Winter Transfer Speculation and Shit.

[Master Splinter]

Draxler is definitely coming home in the summer.

Unless Chelsea quintuple his wages during his flight over.

[Niall_Quinn]

Draxler is definitely coming home in the summer.

Unless Chelsea quintuple his wages during his flight over.

So you think the chavs will lowball the wage offer?

[Niall_Quinn]

Isn't Costa a compete and utter spitting, diving, moaning, bitchy turd of a human being rather in the character mould of Pepe? Or is that a different Costa? Do we want a player like that? Assuming yes - sign him up Arsene!

[Özil's Panoramic View]

Tbf, every team needs a complete and utter spitting, diving, moaning, bitchy turd of a human being rather in the character mould of Pepe.

[Niall_Quinn]

Signing Costa would pretty much rule out Cesc coming back I suppose. Unless we wanted two complete and utter spitting, diving, moaning, bitchy turds of a human being rather in the character mould of Pepe in the squad.

[I am invisible]

Latest stories suggest Costa's and Martinez's release clauses can't be activated until the summer - if true I guess we can forget about both of them for now...

[Master Splinter]

Pepe is just mental, isn't he?

Suarez and Costa seem to be the type who'll do everything to win a game. Can't go wrong with a top quality cunt bastard in your team. Too many and you're Chelsea or United. One to complement our talented and hard-working nice boys would be good.

Although Wilshere has the potential to be a complete and utter spitting, diving, moaning, bitchy turd of a human being rather in the character mould of Rooney. Hopefully with his immunity powers too.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

If Wenger can get the next best thing for under 25 million, then great, but he does have to focus on signing a top forward now. We have our token, young, injury prone, high potential pretender in Sanogo...

I expect a man of Wenger's talents to be on the ball now with the next forward. We let Negredo go under our noses for what seems a measly sum in today's market. Negredo was basically scouting child's play. Technically gifted, goal sharp, 6'1 Spanish international with a bit of beef to spare who has been around for some time. Everyone waslicking their lips over Llorente at a point whilst money bags were lining up a steal in Negredo.

The manager knows about every forward with any kind of ability in world football above the age of 12........so I will absolutely do my nut if the next one through the door doesn't have some serious ability.

[BOBN]

I expect a man of Wenger's talents to be on the ball now with the next forward. We let Negredo go under our noses for what seems a measly sum in today's market. Negredo was basically scouting child's play. Technically gifted, goal sharp, 6'1 Spanish international with a bit of beef to spare who has been around for some time. Everyone waslicking their lips over Llorente at a point whilst money bags were lining up a steal in Negredo.

The manager knows about every forward with any kind of ability in world football above the age of 12........so I will absolutely do my nut if the next one through the door doesn't have some serious ability.
It was clear after a fortnight he'd bollocked it with Negredo, but I expect nothing less from man desperately obssessed with Ligue 1. Its like Fergies obssession with Scots causing him to get Moyes the job. We should tell Wenger he can habe whoever he wants apart from Ligue 1 players.

[Munchies]

On that note, what's happened to Jovetic by the way ? They spend £23m on him and I haven't even seen him play a single game :lol:

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

On that note, what's happened to Jovetic by the way ? Haven't even seen him play a single game :lol:
From what I've read he's had a lot of niggly injuries. And he's the type of player who only feels comfortable at 100%, so a broken toenail and he'll get a letter from mum.

[Munchies]

From what I've read he's had a lot of niggly injuries. And he's the type of player who only feels comfortable at 100%, so a broken toenail and he'll get a letter from mum.

:haha: He looked a decent player, so hopefully he's injured for a longer period then, would've been a good signing for us .



Also, Rosicky is staying for another year !

https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/421579389403287552

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

It was clear after a fortnight he'd bollocked it with Negredo, but I expect nothing less from man desperately obssessed with Ligue 1. Its like Fergies obssession with Scots causing him to get Moyes the job. We should tell Wenger he can habe whoever he wants apart from Ligue 1 players.

He spent the summer chasing a Spaniard and then a crazy Uruguayan to be fair.....

Amazingly though, he clearly would have known about Negredo and not really considered him, which is a little bit of a concern considering just how good he has been.

I remember last season one of the guys on the Arsenal tuesday club podcast said Wenger needed to get a forward. He then stated that forward should be Alvaro Negredo. They asked him about his reasoning on this. He simply replied something along the lines of 'he's the top scorer in Spain beside the usual suspects in Messi, Cronaldo... and plays for Sevilla'.

His reasoning was simplistic and straight forward and he had probably never even seen him play, yet he was spot on! :doh: I'm aware that Soldado was also up there in the scoring charts, but I defy anyone to tell me on a direct comparison between the two players under close scrutiny, that they would have picked Soldado over Negredo?

Did we really pass this guy up....really!? REALLY!?? I'm going to give myself a stomach ulcer working myself up about wasting time on Suarez's 'camp' when we could have got this fella for a third of the price. :thumbsdown:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

He's very good but there will be other strikers.

Defoe off to Toronto. :lol:

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I think I'm particularly whiny about it because the apparent lack of options these days and the exceptional price tag they got him at.

Del Boy trying to hijack it....

[Niall_Quinn]

Negredo, Soldado, don't need either. We already have Giroud, he may not be as lethal (or non-lethal) up top but roll the dice and take your pick, stick Negredo in the spuds team and Soldado in the gypos and all we'd be hearing about is Soldado. Don't need either unless we want a direct replacement and I bet you we'll be hearing, "whatever happened to Negredo", in no time at all. That's because he's playing at a circus, not a football club. And circus performers always have their time in the spotlight but things will change there with the next mercenary uprising. Who we really need is Henry Mk II - who is he? Where do we find him? Pace, technical ability, flair, etc, etc. Our plan B, or even plan A.

[BOBN]

He spent the summer chasing a Spaniard and then a crazy Uruguayan to be fair.....

Amazingly though, he clearly would have known about Negredo and not really considered him, which is a little bit of a concern considering just how good he has been.

I remember last season one of the guys on the Arsenal tuesday club podcast said Wenger needed to get a forward. He then stated that forward should be Alvaro Negredo. They asked him about his reasoning on this. He simply replied something along the lines of 'he's the top scorer in Spain beside the usual suspects in Messi, Cronaldo... and plays for Sevilla'.

His reasoning was simplistic and straight forward and he had probably never even seen him play, yet he was spot on! :doh: I'm aware that Soldado was also up there in the scoring charts, but I defy anyone to tell me on a direct comparison between the two players under close scrutiny, that they would have picked Soldado over Negredo?

Did we really pass this guy up....really!? REALLY!?? I'm going to give myself a stomach ulcer working myself up about wasting time on Suarez's 'camp' when we could have got this fella for a third of the price. :thumbsdown:
I'm right with you. I was making similar posts a couple months ago.

As for the head-to-head with Soldado, that was an actual thing during the summer. I remember Spain-based pundits sitting on the fence re who was the better.

This proves how overrated "technical ability" is though. Apparently Soldado is better because hes pretty on the ball. He must be the Wilshere of forwards
http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/topic/82189-nergedo-vs-soldado/

[Ralpheroo72]

No Diaby this season either.

[Niall_Quinn]

No Diaby this season either.

Who he?

[Özim]

Negredo, Soldado, don't need either. We already have Giroud, he may not be as lethal (or non-lethal) up top but roll the dice and take your pick, stick Negredo in the spuds team and Soldado in the gypos and all we'd be hearing about is Soldado. Don't need either unless we want a direct replacement and I bet you we'll be hearing, "whatever happened to Negredo", in no time at all. That's because he's playing at a circus, not a football club. And circus performers always have their time in the spotlight but things will change there with the next mercenary uprising. Who we really need is Henry Mk II - who is he? Where do we find him? Pace, technical ability, flair, etc, etc. Our plan B, or even plan A.

Sorry but that's utter nonsense, he scored plenty of goals for Sevilla before and that wasn't a circus as you call it. He's not Henry but then if we wanted someone like him we should have snapped up Aguero when the opportunity was there, doesn't change the fact Negredo is quality though, he's good got technique, scored goals and is dangerous in and around the box, Giroud is not at the same level.

[JonasTC]

Sorry but that's utter nonsense, he scored plenty of goals for Sevilla before and that wasn't a circus as you call it. He's not Henry but then if we wanted someone like him we should have snapped up Aguero when the opportunity was there, doesn't change the fact Negredo is quality though, he's good got technique, scored goals and is dangerous in and around the box, Giroud is not at the same level.

Ahhh... He's only had one good season and that was last season. He only scored 2 goals in 13 european games before joining City.

[Letters]

Ahhh... He's only had one good season and that was last season. He only scored 2 goals in 13 european games before joining City.
Dunno anything about him but just looked his stats up and while you're correct, overall he's got a 1 in 2 records which is pretty good.

[Niall_Quinn]

Sorry but that's utter nonsense, he scored plenty of goals for Sevilla before and that wasn't a circus as you call it. He's not Henry but then if we wanted someone like him we should have snapped up Aguero when the opportunity was there, doesn't change the fact Negredo is quality though, he's good got technique, scored goals and is dangerous in and around the box, Giroud is not at the same level.

So what? Giroud offers as much as Negredo overall - in practical terms. Maybe a bit less up top but more in other areas of the pitch. My point is Negredo wouldn't improve us significantly. Sure, it would be nice to have a replacement if Giroud gets injured, or play Negredo and stick Giroud on the bench or whatever, but we could also do with a different type of striker that opens up our options when we play certain types of opponents. More pace and the technique to go with it, preferably. No point lamenting the fact we didn't get Negredo, even if we had we'd still only have the one striker of that type as I assume we wouldn't have bought Giroud. A few months back it was Giroud, Giroud, Giroud in the media. Now it's Negredo, Negredo, Negredo. It'll spin around again and then again and so on, it's what the media does.

[Özim]

Ahhh... He's only had one good season and that was last season. He only scored 2 goals in 13 european games before joining City.

186 goals in 402 games, that's a pretty good record over an extended period of time, he also had two seasons where he scored lots for Sevilla, a side who haven't been that great in recent years.

[Özim]

So what? Giroud offers as much as Negredo overall - in practical terms. Maybe a bit less up top but more in other areas of the pitch. My point is Negredo wouldn't improve us significantly. Sure, it would be nice to have a replacement if Giroud gets injured, or play Negredo and stick Giroud on the bench or whatever, but we could also do with a different type of striker that opens up our options when we play certain types of opponents. More pace and the technique to go with it, preferably. No point lamenting the fact we didn't get Negredo, even if we had we'd still only have the one striker of that type as I assume we wouldn't have bought Giroud. A few months back it was Giroud, Giroud, Giroud in the media. Now it's Negredo, Negredo, Negredo. It'll spin around again and then again and so on, it's what the media does.

He offers one thing which is the most important thing a forward can offer, goals. This alone makes him a better option than Giroud, he also cost 14.6 million which is pocket change these days and thus low risk.

Now sure we can now go out and spend 32 million on Costa, a player less proven than Negredo in reality but that's a lot of money and a big risk. It would be great to sign a player like Henry who scores, goals has pace, technique etc, but these players aren't readily available and when they are cost an absolute bomb and thus you're risking a lot of money on a player.

[Niall_Quinn]

He's got 8 goals, same as Giroud.

[Özim]

He's got 8 goals, same as Giroud.

He's scored 18 in all, 7 more than Giroud, despite this being his 1st season in this league. Giroud got 17 all season in his 1st season.

[Letters]

Think Zim's winning this one tbh.

[Niall_Quinn]

He's scored 18 in all, 7 more than Giroud, despite this being his 1st season in this league. Giroud got 17 all season in his 1st season.

You're counting goals against Ecuador, Belarus, Georgia and so on? Or three against a side that capitulated after two minutes in the Disney Cup? If we're just using blanket stats then Toure is just as good a striker as the pair of them, only trouble being he's not a striker.

[Niall_Quinn]

Think Zim's winning this one tbh.

Well no. Giroud is winning this one because he's striker for the team at the top of the league. That may change of course, but right now how much more impact could Negredo have had in our shirt? You could say he might have turned the tide against Utd and changed that result, for example. Pure speculation. But he could also have put in a shit performance against one of the lesser sides we beat and the gypos lost to.

Plus there's the fact the refs are blatantly cheating for city at home, that will have a bearing on everything.

[Özim]

You're counting goals against Ecuador, Belarus, Georgia and so on? Or three against a side that capitulated after two minutes in the Disney Cup? If we're just using blanket stats then Toure is just as good a striker as the pair of them, only trouble being he's not a striker.

I'm counting all the goals scored in England which is what counts, you can't pick and choose.

[Özim]

Well no. Giroud is winning this one because he's striker for the team at the top of the league. That may change of course, but right now how much more impact could Negredo have had in our shirt? You could say he might have turned the tide against Utd and changed that result, for example. Pure speculation. But he could also have put in a shit performance against one of the lesser sides we beat and the gypos lost to.

Plus there's the fact the refs are blatantly cheating for city at home, that will have a bearing on everything.

Right that's all down to Giroud I suppose :rolleyes:

Negredo scored the goal to give them the lead against us btw at 1-1

Giroud has been poor in recent games, he had a good spell but I have to say he's offered very little recently and we've looked toothless up front when he's played.

[Letters]

Well no. Giroud is winning this one because he's striker for the team at the top of the league. That may change of course, but right now how much more impact could Negredo have had in our shirt? You could say he might have turned the tide against Utd and changed that result, for example. Pure speculation. But he could also have put in a shit performance against one of the lesser sides we beat and the gypos lost to.

Plus there's the fact the refs are blatantly cheating for city at home, that will have a bearing on everything.
Giroud had a good start to the season but since the Southampton game he's only got one league goal

http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/olivier-giroud/leistungsdaten/spieler_82442.html#GB1

I rate him but he's not at the level of a striker who will lead the line in a title winning side. I don't know enough about Negrado to know whether he'd be a huge improvement but we need better if we're serious about pushing on.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Negredo, Soldado, don't need either. We already have Giroud, he may not be as lethal (or non-lethal) up top but roll the dice and take your pick, stick Negredo in the spuds team and Soldado in the gypos and all we'd be hearing about is Soldado. Don't need either unless we want a direct replacement and I bet you we'll be hearing, "whatever happened to Negredo", in no time at all. That's because he's playing at a circus, not a football club. And circus performers always have their time in the spotlight but things will change there with the next mercenary uprising. Who we really need is Henry Mk II - who is he? Where do we find him? Pace, technical ability, flair, etc, etc. Our plan B, or even plan A.
Even if I were to accept the idea Giroud is at Negredo's level, we only have one Giroud. Only one player consistently capable of playing in his position. Some try to argue that Bendtner is of the same ilk but most peoples issue with the Dane is nothing to do with him being too similar to Giroud. There is enough room in a squad for 2 players that are similar.

In Negredo falls off the radar it will be because he understandably is competing with world class forwards and not the likes of Nicklas Bendtner for a first team place. There is no shame in that even if it is a circus act of a club.

I don't see the need to bring Negredo's goals into it (although it is quite respectable) but just watching him play a few times, seeing how he handles himself against defenders and the goals he makes for himself is quite telling. I remember earlier this season I watched City against Everton. Negredo completely mugged off Distin(I think it was) in one touch of the ball on the edge of the area and in the second touch the ball was in the net. Soldado would have never scored that goal....not in a million years and certainly not against a defence like Everton's on the edge of the area. As much as I like Giroud and am happy we have him, he wouldn't have scored that either.

They are only comparable in nationality and goal tallies from last season in my view. He has looked easily the equal of anyone at City (though Aguero is better) and if we had him, I'd have no doubt we would be about 5 points ahead rather than 1 right now.

You would have to go back some considerable time to recall a forward as good for the price he came at.....but time will tell for sure if he is a dud, which I most certainly believe he is not.


I'm right with you. I was making similar posts a couple months ago.

As for the head-to-head with Soldado, that was an actual thing during the summer. I remember Spain-based pundits sitting on the fence re who was the better.

This proves how overrated "technical ability" is though. Apparently Soldado is better because hes pretty on the ball. He must be the Wilshere of forwards
http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/topic/82189-nergedo-vs-soldado/

I suspect the Spanish pundits were making the comparison without the consideration of who would do better in the premier league. Had they done so I don't think they'd had been quite so splintered by the fence they were perched upon.

[Dr Singh]

I fully agree. Negredo was an unbelievable miss. I'd never heard of him before despite his impressive record, and just looking at him you can tell he was tailor made for the EPL. He's an animal.

The argument isn't how much better is he than Giroud. The argument is how much better our squad would be with Negredo in it. I'd go as far to say if we were given Negredo now, we'd be clear favorites for the league. People are skeptical about our chances because the whole world knows that any injury/loss of form to Giroud is catastrophic to our chances.

Our need for a striker is so obvious. You can't say options don't exist when you have players like Negredo and Higuain moving clubs over the summer.

By the same token, you can't say options don't exist when you have Martinez (32m release clause), Benteke (Probably 20-25m), or even Berbatov (2m).

I must admit I do find it absolutely hilarious that we could (apparently) just get Giovinco on loan and Berbatov for 2m. This would emphatically complete our squad and help us maintain our title challenge. Not having options AT LEAST as good as that by the end of January is tantamount to mismanagement for me. Of course this is assuming that Giovinco is indeed available for loan.

[Power n Glory]

We'll find out one way the other if we have enough to win the title. I don't think Giroud is enough but we've held out long enough till the transfer window opened. I believe a major signing is more fuel to the fire to inspire this squad.

[Master Splinter]

Gonçalo Lopes ‏@_GoncaloLopes (https://twitter.com/_GoncaloLopes)


15m€ offer from Arsenal to buy Antoine Griezmann. Morata just a second option.


Real Sociedad asks 30m€ for Antoine Griezmann

:popcorn:

Hope this happens.

[Marc Overmars]

Hey Maccy, how good is Griezmann?

[Penguin]

Tbf to Wenger, he wasn't the only manager to miss out on Negredo. I don't even think his name was mentioned in the transfer speculation thread on here until City had already signed him. In hindsight it was clearly a mistake to let him go, especially for that price, but he wasn't exactly in high demand.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Pretty good. Slightly questionable attitude - was recently banned after going for a late night session before matchday but otherwise has had a great 18 months. Scored some beauties this season, has a very strong strike and with no little skill.

In short: sign him up!

[The Emirates Gallactico]

With regards to Negredo, I've heard of him for quite a few years now as his name has always been linked in the transfer rumours to various top clubs, sort of like a Phillipe Mexes but I'd always assumed due to the fact that no one (not just us) had gone in for him for years meant that it was just the usual false media hype and hot air surrounding any player who goes on a scoring streak.

Clearly a big mistake though and when you look at the current going rate for top top quality strikers (50 million +) and our recent difficulty in procuring one it just makes it all the more painful. A real diamond hidden in plain sight who was available at a fair rate for so many years - I would question the scouting but then again it wasn't just us who failed in this regard. Oh well, not much point lamenting on it too much ...... nothing we can do now ..... .he's going to be at City for the foreseeable future and bang in 20 goals + every season :(. Just need to make sure we don't slip up like that again.


Googled Griezmann .... seems a bit meh. One for the future I guess.

[Niall_Quinn]

Isn't he a winger? Do we need another one?

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Wiki says he can play up front as well.

[Bergkampwonderland10]

Isn't he a winger? Do we need another one?
Do we have any wingers? Ox just coming back…will need a bit of time…Gnabry 17 can't play every game…anyone else? Di Maria a good shout if he's out of favour…Draxler looks like he might become an excellent number 10 but can play on the wing and what a team player at 19…rarely seen anything like him - excellent finisher too. I say Wenger 'go for it' this window…seriously the prices won't be much different…just a bit more tricky convincing the players/clubs to leave mid-way through season…but at least if we do business now, they might also find replacements.

[Munchies]

Griezmann seems to like Giroud :lol:

http://instagram.com/p/iHInjEhsMo/

http://instagram.com/p/iHH-v3hsL_/

[Niall_Quinn]

Is Sanogo still injured? Or is he a backup for Park?

[milla]

Hey Maccy, how good is Griezmann?

No go for me. If we are going to buy wide attacker or CAM, best to get Draxler or Reus or both of them. :good:

[Munchies]

Pretty good. Slightly questionable attitude - was recently banned after going for a late night session before matchday but otherwise has had a great 18 months. Scored some beauties this season, has a very strong strike and with no little skill.

In short: sign him up!

Make it happen Wenger !

I've never seen him play tbf

[Power n Glory]

With regards to Negredo, I've heard of him for quite a few years now as his name has always been linked in the transfer rumours to various top clubs, sort of like a Phillipe Mexes but I'd always assumed due to the fact that no one (not just us) had gone in for him for years meant that it was just the usual false media hype and hot air surrounding any player who goes on a scoring streak.

Clearly a big mistake though and when you look at the current going rate for top top quality strikers (50 million +) and our recent difficulty in procuring one it just makes it all the more painful. A real diamond hidden in plain sight who was available at a fair rate for so many years - I would question the scouting but then again it wasn't just us who failed in this regard. Oh well, not much point lamenting on it too much ...... nothing we can do now ..... .he's going to be at City for the foreseeable future and bang in 20 goals + every season :(. Just need to make sure we don't slip up like that again.


Googled Griezmann .... seems a bit meh. One for the future I guess.

Who else needed a first team striker this summer besides us? City bought him out of greed, Utd are sorted in that department too, Chelsea are in the hunt now because their summer signing were flops! Real, Barca, Bayern....all well stocked...Juve bought Tevez, Cavani went to PSG, Falcao Monaco.....

Most other clubs have bought a top quality striker and we're the only ones that are lacking.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I would agree. Our need to buy a top forward was far greater than most other top clubs. Clearly that was the clubs feeling too having made 2 huge bids for forwards, yet we ended up on deadline day hoping Mourinho was in charitable mood. Shock horror,he didn't fancy doing us any favours, even to the behest of his own players. It was disappointing to say the least.

[Özim]

Gonçalo Lopes ‏@_GoncaloLopes (https://twitter.com/_GoncaloLopes)





:popcorn:

Hope this happens.

Great news, let's play our trump card and offer them €15,000,001.

[Zak]

I think we can get Griezzman for £18-20m.

He would be a good replacement for Walcott and gives us a different option compared to Cazorla/Podolski.

If he does come then I think that would rule out a move for Draxler in the summer.

Who would you guys want considering Draxler has something like £30-£35m release clause?

[milla]

I think we can get Griezzman for £18-20m.

He would be a good replacement for Walcott and gives us a different option compared to Cazorla/Podolski.

If he does come then I think that would rule out a move for Draxler in the summer.

Who would you guys want considering Draxler has something like £30-£35m release clause?

Draxler has higher ceiling IMO. Not to mention, he will sell a lot of t-shirts in german speaking regions.. ka-ching!! :coffee:

[Niall_Quinn]

We'll have to operate under the radar to some degree as the comedy clubs might well hijack our plans. It's entirely possible our next signing will be somebody nobody has ever heard of or has any interest in. Or the deal will be last minute. The rest could just be smokescreens. I don't think anyone believed Ozil would be let go, we did the deal at the last moment. Still not sure how we did it but I think if negotiations had started when the window opened he'd probably be playing (or on the bench) in mancland and chavland.

[Penguin]

It was a strange one because nobody actually thought Ozil would be available. Even his team mates thought it was a joke until he left. Real Madrid didn't want to advertise it because they wanted to keep the fans on their side until they bought Bale, so Spurs actually did us a favour by holding off the transfer until the 11th hour. :lol:

[I am invisible]

I think we can get Griezzman for £18-20m.

He would be a good replacement for Walcott and gives us a different option compared to Cazorla/Podolski.

If he does come then I think that would rule out a move for Draxler in the summer.

Who would you guys want considering Draxler has something like £30-£35m release clause?
Draxler for me, if he's available - he's already playing at a high level in a top league as it is, but with a little bit of beefing up, I think he could be a monster of a player!

[KSE Comedy Club]

Draxler is irrelevant to this window. He's on his way in the summer regardless of what we do now.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

On his way to whom?

I know absolutely nothing of Griezzmann. Hadn't even heard of him before reading about him here, so naturally I'd go with Draxler.

[JonasTC]

Dno about Greizmann, he seems to be having a great season in Spain, not that good in the CHL. He's turning 23 soon and he still havent played a game for France, he was banned the entire 2013 tho'. We have Ox and Gnabry who i think is kinda similiar in skills and have an even higher potential.

[KSE Comedy Club]

On his way to whom?

I know absolutely nothing of Griezzmann. Hadn't even heard of him before reading about him here, so naturally I'd go with Draxler.
Well to us obviously.

Wengers been grooming him for a while now ;)

[Bergkampwonderland10]

Can we get Draxler to sign a pre-contract agreement if we meet his release clause and then get him in the summer if they won't sell now. Are Schalke still in CL? How are they doing in bundesliga? He would be an amazing January signing…along with a CB and Striker. I guarantee someone will gazump us if we don't move on him soon.

[Ralpheroo72]

From Skysports

22:34
Arsene Wenger insists it is 'nearly impossible' to strengthen his Arsenal team this month. Arsenal have been linked with the likes of Real Madrid youngster Alvaro Morata and Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa.


A club like ours to find players who strengthen our team in January, it is nearly impossible, honestly. It is not even about the money. It is just about the potential.

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

Is Sanogo still injured? Or is he a backup for Park?

Which leg? The right one is still injured yes. The left one was last seen in Taiwan.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

If it's nearly impossible and we hate it so much, why don't we absolutely make sure we use the summer window to get all the players we need.

We had an entire summer to sign a forward.

[Grebbo]

Draxler supposedly had a tour of our training ground last week.


Jan Aage Fjortoft ‏@JanAageFjortoft 5 Jan
Arsenal still favourite to get Draxler (Clause: summers-45 mill euro)
- Impressed by Arsenal training ground
- German players #afc crucial

and this was tweeted just now:


Jan Aage Fjortoft ‏@JanAageFjortoft 18m
Trying to get some new Draxler-information confirmed. As you know rumours I don't like to tweet...

[Grebbo]

Jan Aage Fjortoft reportedly was the first to report the Ozil deal and is a former player so is considered less of a bullshitter than everyone else on twitter.

:popcorn:

[GP]

Swindon Town legend :bow:

[The Emirates Gallactico]

According some rag online Draxler's had a tour of our training ground and was left impressed by it. :unsure:

http://www.fanatix.com/news/arsenal-transfer-news-german-wonderkid-tours-gunners-training-ground/174610/


Draxler supposedly had a tour of our training ground last week.



and this was tweeted just now:

About a week late. :lol:


But yeah the sauce is meant to be quite reliable. Rosicky is reaching the end of his career and Santi is going to reach his 30's this year so I wouldn't be too surprised if Wenger has Draxler lined up for the summer.

Still nothing about a striker though. :(

[KSE Comedy Club]

You forget, it is impossible to strengthen our squad in this window.
There are literally, no players that we could get. None at all, that would help us.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

40 odd mill for Draxler. I'll believe that when I see it. He is not in Ozil's class yet and a lot around here only believe we paid that because he was pressured into it.

[GP]

Wenger won't be pressured into signings.

Especially not at that sort of price. Silly suggestion.

[Özim]

40 odd mill for Draxler. I'll believe that when I see it. He is not in Ozil's class yet and a lot around here only believe we paid that because he was pressured into it.

Yes there's definitely something in that, when Wenger bought Ozil the club were under all sorts of pressure from the fans and time was running out, we wanted Ozil no doubt but we probably paid more than we would have due to the pressure.

[Niall_Quinn]

Why do we have to turn the transfer coup of the season into something else?

[GP]

Why do we have to turn the transfer coup of the season into something else?

You know why.

[Penguin]

Still nothing about a striker though. :(

Bendtner and Sanogo are back in about three weeks. Like new signings :bow:

[Master Splinter]

100% dive.

[Özim]

100% dive.

:goodpost:

[Niall_Quinn]

100% dive.

That's your house that is.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Anyway, subtext aside, the point I was making is that I am sceptical about Wenger spending that amount on a kid / relatively unproven talent, which Draxler would be. Why are so many convinced we will sign him for that amount?

Ozil was a great age and proven at every level. Moreover Wenger had been trying to sign him for years.

[GP]

Because we can.

[Özim]

I think Draxler is extremely unlikely given our current resources in midfield. I subscribe to the view that we're not going to be making any more megabucks signings now and that last summer was a one-off which came about due to circumstances.

I'd love us to sign a striker in January but it seems pretty unlikely given what we're hearing, I agree that if it's impossible to sign anyone now we should have made sure we signed a striker in a summer.

[milla]

Anyway, subtext aside, the point I was making is that I am sceptical about Wenger spending that amount on a kid / relatively unproven talent, which Draxler would be. Why are so many convinced we will sign him for that amount?

Ozil was a great age and proven at every level. Moreover Wenger had been trying to sign him for years.

I am convinced we will sign Draxler but not for that amount. Draxler is proven IMO, just as much as Hazard when he left Lille 2 years ago. :coffee:

[milla]

I think Draxler is extremely unlikely given our current resources in midfield. I subscribe to the view that we're not going to be making any more megabucks signings now and that last summer was a one-off which came about due to circumstances.


With aging Cazorla and Rozza, it is only natural we start looking for their replacement now. Plus I don't want Jack or Ramsey anywhere near that wide forward/midfield position ever again. :coffee:

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Rosicky is seldom considered an option in the wide positions these days and we have Gnabry and Chamberlain who need to play somewhere when they get game time.

I'd be interested to see if anyone would be willing to put money on our 40 million bid for Draxler happening this summer......

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Anyway, subtext aside, the point I was making is that I am sceptical about Wenger spending that amount on a kid / relatively unproven talent, which Draxler would be. Why are so many convinced we will sign him for that amount?

Ozil was a great age and proven at every level. Moreover Wenger had been trying to sign him for years.

I think it's also true that Wenger has wanted Draxler for years too. If that kind of figure is what it takes to get him and he is who Wenger wants (assuming he does actually stay) I have no problems with it. Better now than when he might be completely unattainable.

Stockpiling talent is the way to go, apparently.

[JonasTC]

I can only see us buying Draxler, if Wenger has a plan of turning him into a striker. He does remind me of a young Henry playing on the wings, before he got moved into the striker role at Arsenal. We have more than enough talent covering our 3 offensive midfield positions for the next 10 years.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I've already had too much brandies tonight before hitting the blues bar....but I would be happy to be wrong. I wasn't aware Draxler was/is a long term target but it's not that surprising if Wenger knows all the ins and outs of the player. The manager's knowledge of talent is impressive to say the least.

Should he spend so much on a young talent I would get pretty excited about the kid considering. I actually think that Wenger should have been ploughing the German market a little sooner than he has been so rock on.

[JonasTC]

Just to go back to the transfer rumours. Paul-Georges Ntep from Auxerre has been rumoured to join us, yesterday he put up a picture on instagram of him flying to London.

https://scontent-a-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/1526676_593520767390259_1690114671_n.png

[GP]

Draxler is one for the summer, not now.

[fakeyank]

We should sign berba for a season and half. That will cover us in short term and we can think of a world class striker in the summer. Will Wenger do that? Hell fucking no!

Sent from my LG-D800 using Tapatalk

[Özim]

Just to go back to the transfer rumours. Paul-Georges Ntep from Auxerre has been rumoured to join us, yesterday he put up a picture on instagram of him flying to London.

https://scontent-a-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/1526676_593520767390259_1690114671_n.png

Let me tell you he is lying, this is a Eurostar ticket not a plane ticket.

I hope he's on his way to another London club or just on holiday as he's 21 and plays in Ligue 2 and his goal record isn't anything to ride home about.

[Xhaka Can’t]

Just to go back to the transfer rumours. Paul-Georges Ntep from Auxerre has been rumoured to join us, yesterday he put up a picture on instagram of him flying to London.

https://scontent-a-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/1526676_593520767390259_1690114671_n.png

Ryanair have really upped their game.

[JonasTC]

Let me tell you he is lying, this is a Eurostar ticket not a plane ticket.

I hope he's on his way to another London club or just on holiday as he's 21 and plays in Ligue 2 and his goal record isn't anything to ride home about.

It wasnt Ntep saying he was flying, he just put the picture up on his instagram and i saw it on a danish Arsenal forum, i just copied the user from the forums text :) Didnt notice it was a train ticket, but it doesnt change that he was on his way to London yesterday :)

He's a winger, who has a record of 6 goals and 2 assists in 7 games for the u21 french team. Probably just a cheap back-up now that Walcott is out for 6 months, he seems talented enough to try out for 2mil. I would think Wenger knows more about french football than any of us in here combined.

[GP]

It wasnt Ntep saying he was flying, he just put the picture up on his instagram and i saw it on a danish Arsenal forum, i just copied the user from the forums text :) Didnt notice it was a train ticket, but it doesnt change that he was on his way to London yesterday :)

He's a winger, who has a record of 6 goals and 2 assists in 7 games for the u21 french team. Probably just a cheap back-up now that Walcott is out for 6 months, he seems talented enough to try out for 2mil. I would think Wenger knows more about french football than any of us in here combined.

No, Tim nice but Zimm knows everything and has never been wrong.

[Özim]

It wasnt Ntep saying he was flying, he just put the picture up on his instagram and i saw it on a danish Arsenal forum, i just copied the user from the forums text :) Didnt notice it was a train ticket, but it doesnt change that he was on his way to London yesterday :)

He's a winger, who has a record of 6 goals and 2 assists in 7 games for the u21 french team. Probably just a cheap back-up now that Walcott is out for 6 months, he seems talented enough to try out for 2mil. I would think Wenger knows more about french football than any of us in here combined.

According to what I've read he's a forward (doesn't seem to say winger anywhere), which suggests if we signed him he'd be our striker. I don't have a problem signing him as a backup or a squad player, but I wouldn't be very pleased if he turned out to be our forward that we desperately need as he's clearly a project and isn't a goalscorer, at this stage of his career anyway.

He plays in Ligue 2 as well, so it's a massive step up.

Oh don't think much of his diet either :lol:

[JonasTC]

According to what I've read he's a forward (doesn't seem to say winger anywhere), which suggests if we signed him he'd be our striker. I don't have a problem signing him as a backup or a squad player, but I wouldn't be very pleased if he turned out to be our forward that we desperately need as he's clearly a project and isn't a goalscorer, at this stage of his career anyway.

He plays in Ligue 2 as well, so it's a massive step up.

Stop reading wiki pages on him ;) He can play all of the front roles, but mainly used as a left wing as an inside forward (youtube scouting confirms this). He has pace, strong, good dribble and a good shot, reminds me of Loic Remy.

[JonasTC]

Btw if you want a proper source to find information on players, use transfermarkt.co.uk instead :)

[Grebbo]

We should sign berba for a season and half. That will cover us in short term and we can think of a world class striker in the summer. Will Wenger do that? Hell fucking no!

Sent from my LG-D800 using Tapatalk

:gp:

I want us to sign him just to annoy the Spuds

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Chelsea have bid £20 million to re-sign Matic from Benfica, according to SSN.

I mean, seriously, what planet are they on?

[JonasTC]

If true, i will no longer believe in FFP is actually going to change anything, other than its a corrupt system designed to put money in UEFA's fat pockets. I mean, Chelsea just came out of 2013 with a huge financial loss and then they go on and spend this kind of money? :s

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

Just to go back to the transfer rumours. Paul-Georges Ntep from Auxerre has been rumoured to join us, yesterday he put up a picture on instagram of him flying to London.

https://scontent-a-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/1526676_593520767390259_1690114671_n.png

What a shite plate of food :lol:

Fucking hate dishes like that. He probably paid £50 for that and he got 7 pieces of pasta :haha:

[JonasTC]

For a young african comming out of a french ghetto, its probably the finest food he have ever seen :D He put this up 2 weeks ago:

http://distilleryimage7.ak.instagram.com/8d4beadc732011e385670e5a37ffd473_8.jpg

:haha:

[JonasTC]

Back to rumours again. Galatasary is apperently offering Sagna a contract and since footballers down there only pay like 10% taxes, we cant really match that :s

In the same rumours it is said that we're scouting Sime Vrsaljko (right back, croatia)... I only know him from Football Manager, were he used to be a big talent :D

[Niall_Quinn]

If true, i will no longer believe in FFP is actually going to change anything, other than its a corrupt system designed to put money in UEFA's fat pockets.

This implies you currently believe something else.

Seriously?

[Niall_Quinn]

Back to rumours again. Galatasary is apperently offering Sagna a contract and since footballers down there only pay like 10% taxes, we cant really match that :s

In the same rumours it is said that we're scouting Sime Vrsaljko (right back, croatia)... I only know him from Football Manager, were he used to be a big talent :D

And if he signs for them he'll also be able to claim benefits in the UK - hard to match that sort of offer.

[AKBapologist]

Could Draxler be converted to a CF? Would he want to be? Seems to have all the ingredience to become a good one if he wanted to be.

[JonasTC]

He prefers to play through the middle, as a #10 though, but i dont think he would mind being moved 10 meters forward and do "less" defensive work.

[Xhaka Can’t]

If true, i will no longer believe in FFP is actually going to change anything, other than its a corrupt system designed to put money in UEFA's fat pockets. I mean, Chelsea just came out of 2013 with a huge financial loss and then they go on and spend this kind of money? :s

FFP can only work within a body that has an effective system of control. Governance within football is non existent at every level of the game.

[PGFC]

Just to go back to the transfer rumours. Paul-Georges Ntep from Auxerre has been rumoured to join us, yesterday he put up a picture on instagram of him flying to London.

https://scontent-a-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/1526676_593520767390259_1690114671_n.png


What a shite plate of food :lol:

Fucking hate dishes like that. He probably paid £50 for that and he got 7 pieces of pasta :haha:

Did he pay to fly and end up on a train too?

[AFC Leveller]

No more cheap French-African kids please.

Lavezzi at PSG would be a decent shout. He's bench warming these days and stil youngish 28-29 i think so worth a punt IMO.

[AFC Leveller]

.Arsenal striker Yaya Sanogo welcomed Dimitar Berbatov to the club on Facebook and then deleted the post, even though he had racked up hundreds of likes.

Several footballers, unable to decide what is appropriate and what is inappropriate to post on their social media pages, employ people to do it for them. You can generally tell when they have not tweeted or posted something themselves, because the grammar is sound and/or there is a product to plug.

Injured Gunners striker Sanogo reacted to Thursday's transfer rumour that Fulham's Berbatov could join the club for £2 million with the word "Welcome" and a video of the Bulgarian.

[AFC Leveller]

And yes i do realise im late.

[BOBN]

For a young african comming out of a french ghetto, its probably the finest food he have ever seen :D He put this up 2 weeks ago:

http://distilleryimage7.ak.instagram.com/8d4beadc732011e385670e5a37ffd473_8.jpg

:haha:
Wait, weve got a Dane talking about cuisine? Whatever next :haha:

Headline pic from the "Danish Cuisine" wiki page
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3e/Flickr_-_cyclonebill_-_Frikadeller_med_ristet_rugbrød_og_cornichons.jpg

:haha:

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I am convinced we will sign Draxler but not for that amount. Draxler is proven IMO, just as much as Hazard when he left Lille 2 years ago. :coffee:

I don't think Hazard was proven before he came to Chelsea, he had done little to that point and not performed in a top league. Having said that, he was one of the top talents in Europe and may well have ended up at Real had Chelsea not moved, but his price tag wasn't set as high as 40 million.

I wanted us to sign Hazard rather than Gervinho and we know how that turned out. Hazard has been really good this season.

[BOBN]

I don't think Hazard was proven before he came to Chelsea, he had done little to that point and not performed in a top league. Having said that, he was one of the top talents in Europe and may well have ended up at Real had Chelsea not moved, but his price tag wasn't set as high as 40 million.

I wanted us to sign Hazard rather than Gervinho and we know how that turned out. Hazard has been really good this season.
But according to the shyt-stirring press, "Mata is the most talented player at Chelsea". Bloody comedians.

[BOBN]

No more cheap French-African kids please.

Lavezzi at PSG would be a decent shout. He's bench warming these days and stil youngish 28-29 i think so worth a punt IMO.
Why would we need another player of this ilk? Stop it.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

We've finally made a signing :trophy:


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2538555/Dutch-class-Arsenal-Anouk-Hoogendijk-completes-switch-Emirates.html


Complete hotty ##

[LDG]

Holy shit.

She fine.

[GP]

wut wut in the butt

[I am invisible]

Wait, weve got a Dane talking about cuisine? Whatever next :haha:

Headline pic from the "Danish Cuisine" wiki page
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3e/Flickr_-_cyclonebill_-_Frikadeller_med_ristet_rugbrød_og_cornichons.jpg

:haha:
To be fair to the Danes, the world's best restaurant is Danish (or was until very recently)...

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bacon. :bow:

[Gooner23]

Pastries. :bow:

[GP]

Bendtner. :bow:

[BOBN]

To be fair to the Danes, the world's best restaurant is Danish (or was until very recently)...
Get real

http://www.danish-institute.com/Images/Smorrebrod-hi.jpg

Looks like a jumble sale :haha:

[Xhaka Can’t]

Their dogs are great.

[fakeyank]

The bitches aren't bad either ##

Sent from my LG-D800 using Tapatalk

[JonasTC]

Me :bow:

[KSE Comedy Club]

We've finally made a signing :trophy:


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2538555/Dutch-class-Arsenal-Anouk-Hoogendijk-completes-switch-Emirates.html


Complete hotty ##
lol, her neck is as wide as her head!

[Penguin]

But not as wide as you! :penguin:

[KSE Comedy Club]

But not as wide as you! :penguin::blink:

[IBK]

lol, her neck is as wide as her head!

Good observation. Wouldn't have noticed otherwise.

[IBK]

At the risk of ridicule, ATM I would bet my house on Wenger making no major signing this January. he will risk it, and he will be found out.

[KSE Comedy Club]

At the risk of ridicule, ATM I would bet my house on Wenger making no major signing this January. he will risk it, and he will be found out.

It's looking like it.

Which is very worrying, we can all see the team needs a bit of a boost.

[LDG]

All depends on whether he can get someone tied up on the last day of the window.

He won't be out to pay a premium mid-month.

Expect a few bids on 31st Jan, or whenever the fuck the window closes.

[Master Splinter]

Yeah, most of our recent signings have been opportunistic it seems. Cazorla and Monreal from cash-strapped Malaga. Ozil at the death after Real had brought in Isco/Bale and needed to recoup some cash.

Hope Liverpool go bankrupt on the 30th. :pray:

So we can buy Cissokho on the cheap.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

SSN say Hull have signed Jelavic and have also agreed a fee to sign Shane Long. Not great news for Danny Graham really.

[milla]

Spurs is selling Holtby back to Schalke. It is up to Wenger to Commence project Draxler now. :d

[GP]

Chain of events:

1) Timmeh wants to stamp his mark and start tearing down AVB's work
2) Timmeh has a hard-on for Carroll
3) Timmeh sells Holtby to Schalke
4) Schalke have a replacement for Draxler
5) Arsenal buy Draxler

It will be Bale-Ozil all over again, just because Timmeh is being vindictive.

From glory glory :lol:

[milla]

From glory glory :lol:

http://www.nairaland.com/attachments/1229396_wenger_jpg895ccefe702ac640b283609810781737

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Catpoo might be off as well :lol:

If only Everton could implode with such regularity and drama as Spurs.

[Niall_Quinn]

Catpoo might be off as well :lol:

If only Everton could implode with such regularity and drama as Spurs.

Everton are probably the most resilient team in the league. Years under Moyes and they are still here. Sorry, but I don't think they'll be crumbling any time soon.

[JonasTC]

http://www.statsbomb.com/2014/01/midseason-transfer-shopping-arsenal/

Here's a pretty good report on Draxler, Greizmann and a few others we've been linked with :)

[Özim]

Everton are probably the most resilient team in the league. Years under Moyes and they are still here. Sorry, but I don't think they'll be crumbling any time soon.

What does that even mean though, resilient in what sense, they never get top 4 and won't this season either in all likelyness. Thought they were very overrated under Moyes, Martinez is doing a decent job though.

[milla]

http://www.statsbomb.com/2014/01/midseason-transfer-shopping-arsenal/

Here's a pretty good report on Draxler, Greizmann and a few others we've been linked with :)

Draxler it is then :coffee:

[Niall_Quinn]

What does that even mean though, resilient in what sense, they never get top 4 and won't this season either in all likelyness. Thought they were very overrated under Moyes, Martinez is doing a decent job though.

Resilient:
Able to become strong, healthy, or successful again after something bad happens like being managed by David Moyes.
Able to return to an original shape after being pulled, stretched, pressed, bent, or penetrated up the anus repeatedly by David Moyes.

[-Xs-]

It's looking like it.

Which is very worrying, we can all see the team needs a bit of a boost.

Given that 4th place should be more than attainable this year with the current squad, based on the first half of the season, we won't be buying anyone. We only buy mid season if that position looks under threat.
Shame really. Another striker could take the burden off Giroud a bit and help cement top spot. However, apparently there is currently no one in the entire world who could improve our squad.

[Niall_Quinn]

Nobody in this window (by nobody I mean somebody like Sanogo).

[Niall_Quinn]

What a waste of wages Park and Sanogo have been of course.

[-Xs-]

What a waste of wages Park and Sanogo have been of course.

You mad bro. Prime examples of "Top Top quality" they are.

[Özim]

Resilient:
Able to become strong, healthy, or successful again after something bad happens like being managed by David Moyes.
Able to return to an original shape after being pulled, stretched, pressed, bent, or penetrated up the anus repeatedly by David Moyes.

How are they successful, they've won jack sh*t in years.

Martinez has been here half a season and they're not in the top 4 at the moment and most likely won't be at the end of the season, Moyes got them into the top 4, they were still sh*t though and not successful

[Özim]

Given that 4th place should be more than attainable this year with the current squad, based on the first half of the season, we won't be buying anyone. We only buy mid season if that position looks under threat.
Shame really. Another striker could take the burden off Giroud a bit and help cement top spot. However, apparently there is currently no one in the entire world who could improve our squad.

It's logical to sign a striker to give us some options, I can see Wenger signing noone though, he's been known to be stubborn and not do the logical thing when required.

[JonasTC]

We're being linked with Sebastian Giovinco, according to his agent we have asked about his situation in Juventus. I dont see it happening, why he would go from not really playing at Juventus, to not really playing at Arsenal.

[AKBapologist]

Could Draxler be converted to a CF? Would he want to be? Seems to have all the ingredience to become a good one if he wanted to be.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/arsenal-transfer-news-julian-draxler-3022668
:whistle:

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Yeah I thought it was a strange link too. I can't see why we would want the smallest player in Serie A, good player though he may be, who wouldn't get in ahead of several midfielders we have and would be the most unideal forward you could possibly name.

[fakeyank]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/10569935/Arsenal-at-odds-with-Bacary-Sagna-over-new-contract-at-the-Emirates-Stadium.html

It'd be a bloody fucking shame if we are not able to agree terms with one of the best and most consistent player for Arsenal in the last 5-6 seasons. Give him the additional 10-20K or an extra year. We need his experience and Jenkinson can only get better learning from someone like Sagna. I do not understand the shit that goes on at Arsenal sometimes...

[AKBapologist]

Could Draxler be converted to a CF? Would he want to be? Seems to have all the ingredience to become a good one if he wanted to be.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/arsenal-transfer-news-julian-draxler-3022668
:whistle:
Now he's out until march with a ruptured tendon...
:doh:

[GP]

No he isn't.

[milla]

Now he's out until march with a ruptured tendon...
:doh:

He is injured and due back in Feb. That shouldn't stop us from signing him though. He would be perfect for our CF role IMO, perfect RVP's replacement IMO.

[Dein-machine]

The Germans can get him fit for Feb, if our medical team get their hands on him he'll miss the World Cup.

[milla]

The Germans can get him fit for Feb, if our medical team get their hands on him he'll miss the World Cup.

That's not a bad thing for us, keep him under the radar plus a good summer rest. It is not like he will play in Brazil anyway.

[AKBapologist]

That's not a bad thing for us, keep him under the radar plus a good summer rest. It is not like he will play in Brazil anyway.

That's a good point.

Sign him up now before the world cup and his envietable blinder and subsequent wage demand hike, regardless of injuries.

[Özim]

We should make all our signings before the World Cup, if we don't you'll be hearing that the players are now overpriced after the World Cup from Wenger.

If we want Draxler we should sign him now when others aren't chasing him.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Agreed. Spend all the money. :bow:

[I_Killed_Kenny]

Over the last couple of days I have seen the odd report saying that Draxler's clause doesn't actually come into affect until the summer. I cant remember where I read it but it was more than 1 place. Anyone know for sure about this clause? now or summer etc?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Summer I believe but of course, other clubs can match it too so I wouldn't like for us to rely on it. Again.

[I_Killed_Kenny]

so if the clause is not in effect right now then all our talk about paying the clause is BS really. Basically we have to bid for him now and if we don't meet their clause we have to wait til summer. my worry is we wont win a bidding battle

[Özim]

If you believe what you read then

"Even though it only kicks in once the season is over, general manager Horst Heldt conceded that a bid of that amount this month would be impossible to turn down."

[I_Killed_Kenny]

still doesn't make the situation better in my eyes. if theres a clause now, we can activate it and discuss with player. if its summer and we can bid then we will probably end up bidding 20m or something and then get gazumped. Wont hold my breathe on this one me finks

[Heisenberg]

I kinda feel we should just snap up Berbatov. He's not going to cost that much so, yeah even if he's not a long term option, he is an option. He does play football well (when he can be bothered) and he has played in the PL for years so wouldn't need time to adjust. We would do well to just get him and then look if we want/need anyone else.

[Özim]

Basically it's all speculation but if the above is to be believed 35 million or so and Schalke will sell. If we bid 20 million then they won't of course and will just wait until the summer (most likely after the World Cup) when other clubs will probably rival us.

This is the best time to try and get him, if we try in the summer it'll be a lottery and we could be outbid, or he may choose another club (for example Real or Barca or Bayern if they show interest).

You should strike when the iron's hot so to speak, waiting around and watching seldomly works in your favour.

[I_Killed_Kenny]

agreed zim. at this mo there doesn't seem to be many other clubs linked with him. slap the cash down Arsene!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Matic having his medical ahead of moving back to Chelsea for £21 million. :wacko:

[Marc Overmars]

Gave him away for nothing and buy him back for 21m.

Wonderful business sense.

[I_Killed_Kenny]

most expensive loan deal ever! lol

[Özim]

most expensive loan deal ever! lol

Think that might be Cesc to be fair!

[I_Killed_Kenny]

Think that might be Cesc to be fair!

ah yes, I forgot about that one!

still, we made the money, Chelsea are splashing out so: Chelsea :pal:

[Munchies]

They did make a decent profit on De Bruyne (bought him for around £6m, sold for £16m) but yeah, not surprised.

He's a CDM ? Guess that means Luiz will be shipped out soon, as he doesn't play in defence now, would be funny if that happens.

[AKBapologist]

Mata off?

[milla]

Over the last couple of days I have seen the odd report saying that Draxler's clause doesn't actually come into affect until the summer. I cant remember where I read it but it was more than 1 place. Anyone know for sure about this clause? now or summer etc?

Give me a few minutes, I'll call his agent. :coffee:

[I_Killed_Kenny]

Give me a few minutes, I'll call his agent. :coffee:

too late, i spoke to Zim

[Munchies]

Ryo Myaichi will be allowed to leave on a permanent transfer.

:rose:

Wish him the best, but I've never been impressed with him playing.

[Niall_Quinn]

How are they successful, they've won jack sh*t in years.

Martinez has been here half a season and they're not in the top 4 at the moment and most likely won't be at the end of the season, Moyes got them into the top 4, they were still sh*t though and not successful

Fuck, and I thought I took life too seriously.

[milla]

Ryo Myaichi will be allowed to leave on a permanent transfer.

:rose:

Wish him the best, but I've never been impressed with him playing.

Interesting, any link to the quote? :coffee:

[Power n Glory]

I see no links but I wouldn't be surprised. He's had long enough to develop, gone out on loan but can't see him getting his shot here at Arsenal unless there is a drastic improvement. We still have Wellington Silva and Joel Campbell to come back and I don't see them amounting to too much either. The whole signing kids and going out on loan thing hasn't really worked.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

We should make all our signings before the World Cup, if we don't you'll be hearing that the players are now overpriced after the World Cup from Wenger.

If we want Draxler we should sign him now when others aren't chasing him.

I think the consideration of the world cup this summer is far too readily understated or even ignored in regards to possible transfers. Wenger is likely to sign any player after the world cup finishes in the summer. Any player who has a decent world cup is going to have their price tag inflated by a factor.

If Draxler is capable of being the new RvP which seems to be the present in vogue idea, we may have little chance of actually signing him in the summer. It is not all the important to consider if clubs need him either, because there are several clubs in world football these days who would sign a player for a huge fee, even without necessarily needing him.

And we will definitely hear about how overpriced players are following the world cup and more than likely from our manager. Unless we buck the trend and buy early..... or even buy super early and buy now. Well one might argue it is super late.

[selassie]

We should make all our signings before the World Cup, if we don't you'll be hearing that the players are now overpriced after the World Cup from Wenger.

If we want Draxler we should sign him now when others aren't chasing him.

Yep, agreed. Draxler will be very pricey but he's an elite young talent.

I have read various things about release clauses but I reckon we could get him for around 25-30mill, Schalke do seem to be making it known that he is kind of available.

I get the impression Arsene will convert him into a Centre Forward if we do get him, he'll be his next "BIG" project.

Despite all that, Draxler IMHO has all the right tools to develop into a world class player, out wide or as a centre forward.

The talent coming out of Germany at the moment is ridiculous.

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

If we have an agreement with Schalke for £35m in the summer but their manager has admitted they can't turn down an offer like that now then it would be stupid not to just bid for him now.

We're in the title race now FFS. Not in 6 months time.

[PGFC]

Looks like there's going to be a fire sale at Southampton, cheeky bids for Lallana & Lambert?

[LDG]

Looks like there's going to be a fire sale at Southampton, cheeky bids for Lallana & Lambert

Shut up.

That right back of theirs is pretty useful though (Luke Shaw). And David Ward-Prowse is a pretty #decent player.

[PGFC]

Shut up.

David Ward-Prowse is pretty.

Puff.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Shut up.

That right back of theirs is pretty useful though (Luke Shaw). And David Ward-Prowse is a pretty #decent player.

:lol:

Is that deliberate?

[LDG]

On another note. Didn't David Ward-Prowse play Darth Vader? :unsure:

:whistle:

[LDG]

Damn. CIB's got there first.

:lol:

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Damn. CIB's got there first.

:lol:

The left back, Luke Shaw, is pretty good though. I think I've read he's a Chelsea fan though so is being earmarked to replace Cole.

James Ward-Prowse looks decent enough.

They're starting to crap out players with some regularity.

[Marc Overmars]

Shaw is a left back isn't he? He's a really good prospect though. I reckon he'll go to Chelsea or City for a shit load.

[LDG]

He's a left back?

Fuck. I really fucked that post right up :haha:

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

As usual :coffee:

[Letters]

The left back, Luke Shaw.
Isn't David Ward-Prowse his father?

[Letters]

He's a left back?

Fuck. I really fucked that post right up :haha:

You should end all your posts like that.

[LDG]

:lol:

[LDG]

I really need to start drinking again.

[fakeyank]

I kinda feel we should just snap up Berbatov. He's not going to cost that much so, yeah even if he's not a long term option, he is an option. He does play football well (when he can be bothered) and he has played in the PL for years so wouldn't need time to adjust. We would do well to just get him and then look if we want/need anyone else.

:gp:

Best post on here tbh. Let's just buy a proven PL player and get on with business for this season. Use the time from now till May to find which players we are going to be serious about... when I say serious, I mean, pay their actual worth and not fuck around with stupid derogatory bids!

[Dein-machine]

Berbatov would be OK if he was aware that he was a squad player. At Fulham he has a contract that states he MUST play in every game if he is fit. Yes, he's lazy but his decision making & finishing is not in question. If we were to also sign Drexler, it may make a Berbatov signing even more of an advantage. His ability to play in attacking midfielders in & around the box is far better than Girouds.

[milla]

Anelka > Berbatov IMO. :coffee:

[Niall_Quinn]

Berbatov would be a disaster - a lazy, negative, underachiever is the last thing we need in a squad that has seen improvement in application and attitude across the board. Fergie couldn't get this guy to play so what's to say we can? I think Gnabry is an option and already better than a lot of the lesser names that are being thrown about, like Berbatov. I believe Wenger will think the same way and won't sign anyone this window and I'm not 100% against that. If Draxler comes in it won't be to fire this title challenge anyway, that's a buy for next season. Doubt we'll even get him now, what with all the fuss that already surrounds him. If we're buying him we need to do it right now. I'm happy with Giroud up top and our current options in reserve, not ideal but who else is realistically out there that wouldn't be a short term option? Nobody (not even us) expected us to be competing this year. I'm not saying we should throw it, but let's see what happens with the team that has already brought us success over 21 games. Just because the media says we'll collapse doesn't make it so. The lads have done enough already to warrant a bit of faith.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Berbatov is a proven prem player. In that respect he is a sure thing, except for the part that he hasn't actually been proving much of anything this season. Whilst class is permanent, that is a worry and all players get to a stage where they start to lose it. I would still prefer him to nobody (which isn't saying a lot) but I don't really think we will come out on top by aiming to sneak or marginally stay ahead of our opponents.

Don't merely beat your opponent, crush him.....some wise goat once said. Kick him to the ground and push his face into the dirt. That is the mentality that will see us best a few teams who will probably improve on their first half to the season.

If we are simply happy with the improvement we have made and didn't totally expect and it's fine to finish top 4 and win nothing then we can just do nothing in this window.

Despite the dud Reyes turned out to be, nobody laments signing him in January for what was a considerable fee and potential record for the club on the basis that we probably would have won the league without him anyway. Reyes was a talented but young, lightweight Spanish player with still a lot to prove in a new league in an era when Spaniards weren't in vogue, who actually helped our title push. It is not beyond the realms of critical thought that a timely foreign signing or even a prem player (though less so) would have a similar effect. Who knows....he may even be of use beyond half a season.

In my humble opinion, realistic title ambitions or not, we needed to sign a forward last summer (and clearly it was a notion shared by the club who went after Suarez, Higuain and Ba in one window which in itself is unusual) and we didn't. Regardless of how we now feel about the team, we still need a top class forward. I'd have to go back a long while to name a time when we had worse centre forward options than now and it would not be easy to name a current top team in world football with worse options, yet the league in which we are trying to win has arguably never been more competitive.

If we don't win the league and when we are getting taunted for how many years it's been since we won a trophy by Neanderthals from oil rich clubs, I don't want the idea that making a decent signing in January with an amount of money we've never had more than, knocking around in my mind.

[Power n Glory]

Berbatov is a proven prem player. In that respect he is a sure thing, except for the part that he hasn't actually been proving much of anything this season. Whilst class is permanent, that is a worry and all players get to a stage where they start to lose it. I would still prefer him to nobody (which isn't saying a lot) but I don't really think we will come out on top by aiming to sneak or marginally stay ahead of our opponents.

Don't merely beat your opponent, crush him.....some wise goat once said. Kick him to the ground and push his face into the dirt. That is the mentality that will see us best a few teams who will probably improve on their first half to the season.

If we are simply happy with the improvement we have made and didn't totally expect and it's fine to finish top 4 and win nothing then we can just do nothing in this window.

Despite the dud Reyes turned out to be, nobody laments signing him in January for what was a considerable fee and potential record for the club on the basis that we probably would have won the league without him anyway. Reyes was a talented but young, lightweight Spanish player with still a lot to prove in a new league in an era when Spaniards weren't in vogue, who actually helped our title push. It is not beyond the realms of critical thought that a timely foreign signing or even a prem player (though less so) would have a similar effect. Who knows....he may even be of use beyond half a season.

In my humble opinion, realistic title ambitions or not, we needed to sign a forward last summer (and clearly it was a notion shared by the club who went after Suarez, Higuain and Ba in one window which in itself is unusual) and we didn't. Regardless of how we now feel about the team, we still need a top class forward. I'd have to go back a long while to name a time when we had worse centre forward options than now and it would not be easy to name a current top team in world football with worse options, yet the league in which we are trying to win has arguably never been more competitive.

If we don't win the league and when we are getting taunted for how many years it's been since we won a trophy by Neanderthals from oil rich clubs, I don't want the idea that making a decent signing in January with an amount of money we've never had more than, knocking around in my mind.

Yep, this season I want the club to do what's needed to win the league. The players have that mentality and are giving it their all. I don't want to look back on this window as a missed opportunity. If we sign a really good player it's a psychological boost to the rest of the squad.

[Marc Overmars]

We shouldn't go out and buy for the sake of it but I can't accept simply not doing anything, given we're in our strongest position for years. As mentioned above we chased after a few strikers in the summer so it's obviously an area Wenger thinks we can improve on.

I would have Berbatov here no problem, on the assumption he'd accept a squad role. Get him in on an 18 month deal and we at least have a viable alternative to Giroud going forward. Will it take us to the title? No idea but it will be fun finding out.

[Niall_Quinn]

Assuming we're after Draxler for some £40mill and wages then I suppose it's safe to assume we won't be spending another £30mill this window. The outlay, if any, will be considerably lower. In light of that, and making a further assumption we don't want a temporary passenger like Berbatov but rather somebody who can serve for a few seasons, who would that be? Nobody is coming up with any realistic options. Costa for £30mill then Drexler in the summer, that's not happening. Who's out there in the £5-10mill range that is any better than Giroud or Podolski or Ox or Gnabry?

[Power n Glory]

Would you have guessed Ozil was available for sale in the summer? It's going to be a stretch for anyone on here to name realistic targets that haven't already been linked with a move. I'm just hoping our scouts are doing their homework and we make a real effort to sign a good player.

When we want to make things happen in the window, we make it happen.

[JonasTC]

Draxler will be comming in the summer. They just signed Sidney Sam (he joins July 1st i think) and if they're getting Holtby aswell, i think its pretty obvious that Draxler will be leaving in the summer.

[milla]

Assuming we're after Draxler for some £40mill and wages then I suppose it's safe to assume we won't be spending another £30mill this window. The outlay, if any, will be considerably lower. In light of that, and making a further assumption we don't want a temporary passenger like Berbatov but rather somebody who can serve for a few seasons, who would that be? Nobody is coming up with any realistic options. Costa for £30mill then Drexler in the summer, that's not happening. Who's out there in the £5-10mill range that is any better than Giroud or Podolski or Ox or Gnabry?

Draxler would never cost £40mill, his release clause would be closer to £30mill IMO.

Somehow I am not buying Wenger spending £30mill for goal poacher like Costa, just my gut feeling.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I fear too we won't actually do anything this window.....

[Niall_Quinn]

Draxler would never cost £40mill, his release clause would be closer to £30mill IMO.

Somehow I am not buying Wenger spending £30mill for goal poacher like Costa, just my gut feeling.

£37mill is the clause, according to the media. So we know it won't be that then. Maybe it will be £30mill.

[Özim]

£37mill is the clause, according to the media. So we know it won't be that then. Maybe it will be £30mill.

£30,000,001 I hear.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

17 goals in 18 games for Negredo apparently. If only....

[Özim]

I think that puts to bed the argument that Giroud is as good as him.

[LDG]

Yet we're still above his team.

I know he's good, but sometimes it's like looking at your mate's missus and thinking you'd like a piece, when in fact you she wouldn't be a great deal better after a couple of pumps than that nagging bitch at home.

[LDG]

I should say, I don't think Giroud is the better player.

We just play differently.

[Özim]

There's other factors in that, Negredo certainly isn't one of them.

Fact is he's in his 1st season and has outscored Giroud (Giroud already scored less in his 1st season). I don't think Giroud is that talented, he's done well this season but he's certainly got his limitations, Negredo is just a better finisher and pound for pound a better player.

That's not belittling Giroud, like I said he's making the most of his talent, I still have the opinion that Giroud should be more of a squad player than a regular 1st teamer for us.

[GP]

Hindsight :bow:

[Power n Glory]

Yet we're still above his team.

I know he's good, but sometimes it's like looking at your mate's missus and thinking you'd like a piece, when in fact you she wouldn't be a great deal better after a couple of pumps than that nagging bitch at home.

:lol: You're a scumbag!

[milla]

I know he's good, but sometimes it's like looking at your mate's missus and thinking you'd like a piece, when in fact you she wouldn't be a great deal better after a couple of pumps than that nagging bitch at home.

You definitely want a piece of the action bro, I can feel your pain.

[Ollie the Optimist]

I think that puts to bed the argument that Giroud is as good as him.

Giroud has probably had the bigger impact this season though. out of Negrado's 21 goals, 17 have come at home. we know how good city are home yet their big problems have been away from home this season hence why they are behind us so in a sense given Giroud has been superb for us and helping us stay at the top pretty much every week since september its possible to argue he has the bigger impact so far.


Negrado has been very very good this season, would have been nice to sign him ourselves using hindsight but Giroud has been more influential so far this season, just need to add in quality this window

[Özim]

Giroud has probably had the bigger impact this season though. out of Negrado's 21 goals, 17 have come at home. we know how good city are home yet their big problems have been away from home this season hence why they are behind us so in a sense given Giroud has been superb for us and helping us stay at the top pretty much every week since september its possible to argue he has the bigger impact so far.


Negrado has been very very good this season, would have been nice to sign him ourselves using hindsight but Giroud has been more influential so far this season, just need to add in quality this window

It's funny you say Giroud is the one that's been helping keep us top since September because he's been pretty poor since November in reality. He was pretty good before that I grant you, but I think his contribution has tailed off a lot since November, hence the call for a striker by many people.

As for Negredo's goals, since Aguero has been out Negredo has been crucial for them with his goals. He did take a bit of time to settle (as expected when a player moves country) but now he's scored 17 goals in 18 games.

My observation in that in recent months we've lacked a threat up front at times when Giroud has played, he hasn't offered much of a threat in front of goal.

[Ollie the Optimist]

It's funny you say Giroud is the one that's been helping keep us top since September because he's been pretty poor since November in reality. He was pretty good before that I grant you, but I think his contribution has tailed off a lot since November, hence the call for a striker by many people.

As for Negredo's goals, since Aguero has been out Negredo has been crucial for them with his goals. He did take a bit of time to settle (as expected when a player moves country) but now he's scored 17 goals in 18 games.

My observation in that in recent months we've lacked a threat up front at times when Giroud has played, he hasn't offered much of a threat in front of goal.

in terms of goals yes his performances tailed off but his hold up play and bullying defenders etc has been superb most games and gives us a great target man and been key in our performances and allowing the others to score. ok yes he is a striker and therefore should be scoring goals but he brings in the others so well that he almost makes up for it.

we are all wanting a new striker but not to replace Giroud but to help him. given he was the sole striker for most of the season he has done brilliantly, he needs help though and hopefully we get the striker we need in this window

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Yet we're still above his team.

I know he's good, but sometimes it's like looking at your mate's missus and thinking you'd like a piece, when in fact you she wouldn't be a great deal better after a couple of pumps than that nagging bitch at home.

:mwah: Don't get spellbound........ I repeat, do not get spell bound. :d Let's hope your mates never join this site.


I'm not really sure I understand the hindsight assertion sometimes...... Even if you'd never heard of Negredo till he donned the light blue of City, does anybody actually believe Wenger has only just become aware of him?

The fans don't make the signings, so why does it matter in reality if we see what a good player, a well known player is after he comes to the prem? The guys that matter....ie the scouts, Wenger etc etc, knew even more about Negredo a year ago than we do now..... and we all know plenty about him after 17 goals. The long and short of that is.....the club were already well aware of Negredo and passed him up. Probably because they felt Higuain and Suarez were better players, but that didn't end well.

Secondly..... had Wenger not spent half the summer being mugged off by Guardiola's brother and actually signed Suarez or Higuain, I doubt a single person would have taken issue with it on the grounds of Giroud being sufficient. If City have room for 3 top forwards like Djeko, Aguero and Negredo.....all players that ideally you'd play centre forward (and I should add that Djeko too has 15/16 goals himself) why on earth is there only room for one at Arsenal in Giroud?

Even if Giroud was twice the player he is, we would still need another top forward in my honest view. The basis of my thinking is that we need a few good forwards, not 1. If that new forward we bring in is so good that he forces Giroud out of the team then so bloody be it. That is football at this level. If Giroud doesn't like it, then he can raise his game. If he can't raise his game then he needs to step aside.....but Bendtner and Sanogo should not be his only competition, or least not the level of his competition.

[I am invisible]

Agree with Blink - I really don't get what there is to argue about here? We all agree that one central striker isn't enough for a long season, and that any new signing should ideally be awesome, irrespective of who we already have, if we want to take this team to the next level. The funny thing is, it sounds like everyone is making the same point, but still somehow managing to disagree about it?

[GP]

I'm not really sure I understand the hindsight assertion sometimes

hindsight

noun
1.
understanding of a situation or event only after it has happened or developed.
"with hindsight, I should never have gone"

No one was calling for us to sign Negredo before he went to city. We weren't even linked with him. For all we know he wouldn't have wanted to come here anyway. We certainly wouldn't have been able to win a bidding war for him.

All this 'if only' bollocks is nothing but frustration borne out of hindsight.

It's ok to want another striker without all the fawning as if he's the only player in the world who could have improved us.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Agree with Blink - I really don't get what there is to argue about here? We all agree that one central striker isn't enough for a long season, and that any new signing should ideally be awesome, irrespective of who we already have, if we want to take this team to the next level. The funny thing is, it sounds like everyone is making the same point, but still somehow managing to disagree about it?

Ahh

Good old GW :good:

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

hindsight

noun
1.
understanding of a situation or event only after it has happened or developed.
"with hindsight, I should never have gone"

No one was calling for us to sign Negredo before he went to city. We weren't even linked with him. For all we know he wouldn't have wanted to come here anyway. We certainly wouldn't have been able to win a bidding war for him.

All this 'if only' bollocks is nothing but frustration borne out of hindsight.

It's ok to want another striker without all the fawning as if he's the only player in the world who could have improved us.

And that one word was your contribution. A sterling effort Archer. Really.

I'm sorry?....so the recognition that good players have passed us by is only valid if fans clamour for that player to be signed a window in advance?

I'm sure people not calling for Negredo to come here in the summer, was nothing to do with the fact we were a) Chasing a superior player in Suarez....or b) The fact City signed him in no time at all of the summer window opening.

But even if nobody calls for Negredo to come in, I'm not sure why that is relevant when Wenger has probably known about him since he was about 12 and way before you proposed it necessary that a Spanish international who was one of the top scorers in Spain only come in on the proviso that fans campaign to get him here.

Yes you're quite right..... the 'if only' is purely as a result of hindsight. Absolutely nothing else. Nobody could ever have been clairvoyant enough to believe that Arsenal's squad needed a top class striker to aid a title challenge prior to the season starting. Nobody could have been at all worried with the failure to land our main targets in Suarez or Higuain or even our last ditch target Ba with hours of the window closing and without an Ozil confirmed.

[Niall_Quinn]

Agree with Blink - I really don't get what there is to argue about here? We all agree that one central striker isn't enough for a long season, and that any new signing should ideally be awesome, irrespective of who we already have, if we want to take this team to the next level. The funny thing is, it sounds like everyone is making the same point, but still somehow managing to disagree about it?

Just wondering where we'll find the player. I'm all for signing Draxler in the summer and if we can pull that off it will cost a pile of cash. I know the purse strings are a bit less tight but can we really spend big money in the interim? More to the point, will we? Doubtful. Would be great if a high quality option was available on our budget, get him in if it's possible. Is it possible? Wenger says not really. So we are probably on the verge of signing somebody.

[Özim]

And that one word was your contribution. A sterling effort Archer. Really.

I'm sorry?....so the recognition that good players have passed us by is only valid if fans clamour for that player to be signed a window in advance?

I'm sure people not calling for Negredo to come here in the summer, was nothing to do with the fact we were a) Chasing a superior player in Suarez....or b) The fact City signed him in no time at all of the summer window opening.

But even if nobody calls for Negredo to come in, I'm not sure why that is relevant when Wenger has probably known about him since he was about 12 and way before you proposed it necessary that a Spanish international who was one of the top scorers in Spain only come in on the proviso that fans campaign to get him here.

Yes you're quite right..... the 'if only' is purely as a result of hindsight. Absolutely nothing else. Nobody could ever have been clairvoyant enough to believe that Arsenal's squad needed a top class striker to aid a title challenge prior to the season starting. Nobody could have been at all worried with the failure to land our main targets in Suarez or Higuain or even our last ditch target Ba with hours of the window closing and without an Ozil confirmed.

Great post, as you said we're fans it's not our job to be scouting players, but seeing as he went for 14.6 million and we were desperate for a forward you'd have thought we should have considered him.

As for your 1st comment, that's what you get with some people on this forum, they act like complete planks just to wind people up.

[Niall_Quinn]

If only we'd have signed Negredo we'd be top of the league now.

[GP]

And that one word was your contribution. A sterling effort Archer. Really.

I'm sorry?....so the recognition that good players have passed us by is only valid if fans clamour for that player to be signed a window in advance?

I'm sure people not calling for Negredo to come here in the summer, was nothing to do with the fact we were a) Chasing a superior player in Suarez....or b) The fact City signed him in no time at all of the summer window opening.

But even if nobody calls for Negredo to come in, I'm not sure why that is relevant when Wenger has probably known about him since he was about 12 and way before you proposed it necessary that a Spanish international who was one of the top scorers in Spain only come in on the proviso that fans campaign to get him here.

Yes you're quite right..... the 'if only' is purely as a result of hindsight. Absolutely nothing else. Nobody could ever have been clairvoyant enough to believe that Arsenal's squad needed a top class striker to aid a title challenge prior to the season starting. Nobody could have been at all worried with the failure to land our main targets in Suarez or Higuain or even our last ditch target Ba with hours of the window closing and without an Ozil confirmed.

Good, now we're agreed, stfu about it.

[Özim]

Just wondering where we'll find the player. I'm all for signing Draxler in the summer and if we can pull that off it will cost a pile of cash. I know the purse strings are a bit less tight but can we really spend big money in the interim? More to the point, will we? Doubtful. Would be great if a high quality option was available on our budget, get him in if it's possible. Is it possible? Wenger says not really. So we are probably on the verge of signing somebody.

As fans we can point to certain players but in reality it's not our job, the club has a huge network of scouts who should be able to identify the right players but just to name a few names, there's Rossi, Balotelli (you may be against him but he's a quality player), Huntelaar (he's 30 but an option for a couple years), Hulk, El Sharaawi and Martinez.

[Özim]

If only we'd have signed Negredo we'd be top of the league now.

Yes and we might be 7 points clear.

[GP]

If only we'd have signed Negredo we'd be top of the league now.

:haha:

If only :wetsbed:

[Niall_Quinn]

As fans we can point to certain players but in reality it's not our job, the club has a huge network of scouts who should be able to identify the right players but just to name a few names, there's Rossi, Balotelli (you may be against him but he's a quality player), Huntelaar (he's 30 but an option for a couple years), Hulk, El Sharaawi and Martinez.

And they'd all cost big money in terms of our budget, some of the huge money. Rossi already failed here, Balotelli is toxic and counter-productive, Huntelaar would be an expensive stop gap at best, Hulk would cost a bomb in terms of the fee and the wages, El Bloke we hear Wenger has already looked at so maybe, and wasn't that Martinez guy being quoted at £30mill or something ridiculous like that? I know why people are saying Berbatov and I agree in terms of getting a player in that price range and with the experience to hit the ground running and genuinely help us in the run-in, but not him in particular somebody like him who would be okay sitting on the bench. Maybe Huntelaar would do the bench thing, maybe not, but I'd be surprised if Wenger signs a 30 year old. Maybe put some pressure on Villa again for Benteke, somebody like that would help us a whole lot more than anyone on the list above in practical terms. But he'd still probably be too expensive.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Good, now we're agreed, stfu about it.


If only :wetsbed:
Sounds about right.

[Dein-machine]

The city board, having surrendered the title to their bitter rivals had started work on their squad even before the end of last season. They did their business quickly & discreetly. When you think they got Negrado for less than £15 mill they did not pay "ramsom" money just because their are owned by billionaires. The squad was allowed time pre-season to develope & there were no last minute panic buys where the selling clubs can ask silly money. Even if Wenger had been interested in Negrado, we just don't operate like that in the transfer market so we would have missed out. Nothing to do with money, even in previous years when the stadium payments meant limited funds, we could have bought a Negrado for £15 mill. Although the Matic re-signing is a bit of a laugh due to the fact Chelsea let him go for nothing, Maureen has decided where he needs more strength & simlply gone out & done it, no fuss, no waiting until the final week letting other teams join the bidding war. This is the way we need to act in order to continue to compete. If Schalke can't stop a move for Drexler & the lad wants to come, there is no reason in the world to not sign him now. We are top of the league with the big boys breathing down our necks & with a lack of quality/pace upfront - if we leave signings till the summer doesn't it just prove that our heirachy are still more than happy with finishing 4th.

[LDG]

The city board, having surrendered the title to their bitter rivals had started work on their squad even before the end of last season. They did their business quickly & discreetly. When you think they got Negrado for less than £15 mill they did not pay "ramsom" money just because their are owned by billionaires. The squad was allowed time pre-season to develope & there were no last minute panic buys where the selling clubs can ask silly money. Even if Wenger had been interested in Negrado, we just don't operate like that in the transfer market so we would have missed out. Nothing to do with money, even in previous years when the stadium payments meant limited funds, we could have bought a Negrado for £15 mill. Although the Matic re-signing is a bit of a laugh due to the fact Chelsea let him go for nothing, Maureen has decided where he needs more strength & simlply gone out & done it, no fuss, no waiting until the final week letting other teams join the bidding war. This is the way we need to act in order to continue to compete. If Schalke can't stop a move for Drexler & the lad wants to come, there is no reason in the world to not sign him now. We are top of the league with the big boys breathing down our necks & with a lack of quality/pace upfront - if we leave signings till the summer doesn't it just prove that our heirachy are still more than happy with finishing 4th.

I wonder what wage Negredo is on.

Also, 15mil, or 100mil, there is no limit. There is no restriction on how and when they buy players.

With us (as shown by the job we did clearing the decks), we have to cull and shape the resources we have in order to make the signings we want.

[Xhaka Can’t]

If we decided to go after Negrado and city wanted him, the price to us would be nowhere near 16m. As it is, we wasted a good chunk of the window going after Suarez.

People can be critical of that but when all things are considered, we have done exceptionally well, both in terms of the talent of the squad and in their development

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I've seen up to £20 million mentioned for Negredo but it's neither here nor there. What happened or didn't happen in the summer is now largely irrelevant given that we did sign somebody like Özil and thus should make us more enticing to join especially compounded with the fact we've been the league leaders for every weekend since September.

I do concur that if we really want Draxler than waiting until the summer without attempting to get him might end up being a bit too needlessly cautious.

[Dein-machine]

I wonder what wage Negredo is on.

Also, 15mil, or 100mil, there is no limit. There is no restriction on how and when they buy players.

With us (as shown by the job we did clearing the decks), we have to cull and shape the resources we have in order to make the signings we want.

We were told by the board at the end of last season that due to the stadium being paid for we were now in a position to compete financially with the top teams to buy world class players & it was suggested Wumger had £80 mill to spend in the summer - no mention of culling or re-shaping our resources before hand. You don't have to have money to do business quickly & without fuss, with the Draxler situation, Wenger either thinks he can improve us or not - if so buy him, if not don't bring the guy ove to see your training facility.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

The undesirable dealings of January is certainly no new thing. IMO, Wenger last summer had to think along the lines of, If I don't get a forward this summer it will be a whole year before I can sign one, because of his views on dealing in January.

That ideology placed further onus on getting a forward last summer, when we were wasting time with Suarez. As a few have rightfully said, Negredo isn't the only player in the world....which doesn't help any case for the failure to sign a forward last summer, or the often mooted mantra of 'who is out there that would improve us'. Yet despite of all this we still failed to sign a forward.

In a sense that is largely the point. Even if we sit around feeling like there's not a player out there that would improve us, there more than likely is. We are just not privy to it. The man in charge fortunately has an eye for talent and scouting knowledge way beyond many of his rival counterparts and that is why it is perfectly reasonable to expect him to come up with answers that we can naturally not. Again, a signing like Negredo is endemic of that.

The sort of player who will rise to the challenge of flourishing in this league at a top club is not easy to pick out but that is a big part in why the manager has the rep he does and why he is paid as much as he is. A player like Negredo is by no means the most difficult of the lot to pick out for a man beyond the knowledge and capabilities of any of us.

If you're going to lose one of your best players.... and we infamously did to Manure with RvP, then you have to accept the challenge of replacing that player with someone of a similar ability. We've done without that kind of ability up front for a couple years now. It wouldn't be so bad if we had another world class forward already here when Sir chocolate leg left but we didn't. IMO, next summer cannot be like the last and I would be really perplexed if we don't change the situation we are in and instead come up with a load of excuses about a lack of players and/or the world cup. At this level, if we want the best players we can't expect to be the only interested and serious party, so we need to at times pay the players worth or use our street smarts that much more acutely.

Like I am invisible, I am a little sceptical of this supposed masterplan Wenger has to make Draxler the next RvP, though I don't doubt he is interested in the kid. I think Wenger himself took a lot of convincing that RvP could be a lone forward and wouldn't be surprised if Draxler played wide left for us, but whatever his plans for him are, I'd just be happy he signed the quality which is long overdue (if he is our next great forward).

[JonasTC]

Its being reported that we're paying 10m euros for the Ntep kid ( around 8 mil £ i think)

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Source....?

[JonasTC]

http://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2014/local-sources-indicating-that-arsenal-have-agreed-a-e10m-fee-for-ntep-we-await-confirmation/

[Marc Overmars]

I think we should sign a right back and Darth Vader.