Super Super Quality Transfer Speculation & Shit

[Cripps_orig]

Rennes have told both Arsenal and Inter Milan they can forget about signing 21-year-old Yann M'Vila until after Euro 2012, with the want-away midfielder likely to attract more offers whilst in the shop window.
Full story: Metro (http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/football/900504-yann-mvila-transfer-talks-put-on-hold-until-after-euro-2012#ixzz1wH8HYWGX)

Looks like M'Vilas out the picture

[fakeyank]

possibly yes, if they refuse to offer the contract or pay them as much then we have no choice but to sell to get money instead of them leaving for a free. if they refuse to pay the money for wages then it forces them to go so yes they are to blame as well as wenger

Wenger needs to just quit in that scenario and stop being a money grabbing prick! I'd hang him to dry because he is expected to be a football manager. While a board member, I can understand. They are usually the corrupt ****s! The board will still need to be hanged though..

[Niall_Quinn]

Where the money goes and what its used for isnt the point.

It's the whole point. Money is being siphoned out of the club. That's why we can't keep the players, that's why we can't compete for signatures and that's a major part of why we can't compete for trophies. We've been 2-3 quality players short for years now and on a couple of occasions if those players had been present we wouldn't be sitting here talking about a lack of titles and trophies and the knock on effect of that would be the team stability we all claim we want. Yes, I put 90% of the blame on the people who are shovelling the club's assets into their personal bank accounts. Don't see why that is odd in the least. Nobody likes a leech, you burn it off.

[Syn]

It really is just about those 2-3 extra players isn't it?

I'd say if Fabregas and Nasri had stayed (with some decent form) with Van Persie the way he is, we might've been good for a cup this year - and that's with Wilshere still dead.

As things stand at this very moment (with Van Persie still an Arsenal player), we have Podolski in. So a quality DM and quality AM. That's all it takes. £40m - that's the price of success for us as it stands. You've got 60k coming every other week paying £45-50 on average. You're ranked 4th richest, in terms of assets, in the world. You make a profit on transfer fees pretty much every year. I know there's a shiny new stadium to pay off and maybe I'm looking at this naively but how is it that Tottenham have been balancing the books and managing to get their Championship Manager signings in? Where's the fucking money Lebowski. We need to know where the cash is.

I know spending money doesn't necessarily mean you get top players. But, realistically, getting top players means you need to spend money. You spend £10m, you get your Artetas - great little player; you can't have superstars in every position - you need a solid pro. But to get to the next level, there is a severe need to shit out about £40m and get two top players in. It's not going to happen though so just as I type this I'm annoyed I'm typing the same shit over and over again. It probably won't change with a change of manager either as the guy who'll be appointed will also be following orders (or else they won't pick that manager in the first place). This is little bit annoying.

[Japan Shaking All Over]

its a misleading stat as it comparing gerv's 93 games for the club, against hazards first 93. hazard went on for another 100 games and that is where he started to make his name.

i don't mind gerv, i've got a little more patience with him as his first half season was ok.

Its no secret that I like Gerv, he does have the skills to run at people with the ball rather than past them in a mad chase after it (cough cough Theo) but I also agree he needs to work on his shooting and the willingness to get stuck in. . .those areas should be his focus for next season

[Power n Glory]

We spent £60m in the transfer window last year. Instead of going for two or three star players we went bargain basement shopping. It was quantity over quality. Primark over Armani. That's why I find it very difficult to blame the Board especially when Wenger hardly ever spends over £15m for a player. Even when at Highbury he'd avoid big name signings. The same goes for his career at Monaco. Wenger's philosophy hasn't changed. He scours the market for undervalued players and moves quickly. He avoids bidding wars to keep prices low. We went for Arteta because he's old, cheap and no threat to Wilshere. He wants to give that kid a chance and that's another reason why he won't spend big. He's waiting on a load of young kids to realise their potential and we constantly hear this in his interviews.

[Syn]

We spent £60m in the transfer window last year. Instead of going for two or three star players we went bargain basement shopping. It was quantity over quality. Primark over Armani.

I disagree because we needed numbers in August. Out of £60m , you could buy 2 or 3 star players but we needed the 6 or 7 that we got otherwise we'd have been struggling to put a side out when the injuries hit. I think now's the time - when the squad is filled with decent '3rd place' players that you should aim to go after the few top players rather than 5 decent ones. There's no mystery to this transfer window - we know the score; if Van Persie leaves we'll probably get another 2 players in - standard £10-12m players like Gervinho. If Van Persie doesn't leave, we might get just one of those £10-12m.

[-Xs-]

I disagree because we needed numbers in August. Out of £60m , you could buy 2 or 3 star players but we needed the 6 or 7 that we got otherwise we'd have been struggling to put a side out when the injuries hit. I think now's the time - when the squad is filled with decent '3rd place' players that you should aim to go after the few top players rather than 5 decent ones. There's no mystery to this transfer window - we know the score; if Van Persie leaves we'll probably get another 2 players in - standard £10-12m players like Gervinho. If Van Persie doesn't leave, we might get just one of those £10-12m.

I actually think we have already done our shopping for the window in Podolski. Barring AW finding super super quality for a fiver, (and even that we'd make difficult, and end up opting for a 13 year old from the arse end of no-where) I can't see us buying anyone else.

[AKBapologist]

:lol:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1081943/chelsea-bound-eden-hazard-hails-arsenal?cc=5739

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

[4-3-3]

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/posts/view/252958/Arsenal-join-Eden-Hazard-hunt

coyg

[Power n Glory]

I disagree because we needed numbers in August. Out of £60m , you could buy 2 or 3 star players but we needed the 6 or 7 that we got otherwise we'd have been struggling to put a side out when the injuries hit. I think now's the time - when the squad is filled with decent '3rd place' players that you should aim to go after the few top players rather than 5 decent ones. There's no mystery to this transfer window - we know the score; if Van Persie leaves we'll probably get another 2 players in - standard £10-12m players like Gervinho. If Van Persie doesn't leave, we might get just one of those £10-12m.We didn't need 6 or 7 players in August. Park, Yossi and Ox were hardly used all season, Jenkinson was too green to be considered as real cover for Sagna and we also bought Campebell; another kid that has to go on loan before he can play for us. We might as well have held back a few of our players from going out on loan and spent on real quality. Our squad is big enough to cope with cover, we just lack star power.

[Syn]

We didn't need 6 or 7 players in August. Park, Yossi and Ox were hardly used all season, Jenkinson was too green to be considered as real cover for Sagna and we also bought Campebell; another kid that has to go on loan before he can play for us. We might as well have held back a few of our players from going out on loan and spent on real quality. Our squad is big enough to cope with cover, we just lack star power. The players you've named hardly cost much so they haven't been eating up much of the £60m. I think we can agree oxlade was worth getting in any case. We needed numbers in august. We were struggling to name a side at old Trafford. Now there seem to be good numbers, we should be more picky.

[Power n Glory]

The players you've named hardly cost much so they haven't been eating up much of the £60m. I think we can agree oxlade was worth getting in any case. We needed numbers in august. We were struggling to name a side at old Trafford. Now there seem to be good numbers, we should be more picky.

It's still money wasted. The extra £5m we wasted on players that hardly featured could have been used to go beyond the £10m bracket and pay around £15m for a player with end product and someone who doesn't have to fly off to the ACON in January. United paid £15m for Young. I'm not saying he was an option, just saying that's the difference between £10m and £15m.

Also, the wages. Park is supposed to be on £40k a week. That's a waste of money. Such a waste that we had to bring in Henry on loan for cover in January. And let's not forget that Gazidis did say Wenger has another £30m available to spend in January if he wants it. Part of that money has probably been used to buy Podolski.

[BOBN]

Its appalling that wenger hasnt done more to sign kagawa. exactly what we needed.

[GP]

Its appalling that wenger hasnt done more to sign kagawa. exactly what we needed.

How do you know what he's done?

Oh right, you don't.

[Flavs]

Its appalling that wenger hasnt done more to sign kagawa. exactly what we needed.

rofl

[BOBN]

How do you know what he's done?

Oh right, you don't.
I dont give a fook what hes done, hes had years to hurry up and buy and hasnt. Results.

[Niall_Quinn]

Some of you guys are fucking crazy. On and on and on but always ignoring where the money has actually gone.

[Cripps_orig]

Some of you guys are fucking crazy. On and on and on but always ignoring where the money has actually gone.Wengers pockets?

[Niall_Quinn]

Wengers pockets?

Pay packet dude, salary. Different thing entirely. If his bosses don't want him they don't pay him. Who cashed out and took all the money with them?

[Cripps_orig]

Tbf we must be the only club in history where the manager controls the board

[Niall_Quinn]

Tbf we must be the only club in history where the manager controls the board

That's the key ker-plunk straw in your argument. Take that away and your marbles start tumbling.

[GP]

I dont give a fook what hes done, hes had years to hurry up and buy and hasnt. Results.

:lol:

Mug

[Özim]

Pay packet dude, salary. Different thing entirely. If his bosses don't want him they don't pay him. Who cashed out and took all the money with them?
7+ million a year, don't think he's doing too badly do you?

No wonder he's happy being a 3rd/4th place loser, money talks as they say.

[Letters]

:lol: Bless :console:

[GP]

:lol: Bless :console:

:haha:

[Özim]

Tbf we must be the only club in history where the manager controls the board
:lol: very true, very true

[Niall_Quinn]

7+ million a year, don't think he's doing too badly do you?

No wonder he's happy being a 3rd/4th place loser, money talks as they say.

Dalglish and Mancini are the only winners - every other manager is a big time loser!

Dalglish :bow:

[Özim]

Dalglish and Mancini are the only winners - every other manager is a big time loser!

Dalglish :bow:
6+ years without winning, 7+ million salary = loser on the pitch winner in the bank

He's a winning loser.

Winning losers :trophy:

[Niall_Quinn]

:bow: Alex McLeish

[Globalgunner]

Some of the mealy mouthed defence of Wenger on this board is simply mind boggling. I suspect a few people here acre actually Wengers kids masquerading as fans. Every argument showing how inadequate he is in terms of tactics , strategy, and scouting is obfuscated by blaming the board. Wengers strengths used to be an innate knowledge of the French market. Now Alan Pardew (racist Pardew) knows how to pick a winner from France better than le prof. Face it our players leave us because we dont win stuff any more. At Arsenal Wenger is the HIGHEST paid employee. think about that, before you jump up and down saying what a pawn he is in the grand scheme of thinks.

[Letters]

Some of the mealy mouthed defence of Wenger on this board is simply mind boggling. I suspect a few people here acre actually Wengers kids masquerading as fans. Every argument showing how inadequate he is in terms of tactics , strategy, and scouting is obfuscated by blaming the board. Wengers strengths used to be an innate knowledge of the French market. Now Alan Pardew (racist Pardew) knows how to pick a winner from France better than le prof. Face it our players leave us because we dont win stuff any more. At Arsenal Wenger is the HIGHEST paid employee. think about that, before you jump up and down saying what a pawn he is in the grand scheme of thinks.
We finished 3rd :good:

[Niall_Quinn]

Some of the mealy mouthed defence of Wenger on this board is simply mind boggling. I suspect a few people here acre actually Wengers kids masquerading as fans. Every argument showing how inadequate he is in terms of tactics , strategy, and scouting is obfuscated by blaming the board. Wengers strengths used to be an innate knowledge of the French market. Now Alan Pardew (racist Pardew) knows how to pick a winner from France better than le prof. Face it our players leave us because we dont win stuff any more. At Arsenal Wenger is the HIGHEST paid employee. think about that, before you jump up and down saying what a pawn he is in the grand scheme of thinks.

It's the whiners that are black and white on this issue. NOBODY is claiming Wenger has no faults - faults that genuinely cost us. But SOME are claiming it's 100% Wenger's fault. That's why they have the piss taken out of them. Because it's a very silly argument.

[GP]

We finished 3rd :good:

So what!?

7 years...

7 million...

7 brain cells...

blah blah blah....

[Niall_Quinn]

So what!?

7 years...

7 million...

7 brain cells...

blah blah blah....

7 Samurai, the Magnificent 7, SClub 7

[Joker]

Who's claiming Wenger's 100% to blame? Most realise that both Wenger and the board are screwing us over. Some people think that Wenger's a victim in the shareholder's rapacious desire for profit maximisation, but IMO Wenger is completely comfortable with this arrangement. I know people laugh at this but he genuinely is a free market fundamentalist. Listen to his statements opposition progressive taxation, complaining about how the free market gets distorted by clubs like Man City, his opposition to any regulation like a limit on squad sizes and a quota on homegrown players etc. He's always said his priority is to get into the top 4 above trophies like the FA Cup, because of the financial benefits from it. In economics there's a theory of principle-agent conflict, where the objectives of the shareholders are in conflict with the interests of the managers. Well at Arsenal that is certainly not the case, because both the board and Wenger are simply treating our club like a private sector enterprise, with the emphasis on servitude to the shareholders.

[Letters]

I blame Wenger entirely for us finishing 3rd...

[GP]

He put the 'mental' in 'free market fundamentalist'

:lol:

[GP]

I blame Wenger entirely for us finishing 3rd...

3rd :lol:

Not even the best loser :haha:

[Özim]

3rd is the new 1st to be honest. Who wants to win when you can come 3rd/4th and make a nice tidy profit or get a nice pay day...it would be foolish to try and win when things are so rosy.

[Joker]

We finished 3rd :good:

We realise that, but from 2002-2005, we won 5 trophies (2 of which were league titles). Since then, we've had no trophies whatsoever. You can say, oh it's because Man City and Chelsea have been taken over by oligarchs, which is fair enough, but that's no excuse for the way we've collapsed so regularly, and going from a position where we were on the coattails of our rivals to barely scraping 4th. Even Man Utd, when there was serious concerns about the Glazers piling on debt and taking money out of the club, were able to challenge for the title and win some trophies during their dark days (like the FA Cup in 2004 and the Carling Cup in 2006). Why haven't we been able to win a single trophy despite being in a few semi finals and finals in that time? That suggests a lack of winning mentality and the buck must stop with the manager.

[Marc Overmars]

Wenger is a ****.

[Niall_Quinn]

Well at Arsenal that is certainly not the case, because both the board and Wenger are simply treating our club like a private sector enterprise, with the emphasis on servitude to the shareholders.

This is a certainty with the board because we can see the end result. This is a possibility with Wenger, the fact he's an employee needs to be considered. No compliance, no job. That's the way it works. Let's assume he would rather see the board prosper rather than the club. There's nothing to suggest this but let's assume it anyway. Question is, who is the manager that can come in and change the financial agenda of the club? Which manager arrives, at the very least keeps us near the top and loosens the multi-million purse strings?

[Globalgunner]

It's the whiners that are black and white on this issue. NOBODY is claiming Wenger has no faults - faults that genuinely cost us. But SOME are claiming it's 100% Wenger's fault. That's why they have the piss taken out of them. Because it's a very silly argument.

There are no silly arguments, only silly positions. People should see the facts clearly and make the case without preconditions. We are a team that used to think coming second was a bad thing, now 3rd is a mighty laudable conquest. Our players want to leave, others dont want to come. In any other walk of life RVP SHOULD stay, we have been carrying him for years, Ropey walcott now wants to string us along some more, maybe he will threaten to leave. facts are facts you can either say we are in a long standing holding pattern of 3-4th position or we are building again for an assault on the top.....I dont think it is the latter.

Are we going to be the first club in history where, when things are going wrong on the field, we sack the board and keep the manager?

[Joker]

I blame Wenger entirely for us finishing 3rd...

If you're satisfied with Champions League qualification every season, with the Cups being treated as a mere inconvenience (even when we reach the final stages) good for you but for some fans football is more than just about the balance sheet. If we didn't win anything from 1998-2005 and were midtable throughout that period, then I would give credit to Wenger for improving our state. However, we've gone from being a very successful side (which I give Wenger credit for) to a side that doesn't look likely to win a trophy in the foreseeable future. That is surely unacceptable for a top club like ours?

[Flavs]

Even Man Utd, when there was serious concerns about the Glazers piling on debt and taking money out of the club, were able to challenge for the title and win some trophies during their dark days

Yeah Manyoo have been looking down the back of the sofa for the pennies havent they, apart from the £30mil on ferdinand, £30mil on Rooney, £28mil on Berbatov and so on...

[Niall_Quinn]

There are no silly arguments, only silly positions. People should see the facts clearly and make the case without preconditions. We are a team that used to think coming second was a bad thing, now 3rd is a mighty laudable conquest. Our players want to leave, others dont want to come. In any other walk of life RVP SHOULD stay, we have been carrying him for years, Ropey walcott now wants to string us along some more, maybe he will threaten to leave. facts are facts you can either say we are in a long standing holding pattern of 3-4th position or we are building again for an assault on the top.....I dont think it is the latter.

Are we going to be the first club in history where, when things are going wrong on the field, we sack the board and keep the manager?

Sack both if you must but don't expect dramatic change if you want to keep the same agenda and merely replace the front man. We've been 3-4 quality players short for a long time now. A little bit of investment could have made all the difference. We built stadiums and flats instead and the shareholders bugged out with half a billion quid in their pockets. The promise was the investment in property would allow us in turn to fund the team so we could continue to compete at the very top level. We have yet to see a penny of that funding. And we remain 3-4 quality players short. But the good news, the shareholders did get their half a billion quid so the strategy hasn't been a complete failure.

Note: No shareholders were harmed during the production of the last 7 seasons.

[Joker]

This is a certainty with the board because we can see the end result. This is a possibility with Wenger, the fact he's an employee needs to be considered. No compliance, no job. That's the way it works. Let's assume he would rather see the board prosper rather than the club. There's nothing to suggest this but let's assume it anyway. Question is, who is the manager that can come in and change the financial agenda of the club? Which manager arrives, at the very least keeps us near the top and loosens the multi-million purse strings?

If Wenger is opposed to the board, then I think he should do the honest thing and tender his resignation, and say he can't work under the financial constraints imposed by the board. That way the fans will know exactly whose to blame, and through supporter pressure could at least put the board under the spotlight.

I know people are opposed to Usmanov, but if the choice is between him and the status quo, I'd go with him because we desperately need change at the top.

[Flavs]

Can't wait for Wenger's autobiography, especially if he writes it himself

[Niall_Quinn]

If Wenger is opposed to the board, then I think he should do the honest thing and tender his resignation, and say he can't work under the financial constraints imposed by the board. That way the fans will know exactly whose to blame, and through supporter pressure could at least put the board under the spotlight.

I know people are opposed to Usmanov, but if the choice is between him and the status quo, I'd go with him because we desperately need change at the top.

Why do you expect Wenger to be a martyr? Who do you work for? Do you agree with the agenda of the guys at the top? Do you still take a pay cheque from them? Wenger's a football manager working in the modern game. Which club should he go to where the board devotes itself to the fans and makes all personal financial gain a secondary objective?

Usmanov is a vicious criminal. Provided you are okay with that then it's true, his stolen and blood soaked money could go a long way.

[Niall_Quinn]

Can't wait for Wenger's autobiography, especially if he writes it himself

He's bound to have some harsh words reserved for Ach.

[Globalgunner]

Sack both if you must but don't expect dramatic change if you want to keep the same agenda and merely replace the front man. We've been 3-4 quality players short for a long time now. A little bit of investment could have made all the difference. We built stadiums and flats instead and the shareholders bugged out with half a billion quid in their pockets. The promise was the investment in property would allow us in turn to fund the team so we could continue to compete at the very top level. We have yet to see a penny of that funding. And we remain 3-4 quality players short. But the good news, the shareholders did get their half a billion quid so the strategy hasn't been a complete failure.

Note: No shareholders were harmed during the production of the last 7 seasons.

I think we are forgetting the principle of shareholding. The people who sold their share s to kroenke et al, can hardly be expected to sell their shares and pass the cash back to the football club. Our strategy to improve the profitability of the club was not wrong. In fact it was so right that 2 billionaires both wanted the club and 1 won out but not so that he got rid of the other. This situation is not likely to change any time soon. what needs to change is our strategy on the pitch. In our last two games of the season we score in the first 5 mins of each match, but were holding on for dear life at thend of both against middling teams. this is our story for years, what has the board got to do with that?

[Niall_Quinn]

I think we are forgetting the principle of shareholding. The people who sold their share s to kroenke et al, can hardly be expected to sell their shares and pass the cash back to the football club.

Really? Why not? They put nothing in and they have taken everything out. Is there zero margin to play with? You don't have to take Stan's money and hand it back, you can negotiate a price and allow the American some room for wider investment. But they wanted the full fruits of the share price they carefully constructed - at the expense of everything else, especially the team. No, unfortunately it is the cut-throat and impersonal nature of the shareholder than has seen us fall behind. In many ways Arsenal is at the forefront of the money revolution in the game. The owners of city and the chavs have had to stump up, they'll probably never get their money back. The are amateurs compared to the ruthless vampires in our boardroom.

[Boss]

Can we save this thread for unrealistic links to C. Ronaldo and L. Messi and keep the whining about Wenger and the board to other threads plsty.

Not sure which side is embarrassing itself more above.

[Syn]

Just got myself a 40 carat gold watch. Fucking love ambition.

[Power n Glory]

This is a silly conversation and we keep having it over and over again. When you lose the Carling Cup final against Birmingham, you can't blame it on the Board and the lack of quality signings. We lose games because we can't focus for 90 minutes or we're over confident and think the lower teams will be a pushover. It's a tactical problem, a mental issue and lack consistency. We don't work hard enough to win the ball back and over the past few years we've all said how poor our off the ball movement is. We work our socks off against City and Chelsea but take it easy against teams like Swansea and Norwich.

Ignoring such problems and expecting it all to be fixed with a few key signings is foolish. Look at Arshavin as an example. How comes he never looked match fit? If his fitness was really and issue then why has Wenger got this 30 year old with no engine playing on the flanks where defensive discipline is mandatory and demanding? How comes Wenger couldn't get his fitness level up to play that role or just shift him further up field to take the pressure off his legs? That's one example of bad coaching and there are several other examples. Don't forget the RVP's frustration at seeing the Ox subbed off the Arshavin. He makes questionable decisions and we can't afford to have a coach that seems out of his depth when we're competing against teams that can outspend us.

As for funds, they're being swallowed up by huge wages. There is a huge imbalance on that side of things. There are players available that are within our price range and can do a lot better than the likes of Ramsey, Squallaci, Gervinho, Park, Chamakh.....we just don't go for them. There were plenty of players that we missed out on this year and last year.

[Cripps_orig]

When you lose the Carling Cup final against Birmingham, you can't blame it on the Board and the lack of quality signings.You can if youre in the Wenger can do no wrong camp as a few are on here

[Boss]

Hazard says Gervinho is the best player he has ever played with.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1081943/chelsea-bound-eden-hazard-hails-arsenal's-gervinho?cc=4716

Says it all about the quality of the French league, I'm afraid.

[Cripps_orig]

Hazard says Gervinho is the best player he has ever played with.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1081943/chelsea-bound-eden-hazard-hails-arsenal's-gervinho?cc=4716

Says it all about the quality of the French league, I'm afraid.Joe Cole :haha:

[Letters]

3rd is the new 1st to be honest.
When it's behind a side who spent a billion quid to get to the top and a side who have the best manager around it's not that bad.
Especially when some people were saying that Spurs squad was better than ours in every way. :lol: Man do they look silly now.
Them :pal:

[IBK]

This is a silly conversation and we keep having it over and over again. When you lose the Carling Cup final against Birmingham, you can't blame it on the Board and the lack of quality signings. We lose games because we can't focus for 90 minutes or we're over confident and think the lower teams will be a pushover. It's a tactical problem, a mental issue and lack consistency. We don't work hard enough to win the ball back and over the past few years we've all said how poor our off the ball movement is. We work our socks off against City and Chelsea but take it easy against teams like Swansea and Norwich.

Ignoring such problems and expecting it all to be fixed with a few key signings is foolish. Look at Arshavin as an example. How comes he never looked match fit? If his fitness was really and issue then why has Wenger got this 30 year old with no engine playing on the flanks where defensive discipline is mandatory and demanding? How comes Wenger couldn't get his fitness level up to play that role or just shift him further up field to take the pressure off his legs? That's one example of bad coaching and there are several other examples. Don't forget the RVP's frustration at seeing the Ox subbed off the Arshavin. He makes questionable decisions and we can't afford to have a coach that seems out of his depth when we're competing against teams that can outspend us.

As for funds, they're being swallowed up by huge wages. There is a huge imbalance on that side of things. There are players available that are within our price range and can do a lot better than the likes of Ramsey, Squallaci, Gervinho, Park, Chamakh.....we just don't go for them. There were plenty of players that we missed out on this year and last year.

You are right and I agree with many of your points. But two further ones need to be made to put them into context.

1. Every manager. Even the likes of Mourinho; SAF and Guardiola, make mistakes with their transfers; team set up and strategies. Manure; Citeh fans (let alone Spurs; Liverpool ones have made similar complaints against their managers this season. Wenger seems to be softer on his players than some other managers, but at the same time he has generally been better than his peers in unearthing unheralded gems - so I guess it evens up.

2. We tend to assume that another manager could take what Wenger has created and improve on it. I think that is a dangerous assumption. A new manager would come in warts and all, and if there was no silverware after a couple of seasons, there would be the same, or different, accusations to level. Sheer logic dictates that it with the competition that now exists financially in the EPL it will be a struggle for another manager to finish top 4, let alone win the league.

[Kano]

We tend to assume that another manager could take what Wenger has created and improve on it. I think that is a dangerous assumption. A new manager would come in warts and all, and if there was no silverware after a couple of seasons, there would be the same, or different, accusations to level. Sheer logic dictates that it with the competition that now exists financially in the EPL it will be a struggle for another manager to finish top 4, let alone win the league.

I still can’t get my head around this argument, one I’ve seen a few times now. I mean at some point, he has to leave. He has a year on his contract so that could well happen within the next two years. one thing that every arsenal fan can agree on is that we have the basis for an even better team, so in the now global game of football, it makes little sense to hang on so tightly to one manager as if he is the only one ever capable of keeping the club where we are as minimum and then growing it. The concentration seems to be purely based on the league – there are three other competitions out there to challenge for let’s not forget.

the assumption that no one could ever do as good or better than wenger has in the past 7 years is as dangerous to presume.

[Power n Glory]

You are right and I agree with many of your points. But two further ones need to be made to put them into context.

1. Every manager. Even the likes of Mourinho; SAF and Guardiola, make mistakes with their transfers; team set up and strategies. Manure; Citeh fans (let alone Spurs; Liverpool ones have made similar complaints against their managers this season. Wenger seems to be softer on his players than some other managers, but at the same time he has generally been better than his peers in unearthing unheralded gems - so I guess it evens up.

2. We tend to assume that another manager could take what Wenger has created and improve on it. I think that is a dangerous assumption. A new manager would come in warts and all, and if there was no silverware after a couple of seasons, there would be the same, or different, accusations to level. Sheer logic dictates that it with the competition that now exists financially in the EPL it will be a struggle for another manager to finish top 4, let alone win the league.

I don't think it evens out. Wenger takes more risks than any other coach because the Board trusts his judgement and he has that freedom to take risks. His peers don't have that same sort if freedom because results are expected and excuses aren't accepted by the fans or Board members.

Who ever inherits this mess of team will need time to destroy and rebuild it. Two or three years ago, I think we had a team that had potential, but what we have now is a tall order for anybody. I don't assume instant success with our next manager. Fact is, by the time Wenger has gone, Liverpool, Spurs and Chelsea will probably have their shit together and the league will be even tougher. I don't see an easy ride from here. But if the Board appoint the right man for the job and he gets 7 solid years to build his team, I think we'll be okay. But if we stick with Wenger and he still refuses to fix the small leak in the roof, we're going to pay the cost for the negligence when he's gone.

[Power n Glory]

I still can’t get my head around this argument, one I’ve seen a few times now. I mean at some point, he has to leave. He has a year on his contract so that could well happen within the next two years. one thing that every arsenal fan can agree on is that we have the basis for an even better team, so in the now global game of football, it makes little sense to hang on so tightly to one manager as if he is the only one ever capable of keeping the club where we are as minimum and then growing it. The concentration seems to be purely based on the league – there are three other competitions out there to challenge for let’s not forget.

the assumption that no one could ever do as good or better than wenger has in the past 7 years is as dangerous to presume.

I agree and that time is really close. Plus, the problem we have now is that we all know what to expect each year from his squads and we just know we're always in for a wretched summer. It's a bad cycle and it's tiresome.

[Globalgunner]

I know some have said that the object of the thread has been lost in all these arguments but I believe the seesnce remains the same. Quality players will only go where they have a high probability of success, especially when the money paid is within the same ballpark. we cannot attract the Hazards and Goetzes in our present state and even up and coming stars are no longer our preserve. So what exactly is our USP. It is no longer the manager. So how do we improve things. If a post mortem of the season past is done we will find that we lost maybe 5 games that we really should not have, against Wigan, Swansea, QPR, Blackburn (1 more that escapes me right now). These are games that we lost due to our own ineptitude. Games that we really should have won. Sprinkle in maybe 2 more points from draws and instead of being 19 points behind the leaders we are neck and neck with them. Neither City or United were in any way outstanding last season, its just that We and the Spuds are so laughably inept. A good manager could have made the difference. It is really serendipity right now with Wengers contract coming to an end and Guardiola taking on a break (so he says). If I were Kroenke i really would be doing my damndest to seduce this man right now and pay wenger off with his 7m stipend for next year. But sadly Kroenke isnt in it for the glory....

Before you say im going off topic...let me add this. Yakubu wants to leave BB. Straight swap for Chamack?

[fakeyank]

I still can’t get my head around this argument, one I’ve seen a few times now. I mean at some point, he has to leave. He has a year on his contract so that could well happen within the next two years. one thing that every arsenal fan can agree on is that we have the basis for an even better team, so in the now global game of football, it makes little sense to hang on so tightly to one manager as if he is the only one ever capable of keeping the club where we are as minimum and then growing it. The concentration seems to be purely based on the league – there are three other competitions out there to challenge for let’s not forget.

the assumption that no one could ever do as good or better than wenger has in the past 7 years is as dangerous to presume.

:gp:

There is no guaranteed path to getting back to be a top team again. What we do know is that AW is not one of the ways- 7 years of failure has shown that. So we eliminate one of the wrong paths and start at a new one. I do believe that a young manager with potential or a top class manager can take this team back to the top. Arsenal existed before Wenger and will exist after him. To make him seem like if he leaves will make us into a pub team is ridiculous.

[Letters]

Arsenal existed before Wenger and will exist after him.
We were nowhere near as good before he arrived at any point in our modern history. The only time we were better was the 30s.
What makes you think we'll be better after he leaves?

I don't think we'll be a pub team either but no manager in the world could make us champions in the current football world where clubs can throw hundreds of millions around and buy the title. Utd have the best manager in the world and they couldn't stop City (although they should have).

[Kano]

We were nowhere near as good before he arrived at any point in our modern history. The only time we were better was the 30s.
What makes you think we'll be better after he leaves?

I don't think we'll be a pub team either but no manager in the world could make us champions in the current football world where clubs can throw hundreds of millions around and buy the title. Utd have the best manager in the world and they couldn't stop City (although they should have).

so i guess we just close the gates and give up then?

[Letters]

so i guess we just close the gates and give up then?
In terms of the title yeah, pretty much.

[Cripps_orig]

Manchester United had Ferguson back in 03/04, Chelsea were the team with the new billionaire owner

Beat them both to the title.

Had Wenger continued on in that vain, we'd have challenged for the league more times than we have but he took the youth project way and we are miles behind.

Even the next season, we won the FA Cup and finished 2nd which all of us would take now. Wenger needs to go back to what he knows

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Can't wait for Wenger's autobiography, especially if he writes it himself

Waiting period :bow:

[fakeyank]

We were nowhere near as good before he arrived at any point in our modern history. The only time we were better was the 30s.
What makes you think we'll be better after he leaves?

I don't think we'll be a pub team either but no manager in the world could make us champions in the current football world where clubs can throw hundreds of millions around and buy the title. Utd have the best manager in the world and they couldn't stop City (although they should have).

I see your perspective but dont agree with it. Yes, AW made us into a big club in Europe (not a top one) with his managerial skills from 98-06 but after that we have only gone downhill. We can look at our clubs existence from the 19th century to the day he signed and say we are doing well or we could look at the potential this club has had since early 2000s to really kick on and become the Madrids and Barcelona's of the world. I am looking at the later and saying that we have not utilized our great platform and moved on to bigger and better things.. sadly, we seem to have regressed quite a bit while other clubs seem to have caught up.

Yes, I thank AW for what he did for this club for the first part of his stay but his 2nd part has been a gradual decline into obscurity. SAF is one of the greatest managers ever but AW was right there with him till 2006, in fact he kicked SAF's butt on many occasions.. What on earth happened to AW since our move to Emirates baffles me!? Yes, I agree the resources are/were constrained due to the move to Emirates but surely we could have used the money we made of outgoing transfers. If that isnt/werent the case, then we shouldnt have moved to the Emirates at all.

I believe AW's stubbornness rather than an actual ineptitude as a manager is bringing us down. He took the route of youngsters to win something but has failed and it is fine that he tried and failed. Move on and learn from your mistakes.. that is something he hasnt done and that is why he needs to go. We see the same thing season after season- Weak Defense, inability to deal with long balls, no Plan B, inability to sign decent players as back up, persisting with garbage players, buying players and not giving them a chance (ala Park), playing players out of position (Diaby, Eduardo, Vela, Bendtner etc).

Yes, a new manager will not guarantee success just how billions of Arab dollars couldnt guarantee success till QPR fucked up and Utd did a self demolition. I would at least like Arsenal to give a shot into building on this great platform we have... sign a top manager or a young energetic manager. See where we go! I am confident that a manager like Klopp, Conte can take us to a whole new level!

[Power n Glory]

In terms of the title yeah, pretty much.

Shocking. :lol:

[Joker]

Shocking. :lol:

This idea that we can't at least challenge for the title because of City/Chelsea is bogus. We have been somewhat close until March in 2007-2008, 2009-2010 and 2010-2011, but in all these seasons our lack of squad depth killed us. If we had supplemented the squad of 07-08 or 09-10 with experienced, quality players like for example Arteta and Podolski, I think we could have won the league in one of those seasons at least. In any case, in all those seasons (and last season) we had some terrible losses against teams with vastly inferior resources to us, like Blackburn, QPR, Wigan, Swansea. Players regularly say after a defeat against a relegation threatened side that "oh, maybe we underestimated them". This is unacceptable for a top club, and again questions have to be asked of the manager for letting the players go into their comfort zone and underestimate teams below them. It doesn't take £100M to solve these problems, it just takes good management skills. If we didn't take some teams in the bottom half of the league lightly, had signed a few more experienced players, we could have title success in the last few years, without having to spend huge amounts of money.

[Letters]

Manchester United had Ferguson back in 03/04, Chelsea were the team with the new billionaire owner

Beat them both to the title.Well sure but Chelsea were on the rise then and had only just started to splash the cash. They won the title the two seasons afterwards. Project youth was partly enforced by the stadium move but I do think Wenger has been far too cautious in the transfer market and we could have won some trophies and pushed harder in the league had he not been - even then we had a good title push in 07/08 before our all too predictable collapse.

I just think it's harder to win the title now. I don't think Wenger can do it for us but I'm really not sure anyone can. We now have 2 sides with billionaire owners and Utd who with Fergie will always be hard to topple.

[Joker]

Blackburn, Swansea, QPR, Wigan, Wolves and Norwich at home. If we had (as should be expected) picked up 3 points in all those games for a total of 18 points (instead of 2) we'd be 3 points behind the top 2, rather than 19. You don't need a squad of galacticos to win games against those sides. Walcott in the media admitted that we underestimated these sides. Surely it doesn't take money to solve problems like these? It's the mentality of the players that's the problem, and that has to come down to the manager because he signed these players and it's up to him to ensure they stay focused and don't underestimate anyone.

[Özim]

We were nowhere near as good before he arrived at any point in our modern history. The only time we were better was the 30s.
What makes you think we'll be better after he leaves?

I don't think we'll be a pub team either but no manager in the world could make us champions in the current football world where clubs can throw hundreds of millions around and buy the title. Utd have the best manager in the world and they couldn't stop City (although they should have).
Disagree, in 90-91 we were awesome, thumping sides left right and centre and losing just one game.

[Özim]

In terms of the title yeah, pretty much.
Well considering Man U were well clear and collapsed uncharacteristically this season I disagree, the title was theirs but they blew it. This Man U team isn't even all that good either, if you spend on the right players, have a good work ethic, use good tactics and can motivate players to play for one another you have a chance.

What you need to do though is make sure the team is efficient, taking chances when they come and not making schoolboy errors at the back, you also need some strong characters to drive the team when things aren't going great in a game.

It's amazing how Wenger and his cronies have convinced half the fans winning isn't possible anymore, shocking as well to be honest. There's a losers mentaility at this club now, it's clear for all to see, noone really believes we can win anything anymore, it's a stark contrast to the early Wenger years or even Graham years when we always felt we had a shot.

I don't believe we can win anything at the moment to be honest, but that's only due to Wenger and the lack of investment in the team, put those two right and we have a great shot.

[Power n Glory]

It's not as if we couldn't beat City either. In fact, teams like City our the least of our worries. This talk of financial doping is a smokescreen. It's a massive distraction and keeps us from sorting out our own internal problems as a club.

[Grebbo]

What is all this drivel you geeks are posting? I was expecting to see some transfer talk but it's the usual Wenger drivel instead.

[Ollie the Optimist]

Blackburn, Swansea, QPR, Wigan, Wolves and Norwich at home. If we had (as should be expected) picked up 3 points in all those games for a total of 18 points (instead of 2) we'd be 3 points behind the top 2, rather than 19. You don't need a squad of galacticos to win games against those sides. Walcott in the media admitted that we underestimated these sides. Surely it doesn't take money to solve problems like these? It's the mentality of the players that's the problem, and that has to come down to the manager because he signed these players and it's up to him to ensure they stay focused and don't underestimate anyone.

its also down to the players to go, shit we are not doing enough we need to focus. a manager cant make you stay for extra training, so its up to players to do that. they have just as much responsiblity as to why they didnt perform and underestimated sides as wenger does.

[Dennis]

its also down to the players to go, shit we are not doing enough we need to focus. a manager cant make you stay for extra training, so its up to players to do that. they have just as much responsiblity as to why they didnt perform and underestimated sides as wenger does.


im fairly sure if AW wanted them to do double training they'd have to.

[Özim]

A managers job is to motivate, the better managers don't seem to have too much of a problem, Wenger does though. If players don't do as they should sell them and bring someone else in, don't stick with them for donkeys years like he always does.

The manager handles everything to do with the players, if they're not performing or not up to scratch the buck stops with him, he bought them after all, espescially if he doesn't rectify the problem.

[Özim]

What is all this drivel you geeks are posting? I was expecting to see some transfer talk but it's the usual Wenger drivel instead.
Yeah you're in the wrong place then dude, this club doesn't do much in the "transfer" department you should know that by now.

[Ollie the Optimist]

im fairly sure if AW wanted them to do double training they'd have to.

yes but if they are not forced too nothing is stop them taking their own initivie and staying when they know they are playing badly

[AKBapologist]

If we did win something next season, even by fluking it like a proper pub team, what hilarious forfiet should we make zimm do?

I vote eat his own shit. Any other suggestions?

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

[Unai Tea]

If we did win something next season, even by fluking it like a proper pub team, what hilarious forfiet should we make zimm do?

I vote eat his own shit. Any other suggestions?

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

I vote he eats everyone's shit.

[Özil's Panoramic View]

We were nowhere near as good before he arrived at any point in our modern history. The only time we were better was the 30s.
What makes you think we'll be better after he leaves?

I don't think we'll be a pub team either but no manager in the world could make us champions in the current football world where clubs can throw hundreds of millions around and buy the title. Utd have the best manager in the world and they couldn't stop City (although they should have).
With all the money City spent, they were still pretty much a shytt team (us beating them is enough justification) and with some more astute signings, and a more tactical approach in team selection and substitutions, we could have been up there challenging the big two.

@ one point we were 10 points adrift City and look how easily that doubled because of our fuqq ups against pub teams. We only came 3rd because Scums found themselves in unfamiliar territory and didn't know how to see out a season on par with the big boys.

I refuse to subscribe to the notion that only Wenger can make us as good or even better than our short lived glory period.

[Letters]

Disagree, in 90-91 we were awesome, thumping sides left right and centre and losing just one game.Yeah, we scored 74 league goals that year.
Same as this season...

But yeah, we were a good side that year. Just 2 seasons later we were a mid-table side scoring 40 league goals in 42 games, only winning 15 and finishing 7 points above relegation.
That was thoroughly enjoyable.

[Letters]

I refuse to subscribe to the notion that only Wenger can make us as good or even better than our short lived glory period.No-one subscribes to that notion. But there are plenty of managers out there who would make us worse.

[Letters]

It's amazing how Wenger and his cronies have convinced half the fans winning isn't possible anymore
In what way has Wenger done that? You and others keep whining (with some justification) about how Wenger constantly says we're good enough to win the title when we're clearly not. Now you're saying he's 'convinced' us it's not possible? :blink:

How?

[Globalgunner]

No-one subscribes to that notion. But there are plenty of managers out there who would make us worse.
Thats like saying, jumping in a river is likely to make you wet. Letters is too afraid of losing to risk winning. Guess what?, coming 3rd is stil losing

[Özil's Panoramic View]

And why the hell are we so content with being to 4? What do we have to show for 15 consecutive years of CL football except making up the numbers? It surely hasn't made us more attractive to big name players as I don't see the Hazards and M'villas clamouring to join us, and we haven't been able to hold on to our best players even though we in the CL year after year.

How much worse of a disgraceful and odious situation can it get when a quality signing snub us for the Scums?

[GP]

In what way has Wenger done that? You and others keep whining (with some justification) about how Wenger constantly says we're good enough to win the title when we're clearly not. Now you're saying he's 'convinced' us it's not possible? :blink:

How?

Still going for logic, eh?

Brave.

[Letters]

Still going for logic, eh?

Brave.I'm 2% away from getting through his skull :bow:

[Marc Overmars]

I do find this new-found notion of us never being able to compete again difficult to accept. It just seems like a cop out for those who don't want to consider life without Wenger, so they work around that thought. #justaying.

[Letters]

I do find this new-found notion of us never being able to compete again difficult to accept. It just seems like a cop out for those who don't want to consider life without Wenger, so they work around that thought. #justaying.It's definitely harder than it used to be. Maybe impossible is stretching it too far but you've got 2 sides now with billionaire backers, Utd with a better manager and more money too. We used to only have to compete with 1 side really, now it's at least 3 and other sides are spending big to try and get in the top 4 too.

[Ollie the Optimist]

And why the hell are we so content with being to 4? What do we have to show for 15 consecutive years of CL football except making up the numbers? It surely hasn't made us more attractive to big name players as I don't see the Hazards and M'villas clamouring to join us, and we haven't been able to hold on to our best players even though we in the CL year after year.

How much worse of a disgraceful and odious situation can it get when a quality signing snub us for the Scums?

i assume you are talking about vertonghan here. he wants playing time hence why he wont come to us because he cant be arsed to fight for his place so he will go to the scum where he has it easy. says more about him then us

[Ollie the Optimist]

With all the money City spent, they were still pretty much a shytt team (us beating them is enough justification) and with some more astute signings, and a more tactical approach in team selection and substitutions, we could have been up there challenging the big two.

@ one point we were 10 points adrift City and look how easily that doubled because of our fuqq ups against pub teams. We only came 3rd because Scums found themselves in unfamiliar territory and didn't know how to see out a season on par with the big boys.

I refuse to subscribe to the notion that only Wenger can make us as good or even better than our short lived glory period.

so you say we fucked up when ten points behind city and then say scum fucked up because they were too high for themselves while ignoring our run of form with 9 wins in 11 games?

wenger can make us win stuff but he can also not. i think this year we saw a team, we saw players willing to play out of posistion to help the team, we saw huge desire and determination. while we moan about wenger instilling a shit attiude, we surely ahve to praise him for turning it around and creating the best spirt in a team at this club since the invincbles

[Globalgunner]

Montpellier won in france despite the PSG millions. bayern got thier arses handed to them twice by Dortmund. money isnt everything. This team with an astute manager who will instill discipline and organise the team on the pitch could without any additions get within 5-10 points of the manchesters. with 3 better players and dropping clearly inadequate players like ramsey, we could actually challenge. wenger has had his time and has clearly failed. Time to move on.

What we actually need is a merger of Wenger and George Graham. has anyone got a Joe 90 machine that can do the job. leaving the predeliction for bungs out of the transfer.

[Özil's Panoramic View]

i assume you are talking about vertonghan here. he wants playing time hence why he wont come to us because he cant be arsed to fight for his place so he will go to the scum where he has it easy. says more about him then us

This is quite laughable really, with the porus defense we currently have, I can't see Vertonghen, or any other defender of his calibre, being overly concerned about playing time in our team - more like he might feel like he'd be over worked considering our extremely poor defensive record over the last few years.

[Globalgunner]

so you say we fucked up when ten points behind city and then say scum fucked up because they were too high for themselves while ignoring our run of form with 9 wins in 11 games?

wenger can make us win stuff but he can also not. i think this year we saw a team, we saw players willing to play out of posistion to help the team, we saw huge desire and determination. while we moan about wenger instilling a shit attiude, we surely ahve to praise him for turning it around and creating the best spirt in a team at this club since the invincbles

Where was this great spirit when we were all browning our underwear against Norwich and Swansea. have we now forotten that we were 1 goal conceded away from being in the europa league with the spuds laughing at US

[Ollie the Optimist]

This is quite laughable really, with the porus defense we currently have, I can't see Vertonghen, or any other defender of his calibre, being overly concerned about playing time in our team - more like he might feel like he'd be over worked considering our extremely poor defensive record over the last few years.

if you read his quotes etc, he says he wants guarneted starting at CB, we would sign him as yes a first teamer but as cover too. he doenst want to fight for his place here, he wants to join a club where because they pay lots of money he will start all the time. that says to me he cant be arsed to fight for his place, just wants it easy. dont want his sort at our club

[Ollie the Optimist]

Where was this great spirit when we were all browning our underwear against Norwich and Swansea. have we now forotten that we were 1 goal conceded away from being in the europa league with the spuds laughing at US

one goal ten goals it doesnt fucking matter. we got third because we came back from nowhere. it doesnt matter if we got there by one goal or ten points. irrelevant argument

also to add to my argument here, its like telling city not to celebrate winning the league because they were one goal from united winning it and laughing at them.

[Marc Overmars]

It's definitely harder than it used to be. Maybe impossible is stretching it too far but you've got 2 sides now with billionaire backers, Utd with a better manager and more money too. We used to only have to compete with 1 side really, now it's at least 3 and other sides are spending big to try and get in the top 4 too.

Don't get me wrong, it's very tough to win now and we're not doing a bad job at all finishing just below the 2 sides you mention. However you also mention how good Fergie is, which suggests that a bit of managerial nous can also go a long way. Wenger is by no means a bumbling idiot :rolleyes: but it's impossible to ignore the infuritating aspects which creeped in many years ago that have now firmly embedded themselves into the fabric of the team. Wenger has overseen all of that, half a billion isn't needed to ensure we go for the kill at 1-0 up, see off some pub teams, defend as a unit etc. So that's why I can't really accept the idea we should forget about challenging.

I think it was TT who mentioned it on the last page but we shouldn't get bogged down with the notion that Wenger is the only one who can do this. Football has evolved a lot now and there are probably a host of savvy managers out there just waiting for their chance to create a legacy. I mean, who was Arsene Wenger 15 years ago?

Even with the penny pinching that goes on behind the scenes, Arsenal is still a club with ample resources and I'm sure we'd provide the best possible platform for a new manager to succeed.

[AKBapologist]

Montpellier won in france despite the PSG millions. bayern got thier arses handed to them twice by Dortmund. money isnt everything. This team with an astute manager who will instill discipline and organise the team on the pitch could without any additions get within 5-10 points of the manchesters. with 3 better players and dropping clearly inadequate players like ramsey, we could actually challenge. wenger has had his time and has clearly failed. Time to move on.

What we actually need is a merger of Wenger and George Graham. has anyone got a Joe 90 machine that can do the job. leaving the predeliction for bungs out of the transfer.

Do you really think anyone outside of the top 6 has a chance of winning the league?


I honestly think the league is a long shot. Cups on the other hand... Only a matter of time who ever we have as manager.

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

[Kano]

In terms of the title yeah, pretty much.

wow, i hope to god any footballers we sign aren't as defeatist as you are.

perhaps as an alternative, people should try to shake off their Skyvision and remember that the cups out there are winnable by our team. then if the manager could do the same, whoever that may be, then we might actually lift a trophy again.

[Kano]

No-one subscribes to that notion. But there are plenty of managers out there who would make us worse.
well everything you are saying seems to side with that opinion. not once have i seen you talk about a new manager being better or doing as well as wenger.

is wenger the peak of this club and its all down hill from here then?

[Cripps_orig]

Some news to cheer us all up in these dark times


Arsenal centre-back Johan Djourou is considering leaving the club this summer, following a frustrating campaign with the Gunners.

The Swiss defender was restricted to only 14 Premier League starts this season, some of which were at right-back rather than his more preferred central role.

The 25-year-old recently signed a contract extension, tying him down at the Emirates until 2015, meaning he may have to look for a loan move in order to secure regular first team football.

Djourou is keen to find a way out, with the likes of Thomas Vermaelen, Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker all ahead of him in the pecking order.

"My situation at Arsenal is not easy," Djourou told Swiss website 20 Minuten. "I've never played so little and especially not in my own position. If an interesting offer comes, I'll look at it carefully."

The defender's concerns have been raised by recent comments from Swiss national boss Ottmar Hitzfeld regarding his future in the national team setup.

"If he wants to be selected, he must have some game time in the club. This is not the case at Arsenal," Hitzfeld told reporters.

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2012/05/30/3137227/djourou-considering-arsenal-exit

[Cripps_orig]

No-one subscribes to that notion. But there are plenty of managers out there who would make us worse.And there are managers out there who might do better.

You should be more optimistic

[AKBapologist]

And there are managers out there who might do better.

You should be more optimistic

Why is believing the only way we can ever achieve success is by changing the manager optimistic? To me it sounds like some childish quick fix that's neither likely to happen anytime soon, nor, without current boardroom, will likely fix anything.

Unless you think we missed out on Brendan rogers being our manager this summer.

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

[Globalgunner]

one goal ten goals it doesnt fucking matter. we got third because we came back from nowhere. it doesnt matter if we got there by one goal or ten points. irrelevant argument

also to add to my argument here, its like telling city not to celebrate winning the league because they were one goal from united winning it and laughing at them.

We came from nowhere because wengers mismanagement put us there or was someone else in charge through till Xmas. You can argue fine margins when you win not when you lose. Coming 3rd you win nothing except the Seven sisters road league title.

[Cripps_orig]

Why is believing the only way we can ever achieve success is by changing the manager optimistic? To me it sounds like some childish quick fix that's neither likely to happen anytime soon, nor, without current boardroom, will likely fix anything.

Unless you think we missed out on Brendan rogers being our manager this summer.

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2The thing is, i dont know if things will get better or worse under a new manager. Nobody does but the time has come to take that risk cos we all know where we are going with Wenger

[Özim]

In what way has Wenger done that? You and others keep whining (with some justification) about how Wenger constantly says we're good enough to win the title when we're clearly not. Now you're saying he's 'convinced' us it's not possible? :blink:

How?
Those are just BS words, noone believes them not even him, that's why he harps on about being proud about 3rd/4th, he's accepted he's not good enough to make a winning team and is happy picking up his paycheck. How has he convinced us, well you tell me you're the one that doesn't believe we can win with or without him.

I believe we can, but without him.

[Özim]

Heartbreaking news guys


Arsenal’s trophy cabinet taken into care
On the ropes manager Arsene Wenger has been forced to give Arsenal’s trophy cabinet to the authorities after evidence of under nourishment and obvious neglect.

Apparently he didn't put up much of a fight.

Guess we won't be needing it but still :crying:

[Dicks and chicks]

anyone surprised like me that me didn't go for Kagawa? I thought we would knowing Wenger's love for Japanese football.

[Marc Overmars]

anyone surprised like me that me didn't go for Kagawa? I thought we would knowing Wenger's love for Japanese football.

I think United were always front runners for him anyway.

[Cripps_orig]

He probably saw how we treated his countryman Park and he thought fuck that

[Power n Glory]

Why is believing the only way we can ever achieve success is by changing the manager optimistic? To me it sounds like some childish quick fix that's neither likely to happen anytime soon, nor, without current boardroom, will likely fix anything.Unless you think we missed out on Brendan rogers being our manager this summer.Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2 We've seen a change in ownership and Board members, new players come and go but nothing has changed. Wenger is coming to the end of his current deal and might not stay on beyond this deal so it's something a few posters sill have to get their head around and deal with. It's not childish and a change in management to win silverware is usually what it takes to see success in football. It's how we got to this level.

Saying we should give up on the league; that's childish. Making out as if we can't compete with other rich clubs, looking down on their success but at the same time, suggesting our club needs a similar overhaul at Board level is childish.

It's an argument I'm still confused about. We oppose teams that buy the league and we're not in favour of the sugar daddy model but it sounds to me as if that's what a lot of you guys are arguing for. If we get rid of the current Board, who do you thinks going to step in to takeover? It's bound to be someone that would pump money into the club because those are the only guys that seem to be interested in buying teams these days. Or it could be a bloody crook looking to fleece us. That sort of change is way more riskier than changing the manager. That's uprooting everything this club was built on before Wenger and changing the values completely. The Arsenal way will no longer exist. I just don't get where some of guys are going with your arguments or if you've really thought about the alternative.

[Marc Overmars]

He probably saw how we treated his countryman Park and he thought fuck that

Racist.

[AKBapologist]

The thing is, i dont know if things will get better or worse under a new manager. Nobody does but the time has come to take that risk cos we all know where we are going with Wenger

I'd like to see you put your money were your mouth is. I have no idea where we'll be next summer, but some of you seem to be 100% sure. So, pick a forfeit.

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

[Cripps_orig]

I'd like to see you put your money were your mouth is. I have no idea where we'll be next summer, but some of you seem to be 100% sure. So, pick a forfeit.

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2If Wenger is still in charge? We'll be in exactly the same place talking about the same shit as we are doing now, done last year, the year before and so on

And i never bet. The house always wins

[AKBapologist]

We've seen a change in ownership and Board members, new players come and go but nothing has changed. Wenger is coming to the end of his current deal and might not stay on beyond this deal so it's something a few posters sill have to get their head around and deal with. It's not childish and a change in management to win silverware is usually what it takes to see success in football. It's how we got to this level.

Saying we should give up on the league; that's childish. Making out as if we can't compete with other rich clubs, looking down on their success but at the same time, suggesting our club needs a similar overhaul at Board level is childish.

It's an argument I'm still confused about. We oppose teams that buy the league and we're not in favour of the sugar daddy model but it sounds to me as if that's what a lot of you guys are arguing for. If we get rid of the current Board, who do you thinks going to step in to takeover? It's bound to be someone that would pump money into the club because those are the only guys that seem to be interested in buying teams these days. Or it could be a bloody crook looking to fleece us. That sort of change is way more riskier than changing the manager. That's uprooting everything this club was built on before Wenger and changing the values completely. The Arsenal way will no longer exist. I just don't get where some of guys are going with your arguments or if you've really thought about the alternative.
Huh? I'm not some glory hunting twat that demands success and ignores context. Id much rather *hope* for rule changes that stop money ruining the game than for our most successful manager to be dumped for not fluking a cup win or choosing short term success over the long term health of the club unlike so many managers who have been sacked, or sacked twice in the EPL.

I'm not blind to his faults, but I speak to far too many supporters of other clubs, and see to many random games of football to think they are unique to him, or absent to in even the best managers in the business.

The funny thing is I speak to real AKBs, tell them of his faults and how last summer and the squads lack of investment but tbf, they are the hopeful ones. No matter who's in charge, who's playing or who were playing against, they believe. Which is the total opposite of the BS festering here.

Hillariously, zimm, convinces himself, then the rest of the forum that we will never win anything, then blames Wenger. What next? Blame Wenger for getting cancer? Jesus get over yourselves.


Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

[AKBapologist]

If Wenger is still in charge? We'll be in exactly the same place talking about the same shit as we are doing now, done last year, the year before and so on

And i never bet. The house always wins

In this case, it would be wenger, so you can't lose amirite?

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

[Joker]

Huh? I'm not some glory hunting twat that demands success and ignores context. Id much rather *hope* for rule changes that stop money ruining the game than for our most successful manager to be dumped for not fluking a cup win or choosing short term success over the long term health of the club unlike so many managers who have been sacked, or sacked twice in the EPL.

I'm not blind to his faults, but I speak to far too many supporters of other clubs, and see to many random games of football to think they are unique to him, or absent to in even the best managers in the business.

The funny thing is I speak to real AKBs, tell them of his faults and how last summer and the squads lack of investment but tbf, they are the hopeful ones. No matter who's in charge, who's playing or who were playing against, they believe. Which is the total opposite of the BS festering here.

Hillariously, zimm, convinces himself, then the rest of the forum that we will never win anything, then blames Wenger. What next? Blame Wenger for getting cancer? Jesus get over yourselves.


Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

The long term health of the club wouldn't have been jeopardised by Wenger signing 2-3 more quality players that could have made the difference in the last 7 years.

[GP]

Who lives in the east 'neath the willow tree
Sexual Harassment Panda!
Who explains sexual harassment to you and me
Sexual Harassment Panda!
Don't say that don't touch there
Don't be nasty says the silly bear
He's come to tell you what's right and wrong
Sexual Harassment Panda!

[Özim]

Hillariously, zimm, convinces himself, then the rest of the forum that we will never win anything, then blames Wenger. What next? Blame Wenger for getting cancer? Jesus get over yourselves.
I convince myself and then the rest of the forum...really? You mean people don't have their own minds and can't form their own opinions?

I blame Wenger for failure to pick up a single trophy in 7 years yes, he's the manager, he is suppose to deal with the playing side, so yes he's to blame, who else would I blame, the Dalai Lama?

He's shown himself to be incapable of providing any kind of success, showing a lack of tactical astuteness, an inability to identify and fix problems areas, an inability to motivate or discipline and he's shown he's unable to adapt and be flexible when required. He signs the same kind of players who can't shoot or lack the professionalism and focus to go 90 minutes without switching off, he's had chance after chance to put this right and everytime he's failed.

There's bad luck then there's bad judgement, 7 years of failure isn't due to bad luck alone...I'd rather we took a punt and crashed and burned then stayed as we are with the same cycle repeating itself over and over again, at least if we see a change there's a chance we might challenge for something, with Wenger there's two hopes, Bob hope and no hope he's shown that.

The board are not blameless either, they take a lot of blame too for sticking with him and of course seemingly being happy watching the profits roll in rather than being interested in seeing the football club flourish, they're both to blame for different reasons.

[Ollie the Optimist]

He's shown himself to be incapable of providing any kind of success, showing a lack of tactical astuteness, an inability to identify and fix problems areas, an inability to motivate or discipline and he's shown he's unable to adapt and be flexible when required. He signs the same kind of players who can't shoot or lack the professionalism and focus to go 90 minutes without switching off, he's had chance after chance to put this right and everytime he's failed.



Zimm - your first point is that cant provide success, there is no argument on that based on the 7 seasons if you like. three finals and no wins so am not going to argue with that point.
this year though with tatics he improved. yes he fucekd up majorly for first half of the season but then he seemed to get it right. you dont go on a 7 game winning streak without some good tatics. he used players to neutralise threats instead of just playing them to play the Arsenal way. the tottenham game for example. he played yossi instead of the ox to help counter bale etc. so credit must be given there. his three subsitiutions against sunderland away worked, ramsay scored when he could have brought on a defender to replace merts but he didnt. arshavin and henry were the other two, arsahvin set up henry to score winner. good subsitions there. at west brom away, he brougth on gibbs who provdided us with a tackle that won us CL football and moved santos up the ptich for a bit to help out so he did improve on that. im not saying he was brilliant all season but there were improvements in his tatics.

inabitly to motivate changed as well this year, we produced some storming results this year, the city win, the tottenham win, the chavs win. they werent lucky they were deserved wins. his players must have been down after the 4-0 hammering but he picked them up again and they won. they came back from losing five times in a row. that shows he had them motivtated. this is the best team spirit we have had in years. thats down to wenger. as you say you blame wenger for poor spirit etc so you ahve to credit him for raising it again. again his fault at the start but he changed and got it back up again. improvement there so must be given credit. you cannot just moan about him about everything and then when he does get it right on mistakes from earlier this season not give him credit.

[Ollie the Optimist]

We came from nowhere because wengers mismanagement put us there or was someone else in charge through till Xmas. You can argue fine margins when you win not when you lose. Coming 3rd you win nothing except the Seven sisters road league title.

you cant blame wenger for getting us in the mess and then not give him some credit for rescuing it. yes he should never have got us in that posistion in the first place and it was a major fuck up on his part and the boards for not spending. however he turned it around and does deserve some credit for it.

and using one goal as difference between europa league and champions league is irrelavnt. we won third place because we deserved it. thats a fact. over the season we proved to be the thrid best team in england. no one else did. you cant jsut say well if that goal wasnt ruled out wrongly it would have been different or if that penalty had been given etc. you cant alter that. football is about fine lines and we were the right side because we deserved to be the right side of it

[Özil's Panoramic View]

Huh? I'm not some glory hunting twat that demands success and ignores context. Id much rather *hope* for rule changes that stop money ruining the game than for our most successful manager to be dumped for not fluking a cup win or choosing short term success over the long term health of the club unlike so many managers who have been sacked, or sacked twice in the EPL.

I'm not blind to his faults, but I speak to far too many supporters of other clubs, and see to many random games of football to think they are unique to him, or absent to in even the best managers in the business.

The funny thing is I speak to real AKBs, tell them of his faults and how last summer and the squads lack of investment but tbf, they are the hopeful ones. No matter who's in charge, who's playing or who were playing against, they believe. Which is the total opposite of the BS festering here.

Hillariously, zimm, convinces himself, then the rest of the forum that we will never win anything, then blames Wenger. What next? Blame Wenger for getting cancer? Jesus get over yourselves.


Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

Just WTF are you going on about here? What belief are you alluding to that we are lacking? Only thing we have had to believe in over the past 6 seasons is that we'll limp over the line that puts us in next season's CL. And it's not like we gonna be believeing that we're gonna put up a challenge for that cup either.

Where is our ambition? Our yearning for success? FFS, Pep's success was almost immeasurable and he threw in the towel after 1 season of faltering. We have a manager who's incapable of @ least making a match winning substition and we're content with his shytt excuses and 7 trophyless seasons.

And I don't wanna hear about Board, they fuqqing pay him well to manage the club and clearly there is money @ his disposal to buy @ least a few quality players, but he prefers to BS us about not seeing anyone good enough. This after he signed the likes of Chamakh, Ramsey, Diaby, Park and the rest of dead weight we have decked out in our kit.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Come on mods, at least try to look like your going to get this thread back on topic :sulk:

[Ollie the Optimist]

Just WTF are you going on about here? What belief are you alluding to that we are lacking? Only thing we have had to believe in over the past 6 seasons is that we'll limp over the line that puts us in next season's CL. And it's not like we gonna be believeing that we're gonna put up a challenge for that cup either.

Where is our ambition? Our yearning for success? FFS, Pep's success was almost immeasurable and he threw in the towel after 1 season of faltering. We have a manager who's incapable of @ least making a match winning substition and we're content with his shytt excuses and 7 trophyless seasons.

And I don't wanna hear about Board, they fuqqing pay him well to manage the club and clearly there is money @ his disposal to buy @ least a few quality players, but he prefers to BS us about not seeing anyone good enough. This after he signed the likes of Chamakh, Ramsey, Diaby, Park and the rest of dead weight we have decked out in our kit.

well thats quite clearly bollocks because at least twice his substitions won us games. sunderland away, all three substistions there won us the game, ramsay and henry scored, arshavin assisted. west brom away when gibbs made that tackle.

last season was different and you hav eto be blind not to have seen something different in that team. many people saw it that there was a real fight and a real desire to win. just need to build on this now

[Dennis Bendtner]

Vinger, is building a team for the future.

Eboue is a god. He is the best player in the world apart from Cisc and Theo.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Come on mods, at least try to look like your going to get this thread back on topic :sulk:

And talk about what exactly? Anyway this thread does specfically say '& shit'.

[fakeyank]

Just WTF are you going on about here? What belief are you alluding to that we are lacking? Only thing we have had to believe in over the past 6 seasons is that we'll limp over the line that puts us in next season's CL. And it's not like we gonna be believeing that we're gonna put up a challenge for that cup either.

Where is our ambition? Our yearning for success? FFS, Pep's success was almost immeasurable and he threw in the towel after 1 season of faltering. We have a manager who's incapable of @ least making a match winning substition and we're content with his shytt excuses and 7 trophyless seasons.

And I don't wanna hear about Board, they fuqqing pay him well to manage the club and clearly there is money @ his disposal to buy @ least a few quality players, but he prefers to BS us about not seeing anyone good enough. This after he signed the likes of Chamakh, Ramsey, Diaby, Park and the rest of dead weight we have decked out in our kit.

:gp:

Arsenal with AW :rose:

[KSE Comedy Club]

I have to say that my advice to people that want wenger out and blame him for everything, is:

Give up supporting arsenal until he is replaced.

Seriously, don't watch the games, don't worry about what he is/isn't doing, don't pay any attention to results or players, and don't waste your time posting on the tinternet anymore.

Wenger will be at arsenal for as long as the club want him there, no amount of moaning about him from a small selection of hate fuelled fans is going to change that.

Honestly, it will save you from severe depression and the possibility of killing yourselves :good:

[KSE Comedy Club]

And talk about what exactly? Anyway this thread does specfically say '& shit'.I'm just annoyed, as Ive come in from work and seen the thread jump up loads of pages - I thought we'd actually signed someone, then I find out its pages of endless shit and drivel about what wenger has/hasn't done.

Ffs.

[Marc Overmars]

Vinger, is building a team for the future.

Eboue is a god. He is the best player in the world apart from Cisc and Theo.

Cisc. :bow:

Often gets overlooked because of Vinger but that was another gem from the clip.

[AKBapologist]

You'd think we just got relegated with the laundry list (most of which is BS btw) of faults. He's reinvented himself time and time again, done different things on the pitch and off it in the long running arms race that is the modern game. You can't continue to be at the top without doing that, without building a team that can withstand physical teams, dealing with set pieces or come back from behind. His involvement in developing some of the clubs best ever strikers has seen has been uniquely instrumental. He plays attacking football, which harms or defence, but that's the balance in terms of generating a fanbase (unlike chavs or shitty who cant even full there stadium on chaps league games) and all the other benifits your unable to appriciate.

Almost everyone he has managed loves him as a father, his peers respect him and in many cases try to replicate him. There is no other league like this one in the world. 3 teams with huge resources. 2 of them with infinite resources. Were we only had united as competitors, we only had rich club from Spain to worry about sphioning our top players. Now there everywhere, now no none rich club can win a league without there top players going to somewhere else next season. Lille last season, Montpelier the next. The game had changed so much, from my point of view its a miracle we are still where we are, especially if you take a dim witted view that Wenger is a poor manager, incapible of change and unable or unwilling to ever win anything.

The other thing, this forum isn't representative of what arsenal fans think. Most descenting views have left here, and people like me are the minority. When you complain about Wenger causing you to lose faith, and everyone else, please do not speak for anyone else but yourself.

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I'm just annoyed, as Ive come in from work and seen the thread jump up loads of pages - I thought we'd actually signed someone, then I find out its pages of endless shit and drivel about what wenger has/hasn't done.

Ffs.

If we had signed someone it would be safe to assume it would be mentioned on the last page.

[Cripps_orig]

I'm just annoyed, as Ive come in from work and seen the thread jump up loads of pages - I thought we'd actually signed someone, then I find out its pages of endless shit and drivel about what wenger has/hasn't done.

Ffs.More importantly, why did i get a notification if you are quoting Maccy post?

[Niall_Quinn]

And I don't wanna hear about Board, they fuqqing pay him well to manage the club and clearly there is money @ his disposal to buy @ least a few quality players, but he prefers to BS us about not seeing anyone good enough. This after he signed the likes of Chamakh, Ramsey, Diaby, Park and the rest of dead weight we have decked out in our kit.

Yikes, now does a failure to spend automatically confirm it is Wenger's fault and discount the possibility the board told him he had fuck all cash in reality? What's he going to do, have a press conference about "that fucking board?" Fine, he might be a tight arse and the board might be going along with it, but isn't it just as possible Wenger genuinely doesn't have funds at his disposal? You know, if you take all the evidence of the boardroom blood baths and share prices and sellouts, isn't it more likely on the balance of evidence we do have access to that the board is fucking is over big time? Signing shits like Chamakh, (Ramsey shouldn't be in that list, so what if he had a bad season after a potentially crippling injury), Diaby, Park only adds to the idea the guy is not able to operate on the same level as your Mancinis or Mourinhos, right? The evidence just doesn't point in the direction you want it to.

[Niall_Quinn]

More importantly, why did i get a notification if you are quoting Maccy post?

Because you're a wannabee.

[Özim]

I'm just annoyed, as Ive come in from work and seen the thread jump up loads of pages - I thought we'd actually signed someone, then I find out its pages of endless shit and drivel about what wenger has/hasn't done.

Ffs.
If you're expecting signings, I suggest you leave this board, stop reading what Wenger says, switch off your iPad and find a new club to support because you're not going to see any signings mentioned round these parts.

Super super quality signings don't grow on trees you know.

[KSE Comedy Club]

More importantly, why did i get a notification if you are quoting Maccy post?I'm not sure what's going on.

I'm n the iPad, and every time I go to post or quote someone, I get one of your quoted posts already in the reply box.

Fuck knows why?

[Cripps_orig]

I'm not sure what's going on.

I'm n the iPad, and every time I go to post or quote someone, I get one of your quoted posts already in the reply box.

Fuck knows why?Damn, people have found out why i am the most quoted poster in New GW history

[KSE Comedy Club]

If you're expecting signings, I suggest you leave this board, stop reading what Wenger says, switch off your iPad and find a new club to support because you're not going to see any signings mentioned round these parts.

Super super quality signings don't grow on trees you know.I'm sure we'll sign a couple more players this window.

I'm positively hopeful tbh.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Damn, people have found out why i am the most quoted poster in New GW historyDodgy bastard.

I've fixed it now.

[Niall_Quinn]

If you're expecting signings, I suggest you leave this board, stop reading what Wenger says, switch off your iPad and find a new club to support because you're not going to see any signings mentioned round these parts.

Super super quality signings don't grow on trees you know.

Switching off the iPad is a bit extreme really.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Damn, I think the Llorente stuff might have been made up.

There we go, back on track.

[Cripps_orig]

Still 8 minutes to go

Keep the faith

[KSE Comedy Club]

Damn, I think the Llorente stuff might have been made up.

There we go, back on track.Yeh looks that way. Oh well on we go.

[KSE Comedy Club]

So would anyone be keen on de Jong over mvila?

[Cripps_orig]

De Jong all the time

[KSE Comedy Club]

That's what I'm thinking tbh.

He has more experience and is pl proven.

Probably cheaper than mvila too.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Still 8 minutes to go

Keep the faith

Is he here?

Also, De Jong is a clogger, M'Vila could be a clogger and play athlete ball. On that basis, M'Vila.

[Cripps_orig]

Apparently talks broke down as they went past the deadline and Wenger refused to sign him on any other day other than FL day.

****

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Dammit. Oh well on to this time next year (well save 24 hours), he'll be the same age as RVP is now I suppose.

[-Xs-]

I'm sure we'll sign a couple more players this window.

I'm positively hopeful tbh.

Prepare to be disappointed.

[Cripps_orig]

Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal are monitoring Ukrainian 22-year-old Dnipro playmaker Yevhen Konoplyanka.
Full story: talkSPORT

North London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham are interested in signing Sochaux midfielder Marvin Martin after the 24-year-old revealed he is ready to leave France.
Full story: talkSPORT

Arsenal want to offer Salomon Kalou a chance to stay in the Premier League by pinching the striker, who has been released by Chelsea, from under the noses of Schalke.
Full story: Caught Offside

Who? Just checked. Hes in the Ukrainian squad for Euro 2012. One to keep an eye on

Martin is in the French squad this summer. No African in him i think so cant see this happening

Kalou on a free? Wouldnt be so bad

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Someone else to watch at the Euros I suppose. I always find the word 'monitoring' amusing when it comes to transfer rumours.

Marvin Martin should be signed for his name alone.

Kalou on a free wouldn't be bad although maybe I am saying that because there is an air of inevitability about it.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Prepare to be disappointed.Prepare to be amazed.

[Cripps_orig]

ARSENAL target Olivier Giroud will not decide his future until after Euro 2012.

The 6ft 3in striker, 25, fired Montpellier to their first French title with 21 goals.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has been tracking Giroud’s progress and is ready with a £15million summer raid.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4347580/Arsenal-target-Olivier-Giroud-to-decide-his-future-after-Euros.html


LAZIO defender Stefan Radu could be on his way to the Premier League.

The Romanian ace, 25, has been strongly linked with Arsenal and both Manchester clubs.

His agent Viktor Becali said: “We are working with someone in England.

“There are three clubs that are very interested in Stefan.

“If we were to receive a good offer and Lazio were to accept, then he could leave.

“Otherwise, he is happy to remain in Rome. He is under contract until 2016.”

Radu joined Lazio from Dinamo Bucharest in 2008 and made 21 Serie A appearances last season.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4346529/Lazio-defender-Stefan-Radu-could-be-set-for-Premier-League-move.html

[KSE Comedy Club]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4347580/Arsenal-target-Olivier-Giroud-to-decide-his-future-after-Euros.htmlhttp://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4346529/Lazio-defender-Stefan-Radu-could-be-set-for-Premier-League-move.html Fuck sake.

Fuckin euros, fucking up our transfer plans.

[Cripps_orig]

:lol:

Euros are not an excuse.

We still wouldnt have bought anyone even if there were no Euros

[Power n Glory]

Huh? I'm not some glory hunting twat that demands success and ignores context. Id much rather *hope* for rule changes that stop money ruining the game than for our most successful manager to be dumped for not fluking a cup win or choosing short term success over the long term health of the club unlike so many managers who have been sacked, or sacked twice in the EPL.

I'm not blind to his faults, but I speak to far too many supporters of other clubs, and see to many random games of football to think they are unique to him, or absent to in even the best managers in the business.

The funny thing is I speak to real AKBs, tell them of his faults and how last summer and the squads lack of investment but tbf, they are the hopeful ones. No matter who's in charge, who's playing or who were playing against, they believe. Which is the total opposite of the BS festering here.

Hillariously, zimm, convinces himself, then the rest of the forum that we will never win anything, then blames Wenger. What next? Blame Wenger for getting cancer? Jesus get over yourselves.


Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

That doesn't really address the issue. What if these rules aren't enforced and what happens if Wenger doesn't sign a new contract next year? Wenger won't be around forever and it's something we're going to have to deal with. I'm not accusing you of being a 'glory hunting twat' either. I'm just questioning where you guys (Letters and NQ) are going with this argument regarding Board ownership, money and transfers. If we're saying money is ruining the game and what Chelsea and City are doing is wrong, then why are you looking towards their model as the solution? I know you're not arguing for a takeover specifically, but we're still talking about spending our way out of this mess which is part of the problem with football these days. The solution is always seems to be in the transfer market these days. Don't get me wrong, we need some new players to come in because our squad is shocking, but even with a few more key players, I can't see any major improvements while Wenger is still in charge. His flaws run too deep and signings won't fix that. That's why I say he should leave.

I'm not convinced by this argument of Wenger being forced to operate on a shoestring budget. If that were the case and the same people also believe that it's impossible to compete with Chelsea and City, then how can so much blame be placed on the Board for not being able to compete with their bottomless pit of cash? Why argue for their removal? Who or what takes their place?

[jelgoon]

I agree -good post. Remember, Wenger has bought expensive, high-profile players but they have ended up being shit. Arshavin is one example. Reyes also to a certain extent although he was better than Arshavin. Remember he was brilliant for one season but then totally lost his form. Thats down to the manager and coincided with our losing our unbeaten run at Man Utd and then struggling to win our next few games. Walcott was hailed as the next Rooney - now look at him. Inconsistent and average. Wenger wants to buy much cheaper players so that he can hopefully pull a rabbit out of the hat like he did with Henry,Vieira and Anelka. But it hasnt happened for years. He's the problem - not the money.

QUOTE=Power_n_Glory;147005]That doesn't really address the issue. What if these rules aren't enforced and what happens if Wenger doesn't sign a new contract next year? Wenger won't be around forever and it's something we're going to have to deal with. I'm not accusing you of being a 'glory hunting twat' either. I'm just questioning where you guys (Letters and NQ) are going with this argument regarding Board ownership, money and transfers. If we're saying money is ruining the game and what Chelsea and City are doing is wrong, then why are you looking towards their model as the solution? I know you're not arguing for a takeover specifically, but we're still talking about spending our way out of this mess which is part of the problem with football these days. The solution is always seems to be in the transfer market these days. Don't get me wrong, we need some new players to come in because our squad is shocking, but even with a few more key players, I can't see any major improvements while Wenger is still in charge. His flaws run too deep and signings won't fix that. That's why I say he should leave.

I'm not convinced by this argument of Wenger being forced to operate on a shoestring budget. If that were the case and the same people also believe that it's impossible to compete with Chelsea and City, then how can so much blame be placed on the Board for not being able to compete with their bottomless pit of cash? Why argue for their removal? Who or what takes their place?[/QUOTE]

[Cripps_orig]

RT @Blog_Athletic: Fernando Llorente has called a press conference at the Carlton Hotel on Tuesday.So how did it go then?

[GunnerFan4Life]

Havent looked on twitter :)

[Cripps_orig]

Look now?

Surely theres something on it by now.

A whole day has passed

[GunnerFan4Life]

Twitter with reference to newspapers say we're holding talks with CSKA over doumbia.

[Cripps_orig]

Decent player

[Master Splinter]

Twitter with reference to newspapers say we're holding talks with CSKA over doumbia.

Wenger paying that much for someone in their forties?

[KSE Comedy Club]

:lol:

Euros are not an excuse.

We still wouldnt have bought anyone even if there were no EurosIt is.

Everyone wants to wait till after the euros now.

Clubs want a bigger fee and the players are hoping to hold out for a bigger wage offer.

I think there was some truth in Mvila being 99% done.

However, when he saw how much Hazard went for and what wage deal he got, he decided to wait until after the euros to see if he could get something similar, same with Giroud.

Its completely plausible.

[KSE Comedy Club]

More importantly,

Why the fuck havent we signed Dempsey yet?

[Marc Overmars]

More importantly,

Why the fuck havent we signed Dempsey yet?

We're in the waiting period but also little bit wanting period.

[KSE Comedy Club]

We're in the waiting period but also little bit wanting period.Damn.

[AKBapologist]

That doesn't really address the issue. What if these rules aren't enforced and what happens if Wenger doesn't sign a new contract next year? Wenger won't be around forever and it's something we're going to have to deal with. I'm not accusing you of being a 'glory hunting twat' either. I'm just questioning where you guys (Letters and NQ) are going with this argument regarding Board ownership, money and transfers. If we're saying money is ruining the game and what Chelsea and City are doing is wrong, then why are you looking towards their model as the solution? I know you're not arguing for a takeover specifically, but we're still talking about spending our way out of this mess which is part of the problem with football these days. The solution is always seems to be in the transfer market these days. Don't get me wrong, we need some new players to come in because our squad is shocking, but even with a few more key players, I can't see any major improvements while Wenger is still in charge. His flaws run too deep and signings won't fix that. That's why I say he should leave.

I'm not convinced by this argument of Wenger being forced to operate on a shoestring budget. If that were the case and the same people also believe that it's impossible to compete with Chelsea and City, then how can so much blame be placed on the Board for not being able to compete with their bottomless pit of cash? Why argue for their removal? Who or what takes their place?

Why are you so thick? Whether wenger has been forced to operate on a shoe string budget or not, his level of performance has been more than acceptable to the people who pay his wages. If you want that to change at the club, then you have to accept there needs to be a change of ownership. Otherwise you might as well ask for the sky to be green or the sea to be red because fundamentally , that's the difference between us and the rich clubs..

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

[Cripps_orig]

More importantly,

Why the fuck havent we signed Dempsey yet?Hes waiting til after the Euros as well

[Power n Glory]

Why are you so thick? Whether wenger has been forced to operate on a shoe string budget or not, his level of performance has been more than acceptable to the people who pay his wages. If you want that to change at the club, then you have to accept there needs to be a change of ownership. Otherwise you might as well ask for the sky to be green or the sea to be red because fundamentally , that's the difference between us and the rich clubs..

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

:lol:

First of all, Wenger is not guaranteed to sign a new deal with us. This could be his last contract with us and that has to be taken into consideration soon enough. A job for life at Arsenal doesn't mean he has a job as the manager of Arsenal for life. He could be gone very soon and we need to accept that. Also, we don't know what's being said behind closed doors. Owners usually always back the manager in the public. They might not sack but they don't have to offer him a great new deal to stay on. But we'll soon find out.

As said before, I don't accept the need for a change in ownership because that sort of change is way more riskier than bringing in a new manager. This is why I question where you guys are going with this logic, I'm not the thick one here. On the one hand you criticise clubs like Man City and Chelsea for the money they spend and dodgy owners they have, yet you say we need new owners to see a change. Don't you see the problem with that?

[Kano]

I can't see any major improvements while Wenger is still in charge. His flaws run too deep and signings won't fix that. That's why I say he should leave.
well exactly. it's sad but true that we have finally reached this point but it had to come eventually. he needs a new challenge as much as we need refreshing as a club. we may take a hit and fall out of the top four which would be a problem but a big club goes nowhere by playing safety first all the time. however what we want as fans and what the directors want seem to be on separate pages which is the problem. on a pure footballing level, wenger is still a good manager of course but the repetition of our seasons clearly shows that he either is not ready to or capable of addressing and changing them.

so whilst changing to a new manager is a risk, that is what the game is supposed to be about. and anyway, the prediction every season from pretty much everyone is 4th place or lower, so that is hardly a guaranteed position of safety. instead of constantly bemoaning what may happen without wenger, more thought should be put into what positives may come from the situation.

[AKBapologist]

:lol:

First of all, Wenger is not guaranteed to sign a new deal with us. This could be his last contract with us and that has to be taken into consideration soon enough. A job for life at Arsenal doesn't mean he has a job as the manager of Arsenal for life. He could be gone very soon and we need to accept that. Also, we don't know what's being said behind closed doors. Owners usually always back the manager in the public. They might not sack but they don't have to offer him a great new deal to stay on. But we'll soon find out.

As said before, I don't accept the need for a change in ownership because that sort of change is way more riskier than bringing in a new manager. This is why I question where you guys are going with this logic, I'm not the thick one here. On the one hand you criticise clubs like Man City and Chelsea for the money they spend and dodgy owners they have, yet you say we need new owners to see a change. Don't you see the problem with that?

I'm saying that for you to greet your wish, you need leaders who have the same aspirations as you do. I'm more or less satisfied with where we are personally so stop projecting.

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

[Joker]

I'm saying that for you to greet your wish, you need leaders who have the same aspirations as you do. I'm more or less satisfied with where we are personally so stop projecting.

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

You're happy with the fact that we've gone 7 years without a trophy, and are seemingly unable to finish higher than 3rd in the league? Or the fact that the SAME problems that affected this side 5 years ago still affect us now? Football is not simply about the balance sheet, or making profits and running a "self sustainable" business model. It is also about glory, and we have to at least have aspirations to win trophies, rather than treat the cups as an afterthought.

[Japan Shaking All Over]

In terms of the title yeah, pretty much.

You can cut that out straight away

[Japan Shaking All Over]

anyone surprised like me that me didn't go for Kagawa? I thought we would knowing Wenger's love for Japanese football.

Yup! Surprised? Fucked off more like

[Japan Shaking All Over]

I'm just annoyed, as Ive come in from work and seen the thread jump up loads of pages - I thought we'd actually signed someone, then I find out its pages of endless shit and drivel about what wenger has/hasn't done.

Ffs.

:clap:

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Damn, I think the Llorente stuff might have been made up.

There we go, back on track.

Press conference at 7

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Decent player

Never heard of him

[Power n Glory]

I'm saying that for you to greet your wish, you need leaders who have the same aspirations as you do. I'm more or less satisfied with where we are personally so stop projecting.

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

You're one of the few then. If you're happy with the board and Wenger then cool.

The Board are looking at the bigger picture. It's not their job to scrutinise every result, who we're playing and how we won or lost our last game. That's not saying they don't aspire to us being the best club in the world. We have a long term strategy in place and that's always going to be their focus and will take priority. They don't do game by game analysis and they can't project that way either. Their looking at yearly growth and how to maximise revenue so we can compare with the super clubs.

Wenger on the other hand has a much shorter range to measure success with. It goes game by game. Season by season analysis. He shouldn't be satisfied with his performance as a manager. He probably isn't but what makes me really angry is the fact that he can't stop making the same errors and history keeps repeating itself. That's why I'm not happy with him as a manager because he seems incapable of sorting this problem out or just plain stubborn.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Press conference at 7

FL Week. :bow:

[Japan Shaking All Over]

FL Week. :bow:

You betta believe it baby

[Fist of Lehmann]

Yup! Surprised? Fucked off more likeYou are too much in the wanting zone.

[Munchies]

Jamie Sanderson ‏@YoungGunsBlog
Chu-Young disappeared after end of season and was only found recently. Not in a good place. He's asked Arsenal if he leave.

Jamie Sanderson ‏@YoungGunsBlog
Talk that UAE outfit Al Ain are after Arsenal's Park Chu-Young. He's been dropped from South Korea squad and recently went AWOL.

[Japan Shaking All Over]

You are too much in the wanting zone.

Shit thought you said something else. . . .wondered how the feck you knew

[McNamara That Ghost...]

It's funny how they think he only recently went AWOL.

I was watching the World Cup highlights programmes and on one of the ITV ones, Southgate said he'd buy Park Chu Young for £8 million. :lol: Did score a good freekick in the WC though I suppose.

[Munchies]

The goal he scored was really good but he didn't see much action after that, especially since we didn't progress further in the Carling Cup where he probably would have started.

Also:
Arsenal weigh up bid for £26m CSKA Moscow striker Doumbia

[Fist of Lehmann]

It's funny how they think he only recently went AWOL.

I was watching the World Cup highlights programmes and on one of the ITV ones, Southgate said he'd buy Park Chu Young for £8 million. :lol: Did score a good freekick in the WC though I suppose.

For £8 million I would take his arm off at the elbow. Not sure what Southgate wants him for though, he doesn't even have a club. Probably best not to ask such questions.


Jamie Sanderson ‏@YoungGunsBlog
Chu-Young disappeared after end of season and was only found recently. Not in a good place.

Was it Slough?

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Hiding in New Malden

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Caughtoffside (I know. . .) have a story that Theo was off to 'pool had Dalglish not got sacked

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Caughtoffside (I know. . .) have a story that Theo was off to 'pool had Dalglish not got sacked

Ah so that's why Liverpool did it.

Watched a video of that Konoplyanka we have been linked to. He really is the Ukrainian Messi. :bow:

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Hmm... Walcott or Kuyt....

Can we still take him?

[Syn]

Theo is a clown but he gets #decent numbers. I don't think the club are in any position to lose a player who is pretty much guaranteed double figures in both goals and assists. I think he will get 20 goals next season. Can't do much else but he can finish, there's no doubt about it.

[Munchies]

This site has spewed alot of bullshit over the years but this one is the biggest one ever.

Chelsea owner Abramovich willing to buy €250M Messi for Guardiola
http://tribalfootball.com/articles/chelsea-owner-abramovich-willing-buy-250m-messi-guardiola-3209961

[Kano]

This site has spewed alot of bullshit over the years but this one is the biggest one ever.

Chelsea owner Abramovich willing to buy €250M Messi for Guardiola
http://tribalfootball.com/articles/chelsea-owner-abramovich-willing-buy-250m-messi-guardiola-3209961

mansour or abram could make this all a lot easier and buy uefa

[Niall_Quinn]

mansour or abram could make this all a lot easier and buy uefa

I'd be surprised if they haven't done that already. We'll see won't we, when the excuses for financial fair play get sanctioned.

[Master Splinter]

Great ambition shown by Citeh to buy Pratini and Blatter.

Wenget gets out-swooped again :doh:.

[Kano]

hulk to chelsea for 38mill. he finally gets a move to england

[Syn]

Fucking ambition. Chelsea have way too much of it. You have to admire the extent of their ambitioness. I bet di matteo likes rosé and racist banter too. He certainly seems ambitionable for that level of ambition.

[Japan Shaking All Over]

hulk to chelsea for 38mill. he finally gets a move to england

OK then we take Sturridge?

[hobson's choice]

hulk to chelsea for 38mill. he finally gets a move to england

My God, he's not even worth 10

[hobson's choice]

Jamie Sanderson ‏@YoungGunsBlog
Chu-Young disappeared after end of season and was only found recently. Not in a good place. He's asked Arsenal if he leave.

Jamie Sanderson ‏@YoungGunsBlog
Talk that UAE outfit Al Ain are after Arsenal's Park Chu-Young. He's been dropped from South Korea squad and recently went AWOL.

All he had to do, was just get on that plane to Lille. What a fuck my life decision he made.

[Cripps_orig]

Mvila was injured playing for France today.

Might miss the Euros so we might not have to wait til July to get him

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Mvila was injured playing for France today.

Might miss the Euros so we might not have to wait til July to get him

At least his price wont go up. . .

[mastermind84]

OK then we take Sturridge?
we want to improve our team tho?

[Japan Shaking All Over]

we want to improve our team tho?

ai and I think Sturridge would! knows where the goal is and would be a good addition, concerns over attitude but I think he is miffed at the amount of time he plays.....

[mastermind84]

ai and I think Sturridge would! knows where the goal is and would be a good addition, concerns over attitude but I think he is miffed at the amount of time he plays.....
he isnt good enough. Selfish as hell and a bad decision maker.

Let him goto Villa or Liverpool or some team on that level.

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Anyway, just browsing and found this........not first time and argument that we said have tried for him first tie around......concerns, his knee and whether we need another winger - check out the spelling


Arsene Wenger could face competition from Tottenham and Newcastle, but can easily afford the reported fee of £6 million for Ibrahim Afellay. 26-year old Dutch international Afellay is being released by the Catalan club.

He is a creative midfield who can also play as a winger. In his first season with Barcelona, he made 29 appearances and seemed to be settling well into their style of play. However, last September, he suffered a terrible knee injury that required extensive surgery and was not seen in a Barcelona shirt again until the end of April.

New manager Tito Vilanova has decided that he will be allowed to move on to get the regular football he needs to regain his best form. Newcastle United are sid to be favourites to land him, but his friendship with Robin van Persie and a good Euro 2012 could make Arsenal think seriously about challenging the North-East club.

There was much talk about Robin Van Persie when he visited the Barcelona team hotel a few months ago, but it was subsequently revealed that he was photographed talking to Afellay. Could he have been setting up this particular deal for Arsenal? If so, then surely he intends to stay?


http://justarsenal.com/will-afellay-arrival-at-arsenal-persuade-van-persie-to-stay/14002

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Then there is this......should make MS happy!


Don’t Rule Out Lucas Biglia – By JG

I know some fans are practically slitting their wrists to see Arsenal sign Yann M’Vila but come on, he’s not the only player that would help strengthen the midfield. Yes, M’Vila is a great player we know this, but he is not the only option. One player who actually unintentionally mentioned that Arsenal and Real Madrid were keen on him was Lucas Biglia. He, unlike M’Vila, is not a rumour.

This is what he said : “It’s true that Real Madrid and Arsenal are interested in me…I can say that Real Madrid have contacted my agent Enzo Montepaono to ask about my situation but so far there have only been contacts and no formal offers have arrived.”

“About Arsenal, I can tell you the same as before. Only Arsenal and Real Madrid have contacted us and now we are waiting. I have a contract with Anderlecht until 2015 but the club know what I want. My intention is to leave…We have negotiated my buy-out clause and, if a club comes and pays the clause, Anderlecht will allow me to leave.”

Let’s compare the two players shall we?

Biglia – 26 year old Argentinian, Captain of Anderlecht, has played for them since 2006, has been a key player for them and has helped the team to win 6 trophies, nicknamed “el principito” (the principle? I think?), fantastic free-kick taker, hassles opponents, really good at reading opponents movements in order to make interceptions, great tackling, great passing, very agile, called up for Argentine national squad, and lets not forget…Real Madrid are interested in him, so he definitely has the skills. In my opinion, almost an exact replica of Arteta, except even more defensively minded and more enhanced tackling abilities. Since he is Argentinian, Biglia is not going to the Euros, which is a good thing because there will be no bearing on price or injury.

M’Vila – all the same attributes as Biglia except for: free-kick taking skills, agility, experience, and no nickname. M’Vila IS going to the Euros, so that has bearing on when Arsenal are allowed to sign him, and if he get’s injured.

In my opinion, Lucas Biglia is the smarter option, I have watched several matches (all the way through) of both players, international and club teams, and I think Biglia has more to offer. He is a fantastic player, and he want’s to play, so I doubt he will go to Real Madrid, they have enough people already.

As far as M’Vila is concerned, I don’t think Arsenal were really ever seriously considering him, it was all just hype created by the media, and they fooled a lot of people “hook, line, and sinker”. They even got some fans pretending to be “insiders”, acting like they sit-in while transfer negotiations are being held. What a laugh.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Biglia is officially announced as an Arsenal player before the Euros, but this is just speculation. M’Vila’s valuation has inflated into the realm of lunacy, so only the filthy money-bag clubs will go for him.

Anyway, below are a couple videos, one of Biglia, one of M’Vila, they are just teaser videos (not to be used to scout players) , I suggest watching some of their full matches. If M’Vila signs, fantastic. If Biglia signs, also fantastic. Let us know what you think.

http://justarsenal.com/biglia-is-a-better-option-than-mvila-for-arsenal-and-cheaper-plus-videos/14000

[GP]

hulk to chelsea for 38mill. he finally gets a move to england

38m?

Pounds?

Thirty Eight Million Pounds?

For real?

:lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

So that'd be at least £60 million on Hulk and Hazard oh and I forgot about Marin. :wacko:

[Marc Overmars]

Paid for in ambition.

What a currency. :bow:

[Letters]

Mvila was injured playing for France today.
Sounds like our kind of player
:dance:

:(

[McNamara That Ghost...]

He was injured after 47 seconds. :lol:

Just took him six minutes to admit defeat with the injury.

On Chelsea, "when it comes crashing down and it hurts inside..."

[Letters]

38m?

Pounds?

Thirty Eight Million Pounds?

For real?

:lol:Ambition :bow:

[Marc Overmars]

38m ambitions? How much is that in sterling?

[GP]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3i9VLrHcBVI&feature=youtu.be

Gordon gets it, tbh.

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

so hazard, mata, hulk, and what seems to be a returning torres all in one team. those who were hoping abramovich would lose interest after winning the champions league are certainly seeing the opposite happen. they could challenge for the premier league next season if they get a decent right back and get rid of the dross in their team. spurs seem to be investing cleverly too with several decent players being linked. lets hope we bloody invest or we'll be stuck behind in the dark ages and will have to scrap our way into the champions league again.

[Niall_Quinn]

so hazard, mata, hulk, and what seems to be a returning torres all in one team. those who were hoping abramovich would lose interest after winning the champions league are certainly seeing the opposite happen. they could challenge for the premier league next season if they get a decent right back and get rid of the dross in their team. spurs seem to be investing cleverly too with several decent players being linked. lets hope we bloody invest or we'll be stuck behind in the dark ages and will have to scrap our way into the champions league again.

Nah. No guarantee any of those players will make an impact. They could just as easily sulk off on a golf trip as settle down into a balanced team. Depends who the manager is going to be as well, if they leave it as it is now with Terry and Lampard at the helm then the team will probably opt to play. But if a new man comes in and makes the mistake of trying to run things then it could be AVB all over and another 6th place finish. Don't forget, Chelsea is a comedy team, not a real football team.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Nah. No guarantee any of those players will make an impact. They could just as easily sulk off on a golf trip as settle down into a balanced team. Depends who the manager is going to be as well, if they leave it as it is now with Terry and Lampard at the helm then the team will probably opt to play. But if a new man comes in and makes the mistake of trying to run things then it could be AVB all over and another 6th place finish. Don't forget, Chelsea is a comedy team, not a real football team.Trouble is if an AVB happens again, Roman may decide to wade in in the january window and start chuking about more ambitions to avoid a bad finish.

[Niall_Quinn]

Trouble is if an AVB happens again, Roman may decide to wade in in the january window and start chuking about more ambitions to avoid a bad finish.

Or some Russian hit man from a rival mafia gang could assassinate him. Think positive.

[Kano]

Nah. No guarantee any of those players will make an impact. They could just as easily sulk off on a golf trip as settle down into a balanced team. Depends who the manager is going to be as well, if they leave it as it is now with Terry and Lampard at the helm then the team will probably opt to play. But if a new man comes in and makes the mistake of trying to run things then it could be AVB all over and another 6th place finish. Don't forget, Chelsea is a comedy team, not a real football team.

more wishful thinking than anything else. the spine of their team stays the same, wingers are interchangeable as their job is very straight forward, so they will be good to go from the off next season. definitely better than last year and a top four team again most probably, so the wenger will really have his work cut out staying in the top four if podolski is the only man coming this summer, which he probably is.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Or some Russian hit man from a rival mafia gang could assassinate him. Think positive.Jeebus likes this :good:

[Niall_Quinn]

more wishful thinking than anything else. the spine of their team stays the same, wingers are interchangeable as their job is very straight forward, so they will be good to go from the off next season. definitely better than last year and a top four team again most probably, so the wenger will really have his work cut out staying in the top four if podolski is the only man coming this summer, which he probably is.

And yet Shevchenko was meant to move them to the next level and then Torres was meant to do the same. Still a team that can self destruct if anyone tries to disrupt their boring brand of anti-football. Something the Russian seems determined to do. So no guarantees for the chavs.

[Flavs]

so hazard, mata, hulk, and what seems to be a returning torres all in one team. those who were hoping abramovich would lose interest after winning the champions league are certainly seeing the opposite happen. they could challenge for the premier league next season if they get a decent right back and get rid of the dross in their team. spurs seem to be investing cleverly too with several decent players being linked. lets hope we bloody invest or we'll be stuck behind in the dark ages and will have to scrap our way into the champions league again.

Dont forget they are also signing Marko Marin as a long term replacement for Lumplard. Awesome player him.

[toothless gibbon]

Dont forget they are also signing Marko Marin as a long term replacement for Lumplard. Awesome player him.

Awesome winger, yes.

[Kano]

And yet Shevchenko was meant to move them to the next level and then Torres was meant to do the same. Still a team that can self destruct if anyone tries to disrupt their boring brand of anti-football. Something the Russian seems determined to do. So no guarantees for the chavs.

sure but they were changes to their spine, but with mata behind torres, ramieres and obi and terry, cahill, cech they are very balanced in that regard. the team will be set up for torres now, no drogba in the way, much like how shevchenko suffered. there are far more positives about their signings than not, if i was a blue

[Niall_Quinn]

Dont forget they are also signing Marko Marin as a long term replacement for Lumplard. Awesome player him.

Sounds like the chavs are quite serious about FFP then. Do they know something we don't?

[Niall_Quinn]

sure but they were changes to their spine, but with mata behind torres, ramieres and obi and terry, cahill, cech they are very balanced in that regard. the team will be set up for torres now, no drogba in the way, much like how shevchenko suffered. there are far more positives about their signings than not, if i was a blue

Provided we sign a couple of solid and experiences pros to cater for the fuck awful injury tradition we have at the club we should always be able to field a side to give them a game. Our task next year is to grab a few points from the top three while making damn sure we don't drop silly points to the clubs we should be beating. We'll be there or there abouts. Hopefully we've signed Dempsey by the time I finish typing this. no fucking excuse if we haven't.

[Flavs]

So they will be like this then

---------------cech----------------

Ivanovic---terry----Luiz----------Cole

---------------Essien--------------

--Marin---------------------Mata

------------Hazard------------

-----Torres --------Hulk--------

And that's not even including Malouda, Lampard etc

:blink:

[Letters]

Sounds like the chavs are quite serious about FFP then. Do they know something we don't?
They know they don't have to balance the books.

[Joker]

So they will be like this then

---------------cech----------------

Ivanovic---terry----Luiz----------Cole

---------------Essien--------------

--Marin---------------------Mata

------------Hazard------------

-----Torres --------Hulk--------

And that's not even including Malouda, Lampard etc

:blink:

That looks an extremely good team, they should be challenging for the title next season.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nah, Essien has lost his legs and Mata is rendered useless if he is pushed out wide. Plus, if any manager comes in and tries to make them push higher up the pitch, the AVB situation will come to the fore, again.

[Letters]

That looks an extremely good team, they should be challenging for the title next season.
Ambition :bow:

[Kano]

So they will be like this then

---------------cech----------------

Ivanovic---terry----Luiz----------Cole

---------------Essien--------------

--Marin---------------------Mata

------------Hazard------------

-----Torres --------Hulk--------

And that's not even including Malouda, Lampard etc

:blink:

It will be 4-2-3-1 that formation is far to open to rapeage.

ivan-cahill-terry-cole
ramieres-obi
Hulk-Mata-Hazard
Torres

[Flavs]

It will be 4-2-3-1 that formation is far to open to rapeage.

ivan-cahill-terry-cole
ramieres-obi
Hulk-Mata-Hazard
Torres

Oh well if Obi is in it then its no bother

[Niall_Quinn]

That looks an extremely good team, they should be challenging for the title next season.

------------------- £7mill -----------------------

£9mill---Racist ****-------£26mill-----£5mill+Gallas

-------------------£24.5mill----------------------

---£6.5mill--------------------------£23.5mill-----

------------------£35mill-------------------------

------------£50mill-----------£38mill--------------


Bench: £20mill, £12mill, £7mill, £18mill, £4mill, £16mill, £13.5mill, £16mill

Net spend since 2000, HALF A BILLION (excluding wages)

Nothing at all impressive about this lot except the amount of cash spunked. Any fool could win trophies this way.

[selassie]

Only on an Arsenal Forum would you have pages about Chelsea's summer transfers and future line up.

[Joker]

Only on an Arsenal Forum would you have pages about Chelsea's summer transfers and future line up.

Signing players to improve on last season's showing isn't ambition apparently.

[selassie]

Signing players to improve on last season's showing isn't ambition apparently.

I think we're just going to have to ride with it, we all know how Wenger...errrr I mean the Board operates. Our rivals will spend, we won't, we'll finish 3rd/4th and call it a success.

Happy Days

[GP]

Only on an Arsenal Forum would you have pages about Chelsea's summer transfers and future line up.

You'd probably get it on a Chelsea forum too.