Shhh Arsene knows...Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve French
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Shhh Arsene knows...Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve French
...how to sell shirts:arry:
I wouldn't say it's desperation in his case. I can't think of many top draw strikers that are bulit physically like him, yet quick and athletic and also have the finesse and skill. He's also very young and won't come with a crazy price tag with what we've seen from Falcoa, Cavani and Costa. It's just a case of whether he's matured and from what I've heard about him at Milan, he's maturing. It's a massive risk, though. But it could be worth it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve French
Clamouring for Remy and Campbell seems more desperate to me. Both have talent but because of their size, I can't see Wenger playing them as out and out strikers and I don't think they're creative enough to do serious damage on the wings.
Post of the year tbhQuote:
Originally Posted by Steve French
Yay or nay on Balotelli, there are desperately few options in regards to world class players out there....we can all agree on that! Not that Balotelli is world class...yet, but he has the potential to be.Quote:
Originally Posted by Power_n_Glory
I don't think Costa's price tag was crazy at all considering what he has done and has achieved. That said, as mentioned above, there are very few inexpensive options and Costa has already moved to Chelsea which was akin to predicting night following day.
Any world class player at a petrodollar club don't have to sell and can easily set a price we won't match like 50 mill+ and Real and Barca will do the same despite the lack of the benevolent benefactor.
Even if we were willing to pay 50/60 million on let's say, a Cavani (who is a little shirty about sharing the earth with his royal highness Zlatan) I bet a lot of us on here don't think he is worth it. The same probably goes for a few players of his ilk....
Who would you like us to sign?Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve French
Yes, would also like to hear better alternatives to Balotelli, bearing in mind we're obviously not going to sign Suarez or Cavani.
A better alternative to Balotelli?
Nobody.
£50m is a lot of money for Diego Costa and I'm still not convinced by him. He looks very clumsy and more of a battering ram sort of player. I think he'll suit Chelsea's direct style but not our short passing style. I just don't think he's technical enough or the type that can craft a goal for himself when the service is lacking. He doesn't look sharp enough but time will tell. He's not an option for us either way.Quote:
Originally Posted by Blink 1nce Quince 2wice
But you're right. There aren't many options out there. Benzema is the only other striker rumored to be leaving his club and I think Real will try to use him to get Suarez. It's very slim.
Was chatting to a City fan yesterday. He describes Balotelli as "a bit of a cancer".
He also was pretty unequivocal in asserting Wenger would not be able to change him.
Maybe he has matured, but remember this is the guy who set fire to his own home through lighting fireworks in his bathroom.
That's not just immaturity, that's borderline retarded - the kind of world class stupidity that deserves to get you killed.
Wanting this guy is understandable, we're starved of grade A talent and beggars can't be choosers.
The question you have to ask yourself is: how much cancer is ok?
We're looking for a quality striker that's going to stick around and help move the club up. Apart from Bendtner and Tevez who are on par, there can't be a more unsuitable striker out there than Balotelli. A guy with bags of talent who has done nothing with it, why do we need that and how does it help us? Why would we even take the risk of signing a player that we had to change or have to help along with maturity issues? This is a professional sport drenched in cash, we expect players to bring solutions not problems surely?
If we're splashing the cash then there are a few other possibilities. Mandzukic, though I hope we don't go that route. Benzema, if he can be prised away from Madrid in their usual summer circus routine, Remy would do as a reserve, not top drawer yet but who knows? Campbell, same thing, certainly more potential than Sanogo. I think Wenger sees Giroud as #1 anyway, so maybe Remy and Campbell are all we can expect. Which would leave the money for Pogba. That's who we should be chasing, the player we've been missing for 10 years. Pogba, Remy, Campbell, real damn shame Fabregas is not on that list. I wonder if that scrote Muller could be tempted? Cheap and cheerful replacements for Sagna, Tommy and Flappy, which is likely all we'll get. We really do need about six players, so only one of them will be big ticket at best. Be a damn shame if that turns out to be Balotelli, a player who is hot and cold and probably won't be here beyond a season.
Tbh I really can't get excited about signing Balotelli. I really don't see what the fuss is about with him.
I'd rather stick with Giroud and bring back Campbell and spend our money on someone like Alexis Sanchez and an Arteta replacement.
I'm not sure I'm too interested in Man City fans opinions of Balotelli. He had Aguero and Tezez in front of him, who'd just stuck two fingers up to Man U so was a real hero for City fans. Off field problems just seem like a young twat with money tbh. I don't see a big deal in setting off a firework out of the window of your rented home tbh.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fist of Lehmann
More of a concern would be why City sold him. Surely they'd have just left him in the reserves if they thought he had the potential to become world class one day? Why sell him? Sure, Mancini had a problem with him but the hierarchy must have known that Mancini wasn't going to be their long term manager.
There's probably some truth to that, but I wouldn't describe it as desperation - more a case of recognising that none of the CFs that we've been linked with so far have been ideal, so we might have to make our peace with one of them? With Balotelli, he has the talent, but it means accepting that he's unstable and that we'd have work to do in getting his head right? With Mandzukic, he has the right attitude on the pitch, but he's not a huge upgrade on Giroud, and may not be the player to win us the big games. With Remy, he's cheap and had PL experience, but I'm not convinced he's a CF, or good enough to really take us to the next level - in fact I'm not even sure he'd make the team ahead of Walcott? Other than that, pickings have been pretty slim.Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve French
Anyway, just because we're seriously talking about Balotelli here, doesn't mean we can't seriously discuss other options too. I'm more than happy to shelve talk of Balotelli if/when we're seriously linked with someone better...
What's the possibility of us getting Benzema with Falcao on the move to Madrid?
He's another player with potential but still a bit hit and miss with the fans. I wouldn't mind seeing him here.
Fans moan about Giroud being inconsistent then want Balotelli here who is just as bad :haha:
Err there's this little thing called bidding and negotiating.Quote:
Originally Posted by selassie
And for £35m or whatever ridiculous price we're apparently willing to pay for him, there's a hell a lot of clubs that would be willing to sell.
Slim. Other clubs with money will want him which means we'd have to play the bidding game and when was the last time we won or even competed in that? Two things in our favour though, Wenger and Ozil, maybe Benzema would like the idea of working with Wenger and hooking up with Ozil again. Maybe another plus is getting shot of Ronaldo, nobody else can realise their full potential when they are on the pitch with that bloke, it's all about him and how others can serve him. But still, it would be the money.Quote:
Originally Posted by Power_n_Glory
Slowly I'm coming around to the idea that Giroud plus Remy and Campbell might not be a disaster. I really like the look of Remy, there's something about the way he plays. I think there's huge potential to be unlocked and Arsenal might be the ideal place to do it. Campbell as well, he's raw but he frightens defenders and is up for a fight. He could hit the ground running in the PL. You then have three decent enough strikers and the hope that at least one of them would be on form at any given time, provided all three aren't injured for the entire season of course. Which could happen with any big name player we bring in, splash all the cash on one player then after two weeks watch him sit it out on the sidelines long term. It would be us to a tee. Spreading the risk and getting more bodies in might be the more sensible way to go.
That would leave money in the kitty for Pogba. Really, if we don't at least try for him then we are wasting our time. He's a monster and a talented one at that. I think we need a player like that more than we need a top striker, in fact we've needed a player like that for years. Never replaced Vieria and we changed our whole game based on that loss. If we put power and talent back into the centre and unleash the likes of Walcott, Ox, Remy and Campbell up top with Ozil and Cazorla providing the art work I think that's pretty potent.
Then get some cover in for Ches and the two lads in the middle, get the business done with a replacement for that traitorous cunt Sagna and we have a solid defence too.
Point is, there might be another way to go than signing the £50mill category striker.
Benzema would be a great signing for us, but at the moment all this talk of Falcao joining Madrid just seems like a very, very new idea that someone has tossed out there? Then again, it sounds like contract negotiations are going nowhere between Benzema and Madrid, and he'll be able to walk on a free next summer if it doesn't get sorted? Then there were those comments that Wenger made about Benzema maybe having played his last game for Madrid after the CL final, so maybe he's heard something (or maybe even been told something)? Who knows.Quote:
Originally Posted by Power_n_Glory
My only fear would be another potential Higuaín-Suarez disaster in the making, if we abandon other targets because we think there's a chance of getting Benzema, and then end up with no one when he decides to stay put or move somewhere else? I guess that's just transfer business for you though...
So the danger posed to you, your possessions ("The striker is said to have been reluctant to leave his belongings and, at one point, to have run back inside to recover a quantity of money and a suitcase") and not to mention the fire service is actually negates the stupidity if the property is rented?Quote:
Originally Posted by Grebbo
People sometimes ask me why I don't rent out property, fucks like this is why.
We have Diaby. Forget Pogba.Quote:
Originally Posted by Niall_Quinn
In all seriousness, it would be great if we brought him in but I doubt it will happen because I can’t see Wenger bringing in another central midfield player. As for Remy and Campbell playing alongside Giroud, I can’t confidently say they’d offer more than what we currently get out of Podolski/Walcott/OX. I don’t think they’ll be enough to make a huge difference.
Absolutely there's other ways to approach this - I've actually suggested something like this myself several times in other threads (i.e. sticking with Giroud, or a Giroud-like player, and concentrating and beefing up our wide attacking options instead). Basically we're talking about taking what was working well for us up until Christmas when we were top (or what we should have had, if Walcott had played more), and doubling up on similar options so we don't run out of steam and fall away again. I actually liked the balance we had at that point, so I could see that working well.Quote:
Originally Posted by Niall_Quinn
Where my thinking would differ slightly from yours is that I still think we'd need to sign another strong CF to rotate with Giroud, and that's on top of signing the wide forward and bringing Campbell back. And, if we're getting a more functional CF instead of someone crazy-expensive, then I'd want us to push the boat out on a better wide forward than Remy - someone like a Sanchez would really make that kind of setup purr IMO.
I know that added investment would cut into your Pogba fund, but I just don't see that one happening. Not yet anyway. Maybe that's one to tackle next summer, when we have less to do, and can chuck our entire budget at it?
After a decent first game at the WC he's been poor. Subbed of at HT today.
Anyone's opinions changed?
Nope. Didn't want him here anyway.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Emirates Gallactico
Well, my opinion hasn't exactly got any better, but, as I said before, we already knew all about his up and down performances before the WC, so this hasn't really changed much - it was always going to be about raw attributes, and whether we think we can get more out of him than other clubs.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Emirates Gallactico
The way I see it, if we bid for him, then I'd like to think it's because we've been looking at him for a long time before the WC, and we have a plan for him (which obviously involves trusting that Wenger knows what he's doing). And if we don't bid for him then, again, I'd like to think that it's because we ruled it out a long time ago, and aren't just making decisions based on what we're seeing at the WC.
World Cup doesn't really do much for me in terms of judging ability. At the end of the day, he'll be playing with a completely different group of Players at his Club.
I still believe he's a good shout and well worth the money if we can get for ~ £25m.
I honestly will be pretty devastated if he is our striker signing. He's a name for sure, but mainly for the wrong reasons. Many players have skill and potential - he has bucketloads. But he is nuts - him getting what would have been a suspension had Italy progressed cannot have been a surprise for anyone.
He wore a t-shirt lamenting 'why me'? The answer is because he is a fucking moron.
periodQuote:
Originally Posted by Steve French
Frankly speaking, I dont understand the fuss around him. He is no Suarez, Sturridge, Benzema, Aguero or Dzeko. If we can get him for 10-15 million quid, I am ok with it... otherwise I'd rather we go for Remy over him.
I agree, he's massively over rated and Remy would be a better shout if we're not going for a superstar.Quote:
Originally Posted by fakeyank
Benzema would be the one for me though, if he's available of course. I think Wenger could bring him on to Henry-esque levels.
Y'all are just Balo-Jelly.
Forget about Balotelli, who would you like us to sign?Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve French
Sure....Quote:
Originally Posted by She Wore A Yellow Ribbon
So for 35m who do you think would be a good signing?
In the current climate, Giroud, Campbell and possibly Benzema or someone of that calibre. Heck there are strikers in weaker PL teams that could prosper here. How much the Club is willing to expend on our striking situation is a mystery to me - but they have the scouts and the resources - if they come up with Balotelli that is worrying to me.Quote:
Originally Posted by selassie
And I am focussing on Balotelli here because he is the topic of the thread. If the worst scenario presents itself and it is Balotelli or nothing, I'll opt for the latter and this world cup has if anything reinforced my thoughts on him.
Fair enough, so essentially you don't think Balotelli is any better than Giroud. I have concerns over Balotelli's temperament, who doesn't? But he has a lot of ability and a lot of scope for improving, that's why I suspect others on here wouldn't mind us signing him. Balotelli would deliver immediately IMO or at the very least match Giroud's stats.Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve French
As an alternative Benzema is a good player and would be a good signing, whether he would be any better than Balotelli is open to debate, Benzema as it stands isn't available so it's really a mute point.
If we stick with what we currently have we are going nowhere, Giroud has done his auditions as first choice and isn't good enough. He will keep us ticking over but he doesn't have the quality to take us up another level. I don't think it's a case of Balotelli or nothing, more a case of someone of his ability being amongst the best for the price we are willing to pay and the player actually being available. I mean it's not like we are going to cherry pick stars of our CL rivals...
I know what Balotelli is capable of, but I'm confident he won't deliver. Give me someone good who we know we can rely on to deliver to their potential most games so we know what to expect over a player who has the potential to be brilliant yet will only apply themselves to produce glimpses of their brilliance and probably only when you're already 3-0 up. That is what we'll get with Balotelli, so no thanks.Quote:
Originally Posted by selassie
I honestly believe we'd be better off getting acceptable depth in the striker position, rather than playing the same workhorses into the ground and when they are out of form. If we have acceptable depth - we could add another 15-20 goals without relying on a superstar (which Balotelli aint) signing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Injury Time
It's ON! July 10th new kit release PUMA and ArsKerching Wenger to make it happen $.$ :coffee:Quote:
Originally Posted by Injury Time
50 million? Where did that figure come from? I thought it was 32 million odd? Or are you doing the accountants thing of adding the wages in to it over the contract length? :dQuote:
Originally Posted by Power_n_Glory
I'd throw the sink at Falcao is he wasn't on the third party malarkey train....
Of course not everyone will even think Balotelli is that talented though. Some people think Wilshere is a water carrier! I just hope that whatever Wenger does, it is concerted, intentional and ideally planned.
No getting two fingers from the specialist in being an eejiot on the last day of the window by trying to sign Demba Ba.
I agree that a top forward a shade or two below the upper echelons of world class would suffice with an astute signing in a wide position. I'm quite looking forward to seeing Joe Campbell for us..... Not just because of his ability but because he looks like he has the physicality to not have that ability disappear up his arse, the moment we play an away game North of Watford.
Good news for the 'no to Balotelli' camp - Wenger has apparently told some TV show he was appearing on that the stories about us signing him are pure invention, and there's absolutely no truth behind any of it...
http://m.101greatgoals.com/blog/arse...ure-invention/
http://soccerlens.com/arsene-wenger-...umours/142896/
Didn't want him anyway - fucking nutter!
Makes sense, we're probably not even looking at the moment, when we finally do it will probably be someone very low key.Quote:
Originally Posted by I am invisible