Summer Transfer Speculation and Shit.

[Niall_Quinn]

Chavs have bagged Pedro - nicking him from Utd. £21mill - these rich clubs are buying up all the playa, we can't compete.

Actually not too bothered as Pedro has always seemed pretty ordinary to me, on a Barca scale. Glad he didn't go to Utd, now they are stuck with shrek :haha:

Point here is, if you want a player then move, get your player. Doesn't matter who else is interested, the fee isn't always prohibitive, just make a move. You have to be in it to win it.

[Niall_Quinn]

Now Soton want £25mill for Mane :haha: :haha: :haha:

[Marc Overmars]

Barcodes sign Florian Thauvin.

This new TV deal is really helping the pub teams snap up talent they otherwise could never have afforded, particularly in terms of wages.

Also on that note, West Ham have signed Song on a permanent deal.

[fakeyank]

I'd rather we go in for a player like Montero. He has looked great I have seen him.. he is exciting and will be leagues ahead of Walcott on the wings.

As for Walcott, I dont know what to make of him. He looks clueless most of the times, but always comes up with explosive stuff 2-3 games and then pisses right back to mediocrity. Think he ups his game every time his contract is up.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

I'd rather we go in for a player like Montero. He has looked great I have seen him.. he is exciting and will be leagues ahead of Walcott on the wings.

As for Walcott, I dont know what to make of him. He looks clueless most of the times, but always comes up with explosive stuff 2-3 games and then pisses right back to mediocrity. Think he ups his game every time his contract is up.

But isn't that exactly what Montero has been like? Catches the eye every so often and then will go missing for weeks at a time. And I reckon I could give Ivanovic a game, the way he's been playing recently.

Same with that Hernandez guy Swansea had, played a few good games, "another coup for Swansea etc", "why don't the big clubs go for cheap foreign talent" then he did fuck all and quietly got shipped to the Middle East.

[LDG]

Wenger has as much admitted to playing chess with transfers.

He waits for everyone to make there moves so that a player suddenly becomes available, because he either plays for a team who needs to cash in to pay for a signing, or he is surplus to requirements.

We'll sign Rooney in a couple of weeks.

FFS.

[fakeyank]

Montero has looked good every time I have seen him play. I have rarely seen him be anonymous over a complete game.

[Niall_Quinn]

Wenger has as much admitted to playing chess with transfers.

He waits for everyone to make there moves so that a player suddenly becomes available, because he either plays for a team who needs to cash in to pay for a signing, or he is surplus to requirements.

We'll sign Rooney in a couple of weeks.

FFS.

Don't even joke about stuff like that.

[GP]

Remember when someone suggested we sign Sessegnon? :haha:

[Niall_Quinn]

Remember when someone suggested we sign Sessegnon? :haha:

Moi? I doubt it.

I think I said Joey Barton didn't I?

[Penguin]

Montero has looked good every time I have seen him play. I have rarely seen him be anonymous over a complete game.

He's like Valencia at United - the kind of player that looks good playing for a lower team, but is not quite good enough for a champions league team. He doesn't have an end product.

[AFC Leveller]

He's like Valencia at United - the kind of player that looks good playing for a lower team, but is not quite good enough for a champions league team. He doesn't have an end product.

Good point, big fish, small pond and all of that.

Wanyama at Saints is a decent DCM, young, plenty of PL experience and adds that physical presence and strength to our midfield. Anyone else a fan?

[AFC Leveller]

Reading the gossip columns is so depressing as a Gooner. We have linked with no one, not even by the click baiters.

[Power n Glory]

He's like Valencia at United - the kind of player that looks good playing for a lower team, but is not quite good enough for a champions league team. He doesn't have an end product.

But haven’t we always done this? Plucked a big fish from a small pond? Giroud spent half of his career in the 2nd Division of the French league. Koscielny spent a lot of time there too. Theo, Ox and Chambers came from Southampton with a handful of performances before being plucked up by us and played in the first team. Arteta came from Everton, Debuchy Newcastle….not saying we need a player like Montero.

[GP]

Moi? I doubt it.

I think I said Joey Barton didn't I?

No, no, wasn't you.

[Ralpheroo72]

Is there any point having this thread?

[Penguin]

But haven’t we always done this? Plucked a big fish from a small pond? Giroud spent half of his career in the 2nd Division of the French league. Koscielny spent a lot of time there too. Theo, Ox and Chambers came from Southampton with a handful of performances before being plucked up by us and played in the first team. Arteta came from Everton, Debuchy Newcastle….not saying we need a player like Montero.

We have but there's nothing wrong with signing players from smaller teams as long as they are good enough for our level. Someone like Montero who scored one goal in 34 games for Swansea last season probably isn't.

[selassie]

Is there any point having this thread?

We can always talk about other teams transfers...oh wait we are doing that already :(

[Power n Glory]

We have but there's nothing wrong with signing players from smaller teams as long as they are good enough for our level. Someone like Montero who scored one goal in 34 games for Swansea last season probably isn't.

True. Agree with Montero because I think we need a goal scoring winger and not just a someone that can beat a man. We saw what happened with Gervinho and Ox struggles in the same way with end product. But yeah, in general there isn’t much wrong with signing lower league players if they fit the bill and Wenger can get more out of them.

[Power n Glory]

No, no, wasn't you.

Yeah, that was me. Might have been a blunder might not have been. But like the point I’m making to Penguin, we’ve signed that calibre of player before but people seem more accepting when they’re from a different league and nobody has watched them play.

If they’re English based then people seem to turn their nose up. Rightly so in some cases but not in all. Chamakh is an example. Sounds great if we’re signing a striker from Marseille but not so much if he came from Crystal Palace. It’s not as if the French is great but we’ve often taken real gambles on unknown players. Some flop and some succeed.

[Maestro]

Yeah, that was me. Might have been a blunder might not have been. But like the point I’m making to Penguin, we’ve signed that calibre of player before but people seem more accepting when they’re from a different league and nobody has watched them play.

If they’re English based then people seem to turn their nose up. Rightly so in some cases but not in all. Chamakh is an example. Sounds great if we’re signing a striker from Marseille but not so much if he came from Crystal Palace. It’s not as if the French is great but we’ve often taken real gambles on unknown players. Some flop and some succeed.

I know, let's play a list the arsenal flops game, more interesting than imagining we will sign someone.

Right let's try to work from recent and go back in time .....keep the chain of names intact

I'll start with:

Chamakh

[Özim]

If you ever watch the clips on Arsenal Fan TV you'll probably find some poor souls who believe the signing of Benzema or Cavani is all but done, just like they did with Higuain and Suarez in the past.

That's probably about it with bar 1 or 2 on here with regards people who believe this club is serious about signing anyone.

Sad that all we could manage was a keeper this summer, something we weren't that desperate for in all honesty, sure we could use a new one but there were there areas that were far more important, a keeper was hardly top of the list. That's Wenger all over for you though, he strives to be different for the sake of it, there's rarely any real logic in his signings.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

I think we were clearly crying out for a decent goalkeeper, a goalkeeper is the difference between a win and a draw, a draw and a loss when your not playing well.
Was it of more or less importance than a defensive midfielder and a striker....I'd say it was equal importance.

[Özim]

I think we were clearly crying out for a decent goalkeeper, a goalkeeper is the difference between a win and a draw, a draw and a loss when your not playing well.
Was it of more or less importance than a defensive midfielder and a striker....I'd say it was equal importance.

Not totally convinced, sure we could improve in that area but for me someone who can get us goals out of nothing and win us games was more important, as for a DCM we've been crying out for a decent one since Vieira left so I wasn't holding my breath.

Our keepers weren't the best but they weren't terrible either and thus far Cech has already cost us points so I'm still unconvinced he's going to make that much of a difference.

As someone said before it's easy to look good when you play behind a defence as disciplined as Chelsea, Mourinho has them drilled on how to defend as a unit. Cech for me whilst still a good goalkeeper has never been the same since his head injury, before that he was unbelievable.

[Penguin]

We definitely needed a keeper but it remains to be seen if Cech was the right one.

I've been disappointed that Cech hasn't been more vocal. I haven't seen him organising his defence in set pieces or shouting at them when they do something wrong. For West Ham's first goal he should have told his defence that they were too far forward before they even took the free kick. He should have given Koscielny a bollocking for not closing down Zarate for their second, and again for doing the same thing against Palace. What's the point of being experienced if you don't use it to help the team?

Still early days but I'm hoping that he's more talkative in training and when they're reviewing previous matches.

[Marc Overmars]

I'm still not sure about writing off this transfer window just yet. Of course it's frustrating that WUMger prefers to play chess in the transfer market but if (for arguments sake) Benzema or Cavani did become available at the 11th hour, it would be worth the punt. Things are different now, we have proven our ability to sign top tier guys and I have no reason to believe we can't do it again if the opportunity presented itself.

[Özim]

Never trust Wenger in the transfer market because the chances are you'll be left disapointed, there's not many examples where that hasn't been the case in the last 10 years so I'm expecting more of the same from him, he's the master of transfer disappointment.

If you had to bet on one manager going through a transfer window and spending next to nothing it would be on Wenger.

[fakeyank]

I am not really understanding what a striker like Benzema or Cavani would bring to this squad.. you can lay the blame game on Giroud all you like, but the problem is that we just do not have much creativity in games where the other team is set up solidly in defense. Unless we have a dramatic change in mindset as to how we approach different games then strikes like Benzema and Cavani will have the same end product like Giroud.

If however you can pick someone like Suarez or Aguero, then you are talking business... but then there is not many of them available from the big clubs. May be we should punt on the 'next Aguero or Suarez' rather than splash the cash on strikers who will likely have the same goal return as Giroud.

[Maestro]

If however you can pick someone like Suarez or Aguero, then you are talking business... but then there is not many of them available from the big clubs. May be we should punt on the 'next Aguero or Suarez' rather than splash the cash on strikers who will likely have the same goal return as Giroud.

So totally agree with that, I'd rather we took our bag of money to South America and risk it on the next big thing ...and there are quite a few very talented young forwards out there. Personally I would love Gabriel Barbosa of Santos.

[Globalgunner]

Problem is the Home Office has these stupid rules about players having so many caps before they can get a work permit. Completely stupid rule. Thats why clubs in Portugal and Holland buy the youngsters for peanuts and the EPL ends up getting them for Gazillions years later. And when Wenger goes shopping for his young starlets he comes back with duds like Wellington or Denilson. Just cant win at Arsenal at the moment.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Man City bought Otamendi for £32 milion.

That's £74 million on just two defenders from this summer and last. Why do we watch this shit?

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

I am not really understanding what a striker like Benzema or Cavani would bring to this squad.. you can lay the blame game on Giroud all you like, but the problem is that we just do not have much creativity in games where the other team is set up solidly in defense. Unless we have a dramatic change in mindset as to how we approach different games then strikes like Benzema and Cavani will have the same end product like Giroud.

If however you can pick someone like Suarez or Aguero, then you are talking business... but then there is not many of them available from the big clubs. May be we should punt on the 'next Aguero or Suarez' rather than splash the cash on strikers who will likely have the same goal return as Giroud.

I think we have the creative quality in the squad, it's just we have a manager obsessed with central attacking midfielders who invariably won't bring on players with pace and width until it's too late.
As far as I'm concerned two of three of Ox/Walcott/Sanchez should be playing every game and alternated so that those three will start two out of three games and come off the bench for the third.
And then we can alternate between Giroud and Welbeck up front depending on who we are playing, but oh no Ozil, Cazorla and Ramsey have to play every game no matter what.
If we used our squad sensibly, yes there would still be the need for additions (another holding midfielder to take the weight off Coquelins shoulders) but we'd be in a much better place with injuries, and we'd have the ability to get in behind teams defending deep without congesting the middle of the park.

[Gooner23]

I think we have the creative quality in the squad, it's just we have a manager obsessed with central attacking midfielders who invariably won't bring on players with pace and width until it's too late.
As far as I'm concerned two of three of Ox/Walcott/Sanchez should be playing every game and alternated so that those three will start two out of three games and come off the bench for the third.
And then we can alternate between Giroud and Welbeck up front depending on who we are playing, but oh no Ozil, Cazorla and Ramsey have to play every game no matter what.
If we used our squad sensibly, yes there would still be the need for additions (another holding midfielder to take the weight off Coquelins shoulders) but we'd be in a much better place with injuries, and we'd have the ability to get in behind teams defending deep without congesting the middle of the park.

Completely agree, I think we look so much more dangerous with pace on both flanks. But he always seems to revert back to congesting the midfield.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

2 out of The Ox, Theo and Sanchez at all times sounds good to me.

[Marc Overmars]

WUMger only stumbles upon dynamic line ups when injuries force his hand. Fully expect the likes of Wilshere, Cazorla, Ramsey and Ozil to be shoehorned into odd positions for the rest of the season.

[Power n Glory]

I know, let's play a list the arsenal flops game, more interesting than imagining we will sign someone.

Right let's try to work from recent and go back in time .....keep the chain of names intact

I'll start with:

Chamakh

Nah, a better game would be 'where are they now'. A good chunk of them are M.I.A.

[BOBN]

Lets buy back Cesc and play him DM


Cesc earning rave reviews from Chelsea fans:

Znape ‏@ZoydPls
Kudos to whoever hacked into Fabregas's phone and set the calendar to January.

Eid ‏@EidHagi
Fabregas is the worst player ive seen in my 42 years of supporting chelsea, get out of my club you wasteman

Sid. ‏@10EH_
I never question Jose but how does Fabregas start in big games. He is the most terrible first team playmaker Jose has ever had..

Mo ‏@Jokerinho
Leave our club Fabregas.

⚠ KING JOE ⚠ ‏@joecolman9
@ChelseaFC and also tell him that Fabregas is crap, slow and past it if you care to watch football, you have plenty of money, spend it!

Aayush Sidd ‏@slicesofIife
Fabregas as invisible as soldier in camo gear. Awful.

Caius Livius ‏@Nziramasanga
Chelsea had a short pre-season but it's no excuse for today's result. Fabregas should be sold, he's finished #CFC

God's Gift ‏@JoeNuga
What does Fabregas have to do to get benched, or sold? He's a liability. An injury layoff might be in order.

*
To all of Cescs boyfriends on here, matherfackin Wenger knows :wave:

[Xhaka Can’t]

We play a little bit with zee handbrake on in zee market.

We are little bit lacking in sharpness but will regroup and fight in the next window.

[Power n Glory]

Lets buy back Cesc and play him DM


To all of Cescs boyfriends on here, matherfackin Wenger knows :wave:

Wenger created him you fool. The lack of discipline in his movement was picked up here at Arsenal and you only have to look at Ramsey and Wilshere as testament to that.

[Marc Overmars]

As good as Cesc can be, he's always been an extremely passive player. Definitely needs babysitting if you want to see him excel.

[fakeyank]

Lets buy back Cesc and play him DM


To all of Cescs boyfriends on here, matherfackin Wenger knows :wave:

You are going to take comments written at the heat of the moment seriously? There is a person saying Cesc is the worst player he saw in 42 years.. now that is some serious BS! Cesc was immense for them last season and this season their entire team has been shit. Still think we should have offloaded Arteta, Flamini, Wilshere and got in Cesc. He is head and shoulders above them put together.

[Letters]

You are going to take comments written at the heat of the moment seriously?
No, I've seen your posts.


#burn.

[Power n Glory]

http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/arsenal-not-close-new-signings-wenger


Arsenal 'not close' to new signings – Wenger

Arsene Wenger says Arsenal are "not close" to any new signings, as speculation regarding Karim Benzema continues.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has again cooled speculation regarding a move for Karim Benzema, insisting the club are not close to making any new signings.

The Real Madrid striker has been repeatedly linked with a switch to the Emirates Stadium in recent months, though Wenger has frequently denied a move will materialise.

Real boss Rafael Benitez has also been moved to dismiss the prospect and, when asked on Friday, Wenger clarified the club's stance on incoming transfers ahead of the deadline at the end of the month.

"When the season starts the window should be finished," he said.

"It is too big an advantage for clubs that didn't work well during the transfer window.

"The funds are there, people know that you have the resources, but the players are not available. We expect [transfers], like you, but at the moment, we are not close to anybody.

"There is a shortage [of number nines] in the world. There is a difference between financial power and the availability of top-class players.

"In Europe today you maybe have 15 clubs with huge financial resources who don't need the money.

"I'm not against buying if it is really a plus for the team. If it is just buying players at the level of the players you have I am not for that."

Wenger was also quizzed on a potential departure for club-record signing Mesut Ozil, the Germany international having been linked with Galatasaray and Juventus this week.

Ozil impressed during Sunday's 2-1 win over Crystal Palace and Wenger added: "I feel Mesut is now completely committed to the club. He is focused on getting results."



Does he rate Giroud that highly? Does he rate Ramsey and Wilshere above Vidal?

Hope we pull something off because Wenger has worked a miracle with Giroud and if you ask me he's a grade C striker with managed to elevate to a grade B.

Now even if there are flaws in the players we've been linked with, why can't Wenger elevate their games from grade B to grade A? I guess with Cavani and Benzema it's a price thing.

[Gooner23]

I know he says the same thing each year regardless of whether we are actually trying for players, but damn he's frustrating. What's all the nonsense about an unfair advantage for teams not working well in the transfer window.

[BOBN]

Wenger created him you fool. The lack of discipline in his movement was picked up here at Arsenal and you only have to look at Ramsey and Wilshere as testament to that.

If somebody refuses to run they refuse to run. If Mourinho and Guardiola cant fix that theres not much that can be done.

Wengers mistake was persevering for so long with him. The idea of carrying a luxury midfielder who cant do shyt but pass is absurd. Its not like hes Yaya Toure or Zidane who can win games for you. Madness. Glad hes been found out.

[Power n Glory]

If somebody refuses to run they refuse to run. If Mourinho and Guardiola cant fix that theres not much that can be done.

Wengers mistake was persevering for so long with him. The idea of carrying a luxury midfielder who cant do shyt but pass is absurd. Its not like hes Yaya Toure or Zidane who can win games for you. Madness. Glad hes been found out.

Cesc won us plenty of games but I won't get into that. What do you make of Ozil?

[Syn]

Cesc's 700 assists against shit teams in the first two months of the season won them the league last year. He is a key reason they won the league. But we don't have the problem of creating chances, we have the problem of converting them and conceding them, and he wouldn't have helped in either respect - apart from not being able to help Chelsea. I would've bought him just for that fact. Wenger's not ruthless enough.

[BOBN]

Cesc won us plenty of games but I won't get into that. What do you make of Ozil?
Should be doing more but far more talented than Fabregas and a natural number 10.

And Cazorla makes Cesc look like an absolute plodder when you compare CM play in tight areas. Better than he ever was. And he works harder.

[Power n Glory]

Should be doing more but far more talented than Fabregas and a natural number 10.

And Cazorla makes Cesc look like an absolute plodder when you compare CM play in tight areas. Better than he ever was. And he works harder.

Ozil has far more talent than Cesc but does a lot less which makes him frustrating. Doesn't score or assist as much.

Cazorla works harder but he's not better than Cesc. He doesn't score or assist enough from his position either.

BOBN, I think you’re over emphasizing his work rate and lack of defence qualities whilst ignoring his assist and goal contribution. It’s like someone telling me Drogba was a better striker than Henry because he worked harder on defending and was better in the air. Come on now, see some sense.

[hobson's choice]

But we don't have the problem of creating chances

Yes we do

[Syn]

Yes we do

No we don't.

[Power n Glory]

It's a bit of both because we'll have games this season we're we get bogged down in tippy tappy antics just playing in front of a defence.

[Penguin]

Ozil has far more talent than Cesc but does a lot less which makes him frustrating. Doesn't score or assist as much.

Cazorla works harder but he's not better than Cesc. He doesn't score or assist enough from his position either.

BOBN, I think you’re over emphasizing his work rate and lack of defence qualities whilst ignoring his assist and goal contribution. It’s like someone telling me Drogba was a better striker than Henry because he worked harder on defending and was better in the air. Come on now, see some sense.

Ozil was always rated a lot higher than Cesc in Spain, but in the premier league he does have a lot more to prove. Not necessarily in terms of goals, but in terms of having more of an impact in games, especially when we're struggling and need someone to step up.

I disagree about Cazorla though. Cesc might have a better eye for a pass but Cazorla is a better player overall. Santi can wriggle out of any situation, which makes him the perfect player to feed the ball to from the back. Cesc was always a bit too robotic and slow on the ball. He doesn't give you the same fluidity as other playmakers which is probably one of the reasons he wasn't trusted to take over from Xavi.

Mourinho would swap them in a heartbeat if he got the chance.


Yes we do
I agree, but not because we don't have enough CAM's with creativity and vision. It's because of Wenger's ridiculous tactics, having Ramsey on the right of a 4-3-3 and having a CF who can only run as fast as my crippled grandfather. And my grandfather's paralysed from the waist down...

[Power n Glory]

Santi is a great player to watch but he doesn't score or assist as much goals as Cesc. He needs to up his numbers. Maybe we'll see that this season because he certainly has the ability.

[Dein-machine]

You can fill your midfield with Cesc's, Ozil's & Santi's but if you don't have attacking players making the right runs to either create space or get in behind the defense it is pointless. Giroud is far to static for these players to thrive. Have a look at Santo & Ozil in the games v West Brom & Cup final ( last two games of last season ) - fantastic. Why - Theo started up top. I'm not a great Theo fan due to his lack of composure but at least he makes the runs that turns defenses.

[mastermind84]

Lets buy back Cesc and play him DM


To all of Cescs boyfriends on here, matherfackin Wenger knows :wave:

:cheers:

[Power n Glory]

You can fill your midfield with Cesc's, Ozil's & Santi's but if you don't have attacking players making the right runs to either create space or get in behind the defense it is pointless. Giroud is far to static for these players to thrive. Have a look at Santo & Ozil in the games v West Brom & Cup final ( last two games of last season ) - fantastic. Why - Theo started up top. I'm not a great Theo fan due to his lack of composure but at least he makes the runs that turns defenses.

Agree with that and why I'm always saying Theo should be starting up top. He can learn composure and has over the years and when on his game he will get you a hat trick. Has Giroud ever scored one for us? Teams don't fear Giroud.

[mastermind84]

Cesc's 700 assists against shit teams in the first two months of the season won them the league last year. He is a key reason they won the league. But we don't have the problem of creating chances, we have the problem of converting them and conceding them, and he wouldn't have helped in either respect - apart from not being able to help Chelsea. I would've bought him just for that fact. Wenger's not ruthless enough.
no, the forward they bought last summer is why they won the league.

Chelsea created a million and one chances before Cesc got there but had no one to score goals.

Cesc helped, obvs, but it was Costa who got that title for them.

[mastermind84]

Ozil has far more talent than Cesc but does a lot less which makes him frustrating. Doesn't score or assist as much.

http://i.imgur.com/u12V7gZ.jpg

[Power n Glory]

no, the forward they bought last summer is why they won the league.

Chelsea created a million and one chances before Cesc got there but had no one to score goals.

Cesc helped, obvs, but it was Costa who got that title for them.

It's a combo of both. Not just one or the other. Cesc assisted Costa for a lot of goals.

[Power n Glory]

http://i.imgur.com/u12V7gZ.jpg

That's a nice chart. Well done. :good:

[mastermind84]

Agree with that and why I'm always saying Theo should be starting up top. He can learn composure and has over the years and when on his game he will get you a hat trick. Has Giroud ever scored one for us? Teams don't fear Giroud.

Theo's problem is not composure.

Its that if you held a gun to his mom's head and said you would squeeze it if you don't hold this ball up and bring your midfielders into play, you would end up with Theo's mom's brain matter on you. And he will never learn how to do that because he is physically and technically incapable of that.

[mastermind84]

It's a combo of both. Not just one or the other. Cesc assisted Costa for a lot of goals.
It was Costa.

Chelsea would have won the league in 2013/14 if they had a competent striker.

Cesc was the cherry on top,

[Power n Glory]

It was Costa.

Chelsea would have won the league in 2013/14 if they had a competent striker.

Cesc was the cherry on top,

How hard is it to understand it's a combo of both? Cesc was on course to setting the assist record last season. Costa did well to put chances away but it's not as if he was a one man wrecking machine creating his own opportunities. He only scored 21 goals. Nothing amazing.

[mastermind84]

How hard is it to understand it's a combo of both? Cesc was on course to setting the assist record last season. Costa did well to put chances away but it's not as if he was a one man wrecking machine creating his own opportunities.
How hard is to understand that it was not a combination of both? It was Costa that was the big difference.

Chelsea's problem was not having a finisher, not creating chances. Fernando Torres, Demba Ba, and the corpse of Samuel Eto'o was their forward line that season.

I am not saying Chelsea were a one man team (well they werent at the start of that season. From January onward they did become a one man attack with Hazard just getting penalties and creating everything)

And to get back into where the convo was going, Cesc has always been a tactical nightmare unless you had a player solely dedicated to making sure he could create. Its why Wenger eventually took the CM role away from him.

[Power n Glory]

How hard is to understand that it was not a combination of both? It was Costa that was the big difference.

Chelsea's problem was not having a finisher, not creating chances. Fernando Torres, Demba Ba, and the corpse of Samuel Eto'o was their forward line that season.

I am not saying Chelsea were a one man team (well they werent at the start of that season. From January onward they did become a one man attack with Hazard just getting penalties and creating everything)

And to get back into where the convo was going, Cesc has always been a tactical nightmare unless you had a player solely dedicated to making sure he could create. Its why Wenger eventually took the CM role away from him.

Dude, you need to do something about your username. Seriously. What you're saying can't be proven at all. The facts are Cesc got the most assists and had a good partnership with Costa and was on record with the most assists in the league. That's fact.

[Power n Glory]

Theo's problem is not composure.

Its that if you held a gun to his mom's head and said you would squeeze it if you don't hold this ball up and bring your midfielders into play, you would end up with Theo's mom's brain matter on you. And he will never learn how to do that because he is physically and technically incapable of that.

Again, that's your opinion and not fact.

[Niall_Quinn]

Who cares about those chav wankers?

This is a thread to discuss all of Arsenal's transfer activity this summer. Can we stick to the topic please? Or close the thread?

Both amount to the same thing.

[mastermind84]

Dude, you need to do something about your username. Seriously. What you're saying can't be proven at all. The facts are Cesc got the most assists and had a good partnership with Costa and was on record with the most assists in the league. That's fact.

and all I said is that Costa was the pivotal player, not Cesc. Chelsea were second in the premiership in chances created to Manchester City in 2013-14 and had the most shots in the league but were 7th in percentage of shots on target.

Even further, I responded to someone saying Cesc was the key reason they won the league last fall which was nonsense.


Again, that's your opinion and not fact.

Has Theo shown a consistent ability to hold the ball under pressure from centerbacks, yes or no?

[fakeyank]

Cesc's 700 assists against shit teams in the first two months of the season won them the league last year. He is a key reason they won the league. But we don't have the problem of creating chances, we have the problem of converting them and conceding them, and he wouldn't have helped in either respect - apart from not being able to help Chelsea. I would've bought him just for that fact. Wenger's not ruthless enough.

We have a problem creating chances when the other team has 10 people behind the ball. We will tippy tappy for 90 minutes and 'may be' have a couple of close chances. We dont go wide to open up spaces and since we are hell bent on going down the middle, Cesc would be much better playing the eye of the needle pass when compared to Wilshere, Ramsey or Coq. I would put him on a step above Santi and Ozil to play those killer balls. However Santi and Ozil have better positioning compared to Cesc.

[BOBN]

Ozil has far more talent than Cesc but does a lot less which makes him frustrating. Doesn't score or assist as much.

Cazorla works harder but he's not better than Cesc. He doesn't score or assist enough from his position either.

BOBN, I think you’re over emphasizing his work rate and lack of defence qualities whilst ignoring his assist and goal contribution. It’s like someone telling me Drogba was a better striker than Henry because he worked harder on defending and was better in the air. Come on now, see some sense.
Horrible comparison. Cazorla quite clearly is better technically than Cesc in any category you want.

- Two feet
- Faster feet
- Better close control
- More agile
- Better dribbler
- Can beat a man
- More flair
- Better one touch passer
- Better two touch passer
- Better three touch passer
- Better strike

[milla]

Horrible comparison. Cazorla quite clearly is better technically than Cesc in any category you want.

- Two feet
- Better close control
- More agile
- Better dribbler
- Can beat a man
- More flair
- Better one touch passer
- Better two touch passer
- Better three touch passer
- Better strike

Cazorla is a lot better than Cesc, hands down. In fact, I rate Cazorla higher than both Ozil and Cesc. At Arsenal, he is not big name enough to be given the no 10 role, otherwise he would have a truck load of assist and double figure goals as well. :coffee:

[Power n Glory]

and all I said is that Costa was the pivotal player, not Cesc. Chelsea were second in the premiership in chances created to Manchester City in 2013-14 and had the most shots in the league but were 7th in percentage of shots on target.

Even further, I responded to someone saying Cesc was the key reason they won the league last fall which was nonsense.



Has Theo shown a consistent ability to hold the ball under pressure from centerbacks, yes or no?

No because he plays as a winger so he's running at wingbacks and hardly sees a centreback. Also, as a striker you don't need to be the type that is trying to mix up physically with a CB and contesting the ball in the air. Plenty of short strikers have developed their game without having to play the battering ram.

Has Theo ever scored a hat trick as striker? Yes. Has Giroud?

Syn said Cesc was a key player not the key reason. It's also dumb to say Costa was the only reason and not Cesc because you don't know how Costa would have played without Cesc's assists. Have you seen him for Spain? They're not a team short on creating chances either. Not saying Costa is crap but he's not some one man dynamic striker that can survive without service. Yes, Chelsea were creating chances before but Cesc added to that and was top of the league with assists and he was assisting Cosa for a lot of those goals.. It's really simple. Even Chelsea team mates will say both players were important.

[fakeyank]

Baptista has a hattrick..

[Power n Glory]

Horrible comparison. Cazorla quite clearly is better technically than Cesc in any category you want.

- Two feet
- Faster feet
- Better close control
- More agile
- Better dribbler
- Can beat a man
- More flair
- Better one touch passer
- Better two touch passer
- Better three touch passer
- Better strike

He's blessed with talent but he's not had a season for us where he's carried us or everything has ran through him. That's partly down to the manager messing with his position and pushing him to the flank but imo he's not a player that's racked up a silly assist count as well as goals. In Cesc best season he got 19 goals and 20 assists. We need that from Santi before I can firmly say he's better and I'd say Cesc played with weaker players to get those numbers and be so influential. We'll see how Santi fairs playing in the middle but I can't see him even getting there with players like Ozil also chipping in.

[Power n Glory]

Baptista has a hattrick..

Does that reflect well on Giroud? Theo has 3 and 2 have come when playing as striker. West Brom and Newcastle. Just saying there is something there to explore. If he flops he flops but so far he's looking good and just needs to learn certain aspects and tactics against different opposition. It's no different to having Santi learn how to play CM or Ramsey go out wide so I don't know why Wenger is so resistant. Way too opposed with over long tippy tappy passing in front of our opponents and just enables them to create to lines of 4 in front of us.

[mastermind84]

No because he plays as a winger so he's running at wingbacks and hardly sees a centreback. Also, as a striker you don't need to be the type that is trying to mix up physically with a CB and contesting the ball in the air. Plenty of short strikers have developed their game without having to play the battering ram.
in the Arsenal system, there is one striker. We need that striker to be able to hold the ball. Was Thierry a battering ram? no, but he could hold the ball up for Pires and Freddie.

Theo cant do that and is just not capable of it.


Syn said Cesc was a key player not the key reason. It's also dumb to say Costa was the only reason and not Cesc because you don't know how Costa would have played without Cesc's assists. Have you seen him for Spain? They're not a team short on creating chances either. Not saying Costa is crap but he's not some one man dynamic striker that can survive without service. Yes, Chelsea were creating chances before but Cesc added to that and was top of the league with assists and he was assisting Cosa for a lot of those goals.. It's really simple. Even Chelsea team mates will say both players were important.

never said he was. What I said is that Chelsea were creating bucketloads of chances before Cesc arrived. It wasnt Cesc that turned them into champions, it was Costa. Cesc was the cherry on top.

[mastermind84]

Does that reflect well on Giroud? Theo has 3 and 2 have come when playing as striker. West Brom and Newcastle. Just saying there is something there to explore. If he flops he flops but so far he's looking good and just needs to learn certain aspects and tactics against different opposition. It's no different to having Santi learn how to play CM or Ramsey go out wide so I don't know why Wenger is so resistant. Way too opposed with over long tippy tappy passing in front of our opponents and just enables them to create to lines of 4 in front of us.

Theo played center forward against Chelsea in the Community Shield and Chelsea pinned the team in because Theo was not a good outlet.


And Santi played CM for Malaga.

[Power n Glory]

in the Arsenal system, there is one striker. We need that striker to be able to hold the ball. Was Thierry a battering ram? no, but he could hold the ball up for Pires and Freddie.

Theo cant do that and is just not capable of it.



never said he was. What I said is that Chelsea were creating bucketloads of chances before Cesc arrived. It wasnt Cesc that turned them into champions, it was Costa. Cesc was the cherry on top.

Football has changed since Henry and Pires if that's your best example. If I went off those times we'd never have slight players like Cesc, Cazorla or Ozil in our midfield because the same arguments about needing to be physical in this leaue would apply.

Theo might not be capable of holding up the ball like a bigger player but has that stopped him scoring from that position or stopped Ozil and Cazorla from getting him the ball? Explain how's been able to get two hat tricks and was also involved with the goal that got Wenger his first win against Mourinho?

[Power n Glory]

Theo played center forward against Chelsea in the Community Shield and Chelsea pinned the team in because Theo was not a good outlet.


And Santi played CM for Malaga.

But would we have won against Chelsea if we employed the same tactics that have have resulted in a loss or draw every time against Mourinho? We won at the end of the day and he helped set up the goal. You can't knock it. It might have been a tactic to not pin a team like that back and be open for the counter because it's how they've destroyed us before.

Santi played on the left for Malaga and would cut in.

[mastermind84]

Football has changed since Henry and Pires if that's your best example. If I went off those times we'd never have slight players like Cesc, Cazorla or Ozil in our midfield because the same arguments about needing to be physical in this leaue would apply.
this is a crazy statement.

All I said is that Henry isnt a battering ram yet could hold the ball. I don't even know what your statement means in this convo, lol.

Is Benzema a battering ram? Lewandowski? Suarez? The same point still applies.


Theo might not be capable of holding up the ball like a bigger player but has that stopped him scoring from that position or stopped Ozil and Cazorla from getting him the ball?
against teams that sit deeper, it hasn't.



Explain how's been able to get two hat tricks and was also involved with the goal that got Wenger his first win against Mourinho?

simple, Villa and Newcastle played high lines and attacked us.

West Brom quit the day we played them last season. (last match of season)

When teams sit deeper, Theo isnt as effective. Its been the story of his career, sadly.

[mastermind84]

But would we have won against Chelsea if we employed the same tactics that have have resulted in a loss or draw every time against Mourinho? We won at the end of the day and he helped set up the goal. You can't knock it. It might have been a tactic to not pin a team like that back and be open for the counter because it's how they've destroyed us before.

Santi played on the left for Malaga and would cut in.

no, Santi played all over the midfield.

He played half his games at CM and partnered with Ignacio Camacho in a 4-2-3-1. Isco played in front of that. Its similar to where he plays now. He played the rest of his matches on the right.

[Dein-machine]

Theo's problem is not composure.

Its that if you held a gun to his mom's head and said you would squeeze it if you don't hold this ball up and bring your midfielders into play, you would end up with Theo's mom's brain matter on you. And he will never learn how to do that because he is physically and technically incapable of that.

Agree with you on his link up play but you don't play Theo to be a link man. Link men are normally the bigger guys who are good with their backs to goal. We use Giroud for this, we tippy tappy up the field yard by yard until we lose it with a Ramsey flick that comes to nothing. This is the slow build up play that you see from us nowadays which is the only way we can play with Giroud, either that or become more direct. It also takes 50 moves like this to result in a goalscoring oppportunity & if it falls to Giroud another 50 before he'll score.
WIth Theo, he plays or should do on the shoulders of their centre halves. We play the tippy tappy in the middle of the pitch until BANG - Theo makes a pre-planned run into the channel & Ozil sends him clear. We have a one on one. If you do this effectively, with Sanchez also offering the pre-planned run, it would result in far better opportunities ie one on one's & at a quicker rate per game. Its sort of shows why why beat Villa & West Brom 4-0 at the end of last season as opposed to only 2 goals so far in our 2 games - but for god sake don't let Wenger know, I'm waiitng to see how long it is before he works it out.

[Power n Glory]

this is a crazy statement.

All I said is that Henry isnt a battering ram yet could hold the ball. I don't even know what your statement means in this convo, lol.

Is Benzema a battering ram? Lewandowski? Suarez? The same point still applies.


against teams that sit deeper, it hasn't.




simple, Villa and Newcastle played high lines and attacked us.

West Brom quit the day we played them last season. (last match of season)

When teams sit deeper, Theo isnt as effective. Its been the story of his career, sadly.

See Dean machines post.

It's not the story of Theo, it's the story of Arsenal and Wenger not being able to get the best of this tactic. When Ade was playing like a lazy sod we'd suffer. Chamakh was garbage and another that played with his back to goal too long and too concerned with short passes and one twos. We have the same problem with Giroud and it's not like he is that effective against teams sitting deep either. The flicks and bad touches cost us possession and Imo he is a plan b player like Kanu was.

Lack of movement and speed is what kills us up front and why you also see players like Pod and Welbeck look lost and ineffective against teams that sit deep. If Theo had a run of games up front and it was clear he was useless in these situations you'd be totally right but so far we have a handful of games and in 2 of those he has scored a hat trick.

[Power n Glory]

no, Santi played all over the midfield.

He played half his games at CM and partnered with Ignacio Camacho in a 4-2-3-1. Isco played in front of that. Its similar to where he plays now. He played the rest of his matches on the right.

Regardless, he's not known as a CM. He played mainly on the flanks in Spain and would cut in. Even in our system he played a more advanced role in the middle so he's still learning the CM role for us and in our league.

[mastermind84]

Agree with you on his link up play but you don't play Theo to be a link man. Link men are normally the bigger guys who are good with their backs to goal. We use Giroud for this, we tippy tappy up the field yard by yard until we lose it with a Ramsey flick that comes to nothing. This is the slow build up play that you see from us nowadays which is the only way we can play with Giroud, either that or become more direct. It also takes 50 moves like this to result in a goalscoring oppportunity & if it falls to Giroud another 50 before he'll score.
WIth Theo, he plays or should do on the shoulders of their centre halves. We play the tippy tappy in the middle of the pitch until BANG - Theo makes a pre-planned run into the channel & Ozil sends him clear. We have a one on one. If you do this effectively, with Sanchez also offering the pre-planned run, it would result in far better opportunities ie one on one's & at a quicker rate per game. Its sort of shows why why beat Villa & West Brom 4-0 at the end of last season as opposed to only 2 goals so far in our 2 games - but for god sake don't let Wenger know, I'm waiitng to see how long it is before he works it out.
but with Theo, against most teams, the shoulder would end up being the goalkeeper.

West Brom checked out before that last match and Villa played a high line and attacked us. When Theo has space he kills. When there is no space, he is useless.


See Dean machines post.

It's not the story of Theo, it's the story of Arsenal and Wenger not being able to get the best of this tactic. When Ade was playing like a lazy sod we'd suffer. Chamakh was garbage and another that played with his back to goal too long and too concerned with short passes and one twos. We have the same problem with Giroud and it's not like he is that effective against teams sitting deep either. The flicks and bad touches cost us possession and Imo he is a plan b player like Kanu was.

Lack of movement and speed is what kills us up front and why you also see players like Pod and Welbeck look lost and ineffective against teams that sit deep. If Theo had a run of games up front and it was clear he was useless in these situations you'd be totally right but so far we have a handful of games and in 2 of those he has scored a hat trick.

so against teams that sit deep, Theo is effective? We play him on the wings and he isnt effective at all in those types of matches.


Theo would be our right sided forward if he would help the right back more. THats his issue.

And Theo isnt that dissimilar to the flaws Podolski and Welbeck have when playing against teams that are sitting deep and inviting the attack. Thats why he plays Giroud. Ideally our forward would have Giroud's size with some speed.

[Kano]

De Bruyne apparently agreeing personal terms with a fee in the region of £50m attached. Good on Wolfsburg for rinsing the shit out of Citeh.

[Niall_Quinn]

FFP sure put the brakes on them. One lawyer and Platini grabs the brown envelopeshits his pants. Hope he becomes FIFA president, we need his special kind of integrity at the heart of the game.

[Niall_Quinn]

I doubt the fact all our rivals are strengthening while we stand still will make much of a difference. Complacency has worked for us in the past and it can work for us again.

[Power n Glory]

but with Theo, against most teams, the shoulder would end up being the goalkeeper.

West Brom checked out before that last match and Villa played a high line and attacked us. When Theo has space he kills. When there is no space, he is useless.



so against teams that sit deep, Theo is effective? We play him on the wings and he isnt effective at all in those types of matches.


Theo would be our right sided forward if he would help the right back more. THats his issue.

And Theo isnt that dissimilar to the flaws Podolski and Welbeck have when playing against teams that are sitting deep and inviting the attack. Thats why he plays Giroud. Ideally our forward would have Giroud's size with some speed.

:lol: Can you name me a player that's been effective against teams that sit deep?

Theo's done better at coming into the box and getting poacher goals when teams sit deep because it's not as if Giroud scores a lot of goals with his head when people cross. It's difficult scoring goals from the right when your right foot is the strongest foot but Theo has done a real good job of getting those goals.

You only have to look at Theo's first ever goal to see how someone with pace can unlock a defence that's defending deep. Giroud can't do this. Wenger said he gets more goals with his first touch and because of that fact, he's unable to take a touch of the ball to lose a marker and open up space for himself to shoot. I've always said we should have had Theo playing down the left more like Henry or down the centre. He's more confident cutting in on his stonger foot and that's the case for most players. Except Cazorla of course.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3Xtf9IhUs0

[Power n Glory]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baef2jCJDxo

I mean come on! West Ham weren't great but I can't see Giroud scoring these type of goals in the box. Very easy to say West Brom had checked out but with the way we were going at Palace and chances created, the game should have been over in the first half. Just look at the West Ham opener as well. We make them look like a well drilled machines and can't score a goal at home but the following week some newly promoted side put two past them with ease.

[Globalgunner]

Theo`s mythical pace is is only real asset which will be gone in 2 or 3 years time when he will be knocking 30. when he is 32 years old people will remember him as a player who had some potential but for some reason it never materialised.

Yes he is a good player but nothing special. If Theo was at another club right now. Hardly anyone on these boards would be clamouring for us to sign him. i blame Wenger for this as he is a coach who cannot drag a world class player out of an average one. Its about ability but also about mentality. Jermaine Defoe is of a similar stature to Theo but could play the lone striker better than Theo ever could.

Theo is a lost cause, a player who would probably have been better off never signing for us. If he was our main striker we would never get anywhere near 4th place. Let him be the x factor coming off the bench, that really only whats left for him.

[Syn]

On the contrary, if Walcott was playing for a team like Everton, he'd be standing out a lot more and everyone would be calling to sign him. 'Players like Walcott' doesn't come in to it, he's as unique as it gets. hes already a good player, to become a top quality player he needs to stay injury free. His footballing ability is not as bad as people think, he had a solid first touch and technique. Obviously pace is his no. 1 asset but he shouldn't have to apologise for that. Nothing wrong with it.

[Static]

When we buy playa?

[Syn]

But his selfishness does piss me off. It's not a good thing if strikers are selfish - that's Stone Age thinking straight from talksport. You need to do what's best for the team, not your individual fantasy football points. Him and Ramsey are fucking annoying in that respect.

[Power n Glory]

On the contrary, if Walcott was playing for a team like Everton, he'd be standing out a lot more and everyone would be calling to sign him. 'Players like Walcott' doesn't come in to it, he's as unique as it gets. hes already a good player, to become a top quality player he needs to stay injury free. His footballing ability is not as bad as people think, he had a solid first touch and technique. Obviously pace is his no. 1 asset but he shouldn't have to apologise for that. Nothing wrong with it.

Forget Everton. If he played in France, Germany or Spain a lot of people would be wetting themselves for such a signing and begging for Wenger to play him as striker. When linked with Draxler and Griezmann it was mayhem and talk of converting them into strikers couldn't stop despite little evidence of that even working. Griezmann is pint sized like Theo and even that French kid Lacazette is the same height as Theo with a similar stature. If Theo played in those leagues and people heard he could play on the wing and centre plus saw the Youtube clips but in a different kit.....:faint: #buyplaya

[Kano]

Theo`s mythical pace is is only real asset which will be gone in 2 or 3 years time when he will be knocking 30. when he is 32 years old people will remember him as a player who had some potential but for some reason it never materialised.

Yes he is a good player but nothing special. If Theo was at another club right now. Hardly anyone on these boards would be clamouring for us to sign him. i blame Wenger for this as he is a coach who cannot drag a world class player out of an average one. Its about ability but also about mentality. Jermaine Defoe is of a similar stature to Theo but could play the lone striker better than Theo ever could.

Theo is a lost cause, a player who would probably have been better off never signing for us. If he was our main striker we would never get anywhere near 4th place. Let him be the x factor coming off the bench, that really only whats left for him.
Exactly. For various reasons Theo has never developed into the player he could have been and while still a good player, he is nothing special. A very good squad player but not a starter anymore here and he's lucky that Wenger still persists with him as he does with so many others. No other top four team would take him on, the best he'd get is a Liverpool/Tottenham side, teams that now thrive on 'almost' players. Sure he'll score some goals upfront but he's no striker and would not play in that position at any other club above our own, he is best deployed out wide to use his pace and timing. Whether he remained or was sold in the summer wouldn't have made a blind bit of difference to me. Nine years and not much to remember about him so far that will live on once he retires.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Theo`s mythical pace is is only real asset which will be gone in 2 or 3 years time when he will be knocking 30. when he is 32 years old people will remember him as a player who had some potential but for some reason it never materialised.

Yes he is a good player but nothing special. If Theo was at another club right now. Hardly anyone on these boards would be clamouring for us to sign him. i blame Wenger for this as he is a coach who cannot drag a world class player out of an average one. Its about ability but also about mentality. Jermaine Defoe is of a similar stature to Theo but could play the lone striker better than Theo ever could.

Theo is a lost cause, a player who would probably have been better off never signing for us. If he was our main striker we would never get anywhere near 4th place. Let him be the x factor coming off the bench, that really only whats left for him.

Hmmm...

Were he to play 38 games he would get no less goals than Giroud would on the basis of the fact, he is unlikely to go several games against several different opposition (like Giroud did last season) without scoring and is far more likely to score braces and hat tricks, because once the opposition have conceded one, their nervous defence don't do well against him.

That's not to say somebody like Theo who scores more is of higher value in the team than Giroud over the course of the season though. I think the analysis of Theo is often lazy and it is easy to forget that he generally scores every type of goal apart from the shove the defender to the ground and head it in type.

Jermaine Defoe enjoyed the 442 formation for a significant time through his career so the comparison is distorted.

[fakeyank]

Theo`s mythical pace is is only real asset which will be gone in 2 or 3 years time when he will be knocking 30. when he is 32 years old people will remember him as a player who had some potential but for some reason it never materialised.

Yes he is a good player but nothing special. If Theo was at another club right now. Hardly anyone on these boards would be clamouring for us to sign him. i blame Wenger for this as he is a coach who cannot drag a world class player out of an average one. Its about ability but also about mentality. Jermaine Defoe is of a similar stature to Theo but could play the lone striker better than Theo ever could.

Theo is a lost cause, a player who would probably have been better off never signing for us. If he was our main striker we would never get anywhere near 4th place. Let him be the x factor coming off the bench, that really only whats left for him.

:gp:

Plus Theo would hardly ever be fit.

[Power n Glory]

Hmmm...

Were he to play 38 games he would get no less goals than Giroud would on the basis of the fact, he is unlikely to go several games against several different opposition (like Giroud did last season) without scoring and is far more likely to score braces and hat tricks, because once the opposition have conceded one, their nervous defence don't do well against him.

That's not to say somebody like Theo who scores more is of higher value in the team than Giroud over the course of the season though. I think the analysis of Theo is often lazy and it is easy to forget that he generally scores every type of goal apart from the shove the defender to the ground and head it in type.

Jermaine Defoe enjoyed the 442 formation for a significant time through his career so the comparison is distorted.

It's really lazy and I think most of his critics have the memory of a fish. Before his injury he picked up 21 goals with 16 assists. Without his contribution we wouldn't be top 4. In his last few outings he's bagged goals and the team have played well so its not as if you have to look back that far to see how he's progressed as a player.

[Niall_Quinn]

Wenger can't have opted to pay him 140k a week and then leave him out of his harebrained schemesplans.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

It's really lazy and I think most of his critics have the memory of a fish. Before his injury he picked up 21 goals with 16 assists. Without his contribution we wouldn't be top 4. In his last few outings he's bagged goals and the team have played well so its not as if you have to look back that far to see how he's progressed as a player.

In spite of that, he will be left out and used as a spare part...his numbers won't look as good and people will point to this as proof that he is no good and that we should get rid. :doh:

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

It's really lazy and I think most of his critics have the memory of a fish. Before his injury he picked up 21 goals with 16 assists. Without his contribution we wouldn't be top 4. In his last few outings he's bagged goals and the team have played well so its not as if you have to look back that far to see how he's progressed as a player.


Wenger can't have opted to pay him 140k a week and then leave him out of his harebrained schemesplans.

If he knows the players worth (that is, financial worth) he'd begrudgingly do it anyway....he is after all the consummate economist...

[LDG]

Walcott is an instictive player. He can't think it through beforehand. He just goes, finds space and converts.

His problem has always been when he is under pressure to do something or be somewhere. He has no football brain in an Ozil / Bergkamp sense.

There is no set game Theo is best suited for. He just turns up sometimes, and orher times ge has no fucking clye how to get into a game, and no inclination to do it anyway.

He's great when he's angry, has a point to prove, or anythng else emotional to him. Otherwise, he's standoffish, clueless and a waste if space.

All in all, you want hin there, but if you found Alexis 2, you'd fuck him off.

[fakeyank]

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11700/9961943/victor-wanyama-asks-to-leave-southampton-say-sky-sources

Wenger, please go in for him! :pray:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Why?

Anyway, Chelsea have signed Kenedy. :unsure:

[GP]

Mr. Kenedy...


Kenedy?

[Master Splinter]

Good signing for Vitesse.

Why would anyone want Wanyama? Fakeyank is really weird. Might as well get Tiote.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Mr. Kenedy...


Kenedy?

:lol:

[Power n Glory]

Walcott is an instictive player. He can't think it through beforehand. He just goes, finds space and converts.

His problem has always been when he is under pressure to do something or be somewhere. He has no football brain in an Ozil / Bergkamp sense.

There is no set game Theo is best suited for. He just turns up sometimes, and orher times ge has no fucking clye how to get into a game, and no inclination to do it anyway.

He's great when he's angry, has a point to prove, or anythng else emotional to him. Otherwise, he's standoffish, clueless and a waste if space.

All in all, you want hin there, but if you found Alexis 2, you'd fuck him off.

You can't compare his intelligence to that of Ozil's or Bergkamps. They don't use the term a 'strikers instinct' for nothing. You'll see a clear difference in intelligence when a player like Ozil is in the box with an opportunity on goal compared to Theo's. Most of the stuff a striker does off field in training pays off so everything on the pitch looks like instinct when banging in goals. But it takes practice, intelligence and learning from situations so it becomes second nature.

The playmaker's intelligence is easy to spot in football but we could sit and watch a 100 goals or runs from wingers and strikers and I doubt we'd be able to pin point what they were thinking beforehand. When Sanchez or Ox go on mazy runs do you think they're thinking before hand that they'll beat 2 or 3 players before getting an shooting opportunity? The footballing brain thing is just media soundbites. If you listen to Henry talk about his development as a striker and the stick he used to get in his youger days for going out wide. I'm sure his early critics would have said some bs about him not understanding the game or lacking a footballing brain. Don't listen to idiots like Chris Waddle. To make the runs that Theo does and to anticipate the pass or be in the right place at the right time shows his intelligence as a striker. Or who knows. Maybe it's just instinct. Maybe the reason why Giroud seems so static in the box is because he's thinking and contemplating the run instead of actually doing it. ;)

[Niall_Quinn]

Wenger is the problem.

[AFC Leveller]

Man Ure seriously after Neymar and have offered him better wages than Roonayyyyyyy!

They are so desperate right now that they are willing to offer that diving pony the biggest contract at OT :lol:

[Globalgunner]

Man Ure seriously after Neymar and have offered him better wages than Roonayyyyyyy!

They are so desperate right now that they are willing to offer that diving pony the biggest contract at OT :lol:

They will need both him and Bale on 350k pw each to break out of the current funk they are in. Hopefully they will bankrupt themselves trying to compensate for LVg`s "genius"

[Marc Overmars]

They'll get Benzema. :coffee:

[Niall_Quinn]

They'll get Benzema. :coffee:

That's what I'm thinking. Utd are out of control in terms of spending, particularity in terms of the returns they aren't getting. They are rapidly turning into the biggest dopers of all and all of it propped on massive debt. They'd better hope the football bubble stays inflated or they'll be gone. The Di Maria thing was pure farce and showed van Gaal up for what he really is.

[AFC Leveller]

They will need both him and Bale on 350k pw each to break out of the current funk they are in. Hopefully they will bankrupt themselves trying to compensate for LVg`s "genius"

LVG has as much charisma as a shoe lace. He is annoying to look at, annoying to listen to and is ugly as well. I dont know how people think he is this world beater, i think he will end up being sacked for not winning anything despite spunking 350m on players.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

They'll get Benzema. :coffee:

Benzema the party animal going to Manchester?

:haha:

Nah.

[Niall_Quinn]

Benzema the party animal going to Manchester?

:haha:

Nah.

400k per week? 500k? 600k? At some point the answer will be yes.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nah, Wazza isn't due for his contract renewal yet so they won't be offering that much to another player right now.

[Japan Shaking All Over]

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11700/9961943/victor-wanyama-asks-to-leave-southampton-say-sky-sources

Wenger, please go in for him! :pray:

Saints aren't selling anyone.....there will be bloody flowing if they do.....

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Why?

Anyway, Chelsea have signed Kenedy. :unsure:

JF?

[Penguin]

Walcott is an instictive player. He can't think it through beforehand. He just goes, finds space and converts.

His problem has always been when he is under pressure to do something or be somewhere. He has no football brain in an Ozil / Bergkamp sense.

There is no set game Theo is best suited for. He just turns up sometimes, and orher times ge has no fucking clye how to get into a game, and no inclination to do it anyway.

He's great when he's angry, has a point to prove, or anythng else emotional to him. Otherwise, he's standoffish, clueless and a waste if space.

All in all, you want hin there, but if you found Alexis 2, you'd fuck him off.

Yep agree with that. Good player when he doesn't have time to think and goes on his instincts, but the highlight reels don't show how hit and miss his first touch is and how often he makes the wrong decision.

If he wants to play as a striker he needs to be a lot braver. I don't buy that stuff about him having to play differently because of his height. He's taller than both Aguero and Alexis and he has built himself up in the gym, look at his arms. But you will never see the latter two pussying out of headers or challenges. Alexis even had a go at Theo in the FA cup final for not even attempting headers and gifting Villa possession. Ironically, Theo's goal came when Alexis switched to CF and won a header that Theo wouldn't even have jumped for if he was there. Ditto for Alexis' winner at Palace last week.

I'm not saying that he needs to become a target man or score hundreds of headers. But he has to be able to receive the ball under pressure from a tall, powerful CB in and around the box. Just playing on the shoulder isn't enough, we need someone who can do both. If Theo wants to be Michael Owen he should be doing it at Everton or Newcastle, not a team that wants to be challenging for the title.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

JF?

Great shot on him.

Sorry.

[Özim]

Man Ure seriously after Neymar and have offered him better wages than Roonayyyyyyy!

They are so desperate right now that they are willing to offer that diving pony the biggest contract at OT :lol:

A show pony with 39 goals in 51 games for Barcelona last season and 44 goals in 65 games for Brazil, that's my kind of show pony and better than the show ponies we've been linked with.

He won't leave Barca anyhow, they would never let him.

[Globalgunner]

Yep agree with that. Good player when he doesn't have time to think and goes on his instincts, but the highlight reels don't show how hit and miss his first touch is and how often he makes the wrong decision.

If he wants to play as a striker he needs to be a lot braver. I don't buy that stuff about him having to play differently because of his height. He's taller than both Aguero and Alexis and he has built himself up in the gym, look at his arms. But you will never see the latter two pussying out of headers or challenges. Alexis even had a go at Theo in the FA cup final for not even attempting headers and gifting Villa possession. Ironically, Theo's goal came when Alexis switched to CF and won a header that Theo wouldn't even have jumped for if he was there. Ditto for Alexis' winner at Palace last week.

I'm not saying that he needs to become a target man or score hundreds of headers. But he has to be able to receive the ball under pressure from a tall, powerful CB in and around the box. Just playing on the shoulder isn't enough, we need someone who can do both. If Theo wants to be Michael Owen he should be doing it at Everton or Newcastle, not a team that wants to be challenging for the title.

Absolutely, I said as much before and a posse was out saying it isnt so. Walcott has 3 more years at the top. This contract will probably be his last at Arsenal. his game is limited and has not developed sufficiently in 9 years. I dont know why we keep throwing money at him, No one else would be interested, except the Everton`s and Swansea brigade, He lucked out coming to us. I have high hope that Ox will have more progress, he has more talent and his father will keep him focussed on improving.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

He's a diving shite...but he has as lovely a smile as Welbeck and has about a 1 trillion earth units more end product. Easily worth the sums we've been hearing with Benzema etc.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Absolutely, I said as much before and a posse was out saying it isnt so. Walcott has 3 more years at the top. This contract will probably be his last at Arsenal. his game is limited and has not developed sufficiently in 9 years. I dont know why we keep throwing money at him, No one else would be interested, except the Everton`s and Swansea brigade, He lucked out coming to us. I have high hope that Ox will have more progress, he has more talent and his father will keep him focussed on improving.

If you separate and discern your opinion of the player from his market value, you should conclude that he is worth the money he is on as an asset of the club. Whether or not ethically he should be getting such sums is an age old debate and somewhat a different argument. Wenger knows he has a huge market value which is probably precisely why he has allowed Theo's wages to swell and be happy for him to watch our games from the bench.......Or else, you explain to me why the infamous economist has allowed it to happen and what the hell he is thinking?

People were interested in him several years ago and now the petro dollar era is at fever pitch there's no reason why other clubs wouldn't be interested if he was suddenly available.

[adzzzbatch]

Great shot on him.

Sorry.

He's a real target man.

[LDG]

He's a real target man.

:lol:

[sibreen]

Anybody think we're gonna bid for Berahino?

[Kano]

Personally, Sanchez through the middle is our best bet. But he isn't fit enough yet, so we need someone else.

Realistically, looking at the market, who the hell could we buy?

Austin, Berahino? Pitiful.

[Globalgunner]

We all know that Le Nutty Prof wont be buying anyone again, just to show us chumps on GW who`s boss. Signings are not always the solution you know

[Kano]

That's not the question though. On the market, realistically, who would be the options?

[Niall_Quinn]

We're talking about a panic move for Cavani now - some silly amount on a huge gamble we'd have more than another Falcao on our hands. Plus there's the persistent rumour of a double buy from Dortmund. Most likely outcome is we'll smash 4 goals in our next game and everyone will be talking about us being title contenders again and Wenger will relax and go with what we have.

[Özim]

Plus there's the persistent rumour of a double buy from Dortmund. Most likely outcome is we'll smash 4 goals in our next game and everyone will be talking about us being title contenders again and Wenger will relax and go with what we have.

Couldnt' agree more, doesn't take a lot for Wenger to believe we're title contenders, one or two decent wins and we're the finished product in his eyes, we've been seeing this pattern for years.

[Marc Overmars]

Balotelli to rejoin Milan on loan. :lol:

What a waster.

[BOBN]

Personally, Sanchez through the middle is our best bet. But he isn't fit enough yet, so we need someone else.

Realistically, looking at the market, who the hell could we buy?

Austin, Berahino? Pitiful.
Berahino will become one of the top 3 strikers in the country within 18 months, unless he goes to Spurs.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Couldnt' agree more, doesn't take a lot for Wenger to believe we're title contenders, one or two decent wins and we're the finished product in his eyes, we've been seeing this pattern for years.

I think he's partly entrenched in stubbornness, the last ten years he has tried to model us on Barcelona with tidy ball playing midfielders and adding power to that would negate that.
He's also I think frightened that if he spends a great deal of money and still doesn't succeed that he will have to come to terms with the fact that he is not as good as he thinks he is.
He's not blind to our deficiencies, he is more than aware of every criticism levelled at him his reaction to Gary Neville was almost childish "people can say what they want, but the important thing to remember is I believe I'm right".
The more people tell him Arteta is not good enough, the more he will double down to prove them wrong.

[Kano]

We don't really have 18 months to wait - surely we've had enough of potential and need the real deal.

Looking at the market right now, that doesn't exist.

[dostoy]

Who is sick of this season already ?

Wenger is very very different to other managers, they spend all the money they can to give their team the best chance of winning football matches which will keep them in a job.

Wenger spends as little as he can.

Who is going to be available now ?

Aubameyang was who we needed, I said it 3 months ago on here but there is no chance now.

We will be 4th place strugglers again this year.

Wenger will be here for another 5 years and he will never change, meaning we will not win the PL again with him in charge.

Its sad but true.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Berahino will become one of the top 3 strikers in the country within 18 months, unless he goes to Spurs.

I'm not sure I share your appraisal of Berahinho...Spurs are welcome to him...like most English players average and over hyped.

[Niall_Quinn]

Not sick of the season, in the main I'm glad football is back. Has less and less appeal each season, what with all the bullshit TV deals and dodgy agents and greedy bastard playa, but I'd still rather watch it than not.

Thoroughly sick of Wenger though. In terms of football and his influence on the club, the man is a relentless bore.

[BOBN]

We don't really have 18 months to wait - surely we've had enough of potential and need the real deal.

Looking at the market right now, that doesn't exist.
Well, youve waited 10 years...

We can wait :geek:

But really, hes better than Welbeck and Walcott already and is about 3 months away from being comprehensively better than Giroud. The fact Wenger got Welbeck (MOTD, Arry sigining) over Berahino is proof that he's lost it.

[Power n Glory]

Well, youve waited 10 years...

We can wait :geek:

But really, hes better than Welbeck and Walcott already and is about 3 months away from being comprehensively better than Giroud. The fact Wenger got Welbeck (MOTD, Arry sigining) over Berahino is proof that he's lost it.

Proves Syn's point.


On the contrary, if Walcott was playing for a team like Everton, he'd be standing out a lot more and everyone would be calling to sign him. 'Players like Walcott' doesn't come in to it, he's as unique as it gets. hes already a good player, to become a top quality player he needs to stay injury free. His footballing ability is not as bad as people think, he had a solid first touch and technique. Obviously pace is his no. 1 asset but he shouldn't have to apologise for that. Nothing wrong with it.

He has a long way to go before you can make such claims. Off the back of one successful season, I don't even know if I'd want to risk such a move on someone so young and with only 20 goals.

[BOBN]

Proves Syn's point.



He has a long way to go before you can make such claims. Off the back of one successful season, I don't even know if I'd want to risk such a move on someone so young and with only 20 goals.
Well ive made the claim, now lets wait and see.

But when hes going to City in 2017 for £55m I dont wanna hear Wenger talking about "we cannot compete for zis type of player"

Now or never.

[Master Splinter]

Berahino wouldn't be utilised properly anyway, as seen with Walcott and Oxlade, so what's the point?

The only hope for some change is if we get injuries and we have to play at least two quick forwards and a functional midfield.

Or we land two worldies on deadline day and Wenger is compelled to play them because they're expensive and senior.

Walcott and Alexis in the FA Cup final: we win 4-0.

Iwobi and Oxlade in pre-season: we smash Lyon 6-0.

Walcott and Oxlade against Chelsea: we finally beat them.

Season starts: bench all speed and movement and revert to handicapping the team and individuals by shoe-horning in favourites, undroppables, record signings and seniors despite their respective form, fitness and lack of chemistry.

Complete psychopath.


Back on topic: Dunk signs a new contract with Brighton.

[Power n Glory]

Berahino wouldn't be utilised properly anyway, as seen with Walcott and Oxlade, so what's the point?

The only hope for some change is if we get injuries and we have to play at least two quick forwards and a functional midfield.

Or we land two worldies on deadline day and Wenger is compelled to play them because they're expensive and senior.

Walcott and Alexis in the FA Cup final: we win 4-0.

Iwobi and Oxlade in pre-season: we smash Lyon 6-0.

Walcott and Oxlade against Chelsea: we finally beat them.

Season starts: bench all speed and movement and revert to handicapping the team and individuals by shoe-horning in favourites, undroppables, record signings and seniors despite their respective form, fitness and lack of chemistry.

Complete psychopath.


Back on topic: Dunk signs a new contract with Brighton.

:gp: Beat me to the punch. We've had raw talent and squandered it. Besides not being played properly, I doubt he'll develop into the player we need.

[Niall_Quinn]

Berahino wouldn't be utilised properly anyway, as seen with Walcott and Oxlade, so what's the point?

The only hope for some change is if we get injuries and we have to play at least two quick forwards and a functional midfield.

Or we land two worldies on deadline day and Wenger is compelled to play them because they're expensive and senior.

Walcott and Alexis in the FA Cup final: we win 4-0.

Iwobi and Oxlade in pre-season: we smash Lyon 6-0.

Walcott and Oxlade against Chelsea: we finally beat them.

Season starts: bench all speed and movement and revert to handicapping the team and individuals by shoe-horning in favourites, undroppables, record signings and seniors despite their respective form, fitness and lack of chemistry.

Complete psychopath.


Back on topic: Dunk signs a new contract with Brighton.

We missed out on Dunk too? :doh:

[Kano]

Berahino wouldn't be utilised properly anyway, as seen with Walcott and Oxlade, so what's the point?

The only hope for some change is if we get injuries and we have to play at least two quick forwards and a functional midfield.

Or we land two worldies on deadline day and Wenger is compelled to play them because they're expensive and senior.

Walcott and Alexis in the FA Cup final: we win 4-0.

Iwobi and Oxlade in pre-season: we smash Lyon 6-0.

Walcott and Oxlade against Chelsea: we finally beat them.

Season starts: bench all speed and movement and revert to handicapping the team and individuals by shoe-horning in favourites, undroppables, record signings and seniors despite their respective form, fitness and lack of chemistry.

Complete psychopath.


Back on topic: Dunk signs a new contract with Brighton.

To be fair - and I don't know why I am being - those three results are fairly useless in the long run. Villa were a joke that day and the other two were inconsequential friendlies that only served to heighten expectation when really most fans should've been smarter about what was to follow. Ox started the first game and didn't play well, added to him contributing to their second goal. So Wenger reverted back to last seasons formula and pubbed a win, quite a lot like last season. I don't expect us to do more than pub wins because let's face it, most of the teams in the league do it weekly, top four included.

I don't think it was unreasonable to start with the same team that had just won us a game and was 'successful' last season. In the long run I expected us to come up short because the problems we have seen since the start of the season still exist but last nights first half was inexcusable. The defending was abysmal and the passing was just as responsible for putting ourselves under continual pressure. Added to a total of five shots on goal. Absolutely piss poor.

We could've started with all the width in the world yesterday but if the players can't do the basics, the performances will be the same. That game needed one or two players to take ownership when things were going wrong - not to drag it out for a whole 45 minutes. Unless we get some real, horrible scrotes into our team, it will always be the same. Even if we have an Aguero upfront, we'll fall apart in the middle and at the back at some stage, undermining our chances ourselves as we always do. The sort of players we hate seeing playing for other teams but would love in they were doing the same for us.

This soft-peddling, lightweight centre is never going to win us a thing. We used to have real bastards that could play and mix it up and the Invincibles weren't able to pass that on to the next team as the old English guard did to them because they left the club far too quickly to continue the culture. Wenger can't and won't do it. So we've been left with a big hole where we lack cynical players unwilling to disrupt the flow of a match, wind up opposition in order for us to recompose and stop a side taking control of the game. It's an essential part of any winning team - think of a continually successful one and the list of wankers is easy to pick out. Wenger out is the only solution to fixing this issue.

[BOBN]

Berahino wouldn't be utilised properly anyway, as seen with Walcott and Oxlade, so what's the point?

The only hope for some change is if we get injuries and we have to play at least two quick forwards and a functional midfield.

Or we land two worldies on deadline day and Wenger is compelled to play them because they're expensive and senior.

Walcott and Alexis in the FA Cup final: we win 4-0.

Iwobi and Oxlade in pre-season: we smash Lyon 6-0.

Walcott and Oxlade against Chelsea: we finally beat them.

Season starts: bench all speed and movement and revert to handicapping the team and individuals by shoe-horning in favourites, undroppables, record signings and seniors despite their respective form, fitness and lack of chemistry.

Complete psychopath.


Back on topic: Dunk signs a new contract with Brighton.
Fair.

Not starting Ox is a sacking offense after his pre-season.

[Özim]

All in all Wenger has become a joke of a manager more interested in proving people wrong than doing the logical thing.

Sick of him and sick of his nonsense, get some proper manager in who believes football is about doing the best you can rather than believing 4th place is the best you can do.

[Niall_Quinn]

tbf, he has proved a lot of people wrong. Lots of people thought we could compete this season. Wenger showed them up within 90 minutes.

[Power n Glory]

To be fair - and I don't know why I am being - those three results are fairly useless in the long run. Villa were a joke that day and the other two were inconsequential friendlies that only served to heighten expectation when really most fans should've been smarter about what was to follow. Ox started the first game and didn't play well, added to him contributing to their second goal. So Wenger reverted back to last seasons formula and pubbed a win, quite a lot like last season. I don't expect us to do more than pub wins because let's face it, most of the teams in the league do it weekly, top four included.

I don't think it was unreasonable to start with the same team that had just won us a game and was 'successful' last season. In the long run I expected us to come up short because the problems we have seen since the start of the season still exist but last nights first half was inexcusable. The defending was abysmal and the passing was just as responsible for putting ourselves under continual pressure. Added to a total of five shots on goal. Absolutely piss poor.

We could've started with all the width in the world yesterday but if the players can't do the basics, the performances will be the same. That game needed one or two players to take ownership when things were going wrong - not to drag it out for a whole 45 minutes. Unless we get some real, horrible scrotes into our team, it will always be the same. Even if we have an Aguero upfront, we'll fall apart in the middle and at the back at some stage, undermining our chances ourselves as we always do. The sort of players we hate seeing playing for other teams but would love in they were doing the same for us.

This soft-peddling, lightweight centre is never going to win us a thing. We used to have real bastards that could play and mix it up and the Invincibles weren't able to pass that on to the next team as the old English guard did to them because they left the club far too quickly to continue the culture. Wenger can't and won't do it. So we've been left with a big hole where we lack cynical players unwilling to disrupt the flow of a match, wind up opposition in order for us to recompose and stop a side taking control of the game. It's an essential part of any winning team - think of a continually successful one and the list of wankers is easy to pick out. Wenger out is the only solution to fixing this issue.

Ox played well in the first game but made a mistake. That's all. Also, I think width would have made a difference in that game because it was so open. Our passing was shocking in the first half and the way we're set it it takes a string of passes to break down a defence. Which means we need 3 or 4 players on form and we didn't have that yesterday. If we had Ox and Theo playing earlier we could gave played a more direct game. We were close to a clear cut chance when Ox broke down the wing and fizzed in a cross to Theo with Skrtel scrambling back to get contact on the ball otherwise it's a goal. If we had more of that direct play instead of the tippy tappy crap we'd have tired them out and little, had them in a panic and maybe scored a goal or two. It was a way more open game then expected and we could have actually counter attacked them. Wenger missed a trick.

[Kano]

Ox played well in the first game but made a mistake. That's all. Also, I think width would have made a difference in that game because it was so open. Our passing was shocking in the first half and the way we're set it it takes a string of passes to break down a defence. Which means we need 3 or 4 players on form and we didn't have that yesterday. If we had Ox and Theo playing earlier we could gave played a more direct game. We were close to a clear cut chance when Ox broke down the wing and fizzed in a cross to Theo with Skrtel scrambling back to get contact on the ball otherwise it's a goal. If we had more of that direct play instead of the tippy tappy crap we'd have tired them out and little, had them in a panic and maybe scored a goal or two. It was a way more open game then expected and we could have actually counter attacked them. Wenger missed a trick.
That's not the point I'm making at all. You should know that because we exchanged posts before the game talking about width and using one of Ox or Walcott which I fully agreed we needed. What I'm saying is that it was reasonable for Wenger to start with the personnel he did - Ramsey scored a legit goal after all and if we had won because of that, the issue of width wouldn't have come up so heavily for now. The players attitude on the pitch affected how we passed and dealt with the subsequent pressure created by ourselves. Having Ox out wide wouldn't have altered that in the first half. So again, if you read my post you will see I am not saying it was the correct decision but one that didn't affect the calamity that was the first 45 minutes. Our problems are much bigger than having width and a good striker - Wenger constantly leans on the excuse that we suffered psychologically and we can see that with our own eyes too, so many crucial games where we seem timid and afraid of the occasion. Personnel needs to change throughout the entire team first to install a new attitude and toughness to our approach but that won't happen under Wenger.

[Power n Glory]

That's not the point I'm making at all. You should know that because we exchanged posts before the game talking about width and using one of Ox or Walcott which I fully agreed we needed. What I'm saying is that it was reasonable for Wenger to start with the personnel he did - Ramsey scored a legit goal after all and if we had won because of that, the issue of width wouldn't have come up so heavily for now. The players attitude on the pitch affected how we passed and dealt with the subsequent pressure created by ourselves. Having Ox out wide wouldn't have altered that in the first half. So again, if you read my post you will see I am not saying it was the correct decision but one that didn't affect the calamity that was the first 45 minutes. Our problems are much bigger than having width and a good striker - Wenger constantly leans on the excuse that we suffered psychologically and we can see that with our own eyes too, so many crucial games where we seem timid and afraid of the occasion. Personnel needs to change throughout the entire team first to install a new attitude and toughness to our approach but that won't happen under Wenger.

I remember the conversation and understand your post. I agree in some parts but what I'm saying is we play a system too dependent on all components functioning to be effective. I don't think it's a problem with the players or their mentality. It's the system that's the problem. It's the coaching and philosophy Wenger preaches. It's the pass, pass, pass, pass, pass mentality that gets drilled into them. Or I should say the mentality stems from the system and coaching.

The players get too focused in trying to find a rhythm in their passing game and when that gets disrupted or we're having an off day, they'll keep trying to find that rhythm instead of trying to find a goal. They won't waver from their approach and try to be more direct, they'll keep attempting this intricate game and we saw that last night. Chambers trying to pass it out of goal instead of hoofing it. Coquelin passing it back into the danger area which lead to another passing mistake and forcing that Cech save. Mistake after mistake and it messes with our confidence.

When we have such games, we can't have a team full of passers on the field because the only way they'll take ownership of the game is by trying to dictate with their passing but it won't work if the surrounding players are having a complete mare with their passing game and control. It's a shame Sanchez isn't fully fit because he's often the type of player that would just go direct and save our bacon. It's why I think a player like Ox or Theo in that game would have made a difference. They'd attack the goal and get the team out of that funk of trying to find a rhythm.

[Kano]

Nah, this personnel aren't up to it. Not enough in there to achieve more that they have. There's no real backbone and they are too mentally fragile. No leaders in there when shit hits the fan. Ship out personnel with the manager and start this shit again. It's too far down the line to save or turn this lot around.

[Power n Glory]

Agree with shipping out the manager but it's not the players. It's the training atmosphere he creates. We've had this problem with several other teams.

[Kano]

The spine of our first eleven is weak. A new manager comes in with his head screwed on, he'd rectify that and we'd see some of our little technical darlings shipped on. We're too nice to win the league or anything else of importance. We need some real cunts back in our team, without them we're limited.

[Munchies]

Just saw this again,


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SO5nfQEqGOg

As relevant as ever

:haha: :haha:

[Power n Glory]

The spine of our first eleven is weak. A new manager comes in with his head screwed on, he'd rectify that and we'd see some of our little technical darlings shipped on. We're too nice to win the league or anything else of importance. We need some real cunts back in our team, without them we're limited.

Maybe a new manager would have a different approach but I wouldn't say we're dropping points because we're too nice. That's not what happened yesterday at least. It's Wenger's philosophy. We don't need a massive overhaul.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

We really should have had enough yesterday. 4 clear cut chances as we have is actually enough to win a game....IF those chances are clear cut. Of the 20 odd shots a team may have in a game they won't all be clear chances.

One of them was perfectly legit and wrongly ruled offside, one or two was terribly squandered by Giroud and one or two squandered by Sanchez. You can only afford to waste so many of them before you will pay, usually.


Coquelin was immense and whilst we had our issues we'd fully taken charge in midfield by the second half.

[Power n Glory]

The spine of our first eleven is weak. A new manager comes in with his head screwed on, he'd rectify that and we'd see some of our little technical darlings shipped on. We're too nice to win the league or anything else of importance. We need some real cunts back in our team, without them we're limited.

Also, speaking of the system, early in the game, did you notice how both full backs had pushed forward at the same time? We mentioned this in the match thread and said both shouldn't push forward but they do. The thing is, even if we had been dominant against Liverpool and passed well, there is always that danger of being hit on a counter. Looking totally toothless and then getting sucker punched.

[Marc Overmars]

Linked with Aleksandr Kokorin, whoever that is.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/11824495/Arsenal-transfer-news-and-rumours-Gunners-close-in-on-Aleksandr-Kokorin-in-desperate-search-for-striker.html

He doesn't have much of a prolific pedigree, of course.

[Özim]

Linked with Aleksandr Kokorin, whoever that is.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/11824495/Arsenal-transfer-news-and-rumours-Gunners-close-in-on-Aleksandr-Kokorin-in-desperate-search-for-striker.html

He doesn't have much of a prolific pedigree, of course.

Can only hope this is BS because if Wenger signs this guy after all his claims about buying better players than frankly he's totally incompetent.

[Power n Glory]

Can only hope this is BS because if Wenger signs this guy after all his claims about buying better players than we have frankly he's totally incompetent.

You say that because he doesn't cost £50m.

[Kano]

Maybe a new manager would have a different approach but I wouldn't say we're dropping points because we're too nice. That's not what happened yesterday at least. It's Wenger's philosophy. We don't need a massive overhaul.
There's a severe lack of cynicism about this team, players unwilling to disrupt their opponents when things are not going well. That is because there are no players on the pitch - apart from Sanchez - willing to take responsibility to alter that. We're relying on a tenacious but vastly under experienced guy to cover ground in front of the defence, he's a blur or energy but with not enough nous about the role. You've said yourself that Kos is a pussy and that Giroud is too and it shows in how timid and unwilling they are to attack the ball in various situations. We lack men in the middle of that team that will take the hits, do the dirty stuff and drive the team forward when needed. Those players do not exist in this squad and the only way you'll get that back into the team is buying in that mentality. Every other successful team has it. That's why we almost achieved it back in 07/08 because we almost had that set of players. Gallas, Flamini and RVP could play and thug it up when necessary. But it wasn't enough because RVP didn't play much as usual, Gallas turned gay and Lehmann lost his place to Almunia. Two FA Cup wins have changed nothing nor has one measily away win to City - our record against the top 8 last year was a joke.

If Wenger had joined the club without that set of English players, I'm not sure we would have seen the success that followed. In a sense, they almost got in the way of his dream, which was an Ajax system where anyone could play anywhere as the ball is seamlessly stroked into the back of the net for another 6-5 victory. Yet even Ajax had their scrotes. We no longer have them and so we just look like the a bunch of frauds. The second half against Liverpool was a perfect illustration of that fraudulent approach after a comical first half and they flattered to deceive as they have done continually.

[LDG]

Aleksandr Kokorin :lol:

:crying:

Kokorin

Wengerout

[Power n Glory]

There's a severe lack of cynicism about this team, players unwilling to disrupt their opponents when things are not going well. That is because there are no players on the pitch - apart from Sanchez - willing to take responsibility to alter that. We're relying on a tenacious but vastly under experienced guy to cover ground in front of the defence, he's a blur or energy but with not enough nous about the role. You've said yourself that Kos is a pussy and that Giroud is too and it shows in how timid and unwilling they are to attack the ball in various situations. We lack men in the middle of that team that will take the hits, do the dirty stuff and drive the team forward when needed. Those players do not exist in this squad and the only way you'll get that back into the team is buying in that mentality. Every other successful team has it. That's why we almost achieved it back in 07/08 because we almost had that set of players. Gallas, Flamini and RVP could play and thug it up when necessary. But it wasn't enough because RVP didn't play much as usual, Gallas turned gay and Lehmann lost his place to Almunia. Two FA Cup wins have changed nothing nor has one measily away win to City - our record against the top 8 last year was a joke.

If Wenger had joined the club without that set of English players, I'm not sure we would have seen the success that followed. In a sense, they almost got in the way of his dream, which was an Ajax system where anyone could play anywhere as the ball is seamlessly stroked into the back of the net for another 6-5 victory. Yet even Ajax had their scrotes. We no longer have them and so we just look like the a bunch of frauds. The second half against Liverpool was a perfect illustration of that fraudulent approach after a comical first half and they flattered to deceive as they have done continually.

I think that's just a minor issue that papers over the cracks. You can point back to the 07/08 season and say it was down to being more cynical that lead that title run but we came close recently with the 12/13 season. Top of the table up until January and we could have won the league if he had signed a striker and looked after our players with better rotation and resting. It was clear we needed a striker in the summer, we fluffed our lines with Suarez and Higuain but could have rectified that problem in January but we didn't. We signed Kim Kallstrom. A player with a back injury that couldn't play and fill in for Ramsey who was crocked. And speaking of injuries, that's down to Wenger's poor man management. After crocking Ramsey, he goes on to crock Ozil and we slowly slip down the table and into 4th.

That wasn't the only season that we came close and fluffed our lines either. I can't remember which, but I think it was 09 or 10 where we were looking good, picked up injuries, didn't use the January window and then just went flat. It's these sort of decisions that have cost us when it looks like the team are in their groove but the manager does nothing to support it and keep the momentum going. Having tougher players in the squad would help but Kos turning his back on one or two shots isn't what's costing us week in week out. Giroud being soft isn't costing us either. It's the lack of quality in other areas that kills us because we could live with a less physical striker so long as they have the quality in other areas.

Wenger is just a problem. Even when our flawed tippy tappy approach is working and all the players push themselves to their peak he can't make the right decisions to maintain it.

[KSE Comedy Club]

You say that because he doesn't cost £50m.

Or because its true

[Power n Glory]

Or because its true

People need to trust Wenger more. Sanogo is 2% away from being the next Anelka.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

To be honest if we were in a market where there were great centre forwards to choose from id say yeah Wenger is being cheap.
But I think Benzema is average, I think Cavani is distinctly average too and if we are simply after someone to be better than Giroud than why not this Russian guy?. He's no less proven than Lacazette who we seem to all be keen on off the back of one season.
I haven't seen this guy so no idea how good he is (though I admit his goal scoring stats are hardly anything to be excited by), but the thing is irrespective of whether we change our approach on the pitch we still need a competent goal scorer and Giroud is not performing.

[KSE Comedy Club]

People need to trust Wenger more. Sanogo is 2% away from being the next Angela!
:lol:

[Niall_Quinn]

Linked with Aleksandr Kokorin, whoever that is.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/11824495/Arsenal-transfer-news-and-rumours-Gunners-close-in-on-Aleksandr-Kokorin-in-desperate-search-for-striker.html

He doesn't have much of a prolific pedigree, of course.

If he can score goals then fine. But I see his record is 47 in 190 odd games, in a lower quality league. So what does that give us?

[Özim]

If he can score goals then fine. But I see his record is 47 in 190 odd games, in a lower quality league. So what does that give us?

A chump.

This guy's record is awful, so let's not kid ourselves he's better than he is, we've had numerous players like this before with poor goal records and 90% of the time they fail miserably, it's not the time to take the risk on another nobody with a rubbish goal record.

[Power n Glory]

To be honest if we were in a market where there were great centre forwards to choose from id say yeah Wenger is being cheap.
But I think Benzema is average, I think Cavani is distinctly average too and if we are simply after someone to be better than Giroud than why not this Russian guy?. He's no less proven than Lacazette who we seem to all be keen on off the back of one season.
I haven't seen this guy so no idea how good he is (though I admit his goal scoring stats are hardly anything to be excited by), but the thing is irrespective of whether we change our approach on the pitch we still need a competent goal scorer and Giroud is not performing.

His stats are awful. It's an insult to our intelligence if he says this guy is the quality we've been waiting for. You're having a laugh.

[Özim]

His stats are awful. It's an insult to our intelligence if he says this guy is the quality we've been waiting for. You're having a laugh.

Exactly, this guy isn't the answer and we shouldn't even be considering him, rather buy someone who has a proven goal record at least.

[selassie]

If he can score goals then fine. But I see his record is 47 in 190 odd games, in a lower quality league. So what does that give us?

A project that Wenger can work on. Yeah I know...he's not what the team needs right now but...I wouldn't be in the slightest bit surprised if Wenger takes a punt on him.

If we do sign him and Wenger gets questioned no doubt he'll do his straw man argument of not being able to spend 250million on Messi.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Exactly, this guy isn't the answer and we shouldn't even be considering him, rather buy someone who has a proven goal record at least.

I do agree but the problem is who is that?.

I would go for Aubemeyang personally who can interchange with Sanchez

[GP]

We should sign aboomyang and Royce. Double dip at Dortmund.

[dostoy]

I would not write him off based on stats.

He is young and can improve but he would not have been first choice 3 months ago.

I would prefer Yarmolenko at this stage.

[Marc Overmars]

I think Aubemeyang signed a new deal last month. Though I agree he would be a good fit for us.

[Niall_Quinn]

We desperately need to sign an absolute nobody from the French lower leagues.

[Niall_Quinn]

We also need to sign an injured player.

[Niall_Quinn]

We need to put in a whole bunch of underbids on players who aren't available at any price.

[KSE Comedy Club]

If he can score goals then fine. But I see his record is 47 in 190 odd games, in a lower quality league. So what does that give us?

Sanogo 2

[Özim]

I would not write him off based on stats.

He is young and can improve but he would not have been first choice 3 months ago.

I would prefer Yarmolenko at this stage.

Think he's 24, sorry I've written him off, no more unproven's please at least if we are going to sign a lesser known player let it be someone with great goal record so we have something to hold onto.

[Özim]

We need to put in a whole bunch of underbids on players who aren't available at any price.

This is a must, there's a problem however, we no longer have a couple months to waste underbidding.

[Power n Glory]

Think he's 24, sorry I've written him off, no more unproven's please at least if we are going to sign a lesser known player let it be someone with great goal record so we have something to hold onto.

You're not alone. I still remember Park Chu Young and how that turned out.

[Niall_Quinn]

You're not alone. I still remember Park Chu Young and how that turned out.

Who?

[Power n Glory]

Exactly.

[fakeyank]

I really want us to sign Kalou

[rodders]

We will not progress until Arsene goes!!!

[Dein-machine]

If Wenger is indeed after a striker & we are now looking at an unknown, then it would suggest he wanted a striker pre-season. If he was under some misguided impression that Benzema would join us then there would be a reason for late bids for other strikers but if we've never been in for Benzema that excuse doesn't exist. Therefore, the question is - Why do we always leave things so long. He moans about the transfer window being open after the start of the season but this is when he does most of his business.
If he thinks this guy is better than what we have, why wasnt he signed during pre season - giving him time to get to know his team mates & be ready for season opener - its not as if any other top teams have been after him.
There's a reason why other top teams aren't after him. Its the same reason that other top teams weren't interested in Chamakh, Sonogo & Giroud when we bought them - simply not good enough. Welbeck couldn't even get in a struggling Utd side & yet we bought him to be our 30 goal a year dream machine that we've been missing.
Wenger is a total liability in the transfer market - its beyond a joke to not have improved the squad this summer & yet he carries on without a care in the world with a bunch of pussies on the board too scared to question him.

[Fist of Lehmann]

You can't quote me on this, but I think I've seen Kokorin play.

If I recall correctly, which I probably don't, he was a great big steaming sack of shit and decisively worse than anything we currently have (bar Sanogo).

Still, let's not write him off just yet. He might turn out to be above average.

[Niall_Quinn]

If Wenger is indeed after a striker & we are now looking at an unknown, then it would suggest he wanted a striker pre-season. If he was under some misguided impression that Benzema would join us then there would be a reason for late bids for other strikers but if we've never been in for Benzema that excuse doesn't exist. Therefore, the question is - Why do we always leave things so long. He moans about the transfer window being open after the start of the season but this is when he does most of his business.
If he thinks this guy is better than what we have, why wasnt he signed during pre season - giving him time to get to know his team mates & be ready for season opener - its not as if any other top teams have been after him.
There's a reason why other top teams aren't after him. Its the same reason that other top teams weren't interested in Chamakh, Sonogo & Giroud when we bought them - simply not good enough. Welbeck couldn't even get in a struggling Utd side & yet we bought him to be our 30 goal a year dream machine that we've been missing.
Wenger is a total liability in the transfer market - its beyond a joke to not have improved the squad this summer & yet he carries on without a care in the world with a bunch of pussies on the board too scared to question him.

He's just trying to make it to the close without spending, hence the haphazard and bound to fail approach. When top, top, top quality is under his nose he does nothing except say he would sign top, top, top quality if it was available. When results go to shit because he hasn't signed the top, top, top quality that was under his nose he goes on a panic spree and buys top, top, top quality like Santos, Park and Sanogo. He says one thing, does the opposite. It appears he didn't sign Ozil or Alexis for their ability to transform the team, but rather because they would be better bets to make his absolute bullshit vision of suckball work - the tippy tappy, eye of a gnat's cock, one hundred passes and lose it nonsense that hasn't worked, doesn't work and won't work. It's a complete fucking bore having to put up with his antics.

[Kano]

I think that's just a minor issue that papers over the cracks. You can point back to the 07/08 season and say it was down to being more cynical that lead that title run but we came close recently with the 12/13 season. Top of the table up until January and we could have won the league if he had signed a striker and looked after our players with better rotation and resting. It was clear we needed a striker in the summer, we fluffed our lines with Suarez and Higuain but could have rectified that problem in January but we didn't. We signed Kim Kallstrom. A player with a back injury that couldn't play and fill in for Ramsey who was crocked. And speaking of injuries, that's down to Wenger's poor man management. After crocking Ramsey, he goes on to crock Ozil and we slowly slip down the table and into 4th.

That wasn't the only season that we came close and fluffed our lines either. I can't remember which, but I think it was 09 or 10 where we were looking good, picked up injuries, didn't use the January window and then just went flat. It's these sort of decisions that have cost us when it looks like the team are in their groove but the manager does nothing to support it and keep the momentum going. Having tougher players in the squad would help but Kos turning his back on one or two shots isn't what's costing us week in week out. Giroud being soft isn't costing us either. It's the lack of quality in other areas that kills us because we could live with a less physical striker so long as they have the quality in other areas.

Wenger is just a problem. Even when our flawed tippy tappy approach is working and all the players push themselves to their peak he can't make the right decisions to maintain it.

This is another one of those where we'll keep circling each other and not reaching full agreement and in fairness, I can't be arsed to continue really. We agree about most things here.

So let's just be sensible and agree that you're wrong and you'll come to your sense in the end. Good man.

[Dein-machine]

He's just trying to make it to the close without spending, hence the haphazard and bound to fail approach. When top, top, top quality is under his nose he does nothing except say he would sign top, top, top quality if it was available. When results go to shit because he hasn't signed the top, top, top quality that was under his nose he goes on a panic spree and buys top, top, top quality like Santos, Park and Sanogo. He says one thing, does the opposite. It appears he didn't sign Ozil or Alexis for their ability to transform the team, but rather because they would be better bets to make his absolute bullshit vision of suckball work - the tippy tappy, eye of a gnat's cock, one hundred passes and lose it nonsense that hasn't worked, doesn't work and won't work. It's a complete fucking bore having to put up with his antics.

Either you & me ( & plenty of others on here ) are absolutely way-off the mark & seriously wrong about Wenger or Wenger & the board are seriously mugging us off. There is nothing inbetween.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

There is nothing inbetween.

That kind of remark is why even when you make insightful remarks I don't perhaps take you as seriously as I should

It's not that difficult to understand, we have a laisse faire board who don't want to interfere with the football side of the club and a manager who despite having more money to spend won't spend it. Dein has remarked upon Wenger and how indecisive he is at times, and when it comes to making money signings he'd rather do nothing than what he thinks might have been the wrong decision and often we end up with bargain basement people because it's less of a risk.
Is that a good way to run a football club by having a manager who is as worried about the clubs finances as those who are paid to have that responsibility? Absolutely not but the board are happy because as a business we are flourishing.
But there's no deliberate attempt to mug off the fans from Wenger it's just part of his personality....he is an oddball character. One that is too old to change his ways and one the club don't want to be rid of a) out of a sense of loyalty and b) because it means they'd have to actually give some thought as to who would replace him.
It's a house of complacency and if it's not broke don't fix it rather than contempt for fans

[Niall_Quinn]

That kind of remark is why even when you make insightful remarks I don't perhaps take you as seriously as I should

It's not that difficult to understand, we have a laisse faire board who don't want to interfere with the football side of the club and a manager who despite having more money to spend won't spend it. Dein has remarked upon Wenger and how indecisive he is at times, and when it comes to making money signings he'd rather do nothing than what he thinks might have been the wrong decision and often we end up with bargain basement people because it's less of a risk.
Is that a good way to run a football club by having a manager who is as worried about the clubs finances as those who are paid to have that responsibility? Absolutely not but the board are happy because as a business we are flourishing.
But there's no deliberate attempt to mug off the fans from Wenger it's just part of his personality....he is an oddball character. One that is too old to change his ways and one the club don't want to be rid of a) out of a sense of loyalty and b) because it means they'd have to actually give some thought as to who would replace him.
It's a house of complacency and if it's not broke don't fix it rather than contempt for fans

Doesn't that amount to contempt for the fans though. Milk them for every penny and then allow the personal interests of a minority to flourish while the majority has to sit there and put up with it? Pretty contemptuous. All told the fans have been, and many still are, ridiculously patient. We have bought into the stadium thing, why? Because we wanted to see the asset value and share price of the club rise? Fuck that! The whole stadium thing was so we could compete with the best. Now we get to season +2 after the money freeze was lifted, the old fuckers admit there's millions in the bank, we went into the season with ambitions to finally (fucking finally) mount a challenge but we still come up short with the same bunch of cocks sitting on their wallets. When they said compete with the best in Europe, I think it was fair enough to take it as read they meant on the football pitch. But maybe that's not what they meant at all, because we're top of the balance sheet league, top of the cash in bank league, top of the ticket prices league, top of the share price league. Bit one sided, isn't it?

Damn, the HAD to sign the players this summer that closed the gap. It was essential. That was the fucking deal. They are days away from breaking that deal. Deal's a deal and if they don't deliver then what are they other than con-artists?

[Master Splinter]

You can't quote me on this, but I think I've seen Kokorin play.

If I recall correctly, which I probably don't, he was a great big steaming sack of shit and decisively worse than anything we currently have (bar Sanogo).

Still, let's not write him off just yet. He might turn out to be above average.

I can indeed confirm he's a bit shit.

Berahino/Austin/Marica it is.

[Niall_Quinn]

I can indeed confirm he's a bit shit.

Berahino/Austin/Marica it is.

So it's safe to write him off then? I already had but I want to be certain.

[Power n Glory]

This is another one of those where we'll keep circling each other and not reaching full agreement and in fairness, I can't be arsed to continue really. We agree about most things here.

So let's just be sensible and agree that you're wrong and you'll come to your sense in the end. Good man.

:lol: my man! Touche!

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Looks like De Bruyne is finally off to City.

For an initial £54m :wacko:

Spurfs look like they're interested in Heung-Min Son. Decent by all accounts, but more a support forward than main goalscorer.

In even bigger news, Berahino has unfollwed West Brom on Twitter!

[Niall_Quinn]

Wonder what £40mill playa they are going to bench?

Comedy club.

[Bumble]

Would Austin be an improvement? He scored fair few last year in a rubbish side and a lot of them at home. He is 25 I think so would have some resale value when it doesn't work. Shouldn't need settling in time or moving house. Better than nothing.

Still think we need competition for coq.

[BOBN]

Watched a Euro football highlights show and they showed the Wolfsburg game.

Honestly I mistook De Bryne for Bendtner, who scored as it goes.

De Bryne looked absolutely woeful tbh. He doesnt improve them on that showing.

Would Austin be an improvement? He scored fair few last year in a rubbish side and a lot of them at home. He is 25 I think so would have some resale value when it doesn't work. Shouldn't need settling in time or moving house. Better than nothing.

Still think we need competition for coq.
New Franny Jeffers.

[GP]

Would Aus...

NO

[Marc Overmars]

Lol just lol at De Bruyne costing more than Zidane.

Even with inflation that's fucking mad.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Haven't watched De Boinng boingg play in the last year or so but by every report I've seen he has been brilliant for some time now....

[Master Splinter]

He looks sloppy at times, but there's no denying his productivity in the final third. Considering he has Aguero in front of him, he'll continue to produce.

The problem of balance could arise if he and Silva occupy each other's space and they could be suspect in the middle if Yaya, Silva and De Bruyne are all playing. But they'll absolutely hammer most teams when they're flowing and that will most likely win you the League, even if they don't beat all the top teams. Having too many attacking midfielders is a problem when we have an erratic and one-paced Giroud up front. But with Aguero and Sterling buzzing around, they'll always have someone to provide for and it creates space for themselves too.

Which is another way of saying: Wenger :doh:

[Niall_Quinn]

The biggest problem the gypos are going to have is they are all utter, utter cunts. Including the new cunt they just bought.

[Penguin]

He looks sloppy at times, but there's no denying his productivity in the final third. Considering he has Aguero in front of him, he'll continue to produce.

The problem of balance could arise if he and Silva occupy each other's space and they could be suspect in the middle if Yaya, Silva and De Bruyne are all playing. But they'll absolutely hammer most teams when they're flowing and that will most likely win you the League, even if they don't beat all the top teams. Having too many attacking midfielders is a problem when we have an erratic and one-paced Giroud up front. But with Aguero and Sterling buzzing around, they'll always have someone to provide for and it creates space for themselves too.

Which is another way of saying: Wenger :doh:

Is De Bruyne any good out wide or is he primarily a CAM? If it's the latter I can't see him displacing Silva, and it would be stupid to move Silva wide to accommodate him.

If he can play wide it's automatically an upgrade on both Navas and Nasri.

[Gooner23]

As this thread is now about other team's transfer speculation and shit, Everton would be mad to turn down huge money for Stones. I really don't think he's anything special.

[PGFC]

He built the pyramids?

[KSE Comedy Club]

Benzema rumour is back on today :coffee:

[Niall_Quinn]

Benzema rumour is back on today :coffee:

Here on GW or generally?

[KSE Comedy Club]

Here on GW or generally?

Generally. The telegraph is reporting that some French journo reckons we've been holding secret talks

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

They just can't bare to be wrong can they.

We were NEVER interested in signing him

[Niall_Quinn]

Generally. The telegraph is reporting that some French journo reckons we've been holding secret talks

Secret, or double secret?

[Dein-machine]

They have to be secret, otherwise it would suggest that Wenger doesn't think that Giroud & Welbeck are good enough, when actually he stated that they are whilst we & the media have stated their not - its all about not being proven wrong, when the last ten years have simply proven him wrong year after year.

[AFC Leveller]

Arsene Wenger has admitted that he is satisfied with his strikers and says his team should be judged at the end of the season.

"Quality is linked with spirit, which itself is linked with quality and i believe that we have enough goals in the team to show we have the quality and spirit to become a top side".

[KSE Comedy Club]

Secret, or double secret?

Double with a cherry on top 😉

[Dein-machine]

Arsene Wenger has admitted that he is satisfied with his strikers and says his team should be judged at the end of the season.

"Quality is linked with spirit, which itself is linked with quality and i believe that we have enough goals in the team to show we have the quality and spirit to become a top side".

We shouldnt be surprised with anything he comes out with - he's swear black was white if it suited him. Have we not failed to score at home in 5 out of last 7 games & he comes out with a statement like that. Shouldn't the board seriously get him checked out medically - just for insurance purposes.

[AFC Leveller]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2555617-theo-walcott-and-gunnersauras-star-in-hilarious-dizzy-goals-challenge

1:28 a footballing dinosaur watching Gunnersaurus taking a pel.

[Niall_Quinn]

Arsene Wenger has admitted that he is satisfied with his strikers and says his team should be judged at the end of the season.

"Quality is linked with spirit, which itself is linked with quality and i believe that we have enough goals in the team to show we have the quality and spirit to become a top side".

Did he actually say this or did he say. "Hello", and then the media extrapolated from that?

If he said it - obviously should be fired on the spot. Can't have a manager that watches the same thing season after season and still believes next season will be the charm. Has to go if he's said this.

If he didn't say it - obviously he should be fired on the spot. Can't have a manager that watches the same thing season after season but refuses to fix it.

[Syn]

Need to sign an 18 year old Anelka. Wenger needs to roll back the years to stop our tears and give our lives meaning.

[Power n Glory]

Did he actually say this or did he say. "Hello", and then the media extrapolated from that?

If he said it - obviously should be fired on the spot. Can't have a manager that watches the same thing season after season and still believes next season will be the charm. Has to go if he's said this.

If he didn't say it - obviously he should be fired on the spot. Can't have a manager that watches the same thing season after season but refuses to fix it.

He's said this before about our strikers. He thinks we have enough goals up front but we need more goals from the midfield. He doesn't rule anything, he wants an exceptional player :blah: I don't think we're getting anyone. He ruled himself out of spending 'silly money' and it will take a huge fee for someone exceptional. Time to give up the ghost on this one.

[Power n Glory]

Need to sign an 18 year old Anelka. Wenger needs to roll back the years to stop our tears and give our lives meaning.

You haven't seen Sanogo? Sanogo is an under 20 World Champion, you know?

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/9178541/arsene-wenger-says-yaya-sanogo-can-be-new-nicolas-anelka

[AFC Leveller]

Did he actually say this or did he say. "Hello", and then the media extrapolated from that?

If he said it - obviously should be fired on the spot. Can't have a manager that watches the same thing season after season and still believes next season will be the charm. Has to go if he's said this.

If he didn't say it - obviously he should be fired on the spot. Can't have a manager that watches the same thing season after season but refuses to fix it.

:lol:

I cannot belive you guys think that is real!

he did say this though:

The main European transfer periods also end the day before and Wenger believes there is a benefit to that for him.

He added: "On the last day, we will be the only ones on the market and not face any competition with the others."

[Niall_Quinn]

:lol:

I cannot belive you guys think that is real!

he did say this though:

The main European transfer periods also end the day before and Wenger believes there is a benefit to that for him.

He added: "On the last day, we will be the only ones on the market and not face any competition with the others."

If he said that he should be sacked.

[AFC Leveller]

If he said that he should be sacked.

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/9967515/arsene-wenger-available-24-hours-for-arsenal-transfers-but-not-close-to-new-signing

[Özim]

His "waiting period" excuse is tiresome, every other club seems to manage to find players all summer, he has to wait until we're a month into the season giving players no time to get use to the club and teammates, joker.

[Unai Tea]

His "waiting period" excuse is tiresome, every other club seems to manage to find players all summer, he has to wait until we're a month into the season giving players no time to get use to the club and teammates, joker.

'Ve are working very hard, waiting.'

[Kano]

Western Ireland far more attractive than Manchester for Neymar after all

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34074211

[AFC Leveller]

Can anyone tell me how DeBryune is a 60m pound player? have i missed his WPOTY wards or his CL medals recently?

[Kano]

Wolfsburg rightly shafting a club overflowing with owner and TV money.

Why else is Stones being rated at £30m+ and Berahino £20m+? These clubs that hoarde talent and rip the best away from burgeoning teams deserve to have the arse ripped out of them.

[Injury Time]

Wolfsburg rightly shafting a club overflowing with owner and TV money.

Why else is Stones being rated at £30m+ and Berahino £20m+? These clubs that hoarde talent and rip the best away from burgeoning teams deserve to have the arse ripped out of them.
They are so rich the money is irrelevant, they want THEIR toy to be the bestest eva! Anyone else thinking the fair play money thing in retrospect had curbed a little of this sort of shit, or just my tired mind?

[Ralpheroo72]

Our transfer dealings have been completed. Cech will be our one and only signing. I doubt even sky sports will bother with someone reporting from London Colney this time round. Its sad, because we aren't that far away from being a serious title challenging side, I juts don't get what the club are thinking leaving it like this.

[fakeyank]

Our transfer dealings have been completed. Cech will be our one and only signing. I doubt even sky sports will bother with someone reporting from London Colney this time round. Its sad, because we aren't that far away from being a serious title challenging side, I juts don't get what the club are thinking leaving it like this.

Club has left it to the modern Jesus Christ of Arsenal aka Wenger to sort stuff out. Like they said "When wenger has a plan, we back it OR else we STFU and twiddle our arse holes"

[Niall_Quinn]

They are so rich the money is irrelevant, they want THEIR toy to be the bestest eva! Anyone else thinking the fair play money thing in retrospect had curbed a little of this sort of shit, or just my tired mind?

FFP seemed to be working. Then the shysters got involved and fat bastards like Martin Samuel were hired to pretend the restrictions were killing teams like Scunthorpe (he may be a huge bastard who eats pies for a living but he sure is a champion of the little clubs, when convenient). With the shysters threatening to rob him and Samuel threatening to sit on him Platini relented and ran away to FIFA. Upshot, the gypos are back to spunking £150mill per season. It's okay, it's great news for the little clubs.

[Penguin]

Can anyone tell me how DeBryune is a 60m pound player? have i missed his WPOTY wards or his CL medals recently?

Well City spent £50m on Sterling, so £60m is a bargain for De Bruyne.

[Kano]

They are so rich the money is irrelevant, they want THEIR toy to be the bestest eva! Anyone else thinking the fair play money thing in retrospect had curbed a little of this sort of shit, or just my tired mind?

Basically Platini grew a pair then watched them magically shrink back into his fragile scrotum once it was challenged in the courts. The lawyer who brought about the Bosman was hired by PSG and Citeh's supporter clubs (obviously backed by the clubs who were too ashamed to be the public face) and a fucking agent. So it has basically reverted back to what it was before, the only difference for any debt run up is that it has to be 'secured' by the shareholders. Which in the murky world of finance ruled by imaginary numbers that never translate into real money and the constant manipulation of loop holes and corruption means they can do what they want. So as usual the direction of our game has been decided by a bunch of suits, whose only vested interest is how much money they can suck out of its withering corpse before the whole thing implodes and they move on to the next economic boom.

[Power n Glory]

FFP seemed to be working. Then the shysters got involved and fat bastards like Martin Samuel were hired to pretend the restrictions were killing teams like Scunthorpe (he may be a huge bastard who eats pies for a living but he sure is a champion of the little clubs, when convenient). With the shysters threatening to rob him and Samuel threatening to sit on him Platini relented and ran away to FIFA. Upshot, the gypos are back to spunking £150mill per season. It's okay, it's great news for the little clubs.

FFP wasn't a good ruling IMO. It stops the mega rich from spending but also just protects the status quo. It's impossible for a small club to grow organically these days so outside investment is the best hope they have. Or at least they could demand silly money from the likes of City and Chelsea if they want to poach their best players.

It's a BS rule that just stops the new money clubs from spending silly money but fuckers like Real Madrid, Utd, Barca, etc will get away with inflating the market and spending world record fees as they've always done. If they want fairness andnto protect football, they need to come up with a system that looks after all clubs. Some sort of salary cap or whatever. FFP was bullshit.

[Kano]

FFP wasn't a good ruling IMO. It stops the mega rich from spending but also just protects the status quo. It's impossible for a small club to grow organically these days so outside investment is the best hope they have. Or at least they could demand silly money from the likes of City and Chelsea if they want to poach their best players.

It's a BS rule that just stops the new money clubs from spending silly money but fuckers like Real Madrid, Utd, Barca, etc will get away with inflating the market and spending world record fees as they've always done. If they want fairness andnto protect football, they need to come up with a system that looks after all clubs. Some sort of salary cap or whatever. FFP was bullshit.

Fairness doesn’t and can’t exist in a capitalist system, which is what drives football now. The focus is primarily on the the winners because that is the only way it can feasibly continue to function, just like the 'real' world we live in.

Inevitably at the other end of the scale that means you have to have losers too, which is what we are increasingly seeing in and outside of the football world. FFP was a brave attempt but one that the courts, kept in the pockets of Governments who are now essentially run by corporations that invest huge amounts into their political campaigns, would never have been able to uphold.

The smaller clubs will continue to be picked apart after a season or two of fleeting ‘success', whilst the corporate clubs slosh around in the swill of their dirty money, continuing to drive up prices on and off the pitch, all in favour of the ‘beautiful game’. Arsenal will be in that club sooner rather than later if it wants to survive, this idea of sustainability is a short term win for the shareholders but in the long term the club will have to be shifted onto a billionaire crook that will eventually leverage huge debt against it.

[Niall_Quinn]

FFP wasn't a good ruling IMO. It stops the mega rich from spending but also just protects the status quo. It's impossible for a small club to grow organically these days so outside investment is the best hope they have. Or at least they could demand silly money from the likes of City and Chelsea if they want to poach their best players.

It's a BS rule that just stops the new money clubs from spending silly money but fuckers like Real Madrid, Utd, Barca, etc will get away with inflating the market and spending world record fees as they've always done. If they want fairness andnto protect football, they need to come up with a system that looks after all clubs. Some sort of salary cap or whatever. FFP was bullshit.

It wasn't ideal but it was a brake until a better solution could be found. Brakes are off now so titles and trophies are once again reserved for the highest bidders. It remains a hilarious contradiction that the majority will not contemplate anarchy as a form of government (as that would automatically result in chaos, apparently) but they are happy to see the real authority in their lives, the economy, in a conveniently anarchic state. Lawyers - creatures that have encoded common sense and charge for the translation. More humour in the fact that if you or I earn more than the guy down the road they have an answer for that, more tax. Never challenged in the court, is it? So what about the concept of a tax on the big spenders and a subsidy extracted from that tax made available to the sensible spenders? Can't do it, of course. It would cramp the style of the capitalists and would therefore get the lawyers' arses twitching again. One rule for us and another for them.

But anyway, well done gypos, another deserved title. Legends.

[Niall_Quinn]

Fairness doesn’t and can’t exist in a capitalist system, which is what drives football now. The focus is primarily on the the winners because that is the only way it can feasibly continue to function, just like the 'real' world we live in.

Inevitably at the other end of the scale that means you have to have losers too, which is what we are increasingly seeing in and outside of the football world. FFP was a brave attempt but one that the courts, kept in the pockets of Governments who are now essentially run by corporations that invest huge amounts into their political campaigns, would never have been able to uphold.

The smaller clubs will continue to be picked apart after a season or two of fleeting ‘success', whilst the corporate clubs slosh around in the swill of their dirty money, continuing to drive up prices on and off the pitch, all in favour of the ‘beautiful game’. Arsenal will be in that club sooner rather than later if it wants to survive, this idea of sustainability is a short term win for the shareholders but in the long term the club will have to be shifted onto a billionaire crook that will eventually leverage huge debt against it.

Well said. But fairness can exist in a capitalist system underpinned by a functional system of justice. And in fact we need a clean capitalist system to advance as a species, at least in this stage of our evolution. Socialism never cut it anywhere for an extended period of time, mostly because it has always been communism masquerading as socialism (just as the vulture capitalist system is a form of communism). Justice is the issue. Lawyers do everything in their extensive power to ensure it never surfaces. Can't go anywhere or do anything useful while lawyers hold sway.

[Niall_Quinn]

4 days to go and no credible source that says we're in for anyone. So have we successfully managed to keep our imminent deals secret throughout the summer or are we just sitting on our hands waiting it out with excuses at the ready? Obviously if we don't bring in the players we need then we won't be mounting a serious challenge for this title. But if we fail to act then next summer we'll be hearing stories about bids for Alexis, Ozil, Ramsey. 4 days left to go forward or else backwards we go.

[selassie]

4 days to go and no credible source that says we're in for anyone. So have we successfully managed to keep our imminent deals secret throughout the summer or are we just sitting on our hands waiting it out with excuses at the ready? Obviously if we don't bring in the players we need then we won't be mounting a serious challenge for this title. But if we fail to act then next summer we'll be hearing stories about bids for Alexis, Ozil, Ramsey. 4 days left to go forward or else backwards we go.

I don't think Arsene is really that serious about strengthening the squad given his comments on Arsenal.com If they were working hard day and night like he tells us then why didn't/haven't we strengthened before now?

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20150827/-we-work-day-and-night-on-signings-


‘We work day and night on signings’ Arsène Wenger says Arsenal are working hard to bring in new players before the close of the transfer window - but admits they are not close to completing a deal.
The Gunners have already strengthened their squad this summer by signing Petr Cech (http://www.arsenal.com/first-team/players/petr-cech) from Chelsea, and Wenger is open to the idea of buying another player should the opportunity arise.

I am always confident that a last-minute situation or solution is available
Arsène Wenger
“I am always confident that a last-minute situation or solution is available, because the transfer market is especially moving in the last four or five days,” he said. “But at the moment I cannot promise you that.
“We have specific targets but sometimes you get an idea from somebody because you didn’t know that the player you like was available and if you get an opportunity you do it.

“We work very hard, you know I have a team around me who work day and night to find good solutions. I am 24 hours available per day, so I am involved in the decision of course, but at the moment we are not close to signing anyone.”

This season’s transfer window closes at the earlier time of 6pm, a day after other European leagues, and Wenger believes this will have an impact.

“Before you had until midnight,” he said. “Maybe it was not very comfortable for the Premier League but it was a bit easier but people adapt to the timing.
“The implications [of the European window shutting a day early] is that on the last day we will be the only ones on the market and not face any competition with the others.”

[Gooner23]

4 days to go and no credible source that says we're in for anyone. So have we successfully managed to keep our imminent deals secret throughout the summer or are we just sitting on our hands waiting it out with excuses at the ready? Obviously if we don't bring in the players we need then we won't be mounting a serious challenge for this title. But if we fail to act then next summer we'll be hearing stories about bids for Alexis, Ozil, Ramsey. 4 days left to go forward or else backwards we go.

If we don't seriously compete for the league this year, and it's not looking great at the moment, I can't see us keeping hold of Ozil and Sanchez next summer.

[Niall_Quinn]

I guess we just have to be gulliblepositive and hope the club can sort itself out in the next few days.