Quote:
Originally Posted by Marc Overmars
Well he obvioulsy did not want to come to us anyway so it makes no diffrence.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Marc Overmars
Well he obvioulsy did not want to come to us anyway so it makes no diffrence.
How's it obvious he didn't want to come? A few weeks ago it was well documented that he was willing to move but we didn't agree a fee in time.
I remember Graham Hunter on SSN was on top of the story.
Anyway, he's a Chav now. Hope Frimpong GHELs him.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...ubborn?cc=4716Quote:
Arsene Wenger again stressed finding the right players to fit into his Arsenal squad has been difficult, but maintains he is not stubborn when it comes to recruitment matters.
The Gunners suffered a 2-0 home defeat against Liverpool at the weekend, when Emmanuel Frimpong was sent-off and centre-half Laurent Koscielny suffered a back problem, which is likely to keep him out of next week's Champions League play-off second leg against Udinese.
Wenger is already without several first-team players because of injury and suspension, and the Emirates Stadium faithful once more called for their manager to spend big before the transfer window shuts in 10 days' time.
Arsenal have been linked with a number of players this summer, including recent Chelsea acquisition Juan Mata, while rumours around a move for Rennes midfielder Yann M'Vila and Real Madrid star Kaka continue. Wenger, however, insists it is not just about getting out the cheque book.
"Overall we will buy. Maybe people feel I am stubborn, but I am not, I just want to do the best for the team and buy the right players," Wenger said.
"If I have shown one thing in the last 15 years, it is that I have bought good players. We will bring as well experienced players, but people just say 'buy' - but it is to buy the right player which is difficult."
While Wenger has brought in fresh talent this summer, they have not been the experienced players which many Gunners fans crave. It is an assessment of the club's circumstances that does not stack up for the Arsenal manager.
"I look at the players and if they are good enough," Wenger said. "You forget we have bought players - Gervinho, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Carl Jenkinson, Ryo [Miyaichi] - and you will see over the season they are top-quality players, but at the moment we have to give them some time."
As well as starting with 19-year-old Jenkinson at full-back, Wenger was forced to give Spanish teenager Ignasi Miquel his Premier League debut when Koscielny pulled up.
It was a clearance from Miquel which cannoned off Aaron Ramsey and into the Arsenal net which handed Liverpool the lead, before substitute Luis Suarez knocked in a second in the final minute. Wenger rejected suggestions inexperience had proved costly - pointing instead to a marginal offside call in the build-up to Liverpool's fortunate opener.
"I don't think the decision of the offside for the first goal depends on our players," he said. "I agree we were a bit young, that we looked a bit naive in some situations, but we have shown a great spirit and were unlucky. We did not deserve to lose this game.
"I feel we have a more negative environment and that is more difficult for the team. That is why the results are so important to get the confidence back."
Arsenal will be able to field both Alex Song and Gervinho in their European tie as the duo's bans are only for domestic games, while centre-back Johan Djourou could recover from his hamstring injury. Wenger also revealed England midfielder Jack Wilshere was close to a return from his ankle problem.
"He has a chance to play, yes," the Arsenal boss said. "He has trained Thursday, Friday and Saturday."
Only one positive in the whole article... ffs.
Oh god yes.Quote:
Originally Posted by Boss
:pray:
With him we have a chance of qualifying.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...-city?&cc=4716Quote:
Roberto Mancini has warned Arsenal and Samir Nasri that it will be a "big problem" if the France international plays against Udinese this week.
Nasri is believed to be on the verge of a £25 million move to Manchester City, a transfer that will ensure Arsenal do not lose the midfielder for nothing in 12 months' time. However, Mancini had hoped to sign Nasri by the end of the weekend, only for the deal to be delayed by the reported demands of the player's agent.
As a result, Arsene Wenger started Nasri in the weekend loss to Liverpool, and he claims he is not worried about picking him again for Wednesday's Champions League qualifier in Italy. Should Nasri feature at all during the 90 minutes, he would become ineligible for City's European campaign this season.
Mancini remains convinced the deal can be tied up imminently, but he did warn Arsenal and Nasri to seriously consider the consequences of playing in Udinese.
"I think we can close in the next two days, but if he plays in the Champions League, it will be a big problem," Mancini said.
"It's a big problem because we have followed Nasri for 40 days and I have hoped it [would be completed] in two days or in three days. I am sure we can close this in 24 or 48 hours, but I don't know why it hasn't been closed."
Asked if he could look elsewhere if Nasri becomes cup-tied, Mancini replied: "It could be possible, yes."
Can't see us playing him.
The transfer target dance we're being led on by the media makes it difficult to really have a clue as to what's actually going on. The latest group seems to be:
Zarate (this seems reasonably possible given that there have been no denials and probably makes a little sense - cheapish and tricksy forward who can play on the wing as well, moderately young at 24)
Hazard (long known as target but will the purse strings be opened and will Lille do business this late on in the transfer window?)
M'Vila (strong indication but no quotes as far as I can see - young and rising french player which is Wenger's speciality - I would wonder about how this fits in with Song and Frimpong, but M'Vila is better than both)
Martin (I've not actually seen any quotes and just seems like rumour. Would be nice but we'd not get Hazard and Martin - unless Arshavin and Nasri go. Hazard seems the most likely unless he will not be sold)
Jagielka (I think he's the top defensive target if only because we've actually bid for him)
Cahill (no bid, lotsa talk)
Samba (Very close in Jan, but nothing since other than media speculation)
Mertesacker (media speculation only as far as I can see)
------
If the whole Board v Wenger's wages thing is true, Nasri could stay and possibly sign a long-term contract. If the wages structure is altered and we bring in 2-3 good quality players (Zarate, Hazard, Jagielka), we're back in contention and why wouldn't Nasri want to stay
Re M'Vila:
Quote:
19.38 Arsenal set for more disappointment as Rennes Director of Football Pierre DeRossi tells Canal+ that midfielder Yann M'Vila won't be sold in this window.
That's usually the starting point...until there's an indication of a real and substantial bid. They're not actively looking to sell, it doesn't mean they won't. But given all that has happened so far, I would be unhopeful of anything positive happening. :(
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2...fer?intcmp=239
Quote:
Arsène Wenger has responded to Arsenal's troubled start to the season by making a bid for the Rennes holding midfielder Yann M'Vila. The manager's attempt to strengthen his team came as hopes grew that Jack Wilshere will return from ankle trouble to face Udinese in Wednesday's pivotal Champions League play-off second leg.
M'Vila, who has established himself as a regular in the France team, would cost £12m. The 21-year-old is under contract until 2015 but Rennes have allowed Wenger to talk to him. Arsenal's manager also has an interest in Sochaux's attacking midfielder Marvin Martin.
Wenger's immediate concern, though, is his midfield to face Udinese. Wilshere, who has not featured this season, had been considered a major doubt for the trip to north-eastern Italy, where Arsenal will attempt to protect a 1-0 lead and qualify for the group stage of Europe's elite competition for the 14th year in a row.
He left the Emirates Stadium after last Tuesday's first-leg against the Italian team with a foot in a protective boot and he missed the morale-sapping 2-0 home defeat to Liverpool on Saturday, when the problems mounted for Wenger.
Wilshere, though, came back to training on Thursday and provided he suffers no reaction before the squad fly to Italy on Tuesday afternoon, he will board with them. "Jack has a chance to play," Wenger said. "He has trained Thursday, Friday, Saturday."
Wenger's attitude towards Wilshere will be coloured with caution but given the stakes at the Stadio Friuli, he will be tempted to press him into action. The manager was without nine players against Liverpool through injury and suspension, and he lost the centre-half Laurent Koscielny to a back spasm in the 16th minute.
He will be able to pick the midfielder Alex Song and the forward Gervinho, as their three-match bans apply only to domestic competitions, while the central defender Johan Djourou "has a chance", according to Wenger, of returning from a hamstring injury. The midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong, who was sent off against Liverpool and will be suspended for Sunday's league fixture at Manchester United, will also be available against Udinese.
The obvious solution to the club's personnel problems is for Wenger to strengthen in the transfer market, and many supporters at the Emirates were keen to remind the Frenchman of that. Wenger said that Arsenal had "the money to buy players, we are not short of money", and he rejected the notion that the more he was urged to spend, the less likely he would be to do so.
"People feel I'm stubborn I'm not," Wenger added. "I just want to do the best for the team and to buy the right players. If I have shown one thing in the last 15 years, it's that I have bought good players here.
"What you forget is we have bought players. We have bought Gervinho, [Alex Oxlade-] Chamberlain, [Carl] Jenkinson, [Ryo] Miyaichi, and you will see during the season they are top-quality players. But at the moment, we have to give them some time.
"Overall, we will buy. We will bring experienced players as well. People just say 'buy' but it's to buy the right player which is difficult."
Modric left out of tonight's game because according to Redknapp 'his head isn't in the right place' whereas The Sun says he's on strike to force through a move to Chelsea.
Looks like this one is still going through then, Benayoun probably part of the deal.
I love this line
"People feel I'm stubborn … I'm not," Wenger added. "I just want to do the best for the team and to buy the right players. If I have shown one thing in the last 15 years, it's that I have bought good players here.
He has bought loads of extremely poor players too ad wasted so much money.
David Grondin
Kaba Diawara
Jeremie Aliadiere
Oleg Luzhny
Stefan Malz
Igors Stepanovs
Junichi Inamoto
Francis Jeffers
Richard Wright
Pascal Cygan
Julio Baptista
to name just a few
He's also brought in a few decent players.
Fergie's list of failures is as long as that, if not longer.
Also, don't diss the Horse or he'll track you down and scythe you from behind.
Nothing wrong with Cygan as a 4th choice CB, Lezhny did well and Baptista was on loan. I love this list, like it compares or detracts in anyway from the Bergkamps and henry'sQuote:
Originally Posted by Fats
He might have bought a few good players in the last 6 years but he's also bought a lot of bad ones.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fats
Moreover at no point have these "good players" as he calls them managed to win anything in those 6 years. If the players he signs are so good.
I'd say in recent times looking at the players he's brought in, there's a lot more players he signed which aren't good enough than that are.
You can't really argue with Fergie's record, he's continued to win countless trophies, whereas Wenger hasn't and that's partly to do with the quality of his signings for sure.Quote:
Originally Posted by Darth Vela
All managers sign garbage, Fergie's managed to get more out of them or get rid of them quicker than Wenger has.
Fergie's streets ahead of Wenger in that department but tbf he's ahead of most others too and hopefully De Gea will be a big money flop (haven't had one of those in a while from him, they're quite entertaining) :pray:
So, he's won more? Whoopdee doo, doesn't change the basic fact that every manager signs crap and if you emphasise that then you can make things look very negative.Quote:
Originally Posted by ItsMe
Maybe so but Wenger holds onto them for much longer than other managers. That's part of the problem.Quote:
Originally Posted by Darth Vela
But he also pays less to get them.
That whole Wenger flop list probably cost less than Veron.
I think if you want to rubbish Wenger, overall value for money in the transfer market is probably not the best way to do it. When you look at it objectively, having spent an average of around £1-2m per year (sales/buys), he's managed to field very competitive teams. Most relegation battlers have spent more than us and for what return?
Could he/should he have spent more? Would spending more have meant more trophies? Are there other weaknesses to Wenger's managerial qualities?
Those are all probably very strong yesses. But getting value for money in terms of transfers, that's also very much a yes.
Yeah, that can be a problem, not a big one but it can happen. Not sure how that has anything to do with my post but :shrug:Quote:
Originally Posted by ItsMe
Simples he's gone to the Chav's, if he wanted to come he would have held out tbh. All these Hunter's and Balugue's talk rubbish.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marc Overmars
No one moaned about those bad ones when we was winning things though did they.Quote:
Originally Posted by ItsMe
It don't jsut Zimm being anti Wenger again anthing to have a pop ahey?Quote:
Originally Posted by Darth Vela
:d I guess so.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie the Gooner
We never actually bid for Mata, you do know that dont you?Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie the Gooner
Why would he hold out if we didnt seem serious about signing him. If you want a player, you talk to the club and then make an offer - it shows the player the intent and then they might hold out for a deal to be done.
We talked to the club then fucked off and never went back, not really very encouraging is it?
:doh:Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie the Gooner
If he wanted to come and we bid enough he would have come.
We didn't and made it obvious we didn't intend to + Wenger's comments about how he wasn't interested in Mata.
You can't pass up a player as good as him at a reasonable price and then claim that a) you'd spend 30-40M on a player if he was good enough b) you're only looking for super quality c) super quality isn't available at decent prices and d) it's hard to find players that would improve our team.
Mmhmm, if we don't sign any decent creative players and Mata rips it up, the Internet will explode, and rightly so.
Yeah just like me saying Liverpool were going to score first as they were the better side on Saturday was me just being me.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie the Gooner
Then they did.
I know we never bid for him or in for him, and i knew we never get him, or never really wanted him. He'd always would have gone somewhere, where his fellow spainsh players are tbh.Quote:
Originally Posted by Save me Jeebus!
My point was if the rumors were true and we did bid for him, but he decide to go to the chavs what could we do. I mean did balague not say no one was buying him for less then £60 million and that was done.
so we knew the deal was dead anyway. seems very strange he went to the chave then.
I agree, but he wanted to go Chelsea more it seems(not that i blame him) After all they are in the CL and look like could have a good season. But i don't think he was ever a top target of ours.Quote:
Originally Posted by Boss
Actually we scored first.Quote:
Originally Posted by ItsMe
And, no, thinking Liverpool were going to score first isn't just you, it isn't even anti-Wenger, it's a reasoned response based on the match, as soon as Frimpong was off we just couldn't cope.
Just responding to these flippant remarks he keeps making about me to be honest.Quote:
Originally Posted by Darth Vela
I don't say this because I hate Wenger (though I admit he's far from my favourite person), I just say it because it's what I see based on the last 6 years.
If Wenger had signed 300 awful players and continued to win trophies you couldn't argue as he was doing the important things right, the problem has been that he's signed players (and stuck to methods/policies) and kept faith with them far too long from our perspective.
There's a stubborness about him these days, one that seems to be about proving everyone wrong which is proving detrimental to the club.
There's no flexibility in his thinking at all.
What I dont understand about what he says is. . . .he says he is waiting to find the best quality and that he is not stubborn, that he will buy but only if the player is good enoughQuote:
Originally Posted by Boss
Now that is all fair and well but it also means that the players that he is talking about are yet to be discovered, something we are seriously running out of time for
Because if he turns round and buys Cahill or Jags who he has praised as being talented now after all this time (, it just smacks of idoicy (dont get me wrong I would like him to sign them but I mean what the fuck was the wait for? money? come on I am sure that could have been found!
I dont have a clue but at times I think Im not the only one
That's fair enough.
I actually agree that it went on for too long, there were simply players that weren't pulling their weight in the end and the wrong balance in the squad in terms of type of player. This summer has seen some of the detritus flung out and a different type of player being brought in, to go from lots of AMs overloaded with creativity to buying pacy wide players is a definite shift in policy and a good one as we can often do with a bit more pace, directness and width in our game imo.
Ofc, we're not buying players of the right age (although, used more as impact players and squad space rather than integral cogs they could be very useful) and it will fall apart at the end of the season again if reinforcements aren't brought in, THAT would show a complete inability to change things up imo but we've made changes and with just a few more we could be in a very good position to win something.
So we're waiting before qualifying for the Champs Lge before signing quality players.
If we go out of the Champs Lge we're therefore not signing any good players.
Makes sense.
Might have been an idea to buy these quality players before the Champs Lge first leg. Just an idea.
We have been shit for most of this calendar year, even if we do bring in a few over the next week it would still be a stretch to say they would be in a good position to win something. The squad is seeing an overhaul and the fans need to be convinced again, it will take time. I'm expecting a season not too dissimilar to 06/07 and 08/09.Quote:
Originally Posted by Darth Vela
Seems like mata's transfer fee was more like £30mill. I think we had a bid of £14mill rejected. Whatever is the case this isn't another 2mill short in terms of evaluation.
I think it's partly a confidence thing atm, add a little more creativity and get a few wins under our belt and I think we could build some nice momentum for the final part of the season.
We bid £14m?Quote:
Originally Posted by AKBapologist
We paid £15m for Lge 1 player Oxo?
:haha:
If we did make a bid for Mata, it was low because he was in the final year of his contract I believe. However nothing materialised there and we missed the deadline to get him on the cheap because there was a clause in his contract which automatically extended it at the end of July. So then his price went up and we were probably scared off.