Summer Transfer Speculation and Shit

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

On the other hand, agents will be whispering in the ears of those players in the first place about how they can double or triple their money at Arsenal or Liverpool. That's what happens to the clubs a level down from ourselves, if they have any sort of success they have to replace a whole tranche of players. Just look at Southampton. Even Dortmund found their best players being picked off and they have to somehow do it again. The same will probably be the case for Atletico, and they could feasibly do the double this season.

Also, regarding other posts, I'm not sure we bottled anything. "Bottling" is just a lazy excuse and means you don't actually have to analyse what went on. We were never "in control" and one game ultimately changed everything. If one game can have such a bearing then there isn't much to bottle. Come Palace, it was out of our hands. City's games in hand made it look like we were running away with it when actually there were only a matter of a couple of points ever in it; both City and yourselves had far bigger leads over us at points during the season. We needed to essentially win near-enough half a league season in a row just to stand a chance, that was always improbable. Newcastle under Keegan was bottled. Not every loss is "bottled".

[I am invisible]

I honestly don't know how to read some of his recent comments? He talks about only wanting 2 or 3 players, and, at the same time says that he sees keeping the team together as a priority, so do we take that to mean a) that he wants 2 or 3 players on top of the squad as he sees it now (which includes players like Sagna, Fabianski and Vermaelen, who, at this moment, are still Arsenal players), and that if anyone leaves then we'll be after more than that, or b) that he only wants 2 or 3 players to come in, regardless of who goes out? If it's the former, then it might just be enough (although I'd still like to see a little extra on the 'ins'), but if it's the latter then we're pretty much screwed. Surely it has to be the former, doesn't it?

[Flavs]

I can see us having a clear out this summer. Sagna, Vermaelen, Fabianski, Miyachi, Podolski, Djorou, Diaby, Park, Bendtner, Couqelin.

I can then see some of the fringe coming into the 1st team squad to pad it out. Gnarbry and Campbell are obvious, I also think Martinez will get promoted to 2nd choice keeper unless we can get a free transfer from somewhere and I think Miguel will come in as 3rd or 4th center half.

We would then need a right back, a central defender, a tackling midfielder and a striker. whether these are no names, squad filler, 1st teamers or stars remains to be seen.

Remy being in the crowd at the West Brom game must surely mean he will come in.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Djourou has already left i believe, i believe a deal was done for him to join Hamburg on a permenant basis and it will go through once the transfer window shutters come up.
Wenger's relationship with Bendtner is at the point where he refuses to even acknowledge his existence
Can't see Diaby going, Wenger is too stubborn to admit he has been wrong with him (to be fair i half sympathise as i think he would have been an excellent player for us if he'd stayed fit but the fact is he's a crock and in this game you need to be ruthless.
Miyachi, Coquelin, Park etc will go out on loan again (when Park is on 50k a week you can't get him to leave on a permenant deal because no club in their right mind is going to match that wage)
Sagna is gone and the perceived wisdom is that the deal is pretty much done and dusted to bring in his replacement (Serge Aurier)
Vermaelen has been frozen out of the side and i would be suprised if he's still with us in September, Podolski is 50/50

[Özim]

I honestly don't know how to read some of his recent comments? He talks about only wanting 2 or 3 players, and, at the same time says that he sees keeping the team together as a priority, so do we take that to mean a) that he wants 2 or 3 players on top of the squad as he sees it now (which includes players like Sagna, Fabianski and Vermaelen, who, at this moment, are still Arsenal players), and that if anyone leaves then we'll be after more than that, or b) that he only wants 2 or 3 players to come in, regardless of who goes out? If it's the former, then it might just be enough (although I'd still like to see a little extra on the 'ins'), but if it's the latter then we're pretty much screwed. Surely it has to be the former, doesn't it?

Usually this means 2-3 players regardless of who leaves, that's the problem, if 2-3 players leave, 2-3 players isn't enough.

[Globalgunner]

Usually this means 2-3 players regardless of who leaves, that's the problem, if 2-3 players leave, 2-3 players isn't enough.

A squad who were not good enough to win the league, or making a dent in the CL surely needs more than a tweak. Then again, for me the main problem with the squad isnt actually the squad. 4th at a pinch next year, but only if one of the other 4 has a Moyes like catastrophic season next year.

[Power n Glory]

On the other hand, agents will be whispering in the ears of those players in the first place about how they can double or triple their money at Arsenal or Liverpool. That's what happens to the clubs a level down from ourselves, if they have any sort of success they have to replace a whole tranche of players. Just look at Southampton. Even Dortmund found their best players being picked off and they have to somehow do it again. The same will probably be the case for Atletico, and they could feasibly do the double this season.

Also, regarding other posts, I'm not sure we bottled anything. "Bottling" is just a lazy excuse and means you don't actually have to analyse what went on. We were never "in control" and one game ultimately changed everything. If one game can have such a bearing then there isn't much to bottle. Come Palace, it was out of our hands. City's games in hand made it look like we were running away with it when actually there were only a matter of a couple of points ever in it; both City and yourselves had far bigger leads over us at points during the season. We needed to essentially win near-enough half a league season in a row just to stand a chance, that was always improbable. Newcastle under Keegan was bottled. Not every loss is "bottled".

Exactly. It's nothing new. That's what used to happen to City but now their at the top of the food chain. It's impossible to grow organically and I'm not sure how FFP will help the smaller clubs like Southampton. If they can only rely on their resources, how are they going to expand? They need to rethink the rules.

But you guys 'bottled' the league. Whatever you want to call it, it was a screw up. I'd be pissed if Arsenal did that to us.

[Power n Glory]

I can see us having a clear out this summer. Sagna, Vermaelen, Fabianski, Miyachi, Podolski, Djorou, Diaby, Park, Bendtner, Couqelin.

I can then see some of the fringe coming into the 1st team squad to pad it out. Gnarbry and Campbell are obvious, I also think Martinez will get promoted to 2nd choice keeper unless we can get a free transfer from somewhere and I think Miguel will come in as 3rd or 4th center half.

We would then need a right back, a central defender, a tackling midfielder and a striker. whether these are no names, squad filler, 1st teamers or stars remains to be seen.

Remy being in the crowd at the West Brom game must surely mean he will come in.

We should keep Coquelin. Seems like a very good little player that never had a run of games. It's risky to give chances to young players, but I'd rather we did that over spending on a cheap player that's out of their depth when they arrive.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Exactly. It's nothing new. That's what used to happen to City but now their at the top of the food chain. It's impossible to grow organically and I'm not sure how FFP will help the smaller clubs like Southampton. If they can only rely on their resources, how are they going to expand? They need to rethink the rules.

But you guys 'bottled' the league. Whatever you want to call it, it was a screw up. I'd be pissed if Arsenal did that to us.

To be fair, I think Wenger would have played for a draw against Chelsea at home in the same situation

[I am invisible]

On the other hand, agents will be whispering in the ears of those players in the first place about how they can double or triple their money at Arsenal or Liverpool. That's what happens to the clubs a level down from ourselves, if they have any sort of success they have to replace a whole tranche of players. Just look at Southampton. Even Dortmund found their best players being picked off and they have to somehow do it again. The same will probably be the case for Atletico, and they could feasibly do the double this season.

Yeah, of course. I'm not saying that it doesn't go on all throughout the game at different levels - I'm just saying that I disagree with this idea that City's money isn't quite as big of an advantage as we make it out to be. My personal view is that's it's every bit the advantage that it's made out to be, and probably more besides - not only can they casually build squad's that the rest of us can only dream of (which benefits them not only in terms of quality on the pitch, but also in terms of freshness and fitness across the season), but they can also systematically pick apart (or at least disrupt) a lot of their rivals at the same time.