Winter Transfer Missed Opportunities and Regrets

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Letters

You're forgetting Jesus.
New signings :bow:

---

it sounds like he won't be back any time soon and will need time to get up to speed

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by HCZ_Reborn

The rumours are this morning that we will not sign anyone in January to put cash aside for the summer

My feeling is if this is the case we should at least make an effort to sign an attacking player on loan. Because we are relying heavily on both Nketiah and Saka, on Martinelli’s side we can at least play Marquinhos or Nelson when he’s fit.

---

Saka and Martinelli are starting to fade early in the second half of matches. I’m hoping Smith-Rowe can rediscover his form because he can provide some much needed cover.

our squad's so thin that I'd take almost anyone right now - if Johnny Clogger from Nowhere FC can be signed as a needs-must target for crosses into the box, let's take him ffs

Trossard

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 21_GOONER_SALUTE

Mate.I hate to sound like HCZ, but please don't put words in my mouth (seeing as you are doing this for the second time in a row).

Firstly I wasn't one of the people who "criticised" us for spending money on the squad in 21/22... I mean how can anyone who has read anything from me suggest this?! Next, I didn't give a flying "F" about Vlahovic, so please don't go there.

I mean if you're looking for people to ones up on those signings, there aren't that many posts on this board that one can't go back and check so you can get your targets right. I do that once in a while e.g. you were an AW enabler for quite a long time, but all is forgiven :)

Anyway now that I have rebutted those untruths, lets debate a bit.

Firstly I am not going to change my mind that getting rid of Auba the way and manner we did was silly and childish (at least you got this right).... especially with the way our season panned out and the difference he made to Barca on the field and off the field, not forgetting they still managed to turn a profit on him. To think we have people here who make it their job to be our self appointed "Accountants", telling us daily what we should and should not spend...well I wonder what school these degrees are coming from if one does not understand the ABCs of how companies dispose of assets!

Next your assertion is that we have had 2 "Great" transfer windows, yet in your previous posts you've also expressed the sentiment that the squad is lite....please correct me if I am wrong, because if I am not wrong, what exactly are we arguing about mate? Or are transfer windows not meant to make sure you have an adequate squad? ( Doctor : "Oh the organ transplant was great, but you still have to live with leukemia for the next few years ...." )

Anyway I think I get it, maybe it grinds some of us when people think independently and don't regurgitate exactly what Kronke and co want us to.

Well I am definitely never going to be in that alley and I don't need my "actual" opinions to be popular....all I want is the best for my club at every single point in time.

If that annoys some who clearly have 100% blind faith in our current custodians, then so be it.

***Note
...if you wanna do an "I told you so" for a player who hasn't even kicked a ball yet for Chelsea, lets let him kick the ball first eh, an "I told you so" counts at any point in time, just ask Letters :)

---

A bit touchy here?

First - I did not personalise my comments re the 21/22 transfer season, nor re Vlahovic. As far as you personally are concerned, I was responding to your criticisms of our lack of busines this transfer window - that hasn't closed yet.

My reference to our recent very good transfer business was to put this criticism in context. I am no mouthpiece for the Kroenke's (if this barb was directed at me). What I like to see is balance, and to lament our failure to get Mudryk over the line (with the additional implication that we screw up transfer negotiations) fails to acknowledge the fact that we have been very good at securing the right players over the past 18 months, and this has been shown by our performance so far this season. For me, acknowledging our successes in the transfer market as well as criticising the 'failures' (and particularly with player sales in recent years there have been plenty) represents independent thought.

There is no contradition in praising our recent transfer business while also recognising that we still need reinforcements. Rome was not built in a day, and for me the club has earned the right to my faith that there is a proper strategy when it comes to doing so. Acknowledging there there will be some setbacks when we are competing with clubs for whom money is irrelevant does not make me a self-appointed 'accountant'. It makes me a realist.

I am pleased that you cite the leukemaia example, because this proves my point precisely. Cancer treatment can still be regarded as successful even if it achieves remission for a number of years rather than complete eradication. It is usually part of a process, and 100% success is often not possible. We should strive for perfection, yes, but in football as in other businesses there are many factors that mean you have to compromise. I respect and understand where you are coming from re the Auba transfer - that is consistent with your condemnation of our transfer dealings with Mudryk - and I don't seek to change this. But there is validity in my view that he was done at Arsenal, and getting rid of him was neither silly nor childish, but part of the process of moving the team forwards - that has proven justified.

I don't have 'blind faith' in those running the club, but I do have confidence that manager and board have a plan, and prepared to trust this.

Still - enjoying the debate.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by GP

Trossard

---

A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by GP

Trossard

---

good to see talks happening, definitely should sign him if we can

presumably Ben White has given Arteta the lowdown on what kind of team player he is

Good move.

Hope he can make the step up and isn’t one of those big fish in a small pond types.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Marc Overmars

Saka and Martinelli are starting to fade early in the second half of matches. I’m hoping Smith-Rowe can rediscover his form because he can provide some much needed cover.

---

Starting to fade :lol:
They play on carpets all year round and are spoon fed to within in an inch of their lives.
Years ago we had one sub and very small squads to play an average of 55 matches per year on thick mud and sand. :oldboy:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Chippy

Starting to fade :lol:
They play on carpets all year round and are spoon fed to within in an inch of their lives.
Years ago we had one sub and very small squads to play an average of 55 matches per year on thick mud and sand. :oldboy:

---

it's all relative and it's about whether all clubs at any time are on a level playing field

our competitors now have larger squads, we are the exception because Arteta wanted to get rid of deadwood and build a close-knit team spirit - all of which is fine except once we have a few injuries we are threadbare

the games are played at a much faster pace now, especially for people like Martinelli - if all other clubs are able to bring on up to five game-changing subs at 70 mins and we can't because there's literally no one to bring on (a la the Newcastle game), that's a big problem