The Aftermath
Jun 1st, 2014 by 'holic
A strange week in which the glow of FA Cup triumph remained while the realisation that the Arsenal won’t be delighting us for a couple of months (new signings apart, obviously) set in. Post-season attention disorder is with us.
Bacary Sagna said he was leaving, which surprised nobody. I don’t get the bile being directed at him by the vociferous few. He has been a solid servant and at the end of his contract he knows his next is likely to be his last. At that point he is looking to grab that last big money deal and we won’t match the highest payers. Good luck, Bacary, and thank you for the memories. Move on.
The story of the weekend, and one guaranteed to generate hits and sell papers, concerns Cesc and a possible summer move. If Barca are prepared to sell with Xavi and Iniesta seemingly on the wane then it would be something of a surprise. It is another issue to split the fanbase. For me our priorities lay elsewhere, but if he can be accommodated without affecting our plans to strengthen in other areas then why not?
Then of course the least surprising news of the week. On Friday the club announced Arsene Wenger’s three years contract extension. Now in the wake of the Wembley triumph that was only to be expected. The question will always hang in the air, ‘what if we had lost the Final’? It is now immaterial.
At the end of the day we have secured the services of a loyal and largely successful manager who has navigated some lean years as we moved stadium. I wonder, after all of the negativity he faced in those lean years, if he thought for one moment about bowing out with a trophy and Champions League football again secured?
It is telling that still debates rage about how active we will be in the transfer market this summer, and I was drawn to one quote of his when the subject was raised.
“What I can promise is that we work very hard on a market that is very, very congested with many people who have a lot of money. But we have a big advantage, players want to join us and if we find the right quality I’m sure we can strengthen the team.”
He is both setting expectation at a high level but with the caveat about competition in the market at every level. At the highest level I’m not sure we can effectively compete with the Manchester Citys and Paris St Germains of this world. The players who want to join us may be at a level just below world-class, and it is imperative we bring in characters who will contribute to the spirit in the squad, as well as supplementing the quality we have.
Now this is where the discussion is handed over to you. My distaste at idle speculation in transfer windows is well documented, but I can tell from the drinks that it is a fascination for many of you. So we need what exactly? A goalkeeper, certainly. A right-back who can cover in the centre, yes. A holding, or defensive, midfielder, probably. A goalscorer up top, certainly. A real winger rather than an out of position midfielder or forward. We haven’t even got to Cesc yet…
Have a great week, ‘holics.
534 Responses to “The Aftermath”
1st
Well well – where should I start?
Things are pretty much covered above and what I said at the end of the last drinks for me. I will play devils advocate and state where I feel we need to strengthen. I say the same thing every year so this list will not be much different from before
1) A replacement for Bacary
2) A replacement for Fabianski
3) replacements for Park and Bendtner (ahem)
4) An attacking midfielder who we can rotate during shortages
5) A DM
Have I forgotten anyone?
In my eyes that’s four replacements and two new signings. I feel we could tinker with what we have without going over budget for the new guys.
But my judgement may require more thought, which easily be influenced by majority. Utd we stand and all of that. It would be fab if we don’t start the season short.
😉
How many like me wonder if Carl J can be the right back/centre half cover and we should go for out and out right back (Aurier seems a good bet)
Lot also depends on the Verminator- don’t write him off.
Yes a left winger
Expect a lot more from Diaby plus some of the others to be promoted from reserves to full team
Yes a GK but again Mendez is also ready for the step up
I then would personally look for a utility player (Ch/Holding Midfielder)
You can see I am les expectant of real major signings because as I see it wenger has now proved a successful development policy rather than cheque book mentality
Flamini can play centre back but a good reliable one waiting in the wings alongside TV would be and advantage, although TV was a more than adequate deputy. He was actually not fully fit which may have stemmed from his surgery a couple of seasons ago and lack of playtime.
A bit of pre- season behind him should help. I wonder how Johan is progressing??
Good stuff, guv’nor. I subscribe to your dislike of transfer speculation. What’s it for? How will it benefit the world/Goonerverse/anyone but the writer?
It’s summer! (I think belive meteorologists start it on June 1). Bring it on!
How many trophies did Mourinho win last season?
Regarding Jenkinson, before he becomes an enigma, his latest interview has revealed a few things about his mentality, belief and ability. As far as he is concerned, he believes he is ready for the step up which is positive. I have only seen him play in pre-season and he did not have the same level of calm and experience as Sagna. However as everyone knows, pre-season is not conclusive when it come to ability. Jenkinson stated that his high energy game relies upon playing regularly and building up his energy levels consistently.
I have always rated Jenks’ industriousness, although between him and Bac, the latter showed a more safer option. Saying that, I believe a good season fighting it out with high level competition should do Jenks some good. He’s a raw gem which needs to blossom. So for me, I’m up for a clean slate for him and a high quality RB. This includes his ability at CB.
As for having to drag him out of the club, how much more loyalty do we need?
Our commercial team are really doing their job http://www.arsenal.com/the-club/sponsors-partners/cooper-tires/cooper-tire-europe-becomes-official-club-partner what are the odds on us getting official loo paper sponsors next?
Transfer speculation is often ridiculous but discussion of who might fill the several holes in the team is the natural discourse of fans. It’s more important than all the talk about kits and suchlike as it radically affects how well we are likely to do next year.
There is a whole business devoted to transfer speculation and the web drags up so many contradictory or superfluous reports that I get very cynical about much of the journalism. Wenger’s most important task is to select the right personnel for the team next season ( not commentate for French TV)and to decide who goes so the ins and outs rightly dominate our thinking. Considering that with a slightly more successful set of windows last season we might have won the league it is the key activity of the summer.
If Remy and Aurier are done deals as I was led to believe yesterday it is highly significant for the future of the team . But I can well do without Football Direct and suchlike churning out a lot of garbage just to get hits
“Post-season attention disorder”, Holic ? Indeed, well summed up.
And then you went and really asked for it by inviting – you of all people! – idle transfer speculation.
Well, 7 drinks in and you can’t be disappointed !
We have players in the squad – not even in the team – who are assumed to have such multi-positional abilities, that they will be able to play to the required level in the Premier League and Champions League.
I apologise now if my memory has failed me but when, for example, have we seen Carl Jenkinson display Premier League class at centre back ?
That wasn’t supposed to ” submit” @10!
I like Jenks a lot and feel he could be a success at right back with defensive improvement, but centre back, really ?
And, generally, why are people suggesting we buy utility players all over the pitch when this is supposed to be the dawn of the era when we can actually afford some of the best players in their proper positions.
This ‘discussion’ is going to be brain damage if a bit of serious thought doesn’t go into it.
Sorry, I’ll get back in bed and try climbing out of the other side. 😉
Sorry, Holic.
There was meant to be a ” 😉 ” after the ‘you inviting’ line.
See, the brain damage has kicked in already. 😉
Hehe Trev 😉
One thing I haven’t seen mentioned (apologies if I have missed it) is what signing Cesc, when we already have Oazil, Cazorla, Ramsey, Wilshere et al would do to the development of Gedion Zelalem.
For me he is the one young Gunner I fully expect to play at the highest level, and hopefully with us. This could be a big year for him.
Can’t see Cesc coming back unless we’re getting rid of one of Ozil, Cazorla or Wilshere. Not unless Cesc is going to be bench fodder. 🙂
Personally would prefer a decent goalkeeper, a couple of centre backs (third and fourth choice) with Vermaelen gone, a right back of quality but with the place up for grabs to encourage Jenks and a monster in midfield to replace Arteta. A proper hulking brute of a player who can destroy opponents with a glance, but has the delicacy of pass of a Platini with the vision of Bergkamp. Should be loads of those about 😉
Oh and a striker who is NOT Benzema.
If Sagna goes to City, would you want to try to take Zabaleta off them?
Cynic – I was even going to suggest Micah Richards. I can’t see city parting company with Zabaleta. He looks like their first choice RB. I could be wrong.
Trev – your comments are a little confusing and “Sports Indirect” (see what I did there?) 😆
It’s not quite clear to me what apart from a dislike for transfer speculation, is at issue for you.
All of the transfer speculation gets a bit annoying, especially when we are linked with pointless players. But I don’t see anything wrong with a little light hearted banter, as long as it doesn’t go to far out of control.
Me tinks 🙂
Hello, not posted here (or any other Arse blogs for that matter) for months, but the euphoria of the Cup win and the subsequent glow that followed, which allowed for some serious basking in, has drawn me back!
Also, I am a sucker for the odd bit of transfer spec and gossip. 🙂
There was one player we have been linked to, albeit briefly who really fired my imagination with the possibilitles of how he would improve this side.
Javi martinez of Bayern. Wow, if it was possible to sign him, then we would have the complete midfield.
Signing Cesc would be a bonus, but I cannot envisage how or why Barca would seriously be considering selling him? It makes zero sense, none at all. Which means he is almost certainly out the door then.
Sorry Trev a bit of that was meant for TTG I think 😆
BTW; I cannot recal seeing Flamini, or Jenks ever playing at CB. However, I could see Jenkinson eventually playing there.
Serge Aurier seems like a good option (he CAN play CB too) and Remy (who we should have signed last summer) will also improve the squad dramatically.
But if carl has a really good pre-season, with signs of developmental improvement, then he may well be considered 1st choice come August, which would allow Aurier to be eased into the PL and England.
Cheers, ‘holic!
In my opinion Jenks has all the ingredients of becoming very very good RB. He has great engine, his delivery to the box is fantastic and he has good pace. He needs to improve his decision making but that comes only through playing.
I am big fan of his and I think he is going to make that spot his for years to come, the spell when he played after Bacs broken leg persuaded me about that, just look at the Man City away from last season. He was absolutely imperious there.
Torn on Cesc, but pretty much share the sentiment of todays Arseblog, if he really is available, then buy him, simple as that.
Boz! 🙂
Going to Church to work on my soul and remember how to forgive. If I am successful, then my outlook on the faux-Cesc transfer issues will change. The regulars are well versed on my antipathy towards that Spanish Bloke. I still feel his agitation for a move and his disrespect for his contract (contrasted with Sagna’s mature professionalism) are discounted. How Na$ri comes in for more stick…well, I kinda understand that now- she is a C U Next Tuesday – but still.
However, anger and spite are beside the point. From a logical perspective, signing that Spanish Bloke is an imperative for all the points that Blogs mentioned this morning. Sorry, Guv, but Zelalem’s development can only be aided with Cesc being part of the squad. Strategically, we cannot allow him to go strengthen a competitor (even if all we did was buy him and store him in cotton).
The conclusion is simple. If Cesc is available, we have to exercise our option and bring him back. Simples. Guess I didn’t really need to go to Church after all.
Oh, and don’t think I didn’t see what you did there ‘Holic. Good way to tell us not to expect a new post until next week 😛
Norris
I am sure I saw Flamini cover in defence sometime between 2005-07.
Nice one Guvna. Wicked ending though, throwing that lump of red meat into the cage. 🙂
Jenks as CB? Jeepers. He’ll need to learn how to head the ball first. Lesson one is head it well out not up! Can’t see him as cover there myself.
Hehe, it won’t be that long Lonestar, but posting on a laptop is a pain when one has been used to the big old broken lump 🙁
Chucklin’ at bath too. Red meat? I know not what you mean sir 😉
GT@25: Memory tells me that Matty covered at left-back for a longish period before he left for ACM. Don’t recall him ever playing CB – don’t give me nightmares.
As for Cesc, 100% behind ‘holic and arseblogger – if he’s for sale (big IF), buy him.
As for the rest, Arsene knows. 🙂
In:
Tello
Fabregas
Di Maria
Martinez
Aurier
Out:
Podolski
Cazorla
Arteta
Ryo
Whaaaaaaat???
What’s this about idle transfer speculation?
It’s the answer! It will happen!
But getting rid of Podolski, Arteta and Cazorla? Really? Aren’t we trying to improve the depth and quality of the squad?
Go on then keep Arteta.
My reckoning is that lot cost £110-120m.
So we better bring in some cash:
Cazorla is Ozil light
Podolski would be third choice on the left after Di Maria and Ozil if you put Fabregas in the hole.
DK
Right back it was!!
I knew he was around there somewhere. 😆
Erm, which Martinez are we signing? Jackson, Javi or Roberto? 🙂
Just wondering as there didnt seem to be a striker in that list.
(Unless it’s Jackson!)
Signing Cesc?
I thought we were looking for pace and strength in the middle the pitch to gave us more balanced squad, because we already have lightweight creative minded midfield with Cazorla, Ozil, Wilshere, Rosicky, Walcott etc.
Availability of Cesc must not interrupt our transfer plans, and I speak this as a big fan of his. If Barca decided to sell him, good for them, but I personally think it is agent talk.
Anyway, looks like Aurier and Remy are done deals, so that could be a good start.
Ospina from Nice is a good GK, should do the job.
Cesc, if we have some money on August 31 and you are available for less then 30m, we will consider your case. Since then you are an enemy player.
Though Aurier still plays right back for Ivory Coast, he played at centre-half or right midfield for Toulouse all last season, not as a full back as he did the season before. Aurier, if he signs, vs Jenks for the right back berth next season may be a faux match-up. Aurier may spend his first season getting acclimatised to the Premiership as the auxiliary defender, or might he represent a stealth signing of a potential DM? At 21, he is still young enough to be an AW project.
GT, Norris: Flamini played left-back in the season before he first left, and played it very well. It was said at the time that he was the best right midfielder playing left back in Europe, but one of the reasons he left was that he didn’t want to play out of position, but alongside Cesc.
I still haven’t gotten over Fabregas playing that ridiculous back heeled
pass in/around our own penalty area in a champions league game against Barcelona that lead to a goal.
However, given that we were apparently trying to sign Draxler in the January 2014 transfer winter but were unsucessful, perhaps Arsene will ringfence that money for buying Fabregas instead, assuming of course that he is actually being made available by his current club.
We shall see.
@Simon at 34,
Santi is ambidextreous, Ozil is very left-footed.
Santi is an amazing dribbler, who can get out of tight situations, and also is an effective presser and interceptor of the ball – things which you don’t quite associate with Ozil.
Santi, unlike Ozil, can grab games by the scruff of the neck, even if the team isn’t quite clicking.
Hence how can he be Ozil-lite if they don’t even share the same characteristics?
That aside, remember, he single-handedly got us the fourth place the season before the last.
This is much better holics, love me some morning idle transfer speculation/wish lists! 🙂 But, where does Diaby fit in?
Calling Cazorla, Özil light could be viewed as pretty disparaging. Then again, not many players are on a par with our Mesut! Also Santi is very versatile, scores important goals (if I recall correctly!) and very important to this team.
Arteta and Podolski are also key, for me. Sure Mikael may not be a sure starter, but how many seasons have we been found wanting for wont of adequate depth due to injuries?
We need to keep as many senior pros as possible, not jettison them.
Grav Lens@40: Hear hear! Also, let’s not forget Santi’s free kick goal in the FA cup final to get us back in the match, and, my personal fav, the headed then volleyed goal against SAS at home this past season.
Interesting that an article about how some Holics dislike transfer speculation leads to a huge round of…..transfer speculation. It’s a very addictive subject.
NBN
Yes, I thought as much. I am sure he has played emergency back-up when called upon, especially when closing games.
He clearly prefers the midfield position and to be honest, so do I for him. My point really was that, CB was not our most important spot needing filling next season. I moved my attention swiftly back to TV and even considered Djourou’s progress.
Idea that we can’t fit Cesc into a team that had Arteta as it’s midfield orchestrator after a season in which the lego-haired one’s legs quite obviously started going is nuts.
I’d still love to see us add some genuine physicality and defence first attitude to that area of the squad, but like-for-like Cesc for Arteta is a massive upgrade.
To be honest, With Flamini offering diversity in the squad, we might be best served finding someone younger and versatile who can play both centre-back and central midfield. Maximise chance of game time and basically we want a defender in midfield for some away games. A far less ugly, much more useful on the ball Phil Jones would be handy.
I hope we tie down the other positions first so that we can play the waiting game with Cesc. The biggest mistake would be to let this drag on and lose the priority on other positions. Once we have those tied up , lets move in and finish it off. :). Feels nice to be in the position of power [after a long time]. Tables have turned – Barcamwahaha.
First thing that I really want to know is whether Cesc up for sale is all agent talk [remember its contract renewal time] or really whether a team that is soo obsessed with homegrown players want to release the only reasonable replacement for Xavi at a throwaway price..
Doesnt make sense at all..
@Dr Faustus
Following up on the Giroud vs Remy.
If we are not going to go for a big name striker (which I was really hoping we would.. ) I seriously hope we could go in for someone like Bony.
Definitely not world class but as good as Giroud? And can play with or without him.
From what little I’ve seen, I personally dont think Remy is an Arsenal-quality striker. Hope to be proven wrong though.
Sajit, I am with you. Would prefer Bony to Remy, no brainer.
I will be arrogant enough and say that I will bet with anyone that Bony will score 20+ next season in the PL, if injury free.
Remy is a squad player at best. He will score a couple of goals, but he is not a player you can rely on to solve the game for you.
It is funny to me to see comments regarding Bony, I remember him from his Sparta Prague days and at the start of his career there he was woeful, to say the least. His improvement has very steep curve tho, after a year in Sparta he became one of the most pivotal persons in attack.
He is basically Drogba lite, with less flair. He is very strong and his finishing good. Wouldnt mind if we signed him for sure.
Two tasks this summer as I see it. We need to add 2/3 “super quality” players, as Arsene would say and also add some depth/youth to certain areas of the squad.
In defence, we have 4 of our back 5 nailed down and a top quality back-up left full-back. We need a keeper and a right-back good enough to push what we have, but we’re never spending great sums on either.
We need to add goals, as Le Boss made clear recently. How we do that depends. We could go for someone like Remy for a (relatively speaking) small fee. Proven PL and international player. Can score and will add variation and rotation to our striking role. Or we could go out and spunk 30/40/50mil chasing another Suarez style. Guess it depends on the market. If we do the former, and say sign Remy for 8mil, then there is clearly space in the squad and bank account to get in another world class creator. Hola Cesc. Va a casa amigo.
In midfield, we obviously need someone to offer tactical variation to our midfield away from home. Someone in the Gilberto mould. Maybe someone young who can be bought along. We also desperately need some pace out wide (and everywhere else.) Was obvious to all how fundamental to us Theo was, can’t be just him again in that role.
So:
Keeper. Right-back. 4th choice CB. Defence minded midfielder. (Ideally wrap these last two into one.) Winger. Striker. Luxury creative player, just cos how can you ever have too many.
My 2 bobs worth, based on nothing but transfer tattle from the rags and several hours youtube scouting (#youtubescout.) My perfect summer V.1:
Osvaldo
Aurier
Javi Martinez
Vela (too good a deal to pass up.)
Cesc
Remy
Greaselightening fella from sociedad to, cos we are flush innit.
Ned; I remember Flamini playing at LB and doing a great job too. Just the CB thing seemed off.
Can’t believe the slating Remy is taking!? He would be a quality addition to our squad. Now I am not suggesting Bony isnt decent, just that he is very similar to Giroud. Now if he was as fast as Theo then, yes he would be a viable option.
Remy can play wide or centrally, has great technique and is pacey. I would also take Eto’o on a special “pay as you play the chavs” contract!
Afternoon all.
The Arsenal ladies in the F.A cup final live on BBC2 if you’re interested.
GOOOOAAAL Smith.
One nil to da Arsenal!!!
El Puno, Osvaldo? You refer to Ospina maybe, or Osvaldo who is at Juve, but played at So’ton?
Agree on Ospina, Martinez, Laurier and Vela, less on Remy and Fabregas.
Cesc faked an injury to leave us, he hurt me badly as an Arsenal supporter. Loved him as a player, but man, did he betrayed us! Can’t forgive him that, sorry, but I can understand those who can.
56 – Yeah Ospina. Eve got his own whacky nickname, ‘The Wall’. Unless we can find a ‘spiderman,’ or ‘the cat’ he looks a very solid option.
Cesc is world class and basically a bargain for 30mil. Remy I’d take. Wont be heartbroken if we look elsewhere either, but newsnow hasn’t given me much to #youtubescout other than that :/
Alexis Sanchez is still my favorite forward this summer. I genuinely think that he is the missing link in our attack, the player we waited for so long, since Eduardo injury.
Sanchez and Xavi Martinez should be the two players we must try to get this summer. Aurier, Vela, Ospina are going to be good squad players, but signing Sanchez and Martinez could be the league deciding transfers.
Have not seen such excitement or interests about us in the transfer market for some time.. Make it happen! NExt season we hit it running!
Looking forward to the league title this time!
😀
Norris
I’m not being funny mate, but the point about Flamini playing in defence has been destroyed. People remember different things. Arsenal do not show as many Archive games as before, so I’m sure we will be unable to establish exactly where Flamini played during his fanciful career with us over the years. That’s even if you have attended every single game as a season ticket holder. Even if he did not, which I am sure he has, I’m sure he could.
Flamini played as DM and as auxiliary left back.
*as far as I can recall.
Goonertown
So, has it been destroyed or not then? 🙂
I dont really care, he isnt a CB. But Aurier and Javi Martinez can both fill in there when they arrive. 🙂
2 0 to da Arsenaaaaaal.
Kinga.
What about Bournemouth’s right back, Simon Francis? Won more tackles than any other defender across Europe last season apparently. And at 6’3″ also can fill in at CB.
Is it silly season yet?
Norris
Prove to me Flamini has never played at CB before for Arsenal and I will personally destroy the subject matter myself, seeing as you care so much. My presumption is that you do not. But who knows? This could go on all year!!
Remember, proof!!! 😉
Afternoon all. Loads of made up paper talk to get the brain ticking
The keeper situation is an interesting one. I’m still not sure that in Arsene’s mind that Shezza is his long term number 1. With that in mind are we looking for back up or someone to make a genuine challenge for the number 1 jersey?
At right back I would love to see The Jenk make it into a player good enough to cement his place. However, like others I’m still not convinced.
A top class holding midfield player is an absolute must. I mean a box to box player who can act as a shield in front of the back for and still have enough quality to launch attacks from deep.
Width. I have banged on about width for years. Personally I would pay almost anything within reason for someone like Di Maria. I think he is just what we need and would be a fantastic addition.
Up front we have been light for years. Remy at £8 million seems good business to me but if he is a genuine target you have to ask why he spent a season on loan at Newcastle???? Why did we not pick him up then. Even if we do get Remy I would still expect us to add more quality to the forward line. After all, we have just list Park and Bendtner?????
As for Cesc, well, my views are well documented. His attitude before he left was disgraceful. The way he orchestrated his move was disgraceful. I have never ever believed this I want to go home, Barca DNA bollocks. Now I’ve not watched much of Cesc in Spain but if Barca really do want to sell him you have to ask why??? At 27 he should be in his prime and should be just about to take over properly from Xavi and Iniesta??? Neither of those two are getting any younger. So why would they want to sell????????? Personally I don’t want him anywhere near the club. Apart from my personal views on the little traitor the one thing I would say is that he plays in a position where we are more than stocked. I will just be interested to know where his DNA is from this week????
The other thing I would ask for is to get as many deals done early as we possibly can.
To all who care about the silly season (subject matter quietly placed by the host. 😉 ), Cesc was spotted in London again today (which I can prove – ahem) with speculation that he is in talks to re-sign with Arsenal.
Have that you transfer-mongers you. 😆
I bet Giroud could play at centre back if you paid him enough.
Bath @26 – red meat, heh! 🙂
Almost like Holic was playing for hits ! 😉
Flamini played as our eighth left back of the season, in the Champions League defensive record setting back four of – Eboué, Toure, Senderos and Flamini, which took us all the way to the final in 2006.
Amazing, but true ! 😉
Double FA CUp Winners… so are we cup specialists?! 😀
Trev
Didn’t Seb Larsson play at the back as well during that run???
Arsenal win te FA Cup……. again.
Well done ladies.
Steve T,
Barca want to sell Cesc because he has discovered some more DNA that links him back to his other father in London, Arseño Wengeros. 😉
Seriously, if he is truly available, surely you have to say ‘what’s done is done’ and consider the options of us not taking him.
He will make some other team better instead of us, and with Arteta, Rosicky and Flamini all the wrong side of 30, and Diaby being sadly almost certain to break down again, what better option are we going to get ?
I really can’t disagree with Bloggs today but I know you do.
I think he did, Steve, but so did everyone else, including Kerry Gilbert ! 😉
Sorry, Kerrea Gilbert. 🙁
Goonertown, I believe Cesc’s flame and scribe returned to London a year ago and would assume that he is snatching some quality family time before decamping to Brazil.
Capturing Di Maria and / or Sanchez would be super business but there is nothing to suggest at this stage that RM and Barca have any interest in letting them go. Remy or Bony would both be an upgrade on Sanogo and The Departed ( Bendtner & Park) but hopefully someone of higher class might become available. A defensive minded MF who can also play a bit. Aurier & Ospina to fill up the gaps. That’s it…simples 😉
Gilbert looked destined to be a decent RB if I recall…
I think up until the CL final we had a chance of getting Di Maria. Really doubt it now though. Although him,or Alexis Sanchez would be unReal, as would Javi Martinez.
Astute observation @30, baff. ‘Holic aaaaaht.
Darren Dein is Cesc’s agent and I think it highly likely that Wenger will try to Re- sign him . I’d hate to see him playing in the PL for anyone .
But he’s not able to okay as the defensive midfielder we need
Sorry I meant play!
TTG…ah yes, the Darren Dein association, would hate to have that guy anywhere near the Emirates again. On actual usefulness to us, Cesc of course can play the false 9 role which could work well with Giroud.
congratulations, ladies! WE WON THE CUP!
I say if cesc is available, take him. imagine if we’d had him when aaron and mesut were out. and to keep him away from any other prem team.
Norris – I believe you’ve stumbled upon proof??
Remember it’s what you can prove!!! 😆
Steve T and Trev –
Your memories are good. I don’t recall Larson still being with us. Although I remember Larson ( the other Larson), assisting that guy in the final, who went on to play for Chelski later.
Sorry, for the memory!!! No pun intended!! It’s just that my heart sunk a little talking about that goal!!
My oh my, what a miss by Ozil.
Uply – that still doesn’t stop the speculation, mind you 😉
Goonertown
Erm, yeah yeah whatever you say. You feeling OK, or is this how you usually are?
I don’t think Seb Larsson played at left back in the CL but he certainly did in the league that season on a few occasions.
Norris –
Every single second of the day my friend. How about you, do you usually stumble into a bar of goonerholics on a Sunday, in between a roast??
😆
Lars how dare you beg to differ?? Are you feeling okay or have your meds run out?
😆
Goonertown, I am a bit hungover but otherwise fine 🙂
Goonertown,
You cannot be between a roast – only between a roast and something else ……..
Norris,
Kerrea Gilbert is now plying his trade at no less a club than St Albans City.
Such are the uncertainties of football, I guess, but he did look a decent prospect at one stage.
Seb Larsson made his debut at left back against Manchester City I think. He didn’t play many games for us and I can’t remember him starting a League game but I do recall him playing in the Champions League group stages but not at left back.It was probably right that he moved on .
Just to be controversial I am certain that Flamini never played Centre Back for us although he did cover both full back positions . Proof lies in the club statistical archives run by Fred Ollier.
Giroud is superb for France tonight. No goal yet, but couple of great touches and link up well with Remy.
Ozil is in really bad form at the moment.
Trev
I purposely left that in there for you mate. I knew you would enjoy it.
Tell me something. Do you happen to know what that something else actually is?
Don’t think about it too long though. Seriously.
TTG
First he played at LB and midfield and now RB too.
Where’s the proof mate??
Do me a favour either produce the evidence to back up your controversial claim or just leave it where you made it up!!
Right, that’s that!! 😆
Sorry, but anyone who advocates letting Carzorla go must be taking the piss. Period.
What, did you forget THE FREEKICK? Seriously, such individuals must be wind-up merchants.
Besides, we need to strengthen. It’s a long season, so keep Podolski and Arteta (and Diaby). Add Cesc, Remy, and Aurier.
Lastly, well done Lady Gunners. Way to send off the Gaffa.
Goonertown
I’m sure all that sounds hilarious to you in your head as you’re typing it man!
I seem to recall Flamini filling in as GK for a few Carling Cup games too.
Ghosts in and blast it into the net.
Ping.
Go home Yank…well Texan then ;-). Well in Lonestar.
Much obliged, Uply and Norris. Have to be ruthless as a forward…at least that is what a teach the BLG.
I must say this once again, Giroud amazing for France.
Remy didn’t convinced me that he is Arsenal material at all, but Griezmann who actually subbed him, is another level. In 20 minutes he produced twice more than Remy in 60 and scored a goal.
Trev.
I’m not sure Cesc is the player he was. If he was then why do Barca want to sell him???
I think we are overloaded with that type of player. Some here were saying that Özil was a luxury because we had players for that position. Our lack of spending in recent years is well documented. Unless we have some ridiculous amount to spend which means we can do what we want then my view is that we don’t need him. I would rather spend the money on strengthening in areas where we are so clearly lacking. I don’t think we are at a level yet where we can afford to have £30million players who will sit on the bench.
I hope he stays in Barca and takes another DNA test.
Griezmann continues to impress. To bad for Vela, I rate the Mexican highly, and wanted him to come back, but Griezmann is different level and I am slowly changing opinion.
Norris jokes aside. As I originally said, Flamini can play at CB and I can prove it. As for you, you still stutter. Think before you make sweeping statements. Think!!!!
🙂
Oh dear. I am giving you the brush off.
How’s that for a sweeping statement?
Are you being serious about Flamini playing centre back???? He’s only about 5’09”. How can he possibly play as a centre back???? I remember him filling in at full back but not as a centre back.
You know you’re shit when West Ham, of all teams, can do a shirt taking the piss
http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/cringe-west-ham-release-official-the-treble-t-shirt-commemorating-victories-over-spurs-last-season-picture/
Steve
I was not serious at first but then I decided to dig for proof. I came up with Flamini covering both sides of defence and in the holding midfield role. I merely asked Norris for proof but he coughed on his Sunday roast, so I did it instead. There was a game on Saturday 3rd of Feb 2006 v Middlesboro where Senderos was sent off and Hoyte was subbed by Denilson which meant Flamini slotted into RB. A position not too many people in the bar seem to remember Flamster covering. Gilberto then slotted into Centreback.
I am still certain I have seen Flamini covering out of position centrebacks too!!
For your info he is 5”8. Any other questions??
Didn’t Flamini swab the decks on the SS Titanic too?
NURSE !!!
Goonertown, quick – they’ve worn off again ! 😉
5’10” according to Wikipedia. Just so you know. And not a single mention of a centre back anywhere. Not even in 2006?????
Griezmann would be a great addition. But word is that he is PSG bound.
Flamini might remember, but I know that is not the point. 🙂
Hahahahaha 🙂
Been a nice warm day 😆
The monks tell me that Flamini was being considered to cover for Gallas at centre-half for the Charlton away match in 2006, but in the event Gallas passed a late fitness test and played, so it was moot.
If we knew how much budget is available it would help, but I’m assuming less than I’ve seen touted. So players will need to be sold to fund the players we need.
I disagree that we need a DMF. I’d rather see our MFs valuing the ball more and moving it on quickly to attacking wingers, and leave defending to the defenders. So another CD and quality MFs come a long way ahead of a DMF in my book, although I’d have Flam on the bench in case of emergencies.
I’d like to see us go all in for Hummels and Reus from Dortmund, offering them Özil and TV5 in exchange. You know my views on Özil … a clever, quality player on his day but a lazy, gutless, disinterested player much of the time, especially when the going gets tough. He’s just not an Arsenal type, imo. I’d also take Cesc at the right price.
Aurier looks the goods at RB, where the corporal will keep him honest. As for a GK, we still have an option on Viviano, whom I assume must have some quality? I have no idea about GKs and AW will no doubt make the right decision.
A striker? Of those who might be available, that we could afford, I hate to say it but the best appears to be Balloteli. But my preference would be for attacking wingers, such as Reus mentioned above and Di Maria or Moura, leaving Theo up front with OG in a 4-4-2.
In: Reus, Cesc, Aurier, GK, Hummels, Moura
Out: Flappy, Bacs, Mikel, TV5, Özil
Öskar
Oskar. Interesting dilemma about Balotelli. Apparently, his testosterone diminishes year by year, which could be good in a way. However, observers also say his pace diminishes year by year, which must be bad.
Sure hope Pleggy doesn’t have Barcelona DNA. 😉
http://www.arsenal.com/news/features/20140528/-it-is-my-type-of-football-here
shocked, I am. truly.
https://www.yahoo.com/sports/news/qatar-denies-wrongdoing-newspaper-allegation-150406460.html
Oskar
Ballotelli will always be welcome in my books. He has charisma. He is slightly liable at times but he knows how to find the back of the net, which always helps. 🙂
There is no denying of Marios ability, but he has Bendtner head on his neck. I have said it few times, if there is any manager who could get the best out of him, its Arséne, the only question is, how would Balotelli himself manage his ego.
You can see that current group of players really work for each other as a team, and last thing we need in that dressing room is someone who thinks waaaay too much about himself.
Self confidence is as important as ever for footballer but you have to even it out by willingness to work for others aswell, which, in Marios case, I kinda doubt.
Goodness me you Holics are an easy going bunch.
2 or 3 new players and all’s right with the world.
Sorry,not going to happen.
Without a major gutting of the entire playing ranks we will be doing our usual and pretending 4th place is a trophy next season and beyond.
Let’s start at the back,
Our esteemed manager is completely culpable for never adequately replacing the Mad German in goal.
Instead of going out and buying a top class Int’l replacement,he faffs about with Almunia and Fabianski.
Then to top it off he promotes a young inexperienced kid in the Gobby Pole,who has to learn on the job,and to my mind will be learning for some time to come.
3 keepers not fit to polish the mad German’s boots,let alone replace him.
So go out and buy a top notch Int’l goalkeeper.
2 new fullbacks required as well.On the right for obvious reasons.
But on the left side,again Wenger has never adequately replaced our best left back in a decade,Ashley Cole.
We have had Clichy,Gibbs/Monreal,and the atrocity that was Santos.
None of them fit to lace Cole’s boots.
Cole was an absolute warrior for the cause.
Santos and Monreal totally clueless on positional defending,
Clichy and Gibbs much too nice to be top level fullbacks.
Central defenders,
Too inconsistent for mine,good against the lesser lights,but found wanting against the big boys.
With an old and slow defensive midfielder who cannot protect the central defenders,it was all too easy to expose their inadequacies,
ie: Mert’s lack of pace and Kos’s weakness for diving into reckless challenges.
Again we conceded 40 plus goals this season,which for a defence is just not good enough,particularly if you are missing bucket loads at the pointy end of the pitch.
So 2 new top notch Int’l central defenders required.
So a complete gutting of the defence is required if we are to compete at the top table.
I will shred the midfield and attack tomorrow.
Cheers
The Sweeper.
Eandy – I see your point. He seems like someone who needs to be in a family orientated environment where he feels welcome. I believe we are able to provide that base. All that remains is Marios response. Ability wise, yes. Discipline I am not sure. Is he worth a gamble? It all depends on what else is available I guess. People can only respond to the environment’ they are in and think Mario’s journey has brought a few ups and downs in the past, which has earned him a reputation, which tends to follow him. Thinking deeper, my thoughts are becoming increasingly divided. I would take the good side of Mario all day long.
I think there is a common misconception of what an ego is. I would say that both Bendtner and Balotelli have very small egos – that’s why they go around making ridiculous statements to cover up for their underlying feeling of insufficiency. All the childish behaviour and attention seeking is also a symptom of insecurity.
Yours
Dr. DKG
PS. If Wenger couldn’t get inside NB’s head, he’s got even less hope with Mario.
For all of you at a loose end in this silly season, maybe there is something interesting here for you to get your teeth into. Short courses, all free.
https://www.futurelearn.com/
Goonertown
The record is in the statistical records kept by the club. My memory bank is almost as reliable where Arsenal is concerned so just accept it as correct or look it up if you don’t believe me. He has mainly played at right back to cover an injury during a game but I’ve personally seen him okay left back numerous times including a fateful trip to Fulham in December 2006 where we lost 2-1 and Senderos was sent off. Even with Senderos sent off Fkamini didn’t move to centre back
TTG –
I have been through all of this already. There are notable games where Flamini has covered at right back more than once, rotating with either Hoyte or Eboue, with either Clichy or Larson on the left. I have the archive on my desktop top at home. I do not need the clubs statistical records thank you very much. Recordings of each game he has played would be sufficient enough. Now if Sagna can cover at CB at 5’9, then I am sure Flamini can cover CB at 5’8. I would put my house on it. Now what?
Flamini has never played for Arsenal at CB even as a stand in and will never play for Arsenal as CB – he hasn’t got the skills or temperament for that position.
At a push, if we had 3 players crocked and 2 suspensions, it might happen as he might be better there than, for example, Feo. However it is a nonsense to consider him as potential cover at CB under any other circumstances. Jeeper, can you imagine the bedlam: high balls not cleared and penalties conceded?
Flamini had a good run at LB in our ECL Runners Up team and has certainly stood in at RB under emergency situations and done quite well but CB is a different kettle of fish.
Next season he will be a useful squad player in his DMF role but I hope we can do better as a starter. His best years are past.
Okay Bath you are right mate. For a peacful life you are right. But let me explain where we differ.
I believe Flamini could cover at CB. Now what?
@125 I agree with you about Gibbs. For me he doesnt dominate his attacking opponent and the opposition in general. Cole was a big big loss. Not only would he snap into tackles but would link up well with Pires during our attacks.
Having said that I would not be changing our central defenders just yet. We need stability and cant be disrupting the back four often. We do need to replace the soon departiing Verminator. and Sagna.
For me Monreal is not a starter. He did not grab his chance when Gibbs was rested or injured.
Is Milner available from City. He could do a job for us.
Not a starter but definitely play a role in our difficult games. He will play a role in the Eng team in the second half of games to shore up a result or two.
Almost too much going on above to sift through it all, but suffice it to say that:
(a) either we have a hopeless squad that needs gutting or we are so dripping in jewels that we can afford to turn down the chance of signing Cesc Fabregas;
(b) even if Hummels and Reus went this summer we wouldn’t have a cat’s chance in hell of signing them;
(c) Di Maria would be a dream signing, but it’s hard to imagine it happening, in much the same way it was hard to imagine we’d sign Ozil this time a year ago; and
(d) Remy over Wilfried Bony all day long and twice on Sundays. The people I know who watch him regularly say he does very little when he’s not scoring. He’d also probably cost £20m+, for which money you could buy a more accomplished player. The appeal of Remy is he’d cost £8-10m, allow us to save our money for other positions and give a pacey alternative to OG.
I really like the look of Aurier. I also think that we are ten days from the WC and none of the press or ITKs has a scooby what’s really going on.
Feet up, drink in hand – will see where we are in late July.
Okay did a little more digging.
It is well documented that when Koscielny was out of position during our home defeat to Bayern earlier this year, Flamini covered him. Albiet, moments before we conceded our second goal.
Now the deal was if it could be proved to me that Flamini has never covered at CB. All who have said not, no and never in addition to those who said only left or only right, have lost.
But hey, I am sure if I continue to dig I will find other instances where Flamini and indeed other players have covered at centre back or in other positions on the field. It appears to be the job of every modern day footballer to perform in other positions.
For instance, tell Kos that he shouldn’t have scored that goal in the FA Cup final because he’s a centre half. Tell Giroud to get the hell out of the box because he is a centre forward. Well that’s the same as telling me Flamini cannot cover at centre half. If that was the case, I’d tell him to collect his p45 this instant! Be gone Flamster!
I thought i had heard it all.
But have just read about a 51 yr old male in Scotland,who has been put on probation for 3 yrs and on the sex offenders list for the same period, for of all things,
Having sex with a bicycle.!!
Apparently he was sprung shagging his bike in his room in the hostel where he was living at the time.
Is that an offence if you are doing it in the privacy of your own room.??
must be if they have stuck him on the Sex offenders list for 3 yrs.
Was the bike older than the age of consent, CLive. Had consent been freely given?
Goonersince54@125: I think you have a point, defence has to be taken care of for any real challenge for a trophy to take place.
Flamini at CB? That’s a good one. Hilarious stuff. Maybe in Spain, if Xavi, Messi, and Iniesta all agree never to let the opposition touch it, but we/he would get eaten alive playing there.
Maybe we could scrape by at home against dross with him in that role, but Dennis help us if we ever have to go away with him starting at centre-back. Would be negligent of Arsene to ever let us get that thin at the club; it’s why you have transfer windows and U21 sides innit.
Anyway, on to more serious matters than the bloke who can’t really get a game in his favoured role playing out of position. (Flamini to solve our striking problem now only Giroud and Akpom are left at the club?)
I like the sound of this Aurier fella. By all accounts you can find googling “airier scout report” he is an attack first right-back. Thank fuck for that. Had double the goals AND double the assists last season that Sagna managed… Since 2011. No point pushing our wide defenders into attack if they are gash when they get there. Players should suit the system or something should change.
Love the fact that Jenks will be about to push him for a place and also offer variation. People seem too hung up on the notion of an 11 who get games. Those days long gone. We play 60+ games a season, from memory (looked it up a few weeks ago,) only 4 players managed more than 40 starts and only another 7 more than 30. Plenty of games to go around.
Taller, more defence minded player away. Yes please. Quick, skilful attacking guy at home when we are getting 70% possession, sounds handy to.
We have a short pre-season after the world cup, the charity shield, two-legged CL qualifier. Straight in to saturday-wednesday-saturday style schedule. There will be injuries, losses of form, and a real need to rotate. If we could have done more of that last season, maybe all our key players wouldn’t have gone down about January?
Even with Alonson out, Madrid played the CL final with 3 established full internationals on the bench and 3 of spain’s hottest young talents. (Plus Alonson suspended.) Isco and Marcello helped change the game. 5/6 genuine stars and quality and deep squad. That’s what we need. Options that aren’t desperation bids to force 31 year old journeymen who have never nailed down a starting place anywhere in their career (bar 1 very good season) into roles they aren’t suited to. We didn’t build the stadium of that sort of half-arsed nonsense.
UTA
Clive, I see from the BBC report of the bicycle sex case that an man has also been convicted in Edinburgh for having sex with a traffic cone. This may all say more about Scotland than the legal system.
GT. I’m genuinely intrigued to know why you think Flamini can cut it as a centre back? I remember him making his debut and will have watched almost every home game he has played in since. I would have seen him in away games too. Not once do I ever remember him playing in the centre of defence. If no one who has managed him in all those years has played him there what makes you think he can perform that role for us???
Blimey, you will be telling me that Flappy can play in goal next???? Or is that just a little too far fetched???
😀
El Puno
I see you have joined the Flamini bandwagon. You are another who appears to only believe what you see. Or in the case of many of you in the bar, you appear to believe what you have not seen.
Keep it coming! This debate is just heating up. Believe me it is.
3 years probation for riding your bike in a hostel that seems harsh must be a 5 star 😉
Clive. Don’t tell me that in the days of the Ramblers heading off to Kings Cross on a night out that there wasn’t the odd encounter with one of the local bikes????
Latest from Spain is apparently this. Cesc has been told that he can because they want the money for other deals. Apparently we have said that we are not interested. I’m guessing that this leaves dear old Cesc with what DNA scientists call a mixed profile???? Bless his little cottons.
Steve I saw you coming @ 60 above.
I have explained all I need to explain above. I am now going around in circles. But if this is the best transfer speculation we can conjure up as a bar, then so be it. It will just get long and drawn out, no matter how stroppy people want to get. Not directed at you Steve, but those I am referring to know who they are.
@ Steve 🙂 (he gets it)
Actually, I have an exclusive coming in Steve that Cesc is unhappy that his boyhood father figure Arsene Wenger has refused to re-sign him, against the wishes of the Arsenal Board and through his dissatisfaction, has decided to take up…get this…Many City’s offer to reunite with the others Arsenal rejects…this is GT signing out! 😆
…in fact, just in…no..no City have confirmed they ar eno longer interested in signing Cesc.
The doors continue to close on the out of favour catalonian…
…Stay tuned for the latest on Cesc’s immininet departure from Barcelona!! 😉
Afternoon all,
Before I even read any further – bath @131, spot on.
GT @132 –
that is not even an argument, but merely a personal belief to which you are perfectly entitled. However, with Flamini’s inbuilt tendency to pick up yellow and red cards he would be a disaster at centre back.
How many times would we be left reorganising the defence and playing with ten men after he had been sent off ?
He has never played at centre back for the Arsenal and never will. I thought he would have made a pretty decent right back after his performances there, but it was a position he would not consider on a permanent basis. For him it was midfield or exit door. The latter won.
Someone said Ozil out??? i hope that was said in good humour and nothing else because i cannot see anyone else saying that in normal senses.
I have my own things about that dna so and so and for me he dis respected the club and the man who stood by him and conveniently jumped ship sighting his so called dna and home town roots. He leaving was never the issue, the way he did it and the timing of it left a bitter taste which will not go off so easily.
He is not needed, he is a luxury. He going to a different team should make no difference to us for we know we dont need him or his type of a player right now.
We need the players who are essential not a player who is very good but not needed.
Simple question, who will we sacrifice for him? ask me- no one, no chance.
Trev,
Okay, it is good to see you guys have finally done your research. My opinion will not change and the fact still remains that he covered at centre back when Koscielny was out of position during the Bayern game earlier this year. The question I have for you though is, how much more depth on the subject would you like to go?
I continue to prove you continue to attempt to disprove. Easily done. 🙂
That fella who had sex with a bicycle has asked for a chain of other offences to be taken into consideration.
Apparently he’s easy to recognise as he has a handlebar moustache.
Are we saddled with another punfest ? Not me – I’m too tyred.
😉
GT – covering a position for a few seconds is hardly playing there, is it ?
If that is the level of argument, count me out.
I’m not into trying to force people to agree with me anyway. You believe what you like, and that’s fine.
Kolo Toure was asked if he believed that fella had sex with a bike.
He said, “Yes, I believe he wheely wheely did.”
😉
Trev –
Okay so now he did play there? As I said above, a little confused sounding. 🙂
Question still remains, why count yourself in to begin?
Trev – I wheely thought it was Jonathan Woss who said that.
Pun fest???? Think you spoke too soon.
Give us a brake, Steve. 😉
Nurse !!! We have a prefrontal cortex problem in the bar.
Help !!!
So first Arsenal, now City distancing themselves from Cesc.. LOL.
I think clubs have seen thru Barca’s bullshit this time around.. [rem. Utd last season ]
I think im going to bet some money that Cesc will still be at CampNou come September..
These are stories planted by Barca in the media – to smoke out interest and get his price up.
Pretty sure Cesc himself doesn’t want to leave Barca. And I still cannot believe that a club that is so obsessed with everything homegrown want to remove him.
And its not like he has been shitty either.. 41 goals and 42 assists. ? Beat that.
I have tears rolling down my cheeks, please stop it Trev.
Flamini at centre half, cos he covered there for a few seconds aggainst Bayern and we conceded a goal? Hahahaha. Keep ’em coming.
Never played there, never will. Bit tricky to prove a negative though. I would have thought that the burden of proof lay very much with the source of such pony.
Have we been saddled with a bicycle punfest? What the fork?
Was he shagging the bike or just on the hand pump????
I must say he sounds like a bit of a bell-end.
Fancy mountain’ a bike. 😉
Another link in this chain of puns
Was it his bike or was he pedalling nicked gear???
I’ll just take my seat.
Careful now Trev, don’t want to be an of-fender.
But, as usual pun fest is well spoke-en.
Hmmm … yeah, i’ll run before the tomatoes start flying.
Oh ere we go, TABS has woken up 🙂
Nice of you to join us Tabs. So tell me, which part of the convo did – you catch?
The one about Flamini, TV or Johan? Don’t think about it too long, will you? We’ve gone from Flamini playing Midfield, to him playing midfield and left-back only, then midfield left back and right back and then the safe option, midfield and full back.
Now we are at midfield full back and center back for a few seconds. Not to mention Larson playing only left back in the CL and no pther time.
Surely this thread has got to beat the one on shagging bicycles.
Aurier may be a great attack minded right back but can’t we say the same about Andre Santos on the left? Let’s applaud his defensive capabilities, if any, first.
Okay found proof Flamini can cover at centre back for more than a few seconds. You asked for it.
Whoever wants it i’ll whip it out! If not, keep stoom! 😆
Back drinking through all the transfer speculation has me flip-flopping between emotions:
1. We’re 3 signings away from a sustained title challenge.
OR
2. This season’s success only papered over the cracks and we need nearly a whole new team.
For the record I don’t go along with 2, Yes we DO have a small squad and No we WEREN’T lucky with injuries. Look what ‘magically’ happened when people like Rambo came back.
Let’s be realistic, we’re not going to see 5 decent signings coming in, a) because we almost never do that many and if even we did they wouldn’t all be decent (by the law of averages and the law of Arsenal Football Club) and b) look what happened to the tiny Tots when they replaced more than half their starting XI, as some wag in the bar said prior to our first meeting with them, They were learning each other’s names in the carpark half an hour before kickoff.
What does all this mean? That my prediction of three signings is of course right. Obviously. 😀 And the question that will continue to shout itself (can questions actually do that?) louder and louder by the day is:
When will that magic triumvirate come in?
It’s another one that has me lurching from despair to hope via frustration and back again (not unlike my often fruitless attempts to get lucky at uni). Would it be unreasonable to hope for one before the WC gets underway (not the toilet, the World Cup)?
Steve T@145: Just practice for some of the GG Ramblers’ Vinny Jones-style man-to-man marking. You didn’t see many opposing forwards backing into their defenders — at least not twice, except perhaps for some of the Hampstead teams.
Hello ‘holics,
So what’s everyone’s take on Cesc?
I personally don’t think he should be priority for us now. Bring him back only at a bargain price. We already have similar players in our squad – Will he be ahead of Ramsey/Wilshere? I’m not too sure about this one
Harsha, for me that’s decidedly not a brainer.
I’d hoover him up faster than a disappearing piece of Camembert when I’m on the Mendoza Malbec.
Any lingering dissatisfaction with how he left before would soon evaporate when we saw him orchestrating counter attacks and getting a few goals.
And speaking of delicious red alcoholic stuff, there’s a couple of bottles of the aforementioned on the bar for you lot. Anyone got some smelly cheese to go with it?
Earlier mention of Jonathan Ross compels new to mention that he has been in court today for stealing kitchen implements. When asked why he said it was a whisk he was prepared to take
If you shag a tricycle does that count as a threesome?
I guess I am in a minority here who thinks that we will sign 5+ players this summer.
Goalkeeper (Fabianski replacement), right back (Sagna replacement), two forwards (Bendtner and Park replacements), defensive midfielder.
That is potential 5.
I see the club will try to replace Djorou who signed for Hamburg. That is potential 6.
And maybe the club will go for Cesc. The latest 30m bid from Chelsea if true and official, is so low that it means only one thing for me. Maureen is nor serious about buying him and he is trying to force us to use the clause and spend the money on player profile we didn’t wanted to. Maybe I am wrong but I learned Maureen evil ways over the years and I am 100% sure that he absolutely doesn’t believe that he could buy Fabregas with 30m.
It is a decoy. He knows we need players in other positions more than we need Fabregas. He knows that we don’t have unlimited resources and can’t buy WC forward and spend 35m of Fabregas at the same time. And he knows that the fans would crucify Arsene if he refuses to buy Fabregas and let PL opponent to buy him.
It is all an presumption, maybe it is all agent talk as most of the fans believe, maybe there is not Chelski bid at all, however, knowing Maureen I think he will not miss this chance.
If I said last summer I would be willing to take Suarez and not feel dirty (actually I would have felt dirty in retrospect!) then how could I not say the same about Cesc this summer??
As others have said I am not sure we need him at this point in time and we should concentrate on our principal needs.
Lurky @ 181: The thing that puzzles me in all of this Cesc saga is why on earth Barca would want to part ways now? Yes they are not the best managed club and since Pep left things have started to fall off again a bit, but with Xavi lasting maybe a season or two more at the top level why would Barca want to let him go? That would definitely be a crazy decision.
My only guess would be they want to move away from the tiki-taka and be a more of a counter-attacking team. Sanchez and Neymar are not the best passers but they are both fantastic counter-attacking players, and most importantly they have realized that Messi cannot have that much of workload on the ball all the time.
I think they will go for a genuine striker — they never had really replaced Eto’o since that equally befuddling decision to buy Zlatan for him and 70 million or so — and need to raise money. Selling Cesc to any other club than us would require selling at a very high price to make a difference.
Moving away from the specific case of Cesc, is there now another change in the evaluation of football clubs away from the last few years of death-by-thousand-passes? Would players like Xavi and Cesc become less coveted compared to the likes of Reus and Sanchez?
Footballing trends change. If Spain doesn’t do that well in WC, with already Barca’s tiki-taka light already fading, maybe the trendy evaluation of players like Cesc after the world cup would be lesser to begin with.
If he joins us, I think he might become the Pirlo-esque pivote that Arteta plays now and in which case we would most likely not buy another DM. Our counter-attacks would depend on Cesc’s vision and long-range passing, we would need more of the Theo-esques in the team on both flanks as two full backs won’t ever join in the attack together.
Dr. Faustus, I follow couple of Barca fans on twitter and they all agree that majority of the Barca fans actually don’t like Fabregas. That is mostly because they believe that he was their worst player in all the important derbies and that is one of the things they can’t forgive.
While I agree that Xavi has maybe one more good season in him, because of his age, I think that Iniesta has at least three or four. And I have reasons to believe that Enrique wants to play Iniesta in Xavi’s place along Busquets and sign a new forward who would take Iniesta’s place in the front three.
And I agree with you that they are preparing themselves to act like more counter attacking team, but maybe only as an option, plan B. I don’t believe that they will abandon their possession football ever, or maybe as long as Cruijff is writting columns :-). Only kidding, but, they tried to play football based on possession with far less talented players in the past, so I just can’t see them change in the near future. It is in their blood, it is their pride.
Speaking of which I almost forgot that I hate them from the bottom of my heart, so fcuk em.
It’s a terrible state of affairs when my post about a bloke caught shagging a bicycle,garners more comments than my critique of our defence.
But then again it is the silly season.!!
My 2 bob’s worth on the Absolutely Fab,NOT,saga,is the same as
Steve T and H2H, thanks but no thanks,for all the eloquent reasons put forward by my 2 compatriots.
As for the monumental amount of man hours wasted on the Flamini saga,it’s a reminder that the season is over,and we are in a kind of twilight zone,suffering severe withdrawal symptoms, and seeing who can win the race to the bottom for utterly useless conversation.
cheers
The Sweeper
Clive, since you aksed, you didn’t critiqued our defence, you critiqued our defenders. Huge difference. And no, I don’t agree with your thesis that we need a whole new back four. What we need is changing approach in the big games, that suicidal high line and try to stay calm not try to attack like mad from the first minute.
Our defenders are quality. If you think that there is a team with better back four in the league I would like to know who they are. And don’t tell me Chelski, because their defence is success mainly because of the anti football they are playing than the quality of Terry or Ivanovich.
Try to remember that in the first three months or so, they shipped goals for fun, because Maureen tried more attacking experimental approach. After he failed with it, he decided it is time for him to be back to basics and what he knows best, parking the bus and letting opposition attack you.
Another example is Crystal Palace defenders, who were fun to watch during the first couple of months. The same defenders were world beaters when Pul is come in charge.
So, no, I don’t think that our defenders are the problem.
The talk of a new midfield player is interesting. My views on Cesc are well documented. However, I do think it is an area that needs seriously looking at. I do think the balance at times had all been wrong. We have an awful lot of similar type players that all want to play in similar positions. Surely the revaluation of last season was Rambo. He was not one of the little tikka takka pass and move type players that we have so many of. His game was very much box to box. Driving runs and finding gaps. I think that was why he was so successful in front of goal. That is the type of player we need.
For me, if we really do want to become a top side then the likes of Arteta, Rosicky, Flamini Etc should be considered squad players at best. I am still intrigued with Jack Wilshire. How good can he become? I know he had a few injuries but he is way behind Rambo in my opinion. Next year will be massive for him. Then we have Santi, Özil, Theo, AOC and dare I even mention Diaby???? I genuinely don’t know if we can plan a season that includes Diaby.
I do think that at times we have to be ruthless. If someone’s not good enough then that is just it, they are not good enough. I do feel we need real quality and not just bargain basement squad players. I look at our forwards last season. Giroud, Sanogo, Bendtner and Park???? That’s just embarrassing. Clive is right about the keeping situation. I hope that Shezza can become good enough but are we in the market for a number 2 or someone who will compete for the first team. If it’s the latter then look for the best there is and be done with it.
This transfer window is massive. We have got so many massively wrong in recent years. I genuinely think that we don’t have that as an option this time. Get this one wrong and the ramifications could be very serious.
That leads us on to the board and those in charge. I am far from convinced that we have what it takes in the boardroom to consistently pull off major moves in the transfer market. Time will tell and I hope I’m massively wrong. We need quality and we need to make a statement of intent. Otherwise it may not look good at all.
An FA cup win has bought more time. I just want people to prove that it’s not wasted because I don’t think they will get another chance.
It is indeed the silly season. The big question for me is in regards to the bloke caught engaging in immoral acts with his bicycle. What would the TGSTEL do with a bicycle after a long night of drinking. And would it be illegal in Denmark?
Evening Lurky
Thanks for your comments.
Why you have mentioned Chelsea and Palace i am not quite sure.
I wasn’t comparing our defenders/defence to any other team,because that is irrelevant.
I am only interested in improving ours so we can compete with the best.
We are obviously not going to replace our entire defence, but if you seriously think that we cannot improve in the Goalkeeper and left back positions at the very least,then you are obviously much easier to please than me.
Both those positions have been our Achilles heel since the mad German and Cole left the Club.
Evening Steve
your comment ‘ i hope that Shezza can become good enough ‘
says it all about our goalkeeping travails in recent seasons.
He has been our No 1 for the past couple of seasons and we are
still hoping he will ‘ become good enough ‘
Your thoughts on the left back position.??
Clive,
I have to agree with you about the left back squad and I said so after the FA Cup final.
I expected quite a bit of stick for saying so but, in fact, got none.
I know Gibbs is often left exposed to two, or even tbree at times, opposition attackers which is unfair on him. But even when one against one, he far too often fails to beat his man or stop a cross coming in.
Attacking wise he drives me mad.
He has the ability, having started life as a wide midfield player/winger, to go round the outside and deliver a good ball into the box.
But far too often he stops, turns inside and then has no option but to pass backwards as he has no right foot.
During the Cup final I noticed our advancing midfield having to stop and retreat again as soon as they saw him turn inside, wrecking any chance of a swift counter attack.
I have seen him have some terrific games against poorer opposition but against the best I think he falls some way short. His injury record does him no favours either.
Not so sure I agree about Szczesny although I know what you mean. I think he improved a lot last season and the same degree of improvement next term would deliver us a fine keeper. Obviously lacks the presence of Lehmann though due to his age and relative inexperience.
I think I would opt for a genuine challenger to the No1 spot rather than demote him though.
Oops – left back squad = left back spot. 🙁
Evening Clive.
I agree that we can improve our LB and GK, like we csn always improve in every other position on the pitch. What matters is do we have the money and can we afford it and if we can’t- which is the case, then we need to find the right balance and compromise.
I believe that Gibbs is not the best LB in the league, but I also believe that every other team would like to have him in their ranks, not only because he cost us nothing, is homegrown, but because he is a good player. For every 40m Ozil you need 0m Gibbs. That is compromise that we must take, mainly because we are not City or Chelski and will never be. Even Real uses Carvahal as their first choice RB. So, for me Gibbs is a good option. Same can be said for Woj.
But, I agree with you that we need better backups for them, nothing spectacular , maybe Casillas and Alaba.
Clive. I agree totally about the goal keeping situation. My view for sometime has been that as a club we have let Shezza down. The battle between Manuel and Flappy for the number 1 jersey still gives me nightmares. In my opinion we needed to make decisions a lot earlier on Shezza. If it was genuinely believed that he could become world class then we should have bought an older, experienced international years ago. This would be to act as number one and to act as a mentor. Due to the distinct lack of depth and distinct lack of signings Shezza was thrown in at the deep end. I do think last season was a big improvement in his decision making and all round keeping.
The left back situation is interesting. I think the role of the full backs has changed immeasurably during the Wenger years. There is much more of an onus for a full back to provide in attack as it is at the back. Monreal isn’t anywhere near good enough. You are spot on re Cole. As much as I detest him as a person there is little doubt that he has been one of the best left backs in world football. If he had stayed with us they may already be talking about a statue for him. But he didn’t and the rest is history.
Cole left difficult boots to fill. I think the jury is still out on Gibbs. I would love to see him injury free for a season and I would love to see both full backs get a bit more protection from the midfield. Then it might be a bit easier to make an informed judgement.
So Clive. Just returning to your bike mate for a second. Would it be safe to say that he had his chopper in a Chopper???
Stevo
on our bike friend,too much information.!!
Time you retyred to bed.!!
Back-pedals, wins the ball in his own half and wheels through the midfield…
applies the brakes…
…Does a couple of keepy uppies and then tries to pick up the run of his teammate with a bicycle-kick from forty yards out…
Nonchalantly slots it home! 😀
Might as well just TABS it!! No de-Fender in sight,
You are quite correct, Clive, wholesale changes are needed to make us competitive at the highest level. But it cannot happen for obvious financial reasons. Unless we sign players of equal or lesser quality than we already have – and what would be the point of that? – we ain’t going to sign more than one or two marquee players at best, supplemented by a freebie or two perhaps.
That’s why I say we should sell Özil (or offer him in an exchange) in order to fund a player, or players, with greater fight and club spirit. If we sell now we might get back close to what he cost us, before another poor season sees his value disappear.
You think Dortmund wouldn’t be tempted by an exchange deal for Reus and Hummels involving Özil, N7? I doubt they’ll get a better offer elsewhere.
Öskar
Gibbo and Nacho will have to do us, if for no other reason than we have bigger problems elsewhere. I’d love to sign Luke Shaw who has Arsenal written all over him, imo, but that would be a huge chunk of whatever is available. Sorting out some goal-scorers, whether a CF or attacking MFs has to take priority. And cover for the CDs. And let’s not forget the even bigger problem at RB. Aurier or Coleman have to come before a LB.
Öskar
A very enjoyable back drink on our current squad and our squad needs going forward
After following the discussions, I thought I would have a closer look at the current mix of our squad now that we may have some budget restrictions lifted with the apparent stadium debt in a more manageable level.
I was pleasantly surprised, I must say.
In my humble opinion, we have the following classes of players as a basis for next season:
World class players: Ozil, Aaron, Poldi and Santi
Tier 2 players: Theo, jack, tr7, kos, per, woj, gibbs, flam, giroud, ox
Tier 3 players: TV5, arteta, nacho, jenks, abou, kallstrom
Young guns: Gnabry, zelalem, sanogo and ryo.
When you add a World class striker and world class DM to the balance of the squad above, we would have a world class spine and a top class first 11, that could beat the best in the world, without the world class budget of others, who truly seem to be completely out of control, both financially and morally.
If we do indeed have $100 mil to spend on quality in a congested competitive market, (to use arsenes words) I hope Arsene spends the whole lot on these two key roles only.
BB@200. “Nonchalantly slots it home????” After all that has gone on I expected the bar’s first bicycle kick???
Nice pass @199, Cent. Well in, BB
Oskar. I must say that I don’t think we need wholesale changes. I think we are moving in the right direction but should be moving a lot quicker than we are. Football now is very much a squad game. I think it is incredibly difficult to have a squad full of superstars and keep everyone happy. Yes we need quality additions. You won’t find anyone on here more vocal than me when it comes to that. I think Reus is a fantastic player. I would love to see him at Arsenal but I don’t think it would happen. But where are you playing him? Wide or in a central position?? Hummels???? Really??? Is he going to come and sit on the bench or are you dropping one of Kos or Per???
Personally, if I had it my way I would want to go for Kroos and Di Maria. Then add a really top class striker. I would also take Remy at £8 million. That would add a lot more depth to the squad. At right back I would go for Coleman. Not sure that if we keep TV5 that we will be in for another centre back.
That just leaves the keeper position to sort out. First though the decision has to be made re Shezza. Is he the number 1 or isn’t he??? That will determine who comes in.
Had a bit of a back-drink now, and feel I have to chip in with my tuppence worth.
First of all, I am astonished to see some suggest we need wholesale changes. That to me is beyond comprehension. We finished seven points off first spot. We got enough points to actually have won the league in some other seasons – and we are in need of wholesale changes??? I’m sorry, I just don’t understand that logic. We need to get a few players in, yes, but wholesale changes? That’s what Tottenham have been trying every season for the past ten or so years and it’s really worked out well for them, hasn’t it?
As for Szczesny, for me he is the best keeper in the Premier League together with Petr Cech. Yes, Lehmann was good but let’s not forget he made his fair share of howlers too. Just imagine what the reaction would have been if, say, Almunia had dashed off his line and got himself sent off in a Champions League final, something Jens would nev… uhm, nevermind.
Also, having thought about it I would have Cesc back in a heartbeat (provided he wants to come back and does not expect to be captain or stuff like that of course). We can’t complain about having too little squad depth and then say no to Cesc just because we may dislike the way he left. Most of us are drooling over the mere idea of us getting Di Maria, a player who has yet to prove even a third of what Cesc has already proven so then getting Cesc can’t be a bad idea. Yes, different positions, but still. I don’t get the “where would he play?” argument either. It’s very simple to me, having Cesc would give us more options to rotate. Also, when Ramsey and Özil were out we lacked creativity, Cazorla on his own wasn’t enough. I also maintain that in many games Cesc would take Arteta’s place. No, Cesc is not a defensive midfielder but neither is Arteta and I maintain that the purely defensive midfield player is a dying breed.
Is getting Cesc a priority? No, but given the chance I think we should take it, and I actually do think the idea of getting him just to stop him going to ManU or whatever other PL team is a rather important bit. Cesc setting up Aguero time and again, for example, is not a very pleasant thought.
Having said that, I still see no sense in Barca wanting to force him out. Selling him would generate some money, but they’d struggle badly to replace him with someone as good.
Anyway, that’s how I feel. Back to trying to ignore the transfer tittle-tattle it is.
Guys, very enlightened discussion in the bar re transfers as always, but I think you’re all missing the point with this talk of marquee signings.
Why don’t we focus our energies on who to buy next instead getting sidetracked compiling wish lists for the AFC camping trip? The guy (ropes) we bring in will surely look after themselves as long we don’t hammer any square (tent) pegs in round holes.
…instead ‘of’…
Lars. The alternative might have been to have grown a pair and simply told Cesc that he wasn’t leaving in the first place. That way, all this shall we shan’t we buy him back bollocks would never have reared it’s ugly head???? We should have told the petulant little Catalan to shut up, knuckle down and get on with it.
Just a thought.
…as long ‘as’… Blimey it’s a bit early for sophisticated humour.
Sczcz was absolutely ‘good enough’ last season. Anyone who doesn’t think so either (a) wasn’t watching properly and (b) hasn’t quite grasped that the art of goalkeeping has fundamentally changed over the last ten years. The days of error free goalkeeping have gone due to new lighter balls etc. All goalkeepers will make errors. Sczcz makes fewer than most.
As for needing a new left back, laughable stuff right up there with Flamini playing centre half.
As for Fabregas, what Lars said.
100% behind both Lars and Tabs who make, as usual, complete common sense.
We really are stuck for things to talk about if we’re discussing Gibbs, Sczcz and Flam at centre half.
I categorically want to see Cesc back at the club. As much as his youthful petulance and impatience was difficult at the time of his leaving, how Wenger managed the situation in letting him go and insisting on entering option and buy back clauses, was brilliant management and masterful given now how the situation with Cesc has developed and changed.
As for Barca wanting to sell him, my own views are that he wants to leave. Apart from personal circumstances with his partner and child, I think he now appreciates been given the freedom to play at Arsenal and not being subjected to the whims of 4 different managers over the last 3 years. I also feel the Messi – Xavi – Iniesta axis rules everything at that club and as cesc is now coming into his prime, and clearly not being given a chance to play with freedom or being trusted in the right position, its time for him to go. For those of you doubting his abilities, he was Barca’s leading assist provider last season and scoring regularly too. So I feel the decision to go is with Cesc and not necessarily Barca’s unilateral call.
Tabs. Shezza just not quite good enough to make the final though???
If Cesc was to come back who plays in midfield???? I genuinely don’t see how we can afford the luxury of having both Cesc and Özil in the same side, especially when the squad needs strengthening in other areas. If we keep Özil then Cesc is a massive waste of money.
@Porco 209
“Enlightened discussion” – really? Really!
All I can hear is the sound of deeply entrenched positions becoming even more deeply entrenched.
I’m very much with Joe’s second paragraph. He’s right, we really are stuck for things to talk about. Maybe when the World Cup starts we’ll actually have something, but by then we’ll probably all have firmed up our “don’t care about the WC… it’s all sooooo nationalistic… it’s not Arsenal so fcuk it” positions so won’t be able to.
The way things are going, by the time next season rolls around we’ll all have persuaded ourselves that 2013-14 was a complete failure, that Wenger should go, that the board should never have offered him a new contract and that they shouold go, that Ramsey should go, that Özil should go,… Ah! Happy Days.
COYG
I’m amazed with all this Cesc stuff. Leaving aside personal views, where does he fit in to this current team??? We already have Rambo, Arteta, Flamini, AOC, Theo, Tommy R, Jack, Santi, Poldi, Diaby and Flamini attempting to get into a midfield spot. That’s before you add anyone making the step up from youth level. We need a stronger holding type player who is able to play box to box. That isn’t Cesc. We need genuine width. That isn’t Cesc either. Perhaps even more importantly we need two strikers.
Unless we are planning on shipping a few out, Cesc is a very expensive luxury. We would be far better directing our resources elsewhere in my humble opinion.
What Lars and Tabs said.
@Steve
You can’t fit Cesc into our first XI with everyone fit, but do you think there will ever be a moment when they’re all fit?
If we want to win the title we have to recognise that these days it requires a deep squad and proper rotation. That’s where I’d guess Cesc would fit in, if the boss decides to go for it. In a market where Adam Lallana (one year younger than Fabregas) costs £25m+, £30m for the Catalan looks very good business indeed.
@Oskar
Very much looking forward to your damning forensic analysis of each of Ozil’s World Cup performances. There’s nothing like the sound of a drum being slowly beaten to death 🙂
N7. I’ve been moaning for ages about the lack of investment. I’m constantly told that we don’t have the money to spend. I’ve constantly disagreed with that. I think we have suffered due to lack of investment for years now. I think that if we had invested as I believe we both should have and could have then there is a real possibility that neither Cesc or RVP would have left in the first place. Now we seem to be saying let’s spend 30 million on someone who is not guaranteed to start??? I find that bizarre or have I missed the press conference announcing that we now have a bottomless pit?????
You are of course spot on about fitness and availability. I just want us to direct our money to the areas that need strengthening. Rather than add a 30 million pound player to the host of similar players I would perhaps like to see it used to increase our striking options from one to two ????
I will be honest. I don’t give a shit what Özil does in the World Cup just as long as he doesn’t get injured. That goes for every arsenal player. The sooner they are back the better. I hope they all remain injury free.
As for Lallana? An expensive one season wonder. When he has produced consistently on the bigger stage I might be interested. Until then….. Anyone that pays £25 million for him is taking a massive gamble in my opinion.
@Steve
I think the noises from the club are that there’s been a step change in available cash due to the new commercial deals. Does that mean a bottomless pit? No. But it does mean we need to build out the squad.
Whether that means Cesc is another question. But he’s a proven premier league performer who can play multiple positions and will cost the same as a Luke Shaw: £30m ain’t what it used to be.
I’m not convinced we will buy two strikers: partly because Giroud is better than he’s given credit for and is very handy against the smaller teams, partly because there just don’t seem to be that many top class strikers available. If you were to offer me Remy and Jackson Martinez or Remy and Di Maria I would have your hand off for the latter.
I don’t think anyone really knows what the hell is going on in the market at this stage, so it’s all just idle chat. Personally, I think DM is the key position to strengthen, and that’s where I’d spend the money if a top class player becomes available – defences win titles, and ours is good but needs better protection in the big games.
Totally agree about the World Cup and Lallana.
What Lurky said @ 181 and what I said @ 3 and everything else above which makes logical sense.
Joe @ 214 stuck has not been the word mate. Trust me.
I believe Cesc Fabregas would walk onto our first 11. He’d be the first name on the list. Simply, he’s just a better player than any of the midfielders we currently have.
Where I do feel there would be a trade off if Cesc signs would be in DCM. I can’t see Wenger buying two midfielders. And I can’t see him turning down Cesc if that options arises. I’m with Lars when he says that specialist DCM midfielders are a dying breed. Every midfielder in these times has to be fluid enough to transition from attack to defence. Its certainly more difficult to buy one with creative skills who can score than it is to get one thats purely defensively minded.
Ere we go again with the inconspicuous digs. Whoever doesn’t feel Flamini can play centre back are entitled to their opinions, just like I am entitled to mine. At least be creative if you are going to make such bold statements. If you do not think he will be good at the job then say. But if you are categorically going to state that he cannot do the job then prove it. You may not be as wrong as you think.
Life goe on…
*goes
As I said before, I can produce information which says that he can do the job, whether he likes to, wants to or even can do a good job at it.
Tabs
A a very glib and patronizing post mate.
I thought you were better than that.
Anyone know what happens when an immovable object exists in close proximity to another imovable object?
Anyone interested? If so watch this space.
Anyone who isn’t interested should get interested pretty damn quickly because that’s likely to be all that’s going on around here for some time.
Enjoy, Gentlemen.
See you later Pangloss
Joe. What would your midfield be then???
What’s happening holics?
So little real Arsenal news out there…
Refusing to read transfer bollocks is much harder than it seems as well.
Any chance of a “Behind the Arse” this summer?
SteveT,
The reasons why Sczcz didn’t play in the Cup Final are well documented. Nothing to do with not being ‘good enough’, but then you know that already.
As for Fab, I’m all a bit meh. I don’t really see where he fits in anymore. I don’t think he’s a priority and nor should he be. If however, he can be picked up for a price that does not impact on other more required signings, (and that will depend on the exact terms of the buyback) then why not?
You don’t like the guy, I get that. I do however find all the ‘traitor’ stuff a bit rich coming from someone who defends RVP to the hilt.
As for no longer being required, like I said I kinda agree. That said, I wasn’t wondering why Arsenal weren’t prepared to spunk £38m on Mata in January like you, on the basis that you ‘can never have enough good players’. Fabregas for £30m or Mata for £38m? Pretty easy choice in my book.
I agree with N7. Dm is the priority. Offer me Javi Martinez, and I won’t give a hoot about where Cesc is. Until then, If he’s available and (relatively) cheap, we should be in the frame.
Clive,
Glib and patronising? Judging from your last line, I can still learn a thing or two on that score from you. I simply disagreed. Sczcz had a very good Season, and is as far removed from Almunia and pre 10-11 Fabianski as it is possible to be. Why spend money on a left back when we already have two international left backs, of which the first choice had an excellent season and showed real progress? Like I said, laughable stuff imo.
Hahahaha!
The lataest is that Cesc is now being considered by the Scum! 😆
Best report of the last two weeks 😆
I will tell you what, in the absence of proof. I will be the bigger man and discontinue that meaningless debate upon Flamini’s shoe size, which I brought up, unwittingly.
There irritation over. Now let’s go back to dreaming about spending £150 million on strengthening the squad.
zzzzzzz! 😆
Where shall we start? 80 Million on Sauarez? Any takers? 😆
I wonder when you will all realize that Goonertown is just taking the piss with the Flamini at Centre-Back talk. In my opinion I think we what need in defence is a new right back(Seamus Coleman or Serge Aurier would do) and another CB if Vermaelen is leaving. Sometimes I think we could be more solid at the back if we paired Koscielny with a CB who is faster than Per(so that we can comfortably play a highline and press from the front) but then I wonder (a) where will we find and if we can afford a CB who is as good as Per and at the same time faster than him? (b) how long it will take said CB to strike up an understanding not just with Kos but with the rest of the defence? (I think defence is more about understanding than skill). I think we’re good at left-back except, of course, we can afford to buy David Alaba, Jordi Alba or a 23-year old Ashley Cole. As for Szcz, there is not a better ‘Keeper than him, in my eyes, on English shores. Manuel Neur might be a better ‘Keeper than Szcz overall but he is terrible at claiming crosses and as result will look like a fool in the EPL add the fact that Bayern won’t even consider selling him and you will understand that our best option is to support and groom Szcz to become the World best ‘Keeper which he has the potentials to become. Oh and Szcz didn’t play in the Cup final simply because Arsene kept his word to Fabianski, absolutely nothing to do with Szcz’s abilities.
What TaBS said on Cesc will suffice for me on the to sign or not to sign Cesc debate. On where he will play IF we sign him, I think he will either play where Gerard played for Liverpool last season or upfront as a striker. Arsene clearly still sees him in that position and demonstrated that by writing the following words in his latest Eurosport blog “let’s not forget that Spain still has the option of playing Cesc as a striker”.
Cent it had to end at some point mate 😉
Pangloss 216
I can’t believe you focused on the throwaway part of my post and completely overlooked the whole point of it. Which was a bunch of cringeworthy tent-based puns.
*pops head up out of trench*
*thinks better of it and goes back into (semi-)hibernation*
Tabs. You are right about Shezza. My comment was a tad tongue in cheek. I’m just still not convinced that the club view him as the outright number 1 as yet or if they are looking to spend big on a new number 1. Time will tell.
As for defending RVP my stance had always been the same. I’m not happy he left. Not happy in the slightest. Nor was I when Cesc left. For me both left in similar circumstances. My opinion has always been that RVP conducted himself marginally better than Cesc did. What I have never understood is the amount of abuse directed at one compared to the virtual love in for the other. For me they their departures are very similar.
Re Mata. I think he is an excellent player and would have been ideal for us. However, I certainly didn’t want him in January. I would have taken him before we signed Özil but not now. My beef in January was that we did not sign anyone to bolster the squad in the areas where it is needed. We signed a Swedish journeyman with a broken back???? Personally I thought we could have done a bit more.
My not wanting Cesc back has nothing to do with my personal opinion of the man. Like you I just don’t see a space for him. If we really have a spare 30 million kicking around, plus whatever his wages would be then I would prefer that it was directed elsewhere. Unless we are going to offload the likes of Santi or Özil then I genuinely see no reason for wanting Cesc back.
So what you’re saying, Steve, is that you’re against bringing Cescy back?
Until someone can tell me where he plays and who misses out then I think he is a luxury that we can’t afford.
Tabs
if you cannot see what is wrong with your first post,then you are not the intelligent ,insightful poster i thought you were.
Interesting (possibly, but equally possibly inconsequential) that in his Eurosport blog, AW mentioned Benzema by name, but not Giroud when assessing France’s prospects at the WC.
@Joe, you say he will walk into the playing 11 because he is better than any other mid fielder we have??????????????, so you say he is better than ozil? I mean come on, ask any club who would they want and i am sure majority will say Mesut than Cesc. No dis respect to that DNA so and so but honestly Mesut is once in a lifetime signing. He is been judged to harshly by a lot who expected him to be miraculous. Its a team game, he cannot do all on his own but some of the things he does, well only he can.
DNA boy is a luxury, a costly one to. We do not need him. I doubt if barca will sell him till they get a replacement which i believe they want is Koke.
We need to work on the necessities, a RB, GK, Striker, DM and i think we need to invest big on a DM than anyone else more. Pay whatever and see if we can get Pogba/Matuidi or even Schwenstieger.
Proco@241. Apologies for focussing “on the throwaway part” of your post. I had genuinely overlooked your cringeworthy puns. Now that you have, I hope you’ll understand why I don’t thank you for pointing them out.
*waves to SteveT*
Afternoon all.
I can see that all is still good in the world and we’re still basking in our glorious F.A Cup victory…………………..
***Reminds himself to refrain from making an excess of cringeworthy puns on pointless subjects.***
If only I could think of just one, I most certainly would share it with you. 🙂
I think some people are missing the point about the possibility of bringing Cesc back to the club.
If the club is stepping up a notch to genuine contenders for the biggest prizes, the same 11 players are not going to play 90 minutes of every single game.
There was criticism last season of playing Ozil in every match and “running him into the ground”. Ditto, Aaron Ramsey.
Having been run into the ground, we then suffered greatly when they were not available. Surely the point is to be able to rotate without hurting our prospects of winning something.
Fabregas, whatever your personal taste, is quality. His stats in Spain are outstanding, considering he reportedly hasn’t been playing very well.
Our well stocked midfield is ageing in parts, and take a look at Man Utd
who failed to upgrade theirs when they should have done.
The other side of being able to recruit top quality is that some second tier players may have to go, however dear to us they have become.
We have crucial positions to strengthen, for sure, but quality like Cesc, at the prices being talked about / guessed at, doesn’t come aling too often.
As one of the Gibbs ‘detractors’, I would just say that @191 I did try to be fair and reasoned about him. He has had some great games for us, and I said so, but he doesn’t convince me positionally against the best teams.
I don’t fault his commitment or effort, but as a converted winger I’m just not sure he has that defensive instinct.
He is a converted winger, not me. 😉
Pangloss,
No more pointless puns from me – to put it bluntly. 😉
Heh at all the puns, I Raliegh enjoyed them.
Someone saw Cesc on a bike? Silly season indeed.
H2H,
Pangloss will be after you if you don’t stop punning about pointless things like bikes.
He might even give you a punch on the hooter ! 😉
I agree with you Trev in as much as if Cesc if even to be an option then there needs to be more than one departure.
Re Gibbs. I actually think that Wenger is happier with someone that can get forward. I’m not sure he views the defensive capabilities of his full backs as higher a priority as perhaps he should.
Vinay knows where we need to be spending our dosh.
It’s been reported that the bike “enthusiasts” favourite player is Carlos Veladrome 😉
I’ll close the door quietly on my way out.
Apparently Dagenham and Redbridge have ruled themselves out of the running for Cesc!!!
How nice of them to put the rest of us on guard!!
😆
Heh! Uply. 🙂
I’d like to go on record by saying I’m a huge fan of Woj and have been for quite a while. I’ll agree that it might not of been the ideal situation to let him learn on the job, so to speak, but that gamble has paid dividends. He always had the potential and was a solid shot stopper, but over the last year his decision making and all round awareness has improved greatly. He had a blip in the previous season and Wenger gave him a kick up the backside by dropping him, but since coming back in he has been well worth his number one status. Yes, he is still young, but I can see him being at Arsenal for a very long time.
I can’t believe for a second that Arsene would be looking for a straight up replacement for him, as far as I can see (all just my opinion ofcourse) Wenger trusts him and, more importantly, so do those in front of him. That’s not to say that we shouldn’t be looking for the best back up possible to push him for his place and keep him on his toes, preferably an experienced keeper who he can learn from, but to my mind Woj is Arsenal’s Number 1 and will be, baring accidents, for the foreseeable future.
Even at his tender age he was the stand out keeper in the PL last season, only Cech was anywhere near as good as him, it was unfortunate that a good % of the goals he conceded came in the three away games against the top 3, but other then one goal against the Chavs, I don’t really feel there was much he really can be blamed for. The fact that he shared the Golden Gloves Award (with aforementioned Chav glove butler, who has the luxury of sharing his goal line with a massive parked bus) really should provide proof of the taste of that particular pudding.
Maybe he is indeed still learning, but he’s still way ahead of most and has now made over 100 app’s which include CL games, and is still improving, he coud be an Arsenal Legend.
Just for the sake of curiousity, who would anyone suggest we bring in to replace him?
Trev@255 – ding dong
*Applauds H2H*
For those advocating a refit of more or less our entire first XI, to the point where Woj needs replacing, please refer to last season’s Spurs shit-show for an example of why this ain’t a great idea.
You cannot implement change that fast.
As it is, we may end the summer with a new first choice right back, DM, left winger and centre forward. Personally, I think that’s the maximum change the first team can safely absorb in one transfer window: about four players, or just over a third of the team.
Beyond that, we should be looking to fill out the squad with a mix of experienced old heads and up and coming youngsters. What we categorically should not be doing is dicking around with new first choice keepers, looking at £25m+ centre backs and thinking about left backs when we already have two perfectly good ones.
Personally, I encourage everyone not to think too much about all this bollocks until after the World Cup: nobody seems to have good intel at this stage and I very much doubt anything will happen in the next nine days.
We’re basically all just bored, and need the footie back.
So we’re in for Jean-Christophe Bahebeck?!
He’s redeeming qualities which makes him so appealing :-
1. He’s young.
2. He’s french.
3. He’s FREE!
4. He’s got superb technique : http://i2.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article2033010.ece/alternates/s615/France-v-Uzbekistan-Quarter-Final-FIFA-U-20-World-Cup-Turkey-2013.jpg
😀
I must concur with N7, I feel our defence needs strengthening, not replacing. I think our (percieved) problems stem from tactics rather then personel. Against the better teams we have played a suicidaly dangerous high line and instead of sitting back and absorbing the pressuse we’ve tried to out play them and that has played into their hands. Maybe returning to a classical 4-4-2 formation with actual full backs supported by wingers would ail that problem, but I wouldn’t hold my breath for that.
Per may not be the fastest in the game, but his reading is second to none, before L’pool away even the Arsenal haters on the Beeb were lauding the Mertesielny axis of awesome, their record against the teams outside the top four is amazing, so it’s pretty easy to pinpoint where work needs to be done, but again, I’d blame the tactics over the players. Kos has also somewhat curbed his bull in a china shop tendencies, not for nothing theose two were in many fans top three list of performers of the season.
Totally agree with H2H.
Stick a mobile DM in front of our existing back four, stop playing with suicidal tactics and a high line in the big away games and we’re golden.
Maybe consider showing up for a point every now and then. It would make a big difference.
I am with N7 and H2H.
Gibbo can be found positionally suspect sometimes, but that is something age and experience would improve. I think he is very close to becoming a very good modern day full back. His right foot needs some working though.
I am also a great fan of Szczesny, his improvements have been immense (he did share the golden glove with Cech, let us not forget) especially in commanding the area and concentration, and one season or more of that upward curve he would be one of the very best.
I was thinking about what a potential Arsenal first eleven would be without any of the world cup returning (and tired) players, at the beginning of the pre-season. Not too bad I think:
Szczesny
Gibbo – Monreal – Hayden – Jenko
Flamini – Arteta – Ramsey
Rosicky – Sanogo – Gnabry
And if Theo is miraculously fit by then Theo instead of Sanogo.
I think we will see something like that away at New York. Probably Ozil and Jack etc. to make some crowd-pleasing appearance from the bench.
🙂
Trip down memory lane time:
Remember how the same was said about Ashley Cole being defensively positionally suspect when he started out, and how he relied on pace to make up for that shortcoming? He turned out OK as a full back, if less so as a person.
To those who still fret about the BFG’s pace, remember that Bobby Moore was as slow as a carthorse (and not a great header of the ball for someone who was 6’ 2”), but he read the game so well that he was one of the world’s greatest defenders, ever, and that is on the testimony of opponents like Pele and Beckenbauer.
I treat these Squawka rankings with some caution, but they have Kos and Per at third and fourth in their overall performance rankings for defenders in the EPL last season, with only Skrtel and Coleman ahead of them. The pair rank 10th and 11th across the top five European leagues.
Their glove butler rankings back H2H’s point about Szczesny. They are 1. Neuer (Bayern), 2. Buffon (Juve), 3. Sirigu (PSG), 4 ter Stegen (B. Munchengladbach going to Barca), 5. De Sanctis (Roma), 6. Sir Woj, 7. Handanovic (Inter), 8. Ospina (Nice, and coming our way?), 9. Subasic (Monaco), 10. Howard (Everton), 11. Navas (Levante), 12. Enyeama (Lille), 13. Reina (Napoli), Manone (Sunderland, and late of this parish), 15. Cech (Chavs).
As for the full backs, Sagna will obviously need replacing, I’d like to see the corporal get a chance, but another RB needs to come in all the same. I see that the Ivory Coast Gooner fan and Bac impersonater, Serge Aurier, is the one we must get. TBH I know nothing of this chap except for the YouTube compilations that I’ve been trying to avoid but still manage to see. He plays in the French Ligue, Arsene’s fav shopping mall, so maybe, but I’ll believe it when I see it on dotcom and not before.
I’ll agree that losing A Cole was a blow, the best player in his position in the PL for years, he would of been impossible to replace for any team. However Gibbs is not complete pants, there’s a good player in there, just needs to show a bit of consistancy and stay away from the physio room, Nacho is a more then decent back up. They’re both Internationals and I’m sure if it wasn’t for injuries Gibbs would of been on the plane to Brazil. I see elsewhere that Shaw is the flavour of the month and is being touted for a 30mill move, that’s ridiculous and futher proof of the overpricing of English talent. Coleman is the same, not that I don’t rate him, I think he’s a good prospect, but unlike our players, neither of those two have been tested at CL or even Your Hopeless league level.
Cheers Doc’ Faus’.
Top research as always Ned.
Handanovic is an excellent name for a keeper. 🙂
Bloody hell that was a fuckin’ challenging backdrink. Beforehand I was thinking we’d just had our best season in a while. Or did I miss something???
Well personally I’m going to carry on with the delusion that we have some decent players in our squad, and have just won an FA cup. It was an epic day, that I was fortunate enough to spent with some quality people, and the outcome was blissful. Therefore I’m happy, mostly. And that pleases me.
Meanwhile, some other observations:
1) Some people clearly feel inclined to start an argument in an empty room. And I find that more baffling than quantum electrodynamics.
2) Chopping up a squad that was doing rather well until some midfielder injuries scuppered us is nothing short of mental, for all of the many reasons that others have pointed out above.
3) Continuing to call out Giroud when in fact he did a bloody useful job for us last season is equally mental. He’s not ‘sloppy seconds’. He’s actually pretty much France’s number one striker. That’ll do for me.
4) Anyone thinking we should ditch Ozil in the close season needs to go outside and have a bit of chat with themselves, because I’m not sure you actually like football very much. I would like it put on record that when I die, I will not be bothering replaying my own life in the final seconds, I’ll be replaying that pass to Flamini at Cardiff.
5) No Cesc we’re Bitter-ish? Leave it out. He’s a professional footballer not a professional fan. If we were to be lucky enough to have him play for us again he would strengthen us, without doubt. The same cannot be said at this point in time for Cashley or van Pursestrings. They’re over the hill now. There is therefore no comparison.
Aaaaand breathe….
What snowy said. All that good stuff.
Masterful stuff there Snowy. With you 100%.
Not much left to be said. ENJOY the summer. Don’t spend it ripping apart the team or their supporters.
Snowy, N7, Tabs, Lars, what they said.
Said it before, I’ll say to again: I will absolutely wank myself silly if we sign Cesc.
Absolute world-class player and a true joy to watch. On his day, comes close to DB10 and TH14 as a pure pleasure on the football field.
Given we are 1 year away from Arteta, Flamini, and Rosicky being out of contract I cannot fathom for a second why anyone would turn their nose up at this for anything other than old wounds from leaving. (There’s a reason it hurt so much and it wasn’t that we didn’t really fancy him anyway.) Makes perfect football sense. And all for £30mil? We’d be idiots not to. IDIOTS!
Throw in Balotelli for another £20mil, Aurier for £7mil and we still have forty left for a pwopa Gilberto style midfielder and a luxury signing to add some pace out wide. Delicious scenes.
UTA
Ps: No idea what people are watching to knock Gibbs. Statys fit he is top 3 in the league at his position. Totally different gravy.
The Pole in goal is excellent. Needs someone pushing him in the squad, prone to a case of the Bendtners, but superb week-in-week out last season.
On transfers, worth remembering also that AOC and Gnarby barely played last year. Like a new innit.
UTA 🙂
Agree completely with Trev and others on Fabregas. It’s a no-brainer IF the price is right.
Top work from N7, H2H and Snowy. Nice to see some sense being spoken at long last.
SteveT, – Point taken on Sczcz. Apologies for not having picked up on the tongue in cheek element. Given the nature of some of the posts in this thread however, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to work out the serious from the pisstake. As regards Mata, you might want to check out what you wrote in January. I take it that that view has now changed? 😉
Clive – Sorry you feel that way Sweeper. Like I said, I expressed a view in regard to Gibbs and Sczcz which I stand by. If you took offence at how I expressed it, then my apologies. Was my view a tad overcooked by comparing criticism of the pair with playing Flamini at centre half? Probably. Was it as overcooked as a suggestion that a team that has just won the Cup and finished 7 points off top sell their entire Defence and goalkeeper ? Probably not.
Anyway, a freshly squeezed on the Bar.
Tickle….. 🙂
Special mention for Trev above … 252? Would point out that Gibbs’ defensive positioning was pretty spot on or saving us the FA Cup twice in the final…. But agree completely re Cesc.
Woah. Long post … Back to hibernation! 😉
What a load of old bobbins upstairs…..
You’ll find me fielding at 3rd man for the duration.
Fielding at 3rd man Zico?
You provocative fucker 😉
Tabs
Your freshly squeezed juice is accepted, as long as you haven’t slipped a double vodka in it.!!
I must admit i was tongue in cheek about our 2 central defenders,but i am still yet to be convinced about the Keeper and the left back positions.
Stats don’t lie,and yet again we concede over 40 goals in a season.
That is in my opinion,the defence’s responsibility.
I know the team is supposed to attack and defend as a unit,but at the end of the day defenders,like attackers,live and die by their stats,and i would like to see that goals against column drop significantly.
On the subject of Gibbo, i guess i am old school and would just like to see him kick a few wingers into touch now and again,just to make them think twice about trying to go past him on the outside.
Cheers
The Sweeper.
Fuck.!! there is a double vodka in that juice.!!
Haha, you know me too well Sweeper. Just a small one in there to help the juice down 😉
Point taken on the two centre-halves. As regards Sczcz, we’ll have to agree to disagree (as we will on the veracity of stats!).
As regards Gibbs, I see where you’re coming from but I think he made a significant leap last season. As El puno pointed out, if he stays fit, and I realise it is a big if, I personally think we’re covered, and covered pretty darn well. Monreal struggled for much of the season, due I would suggest, to irregular game time. Still a good player there in my view. He certainly compares well with any other second choice left back in the country. It’s difficult to second guess AW – he always does what you least expect- but I’m pretty confident in my assertion that those who want a portion of the summer war chest to be spent on a new left back are going to be left disappointed.
Cheers.
Isn’t Ox our back-up goalie?
Thnks Tabs
I never expected any of Arsene’s hard earned war chest,to be spent on anything other than a replacement right back for the departing Bacary.
It was just my wishful thinking.
I take it we are in agreement that Jenks is not read for that role yet.??
On the Fab issue, i cannot see the Boss bringing back a player that engineered his move to Barca,because he heard the siren call.
AW’s long term plan was to build the squad around Fab with top quality players once the purse strings were loosened.
I submit that his defection set the club back at least a couple of years if not more, because it unsettled the rest of the squad so much,and the boss had to go back to square 1.
Apart from Flamini who cost nothing and has been nothing more than a useful squad player this season,the only other player i can think of that AW bought back was Keown ?? if my memory serves.
It’s just not something he does.
sweeper, i think he brought back sol, too. just for that little bit, no?
*putting the last ten minutes of extra time from the cup final on the bar’s television, settling in for a pint*
Class act G54 😉
Have another freshly squeezed in me maestro 🙂
sweeper, i went and did a little research.
eight players in our history have come back; under arsene six players have returned to the arsenal fold after seeking pastures greener.
hugh mcdonald came back twice
jock rutherford (though he never played for stoke between arsenal gigs)
john lukic
martin keown
sol campbell
jens lehmann
thierry henry (how could we forget?)
mathieu flamini
*rammmmssseeeyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy*
Ah, some fine ‘holics in situ 🙂 Thanks all. Big day tomorrow. I lie. Big day today…
Özil could have a great WC, N7. In fact I was assuming he would when I put Germany into my three potential winners of it. On recent form he shouldn’t even make the German team, but I can’t see them leaving him out because without Özil playing to his potential I don’t believe Germany will get very far. He’s been their fulcrum for several years now, the rest feed off him and they’d be lost without him.
But a one-off tournament is a far cry from a Premier League season, and I saw very little this last one to convince me he has the bottle for the weekly drag. And that’s pretty much what Perez, Zidane and also Anceloti (depending on which reports you believe) said about him when RM let him go.
Öskar
Thnks for the kind words Goonertown,
i have my drink taster sipping said juice as we speak, just in case.!!
Scruz
i get your list.
My point was, Keown was the only player that we actually paid market price for in the Wenger era,and was in his prime.
The others were short term fill ins that arguably cost us nothing other than a few quid in wages.
The Sweeper.
“On the Fab issue, i cannot see the Boss bringing back a player that engineered his move to Barca,because he heard the siren call.
AW’s long term plan was to build the squad around Fab with top quality players once the purse strings were loosened.
I submit that his defection set the club back at least a couple of years if not more, because it unsettled the rest of the squad so much,and the boss had to go back to square 1.”
Hallelujah….. At last, someone else gets it. Thank you sir. Pull up a chair and join me and H2H in a beer.
Tabs. Re Mata. My views have not changed to the best of my knowledge. I look forward to you directing me to any post that might show different. That said I will accept that I was furious at the lack of activity in January.
Where would I play Reus, Steve T? Left wing, with freedom to roam inside. And Hummels would replace Per, providing some much needed speed to the defence, also allowing quality CD rotation. He has also played DMF in his time and if you watched the Dortmund games you’d have seen him coming forward at every opportunity. I’m not in the camp which says we have to have a DMF (I’d rather have better MFs capable of not losing the ball in embarrassing positions, or with the ability to recover it) and put the emphasis more on scoring with attacking MFs or a marquee striker.
We can’t afford upgrades everywhere, but Reus, Hummels, Cesc, Aurier (or Coleman) and one of Di Maria, Moura or a striker would be my ideal.
Öskar
gotcha, clive.
*places another glass of unadulterated fruit juice next to clive’s elbow, something tropical with flavors that stir the memory*
Salute to the valiant British and American soldiers , the real lions for all they did 70 years ago , and today we can enjoy football !
Transfer speculation is a bit mental, seeing as most of what’s in the news fails to happen, but I wouldn’t mind seeing the following players at Arsenal next season:
GK: Ruddy
RB: Aurier or Coleman (keep Vermaelen and bring Djourou back in as a back up centre back)
MF: Schneiderlin or Cesc (if available)
FW: Remy or Balotelli (or maybe even bring Joel Campbell into the fold)
I figure we might only see 3 new players maximmum coming in though…
A quick check of the headlines shows Santi is doing his best to tap up Cesc. Good man. If he is effective at it, that is. 😉
COR@295 – you sure you want djorku back. He is he flappy of fullbacks.an unmitigated disaster happens every time he sets foot on he field. There is a good reason no one wants to actually pay anything for him.
The best argument for signing Cesc is as a replacement for Rosicky, one year early. The other best argument is to prevent him from playing against us for one of our title rivals.
@297: Hey Aussie, I think he’d be alright backup. It might be hard to remember now after his recent high profile errors, but he once had this record of going 2 years without being on a losing Arsenal side if I remember correctly. (Maybe when Gallas was next to him?) I just figure it would be the easiest option if we’re looking to get someone in who will not start in front of Mertescielny…
Of course, we can always promote Hayden but I think that most of those academy youths will just be sold to make a profit.
Aussie. I never thought Djourou was a bad 4th choice center back. Much better than Senderos, Sylvestre and Cygan for example, and there were quite a few games when he did a great job for us. I would be less comfortable with him as our 3rd choice and would not consider him as a starter, but not a bad option at 4th. What player is likely to be better (who could expect to hardly ever play except in an injury crisis)?
Ignasi Miquel is one who I thought had potential to develop into an Arsenal caliber defender. Apparently he is currently on loan at Leicester City, but I know nothing of whether he played any part in their promotion winning season last year. Probably an unfair knock against him was that he played the first 105 minutes of that dreadful defensive performance against Reading a couple of seasons back.
Our defense that evening according to the BBC match report was:
06 Koscielny yellow card
20 Djourou
25 Jenkinson
54 Miquel yellow card (Meade 105+3)
Maybe Djourou or Miquel could be reasonable 4th choice options but not having both on the field at the same time?
I don’t know what happened to Miquel.
I thought he had lots of potential but they kept playing him at left back and it killed him. Then, instead of playing him at CB, they just loaned him out.
Weird…
Leicester City’s website says Miguel made 12 appearances for them last season.
http://www.lcfc.com/team/player-profile/ignasi-miquel/23
I wish I knew more, but some of his first team appearances for Arsenal at CB looked quite assured and promising.
Just had a scan of the interwebs using my gooner sense.
Matuidi (27 year old defensive midfielder currently at PSG) and Akinfeev (27 year old goalkeeper currently at CSKA Moscow) are out of contract this summer.
Time to get stuck into some freebies!!!!!!!
Cannons. I completely agree with you on Miquel not being a left back and his poor performances there should not count against him in the centre half reckoning.
It would be interesting if we did pick up Matuidi and Remy, or either one, both being players we were supposed to sign a few years ago according to some sources.
I took a nap yesterday afternoon and now can’t sleep tonight so a scan of the headlines has this Thierry Henry interview:
http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arsenals-fa-cup-win-made-me-happy-but-we-are-waiting-for-the-title–thierry-henry-9480620.html
@Oskar
My point was less whether Ozil will have a good World Cup, more to observe your monomania.
How about this: I bet you that you cannot go from now until the start of the seaso without mentioning Mesut Ozil in this bar.
Up for the challenge? I could use a break from that drumbeat.
Morning all,
I thought it would be interesting to include a quote from Santi on Cesc, which admittedly came from Arseblog, which came from elsewhere, which is as follows:
“I’ve read that he could go to Chelsea but I’d prefer him to come to Arsenal because he’s a great player and they really love him there.”
This by no means, means that Cesc will say okay Santi, I’ll re-join Arsenal. But my presumption from reading this quote is that, as some point, a firm decision will have to be made on Cescs future, which as all logical people have pointed out (including AW on all transfers), is more likely to progress after the world cup.
I know, I know “but he’s price will go up or the big money clubs will get involved”. All I can say to that is Ozil, 42.5 Mill, buy-back clauses, value for money, the lot. It’s for real this time homies. We will get what we’re supposed to get and hopefully, will not be short.
This is GT from pre-world cup transfer speculation Bull, saying… 😆
Kind of you to refer to it as monomania and not plain madness, N7, but I’m not about to stop mentioning any particular player just to appease you, sorry. 😉
Just about every analyst in football agrees with me that the guy was a huge disappointment in his first season. Worse than that, imo, was his attitude which told me he’s simply not an Arsenal type. So why not offer Dortmund a trade, Özil and Vermaelen for Reus and Hummels? We could even throw in some cash. We’d be a lot better off, and for practically nothing. Add Cesc and perhaps Di Maria or Moura or Balotelli and we’d have the best attacking side in Europe.
What I don’t get is all the excuses I keep hearing for him. The reason RM let him go was because he wasn’t prepared to fight for his position in Madrid, and that is exactly the attitude we got from him all season.
Öskar
If Santi wants Cesc at the Ems he should be talking to AW, not Cesc.
Öskar
Haha Oskar, re Cesc 🙂
@Oskar
Fair enough. You keep quacking on about him, I’ll keep rolling my eyeballs and skipping to the next post.
Montreal@294: Not to mention the Russians.
Time to check your brainwashing.
On a complety different topic….
I’m rewatching my History of Arsenal DVD and I just noticed for the first time that in all the clips of Malcolm McDonald scoring Stapleton looks annoyed/jealous, and reluctant to join celebrations.
Does anyone know whether there was any beef between those two?
Or did Stapleton just want all the glory to himself?
Oskar. I do get your point re Özil and I understand where you are coming from re your swap deal. I would just add a few things. I personally think Özil is a fantastic player. I think he came with heft expectations. We had fucked up massively in recent transfer windows. Last summers seemed to be heading the same way. Then, out of the blue and purely by chance we signed Özil. The atmosphere everywhere was just electric. There was a massive buzz around the ground both inside and out. We had not just beaten our transfer record, we had smashed it to bits. Everyone expected this world class talent to deliver world class performances immediately.
I don’t think he performed as I Would have hoped. I wanted more. But that doesn’t mean that he did not deliver. He still created twice as many chances as any other arsenal player. Perhaps if we had bought the top class striker we desperately craved, perhaps if Theo and Rambo had stayed fit then his work might have had more end product?
I will be amazed if Özil is sold in the summer. I just can’t see it happening at all. You don’t spend 40 plus million on a world class player to ditch him after a year. Personally I am expecting big things from Özil next year. Rambo will be back. Theo won’t be far away. Hopefully there will be at least two new strikers in the squad. Get that right and you just might see how good he is???
Reus????? I would love him at Arsenal but I want him playing in the same team as Özil. Now that could become very special.
Oskar- I always enjoy reading your posts and especially that speak your mind at all times, but on ozil you will be sadly proven wrong.
You can only judge someone on good or bad based on a set of criteria.
On what criteria was he judged to be bad – scoring goals, being a defender, tracking back to do the job of some fullback who has left his role without thinking. Those criteria aren’t why arsene signed one of the best players in the world. A players player.
It you judge him on ball control, precision passing, setting up goals, assists and seeing gaps that no one else does, then he had a great year in my eyes and many other ozil fans.
Who did he he have to hit with his precision passes with any pace – OG and OG oh yes and OG. And the sanogo the mid who is just out of dopers.
C’mon Oskar – you are a better football analyst, then to say ozil is crap…
SteveT- spot on about ozil.
No chance if is selling ozil and he wi be proved to be a bargain but if we had a striker with pace or a full season of theo out wide
COR
I am sorry that I cannot answer your query precisely as I was not watching Arsenal back then. What I do know of McDonald though from memory of what I read and clips I have seen, is that Macdonald was like a marquee signing back then, who if I am not to be mistaken, delivered. Beef-wise, I have not done the homework so couldn’t tell you. I know there are definitely others in the bar that should be able to confirm this for sure.
317 should have read ” no chance of us selling ozil and he will be proved to be a bargain buy if we have a striker with pace for a full season or theo out wide.
Apologies for the f–king iPhone auto typos
bt8b, COR: Ignasi Miquel started only six games for Leicester City in the Championship last season, but was a starter in the cups (1 FA Cup, 4 League Cup ties). On the bench as unused sub for 17 league games, and got on in an 18th.
On McDonald…
There was a popular quiz question in the mid 70s – “What is taken to the Cup Final every year but never used” to which the answer was “The losing teams ribbons” which aren’t tied to the cup at the presentation.
An alternative answer, following his less-than-decisive contributions for Newcastle in 1974 and Arsenal in 1978 for Arsenal was “Malcolm McDonald”.
Whilst I don’t think the term “Marquee signing” was in use back then, at a near-British record fee of £1/3 million Malcolm McDonald was certainly a big-money big-name signing.
Thanks for the responses Goonertown and NBN.
Maybe the almighty holic can provide answers 🙂
333,333.33£ right Pangloss?
The fee comes up in pub quizzes a lot!
I think one of the first things I ever bought in the Arsenal shop was a pair of Supermac wrist bands, the must have item for young footballing hipsters in the ’70’s. 😉
He was so powerful in the air!
Like two Girouds strapped together
Costa has just passed his medical at Chavski according to Sky.
Now looking forward to being told how shit he is, and how we have really dodged a bullet with that one.
😀
He is shit Steve and we dodged a bullet 😛 Isnt he also injured now? He is going to be Torres MK II for Chavs, one season wonder.
Sickening, if true, to see the Chavs signing a “super quality” striker for the very fair price of £32mil before the world cup has started. We still in the starters blocks?
Over to you Arsene and Ivan…?
RANT….
how the fuck did we not go in for Costa if he had a buyout clause at 32 mi [dirt cheap by going standards]
What the fuck.
Please, please, please no one start with the “but we can’t compete with blah blah blah.”
City and PSG both just got fined £50million and had their CL squad cut. That’s FFP. The thing we’ve been waiting for along with the new commercial deals.
Atletico ALWAYS sell. He was always off. You move fast, don’t haggle, and get it done before someone else moves in after you’ve let it leak out that you like Mata, Hazard, etc etc.
If we don’t want him then fine, but there is no point in us standing still whilst all those around us strengthen the bumbling to 4th again with cash in the bank and mealy mouthed words about “congested markets.” Same last year when Falcao and Cavani got snapped up early. You have to move fast.
This is why we hired Gazidis right, to be getting this shit set-up when the boss is working his nuts off during the season taking care of the actual football?
And breath. Bunch of chav dickheads anyway. Fuck them and their 8-0 aggregate score against us over 3 games last season. We’ll do em next year.
UTA
I don’t really rate Costa. He’s only good at spitting, elbowing and throwing snot on people you ask me. Dirty bastard.
http://youtu.be/eBNIQM3Bi6M
Puno, Sajit,
I’m not going to repeat the whole post I made several days ago but, basically, Athletico Madrid will have had no say in where Costa went, and neither will Costa.
The player is or probably now, was, owned by a third party company belonging to Jorge Mendes and Peter Kenyon – you’ll remember him – who co trol what happens to Costa.
Mendes also happens to be Jose Mourinho’s agent so, if Mourinho wants, doubtless he will get. The deal was doubtless sealed between them and whatever sweeteners Abramovich decided to throw in that need not necessarily show up as part of the deal price.
I doubt Arsenal ever had a chance of getting involved – even if they wanted to, so ranting, in this case, is probably a bit irrelevant.
332 – Fair play Trev, I take your word on it that we were out of that race.
Irrespective, as we all knew would happen, our rivals are strengthening.
Dear Dennis I hope this is the year we finally put our balls on the table and do the same. There is no better coach or talent spotter in the world than Arsene, let him go and fight with everything we have.
Given our needs – 5/6 players I’d say with 2/3 of those being the fabled “super quality” – it would be useful if we got moving soon imho.
UTA.
Argh..
Puno, Sajit,
The same applied at Atletico Madrid with Falcao, Torres, Cavani and Aguero. They get to use these third party owned players on the cheap for a couple of years while they build reputations under the noses of PSG, Chelsea, City etc. the players are then sold at a huge profit to whoever, and whenever, their owners decide.
Do you really think Monaco was the number one destination for Falcao ?
Nor do I.
Trev. Falcao earns between £350,000 to £450,000 a week tax free depending on which report you believe. I’m guessing with that kind of money on the table that Monaco was very much his first choice.
336 – I’ve always found the Bemerton Estate to be particularly salubrious, but you could have mentioned the Monaco lifestyle and beating the hell out of the French league as well. Either way, doesn’t really invalidate Trev’s point. (Although I’m guessing Torres shouldn’t be on the list, having been a youth team graduate?)
Silly season … Aptly named.
As far as AW and the purported Arsenal war chest … how many times in his career has AW actually gone on such a spending spree … like a cash-crazed rapper in a Louis Vuitton boutique? (which would be a blast, don’t get me wrong.)
That’d be none methinks. 1 eye popping player, possibly. But I wouldn’t hold my breath for a “strengthening” or whatever label one uses, that means dropping 100M pounds on players. Seems very VERY unlikley.
And the whole world knows we need a new Sagna, so the cost of such players just doubled for us. Unless AW thinks Corpl. Jenks is ready for prime time, which may be pushing it a bit – though I’d love to be wrong about that.
And agree with others above: realistically, Fabregas leaving Barca seems unlikely.
Cannons – Macdonald was the glory hunter.Try and dig out a couple of goals he scored against Orient in an Fa cup semi in 78. Probably on Youtube. Two of the luckiest deflections you’re ever likely to see, but Supermac celebrates ’em both as if he’s just executed a Cruyff turn and a Van Basten volley all in one. Loved him for all that though. Stapleton, despite the enduring disgust he generates for his defection to the Mancs, was a truly selfless player. No idea if their contrasting attitudes to the Game led to a fallout between them.
Oh and thanks for the request for Behind the Arse 🙂 Think it only worked (if it worked at all), in times of high stress such as the Summer of ’11. Now that we’ve won a trophy, and the moaners have stopped moaning, and the Bar is a happy place, and no-one thinks the Manager is hopeless, and the team is shit, and the Board are clueless … Oh.
Maybe 😉
Sweeper – Yep, in agreement on Jenks, don’t think he’s ready for the role just yet, but I’m willing to be convinced. I think he’s a much better player than many give him credit for, especially if he gets a run of games. It seems to take him a while to settle down. People have short memories. He gave an absolutely stellar performance in the win out in Munich after just such a run of games. After a mistake against Chelsea in the League Cup against Chelsea last Season, he’s suddenly written off as a liability, such is the modern penchant for immediate judgment. I would be surprised if AW doesn’t buy a right back though.
On Fabregas, I would tend to agree with you that it probably won’t happen, although your guess is as good as mine. Too many imponderables – the exact terms of the buyback, how much money Barca still owe us for him and Song etc – to work out whether it might happen. My reasons for erring on thinking it won’t happen differ to yours however. I don’t think there has been any real fallout between AW and him, they still seem remarkably close, and I don’t think AW would hesitate in bringing him back if he felt he could do a job for him. Otherwise, why such tortuous negotiations in thrashing out a first refusal clause when he left? There was serious interest in bringing him back last Summer pre-Ozil if the word of a Board member’s son can be taken at face value. Post-Ozil though, I just don’t see where he fits in anymore. For me, the biggest job of the Summer is to replace Arteta and that is where in my view the big bucks should be spent. I can’t see Fabregas in that role. If he does come back, then I certainly think there’ll be a sale, most probably Santi.
It will be interesting to see what happens. I think there are two sides to the argument and on this one I can see both. I certainly don’t think it’s just a case of ‘getting it’ as Steve seems to think.
SteveT – You actually want me to wade through all that January transfer guff again? 🙂 Bloody hell, give me ten minutes. Any more than that and I fear that I will need a rope, a stepladder, and someone to push me off!
Oh and before I forget, Costa is a cunt, and pretty shit to boot. 😉
Re: Diego Costa…
At club level he has 104 goals and 88 yellow cards from 273 appearances
For Athletico alone he has 64 goals and 35 yellow cards from 134 appearances.
He’s had one very good season – 36 of the goals listed above have been scored this year – but is it really worth shedding salty tears that we’ve not signed him (even if it were possible to do so)?
If this season proves to be an anomaly (and given the Simeone effect on Athletico’s playing staff it may well be) we’d be left with a player who traditionally draws more cards than he scores goals.
Tabs, agreed on Jenks.
Takes time to get into the role but I wouldn’t be upset to see him get it. Can he reach the standard ? Only time will tell, but we will need a recruit on the right side of defence regardless as our centre back cover left with Sagna too.
On actual football front, watching Brazil vs Panama (not-so-) friendly in between work. They are kicking the shit out of Neymar yet he is unstoppable, some great goals being scored, one that stands out is a defense splitting back heel pass from Neymar and a brilliant finish by Hulk using the outside of left boot (a la Rosicky in the opposite foot).
Just as Gilberto was so crucial to Scolari las time around, Gustavo is being used as a perfect pivote. I wonder if he has now bottled up some stomach for fighting for a place in a top team.
SteveT -Well that wasn’t too hard. Just find the date Mata signed (25th) and work backwards.
Jan 23rd mate, still over a week away from full on anger.
“Anyone fancy a cheeky bid by us for Mata to match the one the mancs make ??????”
“The likes or Tommy R and Micky A aren’t getting any younger. I think he would be a fantastic addition. Plus it would piss old Maureen off beyond belief????”
“But I have always said evolution, not revolution. The secret for me of building and maintaining a top side is having new players slowly integrated into the team in a smooth transition.
Chelsea may well have to sell Mata. They can’t comply with FFP and they are struggling to comply with the home grown player rules. That is not made any easier by their aging side. If they agree a fee with the mancs I see no harm in us matching it.”
So what’s it to be mate, change of heart or is it personal with Cesc? 😉
Trev – agree on all fronts.
Speaking of Behind the Arse, Google Translate says the translation in Catalan is:
darrere del cul
(Just in case Cesc was wondering) 😉
Tabs, “agreed on all fronts.”
I’m very pleased to hear it and just to confirm, the fronts are –
The Western Front
The Shop Front
Costa is a Front Bottom
😉
” I don’t think AW would hesitate in bringing him back if he felt he could do a job for him. Otherwise, why such tortuous negotiations in thrashing out a first refusal clause when he left?”
Couldn’t agree more Tabs. Thats the reason why Wenger still has such a close relationship with Cesc – because he let him go. Whats the point in holding a player to their contract? What do you achieve if you do that? Now I think the club is in a real position of strength. I believe its Cesc who wants out and not necessarily Barca who want to sell (it makes no sense for them to sell). And I think Cesc will only come to Arsenal and all the media bluster about him going to other clubs are just efforts by Barca / his agent to optimise the price / deal.
Where I would differ form you though Tabs is the contention that Wenger will buy a DCM. I think he’ll buy one midfielder and not two. If Cesc becomes available, I think wenger will exercise the buy back option and the only thing that could jeopardise that would be Cesc’s wage demands. He’s never struck me as a player whose motivated by money only. So I see the DCM options being: Arteta/Flamini/Diaby/Wilshere/Rambo who’ve all played that role before. I think Lars mentioned recently that the day of a specialist DCM is long gone. Now a days its about players being fluid enough to transition between attack and defence and play both roles.
Trev @ 332.
I think your post on Costa is absolutely spot and sums up the situation perfectly.
For me, I’m with N7. While I really think Costa is a good player, I think most of his success has come form the hard work of his teammates as opposed to any individual brilliance on his own bat if that makes sense.
Decent write up on Aurier here, for the budding #YoutubeScout out there:
http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/everything-you-need-know-about-serge-aurier?
Sounds like a good mix of style to go with Jenks defence first, no-nonsense solidity. We need 2 players pushing each other and ready to play. Looks like he would be an excellent signing. Fingers crossed.
UTA.
Trev – Haha, understood Sir! 🙂
Joe – Haha, now you’ve got me veering towards the “he probably will sign” camp. Agree with you completely on the holding player to a contract thing. People might not like it, but that’s the way of the modern football world. Playing hardball just doesn’t work anymore. I will be very interested to see whether Suarez stays at Liverpool this summer after all the chenanigans last year. Will he stay or will he fall into the “one more year” camp trod by Fabregas, Bale, Ronaldo amongst others before him? I know where my money is. If Madrid or Barca are in for him, you won’t see him for dust.
On the Arteta role, we’ll have to agree to differ. My views on Arteta are well known, top bloke, has done a great job, but on his last legs. I preferred Flamini, but he isn’t getting any younger either, and I don’t see him playing any more games next season than last. Wilshere is unsuited to the role, and whilst Aaron could no doubt do a job there, I think it would be a waste of his talents. Diaby maybe, but better going forward, and how long will he stay fit?
As said before, I’d have no problem having Cesc back but I think there are better options if he does only sign one midfielder. Javi Martinez for one.
Snowy – good stuff last night, btw. 😉
tabs: As for Suarez there is also the fact that he will never be valued higher than he is right now. Even if he repeats the season he’s just had (which is a HUGE “if”), he’ll be 28 next season and that will inevitably bring the fee down. And what if he has a comparatively shit season, scoring 15 goals in the league and out of frustration gets himself suspended for ten games? I’m not sure Liverpool can afford to play hardball for one more season, becuase let us also not forget that the only reason they weren’t penalised for breaking the FFP regulations was beacuse they weren’t in any European competitions last season.
The special “Goonerholic, June 4th, 2014” award goes to Tabs for –
the first sighting this transfer window of the word “chenanigans”.
Must confess I thought it began with “s” but hey, who cares ?! 😉
Certainly another factor Lars. I didn’t realise that about Liverpool and FFP.
Haha Trev. Think you might well be right there, shenanigans it is. Good effort, but sadly no cigar for me. I fear I shall have to return the award out of shame sadly 🙂
How fitting that the shenanigans award should be returned by an unworthy winner !
Almost puts one in mind of what might well happen to the Qatar World Cup ? 😉
Hahaha, indeed! 🙂
“Özil was announced on the last day of the window. A deal like that takes a long time. We worked with Real Madrid for months.”
Ivan Gazidis at a Q&A with supporters’ groups tonight.
AOC running circles round the Ecuadorean players in that first half, and handling the Miami heat as coolly as you like. 🙂
The idea that we somehow ‘got lucky at the last minute’ with the signing of Ozil really is preposterous Lars.
But given that we were actually successful in the pursuit, something had to be made up to fit the agenda that everyone who works for Arsenal is a clueless bellend. 😉
Did somebody say “shenanigans”?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFZG8KQJni8&sns=em
8 ball @ 358 — Yes, a nice assist to Rooney as well. Jack is just warming up, had a quiet first half. This reserve defense of England looks awful though.
Barkley doesn’t look half bad.
Hahahaha 🙂
And a nice finish by Lambert after a fantastic run and assist by Barkley.
If he starts and plays like this in WC, I would expect him to move to one of the bigger clubs this summer. Probably ManU, in desperate need of midfielders.
The OX is on fire!
Sorry Faustus, that laugh was at N7’s link, not at your analysis if England’s first half 😉
Lars,
Agree completely about Suarez – just a matter of time, quantum and destination. Interesting how Madrid sold Ozil to us last year. I think that had as much to do with Mourinho as much as the reneging on the Higuain deal. They hate Mourinho.
Tabs,
While I think Arteta is indeed fading, I feel that Wenger would prefer to have a midfielder who can play both in attack as well as defence ideally. In much the way as he wants wingers who can play both sides or up the middle. Provide more options. Bringing back Cesc creates even more competition for players to stand up to the plate. And if all the players were fit, the only way he’d probably be able to keep the peace in making space for players is to have them play in different positions. Diaby is also “back” and while he can’t be relied upon, when fit, he is arguably one of the first names on the team sheet for me. That kid is due a break and I really hope he gets it this year. Will Wenger spend 20-30m on a defensive player if he can sign someone like Cesc and Diaby coming back to fitness? Not in my book mate.
And Ox is clattered and leaves the field injured. Hope nothing serious.
Bobbins and more bobbins.
* Takes one handed catch on the boundary rope….. *
tabs @ 365: Why did you think I would assume otherwise? 🙂 But even then a part of you really wanted to laugh at that too, just admit it. 🙂 Would have joined in the laughter myself.
With the ferocity some of these friendlies are played with I wonder whether the balance of pros and cons justifies these. Feel for someone like Montolivo, injury prone and get through the season relatively unscathed and then to have WC hopes taken away by an injury in pre-WC friendly.
@326, ST – Falcao is a tosser. Wears his underpants inside out and back to front. He’s another Torres at Chelski in the making. We really dodged a bullet on that one.
P.S. I understand Arsene has inserted a buy-back clause as part of the Swansea deal so our FA Cup winner may yet come back to grace the green, green grass. 🙂 Only one Fabi.
Valencia and Sterling showing some EPL rivalry…hahahah!
BTM @ 370: You meant Diego Costa, no?
And how can we insert a buy-back clause given that Fabianski is a free agent after the summer? 🙂
Joe – You make good points, but I’m still not convinced 😉 A midfield of Ramsey, Fabregas and Ozil doesn’t have the right balance for me, but I’m prepared to be surprised. We’ll all just have to wait and see. Agree with you on Diaby. Hope he catches a break, but it’s difficult to envisage.
Faustus – 🙂
DrZ – A scotsman taking a one-handed catch on the boundary? Now that really is pushing it.
Wilshere still isn’t match fit.. don’t think he’ll start any matches.
OX may sneak in though!
BB @ 374: If Wilshere starts he will start as the number 10, in front of Gerard and probably Milner. He won’t start as the deep lying role he was played today.
In that case Rooney would play as the central striker flanked by Ox (if fit) and Wellbeck/Sturridge .
“We worked with Real Madrid for months.”
He says the truth, Gazidis, clever fella. But not the whole truth. We worked with Real because we wanted Di Maria! No one can convince me of something else. We are after Di Maria since 2009, even before he went to Benfica, when he was in Argentina!!!
We even had a fee agreed with Real this last summer for Di Maria and that was a large portion of Ozil’s money, around 30m+.
The problem was that Di Maria didn’t want to come to Arsenal (as many say he wanted to fight for his place and stay in Real). Real needed the moneyfor Bale’s purchase and they found a solution. In fact, their manager found solution. They will sell us Ozil.
They offered us Ozil mainly because of his poor behavior when being subbed in couple of Real’s preparation games last summer. Selling Ozil and not Di Maria was on Ancelotti recommendation to the board.
At first, Ozil wasn’t even suppose to leave, he was in Ancelotti plans at the start of the summer, but the Italian coach was convinced by Ozil reluctance to fight and Di Maria fighting spirit that Argentine is the player to stay in the squad, believe me on this one, I watched Real preparation games and I track transfer activities very closely year after year.
Gazidis can talk whatever he wants I don’t believe him for a second, because I am pretty sure that Ozil was not even considered 15 days before the transfer deadline,
As I said Gazidis is a clever fella, that is why he is Arsenal CEO I guess. However, as we all know and may have noticed, there is problem in recent years at Arsenal in concluding and timing transfers. Is this problem related with Dick Law inability, incompetence or Arsene’s hesitation in certain situations or club tendency to over complicate or there is something else- I don’t know.
All I know is that there is a problem and that we don’t conclude deals fast enough and with decisiveness any more.
I guess that by saying that deals like Ozil takes months to finalize Gazidis wants to buy himself and Arsene time in case the fans start hitting the panic button like like they did in August last summer.
And I think Gazidis is right, the situation is simple, if they need more time then they need more time, and I guess the fans will understand that. But the fact that I agree with him doesn’t mean that I agree with his methods and doesn’t change the fact that he is one big liar.
Some interesting stuff re Fabregas tonight.
Del Bosque was caught on video when Piqué was telling him that Cesc was sold for €33m, everything points that it’s already confirmed.
Fàbregas is off to England, reports that Arsenal didn’t activate the buyout clause. Who signed him? MCFC, CFC and MUFC the main candidates.
He can fuck off to City as far as I am concerned, just not Chelsea or United.
Here is the video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_wjWvhb4aI
Anyone who had doubts that Barca would sell Fabregas, better believe because it is happening.
“To quote one of the club’s Directors: “Cesc is 100% available, though we’re not sure if Arsène considers him a priority.”
Great. Just great. Chamberlain damaged ligaments.
Lurky @ 381: See my post at 367. Was worried the moment it happened. Didn’t look good.
And the funny thing on twitter is that people actually blame Arsene if Fabregas goes to Chelski which seems almost certain at the moment. I wonder what the fuck Fabregas needs to do, for some fans to finally realize that sometimes, not always, but maybe sometimes they can blame Mr. I fakedinjurybecauseIwantedtoplayformychildhoodclub Fabregas.
Arsene, don’t play Maureen’s games, don’t trigger the clause, let him have the little traitor, we are in market for other players, keep it up to the plan.
Catalan news station RAC1 has confirmed that Cesc Fabregas is signing for Chelsea for €33m + add-ons.
Dr. Faustus, just noticed your post.
Anyway, Ox injury is the real tragedy of the evening. Feel sorry for Chambo, had a great game tonight, hope he can recover fast.
The Catalan traitor can fuck off.
Steve T was right from the start. Way worse than RVP.
Lurky @ 379: Just saw your video. I don’t know where Cesc will play — and honestly speaking I don’t care that much if he is not playing for Arsenal — but Pique and Del Bosque are absolutely making fun here, knowing full well their whispered conversation will be picked up … or something like that.
Let us just all forget about this transfer shit for at least the next month. Enjoy some football, see some of our red-and-whites flourish in Brazil, and then in a short while the season would be upon us and real football will begin.
There will be some additions to the team, which some of us would find adequate and some inadequate…but not really worth this much of discussion now, IMHO.
Wasn’t Tottenham interested Francesc?
England fear Ox will miss World Cup and of course Arsenal fear Ox may miss the start of the season.
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/382271/England-fear-Arsenal-star-Alex-Oxlade-Chamberlain-could-miss-World-Cup
And all because of a gutless Ecuadorean challenge made after the whistle in a meaningless “friendly”.
Anything but. 🙁
The evil Fabregas teams up with the evil Mourinho.
Time to turn them into specialists of failure.
Cesc signed for Chelsea? Big. Fat. Meh! He is not our player, we didn’t sell him to them, he is under no legal obligation to sign for either us or nobody else just as we are under no legal obligation to mandatorily sign him or any other particular player for that matter.
Torn ligaments confirmed? If so, what does that mean for the Ox? Six to nine months out?
Im gonna go out on a limb here and claim that there’s absolutely no way that Cesc will go to Chelsea, or any other english club for that matter.
If that joker and Del Bosque are really serious, then it means he’s signed for us.
or for some club in another league….
You are right Dr. Faustus, I’ve really lost my nerves and it isn’t even official.
The problem is that I can sense it that he is gone to Chelsea and if there is one club in the world that I hate the most it is Chelsea. I am disturbed, it is like Henry to sign for the Tots ffs.
Cesc was Mr. Arsenal for me, the bastard. I understand somehow when he went to Barca, different league, childhood team, his family were there. But this, this is too much.
*Yawn*
If anyone needs me, I’ll be on a hammock in the zen garden.
Wake me up when something actually happens.
Lurky, if I may, I have never really put much relevance to this idea of players’ loyalty in this day and age of so much global movement. They need to do what they think is best for them, which changes as they move through life, and their priorities about the world change. At the age of twenty the sense of belongingness and love in a familiar environment that allowed someone to flourish early may seem like the world, but then other forces of life play they parts: money, glory, nostalgia, family. They are employees, and really free to move, and once moved on I expect no sense of ‘loyalty’ from them. Some of them become true fans, like Henry did, but that is rarely the case nowadays.
He did behave unprofessionally in his final year with us. Many other manager would have simply benched him and forced him to give a great season or sell him to a highest bidder etc., but Arsene has always erred on the side of the human aspects — the individual growth, a continued relationship , a mutual respect etc. — than the harshness of win-or-nothing creed. There is a wonderful interview by Klinsmann when he speaks about his Monaco days and how Arsene’s ‘teaching’ of Djorakeff made him such a better player but might have had cost Monaco a few points.
Anyway, Cesc has moved on three years now. Let us move on as well. I would rather talk about how great Rambo can actually be than wasting any more words on Cesc.
8 ball, it wasn’t a tackle after the whistle from what I could see. It was just bad luck, the Equadorian player fell on the Ox. My immediate thought as it happened was “fuck, that’s a cruciate gone to hell”. I’d be very pleasantly surprised if he is fit to play for us when the next season starts.
Hard day, then come back and see the familiar faces here. I fucking love you lot, thank you.
Still on an Eduardo replacement hunt, and fucked off with relying on a laptop. How do you fuckers do it? 😉
Will try and post some nonsense on Thursday evening, UK time. There may be typos. The Macbook keyboard was not designed for old twats 🙂
Poor old Chambo – now that’s something to lose your shit over if initial fears prove true. Categorically not some whispered words in a press con.
Peter Kenyon is the man who controls Costa? That’s it. I’m never buying my coffee there again.
Scores
I’m here all week, folks. Try the veal!
well in, Porco. Where you buy your coffee is not my cup of tea by the way ;).
Classic strike from Porco with a superb example of a tabsing by Cent. Well in both of you.
tabs @ 399 : Yes, awful as a player to have this happened to you. Especially when you came back after a serious injury and then have worked your socks off to be fit and in good form.
News Flash: Lurky retracts his story. I just hope the retraction doesn’t turn out to be an error. 😉
or better still..I’m not interested in your coffee, it’s not my cup of tea.
Hopefully there is no damage, the scans are due tomorrow.
Aye Faustus. Really feel for the lad. I haven’t seen it myself, but you and others have said it looked bad. Gutting. Far more so than people losing their marbles over rumours that some words in a press con may or may not mean.
Tabs
Re young Jenks,i feel he may be destined to be a good back up option to a new incumbent,much as he was for Bac.
If the reports about Aurier are true, we will have decent cover on both sides,with Monreal as back up for Gibbs.
Be very interesting to see what TV does this summer.
He cannot be happy sitting on the bench in his prime for another season.
He’d walk into most teams as first choice centre back.
Totally agree on Arteta,defensive midfielder is another position we have never adequately addressed since Gilberto/Viera.
I take your valid points on Fabregas,but i am still equally confident that Wenger won’t break his iron rule of never buying back a player who has left for pastures new of his own volition.
i distinctly remember Petit realising what a terrible mistake he had made going to Barca back in the day, and was constantly on the phone to AW asking to come back.he received very short thrift.
Marc Overmars also admitted in his book that he regretted his move to Barca as well,but didn’t have the nerve to ring Wenger about coming back,because he knew what the answer would be.
Song also apparently now wants to come back to the Premier league
Do you sense a recurring theme here. ??
Well in Porco and superb work from Cent in the glory position. 🙂
Sweeper, yep agree on Jenks. Likely to be back up to the new man, but I think he’ll give the new man a run for his money. Hopefully anyway.
Completely agree on Vermaelen. Can’t see him settling for another season on the bench.
Good point on Petit. I think Anelka was another who made overtures at some point, so yep, I get your recurring theme 🙂
I’m just gonna sit back and see what happens. Reus, Martinez and a decent right back and reserve centre half and I’ll be happy as Larry. 😉
Be more honest to yourselves gents, this is football, there are emotions, in and out the football pitch. There is absolutely no need for acting, posing or faking. You are gonna hurt no one if you write what you really mean. Thanks
Like I said previously, Chambo news is the real tragedy of the evening!
Other bad news is that apparently we cooled and loosed our interest in Aurier, something that is very strange.
But faked indifference and disinterest to Cesc news from some of you is the real comedy of the evening, at least for me.
If Cesc to Chelsea doesn’t affect you, then I must say find that very strange. No matter that he isn’t our player anymore, imagine him working under Maureen and playing against Arsenal at the Emirates, against Arsenal fans, against Arsene, against his ” second father” and stop for a second. If that scene is OK with any of you than you are much better man then me.
My final words on this topic, sorry everyone for disturbing your calmness, enjoy yourselves.
Have a good night.
I gave up a couple of nights ago during the Flamini is a centre back debate and the argument about Cesc. If he is signing for Chavski I’m very disappointed. On the other hand I think we have forgotten the lessons of last season . We lost to all the good sides we played away in the league, embarrassingly, because we didn’t protect a vulnerable back four with a mobile midfield that could break play up. Arteta and Flamini were inadequate and in those games ( that they played) Cazorla and Ozil went missing.
Our priority is the Javi Martinez type player who can break play up and get our midfield moving. We also need a right back to replace Bac, a decent back- up keeper and two forward players. One conventional top- class striker and a mobile forward who could play wide or through the centre.
Am I worried about what we will do? Well Wenger has made a dogs breakfast of recent transfer windows and I get nervous about the number of names I am hearing which suggests no certainty of who to pick. And yes Id have Fabregas back because he is a superb player. I’m always worried at this stage of the season anyway but I think Wenger , while he picks up superb bargains m is unable to shop comfortably for superstars.his big purchases tend to fare less well than the cheaper ones.
And in case anyone is interested the shopping list I would give Dick Law is
Marshall/ Ruddy
Aurier/ Lowton
Martinez/ Matuidi/ Bender
Remy/ Griezmann
Matzukic/ Martinez/ Bony
@Lurky
It would affect me, if it was actually demonstrably happening.
A bunch of people on the Internet losing the plot because of a youtube video? Drop me out.
It’s not faked indifference, I just can’t muster the same level of hysteria you appear to have hit this evening.
Lurky
Fabregas was given an opportunity at Arsenal that he would never have got at any other club.
AW gave him his first team bow at just 16 yrs of age,and nurtured his progress as a player and a human being all through his career at the Club.
Then,as i have previously mentioned,just when the Boss was waiting for the purse strings to be loosened so he could spend some serious money to buy quality players to complement Fab,he rips Wenger’s heart out with his demands to go to Barca.
So pardon me if i cannot get emotional about a player who made it quite plain and clear that he din’t want to play for the Club or the supporters any more.
As with Van Persie who did the same,once they leave the Club i love under ‘ a gun to the head blackmail ‘ scenario, then they are irrelevant from that moment on.
Whether they play for another club in Europe or the PL interests me not a jot.
I wish the arsenal news of the day was about a great world class signing up front rather than another injury to one of our young guns….
Who is just returning from a season ending injury….
Quite Unbelievable
Lurky @ 413: Apologies if you felt that I was trivializing your authentic emotional reaction to a possibility that you find so unappealing. That was not my intention.
Would it feel disappointing to me to see Cesc play in England with some other team? Absolutely. But more odd than disappointing, truth be told, because the moment he left he was no longer an Arsenal player to me.
It is not a faked indifference, but I guess a sort of stance of non-attachment to others’ lives and decisions, learnt and honed at the school of life.
But I did fail myself at my own stoic creed, I had hoped to master my irritation about the incessant, relentless transfer speculations much better and let it not bother me. But it did. And maybe my terse response to your obviously heartfelt expression of anguish was a result of that. Again, sorry.
Lurky, you need to understand that as humans our different experiences in life means our reactions to events will differ almost everytime.
Forgive me if it looks to you like I’m faking a lack of concern or worry about a footballer I currently don’t care about possibly signing for a club I might never care about, the fact that I currently have more concrete reasons to be worried about dying in a bomb blast on my way to work tommorow or terrorists kidnapping or killing my sisters from school this night might have something to do with what a footballer does with his career not registering on my give-a-fuck-ometer.
As for all that imagination shit, imagine that Pique was just taking the piss.
@339: tabs, fair enough on the BTA 2. Maybe a rereading of BTA1 is in order then 🙂
Regarding Stapleton v SuperMac, the clips in question were from his first season with us in 1976 (?), and despite Stapleton calling for the ball it kept flying over his head for SuperMac to head in. Then you would see Frank looking miffed or moaning. So wasn’t sure about why he was doing that…
Maybe not everyone likes a “big mac”? 😉
@363: Dr Faustus, I think Lambert already signed for Liverpool yesterday, no?
Regarding Cesc to Chelsea, if true I will be really annoyed.
If we can’t have him he should play for nobody else in the Prem I say.
We’d never hear the end if it and he will strengthen whichever team he goes to.
I can definitely understand the “meh” reaction to the “news” from some fans though.
So tedious, and he hasn’t been our player for years! Thought we were over this kind of stuff when him, Nasri and RVP left 🙂
@419: Cent, stay safe bro.
I see others responded while I was trying to get an Internet connection on my old phone.
Evening all.
Tabs. I’m both honoured and flattered that you have not only remembered stuff that I wrote in January, but also that you have taken the time to research it. I thank you form the bottom of my heart. What you will take form that post is the sarcasm in the way a lot of it was written You are right to suggest that major anger was about to follow. At that stage I was just plain angry with a hint of frustration. There was no way we were going to bid for Mata. Hence the cheeky bit. I do still massively believe in evolution and not revolution. You only need to look at the shower down the road to see evidence of that. That said, my opinion on Mata has not changed. I think he is a fantastic player. I think he would be a typical Arsenal player and I was gutted when we failed to sign him before the chavs sealed the deal. For us to accommodate him now read what I said above about the departures if Cesc was brought in. The same applies.
My opinion on Cesc is well documented. It is articulated no better that by Clive@284. That is why I refuse to join the love in. I feel that he let a lot of people down and set this club back a few years.
Your wish list @412 I would be very happy with if you add a top striker and a reserve keeper to it.
Lurky@376 Excellent post. I agree with all of that. Some people seem to find it all too easy to be had over by those at the helm. I don’t necessarily agree with all you have posted after that but I admire your passion. People have different opinions and that is what makes the world go round. Personally I find it amusing that many have quoted the homesickness and DNA lines for three years but now all I am reading is that he can play where he wants, it’s up to him???? I hope that he stays at Barca, demonstrates that he really does love the club and fights for his place. Only time will tell.
N7. Well done sir. For someone who was skipping away, sleeping in a hammock and dropping out you have done remarkably well to still be here and have your two peneth. A fantastic effort.
Cent. If those are genuine fears that you are facing then my thoughts are with you. You will forgive me if I say that I genuinely hope that you are nowhere near London and the South East at the moment.
BTM. That he maybe, but he is a very rich one.
Final thoughts of tonight go to AOC. Sky have said that he is having a scan tomorrow. We must all hope that it is nothing serious. I thought he looked fantastic tonight.
Clive,
A few points if I may sir:
It is true that Fabregas left and destroyed the team that Wenger had built forcing him to start again. It is also true that the same team in 07/08 needed a better blend of experienced players, when we did not have the money to buy and support a player of Cescs talent properly. Cesc spent 8 years at the club and we always knew, one day, he’d go home.
I think Wenger sensed that there could well be difficulties for Cesc down the road and that one day he’d return, hence the contractual clauses. While I accept the very valid point you make about Petit, Overmars and Anelka and how Wenger never allows players to return, all I would say is response is that none of these players are Cesc Fabregas. None of these players made an Arsenal first 11 at 16 years of age.
He is a prodigious talent and one capable of not just influencing, but controlling games at the very highest level.
This time, we will be able to support a player of his talent properly if he decides to sign. And I could well be wrong, but I think outside of Barca there’s only one club and one man he’ll want to play for in London – and its not Jose Mourinho.
Just to join in with the good wishes for The Ox. A scan is apparently due tomorrow so here’s hoping for a rare bit of good injury news.
At least he won’t have the Arsenal medics to deal with this time, as on England duty he will be with Gary Lewin and Dr Beasley …. Oh. 🙁
The impact did not look good when it happened – the Ecuador player rolled theatrically into the back of Ox’s leg and caused quite a powerful impact forcing his tibia forwards.
As the impact was in a straight fore-aft direction, the cruciates are unfortunately the most likely to have been injured.
The posterior cruciate ligament stops the tibia from moving too far backwards in the knee joint, and is injured less often than the weaker anterior cruciate. The posterior cruciate is most often injured with the knee in a bent position – a heavy fall onto a bent knee, or impact on a car dashboard, for example, or by being hyperextended (over-straightened). A heavy force is usually needed to do damage.
Ox’s injury shunted the tibia forwards with the knee in a fairly straight position – meaning that the anterior cruciate is the most likely to have been damaged.
Poor fella. Let’s hope for the best.
CoR @421, don’t worry about me mate. God is in control.
I hear ya Lurky.
Fooking chelski.
Cent @419,
From what we see on the news here, it looks horrendous where you are.
Here’s hoping you and yours manage to stay safe.
And what terrible luck for Ox.
Get well soon man!
Does that add one item to the Summer shopping list?
Maybe not, but while I’m in standing here in the checkout line … hows about a package of DiMaria’s for the kids???
Jaysus Cent.
You and yours be careful.
Sorry, one final point. If, and I know it’s a big if, but if Cesc leaves Barca this summer then remember this. He will join a side when he would have still had two years left on his Arsenal contract. That was how much Arsene thought of him and yet again I will refer you to the Sage that is The Sweeper at 284 for the resulting consequences.
AOC has just been shown on Sky walking out of the ground after today’s game. He had a slight limp but was not on crutches so fingers crossed it is nothing serious.
Steve T and Aussie (N7, you can skip this) … Nowhere have I ever said Özil is crap. I regard him as supremely skilled and a great player on his day. My problem with him is that his ‘days’ are few and far between, he doesn’t score often enough, and his attitude is simply not ‘Arsenal’.
And I agree totally with Lurky (#376). Özil could have been ours much earlier than eventuated. He was clearly way down the shopping list after Higuain, Suarez and Di Maria (if not others), and only signed at the last minute because no-one else would and AW had to produce someone to quieten the ‘Wenger aaht’ mob.
I doubt he really wanted another MF at the time (before everyone was injured), but subsequently he was bound to support him regardless. Which is why I’m sure he won’t be sold or exchanged as I believe would be the best option for us. AW has too much invested in Özil, who can, hopefully, still play a useful role for us ON HIS DAY.
I don’t see Dortmund selling their stars to us for less, so no doubt we will continue to chase unwanted freebies and inexperienced youngsters while others sign marquee players. But that is what AW is good at (on HIS day) and maybe we’ll get lucky and new Henrys and Vieiras will materialise in the summer. Fingers crossed.
Öskar
As I said months ago, players who get recurring knee, ankle, metatarsal, ligament, hamstring etc injuries (Theo, Abu, Ox eg) cannot be relied on and we should plan for life without them. Better to move them on, as sad as that would be.
I don’t include broken legs in that because they repair as good as new, so no worries with Ramsey.
Öskar
Cent: Stay safe my brother.
At the moment, I am more concerned with the well being of one of our most promising players in Oxlade-Chamberlain, than which club Cesc Fabregas signs for. The last time I checked, he was a Barcelona player.
Frankly, I’m very indifferent about Cesc’s situation as I thought his behavior was very unprofessional when he wanted to leave the club. He didn’t mouth off to the press or produce a “you guys” statement, but his body language was telling during his last season. Stories about his refusal to represent the club also leaves a sour taste in the mouth.
Thus, I too think he got a pass from the fans despite his behaviour. Nevertheless, he’s a great player and if Arsene thinks he would be a useful addition to the squad then I would accept it. However, I think it is imperative that the emphasis is placed on addressing the main weaknesses in the squad, which we are all well aware of.
Don’t worry Steve, we are not even on the same continent.
I know I brought it up and this might sound stupid but I really appreciate your concerns yet I wish talk of my safety will be kept at the barest minimum. Thanks, gents.
C’mon guys … if a kid born in Islington, who had football talent, was a gunner through and through, but couldn’t see any way past a hundred other kids in the Arsenal academy, was offered the opportunity to play for, say, Ajax … why not? Especially when he’s only 16 and has the business acumen and future perspective of a brick. Playing at the highest level NOW beats possibly never playing any day.
Much later, and older, when he realised how good he really was, why shouldn’t he want to play for his boyhood dream team?
Judging Cesc on what he did as a 16yo is dumb. As is denying the draw he must have felt to play for what was, then, not only his boyhood love but the very best team in the world.
Best not even think about the mistakes I made at 16… 🙁
Öskar
Steve @432, everything is crossed here.
Oskar, I think it’s a bit too early to put Ox and Theo in Diaby’s league. I’m still holding out hope for Abou by the way.
With you on Cesc, Impec.
Not in the Diaby league, Cent, few get that unlucky and ever play again seriously, but still regularly injured when we need them.
Öskar
Cent. I have no idea where you are but stay safe my friend.
Keep smiling.
Oskar you old curmudgeon,
I’m not privy to the ins and outs of how we acquired Ozil.
But I do think we should heed the words of Per Mertesacker who freely admitted that his first season with us was very poor by his standards.
He like Ozil was bought late and never had a pre season to build the core fitness you need to last a PL season.
if you look at the quantum leap in his performances from his 2nd season once he had adapted to the intensity of the PL,then i am convinced that we will see the same from Ozil.
Sure there were some games where he didn’t perform to the high level we expected,but if memory serves me those lapses were in the 2nd half of the season when he was basically running on empty.
No surprises either when his hamstring went,as i suspect that was niggling him for some time prior to the Munich game.
There were probably other aches and pains he was suffering from physically which no doubt added to the stress his body was under.
So i am not disappointed with Ozil’s first season,i am more disappointed that Ramsey/Walcott and the Ox were not around in the 2nd half of the season to feed off his wonderful passes.
I look forward to you eating masses of humble pie next season Oskar.
cheers
The Sweeper
COR@420: But I meant Barkley. 🙂 Rather promising player, a bit thick-headed (a few times chose the wrong option to dribble through) but promising …
Cent — Ordinary Nigerians are heroic people, you have come through worse before and you will come through this time too.
Speaking of collective amnesia, it is now twenty five years since we all saw live on TV a massacre of students. I was in my early teens then and the shock of those visuals had stayed with me. Odd that there is so little mention of that event in much of the media.
I’ll be happy to eat platefuls of humble if Özil comes good, Clive, but his first season didn’t encourage me. What if he has a second one like Santi who, after being our player of the season in HIS first, was nothing like as good in his second?
And if, in his physical prime at 25, he wasn’t up to Premier League football in his first year, where is that extra physicality coming from? The guy has played football at the highest level for years and is hardly likely to be going to a new level now.
I too was disappointed that Theo etc weren’t around to convert the chances Özil created. Nearly as disappointed as I was in Özil’s inability to step up and score more himself. One goal was it, in the second half of the season? Not good enough.
Öskar
@Cent
A welcome draft of perspective. Be safe.
@Steve
Hammock or no hammock, it will always be my pleasure to point out when the red (or should that be blue in this instance?) mist has descended upon the bar. Better that we have a little think about our hysterical reactions now than suffer the ignominy of having tabs quote them back to us months down the line.
And mine is and will always be worth more than two penneth.
Dr. F: Tiananmen has got a lot of coverage, at least in the serious prints. Heartening to see the Hong Kong vigils remembering what some to the north would have us forget and others not know of in the first place.
Oskar
you cannot underestimate the value of the pre season core fitness sessions that Ozil didn’t have because he joined so late.
Don’t forget they start a month later than us in Spain so he wouldn’t have been tuned up before he joined us.
Let’s both reserve judgement and give him the benefit of the doubt and see how next season unfolds.
On Santi,i think he regressed in his 2nd season because he was shunted out of his favored central position because we had to accommodate Ozil.
In fact there were several occasions when Santi found himself on the bench last season because we had a glut of midfielders.
That would not have helped his self confidence either.
And as we all know,confidence is everything in Sport.
Clive, if at our age we don’t have curmudgeonliness to look forward to, what is left?
I think you are right about Ozil. Properly prepped, his second PL season will be a revelation. There is no doubting his talent, or that he needs a clinical finisher to be on the end of the chances he creates.
I note that Germany is only taking two strikers to the WC. Klose, their WC talisman, and our very own Poldi. The Ozil-Poldi connection will be key to Germany’s chances of success, and a marker for our own next season.
‘Holic@398: You can always teach an old twat a new Mac. Hold the faith, or get a Bluetooth keyboard.
NBN @ 446: I guess so, front page news both in NYT and Le Monde … It is just the lack of recognition by my friends and peers (in the social media) who I grew up with and who are otherwise oh so well informed. Same thing about the Sikh massacre following Indira Gandhi’s murder in India. It is as if our well being is dependent on wiping the horrors of our childhood from our memory … anyway, sorry to have digressed.
I sometimes think that this increasingly ramped up angst in social media about trivialities like superstars’ wardrobe choices or football transfers are displaced despair in our own incapabilities to encounter the violence of the world head-on. Maybe we are not wired to handle knowing about so much of horrors unfolding on so many corners …
Re Cesc: if any of the guff about him going to the Chavs is true, then AW has decided not to exercise his option of first refusal. He (AW) would have known the consequences — Cesc setting up Costa — and decided that that weighed less in the balance than us taking him back. We in this bar may make these decisions on emotion, but the club has to do so in the harsh light of reality.
Cesc’s new squeeze lives in London, so it is likely he would move back. There are only three conceivable clubs to play for. QPR? I don’t think so. The Bolton Walrus XI, ditto. There is one that would be off-limits, so if AW doesn’t want him back, it is Hobson’s Choice, the Bus Stop.
Dr F: It is America’s great tragedy that the rest of the world is less important to it than it is to the rest of the world.
Oskar – I am already baking the humble pie myself.
ozil was played into the ground for the first time in his career last season. he had never played that many consecutive games prior, plus as others have suggested, a pre season with our squad, I am sure you will see the best of him.
the humble pie will be sent express post in your direction as soon as Arsene announces our WCS (world class striker) for ozil to provide “Remington”precision, defence splitting, zero gap passes for our new striker to run onto and one touch into the back of Utd’s net as they struggle to get out of 7th place again.
If he can’t play that many consecutive games for us, Aussie, then he’s not going to be much use – except as some kind of luxury on high days and holidays. Perhaps we should reserve him just for Cup games and mothball him between?
As for the assists he may provide, there have been more chances created in recent years than our ‘strikers’ can handle. Converting a higher percentage of them has been our problem for years. Overall I suspect a lot less chances were created this past season than usual (just a feeling but I admit I haven’t checked), and that is a product of a less than cohesive midfield. Of which Özil is supposedly a key part.
Interesting how much better RM did without him this year… CL champions and Ronaldo scores more than ever. 😉
Anyway, I do hope he proves me horribly wrong, and the humble pie diet becomes a fixture. After all I was one of the first to adopt the umlaut in my nick.
Öskar
Expecting today’s young to know the significance of Tiananmen Square is a bit optimistic I’m thinking. Remembering anything is a challenge these days. Dunno about you guys but I must have half a dozen passwords, but can I remember the right one when I need it? Somehow those numbers get archived in my brain and remain immune to random access.
Öskar
What I meant to say was that young people today tend to live for the day, and if something is not relevant to the next 24 hours then it’s entirely irrelevant.
Remember, hard work pays off in the future, but laziness pays off now.
Öskar
Oskar – remember he will have a full pre-season with us and year in EPL under his belt and hopefully wont have half the squad out injured for half of the season.
If Germany go all the way in the WC, Aussie, he’ll be knackered before the season starts.
Öskar
Fingers crossed, but we could start the season with both AOC and Theo till out/recovering from serious knee injuries. We saw with Ramsey and Wilshere how long a bad injury can affect form for.
We need 6 players added to our squad. That’s replacements for Sagna, Bendtner, Fabianski and another 3 for the depth and ability to rotate that we didn’t have last year and destroyed our title challenge.
I wonder if Ivan can get some deals done without a 2 month gestation period this time…?
International football is bobbins.
AW has said that no business will be done until after the WC, El Puno. We have to wait until the money clubs have filled their quotas and then see who is left.
Öskar
Converting a higher percentage of them has been our problem for years”
That is actually not true. As a team we have consistently been right up there with the best in terms of conversion rate.
Özil could have been ours much earlier than eventuated. … and only signed at the last minute because no-one else would and AW had to produce someone to quieten the ‘Wenger aaht’ mob.
By the same logic, Real only signed Bale with a day or two to go of the transfer window because no one else would and to quieten fans.
We are after Di Maria since 2009, even before he went to Benfica, when he was in Argentina!!!
We were after Özil in 2009, even before he went to Real, when he was in Germany!!!
As for the Ox, I recommend you all read Trev’s drink on his injury and then despair. I didn’t even have to see the replay to see that that is almost certainly an ACL gone to shit. I’d be very pleasantly surprised if it turns out I am overly pessimistic and he’s only out for a few weeks, but I expect him to be out until at least Xmas and there is no way in hell he’ll play in the World Cup. The fact that he was walking without crutches after the game means absolutely nothing, you can still walk even if your ACL is in two halves if the pain isn’t too much for you.
Just a little perspective on the free international match I watched last night involving two of Arsenals FA Cup winners.
It was good to see a little flair in the team, but it was a typical friendly to me. A lot of potential until the handbrake goes up during the knockouts etc.
The Ox’s injury? Typical friendly injury. We end up losing our players for months. Let’s just hope not.
Okay time for some Cesc chit chat!
Isn’t Cesc supposed to be in the Spain squad? If so, unless he is playing on British soil, why the eff would he be parading around London?
Secondly, has anyone even really heard this supposed verbal confession from Pique? If so please post.
Thirdly, Cesc to the Chavs to replace Lampard? A player who was in and out of the chavs 1st XI recently anyway? Under a wanker like Mourinho who said his adopted father is a ‘specialist in failure’, before returning to the summit empty handed himself?
Hahahahaha – This has got to be football turning crazy, if it hasn’t done so already. For football purposes it sounds great, but from an Arsenal perspective it sounds like an absolute disaster going forward. I will reserve further judgement on this story until I hear or see further development which makes sense.
Time for some Ivan Gazidis chit chat.
One quote since Santi’s Cesc to Arsenal quote, is Ivan Gazidis’ latest quote, regarding transfers:
“Transfers are obviously important and we are deep in conversations already. I am confident we will add what we need this summer,”
One thing about old Ivan is, that he does like to put his money where his mouth is. He told us we are going to make exciting additions to the squad, the next we added Santi, Poldi and Giroud in one scoop. He then told us we are going to spend big money, we then went out smashing our transfer record around the place. Above doesn’t sound to me like January transfer or panic buy chat. The above sounds to me like serious competitive but reasonable transfer chat. I cannot see us splurging upwards of 100 mill on one player, for more reasons than one which is not the time and place to discuss, but we will be knocking on a few doors, talking that money talk. All that remains is who, and when. Logic indicates that a lot more will be revealed next week, when we can take a look at all perspective clientele in action. Afterall, form is just as important as figures. In fact, sometimes, they go hand in hand.
“Transfers are obviously important and we are deep in conversations already. I am confident we will add what we need this summer.”
Ivan Gazidis.
I’m not totally sure what he means by “deep in conversations already” You would hope it means that the targets have been identified and that these conversations are with other clubs and the players. However, it may also mean conversations at the breakfast table over a bacon roll??? Who knows with Ivan???
Oskar@458 – the German team is full of world class top level players who all do their job in their respective zones and not a tier 2 or tier 3 player to be seen anywhere near the squad.
Ozil will simply use his magical gap seeking sonar radar to produce a couple of defence splitting precision passes of the highest quality for their world class strike force to finish off with devestating accuracy and success.
The fullbacks will do their job as will his midfield colleagues so he won’t be required to track up and down like a yoyo until he is so rooted, people start to think he is gone from legend to shit in a season.
One thing I am sure of is he will be fresh enough after each game to have a few beers with per and poldi and give his model missus a quick shag back at the hotel before lights out.
Before you ask the same goes for poldi and per. Poldi will just wait up front most games for those passes onto his left hammer and per will probably have enough time in the backs to sign some fan autographs while the German pressure is applied up the pitch and he too will probably also give mesuts missus a shag while mesut is on Instagram or gelling the cut line in his hair.
Anyway point being, our German crew will be fine mate.
gotta go and check that pie in the oven…
@ Steve 😆
I was actually going to say the same thing.
GT
And me.
A few thoughts, now I’m back on a desktop and can type a longer post…
(i) You cannot trust anything that comes out of the mouths of those on the “inside” in football. Ivan Gazidis has no obligation to be honest with the support about transfers, and there are a million reasons that club sources might spin a particular line. That’s not to say “PANIC – we’re not signing anyone”, it’s just to say we have no idea what’s going on, nor will we until later in the Summer, or perhaps even 1 September;
(ii) I see that after last night’s attack of the vapours various sources have now taken a second look at the Pique video and concluded that – actually – he appears to be laughing all the way through it, and isn’t it quite odd that a player of his experience would have a conversation like that in front of a bank of microphones?;
(iii) I have no idea how the conversation jumped so quickly from “Pique seems to be saying Cesc has gone” to “HE’S GONE TO CHELSEA! ABANDON ALL HOPE!”. Nothing in the video suggested Chelsea. However, I note that there were a bunch of journalists who – in the minutes after the Pique video broke – reported Cesc to Chelsea as a done deal. Either that’s remarkable timing – their info arriving at just that moment, or they saw the video and decided to take a flyer in the hope of building future credibility. There are a lot of bullshit artists out there, so I suggest deploying critical thinking at all times;
(iv) If the above is the good news, the bad news (for those of us who still do not consider Fabregas to be the worst person in the world) is that our most reliable ITK (if that’s not an oxy-moron), Geoff Arsenal, has this morning confirmed that Cesc will NOT be returning to Arsenal this summer. You may commence the rending of garments and beating of breasts;
(v) Where does that leave us? Back at square one. He might leave Barca, if he does so then it doesn’t sound like it will be to us;
(vi) A year ago, if Cesc had gone to Utd, I would have been gutted beyond belief. If he goes to another English club now, I’ll be far, far less so. Why? Well: we’ve since shown we can spend money, which suggests that if we’re willing to forego our buy back right it’s because we think we can spend the cash better, rather than because we don’t have the cash at all; we now have Ozil; we now have the Uber-Ramsey; we have since won the FA Cup. This isn’t to say I want to see him in a Chelsea shirt, more that it’s not quite as important as it was 12 months back;
(vii) If I were Arsenal manager, I would buy Cesc. I’m not the Arsenal manager, and the Arsenal manager knows better than me: this time last year I wanted Fellaini and Benteke, as did many of the rest of you. Trust his judgement;
(viii) I will judge our Summer on 1 September, because that’s when the final verdict will be in. I’d like players in sooner, of course, but I don’t always get what I want – as an adult, I try to deal with that. My suggestion is that we wait for any proper wringing of hands/punching of the air until the window closes, because until then it’s all just partial data. Plus, it’s not good for the blood pressure. There will be a World Cup along shortly if you need distracting.
Sorry for the long post: I dropped down from the hammock this morning feeling refreshed and full of vim. I am heading back there now to sip a morning smoothie and admire the sunset from the zen beach.
Finally, I just want to point out that it’s the 5th of June. We have nearly three more months of this ahead. Deploy your emotions accordingly.
Now – on to more interesting stuff: who do we fancy to win the World Cup?
N7 – The socceoos with a new young fresh side.
We only have to beat chile, Spain and Netherlands to go through.
If Cesc leaves Bara and goes anywhere but coming home to us I will cry. Getting teary just thinking about it. Shirley we can’t F this up, right?
#FreeCesc
@Aussie
Ugh – that’s a proper Group of Death.
For what it’s worth, I managed to get your lot in my work sweepstake: typical!
We may sneak a surprise and help your swepstake
N7
Good post. Enjoy your time in your hammock on the beach! I have two beachy type breaks coming up in the next few months, as well as my first all weekend, family visit to the ems in August. At which time I will be spending the evenings and nights in the comfort of the King Suites in one of Paris Hiltons old man’s gaffs. I did want to stay in one of the Luxury apartments in the heart of international hysteria, but it appears some of my counterparts beat me to the punch. Nonetheless, I will still enjoy the comforts of my executive access, with fluffy robe and slippers. Who knows, there may be a big fat Cuban involved.
In the meantime, I am enjoying the testy london may time weather and working life, where journo’s are trying to create ‘something out of nothing’, as though they were Leticia Dean and Paul J Medford, trying to hit the charts. Unfortunately for me, Journo’s playing around with the name of one of my favorite former Arsenal players, is like playing around with my pounds sterling’s. So in the back drop of good advice and a little common sense, I will also be playing this one by ear. As for Ivan, he’s no David Dein, by any means, which makes his statements all the more lucrative in my opinion. Afterall, there are enough of us lining up to shoot the Arsenal messengers, as it is. 😉
Well, if it’s any help, I’ve a feeling that the Dutch aren’t going to do too much this tournament. Don’t know about what sort of shape Chile are in, but if you can nick a win off one of them then a draw off the other isn’t out of the question.
Morning all.
Doing a bit of backdrinking got as far as Tabs @374
.
Agree with you on Diaby. Hope he catches a break,……
Not the phrase I would of used. 😉
OK, now to wade into the rest……
N7: I had almost forgotten about Benteke, but I actually still maintain that he’s a decent player. This past season was to a large extent ruined by injuries (Paul Lambert admitted to having played him when he wasn’t 100% fit) and yet he scored 10 goals in 26 appearances which isn’t too bad after all in a team that was struggling quite badly all season. However, I would say his torn achilles tendon puts a huge question mark over his future, he’ll be out for most of next season – quite possibly all of it, in fact – and many players never really recover fully from such injuries.
Fine post there @470, N7.
Ommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
……and it’s Argentina for the World Cup for me.
That is, unless there’s a FIFA Vice President going around bribing players and officials to ensure that his particular homeland wins.
Nice one N7@470. Much more interesting to me than the WC (appropriate initials as far as I’m concerned) is your (vii)@470. How about a little poll on players we cursed Wenger for not buying but are now happy they’re somewhere else?
My bid for starters: Chris Smalling
Lars – good point about Benteke, but Villa weren’t “struggling quite badly all season” – I seem to remember they made quite a good start – that Anthony Taylor played a cracker for them. Even Paul Lambert allegedly said he “had a good game”.
Also, with such an injury, I would have thought that would make him classic Arsenal material.
Sweeper@410: “i am still equally confident that Wenger won’t break his iron rule of never buying back a player who has left for pastures new of his own volition.”
Iron rule?
Mathieu Flamini? OK – free transfer, but he took him back.
dkgÖÖner – good idea @481 – for me :Etienne Capoue
Here’s my “Wenger must sign” XI (with current locations, to the best of my knowledge):
Julio Cesar (QPR reserves)
Luis Enrique (Liverpool reserves)
Scott Dann (Palace)
Chris Samba (Dynamo Moscow)
Micah Richards (hovering outside Man City’s training centre hoping to be asked to join in)
Mohammed Diame (West Ham bench)
Marouane Fellaini (Man Utd hate figure)
Yann M’Vila (Rubin Kazan)
Yohan Gourcuff (Lyon)
Darren Bent (Not good enough for Fulham)
Mirko Vucinic (occasionally wears a Juve kit while playing in his back garden)
Come on Arsene! Pull yer finger aht!
Let’s be serious for a second. There is absolutely no way Arsene is letting Cesc go anywhere else. It’s done. Pencil him in to the squad and move on.
UTA.
Oh, and Spain will win this again. Huge tournament experience, played in Brazil last summer too. Whole squad aged between 25 and 31 basically, still all in their prime. The only team with obvious gears to go through, just ask Italy who absolutely took one last final when they felt like putting on a show.
Germany are flakey at both ends. Argentina are doing the sam wall out attack routine that hasn’t worked since Diego Maradona got caught with his nose in the pile in 94. Brazil will give it a go, but not sure they have the midfield to handle Spain when they are interested, even at home. 13/2 is a gift. (Call it Eduardo Jr?)
UTA.
N7 of that list I must say that I was guilty of M’Vila. I fell for it hook line and sinker. At the time we were close, but not close enough. I put my hands up. 😆
dk: I have repressed all memories of that opening game!
N7: there are a few more candidates that deserve consideration.
Huerelho Gomes
Shaun Wright-Phillips
Andy Carroll
Felipe Melo
Hatem Ben Arfa
Ricardo Quaresma
Nuri Sahin
Ooh, Quaresma and Sahin. And Melo!
This is bringing back some happy memories.
Sahin, how could I forget him? The one that was supposed to save our season!
Got all the way through, had to stop to a few times, but made it in the end, also been elsewhere to test the waters so to speak.
I find it absolutly amazing how so many can take a thing as inconspicuous as two guys, who have absolutly no say in what will happen, having a conversation about a supposed subject, and lead it to mass hysteria and meltdown, What ever happened to waiting for official statements or at least proper quotes from persons who are actually involved in such matters?
It’s the 5th of June and all this Cesc stuff is already getting on my tits, so many scenarios and all based on nothing but opinion and angst. Most ITK’s don’t really know fuck all, because people that are privy to such sensible material don’t go blurting it around cyberspace, because if they did they would never be trusted with such information again. Somewhere in some shady office double D is rubbing his hands together sporting a wry manical smile, knowing that all this speculation is fuel on the fire that is raising awareness of his charge and hopefully (for him) screwing up the price of his client by the minute. N7 pretty much nails it above.
The same goes for what I Gizzle says, the guy is a mouth piece, a highly paid proffesional and well versed in the art of public speaking and pandering to his audience, he’s going to say what he believes the punters want to hear, we can poke holes in it and analyis it to death, he’s not going to change his M.O and if we believe it or not, he’ll just come out next time with the same old spin.
I wanted to put in my tuppence worth on Ozil, but I believe the Sweeper has covered it better then I could, kudos Clive.
Finally, a big word up and massive respect goes out to Cent who puts it all into perspective.
Anyone who needs cheering up;
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20140516/highlights-arsenal-v-hull-city
sensible = sensitive
“Arsenal have informed Barcelona they will not be exercising a buy-back option on Cesc Fabregas, raising the prospect of the midfielder signing for one of their Premier League rivals.
“The Gunners inserted the clause when selling their captain to his boyhood side for £35m in 2011, and they were duly given first refusal after Barca decided he could leave for £30m.”
From the BBC.
Re: N7 @470. Too many facts for my taste. 😉
Why won’t Cesc’s girlfriend agree to an Italy move?
Makes a Giroudesque near post run but with imagined pace to burn.
Ozil style assist…..
I think everyone is a little guilty of name dropping here and there. Just take a look through the archives. 🙂
Even Wenger talks about players he ‘likes’. 😉
BB
More accurately, the source of that news is a series of tweets emanating from a David Ornstein from BBC sport, claiming to have inside info.
His tweets are as follows:
“Arsenal have informed Barcelona they won’t be exercising buy-back option on Fabregas. He was keen but #afc not seeking a creative midfielder” @ 2:05pm
and also:
“Fabregas now open to market & future likely to be sorted in next few weeks. #Afc priority striker & right-back + will get back-up goalkeeper” @ 2:05pm
Tastes a bit like ‘journo juice’ to me. I think I will pass on this one for now, in the absence of official confirmation thank you very much!
Thanks for the Assist H2H – it went straight in to the top left hand corner. Keeper stood no chance! 🙂
still gutted if fab joins anyone in PL other than us..
all that means is we’ve offered barca 30 mil, and told cesc to get hisself to work to get us the discount, or he will have to fuck off to Manchester or the bus stop cunts. don’t bet on wenger ever paying over the odds.
Ah thanks for the clarification Goonertown! Full article here :
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27720171
Other news…
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s participation at the 2014 World Cup is in serious doubt after it was widely reported he will be out for a minimum of 10 days.
Scruz
Have the barctads even finished paying us for him anyway??
😆
No worries BB
I’ve got the monkey off my back and my eyes peeled this year 🙂
It will be odd watching Cesc play for Chelsea, if it happens. God forbid. Plus Sagna & Nasri at City, RVP at Utd. We do like to strengthen our rivals, don’t we?
Think L’pool have made a good purchase in Lambert as 3rd Striker behind SAS for £4M. His stats over the past 2 Seasons in the Prem.
28 Goals, 15 Assists.
Giroud’s stats in the same period:
27 Goals, 11 Assists.
Their 3rd Striker has more Goals & Assists than our #1 Striker and we know what their 2 main striker’s are capable of.
C’mon Arsene, let’s SSFM.
Reports suggest that AOC out for between 10-21 days. Hopefully they’re correct.
That sounds awfully like three weeks, Steve.
Those ne’er do well Spaniard are at it again apparently, what with their up to no good “joking” and other unhelpful acts.
(From the BBC article linked above by BB):
“On Thursday, his international team-mate Gerard Pique was caught on camera apparently telling Spain coach Vicente del Bosque that ‘he [Fabregas] told me that it is already done, he is leaving already, 33m euros he said’, but the pair are thought to have been joking.”
Apparently, it wasn’t just a Barcelona player involved but also Del Bosque, a Madrid man if I am not mistaken. Maybe Lonestar it is time to expand BMBD to SPMD (Spain Must Be Destroyed). It’s all part of the black legend if you ask me. 😉
On the other hand, 10 days for AOC could be perfect. Enough to miss the WC and not make his injury worse while allowing the right amount of time to recover in time for the start of the season. Arsenal’s new physic team working its magic already?
physic = physio if not for spellchecker.
British Football press: http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/27708966 .
Yes, question your manager’s judgment in favor of a talented but at this time of his career very unintelligent player. Make him feel extra special, stoke his ego, let it bloat and burst instead of keeping his feet on the ground and teach him to be humble and respect the game. And then when the time is right tear him down to pieces.
That is a pathetic piece of journalism. I and most people I know saw Barkley’s game exactly the same way Hodgson did, exciting but fault-ridden and inefficient.
Hacks.
Goonertown that was quite a goal. Seldom have we seen any goal including a mention of “archives” which suggests deliberation in front of goal has its merits. 🙂
I think we may very well be better off with a physic team.
H2H. If we can get a team of physicists it could work out.
http://xkcdsw.com/content/img/2767.png
Especially if they can work out a way to create a frictionless vacuum that only works for Arsenal players? Not sure if this is on topic …
On a slightly different note.. Not really sure if Fabregas is a JM kind of player….
8 ball I was nearly caught napping. But twinkle toes, did it again 🙂
Nothing quite gets me as excited as when the club start saying they aren’t interested in a player. Arsene transfer rules 101 that.
He is coming home.
H2H@517: “Frictionless vacuum” is a tautology, but a nice one. 🙂
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20140605/world-cup-arsenal-stars-in-brazil
Relatively impressive international appearances and goals stats for Campbell at such an early age.
Quite surprising Sagna has only 37 international caps. He missed out some qualifiers and one or two big tourneys due to injuries, but still that number seems too low.
Ozil’s international scoring record is impressive enough, 1 in every 3 games. If he can bring his club scoring record at least to that level then around 10+ PL goals a season…
I meant 8ball@517 … apologies.
Barkley is raw talent with emphasis on Raw! Much prefer our OX.
Hope he’s picked to go and not replaced. Need him back ready and running for us next season!
Wilshere looks like he still needs some games, not as sharp yet.
Would be happy for hodgson to play all the others against italy, don’t want our midfielders to come back crocked!
Here’s one to make you feel young. Or old, depending on whether your glass is half full. 🙂
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYiLhFU19eA
H2H. I tried as hard as I could not to use that dreaded phrase.
😀
Heh.
Cheers, Dr. Faustus and no need to apologize at all, you are not just one of the best posters in this bar but one of its best people.
Cent,
wasn’t referring to your post, mate, hope all is fine at home. My thoughts are with you and your family.
Nooruddean @BeardedGenius
It’s really odd to suggest Wenger is a fool not to sign Fabregas. No manager knows him better. Maybe the reasons he’s not signing him are…
very valid. Maybe Wenger feels it would cause issues within the squad, or affect moral. Maybe he’s spotted something in CF’s game…..or attitude he is concerned about. Maybe it’s a host of reasons you simply don’t know about.
—-
It’s really odd to suggest Wenger is a fool, period!!
First we are linked with the “Iranian Messi” and no this turns up:
http://elcomercio.pe/deporte-total/futbol-mundial/nino-chileno-llamado-espana-messi-futuro-noticia-1734016
Dick law probably on another 2 week jungle camping expedition. Guess this little fella and Joel Campbell will debut together?
My final thoughts on Cesc : Till the next meltdown 😉
The one thing that slightly alleviates my fear of Cesc joining Chelsea is that he doesn’t seem to be a Jose Mourinho kind of player at all.
They will have to totally revamp their style to accommodate him. So either that , or he is not going to play many games there.
Remember this is the moron who sold Juan Mata! And Cesc is more tiki taka than Mata.
Insigne to Arsenal.
Well, THAT’S what we need.
Dynamite in a small package.
5 ft and something and 23 years old.
Go for it AW! Lorenzo’s old school footballer.
Just what we need.
Lurky, we are as fine as we can be considering the circumstances. Pls, bear with me if my response made you feel bad.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>