Clichy has left. And Nasri in talks with Citeh.

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Originally Posted by Nasri Scoreng

Tell you what. Why don't we just shit down all transfer threads on the forum until the end of the transfer window? That way noone needs to opine and speculate, and we can just make factual comments on real situations. In fact, hell - why not suspend all threads on our likely league position until the final day of next season?

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Well, no. It's fun to speculate about ins and outs and gossip and rumours.

What I don't get is blaming Wenger for things that haven't happened yet in this window.

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Originally Posted by LDG

What I don't get is blaming Wenger for things that haven't happened yet in this window.

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Come on - it's 10:45 on the first official transfer window day. What is he hanging around for? There are only 2 more months left to complete the team. He is clearly not buying anyone and just selling Cesc and Nasri for 5 quid.

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Originally Posted by Terry Tuffnutz

i thought selling players involved clubs wanting to pay for them too?

people come online, turn on their tv, listen to talksport all day, getting every single minute piece of media info pumped into their head and then get upset when they dont see instant results from their club. the window only opens today and already the media have got 98% of fans by the nuts. its hilarious

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Thats smart , mate .People let themselves upset by any shit the media throw at them and find out none of those nonsense story was true . The good thing to do is just wait and the end of the transfer window to make any logical comment

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Originally Posted by Alpha

People let themselves upset by any shit the media throw at them and find out none of those nonsense story was true . The good thing to do is just wait and the end of the transfer window to make any logical comment

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Rational, correct, but very unpopular to mention round this place. ;)

Coney, there arent two months to complete the team. There is no way in hell we can make the amount of changes we need to while following the traditional formula (for us) of waiting right up to the brink of the transfer windows closure. If we do that, then this season is over before it starts.

We need the players bedding in right from the start of preseason training.

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Originally Posted by Coney

Rational, correct, but very unpopular to mention round this place. ;)

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far better to wallow in depression and predict doom and gloom.

a lot easier too

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Originally Posted by GB.

Coney, there arent two months to complete the team. There is no way in hell we can make the amount of changes we need to while following the traditional formula (for us) of waiting right up to the brink of the transfer windows closure. If we do that, then this season is over before it starts.

We need the players bedding in right from the start of preseason training.

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Completely agree.

I'm not saying we should wait until 31st August when the "WINDOW SLAMS SHUT" (fucking hate football terminology, especially Sky). It's clear we need massive changes.

Just saying, until it's concrete, we shouldn't be hanging anybody for things that haven't yet been confirmed. Player IN's or OUT's.

By all means bemoan the carnage of last season, and debate what we MUST put in place before next year. Discuss the relative merits of transfer dealings, rumour or not. But to blame the manager and club for things that haven't actually happened, and are pure media speculation is a bit harsh IMO.

Fuck it, 7m for Clichy? Add another 7 to it and we get Baines, bargain imo.

I don't think we should sell Nasri to anyone round here though, that'd be a very bad idea.

In general terms, we need players sooner rather than later, I'm not sure we could rely on anyone we don't buy in the next 3 weeks for the tough run of games we have at the start but I expect we'll have done more business than Gerinvoh by then.

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Originally Posted by Darth Vela

Fuck it, 7m for Clichy? Add another 7 to it and we get Baines, bargain imo.

I don't think we should sell Nasri to anyone round here though, that'd be a very bad idea.

In general terms, we need players sooner rather than later, I'm not sure we could rely on anyone we don't buy in the next 3 weeks for the tough run of games we have at the start but I expect we'll have done more business than Gerinvoh by then.

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Well I would hope, that if we are buying some prem experience; Baines/Cahill?? then they will bed in quite quick, regardless of when they are signed.

It's the ones like Gervinho who will take the time to settle in.

But having said that, I am expecting a hell of a lot more from some other players we already have. I'll get shouted down for this, but I think Chamahk will be a lot better this season. I think if Arshavin can get fit and find what he is capable of consistently, he'll be awesome.

Walcott...I'd like to think we'll see more from him.

Sometimes we let our focus sway from other matters. And for me, the main concern, and has been for a while now, is getting the team organised, regardless of signings.

Yes we need to spend big, moreso if we loose the big players being touted about....but lets not forget we have a lot of talent at the club, all of whom are capable of stepping up a gear. Song, Vermaelen, Walcott, Arshavin, Tampahx....there's plenty there who didn't perform to their ability in the last half of the season. We should expect 50% of our problems to be righted with our current players.

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Originally Posted by Grimandi's Perm

Wash your fucking mouth out.

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Milner is quality, brother man

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Originally Posted by Nasri Scoreng

Well look what happened after the Invincibles...

Fair enough to wait and see - not like we have much choice. But I'm looking at a current picture that's wider than the merits of individual players. It can't be denied that there is the smell of something a bit rotten about the club. One thing that you can always depend on - and that is that agents/press whores can smell weakness like sharks smell blood - and that's what's going on with us ATM.

We talk about replacing players and systems as though its like buying a new car - but building new teams is both a difficult and a painstaking process. There's no way that the guts can be ripped out of our team and we can bounce back next season like nothing's happened. It took Wenger 5 years to realise that project youth had failed. Its not like he's going to roar back with the Invincibles Mk 11, and the smart money says that any replacements will be 'project' players rather than EPL seasoned superstars.

So sure, we wait. But for me the prognosis is not the most promising one.

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:gp:

Especially the part I've highlighted, if Cesc, Clichy & Nasri leave I cannot see how folks on here can be happy unless we replace them with established quality, preferably PL based players.

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Originally Posted by GB.

Coney, there arent two months to complete the team. There is no way in hell we can make the amount of changes we need to while following the traditional formula (for us) of waiting right up to the brink of the transfer windows closure. If we do that, then this season is over before it starts.

We need the players bedding in right from the start of preseason training.

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:gp:

Too right.

How do i feel about them all leaving.

They can all fuck off as far as im concerned.

Not sure why they are all sulking or maonaing as if they never had a part to play in out shit years if shitness.

IF aw and thats a bif if AW pulls his finger out and buys world class replacements then these chumps won't be missed.

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Originally Posted by GB.

Coney, there arent two months to complete the team. There is no way in hell we can make the amount of changes we need to while following the traditional formula (for us) of waiting right up to the brink of the transfer windows closure. If we do that, then this season is over before it starts.

We need the players bedding in right from the start of preseason training.

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I agree that we should really try and get it all sorted now and I would be in favour of blowing a few more million to force the issue. I hope that what will happen is that most of our transfers will be completed in the next few weeks and that into August we will just be finishing the odd player transfer.

Of course, other teams are in the same boat. I am sure that Barca, manu, citeh, etc would all like to have things sorted out before the season begins. Although the final deadline is the end of August, I guess we and other clubs have an effective deadline well before that and that will be the trigger of the transfers. As I said, if we were to 'crack' first and accept the hit of a few million to get the thing sorted now, I'd have no problem with that. It would mean accepting a lesser offer for people like Cesc than some of the posters here would like but if that is what it takes to make it all come together, then we should bite the bullet.

Quite a few naive lads on here.

People are pissed off now because every year the same nonsense is spouted by the delusional ones on here ('don't worry, Vieira's not going to leave and if he does I'm sure we'll replace him with quality etc etc') and every year Wenger does the same thing, either doesn't sign anyone and promotes from within or signs projects late in the campaign and we don't see the best of them until two months in (at which point they end up injured for a few months).

Wenger doesn't have the intelligence to change, and he's not going to sign any star players (which is what is needed) this summer. Don't expect us to challenge for the title until he leaves.

when cole left, no one cried as we all thought clichy was a good enough replacement. when hleb left, we got in nasri. no reason to think he wont do the same again, unless you let a warped perception ruin perspective

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Originally Posted by Boss

('don't worry, Vieira's not going to leave and if he does I'm sure we'll replace him with quality etc etc')

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if you are gonna have a go at wenger, at least use a decent example. he replaced him with cesc. oh right i see, that was shit from wenger :rolleyes:

apparently Nasri turned down a £92,000 a week 4 year contract as he thinks he is worth more. Sorry mate but as someone who turns up in maybe 45% of games dont let the door hit you on the way out.

I am sadder about Clichy who i always liked, not the best player but certainly has the work rate we need in the team

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Originally Posted by Punchinello Beezo

apparently Nasri turned down a £92,000 a week 4 year contract as he thinks he is worth more. Sorry mate but as someone who turns up in maybe 45% of games dont let the door hit you on the way out.

I am sadder about Clichy who i always liked, not the best player but certainly has the work rate we need in the team

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:gp:

Clichy never has said a bad word, has never given anything less then 100%. yes he fucks up but at least we know that when he is on hte pitch he will sprint his bollocks off from first minute to the last

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Originally Posted by ollie the optimist

if you are gonna have a go at wenger, at least use a decent example. he replaced him with cesc. oh right i see, that was shit from wenger :rolleyes:

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Cesc shouldn't have been starting games for us at 16. We suffered while he developed.

You probably don't remember how shocking we were in the league in 2005-06, which was the season Fabregas became a starter for us and only lasagne prevented us from chucking away fourth to Spurs.

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Originally Posted by LDG

Well I would hope, that if we are buying some prem experience; Baines/Cahill?? then they will bed in quite quick, regardless of when they are signed.

It's the ones like Gervinho who will take the time to settle in.

But having said that, I am expecting a hell of a lot more from some other players we already have. I'll get shouted down for this, but I think Chamahk will be a lot better this season. I think if Arshavin can get fit and find what he is capable of consistently, he'll be awesome.

Walcott...I'd like to think we'll see more from him.

Sometimes we let our focus sway from other matters. And for me, the main concern, and has been for a while now, is getting the team organised, regardless of signings.

Yes we need to spend big, moreso if we loose the big players being touted about....but lets not forget we have a lot of talent at the club, all of whom are capable of stepping up a gear. Song, Vermaelen, Walcott, Arshavin, Tampahx....there's plenty there who didn't perform to their ability in the last half of the season. We should expect 50% of our problems to be righted with our current players.

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True, any PL players will need less time to adapt and as they're hopefully a big part of our outlay I guess we can wait a little longer.

Couldn't agree more about the level of talent we have but there is a balance issue between types of player imo, along with the disparity in age/experience/giving a fuck we have in there. There's something up with the squad that goes beyond organisation, I think, but regardless I agree we should expect more from some of our players next year, whether we get it :shrug:

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Originally Posted by Boss

Wenger doesn't have the intelligence to change, and he's not going to sign any star players (which is what is needed) this summer. Don't expect us to challenge for the title until he leaves.

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I suggest that Wenger/Dein proposed the project a few years back and the board backed the idea. OK, so now it is clear that despite tweeks that have been made, the project has not worked and it is time to call it a day. Wenger seems to have acknowledged that from his comments, Gazidis practically said it in so many words at the supporters club meeting and unless he has taken to overriding or contradicting Wenger in public, that is the thinking by the board and manager. Combined with Kroenke coming on board who surely knows that to maximise the Arsenal Company Limited's funds, profits and dividends, they need the supporters here to be right behind them and that means winning trophies, something they must also do to get the publicity to sell shirts and stuff in the Far East.

Note that Wenger has always been against doing a Far East Tour. What are we about to do? A Far East Tour. Clearly Wenger can take change on board.

I'm really starting to worry about the current situation. Personally, I don't think loosing Clichy, Nasri and possibly Cesc as individuals is that much of an issue, they're all replaceable. But loosing all three at once is a major concern!

We really need to strengthen this summer, but if these three go (plus squad players like Denilson, Diaby, etc) then we need to replace first before we can strenghten, and football transfers really aren't as simple as going out and buying 6 'world class' players within a couple of weeks!

People often mention that buying quality players helps convince others to stay, but it works the other way round as well. If our own club captain, one of our players of the season last year and one of the longest serving members of the team all want out then what hope have we got of tempting other top quality players to sign!?

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Originally Posted by Champagne Charlie

I'm really starting to worry about the current situation. Personally, I don't think loosing Clichy, Nasri and possibly Cesc as individuals is that much of an issue, they're all replaceable. But loosing all three at once is a major concern!

We really need to strengthen this summer, but if these three go (plus squad players like Denilson, Diaby, etc) then we need to replace first before we can strenghten, and football transfers really aren't as simple as going out and buying 6 'world class' players within a couple of weeks!

People often mention that buying quality players helps convince others to stay, but it works the other way round as well. If our own club captain, one of our players of the season last year and one of the longest serving members of the team all want out then what hope have we got of tempting other top quality players to sign!?

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Worrying times indeed. We really are on the edge here, and a lot needs to happen to convince our, so far (and commendably so) patient fanbase, that we are moving in the right direction. Ruthless, determined and competetive.

Anything less, and the club risks losing one hell of a lot. At it will hit them where it most hurts.

Wenger is not an idiot. Nor are the people running our club. We do have, to a certain extent, trust that all the frustrations we see and talk about, are now on the shoulders of our manager, and those powers that be. And that there is now real pressure to take this club forward and with ruthless determination.

However, don't underestimate the attraction of Arsenal to players, with or without our top names. don't forget that we have seen big names leave in the past, only to be replaced by players such as Fabregas, and Nasri....now wanted by the biggest and welathiest clubs in the world.

If playing for Arsenal, in our big shiney stadium, in the champs league, with a manager who is not as stupid as people think is not incentive enough....then surely seeing unknowns develop and be sought after by money machines is....

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Originally Posted by Terry Tuffnutz

when cole left, no one cried as we all thought clichy was a good enough replacement. when hleb left, we got in nasri. no reason to think he wont do the same again, unless you let a warped perception ruin perspective

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But he wasn't a good enough replacement for Cole was he? Therein lies the problem.

Arsene never ever adequately replaces players immediately.

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Originally Posted by selassie

But he wasn't a good enough replacement for Cole was he? Therein lies the problem.

Arsene never ever adequately replaces players.

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Harsh.

The team last year was pretty much the team he built post-invincibles.

Now I'm not stupid enough to think that they in anyway compare....we're talking about the best team we've ever had, or are ever likely to see at our club.

But what he did replace them with (under some financial pressure, of our own making or not....was it policy or prudence??) a new team, that SHOULD have won the league last year.

We all know it didn't work out that way, but to say "The Replacements" were inadequate is, to me, a throw-away statement without much substance. They are good players. But we cocked up in other areas.....it wasn't the players themselves. EDIT: I should say, it wasn't the calibre of player....it was the way in which those players were sent out to do their job.

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Originally Posted by LDG

Harsh.

The team last year was pretty much the team he built post-invincibles.

Now I'm not stupid enough to think that they in anyway compare....we're talking about the best team we've ever had, or are ever likely to see at our club.

But what he did replace them with (under some financial pressure, of our own making or not....was it policy or prudence??) a new team, that SHOULD have won the league last year.

We all know it didn't work out that way, but to say "The Replacements" were inadequate is, to me, a throw-away statement without much substance. They are good players. But we cocked up in other areas.....it wasn't the players themselves. EDIT: I should say, it wasn't the calibre of player....it was the way in which those players were sent out to do their job.

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I actually edited the post afterwards to include the word immediately. ;)

I'll stand by my statement that a lot of the replacements post invincible are inferior, now I accept they are younger and have time to develop, but some of them...Clichy being a prime example haven't developed in the way I would of like, Ashley Cole is far superior to Clichy.

I'm just so frustrated with Arsene & Arsenal at the moment, I'm sick to death of the perpetual rebuilding.

In 07/08 Arsene built one of the best squads he's ever had at Arsenal with financial restrictions or whatever we want to call it. That summer he went about dismantling that squad and we've not looked the same since.

I realise that constantly moaning won't change things but how folks can say that we'll be OK when the heart of our team is being ripped out beggars belief.

Yes the players who are leaving haven't contributed anything in terms of trophies, but these are the players we should be adding quality to not removing.

At Arsenal it's always...1 step forward, 2 steps back.

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Originally Posted by LDG

However, don't underestimate the attraction of Arsenal to players, with or without our top names. don't forget that we have seen big names leave in the past, only to be replaced by players such as Fabregas, and Nasri....now wanted by the biggest and welathiest clubs in the world.

If playing for Arsenal, in our big shiney stadium, in the champs league, with a manager who is not as stupid as people think is not incentive enough....then surely seeing unknowns develop and be sought after by money machines is....

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I see where you're coming from, and I agree to an extent, players will always come and go, that's the nature of football these days. And Arsenal's a big club with a lot of pulling power. But there does seem to be a worrying trend of players wanting out and citing "ambition" as their reasons.

And I think your last line is worryingly spot on. The club is in danger of being seen by players as a stepping stone to a big payday and winning trophies. You mention Cesc and Nasri as players that have replaced other big names but now they want out, so we'll get a few years out of their replacements but then who's to say they wont want out too!? If every transfer we make is replacing leaving, quality squad players then how the hell are we ever going to move forward as a team?

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Originally Posted by selassie

But he wasn't a good enough replacement for Cole was he? Therein lies the problem.

Arsene never ever adequately replaces players immediately.

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you can use hindsight to criticsie anything. the point is at the time and for quite a while afterwards people were more than happy with him as a replacement. that view has only changed in the past couple of years.

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Originally Posted by Punchinello Beezo

Yep been on the sports channels this morning, apparently Chlichy is already there having a medical before a £10mil move and Nasri is just beginning talks over a £22mil move.

Good or bad?

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Good if we get quality replacements but we wont so bad id say.

Why are we selling to our rivals, we don't need the money so why not kart him off abroad.

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Originally Posted by selassie

:gp:

Especially the part I've highlighted, if Cesc, Clichy & Nasri leave I cannot see how folks on here can be happy unless we replace them with established quality, preferably PL based players.

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This is like performing open heart surgey, brain surgery, and a kidney transplant at the same time. Even if this makes the team better in the long run, we've cut the team deep and it will take a long time for us to recover. No team should lose three of their first team starters in one transfer window. It's like Man U losing Rooney, Nani and Evra in one window. It's like Chelsea losing Lampard, Cole and Malouda.

I hope this doesn't happen. Most teams would just buy a replacement and have competition for places. We never do this. Too many changes to the first team is dangerous. We just saw how poor our defence was this year and that was partly because they had no Prem experience and had never played together. Wenger knows the key to success is stability, so what is he playing at?

I'm not holding my breath on those new world class signings either. Look how long it has taken us to tue down a deal with Gervinho. The guy is £10m -£15m rated player and we go in with a bid worth £7m! He just helped his team win the French league. They're not going to accept that. When it comes to spending serious money on a serious player we'll get blown out of the water.

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Originally Posted by Terry Tuffnutz

you can use hindsight to criticsie anything. the point is at the time and for quite a while afterwards people were more than happy with him as a replacement. that view has only changed in the past couple of years.

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I'm not really criticising, just stating facts, Clichy has never played at Cole's level so therefore Cole has not been adequately replaced.

I'm trying to think of arsenal players who have gone to man city in any capacity and actually been good there.

So far I have

1) Joe Mercer.

and thats it.

Alan Ball: shit
Toure shit. Fat.
Adebayor. Shit. cunt
seaman: past it
PLatt: shit
Clichy: shit
Anelka: shit. cunt

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Originally Posted by selassie

But he wasn't a good enough replacement for Cole was he? Therein lies the problem.

Arsene never ever adequately replaces players immediately.

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i disagree, in the first few seasons after cole, he was fantastic, was one of our top players. last season and one before was when he went to shit

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Originally Posted by selassie

But he wasn't a good enough replacement for Cole was he? Therein lies the problem.

Arsene never ever adequately replaces players immediately.

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This

Cos of the way Cole left us, we all got behind Clichy and supported him 100% and his shiteness was overlooked.

However season in and season out of Wenger failures meant the fans have lost trust and patience in the cunt meaning any shiteness is not not overlooked and instead highlighted

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Originally Posted by ollie the optimist

i disagree, in the first few seasons after cole, he was fantastic, was one of our top players. last season and one before was when he went to shit

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Fine that's your opinion. Cole has widely been regarded as one of the best left backs in the world for quite some time, a good few seasons when he was our player.

Clichy? Whilst I agree he did fairly well for a few seasons after Cole left he never ever got close to playing at his level.

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Originally Posted by selassie

Fine that's your opinion. Cole has widely been regarded as one of the best left backs in the world for quite some time, a good few seasons when he was our player.

Clichy? Whilst I agree he did fairly well for a few seasons after Cole left he never ever got close to playing at his level.

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And for a vast majority they thought he would go on to be just as good, there was no issue in the fans mind about him as a replacement. Nasri was also an adeuqate replecement for Hleb.

It's just lazy to throw a blanket statement out that he never replaces quality with similar. Gervinho would be a good replacement for Nasri - there is no one in this league that we could buy to come in and hit the ground running. The hype of Nasri is just that, so far he has shown flashes and 6 months, hardly world class.

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Originally Posted by ollie the optimist

i disagree, in the first few seasons after cole, he was fantastic, was one of our top players. last season and one before was when he went to shit

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:gp:

Spot-on.

Looks to me like we are trying to sabotage City's plans by lumbering them with as many of our losers as we can. Might work. Imagine if we get them in the cup final in a few years, both teams would implode and concede 20 goals in the last 5 minutes. Might be the final of the century and we could even win by accident. Definitely, sell them, it;s better than the plan we have now.