Summer Transfer Speculation and Shit

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Originally Posted by JonasTC

I think people is misunderstanding my "then he can just fuck off", if he is holding us for ransom, talking with the silly money clubs and wants us to compete with them and doesnt have any problem leaving the club he has stayed at for 7 years for 10k extra in his already filled bank account, then he's worth nothing to me and i'll stick to my "fuck off". Just because we gave Poldi or Giroud wrong contracts and there are criminals in other clubs paying out silly money, doesnt mean we should give everybody 100k+ contracts. Sagna is 31 and his form is only going one way from now on and thats down, in a perfect scenario we would keep him over the next couple of years alongside a new exciting young back (im not sure i believe in Jenkinson tho').

I'm sticking to my believe that Sagna's biggest plus is his deffensive stats and that i'd rather want a fullback/wingback who's better offensively, just like Barca and Bayern are doing, to whoever said "LOOOL WHO DOES THAT!?" (BOBN for example) and to Fakeyank, yes i still believe Kim Kallstrom at the time was the best we could get in, taking in all considerations and yes it was a gamble, but you know who else agrees with me? Arsene Wenger, one of the greatest managers in the world and yes i do also still believe that Bendtner is atleast as good as Berbatov at this stage of his career and it would have been retarded getting him in, he cant even get playing time for Monaco, despite them playing with 2 strikers and their only good striker injuried :)

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Not misunderstanding you, just not agreeing with you. The issue with letting Sagna go is that there really aren't many if any right backs that are obtainable who are an improvement on him. Off the top of my head the only one who I feel would be comparable and possibly obtainable is Pisczek at Dortmund, he wouldn't come cheap though.

There are plenty of great younger developing talents like Coleman at Everton, Clyne at Southamption, in France there is a great young right back breaking through called Serge Aurier who plays for Toulouse. They won't come cheap though and can you really see Arsene paying the market rate for them?

Back onto Sagna, he basically wants paying the market rate for a top quality established international full back, I honestly don't think demands of 100k per week are excessive. As stated by MO, 100k per week is now the going rate for an established player, elite players command 150-300k per week.

Kim Kallstrom the best we could get in at the time? He's injured for christ sake! Arsene even admitted he was aware of his back problem but took a gamble!!!

You honestly think Bendtner is as good as Berbatov?! How have you come to this conclusion? Just curious.

I don't know, I think you could pick up a good RB without too much hassle or expense (French clubs certainly seem to be able to churn them out at will!) - I just don't see why this needs to be an either/or decision? Ideal scenario for me: bring in a promising, long-term successor for Sagna at RB if we can, and maybe keep Sagna as first choice to start with, but also confirm him as one of our 4 CB options too, ensuring they'll both get plenty of games. Then, as Sagna gets further into his 30s, we can make the new guy first-choice, and start using Sagna more as full-time, quality/experienced cover right across the back line...

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Originally Posted by I am invisible

I don't know, I think you could pick up a good RB without too much hassle or expense (French clubs certainly seem to be able to churn them out at will!) - I just don't see why this needs to be an either/or decision? Ideal scenario for me: bring in a promising, long-term successor for Sagna at RB if we can, and maybe keep Sagna as first choice to start with, but also confirm him as one of our 4 CB options too, ensuring they'll both get plenty of games. Then, as Sagna gets further into his 30s, we can make the new guy first-choice, and start using Sagna more as full-time, quality/experienced cover right across the back line...

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I agree, I think we need a new right back regardless.

My biggest concern here is that Sagna has already made up his mind to go, and that there's not actually much we can do about it, even if we do stump up the cash. In which case (and depending on what happens with Vermaelen, and how highly you rate Jenks) we could need between 1-2 new RBs and 1-2 new CBs this summer?! Oh, and maybe 1-2 GKs too, so potentially anything between 3-6 new defensive players!

Not that they all have to be big names signed for big money - half of those players would be understudies in their respective positions, so I'm happy to go down the youth / unknown route with them - it's just the time more than anything else. We don't exactly have the greatest track record when it comes to getting deals done quickly, and even if we can manage it, there's a secondary time concern in terms of how long it will take that many new players in one area to gel.

On the other hand, if we can persuade Sagna to stay then we may only need to do about half that...

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Originally Posted by I am invisible

My biggest concern here is that Sagna has already made up his mind to go, and that there's not actually much we can do about it, even if we do stump up the cash. In which case (and depending on what happens with Vermaelen, and how highly you rate Jenks) we could need between 1-2 new RBs and 1-2 new CBs this summer?! Oh, and maybe 1-2 GKs too, so potentially anything between 3-6 new defensive players!

Not that they all have to be big names signed for big money - half of those players would be understudies in their respective positions, so I'm happy to go down the youth / unknown route with them - it's just the time more than anything else. We don't exactly have the greatest track record when it comes to getting deals done quickly, and even if we can manage it, there's a secondary time concern in terms of how long it will take that many new players in one area to gel.

On the other hand, if we can persuade Sagna to stay then we may only need to do about half that...

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That's pretty much my biggest concern too. I think if Sagna leaves which it is looking likely then he will need to be replaced with a good quality player. I admire Jenks determination and loyalty but he is nowhere near ready yet. The boy should not be developed by game time in the first XI, it's not necessary.

Of course understudies do not have to be big names but they most certainly have to be of a good standard. If Vermaelen leaves for example, we will most definitely need to replace him as we don't currently have an obvious prospects ready to promote from within.

This summer is going to be quite interesting regarding the comings and goings, though past history tells us we'll probably do the bare minimum.

That is quite a frightening thought....having to sign a bunch of defenders.....and that's without even mentioning a DCM, CF and possibly a wide player. May end up giving ourselves just way too much to do and precedent tells us we won't fill all the holes.

I wonder how much Miquel who can play left back and centre back is featuring in the managers plans.

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Originally Posted by selassie

That's pretty much my biggest concern too. I think if Sagna leaves which it is looking likely then he will need to be replaced with a good quality player. I admire Jenks determination and loyalty but he is nowhere near ready yet. The boy should not be developed by game time in the first XI, it's not necessary.

Of course understudies do not have to be big names but they most certainly have to be of a good standard. If Vermaelen leaves for example, we will most definitely need to replace him as we don't currently have an obvious prospects ready to promote from within.

This summer is going to be quite interesting regarding the comings and goings, though past history tells us we'll probably do the bare minimum.

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Well you never know? That's how most summers usually end up, but at least last summer it wasn't for want of trying - two failed bids for Suarez, two for Bender, and a lot of talk over Higuain are testament to that. We just need to get better at actually planning and completing these things.

I agree that it's going to be an interesting summer though. Even without looking at potential replacements for Sagna / Vermaelen / Fabianski, I'd still say it's going to be a very busy period for us. Even if we only need couple of players on the attacking side of things, those players need to be of an exceptional standard, and those deals won't be easy (or quick) to get done. Add the fact that it's a WC year too, and I think we really need to minimize how much work we need to get done - if that means pulling out all the stops to keep Sagna at the club, then I'd say do it.

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Originally Posted by Blink 1nce Quince 2wice

That is quite a frightening thought....having to sign a bunch of defenders.....and that's without even mentioning a DCM, CF and possibly a wide player. May end up giving ourselves just way too much to do and precedent tells us we won't fill all the holes.

I wonder how much Miquel who can play left back and centre back is featuring in the managers plans.

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Our best bet might even be to persuade Vermaelen to stay as well? Then we'd only really need a good RB and a back-up keeper, and we could maybe keep everyone happy (and fresh!) by pairing Sagna with Vermaelen on a regular basis at CB? You never know - they might even strike up a decent partnership of their own, given time?

Losing Sagna will be one of the worst blows for us. He is not only one of the most consistent players but he is also the most experienced in this side, having been here since 2006. He is great at CB and if Kos or Mert were to be injured, he can fill that role easily. While I think, we possibly may get someone to replace him on the pitch (unlikely), what I really care about is the influence of losing someone with that experience in the dressing room.

We have in the last 7-8 years always let go of senior players saying they are shit or good riddance. But you cannot buy experience and you need to be ready to pay up for that. There was a reason why Ferguson held onto Neville, Giggs, Scholes, Rio, well past their primes. I really hope we pay the money or whatever Sagna needs to keep him here.. tired of having to 'bed-in' new players, giving them 1 whole season to understand how we play. When we have a world class player, we should do everything to keep him.

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Originally Posted by fakeyank

Losing Sagna will be one of the worst blows for us. He is not only one of the most consistent players but he is also the most experienced in this side, having been here since 2006. He is great at CB and if Kos or Mert were to be injured, he can fill that role easily. While I think, we possibly may get someone to replace him on the pitch (unlikely), what I really care about is the influence of losing someone with that experience in the dressing room.

We have in the last 7-8 years always let go of senior players saying they are shit or good riddance. But you cannot buy experience and you need to be ready to pay up for that. There was a reason why Ferguson held onto Neville, Giggs, Scholes, Rio, well past their primes. I really hope we pay the money or whatever Sagna needs to keep him here.. tired of having to 'bed-in' new players, giving them 1 whole season to understand how we play. When we have a world class player, we should do everything to keep him.

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This for sure. He's one of the best right backs in the world and losing him would be a massive blow. You can't just easily replace that level of quality and consistency.


Ironically it'll probably work out cheaper paying the extra he wants for a new deal instead of trying to buy a replacement of similar quality. Just give him what he wants Arsene!