Winter Transfer Despair and Bafflement.

[Özim]

We don't know much about Arteta, what we do know is that he wasn't a top notch player (so may not get instant respect), wasn't a leader or a motivator on the pitch and has no management experience.

Being an assistant coach is a very different job to being manager, just look at the assistants who were at very successful clubs and how they did once they went out and managed, Mclaren, Kidd, Queiros the list goes on.

Yes Arteta could turn out to be an amazing manager, the odds are stacked against him however, especially now Wenger has touted him as a potential candidate. Kiss of death in my eyes, stay away from anyone Wenger suggests, he doesn't have a clue about management or what it takes so he's a bad judge of what's needed.

[Power n Glory]

Thanks for proving my point.

Exactly. You’re right to point out that it goes beyond transfer funds as well. We lack ambition, vision and leadership. This a lot to put on the shoulders of a novice. Saying that, if they were serious about appointing Arteta, what sort of targets would they set for him? What do they want him to achieve? There is no way they’re looking at him to challenge for the title straight away.

If we’ve fallen outside of the top 4 by the time he’s appointed, I’d assume the aim is to get back into Europe. How many attempts will he get to crack the top 4? 2 - 3 seasons? How patient will they be and what sort of state will the team be in if he fails to get us back into Europe? It’s a slippery slope. It can’t be compared to Zidane or Luise Enrique. It’s a massive risk. Besides lacking the infrastructure and players that we see at Barca and Real, both Zidane and Enrique were coaching and working at their respective clubs before becoming head coaches. They were around the players and staff so had a chance to build a reputation and respect behind the scenes. Arteta would be coming back in from the cold and we have no idea what he’s like as a coach.

[Cripps]

We don't know much about Arteta, what we do know is that he wasn't a top notch player (so may not get instant respect), wasn't a leader or a motivator on the pitch and has no management experience.

Being an assistant coach is a very different job to being manager, just look at the assistants who were at very successful clubs and how they did once they went out and managed, Mclaren, Kidd, Queiros the list goes on.

Yes Arteta could turn out to be an amazing manager, the odds are stacked against him however, especially now Wenger has touted him as a potential candidate. Kiss of death in my eyes, stay away from anyone Wenger suggests, he doesn't have a clue about management or what it takes so he's a bad judge of what's needed.

:lol: He's done it again, another superb post from Zim.

At this rate there'll be no need to vote for the poster of the year at the annual awards

MaxZIMus:bow:

[Cripps]

Exactly. You’re right to point out that it goes beyond transfer funds as well. We lack ambition, vision and leadership. This a lot to put on the shoulders of a novice. Saying that, if they were serious about appointing Arteta, what sort of targets would they set for him? What do they want him to achieve? There is no way they’re looking at him to challenge for the title straight away.

If we’ve fallen outside of the top 4 by the time he’s appointed, I’d assume the aim is to get back into Europe. How many attempts will he get to crack the top 4? 2 - 3 seasons? How patient will they be and what sort of state will the team be in if he fails to get us back into Europe? It’s a slippery slope. It can’t be compared to Zidane or Luise Enrique. It’s a massive risk. Besides lacking the infrastructure and players that we see at Barca and Real, both Zidane and Enrique were coaching and working at their respective clubs before becoming head coaches. They were around the players and staff so had a chance to build a reputation and respect behind the scenes. Arteta would be coming back in from the cold and we have no idea what he’s like as a coach.

Zidane and Pep were managing youth/B teams and did very well so at least gained some sort of experience. Arteta holds the clipboard for Pep. There's no comparison.

What worries me is if it was up to Kroenke, I could see this happening. He has no clue about football and because its worked for LA Rams, he probably thinks he could appoint Arteta and do the same thing here. Luckily Gazidis is here to stop that.

All I can say is thank fuck for Gazidis.

[Niall_Quinn]

Did Wenger tout him as a possible replacement? Has Wenger ever touted anyone as his replacement? Has Wenger ever thought about the possibility of a replacement?

Two things I remember about Arteta (apart from his hair). Wenger took him from Everton where he was an emerging attacking talent and stuffed him into a mega-Denilson role. He could be relied on without question to deliver 90% of his passes week-in, week-out, albeit sideways. Second, when you needed a guy with bottle to step up and take a pressure penalty, Arteta was your man. All in all I liked him. He wasn't a gobby shite, seemed to be a good professional and when you compare him to the shit we have in the middle now he was a better player than given credit for, by fans who had previously enjoyed being entertained by world class players in that role.

He was Wengered, like so many others.

[Cripps]

He was bang average. Watching him play in midfield week in week out was painful.

[Niall_Quinn]

He was bang average. Watching him play in midfield week in week out was painful.

No. He wasn't average at all. He was a superb passer of the ball, he had a lot of composure and we often missed him when he wasn't there (which we started to realise towards the end as our football fell further into the shitter). He was playing in a desperate system concocted by L'Cheapskate who wanted to be Barcelona on a £50 budget. A lot of players have been stifled under Wenger - Arteta ended up being one of them.

[Cripps]

He was shite.

Wouldn't have got in at any other top club but managed to captain us :lol:

We went from Vieira, Petit and Gilberto in the middle to Arteta :lol:

[Marc Overmars]

Was never Arteta’s biggest fan but he’s better than Xhaka tbh.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Never saw what Busquets could do that Arteta couldn't other than being taller, more cynical and being much better at diving and rolling on the ground. Arteta was an underrated player and Wenger shifting him to a holding role later in his career was actually one of his better innovations IMO.

I remember on the old AHFC board (which a number of us migrated from when it was dissolved...RIP) we had a very popular poster called Charlie, who was as negative and as cynical as any of you lot on here......but much more light hearted with it and of course far less prone to personal insults..... (a bore I know) but I recall he always hated Gilberto and thought he was bang average. Some people either just don't appreciate simple players, or don't appreciate the performing of a simple but effective role.

[Cripps]

I appreciate simple players.

In fact I love them.

But I don't appreciate bang average players.

[Özim]

Was never Arteta’s biggest fan but he’s better than Xhaka tbh.

True but then Xhaka, can't pass, can't tackle, can't shoot, he can't do anything, total waste of money and pound for pound one of our worst signings ever.

[Cripps]

Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez set to snub PSG interest next month and sign MAHOOSIVE free-agent deal with City in the summer #MCFC #AFC @johncrossmirror
https://t.co/3Q15VUNgi3 https://t.co/5K2sTyOM3B

Thinking about it. I wouldn't mind him going City. The problem with league winning teams is they fade the season after. Man Utd will invest heavily in the summer and I can't stand them. So if Sanchez goes city it gives them a very good chance of winning back to back titles, thus leaving Utd and Mourinho empty handed.

The life of an Arsenal fan :tiphat:

[Özim]

Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez set to snub PSG interest next month and sign MAHOOSIVE free-agent deal with City in the summer #MCFC #AFC @johncrossmirror
https://t.co/3Q15VUNgi3 https://t.co/5K2sTyOM3B

Thinking about it. I wouldn't mind him going City. The problem with league winning teams is they fade the season after. Man Utd will invest heavily in the summer and I can't stand them. So if Sanchez goes city it gives them a very good chance of winning back to back titles, thus leaving Utd and Mourinho empty handed.

The life of an Arsenal fan :tiphat:

Oh no but wait isn't Wenger swapping him for Draxler or Sterling in January?

[Niall_Quinn]

The list of players Wenger ruined or failed to fully utilise grows longer. A lucky escape for the millions of players he almost signed.

[Niall_Quinn]

Oh no but wait isn't Wenger swapping him for Draxler or Sterling in January?

Sterling on the left, Theo on the right? That would just about finish me off.

[Power n Glory]

Never saw what Busquets could do that Arteta couldn't other than being taller, more cynical and being much better at diving and rolling on the ground. Arteta was an underrated player and Wenger shifting him to a holding role later in his career was actually one of his better innovations IMO.

I remember on the old AHFC board (which a number of us migrated from when it was dissolved...RIP) we had a very popular poster called Charlie, who was as negative and as cynical as any of you lot on here......but much more light hearted with it and of course far less prone to personal insults..... (a bore I know) but I recall he always hated Gilberto and thought he was bang average. Some people either just don't appreciate simple players, or don't appreciate the performing of a simple but effective role.

Arteta wasn't the player we needed in that role. Much like Xhaka, he wasn't quick and when teams pressed us high up the pitch, we'd struggle to get out of our own half. It didn't help that he played alongside Aaron Ramsey either. High pass completion stats but he's the sort of player that defined 'sterile domination'.

[Cripps]

Teams would turn up and run rings around him. He was chasing shadows most of the time.

Barkley murdered him on numerous occasions. The sight of Arteta galloping back to catch Barkley was a harrowing one.

[Globalgunner]

Teams would turn up and run rings around him. He was chasing shadows most of the time.

Barkley murdered him on numerous occasions. The sight of Arteta galloping back to catch Barkley was a harrowing one.

He was never quick, but was absolutely lethargic when he closed on 30. He collected yellows every match because of it. would pull the player down every time. Was hilarious if not so sad. But Wenger made him captain, didnt have the balls to bench him. Just like he did with Merts when he was an obvious liability in defence. In Wengers mind seniority buys you starting places...until 4th place is in danger, then he starts thinking a little more rationally.

[selassie]

Was never Arteta’s biggest fan but he’s better than Xhaka tbh.

I agree, that in itself is sad to be honest. Wenger’s recruitment over the past couple of years with the exception of Laca has been nothing short of tragic. He’s basically pissed millions away on average and unsuitable players.

[Marc Overmars]

Liverpool have signed Van Dijk for 75m. :wacko:

[Özim]

Liverpool to sign Van Dijk for 75 million in January, at least they're trying to do something about their defence and willing to pay the necessary

#ambition

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42496637
(http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42496637)
Meanwhile at Arsenal :tumbleweed:whilst half the team prepare to depart in the summer.

On the brightside we scraped a draw against Liverpool at home and drew a game away to Chelsea #spoilt

[Özim]

Liverpool have signed Van Dijk for 75m. :wacko:

Went back in for him and got the deal done pronto, no 6 month lowballing needed here, or indeed £1 extra bids #bigclub

[Globalgunner]

Happy for Pool. In truth it doesnt matter who Wenger signs. Unless they have the happy fortune to come to us completely deaf and cant hear a word of his batshit instructions...... If so, they could be a good signing.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

£75 million, for a defender? :haha:

Jesus wept.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Including add ons, but yeah, :wacko:

I don't really care about transfer fees anymore. They're all mental. The TV money keeps going up, and even if Sky/BT do start to slow down, China/India/wherever will plug the gap.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Spending the Coutinho money I say.

[Cripps]

They managed to get a player that had interest from several top clubs, like Chelsea and City. Fair play to them.

[Globalgunner]

£75 million, for a defender? :haha:

Jesus wept.

Ferdinand went for 30m, almost 20 years ago, Apple shares were probably £5 then, Now they are more than £100 so...Meh!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ferdinand went for 30m, almost 20 years ago, Apple shares were probably £5 then, Now they are more than £1000 so...Meh!

English international 15 years ago playing for a European football attaining (at that time) heated rival.

In any case no words will make me think this isn't ludicrous.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Spending the Coutinho money I say.

Probably.

But then before the Dembele/Neymar/Mbappe insanity, then we probably would have got about £70m rather than £120m+ we'll get now.

And we probably had to put about £15m on the fee for Blackpool :ninja:

[Marc Overmars]

I would say fair enough if it was a striker or even an attacking midfielder who could elevate the team to a new level, but a single defender alone isn't going to solve anything automatically. Having a good defence is as much about good coaching as it is individual ability IMO.

[Globalgunner]

Jose will not be happy. Now he`s going to ask Woodward for 500m to spend in January.

[Xhaka Can’t]

True, Sol Campbell was an excellent defender but he couldn’t do it all in that shambles of a Spurs defence before he came to us.

[Cripps]

Respect to VVD.

Could have taken the mercenary route and signed for Chelsea or Man City and taken the easy option as most do, going for instant trophies and more money,, but decided to go to a real club with real fans and where he'll get game time, with probably a lesser package.

Respect.

[GP]

The day that this is football, I'm not in a job anymore

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3714526/Jurgen-Klopp-slams-spending-100m-player-Manchester-United-complete-Paul-Pogba-signing-day-football-m-not-job-anymore.html

[Globalgunner]

The day that this is football, I'm not in a job anymore

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3714526/Jurgen-Klopp-slams-spending-100m-player-Manchester-United-complete-Paul-Pogba-signing-day-football-m-not-job-anymore.html

Lol!. Famous last words

[selassie]

Liverpool to sign Van Dijk for 75 million in January, at least they're trying to do something about their defence and willing to pay the necessary

#ambition

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42496637
(http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42496637)
Meanwhile at Arsenal :tumbleweed:whilst half the team prepare to depart in the summer.

On the brightside we scraped a draw against Liverpool at home and drew a game away to Chelsea #spoilt

People are laughing at them for overpaying but as you rightly said they are addressing their weakest areas by purchasing the very best players available to them within their budget. That Naby Keita the midfielder they signed from Leipzig is absolute quality too.

They are putting us to shame in the ambition stakes, it’s not even funny anymore, it’s gone way beyond that.

This time next year they will be miles ahead of us, you can quote me on that.

[Özim]

You pay what you have to pay to get the player you want, if you want to be cheap you won't get him, so it kinda depends how serious you are about being successful, it seems Liverpool are pretty serious.

Respect to them, they don't have the finances of other clubs but are willing to pay what's needed to improve their team, their attack is pretty amazing but their defence is dodgy and they're trying to improve it.

Choice of spending nothing or signing nobodies or spending big bucks and signing proven players, I know which one I prefer.

[selassie]

English international 15 years ago playing for a European football attaining (at that time) heated rival.

In any case no words will make me think this isn't ludicrous.

A glass of fortune is worth a fortune to a man dying of thirst. If they win stuff with the signing of him and Keita then the fee is irrelevant.

We have the budget to sign a 75million pound defender but won’t because of the regime.

[Özim]

People are laughing at them for overpaying but as you rightly said they are addressing their weakest areas by purchasing the very best players available to them within their budget. That Naby Keita the midfielder they signed from Leipzig is absolute quality too.

They are putting us to shame in the ambition stakes, it’s not even funny anymore, it’s gone way beyond that.

This time next year they will be miles ahead of us, you can quote me on that.

Totally agree, they're trying to progress and to be successful, hats off to them for that, it should what being a big club is about. Yes Keita who is joining in the summer will also be a big plus, he's comes with a big reputation and is supposed to be one of the most talented younger players around.

Totally agree with you, Arsenal is a joke of a big club to be honest, there's no ambition and nothing existing for the fans, it's one big disappointment these days, even some of the fans now hail mediocrity as if it's something to be proud about, embarassing all round. If this is Wenger's legacy I'd wave him goodbye and ask him to shut the door behind him.

[selassie]

You pay what you have to pay to get the player you want, if you want to be cheap you won't get him, so it kinda depends how serious you are about being successful, it seems Liverpool are pretty serious.

Respect to them, they don't have the finances of other clubs but are willing to pay what's needed to improve their team, their attack is pretty amazing but their defence is dodgy and they're trying to improve it.

Choice of spending nothing or signing nobodies or spending big bucks and signing proven players, I know which one I prefer.

Yep and you know the sad thing is Wenger will look at what Liverpool have done and digs his heels in more, the whole thing is pathetic. If he could unearth gems for nothing I’d have no issues with our policy but as it stands it’s a mess and is weakening our team to the point of negligence.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

A glass of fortune is worth a fortune to a man dying of thirst. If they win stuff with the signing of him and Keita then the fee is irrelevant.

We have the budget to sign a 75million pound defender but won’t because of the regime.

Good, I don't really see much in Van Dijk.

The fee is not irrelevant because spending £75 millon on a defender is using up resources where it might otherwise be needed, especially when it's highly likely Coutinho will be going.

Also, realistically what are Liverpool going to win?

Another also, why can't this just be insane, looking at it purely from someone who first and foremost is a fan of football? Why does it have to be in comparison to Arsenal?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Totally agree, they're trying to progress and to be successful, hats off to them for that, it should what being a big club is about. Yes Keita who is joining in the summer will also be a big plus, he's comes with a big reputation and is supposed to be one of the most talented younger players around.

Totally agree with you, Arsenal is a joke of a big club to be honest, there's no ambition and nothing existing for the fans, it's one big disappointment these days, even some of the fans now hail mediocrity as if it's something to be proud about, embarassing all round. If this is Wenger's legacy I'd wave him goodbye and ask him to shut the door behind him.

Weren't you recently going on about Arsenal dicking around purchasing a player and then when finally got that player had to spend more than they would've done originally?

Liverpool spending the same money on a defender that they sold Suarez for is just bonkers.

[selassie]

Good, I don't really see much in Van Dijk.

The fee is not irrelevant because spending £75 millon on a defender is using up resources where it might otherwise be needed, especially when it's highly likely Coutinho will be going.

Also, realistically what are Liverpool going to win?

Another also, why can't this just be insane, looking at it purely from someone who first and foremost is a fan of football? Why does it have to be in comparison to Arsenal?

I don’t think Van Dijk is a 75million pound defender, who is? but I do think he’s one of the best around in PL. He’s an all rounder, can pass, tackle, is decent in the air, quick on the ground, pretty decent reading of the game too, he has it all to reach the very top IMO.

Sure Coutinho is a big loss to Liverpool and it weakens them but at least they are resolving problem areas, that Naby Keita they signed is a top class young midfielder, he will go some way to seriously strengthening them. Besides, their attack is quality, they won’t struggle for goals without Coutinho, creativity may be an issue though.

I genuinely think they could win PL next season if they fix their weak areas, they need a new keeper for sure and maybe a full back but I don’t think they are a million miles away TBH.

TBF even if they don’t hoover up the trophies at least they are trying to be competitive. We have literally just given up.

[Cripps]

People are laughing at them for overpaying but as you rightly said they are addressing their weakest areas by purchasing the very best players available to them within their budget. That Naby Keita the midfielder they signed from Leipzig is absolute quality too.

They are putting us to shame in the ambition stakes, it’s not even funny anymore, it’s gone way beyond that.

This time next year they will be miles ahead of us, you can quote me on that.

We're onto stage 2 of the klopp project.

Stage 1 usually consists of him giving existing players a chance to prove themselves. He's a very loyal man. He assesses the squad and sees what he has to deal with.

Stage 2 is when he decides who won't make the cut and signs reinforcements.

Stage 2 is when the team usually steps up a notch.

[Özim]

Weren't you recently going on about Arsenal dicking around purchasing a player and then when finally got that player had to spend more than they would've done originally?

Liverpool spending the same money on a defender that they sold Suarez for is just bonkers.

Yes I did, it was Lemar we were trying to get, a guy we could have got for a fraction of what we offered if we'd not decided to lowball for a while, truth is we were only willing to pay up when most of the fee had been covered by the sale of Sanchez.

Liverpool want to improve, Suarez was sold year ago now, the market has changed, players cost more, it's not great but it is what it is, you can either be like Wenger and put in lowball bids which get you nowhere or stump up and get the player before someone else does. Liverpool have done the latter, you can see how poor their defence is and they're trying to do something about it.

As for Coutinho, unlike us in the past they've kept hold of him (just like they did when we went in for Suarez), they may well sell him for a huge fortune but they'll again have money to spend and their attack is still amazing even without him.

Quite honestly, I'm just sick of how cheap we are, I'd much prefer if we just paid up and got the players we need rather than wasting time with under market value bids and signings relative nobodies which turn out to be overpriced anyway (Xhaka).

[Globalgunner]

We are on stage 98 of the Wenger 100 step programme.
2% away from Tropheees!

[Özim]

Good, I don't really see much in Van Dijk.

The fee is not irrelevant because spending £75 millon on a defender is using up resources where it might otherwise be needed, especially when it's highly likely Coutinho will be going.

Also, realistically what are Liverpool going to win?

Another also, why can't this just be insane, looking at it purely from someone who first and foremost is a fan of football? Why does it have to be in comparison to Arsenal?

The value is irrelevant really, it's how much he's worth to Liverpool, if he tighens up their defence and allows them to challenge for the big prizes he'll be worth every penny, just like expensive signings before him. Liverpool have the money, they've got money from the CL and want to spend it on him and I respect that personally, better than keeping it in the bank.

Liverpool if they fi their defence will be one of the best teams and capable of winnign the big prizes, their attack is pretty amazing as it stands, they've got Keita coming as well.

[Cripps]

TBF even if they don’t hoover up the trophies at least they are trying to be competitive. We have literally just given up.

Spot on. They're breaking the record on the area of the team that needs most improving.

Meanwhile our fans are laughing. What are we doing about our dodgy defence? Going into the remaining games with Koscielny and Mustafi? :lol:

[Özim]

We're onto stage 2 of the klopp project.

Stage 1 usually consists of him giving existing players a chance to prove themselves. He's a very loyal man. He assesses the squad and sees what he has to deal with.

Stage 2 is when he decides who won't make the cut and signs reinforcements.

Stage 2 is when the team usually steps up a notch.

Agree, you can't build a team immediately, takes a bit of time to get each area correct, he's got the attack spot on, now he just needs to fix the defence which clearly he's trying to do.

We on the other hand have a manager who can't even see the obvious, then team gives away goals left, right and centre every season and still he doesn't sign defenders or DM, it's amateurish.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I don’t think Van Dijk is a 75million pound defender, who is? but I do think he’s one of the best around in PL. He’s an all rounder, can pass, tackle, is decent in the air, quick on the ground, pretty decent reading of the game too, he has it all to reach the very top IMO.

Sure Coutinho is a big loss to Liverpool and it weakens them but at least they are resolving problem areas, that Naby Keita they signed is a top class young midfielder, he will go some way to seriously strengthening them. Besides, their attack is quality, they won’t struggle for goals without Coutinho, creativity may be an issue though.

I genuinely think they could win PL next season if they fix their weak areas, they need a new keeper for sure and maybe a full back but I don’t think they are a million miles away TBH.

TBF even if they don’t hoover up the trophies at least they are trying to be competitive. We have literally just given up.

Nobody is, nobody has paid that much for a defender; that's the point!

I think Liverpool are a lot, lot further away than they were in 2007/2008, with perhaps similar levels of competition within the top end of the league - their goalkeeper to midfield just doesn't have the requisite quality. I can't see how spending their record transfer on this particular player is going to aid that process.

It does make me feel a bit more understanding of why even participate in this charade.

[Özim]

Spot on. They're breaking the record on the area of the team that needs most improving.

Meanwhile our fans are laughing. What are we doing about our dodgy defence? Going into the remaining games with Koscielny and Mustafi? :lol:

Precisely, I love the way Arsena fans belittle other teams when they identify a problem area and pay what it takes to try and resolve it, better than leaving the same problem year after year and sticking with has beens and players who aren't good enough.

All we do is stick the money in the bank and don't compete, we're a joke of a big club, our definition of success is getting into the top 4, it's literally all we're interested in (Lacazette said as much, we already knew anyway).

Would love it if the English coefficient score dropped so that we had one less team entering, we'd literally have nothing to play for then and would be shown up for the also rans we really area.

[Özim]

Nobody is, nobody has paid that much for a defender; that's the point!

I think Liverpool are a lot, lot further away than they were in 2007/2008, with perhaps similar levels of competition within the top end of the league - their goalkeeper to midfield just doesn't have the requisite quality. I can't see how spending their record transfer on this particular player is going to aid that process.

It does make me feel a bit more understanding of why even participate in this charade.

Apparently this Keita guy is something special, potentially a superstar from what I read (one of the potential next big stars), so that goes a long way to addressing the midfield issue.

They need to fix their defence and goalkeeper and clearly they can see this and are addressing the defensive issues (if you ask me our defence is just as bad if not worse and you don't see us in for any defenders, never mind paying big bucks for one), if they fix those areas they won't be far away as their attack is pretty great, they also play some great stuff.

Would swap their situation for ours anyday of the week, a team trying to progress vs a team of has beens only heading one way and about to lose their two best players.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

I think with Liverpool it’s as much how they are setup as it is the playing personnel.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Apparently this Keita guy is something special, potentially a superstar from what I read (one of the potential next big stars), so that goes a long way to addressing the midfield issue.

They need to fix their defence and goalkeeper and clearly they can see this and are addressing the defensive issues (if you ask me our defence is just as bad if not worse and you don't see us in for any defenders, never mind paying big bucks for one), if they fix those areas they won't be far away as their attack is pretty great, they also play some great stuff.

Would swap their situation for ours anyday of the week, a team trying to progress vs a team of has beens only heading one way.

Hmmm so you don't really know anything about Keita then? I don't think it's really fair to make him a tick as a rectification for midfield problems, as you say, he's a young player.

I don't see how spending such a sum on one defender is rectifying the issues, it seems like a temporary plaster to me as MO adroitly pointed out earlier.

I'm struggling to think how we've ended up with the defenders we have now if we don't go for any defenders. As ever with us, it's also the midfield allowing runners from deep which puts us under so much pressure.

However all of this is sidetalk to how perverse the market is.

[Özim]

Hmmm so you don't really know anything about Keita then? I don't think it's really fair to make him a tick as a rectification for midfield problems, as you say, he's a young player.

I don't see how spending such a sum on one defender is rectifying the issues, it seems like a temporary plaster to me as MO adroitly pointed out earlier.

I'm struggling to think how we've ended up with the defenders we have now if we don't go for any defenders. As ever with us, it's also the midfield allowing runners from deep which puts us under so much pressure.

However all of this is sidetalk to how perverse the market is.

I don't know mcuh about him as I don't follow the Bundesligue, I really only just read an article where he was mentioned as one of the players who could take up the mantle from players like Messi and Ronaldo (alongside players like Neymar and a few others), on that basis he's clearly very highly rated, he cost 50 million as well in the summer which is big bucks for a player from the Bundersligue tbh.

It can't hurt, he's a very good defender, it's as much about getting the right pairing in the centre of defence as the player and he could certainly help with that, he certainly won't make them any worse.

We've bought defenders, but none of them top class, mostly they've been relatively unknown cheapish buys, Mustafi is the exception but with that one we bought him late in the window and Valencia knew we were desperate, we overpaid basically. We've had Koscielny quite a while, as with most other defenders, Holding was brought in as a project, but in my eyes none of them were ready made top quality signings. The issue about midfield is very valid, but we've needed a decent DM for longer than I can remember and Wenger just refuses to sign one (another other manager would have by now), unless you count Xhaka, who can't tackle, can't read the game and to be honest is slow, ponderous and can't pass under pressure.

Regardless of our midfield though, the defence is incredibly error prone, many of the errors are errors you would see in a pub league.

[Power n Glory]

People are laughing at them for overpaying but as you rightly said they are addressing their weakest areas by purchasing the very best players available to them within their budget. That Naby Keita the midfielder they signed from Leipzig is absolute quality too.

They are putting us to shame in the ambition stakes, it’s not even funny anymore, it’s gone way beyond that.

This time next year they will be miles ahead of us, you can quote me on that.

Bunch of voyeurs! :lol: Why can't we just mind our business? Fucking Arsenal fans! Besides the manager and players really pissing me off, the fans are getting on my nerves as well. Joke of a club.

We'll laugh at what clubs are paying for certain players now but when such teams overtake us in the league we'll point to their transfer spending as the reason why. Some will never lean. As you've pointed out, this is about trying to address the weak areas in your team. A ludicrous price tag but it shows how much Klopp wants to address a problem and how much pressure he is under.

[fakeyank]

Doesnt matter how much we spend... with Wenger in charge, we will not go anywhere. At least another 1.5 years of this shit.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Never seen Keita play a full 90 neither.....but if he is anything like some of his hype then the combination of him and Van Dijk added to their first team is astonishingly good. The price tag is nuts, but personnel wise I'm pretty impressed.

[Penguin]

I think with Liverpool it’s as much how they are setup as it is the playing personnel.

Yeah I agree with that, their whole system is high risk because one wrong decision can let someone through on goal. It can be devastatingly good when all the parts click but it only takes one mistake and you've conceded a goal. Signing a quality CB will definitely help but really they need all of their defenders, all of their midfielders to be at that level defensively if they want their defensive record to improve.

They will be a force if they sign a decent keeper.

[Cripps]

They're addressing the spine of their team which has been weak since the Rafa days of Reina, Carra, Alonso, Mascherano, Gerrard and Torres.

With Keita coming into CM next season that'll add power and solidity to their midfield. If they add a keeper they'll take it up another notch.

I agree that it's about system and structure, not just personnel, but having a real leader at the back, in the ilk of Hyypia and Carra instils confidence throughout the team. It remains to be seen if VVD is that leader but at £75m you'd certainly hope so. In fact you'd expect so.

Will be interesting to see how it all pans out. If it means them finishing above Utd and moody Jose then I'm all for it.

[Marc Overmars]

If Coutinho goes that will set them back but they are certainly do all they can to negate that possible impact.

Meanwhile we continue to bumble along unable to even celebrate the small joys we do get because the source of those joys are going to walk away and we’ll likely have a very different team next season.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

I think with Salah, Lallana, Mane and Firminho they won’t miss Coutinho that much anyway

[selassie]

Bunch of voyeurs! :lol: Why can't we just mind our business? Fucking Arsenal fans! Besides the manager and players really pissing me off, the fans are getting on my nerves as well. Joke of a club.

We'll laugh at what clubs are paying for certain players now but when such teams overtake us in the league we'll point to their transfer spending as the reason why. Some will never lean. As you've pointed out, this is about trying to address the weak areas in your team. A ludicrous price tag but it shows how much Klopp wants to address a problem and how much pressure he is under.

:lol: Half of the fan base have been “Wengered”, more concerned about the price tag than actually trying to address an issue in the team whatever the cost. I’m done too mate, unless Wenger pulls off something really special this team will be dropping down the table once the likes of Ozil and Sanchez have gone.

I agree with your last point too, I think even Wenger will jump in on the act too and say “Looooook Liverpool spent 75million on a Defender, 50 million on a midfielder, we can’t compete”.

The whole thing is a nonsense, sick and tired of our sorry ass club, it’s pathetic!

[dostoy]

I want Ozil and Sanchez both out in January.

I hope he signs no-one and writes this season off, Arsenal are NOT going to get above Spuds and Liverpool to get 4th place.

I then hope he fucks off in the summer, and the new manager is given all the money from January plus the summers budget to make Arsenal into title contenders.

Zero chance of any of that happening.

[Cripps]

That's the only hope we have really. That it becomes a commercial decision after 2 years of Europa.

Or that 2 years of Europa makes him see the light. Like an epiphany.

More likely though it'll be another 2 year extension.

[selassie]

Agree with you both, sell Ozil and Sanchez in the January window and ride out the rest of the season. I don’t think we will finish top 4 with either of them still here so just let them go.

I also don’t want Wenger to be given a penny more to spend because he doesn’t deserve funds given his recent purchases which aside from Laca and to a lesser degree Kolasinac have been nothing short of a disgrace.

I am praying Wenger goes this summer let alone next, we need fresh ideas with the management of this team ASAP and we need to give the new manager the resources and time to build his own team.

[Niall_Quinn]

Good, I don't really see much in Van Dijk.

The fee is not irrelevant because spending £75 millon on a defender is using up resources where it might otherwise be needed, especially when it's highly likely Coutinho will be going.

Also, realistically what are Liverpool going to win?

Another also, why can't this just be insane, looking at it purely from someone who first and foremost is a fan of football? Why does it have to be in comparison to Arsenal?

There's a very stark comparison to be made with Arsenal.

Liverpool and Utd and Soton and the spuds and other clubs are spotting talent and nurturing 50mill, 75mill, 100mill and bigger sell-ons to the really insane market in Spain where the lunacy is quite normal. Ultimately the Spanish taxpayers and Spanish TV audience will pay this latest transfer fee.

At Arsenal we used to spot talent and sell it on for comparatively crazy fees. We don't do it any more and even when the opportunity presents itself to limit the damage and temporarily bridge the opening gap, Wenger fucks it up. It was a 60 mill bid for Alexis is the summer, that's the only reason we could bid 90 mill for Lemar. Somebody else's money plus our usual 30 mill on top. The 60 mill portion became irrelevant because the money was only passing through - if we hadn't fucked it up.

We can blame Kroenke for being a tight wanker - but the reality is Wenger is an absolute dinosaur who is incapable of getting into sync with the modern market. The poor fool is still looking for value when value has no relevance whatsoever to the fees being paid today and how they are structured.

[Niall_Quinn]

Spot on. They're breaking the record on the area of the team that needs most improving.

Meanwhile our fans are laughing. What are we doing about our dodgy defence? Going into the remaining games with Koscielny and Mustafi? :lol:

Kos and Mustafi would be adequate under a competent manager and coach. We can't be calling Kos the best in the league one season and then a liability the next - not without looking into it a bit more deeply. I've said all along, Alexis and Ozil walking out the door will have a MUCH bigger impact on this club than just the money lost. All of our players will hit the bottom in terms of motivation when that happens. In fact it's already happening. To try and estimate just how massively Wenger has fucked things is probably not possible. We'll just have to wait and see the full extent of his unmatched incompetence as the disaster unfolds.

[Niall_Quinn]

Precisely, I love the way Arsena fans belittle other teams when they identify a problem area and pay what it takes to try and resolve it, better than leaving the same problem year after year and sticking with has beens and players who aren't good enough.

All we do is stick the money in the bank and don't compete, we're a joke of a big club, our definition of success is getting into the top 4, it's literally all we're interested in (Lacazette said as much, we already knew anyway).

Would love it if the English coefficient score dropped so that we had one less team entering, we'd literally have nothing to play for then and would be shown up for the also rans we really area.

Lacazette is already proving it doesn't matter who we sign while Wenger is here. If Lacazette stays and Wenger stays, Lacazette's career will be ruined. Wenger ruins footballers and destroys their potential. He's been doing it for years. The smarter players get out as soon as they can, the lazy ones or the dumbbells stay and fade away.

[Niall_Quinn]

Never seen Keita play a full 90 neither.....but if he is anything like some of his hype then the combination of him and Van Dijk added to their first team is astonishingly good. The price tag is nuts, but personnel wise I'm pretty impressed.

We almost signed Keita. Scouted him for an age.

But somebody has come in and snapped him up before he was available on a free. We just got unlucky. Maybe Liverpool will get a transfer ban.

[Niall_Quinn]

I think with Salah, Lallana, Mane and Firminho they won’t miss Coutinho that much anyway

Agreed. Seems to me Klopp has been gradually phasing Coutinho out this season anyway.

Meanwhile our moron is relying more heavily than ever on the two players who will be walking.

[selassie]

Kos and Mustafi would be adequate under a competent manager and coach. We can't be calling Kos the best in the league one season and then a liability the next - not without looking into it a bit more deeply. I've said all along, Alexis and Ozil walking out the door will have a MUCH bigger impact on this club than just the money lost. All of our players will hit the bottom in terms of motivation when that happens. In fact it's already happening. To try and estimate just how massively Wenger has fucked things is probably not possible. We'll just have to wait and see the full extent of his unmatched incompetence as the disaster unfolds.

I totally agree NQ, Alexis and Ozil walking out will damage the rep of this club and we will become a much less attractive club to join, we have more or less fallen behind Liverpool now when it comes to the appeal of players wanting to join either club, god knows what it will be like when Alexis and Ozil leave.

Wenger has really screwed up here and I suspect privately he knows it even though he would never openly admit it.

The sad thing is as many others have said on here Wenger is incapable of improving us with or without money. I think things will get worse TBH, I think we'll sit in Top 6/7 terrority until he's gone.

[Cripps]

:lol: NQ completed some work yesterday and is letting loose on GW today :bow:

[Power n Glory]

Kos and Mustafi would be adequate under a competent manager and coach. We can't be calling Kos the best in the league one season and then a liability the next - not without looking into it a bit more deeply. I've said all along, Alexis and Ozil walking out the door will have a MUCH bigger impact on this club than just the money lost. All of our players will hit the bottom in terms of motivation when that happens. In fact it's already happening. To try and estimate just how massively Wenger has fucked things is probably not possible. We'll just have to wait and see the full extent of his unmatched incompetence as the disaster unfolds.

Adequate being the key word. People went overboard with the initial praise for Kos. He needs an intelligent defender next to him in order to shine. Someone that's more commanding otherwise he gets reckless.

[Özim]

Kos and Mustafi would be adequate under a competent manager and coach. We can't be calling Kos the best in the league one season and then a liability the next - not without looking into it a bit more deeply. I've said all along, Alexis and Ozil walking out the door will have a MUCH bigger impact on this club than just the money lost. All of our players will hit the bottom in terms of motivation when that happens. In fact it's already happening. To try and estimate just how massively Wenger has fucked things is probably not possible. We'll just have to wait and see the full extent of his unmatched incompetence as the disaster unfolds.

To be honest Koscielny was only considered the best in the league by Arsenal fans, nobody else rated him as highly, he's always been error prone, it's just that now he's terrible, age is also not on his side.

Agree about losing Ozil and Sanchez, the latter has as good as left already though, clearly not focussed anymore, Ozil seems to be playing well but it could be for a move, after all if he wanted to sign he would have signed by now.

[Özim]

Lacazette is already proving it doesn't matter who we sign while Wenger is here. If Lacazette stays and Wenger stays, Lacazette's career will be ruined. Wenger ruins footballers and destroys their potential. He's been doing it for years. The smarter players get out as soon as they can, the lazy ones or the dumbbells stay and fade away.

I totally agree, at least though if we signed some decent players it would provide some excitement for fans, if only momentarily.

[Özim]

Adequate being the key word. People went overboard with the initial praise for Kos. He needs an intelligent defender next to him in order to shine. Someone that's more commanding otherwise he gets reckless.

Yeah I'm with you, much like many Arsenal players, he was very overrated on here and by Arsenal fans, he's had decent games but he also has always been prone to some very basic errors.

This squad could obviously perform better, but realistically it needs fair amount of surgery even with new manager, too many overrated players who've achieved nothing and haven't really justified the hype. The odd decent result (which any team in the league can get), proves little.

[Niall_Quinn]

I totally agree NQ, Alexis and Ozil walking out will damage the rep of this club and we will become a much less attractive club to join, we have more or less fallen behind Liverpool now when it comes to the appeal of players wanting to join either club, god knows what it will be like when Alexis and Ozil leave.

Wenger has really screwed up here and I suspect privately he knows it even though he would never openly admit it.

The sad thing is as many others have said on here Wenger is incapable of improving us with or without money. I think things will get worse TBH, I think we'll sit in Top 6/7 terrority until he's gone.

Which is what the "be careful what you wish for" fanboys warned us of had Wenger been rightfully booted 4 or 5 seasons ago. The very thing they told us to fear is what Wenger has delivered. There's no credible defence on any front that can be mounted for this guy as he drags us, dead horse flogged to death, into a new year. There's not a single realistic thing fans can point at to say things might get better rather than worse. Epic and self inflicted failure. I think the best we can get out of this coming transfer window is the comedy.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

There's a very stark comparison to be made with Arsenal.

Liverpool and Utd and Soton and the spuds and other clubs are spotting talent and nurturing 50mill, 75mill, 100mill and bigger sell-ons to the really insane market in Spain where the lunacy is quite normal. Ultimately the Spanish taxpayers and Spanish TV audience will pay this latest transfer fee.

At Arsenal we used to spot talent and sell it on for comparatively crazy fees. We don't do it any more and even when the opportunity presents itself to limit the damage and temporarily bridge the opening gap, Wenger fucks it up. It was a 60 mill bid for Alexis is the summer, that's the only reason we could bid 90 mill for Lemar. Somebody else's money plus our usual 30 mill on top. The 60 mill portion became irrelevant because the money was only passing through - if we hadn't fucked it up.

We can blame Kroenke for being a tight wanker - but the reality is Wenger is an absolute dinosaur who is incapable of getting into sync with the modern market. The poor fool is still looking for value when value has no relevance whatsoever to the fees being paid today and how they are structured.

The point of what I said is that is very difficult to make any comment about anything in football without the first response being "what about Arsenal". I don't get it, do I have to put a disclaimer in my posts every time I want to offer a comment on another club?

Don't know what you mean about the Spanish market being the really crazy one though.

[Niall_Quinn]

This Zaha nonsense is starting to gather steam. If that's going to be the limit of our ambition then we'll be continuing the trend of heading backwards. Why it would even be suggested we need another Theo Walcott is a complete mystery.

[Özim]

What a rubbish replacement he would be, be just like Wenger to replace him with someone sub standard, the guy hates to spend decent money on proven players. Give me Mahrez (or anyone else who is decent like Draxler) over this guy any day of the week, at least the latter scores goals.

[Cripps]

I like Zaha but he should be Walcott's replacement, not Sanchez'. He'd be f*cking mad to come here though, if he had a brain cell he'd go to Spurs and play under Pochetinno.

I can see us going for Mahrez to replace Alexis and I'm not sure how I feel about that. He's good on his day but he seems a bit hot and cold. He is very direct though which I like and something we need, to breakaway from the general tippy happy shite our squad has in its DNA.

I would prefer Draxler but Mahrez wouldn't be too bad I suppose.

[AFC Leveller]

I would love Mahrez, provided we kept Ozil though. If we lost both Ozil and Alexis then Mahrez alone wouldn't be enough.

Mahrez is a goal scorer, creator and PL experienced, he ticks all te boxes for us and we could do a lot worse.

[Cripps]

BREAKING: Schalke’s Leon Goretzka will sign a pre-contract with Bayern Munich ahead of a free transfer next summer, reports @SPORTBILD https://t.co/MHhiLgTZrz

[Niall_Quinn]

BREAKING: Schalke’s Leon Goretzka will sign a pre-contract with Bayern Munich ahead of a free transfer next summer, reports @SPORTBILD https://t.co/MHhiLgTZrz

He should be our main January target then.

[selassie]

I don't want us to make any big/any purchases until Wenger is gone, I don't trust him and don't think we will recover from the mess he will make of it, he's botched up the squad as it is over the past few years. It will take us a few years to clean up the mess regardless of who is in charge. If no signings until Wenger is gone means we slip into Mid Table and lose half of the team then so be it.

It's absolutely over for us until Wenger has gone...we are just sliding backwards now and the least amount of damage he does the better it will be for the Football club, he should be barred from making any purchases until he's gone.

[Ralpheroo72]

Exactly how I feel about it all


I don't want us to make any big/any purchases until Wenger is gone, I don't trust him and don't think we will recover from the mess he will make of it, he's botched up the squad as it is over the past few years. It will take us a few years to clean up the mess regardless of who is in charge. If no signings until Wenger is gone means we slip into Mid Table and lose half of the team then so be it.

It's absolutely over for us until Wenger has gone...we are just sliding backwards now and the least amount of damage he does the better it will be for the Football club, he should be barred from making any purchases until he's gone.

[Niall_Quinn]

Don't let Wenger know - he'll always do the opposite of what the fans want.

[Cripps]

PLEASE STAY WENGER !

[Niall_Quinn]

PLEASE STAY WENGER !

Unfortunately he didn't see this post.

[Cripps]

:(

[topgun]

I don't want us to make any big/any purchases until Wenger is gone, I don't trust him and don't think we will recover from the mess he will make of it, he's botched up the squad as it is over the past few years. It will take us a few years to clean up the mess regardless of who is in charge. If no signings until Wenger is gone means we slip into Mid Table and lose half of the team then so be it.

It's absolutely over for us until Wenger has gone...we are just sliding backwards now and the least amount of damage he does the better it will be for the Football club, he should be barred from making any purchases until he's gone.

Yep totally agree,been thinking that way myself for a few seasons now.

[AFC Leveller]

Hearing that Southampton want Walnut on loan with an option to buy him in the summer. First of all, the minute they see him in training they'll send him back on the first train to London, we cant give them an opportunity to chekc him out first because they wont want him. If we have any concrete offers, we should sell him immediately.

Also load of rumors about Ozil going to Man u after their fans asked for an attacking midfielder. City want Alexis and now that Jesus si out for 2 months and De Bryune as well for a few weeks, i wouldnt be surprised if they came in for him this January. So potentially, our two best players could be playing for the two Manc clubs this season.

Wenger is a genuis.

[Xhaka Can’t]

This is ideal don’t you know?

[Ralpheroo72]

Is this the waiting period?

[Ralpheroo72]

No Lemar or Luiz happening. He said also that no bids for Sanchez or Ozil as yet. But when the offers come in, he will replace them with top quality signings. Awesome.

[Niall_Quinn]

This is ideal don’t you know?

Not quite ideal, but very, very desirable. Ideally we'll string this out until the last day of the window and disrupt the team as much as possible. It worked when Wenger was dallying over his contract, it can work again. The best outcome would be for us to almost sell Ozil and Alexis, almost sign their replacements and then drag it all out some more until the summer, and then drag it through the summer. That would be beyond ideal. If we can do it we will do it.

[Niall_Quinn]

Here's our transfer plan for the window, summed up nicely.


‘It is difficult to say, we are out there to do some things, but when is hard to say, it is not dependent on us. 'We are open in any position for an exceptional player, it depends on injuries as well, and if we manage to extend contracts of players whose deals end in June.’

Got that? We will be 1000% reactive, because that has served us so well in the past.

[Özim]

To most people it's clear Sanchez and Ozil are leaving, even if by some miracle they aren't our position in the league should suggest to anyone sane we need quality signings badly.

Trouble is with this guy, even if the obvious is right in front of him he doesn't see it, we'll most likely lose those two and then eventually replace them with players he deems as super super quality, which for everyone else is average.

Worst manager in football, literally sucks all the joy out of being a football fan, doesn't even entertain the possibility of giving the fans something to be cheerful about, instead he puts out stuff about him watching other people leaving the game and then coming back and how he's likely to extend his stay for many more years to come.

Worst part about this is fans that go will probably just accept this and support him because they have no choice as he's staying anyway. Hope is something reserved for fans of other football clubs.

[Niall_Quinn]

AFTV claiming Perez may be coming back as cover for Giroud and Alexis (should he leave). If that happened we'd end up with a player who doesn't want to be here playing for a manager that doesn't want him. That would be "ideal" too I suppose.

Derimbay from Hoffenheim has been linked, German international midfielder. An up and coming type also linked with Everton.

Leon Bailey, from Leverkusen, is another target apparently. Winger. Chavs looking at him too. Fast apparently. Whether he can turn corners as well as run fast in straight lines, who knows?

And yet another midfielder, Rafinha from Barca. Back from long term injury. Might be a good prospect for our treatment room.

Mahrez, as usual.

And those pesky rumours about Zaha won't go away. Supposedly a replacement for Alexis :haha:

[Özim]

AFTV claiming Perez may be coming back as cover for Giroud and Alexis (should he leave). If that happened we'd end up with a player who doesn't want to be here playing for a manager that doesn't want him. That would be "ideal" too I suppose.

Derimbay from Hoffenheim has been linked, German international midfielder. An up and coming type also linked with Everton.

Leon Bailey, from Leverkusen, is another target apparently. Winger. Chavs looking at him too. Fast apparently. Whether he can turn corners as well as run fast in straight lines, who knows?

And yet another midfielder, Rafinha from Barca. Back from long term injury. Might be a good prospect for our treatment room.

Mahrez, as usual.

And those pesky rumours about Zaha won't go away. Supposedly a replacement for Alexis :haha:

Got to say that IMO other than Mahrez I'm not interested in us signing any of those guys, we need a higher level of player, all these guys sound like your typical Wenger signing.

Perez and unwanted guy who suddenly comes back because he'll cost nothing even though he wasn't really wanted.

That Bailey guy is an unknown, Rafinha has been injured and I'm not convinced he's even that good and Zaha well the less said the better.

Mahrez has proven himself, can score and create so would be a welcome addition.

[Niall_Quinn]

Got to say that IMO other than Mahrez I'm not interested in us signing any of those guys, we need a higher level of player, all these guys sound like your typical Wenger signing.

Perez and unwanted guy who suddenly comes back because he'll cost nothing even though he wasn't really wanted.

That Bailey guy is an unknown, Rafinha has been injured and I'm not convinced he's even that good and Zaha well the less said the better.

Mahrez has proven himself, can score and create so would be a welcome addition.

Mahrez is a pointless addition. When you see two top players walk out for free and then bring one player in, what's the point? You've paid to go backwards. It's such a joke. Wenger has spent his whole time here trying to avoid spending money. Avoiding the spending that would have taken us forwards. Now he's actually paying to go backwards. It's hard to conceive a bigger fuck-up.

I'm tending towards agreeing with the other posters here who want to see the chequebook taken away from him so he can't do any more damage. Let him see out his ego trip but do it with the players he already has. No matter who we sign he'd only be aiming for the coveted and ultra prestigious Top 4 Trophy anyway, and he's not even able to make a good job of that any more. So take the 5th/ 6th or 7th also-also ran prize and wait it out. 18 months, 3 years, 5 years. He has to go eventually.

[Özim]

Mahrez is a pointless addition. When you see two top players walk out for free and then bring one player in, what's the point? You've paid to go backwards. It's such a joke. Wenger has spent his whole time here trying to avoid spending money. Avoiding the spending that would have taken us forwards. Now he's actually paying to go backwards. It's hard to conceive a bigger fuck-up.

I'm tending towards agreeing with the other posters here who want to see the chequebook taken away from him so he can't do any more damage. Let him see out his ego trip but do it with the players he already has. No matter who we sign he'd only be aiming for the coveted and ultra prestigious Top 4 Trophy anyway, and he's not even able to make a good job of that any more. So take the 5th/ 6th or 7th also-also ran prize and wait it out. 18 months, 3 years, 5 years. He has to go eventually.

I agree with all of that, but the chequebook won't be taken away from him, he'll continue to bring these average players in that he likes so much.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

http://i65.tinypic.com/33bfyv5.jpg

He's off and taking the pitch with him.

[Cripps]

Understand #afc interest in 20-year-old centre-back Konstantinos Mavropanos originally reported in Greece is genuine. Negotiations ongoing but fee likely to be in region of £2.2m. Not an immediate first-team addition. Loan to Werder Bremen more likely. https://t.co/QYplPs5SCp

:lol:

[Özim]

Understand #afc interest in 20-year-old centre-back Konstantinos Mavropanos originally reported in Greece is genuine. Negotiations ongoing but fee likely to be in region of £2.2m. Not an immediate first-team addition. Loan to Werder Bremen more likely. https://t.co/QYplPs5SCp

:lol:

What a joke, are we still wasting ourt time and money on unknown nobodies that will never make it? We never learn. When do these kinda deals ever work out?

[Niall_Quinn]

Understand #afc interest in 20-year-old centre-back Konstantinos Mavropanos originally reported in Greece is genuine. Negotiations ongoing but fee likely to be in region of £2.2m. Not an immediate first-team addition. Loan to Werder Bremen more likely. https://t.co/QYplPs5SCp

:lol:

Just why?

Why does he do this?

Some will say he should do it. That spotting and nurturing potential is a good thing. But this is Wenger we are talking about, the guy who made Theo Walcott what he is today. Why won't somebody take away his phone and his pen FFS?

[selassie]

Just why?

Why does he do this?

Some will say he should do it. That spotting and nurturing potential is a good thing. But this is Wenger we are talking about, the guy who made Theo Walcott what he is today. Why won't somebody take away his phone and his pen FFS?

Dont fret, this kid will be loaned all over Europe and then sold for next to nothing in a couple of years time.

Wenger won’t resolve the immediate needs of the team when he can get away with just buying potential or junk as Id like to call it.

This deal represents everything that is wrong with Arsene and Arsenal, it’s bonkers.

[Marc Overmars]

Sounds like this deal for the Greek kid is as good as done.

:sleep:

[GP]

First signing of our new scout.

[Niall_Quinn]

First signing of our new scout.

Nah, they start Feb 1st.

[GP]

Definitely is.

[Özim]

Nah, they start Feb 1st.

Pretty much, typical Wenger signing this, unknown nobody who isn't really on the radar, won't get anywhere near the first team and we'll have wasted a couple million we could spend elsewhere, eventually after loaning him out a few times he'll be sold on to someone else.

Seen this before countless times.

[Özim]

Sounds like this deal for the Greek kid is as good as done.

:sleep:

Who says the life of an Arsenal fan isn't exciting?

[Niall_Quinn]

Arsenal set to sign Konstantinos Mavropanos with Greek wonderkid due in London to discuss £2.2m move

At least he's a wonderkid.

[Özim]

At least he's a wonderkid.

Very true, usually they're aces. This guy is a wonderkid noone has ever seen or heard of, bodes well.

[dostoy]

Will Wenger in January, sign someone who will play in the first team this season ?

I doubt it.

[fakeyank]

Will Wenger in January, sign someone who will play in the first team this season ?

I doubt it.

Is Kallstrom available?

[Cripps]

What about Amaury Bischoff? Is he alive?

[selassie]

Is Kallstrom available?

:haha:

Only at Arsenal would you go in the market for a midfielder with a broken back when we were in desperate need of a Centre Half. Wenger is a troll.

[Ralpheroo72]

According to sky, if we lose Alexis, we will go for Aubameyang

[dostoy]

Forget Aubameyang, he would not come here.

Does anyone really think Wenger will sign a top class central defender OR a defensive midfielder this month ?

Basically, he will do nothing about the shocking defence that Arsenal have.

[Niall_Quinn]

According to sky, if we lose Alexis, we will go for Aubameyang

Yes, of course we will. A nice underbid, inch it up by a few quid to seriously piss everyone off, say the deal is on, say it is off, say we were never interested, say the deal is on again, wait until other clubs are making serious bids and then moan about financial doping all the way to the window closing.

It has worked before and it can work again.

[Cripps]

Aubemeyang :lol:

Yeah let's imbalance our squad more by buying another striker instead of replacing Sanchez with a winger.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Aubemeyang :lol:

Yeah let's imbalance our squad more by buying another striker instead of replacing Sanchez with a winger.

Aubemeyang is like Sanchez can play anywhere in a front three

The risible idea is that Dortmund would sell him or that he’d come to us

[Cripps]

Playing him on the wing would be a criminal waste of talent.

[Cripps]

Walcott linked with AC Milan.

He'd tear it up in that league. A break from England might be a sensible idea.

[Marc Overmars]

I don’t know why but I’d be happy for Theo if he moved on and made an impact elsewhere.

Just think he’s wasted so much time here and could potentially have been so much better than he is right now.

[GP]

Nah, he reached his ceiling here.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Playing him on the wing would be a criminal waste of talent.

Let’s be fair having any decent player playing for wengy chops is now a criminal waste of talent

He almost...almost twigged two-three years ago that Sanchez, Walcott and Welbeck could operate as an interchangeable front three which would bamboozle defences. But then he had to start Giroud....a guy that has never seemed to understand that you either need to buy players to complement the system you want to play or create a system to complement the players you have.

The aforementioned interchangeable front three (which is pretty much what Liverpool use) would suit Aubemeyang to a tee

[Cripps]

Let’s be fair having any decent player playing for wengy chops is now a criminal waste of talent

He almost...almost twigged two-three years ago that Sanchez, Walcott and Welbeck could operate as an interchangeable front three which would bamboozle defences. But then he had to start Giroud....a guy that has never seemed to understand that you either need to buy players to complement the system you want to play or create a system to complement the players you have.

The aforementioned interchangeable front three (which is pretty much what Liverpool use) would suit Aubemeyang to a tee

Nah. He'd fail to track back and just hang around the other end of the pitch because he's hungry for goals. It might work under a different manager but here he'd be tactically and positionally neglectful on the wing to the detriment of the team.

He's a beast and should be played in his natural position. Let's not ruin his career like we've ruined countless others.

[Power n Glory]

Playing him on the wing would be a criminal waste of talent.

Criminal and stupid. His goal record exploded when playing as a striker. If there were any of chance of signing him, we either have to switch to a 3-5-2 or Lacazette has to make way.

But it's all bullshit. We're not signing this guy. Not in a million years.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Nah. He'd fail to track back and just hang around the other end of the pitch because he's hungry for goals. It might work under a different manager but here he'd be tactically and positionally neglectful on the wing to the detriment of the team.

He's a beast and should be played in his natural position. Let's not ruin his career like we've ruined countless others.

Whilst Wenger is here not particularly interested who comes here. We aren’t good enough for top four, and no matter how bad we get we won’t finish below mid table.

Different coach....Aubemeyang would be perfect fit.

[Power n Glory]

I don’t know why but I’d be happy for Theo if he moved on and made an impact elsewhere.

Just think he’s wasted so much time here and could potentially have been so much better than he is right now.

Injuries have really stunted him. Wenger has too. He scored 19 goals last season but can't get a chance in the first team. That's more goals than Giroud, Welbeck and Iwobi but he still can't get a game.

He should leave and he'd be a fool to stay. He's wasted enough time and someone should have had a word with him 4 years ago. Ox got the message a lot earlier. The manager has lost his ability to develop good players.

[Power n Glory]

Let’s be fair having any decent player playing for wengy chops is now a criminal waste of talent

He almost...almost twigged two-three years ago that Sanchez, Walcott and Welbeck could operate as an interchangeable front three which would bamboozle defences. But then he had to start Giroud....a guy that has never seemed to understand that you either need to buy players to complement the system you want to play or create a system to complement the players you have.

The aforementioned interchangeable front three (which is pretty much what Liverpool use) would suit Aubemeyang to a tee

We don't play Giroud anymore. We have Lacazette, Ozil and Sanchez as the front three but it doesn't work because we've lost that extra man from the midfield. Buying a player that can score 40 goals in a season but then choosing to play him on the wing is just stupid. I could understand if we had a functioning attack and spoiled for choice but that's not the case.

[Niall_Quinn]

We don't play Giroud anymore. We have Lacazette, Ozil and Sanchez as the front three but it doesn't work because we've lost that extra man from the midfield. Buying a player that can score 40 goals in a season but then choosing to play him on the wing is just stupid. I could understand if we had a functioning attack and spoiled for choice but that's not the case.

Wenger does "just stupid" better than anyone, and he loves teaching strikers how to be wingers because it once worked with self-starter/ self-learning Henry.

[Power n Glory]

Wenger does "just stupid" better than anyone, and he loves teaching strikers how to be wingers because it once worked with self-starter/ self-learning Henry.

The funny thing about that whole Henry winger story is that Wenger didn't even develop Henry as a winger at Monaco. Henry was a striker at Monaco at youth level, Wenger gave Henry his debut on the wing at Monaco but was sacked a few weeks later. The new manager continued to play Henry as a winger and Henry went on to win the league title with Monaco as a winger and best young French player long after Wenger fucked off from France.

[Cripps]

Don't worry guys, we've made our first signing! :lol: Konstantinos! :lol:

https://t.co/riLPiqxyX4

[Globalgunner]

Don't worry guys, we've made our first signing! :lol: Konstantinos! :lol:

https://t.co/riLPiqxyX4

Im happy with the fact that he is tall, apparently taller than Wumger in those photos. Lets hope he is not as slow as the guy he is replacing. Merts.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Wenger identifying the problem areas early. :bow:

Konstantinos Mavropanos is a big name signing.

[GP]

Sven's first signing.

[AFC Leveller]

I think Lanzini would be a decent signing. He scores goals, knows the league and is still pretty young. Not the same level as Alexis but thm again not many are.

[LDG]

Im happy with the fact that he is tall, apparently taller than Wumger in those photos. Lets hope he is not as slow as the guy he is replacing. Merts.

His height will be of great advantage in his new position of left wing back.

[Cripps]

Swapping Sanchez with Lanzini :lol:

Think that would tip me over the edge.

[Özim]

Welcome to Bremen pubber from an unknown Greek team.

Typical Wenger signing, still trying to achieve domination with a bunch of kids despite years of failure.

[GP]

Chelsea are after Barkley and Carroll :lol:

Conte has lost it.

[Gooner23]

I think Lanzini would be a decent signing. He scores goals, knows the league and is still pretty young. Not the same level as Alexis but thm again not many are.

:ilt:

[Cripps]

:lol:

AFC Leveller:rose:

[Cripps]

#CFC want Simeone if Conte leaves in the summer, although Atletico coach may prefer return to Italy. Maurizio Sarri and Massimilliano Allegri also being considered. https://t.co/ZfpoDKDbdI

Watch Allegri end up at Chelsea:lol:

As usual we'll probably miss out :doh:

[Özim]

#CFC want Simeone if Conte leaves in the summer, although Atletico coach may prefer return to Italy. Maurizio Sarri and Massimilliano Allegri also being considered. https://t.co/ZfpoDKDbdI

Watch Allegri end up at Chelsea:lol:

As usual we'll probably miss out :doh:

We'll have missed out on all the decent managers by the time this guy leaves, probably end up with Arteta or Prosinecki is it because Wengers fancies them to have a go.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

:ilt:

It's up there with my championing of Bryan Ruiz.

[Özim]

Aubameyang is a no (we already knew that though) but worse than this he wants Walnut to stay!

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/aubameyang-to-arsenal-not-going-to-happen-says-wenger/j44gxjnh6tzd1kdxiu4lhe2eo

[Niall_Quinn]

Aubameyang is a no (we already knew that though) but worse than this he wants Walnut to stay!

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/aubameyang-to-arsenal-not-going-to-happen-says-wenger/j44gxjnh6tzd1kdxiu4lhe2eo

Why does he take such joy in ruling out joy for the fans? No. No. No. Puzzled look. Sly grin. The WUMmaster General in full flow. We will sign Greek kids to go on loan. As well we have Theo who, I must tell you, can play there. No joy. Ever. Instead, here's your face and here's me rubbing it in Theo Walcott.

This window will be all about triumphantly signing players who are already here and then pretending it will somehow improve things.

[GP]

It's up there with my championing of Bryan Ruiz.

Could be worse...

Stephane Sessegnon :haha:

[Özim]

Why does he take such joy in ruling out joy for the fans? No. No. No. Puzzled look. Sly grin. The WUMmaster General in full flow. We will sign Greek kids to go on loan. As well we have Theo who, I must tell you, can play there. No joy. Ever. Instead, here's your face and here's me rubbing it in Theo Walcott.

This window will be all about triumphantly signing players who are already here and then pretending it will somehow improve things.

Precisely, he seems to take pleasure out of sucking the joy out of everything for the fans, he's an anti-entertainer, the guy that turns up at the party to spoil it for everyone else.

This is one of the reasons he is pound for pound one of the worst managers in football.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Toby Alderweireld is out of contract this summer.......

As well as:
Iniesta
Chiellini
Robben
Ribery
Mata
Goretzka
Subotic
Matuidi

At least 3 names from that lot are worth pursuing surely!?? I get that most of them are getting on a bit but we've got sooo much work to do this summer, we're going to need to spend like the moneys going out of fashion.

[GP]

Yes, all of them.

Except Iniesta, obviously.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Alderweireld's contract runs out in 2020, as it has a 12 month extension. He would have a release clause from 2019 though. I think Mata has an extension as well.

Goretzka is supposedly all-but confirmed for Bayern. :rolleyes:

Matuidi is also contracted until 2020.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Toby Alderweireld is out of contract this summer.......

As well as:
Iniesta
Chiellini
Robben
Ribery
Mata
Goretzka
Subotic
Matuidi

At least 3 names from that lot are worth pursuing surely!?? I get that most of them are getting on a bit but we've got sooo much work to do this summer, we're going to need to spend like the moneys going out of fashion.

Alexis and Ozil too.

Oh.

[Niall_Quinn]

Alexis and Ozil too.

Oh.

We should definitely go for those two if they are on a free.

[Cripps]

Contracts :haha:

Bosman:bow:

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Of course I was expecting that joke.....but didn't want to get in there myself!

I would take Iniesta even at 33.....such is the lack of control in our midfield at times.

[AFC Leveller]

Arsène Wenger: i was once fined 40k for calling Mile Dean a cheating cunt. It was the best 40k iv ever spent.

[AFC Leveller]

Iniesta signed a lifetime contract with Barcelona. He won't come here though.

[Globalgunner]

When is Mbappe coming, I thought Wenger said we only loaned him to PSG?

[Ralpheroo72]

Our January dealings are done, no one else coming in, guarantee it.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

SSN are saying Barca close to agreeing £145 million for Coutinho.

£142 million say BBC. I think Sky should just round it up to £200 million.

Fab Four. :lol:

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

You can't turn down that amount of money.

:rose:

[GP]

https://twitter.com/FCBarcelona_cat/status/949717325158088704

[Niall_Quinn]

He's certainly not 140mill good. I don't think he's half that good. Good player but WTF?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/286597-jurgen-klopp-on-philippe-coutinho-transfer

:lol:

Funny how it all comes out now as it being no secret he wanted to go, rather than merely being injured.

Has anybody checked on Jamie Carragher? I am sure he was in meltdown at the prospect of him going a couple of weeks ago.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

https://twitter.com/FCBarcelona_cat/status/949717325158088704

I could do better on MS Paint.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sky have us going for Evans again. :sarcy:

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/11198422/arsenal-make-fresh-enquiry-to-sign-jonny-evans-from-west-brom

[LDG]

He's certainly not 140mill good. I don't think he's half that good. Good player but WTF?

It’s not the player’s quality that drives the transfer fee, stupid.

[GP]

I could do better on MS Paint.

Prove it.

[Bumble]

He's certainly not 140mill good. I don't think he's half that good. Good player but WTF?

i wish we had a player that we could sell for 140m. just think of all the bank interest we could earn on it.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

According to Daily Cannon, Mavropanos was a Mislintat signing

[Globalgunner]

Why on earth would we want to sign Johnny fkn Evans. for £25m.
First he is average
2nd he hates this club, said so himself in the summer
3rd: he only wants to come here because WBA are looking certs for the drop
4th; He will make absolutely no difference to our prospects with Wenger still coaching this club

Please Wenger dont buy anybody. Just go

[GP]

According to Daily Cannon, Mavropanos was a Mislintat signing

According to Wenger himself.

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/arsenal-transfer-news-konstantinos-mavropanos-signs-arsene-wenger-sven-mislintat-a8144186.html

[Niall_Quinn]

Why on earth would we want to sign Johnny fkn Evans. for £25m.
First he is average
2nd he hates this club, said so himself in the summer
3rd: he only wants to come here because WBA are looking certs for the drop
4th; He will make absolutely no difference to our prospects with Wenger still coaching this club

Please Wenger dont buy anybody. Just go

He's also 30 years of age. So definitely not a hot prospect for the future. More of a steaming hot turd really. Here's my desperate theory.

The club is getting rid of Wenger. Soon. We know the defence is a shambles, so Evans is being brought in as an experienced stopgap until a new manager can come in and sign a defender who isn't a cunty lump of shit.

Two tiny flaws in my otherwise rock solid reasoning.

We were in for him last window too.
We're supposedly paying 25 mill for the cunt. Ouch! That'll be around 10 mill more than we get for Alexis. We're good at this, aren't we?

All in all though, I'd see this signing as the end of Wenger. Obviously there's no long or even mid term footballing reason for a club like Arsenal to sign Jonny Evans. Not unless we are trying to consolidate our status as second rate. So it has to be a move against Wenger.

It could also be the club letting him sign more of his shit so they can say, "see, see, the guy has gone crazy", when they sack him.

Okay, I give up. Somebody please give me a rational explanation as to why we'd event contemplate signing this cunt.

[Niall_Quinn]

There's always the hope we'll fuck up the deal, as usual.

[Niall_Quinn]

According to Wenger himself.

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/arsenal-transfer-news-konstantinos-mavropanos-signs-arsene-wenger-sven-mislintat-a8144186.html

So the guy starts on Feb 1st, and is working on Jan 7th? Indeed, slightly unusual.

[Niall_Quinn]

Meanwhile Soton don't want to pay 25 mill for Theo.

In this crazy market Wenger has managed to nurture talent that can't even fetch a fee to match a clapped out Jonny Evans.

And for the players we could have got decent money for - he's let their contracts run down :haha:

What an arse.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

He's also 30 years of age. So definitely not a hot prospect for the future. More of a steaming hot turd really. Here's my desperate theory.

The club is getting rid of Wenger. Soon. We know the defence is a shambles, so Evans is being brought in as an experienced stopgap until a new manager can come in and sign a defender who isn't a cunty lump of shit.

Two tiny flaws in my otherwise rock solid reasoning.

We were in for him last window too.
We're supposedly paying 25 mill for the cunt. Ouch! That'll be around 10 mill more than we get for Alexis. We're good at this, aren't we?

All in all though, I'd see this signing as the end of Wenger. Obviously there's no long or even mid term footballing reason for a club like Arsenal to sign Jonny Evans. Not unless we are trying to consolidate our status as second rate. So it has to be a move against Wenger.

It could also be the club letting him sign more of his shit so they can say, "see, see, the guy has gone crazy", when they sack him.

Okay, I give up. Somebody please give me a rational explanation as to why we'd event contemplate signing this cunt.

Dunno but he's a defender and not a footballer. It'll be a disaster probably but that's what we already have.

We know BFG is moving on so so we need some poor sap to sit on the bench.

[Niall_Quinn]

Dunno but he's a defender and not a footballer. It'll be a disaster probably but that's what we already have.

We know BFG is moving on so so we need some poor sap to sit on the bench.

He's bog standard, so he'll be a better defender than what we have. Like Chambers and Holding, who had a clue how to defend upon arrival. And then we've seen what Wenger has done to them. Turned them into wrecks by chucking them randomly into haphazard systems and in behind a midfield that doesn't defend. So maybe this guy has enough experience to at least remain bog standard and not fall foul of Wenger's nonsense. He'd be the first since Campbell. Which then leads to the question, can't we find some other clapped out, bog standard but experienced defender for less that 25 mill? Maybe not in this market. What's Silvestre up to these days?

We know why the gypos would be interested. Money to burn and anticipating that, "Oh shit, all our main defensive options are injured", moment. But for us 25 mill eats into a limited budget and he's far more likely to be starting. It says everything about where we are now as a club. Second rate. This is just another guy a new manager will have to offload when he arrives. If he arrives.

How long can this go on I wonder?

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Rumours we're interested in David Louise too on loan which I'd much prefer.

[Cripps]

We need leaders and big characters in the team that can take the initiative and manage in-game themselves like Vieira, Bergkamp, Sol etc, players that don't need constant guidance from the manager and can change tactics/strategy themselves during the game because relying on Wenger to guide them won't work as he doesn't do that. He sits back and allows the players to do things themselves and the problem is our players are not leaders so sit back and wait for the manager, so we're in a state of vacuum :lol:


The problem is there's not many players like that around anymore, most need an arm round their shoulder and told what to do like a child, and if there are then they are expensive.

And Jonny Evans is not that type of player. He would be a disaster under Wenger. He would be all over the place positionally, flimsy and constantly run ragged.

We need a big character to lead. More of a VVD type of player.

[selassie]

Meanwhile Soton don't want to pay 25 mill for Theo.

In this crazy market Wenger has managed to nurture talent that can't even fetch a fee to match a clapped out Jonny Evans.

And for the players we could have got decent money for - he's let their contracts run down :haha:

What an arse.

:haha:

[Gubby Allen]

Can we get Campbell and Perez back from their loans or is there no clause to do so?

[Niall_Quinn]

Can we get Campbell and Perez back from their loans or is there no clause to do so?

Why, what have they ever done to you?

[Gubby Allen]

Why, what have they ever done to you?

I suppose they probably keep their phones off and once we find them, would have to offer them a bung to come back, but they are marginally less shite than Walcott and Lacazette.

[Cripps]

Can we get Campbell and Perez back from their loans or is there no clause to do so?

Who? Sol? He'd probably still be better than the crop of shite in our defence.

[Niall_Quinn]

I suppose they probably keep their phones off and once we find them, would have to offer them a bung to come back, but they are marginally less shite than Walcott and Lacazette.

They'll probably both claim asylum and hole up in the Ecuadorian embassy.

[Özim]

Players like Evans is one of the reaons why Wenger has no place at thus club, almost 30, not commanding, nothing special, a player just not suited to our needs and yet the guy seems interested in him, noone wants him here, I'd rather he signed noone and kept the money for someone else, with the fa cup exit we won't need any cover anyway, soon we'll have nothing to play for.

[Penguin]

I don't get the point of signing Evans. Why add another average defender to the bunch of average defenders already here?

He probably wont even be that cheap. Great, more money down the drain on junk players.

[Marc Overmars]

It would be a huge waste of money but it can’t get any worse than it already is at the back.

[Cripps]

Arsenal ready to do business on Francis Coquelin with West Ham keen https://t.co/42i3llvk1T

[Özim]

I see Wenger says w'ere not close to signing anyone after the signing of that Greek nobody. Nothing quite like having a plan in place before the window opens, seems we just rely on pot luck.

[Cripps]

That's for the best though.

Lose sanchez, have no one incoming and finish 6th.

Might actually get somewhere that way.

[Power n Glory]

Arsenal ready to do business on Francis Coquelin with West Ham keen https://t.co/42i3llvk1T

Shame. We’ve missed him. If we’d play Coquelin and Wilshere together in a 4-2-3-1 we’d probably regain some protection for the defence as well as control of the midfield.

[Özim]

Are we trying to sell half of our squad so that we can reduce our wagebill and increase profit further for Wenger. Good to know we've at least signed some nobody who should be ready to play for us in about 5 years (if he does at all)

[Niall_Quinn]

I see Wenger says w'ere not close to signing anyone after the signing of that Greek nobody. Nothing quite like having a plan in place before the window opens, seems we just rely on pot luck.

Hopefully he'll be eased out of the whole transfer process once the new guys get a desk.

[Niall_Quinn]

Shame. We’ve missed him. If we’d play Coquelin and Wilshere together in a 4-2-3-1 we’d probably regain some protection for the defence as well as control of the midfield.

He's still decidedly second rate. A body to stick out there on the pitch and be average. Not good enough if we have to suffer the handicap of Wenger. We need to move on from that. Wenger really has fucked this squad. I can still hear Letter's cackles when I said we need 8-9 decent players coming in to compensate for the fraud in charge. Unfortunately, if we refuse to change the manager then it is going to cost us big time in the transfer windows. A decent manager could get more from the squad and save us a ton of cash. But Kroenke is too thick or lazy to see it.

[Niall_Quinn]

Are we trying to sell half of our squad so that we can reduce our wagebill and increase profit further for Wenger. Good to know we've at least signed some nobody who should be ready to play for us in about 5 years (if he does at all)

It's prudent and sustainable. We are the envy of all the clubs around the world. Didn't you know?

[Niall_Quinn]

From the Daily Fail, who gloated that nobody wanted Ozil.


Juventus will join Manchester United in battling it out for the signature of Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil, according to reports in Italy.

The 29-year-old is entering the final months of his contract and is set to walk away for free at the end of the season.

Ozil's availability is set to prompt a battle for his services among top European clubs, with Jose Mourinho and United early front-runners for the former Real Madrid man.

At least Juve would be bearable. If he ends up at Utd we're pretty much done as a serious club. After the RvC lesson, if we go and do the same thing again. Forget it.

[Özim]

From the Daily Fail, who gloated that nobody wanted Ozil.



At least Juve would be bearable. If he ends up at Utd we're pretty much done as a serious club. After the RvC lesson, if we go and do the same thing again. Forget it.

Wenger is confident he'll stay, so this sounds like BS, when has he ever not told the truth?

[Özim]

At least Juve would be bearable. If he ends up at Utd we're pretty much done as a serious club. After the RvC lesson, if we go and do the same thing again. Forget it.

We're done as a serious club anyway, for a while at least until Wenga goes, we're a 2nd rate, 2nd tier losers club, half the fans subscribe to this losers model as well. At least we can be morally superior cos we haven't got a billionaire bankrolling us :trophy:

[Cripps]

We're done as a serious club anyway, for a while at least until Wenga goes, we're a 2nd rate, 2nd tier losers club, half the fans subscribe to this losers model as well. At least we can be morally superior cos we haven't got a billionaire bankrolling us :trophy:

Not declined :haha:

[Cripps]

Man City plan to make a concerted effort to buy Sanchez from Arsenal this month. Gunners holding out for up to £40m but suspect final fee would be less if they agree to sell. Depends on whether Wenger thinks it is worth hanging on for another six months. https://t.co/tItkTF4cP7

[selassie]

Arsenal ready to do business on Francis Coquelin with West Ham keen https://t.co/42i3llvk1T

Just read the article, 10million and he has got 3 years left on his contract :haha: Jesus Christ?! We must be the only club that literally gives their players away, most players trade for 25mill in the Prem these days regardless of their ability.

[Marc Overmars]

Just read the article, 10million and he has got 3 years left on his contract :haha: Jesus Christ?! We must be the only club that literally gives their players away, most players trade for 25mill in the Prem these days regardless of their ability.

Coq is pretty shit though. No one is going to pay much more than 10m for him.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Just read the article, 10million and he has got 3 years left on his contract :haha: Jesus Christ?! We must be the only club that literally gives their players away, most players trade for 25mill in the Prem these days regardless of their ability.

Be reasonable. Who is going to pay more than that for a player who is not premiership quality

[selassie]

Coq is pretty shit though. No one is going to pay much more than 10m for him.

Aye, I don't care whether we keep him or not, just kind of found the fee a bit low given he has quite a bit left on his contract.

[selassie]

Be reasonable. Who is going to pay more than that for a player who is not premiership quality

Coq is definitely Premiership quality, sure he doesn't exactly pull up any trees but I'd have thought we could get a bit more for him. 10million is what you pay for a standard Championship player.

[Niall_Quinn]

Just read the article, 10million and he has got 3 years left on his contract :haha: Jesus Christ?! We must be the only club that literally gives their players away, most players trade for 25mill in the Prem these days regardless of their ability.

Still, gets us two fifths of a Jonny Evans. Quick search down the sofa, release a new kit, maybe put out a Glory Glory Wenger - Be Careful What You Wish For DVD box set - we'll soon have the readies.

[Niall_Quinn]

Man City plan to make a concerted effort to buy Sanchez from Arsenal this month. Gunners holding out for up to £40m but suspect final fee would be less if they agree to sell. Depends on whether Wenger thinks it is worth hanging on for another six months. https://t.co/tItkTF4cP7

40 mill? They must be buying some hard core drugs with the fans' money. If we get 20 we've scraped a tiny consolation out of a throughly fucked up situation. But it'll probably be half that with add-ons that can be used to save face. Although at the gypos they might have to pay up, considering they actually want to win stuff.

[Power n Glory]

He's still decidedly second rate. A body to stick out there on the pitch and be average. Not good enough if we have to suffer the handicap of Wenger. We need to move on from that. Wenger really has fucked this squad. I can still hear Letter's cackles when I said we need 8-9 decent players coming in to compensate for the fraud in charge. Unfortunately, if we refuse to change the manager then it is going to cost us big time in the transfer windows. A decent manager could get more from the squad and save us a ton of cash. But Kroenke is too thick or lazy to see it.

He is average. But we're seeing exactly what happens when we don't use a DM in this squad. What have we sacrificed him for? The criticism has been that he doesn't offer much going forward but we still have that problem without him in the team along with no protection for our defence.

He's an average no frills player but we're watching Wenger try to bypass the need of a defensive minded midfielder and we're getting killed. He's the only DM we have and there seems to be no sign of a replacement on the way.

[Cripps]

Just read the article, 10million and he has got 3 years left on his contract :haha: Jesus Christ?! We must be the only club that literally gives their players away, most players trade for 25mill in the Prem these days regardless of their ability.

Agreed. We have some awful negotiators in place. Didn't Spurs get £19m for bentaleb? We constantly have our pants pulled down.

[Niall_Quinn]

He is average. But we're seeing exactly what happens when we don't use a DM in this squad. What have we sacrificed him for? The criticism has been that he doesn't offer much going forward but we still have that problem without him in the team along with no protection for our defence.

He's an average no frills player but we're watching Wenger try to bypass the need of a defensive minded midfielder and we're getting killed. He's the only DM we have and there seems to be no sign of a replacement on the way.

I don't disagree. but it's kind of, meh. what difference does it really make? Could be him, could be Ramsey, could be Elneny, who cares? Wenger won't put a system in place that focuses on the strength of our players anyway. Coquelin has regularly put in a shift and he has more discipline than most of the rest, but he gets thrown under the bus in the stupid system we play where his midfield partner is permitted to saunter around without responsibility. Vieira would have struggled in this system. Wenger's just a crackpot that is too big a handicap for any squad to overcome. He'd fuck Barca down the table. He'd take the current gypos to the runner-up spot this season. Coquelin is better off heading out, it'll give him a few more effective years on his career and he won't have to put up with Wenger's shit.

We've reached the stage where it's all about Wenger. Exactly where Wenger wants it to be. Arsene FC.

[Globalgunner]

I think the reason for the low transfer fees is simply the players wages. I wouldn't be surprised if Coq is on 60-70k. Socialism:doh: Which team outside the top 6 will pay that?. Hence the low transfer fee to compensate the player for a drop in salary and maybe a 10m signing bonus ffrom the new club.

[Power n Glory]

I don't disagree. but it's kind of, meh. what difference does it really make? Could be him, could be Ramsey, could be Elneny, who cares? Wenger won't put a system in place that focuses on the strength of our players anyway. Coquelin has regularly put in a shift and he has more discipline than most of the rest, but he gets thrown under the bus in the stupid system we play where his midfield partner is permitted to saunter around without responsibility. Vieira would have struggled in this system. Wenger's just a crackpot that is too big a handicap for any squad to overcome. He'd fuck Barca down the table. He'd take the current gypos to the runner-up spot this season. Coquelin is better off heading out, it'll give him a few more effective years on his career and he won't have to put up with Wenger's shit.

We've reached the stage where it's all about Wenger. Exactly where Wenger wants it to be. Arsene FC.

True. It makes no difference if he doesn’t play the right system. He doesn’t want to play with a defensive midfielder and his deamination to see that through is what made him switch to playing three at the back.

Delusion, arrogance, stupidity…I don’t know what it is, but he seems hell bent on freeing up our midfield from defensive duties. So much so, that he’d rather dump Coquelin out of the squad and go full Kamikaze with Rambo and Xhaka in the middle. He thinks this third CB is the solution to the extra security we need. It’s a blurred line for him. So much so, he’d go as far as playing Elneny as CB. His thinking behind this formation change is way off.

[selassie]

Agreed. We have some awful negotiators in place. Didn't Spurs get £19m for bentaleb? We constantly have our pants pulled down.

Yep, they also got something like 18million for Wimmer and both he and Bentaleb were pretty much bound to their reserves when they were sold!

I think part of the problem is we go around lowballing clubs so clubs are pretty much doing the same to us now.

Obviously our ludicrous wage structure doesn't help either where we are paying average and poor players crazy wages, this is now a major issue for us as we spent the best part of last summer struggling to give players away!!!

[Cripps]

True. It makes no difference if he doesn’t play the right system. He doesn’t want to play with a defensive midfielder and his deamination to see that through is what made him switch to playing three at the back.

Delusion, arrogance, stupidity…I don’t know what it is, but he seems hell bent on freeing up our midfield from defensive duties. So much so, that he’d rather dump Coquelin out of the squad and go full Kamikaze with Rambo and Xhaka in the middle. He thinks this third CB is the solution to the extra security we need. It’s a blurred line for him. So much so, he’d go as far as playing Elneny as CB. His thinking behind this formation change is way off.

There's just no real planning and vision at the club. We had the choice of Kante or Xhaka that summer. Eh?! They are completely different players. How can your vision be so unfocused? Kante is a destroyer and Xhaka is a deep lying playmaker. They can be played together but how does he think he can choose between one or the other? Their purpose is different and they do completely different things.

It's like he just goes with the flow without having any real plan in place. 'Oh ok we'll get the deep lying playmaker and stick him in and see what happens'. It's a bit like me saying I want a family car so I'll either buy a car or a van.

He should be going into the summer saying 'I want a destroyer so either x, y or z'.

[selassie]

It would be a huge waste of money but it can’t get any worse than it already is at the back.

I am at a loss with the Jonny Evans rumours too. I kind of get why City want him as a backup but I have no idea why we want him and not at the quoted prices. He would be first choice here if the rumoured prices are to be believed....

[Niall_Quinn]

There's just no real planning and vision at the club. We had the choice of Kante or Xhaka that summer. Eh?! They are completely different players. How can your vision be so unfocused? Kante is a destroyer and Xhaka is a deep lying playmaker. They can be played together but how does he think he can choose between one or the other? Their purpose is different and they do completely different things.

It's like he just goes with the flow without having any real plan in place. 'Oh ok we'll get the deep lying playmaker and stick him in and see what happens'. It's a bit like me saying I want a family car so I'll either buy a car or a van.

He should be going into the summer saying 'I want a destroyer so either x, y or z'.

Because he would have converted Kante into a tip tap merchant thereby destroying his game. Kate's career would be over now if he'd come here. Instead it's Xhaka that's been reduced to pub status. Wenger doesn't select players based on their strengths. He selects them on their capability to fit into and adapt to whatever fucked up vision of "total football" is going on in his crazed mind. Everyone will play in every position and interchange and pass, pass, pass, and conserve energy while the opponent runs helplessly around until they are too fatigued to resist the tip, tap, tip, tap.

Backwards, sideways, sideways, back, sideways, forwards, back, sideways, endlessly until the opposition loses the will to live (the fans long since dead through boredom). The very opposite of what was successful for him in the early years. And so every player he touches will be destroyed, their reputation degraded and their effectiveness halved. Tip tap tip tap, that's his whole game. And the defenders are supposed to tip tap their way out of trouble too. And the defenders can be midfielders and the midfielders defenders and the strikers wide men and the wide men can come into the centre, move an inch, stand, tip, tap, move another inch, tap it around some more. Then strike like a deadly snail.

The guy's a lunatic.

[Power n Glory]

There's just no real planning and vision at the club. We had the choice of Kante or Xhaka that summer. Eh?! They are completely different players. How can your vision be so unfocused? Kante is a destroyer and Xhaka is a deep lying playmaker. They can be played together but how does he think he can choose between one or the other? Their purpose is different and they do completely different things.

It's like he just goes with the flow without having any real plan in place. 'Oh ok we'll get the deep lying playmaker and stick him in and see what happens'. It's a bit like me saying I want a family car so I'll either buy a car or a van.

He should be going into the summer saying 'I want a destroyer so either x, y or z'.

Agreed. There is no vision at all. It's worth remembering that Wenger thought Xhaka was a box to box player and not a deep laying playmaker. Heck, I'd say it's a far stretch even calling Xhaka a deep laying playmaker. He's a long ball merchant. That is all he has in his locker. I have no idea why they thought he'd be a good fit for us. What's worse, now that we have him and see his strengths and weakness, we've changed the system and emptied out the midfield to further expose his weakness.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

He is average. But we're seeing exactly what happens when we don't use a DM in this squad. What have we sacrificed him for? The criticism has been that he doesn't offer much going forward but we still have that problem without him in the team along with no protection for our defence.

He's an average no frills player but we're watching Wenger try to bypass the need of a defensive minded midfielder and we're getting killed. He's the only DM we have and there seems to be no sign of a replacement on the way.

Even he thinks he's Pirlo when he gets on the pitch. If he could get back to just being what is needed, like in 2015 happy days but I think he has had his mind altered in a way like Ramsey.

[Niall_Quinn]

Even he thinks he's Pirlo when he gets on the pitch. If he could get back to just being what is needed, like in 2015 happy days but I think he has had his mind altered in a way like Ramsey.

They laced his broccoli.

[Xhaka Can’t]

Coutinho passed his medical, but it did show he has a right thigh injury - which kept him out of Liverpool's 2-1 win at Burnley on New Year's Day.

Barcelona said the midfielder is likely to be out for about three weeks, meaning the earliest he could realistically make his debut is the Catalan derby against Espanyol on 4 February.

Someone should have told Wenger.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I think if you take price into account, Xhaka could easily become one of the worst pound for pound signings under Wenger. The early comparisons I heard to Petit and Alonso is an insult to the pair of them.

[Thierrymon]

Are we going to have any players in two years time? No one is signing new deals, our best players are off within the next 6 months, a number of players are coming into their last year of contract next season, a bunch of our other players want out (apparently), wenget wont spend any money.

I am struggling to imagine what our team will look like in a few seasons.

[Özim]

I think if you take price into account, Xhaka could easily become one of the worst pound for pound signings under Wenger. The early comparisons I heard to Petit and Alonso is an insult to the pair of them.

Yup and that's saying something as there's been plenty of shocking signings over the years. When we signed him, people were saying he was in the Bundesligue team of the year and one of the best midfielders in Germany, truth is he's absolute rubbish.

[Özim]

Are we going to have any players in two years time? No one is signing new deals, our best players are off within the next 6 months, a number of players are coming into their last year of contract next season, a bunch of our other players want out (apparently), wenget wont spend any money.

I am struggling to imagine what our team will look like in a few seasons.

Who knows, what we do know is that we're about to lose our best players and our squad is filled with dross due to the fact Wenger is always buying cheap rubbish. Welbeck, Walcott, Iwobi, Elneny, Coquelin, Chambers.

We also have expensive rubbish like Xhaka and Mustafi.

Then we have players who are ageing and won't be around much longer Mertersacker, Koscielna, Monreal, Cazorla.

and of course players out of contract, Wilshere, Ozil, Sanchez, Debuchy.

Honestly our squad is in a terrible state.

[Marc Overmars]

Who knows, what we do know is that we're about to lose our best players and our squad is filled with dross due to the fact Wenger is always buying cheap rubbish. Welbeck, Walcott, Iwobi, Elneny, Coquelin, Chambers.

We also have expensive rubbish like Xhaka and Mustafi.

Then we have players who are ageing and won't be around much longer Mertersacker, Koscielna, Monreal, Cazorla.

and of course players out of contract, Wilshere, Ozil, Sanchez, Debuchy.

Honestly our squad is in a terrible state.

Some would say it's an ideal situation.

[Power n Glory]

Even he thinks he's Pirlo when he gets on the pitch. If he could get back to just being what is needed, like in 2015 happy days but I think he has had his mind altered in a way like Ramsey.

Wenger shafted him when started encouraging him to try and win the ball higher up the pitch. Wenger did the same with Song after a successful season as DM. Encouraged him to get forward more and try to 'fool' the opposition into moving into the space vacated by Song. God k owns where that tactic has come from and despite seeing it fail he has tried it again with Coquelin.

[Power n Glory]

I think if you take price into account, Xhaka could easily become one of the worst pound for pound signings under Wenger. The early comparisons I heard to Petit and Alonso is an insult to the pair of them.

It is an insult to compare him to those players. That's why I'm not even having this deep laying playmaker role attached to him. He's a long ball merchant that can't defend.

[Marc Overmars]

Should have brought Cesc back when we had the chance to. He’s still better than any of our centre mids.

[GP]

Fuck Cesc

[Cripps]

Fuck Tuesdays

[selassie]

Wenger shafted him when started encouraging him to try and win the ball higher up the pitch. Wenger did the same with Song after a successful season as DM. Encouraged him to get forward more and try to 'fool' the opposition into moving into the space vacated by Song. God k owns where that tactic has come from and despite seeing it fail he has tried it again with Coquelin.

Yep, nail on head.

Wenger is obsessed with ball playing midfielders, like you stated yesterday he seems to go out of his way NOT to have a Defensively minded midfielder playing for us.

Coq was fine playing the water carrier/DM role, I still don't understand to this day why Wenger tried to change his role because it was clearly working.

[Power n Glory]

Should have brought Cesc back when we had the chance to. He’s still better than any of our centre mids.

Missed out on that one. Even if not Cesc, buy someone that can either build play from attack or break up attacks and support the defence. How did we end up with someone that can do neither and spend £35m on him?

[Power n Glory]

Yep, nail on head.

Wenger is obsessed with ball playing midfielders, like you stated yesterday he seems to go out of his way NOT to have a Defensively minded midfielder playing for us.

Coq was fine playing the water carrier/DM role, I still don't understand to this day why Wenger tried to change his role because it was clearly working.

It makes zero sense.

[Özim]

Makes me laugh, when asked how the new setup behind the scenes is working in the January transfer window he just says the transfer window should be banned. :lol:


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

Would suit him then he'd never have to buy anyone ever again and could go round poaching youngsters for free. Why the guy has such a problem with transfers is beyond me, I guess it doesn't fit into his maximising profit policy.

[Globalgunner]

The thing he hates most about transfer windows is the opportunity it provides for top players to escape his lunatic asylum. If only he could hold Sanchez for another 5 months, if only

[Cripps]

Strong reports coming out of Argentina that Arsenal could meet Cristian Pavon's release clause within hours. Seen as Sanchez replacement. @charles_watts
https://t.co/clH9eWIb7A

[Power n Glory]

I still can't believe Wenger hasn't been sacked for this shit. It's a serious fuck up.

[Cripps]

Farhad Moshiri on why Romelu Lukaku didn’t sign a new deal-
"During the meeting (with Lukaku over a new contract) he said he had to call his mother, who was on a pilgrimage in Africa and had seen a voodoo who said he had to go to Chelsea.”

:lol:

[Marc Overmars]

Few rags reporting that City will wait until the summer for Alexis and give him a 30m signing on fee. :lol: