Summer Transfer Shit and Everything Else

[HCZ_Reborn]

It’s looking likely that he’ll stay.

What a loser.

Don’t think he’s going to sign a new contract though, which means he will leave in a years time

The dream is alive :lol:

[dostoy]

Don’t think he’s going to sign a new contract though, which means he will leave in a years time

The dream is alive :lol:

If he stays, he will sign a new contract in a few months for certain.

He will not leave for free next year, it would break Tottenham's heart, therefore it would break Kane's heart as well.

I would LOVE to see it happen but it won't.

[Mac76]

It’s looking likely that he’ll stay.

What a loser.

A loser x1,000,000

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bayern will look like complete mugs if they bid four times for a player in one summer that doesn't want to join them.

[HCZ_Reborn]

If he stays, he will sign a new contract in a few months for certain.

He will not leave for free next year, it would break Tottenham's heart, therefore it would break Kane's heart as well.

I would LOVE to see it happen but it won't.

Don’t think so, his refusal to go to Bayern (if that’s how it turns out) is more about wanting to stay in the premier league than his devotion to Tottenham. I think he clearly wouldn’t want to leave for nothing, but I think he will argue that they reneged on their verbal agreement to sell him two years ago

[LDG]

More money for him if he leaves on a free I assume.

Lispy twat

[Marc Overmars]

Seems like he’s agreed the move.

Spurs. :rose:

[Marc Overmars]

Caicedo to Liverpool. 110m fee agreed. :lol:

Incredible amount of money Brighton continue to bring in from sales. Their recruitment guy needs a raise.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Caicedo to Liverpool. 110m fee agreed. :lol:

Incredible amount of money Brighton continue to bring in from sales. Their recruitment guy needs a raise.

Sigh…..player we should have signed

The only plus side is Chelsea :pal:

[KSE Comedy Club]

Massively overpaying for Caicedo, quite how Brighton managed to get that for him is a miracle

[HCZ_Reborn]

Massively overpaying for Caicedo, quite how Brighton managed to get that for him is a miracle

You’re honestly saying that after we paid 105 million for Rice?

Given that Caicedo is objectively miles better than Rice, I think in a relative sense it can be seen as a bargain

[Mac76]

You’re honestly saying that after we paid 105 million for Rice?

Given that Caicedo is objectively miles better than Rice, I think in a relative sense it can be seen as a bargain

This

Losing out on Caicedo is gutting, Liverpool v Citeh for the title now, no question

But agreed on Chelsea :pal:

[Mac76]

Seems like he’s agreed the move.

Spurs. :rose:

Intellectually Kane is pretty much a retard but even he has finally worked out - admittedly after 19 years :lol: - that he'll never win anything at Spuds

Maybe we can convince Spuds to get Eddie as a replacement :pray:

[Globalgunner]

Intellectually Kane is pretty mich a retard but even he has finally worked out - admittedly after 19 years :lol: - that he'll never win anything at Spuds

Maybe we can convince Spuds to get Eddie as a replacement :pray:

How his misanthrope mind going to grasp a foreign language is beyond me. Almost 30 years and he can barely speak English lucidly. He is an Einstein on the football pitch, Ill give him that. Hopefully those powers are waning now and he will return to England in 3 years to play for Fulham.

[HCZ_Reborn]

This

Losing out on Caicedo is gutting, Liverpool v Citeh for the title now, no question

But agreed on Chelsea :pal:


Wouldn’t go that far, liverpools defence is still a drag factor and Nunez and Gakpo are still a downgrade on Firminho and Mane (and I don’t even rate Firminho)

It’s just that they aren’t as completely fucked as they were when they looked like they were going into the season with TAA in midfield.

How much did they spend on McAlllister? An Argentine Aaron Ramsey. They have more chance of top four now but don’t see a title challenge…Salah drops off form too much for that

[HCZ_Reborn]

How his misanthrope mind going to grasp a foreign language is beyond me. Almost 30 years and he can barely speak English lucidly. He is an Einstein on the football pitch, Ill give him that. Hopefully those powers are waning now and he will return to England in 3 years to play for Fulham.

Misanthrope means seeing no value in other people

It would be easier to call him a simpleton

I think he must be retarded, he makes Smith Rowe seem like an intellectual powerhouse

[Mac76]

Wouldn’t go that far, liverpools defence is still a drag factor and Nunez and Gakpo are still a downgrade on Firminho and Mane (and I don’t even rate Firminho)

It’s just that they aren’t as completely fucked as they were when they looked like they were going into the season with TAA in midfield.

How much did they spend on McAlllister? An Argentine Aaron Ramsey. They have more chance of top four now but don’t see a title challenge…Salah drops off form too much for that

OK, so maybe saying it's a Citeh-Liverpool race is pushing the envelope a bit, but apparently Salah and Nunez have formed a pretty good partnership in pre-season, if that gets up and running early they'll be pretty dangerous and with Caicedo in there it will have them working exponentially better in midfield

[Chippy]

Misanthrope means seeing no value in other people

It would be easier to call him a simpleton

I think he must be retarded, he makes Smith Rowe seem like an intellectual powerhouse
The difference is, Harry doesn't talk GANGSTA MAN! :lol:

[KSE Comedy Club]

You’re honestly saying that after we paid 105 million for Rice?

Given that Caicedo is objectively miles better than Rice, I think in a relative sense it can be seen as a bargain

Rice has 5 years PL experience and is english so that justifies his price tag.

Caicedo was in the prem for 6 months.

£60-80m was more than fair price for him, going over £100m is too much.

[Mac76]

Rice has 5 years PL experience and is english so that justifies his price tag.

Caicedo was in the prem for 6 months.

£60-80m was more than fair price for him, going over £100m is too much.

Mustafi had more than 5 years PL experience when we finally got rid of him but noone would pay £100m for him...

There is an English tax, true but still Caicedo is as HCZ says the demonstrably better player and I'd have been much happier if we'd bought Caicedo for £100m

Tbh we should have not bought Havertz or Raya and instead got both Rice and Caicedo, given where Rice is being played it would probably work pretty well

[Marc Overmars]

OK, so maybe saying it's a Citeh-Liverpool race is pushing the envelope a bit, but apparently Salah and Nunez have formed a pretty good partnership in pre-season, if that gets up and running early they'll be pretty dangerous and with Caicedo in there it will have them working exponentially better in midfield

I think if Nunez has shaken off his first season cobwebs and becomes the player his price tag suggests he is, I think Liverpool will be very dangerous. Their options in attack are very good.

[Globalgunner]

We wont be in the race I think mostly because our manager wont play the best players available to him when needed. Ben White has no place in the first 11 but as a back-up CB to Gabriel and Saliba. He is not a RB and we need better options there. LB also needs sorting, I cant make up my mind if our fragile LB Tierney is being misused or is just not that good. He came on in the Shield and immediately was the culprit in the City goal. Zinchenko is great going forward but not defensively. Timber has to be the default there simply because he is better in defence, but we cannot carry 2 surplus LB`s in a numbers limited squad. Midfield is improved vastly simply by having Xhaka not there but not amongst the best 4 in the league IMO. We have no convincing goal scorer so we will do well to make 4th.

CL exit by February if it happens will almost certainly tell us if we are contenders or make believe. I have no faith in Arteta to improve our lot.

[Globalgunner]

Misanthrope means seeing no value in other people

It would be easier to call him a simpleton

I think he must be retarded, he makes Smith Rowe seem like an intellectual powerhouse

You again? Serendipity if i chose the wrong word there. It applies when you think about it. You improve your language skills by interaction. But you dont think, do you?. You just want to engage in verbal duels with total strangers. Get help

[HCZ_Reborn]

We wont be in the race I think mostly because our manager wont play the best players available to him when needed. Ben White has no place in the first 11 but as a back-up CB to Gabriel and Saliba. He is not a RB and we need better options there. LB also needs sorting, I cant make up my mind if our fragile LB Tierney is being misused or is just not that good. He came on in the Shield and immediately was the culprit in the City goal. Zinchenko is great going forward but not defensively. Timber has to be the default there simply because he is better in defence, but we cannot carry 2 surplus LB`s in a numbers limited squad. Midfield is improved vastly simply by having Xhaka not there but not amongst the best 4 in the league IMO. We have no convincing goal scorer so we will do well to make 4th.

CL exit by February if it happens will almost certainly tell us if we are contenders or make believe. I have no faith in Arteta to improve our lot.

If we don’t finish 4th, then Arteta will be shown the door. In fact I think he could be shown the door if there isn’t a sustained title challenge given he’s been allowed to spend so much of Tom Selleck’s money….he’s going to want a return.

Which just goes to show that behind every cloud is a silver lining. And that’s not even being frustrated with man’s tactics lack of rotation. I just think he’s a cunt with no personality. He could win the treble this year (well no he couldn’t…it’s beyond his ability) and I’d still despise him.

[Marc Overmars]

Just read that Caicedo is having second thoughts on Liverpool and prefers Chelsea. :lol:

Quality player but this guy seems like a bit of a mercenary rat with how he’s tried to get out of Brighton since January.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Just read that Caicedo is having second thoughts on Liverpool and prefers Chelsea. :lol:

Quality player but this guy seems like a bit of a mercenary rat with how he’s tried to get out of Brighton since January.


Think there’s either misinformation or chicanery going on somewhere in a lot of reporting

Chelsea haven’t given up on Caicedo even though Liverpool have had a fee agreed. Similar with reports about Kane, first off saying he wants to stay and then being waylaid outside Stanstead and being told not to board a flight to Deutschland

[KSE Comedy Club]

Think there’s either misinformation or chicanery going on somewhere in a lot of reporting

Chelsea haven’t given up on Caicedo even though Liverpool have had a fee agreed. Similar with reports about Kane, first off saying he wants to stay and then being waylaid outside Stanstead and being told not to board a flight to Deutschland

No it's genuine.

He would rather go to chelsea and they are doing their best to gazump liverpool

[KSE Comedy Club]

Just read that Caicedo is having second thoughts on Liverpool and prefers Chelsea. :lol:

Quality player but this guy seems like a bit of a mercenary rat with how he’s tried to get out of Brighton since January.

That's why I'm glad we didn't get him tbh.

He was begging Brighton to let him join us in January, he must've given pool some indication he would join them for them to bid, now he loves Chelsea.... ?

:sick:

[HCZ_Reborn]

No it's genuine.

He would rather go to chelsea and they are doing their best to gazump liverpool

I think from what I’ve seen is that he gave his word to Chelsea (verbally agreed a contract with them back in May)

But Chelsea may not offer what Liverpool are offering

[HCZ_Reborn]

That's why I'm glad we didn't get him tbh.

He was begging Brighton to let him join us in January, he must've given pool some indication he would join them for them to bid, now he loves Chelsea.... ?

:sick:


You don’t want to get a player who is miles better than Partey let alone Rice because he is fickle with his affections??

Most likely about wanting to stay in London

[KSE Comedy Club]

You don’t want to get a player who is miles better than Partey let alone Rice because he is fickle with his affections??

Most likely about wanting to stay in London

We've just been there and done that, and spent the last few years trying to rebuild.

Caicedo has had one good season, let's not make out he's a 'worldie' just yet.

I'm not saying he's not better than Partey, but he still has a lot to prove & twerking for different clubs in the space of 6-8 months is not a great start IMO.

[HCZ_Reborn]

We've just been there and done that, and spent the last few years trying to rebuild.

Caicedo has had one good season, let's not make out he's a 'worldie' just yet.

I'm not saying he's not better than Partey, but he still has a lot to prove & twerking for different clubs in the space of 6-8 months is not a great start IMO.

He’s 21 not a 17 year old who has shown only glimpses of his potential. This is not speculative, he is better than Partey by some distance and the gap in quality between him and Declan Rice is astronomical. If Rice is costing 105 million, Caicedo for 110 million is by comparison the biggest steal since Hatton garden.

That Arteta signed Rice for only slightly less than he could have got Caicedo, it doesn’t call into question his judgement it calls into question his sanity.

[KSE Comedy Club]

He’s 21 not a 17 year old who has shown only glimpses of his potential. This is not speculative, he is better than Partey by some distance and the gap in quality between him and Declan Rice is astronomical. If Rice is costing 105 million, Caicedo for 110 million is by comparison the biggest steal since Hatton garden.

That Arteta signed Rice for only slightly less than he could have got Caicedo, it doesn’t call into question his judgement it calls into question his sanity.

Well sorry but the jury is still out, you have your opinion and I have mine.

Even at 21 he has still only had 1 good season.

Rice is an excellent signing and once he settles into the team he will show you why.

Caicedo is a different type of player.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Well sorry but the jury is still out, you have your opinion and I have mine.

Even at 21 he has still only had 1 good season.

Rice is an excellent signing and once he settles into the team he will show you why.

Caicedo is a different type of player.


Talent is Talent, Caicedo has demonstrated a level of Talent that far surpasses anything Rice or Partey are capable of. This is not like a Ramsey who despite his average ability scored a lot of goals in one season. We have struggled since Vieira left to have the player who links defence and attack, and in my view Caicedo is better than Vieira was at the same age. If he hasn’t peaked, it’s absurd just how good he could get. Rice we know what to expect, a player that has often been a disappointment at international level but because he somehow managed to transfer international teams from Ireland to England im meant to believe he is anything more than a slightly more mobile David Batty.

[mandela8]

We've just been there and done that, and spent the last few years trying to rebuild.

Caicedo has had one good season, let's not make out he's a 'worldie' just yet.

I'm not saying he's not better than Partey, but he still has a lot to prove & twerking for different clubs in the space of 6-8 months is not a great start IMO.

This is a guy who was on loan at Beerschot 2 years ago.

I've naw watched a lot of Brighton but when I have he's never really stood out. In fact, the last couple of times I seen him he was at RB. I know a guy who supports Brighton who rates him about the same as Bissouma, who is very good, tbf. He's struggled with injuries and consistency at Spurs but I reckon he comes good this year. But he was 35m.

110 is a huge number. I'd still rather him over Rice but that's only because I think Rice is limited and there's a chance Caicedo may be better, but that's not based on a lot, tbh.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Though I've said severally, I prefer Caicedo over Rice, I don't think its a quality argument per se as both careers are still too young and neither has killed it in the international scene ( in particular Caicedo) for any of us to state they are next coming.

It's the style of play and player that stands out with Caicedo for me, and if I am correct Rice buries him in most important stats.

Anyway, Partey on his day is better than both AFAIC, and if I were Chelsea in particular, I'd go for Lavia (it could be argued that Caicedo makes more sense for Liverpool as both he and Mac would be paired together again).

[HCZ_Reborn]

Though I've said severally, I prefer Caicedo over Rice, I don't think its a quality argument per se as both careers are still too young and neither has killed it in the international scene ( in particular Caicedo) for any of us to state they are next coming.

It's the style of play and player that stands out with Caicedo for me, and if I am correct Rice buries him in most important stats.

Anyway, Partey on his day is better than both AFAIC, and if I were Chelsea in particular, I'd go for Lavia (it could be argued that Caicedo makes more sense for Liverpool as both he and Mac would be paired together again).

Disagree, stats don’t mean a lot….because they are devoid of context. In terms of actual ability, Caicedo is miles better than Partey let alone Rice. The ability to play between the defensive and attacking phases, to get attacks going from just outside his own penalty box and the ability to have the ball stick to his feet despite heavy pressing in a way that I have only seen previously from players like Zidane (not that I’m comparing Caicedo to Zidane). In this ridiculously inflated market, players like Bellingham and Caicedo are worth the money because of how obscenely talented they are. Rice is not, because he doesn’t excel at anything…he’s a tidy player who will do well with passing over short distances, interceptions etc but won’t be able to carry the ball forward, have the ball skill or the ability to link the two areas of the pitch and provide balance in the way Caicedo can.
Now I accept that Rice is a different sort of player, at best he is a kind of poor man’s Emmanuel Petit to Caicedo who is potentially a superior Vieira. But there’s simply no doubt which one you’d pick if you could only buy one, and Arteta picked the inferior option

[cricketsi]

It's a pretty safe assumption that Arteta and Edu know a lot more about football, and particularly midfielders, than any of us. Knowing they could have gone for either Caicedo or Rice and picked Rice is enough to tell me he's probably a better fit for what we need.

Neymar has more talent than any of our front 3, but would I want him to replace them? Hell no, pure raw talent alone isn't all that makes a player.

[HCZ_Reborn]

It's a pretty safe assumption that Arteta and Edu know a lot more about football, and particularly midfielders, than any of us. Knowing they could have gone for either Caicedo or Rice and picked Rice is enough to tell me he's probably a better fit for what we need.

Neymar has more talent than any of our front 3, but would I want him to replace them? Hell no, pure raw talent alone isn't all that makes a player.


The reason you wouldn’t go for Neymar is beyond football considerations. He’s a massive bell end, his wages are obscene and it wouldn’t represent a good investment given his age.


Arteta has an established reputation for being Galaxy brained. Eschewing the obvious option for the more left field one so he can demonstrate how clever he is, problem is he often gets it wrong. For most of us the path of least resistance is the best path, but Arteta seems to get perverse enjoyment into leaping into dense thickets

[LDG]

Well sorry but the jury is still out, you have your opinion and I have mine.

Even at 21 he has still only had 1 good season.

Rice is an excellent signing and once he settles into the team he will show you why.

Caicedo is a different type of player.


Absolutely

[cricketsi]

The reason you wouldn’t go for Neymar is beyond football considerations. He’s a massive bell end, his wages are obscene and it wouldn’t represent a good investment given his age.


Arteta has an established reputation for being Galaxy brained. Eschewing the obvious option for the more left field one so he can demonstrate how clever he is, problem is he often gets it wrong. For most of us the path of least resistance is the best path, but Arteta seems to get perverse enjoyment into leaping into dense thickets

Well, considering we were a shambles when he joined, and he's steadily taken us from 8th to 5th then title contenders in relatively short time, and completely overhauled the squad to the point it is immeasurably better than we he joined, imagine how good we could be if he was actually competent 😉

[mandela8]

:haha:

Who the fuck said Caicedo is better than Partey???

Jesus fuckin Christ :haha:

[Mac76]

:haha:

Who the fuck said Caicedo is better than Partey???

Jesus fuckin Christ :haha:

I didn't say it, but I'd say it's not such a crazy thought as you're implying, admittedly it's apples and pears to some extent as Partey is older and also increasingly injury-prone, so a direct comparison is tricky but if Caicedo could show more consistency than Partey then he'd be the one I'd rather have

For me, yes Partey can be very good, but he's pretty inconsistent, not just down to injuries either, he has a mare on a semi-regular basis

[Letters]

Oi, Spurs. You just got…


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctAf6Xsy9j4

[Marc Overmars]

Kane is officially a Bayern Munich player.

Feels weird but now he’s fucked off I have to say I thought he was a beast of a striker and was always a little jealous Spurs had a striker that good.

Absolutely love the fact he could pick up his first career medal in his first game tonight. :haha:

[Letters]

Always been slightly annoyed by him but he’s undeniably a brilliant goal scorer.
To get 30 league goals in a team that shit last season is objectively impressive

[HCZ_Reborn]

The production team of All or Nothing need to shitcan any plans they had for this season and go to Germany. Make an eight part documentary series completely dedicated to Harry Kane trying to learn German. It will be a bigger cult classic than the Danish film Idioterne

The difference would be that rather than pretending to be “Spazzing”. Kane would be the real deal

[Letters]

The production team of All or Nothing need to shitcan any plans they had for this season and go to Germany. Make an eight part documentary series completely dedicated to Harry Kane trying to learn German. It will be a bigger cult classic than the Danish film Idioterne

The difference would be that rather than pretending to be “Spazzing”. Kane would be the real deal
:haha:

I’d watch that tbf

[dostoy]

FINAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLYYYYYYYYYY YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY.

That cheating bastard has gone.

I hope Spuds get relegated, but that won't happen, if they finish 10th I will be happy.

You know who Arsenal will play at some stage in the CL, don't you.

[Mac76]

Kane is officially a Bayern Munich player.

Feels weird but now he’s fucked off I have to say I thought he was a beast of a striker and was always a little jealous Spurs had a striker that good.

Absolutely love the fact he could pick up his first career medal in his first game tonight. :haha:

I thought he was a super-thick, cheating Spud cunt but there you go

[HCZ_Reborn]

I thought he was a super-thick, cheating Spud cunt but there you go

Would you have given a shit about his lack of intelligence and propensity for cheating if he played for us?. I wouldn’t have. Plus most of our English lads are total remedials. That Saka got high GCSE grades only serves to highlight how fucked our education system is

[Globalgunner]

If Kane had gone to City last season, then maybe City wouldn't have gone all out for Haaland. Haaland would have ended up at a more loathsome destination like Utd or Chelsea. All in all it's a win for me. Bayern will win Bundesliga for the next 3 seasons in a row and will hardly trouble the CL semis as the rest of the team is bang average.

We move on in optimism

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Thomas Frank confirmed Raya is going. :bow:

[LDG]

Thomas Frank confirmed Raya is going. :bow:

Their keeper today is tidy with the ball at his feet. Have got the right one?

[Marc Overmars]

Neymar could be off to Saudi now.

Such a waste of a talent after Barcelona.

[mandela8]

Quite depressing watching all the superior midfielders bought for significantly less than Declan Rice.

[Mac76]

Would you have given a shit about his lack of intelligence and propensity for cheating if he played for us?

Yes absolutely, e.g. back when we were trying to sign Luis Suarez, post-biting etc, I was dead against it, he didn't behave like an Arsenal player for me

I think quite genuinely that while we've had players who can mix it a bit in the past, we've never gone in for wholesale diving and cheating, which is shown clearly by the reaction whenever we do, i.e. the media etc go crazy, even though other teams do it all the time

It's something for our fans to be proud of IMO

[Mac76]

Neymar could be off to Saudi now.

Such a waste of a talent after Barcelona.

The Saudis are literally buying up the game wholesale

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Quite depressing watching all the superior midfielders bought for significantly less than Declan Rice.

:lol:

What's more depressing is that even the blind can see that Rice's attributes would far better suit a team that plays quick counter attacking football, something Arteta doesn't even pretend to make us do.

Anyway, I just hope he'll be able adapt to us because we definitely won't be adapting to him under Arteta.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Yes absolutely, e.g. back when we were trying to sign Luis Suarez, post-biting etc, I was dead against it, he didn't behave like an Arsenal player for me

I think quite genuinely that while we've had players who can mix it a bit in the past, we've never gone in for wholesale diving and cheating, which is shown clearly by the reaction whenever we do, i.e. the media etc go crazy, even though other teams do it all the time

It's something for our fans to be proud of IMO

For me the sin is not to dive and cheat, but to be bad at it. If you’re going to down like you’ve been taken out by a sniper in Row Z have the common decency to stay down to lend some realism to your performance.

Biting players is just a bizarre thing to do. South Americans are a curious bunch, there is a trend in that part of the world to applaud players for their cleverness for duping the officials (presumably at least until that same trick is used against their team). Here we have a tendency to look upon it as gobbing in someone’s face because we kid ourselves of being a country that’s founded on the spirit of fair play.

Basically whilst I wouldn’t want one of our players to make a habit of it, I don’t think my sense of morality would be outraged if they were a little bit of a con artist in moderation

[Marc Overmars]

Caicedo off to Chelsea for 115m. :lol:

A billion dollars spent for Boehly.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Amazing that he’s only ten million more expensive than Rice.

[Mac76]

If Brighton and West Spam now have all this money we should surely be able to flog them a player or two?

[Marc Overmars]

There’s interest in Tierney but it seems like a loan could be the more likely option.

Also some rumours that Spurs could be interested in Balogun. If they offered 50m would you accept it?

[HCZ_Reborn]

There’s interest in Tierney but it seems like a loan could be the more likely option.

Also some rumours that Spurs could be interested in Balogun. If they offered 50m would you accept it?

From them? No

80 million possibly

[Marc Overmars]

Definitely. Stick that Kane tax on them.

In other news, Neymar has indeed joined Al-Hilal for 100m. :lol:

[HCZ_Reborn]

Labia going to Liverpool for 60 million

[Chippy]

Timber "Out for Months" with a series knee injury. :doh:
You couldn't make it up.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Labia also wants to go to Chelsea over Liverpool

[Letters]

Timber "Out for Months" with a series knee injury. :doh:
You couldn't make it up.
We really are curséd

[Marc Overmars]

Labia also wants to go to Chelsea over Liverpool

Prefers the London life to Liverpool.

Can’t blame him tbf.

[Chippy]

Prefers the London life to Liverpool.

Can’t blame him tbf.

Yep!
Much rather be stabbed than have your wheels stolen :d

[Chippy]

We really are curséd
Looks like Tierney will have to stay now.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Timber "Out for Months" with a series knee injury. :doh:
You couldn't make it up.

Arteta will have to give up playing 3 at the back and make his choice between Partey and Rice.

Its not looking good for Partey and TBH I'm not sure I'm going to enjoy the brand of football we'll get this season.

[Mac76]

We really are curséd

Indeed, any hope of Timber superceding Zin is now gone, not that was likely really

.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Indeed, any hope of Timber superceding Zin is now gone, not that was likely really

.

Yeah but even that would leave the problem of White at right back and that is a big problem. You simply can’t have someone at full back who cannot deal with pace on the wing. We left ourselves so exposed with this inverted full back nonsense.

Really what we should have is proper full backs with two centre backs and a midfielder like Caicedo sitting in front of that back line. Then a midfielder like Tonali who Newcastle bought to bring it forward.

That and a centre forward who is a natural finisher. With the money we’ve spent…we could easily have such a team but we’ve got a maniac as coach who has arguably made things worse than they were when he took over in terms of squad balance and a productive squad that can do what we need of it to challenge for major trophies. Can’t blame the Kroenkes they have allowed the investment put in the team it’s just been wasted.

The only positive I can see is that I think there’s a strong chance that the sheer incompetence of Arteta means we will be in a position before Christmas where they will sack him (I’ll be so happy when that day comes, although I’m in no doubt that such damage has been done to us that it will take five years or more to repair)

[HCZ_Reborn]

https://x.com/afcstuff/status/1691324796598910976?s=46&t=n1tnxEg6k_DvSqUkaQFrjw

We don’t need anymore fucking defenders for fuck sake. Even if we sell Tierney, Tavares, Holding and Cedric we have enough.

This idiot is going to put me in my grave. If we have money to spend (which we shouldn’t given how much we’ve spaffed up the wall) it needs to go on a striker. We should have bought another midfielder too but we decided to waste 65 million on Havertz.

Please someone sack this cunt!

[Marc Overmars]

Raya is official.

https://www.arsenal.com/news/david-raya-joins-season-long-loan

[mandela8]

Arteta will have to give up playing 3 at the back and make his choice between Partey and Rice.

Its not looking good for Partey and TBH I'm not sure I'm going to enjoy the brand of football we'll get this season.

Nah, Timber just played the poison kiwor did last season.

Agree with the rest of your post though.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Looks like Timber is out for the season

James Benge has just tweeted (or 'X'd)

https://twitter.com/afcstuff/status/1691757098659393777?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcam p%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

Fuck sake

[HCZ_Reborn]

Looks like Timber is out for the season

James Benge has just tweeted (or 'X'd)

https://twitter.com/afcstuff/status/1691757098659393777?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcam p%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

Fuck sake

To be expected with an ACL injury, it kept Van Dijk out for that long

I just hope we don’t go back into the market. We’ve got more than enough defenders even with him injured. It’s bullshit, if he doesn’t rate Tierney that’s one thing but Tavares was his own signing. So reflects poorly on his judgement if he lasts a year and is got rid of

[KSE Comedy Club]

To be expected with an ACL injury, it kept Van Dijk out for that long

I just hope we don’t go back into the market. We’ve got more than enough defenders even with him injured. It’s bullshit, if he doesn’t rate Tierney that’s one thing but Tavares was his own signing. So reflects poorly on his judgement if he lasts a year and is got rid of

It's just gutting as I thought he looked very solid.

The only reason we conceded against City was because he was subbed off.

[HCZ_Reborn]

It's just gutting as I thought he looked very solid.

The only reason we conceded against City was because he was subbed off.

May have been because the ligament was going but he was rubbish against Forest

No I get it, I think he’s a very good defender. I just don’t want more cash spend on defenders. I don’t think we are going to buy anyone else anyway simply because we are not getting any cash for our rejects (Balogun aside) but if we do don’t want us buying a defender

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

It's just gutting as I thought he looked very solid.

The only reason we conceded against City was because he was subbed off.

Yeah, feel the same way.

The defence was doing ok till he had to drop out

[HCZ_Reborn]

Yeah, feel the same way.

The defence was doing ok till he had to drop out

Apart from him giving the ball away under no pressure and the defence allowed a headed ball to put Johnson clean through

[Marc Overmars]

Dreadful luck.

I would definitely keep Tierney now.

[Chippy]

Dreadful luck.

I would definitely keep Tierney now.

There must be some kind of insurance in place after paying £40m for a player and they are fucked for a whole season? And may never be the same.

[Chippy]

Dreadful luck.

I would definitely keep Tierney now.

Is it dreadful luck or do we buy injury prone Duff's?

[HCZ_Reborn]

No it’s bad luck, an ACL is an injury that occurs suddenly, potential occupational hazard in football. Nothing that suggests that a player is going to be prone to such an injury. With Van Dijk it was caused by thuggish sliding tackle on the knee, with Timber probably an awkward turn

[LDG]

Curse of football. Bobby Pires v Newcastle. Bastard injury.

Shame. Hell of a footballer Timber.

Yes, we will need to replace him as Tomi, Tierney and Tavares are not top top quality.

We need a striker too. Up to the club to get rid of one of Balogun or Eddie, and Tierney is a safe bet for moving on.

Never the same KT since he got injured early doors. He’s a chugger though lads, not a top tier inverted fullback (even if that is only a fad). He’s a traditional fullback…unless we’re aiming to play with a traditional back four, he’s surplus to requirements. Was shocking when he came on v City

[Marc Overmars]

Chelsea are interested in Balogun.

Rinse them tbh.

[Mac76]

Chelsea are interested in Balogun.

Rinse them tbh.

£80m minimum

[Chippy]

£80m minimum

We should give them Eddie and keep Balogun FFS.
Also, ask them for a receipt for Havertz.

[mandela8]

Mate told me last night he'd heard Tierney is going back to Celtic for a season.
Makes zero sense to me, tbh. Doubt it's true.

[mandela8]

Mate told me last night he'd heard Tierney is going back to Celtic for a season.
Makes zero sense to me, tbh. Doubt it's true.

[HCZ_Reborn]

https://x.com/afcsphere/status/1693676585549767072?s=46&t=n1tnxEg6k_DvSqUkaQFrjw


This is the kind of bilge that is on my Twitter stream daily. No wonder so many Arsenal fans have become cultists with this undiluted propaganda.

What isn’t mentioned anywhere is what Bayern would have offered Raya in any prospective permanent deal, because it will have been dwarfed by Arsenal

But no instead pretend that Arteta doesn’t have all the charm, personality and salesmanship of Daniel Wakeford.

Fucking embarrassing

[Mac76]

We should give them Eddie and keep Balogun FFS.
Also, ask them for a receipt for Havertz.

Well i agree ofc, but unfortunately Arteta doesn't know a good striker when he sees one

[Mac76]

Mate told me last night he'd heard Tierney is going back to Celtic for a season.
Makes zero sense to me, tbh. Doubt it's true.

It makes perfect sense for Tierney, to get a game at a club where he'll be appreciated, I'm guessing Arteta wants rid permanently but wouldn't dare sell him to another PL club because it would quickly be obvious how good he is and therefore what an idiot Arteta was for selling him

[Mac76]

https://x.com/afcsphere/status/1693676585549767072?s=46&t=n1tnxEg6k_DvSqUkaQFrjw


This is the kind of bilge that is on my Twitter stream daily. No wonder so many Arsenal fans have become cultists with this undiluted propaganda.

What isn’t mentioned anywhere is what Bayern would have offered Raya in any prospective permanent deal, because it will have been dwarfed by Arsenal

But no instead pretend that Arteta doesn’t have all the charm, personality and salesmanship of Daniel Wakeford.

Fucking embarrassing

Actually i think Arteta is good at conning players into thinking they have a real chance at first-team selection even though he just wants them to pad out the bench, it's something else about him to dislike

[HCZ_Reborn]

Actually i think Arteta is good at conning players into thinking they have a real chance at first-team selection even though he just wants them to pad out the bench, it's something else about him to dislike

I’ve seen no evidence of this. Maybe someone on Arteta’s coaching staff is, but Arteta can’t even talk to players…..such is his utter disdain for other human beings. It’s better to understand Arteta by thinking of him as one of these grown men who collect model Trains, and then think of the players as model trains. Now we don’t disagree that Arteta has favourites, where we disagree is why he has favourites. It’s got nothing to do with players sucking up to him, you could buy him lunch and he’d walk past you like you were one of those pests trying to sign you up for their charity in the high street.

Saka gets played because he is Arteta’s equivalent of the Flying Scotsman…the prize of his collection which he likes to show off. He wants his trains to run a certain way so he picks the trains he thinks will look best doing the figure eight track he’s built.

[Mac76]

Oh of course it doesn't fit with your increasingly-obviously flawed personality assessment of Arteta, so it must not be true :rolleyes:

[HCZ_Reborn]

Oh of course it doesn't fit with your increasingly-obviously flawed personality assessment of Arteta, so it must not be true :rolleyes:

And your assessment is, Xhaka is shit…therefore the only reason to play Xhaka is he is fellating Arteta.

Where as mine is based on what players themselves say about Arteta. Arteta routinely blanks players for no reason, it’s got nothing to do with how agreeable they’ve been. Saliba hadn’t even said a word to him and they didn’t talk for two weeks. For a normal human being you would assume you’d done something wrong.

Arteta doesn’t respond to criticism of him, someone with self esteem issues has to respond, immediately become defensive and attacking the other person. Arteta doesn’t care, and not because he’s cool, self-reflective and levelled.

It’s almost borderline Schizoid. Despite your claims to the contrary I only watched All or Nothing once, over a year ago and was appalled by what I saw.

I would be open to the idea that Arteta can’t deal with people that express independent thought or aren’t acquiescent. I thought it myself definitely, but the evidence points away from it.

[Marc Overmars]

Brighton are interested in Lokonga.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Brighton are interested in Lokonga.

No they’re not.

They are a sensible, well managed club.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Sorry I have seen the same rumours too, but whilst obviously they signed James Milner. On the whole the people who run Brighton are clever football people

[HCZ_Reborn]

25 million apart in our respective valuations for Balogun. I think given they paid almost 60 million for Labia, we are being generous at asking for 70 million for Balogun….should be nearer 90

[Mac76]

Labia

you really do need to grow up you know

[HCZ_Reborn]

you really do need to grow up you know

:lol: no you’re a poo head

[Mac76]

Brighton are apparently interested in Lokonga as a replacement for Caicedo :wacko:

[HCZ_Reborn]

Brighton are apparently interested in Lokonga as a replacement for Caicedo :wacko:

Yes seen this, that’s very silly of them. I felt a bit sorry for him in his first season, as felt like Arteta didn’t give him a chance and whilst he wasn’t spectacular he seemed ok. Last season? Bloody hell…..I think Arteta tried as hard as he could but when you can’t cope playing against Norwegian teams or Oxford United, you can’t hack it as a footballer.

Maybe they will get something out of him we couldn’t, but either his confidence is through the floor or he’s just no good.

[Marc Overmars]

That would be a great move for him and we know Brighton are flush too.

Good move all round if it were to happen.

[HCZ_Reborn]

That would be a great move for him and we know Brighton are flush too.

Good move all round if it were to happen.


Good move for him

Good move for us

I can’t see what Brighton are getting out of it though :haha:

[Marc Overmars]

I mean if anyone can extract something out of him it’s probably Brighton.

I think what killed Lokonga was the fact he was filmed whinging about the lack of game on All or Nothing. While his teammates were basically just like STFU and work harder. Went all downhill from there.

[HCZ_Reborn]

I mean if anyone can extract something out of him it’s probably Brighton.

I think what killed Lokonga was the fact he was filmed whinging about the lack of game on All or Nothing. While his teammates were basically just like STFU and work harder. Went all downhill from there.

I think what killed him, was being unable to control the ball, make successful passing or tackles/interceptions. Now of course he could be far better than what he shown for us. But I didn’t see it when he was on loan at Palace

[HCZ_Reborn]

Balogun fee likely to be agreed with Monaco (we have held firm on 50 million valuation) it’s all going to be about payment structure

[Marc Overmars]

Holding, Tierney and Tavares are not training with the squad anymore.

Sounds like we’ve got a lot of work to do to get rid before the deadline. Guessing some will be loans.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Holding, Tierney and Tavares are not training with the squad anymore.

Sounds like we’ve got a lot of work to do to get rid before the deadline. Guessing some will be loans.


Possibly, could be loan moves with obligations to buy or could just that clubs get the players on Transfer deadline day which I assume is either next Thursday or Friday.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

I mean if anyone can extract something out of him it’s probably Brighton.

I think what killed Lokonga was the fact he was filmed whinging about the lack of game on All or Nothing. While his teammates were basically just like STFU and work harder. Went all downhill from there.

I kind of agree... theirs a footballer somewhere in him, he just needs a nice enough nanny to be patient enough with him and help to bring it out....we obviously don't have that kind of time.
Neither did his former coach Kompany, which says all we need to know.

One of the few times I find myself being in 100% agreement with Arteta.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Holding, Tierney and Tavares are not training with the squad anymore.

Sounds like we’ve got a lot of work to do to get rid before the deadline. Guessing some will be loans.

Though most of the time I don't think Tierney should start games, its funny to me how a coach without any natural fullbacks would see no value or use for him

Its like that ad about the clever dumb balance being restored.

[Mac76]

Though most of the time I don't think Tierney should start games, its funny to me how a coach without any natural fullbacks would see no value or use for him

Its like that ad about the clever dumb balance being restored.

Because Arteta clearly doesn't like traditional fullbacks, I think Tierney's the only one left and he has been discarded - I hate Arteta for treating the guy like trash and not appreciating how he could be contributing

The fact that he'd rather play a worse-than-useless tosser like Zinchenko in that position only adds salt to the wound

[HCZ_Reborn]

The whole inverted full back thing seems a very recent fascination as we have up until recently played quite traditional fullbacks. Guardiola did it and Arteta likes to think of himself as a mini Guardiola. Don’t think he’s as tactically varied…or for that matter as miserable as Guardiola…nor is he as effusive. Guardiola has a nasty personality, Arteta doesn’t have one at all.

[Marc Overmars]

Tierney is off on loan to Real Sociedad. :wave:

No option to buy though.

[Chippy]

Tierney is off on loan to Real Sociedad. :wave:

No option to buy though.

Big mistake imho.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Tierney is off on loan to Real Sociedad. :wave:

No option to buy though.


I have two opinions about this. One what a complete waste on our part, if we are going to sell him sell him for money and that will only be exacerbated if we end up buying a defender.

Second of all, says a lot about Tierney’s reputation and marketability that the only interest we can get for him is from Celtic who we bought him from and from a mid table basque side.

Man City were linked by Ming the Merciless doesn’t like natural full backs either

[Marc Overmars]

I think a lot of it is also down to the fact there’s no money in Europe. Monaco being owned by an oligarch has helped us with Balogun but unless we’re dealing with a PL club there’s no money to be had. We would have definitely priced a club like Newcastle out based on the fact they’ve got unlimited funds.

[mandela8]

Good for Tierney.

Clearly wasn't happy and nor he should. The pure disrespect of having players like Kiwor, Timber and Tommyiasu all played out of position ahead of him isn't summin any professional should have to tolerate.

Moves to a better league in a nicer part of the world, with hugely admirable political views, and gets champions league fitba.

[Mac76]

I have two opinions about this. One what a complete waste on our part, if we are going to sell him sell him for money and that will only be exacerbated if we end up buying a defender.

Second of all, says a lot about Tierney’s reputation and marketability that the only interest we can get for him is from Celtic who we bought him from and from a mid table basque side.


Well only up the point, I suspect, that maybe some clubs see how Arteta isn't using him, also perhaps his unfortunate appearances where Arteta has played him colmpletely out of position, and incorrectly drawn tne conclusion that Arteta knows what he is doing in getting rid of him

of course we all know Arteta doesn't know what he's doing and that we should be keeping Tierney - what's the bet he tears it up at Sociedad and suddenly is a big draw again

[HCZ_Reborn]

Well only up the point, I suspect, that maybe some clubs see how Arteta isn't using him, also perhaps his unfortunate appearances where Arteta has played him colmpletely out of position, and incorrectly drawn tne conclusion that Arteta knows what he is doing in getting rid of him

of course we all know Arteta doesn't know what he's doing and that we should be keeping Tierney - what's the bet he tears it up at Sociedad and suddenly is a big draw again

I wouldn’t bet on it to be honest

More likely fade into obscurity like Bellerin. Which doesn’t necessarily prove Arteta right, but I’m not seeing this strong character who has the willpower to triumph against adversity. Tavares was able to because there wasn’t as much pressure on him to defend in France and he could play like Andre Santos.

I’d like us to sign a proper left back for sure, but don’t want Arteta spending any more cash on defenders. Don’t want him spending any more cash full stop. Frankly I’d be ok with a transfer embargo on us for as long as he remains at the club to stop him buying players in positions we don’t need.

Zinchenko can’t defend, doesn’t know what it is…looks upon it like the Hominids look upon the black obelisk in 2001: a space odyssey. So might as well keep the dog snogger, at least he’s ok going forward

[Mac76]

Zinchenko is hopdeless going forward, dawdles on the ball, slows our play down, often then gives it away and regularly ignores Martinelli - I'd rather play with ten men than have Zin in the side and i really mean that

[HCZ_Reborn]

Zinchenko is hopdeless going forward, dawdles on the ball, slows our play down, often then gives it away and regularly ignores Martinelli - I'd rather play with ten men than have Zin in the side and i really mean that

Except that Martinelli often sees more of the ball when Zinchenko plays than when anyone else plays. He is a dawdler but he’s more likely to get Martinelli than Havertz, Trossard or Rice (who is a terrible passer of the ball, he just bombs forward as if he’s Frank Lampard)

[Mac76]

Except that Martinelli often sees more of the ball when Zinchenko plays than when anyone else plays. He is a dawdler but he’s more likely to get Martinelli than Havertz, Trossard or Rice (who is a terrible passer of the ball, he just bombs forward as if he’s Frank Lampard)

That sounds like the kind of stat that's very open to misinterpretation and I suspect it's more to do with other circumstances - it's maybe not as clear when you only watch on TV ;) but I can tell you that the number of times he ignores Martinelli when Martinelli's found himself some space in a good position is really something

[HCZ_Reborn]

That sounds like the kind of stat that's very open to misinterpretation and I suspect it's more to do with other circumstances - it's maybe not as clear when you only watch on TV ;) but I can tell you that the number of times he ignores Martinelli when Martinelli's found himself some space in a good position is really something

I’d love to take your word for it, but you did say that you saw evidence of Xhaka being a teachers pet from the crowd. And I don’t know if you were deluded, or were just lying out of frustration with me telling you I think you’re wrong but it does rather blacken your credibility as a good eye witness.

It’s all relative but Martinelli would see less of the ball with Tierney because Tierney would make his own driving runs and there was very little overlap with the players, and as much as I love Martinelli you have to accept that he’s a lazy shit who won’t come deep to receive the ball.

Ideally you’d have someone like that little Italian lad that Newcastle signed in that position. But we chose not to sign two midfielders, we signed Rice and Havertz (170 million on two players, neither are good enough for what we needed them for)

[Mac76]

Comparisions with Tierney are irrelevant - what we need is whoever plays in the kind of area that Zin does (which patently is not Tierney as Zin is not an LB) should be finding Martinelli far more regularly - it's not rocket science - we just need someone who lifts his head up so they can see when a high-quality attacking winger is in a good position

what we don't need is a toilet-brush-headed little tosser who keeps giving the ball way with his in-field no-look passes

[HCZ_Reborn]

Comparisions with Tierney are irrelevant - what we need is whoever plays in the kind of area that Zin does (which patently is not Tierney as Zin is not an LB) should be finding Martinelli far more regularly - it's not rocket science - we just need someone who lifts his head up so they can see when a high-quality attacking winger is in a good position

what we don't need is a toilet-brush-headed little tosser who keeps giving the ball way with his in-field no-look passes

For what it’s worth I agree but you play what you have. And for the reasons I’ve stated it’s better to play with no full backs at all in a game like Fulham….and play Zinchenko further up the field where his indolence is less harmful and his passing is more useful.

It’s not worth having a go at me because 90% of Arteta’s signings have been contrary to what we need

[Chippy]

For what it’s worth I agree but you play what you have. And for the reasons I’ve stated it’s better to play with no full backs at all in a game like Fulham….and play Zinchenko further up the field where his indolence is less harmful and his passing is more useful.

It’s not worth having a go at me because 90% of Arteta’s signings have been contrary to what we need
:haha:
The last part.

[HCZ_Reborn]

:haha:
The last part.


Well let’s look at it


How many defenders have we signed since he’s been coach

Mari, Cedric, Gabriel, Tavares, Tomoyasu, White, Zinchenko, Kiwior, Timber


You’d be hard pressed to call more than three or four of those needed signings in terms of strength in depth


Then Havertz, Vieira, Jesus…we needed a striker not a wide forward who struggles for goals


Yes 90% might be an exaggerated number but despite spending 600 million we haven’t bought a single out and out striker and we’ve had to be down to bare bones almost before signing a midfielder. The transfer outlay has not come close to providing what the squad genuinely needs.

[Marc Overmars]

Tierney’s loan to Sociedad is official.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Rumours suggesting we are going to sell Smith Rowe to Chelsea. I am definitely ok with us selling Smith-Rowe but not to them

[Marc Overmars]

It’s fairly obvious ESR is not in the managers plans and if you’re him you would definitely look to move on.

Chelsea would be a weird one though, they’re stacked with players of his profile, so I think he’d have the same problem there trying to get minutes.

[Mac76]

Rumours suggesting we are going to sell Smith Rowe to Chelsea. I am definitely ok with us selling Smith-Rowe but not to them

Agreed, I've no problem with selling him but not to them, if we do it's got to be for at least what we bought Havertz for - after all he's a talented young player, English etc...

[Mac76]

more here: https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/football/arsenals-stance-on-selling-emile-smith-rowe-after-chelsea-register-late-interest/ar-AA1fVsLo

[Mac76]

Eric Garcia keen to leave Barca apparently https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/football/arsenal-target-demands-to-leave-barcelona/ar-AA1fSGhk?cvid=0d61f27301984e7595da9c7ea8ef4e63&ei=21

doesn't feel like good news for Gabriel, after all losing Timber means we're no worse off for CBs than we were last season, but it feels like maybe he's falling foul of Arteta's obsession with everyone being able to play several positions - never mind that he's very good in his main one...

[HCZ_Reborn]

I have a nasty feeling it’s all about FFP. The Saudi window is open till the end of September and I think the club have told Arteta that if they get an offer they can’t refuse for Gabriel they will accept it. As I say a lot, ad nauseum in fact we’ve spent 600 million…and haven’t got much from player sales.

Smith Rowe, Gabriel may be sacrificed because we won’t get as much for the players we definitely don’t want.

The other possibility is that Captain Black wants defenders that are good on the ball.

[dostoy]

Rumours about Arsenal being interested in Victor Nelsson, a 24 year old Danish centre back who plays for Galatasaray.

What does this mean for Gabriel ?

Surely Gabriel, if he is still here, will be back starting when the transfer window is closed.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Rumours about Arsenal being interested in Victor Nelsson, a 24 year old Danish centre back who plays for Galatasaray.

What does this mean for Gabriel ?

Surely Gabriel, if he is still here, will be back starting when the transfer window is closed.


The transfer window closes in Europe, not Saudi Arabia

[Mac76]

It's pretty obvious now Arteta has decided he doesn't want Gabriel at the club, because of his obssession with flexible players and / or because Gabriel has made the mistake of rousing Arteta's insecurities by challenging him somehow

Arteta is literally destroying the team before our eyes

[HCZ_Reborn]

It's pretty obvious now Arteta has decided he doesn't want Gabriel at the club, because of his obssession with flexible players and / or because Gabriel has made the mistake of rousing Arteta's insecurities by challenging him somehow

Arteta is literally destroying the team before our eyes


Do you ever feel silly when you use definitive terms like pretty obvious.

Should I read between the lines that pretty obvious means it suits my narrative

I’m not saying you’re definitely wrong, but have already given you an alternative explanation relating to FFP which is just as plausible given how much we’ve spent and how little we’ve recouped. We’ve knocked back approaches for Gabriel, we clearly want silly money for him if we are to sell him at all which fits my theory far better than yours.

[mandela8]

It's pretty obvious now Arteta has decided he doesn't want Gabriel at the club, because of his obssession with flexible players and / or because Gabriel has made the mistake of rousing Arteta's insecurities by challenging him somehow

Arteta is literally destroying the team before our eyes

I think Gabriel will be fine. I think Arteta is just making a point here and it's not a long term thing. I seem to be in the minority, again, in thinking Gabriel's form has warranted being dropped multiple times throughout his time here. He's just very error prone. He had one in the charity shield, I think, and although didn't lead to anything it showed he's really not improving that brain fart weakness he has.

[Mac76]

I think Gabriel will be fine. I think Arteta is just making a point here and it's not a long term thing. I seem to be in the minority, again, in thinking Gabriel's form has warranted being dropped multiple times throughout his time here. He's just very error prone. He had one in the charity shield, I think, and although didn't lead to anything it showed he's really not improving that brain fart weakness he has.

I hope you're right but Arteta seems to be very binary about players, either they're a Xhaka or Zin who can never do anything wrong and are always on the team sheet, or they're pretty much pond life to him

[Mac76]

I’m not saying you’re definitely wrong, but have already given you an alternative explanation relating to FFP which is just as plausible given how much we’ve spent and how little we’ve recouped. We’ve knocked back approaches for Gabriel, we clearly want silly money for him if we are to sell him at all which fits my theory far better than yours.

they're not mutually exclusive, if it was a player Arteta wanted to keep we wouldn't be selling and the problem here is that Arteta is in a very small minority (possibly of one) who thinks Gabriel is someone we should sell

for example, if it was me I'd sell Zin - I know many wouldn't agree, but the point i'm making is I would sell Zin because i don't like him much as a player and think he detracts from our play, so perhaps Arteta thinks the same about Gabriel - but he's in such a small minority there that i think ki'm entitled to say he's wrong

the rest of us know how well he teams up with Saliba

frankly if we sell Gabriel to pay for Havertz that's the worst exchange ever

[mandela8]

I hope you're right but Arteta seems to be very binary about players, either they're a Xhaka or Zin who can never do anything wrong and are always on the team sheet, or they're pretty much pond life to him

I do agree with that, tbh. For that reason I guess concern is warranted, but I just think this one is a little different. Gabriel will be back soon, I reckon.

[HCZ_Reborn]

they're not mutually exclusive, if it was a player Arteta wanted to keep we wouldn't be selling and the problem here is that Arteta is in a very small minority (possibly of one) who thinks Gabriel is someone we should sell

for example, if it was me I'd sell Zin - I know many wouldn't agree, but the point i'm making is I would sell Zin because i don't like him much as a player and think he detracts from our play, so perhaps Arteta thinks the same about Gabriel - but he's in such a small minority there that i think ki'm entitled to say he's wrong

the rest of us know how well he teams up with Saliba

frankly if we sell Gabriel to pay for Havertz that's the worst exchange ever


They are kind of mutually exclusive, you want to sell Zinchenko? Join the queue but it’s not Zinchenko that the Saudis are sniffing around. If we got rid of all the players we want to get rid of, it gets them off the wage bill but not going to get the money we need for them.

Arteta doesn’t rate Tierney, we agree that’s silly. But surely why not hold out for a better offer than going on loan to Sociedad? Because that’s what we are doing with Gabriel, and what’s what we did with Partey.


There’s clearly desperation to get cash in for players.

[HCZ_Reborn]

https://youtu.be/SgHjkCHb_7Y?si=QFT5RVXoBIohco0c


“The word was out, the bosses had, had enough of Mikel…they’d had enough. How much more were they going to take. So they buried him and Edu whilst they were still breathing”

[Marc Overmars]

Tavares being loaned to Forest.

Mad how we can’t get any money for our players.

[Chippy]

Tavares being loaned to Forest.

Mad how we can’t get any money for our players.
Because most of them are shit.

[Mac76]

Because most of them are shit.

NOt only are they not very good but also Arteta's obvious discarding of players he doesn't rate or want to include is devaluing them

[HCZ_Reborn]

It’s like the Raya signing, an initial loan with a purchase option…a try before you buy if you like. Plus ultimately if you loan a player out into the premier league that gives you every chance of increasing their value.

Tavares is good going forward but he can’t defend for shit so we don’t really need him.

[IBK]

they're not mutually exclusive, if it was a player Arteta wanted to keep we wouldn't be selling and the problem here is that Arteta is in a very small minority (possibly of one) who thinks Gabriel is someone we should sell

for example, if it was me I'd sell Zin - I know many wouldn't agree, but the point i'm making is I would sell Zin because i don't like him much as a player and think he detracts from our play, so perhaps Arteta thinks the same about Gabriel - but he's in such a small minority there that i think ki'm entitled to say he's wrong

the rest of us know how well he teams up with Saliba

frankly if we sell Gabriel to pay for Havertz that's the worst exchange ever

I agree with you re Gabriel. He was part of maybe the best CB pairing in the league last season, and it's no mystery why we dropped off defensively when Saliba got injured. IMO football is a team game and you have to look at how players combine rether than simply judge them individually. Gabriel made some mistakes, but so do the majority of CB's. Saliba has made 2 glaring ones in 3 games this season. Gabriel is not only a full blooded defender - that I think helps us, but he is an organiser (we desperately need one given our weakness in defending set pieces) and an important goal threat from corners/set pieces at the other end. I am frustrated by whet seems to be a 'situation' with him, and Gabriel's absense is one of my chief frustrations so far this season.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Balogun to Monaco is done, I can’t even pretend to feel too disheartened by this. I’ve seen no evidence that he’s any better than Edward, and Edward at least has goalscoring experience in the premier league. Plus many of us are now at the point where we’d start Edward over Jesus because he’s scored twice, and whilst I find his indecision in front of goal disheartening he makes himself available and on balance has been one of the few players this season who on balance hasn’t been a disappointment

[Marc Overmars]

Apparently we’ve got a 17.5% sell on clause which is decent.

[Marc Overmars]

Chelsea are signing Cole Palmer for 45m. :blink:

[Mac76]

Chelsea are signing Cole Palmer for 45m. :blink:

A rising star with lots of potential for two-thirds of the price they got us to pay for a total flop

[Marc Overmars]

Looks like Palace are interested in Holding.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Looks like Palace are interested in Holding.

Those silly sods :lol:

[Marc Overmars]

Can’t believe we haven’t got a buyer for Pepe. Not even from Saudi.

Heading towards a contract termination which would be a fitting end to the worst signing in the clubs history.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Can’t believe we haven’t got a buyer for Pepe. Not even from Saudi.

Heading towards a contract termination which would be a fitting end to the worst signing in the clubs history.

It’s weird, not sure we can blame Arteta fully for it. Just feels like he doesn’t have the best attitude. Would I keep him at the club? Yes I would. But he’s had a whole season on loan to prove himself and doesn’t look like it’s happened

[Mac76]

Can’t believe we haven’t got a buyer for Pepe. Not even from Saudi.

Heading towards a contract termination which would be a fitting end to the worst signing in the clubs history.

In terms of the quality of the player, nowhere near our worst signing - even in recent times we have Mustafi, Runarrsson, Tavares, Xhaka (for the first five seasons) and for my money Zinchenko because of how his presence has allowed Arteta to abandon the LB altogether and undermine the team's performance

was Pepe worth what we paid? - ofc not, but in my mind there's no doubt he could have made a more significant impact if we'd had different managers overseeing him

[Letters]

Sanogo :lol:

But for the price we paid, Pepe has to be one of the worst value for money signing we've made.

[HCZ_Reborn]

In terms of the quality of the player, nowhere near our worst signing - even in recent times we have Mustafi, Runarrsson, Tavares, Xhaka (for the first five seasons) and for my money Zinchenko because of how his presence has allowed Arteta to abandon the LB altogether and undermine the team's performance

was Pepe worth what we paid? - ofc not, but in my mind there's no doubt he could have made a more significant impact if we'd had different managers overseeing him


I could be wrong here, but Nice didn’t express any interest in signing him permanently did they?. I wouldn’t want to guess why that is, probably lack of money as we seem determined to recoup some of the money we paid for him. Ultimately it’s about separating the question is he one of our worst signings with is he one of the worst players to play for is?. Now in regard to the latter, the answer is definitely no. Definitely been better for us than Jadon Sancho, Angel Di Maria or Anthony has been for Man United without any shadow of a doubt.

But we spent 72 million on a one season wonder, and he’s been buried under the weight of expectation of that price tag. The fact that neither Emery or Arteta or it appears Lucien Favre or the young (word I’m not going to use because it made for a tiresome debate the other day) rated him either.

I can see why, he can be a good finisher, but he won’t come deep to win possession, he doesn’t have a brilliant first touch and sometimes doesn’t even bother to make runs to be found…he clearly has talent but is exceptionally lazy.


Despite all that, I’d keep him as a back pocket option as it would be better than shelling out to cancel his contract

[HCZ_Reborn]

Looking to bring in Joao Cancelo on loan for the season. I think that would be a very good move, actually a proper full back who can cover both sides.

Now obviously I think we need a striker but that’s not going to happen at least before January…but as much as I do get irritated with us signing defenders and neglecting other areas i think this would be a useful and needed player

[Marc Overmars]

Yeah that would be a smart move given Timber’s injury.

He was exceptional before he fell out with Pep.

[Marc Overmars]

Liverpool have rejected a 150m bid from Saudi for Salah. :lol:

[HCZ_Reborn]

Yeah that would be a smart move given Timber’s injury.

He was exceptional before he fell out with Pep.

Genuinely surprised more players don’t fall out with Pep. If I was Haaland I’d have told him to fuck off after he publicly castigated me on camera for doing my job…scored two goals and bollock him for shouting at other players for poor balls to him. Fuck that…first of all do it in the dressing room if you have to do it at all. Second you should be pleased if a player is hungry

[HCZ_Reborn]

Liverpool have rejected a 150m bid from Saudi for Salah. :lol:

Hmmm if they’d made that bid earlier in the summer, you’d think they’d be tempted. He’s 32 now, he’s played his best football and like with the Ammers and the Rice money you can buy a few players with that cash (Gravenberch is a very good signing, May make them title contenders buying him…though they still need a defender)

[Mac76]

Yeah that would be a smart move given Timber’s injury.

He was exceptional before he fell out with Pep.

I agree, he woudl be great to bring in

if so then...

Zin :wave:

[Mac76]

Hmmm if they’d made that bid earlier in the summer, you’d think they’d be tempted. He’s 32 now, he’s played his best football and like with the Ammers and the Rice money you can buy a few players with that cash (Gravenberch is a very good signing, May make them title contenders buying him…though they still need a defender)

They're not at the point where they can lose someone who so regularly delivers, he's registered a contribution in all three of their games so far, they just can't afford to let him go

[HCZ_Reborn]

They're not at the point where they can lose someone who so regularly delivers, he's registered a contribution in all three of their games so far, they just can't afford to let him go

No I tend to agree, but still though as I say earlier in the summer you’d be tempted for sure.

[Marc Overmars]

Salah is so effective that it would need to be something approaching a world record to let him go at this stage of the window.

[Marc Overmars]

United have signed Amrabat on loan with an option to buy.

[dostoy]

Holding to Palace for 4 Million.

How much are they paying for his hairpiece ?

[Mac76]

Holding to Palace for 4 Million.

How much are they paying for his hairpiece ?

It's not a lot of money for an experienced PL CB, who is English, but I'm not going to moan too much about it, his recent perfomances haven't been great tbh

A good servant to the club though and I wish him well :good:

oh and it's not a hairpiece, he had a transplant - and so would you if you were going bald and had the money :)

[HCZ_Reborn]

It's not a lot of money for an experienced PL CB, who is English, but I'm not going to moan too much about it, his recent perfomances haven't been great tbh

A good servant to the club though and I wish him well :good:

oh and it's not a hairpiece, he had a transplant - and so would you if you were going bald and had the money :)


I personally wouldn’t, I can understand why people do…but just like with going grey which I am in places it wouldn’t bother me. I often shave my hair so it’s incredibly short anyway.

In fact I wish I was going bald, my hair is ridiculously thick….they should stop using uygar hair to make wigs and use mine instead.

[dostoy]

Arsenal are the worst sellers.

Levy would have got 10 million for Holding and a 20% sell on fee.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Arsenal are the worst sellers.

Levy would have got 10 million for Holding and a 20% sell on fee.


Would he?. I think he’d have ended up lumbered with the player where no club would have paid ten million for him


Brass tacks here. Holding is about league one quality. He’s not good at defending set pieces, has zero pace and zero ball control skills. You can’t just say “oh we should be getting this much for this player” when no one in their right mind will pay it

[mandela8]

Sad to see Holding go. Probably been my favorite player over the last few years, despite being pretty limited.

[mandela8]

It's not a lot of money for an experienced PL CB, who is English, but I'm not going to moan too much about it, his recent perfomances haven't been great tbh

A good servant to the club though and I wish him well :good:

oh and it's not a hairpiece, he had a transplant - and so would you if you were going bald and had the money :)

Damn fuckin right I'd get a hair transplant if I started going bald. 100%. Some of them look amazing, man. Wouldn't mind going grey, already am a wee bit at the side, but baldy??? Absolutely fuckin not. I've got a funny shaped heid, ffs. Mates would hum the Crystal Maze theme tune whenever they saw me.

[Marc Overmars]

Rob Holding was worth every penny with that 2017 FA Cup final performance.

Good luck to him.

[Mac76]

Damn fuckin right I'd get a hair transplant if I started going bald. 100%. Some of them look amazing, man. Wouldn't mind going grey, already am a wee bit at the side, but baldy??? Absolutely fuckin not. I've got a funny shaped heid, ffs. Mates would hum the Crystal Maze theme tune whenever they saw me.

:lol:

I have the kind of face that wouldn't suit being bald at all, am just hoping I can keep hold of it, as no way can I afford a transplant

[Marc Overmars]

Lokonga has been loaned to Luton. :lol:

Pitiful.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Lokonga has been loaned to Luton. :lol:

Pitiful.


I do think we are a bit harsh on our club over the player sales but ultimately you can’t make clubs buy rubbish for big amounts. Tierney is the only one I’m slightly surprised by. The thing is most clubs can’t afford players at this late stage, that’s why there’s a lot of loan deals going on.

Brighton weren’t going to spend twenty million on Lokonga, that was fanciful


End of the day if the player proves themselves on loan, we should get a reasonable transfer fee for them if they don’t…then the wasted money was buying them in the first place

[Marc Overmars]

It’s being reported that Liverpool could receive a 215m bid for Salah.

As much as it would set them back, I just fail to see how they could refuse that.

[Mac76]

Yeah I guess so, but as you say it would set them back

[HCZ_Reborn]

Yeah I guess so, but as you say it would set them back

With the transfer window closed I can see zero benefit to them of selling, even if they’d made such an absurd offer in July replacing like for like in terms of his influence on and contribution to the team would have been difficult. But at this moment in time? There’s no benefit to them whatsoever given that they seem efficiently well run so as not to have run up unsustainable debt.

Yes I’ve said earlier he’s not getting any younger, but they could honest challenge for the title this season (although I don’t think their defence is good enough) but selling him would blow that prospect right out of the water

[HCZ_Reborn]

Nicolas Pepe is close to joining Al-Shabaab which I’m assuming is a Saudi football club rather than the extremist militant Sunni Islamist group that operates on the African continent

[Marc Overmars]

Only we could sell a player to Saudi and get sod all for him.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Only we could sell a player to Saudi and get sod all for him.

I feel that we seem to be more focused on the wage bill than transfer fees. With Pepe we have someone on high wages who we don’t want anymore. Therefore we can’t really set the terms of what is offered because the buying club have more leverage. Now you can argue that actually this is because we go about things the wrong way, Chelsea started selling before buying but I certainly don’t envisage copying their transfer model (nor would I want to)

When Arteta makes it clear he no longer values a player, it depresses that players sell on value

[HCZ_Reborn]

Watched the highlights of Real Sociedad’s game with Granada the other day, mainly out of interest to see how Tierney was getting on (didn’t really make that great an impact, positively or negatively but I say that with the caveat that you can’t always get a good read unless you watch the whole game). But what I did see was a player that I’d like to see us take a look at… Takefusa (Take) Kubo. Player that’s just an utter nuisance like Mitoma but operates on the right hand side.

Not saying we should get him, not on the basis of one game. But definitely worth keeping an eye out for.

[Mac76]

Only we could sell a player to Saudi and get sod all for him.

agreed, whatever the circumstances around it, everyone else is fleecing them and we get mugged as usual

I feel sorry for Pepe, we completely messed up his career

[HCZ_Reborn]

agreed, whatever the circumstances around it, everyone else is fleecing them and we get mugged as usual

I feel sorry for Pepe, we completely messed up his career


Did we? I mean yes he’s no worse than Jadon Sancho or Antony but the only thing we did to ruin his career was to buy him in the first place.

[Marc Overmars]

Pepe has finally gone. Signs for Trabzonspor in Turkey for 3m. :lol:

[Mac76]

Pepe has finally gone. Signs for Trabzonspor in Turkey for 3m. :lol:

only a £69m loss then

good piece of business

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Pepe has finally gone. Signs for Trabzonspor in Turkey for 3m. :lol:

A totally pointless sale, would have been better to have kept him.

I mean if we can keep Havertz who in his short time has denied teammates 2 goal scoring opportunities, contributed to 2 goals for the opposition and squandered countless chances in about 5 matches, we should have space for Pepe whose only sin is he is not the kind of player Arteta likes. A stupid decision on par with getting rid of Torrieira when we still had the likes of Xhaka in the books

[Mac76]

A totally pointless sale, would have been better to have kept him.

I mean if we can keep Havertz who in his short time has denied teammates 2 goal scoring opportunities, contributed to 2 goals for the opposition and squandered countless chances in about 5 matches, we should have space for Pepe whose only sin is he is not the kind of player Arteta likes. A stupid decision on par with getting rid of Torrieira when we still had the likes of Xhaka in the books

:gp:

[HCZ_Reborn]

I suspect a lot of it is getting players like that off the wage bill, on balance I’d have sooner kept him but when he’s had the chance to restart his career with a loan in France and it’s fair to say that this wasn’t a particular success neither can the decision be called a baffling one.

I always thought he was a bit one dimensional and a bit lazy. And I shouldn’t think it likely that he takes Turkey by storm

[IBK]

I suspect a lot of it is getting players like that off the wage bill, on balance I’d have sooner kept him but when he’s had the chance to restart his career with a loan in France and it’s fair to say that this wasn’t a particular success neither can the decision be called a baffling one.

I always thought he was a bit one dimensional and a bit lazy. And I shouldn’t think it likely that he takes Turkey by storm

I was going to moan that Arteta killed Pepe a bit - and he was certainly in the category of players who appear to have been treated unfairly by the manager (Smith Rowe anyone?). But the highlighted part of your post probably sums the player up perfectly...

[Mac76]

I was going to moan that Arteta killed Pepe a bit - and he was certainly in the category of players who appear to have been treated unfairly by the manager (Smith Rowe anyone?). But the highlighted part of your post probably sums the player up perfectly...

agreeing with one of HCZ's predictions is a risky game - i believe that statistically, they have 0.0001% of being correct...

[HCZ_Reborn]

agreeing with one of HCZ's predictions is a risky game - i believe that statistically, they have 0.0001% of being correct...


Better than making wild guesses and telling yourself you were right by making definitive statements

But then again someone who believes cancel culture is a myth is usually beholden to an ideological way of thinking that they can’t or won’t break through. Cancel culture to one extent or another has always existed but it’s more the liberal left responsible for it because they control the culture currently even if not the politics and social media has exacerbated it.

I’m surprised you haven’t given me a completely misunderstood interpretation of Karl Popper yet, because people will inevitably gravitate from it doesn’t exist to it does exist but actually it’s a good thing

[Dein-machine]

Hi guys - not posted in a while. Been away for a bit. Last posted when AW was manager.
Have to say mainly positive stuff about Arteta but we still seem to far too slow with transfers & gettting rid of the dross. All the recent lot leaving either sold or loaned should have happened ages ago freeing up squad spaces, salaries & maybe to allow another purchase. My main issue is Havertz. Can anyone explain Artetas reasoning on this & what he is trying do. In my opinion, Xhaka has stunk us out for years & another reason to question Arteta but has he managed to replace him with someone even worse. Can ESR not do his role, would Maddison or even Ward Prowse not been a better idea for left mid.

[Letters]

Hi guys - not posted in a while. Been away for a bit. Last posted when AW was manager.
GW blocked in jails? :(


Have to say mainly positive stuff about Arteta but we still seem to far too slow with transfers & gettting rid of the dross.
I don't think the former is true in the summer just gone. We did our business early. The Rice things dragged on a bit but it was still done way before the season started, no deadline day scrambling this year.
The latter...well, maybe.
My concern is more whether we've done good business. Expectations are raised after last season and so far it's not really clicked this season. But results have been mostly good so far so it's a bit early to push the panic button.


My main issue is Havertz.
I think that's everyone's main issue :lol:

[HCZ_Reborn]

Unlike other people on here, I do think Havertz is a talented player. However I don’t believe he’s a central midfielder and I think given he’s not and out and out striker either, the money would have better spent on a box to box player or on a striker (though I still think that would have left us light in midfield)

I’ve had people say to me he reminds them of Ozil. I don’t know…I think Ozil was one of the most technically accomplished players in the game. As much as I disliked him personally because of a horrible attitude, he was also a privilege to watch (especially if you watched games from the upper tier where he was giving the crowd a lesson in three dimensional geometry with his passing). Havertz isn’t that level, he’s decent technically, he can hold up the ball well and he seems to have a good reading of the game but he seems at least to me utterly confused as to what he’s been asked to do as well as seemingly lacking the confidence to execute what he is doing.

Getting a lot of people on twitter moralising how the Arsenal fans on social media are getting on his case, well tough. He’s played for Germany for years…they expect the best and they expect you to be mentally strong (although didn’t see evidence of either in their 4-1 hammering to Japan on Saturday). And that’s where I additionally question him. This is a guy who clearly doesn’t have a strong mentality. He’s not a dickhead like Ozil, but this is somehow whose head goes down when things go against him. There’s often a lack of conviction in what he’s doing.

And frankly he needs to be taught that he needs to earn his place but Arteta has spent 65 million on him desperate to prove it’s not a waste of money. Where as the obvious way to get from him what he thinks he’s capable of is to bench him and use him as an impact substitute

[IBK]

Hi guys - not posted in a while. Been away for a bit. Last posted when AW was manager.
Have to say mainly positive stuff about Arteta but we still seem to far too slow with transfers & gettting rid of the dross. All the recent lot leaving either sold or loaned should have happened ages ago freeing up squad spaces, salaries & maybe to allow another purchase. My main issue is Havertz. Can anyone explain Artetas reasoning on this & what he is trying do. In my opinion, Xhaka has stunk us out for years & another reason to question Arteta but has he managed to replace him with someone even worse. Can ESR not do his role, would Maddison or even Ward Prowse not been a better idea for left mid.

I remember you Mate - welcome back.

I've been thinking about our transfers. I think Edu and Co have been good - and timely with incoming players over the past 2 seasons, and the talent ID has been mostly spot on. Of course there have been some duds but there always are - noone gets it perfect.

Outgoings less so. I think that the main criticism here has been the freezing out of some players (Pepe; Tierney; Torreira; Leno - and before him Martinez spring to mind) that has trashed their sale values. But others (eg Maitland Niles; Aubameyang; Guendouzi) have not shown what it takes to play for the club, and the likes of Lokonga; Marquinos and Tavares have simply not performed well enough for there to be interest in permanent transfers out. I think that there is less cause for criticism with the 2 latter groups.

There are also further mitigating factors. Other than the biggest teams - Europe is broke, and it is simply not possible to demand high transfer fees. In the EPL there has simply been insufficient interest for players such as Tierney whom we value highly. The best example of this is Holding. He was played last season, and is a solid defender (just not in our system) - but what was the club supposed to do when we had to get him off our books but the best offer was so low?

The exception to the rule has been Saudi Arabia. As well as having an embarrassment of riches as regards quality players (they just can't play together) Chelsea clearly have Suadi connections from which they have benefitted. Citeh, Liverpool have had big name players with big reps - exactly the players that Saudi wants. I don't think that Arsenal can be blamed for not having either the players or the connections to make this happen.

Another factor is the evolution of the game. Tierney's strength is something that is clearly not as in demand given the trend to inverted FBs. Holding is a good backs to the wall defender who is being superseded by quick-running ball players.

There is also the legacy to consider. Unlike the likes of Citeh; Liverpool; Chelsea at the top and Brighton lower down, our team was until recently stuffed full of mediocre players, rather than those sought after elsewhere. This was a legacy issue that was always going to take pain to resolve. Our focus has been on improving the squad first and foremost, and then trying to trim the dross. I'm not sure that I would have wanted to delay the former until sales were completed. We now have a squad full of players for whom, IMO there would be high demand, so I think my main criticism would be not making good sales going forwards by selling at the right time, rather than looking too harshly on the past.

Timing is tricky too. People are saying that we should have sold Partey given his now recurring injury record, but I don't recall many Gooners advocating this in the transfer widow. Most thought he was essential as DM cover. By all accounts Big Gaby's agent was agitating for a Saudi move, but IMO it would have been a disaster to sell him. ESR is looking like the exception - and I attribute blame here. I cannot understand why a player who was dynamite 2 seasons ago was not given a chance last season - and if (as appears), he is still being frozen out now we should have sold him. But when? He was injured in the January transfer window, and most were pleased when the club said he was not going to be sold in the Summer.

Havertz...I agree with you thus far, but it is still early days.

[Mac76]

Xhaka has stunk us out for years

I think I joined after you left but I like you already :good:

[Dein-machine]

I think I joined after you left but I like you already :good:

��- are there those on here that rate him then

[Dein-machine]

I remember you Mate - welcome back.

I've been thinking about our transfers. I think Edu and Co have been good - and timely with incoming players over the past 2 seasons, and the talent ID has been mostly spot on. Of course there have been some duds but there always are - noone gets it perfect.

Outgoings less so. I think that the main criticism here has been the freezing out of some players (Pepe; Tierney; Torreira; Leno - and before him Martinez spring to mind) that has trashed their sale values. But others (eg Maitland Niles; Aubameyang; Guendouzi) have not shown what it takes to play for the club, and the likes of Lokonga; Marquinos and Tavares have simply not performed well enough for there to be interest in permanent transfers out. I think that there is less cause for criticism with the 2 latter groups.

There are also further mitigating factors. Other than the biggest teams - Europe is broke, and it is simply not possible to demand high transfer fees. In the EPL there has simply been insufficient interest for players such as Tierney whom we value highly. The best example of this is Holding. He was played last season, and is a solid defender (just not in our system) - but what was the club supposed to do when we had to get him off our books but the best offer was so low?

The exception to the rule has been Saudi Arabia. As well as having an embarrassment of riches as regards quality players (they just can't play together) Chelsea clearly have Suadi connections from which they have benefitted. Citeh, Liverpool have had big name players with big reps - exactly the players that Saudi wants. I don't think that Arsenal can be blamed for not having either the players or the connections to make this happen.

Another factor is the evolution of the game. Tierney's strength is something that is clearly not as in demand given the trend to inverted FBs. Holding is a good backs to the wall defender who is being superseded by quick-running ball players.

There is also the legacy to consider. Unlike the likes of Citeh; Liverpool; Chelsea at the top and Brighton lower down, our team was until recently stuffed full of mediocre players, rather than those sought after elsewhere. This was a legacy issue that was always going to take pain to resolve. Our focus has been on improving the squad first and foremost, and then trying to trim the dross. I'm not sure that I would have wanted to delay the former until sales were completed. We now have a squad full of players for whom, IMO there would be high demand, so I think my main criticism would be not making good sales going forwards by selling at the right time, rather than looking too harshly on the past.

Timing is tricky too. People are saying that we should have sold Partey given his now recurring injury record, but I don't recall many Gooners advocating this in the transfer widow. Most thought he was essential as DM cover. By all accounts Big Gaby's agent was agitating for a Saudi move, but IMO it would have been a disaster to sell him. ESR is looking like the exception - and I attribute blame here. I cannot understand why a player who was dynamite 2 seasons ago was not given a chance last season - and if (as appears), he is still being frozen out now we should have sold him. But when? He was injured in the January transfer window, and most were pleased when the club said he was not going to be sold in the Summer.

Havertz...I agree with you thus far, but it is still early days.

Cheers mate - all agreed on what you say but when Arteta was moaning about the squad size - its his squad. Him & Edu have had plenty of time to get rid of the dross. If you take risks on players like Pepe, theres a good chance that they dont have the same success in the Premier league as opposed to Ligue 1. The minute the penny drops that hes not good enough, they have to go even at substantial loss.

[IBK]

Cheers mate - all agreed on what you say but when Arteta was moaning about the squad size - its his squad. Him & Edu have had plenty of time to get rid of the dross. If you take risks on players like Pepe, theres a good chance that they dont have the same success in the Premier league as opposed to Ligue 1. The minute the penny drops that hes not good enough, they have to go even at substantial loss.

I'd agree with that...only observation I'd make is that Pepe wasn't Arteta's signing - and by all accounts was bought by that corrupt bastard Sanllehi despite Emery wanting Zaha (also BTW left Palace on a free).

in fact many EPL clubs have had to accept free transfers and loand for players you would have thought would be worth something.

Arteta and Edu's baby fully now. If we fail to get value for players from now on in it's all on them...

[Mac76]

��- are there those on here that rate him then

There's a bit of amnesia in the fanbase generally, which leads to people too easily fogetting he had five dreadful seasons but remained first on the teamsheet, then finally turned in decent performances for just one season and everyone went overboard (though it's some of the fans at games that were more guilty of that than the people on here)

[Mac76]

I'd agree with that...only observation I'd make is that Pepe wasn't Arteta's signing - and by all accounts was bought by that corrupt bastard Sanllehi despite Emery wanting Zaha (also BTW left Palace on a free).

in fact many EPL clubs have had to accept free transfers and loand for players you would have thought would be worth something.

Arteta and Edu's baby fully now. If we fail to get value for players from now on in it's all on them...

I think Arteta's habit of blatantly freezing out some players has reduced their value in some cases, we could have got a sale for Tierney and some others (not that I think we should have got rid of Tierney) if he hadn't starved them of minutes and then played them out of position when he did put them on the pitch

[HCZ_Reborn]

There's a bit of amnesia in the fanbase generally, which leads to people too easily fogetting he had five dreadful seasons but remained first on the teamsheet, then finally turned in decent performances for just one season and everyone went overboard (though it's some of the fans at games that were more guilty of that than the people on here)


I would probably say that it was more than just one good season, 2020/2021 he was probably our best player (low bar to get over for sure) but I suppose that what helped in the season gone by is that he was no longer required to drop deep, where his indolence, blind passing and total inability/unwillingness to play anything but with his left foot. And his passing range is ok….especially long passing.

But yeah definitely not sad to see him go, I think actually we did well to get the money we did for him and it’s only sullied by the fact that we’ve lumped Havertz in that role when the chance was there to get a really good box to box player.

Xhaka like Zinchenko was the hipsters footballer, a player for smug bearded cockrings the type of person who will give you a half hour lecture on how Tim Burton is actually a genius and most of his films aren’t all the same and tick the box of weird for the sake of weird.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Watched the highlights of Real Sociedad’s game with Granada the other day, mainly out of interest to see how Tierney was getting on (didn’t really make that great an impact, positively or negatively but I say that with the caveat that you can’t always get a good read unless you watch the whole game). But what I did see was a player that I’d like to see us take a look at… Takefusa (Take) Kubo. Player that’s just an utter nuisance like Mitoma but operates on the right hand side.

Not saying we should get him, not on the basis of one game. But definitely worth keeping an eye out for.


https://x.com/punchdrunkafc/status/1702278723519512682?s=46&t=n1tnxEg6k_DvSqUkaQFrjw


I must be psychic :lol:

[Mac76]

https://x.com/punchdrunkafc/status/1702278723519512682?s=46&t=n1tnxEg6k_DvSqUkaQFrjw


I must be psychic :lol:

Or you'd already seen the reports of our interest...

[Mac76]

Watched the highlights of Real Sociedad’s game with Granada the other day, mainly out of interest to see how Tierney was getting on (didn’t really make that great an impact, positively or negatively but I say that with the caveat that you can’t always get a good read unless you watch the whole game). But what I did see was a player that I’d like to see us take a look at… Takefusa (Take) Kubo. Player that’s just an utter nuisance like Mitoma but operates on the right hand side.

Not saying we should get him, not on the basis of one game. But definitely worth keeping an eye out for.

I think Tierney is a player more suited to the English/Scottish game so how he gets on at RS is irrelevant, he should still be here and taking his place at LB against Everton on Sunday

[HCZ_Reborn]

I think Tierney is a player more suited to the English/Scottish game so how he gets on at RS is irrelevant, he should still be here and taking his place at LB against Everton on Sunday

I’d say a player who is mainly about bursts of pace is much more suited to the Spanish game, but it’s kind of academic as the thrust of my post was far more about Take Kubo

[Mac76]

I'll say one thing, I did say we should have sold Partey in the summer, because he was unreliable and too injury-prone and this has been borne out by events - he was clearly crocked and we should have sold him while we could get a decent price.

No-one will buy him now and we're basically taking up a squad place and paying someone to sit around the treatment room most of the time

[Chippy]

I'll say one thing, I did say we should have sold Partey in the summer, because he was unreliable and too injury-prone and this has been borne out by events - he was clearly crocked and we should have sold him while we could get a decent price.

No-one will buy him now and we're basically taking up a squad place and paying someone to sit around the treatment room most of the time

Spot on!!
We also have Eddie and Havertz stinking up the place FFS.

[HCZ_Reborn]

I'll say one thing, I did say we should have sold Partey in the summer, because he was unreliable and too injury-prone and this has been borne out by events - he was clearly crocked and we should have sold him while we could get a decent price.

No-one will buy him now and we're basically taking up a squad place and paying someone to sit around the treatment room most of the time

So essentially what you wanted was to sell him off and accept the downgrade in Rice as a replacement

[HCZ_Reborn]

I think we probably would have sold Partey if we’d got enough for him to secure a replacement, but that never appeared on the offing

[Chippy]

Chelsea have joined the race for the signing of Ivan Toney......we need to move on to another target then.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Chelsea have joined the race for the signing of Ivan Toney......we need to move on to another target then.

I’m getting the impression genius doesn’t think we need a striker

[Chippy]

I’m getting the impression genius doesn’t think we need a striker

You know what, I honestly believe that whoever Arteta buys will not be played in the right position. I also believe that Arteta does not get the best out of players.

[IBK]

I dunno - I think it is a bit over simplistic to think that a striker will solve our current problems going forwards. Firstly we had a record scoring season last season with the same strikers, and sharing the goals out between our attacking forwards. Second, the whole team is misfiring ATM (in relative terms), from front to back. Our possession based system needs everyone to be firing but we are not - and even an upgraded striker needs quicker ball progression, more directness and far better service than the ones we are using have.

If I had to call it this season, I would say that our players are being subdued by the weight of expectation - and this explains the fact that we are particularly off colour at home. If our fast pressing starts do not yield anything then we look quite toothless. I will wait to see whether we can improve, but ATM we are looking far more like the team of the last third of last season than the one that did so well before March. I don't think one player changes that much...

[mandela8]

I dunno - I think it is a bit over simplistic to think that a striker will solve our current problems going forwards. Firstly we had a record scoring season last season with the same strikers, and sharing the goals out between our attacking forwards. Second, the whole team is misfiring ATM (in relative terms), from front to back. Our possession based system needs everyone to be firing but we are not - and even an upgraded striker needs quicker ball progression, more directness and far better service than the ones we are using have.



Whilst I think there's definitely some validity to this point we have seen Jesus habitually miss chances since his very first game. Eddie is guilty of this. Just having a more reliable striker would make a difference, even if everything else remained equal.

The other obvious improvement would be teaching Saka to use his right foot and get to the one more often. Just adding this variety to his game would add another dimension to the entire team. His constant cutting inside does stifle opportunity.

[IBK]

Whilst I think there's definitely some validity to this point we have seen Jesus habitually miss chances since his very first game. Eddie is guilty of this. Just having a more reliable striker would make a difference, even if everything else remained equal.

The other obvious improvement would be teaching Saka to use his right foot and get to the one more often. Just adding this variety to his game would add another dimension to the entire team. His constant cutting inside does stifle opportunity.

I thought about this...and again I don't think its quite that simple. Jesus is the perfect striker for our team - in everything apart from his finishing. He is maybe the best pressing forward in the league, and is pretty essential in allowing our other forwards chances to score. I think what we need therefore is a Jesus who is lethal, but is there anyone who fits that bill? A Toney would be more likely to finish chances, but would his style of playing lead to fewer goals elsewhere?

[dostoy]

Which striker will Arsenal sign in the summer ?

It won't be Toney.

[dazthegooner]

Thankfully also looks like Osimhen will sign for PSG dodged two bullets hopefully.

[Letters]

Firstly we had a record scoring season last season with the same strikers, and sharing the goals out between our attacking forwards.
My think about that is while yes, we did score a lot of goals we did also hand out a fair number of thrashings. There were, imo, too many games in which we didn't score.

Newcastle Away
Villa Away
West Ham Home
City Away
Villa Home

Sometimes in a tight game you just need someone to get that goal to get us going. That said, I was quite surprised to find that City actually failed to score in 4 games, so only one less than us.
So maybe it's not as big a problem as I imagined, but it does feel like a problem.

[dostoy]

Thankfully also looks like Osimhen will sign for PSG dodged two bullets hopefully.

He might go to Chelsea.

Maybe it will be Sesko, Zirkzee or Brobbey for Arsenal.

[Letters]

The other obvious improvement would be teaching Saka to use his right foot and get to the one more often. Just adding this variety to his game would add another dimension to the entire team. His constant cutting inside does stifle opportunity.
There is something in this. He can be a bit of a one trick pony. It's a very good trick but he could get found out. I think generally we need an alternative in his position, he's overplayed for the lack of one.

[HCZ_Reborn]

My think about that is while yes, we did score a lot of goals we did also hand out a fair number of thrashings. There were, imo, too many games in which we didn't score.

Newcastle Away
Villa Away
West Ham Home
City Away
Villa Home

Sometimes in a tight game you just need someone to get that goal to get us going. That said, I was quite surprised to find that City actually failed to score in 4 games, so only one less than us.
So maybe it's not as big a problem as I imagined, but it does feel like a problem.

For me It’s about goal distribution

The main problem I think we still have is dealing with being caught cold by teams who then sit with 11 players behind the ball.

We can say “oh they shouldn’t do that” but why shouldn’t they. West Ham at home a game you cite as crucial to our not winning the title, I don’t think our overall play was that bad. Unlike Villa who always looked threatening on the break, West Ham created pitifully little. Their first goal is an example of the arbitrary nature of VAR…the goal was awarded because it couldn’t be proved conclusively one way or the other whether the ball had gone out of play.


What you need is a player who can produce either that one moment of brilliance or one moment of ugliness. So either a Thierry Henry or an Olivier Giroud.


We’ve also been reliant on penalty awards this season. Most I think fairly, some a bit charitable.


I understand the Arteta desire to have several different outlets for goals, I totally support that approach. But you still want a go to guy who can stick it in the net at a clinch

[HCZ_Reborn]

There is something in this. He can be a bit of a one trick pony. It's a very good trick but he could get found out. I think generally we need an alternative in his position, he's overplayed for the lack of one.

Wenger told him this as well apparently

In that Wenger came in to meet the players as a guest of honour and Saka actually asked him how he thought he could improve

[Letters]

We can say “oh they shouldn’t do that” but why shouldn’t they. West Ham at home a game you cite as crucial to our not winning the title, I don’t think our overall play was that bad.
Most teams are going to play defensively against us because we're better than them so why wouldn't they? They're not just going to have a go and let us thrash them.
We need to be able to cope with that and it can be frustrating but West Ham at home is a good example of a game where we were well on top, created plenty but didn't score and then conceded a silly goal.
Even then, it was still the first half. We had what, an hour to get back into it? And we just couldn't. It was pathetic watching us flailing around with no idea how to stick the ball in the net.
Liverpool in the Cup was arguably worse, we absolutely spanked them in the first half and once again failed to score. Most of called it at half time - we were likely to be punished and picked off the first time Liverpool got a decent chance, and that's exactly what happened. There are fine lines in football, we just need someone who can score in tight games where you don't get many chances.

[Mac76]

I know what you'll all say but genuinely if we get rid of Zin, or marginalise him further, it will help with goal scoring because he slows us so down much in transition - I don't know when I'll have the time but I might try to anaylise our goals with him on the pitch and without him - I'm willing to bet there's a marked difference this season

[Marc Overmars]

United and Chelsea want Ipswich’s Kieran McKenna apparently. He’s done an amazing job at that level but this would be quite a leap. I guess you can’t really turn it down if you’re him though.

[Mac76]

United and Chelsea want Ipswich’s Kieran McKenna apparently. He’s done an amazing job at that level but this would be quite a leap. I guess you can’t really turn it down if you’re him though.

Feels like Potter Mk II

[Marc Overmars]

Partey on his way out according to Romano.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Partey on his way out according to Romano.

Can’t say I’m surprised. I think that was one injury too many. He seems to have lost a yard of pace and he’s not getting it back

Jorginho at least doesn’t rely on pace.


I think we need a replacement for Partey if he goes though

[HCZ_Reborn]

Rumours abound about Bruno Guimares

[Marc Overmars]

Rumours abound about Bruno Guimares

I can believe that. We wanted him before he went to Newcastle and with Partey going it seems like a decent replacement who wouldn’t need any time to settle.

[Mac76]

Not sure about that, I know he's talented but he also seems like a bit of a cheat, not in the cheeky-chappie Ben White way, but the violent type, he should have been sent off at least once in our away game against them

Arteta needs to remember that we don't get the rub of the green with the refs in incidents involving violent/heavy fouls, plus I just don't like it, it's the same reason I didn't want Luis Suarez back when we were going for him

[dostoy]

He would cost far too much as well.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Benjamin Sesko rumours becoming more persistent


https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/001/279/704/1e9.gif