Mario Balotelli

[Power n Glory]

Mandzukic it is then.

[Munchies]

Y'all are just Balo-Jelly.

Seems like we're not getting him then, can't say I'm too fussed

[Özim]

yeah and just because Sanogo didn't cost 50 million...

[The Emirates Gallactico]

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.

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.

I'm starting to come around to this view now as well. Mainly because there isn't really anyone easily identifiable and gettable out there and the more I think about it, the more the prospect of Ballotelli absolutely frightens me. He's not Suarez level quality to persist with that stupidity and poor attitude. He just gave up in the second half of the Costa Rica game and was equally as poor yesterday.

Giroud for all his faults (and we've identified them already on here) is still a top player and looked quality for France which shows you the benefit of giving the guy a break once in a while. Looking back, it's no real surprise that Giroud's poor form coincided not only with losing runners from midfield (Ramsey + Theo) but also after being exhausted after Wenger ran him into the ground by playing him for 90 mins week in week out because we had no backup.

Meh, I wouldn't be too devastated if Giroud was first choice next season as long as we brought in a world class quality wide player to supplement him such as a Sanchez or even a Greizemann. And also, as you say, in addition to bringing back Campbell we brought in decent solid cover for him just so Giroud can take a break once in a while. Ideally that would be a promising youngster, like Campbell, who had the potential to become special in a few years .... e.g. like that Drmic kid at Nurenberg (though he's signed for Bayer Leverkusen).

1) Giroud
2) <Similar level cover>
3) Campbell

Don't think Sanago should be even close to featuring for us yet.

[Niall_Quinn]

Remy and Pogba - sign them now and they'll become legendary figures over the next 5 years. Balotelli, sign him and he'll be infamous within days.

[Munchies]

Sanchez
Remy
Pogba/Schneiderlin

Joel Campbell is already better than Sanogo so there's an upgrade already.

[I am invisible]

Bony looks useful every time I see him - I'd have him high on my list if we can't get someone like a Benzema. Would allow us to retain some of what we get from Giroud in terms of hold up play, but with some added pace, and maybe a bit more sharpness in the box.

Bony, Sanchez and Campbell, added to Giroud, Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain (or Gnabry, if we move the Ox to the centre) - I'd be happy with any 3 out of those 6 for most games.

[I am invisible]

Incidentally, whoever is in charge of fitness and conditioning for France has done a cracking job! I heard Benzema has dropped 14lbs for the tournament, and he looks fitter and faster than I've seen him for a long time, and even Giroud looks a lot lighter on his toes?!

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

Sure....

So for 35m who do you think would be a good signing?

Who do I think would be a good signing and attainable:

1. Remy – I think it was the first game of the WC (or a friendly match just before) where he played alongside Giroud drifting in from the wing and they looked absolutely sublime. Their coordination and understanding was incredible. We’ve all said that Giroud would work better alongside a smaller, more agile alternative and I seriously think this could be a devastating partnership.
2. Sanchez – I think he could be converted into a striker, and in fact, he reminds me a bit of Suarez. Very quick with his feet and unpredictable, he loves making those mazy runs to leave defenders in limbo. Apparently on his way out of Barca too. I think if you stumped up £30m they’d sell.
3. Benzema – if Falcao moves to Madrid then this guy would surely be up for grabs. Good player who gets a lot of unfair stick IMO.
4. Mandzukic – has he already gone? If not he’s another that could be bought for £20m-£25m.
5. Pedro – always rumours of him being available. I know he’s playing a lot more games than what he used to but if you went in with a £25m bid I’m almost certain Barca would sell.

There’s 5 forwards off the top of my head all of which would be available if Wenger decided to bid and negotiate. That doesn’t even encompass the far-reaching scouting network Wenger has at his disposal, covering countries like Argentina, Brazil, the whole of Africa, and ‘lesser’ leagues like the Belgian/Portuguese league. The list above is compiled by a guy sitting in an office in North London picking them off the top of his head. Wenger has a whole system behind him. That’s why I don’t quite get this idea that ‘no-one is available’, why is it always our club that makes excuses when it comes to transfers?

I bet you didn’t think that Man Utd were going to sign Mata in the January transfer window? No. But guess what, they did. It’s called bidding, unsettling players and negotiating.

[selassie]

Who do I think would be a good signing and attainable:

1. Remy – I think it was the first game of the WC (or a friendly match just before) where he played alongside Giroud drifting in from the wing and they looked absolutely sublime. Their coordination and understanding was incredible. We’ve all said that Giroud would work better alongside a smaller, more agile alternative and I seriously think this could be a devastating partnership.
2. Sanchez – I think he could be converted into a striker, and in fact, he reminds me a bit of Suarez. Very quick with his feet and unpredictable, he loves making those mazy runs to leave defenders in limbo. Apparently on his way out of Barca too. I think if you stumped up £30m they’d sell.
3. Benzema – if Falcao moves to Madrid then this guy would surely be up for grabs. Good player who gets a lot of unfair stick IMO.
4. Mandzukic – has he already gone? If not he’s another that could be bought for £20m-£25m.
5. Pedro – always rumours of him being available. I know he’s playing a lot more games than what he used to but if you went in with a £25m bid I’m almost certain Barca would sell.

There’s 5 forwards off the top of my head all of which would be available if Wenger decided to bid and negotiate. That doesn’t even encompass the far-reaching scouting network Wenger has at his disposal, covering countries like Argentina, Brazil, the whole of Africa, and ‘lesser’ leagues like the Belgian/Portuguese league. The list above is compiled by a guy sitting in an office in North London picking them off the top of his head. Wenger has a whole system behind him. That’s why I don’t quite get this idea that ‘no-one is available’, why is it always our club that makes excuses when it comes to transfers?

I bet you didn’t think that Man Utd were going to sign Mata in the January transfer window? No. But guess what, they did. It’s called bidding, unsettling players and negotiating.

Out of that list I would like Sanchez or Benzema if they were available, I think both of them would improve our team, as in our starting XI.

The others? I don't think Pedro...who is not really a striker, Remy or Mandzukic would improve us one bit.

Pedro is like a more refined version of "Theo", though he would obviously need to adapt to PL...not sure he is what we need to improve, Remy would not improve our starting XI IMO, he is "Arsenal" squad player type standard. Mandzukic? Is he really any better than Giroud? What qualities does he offer that Giroud doesn't give us? Sure he is a marginally better finisher but I really don't see him giving the team this extra bit of quality.

I think each of those guys would represent very good to great rotation/squad players, but if we are to bridge the gap between 4th place to geniune challengers we need "REAL" quality.

I really suppose it depends what we need, if we actually need a bonafide world class player to upgrade the attack then I only think 2 of those 5 are sufficient, if we just need squaddies then we might aswell go for Remy or Bony.