parks when what we need are, well, Higuains and Gustavos. Hopefully I’m wrong.

Ok that’s just pretty much what everyone else is saying and I’ve added little to nothing to the discussion. But this is a bar right?? So I can drunkenly just say what I’m thinking? And it felt kind of good to sit down and tap it out. God bless N7 et al for keeping the temperature down at least a little bit…
on 15 Aug 2013 at 7:59 am210Lars

Injuries? No new players coming in? Everyone else strengthening their team while we are being crippled by internal power struggles/Wenger not being given money/Wenger not wanting to spend money/useless negotiators/some other cause/all of the above?

Well then, distract yourself by having a look at this for a while – if you know your Smiths lyrics its quite funny:

http://thischarmingcharlie.tumblr.com/
on 15 Aug 2013 at 8:43 am211N7 Gooner

Lurky @ 196

I think that’s exactly the sort of summer business we might have done with.

For whatever reason, the club have clearly decided that they need to use all the newfound dough to make a big splash. Possibly to make it a little easier to convince the big names to join in future.

We’ll know in two weeks time whether that was the right decision – it’s certainly proved to be a gamble.

@ Goonsterham

No worries – everyone deserves to vent every once in a while, it’s good for the soul.

I remain resolutely zen. Look at my hand – not even shaking a bit. I’m keeping my focus on Saturday and the three points we absolutely must claim. Then I’ll start thinking about the next game. Then, soon enough, it’ll be 2 Sept and I’ll either be breathing a zen like sigh of relief or doing some very un-zen kicking and screaming about our performance over the summer.
on 15 Aug 2013 at 9:01 am212Lars

N7: I still refuse to believe that we should manage to go through the entire sumemr without strengthening, but I am getting increasingly worried. We’ll see what Gustavo says today if indeed there is a presser, but I must admit I dare not hope anymore for fear of once again being disappointed.
on 15 Aug 2013 at 9:15 am213takeabowson

Dr Z – Cheers for the link. Think you’re right about the link. Seems to be more supposition than substance.

N7 @173 – Intrigued as to why you think “blinking first” might be a bad thing? Not really disagreeing, just interested in how you see it panning out. I wonder if it might be worth making that sort of bid now? We are clearly going to have to pay something approaching that to get him. It would give Suarez himself more ammunition to continue to play merry hell with Liverpool, and if the worst comes to the worst and Liverpool are true to their word and cannot be budged on selling him to us, it gives us 2 weeks to look elsewhere.

If we wait for them to blink, we obviously might get him for slightly cheaper than £49m, but run the very real risk of the window snapping shut with no new forward at all.

I’ve no real point to make. Just thinking aloud really.
on 15 Aug 2013 at 9:18 am214takeabowson

Anybody seen Gustavo play? I need to know how I should feel when he goes elsewhere? 😉

Lars @210 – heh, great link.
on 15 Aug 2013 at 9:19 am215Wolfgang Smallballs

“Some balls are bigger than others” 😉
on 15 Aug 2013 at 9:19 am216Porco Rosso

So possible injuries: Sagna, Walcott, Cazorla (probably too knackered after a long-haul flight). Have I missed anyone out?

That means our one back-up man to our only two fit centre halves could be out of the game on Saturday, so all we have to wish for is for Jenkinson to suddenly become about 40% better than he usually is, and Mert and Kos not to pick up any knocks otherwise we’ll be fielding a 10-year-old in central defence.

I would love to be in charge of Arsenal: put millions of quid in various bank accounts, tell everyone you’re working really (no, REALLY) hard with no pressure to produce results and er, that’s it!
on 15 Aug 2013 at 9:22 am217Porco Rosso

arsebeatbarca all the way back @ 38

How did you jump the gun? It’s all going swimmingly thanks, but she’s not allowed to pop this weekend because of MOTD (or, she could arrive any time after 9am Sunday).
on 15 Aug 2013 at 9:32 am218takeabowson

All the best Porco.

A big weekend coming up in more ways than one. 😉
on 15 Aug 2013 at 9:34 am219Lurky Oliva

N7@211

I understand your zen proclaims, that is where I have tried to come from, too. I must admit that even though I am giving my best, I don’t succeed that anymore. I wonder how many of the fans will remain zen until 2-Sept if we lose to Fenerbahce on 28-Aug, because of exhausted and injured thirteen players who have just finished playing five games in fifteen days?

In other news, Capoue is officially gone to the neighbors. I got a feeling this have something similar to Vertonghen saga last summer, and that we are going to regret it for being so ignorant.

Since today the Tots signed Soldado, Paulinho, Chadli, Capoue.

A CF, DM, LW and DM who can play CB. Sounds familiar?

I hear that Roma’s Erik Lamela and Ajax’s Christian Eriksen are on their way. They will sell Bale in the end to balance their books, but does anyone believe that they will have a weaker squad than last year?
on 15 Aug 2013 at 9:38 am220Porco Rosso

Cheers Tabs, I reckon she’s going to hang on for a good couple of weeks. So she may end up being LANS. 😀
on 15 Aug 2013 at 9:47 am221takeabowson

Heh Porco 🙂

Lurky – Spurs are a laughable bunch of cocks. Always have been, always will be. I find that self-evident truth always brings me calm 😉

Personally, I think Vertoghen is massively over-rated. Scored a couple of good goals but formed part of a very porous defence. Spurs have, as of yet, failed to address the weakest part of their side, their defence, so in answer to your question, yes they will be even more laughable.

🙂
on 15 Aug 2013 at 10:06 am222N7 Gooner

Tabs @ 213

My thinking is that £49m is probably our top bid. It’s certainly the max I would want us to pay, perhaps even a little toppy.

If we offer it and they say no, then what then? I guess we move on. We’ll certainly have left ourselves nowhere to go.

There is still over a fortnight left in this window. It may not seem like much to us, but I suspect that in the eye of the storm it’s seen as absolutely ages. Personally, I’d make my top bid in the final week, when Liverpool’s dilemma will be at its clearest, and the pressure on them would be greatest.

Weighed against that, I suspect we are gambling that an offer now gives them time to reinvest. I suspect we may also feel that it gives us more time to find an alternative if the bid is rejected.

I honestly believe Liverpool will release the player. It’s just a question of when and for how much. And I think the “how much” decreases the closer we get to the window shutting. Just my hunch.
on 15 Aug 2013 at 10:07 am223N7 Gooner

Tabs @ 221

Spot feckin on.
on 15 Aug 2013 at 10:17 am224takeabowson

N7 @220 – All very fair. Hope you’re right. Suspect you will be.
on 15 Aug 2013 at 10:18 am225takeabowson

Sorry @222
on 15 Aug 2013 at 10:45 am226Lloydie THG

Thankfully the transfer deadline date has been shown to concentrate wonderfully the minds, and focus, of all the teams and players likely to move and to do away with the hubris that surrounds all the enquiries and approaches during the summer.

The brinkmanship, bluster and bravado that has ruled through the summer tends to disappear in the final 24 hours, as it’s squeaky-bum time for the selling clubs, and as Mr ‘N7 has pointed out it’s then time to finally close the deal, or in our case deals. So like N7 I’m ready to be zen until then. The threadbare squad will manage until then and all the squad, as all of Arsene’s players learn to cover and play in different positions for these eventualities. The current group are more than capable of managing at present.

Can I recommend the latest instalment from “7AM Kickoff” as a thought provoking assessment of potential deals. I tend to agree with the logic and likely transfers. Until then pleasant dreams to all about perfect targets. Heh.
on 15 Aug 2013 at 10:49 am227Lurky Oliva

Tabs, I believe we will sign players, that is inevitable.

What worries me are the crucial games vs Fenerbahce, and it looks I am in minority here who is actually concerned about it.
I would not care if we don’t sign anybody until 28-Aug, as long as we qualify for the Champions League.

If we do qualify, there will be at least 3-4 players. The problem however, is what happens if we don’t.
on 15 Aug 2013 at 11:00 am228takeabowson

Lurky – I agree with you mate, but no amount of worrying about it is gonna change the outcome.

We’ll cross that bridge if and when we get to it.

Que sera sera.
on 15 Aug 2013 at 11:09 am229Goonerholic

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Goonerholic

Eat, sleep, breathe, drink, Arsenal

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