Summer Transfer Misery 2017/18

[Power n Glory]

I actually responded to that :lol:, so I don't think it's me who has the reading problem.



Well, those things are of concern and it's why we're not as competitive as we should be given our squad. But contrary to some people's opinions I don't see us in a terminal decline. We are stagnating and have done so for years.
I care about our finances only in as much as it's important in the modern game.
We are treading water while Wenger remains with us but were he to leave now I don't think we'd be in bad shape for the new manager. Whether we will be in 2 years remains to be seen but past performance indicates we are unlikely to terminally decline under him so I'm not sure there's reason to believe that we'll be in a worse (or better) stage when he does leave. Possible that we will start to decline under him but we haven't yet despite people's predictions that we'd be in mid-table by now.

Then it's a comprehension problem. You're still asking what I mean after I've made the point.

We ended up in 5th despite spending more money than we ever did when first moving into the Emirates.

You always come back at people that say this is the year we’ll finally drop out of the top 4 and when it finally happens you’re still in denial. We may not see a steep sharp fall off a cliff anytime soon but whilst we’ve stagnated, the tides are rising.

Furthermore, put aside constant goal post shifting when it comes to measuring performances. The question is, if you’re not watching the football and have lost interest because of the way we’re managed, how is that a sign of us being in ‘good shape’? Why even argue about performances if you no longer give a shit about the club? The argument has gone way over your head. Forget any talk of falling out of the top 4 or being a midtable team, that’s nothing compared to fans just throwing the towel in. It’s bigger than GW. I guarantee that most people on here that used to speak with close friends and family about Arsenal don’t even bother any more. I know that’s true of my circle and I’ve a lot of other people say the same. That’s the bigger picture. You can see it and hear it at the ground as well.

If Wenger would have left this season, I’d agree about us being in good shape to change things up. There would have been hope to hanging on to Sanchez and even if not, I’m sure a new manager would have had an idea for possible replacements. But what I didn’t anticipate is the way prices have gone through the roof. God knows what we’ll be looking at in two years and that’s even if Wenger leaves in two years. Again, we have an owner that still renewed his contract despite dropping out of the top 4 and obvious drop in revenue plus fan discontent. Fuck knows the type of manager they decide to appoint when he finally fucks offs. That’s the real worry. If they do something stupid like appoint a complete novice to takeover, we’re going to be fucked.

Also, how can you not see us in a state of decline despite constantly referencing Man Utd dropping out of the Top 4 after changing managers?

[Niall_Quinn]

LOL. He's doing it on purpose.

[GP]

He's even more senile than the child rapist Donald Trump.

[Niall_Quinn]

He's even more senile than the child rapist Donald Trump.

:gp:

[Letters]

We ended up in 5th despite spending more money than we ever did when first moving into the Emirates.
OK. And the 3 seasons before that we finished 4th, then 3rd, then 2nd. Yes, we then dropped to 5th but if you draw a graph of those 4 years then there's no clear trend, is there?
Last year's 5th place COULD be the start of a downward trend or it could be a blip. We can't tell right now.


The question is, if you’re not watching the football and have lost interest because of the way we’re managed, how is that a sign of us being in ‘good shape’?
I'm not sure how my personal interest, or lack thereof, is in any way correlated with the state of the club. You cited a general lowering of interest and while that is certainly evident on here (particularly by NQ who has watched both games so far and avidly posted about them in the match threads to show how disinterested he is), there is only a problem for the club if there is a serious drop in match day revenue and so far I haven't see much evidence of that.
I've lost interest because of the endless Groundhog Day at Arsenal and because of how football as a sport has gone. That COULD become a problem if the disinterest becomes more widespread and the ground starts to empty but right now that hasn't happened. And actually, even if it did that might wake the board up to replace the manager and it wouldn't take much for the fans to return. A new manager here, a key signing there. As I said it's almost impossible to completely walk away from it all, it's not like supermarkets where you can start shopping at another one and you probably won't switch back. It wouldn't take much for fans to get engaged again. If they change to the wrong manager then that could see us decline more seriously although the whole way football is set up right now is designed to keep the rich clubs rich. Utd did drop out of the top 4 when they changed to Moyes but it hasn't taken them long to get back on track because they have the resources to do so and I imagine they'll be back up there this season.


Why even argue about performances if you no longer give a shit about the club?
When did I ever say I don't care about the club? It's almost impossible to completely disassociate oneself from it, I kept an eye on the score on Friday and I watched the highlights (wouldn't have done had we lost).
But I'm not as interested as I used to be, I have no idea who we are playing next or when. A few years ago it would have been in my diary, now I'm more "Meh" about it.

We could be 'fucked' but it's impossible to be so certain about that right now.

[Power n Glory]

I've lost interest because of the endless Groundhog Day at Arsenal and because of how football as a sport has gone. That COULD become a problem if the disinterest becomes more widespread and the ground starts to empty but right now that hasn't happened. And actually, even if it did that might wake the board up to replace the manager and it wouldn't take much for the fans to return. A new manager here, a key signing there

As said, dropping out of the CL has resulted in a drop in revenue but Wenger was still handed a new contract. We're talking about people really having to give up on the club to see a change and there are no guarantees fans will return if interest drops so low.


Why even argue about performances if you no longer give a shit about the club?

Figure of speech, Letters. You've lost interest. That's bad enough.

[Letters]

It is bad that I've lost interest although to be honest I feel a bit "meh" about the whole game now. It's not the sport I grew up with, it's not a sport at all any more really and I really don't care that much which billionaire's team beats which other billionaire's team.
Personally I hope the bubble bursts and from the wreckage we might be able to salvage something. Don't see that happening any time soon though.

[Power n Glory]

It is bad that I've lost interest although to be honest I feel a bit "meh" about the whole game now. It's not the sport I grew up with, it's not a sport at all any more really and I really don't care that much which billionaire's team beats which other billionaire's team.
Personally I hope the bubble bursts and from the wreckage we might be able to salvage something. Don't see that happening any time soon though.

More people are coming away with that view hence why I think we’re in bad shape. Even with Wenger gone, I think it would take a lot to get people back if fans turn their back on the sport.

[Letters]

Maybe, although fans are very fickle. But I don't see an en masse turning of backs is a bad thing if it happens across the board. Might even turn it into a sport again.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Yeah I think it's more of a constant drip feed of apathy.

People aren't abandoning the game en masse, but every season they are just shrugging their shoulders a little bit more

I remember a time when an Arsenal defeat used to put me in a bad mood for the entire weekend, now it's just a quick blast of "fuck Wenger" and moving on.

If I still had same enthusiasm for football. I think I would have been incandescent with rage over Wenger not only signing a new contract but getting up to his old prevaricating bullshit in the transfer market, now I'm just what you gonna do?

[Power n Glory]

Yeah I think it's more of a constant drip feed of apathy.

People aren't abandoning the game en masse, but every season they are just shrugging their shoulders a little bit more

I remember a time when an Arsenal defeat used to put me in a bad mood for the entire weekend, now it's just a quick blast of "fuck Wenger" and moving on.

If I still had same enthusiasm for football. I think I would have been incandescent with rage over Wenger not only signing a new contract but getting up to his old prevaricating bullshit in the transfer market, now I'm just what you gonna do?

Exactly. It's going It's a gradual process.

[Letters]

Aye. I think part of it is getting older. A defeat against Spurs would put me in a bad mood for a week.
Now I tend not to bother watching, generally check the result after, think "oh", and get on with my day.
Almost impossible to completely get away with it, I was genuinely irritated when I saw we'd got 3-2 down on Friday and pleased when I saw we'd won, but I certainly don't plan my weeks or life in any way around Arsenal games any more.

[Power n Glory]

Maybe, although fans are very fickle. But I don't see an en masse turning of backs is a bad thing if it happens across the board. Might even turn it into a sport again.

It might help. But in our case, we're depending on the Board to make the right choice when it comes to our next manager.

[Letters]

Wenger will probably choose them :trophy:


:ilt:

[Marc Overmars]

Gabriel could be on his way out. Valencia interested.

So much for that stat software. :violin:

[Niall_Quinn]

18 mill for Jonny Evans :haha:

:haha:

:haha:

:doh:

:lol:

:haha:

[Niall_Quinn]

Gabriel could be on his way out. Valencia interested.

So much for that stat software. :violin:

Could we not sell the software too? Cheeky fiver?

[Niall_Quinn]

And does this mean that crackpipe sucking crackpot Wenger genuinely fancies Elneny as a CB? Because you know all our CBs are due to be injured within the next few weeks.

[Globalgunner]

Serge Aurier to Spurs. Why are we not in there...we desperately need a RB. Bellerin is looking really pish these days anyway...and who else to back him up?. wasnt he supposed to be an Arsenal fan anyway?

[Power n Glory]

Serge Aurier to Spurs. Why are we not in there...we desperately need a RB. Bellerin is looking really pish these days anyway...and who else to back him up?. wasnt he supposed to be an Arsenal fan anyway?

When you reward a very green and inexperienced rightback a contract worth up to a reported £100k a week, you’re now committed to seeing that player develop and play week in week out. I highly doubt we’re looking at other players to take his spot because of a dip in form.

Speaking of wages, I’m shocked that we doled out £100k to Bellerin with little fuss but wouldn’t offer that much to Sagna! We really should reward loyalty. Sagna was getting older and not that great going forward but he was a solid defender and I feel like our defence has been shaky since he left. We were looking solid just before he left and shouldn’t have disrupted it. Should have made Bellerin fight to win his place from Sagna and it would also keep Sagna on his toes.

[Özim]

Gabriel could be on his way out. Valencia interested.

So much for that stat software. :violin:

Who would have thought that signing a player purely based on stats was maybe not the wisest idea. What a weird club.

[Letters]

You think he was only signed based only on stats? What's your basis for that? :blink:

[Power n Glory]

You think he was only signed based only on stats? What's your basis for that? :blink:

Have you heard of StatDNA before? The system Kroenke pushed for us to acquire.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jan/30/arsene-wenger-gabriel-paulista-signing


“I cannot tell you all but he has good stats,” Wenger said, when asked whether Gabriel had been spotted via the numbers, which StatDNA, the US-based business that Arsenal purchased for £2.2m, supply. Was that a yes then, Arsène? “It is not a no,” he replied.

It's what we used to help us sign Gabriel.

[GP]

Sure, it's used to help identify targets, but we'll scout them as well. It's not purely on stats.

[GP]

Serge Aurier to Spurs. Why are we not in there...we desperately need a RB. Bellerin is looking really pish these days anyway...and who else to back him up?. wasnt he supposed to be an Arsenal fan anyway?

Aurier is a massive cunt.

[Letters]

I'm sure all clubs use stats as part of their scouting these days. Buying a player just on the basis of watching him a few times is as ridiculous as buying a player just on the basis of their stats.
I seriously doubt Arsenal or any other club do either.

[Özim]

You think he was only signed based only on stats? What's your basis for that? :blink:

Maybe not only but they played a big part, the scouts thought he was decent but needed stats to back up their opinion for some reason.

Wenger though looking at stats limited the risk, seems not. Personally prefer the method of signing proven established players, wasting money on player like Gabriel and Mustafi because they're unknown and cheaper in the hope you find a gem is a false economy, we end up wasting millions on rubbish.

Chambers, Mustafi, Gabriel all signed up for decent money and none of them any good. For that we could have signed a top top centre half and had cash to spare, not Wenger though.

[Letters]

Have you heard of StatDNA before? The system Kroenke pushed for us to acquire.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jan/30/arsene-wenger-gabriel-paulista-signing



It's what we used to help us sign Gabriel.

From the article you linked to:


Wenger was certainly keener to speak, in general terms, about how the observations of his scouts had to come first. The computer-generated statistics were merely a means of reinforcing judgment.

[Power n Glory]

“Does this system find players for us? That is what we look for, of course, because it is difficult to watch all the games. But what I mean is that if the numbers confirm the eye, it gives you more.

“If a guy [scout] comes home and says: ‘I’ve seen a good player,’ you can statistically observe this player for five, six, seven games. You send him again, he comes back and says he’s a good player‚ the numbers confirm it, you can say the risk is limited. Though there is always a risk.

“We have our own system [through StatDNA], with qualities we think are important. After that, you have the attitude of the player. Because you can have good stats for a while but if you go out every night until six o’clock in the morning, it won’t last.”

It’s an exaggeration to say we signed him purely off stats but it’s what brought him to our attention.

Wenger went on to talk about communication being important and how Gabriel not speaking a word of English may be a problem but we still went ahead a signed him.


“He does not speak a word of English and that can cost you goals,” Wenger said. “If you mix going forwards with backwards, it can cost you. It is a position where you need to know your partners and you need to communicate as well. We try to teach him the important words. Like ‘Offside.’ And ‘Look at the linesman’.”

Did the above occur to them before signing Gabriel or after? Whatever the case, it seems like the stats overruled common sense and now we’re having to move him on. I don’t have a problem with using stats to back up what the eye can see but you have to question the intelligence behind certain decisions.

[Power n Glory]

From the article you linked to:

From your initial reaction, you had no idea we were using StatDNA. You pulled a face as if to say Zim and Marc were making it up.

[Letters]

From your initial reaction, you had no idea we were using StatDNA. You pulled a face as if to say Zim and Marc were making it up.
This is what I pulled a face about:


Who would have thought that signing a player purely purely based on stats was maybe not the wisest idea

My emphasis. That is made up. We don't do that, no club does. But we do use stats as part of our scouting. All clubs do.
No, I hadn't heard the name of the particular software we use but of course we use stats as part of the process.

[Niall_Quinn]

‘One hundred per cent never exists, because in our job never exists,’ said Wenger.
‘But today, yes. I think all the three will stay. I will fight for them to stay.
‘It’s my decision, but after the board has to, of course, agree with me.
‘And if they don’t agree we have to consider it as well, and I will accept it. But the board is behind me on that.
‘(Keeping them) It is a financial sacrifice. It is a sacrifice that you have to calculate, how much it costs.
All that is taken into consideration, the financial sacrifice is not as heavy as it looks. I am a football manager, I want Sanchez to stay, and that’s it.
‘After that, all the financial implications, for me, is less important. But at the end of the day you have to afford it as well.’

This is SO heroic. SO ambitious. Well done Wenger, you are SO heroic. 200 million worth of players potentially walking away at the end of the season but the heroic Wenger says, fuck that, who cares, this is about football and we'll heroically take the hit.

On the other hand. If the club is prepared to take a 200 million hit next season - THEN WHY NOT TAKE IT NOW YOU CUNTS?

Spend some fucking money! Spend some of those millions that have been pouring in from the TV contracts, spend some of the cash mountain that has been accumulating in the bank. Then maybe our current stars won't leave at all. That's how you show some GENUINE ambition and that's what our star players have been asking us to show. AMBITION. That's how they were tricked into coming here in the first place. That's why Cesc and RvC fucked off. That's why even Henry had to leave in order to compete at the very top level.

I'm not buying this bullshit for a second. Money you never had is not money lost. If our top players leave next year we haven't lost any money at all. We just haven't gained the money we could get now if we sold them. And the only reason we aren't selling is because of the Wenger contract farce. The wounds are still raw on that one and these bastards know they can't push any further for the time being.

So next season they'll wring their hands and ask, what can we do? As our stars walk out the door and every other top player watches that and concludes, fuck, no point go there. That team is going down. And the fees will be even higher next year so if we won't spend now then why the fuck will we spend next season?

These are the last few days in which the club can act to avert disaster and long term second tier status.

And they won't act. They'll just let things slide, as always. Because they are greedy bastards first and foremost, and their incompetence runs a close second.

And if that leech Kroekne can slime his way to 2019/20 then we'll sign up for that poxy Euro league and he'll flog the bitch for billions. Job done. Wenger will have been the key instrument in allowing that to happen. That's why the two of them cooked up his contract extension in the summer.

There are no heroics here, no ambition. Just deceit and greed.

[Power n Glory]

This is what I pulled a face about:



My emphasis. That is made up. We don't do that, no club does. But we do use stats as part of our scouting. All clubs do.
No, I hadn't heard the name of the particular software we use but of course we use stats as part of the process.

Of course that's an exaggeration because we know cost was considered too. ;)

I have no problem with us using StatDNA. We should use it. But if you have idiots using the machine, we get these sort of problems. Again, before signing him, did anyone consider the fact he didn’t speak a word of English and communication is vital to a defence. Did we not arrange English lessons for him? It just strikes me as another odd decision. It’s similar to the Kimi Kallstrom signing. Where is the due diligence? Were they so blown away by the stats and price that all common sense went out of their heads?

[Özim]

Let's be honest here, we are clueless in the transfer market, the way we conduct our business is embarrassing, no other club in football goes around doing things like us, there's the extra pound for Suarez, there's all the lowball bids for players when the selling club say how much they want or that they aren't for sale (so only a huge bid would convince them otherwise), there's the chasing one player all summer (even if he says he's not leaving) and having not alternative when it invariably doesn't happen, there's the lack of planning seemingly having barely any targets listed to go for.

Then there's the overpaying of dross and consequently being stuck with them when they turn out to be rubbish due to inflated wages and then there's the fact we allow arguably our 3 best players to run down their contracts without batting an eyelid and then claim it's an ideal situation.

This club is comical, almost everything it does is wrong, hell we only ended up with a striker this summer because Athletico were on a transfer ban, the only thing we're good at is buying cheap nobodies noone else is interested it, yes we're good at that even if they do turn out to be rubbish in the end.

No excuses, the incompetence at this club is quite something, every summer it's the same, we're left scratching our heads wondering what went wrong, they never learn, never change, never plan, they must be spending all summer looking at stats on their super yachts because I'm not sure what else you can put this level of incompetence down to.

[Özim]

This is what I pulled a face about:



My emphasis. That is made up. We don't do that, no club does. But we do use stats as part of our scouting. All clubs do.
No, I hadn't heard the name of the particular software we use but of course we use stats as part of the process.

Wrong use of words from me, however the emphasis on using stats with this transfer was something Wenger felt he had to point out which suggests it played a big part, he was proud at the fact it minimised risk, in reality if it has it's failed badly because ths guy has looked like a chump from day one, not sure who they sent out to watch him but he must have been reading the stats whilst the game was going on.

[Power n Glory]

Let's be honest here, we are clueless in the transfer market, the way we conduct our business is embarrassing, no other club in football goes around doing things like us, there's the extra pound for Suarez, there's all the lowball bids for players when the selling club say how much they want or that they aren't for sale (so only a huge bid would convince them otherwise), there's the chasing one player all summer (even if he says he's not leaving) and having not alternative when it invariably doesn't happen, there's the lack of planning seemingly having barely any targets listed to go for.

Then there's the overpaying of dross and consequently being stuck with them when they turn out to be rubbish due to inflated wages and then there's the fact we allow arguably our 3 best players to run down their contracts without batting an eyelid and then claim it's an ideal situation.

This club is comical, almost everything it does is wrong, hell we only ended up with a striker this summer because Athletico were on a transfer ban, the only thing we're good at is buying cheap nobodies noone else is interested it, yes we're good at that even if they do turn out to be rubbish in the end.

No excuses, the incompetence at this club is quite something, every summer it's the same, we're left scratching our heads wondering what went wrong, they never learn, never change, never plan, they must be spending all summer looking at stats on their super yachts because I'm not sure what else you can put this level of incompetence down to.

That's without mentioning Park, Kallstrom and Perez.

Oh along with Sanogo, Bischoff and Santos.....anyone else?

[Özim]

Interesting when asked about whether he'd be busy in the transfer market yesterday Wenger said getting players out of the club is also very time consuming so yes he will be busy, the guy is focussed on brining in cash rather than improving the team, he doesn't seem to be able to handle more than one deal at a time.

[Niall_Quinn]

That's without mentioning Park, Kallstrom and Perez.

Oh along with Sanogo, Bischoff and Santos.....anyone else?

If it was all written up as a football fiction it would be considered too fanciful for print. And don't forget the lies. Don't forget the endless stream of lies and promises that flow out of this club. The biggest of all being the stadium deal. Building a stadium for a world class team.

[Power n Glory]

Interesting when asked about whether he'd be busy in the transfer market yesterday Wenger said getting players out of the club is also very time consuming so yes he will be busy, the guy is focussed on brining in cash rather than improving the team, he doesn't seem to be able to handle more than one deal at a time.

Yet the fool doesn’t know what a Director of Football does and questions it like he has everything under control.

[Niall_Quinn]

Yet the fool doesn’t know what a Director of Football does and questions it like he has everything under control.

He does have everything under his control. That's the problem.

[Power n Glory]

If it was all written up as a football fiction it would be considered too fanciful for print. And don't forget the lies. Don't forget the endless stream of lies and promises that flow out of this club. The biggest of all being the stadium deal. Building a stadium for a world class team.

The Great North London Swindle. They got us good.

[Power n Glory]

See how Letters has now shut the fuck up! :lol:

[Özim]

That's without mentioning Park, Kallstrom and Perez.

Oh along with Sanogo, Bischoff and Santos.....anyone else?

Yes how could I forget those, signings players only to never give them a chance and giving talentless players ridiculous amounts of time to deliver. Was also interested to see Wenger speaking on Wilshere the other day and his concern was to make sure he has a good career (even if that's away from the club). That's not his concern at all, his concern is to make sure the club are successlfil, whether a player he sells on is a success or not is irrelevant, the guy cares more about the players than he should, he prioritises them over the football or the good of the club, he's a joke.

[Özim]

Yet the fool doesn’t know what a Director of Football does and questions it like he has everything under control.

He'll never have somebody in who can have a say as it's washes down his power and he's a control freak, a director of football would have been perfect, someone who can assess a situation independently from Wenger and override his awful decisions.

[Özim]

He does have everything under his control. That's the problem.

Yes but unfortunately he can't control everything efficiently, dictators control everything but not for the good of the masses, for themselves.

[Power n Glory]

Yes how could I forget those, signings players only to never give them a chance and giving talentless players ridiculous amounts of time to deliver. Was also interested to see Wenger speaking on Wilshere the other day and his concern was to make sure he has a good career (even if that's away from the club). That's not his concern at all, his concern is to make sure the club are successlfil, whether a player he sells on is a success or not is irrelevant, the guy cares more about the players than he should, he prioritises them over the football or the good of the club, he's a joke.

True to an extent. Certain players he fucks over. Perez was treated badly and he’s not going to get that year wasted back.

[Marc Overmars]

Barca say they are close to signing Coutinho and also Ousmane Dembele.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

True to an extent. Certain players he fucks over. Perez was treated badly and he’s not going to get that year wasted back.

But that was clearly our fault for unreasonably pressurising him into buying a striker when he wanted to wait for a crocked Welbeck to return to fitness. It's our fault, we forced him into it.

[Niall_Quinn]

Regardless of it all, Wenger and his cronies have a couple of weeks left to put this club back on a sound football footing. They are proud of their financial achievements and boast about them all the time while lecturing other clubs about financing. Time to put as much effort into what happens on the pitch. Ambitious moves in the transfer market and a proper title challenge this season is a requirement, not an option. We know how well they've done for themselves personally, now let's see if they can deliver for the fans. Cooo-eeeee, remember us?

[Niall_Quinn]

Barca say they are close to signing Coutinho and also Ousmane Dembele.

That's their code for announcing they are busy destabilising clubs and players without sanction.

[Niall_Quinn]

But that was clearly our fault for unreasonably pressurising him into buying a striker when he wanted to wait for a crocked Welbeck to return to fitness. It's our fault, we forced him into it.

True. We forgot to mention how he blames the fans for his fuck-ups.

[Power n Glory]

But that was clearly our fault for unreasonably pressurising him into buying a striker when he wanted to wait for a crocked Welbeck to return to fitness. It's our fault, we forced him into it.

We also pressured him into signing Welbeck when he wanted to start the season with Sanogo as our only fit striker. ;) Heck, we might as well have stuck with Sanogo considering Welbeck only managed to score 2 goals from 10 Premier League starts. Trash player.

[GP]

Julian Draxler

[Özim]

Only been chasing Draxler for about 6 years, never got him so far, could have got him long ago, probably won't happen again, we're reknowned for chasing players for years and not signing them.

[Dicks and chicks]

Selling Gabriel and Perez we will soon have the same net spend as Wolves

[Niall_Quinn]

Julian Draxler

Will only happen if Alexis is going the other way.

[Dicks and chicks]

Draxler will have many CL clubs chasing him why would he want to come here? Would show a lack of ambition in my opinion

[Özim]

I'll believe it when I see it with Draxler (just like any transfer involving Arsenal), he'll be taken a step down moving to Arsenal from PSG and there's probably bigger clubs with CL football who will be interested in him.

Let's stick with signing Mbappe and Lemar, I think if we go in with another £87,000,001 phantom bid we'll definitely get him, he's our number 1 target, so is Lemar.

[Power n Glory]

I'll believe it when I see it with Draxler (just like any transfer involving Arsenal), he'll be taken a step down moving to Arsenal from PSG and there's probably bigger clubs with CL football who will be interested in him.

Let's stick with signing Mbappe and Lemar, I think if we go in with another £87,000,001 phantom bid we'll definitely get him, he's our number 1 target, so is Lemar.

I dunno. After one season with PSG he’s looking for the exit or is it PSG giving him the boot? Maybe a step down would suit him. It’s not as if he was tearing it up at Schalke or Wolfsburg either. We might be at the right sort of level for him to mature. Not too big but not too small. We really should consider him or Lucas Moura if they are available.

[Özim]

I dunno. After one season with PSG he’s looking for the exit or is it PSG giving him the boot? Maybe a step down would suit him. It’s not as if he was tearing it up at Schalke or Wolfsburg either. We might be at the right sort of level for him to mature. Not too big but not too small. We really should consider him or Lucas Moura if they are available.

I'd take both as they're better than what we have for sure, not likely that we'll get them though let's be honest, first and foremost we'll go in with a low bid PSG will laugh at, someone else will then probably pay the asking price and that'll be that.

Arsenal aren't kidding anyone, when it comes to transfer they have no intention of spending money, we've spent 40 odd million and are no looking to recoup money, every other club is spending money left right and center, this isn't something new either, it's every single summer.

[Niall_Quinn]

I dunno. After one season with PSG he’s looking for the exit or is it PSG giving him the boot? Maybe a step down would suit him. It’s not as if he was tearing it up at Schalke or Wolfsburg either. We might be at the right sort of level for him to mature. Not too big but not too small. We really should consider him or Lucas Moura if they are available.

Neither. It's speculation that he won't want to compete for a place against Neymar. All media speculation at this time.

[Niall_Quinn]

Gypos lining up a 60 mill bid for Alexis - so that's where he'll be going unless PSG step in, which I doubt, considering they are about to shell 160 mill+ for Mbappe.

Lemar deal dead - just as we always wanted it to be. The protracted underbids have worked out as planned and the if the player puts in another good season he should drift safely out of our price range.

Arsenio's release clause is 72 mill - so the rumours linking us are pure crazy talk. Not in a million years, which is probably how long Wenger will be staying.

Gabriel has gone, looks like 10 mill into the kitty to ease the agony of spending money on Lacazette.

In terms of strengthening the squad, seems there's nothing. Just nothing. Wenger has been going on about "doing something if exceptional talent becomes available", which is Wenger code for the window being closed as far as he's concerned.

There appears to be some difficulty encouraging the deadbeat players to leave. Why anyone would want to stick it out on 70k a week for doing fuck all is a mystery.

[Niall_Quinn]

https://streamable.com/x06qr

[Niall_Quinn]

Chile have included Arsenal striker Alexis Sanchez in their squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay and Bolivia, coach Juan Antonio Pizzi said on Thursday.

Sanchez has yet to play for his English Premier League club Arsenal this season after straining an abdominal muscle.

He missed the Community Shield victory over Chelsea in the season curtain-raiser plus the league opener with Leicester City and is expected to be out of Saturday's trip to Stoke City.

If he plays... oh dear.

[Power n Glory]

Lemar being linked with Man Utd. :doh:

Catalyst of change, eh? ;)

[Niall_Quinn]

The fee for Jonny Evans is now 35 mill, according to the papers. I mean, why not? It's all insane so no reason at all why Evans couldn't be worth 35 mill.

[Niall_Quinn]

Lemar being linked with Man Utd. :doh:

Catalyst of change, eh? ;)

If we can get in there quickly with a 15 mill bid we could anger Monaco into refusing to do business with us ever again. It's worth a shot.

[Özim]

If he plays... oh dear.

It's the ideal situation and when he comes back with a small cut on his finger and can't play it'll have worked out exactly how Wenger would have wanted it to.

[Niall_Quinn]

Reports that Mustafi fancies a move to Milan. Looks like it's true, the players were all waiting to see if Wenger signed that contract. Now that he has, they all want the fuck out - fast. Who can blame them?

[Niall_Quinn]

It's the ideal situation and when he comes back with a small cut on his finger and can't play it'll have worked out exactly how Wenger would have wanted it to.

Agreed. Ideal. Never forget, we won the FA Cup, so everything is always ideal.

[Power n Glory]

When does it start looking like we're in disarray? Mustafi wants out too?

[Niall_Quinn]

Rumours still floating around about us possibly making an underbid for Draxler once Wenger figures out if he is top, top, top qualiteeeeeee and at least as good as Danny Welbeck. If Wenger can do it, he will try. Look, it is not always so easy to find qualiteeeeeee, especially during the transfer window. Qualiteeeeee often only emerges once the window has closed and it is time to talk about who we "looked at" and "almost signed". Sometimes you must wait for Jonny Evans to move, then everyone will move. It is a waiting game. Wait until the window closes and then strike (like Alexis is doing). This is all ideal.

[GP]

When does it start looking like we're in disarray? Mustafi wants out too?

No, he doesn't.

[Niall_Quinn]

Arsene Wenger has promoted four players from Arsenal's Under-23 squad to the first team.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Reiss Nelson, Joe Willock and Cohen Bramall all impressed in pre-season and have been rewarded with progress to the senior group.

Good luck to the lads (they'll need it playing under a crack addict like Wenger), and with our injury history they'll likely see a fair bit of action.

[Power n Glory]

Good luck to the lads (they'll need it playing under a crack addict like Wenger), and with our injury history they'll likely see a fair bit of action.

£50K and £60k contracts are each. Christmas has arrived early.

[Niall_Quinn]

£50K and £60k contracts are each. Christmas has arrived early.

Only thing we can say with certainty is Wenger will never learn. I think it's only starting to fully dawn what a disaster it was giving this guy another two years to work his magic. You can catch glimpses of what it might be like this time next year and it's not pretty. Imagine fucking around for a whole season with the will Wenger sign, won't Wenger sign bullshit while half our squad ran down their contracts. It's unbelievable incompetence and supreme selfishness.

Couple of good youngsters there, if they can survive Wenger and the coming turmoil. This time next year we may be relying on them as major stars saunter out the door and the club "can't afford" to replace them.

[Power n Glory]

What the fuck is he talking about? Is he that stupid or am I missing something?


Arsenal’s ideal situation has always been to secure Sanchez on a new deal at the Emirates, which they would be happy to push as high as £300,000 per week. But that would mean more than £15m per year in salary, four years of which would cost as much as foregoing a £60m fee this summer. Wenger warned how expensive even this best-case scenario would be.

Arsene Wenger speaks on Alexis Sanchez contract extension

“As well, if you extend the contract it costs you maybe more than you lose [in transfer fee] when you keep the player,” Wenger said. “You have to consider the length of the contract as well that the players want. So all that is into consideration. The financial sacrifice [of Sanchez leaving on a fee] is not as heavy as it looks.”

How did he get his degree in economics? Has he not seen how fees are shooting way past the £60m and players wants north of £150k a week? We'd be taking an expensive risk and buying a lesser player for that amount on top of having to pay their wages which could easily amount to £7m - £13m a year.

What's wrong with the people at the club? How can they be this shortsighted? It's similar to the dumb reasoning for why they were reluctant to extend RVP's contract. But they have no problem shelling out contracts to developing players that have no demand in the market and need no financial incentive to keep them at the club. Fucking idiots.

[Niall_Quinn]

What the fuck is he talking about? Is he that stupid or am I missing something?



How did he get his degree in economics? Has he not seen how fees are shooting way past the £60m and players wants north of £150k a week? We'd be taking an expensive risk and buying a lesser player for that amount on top of having to pay their wages which could easily amount to £7m - £13m a year.

What's wrong with the people at the club? How can they be this shortsighted? It's similar to the dumb reasoning for why they were reluctant to extend RVP's contract. But they have no problem shelling out contracts to developing players that have no demand in the market and need no financial incentive to keep them at the club. Fucking idiots.

I used to think it was a language barrier with Wenger. But that's too convenient. He's accomplished with languages yet he seems to struggle with English - sometimes. When it suits. He comes up with this indecipherable bullshit because there's nothing credible underpinning his words. When you judge him by his actions and results he's all over the place, awash with contradictions and reversals. So he lapses into this babble because who would want to provide a clear and simple answer - I fucked up and I continue to fuck up. I'm one big fuck up.

There were several possible routes to securing Alexis. Get rid of Wenger and bring in a decent manager. Get the chequebook out and bring in the types of player that convinced everyone we are serious about challenging. Or pay Alexis what he wanted when he asked and avoid all the bullshit that has occurred between the original demands and where we are now, having met those demands. But we passed up all those options and instead went the worst possible route to end up with the least favourable outcome. It's what Wenger does. Find the worst option, pursue it and then bullshit about it when the inevitable shit hits the fan(s).

He has three bad options now. Pay Alexis his current 7.5 mill in wages for another season and then watch a 100 million quid player (in this crazy market) walk out the door - because if we are keeping him then we can't say we passed up on the fee that applies today, what we have to say is we passed up on the fee that would have applied had we done our job properly in the first place and signed him up when there was 2 years on his contract. It's a cop out to let that contract run down and then use that mistake and the lesser value as the real loss. The real loss is higher, much higher. The opposite of other clubs who let their star players go at the peak of their value. Look at Utd, the spuds, Liverpool - when they sell it is for big money. When we sell it is for peanuts. Wasn't always that way and it's just another indicator of how badly Wenger has lost the plot.

Another choice is to settle around the 60 million mark with the gypos, save the 7.5 million in wages and then either bank the profit or grab a trolley and rush into the open arms of all the clubs who can see how desperate we are to find a replacement. Familiar story. Monaco will milk us big time if we have to beg them for Lemar. We're talking Draxler too - a deal that could have been done a year ago, which in turn might have persuaded Alexis to sign a contract extension.

Finally we can still pull the trigger and make a couple of signings that stamp the seal of ambition onto this club, ride out the season with Alexis, qualify for the CL and WIN SOMETHING. Or at least get close enough to suggest we are seriously in the chase.

The final option WILL NOT be selected. That's the only part Wenger is clear about. It's all about the money with him. He's already treating Alexis as a new signing based on the 60 million cost he perceives on the loss of a fee next season. And, by talking about the wages that way, he's tipping us off in advance that we can forget about any top world stars coming here. Too expensive. We have the money but Wenger has decided it would not be prudent to spend it. Mostly because winning is not the main thing in football, according to him. The future prosperity of the club is what counts. Spoken like a true corporatist.

[Power n Glory]

Another choice is to settle around the 60 million mark with the gypos, save the 7.5 million in wages and then either bank the profit or grab a trolley and rush into the open arms of all the clubs who can see how desperate we are to find a replacement. Familiar story. Monaco will milk us big time if we have to beg them for Lemar. We're talking Draxler too - a deal that could have been done a year ago, which in turn might have persuaded Alexis to sign a contract extension.

Finally we can still pull the trigger and make a couple of signings that stamp the seal of ambition onto this club, ride out the season with Alexis, qualify for the CL and WIN SOMETHING. Or at least get close enough to suggest we are seriously in the chase.

I'd love for us to be proactive and sign a few top players early on and then approach Sanchez with a new contract offer and see if he's more receptive. If we decide to sell, do it from a strong position at least. Don't sell for £60m and then bid £45m for someone else. They're going to want the £60m up front.

[Özim]

What the fuck is he talking about? Is he that stupid or am I missing something?



How did he get his degree in economics? Has he not seen how fees are shooting way past the £60m and players wants north of £150k a week? We'd be taking an expensive risk and buying a lesser player for that amount on top of having to pay their wages which could easily amount to £7m - £13m a year.

What's wrong with the people at the club? How can they be this shortsighted? It's similar to the dumb reasoning for why they were reluctant to extend RVP's contract. But they have no problem shelling out contracts to developing players that have no demand in the market and need no financial incentive to keep them at the club. Fucking idiots.

So let me get this straight, losing a player who would be worth 100 million in todays market if we hadn't let his contract run down next summer will cost you less than keeping him, thus saving yourself a massive transfer fee or even selling him if you want to next season once he's tied down to a few more years?

This is utter nonsense, it would be better for us to sign him up and then decide to sell him next summer for a bucket of cash and then spend that money, losing him next summer for free means we've lost a top player and have to fork out for a replacement (cheap if you're Wenger as he'll settle for some cheap nobody - but for any normal manager it would be an expensive business).

And when Ozil and Ox walk away as well and we've lost a 3rd of our team (and 3 of our best players) I'm sure he'll think it's the ideal situation and the most cost-effective one.

This guy is suppose to know about economics and is suppose to be highly intelligent, I'm amazed at the stuff he comes out with though.

[fakeyank]

So let me get this straight, losing a player who would be worth 100 million in todays market if we hadn't let his contract run down next summer will cost you less than keeping him, thus saving yourself a massive transfer fee or even selling him if you want to next season once he's tied down to a few more years?

This is utter nonsense, it would be better for us to sign him up and then decide to sell him next summer for a bucket of cash and then spend that money, losing him next summer for free means we've lost a top player and have to fork out for a replacement (cheap if you're Wenger as he'll settle for some cheap nobody - but for any normal manager it would be an expensive business).

And when Ozil and Ox walk away as well and we've lost a 3rd of our team (and 3 of our best players) I'm sure he'll think it's the ideal situation and the most cost-effective one.

This guy is suppose to know about economics and is suppose to be highly intelligent, I'm amazed at the stuff he comes out with though.

Someone give Wenger 'milk of the poppy' :lol:

[Power n Glory]

So let me get this straight, losing a player who would be worth 100 million in todays market if we hadn't let his contract run down next summer will cost you less than keeping him, thus saving yourself a massive transfer fee or even selling him if you want to next season once he's tied down to a few more years?

This is utter nonsense, it would be better for us to sign him up and then decide to sell him next summer for a bucket of cash and then spend that money, losing him next summer for free means we've lost a top player and have to fork out for a replacement (cheap if you're Wenger as he'll settle for some cheap nobody - but for any normal manager it would be an expensive business).

And when Ozil and Ox walk away as well and we've lost a 3rd of our team (and 3 of our best players) I'm sure he'll think it's the ideal situation and the most cost-effective one.

This guy is suppose to know about economics and is suppose to be highly intelligent, I'm amazed at the stuff he comes out with though.

Yet the people around him don't question it. How was he able to offer up that answer and people say nothing?

[Power n Glory]

Liverpool reject £114m bid from Barca for Coutinho.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40979106

Yet no bid for Ozil. ;)

[Niall_Quinn]

Yet the people around him don't question it. How was he able to offer up that answer and people say nothing?

When he has a plan, they back him. When he doesn't...

[Niall_Quinn]

Liverpool reject £114m bid from Barca for Coutinho.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40979106

Yet no bid for Ozil. ;)

Ozil, an ex-Madrid player, to Barca is a non-starter anyway, why take on all that heat when he has an easy ride in London? But it wouldn't surprise me if Ozil leaves in the next 12 days. All it will take is for a significant club to match his wage demands. Depends if people in football really do believe the Wenger myth. Are they sitting there saying Ozil is not performing, or so they realise Ozil is as handicapped as any other player subjected to Wenger's methods? It would surprise me if Ozil, Alexis and Ox all walk in the next 12 days. Depends on how desperate certain clubs get as the deadline approaches and what other significant moves have taken place.

[Power n Glory]

Ozil, an ex-Madrid player, to Barca is a non-starter anyway, why take on all that heat when he has an easy ride in London? But it wouldn't surprise me if Ozil leaves in the next 12 days. All it will take is for a significant club to match his wage demands. Depends if people in football really do believe the Wenger myth. Are they sitting there saying Ozil is not performing, or so they realise Ozil is as handicapped as any other player subjected to Wenger's methods? It would surprise me if Ozil, Alexis and Ox all walk in the next 12 days. Depends on how desperate certain clubs get as the deadline approaches and what other significant moves have taken place.

As said this a while back, the number 10 role is dying and I don't think many clubs are looking for a player like Özil. The Madrid /Barca link is not enough to put off a bid. Luis Enrique used to play for Real Madrid. Eto started his career at Real Madrid. Ronaldo used to be a Barca player and ended up at Real Madrid. They'll make it happen if you're worth the hassle.

[Özim]

Liverpool reject £114m bid from Barca for Coutinho.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40979106

Yet no bid for Ozil. ;)

If that had been us we'd have taken the first bid and run, Liverpool on the otherhand just like they were with Suarez seem to prioritise football over finances and won't sell.

[fakeyank]

I hear murmurings that we are open to selling Mustafi.. WTF is up with that? We have just the right number of CB's. Why would the deluded donkey even think about selling him this late in the window?!! What a fucking tool.. just fuck off from the club!

[Niall_Quinn]

If that had been us we'd have taken the first bid and run, Liverpool on the otherhand just like they were with Suarez seem to prioritise football over finances and won't sell.

114 mill? Bite their arm off. Coutinho's good, but nowhere near that good. They can get two great players in for that price. What about Alexis? He'd be lethal there.

How come they are attracting 114 mill bids though? Haven't they let Coutinho run his contract down? Seems to me they aren't in the same ideal position Wenger has achieved with our star players. Fools.

[Niall_Quinn]

I hear murmurings that we are open to selling Mustafi.. WTF is up with that? We have just the right number of CB's. Why would the deluded donkey even think about selling him this late in the window?!! What a fucking tool.. just fuck off from the club!

Think it was just a drive-by, opportunistic bid. I don't think the board has noticed, no sign of them packing Mustafi's case.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

114 mill? Bite their arm off. Coutinho's good, but nowhere near that good. They can get two great players in for that price. What about Alexis? He'd be lethal there.

How come they are attracting 114 mill bids though? Haven't they let Coutinho run his contract down? Seems to me they aren't in the same ideal position Wenger has achieved with our star players. Fools.

Supposedly "only" £80m up front with the rest in add ons, including him winning the Ballon D'Or which makes it considerably less appealing, especially with this summer of madness.

Plus we're seemingly only interested in two players in Keita and Van Dijk (though we have been linked with Draxler this week).

[Niall_Quinn]

Wenger is a total, utter cock!

:gp:

[Niall_Quinn]

Arsenal defender Gabriel has joined La Liga outfit Valencia for £11million after just two seasons at the Emirates Stadium

The Brazilian, who has put pen to paper on a five-year contract in Spain, joined Arsenal from Villarreal for £15m in 2015 but has failed to hold down a regular place for the Premier League outfit.

He turned out 64 times over the course of the two seasons, but was often used as back-up by Arsene Wenger.

Good guy, always tried, not top tier and prone to regular catastrophic mistakes (so he fit in perfectly) and will be best remembered for standing up to that twat Costa.

[Marc Overmars]

Gabriel was too erratic to ever be classed as reliable. He had some impressive games though, his aggression was always great to see. Couldn't speak English at all by the sounds of it and was never settled in this country.

[Özim]

Ironic that we sell a player we weren't even looking to offload, most likely because those we were trying to offload noone is willing to pay for.

Gabriel was one of those Wenger buys, the cheap unknown who has a 2% chance of coming good, didn't work out, stats let us down, better luck next time.

[Niall_Quinn]

Ironic that we sell a player we weren't even looking to offload, most likely because those we were trying to offload noone is willing to pay for.

Gabriel was one of those Wenger buys, the cheap unknown who has a 2% chance of coming good, didn't work out, stats let us down, better luck next time.

Also Elneny can play there.

[GP]

Gabriel was too erratic to ever be classed as reliable. He had some impressive games though, his aggression was always great to see. Couldn't speak English at all by the sounds of it and was never settled in this country.

Yep, was given English regular lessons but still couldn't say good morning. I wouldn't be surprised if the guy could barely read in Portuguese.
He's just one that didn't work out. Didn't cost much, no big drama.

[Niall_Quinn]

Here's a particularly vile and nasty rumour.


ARSENAL are reportedly stepping up their interest in Chelsea flop Juan Cuadrado after missing out on Thomas Lemar.

Calcio Mercato claims Arsene Wenger is keen on bringing Juventus winger Cuadrado back to the Premier League despite the Colombian enduring a dismal six months while playing at Stamford Bridge.

His speciality is running fast in a straight line until he bumps into something and falls over. Maybe we are interested after all.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Ironic that we sell a player we weren't even looking to offload, most likely because those we were trying to offload noone is willing to pay for.

Gabriel was one of those Wenger buys, the cheap unknown who has a 2% chance of coming good, didn't work out, stats let us down, better luck next time.

Isn't he a stat DNA player......a modern tool which Wenger is reported to be sceptical about.

[Letters]

I hear murmurings that we are open to selling Mustafi.. WTF is up with that? We have just the right number of CB's. Why would the deluded donkey even think about selling him this late in the window?!! What a fucking tool.. just fuck off from the club!

You're throwing tantrums over "murmurings"? :lol:

[Penguin]

Wenger seems happy with the Kolasinac bargain: "It is a nice bargain because it allows you to divide your buy by two. When you buy two players, the price of one you buy you can divide by two. One player for £50m is two for £25m."

:blink:

Quick guys lets get more freebies in so we can divide more!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I think I understand what he is saying but we've only one bought one player so overall: :wacko:

[Niall_Quinn]

Wenger seems happy with the Kolasinac bargain: "It is a nice bargain because it allows you to divide your buy by two. When you buy two players, the price of one you buy you can divide by two. One player for £50m is two for £25m."

:blink:

Quick guys lets get more freebies in so we can divide more!


Our rivals are going to have even more fun dividing by 2 at the end of this season.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Supposedly "only" £80m up front with the rest in add ons, including him winning the Ballon D'Or which makes it considerably less appealing, especially with this summer of madness.

Plus we're seemingly only interested in two players in Keita and Van Dijk (though we have been linked with Draxler this week).


It is a summer of madness but only 1 player has moved for a sum clearly in excess of 80 mill plus add ons and twinkle toes Coutinho isn't the best of them. Take the money and run I say.

[Static]

I think I understand what he is saying but we've only one bought one player so overall: :wacko:

Is he trying to say Lacazette is effectively a £25m buy because Kolasinac was a free transfer?

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Essentially yes....

In layman terms....free free is better than pay pay. Jeeez we get it boss!

[Niall_Quinn]

Wenger enthusing over free players, or free anything, is hardly a new concept. Shame he's not as thrifty when it comes to his own contract negotiations or the additional wonga he rolls down from his media work, the same sort of work that represented a conflict of interests when Henry tried it.

The guy's a fucking dick on all fronts.

[Niall_Quinn]

Llorente is the latest press rumour. Zero logic to this one, I guess the hacks needed to fill some space.

[Niall_Quinn]

Bellerin has 11 days left to save his career by getting away from that crackpot Wenger. Our right back was playing as left wingback today. If Bellerin moves to a normal team he can get his career back on track and might still end up a decent defender. One more season under Wenger and he'll be the worst goalkeeper in the league.

[Niall_Quinn]

Sons of bitches have resurrected the Lemar rumours, apparently the deal will be done "by the end of the transfer window." This is to defuse the Draxler threat. For 32 mill there's no excuse whatsoever for us not having already signed him. Except, perhaps, one. Lemar is on the way. Yeah. Sure he is. If we can do it we will do it but if we tragically run out of time then we will be gloriously unlucky.

Meanwhile Jenks has gone to Birmingham. Good lad, out of his depth but that was 100% Wenger's fault, of course. Galatasaray want Gibbs, but only value him at 5 mill. Wenger's unique tutelage again. Walker goes for 50 mill, Wenger's victim Gibbs is watching his value trickle down the drain. Arsenal holding out for 10 mill but they'll sell for an "undisclosed fee" no doubt.

[Power n Glory]

It's not enough. We need a CM or DM. We also need a CB. Matuidi maybe? Should we have gone for him?

Lemar...besides playing him where Ozil and Welbeck are playing, like a right/left sided attacking AM, I don't think that's going to solve any problems this season unless we sell Alexis this season. Heck, I don't see why Welbeck is getting the nod to play that position when we can easily play Ox. He's strong on the ball, a better passer and finisher. Gets him closer to playing down the middle also even if slightly to the left.

[Niall_Quinn]

It's not enough. We need a CM or DM. We also need a CB. Matuidi maybe? Should we have gone for him?

Lemar...besides playing him where Ozil and Welbeck are playing, like a right/left sided attacking AM, I don't think that's going to solve any problems this season unless we sell Alexis this season. Heck, I don't see why Welbeck is getting the nod to play that position when we can easily play Ox. He's strong on the ball, a better passer and finisher. Gets him closer to playing down the middle also even if slightly to the left.

Of course it's not enough, but you take whatever you can get with Wenger and count yourself hugely fortunate if you end up with anything at all.

[Özim]

One thing you can guarantee with Wenger is it's never enough.

[Niall_Quinn]

One thing you can guarantee with Wenger is it's never enough.

He'd have no excuses and couldn't moan about other teams if he ever signed the players we need. How many years waiting to fill the holes left by the Invincibles? Joke manager. Unfortunately the joke's on us, for all eternity.

[Özim]

He'd have no excuses and couldn't moan about other teams if he ever signed the players we need. How many years waiting to fill the holes left by the Invincibles? Joke manager. Unfortunately the joke's on us, for all eternity.

You're right he is a joke, we know what happened last season, any normal manager would have walked away, but not he'd kicks the fans in the teeth and decides he wants to stay another 2 years (incidentally I always thought he was staying because he IMO doesn't care about the well being of the club, not on the pitch anyway). Onto this season and it's like none of last season ever happened, in the summer next to nothing changed, again we barely signed anyone and haven't sorted out contracts and haven't even managed to get rid of most of the deadwood Wenger brought in because they were quoting him "super super quality", in the end we got rid of Gabriel a player we weren't even looking to sell so that we can claw back some of the money we spent and lower the wage bill.

Wouldn't surprise me if Mustafi was sold as well (not that I'd be too bothered as he's been pretty average for us), even if we weren't looking to sell him, we have to balance the books after all.

Nothing sticks with Wenger, however bad it gets the following season it's all forgotten when in reality it shouldn't be, we've started the season abjectly by beating Leicester (luckily in the end) and then losing to Stoke.

We're a club built in 2006 to celebrate mediocrity, we spin losing into some sort of amazing success and as we heard the ideal scenario, embarrassing all round TBH.

[Özim]

Don't worry boys, Mbappe is our number 1 target, some guy on here said so! :lol:

We're bound to get him, just need to increase our phantom 87 million pound bid a little, maybe add a pound!

[selassie]

One thing you can guarantee with Wenger is it's never enough.

Yep, one thing he does excel in is leaving gaping holes all over the squad. Unbelievable how many players we have in our squad yet we are short on quality in practically every position!

[Gooner23]

I think this is the first summer where I have genuinely not given a shit about signings. Haven't paid any attention to the rumours becausee I have no faith in Wenger getting the right players in. He cant get the best out of the players he already has so I cant see how new signings will make any difference.

The next two seasons are a complete write off for me, just hoping he finally clears off at the end of this contract and doesnt leave us in such a mess that it takes years to re-build. I'll still follow results and watch the odd game here and there but interest levels are at rock bottom.

[Özim]

I think this is the first summer where I have genuinely not given a shit about signings. Haven't paid any attention to the rumours becausee I have no faith in Wenger getting the right players in. He cant get the best out of the players he already has so I cant see how new signings will make any difference.

The next two seasons are a complete write off for me, just hoping he finally clears off at the end of this contract and doesnt leave us in such a mess that it takes years to re-build. I'll still follow results and watch the odd game here and there but interest levels are at rock bottom.

Pretty much, the guy no favours from the fans, they should make it clear they don't want him around every match, the signing of a new contract after what took place last season was basically sticking two fingers up at the fans, I hate the way the club feels they can do this with no repercussions, blaming the fans and labelling them as unreasonable has become the norm, this doesn't happen at any other club in the world.

We've spend relatively little this summer and now we're basically focussed on recouping some cash to improve the balance sheet, Wenger confirmed this was the priority, recruiting new players was secondary.

It's one big joke tbh.

[Özim]

Yep, one thing he does excel in is leaving gaping holes all over the squad. Unbelievable how many players we have in our squad yet we are short on quality in practically every position!

Totally agree, we're also stuck with a bunch of players that were never good enough but that Wenger rated as super super quality if you believe what he says when he's looking for players.

[selassie]

Totally agree, we're also stuck with a bunch of players that were never good enough but that Wenger rated as super super quality if you believe what he says when he's looking for players.

Players that he can't even get rid of!

What is it going to take for the board to realise that Wenger has totally botched the technical side of things with Arsenal Football Club?

[Power n Glory]

Summed up by Le Grove. Hence why I don't believe the Board are paying much attention.

http://le-grove.co.uk/2017/08/22/wenger-hemorrhaging-cash-the-number-is-quite-unbelievable/#more-23507


Wenger hemorrhaging AFC cash, the number is quite unbelievable

Everyone loves a big number to keep focus on what’s going on at Arsenal. I don’t mean to pile pressure onto our faltering manager, but I think a few myths need to be busted about what he’s offering to the club these days, because his ability to turn a profit has diminished at quite a alarming pace. This post aims to showcase just what a state we’re in.

Prizes:

Firstly, let’s look at the Champions League. A competition which Wenger has often claimed the mere qualification is a trophy. Well, that trophy isn’t on offer this year. Instead, we’re suffering the indignity of Spursday Night Europa League. The difference in prize money is quite large. If we make it to the last 16 on 4 wins and 2 draws, we’ll earn £5.6m.

Prize Money for achieving last 16 of UCL: £36m

Prize Money for hitting same height in Europa: £5.6m

Net Loss: -£30.4m

Players:

Next up, let’s look at the players we have that are currently leaving on free transfers, based on the big man’s say so. I’ll be straight up, we’re not getting anything for Per or Santi. We should be getting something for Jack (£20m), Chambo (£30m), Sanchez (£60m) and Ozil (£40m).

Total Loss: -£150m (as of Wenger’s stance that they’re all staying)

Deadwood Wages:

Now let’s take a look at the problem Alfred called out in the podcast, surplus wages. We have, what, 33 players in our squad? Many of them overpaid to the point they can’t be moved on. We saw Jenkinson move to play with Harry Redknapp because his deal is simply too rich to handle for Premier League clubs. Worth remembering we were in EXACTLY the same position in 2011 after project youth. I have 9 players that class as deadwood. The two richest would be

Worth remembering we were in EXACTLY the same position in 2011 after project youth. I have 9 players that I class as deadwood. The two richest would be Santi, because he’s broken, and Theo because when one of your highest paid players is a bench merchant, you’d clearly rather not have him around. Others that made the cut were Joel Campbell who is back again, Kieran Gibbs who I was told earns more than the £65k a week I have him on (£80k), along with Ospina, Debuchy, Perez, and Wilshere. Total wage expenditure there is £625k a week, I’ve left Jenks in there because I have my doubts Birmingham are paying full whack.

Total cost: £32.5m

All of that money, added together in my clever little spreadsheet takes Arsenal’s potential losses for the year to a whopping £212,885,227.

Now, you can split hairs on my numbers, but what you can’t do is tell me that there is anyway you can look at those figures and not be absolutely shocked at how badly run we are under Arsene Wenger, Director Of Football.

I didn’t even get into the figures of what we’re losing on players who’d have become better players under better managers. Let’s be real here, a contracted Alexis is a £100m player in this market. Jack Wilshere is a £50m player if he progresses. Kieran Gibbs, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott… would all be worth a lot more under better management.

We are not only a shambles on the pitch, we’re the same off it. Arsenal are in the process of overseeing one of the least effective summers of all time, and what makes it worse, is next year, we’re going to lose 6 players on free transfers.

Right, as I did all this lovely math for you, jump on The Arsenal Opinion podcast, subscribe, and leave a nice 5 star rating.

We talk about Ozil and his negative press, we pick through the summer, and we discuss how trouble is brewing strong for AFC.

[Niall_Quinn]

Summed up by Le Grove. Hence why I don't believe the Board are paying much attention.

http://le-grove.co.uk/2017/08/22/wenger-hemorrhaging-cash-the-number-is-quite-unbelievable/#more-23507

Does it matter if they pay attention? They're as incompetent as the manager, it seems. Or else they are eunuchs in his thrall. Either way, makes little difference. It was absolutely critical for somebody at the club to act and push Wenger out in the summer. They all passed up that duty. That made them all entirely irrelevant. If they can't even do that simple but critical job then what can they ever do?

This is what happens when a non-football corporatists consumed by greed kidnaps a football club. The history, tradition, the fans, the fate of the club. Fucked. This leech has one focus, positioning his diseased possession to yield the maximum return when the moment comes. He grabbed Arsenal in the right place at the right time when money has been pouring in regardless of performance. Even getting relegated is worth 100 million quid. When Kroenke eventually decides to run with his ill gotten gains he'll leave a shell behind. Like any good corporatist. Unfortunately, that won't happen for a while. They still have their obnoxious Euro project to feast on.

Wenger watched all this happen. He's guilty.

[Niall_Quinn]

Barcelona will return with a sensational fourth bid worth £138million for Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho.

WTF? Is going on?

[Power n Glory]

Does it matter if they pay attention? They're as incompetent as the manager, it seems. Or else they are eunuchs in his thrall. Either way, makes little difference. It was absolutely critical for somebody at the club to act and push Wenger out in the summer. They all passed up that duty. That made them all entirely irrelevant. If they can't even do that simple but critical job then what can they ever do?

This is what happens when a non-football corporatists consumed by greed kidnaps a football club. The history, tradition, the fans, the fate of the club. Fucked. This leech has one focus, positioning his diseased possession to yield the maximum return when the moment comes. He grabbed Arsenal in the right place at the right time when money has been pouring in regardless of performance. Even getting relegated is worth 100 million quid. When Kroenke eventually decides to run with his ill gotten gains he'll leave a shell behind. Like any good corporatist. Unfortunately, that won't happen for a while. They still have their obnoxious Euro project to feast on.

Wenger watched all this happen. He's guilty.

I say that because I don't know what motivates the club. It's obvious they're not paying attention to the fans. They've seen the protests, the pres, the blogs, the Tweets, the airplanes :lol: Wenger still got a new contract at the end of the day. A couple were saying yesterday that the fans have been tame and silent but I disagree. Last season caught the Boards attention. They can't claim ignorance. They just don't give a shit. Which is why Wenger got a new contract.

That was always a possibility because the owner only cares about money and by nature driven by greed. But considering we dropped out of the Top 4 and pile of shit sitting in front of him in terms of money we're losing, I would have thought the loss in revenue would have set alarm bells ringing. It hasn't. Wenger still got a new contract. I doubt a season or two of protests and boycotts could even budge Kroenke and Wenger. Just like our season results over the years, we'd need year upon year of decline after decline in tickets sold and revenue. I don't think they're going to act on short term losses which is bad news for the fans.

What a selfish cunt of a manager we have. In my eyes, he's worse than Kroenke and the rest because he's at the stadium, he's in London and has a connecting with the fans. He's been 100% compliant with the con and it wouldn't have worked without him. He's sold it to the fans. He didn't just watch and observe.

[Niall_Quinn]

I say that because I don't know what motivates the club. It's obvious they're not paying attention to the fans. They've seen the protests, the pres, the blogs, the Tweets, the airplanes :lol: Wenger still got a new contract at the end of the day. A couple were saying yesterday that the fans have been tame and silent but I disagree. Last season caught the Boards attention. They can't claim ignorance. They just don't give a shit. Which is why Wenger got a new contract.

That was always a possibility because the owner only cares about money and by nature driven by greed. But considering we dropped out of the Top 4 and pile of shit sitting in front of him in terms of money we're losing, I would have thought the loss in revenue would have set alarm bells ringing. It hasn't. Wenger still got a new contract. I doubt a season or two of protests and boycotts could even budge Kroenke and Wenger. Just like our season results over the years, we'd need year upon year of decline after decline in tickets sold and revenue. I don't think they're going to act on short term losses which is bad news for the fans.

What a selfish cunt of a manager we have. In my eyes, he's worse than Kroenke and the rest because he's at the stadium, he's in London and has a connecting with the fans. He's been 100% compliant with the con and it wouldn't have worked without him. He's sold it to the fans. He didn't just watch and observe.

Let me calm your fears. Kroenke has announced that Wenger will lead Arsenal back to the pinnacle of the game and Gazidis has backed this up by confirming an exhaustive search for a manager revealed we already had the best man for the job. So we're in the best position possible.

On the offchance you are having doubts about the above, relax. The financial side of things is firmly under control. Forget about all that irrelevant stuff like gate receipts, prize money, transfer balances, in fact forget about football completely. None of that has anything to do with the financial plan. Provided the club can afford to keep its doors open between now and 2019/20 when the new Euro league is announced, all will be well. Arsenal is already locked in as one of the Euro "super clubs" regardless of trivialities happening on the pitch. The cash bonanza that will come (at the expense of every club locked out of the party) will be unimaginable. 32 clubs taking the whole European pie and splitting it before they set boot on a pitch. And, on the back of that, the Arsenal share price continues to soar. Not the real and justifiable price, but the price at least two billionaires (and probably a whole host of potential seedy Asian bidders) are prepared to pay. 2 billion quid is what's being touted. Not bad for a 500 mill buy out supported by a big fat zero additional investment. Now whether the share price can only be realised prior to the announcement of the "secret" Euro league or whether it will hold up afterwards is known only to the likes of Usmanov. Kroenke will have to make his best guess, but I assume he'll play it safe and cash out at a fourfold profit binge.

So you see, everything is just fine. No need to worry about finances at all. Stan will be fine, and that's the main thing and the thing that every effort within this club is geared to. And that's why Wenger is still here because he's clearly 100% behind all this. Otherwise we'd hear him making noises about wanting more money for players, otherwise we'd hear him speak about ambition rather than sustainability, otherwise we wouldn't be seeing a man who has achieved nothing of significance in a decade hold down one of the top jobs in football.

Everything is going exactly as planned. It's just that football is not central to the plan. Yes, they still have to pay lip service. So when Stan says Wenger will lead us to glory, he means it. It's just the "us" is him and his cronies, not the club or the fans.

[Özim]

WTF? Is going on?

Got to hand it to Liverpool they drive a hard bargain, they don't want to sell him and so far they haven't (reminds me of Suarez when they said the same), respect to them (even if Coutinho isn't worth anywhere near that).

Better than being a powderpuff club that does deals because of emotional attachment to the player.

[Niall_Quinn]

Got to hand it to Liverpool they drive a hard bargain, they don't want to sell him and so far they haven't (reminds me of Suarez when they said the same), respect to them (even if Coutinho isn't worth anywhere near that).

Better than being a powderpuff club that does deals because of emotional attachment to the player.

For some strange reason they signed him onto a 5 year contract last year. Maybe that has influenced the transfer fee in some way? Fortunately we've opted to go for the ideal contract strategy instead.

[GP]

https://twitter.com/aliladiere/status/900388814585253888

Great signing.

[Niall_Quinn]

https://twitter.com/aliladiere/status/900388814585253888

Great signing.

That might be fake.

[GP]

That might be fake.

Yes, Wenger would never do something so ridiculous.

[GP]

Sanchez has signed for Spurs.

£42m

[Niall_Quinn]

Sanchez has signed for Spurs.

£42m

The journos have all missed this one.

[GP]

The journos have all missed this one.

BBC have it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41031823

[Marc Overmars]

Apparently Mbappe is close to signing for PSG. 138m plus one or two players going the other way. Possibly Di Maria and Draxler.

:wacko:

[Power n Glory]

Aren't Monaco supposed to be oil rich minted? Do they have to sell their best players? They're definitely getting a good price for them at least.

[Özim]

Apparently Mbappe is close to signing for PSG. 138m plus one or two players going the other way. Possibly Di Maria and Draxler.

:wacko:

If Draxler goes, that's another BS rumour that we can put to bed as we've been linked with him.

Very much looking like we're only looking to sell at the moment, no real interest in buying, shocking really based on last seasons distaster, utter incompetence once again, how many times do we have to go through the same scenario before the guy learns his lesson.....seemingly infinite amounts.

[Letters]

Apparently Mbappe is close to signing for PSG. 138m plus one or two players going the other way. Possibly Di Maria and Draxler.

:wacko:

How can that be withing the FFP rules or whatever.

[GP]

How can that be withing the FFP rules or whatever.

FFP is only a concern if you're not rich.

[Özim]

Makes me laugh, every other club who has gone after a Monaco player has got him except us, our fruitless pursuit of Lemar was just an embarrassing succession of lowball bids they were never going to accept, another one of those chases for the purposes of satisfying the fans knowing full well we wouldn't be signing him.

[Niall_Quinn]

Aren't Monaco supposed to be oil rich minted? Do they have to sell their best players? They're definitely getting a good price for them at least.

Read an article a while back on that. Apparently all their big name purchases were designed to put the club on the big stage and the intent was always to pull back and manage the club in a sane manner once that was achieved. The opposite of PSG who have embraced insanity with gusto. Everyone is lamenting poor Monaco's team being ripped apart, but apparently that's the plan. Build a good infrastructure, get a good youth program going and then survive by developing talent, getting a few years benefit and selling. They can't attract the crowds, just not enough population, so they need to play it another way. Might be bullshit, but that's what the article claimed. Regardless, they certainly seem capable of developing the talent and they aren't scared to throw some outrageous prices out there. This may be why they have clung to Lemar for dear life. They think he's worth 80 mill but he needs another good season to realise that valuation. And they'll get there because Lemar is an exceptional talent. He'll probably go for more than the 80 next season and for sure we won't get within sniffing distance. If we'd have bid 50 mill straight of the bat we'd likely be welcoming a 100 mill player into our ranks now. But Wenger disagrees with the current market and believes his own valuation somehow are relevant. In many way the bloke is a massive fucking knob.

[Özim]

Read an article a while back on that. Apparently all their big name purchases were designed to put the club on the big stage and the intent was always to pull back and manage the club in a sane manner once that was achieved. The opposite of PSG who have embraced insanity with gusto. Everyone is lamenting poor Monaco's team being ripped apart, but apparently that's the plan. Build a good infrastructure, get a good youth program going and then survive by developing talent, getting a few years benefit and selling. They can't attract the crowds, just not enough population, so they need to play it another way. Might be bullshit, but that's what the article claimed. Regardless, they certainly seem capable of developing the talent and they aren't scared to throw some outrageous prices out there. This may be why they have clung to Lemar for dear life. They think he's worth 80 mill but he needs another good season to realise that valuation. And they'll get there because Lemar is an exceptional talent. He'll probably go for more than the 80 next season and for sure we won't get within sniffing distance. If we'd have bid 50 mill straight of the bat we'd likely be welcoming a 100 mill player into our ranks now. But Wenger disagrees with the current market and believes his own valuation somehow are relevant. In many way the bloke is a massive fucking knob.

Can't disagree with anything in your post.

What's funny as well is Monaco have only been focussed on youth a few years and have developed some top players, we on the other hand have been doing the youth thing for years and years and have produced next to nothing, Wenger had a 10 year plan to produce a top youth system when he arrived apparently, that went well, it's been nothing short of a disaster costing us millions with very little in return, if anything we're less successful with youths than clubs who don't focus on the youth policy.

Embarrassing all round really, just like everything at the club.

[Niall_Quinn]

How can that be withing the FFP rules or whatever.

If you can afford an army of lawyers then you can get what you need from FFP. If not, you are constrained. It has achieved what it was designed to achieve - limit the ability of smaller clubs to challenge the rich clubs. It's a bit like government regulation in industry. Everyone cries about the regulations but in reality they are there to protect the rich because the little guy can't afford to comply. Corruption basically, presented as fair play. All laughable bollocks as can be seen from PSG and the gypos antics, plus Marketing and Barcas behaviour every season. Ironically, Arsenal is run by such massive cheapskates we are genuinely constrained. Apparently we can't add any more to the wage bill without first getting rid of players. Yet PSG can magically pay Neymar 666 trillion a week. Odd indeed.

[Özim]

If you can afford an army of lawyers then you can get what you need from FFP. If not, you are constrained. It has achieved what it was designed to achieve - limit the ability of smaller clubs to challenge the rich clubs. It's a bit like government regulation in industry. Everyone cries about the regulations but in reality they are there to protect the rich because the little guy can't afford to comply. Corruption basically, presented as fair play. All laughable bollocks as can be seen from PSG and the gypos antics, plus Marketing and Barcas behaviour every season. Ironically, Arsenal is run by such massive cheapskates we are genuinely constrained. Apparently we can't add any more to the wage bill without first getting rid of players. Yet PSG can magically pay Neymar 666 trillion a week. Odd indeed.

Missing out on CL football and hoarding average players on huge wages hasn't really helped, most other clubs don't pay average players big wages like us, that's the reason noone wants to touch them, pampered, overpaid, overrated bunch of nobodies we're stuck with.

We're so badly run, thanks to one man, so much to thank him for.

What also makes me laugh is we've only signed two players and so far got rid of two (3 with Jenks), last summer Wenger never complained about the squad size being unmanageable but is now.

[Niall_Quinn]

Missing out on CL football and hoarding average players on huge wages hasn't really helped, most other clubs don't pay average players big wages like us, that's the reason noone wants to touch them, pampered, overpaid, overrated bunch of nobodies we're stuck with.

We're so badly run, thanks to one man, so much to thank him for.

What also makes me laugh is we've only signed two players and so far got rid of two (3 with Jenks), last summer Wenger never complained about the squad size being unmanageable but is now.

This still comes down to being cheapskates, even though our wage bill is big. Sounds counterintuitive, but by refusing to bring in the big names and pay them the big wages and instead imposing a communist style wage structure that (above all else) is containable, we've ended up achieving the worst of all possible outcomes. Overpaid dross, underpaid stars, the inability to attract more stars (even when there are bargains on the table like Vidal and Draxler), the inevitable lack of performance on the pitch, the knock on lack of the big trophies and the whole damn mess feeding back into itself in a vicious circle.

BUT, it has allowed us to claim we are sustainable and well managed financially and boy have we boasted about this unambitious cowardice at every opportunity. We are "the model" for every other club to follow, apparently. Yet no other club actually follows us. Strange that. I wonder why. Event Watford and Hull, Huddersfield and Crystal Palace have bigger balls.

Stick 300k on the table when Alexis asked for it and he'd be signed up now. Instead, haggle, haggle, haggle, try a media assassination campaign, haggle some more and then eventually offer what he wanted, long after the damage has been done. Same fucked up philosophy as the Lemar farce and all those other "almost" signed triumphs.

[Niall_Quinn]

Wenger confirms Lemar deal is dead. Absolute SHOCKER! This is soooooooo unlucky. We've spent the whole summer chasing this player but wouldn't meet the asking price. How unlucky can you get?


Lemar was Arsenal’s top summer target following the arrival of Alexandre Lacazette.

Arsenal made three bids for Lemar but wouldn’t go as high as Monaco’s £50m asking price.

And now Wenger admits the deal is dead due to Monaco’s business with selling other players.

“It’s dead because Monaco has closed the door definitely,” he said.

And the great man also refuses to rule out the sale of Mustafi. That would be a great move. We need a CB so why not sell two?

Arsene Knows :bow:

Rumours of a 70 mill gypo bid for Alexis continue to circulate. I wonder if we'd let him go? I wonder if a bear shits in the wood?

[Niall_Quinn]

Arsene better get his sneakers on and grab his trolley. We need to pick up some abject shit from the bargain bucket before this window closes. What's Kallstrom doing, I wonder?

[Özim]

Wenger confirms Lemar deal is dead. Absolute SHOCKER! This is soooooooo unlucky. We've spent the whole summer chasing this player but wouldn't meet the asking price. How unlucky can you get?



And the great man also refuses to rule out the sale of Mustafi. That would be a great move. We need a CB so why not sell two?

Arsene Knows :bow:

Rumours of a 70 mill gypo bid for Alexis continue to circulate. I wonder if we'd let him go? I wonder if a bear shits in the wood?

An absolute joke that excuse because Monaco hadn't sold all those players when we were chasing him, so if we'd gone in and offered the right money we would have most likely got him.

Honestly Wenger is totally cringeworthy, we know what the were doing all along though dragging this out so that they never had to pay out and buy him, it's what they do every season, I hope noone buys into this rubbish anymore.

All of his lame excuses make little sense in the grand scheme of things but he still thinks he's pulling the wool over peoples' eyes, what an intelligent man.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Meanwhile it seems Barca will sign Dembele for €120m+€30m addons (£110m+£27.5m) :wacko:

[GP]

Dembele seems like a little bitch tbh

[Niall_Quinn]

Dembele seems like a little bitch tbh

Made for them, then. Barca DNA.

[selassie]

I was just watching Wenger's press conference and it sounds to me as if Ox has already decided to leave, hardly a surprise. Wenger sounds desperate with his rhetoric about wanting to build the team around OX in the future and that OX has a duty to stay and whatnot because we have invested a lot of time in him.

I wouldn't be surprised if we sold both Ox and Alexis before the window closes, they both clearly want out.

[selassie]

Wenger confirms Lemar deal is dead. Absolute SHOCKER! This is soooooooo unlucky. We've spent the whole summer chasing this player but wouldn't meet the asking price. How unlucky can you get?



And the great man also refuses to rule out the sale of Mustafi. That would be a great move. We need a CB so why not sell two?

Arsene Knows :bow:

Rumours of a 70 mill gypo bid for Alexis continue to circulate. I wonder if we'd let him go? I wonder if a bear shits in the wood?

There are a lot of rumours flying around that Lemar will go to United, they have been linked with him on/off over the past few weeks.

[Niall_Quinn]

I was just watching Wenger's press conference and it sounds to me as if Ox has already decided to leave, hardly a surprise. Wenger sounds desperate with his rhetoric about wanting to build the team around OX in the future and that OX has a duty to stay and whatnot because we have invested a lot of time in him.

I wouldn't be surprised if we sold both Ox and Alexis before the window closes, they both clearly want out.

Watch Wenger closely during that press conference. It's obvious when he's lying. He's all smiles and smirks and his language falls apart when he's telling his tired old lies. But then watch him when he's speaking about other clubs, the smiles and smirks vanish and he starts speaking with clarity. In that interview he lied and obfuscated on Mustafi, Ox, Alexis and Lemar. But he was all the business when talking about Coutinho.

[hobson's choice]

I was just watching Wenger's press conference and it sounds to me as if Ox has already decided to leave, hardly a surprise. Wenger sounds desperate with his rhetoric about wanting to build the team around OX in the future and that OX has a duty to stay and whatnot because we have invested a lot of time in him.

I wouldn't be surprised if we sold both Ox and Alexis before the window closes, they both clearly want out.

Ox needs to save his career and just leave this club. Iwobi needs to do the same thing.

2 more seasons under Wenger will pretty much end whatever promise he has.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ideal or No Deal.

[Özim]

There are a lot of rumours flying around that Lemar will go to United, they have been linked with him on/off over the past few weeks.

Would love it if they signed him, would make Wenger look even more of a fraud than he already is.

[Niall_Quinn]

Reports from various sources saying Ox has rejected a 180k offer and is determined to get out of Arsenal to further his England career. Makes perfect sense, unfortunately. Even more unfortunate is the suggestion we're prepared to sell him to the chavs for as little as 25 mill. In this market he'll be instantly worth 60 mill when he signs a new contract. Wenger has done it again, ruined the progress of a young prospect and managed to cash out at the lowest valuation. That could be because the guy is the biggest dickhead in football.

Ox
Gibbs
Theo
Wilshere
Chambers
Afobe
Akpom
and soon the Ramsey saga will start.

Wenger, you fucking legend.

[mastermind84]

Ox needs to save his career and just leave this club. Iwobi needs to do the same thing.

2 more seasons under Wenger will pretty much end whatever promise he has.

have to agree

seeing it now with Bellerin.

[Gooner23]

Not sure why people are moaning, we're in an ideal situation!

[Niall_Quinn]

Not sure why people are moaning, we're in an ideal situation!

If people keep on complaining like this it may cost us the title.

[Özim]

It would be ironic if we lost Ox-Chamberlain, for years we held on to him when he really wasn't doing much and the minute he starts to become top class he's got one year left and can pretty much walk away.

Never had that problem with Walcott who has been sh*t all his all career and we've kept offering new contracts to.

This club really is sh*t.

[Power n Glory]

It would be ironic if we lost Ox-Chamberlain, for years we held on to him when he really wasn't doing much and the minute he starts to become top class he's got one year left and can pretty much walk away.

Never had that problem with Walcott who has been sh*t all his all career and we've kept offering new contracts to.

This club really is sh*t.

You know my thoughts on Walcott. We’ve had the debate plenty of times about him being suited to playing up front. But putting aside the technical comparisons, in terms of the style of play and type of striker, he’s similar to Lacazette. Again, I’m not comparing their technical ability, just how they play up front. He should have been developed into a classic number 9. It has made no sense to play Theo as a winger when it’s clear he doesn’t have the skillset for that role.

My guess is that Wenger has never fancied the classic number 9 sort of player or has had bad luck with them when he’s signed them. He got Ian Wright out of the team pretty quickly, never signed Jermain Defore despite the Wright comparisons, had a bad experience with Jeffers, Suker wasn’t what we expected, etc. When we have signed that sort of player, he’s been reluctant to play them. Eduardo had way too many games playing wide, we bought Vela because of his strike record with the Mexico youth team but he ended up playing wide and lord knows why Park and Perez were never given a chance.

Walcott really should have moved on ages ago if he valued his development over money. As things stand, he has no place in the team since and is still at a stage where he’s having to prove himself despite scoring 19 goals last season. Ox not signing a new deal is the right thing for his career. Here is a kid with everything in his locker technically and physically. He can pass, shoot, dribble, strong on the ball, gets back to defend….all the problems with his game are mental. It’s his decision making that lets him down and that’s down to bad coaching. What is he being taught? That’s why he needs to go.

[Niall_Quinn]

Chances are Ox was waiting on Wenger's decision. People who know him say he likes it at Arsenal, he's settled. And yet he won't sign a contract. What does that tell you? Now he's been offered a big pay bump, if he still doesn't sign that will eliminate the money angle. My bet is he wants to get as far away from Wenger as possible. As does Alexis. As does Ozil. And because they are all in the driving seat they can bide their time. Contrary to Wenger's bullshit, it is the players who are in the ideal position having calmly outmanoeuvred the old fool.

Look at how ridiculous this all is.

Monaco wanted 50 mill for Lemar. 50 mill on the table would have got the deal done, well in advance of other clubs coming in and depleting the Monaco squad. Wenger's excuses are bullshit, as always.

Alexis wanted 300k. Slap that on the table and he's signed, a massive boost going into the new season. With Lacazette in, Lemar following and Alexis signed, what's the bets Ox and Ozil would take that as an indicator the club was finally getting its shit in gear?

And Ox wanted parity. A smaller offer than the one Wenger has painfully crawled to might have done the job six months ago. Stick 140 on the table and show the player you are interested in him, he's in your plans, you want him to stay. Instead, another crawl to the worst possible outcome.

It's a joke. You make one mistake and that's acceptable, everyone makes a mistake. Make two and that's careless. Make the same fucking mistake a third time in short order and that's outright incompetence.

Wenger should have been sacked for this contract farce alone.

Why is the fucker still here? It's outrageous. WTF? What, exactly, would he have to do to get the shove? Burn the fucking place down?

[Niall_Quinn]

Rumours building that Utd will step in and pay the asking price for Lemar. What a coup for Maureen if true. He'll be laughing has arse off at the old goat who wouldn't go an extra 5 mill in this crazy market to get his supposed number one target.

Fucking cheapskate. Well, I erm, you know, little bit, if we can find qualiteeee we will do it, there is no qualiteeee, it will kill Gibbs, please pay me 8 million quid...

[GP]

Rumours building that Utd will step in and pay the asking price for Lemar. What a coup for Maureen if true. He'll be laughing has arse off at the old goat who wouldn't go an extra 5 mill in this crazy market to get his supposed number one target.

Fucking cheapskate. Well, I erm, you know, little bit, if we can find qualiteeee we will do it, there is no qualiteeee, it will kill Gibbs, please pay me 8 million quid...

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

[Özim]

Rumours building that Utd will step in and pay the asking price for Lemar. What a coup for Maureen if true. He'll be laughing has arse off at the old goat who wouldn't go an extra 5 mill in this crazy market to get his supposed number one target.

Fucking cheapskate. Well, I erm, you know, little bit, if we can find qualiteeee we will do it, there is no qualiteeee, it will kill Gibbs, please pay me 8 million quid...

This would be hilarious and would leave a massive egg on Wengers' face as he said Monaco weren't willing to sell as they had sold others effectively.

[Özim]

You know my thoughts on Walcott. We’ve had the debate plenty of times about him being suited to playing up front. But putting aside the technical comparisons, in terms of the style of play and type of striker, he’s similar to Lacazette. Again, I’m not comparing their technical ability, just how they play up front. He should have been developed into a classic number 9. It has made no sense to play Theo as a winger when it’s clear he doesn’t have the skillset for that role.

My guess is that Wenger has never fancied the classic number 9 sort of player or has had bad luck with them when he’s signed them. He got Ian Wright out of the team pretty quickly, never signed Jermain Defore despite the Wright comparisons, had a bad experience with Jeffers, Suker wasn’t what we expected, etc. When we have signed that sort of player, he’s been reluctant to play them. Eduardo had way too many games playing wide, we bought Vela because of his strike record with the Mexico youth team but he ended up playing wide and lord knows why Park and Perez were never given a chance.

Walcott really should have moved on ages ago if he valued his development over money. As things stand, he has no place in the team since and is still at a stage where he’s having to prove himself despite scoring 19 goals last season. Ox not signing a new deal is the right thing for his career. Here is a kid with everything in his locker technically and physically. He can pass, shoot, dribble, strong on the ball, gets back to defend….all the problems with his game are mental. It’s his decision making that lets him down and that’s down to bad coaching. What is he being taught? That’s why he needs to go.

I know your feeling about Walcott and you know mine so no point going over old ground, I think my point was really that Walcott really hasn't delivered for us whatever the reasons but we have been happy to offer him new contracts and keep him tied down, he's been here 10+ years now.

With Ox we kept him here but let him run down his contract when he started coming good which seems odd to me, we should have got him signed up last season during the season at the latest, we've had no issues signing up other players on long term contracts, players who aren't even good enough and yet with Ox who was very good last season we haven't.

What a terrible oversight and now he'll be able to walk away for free next summer just like Sanchez and why wouldn't he. We've basically waste a load of money allowing him to develop and when he starts to show signs of becoming top class allowed him to walk away, we clearly signed him for the future when we brought him in, when that future finally became the present we won't be reaping the rewards some other club will by the looks of it.

[Power n Glory]

I know your feeling about Walcott and you know mine so no point going over old ground, I think my point was really that Walcott really hasn't delivered for us whatever the reasons but we have been happy to offer him new contracts and keep him tied down, he's been here 10+ years now.

With Ox we kept him here but let him run down his contract when he started coming good which seems odd to me, we should have got him signed up last season during the season at the latest, we've had no issues signing up other players on long term contracts, players who aren't even good enough and yet with Ox who was very good last season we haven't.

What a terrible oversight and now he'll be able to walk away for free next summer just like Sanchez and why wouldn't he. We've basically waste a load of money allowing him to develop and when he starts to show signs of becoming top class allowed him to walk away, we clearly signed him for the future when we brought him in, when that future finally became the present we won't be reaping the rewards some other club will by the looks of it.

I don’t think Ox deserves a contract worth £130k if I’m going off his performances. I made a point last year about young players getting way too much too soon and Ox was included in that list along with Gibbs, Ramsey and Wilshere. If I’m being honest, this would be an example of the club doing something different and not handing out a new deal off the back of a purple patch in form. We’ve seen it with Theo, Bellerin and Ramsey, an explosion of great form, new contract comes in and then that form disappears. I can’t fault them for being cautious but I know this is just a one off.

I think Ox has bags of potential, but I can’t even bring myself to say I want him to stay because he’s fucking up his career the longer he stays with Wenger. He’s now playing as a wingback for fucks sakes! He should be a central midfielder. Under different circumstances and I’d want him to stay but I don’t believe for a second that him staying will help us or his career. If he has any sense he’ll turn down every single offer they put in front of him.

[GP]

Ox needs to understand where his strengths are. He absolutely doesn't have the skillset to play CM. Like Theo, he's best off on the right.

[Power n Glory]

Ox needs to understand where his strengths are. He absolutely doesn't have the skillset to play CM. Like Theo, he's best off on the right.

But he has the skillset to play left wingback? ;)

Over 5 seasons or so, both players have been really inconsistent and shouldn't be playing for Arsenal if you think we've seen them in their best position.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

If people keep on complaining like this it may cost us the title.

I'd complain but who'd listen....Ivan Gazidis?

It's not like any of us actually believed this catalyst for change bunk when Wenger signed his new contract. You get the odd encouraging sign like you always do and then business as usual.

Well past the point where it actually bothers me. Goonersweb has slipped off my grouping of most frequently viewed sites on my laptop and phone browser. Big surprise

[GP]

But he has the skillset to play left wingback? ;)



At a push. Never through the middle though.

Maybe both should be sold. I don't really see any room for Theo in the current setup. I wouldn't be upset to see Ox go IF IF IF he's replaced with a proper winger.

[Niall_Quinn]

He won't be playing CM in chavland, he'll be wide. If he gets off the bench at all. Shitty move for him if he does it, but the England selection bias is probably what he wants to go there for. Suddenly the media will love him, he'll be the GOAT, great English talent, etc, etc. Only Utd would offer a greater profile boost.

All of these things are the building symptoms of Wenger's mismanagement in every area. The credibility and prestige of our club is running down the drain on a daily basis, everywhere except in Wenger's confused mind and on the beancounters' spreadsheets. When a club is moving forward on all fronts, even when there's a lack of trophies, the top players will come and will stay. We see this with Utd after the Moyes/ van Genius nightmares and with the chavs when they dropped to mid table. Didn't matter. Everyone knew changes would be made to correct the problems and money spent if necessary. Opposite story at Arsenal. Everyone knows what you see is what you'll get for every minute of every day that Wenger stays. He's slowly strangled the club. Didn't he say he'd leave if it ever got to the point he couldn't help us?

Liar.

[Ralpheroo72]

Ox turns down 180k a week deal. He can do one

[Niall_Quinn]

Ox turns down 180k a week deal. He can do one

Still, it shows it's not about the money. Only one reason he wants out then. The W word. Don't blame him at all. Two more years under the master's expert guidance and he'd be in Theoland wondering where his career went.

[Ralpheroo72]

Still, it shows it's not about the money. Only one reason he wants out then. The W word. Don't blame him at all. Two more years under the master's expert guidance and he'd be in Theoland wondering where his career went.
It's a mess of epic proportions, we are the new Leeds

[Özim]

He wants to move on just like Sanchez.

The ones we want to get rid of don't want to move on though, on too much money for doing nothing. Next summer after another rubbish season of a few thumpings, collapses and no silverware of note we'll lose two of our better players, then we'll go through the summer signing 1 maybe 2 players (one will be a cheap nobody) and Wenger will be convinced the squad is good enough.

The following year it'll be time to discuss Wenger's contract again, he'll play it coy knowing everyone wants him to leave but also fully aware he'll be signing up again as he looks after number 1, then the summer will come he'll whinge all summer about the cost and no player being available and sign one or two players (one being a cheap nobody).

This will carry on until he leaves, in that time we'll keep losing our better players once they discover they've been duped and that the club has zero ambition and sees being losers as success.

[GP]

It's a mess of epic proportions, we are the new Leeds

:lol: I've read some dumb things on here, but this...

[Ralpheroo72]

:lol: I've read some dumb things on here, but this...
Dumb, how? We are regressing steadily. Our so called star players want out, with bigger clubs ready to swoop. Leeds may have been an extreme example, but look at where we are now, a jumped up cup team being led by a a clueless board and manager.

[Niall_Quinn]

:lol: I've read some dumb things on here, but this...

There's definitive proof.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/4302915/leeds-united-flog-official-ticket-wallet-arsenal-badge/

Case close, I'm afraid.

[Niall_Quinn]

Aurier to spuds for 23 mill.

[Power n Glory]

Ox turns down 180k a week deal. He can do one

You'd be happy for us to pay him £180k a week? It's not our money but it's not smart management. We've handled him and load of other young players wrong for a while now.

[Marc Overmars]

I reckon Ox could be very good under a decent manager who knows exactly how he wants to use him.

No point of him staying here if he's destined to be a utility man, if he's got any ambition he'll go.

[Niall_Quinn]

Latest rumour, Arsenal pretending to go for Van Dijk. Value of underbid has not been disclosed.

Just a few more days to go until the window closes. This Van Dijk pretence could take us over the line and if we can flog Gibbs, Ox and a couple more we'll actually be in lovely, lovely profit.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Good pace, strength and the best crosser of the ball we have

For me his best position has always been on the right wing, can he cut inside yeah but Wenger is obsessed with putting square pegs in round holes.

[Niall_Quinn]

And just imagine if the gypos really do bid 70 mill for Alexis. This could end up as our most successful transfer window ever.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Latest rumour, Arsenal pretending to go for Van Dijk. Value of underbid has not been disclosed.

Just a few more days to go until the window closes. This Van Dijk pretence could take us over the line and if we can flog Gibbs, Ox and a couple more we'll actually be in lovely, lovely profit.

I think the problem with our defence is not the personnel it's the set up. Koscielny and Mustafi are good, Holding is still bit rough round the edges but is learning. Mertesacker is good to have for experience....would personally have got rid of Chambers and kept Skeletor who also plays well when he gets a run in the side. But I imagine that's more to do with the homegrown quotient.
Having a weak as piss midfield won't solve our defensive problems even if we buy the best defenders in the world.

Ramsey, Xhaka are not strong enough and not quick enough to deal with a high press

Coquelin is a one trick pony who is not premier league quality and Elneny is a decent squad player but that's it.

[Ralpheroo72]

You'd be happy for us to pay him £180k a week? It's not our money but it's not smart management. We've handled him and load of other young players wrong for a while now.
No, not happy. He can do one, but his situation highlights how badly the club is being run. Manager playing people out of position, and not addressing ongoing recurring issues. Arsenal is being run by fuckwits, its like the spuds have planted operatives in our club.

[Power n Glory]

Good pace, strength and the best crosser of the ball we have

For me his best position has always been on the right wing, can he cut inside yeah but Wenger is obsessed with putting square pegs in round holes.


It's easy to say what his best position is when you haven't seen him play in the middle for a long enough period.

[GP]

Dumb, how? We are regressing steadily. Our so called star players want out, with bigger clubs ready to swoop. Leeds may have been an extreme example, but look at where we are now, a jumped up cup team being led by a a clueless board and manager.

Except that's not what happened to Leeds. They went bust and were forced to sell their assets, including the stadium.

There's no comparison at all, so yes, it's dumb.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

It's easy to say what his best position is when you haven't seen him play in the middle for a long enough period.

Ok well I'm just saying his attributes are best suited to the position wide right, could he also be an accomplished central attacking midfielder I'm sure he could.

But in playing him at wing back or even on some bizarre occasions as a deep lying central midfielder like Wenger is doing is a) the square peg in round hole that Wenger does and b) reportedly the reason he has turned down a deal from us, but more likely he wants to go to Chelsea for more money and champions league football with a good chance of getting games in a thin squad.

[AFC Leveller]

I get the feeling that OX just wants to leave and play for a different manager and try prove himself somewhere else. I have no doubt that under someone like Klopp or Conte he would improve and would be used properly and given the right type of coaching and guidance.

I too would turn down a deal if I was him considering dross like Walcott is on 110 a week since 2014 despite bringing nothing to the table and consistently looking lost. Ox must be thinking why am I being pissed about and played all over the park and not given any importance until I enter my final contract year?!?

[fakeyank]

IF we do the same shit we do every season for the last decade, next summer is going to be a bloodbath with Ox, Ozil and Sanchez leaving. The last year of the cunts contract is going to be a humungous shit storm! :lol:

:scarf:

[rodders]

Rapidly this great club is descending to the levels of WBA, Stoke and other also rans. Blame lies with Wenger and Kroenke. Sooner both of them go the better

[mastermind84]

Rapidly this great club is descending to the levels of WBA, Stoke and other also rans. Blame lies with Wenger and Kroenke. Sooner both of them go the better

relax, its not that bad. :haha:

[mastermind84]

Ox needs to understand where his strengths are. He absolutely doesn't have the skillset to play CM. Like Theo, he's best off on the right.

tbf, he does.

The type of midfielder we need in our midfield is what Ox has in his skillset.

The problem is Wenger hasnt turned anyone into a proper CM... ever. Vieira came in and dominated. Cesc didnt really become a great CM, he became more of an attacking mid and a great footballer. Ramsey had the chance but Wenger turned him into something like Cesc but not as good.

[Niall_Quinn]

Dembele signs for Barca. 96 mill, rising to 136 mill with add-ons. Release clause is close on 400 mill.

Looks like Mbappe will go to PSG on loan, to get around FFP, and will sign on a permanent deal next season.

[fakeyank]

Football :rose:

[Dicks and chicks]

We turned down a £10 mil bid for Gibbs earlier now we are selling jim for £7mil

[rodders]

relax, its not that bad. :haha:

No its probably worse

[GP]

We turned down a £10 mil bid for Gibbs earlier now we are selling jim for £7mil

Poor Jim.

[Niall_Quinn]

Poor Jim.

Hardly. Jim's a complete cunt. As well you know.

[Özim]

We turned down a £10 mil bid for Gibbs earlier now we are selling jim for £7mil

Apparently we've accepted 5 million, awful business but let's be honest he's sh*t and always has been, how he's lasted at this club this long when he can't defend for toffee and can't cross to save his life is beyond me, youth policy :rose:

Wenger is too busy topping up the money pot to minimise our summer spend to bother with buying players, the guy and his tea are incapable of handling more than one deal at a time, even if it's a phantom deal or a deal for a player we have no chance of signing.

It's hilarious how he insinuated selling players keeps you very busy when asked about incoming transfers, the guys' a complete joke.

Meanwhile in the real world other clubs are signing players they need for the season without worrying about waiting periods, inflated markets, being 2% away from domination or lacking a little bit of sharpness.

[selassie]

I get the feeling that OX just wants to leave and play for a different manager and try prove himself somewhere else. I have no doubt that under someone like Klopp or Conte he would improve and would be used properly and given the right type of coaching and guidance.


Yeah I think it's this too, I think OX would improve as a player at Chelsea under Conte.

I think Sanchez & Ozil are leaving because they can join better teams who will have a much better chance of winning the big prizes.

All of this is to do with Wenger, none of them appear to rate him.

[Niall_Quinn]

Yeah I think it's this too, I think OX would improve as a player at Chelsea under Conte.

I think Sanchez & Ozil are leaving because they can join better teams who will have a much better chance of winning the big prizes.

All of this is to do with Wenger, none of them appear to rate him.

I think they rate him as a loser who is going to make them losers too. These are guys who have won world and euro medals, being asked to sign up to guaranteed mediocrity. For less than they could earn at a winning club. There's nothing we can offer them while Wenger is here, except failure and embarrassment.

[AFC Leveller]

I dont get the impression that top clubs are dying to sign Ozil, I think he will end up staying or going to some rich Turkish club.

[Niall_Quinn]

I dont get the impression that top clubs are dying to sign Ozil, I think he will end up staying or going to some rich Turkish club.

Nah. They all know he's on a free next season. He's a player who will improve your team overall, rather than a one-man title winning machine like Alexis would be in the gypo line-up. There will be plenty of interest in Ozil come January, not that Arsenal will have a say in any of it because we've allowed his contract to run down because we refuse to get involved in the modern day realities of football. Same shit with Ox. Everyone is saying he's not "worth" 180K. Of course he's not worth that. Not in a sane world. But if you want him in your team in the crazy world of football then that's what he costs - more than that in fact, because it sounds like he's turned the offer down.

Refusing to get with the real world.
Refusing to play players in their proper positions.
Dropping players when they are playing well, persisting with players when they are off form.
No tactics.
No in-game management.
No ambition on the pitch.
No ambition in the boardroom.
No ambition in the transfer market.
No trace that this club is serious about challenging for the major honours.

These are the reasons our players are sitting in limbo, waiting to restart their careers next year.

Joke owner. Joke board. Sick joke of a manager. Joke club. Everyone can see it and they'll just watch, wait, see what can be salvaged and take their pick for free.

[AFC Leveller]

Muatafi haz agreed terms with Inter Milan according to sky.

Bit weird this, nobody expected Mustafi to be sold after just one season esp after selling Gabriel only last week!

Whatever is happening at the club, something fishy is going on.

[Niall_Quinn]

Muatafi haz agreed terms with Inter Milan according to sky.

Bit weird this, nobody expected Mustafi to be sold after just one season esp after selling Gabriel only last week!

Whatever is happening at the club, something fishy is going on.

Well we needed CB, so Wenger sells two. What's odd about that? It's Wenger.

[AFC Leveller]

Nah. They all know he's on a free next season. He's a player who will improve your team overall, rather than a one-man title winning machine like Alexis would be in the gypo line-up. There will be plenty of interest in Ozil come January, not that Arsenal will have a say in any of it because we've allowed his contract to run down because we refuse to get involved in the modern day realities of football. Same shit with Ox. Everyone is saying he's not "worth" 180K. Of course he's not worth that. Not in a sane world. But if you want him in your team in the crazy world of football then that's what he costs - more than that in fact, because it sounds like he's turned the offer down.

Refusing to get with the real world.
Refusing to play players in their proper positions.
Dropping players when they are playing well, persisting with players when they are off form.
No tactics.
No in-game management.
No ambition on the pitch.
No ambition in the boardroom.
No ambition in the transfer market.
No trace that this club is serious about challenging for the major honours.

These are the reasons our players are sitting in limbo, waiting to restart their careers next year.

Joke owner. Joke board. Sick joke of a manager. Joke club. Everyone can see it and they'll just watch, wait, see what can be salvaged and take their pick for free.

I agree with most of what you are saying but I don't think Ozil is that in demand, he's a luxury player and needs the team built around him. He is a world class talent no doubt but not a must have like Sanchez is for example.

[AFC Leveller]

Well we needed CB, so Wenger sells two. What's odd about that? It's Wenger.

I mean what kind of genius leaves two World Cup winning CBs on the bench to play 2 left backs in there?!? Takes 35 years management to be able to call shots like that.

[Niall_Quinn]

I mean what kind of genius leaves two World Cup winning CBs on the bench to play 2 left backs in there?!? Takes 35 years management to be able to call shots like that.

Dude. It's Wenger. What's your point?

[Niall_Quinn]

I agree with most of what you are saying but I don't think Ozil is that in demand, he's a luxury player and needs the team built around him. He is a world class talent no doubt but not a must have like Sanchez is for example.

I think that's the problem a lot of people have. Last player you build a team around is Ozil. Ozil's a refined part that you fit into an already refined engine. Stick him in a tractor like Arsenal and forget about it.

[mastermind84]

I think that's the problem a lot of people have. Last player you build a team around is Ozil. Ozil's a refined part that you fit into an already refined engine. Stick him in a tractor like Arsenal and forget about it.

yup

[Power n Glory]

I think that's the problem a lot of people have. Last player you build a team around is Ozil. Ozil's a refined part that you fit into an already refined engine. Stick him in a tractor like Arsenal and forget about it.

:unsure: Not sure about that logic applying to World Class players. So if he were to sign for a team lower than Arsenal they shouldn't build around him? Would he be a flop there too?

[Niall_Quinn]

:unsure: Not sure about that logic applying to World Class players. So if he were to sign for a team lower than Arsenal they shouldn't build around him? Would he be a flop there too?

He's not a flop, he's one of our best players. Need to get that fact straight first.

Yes, it would be a complete waste of time for him to sign for a team filled with average or inferior players. Then again, in most cases it would be a complete waste of time for any top level player to sign for an average or inferior team. The tactics those teams have to deploy just to compete would make building the team around any one player an irrelevancy.

[AFC Leveller]

https://www.facebook.com/officialdugout/videos/10211696684146982/

Mustafi misses the food and weather in Italy apparently.

[Niall_Quinn]

Robbie's version of a rant.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5NlTnbc-YI

TLDW: WENGER! Spend some fucking money you cunt!

[Dicks and chicks]

Reports on Twitter say he's set to join an english club by the end of the window

[McNamara That Ghost...]

That doesn't deserve its own thread at the moment.

[Niall_Quinn]

That doesn't deserve its own thread at the moment.

Nothing to do with Arsenal transfers deserves a thread tbf.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

For some reason we're being heavily linked with Lemar.

If that happens, NQ :rose:

[Niall_Quinn]

For some reason we're being heavily linked with Lemar.

If that happens, NQ :rose:

Good luck to you. He's a superb player and a rising talent and, tbf, he'd see his career progress under Klopp as opposed to ruined under Wenger. I enjoy watching Lemar play and it would be sad if he signed for us and ended up becoming another tippy tap merchant too fearful to lose the ball.

[Niall_Quinn]

Ozil to Dortmund looks on. That will make some people happy I guess.

Gypos ready to pay 75 mill for Aubemayang.

Lemar to Liverpool for 55 million.

Mustafi to Juve provided they meet the 35 mill valuation.

No news whatsoever on potential transfers in for Arsenal. It's all about how the squad is rushing to lifeboats.

[Niall_Quinn]

Gypo bid for Alexis will be 70 mill plus somebody called Jason Denayer.

[selassie]

I doubt we will even be able to attract anybody of note let alone sign anybody. Our rep is in the gutter right now, we have a bunch of our best players all wanting out and the fact we offered the likes of Sanchez & Ox those contracts and they still want out tells us all we need to know.

A couple of seasons out of top 4 is going to be very damaging for this club in the long run.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

I see Le Grove is still trying to suggest Gazidis is some kind of Svengali who has big ambitions for the club and he is being hampered by Kroenke and Wenger.

Come off it, after all his bullshit in April the guy clearly has no self respect and was trying to deflect criticism from himself. Whether he wanted Wenger gone or not is immaterial he's the chief executive if he has absolutely no clout and yet tries to spin that Wenger was the best avaliable option for the club shows exactly what he is. Let's not forget he was around before Kroenke and he oversaw Wengers power grab.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

I see Le Grove is still trying to suggest Gazidis is some kind of Svengali who has big ambitions for the club and he is being hampered by Kroenke and Wenger.

Come off it, after all his bullshit in April the guy clearly has no self respect and was trying to deflect criticism from himself. Whether he wanted Wenger gone or not is immaterial he's the chief executive if he has absolutely no clout and yet tries to spin that Wenger was the best avaliable option for the club shows exactly what he is. Let's not forget he was around before Kroenke and he oversaw Wengers power grab.

Been listening to the Arsecast Extra this morning and Arseblog was essentially saying the same thing. He made a failed powerplay last year to get rid of the manager, got cucked by Kroenke & Wenger and instead of resigning with integrity, prefers to stick around despite being emasculated because it's too much of a cushy paypacket (£2 million a year plus bonuses) & job to give up.

I suppose I've been guilty of perhaps giving too much credit to Gazidis on here but he at least made a concerted attempt at change, interviewing potential new managerial targets and attempting to introduce a DoF which is far better than anything Wenger or Kroenke have done to reverse course.

I guess it's a Trump like situation where because the bar and expectations are so low with fans absolutely desperate for anything, even the most minimal attempt to show some basic competence or initiative is praised.

[Niall_Quinn]

And I suggested the summer would see the end of either Wenger or Gazidis because the loser in that struggle would have too much dignity to hang around and would damage their reputation irreparably by doing so. Just goes to show how out of touch I have become with a corporate world I escaped years ago. These days dignity doesn't enter into it.

[Power n Glory]

Been listening to the Arsecast Extra this morning and Arseblog was essentially saying the same thing. He made a failed powerplay last year to get rid of the manager, got cucked by Kroenke & Wenger and instead of resigning with integrity, prefers to stick around despite being emasculated because it's too much of a cushy paypacket (£2 million a year plus bonuses) & job to give up.

I suppose I've been guilty of perhaps giving too much credit to Gazidis on here but he at least made a concerted attempt at change, interviewing potential new managerial targets and attempting to introduce a DoF which is far better than anything Wenger or Kroenke have done to reverse course.

I guess it's a Trump like situation where because the bar and expectations are so low with fans absolutely desperate for anything, even the most minimal attempt to show some basic competence or initiative is praised.

If it weren't for certain details being revealed by Gazidis, I'm pretty sure we'd still be in the dark about our state of finances with posters still talking as if Wenger is the victim and not a selfish cunt.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

It has to be said the reason he did it was because he's trying to deflect blame off himself for not doing his job properly.

I had trepidation about Gazidis but I chose to give him the benefit of the doubt because I thought he was finally going to stand up and do something, the end result lead us to one of two conclusions. He's weak and incompetent or he's as much a part of our malaise as Wenger and Kroenke.

The fact that Wenger has managed to cultivate a relationship with Kroenke and Gazidis hasn't doesn't speak highly of him.

[Power n Glory]

It has to be said the reason he did it was because he's trying to deflect blame off himself for not doing his job properly.

I had trepidation about Gazidis but I chose to give him the benefit of the doubt because I thought he was finally going to stand up and do something, the end result lead us to one of two conclusions. He's weak and incompetent or he's as much a part of our malaise as Wenger and Kroenke.

The fact that Wenger has managed to cultivate a relationship with Kroenke and Gazidis hasn't doesn't speak highly of him.

You didn't give him the benefit of the doubt. We've had this conversation too many times. Despite sources saying Wenger bypassed the Board and went straight to Kroenke for the contract renewal, you're still focused on the wrong guy. Gazidis had no power when appointed and still doesn't have the power to move Wenger on. It would be stupid to focus on getting him out and hoping he resigns if he has no power to give Wenger the boot despite the supposed power moves to undermine the manager. Heck, if he wasn't so vocal about our affairs, most here, including you would be pulling up useless spreadsheets trying to calculate our finances as if it has anything to do with why Wenger is a crap manager.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

I did give him the benefit of the doubt, what I did was voice my reservations about his competence. I acknowledged that he really was the only hope we had for change.

The reason we assume Gazidis is powerless is because of Kroenke and yet he was here two years before Kroenke.

I'm simply saying it's not inconceivable a chief executive with more clout might have more power over Wenger. Like I've said Wenger has cultivated a relationship with Kroenke, one that Gazidis clearly does not have.

And I don't think it's unfair to at the very least speculate that a man who clearly was prepared to humiliate himself in the way Gazidis has to keep his very nice pay packet might not be awfully good at his job. Whether you think he should have gone or not, if Gazidis is that good at his job hed surely think I can actually get another one where I actually make changes.

It strikes me that it's easier for him to do a 180 and pretend like he never said what he did. Spin merchant basically.

Did he have ideas to at the very least assert some control over Wenger.....possibly. But Wenger very easily outmanuevered him.

[Munchies]

Oxlade moving to Chelsea

Arsenal :rose:

[Niall_Quinn]

I predict they'll pull some director of football stunt and bring in a yes man as cover for Wenger to see out his ill-gotten contract. And that would serve as a pretence that Gazidis has some power. Would be a nice, cynical solution and would also supply a scapegoat for both of them. Of course you'd have to be the greediest man alive or an absolute fool to take that role, but there are plenty of greedy people and fools out there.

[Niall_Quinn]

Liverpool sign Keita for over 70 mill, but he won't join until next summer.

The chavs are on the verge of signing Ox for 30 mill.

[Niall_Quinn]

Barkley to the spuds.

[AFC Leveller]

Good player with promise buy he is under bad management and hasn't really done anything of note in the 6 years hes been here. I dont blame him for wanting to leave and i bet the board and manager are happy to be making yet more profit in the transfer market.

[Niall_Quinn]

Lemar on verge of signing for Liverpool. Final deal will be in the region of 74 million.

Meanwhile some nasty and hurtful rumours going around that we're trying to sign Jonny Evans. What's the matter you cunts? Couldn't you get Senderos or tempt Silvestre out of retirement?

[Power n Glory]

I did give him the benefit of the doubt, what I did was voice my reservations about his competence. I acknowledged that he really was the only hope we had for change.

The reason we assume Gazidis is powerless is because of Kroenke and yet he was here two years before Kroenke.

I'm simply saying it's not inconceivable a chief executive with more clout might have more power over Wenger. Like I've said Wenger has cultivated a relationship with Kroenke, one that Gazidis clearly does not have.

And I don't think it's unfair to at the very least speculate that a man who clearly was prepared to humiliate himself in the way Gazidis has to keep his very nice pay packet might not be awfully good at his job. Whether you think he should have gone or not, if Gazidis is that good at his job hed surely think I can actually get another one where I actually make changes.

It strikes me that it's easier for him to do a 180 and pretend like he never said what he did. Spin merchant basically.

Speak for yourself. Wenger hired Gazidis and was acting as Chief Executive after Dein left.

Did you not hear the part about Wenger bypassing the Board and going straight to Kroenke for his contract? Do you really think Wenger won't have a say over who the next Chief Executive is?

Does anyone else here think hiring a new Chief Executive would change things? Do you trust Stan to even make the correct decision and appoint the right man? Why in the heck would he appoint someone to oppose Wenger if he's not even listening to Gazidis and Chips?

It's a foolish proposal.

[Niall_Quinn]

Wimmer to Stoke for 15 mill.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

The reason we assume Gazidis is powerless is because of Kroenke and yet he was here two years before Kroenke.


It may be as simple as he was willing to give Wenger a chance to sort things out back then as there was legitimately a money issue then (it was prior to the sponsorship money really kicking in) but now seeing as he can't do it despite not being financially handicapped is or should I say was willing to try and force some change.

Essentially the same sentiment that a lot of fans have had, including me.


Oxlade moving to Chelsea

Arsenal :rose:

Fuck him. If we can get 35 million out of Chelsea then it'd be decent days work - probably could have got 50+ if he had more years simply for the English factor.

What's annoying is that we've spent the first three games of the season's placating his fragile little ego, dropping the best LB in the Bundesliga last year and shifting Bellerin to the left just to give him game time and he still wants out. All simply because he's one of Wenger's favourites. He doesn't deserve the chances he's been given here - he'll be in for a shock when he goes to Chelsea and realises he'll have to actually answer to a manager and owner who won't tolerate total incompetence.

He's got the same cunt of an agent that Sterling has so I suppose I shouldn't be at all surprised at this.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Speak for yourself. Wenger hired Gazidis and was acting as Chief Executive after Dein left.

Did you not hear the part about Wenger bypassing the Board and going straight to Kroenke for his contract? Do you really think Wenger won't have a say over who the next Chief Executive is?

Does anyone else here think hiring a new Chief Executive would change things? Do you trust Stan to even make the correct decision and appoint the right man? Why in the heck would he appoint someone to oppose Wenger if he's not even listening to Gazidis and Chips?

It's a foolish proposal.

So basically you've admitted that Gazidis is a Wenger stooge

I mentioned that Wenger bypassed the board, that he was able to do that so easily like I've said doesn't cast a great light on Gazidis. He's apparently coming up with all these plans to put Wenger in his place and Wenger just says fuck you and goes behind him.

You seem to think I'm suggesting we should get rid of Gazidis and keep Wenger, ship has well and truly sailed. You're quite probably right you would only get in soneone just as spineless as Gazidis. I'm saying he and Wenger should be out the door at the same time.

Because what happens then is any manager with half a brain would be able to play Gazidis just as easily as Wenger has.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

I dont blame him for wanting to leave and i bet the board and manager are happy to be making yet more profit in the transfer market.

Given our total ineptitude in tieing down players to contracts, letting too many of them go into their final years without any consequences and being unable sell well ....... we can't even boast about "net transfer spend" or celebrate the "most financially prudent team" trophy anymore.

[Niall_Quinn]

In:
Lacazette - 44mill rising to 50mill if Arsenal win a match or Wenger selects a right back for the right back position.

Potentially In:
Evans 23 mill

Out:
Ox - 30 mill
Chesney - 15 mill
Gibbs - 5 mill
Gabriel - 10 mill
Plus a few kids worth around 6 mill

Potentially out:
Alexis - 70 mill
Mustafi - 30 mill

In: 44 mill
Out: 66 mill
Profit: 22 mill

Potentially In: 67 mill
Potentially Out: 166 mill
Potential Trophy: 99 mill

And that's without growing rumours that Ozil may be off to Dortmund.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Given our total ineptitude in tieing down players to contracts, letting too many of them go into their final years without any consequences and being unable sell well ....... we can't even boast about "net transfer spend" or celebrate the "most financially prudent team" trophy anymore.

I don't think these sales are about financial prudence. It's about these players wanting out because we are a club with no ambition. Totally controlled by one man in the football stakes.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

In:
Lacazette - 44mill rising to 50mill if Arsenal win a match or Wenger selects a right back for the right back position.

Potentially In:
Evans 23 mill

Out:
Ox - 30 mill
Chesney - 15 mill
Gibbs - 5 mill
Gabriel - 10 mill
Plus a few kids worth around 6 mill

Potentially out:
Alexis - 70 mill
Mustafi - 30 mill

In: 44 mill
Out: 66 mill
Profit: 22 mill

Potentially In: 67 mill
Potentially Out: 166 mill
Potential Trophy: 99 mill

And that's without growing rumours that Ozil may be off to Dortmund.

My understanding is that Mustafi will go to inter on loan

[Niall_Quinn]

My understanding is that Mustafi will go to inter on loan

Juve are supposedly offering a permanent deal. Speculation and rumour of course, which is why he's in the potential column. Also, if we were serious about a loan deal we wouldn't be talking about demanding offers matching the amount we paid for him.

[Power n Glory]

So basically you've admitted that Gazidis is a Wenger stooge

I mentioned that Wenger bypassed the board, that he was able to do that so easily like I've said doesn't cast a great light on Gazidis. He's apparently coming up with all these plans to put Wenger in his place and Wenger just says fuck you and goes behind him.

You seem to think I'm suggesting we should get rid of Gazidis and keep Wenger, ship has well and truly sailed. You're quite probably right you would only get in soneone just as spineless as Gazidis. I'm saying he and Wenger should be out the door at the same time.

Because what happens then is any manager with half a brain would be able to play Gazidis just as easily as Wenger has.

Admitted? I have always said Gazidis has no power to fire Wenger. Is your memory that bad? I've said this for the past 10 years or so. What part of Wenger having the final say aren't you getting from the many posts here and elsewhere? You're only just catching on. I still remember the day you tried to argue that we didn't have the cash to spend when we signed Ozil. Again, if certain details about our finances weren't so public, fools would still be raging on about us not being able to compete.

How is that last part even relevant? Played? Is it more important for the focus to go on Wenger or Gazidis? For the almost a decade Wenger has evaded criticism because of these sort of arguments. It's brain dead.