Winter Transfer Despair and Bafflement.

[Özim]

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

Cheap unknown replacement for Sanchez, pretty typical really, can see this one having legs.

[Özim]

Some reports saying Wilshere may need to take a pay cut in his basic salary to stay at Arsenal, they want to make more of it bonus based, makes sense really, he's such a crock you'd be mad not to do that.

[Özim]

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

They don't need him, they may as well wait until the summer, not that far away now. We were optimistic to say the least to think we could get 40 million for him.

[Marc Overmars]

They don't need him, they may as well wait until the summer, not that far away now. We were optimistic to say the least to think we could get 40 million for him.

In all honesty I think we’ll be lucky to get over £20m for him.

[Power n Glory]

Seen a few reports about this Brazilian kid called Malcolm playing in France. Possible Sanchez replacement.

[Özim]

In all honesty I think we’ll be lucky to get over £20m for him.

Yeah I agree, he barely has any time left on his contract and to be honest hasn't been all that great this season either.

[Özim]

Seen a few reports about this Brazilian kid called Malcolm playing in France. Possible Sanchez replacement.

Not entirely against getting a skillful youngish Brazilian on board, if he can dribble would provide some much needed excitement. Should be an addition though, not a replacement.

[selassie]

In all honesty I think we’ll be lucky to get over £20m for him.

Yep agreed. In all honesty I wouldn't be surprised if City "pull our pants down" and walk away from any potential deal if we start trying to play hardball.

They have us by the balls because we either accept a pittance for him or lose him for free.

Why we didn't accept the 60million on deadline day is beyond me, we knew how precarious the situation was back then and the gamble has spectacularly failed, it wasn't as if we were odds on for top 4 or whatever even with him here.

As Delusions Of Grandeur stated above, it beggars belief why Wenger hasn't been shown the door for the Sanchez and Ozil fiasco, it's gross mismanagement.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Yep agreed. In all honesty I wouldn't be surprised if City "pull our pants down" and walk away from any potential deal if we start trying to play hardball.

They have us by the balls because we either accept a pittance for him or lose him for free.

Why we didn't accept the 60million on deadline day is beyond me, we knew how precarious the situation was back then and the gamble has spectacularly failed, it wasn't as if we were odds on for top 4 or whatever even with him here.

As Delusions Of Grandeur stated above, it beggars belief why Wenger hasn't been shown the door for the Sanchez and Ozil fiasco, it's gross mismanagement.

It’s gross mismanagement by the club in general that Wenger was given carte Blanche to make such decisions

Although it could be argued that this was the contributory factor in bringing in Mislintat and Sanllehli

Positive PR aside they knew what a monumental fuck up last summer was. As the le grove podcast states, it will be interesting to see what happens when invariably Wenger comes into conflict with these guys.

My view is that Wenger is so desperate not to go, that like with their appointment in the first place he will begrudgingly accept their recommendations and try and claim that anything they do was his idea

I don’t think he will be allowed to sideline them like he did with Forsythe and Jonker

[Gooner23]

We should keep Sanchez until the summer now, even when not at his best he will get goals and assists. Ensuring we have European competition next season is surely worth more than an extra 20 million in Kroenkes pocket. What a complete mess we are in though.

[selassie]

It’s gross mismanagement by the club in general that Wenger was given carte Blanche to make such decisions

Although it could be argued that this was the contributory factor in bringing in Mislintat and Sanllehli

Positive PR aside they knew what a monumental fuck up last summer was. As the le grove podcast states, it will be interesting to see what happens when invariably Wenger comes into conflict with these guys.

My view is that Wenger is so desperate not to go, that like with their appointment in the first place he will begrudgingly accept their recommendations and try and claim that anything they do was his idea

I don’t think he will be allowed to sideline them like he did with Forsythe and Jonker

Yeah I agree Herb, what you say makes sense and I truly hope that Mislintat and Sanllehli really challenge Wenger if things become sticky.

[Power n Glory]

It’s gross mismanagement by the club in general that Wenger was given carte Blanche to make such decisions

Although it could be argued that this was the contributory factor in bringing in Mislintat and Sanllehli

Positive PR aside they knew what a monumental fuck up last summer was. As the le grove podcast states, it will be interesting to see what happens when invariably Wenger comes into conflict with these guys.

My view is that Wenger is so desperate not to go, that like with their appointment in the first place he will begrudgingly accept their recommendations and try and claim that anything they do was his idea

I don’t think he will be allowed to sideline them like he did with Forsythe and Jonker

I told you to watch what happens with Gazidis and his appointments this year.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

I told you to watch what happens with Gazidis and his appointments this year.

And I will, he’s made the appointments. Despite my optimism it remains to be seen whether those two can and will assert their authority in the summer.

That’s not me saying they won’t, my previous comment I uphold that I am hopeful that they will

I still think Gazidis is a bit of a pillock on the whole. But if it does transpire that he has been at least moderately successful in wrestling control from Wenger than he has at least shown capability of doing what he gets paid to do.

I think I agreed with you last season that he was our best hope of change (which was why I wasn’t optimistic) but as much as he was completely made to look like a chump by Wenger last year, fair play if he’s stuck to his guns and carried on chizzling away.

[Power n Glory]

And I will, he’s made the appointments. Despite my optimism it remains to be seen whether those two can and will assert their authority in the summer.

That’s not me saying they won’t, my previous comment I uphold that I am hopeful that they will

I still think Gazidis is a bit of a pillock on the whole. But if it does transpire that he has been at least moderately successful in wrestling control from Wenger than he has at least shown capability of doing what he gets paid to do.

I think I agreed with you last season that he was our best hope of change (which was why I wasn’t optimistic) but as much as he was completely made to look like a chump by Wenger last year, fair play if he’s stuck to his guns and carried on chizzling away.

You were saying he was incompetent and should have quit.

[Niall_Quinn]

Some reports saying Wilshere may need to take a pay cut in his basic salary to stay at Arsenal, they want to make more of it bonus based, makes sense really, he's such a crock you'd be mad not to do that.

A big basic pay cut apparently, with the shortfall made up by appearance bonuses. People work best when their situation is secure, so this might make financial sense but it's still a terrible idea. Either commit to the player or sell him. If he's having to play with avoiding injury at the back of his mind all the time, because it will threaten his earnings, we'll end up losing in the long run because we'll have still paid quite a lot for a sub-par player. Why should somebody like Welbeck get security when he's injured half the time too? And Ramsey spends big chunks of every season on the sidelines. Kos has become more injury prone. And as for Ozil, he's been injured about 50 times already this season. What about Santi, is he on a performance related package?

Jack has been a bit of a berk up to this point, stupid on the pitch and twice as stupid off it. But he's fought back from injury and he seems to be keeping himself out of the papers, he's one of the few players who has achieved a half respectable level of performance and he's committed to the club and wants to stay. Not sure why he's being singled out when so many other deliver so much less.

[GP]

Agreed. Give him a proper contract or get rid.

Does anyone have high hopes for him any more?

[Power n Glory]

A big basic pay cut apparently, with the shortfall made up by appearance bonuses. People work best when their situation is secure, so this might make financial sense but it's still a terrible idea. Either commit to the player or sell him. If he's having to play with avoiding injury at the back of his mind all the time, because it will threaten his earnings, we'll end up losing in the long run because we'll have still paid quite a lot for a sub-par player. Why should somebody like Welbeck get security when he's injured half the time too? And Ramsey spends big chunks of every season on the sidelines. Kos has become more injury prone. And as for Ozil, he's been injured about 50 times already this season. What about Santi, is he on a performance related package?

Jack has been a bit of a berk up to this point, stupid on the pitch and twice as stupid off it. But he's fought back from injury and he seems to be keeping himself out of the papers, he's one of the few players who has achieved a half respectable level of performance and he's committed to the club and wants to stay. Not sure why he's being singled out when so many other deliver so much less.

I despise the fact that Danny Welbeck has leap frogged a log of our players in the pecking order without deserving it. Injury prone with no end product. I sympathise with Jack because he was doing well for and his injury record is partially down to the Arsenal medical staff. They misdiagnosed his injury when coming back from internationals and fucked him up further. After recovering from surgery, instead of easing him back in, he was rushed back and fucked over again with another long layoff.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

You were saying he was incompetent and should have quit.

Yes I know, and I meant it at the time. However back in April I also said he represented the best chance we had for change simply because he’d been the only one who had come out to acknowledge that things weren’t right....but as I said at the time Gazidis has a habit of saying whatever best suits him at the time. I think his goal was rather than get rid of Wenger to impose controls on him and he failed totally in doing so, and staying on seemed to show more than he was more interested in his wage than having a shred of self respect

Bringing in the chief scout from Borussia Dortmund and the guy from Barcelona appears on the surface to be good moves. This tallies with insider knowledge that they are part of a strategy to chizzle away at Wengers power base. And if that proves to be the case (and it’s likely we won’t know for sure until the summer) than I have to say as I did in the previous message fair play to him.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

I despise the fact that Danny Welbeck has leap frogged a log of our players in the pecking order without deserving it. Injury prone with no end product. I sympathise with Jack because he was doing well for and his injury record is partially down to the Arsenal medical staff. They misdiagnosed his injury when coming back from internationals and fucked him up further. After recovering from surgery, instead of easing him back in, he was rushed back and fucked over again with another long layoff.

Welbeck is an infuriating player in terms of his finishing but playing wide he’s one of the few attacking players that offers pace and threat. Sanchez as good as he can be often cuts inside, and whilst I would agree he wouldn’t get a look in at other clubs with more ambition....we are limited with options. And Jack is a central midfielder which we seem to collect.

[Marc Overmars]

Yes I know, and I meant it at the time. However back in April I also said he represented the best chance we had for change simply because he’d been the only one who had come out to acknowledge that things weren’t right....but as I said at the time Gazidis has a habit of saying whatever best suits him at the time. I think his goal was rather than get rid of Wenger to impose controls on him and he failed totally in doing so, and staying on seemed to show more than he was more interested in his wage than having a shred of self respect

Bringing in the chief scout from Borussia Dortmund and the guy from Barcelona appears on the surface to be good moves. This tallies with insider knowledge that they are part of a strategy to chizzle away at Wengers power base. And if that proves to be the case (and it’s likely we won’t know for sure until the summer) than I have to say as I did in the previous message fair play to him.

IMO, Gazidis is probably the only one at the top of the club who has some sort of vision for us to move on from this Wenger-induced coma.

Though whether Wenker will allow the changes in infrastructure to efficiently work remains to be seen.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

IMO, Gazidis is probably the only one at the top of the club who has some sort of vision for us to move on from this Wenger-induced coma.

Though whether Wenker will allow the changes in infrastructure to efficiently work remains to be seen.

For me it’s more he appears to be redeeming himself after being made to look like a complete and utter tit

Wenger is non confrontational. He was very slippery in getting his contract, going straight to Kroenke for it

From what I’ve read these two guys especially Mislintat are quite big personalities and are unafraid to ruffle feathers. Therefore i think it’s far more likely Wenger will begrudgingly accept changes and try to claim they were as much his idea.

Peter Wood of Le Grove thinks he might walk because of it, I just don’t see it. I don’t see anything now that will make Wenger voluntarily walk away.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Coq au Vin apparently going to Valencia I see

Didn’t have the required quality to play for us (but that doesn’t stop half the first teamers)

If so, I genuinely wish him well....could never fault the effort he put in.

[Power n Glory]

Welbeck is an infuriating player in terms of his finishing but playing wide he’s one of the few attacking players that offers pace and threat. Sanchez as good as he can be often cuts inside, and whilst I would agree he wouldn’t get a look in at other clubs with more ambition....we are limited with options. And Jack is a central midfielder which we seem to collect.

Since when? The guy has no end product. He doesn't have a final ball, his pace isn't blistering...it's just his work rate that singles him out but he's just as ineffective as the rest of them.

[Marc Overmars]

Coq au Vin apparently going to Valencia I see

Didn’t have the required quality to play for us (but that doesn’t stop half the first teamers)

If so, I genuinely wish him well....could never fault the effort he put in.

Good luck to him.

Did a job for us when he initially came back into the first team but all his limitations were laid bare when Cazorla got injured. For a while though they actually worked well as a CM pairing.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Since when? The guy has no end product. He doesn't have a final ball, his pace isn't blistering...it's just his work rate that singles him out but he's just as ineffective as the rest of them.

One of the few players that actually will keep it wide and actually try and get in behind the defence

The other being kolasinac but I’m talking about primarily attacking players most of whom want to play the ball through the middle of the park.

I’d rather we invested in genuine wide players, but frankly at this moment in time at least I’d rather have Welbeck there than Iwobi or Walcott.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Good luck to him.

Did a job for us when he initially came back into the first team but all his limitations were laid bare when Cazorla got injured. For a while though they actually worked well as a CM pairing.

Agreed...although even that partnership effective as it was couldn’t deal well with sides that press us on the ball

[Power n Glory]

Yes I know, and I meant it at the time. However back in April I also said he represented the best chance we had for change simply because he’d been the only one who had come out to acknowledge that things weren’t right....but as I said at the time Gazidis has a habit of saying whatever best suits him at the time. I think his goal was rather than get rid of Wenger to impose controls on him and he failed totally in doing so, and staying on seemed to show more than he was more interested in his wage than having a shred of self respect

Bringing in the chief scout from Borussia Dortmund and the guy from Barcelona appears on the surface to be good moves. This tallies with insider knowledge that they are part of a strategy to chizzle away at Wengers power base. And if that proves to be the case (and it’s likely we won’t know for sure until the summer) than I have to say as I did in the previous message fair play to him.

:lol: You reluctantly made that statement about him being our best chance for change after I'd argued that point over several pages and posts! That wasn't your overarching message. You scoffed at the idea of anyone suggesting he maybe our 'saviour' and kept playing it down.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

:lol: You reluctantly made that statement about him being our best chance for change after I'd argued that point over several pages and posts! That wasn't your overarching message. You scoffed at the idea of anyone suggesting he maybe our 'saviour' and kept playing it down.

My argument was he was our best hope and that’s why I was incredibly pessimistic

I did scoff at the idea of him as a savour for sure, it was like eating a shit sandwich as a means of avoiding death by starvation.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

You seem to be trying to claim I’m back tracking on what I said about Gazidis, not at all i was incredibly scathing of him and still don’t think that highly of him now.

But there’s plenty of people I don’t think that highly of, but if they say or do what I consider the right thing I will credit them for it

The difference is you have Always had a regard for him in the same way Peter Wood has, Ive always found him slimy and ingratiating and actually think in the long term we could well do with someone far more proactive.

But I do agree that if it transpires that he has got power away from Wenger than ok that’s good. I just think a better CEO would have done it before now, but that’s an unfalsfiable claim I admit because we don’t get historical do overs.

[Cripps]

Last year we gave coquelin a £100k a week bumper long term contract :lol:

The management of this club is a shambles :lol:

[Globalgunner]

Last year we gave coquelin a £100k a week bumper long term contract :lol:

The management of this club is a shambles :lol:

The manager is a cockwomble

[Özim]

Welbeck is absolute rubbish, the day we signed him people decided the signing despite the fact the guy had been useless at Man U and couldn't hit a barn door with a Banjo. This guy was signed as a cheap option instead of buying someone decent, hasn't improved one bit in his time here and what's more his shooting is worse than ever, awful footballer.

Rumours are he's turned down the offer of a new contract from us, the question is why would we be offering this guy a contract in the 1st place, the sooner we get rid the better.

[Niall_Quinn]

One of the few players that actually will keep it wide and actually try and get in behind the defence

The other being kolasinac but I’m talking about primarily attacking players most of whom want to play the ball through the middle of the park.

I’d rather we invested in genuine wide players, but frankly at this moment in time at least I’d rather have Welbeck there than Iwobi or Walcott.

This is a rapidly developing danger at Arsenal. Some of our players have been so mismanaged and so mis-coached they don't look like professional footballers any more. But we do have a few that can still do the basics fairly competently. They aren't world class (that's for sure), and they wouldn't get a sniff at any major club, but compared to the players at Arsenal who are regressing season by season, these basic and borderline competent players start to look good - comparatively.

Welbeck is a deeply, deeply flawed player. Which is why Utd let him go of course. The fans there loved him too for his work ethic, but that was all. But he's not a snail's paced, static, cowering player on the pitch so he stands out. Put him in a team of motivated and organised players and he'd be the weak link pretty damn quickly.

[Power n Glory]

Welbeck is absolute rubbish, the day we signed him people decided the signing despite the fact the guy had been useless at Man U and couldn't hit a barn door with a Banjo. This guy was signed as a cheap option instead of buying someone decent, hasn't improved one bit in his time here and what's more his shooting is worse than ever, awful footballer.

Rumours are he's turned down the offer of a new contract from us, the question is why would we be offering this guy a contract in the 1st place, the sooner we get rid the better.

Garbage player. I had hopes Wenger would sharpen him up but no luck at all. Herb thinks he provides something on the wing but I disagree. I don't recall a performance from him that's even close to some of the best of what we saw from Joel Campbell.

Up front, the guy is garbage. He's worse than Giroud. Despite having this supposed power, pace and mobility, he hardly moves around the box and he has that same static effect Giroud has on the team but it's worse because he's got no end product. A blunt knife that can't strike the ball properly. No fucking way should he be starting up front ahead of guys like Perez. No idea why Wenger has kept this guy in the fold but frozen way more effective players out.

[Niall_Quinn]

Garbage player. I had hopes Wenger would sharpen him up but no luck at all. Herb thinks he provides something on the wing but I disagree. I don't recall a performance from him that's even close to some of the best of what we saw from Joel Campbell.

Up front, the guy is garbage. He's worse than Giroud. Despite having this supposed power, pace and mobility, he hardly moves around the box and he has that same static effect Giroud has on the team but it's worse because he's got no end product. A blunt knife that can't strike the ball properly. No fucking way should he be starting up front ahead of guys like Perez. No idea why Wenger has kept this guy in the fold but frozen way more effective players out.

tbf, Wenger struggled initially to take away Welbeck's mobility and his desire to take on opponents. In his first season he was a disaster, often injecting rapid forward bursts of play into the otherwise sedate proceedings. This season Wenger seems to have a handle on it and Danny looks a lot more comatose.

[Cripps]

Bit harsh on Welbz. I like his energy and work rate especially in big games like derbies. You can tell he's been schooled by Fergie.

Been crap since his injury though.

[fakeyank]

Frankly, I like Coq more than Xhaka. Xhaka is probably one of the worst Arsenal players I have seen in the last decade!

[Cripps]

��⚪ Mavropanos to stay at Arsenal after impressing Wenger in training | ✍ @jamesbenge
https://t.co/KwR3VCOBHo

[Marc Overmars]

Wenker confirms Coq is gone. 12m fee.

[Niall_Quinn]

��⚪ Mavropanos to stay at Arsenal after impressing Wenger in training | ✍ @jamesbenge
https://t.co/KwR3VCOBHo

Oh well, there's our business done for the window then.

[Niall_Quinn]

Wenker confirms Coq is gone. 12m fee.

As well, Mavropanos can play there also, as you know.

[Cripps]

Arsenal desperate to land Sanchez replacement Malcolm before they do a deal with Man City https://t.co/xpkzRP9lbN

[Niall_Quinn]

Arsenal desperate to land Sanchez replacement Malcolm before they do a deal with Man City https://t.co/xpkzRP9lbN

Same story as the Lemar farce then?

[Niall_Quinn]

Arsenal desperate to land Sanchez replacement Malcolm before they do a deal with Man City https://t.co/xpkzRP9lbN

This Malcolm kid smells like another Wenger pet project to me. How is a 20 year old playing in the French League who has done fuck all and won fuck all and never played at the top level going to come in and replace Alexis? If he does then good luck to him, but what's the actual likelihood?

"Mostly deployed on the right wing, cutting in on his left foot"?

Fuck that. We want a winger that knows where the fucking wing is and can cross a ball. Does he do that?

Doesn't say.

Never heard of him and if Wenger wants him then I don't. Last Brazilian that crackpot landed was a mega turd named Santos.

[Marc Overmars]

Why did we even keep Alexis last summer? Wasn’t the whole point of rejecting City’s money to prove that we were in a strong position and didn’t need to sell? How stupid would we look now if we let him go for a pittance this month.

Just keep him and prepare for his departure properly in the summer. In the mean time at least us fans can be treated to a little bit of quality on the pitch. He can pay that transfer fee for himself if he helps us qualify for the CL. Without him I don’t think we have any chance of finishing 4th.

[Power n Glory]

This Malcolm kid smells like another Wenger pet project to me. How is a 20 year old playing in the French League who has done fuck all and won fuck all and never played at the top level going to come in and replace Alexis? If he does then good luck to him, but what's the actual likelihood?

"Mostly deployed on the right wing, cutting in on his left foot"?

Fuck that. We want a winger that knows where the fucking wing is and can cross a ball. Does he do that?

Doesn't say.

Never heard of him and if Wenger wants him then I don't. Last Brazilian that crackpot landed was a mega turd named Santos.

This looks like the type of player we'll hear about in a few years and remember not signing him.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG9a9xCl0mM

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

You have to love any Brazilian footballer that has the nickname of a middle aged man

We need to scout for a Harold and Cyril as well

[GP]

Malcom is another Sven target. Tried to sign him at Dortmund.

[Cripps]

Think there's a few other clubs like Utd and Spurs in for him so we'd be lucky to get him and he'd be an idiot for coming here.

[Niall_Quinn]

This looks like the type of player we'll hear about in a few years and remember not signing him.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG9a9xCl0mM

Watch that video and you can see he's thriving off one, two, three players heading into the box. We don't do that. All he'll be able to do if he comes here is beat his man and then pass it backwards because no cunt will be there to receive the cross or pass. Unless he fancies doing it all on his own, which is what Alexis has been left doing half the time.

No point watching any of these players performing in normal teams. Look at Lacazette. Nullified by that nutter Wenger. Same would happen to this kid. You think Wenger will allow him to take on opponents down the flanks unless he can guarantee 100% he won't lose the ball? Or maybe the stupid bastard will play him as a DM or CB.

There's nothing to get excited or energised about in this window or any other, not until that cunt has gone and a proper manager comes in.

A lightweight winger is the last thing we need in the team right now because he'd be pointless given the "system" we play. Would much rather see a decent CB and DM come in so they can compensate for Wenger while he persists in remaining.

[Niall_Quinn]

You have to love any Brazilian footballer that has the nickname of a middle aged man

We need to scout for a Harold and Cyril as well

Fred. Remember that dope?

[Ralpheroo72]

Wenker confirms Coq is gone. 12m fee.

As well we have Maitland-Niles who can play there, as you know.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

��⚪ Mavropanos to stay at Arsenal after impressing Wenger in training | ✍ @jamesbenge
https://t.co/KwR3VCOBHo

That's actually positive......it should be a meritocracy, though his judgement isn't what it used to be.

Johnny Evans FFS....

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

This Malcolm kid smells like another Wenger pet project to me. How is a 20 year old playing in the French League who has done fuck all and won fuck all and never played at the top level going to come in and replace Alexis? If he does then good luck to him, but what's the actual likelihood?

"Mostly deployed on the right wing, cutting in on his left foot"?

Fuck that. We want a winger that knows where the fucking wing is and can cross a ball. Does he do that?

Doesn't say.

Never heard of him and if Wenger wants him then I don't. Last Brazilian that crackpot landed was a mega turd named Santos.
Blindly hoping he's more Aubameyang than Santos....

And for a million pounds.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

As well we have Maitland-Niles who can play there, as you know.

Also if he doesn’t play there, we will have his mum to deal with

[Marc Overmars]

Sky are saying United are interested in Alexis now as well. :lol:

:sick:

[Xhaka Can’t]

Think there's a few other clubs like Utd and Spurs in for him so we'd be lucky to get him and he'd be an idiot for coming here.

Yep.

I’ve now reached the point where I don’t want any player stupid or shit enough to be willing to consider a move to us.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Cripps]

Utd have bid for Sanchez apparently :lol: :ilt:

[Niall_Quinn]

Jesus, they're talking about Mkhitaryan as part of the deal?

The nightmare scenario. Our best player to Utd - AGAIN, and we get Silvestre AGAIN!

I wonder. Is this still IDEAL? Or can we start calling it a mega fuckup now?

[Niall_Quinn]

And it sounds like Alexis has taken a pay cut to go to gypoland. He's turned down more money to stay here, money he asked for at the outset of this sage and we refused. What a fuck up. Our key players desperate to get away - THAT'S what Wenger gets you.

[Marc Overmars]

Imagine if Ozil and Alexis both ended up at United. :haha:

[selassie]

And it sounds like Alexis has taken a pay cut to go to gypoland. He's turned down more money to stay here, money he asked for at the outset of this sage and we refused. What a fuck up. Our key players desperate to get away - THAT'S what Wenger gets you.

Didn't OX do the same to get a move to Liverpool! He actually took a wage cut to go there. :haha:

[selassie]

Imagine if Ozil and Alexis both ended up at United. :haha:

:lol: I think Sanchez will end up at City, it seems his heart is set on a move there.

Ozil will most likely end up at United though.

[Niall_Quinn]

Didn't OX do the same to get a move to Liverpool! He actually took a wage cut to go there. :haha:

It's not actually a pay cut as things stand, more accurately he's turned down more money to stay here and wants to move elsewhere for less. That's a shocking, shocking indictment of this club and particularly Wenger and everything he's stood for over this last decade. Cheapskate, delusional, dithering, stubborn, arrogant, out of touch fool. He promised he'd leave if he couldn't do anything more for the club. Now he's doing serious damage. Which makes him a liar too, but who didn't know that already?

[Niall_Quinn]

Meanwhile Wenger is pouring his efforts into getting Welbeck to sign an extension. Fucking great. Theo Walcott all over again. What state is this squad going to be in once Wenger has done his worst? We're going to be absolutely fucked.

[Marc Overmars]

It's not actually a pay cut as things stand, more accurately he's turned down more money to stay here and wants to move elsewhere for less. That's a shocking, shocking indictment of this club and particularly Wenger and everything he's stood for over this last decade. Cheapskate, delusional, dithering, stubborn, arrogant, out of touch fool. He promised he'd leave if he couldn't do anything more for the club. Now he's doing serious damage. Which makes him a liar too, but who didn't know that already?

Ideal situation.

[Power n Glory]

Meanwhile Wenger is pouring his efforts into getting Welbeck to sign an extension. Fucking great. Theo Walcott all over again. What state is this squad going to be in once Wenger has done his worst? We're going to be absolutely fucked.

Theo Walcott??? This is far worse. We're still waiting on Welbeck to score at least 5 goals in a season. His record is shocking.

[selassie]

It's not actually a pay cut as things stand, more accurately he's turned down more money to stay here and wants to move elsewhere for less. That's a shocking, shocking indictment of this club and particularly Wenger and everything he's stood for over this last decade. Cheapskate, delusional, dithering, stubborn, arrogant, out of touch fool. He promised he'd leave if he couldn't do anything more for the club. Now he's doing serious damage. Which makes him a liar too, but who didn't know that already?

My bad, yeah you are right, yep him doing that is basically his way of saying I'm off to a better working environment.

[Niall_Quinn]

My bad, yeah you are right, yep him doing that is basically his way of saying I'm off to a better working environment.

Well my bad technically, as I mentioned it first and was correcting the mistake. But it's fine for you to take the blame. Practical in a way, because I'm saving up to be Wenger and therefore can never be wrong about anything.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Meanwhile Wenger is pouring his efforts into getting Welbeck to sign an extension. Fucking great. Theo Walcott all over again. What state is this squad going to be in once Wenger has done his worst? We're going to be absolutely fucked.

...yet a lot of our fans were so angry Sanchez had the temerity to want to leave in the summer, despite practically every player barring Koscielny either asking or being open to a move.......Bellerin, Theo, Welbeck, Ozil, Mustafi, Giroud if better clubs came in for him, Wilshere, Ospina and Ramsey hasn't signed a contract.

[Özim]

Meanwhile Wenger is pouring his efforts into getting Welbeck to sign an extension. Fucking great. Theo Walcott all over again. What state is this squad going to be in once Wenger has done his worst? We're going to be absolutely fucked.

Just don't understand, Welbeck is hopeless, how he's carved out a career as a footballer getting paid big money is beyond me. Not only did we keep Walcott for over a decade, but we when added another useless footballer in the shape of Welbeck because Wenger always wants the cheap option.

Just get rid of these guys even if you have to pay someone to take them off your hands.

[Niall_Quinn]

...yet a lot of our fans were so angry Sanchez had the temerity to want to leave in the summer, despite practically every player barring Koscielny either asking or being open to a move.......Bellerin, Theo, Welbeck, Ozil, Mustafi, Giroud if better clubs came in for him, Wilshere, Ospina and Ramsey hasn't signed a contract.

I was pissed as hell when RvC engineered his move. This time around I don't blame the player and I've even come to understand RvC's position, although he went about things in entirely the wrong way. If I was in Alexis' position I'd want the hell out of there too, to get my career back on track, to finish off my career at the top level, chasing prizes, rather than fading out in Wenger's dead end.

As a fan I'd much rather he stay because we can't afford to see this squad drop another level. But the longstanding and ongoing lack of ambition at this club has inevitably led to our top players passing through. It will happen with Ozil. It will happen with Lacazette. Even our second tier is looking for the exit. All because there's nothing here except the money. No vision, no plan, no prospects, just the soul sapping mediocrity of Wenger's personal fiefdom. I wonder what lies Alexis was told in order to get him through the door in the first place? Once he's gone and Ozil has departed, nobody is going to fall for tall stories of ambition at Arsenal again.

We won't be seeing any more genuine world stars pass through here in a long while, unless the unthinkable happens and Wenger pisses off and Stan suddenly develops a sporting interest in the club. And when you put it that way, we're fucked.

Alexis at least provided moments worth remembering while he was here. Those are becoming rare. When he goes he'll be just some other player from just some other club, it won't be like when RvC or Cesc left. Or Cole. I, like many fans I suspect, am past caring that deeply about a lost cause. Been around Arsenal too long and have too vivid a memory of what the club used to be. For the newer fans I guess it can all be a bit more shocking though and they may well feel differently about it. They might be more bitter towards the player. They'll learn, like we all had to learn. They'll be ground down by the inexorable Wenger too.

[Özim]

Meanwhile in cuckooland Manitland-Niles touted to replace coquelin, invariably Wenger seems him in midfield (doesn't he wants everyone in the centre of midfield, I thought that was his favourite position?).

The logical thing would be to move on Xhaka as well and sign a proper DM, one we've needed for over 10 years of course, but why bother when you can save a few quid by shoehorning some kid into that slot for free? Good for profits apparently...

[Niall_Quinn]

Meanwhile in cuckooland Manitland-Niles touted to replace coquelin, invariably Wenger seems him in midfield (doesn't he wants everyone in the centre of midfield, I thought that was his favourite position?).

The logical thing would be to move on Xhaka as well and sign a proper DM, one we've needed for over 10 years of course, but why bother when you can save a few quid by shoehorning some kid into that slot for free? Good for profits apparently...

So Wenger has prepared the kid for the role by constantly playing him out of position? Genius.

And isn't Arsene the Great supposed to be the world's best when it comes to developing young talent? So is that how he does it? Throw them under a bus, see if they die and if not - use them to counter the hateful transfer window?

I fucking hate the bloke and if Maitland Niles has been watching closely he should be making every effort to GTFOASAP or else a few fruitless years down the road he'll be another one who's only fit for the £10mill journey to Galatasaray or Panathinaikos.

[selassie]

Well my bad technically, as I mentioned it first and was correcting the mistake. But it's fine for you to take the blame. Practical in a way, because I'm saving up to be Wenger and therefore can never be wrong about anything.

:lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Jesus wept this transfer window is depressing, even by our previous standards.

[Cripps]

I wouldn't mind Mikhi. In fact I rate him a lot.

What I don't want is Sanchez going Utd and that odious prick getting one over us.

[Gooner23]

Ornstein confirms Sanchez likely to go to City this window if we can get a replacement. Malcolm our 1st choice target.

We should keep Sanchez and bring in the Brazilian kid anyway. We've got enough money in the bank already. Why make a stand in the summer and then cave in January.

[Niall_Quinn]

Apparently Alexis gets a 30 mill signing bonus (plus a 13 mill per year contract) if he goes in the summer, or a 15 mill bonus and the same salary if he goes now. So the question is, will Alexis sacrifice 15 million quid to get away from Wenger? In return he'll get a CL medal and avoid total and utter humiliation in the CL.

[Niall_Quinn]

Ornstein confirms Sanchez likely to go to City this window if we can get a replacement. Malcolm our 1st choice target.

We should keep Sanchez and bring in the Brazilian kid anyway. We've got enough money in the bank already. Why make a stand in the summer and then cave in January.

Because to totally fuck something up to the max you have to make every wrong move in the book. So far, on this issue, Wenger has a 100% record. Don't rule out Wenger keeping Alexis and then sending him out on loan. That's the only way left to make this worse than he's already made it.

[Marc Overmars]

Why make a stand in the summer and then cave in January.

Exactly. Makes a mockery of turning down 60m in the summer.

Alexis might be enough to help us finish 4th but without him we’ve got no chance. Qualifying for the CL is worth whatever transfer fee we’re bound to get for him this month anyway.

The whole thing stinks as far as I’m concerned, the club is joke. This has damaged the reputation of the club and it’s only going to get worse when Ozil walks away too.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Ornstein confirms Sanchez likely to go to City this window if we can get a replacement. Malcolm our 1st choice target.

We should keep Sanchez and bring in the Brazilian kid anyway. We've got enough money in the bank already. Why make a stand in the summer and then cave in January.

We hardly made a stand in the summer, if Lemar had been willing to join us we’d have sold him on deadline day

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Exactly. Makes a mockery of turning down 60m in the summer.

Alexis might be enough to help us finish 4th but without him we’ve got no chance. Qualifying for the CL is worth whatever transfer fee we’re bound to get for him this month anyway.

The whole thing stinks as far as I’m concerned, the club is joke. This has damaged the reputation of the club and it’s only going to get worse when Ozil walks away too.

I don’t think he’d make a sod of difference

We’ve probably got easier fixtures than Liverpool and Spurs. But given we’ve won 3 out of 11 away games even with Sanchez in the team

[Marc Overmars]

You’re probably right tbh.

We can’t with a straight face proclaim to be a top club when this is all settled. Why any top player would play us now is beyond me. We’re years behind everyone else.

[Marc Overmars]

Ornstein says Everton and Southampton are trying to sign Theo. :wave:

[KSE Comedy Club]

Are we actually going to be able to field a team after this window?

[selassie]

Ornstein says Everton and Southampton are trying to sign Theo. :wave:

I've got a horrible feeling he is going to reject the move. We have far too many squaddies at this club comfortable with taking a big paycheck and sitting in the stands. Both Giroud and Elneny turned down moves to Everton and Leicester respectively in the summer, got a feeling Theo will do the same here. :(

[GP]

Theo would have to be stupid to reject a move, so I expect him to retire here in 2029

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Walcott, Coquelin

Actually feels that we aren’t dithering when shifting the non performers

Hopefully not another false dawn

[Marc Overmars]

Our squad will probably have a very different look to it next season.

Feels like we're at the start of an overhaul with the top players and the deadwood moving on.

[Özim]

Odd time to be having a clearout to be honest, that's unless we replace them, don't get me wrong I want rid of these guys but with our injury record it's not the wisest move to do it now.

Sanchez, Coquelin, Walcott all seemingly on their way and it seems Malcolm is the guy we've earmarked to replace Sanchez.
Now this Malcolm guy has potential obviously, but we're replacing our best player with him, that's a massive downgrade in anyone's book.

Not a great surprise though, we don't really ever go like for like, we sell our best players and replace them with players that can potentially be good.

[Marc Overmars]

Odd time to be having a clearout to be honest, that's unless we replace them, don't get me wrong I want rid of these guys but with our injury record it's not the wisest move to do it now.

Sanchez, Coquelin, Walcott all seemingly on their way and it seems Malcolm is the guy we've earmarked to replace Sanchez.

I guess with these new guys in at the top, they're starting the cleaning up process.

This season is close to being a write off so no time like the present as far as I'm concerned. Wenker's mess will take time to clean.

[Özim]

I guess with these new guys in a the top, they're starting the cleaning up process.

This season is close to being a write off so no time like the present as far as I'm concerned.

True, happy to see them go at last, it's long overdue, just think we should also try and get replacements so that they have time to adapt and next season can be ready.

[Power n Glory]

Makes no damn sense to start cleaning and sweeping the house when you have a massive leak in the roof.

[Gooner23]

Makes no damn sense to start cleaning and sweeping the house when you have a massive leak in the roof.

Yeah, these changes have to come with the caveat of Wenger being told to do one in the summer. If he stays on we'll be worse off as he sure as hell can't br trusted to bring in the right replacements over the summer.

[GP]

I think Wenger is gone soon. Real possibility this summer.

[Niall_Quinn]

Our squad will probably have a very different look to it next season.

Feels like we're at the start of an overhaul with the top players and the deadwood moving on.

Kalou, Gourcuff and Demba Ba :pray:

[GP]

Hatem Trabelsi

[Niall_Quinn]

Odd time to be having a clearout to be honest, that's unless we replace them, don't get me wrong I want rid of these guys but with our injury record it's not the wisest move to do it now.

Sanchez, Coquelin, Walcott all seemingly on their way and it seems Malcolm is the guy we've earmarked to replace Sanchez.
Now this Malcolm guy has potential obviously, but we're replacing our best player with him, that's a massive downgrade in anyone's book.

Not a great surprise though, we don't really ever go like for like, we sell our best players and replace them with players that can potentially be good.

Malcolm has ZERO potential if he comes here to be coached by Wenger. He'd have to be the greediest sod alive or an absolute fool to say yes when he looks at the wreckage of Walcott, Ox, Wilshere strewn on the sidelines and the rapidly fleeing Alexis and Ozil. Why would he come? The London theatre? Madame Tussauds? Buckingham Palace?

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

It’s refreshing because these players are stinking out the place and it will be good to be shot of them

Also it suggests that Wenger is indeed losing his power as these players would never have gone mid season before

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Makes no damn sense to start cleaning and sweeping the house when you have a massive leak in the roof.

The thing is though it’s not going to make things any worse and with Walcott and coquelin I imagine you’d get more for them now with clubs looking to strengthen to maintain and push on mid season.

[Marc Overmars]

Do the business now so we have a clean slate to work with in the summer I say.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

I second that

Although I don’t see Wenger going in the summer as much as I’d love that to be the case

For me at the risk of seeming to be complimentary towards Gazidis, i think what is going to happen is that doing all this behind the scenes shit is as much about convincing Kroenke as anything. I’m capable of keeping things going without Wenger being there and you can simply choose to sit on your hands and let him go when his contract ends.

Wenger won’t ever walk away. I used to think he would but bottom line is he’s too scared.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I don't really understand why we're celebrating trimming our squad mid season without confirmation of proven replacements. It hasn't actually made us any stronger. Yes we may well not finish top 4 but we can earn a CL place and a trophy by winning the Europa.

I'm excluding the Greek kid as he was supposed to go on loan and it would be daft to expect him to push us forward right now.

[Cripps]

Wenger confirms Sanchez will only be sold if #afc can find a replacement. Story here from Colney: https://t.co/qloaKWxvdQ

[Marc Overmars]

I don't really understand why we're celebrating trimming our squad mid season without confirmation of proven replacements. It hasn't actually made us any stronger. Yes we may well not finish top 4 but we can earn a CL place and a trophy by winning the Europa.

I'm excluding the Greek kid as he was supposed to go on loan and it would be daft to expect him to push us forward right now.

I don't think Theo or Coq would make a blind bit of difference to our hopes of achieving anything of note this year tbh.

Alexis I'd rather keep though and let him walk in the summer. Losing him will be very hard to recover from for the remainder of this season. Unless we get Malcom in the Middle and he turns out to be a worldie.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Kalou, Gourcuff and Demba Ba :pray:

& Martins :coffee:

[Niall_Quinn]

I don't really understand why we're celebrating trimming our squad mid season without confirmation of proven replacements. It hasn't actually made us any stronger. Yes we may well not finish top 4 but we can earn a CL place and a trophy by winning the Europa.

I'm excluding the Greek kid as he was supposed to go on loan and it would be daft to expect him to push us forward right now.

I think the celebration is more for the idea that Wenger's grip is loosening. Plus the wage bill is bloated and would need to be trimmed anyway in order to bring decent replacements in. Which leads back to Wenger. You already know it, this season is a write off. We're weaker than ever and we'll need to step up significantly right across the board to entertain ideas about Europa Cup wins. Right now we have no chance worth worrying about. Just look at our defence. And Wenger shows no sign of wanting to fix it. So while ditching Wenger's pet dross is necessary, to prepare the ground for a real manager coming in at some point, giving Wenger a chequebook so he can buy a whole batch of new problems is a danger. Are the new guys really in charge of transfers now? How much influence does Wenger still have in that area? Quite a bit by the sounds of it, because I doubt our new team is eyeing up Jonny Evans with any desire. The season is done. The club needs to be fixed and the first step in doing that is getting rid of Wenger as quickly as possible and trying to prevent him doing more damage before he goes. If that means a smaller, cheaper, mid table squad then that's better than a larger, expensive, mid table squad.

[Power n Glory]

I don't really understand why we're celebrating trimming our squad mid season without confirmation of proven replacements. It hasn't actually made us any stronger. Yes we may well not finish top 4 but we can earn a CL place and a trophy by winning the Europa.

I'm excluding the Greek kid as he was supposed to go on loan and it would be daft to expect him to push us forward right now.

Exactly. It’s shorts sighted but what else is new. The shit has to hit the fan on multiple occasions before lessons are learned. There isn’t much choice when It comes to Sanchez and Ozil but I no idea why we’re considering selling anyone else.

[Niall_Quinn]

I don't think Theo or Coq would make a blind bit of difference to our hopes of achieving anything of note this year tbh.

Alexis I'd rather keep though and let him walk in the summer. Losing him will be very hard to recover from for the remainder of this season. Unless we get Malcom in the Middle and he turns out to be a worldie.

Kolasinac looked a worldie when he arrived.

Didn't take Wenger long, did it?

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

I don't really understand why we're celebrating trimming our squad mid season without confirmation of proven replacements. It hasn't actually made us any stronger. Yes we may well not finish top 4 but we can earn a CL place and a trophy by winning the Europa.

I'm excluding the Greek kid as he was supposed to go on loan and it would be daft to expect him to push us forward right now.

It’s not celebrating. It’s a suggestion that the same stagnant players won’t be allowed to stink out the team and we are prepared to be ruthless. You’re quite right of course without reinforcements it means very little. But it’s just the indication that Wengers grip is being loosened.

On its own it does of course mean nothing.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Exactly. It’s shorts sighted but what else is new. The shit has to hit the fan on multiple occasions before lessons are learned. There isn’t much choice when It comes to Sanchez and Ozil but I no idea why we’re considering selling anyone else.

Two things

1) Are Walcott or Coquelin going to have any impact on where we finish this season. I’d say not.
2) Would you expect Wenger to sell either of these players (especially Walcott) if the decision was solely his. Again I’d say no

On its own I totally accept it doesn’t mean a lot, but it doesn’t really do us any harm. But it’s just as I’ve said the slightest glimmering that we might be more ruthless with non performing players.

What I would say is it clears the wage bill so when the summer comes we have no excuse to hide behind if we end up dithering again.

It’s not a massive step, it could mean absolutely nothing. But it’s not I don’t think something that will come back to haunt us either.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Wage bill reduction I get, but we've sold our only proper defensive midfielder and are looking at selling one of the fastest and most productive players in the squad. Neither have shown any kind of form this season but that doesn't mean there haven't been times or won't be times till the season end where they would be useful.

We've got this far in the Europa on a misfit 11 alone....that has kept first team players fresher. We've still played crap in the league but we might have been even worse if we couldn't rotate. If the league is a write off, the Europa league is still all to play for (which is looking like a major piece of the rebuilding puzzle if it gets us CL!) unless people actually want us to throw the league all together NOW and just play the first team in the Europa league at the expense of the domestic league when it's called for.

I've never been comfortable with transfer windows where we don't actually make any quality signings.....and so far we haven't. Wenger is expecting some diminutive Brazilian I'd never heard of to replace Sanchez!?? They're about the same height...I give him that, but that's not what I had in mind.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

I think the celebration is more for the idea that Wenger's grip is loosening. Plus the wage bill is bloated and would need to be trimmed anyway in order to bring decent replacements in. Which leads back to Wenger. You already know it, this season is a write off. We're weaker than ever and we'll need to step up significantly right across the board to entertain ideas about Europa Cup wins. Right now we have no chance worth worrying about. Just look at our defence. And Wenger shows no sign of wanting to fix it. So while ditching Wenger's pet dross is necessary, to prepare the ground for a real manager coming in at some point, giving Wenger a chequebook so he can buy a whole batch of new problems is a danger. Are the new guys really in charge of transfers now? How much influence does Wenger still have in that area? Quite a bit by the sounds of it, because I doubt our new team is eyeing up Jonny Evans with any desire. The season is done. The club needs to be fixed and the first step in doing that is getting rid of Wenger as quickly as possible and trying to prevent him doing more damage before he goes. If that means a smaller, cheaper, mid table squad then that's better than a larger, expensive, mid table squad.

Totally agree with you

[Marc Overmars]

Kolasinac looked a worldie when he arrived.

Didn't take Wenger long, did it?

The Wenker effect normally takes hold after a few months.

We could get just enough out of Malcom for the end of this season before the disease takes hold at the start of next season.

[Niall_Quinn]

Come on Robbie, say it, say it... Wenger Out!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9u3LX5r4ZNw

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Come on Robbie, say it, say it... Wenger Out!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9u3LX5r4ZNw

He won’t do that. He styles his role on the Wenger out/Wenger in thing is to be the consummate devils advocate to people who do take a view one way or the other.

Privately I think he wants Wenger out, but he won’t say it because he wants to present himself as being above the fray.

In fact he’s been asked for his view and he refuses to give it

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

It’s not celebrating. It’s a suggestion that the same stagnant players won’t be allowed to stink out the team and we are prepared to be ruthless. You’re quite right of course without reinforcements it means very little. But it’s just the indication that Wengers grip is being loosened.

On its own it does of course mean nothing.

The same stagnant players that have hardly played? They've all been stagnant barring literally a few. Wenger is gone in a season and a half in any case (some even think this summer), so I think the loosening of power thing is being overvalued. I don't think he is going to do enough to A) Resoundingly earn a new contract and B) Prove to himself or the fans that he is genuinely going to take the club forward. That thought process may seem a stretch but he was at exactly that point before he won the FA cup a couple years back when he was again getting all kinds of stick.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Surely, Wenger's time has to be up this season?

We are really in serious trouble right now. Yes we have some 'targets' but again it's potential with uncertainty, not proven experience.

I just want him to die gone :(

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Why...he honours his contracts. Only reason he will leave now is if Kroenke steps in or he starts getting the unbearable and combined fans & media abuse again...but it will have to go to a new level this time.

[Niall_Quinn]

Wage bill reduction I get, but we've sold our only proper defensive midfielder and are looking at selling one of the fastest and most productive players in the squad. Neither have shown any kind of form this season but that doesn't mean there haven't been times or won't be times till the season end where they would be useful.

We've got this far in the Europa on a misfit 11 alone....that has kept first team players fresher. We've still played crap in the league but we might have been even worse if we couldn't rotate. If the league is a write off, the Europa league is still all to play for (which is looking like a major piece of the rebuilding puzzle if it gets us CL!) unless people actually want us to throw the league all together NOW and just play the first team in the Europa league at the expense of the domestic league when it's called for.

I've never been comfortable with transfer windows where we don't actually make any quality signings.....and so far we haven't. Wenger is expecting some diminutive Brazilian I'd never heard of to replace Sanchez!?? They're about the same height...I give him that, but that's not what I had in mind.

Sounds like Coquelin was desperate to leave. "I wish I'd have gone sooner..." And Wenger wasn't playing our only DM anyway. Now he says Maitland Niles, who he's stuck in the wrong position since the start of the season, can step in. You see the problem? We could splash big on a proper DM but Wenger would still find a way to fuck it up because he's not on the same wavelength as the rest of the football world. He's off on some delusional trip brought about by the endless power trip of two decades in charge of his little kingdom. He can't see outside his bubble. Wenger has done what many feared he would do, he's dragged this club down to second tier status and we run the serious risk of falling further. The absolute priority now is to prevent him doing more damage. You really think this guy is going to lead us to European triumph? Not a prayer. First team, reserve team, they both play the same way, they both have the same flaws, neither can defend, Wenger won't fix it and be certain of the fact we won't be spending the 200-300 million required for major surgery in the next couple of weeks. Won't happen. So bring a couple of players in, maybe Mahrez, maybe Draxler, whoever, what difference does it make in the Wenger's weird world? None at all. As I was saying earlier, as fans we need to start thinking about how much damage a Europa Cup win might do to this club long term. A unique dilemma in the annals of football. Nothing worthwhile happens until this guy is gone and anything that does happen is just another opportunity for Wenger to fuck it up, which he will seize.

[Niall_Quinn]

The Wenker effect normally takes hold after a few months.

We could get just enough out of Malcom for the end of this season before the disease takes hold at the start of next season.

Don't think Malcolm has ever played CB though.

[Power n Glory]

Two things

1) Are Walcott or Coquelin going to have any impact on where we finish this season. I’d say not.
2) Would you expect Wenger to sell either of these players (especially Walcott) if the decision was solely his. Again I’d say no

On its own I totally accept it doesn’t mean a lot, but it doesn’t really do us any harm. But it’s just as I’ve said the slightest glimmering that we might be more ruthless with non performing players.

What I would say is it clears the wage bill so when the summer comes we have no excuse to hide behind if we end up dithering again.

It’s not a massive step, it could mean absolutely nothing. But it’s not I don’t think something that will come back to haunt us either.

Short sighted.

1 – As things stand, Theo and Coquelin won’t have an impact on our season. But that’s speaking as of how we’re playing now. We will have more injuries and Wenger may be forced to go back to a 4-2-3-1. It’s a long season. We’ve seen occasions where we’re forced to playing a very inexperienced youth player in a position they weren’t ready for and that alone harm the development of a young player.

2 – You have to kidding. Theo Walcott was frozen out of the team last season. Coquelin has hardly played football and was phased out this season also. These aren’t Wenger’s favourites if we’re looking at how they’ve been treated recently. This could just be a case of players kicking up a fuss, demanding a move with Wenger caving in as usual. We’ve seen that happen plenty of times.

A clear indication of progress would be if the Board sold Ozil and Sanchez, brought in real replacements and told Wenger to get on with it. Fuck your opinion, use what we’ve given you.

Remains to be seen if this will come back to haunt us but I remember the year we sold Diarra because he was complaining about a lack of games, we ended up picking up injuries at midfield and right back and we suffered for it. I think I recall us going through something similar when we decided to loan out Coquelin. Coq is the only midfield destroyer we have. Selling him when we have some pretty poor defensive midfield players will never make sense to me.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Are you suggesting you don't want us to sign another player until he leaves NQ lol?

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Short sighted.

1 – As things stand, Theo and Coquelin won’t have an impact on our season. But that’s speaking as of how we’re playing now. We will have more injuries and Wenger may be forced to go back to a 4-2-3-1. It’s a long season. We’ve seen occasions where we’re forced to playing a very inexperienced youth player in a position they weren’t ready for and that alone harm the development of a young player.

2 – You have to kidding. Theo Walcott was frozen out of the team last season. Coquelin has hardly played football and was phased out this season also. These aren’t Wenger’s favourites if we’re looking at how they’ve been treated recently. This could just be a case of players kicking up a fuss, demanding a move with Wenger caving in as usual. We’ve seen that happen plenty of times.

A clear indication of progress would be if the Board sold Ozil and Sanchez, brought in real replacements and told Wenger to get on with it. Fuck your opinion, use what we’ve given you.

Remains to be seen if this will come back to haunt us but I remember the year we sold Diarra because he was complaining about a lack of games, we ended up picking up injuries at midfield and right back and we suffered for it. I think I recall us going through something similar when we decided to loan out Coquelin. Coq is the only midfield destroyer we have. Selling him when we have some pretty poor defensive midfield players will never make sense to me.

Exactly right, especially on Theo. Wenger cannot wait to see the back of him! Nothing about his sale will tell me Wenger is losing power.

[Niall_Quinn]

Are you suggesting you don't want us to sign another player until he leaves NQ lol?

Yes, I've just about reached that stage. After his big splurge on mediocrity last time around I have zero faith in him being able to identify useful targets and even less faith in him being able to use any signing effectively. He couldn't even push us on when Ozil, Alexis and Cech arrived. That's a world cup winner and recognised global star, one of the top talents in world football and a player with a mountain of experience winning it all. And we got worse! Then he has the ultimate brain fart and brings in Xhaka, Mustafi, Chambers, etc. And he can't use those either, and we get worse. Why would any sane owner give this man a chequebook in this wildly inflated market? Recipie for disaster and only serves to take away funds from the new guy coming in. If that ever happens.

No, don't let the guy waste another penny. Ot at least the club should prove he's out of the transfer picture and has no more say in selecting the targets. But still, there's that problem of him fucking up everything he touches. If the new team signed Messi and Ronaldo on a free we'd still get worse. It's what Wenger does and has been doing for over a decade now. Kroenke must be so ignorant of the game to have let this dinosaur steer things.

[Marc Overmars]

I do think Theo's time here as been wasted but he needs to look at himself for the stagnation of his career. It's been clear for years Wenger doesn't fancy him but he's stuck around for no reason other than the money.

[Niall_Quinn]

I do think Theo's time here as been wasted but he needs to look at himself for the stagnation of his career. It's been clear for years Wenger doesn't fancy him but he's stuck around for no reason other than the money.

He never bad mouthed the club. Not ever IIRC. And he's taken plenty of abuse in return. So whatever the reason for his departure, I'll say goodbye and good luck to him. Yes he sat there and watched his career go down the pan which shows a severe lack of ambition. But there were many players who were unlucky and coincided their time at Arsenal with Wenger's decade of destruction. Trouble for him is we didn't plunge off a cliff, we slowly died. He's like the frog slowly boiling in Wenger's pot.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Short sighted.

1 – As things stand, Theo and Coquelin won’t have an impact on our season. But that’s speaking as of how we’re playing now. We will have more injuries and Wenger may be forced to go back to a 4-2-3-1. It’s a long season. We’ve seen occasions where we’re forced to playing a very inexperienced youth player in a position they weren’t ready for and that alone harm the development of a young player.

2 – You have to kidding. Theo Walcott was frozen out of the team last season. Coquelin has hardly played football and was phased out this season also. These aren’t Wenger’s favourites if we’re looking at how they’ve been treated recently. This could just be a case of players kicking up a fuss, demanding a move with Wenger caving in as usual. We’ve seen that happen plenty of times.

A clear indication of progress would be if the Board sold Ozil and Sanchez, brought in real replacements and told Wenger to get on with it. Fuck your opinion, use what we’ve given you.

Remains to be seen if this will come back to haunt us but I remember the year we sold Diarra because he was complaining about a lack of games, we ended up picking up injuries at midfield and right back and we suffered for it. I think I recall us going through something similar when we decided to loan out Coquelin. Coq is the only midfield destroyer we have. Selling him when we have some pretty poor defensive midfield players will never make sense to me.

Really so we haven’t been stuck with players for ages that hardly ever play but we can’t get rid of

I don’t rate Coquelin. I think Cazorla made him look a far better player than he is, every time he tried to play with anyone else he was a disaster. Not I will say from any lack of effort on his part but simply because he’s not really any good and for me playing or not....not a miss for us.

And Walcott, look at how many times he was benched by Wenger not just this season but for years on and off. We always thought we’d be rid of him, but Wenger dithered and kept chopping and changing his mind on Walcott.

[Cripps]

Wenger ruined one of the most promising talents.

Theo was quick, agile, speedy and effective when used properly. He reminds me a lot of Sterling; Sterling needs guidance and to be told what to do. Almost micro managed. Theo is exactly the same.

Unfortunately for him he's under a manager that is laissez faire. The complete opposite of what he needs.

If you swapped Sterling and Walcott now I have no doubt Walcott would be showing Sterling's form.

[Niall_Quinn]

I'll miss his secret team meeting after our next pummelling at Liverpool.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

I do think Theo's time here as been wasted but he needs to look at himself for the stagnation of his career. It's been clear for years Wenger doesn't fancy him but he's stuck around for no reason other than the money.

Precisely

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Wenger ruined one of the most promising talents.

Theo was quick, agile, speedy and effective when used properly. He reminds me a lot of Sterling; Sterling needs guidance and to be told what to do. Almost micro managed. Theo is exactly the same.

Unfortunately for him he's under a manager that is laissez faire. The complete opposite of what he needs.

If you swapped Sterling and Walcott now I have no doubt Walcott would be showing Sterling's form.

Not an unfair statement. I think neither Sterling or Walcott are especially intelligent or technically brilliant footballers but both have pace to burn and can finish off chances laid on for them by far better players

[Niall_Quinn]

Wenger ruined one of the most promising talents.

Theo was quick, agile, speedy and effective when used properly. He reminds me a lot of Sterling; Sterling needs guidance and to be told what to do. Almost micro managed. Theo is exactly the same.

Unfortunately for him he's under a manager that is laissez faire. The complete opposite of what he needs.

If you swapped Sterling and Walcott now I have no doubt Walcott would be showing Sterling's form.

Was watching our 2-2 with Barca in ??? when he came on and terrorised them and turned what had been a merciless beating at the hands of Barca into a fighting comeback. The way he used to get the ball and just be gone, straight at goal, with defenders scrambling in panic. A gift to any manager. Except Wenger. Long time ago now and he's been a nothing player for years.

[Marc Overmars]

He never bad mouthed the club. Not ever IIRC. And he's taken plenty of abuse in return. So whatever the reason for his departure, I'll say goodbye and good luck to him. Yes he sat there and watched his career go down the pan which shows a severe lack of ambition. But there were many players who were unlucky and coincided their time at Arsenal with Wenger's decade of destruction. Trouble for him is we didn't plunge off a cliff, we slowly died. He's like the frog slowly boiling in Wenger's pot.

It's sad really that someone with over 100 goals for the club is so poorly thought of but oh well. If he does go, good luck to him.

[selassie]

Yes, I've just about reached that stage. After his big splurge on mediocrity last time around I have zero faith in him being able to identify useful targets and even less faith in him being able to use any signing effectively. He couldn't even push us on when Ozil, Alexis and Cech arrived. That's a world cup winner and recognised global star, one of the top talents in world football and a player with a mountain of experience winning it all. And we got worse! Then he has the ultimate brain fart and brings in Xhaka, Mustafi, Chambers, etc. And he can't use those either, and we get worse. Why would any sane owner give this man a chequebook in this wildly inflated market? Recipie for disaster and only serves to take away funds from the new guy coming in. If that ever happens.

No, don't let the guy waste another penny. Ot at least the club should prove he's out of the transfer picture and has no more say in selecting the targets. But still, there's that problem of him fucking up everything he touches. If the new team signed Messi and Ronaldo on a free we'd still get worse. It's what Wenger does and has been doing for over a decade now. Kroenke must be so ignorant of the game to have let this dinosaur steer things.

:gp:

I feel exactly the same, I wouldn’t give Wenger a penny to reinvest and would show him the door at the end of the season.

Wenger has proven without a shadow of a doubt that he is incapable of improving us even with funds.

If anything he could actually make us worse by buying more duds.

[GP]

The Greek Kid and Malcom are Sven targets so I don't mind going for them.

[Niall_Quinn]

The Greek Kid and Malcom are Sven targets so I don't mind going for them.

And that Greek kid was supposed to be going out on loan, but there he was on the bench and now he's staying. Whose decision? The experts who wanted him in here so he could go on loan? Have they had a change of mind? Or was it Wenger stepping in so he could cheapskate his way through another transfer window, thereby fucking up the whole plan for the player? We won't find out. But it's not a leap to assume Wenger still has the primary role behind the scenes. And unless this Malcolm kid is the next big thing then bringing in a 20 year old who has never played at the top level and asking him to step into Alexis' boots while under the tutelage of Wenger is a recipe for disaster. Any signing now is more of a risk than an investment. In some ways I'd rather see Jonny Evans come in because he might hang on to enough muscle memory to counteract Wenger's lunacy until the end of the season, and it's at the back we need most help. I mean it's a joke for a club of our supposed stature to be scrabbling around for reinforcements like this, but if we do let the old fool bring in anyone at least let it be somebody solid with some experience in this league that can shore us up until the fool is gone.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Oh I think keeping Mavropanos was Wengers idea as much as signing him was. In the sense that Mislintat scouted him but Wenger gave it the green light.

No it would be daft to say Wenger has lost all his power, but there are as I say glimmerings that it has been eroded ever so slightly and that can only be seen as a good thing

Wenger now loves that stats DNA program and if someone comes to him having used it properly to say “Arsene this guy could be really good” he will probably go for it.

But there was dithering over Rob Holding and there wasn’t over this halloumi muncher, which suggests whilst Wenger still probably has to sign off on players he isn’t handling the transfer negotiations like he clearly was when Dick Law was going in with one armed tied behind his back.

Speculation at this stage of course but I get the impression that we are learning about this because Baldilocks is briefing the press on it.

[Power n Glory]

Really so we haven’t been stuck with players for ages that hardly ever play but we can’t get rid of

I don’t rate Coquelin. I think Cazorla made him look a far better player than he is, every time he tried to play with anyone else he was a disaster. Not I will say from any lack of effort on his part but simply because he’s not really any good and for me playing or not....not a miss for us.

And Walcott, look at how many times he was benched by Wenger not just this season but for years on and off. We always thought we’d be rid of him, but Wenger dithered and kept chopping and changing his mind on Walcott.

Where have I argued otherwise? The point is, selling them in January, knowing our record isn't smart or a sign that Wenger's power grip is being loosened. Everything else you've written below is shifting goal posts. Regardless of how you rate them, you wouldn't be able to find me a better DM in this current squad or a player as quick as Theo with a better goal and finishing record. We can always take a risk with the younger player, but as seen, Wenger has the touch of death in that area. Just look at Iwobi.

I think you're getting a little carried away by the new narrative brewing over Wenger's possible departure. How is this any different to us moving on Gibbs, Chesney and Gabriel earlier in the summer? Or Gnarby last season? Or Podolski, Vermaelen, Djourou, Gervinho, Santos....Vela....we've seen Wenger eventually lose patience with players and quickly fall out of love with players that would get game after game. Earlier this season and seasons before. But of some reason you're reading more into it. I more so have a problem with it happening in January when we haven't secured our place in Europe.

We can still make this situation worse for a new manager because they'll still need squad players and we still need to try and qualify for Europe.

[Cripps]

And that Greek kid was supposed to be going out on loan, but there he was on the bench and now he's staying. Whose decision? The experts who wanted him in here so he could go on loan? Have they had a change of mind? Or was it Wenger stepping in so he could cheapskate his way through another transfer window, thereby fucking up the whole plan for the player? We won't find out. But it's not a leap to assume Wenger still has the primary role behind the scenes. And unless this Malcolm kid is the next big thing then bringing in a 20 year old who has never played at the top level and asking him to step into Alexis' boots while under the tutelage of Wenger is a recipe for disaster. Any signing now is more of a risk than an investment. In some ways I'd rather see Jonny Evans come in because he might hang on to enough muscle memory to counteract Wenger's lunacy until the end of the season, and it's at the back we need most help. I mean it's a joke for a club of our supposed stature to be scrabbling around for reinforcements like this, but if we do let the old fool bring in anyone at least let it be somebody solid with some experience in this league that can shore us up until the fool is gone.

I have a feeling Sven recommended that Greek defender and Wenger in his condescending way was sceptical about it and almost dismissed the kid, because he feels under threat from Sven, but then when he arrived and trained, Wenger was shocked at how good he is and realised the kid can do a job so done a 180.

Wenger probably said the 'going out on loan to Werder Bremen' line as a way of stamping his authority and dismissing Sven's expertise.

[Niall_Quinn]

I have a feeling Sven recommended that Greek defender and Wenger in his condescending way was sceptical about it and almost dismissed the kid, because he feels under threat from Sven, but then when he arrived and trained, Wenger was shocked at how good he is and realised the kid can do a job so done a 180.

Wenger probably said the 'going out on loan to Werder Bremen' line as a way of stamping his authority and dismissing Sven's expertise.

Could be. All any of us can do is speculate. What we can say for sure is we don't exactly have a harmonised team pulling together right now.

[Power n Glory]

Exactly right, especially on Theo. Wenger cannot wait to see the back of him! Nothing about his sale will tell me Wenger is losing power.

I agree. The argument about cleaning the books goes up in smoke if Theo goes out on loan instead of being sold. Also, Wenger is saying he wants Theo to stay but can’t guarantee him game time. He says he doesn’t want Theo to miss out on another World Cup.

https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-will-not-block-theo-walcott-s-world-cup-dream-as-everton-line-up-20m-deal-a3738541.html

[Özim]

People speculating all over the place, but just because this new guy scouted him doesn't mean this Greek kid is any good, it's a game of numbers some will turn out decent and some won't, people putting too much faith in these people just because they managed to uncover a handful of decent players of the years, what we don't know is how many they brought in that were rubbish.

Suits Wenger though, he loves to sign these young players, especially when they are unknowns, so no doubt he had his say, as it turns out now he wants him around probably to play at some point, might well be the new CB we've desperately been waiting for, except for the fact he's unproven and has no top level experience at all of course, but that's just a minor thing.

As for the quickfire sales that seem to be materialising, well we're raising money so it's no surprise we're happy, still no plan in place of course, every player we sign is an afterthought, there's never a plan ahead of time, as usual Wenger and his team are looking around (maybe they're just looking from inside the stadium with their binoculars to see if they can spot anyone super super quality :lol:), all this looking and never finding much is rather odd, we're always looking and never getting any results, almost like we don't want to spend any money.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Where have I argued otherwise? The point is, selling them in January, knowing our record isn't smart or a sign that Wenger's power grip is being loosened. Everything else you've written below is shifting goal posts. Regardless of how you rate them, you wouldn't be able to find me a better DM in this current squad or a player as quick as Theo with a better goal and finishing record. We can always take a risk with the younger player, but as seen, Wenger has the touch of death in that area. Just look at Iwobi.

I think you're getting a little carried away by the new narrative brewing over Wenger's possible departure. How is this any different to us moving on Gibbs, Chesney and Gabriel earlier in the summer? Or Gnarby last season? Or Podolski, Vermaelen, Djourou, Gervinho, Santos....Vela....we've seen Wenger eventually lose patience with players and quickly fall out of love with players that would get game after game. Earlier this season and seasons before. But of some reason you're reading more into it. I more so have a problem with it happening in January when we haven't secured our place in Europe.

We can still make this situation worse for a new manager because they'll still need squad players and we still need to try and qualify for Europe.

Again it’s entirely possible but the point is Coquelin and Walcott were first teamers last season and now they aren’t, and the past indicates that we let these players smell out the place for too long before shifting them.

And I’m not goal post shifting, I’m saying that Coquelin is hardly paying anyway and he’s not that good so the difference between him being our only DM and not having one is in my view anyway incredibly small.

I don’t think Wenger is even going in the summer so it’s not getting my hopes up over that. It’s the hope that we might be more ruthless with shipping players out and freeing up the wage bill when we acknowledge that a few players aside isn’t a particularly amazing one.

Coquelin and Walcott are two on the top of my list of players I want rid of, if it’s done in a timely fashion and in the case of Walcott we get over 20 million for him, I’m all for it.

If you don’t see the logic in it, that’s not really my problem. I am offering a view on the sales that you don’t agree with. I think when you consider how many players we end up shifting out on loan because of the wages we put them on, these are developments I am happy with. As I say and you won’t agree with and I won’t care, these players are peripheral to our season....which I already believe is a complete write off. I’d rather money be banked and wage bill money be freed up for immediate summer signings.

Now if said signings don’t come or don’t look up to snuff, then i was wrong.

[Cripps]

Tottenham drop interest in £45m Bordeaux winger Malcom and clear the way for Arsenal to swoop in https://t.co/wM7s6Surwe

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

People speculating all over the place, but just because this new guy scouted him doesn't mean this Greek kid is any good, it's a game of numbers some will turn out decent and some won't, people putting too much faith in these people just because they managed to uncover a handful of decent players of the years, what we don't know is how many they brought in that were rubbish.

Suits Wenger though, he loves to sign these young players, especially when they are unknowns, so no doubt he had his say, as it turns out now he wants him around probably to play at some point, might well be the new CB we've desperately been waiting for, except for the fact he's unproven and has no top level experience at all of course, but that's just a minor thing.

As for the quickfire sales that seem to be materialising, well we're raising money so it's no surprise we're happy, still no plan in place of course, every player we sign is an afterthought, there's never a plan ahead of time, as usual Wenger and his team are looking around (maybe they're just looking from inside the stadium with their binoculars to see if they can spot anyone super super quality :lol:), all this looking and never finding much is rather odd, we're always looking and never getting any results, almost like we don't want to spend any money.

It’s all speculation, but on the balance of it I don’t think we are any worse as a squad without Walcott or Coquelin in it.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

I agree. The argument about cleaning the books goes up in smoke if Theo goes out on loan instead of being sold. Also, Wenger is saying he wants Theo to stay but can’t guarantee him game time. He says he doesn’t want Theo to miss out on another World Cup.

https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-will-not-block-theo-walcott-s-world-cup-dream-as-everton-line-up-20m-deal-a3738541.html

It would indeed but at the risk of turning Ornstein into an oracle he has stated that loan offers have come in but we are only interested in either a sale or him staying.
If he ended up going out on loan, of course that would be absurd and stupid.

[Power n Glory]

Again it’s entirely possible but the point is Coquelin and Walcott were first teamers last season and now they aren’t, and the past indicates that we let these players smell out the place for too long before shifting them..

:lol: How is this different from the past? We didn't sign these guys yesterday.

[Özim]

It’s all speculation, but on the balance of it I don’t think we are any worse as a squad without Walcott or Coquelin in it.

I don't disagree both were substandard, it's just that our injury record is so horrendous you could see a scenario where we'd have to field untested kids.

[Cripps]

Coquelin done alright for us until Wenger went full Nutty Professor and changed everything to limit his role in the team.

He's the only DM we have in the team. The only destroyer. I'm not saying he was amazing at it but it's not a smart move letting him go.

[Cripps]

Man City ready to walk away from Alexis Sanchez deal over financial demands | @JBurtTelegraph
https://t.co/6h1pgBAbHp

:doh:

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

:lol: How is this different from the past? We didn't sign these guys yesterday.

Again. First teamers last season and now likely gone

For loads of players they can hang around on the fringes for years

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Coquelin done alright for us until Wenger went full Nutty Professor and changed everything to limit his role in the team.

He's the only DM we have in the team. The only destroyer. I'm not saying he was amazing at it but it's not a smart move letting him go.

I’m sorry but he’s out of his depth. He’s a one trick pony, who was found out. He could win the ball but totally useless on it and then would be guilty of giving it away and giving away fouls or being brushed aside.

I’m not having a go at him. He always gave us full effort. He worked well when he had Cazorla to recycle the ball to. But even then he was liable to be shat oh by teams that do the high press.

[Marc Overmars]

Man City ready to walk away from Alexis Sanchez deal over financial demands | @JBurtTelegraph
https://t.co/6h1pgBAbHp

:doh:

Good, pay up or wait.

Just hope we don’t sell to United.

[Cripps]

I’m sorry but he’s out of his depth. He’s a one trick pony, who was found out. He could win the ball but totally useless on it and then would be guilty of giving it away and giving away fouls or being brushed aside.

I’m not having a go at him. He always gave us full effort. He worked well when he had Cazorla to recycle the ball to. But even then he was liable to be shat oh by teams that do the high press.

He had the abilities of a destroyer; can tackle, break up play but not very good on the ball.

That's exactly what I expect of him. I don't want him spraying 30 yard balls around or chip through balls to the striker.

He was very effective at one point until Wenger went nutty. Then it went downhill.

Watch him thrive at Valencia.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

He had the abilities of a destroyer; can tackle, break up play but not very good on the ball.

That's exactly what I expect of him. I don't want him spraying 30 yard balls around or chip through balls to the striker.

He was very effective at one point until Wenger went nutty. Then it went downhill.

Watch him thrive at Valencia.

I think even a destroyer has to be able to retain possession or make competent passes

Gilberto and Petit weren’t technically as good as players around them but they were both physically and technically competent enough

[Power n Glory]

Again. First teamers last season and now likely gone

For loads of players they can hang around on the fringes for years

It's nothing new. Gibbs, Gabriel, Santos, Gervinho...they all fell out of favour quickly and were moved on quickly. If it's a change in approach, the writing should be on the wall for Giroud, Debuchy and Chambers, no?

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

It's nothing new. Gibbs, Gabriel, Santos, Gervinho...they all fell out of favour quickly and were moved on quickly. If it's a change in approach, the writing should be on the wall for Giroud, Debuchy and Chambers, no?

That remains to be seen. Giroud is out of contract in 2019 so wouldn’t be surprised if he or Ramsey were cleared out in the summer.
Wenger we know has dithered over Walcott for years, and this is the closest we’ve come to selling him it does suggest a bit more direct action being taken.
Gibbs, Gabriel and Santos werent consistent first teamers. Gibbs hadn’t for years, and Gabriel and Santos had never fully broken in despite runs.

[AFC Leveller]

Surprised we (or anyone else for that matter) haven't gone for Mahrez. He would be a great signing. Wonder why others haven't gone for him as well.

[Cripps]

I think even a destroyer has to be able to retain possession or make competent passes

Gilberto and Petit weren’t technically as good as players around them but they were both physically and technically competent enough

I don't see Kante making competent passes? He destroys and makes a 5 yard pass. Like Coquelin.

The difference is Kante is in a good team with a good coach and good tactics.

[Cripps]

Birmingham want to offload Arsenal defenders Carl Jenkinson and Cohen Bramall | @JamesNursey
https://t.co/fQ37sMMf3L https://t.co/rmSkTRPs5w

Wasn't bramall the next ashley cole? :haha:

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

I don't see Kante making competent passes? He destroys and makes a 5 yard pass. Like Coquelin.

The difference is Kante is in a good team with a good coach and good tactics.

To make even a five yard pass you have to be strong enough on the ball to retain possession, Coquelin isn’t

Brilliant that you think Coquelin is on Kantes level by the way, in terms of awareness, ability to win possession or strength.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Birmingham want to offload Arsenal defenders Carl Jenkinson and Cohen Bramall | @JamesNursey
https://t.co/fQ37sMMf3L https://t.co/rmSkTRPs5w

Wasn't bramall the next ashley cole? :haha:

Offload Jenkinson? Don’t they only have him on loan. Bit like trying to sell your council house

[Cripps]

Brilliant that you think Coquelin is on Kantes level by the way, in terms of awareness, ability to win possession or strength.

I've never once said that but you can make stuff up to make yourself feel better after you've lost an argument :console:

[Niall_Quinn]

Surprised we (or anyone else for that matter) haven't gone for Mahrez. He would be a great signing. Wonder why others haven't gone for him as well.

He only turns up when he fancies it. We already have an Ozil who can do that.

[Marc Overmars]

Surprised we (or anyone else for that matter) haven't gone for Mahrez. He would be a great signing. Wonder why others haven't gone for him as well.

Would take Mahrez as an Alexis replacement.

Especially now that he seems to have found some consistency again.

[Marc Overmars]

Offload Jenkinson? Don’t they only have him on loan. Bit like trying to sell your council house

Jesus Christ I thought we got Jenkinson off our books?

Another one for the scrap heap.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

I've never once said that but you can make stuff up to make yourself feel better after you've lost an argument :console:

You were making the comparison between the two in the first place me laddo :haha:

Speaking of Chelsea players I assume you remember how Hazard brushed him aside like he wasn’t there at Stamford Bridge last season?.

[Cripps]

You were making the comparison between the two in the first place me laddo :haha:

Speaking of Chelsea players I assume you remember how Hazard brushed him aside like he wasn’t there at Stamford Bridge last season?.

Yes but not once did I say that I 'think Coquelin is on Kantes level by the way, in terms of awareness, ability to win possession or strength' you helmet :lol:

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

You broke down the job Kante does for Chelsea and then claimed Coquelin can do the same

Only problem is he can’t

[Power n Glory]

That remains to be seen. Giroud is out of contract in 2019 so wouldn’t be surprised if he or Ramsey were cleared out in the summer.
Wenger we know has dithered over Walcott for years, and this is the closest we’ve come to selling him it does suggest a bit more direct action being taken.
Gibbs, Gabriel and Santos werent consistent first teamers. Gibbs hadn’t for years, and Gabriel and Santos had never fully broken in despite runs.

In the summer being the key word and the sort of action I would prefer and think is more wise. There is no indication that selling on Walcott is something the manager is even pushing for even the Board. With Walcott falling out of favour and it being a World Cup year, it sounds like it's Walcott that wants to leave after seeing that he's not getting games and wants to play in the World Cup. Why does it now seem that he's taking direct action?

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

In the summer being the key word and the sort of action I would prefer and think is more wise. There is no indication that selling on Walcott is something the manager is even pushing for even the Board. With Walcott falling out of favour and it being a World Cup year, it sounds like it's Walcott that wants to leave after seeing that he's not getting games and wants to play in the World Cup. Why does it now seem that he's taking direct action?

Im not certain he’s the one taking it. I think with the transfer window open. I think it’s possible that the transfer negotiation guy has looked at our squad, seen who we could perhaps lose off the wage bill, get some money for (and as its January quite possibly get more for than we would in the summer).

Don’t get me wrong I don’t think this is being done against Wengers wishes but neither is he being left to his own devices on it.

Now Walcott wanting to go to get first team football is also possibly a factor as well.

And yes this is speculation, this is what I think this is why I think it. If you’re not sold, well ok I’m not trying to even persuade you I’m just stating what my view is

[Niall_Quinn]

You broke down the job Kante does for Chelsea and then claimed Coquelin can do the same

Only problem is he can’t

Kante may be a destroyer but he's also a footballer. A notable part of his play is when he gets the ball in the midfield his instinct is to move the ball up the pitch, either by carrying it himself (which he does well) or distributing it rapidly.

Contrast that with Coquelin or any of our central midfielders (bar Jack). When our guys get the ball their first instinct is to tap it short and sideways or backwards if there is even a hint of pressure. Only when there is no pressure or when they have no choice will they resort to playing it forwards. This, almost certainly, is under direct instruction from Wenger. It's a horrible, pointless and often counterproductive way to play the game. So it's actually quite hard to compare Kante with any of our players because the overall gameplay they are part of is so different. I'm confident that if Kante was here he'd be forced to play the same shite.

[Power n Glory]

Im not certain he’s the one taking it. I think with the transfer window open. I think it’s possible that the transfer negotiation guy has looked at our squad, seen who we could perhaps lose off the wage bill, get some money for (and as its January quite possibly get more for than we would in the summer).

Don’t get me wrong I don’t think this is being done against Wengers wishes but neither is he being left to his own devices on it.

Now Walcott wanting to go to get first team football is also possibly a factor as well.

And yes this is speculation, this is what I think this is why I think it. If you’re not sold, well ok I’m not trying to even persuade you I’m just stating what my view is

Again, I think you're running wild with new ideas because of the new appointments. The guy hasn't even started working for us has he?

[Cripps]

You broke down the job Kante does for Chelsea and then claimed Coquelin can do the same

Only problem is he can’t

:blink: No I didn't

You said coquelin can't make competent passes

I said:

"I don't see Kante making competent passes? He destroys and makes a 5 yard pass. Like Coquelin.'

You then said:

'Brilliant that you think Coquelin is on Kantes level by the way, in terms of awareness, ability to win possession or strength.'

:blink:

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

:blink: No I didn't

You said coquelin can't make competent passes

I said:

"I don't see Kante making competent passes? He destroys and makes a 5 yard pass. Like Coquelin.'

You then said:

'Brilliant that you think Coquelin is on Kantes level by the way, in terms of awareness, ability to win possession or strength.'

:blink:

No you said he can make five yard passes and I’ve said no he can’t. Because as soon as he gets the ball he gets targeted and doesn’t have either the physicality or technical ability to retain possession.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Again, I think you're running wild with new ideas because of the new appointments. The guy hasn't even started working for us has he?

Mislintat hasn’t but Sanllehli I believe has. He is essentially a director of football in all but name

[Cripps]

No you said he can make five yard passes and I’ve said no he can’t. Because as soon as he gets the ball he gets targeted and doesn’t have either the physicality or technical ability to retain possession.

No I showed you what was said :doh:

You can just admit defeat instead of doing a Letters? :console:

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

No I showed you what was said :doh:

You can just admit defeat instead of doing a Letters? :console:

If by winning you mean making a comparison that doesn’t stand up to scrutiny well then yes

[Cripps]

No I mean by correcting you and proving you wrong :lol:

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

No I mean by correcting you and proving you wrong :lol:

I believed you were comparing Kante and Coquelin which I think anyone would have thought also

But given that I have to admit as a shortcoming I didn’t realise that you weren’t because you are so bad at articulating your thoughts that what appeared to be the case wasn’t.

But there we go I’ll know for future reference that if you say that a top player can do a job and then claim a vastly inferior player can do said job (even when they can’t) I’ll know that because it’s you you’re not directly comparing the two

[Cripps]

I believed you were comparing Kante and Coquelin which I think anyone would have thought also

But given that I have to admit as a shortcoming I didn’t realise that you weren’t because you are so bad at articulating your thoughts that what appeared to be the case wasn’t.

But there we go I’ll know for future reference that if you say that a top player can do a job and then claim a vastly inferior player can do said job (even when they can’t) I’ll know that because it’s you you’re not directly comparing the two

It's plainly obvious what I meant :lol:

Only basic people would struggle to comprehend :lol:

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

It's plainly obvious what I meant :lol:

Only basic people would struggle to comprehend :lol:

Ok so you weren’t comparing them even though you both said they could do a certain job

And on top of that one of them is not capable of doing that job....unless we are being ultra defensive and even then it’s hit and miss.

But as I’ve said the next time you talk about two players and their attributes, I’ll know it’s definitely not a comparison

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

I missed this. You went all pussy over Xmas

[Power n Glory]

Mislintat hasn’t but Sanllehli I believe has. He is essentially a director of football in all but name

What's the thinking behind Raul Sanllehli having anything to do with departures so early on? Just wondering how you're jumping to such conclusions. For example, Jenkinson is still on the books and despite Wenger showing very little faith in Callum Chambers, he is still with the club. Could it be the sale of Coquelin and potential sale of Theo just boils down to interest from other clubs? The players we've struggled to shift was down to the fact that nobody else wanted them. Coquelin has said in his interview that Valencia were interested in signing him before and that he regret not moving sooner, Allardyce has been vocal about wanting Theo and it's not the first time Theo has been linked with a move away from the club. I think the fact that he wasn't playing many games last season and he's been frozen out this season suggest that he's finally got the message and especially since it's a World Cup year. Wenger confirms that in his interview.

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.skysports.com/amp/football/news/11670/11204375/arsene-wenger-says-he-wants-theo-walcott-to-stay-at-arsenal-but-cannot-give-him-any-guarantees

Way to early to say what's going on. As said, Gibbs was out the door as soon as we saw that West Brom wanted him.

[Cripps]

I missed this. You went all pussy over Xmas

You decided to gain 2 brain cells over Christmas but you seem to have lost them again:console:

[Power n Glory]

:blink: No I didn't

You said coquelin can't make competent passes

I said:

"I don't see Kante making competent passes? He destroys and makes a 5 yard pass. Like Coquelin.'

You then said:

'Brilliant that you think Coquelin is on Kantes level by the way, in terms of awareness, ability to win possession or strength.'

:blink:

This is what I don't understand about the whole Coquelin criticism. It seems like Herb and others are putting the weight of our ball distribution problems on a player who wasn't brought in to solve that problem. We brought a dud in Xhaka and now we're having to try and find other players to cover for Xhaka's flaws. It's mental.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

This is what I don't understand about the whole Coquelin criticism. It seems like Herb and others are putting the weight of our ball distribution problems on a player who wasn't brought in to solve that problem. We brought a dud in Xhaka and now we're having to try and find other players to cover for Xhaka's flaws. It's mental.

No I’m saying even as a defensive midfield destroyer you need someone who is composed enough to keep the ball long enough to find another player with it especially when playing against sides that will press you all over the shop.

I’m not saying Xhaka can do that any better than Coquelin, he can’t....neither player can so it’s not a great loss to me

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

What's the thinking behind Raul Sanllehli having anything to do with departures so early on? Just wondering how you're jumping to such conclusions. For example, Jenkinson is still on the books and despite Wenger showing very little faith in Callum Chambers, he is still with the club. Could it be the sale of Coquelin and potential sale of Theo just boils down to interest from other clubs? The players we've struggled to shift was down to the fact that nobody else wanted them. Coquelin has said in his interview that Valencia were interested in signing him before and that he regret not moving sooner, Allardyce has been vocal about wanting Theo and it's not the first time Theo has been linked with a move away from the club. I think the fact that he wasn't playing many games last season and he's been frozen out this season suggest that he's finally got the message and especially since it's a World Cup year. Wenger confirms that in his interview.

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.skysports.com/amp/football/news/11670/11204375/arsene-wenger-says-he-wants-theo-walcott-to-stay-at-arsenal-but-cannot-give-him-any-guarantees

Way to early to say what's going on. As said, Gibbs was out the door as soon as we saw that West Brom wanted him.

Well obviously you can only sell players that have clubs that want to buy them

Not getting into the first team, potential interest elsewhere on your way

And you’re right I don’t know it’s anyone but Wenger behind that, but the quickness with which one has gone through and with Walcott it now appears to be the case that a decision has been made, it seems conspicuously dithering free.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

You decided to gain 2 brain cells over Christmas but you seem to have lost them again:console:

They were in a bargain bin outside your house, your mum said you weren’t using them

[Cripps]

This is what I don't understand about the whole Coquelin criticism. It seems like Herb and others are putting the weight of our ball distribution problems on a player who wasn't brought in to solve that problem. We brought a dud in Xhaka and now we're having to try and find other players to cover for Xhaka's flaws. It's mental.

Exactly :lol:

Doesn't make any sense. And he says we're the ones that don't make sense:lol:

[KSE Comedy Club]

They were in a bargain bin outside your house, your mum said you weren’t using them

We have Walcotts two brain cells that can also play there

[GP]

They were in a bargain bin outside your house, your mum said you weren’t using them

His mum says a lot of things.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

http://i65.tinypic.com/5khd03.jpg

If that doesn't make him stay then nothing will.

[Cripps]

His appearance on question time:lol:

Thought it was his show :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

What was he on about with that monologue about the Labour MP who said some dodgy stuff? He hasn't been sacked so that must show we haven't given in to mob rule then?

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

He’s a man desperately trying to stay relevant. When in fact he never has been

Slimy toad when he was editor of the sun and the mirror

CNN took him on board as Larry Kings replacement and the Americans all thought he was a muppet so was canned within a year

[Niall_Quinn]

What's the thinking behind Raul Sanllehli having anything to do with departures so early on? Just wondering how you're jumping to such conclusions. For example, Jenkinson is still on the books and despite Wenger showing very little faith in Callum Chambers, he is still with the club. Could it be the sale of Coquelin and potential sale of Theo just boils down to interest from other clubs? The players we've struggled to shift was down to the fact that nobody else wanted them. Coquelin has said in his interview that Valencia were interested in signing him before and that he regret not moving sooner, Allardyce has been vocal about wanting Theo and it's not the first time Theo has been linked with a move away from the club. I think the fact that he wasn't playing many games last season and he's been frozen out this season suggest that he's finally got the message and especially since it's a World Cup year. Wenger confirms that in his interview.

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.skysports.com/amp/football/news/11670/11204375/arsene-wenger-says-he-wants-theo-walcott-to-stay-at-arsenal-but-cannot-give-him-any-guarantees

Way to early to say what's going on. As said, Gibbs was out the door as soon as we saw that West Brom wanted him.

My worry is it seems odd to start changing the staff while the manager is still here. Shouldn't it happen the other way around? Get rid of the manager and then bring a new team in? I just hope these new guys aren't here so the club can claim it has changed and then promptly extend the old goat's contract. Unlikely, but this is Arsene FC, so rule nothing out. And so we actually have a director of football now, or not? Are both these new hires strictly limited to scouting and transfers? What happened to Overmars, wasn't he supposed to be coming here?

[Cripps]

Arsene Wenger insists he has no plans to leave Arsenal until at least 2019 - and will continue to make right decision for the club
https://t.co/2mdU2CEgFQ

Have a great weekend:lol:

[Niall_Quinn]

Arsene Wenger insists he has no plans to leave Arsenal until at least 2019 - and will continue to make right decision for the club
https://t.co/2mdU2CEgFQ

Have a great weekend:lol:

He was misquoted by the scummy media. Typical of them.

What he actually said was 2091.

[Niall_Quinn]

Scary stuff. He sounds serious, in which case we are seriously fucked.


But Wenger eventually made it crystal clear that he is going nowhere. “I am always committed. I am here for 21 years,” said Wenger.


“So in every single decision I make what is right for the club. Do I stay for one year or ten years it is exactly the same.


“Is it is me in charge or somebody else you can only do what is best for club. That is what you try to do. That has nothing to do with my personal situation.”


So, will he definitely be in charge next season? Wenger added: “My contract clarifies that. Did I ever walk away? Never. Why should I change?”


Notice how everything he talks about in terms of transfers is related to contracts and finances. He never mentions the benefits on the pitch.

Oh, and he always makes the right decisions, according to him. So that's nice.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Serious about what being here to the end of his contract?

That was assumed

[Power n Glory]

No I’m saying even as a defensive midfield destroyer you need someone who is composed enough to keep the ball long enough to find another player with it especially when playing against sides that will press you all over the shop.

I’m not saying Xhaka can do that any better than Coquelin, he can’t....neither player can so it’s not a great loss to me

But Coquelin has proven that he is capable of that when paired next to Cazorla or even Elneny. Plus, not all teams are that effective when it comes to the high press or even set up that way. Tactically, if we want to set ourselves up tight at the back and sit deep, we're losing our best tackler and player that can break up play. Also, seeing how Wilshere is playing this season, I think we could have seen a good pairing with him and Coquelin. But what is done is done.

[Power n Glory]

Well obviously you can only sell players that have clubs that want to buy them

Not getting into the first team, potential interest elsewhere on your way

And you’re right I don’t know it’s anyone but Wenger behind that, but the quickness with which one has gone through and with Walcott it now appears to be the case that a decision has been made, it seems conspicuously dithering free.

Dithering free? Go and look at Theo's record for starts in the first team over the last 3 years. After that injury that kept him out of action for a season, he returned to the squad midway through 2014/15 but was only making sporadic sub appearances. He wasn't a starter.

2015/16 when he was getting games as a striker early in the season and had that blinder against Utd, he picked up a calf injury that had him out for a month but once fully fit, he wasn't a regular starter. He didn't return to playing up front and Wenger was picking Campbell and then Iwobi to play on the wing with Theo being used as a sub for the remainder of the season. Look it. Last season was the same again, Theo started the season well and was scoring a lot of goals, but come December he picks up an injury and returns to the squad in the New Year looking off the pace, as you would after injury, and he's getting subbed off early for most games. Early April he makes that comment after the Palace game and that was the end for Theo. Frozen out of the team.

It's been anything but dithering. This has been dragged out.

[Cripps]

Liverpool in talks to sign Riyad Mahrez but the Leicester star is eyeing a move to Arsenal #LFC #AFC
https://t.co/mTO9aQNkKK

Imagine being dumb enough to favour Wenger and Arsenal over Klopp and Liverpool :lol:

[Niall_Quinn]

Liverpool in talks to sign Riyad Mahrez but the Leicester star is eyeing a move to Arsenal #LFC #AFC
https://t.co/mTO9aQNkKK

Imagine being dumb enough to favour Wenger and Arsenal over Klopp and Liverpool :lol:

Mahrez is lazy. Arsenal is the best place for him. Stroll around, get paid a fortune, take a long break in the treatment room and finally secure a bench spot while negotiating an improved contract. Mahrez heaven.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Dithering free? Go and look at Theo's record for starts in the first team over the last 3 years. After that injury that kept him out of action for a season, he returned to the squad midway through 2014/15 but was only making sporadic sub appearances. He wasn't a starter.

2015/16 when he was getting games as a striker early in the season and had that blinder against Utd, he picked up a calf injury that had him out for a month but once fully fit, he wasn't a regular starter. He didn't return to playing up front and Wenger was picking Campbell and then Iwobi to play on the wing with Theo being used as a sub for the remainder of the season. Look it. Last season was the same again, Theo started the season well and was scoring a lot of goals, but come December he picks up an injury and returns to the squad in the New Year looking off the pace, as you would after injury, and he's getting subbed off early for most games. Early April he makes that comment after the Palace game and that was the end for Theo. Frozen out of the team.

It's been anything but dithering. This has been dragged out.

This is getting circular

I know it’s been dragged out for years, I’m saying that if he goes in this window it looks like it’s been done expediently.

What I’m saying is that quite possibly if Wenger was simply being left to his devices it would be dragging on even longer.

[Power n Glory]

This is getting circular

I know it’s been dragged out for years, I’m saying that if he goes in this window it looks like it’s been done expediently.

What I’m saying is that quite possibly if Wenger was simply being left to his devices it would be dragging on even longer.

Raul Sanllehli hasn't even started working at the club yet. It only looks as if things have progressed quickly because you've added the Sanllehli narrative to the equation. All sources are saying it's Theo looking to move because of the lack of playing time. It would be great to see power wrestled from Wenger's hands that quickly but it's unrealistic. Until I hear more, I'm assuming it's business as usual. Take Sanllehli out of the equation along with all this Wenger leaving /Ancelotti talk and you wouldn't read much into these stories about Coquelin and Theo leaving.

[Cripps]

Mahrez is lazy. Arsenal is the best place for him. Stroll around, get paid a fortune, take a long break in the treatment room and finally secure a bench spot while negotiating an improved contract. Mahrez heaven.

Spot on

His career will go exactly the same as everyone else's; start brightly then go on a downward trend. He'll regret coming here.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Raul Sanllehli hasn't even started working at the club yet. It only looks as if things have progressed quickly because you've added the Sanllehli narrative to the equation. All sources are saying it's Theo looking to move because of the lack of playing time. It would be great to see power wrestled from Wenger's hands that quickly but it's unrealistic. Until I hear more, I'm assuming it's business as usual. Take Sanllehli out of the equation along with all this Wenger leaving /Ancelotti talk and you wouldn't read much into these stories about Coquelin and Theo leaving.

It’s interesting that you can tell me what I think.

I don’t think we would have looked to sell two squad players in January, Wenger if he sells players at all tends to do it in the summer. I haven’t said for a second that this was done without his consent or behind his back. It’s just Wenger is a lifetime prevaricator. And even if Sanhellhi doesn’t officially take up his post till February it doesn’t mean he wont probably be working with the club closely up to that point anyway.

I know how tiresome and irritating you find it when other people have an opinion you don’t share. But I’m afraid you’re just going to have to accept that I don’t believe these players would have been sold in January if it was just Wenger being completely left to his own devices.

However If you like, I can say I agree with you and I was wrong to believe this. It won’t be at all what I think but it’s getting boring.

I am only speculating that it’s this guys hand in it anyway. I’m not saying it definitely is, what I’m saying is I think there’s more to it than the World Cup. Four years ago you could argue that Wenger might have sold Vermaelen who was hardly playing for the same reason, but he wasn’t sold till the summer of 2014

[Power n Glory]

It’s interesting that you can tell me what I think.

I don’t think we would have looked to sell two squad players in January, Wenger if he sells players at all tends to do it in the summer. I haven’t said for a second that this was done without his consent or behind his back. It’s just Wenger is a lifetime prevaricator. And even if Sanhellhi doesn’t officially take up his post till February it doesn’t mean he wont probably be working with the club closely up to that point anyway.

I know how tiresome and irritating you find it when other people have an opinion you don’t share. But I’m afraid you’re just going to have to accept that I don’t believe these players would have been sold in January if it was just Wenger being completely left to his own devices.

However If you like, I can say I agree with you and I was wrong to believe this. It won’t be at all what I think but it’s getting boring.

I am only speculating that it’s this guys hand in it anyway. I’m not saying it definitely is, what I’m saying is I think there’s more to it than the World Cup. Four years ago you could argue that Wenger might have sold Vermaelen who was hardly playing for the same reason, but he wasn’t sold till the summer of 2014

You're telling me what you think! ;)

Have a good day sir. I can see you're getting all tense and wound up. When did you become so sensitive? Damn!

[Power n Glory]

Spot on

His career will go exactly the same as everyone else's; start brightly then go on a downward trend. He'll regret coming here.

If he leaves Leicester and goes to far up the food chain, the hype surrounding this guy will die down.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

You're telling me what you think! ;)

Have a good day sir. I can see you're getting all tense and wound up. When did you become so sensitive? Damn!

No just bored of having to repeat myself

I’m getting far more tense and wound up by game of darts I’m playing (try throwing a myriad number of darts without hitting a treble 20 once)

If you were deliberately trying to wind me up like Vieira I’d find it charming and amusing.

[Cripps]

No just bored of having to repeat myself

I’m getting far more tense and wound up by game of darts I’m playing (try throwing a myriad number of darts without hitting a treble 20 once)

If you were deliberately trying to wind me up like Vieira I’d find it charming and amusing.

Stop being such a basic dimwit then :lol:

See I'm not the only one that thinks it :lol: go and see someone to help you speak sense :lol:

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Stop being such a basic dimwit then :lol:

See I'm not the only one that thinks it :lol: go and see someone to help you speak sense :lol:

Not your best work

[Power n Glory]

No just bored of having to repeat myself

I’m getting far more tense and wound up by game of darts I’m playing (try throwing a myriad number of darts without hitting a treble 20 once)

If you were deliberately trying to wind me up like Vieira I’d find it charming and amusing.

Why respond if bored and tired of repeating yourself? You sure you ain't at home watching darts? :lol: Either way, have a blast. We can pick it up again once both of us have more information about what's happening. The timing of these transfers is one thing. I remember Wenger caved to letting Lassana Diarra leave in January despite only just buying him and it was a Wold Cup year. Diarra was on Wenger's case for not getting enough game time and he wanted to play in true World Cup so Wenger let him go.

[Cripps]

:lol:

Herbert:console:

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Why respond if bored and tired of repeating yourself? You sure you ain't at home watching darts? :lol: Either way, have a blast. We can pick it up again once both of us have more information about what's happening. The timing of these transfers is one thing. I remember Wenger caved to letting Lassana Diarra leave in January despite only just buying him and it was a Wold Cup year. Diarra was on Wenger's case for not getting enough game time and he wanted to play in true World Cup so Wenger let him go.

Euro 2008 and I think that was more he didn’t rate Diarra after he bought him

[GP]

Euro 2008 and I think that was more he didn’t rate Diarra after he bought him

When Diarra refused to play in a League Cup game, Wenger had him out of the door sharpish.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Euro 2008 and I think that was more he didn’t rate Diarra after he bought him

He didn't rate him!?? Really?

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

He didn't rate him!?? Really?

Clearly not enough to break up the flamini-Fabregas partnership

[Cripps]

Didn't rate him :lol:

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Didn't rate him :lol:

Translated as I don’t know what we’re are talking about but I’m going to laugh anyway. Whilst I’m waiting for mum to make my chicken nuggets and spaghetti hoops for my tea

[Cripps]

No I'm laughing at how thick you are:lol:

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

No I'm laughing at how thick you are:lol:

Bit like Joey Essex calling Stephen Hawking thick :haha:

[Cripps]

Yep you're definetly Stephen Hawking, a full on retard :lol:

[Özim]

Wenger decided to sell a player signed up on a long term contract, he'd recently signed and keep a guy in the team who was clearly leaving in the summer (despite Wenger being confident he was staying), what a ridiculous decision, sums the guy up :lol:

He then goes back and signs the guy who left him with egg on his face a 2nd time when he's become a reject at Milan so he can stink up the place a 2nd time! :lol:

Over the years there have been plenty of really puzzling decisions that probably no other manager would have made, that's another thing that makes him possibly the worst manager in football today.

If ever Wenger doesn't rate a player, club should rush to sign him, because in all likelyness he's probably a worldie. I rememeber when people use to think Chelsea signed players just to stop us signing them, some of the conspiracy theories to excuse Wengers mistakes over the years were pretty far fetched, truth is we probably didn't wnt to pay up or weren't interested in the 1st place.

[Cripps]

What about signing a player with a broken back :lol:

[Cripps]

A few reporting we're close to Malcom. Can we play him through the middle. Malcolm in the middle?

:getcoat:

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

A few reporting we're close to Malcom. Can we play him through the middle. Malcolm in the middle?

:getcoat:

No idea who Kaveh Solhekol is but claims he laid on amazing assist for Bordeaux this evening and his agents were in London last night

[Özim]

I like the idea of having a Brazilian winger, have always wanted to see a proper Brazilian with silky skills at the club so not against this signing (for once). Obviously he's young and unproven, so for me he's not a replacement for Sanchez and won't score as many goals, we'll need to find another goalscoring option from somewhere, hoping he's more of a replacement for Walcott than anything else.

Some papers saying it will be him and Draxler which wouldn't be the worst swap in the world.

[Cripps]

I like the idea of having a Brazilian winger, have always wanted to see a proper Brazilian with silky skills at the club so not against this signing (for once). Obviously he's young and unproven, so for me he's not a replacement for Sanchez and won't score as many goals, we'll need to find another goalscoring option from somewhere, hoping he's more of a replacement for Walcott than anything else.

Some papers saying it will be him and Draxler which wouldn't be the worst swap in the world.

:faint: slightly positive Zimm

#WeWantOurZimmBack

[Power n Glory]

He didn't rate him!?? Really?

Unbelievable, right? We bought the guy that same summer!

[Power n Glory]

Wenger decided to sell a player signed up on a long term contract, he'd recently signed and keep a guy in the team who was clearly leaving in the summer (despite Wenger being confident he was staying), what a ridiculous decision, sums the guy up :lol:

He then goes back and signs the guy who left him with egg on his face a 2nd time when he's become a reject at Milan so he can stink up the place a 2nd time! :lol:

Over the years there have been plenty of really puzzling decisions that probably no other manager would have made, that's another thing that makes him possibly the worst manager in football today.

If ever Wenger doesn't rate a player, club should rush to sign him, because in all likelyness he's probably a worldie. I rememeber when people use to think Chelsea signed players just to stop us signing them, some of the conspiracy theories to excuse Wengers mistakes over the years were pretty far fetched, truth is we probably didn't wnt to pay up or weren't interested in the 1st place.

Good memory. It was a decision that cost us that very season as well as the following. Diarra could also play right back and I think we lost Sagna to injury later on in the season. We also lost Flamini to injury later that season.we were ravaged by injuries and a player of Diarra's quality would have come in in handy.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Unbelievable, right? We bought the guy that same summer!

But then there is a difference between a player you’ve scouted and one you see every day in training

He didn’t rate him highly enough to give him much first team and on top of that from what was reported he was thought to be disruptive about lack of first team opportunities

[Power n Glory]

But then there is a difference between a player you’ve scouted and one you see every day in training

He didn’t rate him highly enough to give him much first team and on top of that from what was reported he was thought to be disruptive about lack of first team opportunities

Keep in mind why I brought up the Lassana Diarra situation in the first place.

The whole not rating him talk....we ended up playing Denilson when we lost Flamini. That says it all. Don't talk yourself into a corner to where it sounds like you're justifying a daft decision from Wenger. Also, bear in mind the conversation you were having with Cripps about Coquelin and DM's that can pass when thinking of the Lassana Diarra situation.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Keep in mind why I brought up the Lassana Diarra situation in the first place.

The whole not rating him talk....we ended up playing Denilson when we lost Flamini. That says it all. Don't talk yourself into a corner to where it sounds like you're justifying a daft decision from Wenger. Also, bear in mind the conversation you were having with Cripps about Coquelin and DM's that can pass when thinking of the Lassana Diarra situation.

Has anyone ever told you you’re a condescending prick ? :haha: people really should more

I can’t even remember how good or bad Lassana Diarra was frankly. I know we bought him and I know he was making a beef and that’s why we sold him. I think if Wenger had rated him though would have played him more regularly.

If you want to make this incident about Wengers poor judgement you won’t get any argument from me

I get your point that we get rid of Coquelin we end up with even shitter options in midfield

I just don’t in anyway agree with it. Not because Xhaka or Elneny are any good, it’s because largely it makes no difference who plays there. And who knows it might even twig with Wenger to play Maitland Niles there, won’t probably help us defensively but might mean the attacking players get the ball in a timelier fashion.

[Power n Glory]

Has anyone ever told you you’re a condescending prick ? :haha: people really should more

I can’t even remember how good or bad Lassana Diarra was frankly. I know we bought him and I know he was making a beef and that’s why we sold him. I think if Wenger had rated him though would have played him more regularly.

If you want to make this incident about Wengers poor judgement you won’t get any argument from me

I get your point that we get rid of Coquelin we end up with even shitter options in midfield

I just don’t in anyway agree with it. Not because Xhaka or Elneny are any good, it’s because largely it makes no difference who plays there. And who knows it might even twig with Wenger to play Maitland Niles there, won’t probably help us defensively but might mean the attacking players get the ball in a timelier fashion.

Has anyone called me a prick? Online... Yep. Face to face, never. What I notice about you is when backed into a corner with an argument online, you start getting personal but will try to cover as if you're not rattled. ;) I can't respect it. Enjoy your day, little man.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Has anyone called me a prick? Online... Yep. Face to face, never. What I notice about you is when backed into a corner with an argument online, you start getting personal but will try to cover as if you're not rattled. ;) I can't respect it. Enjoy your day, little man.

Actually what you don’t get is being insulted doesn’t bother me

As far as I’m concerned I don’t feel backed into a corner at all I feel like this argument is so circular that we are devoid of corners.

But it does grate a bit after a while, to see you constantly write things that come across like “if you stopped and thought about it for a second, you’d realise that to disagree with me is so stupid you wouldn’t do it”. It’s hypocritical because I do it as well and then get called a condescending prick by other people.

[Cripps]

Keep in mind why I brought up the Lassana Diarra situation in the first place.

The whole not rating him talk....we ended up playing Denilson when we lost Flamini. That says it all. Don't talk yourself into a corner to where it sounds like you're justifying a daft decision from Wenger. Also, bear in mind the conversation you were having with Cripps about Coquelin and DM's that can pass when thinking of the Lassana Diarra situation.

Great post.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Great post.

Morning buddy

[Cripps]

Liverpool to rival Manchester City and United for Alexis Sanchez | @sbates_people https://t.co/054tmbuo1H #LFC #AFC #MUFC #MCFC https://t.co/t1MWRv7yDo

This is just getting embarrassing now :lol:

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Liverpool to rival Manchester City and United for Alexis Sanchez | @sbates_people https://t.co/054tmbuo1H #LFC #AFC #MUFC #MCFC https://t.co/t1MWRv7yDo

This is just getting embarrassing now :lol:

It wasn’t before?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Discussions are under way on how to bid for Sanchez?

This is the point in a transfer where the papers try to make it more interesting daily by bringing up some utter nonsense.

I have a suggestion on how you bid for a player. You bid for a player.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Diarra was just downright impatient. It was his prerogative to be so, having not gotten the game time at Chelsea but Wenger being the accomoadating nonconfrontational manager he is allowed him to leave when he could have dug his heels in like with plenty of other transfers.

Had Diarra exercised a little patience he could have been playing in our first team as the main guy soon enough. It is not unusual for Wenger to make a signing and not start him right away or give him the first team position.

[Ralpheroo72]

Sanchez not in the squad today, all set for Man U. Ozil to join him July 1. That my friends, is Arsenal.

[Niall_Quinn]

Liverpool to rival Manchester City and United for Alexis Sanchez | @sbates_people https://t.co/054tmbuo1H #LFC #AFC #MUFC #MCFC https://t.co/t1MWRv7yDo

This is just getting embarrassing now :lol:

Embarrassing for us maybe. But Wenker and the Leeches will be salivating. This is what the transfer window is all about for them. Profits. This will be another lovely, lovely profit taking window like that last one.

[Niall_Quinn]

Sanchez not in the squad today, all set for Man U. Ozil to join him July 1. That my friends, is Arsenal.

No, that's Wenker and Kroenke. And Usmanov gets a mention too because if he really cared beyond his desire to own the place he'd be making big noises now about how shit we are. But Jabba is silent. So fuck them all.

Arsenal was here before those cunts were born and it'll be here long after they are dead. Probably. Maybe. Because they're such cunts they might even sell the name of the club by the time they are done.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

The only reason for thinking Usmanov is any better than Kroenke is that he occasionally sounds like he’d be willing to throw a sweaty wad of cash at us. In probably any other aspect he’s worse, and that’s saying something considering Kroenke is a cunt.
How he’d be as an owner? Who knows....I can’t say I’m desperate to find out. It’s like choosing between Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn. The best thing would be not to choose either.