Summer Transfer Temps and Journeymen

[I am invisible]

I read an article about Pepe when we signed him and it said he was a risk taker, he was brave and audacious. Sometimes that skill or flick didn't work, sometimes he lost the ball, but when it did work it usually ended up in a great goal-scoring opportunity for his team.

In an Arsenal shirt I've seen no evidence of any of that. If anything he's the opposite, he plays it safe and backwards even when there's an opportunity to get forward. His close control is pretty good, but he doesn't look particularly good at dribbling at pace one on one against a full back.

Maybe it's just a confidence issue, but every time he's had a good game and I think he's going to really push on he just fizzles out again. I hope I'm wrong but I'm starting to think we've got the wrong player.

To be fair he did everything I was asking of him yesterday (i.e. was willing and ready to use his right when he needed to, was far quicker and more decisive with his actions and he did his bit defensively) and I think it made a difference? Kept his markers guessing and off-balance, and stopped the whole oppo defence getting back and getting organised as he tries to work an opening on his left.

I do think there's a very good player in there - my main gripe with him (and when I say 'him' I mean Raul and Emery) was always that he felt like a bit of a hush-signing to cushion the blow of ending up with Luiz after we lost Koscielny and Monreal, had to loan Saliba back to St Etienne, failed in a bid for Upamecano, and failed to move Mustafi on. (And potentially rinsed most of next summer's budget!)

[I am invisible]

We’re paying Guendouzi and Saliba £40k/wk, so I don’t see us getting away with offering Saka (and Martinelli) any less than that, if their agents are even half way competent.

Unfortunately we can’t afford to get into a pissing contest on wages with the CL big boys, so past a point we’ll just have to hope that the promise of regular games and a prominent role in the side will be enough to keep them here for a good few years to come.

Yet another good reason to shift anyone in that £90k+/wk club who isn’t offering a good ROI this summer - we’re gonna need that money free to redirect it to anyone who is earning it...

[Niall_Quinn]

We’re paying Guendouzi and Saliba £40k/wk, so I don’t see us getting away with offering Saka (and Martinelli) any less than that, if their agents are even half way competent.

Unfortunately we can’t afford to get into a pissing contest on wages with the CL big boys, so past a point we’ll just have to hope that the promise of regular games and a prominent role in the side will be enough to keep them here for a good few years to come.

Yet another good reason to shift anyone in that £90k+/wk club who isn’t offering a good ROI this summer - we’re gonna need that money free to redirect it to anyone who is earning it...

They're kids making their first moves. Why shouldn't they have to work their way up? I think we need a new rule where young players BORROW the cash to be trained by a club. For each year they stay, the loan is partially written off. After a set time it expires completely, otherwise they have to pay the full balance (commensurate with the stupid cash they are demanding in wages of course) upon transfer. In any other endeavour, the organisation that puts in the R&D gets to claw that back in sales. We've had Bosman that makes it "fair" for the (as it turned out) greedy, piss-taking players. Now let's have some consideration for the clubs. It's fair.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I think once you get into (and I know this is somewhat an arbitrary figure) 60k+ per week, you're starting to say 'we believe in you as THE left back and perhaps more than the actual guy we bought to play there for 25 million in Tierney'.

We shouldn't be going overboard, it's not even been a full half season of convincing he's done, he doesn't actually even want to play left back and we have 2 other competent left backs! He hasn't come anywhere near to proving his quality beyond doubt at left wing too, which is ultimately where he wants to play. He will need to outdo Martinelli in the short term for that.

I would say up to 40k...perhaps a little bit beyond. I worry with his comments of 'I leave that down to my parents and agent' that we will be subjected to the greed of his parents and/or agent though. You're 18 now kiddo, that's a gown arse man in the eyes of the law....it's down to you.

But hey, I get why they peddle that line...

[Özim]

I think once you get into (and I know this is somewhat an arbitrary figure) 60k+ per week, you're starting to say 'we believe in you as THE left back and perhaps more than the actual guy we bought to play there for 25 million in Tierney'.

We shouldn't be going overboard, it's not even been a full half season of convincing he's done, he doesn't actually even want to play left back and we have 2 other competent left backs! He hasn't come anywhere near to proving his quality beyond doubt at left wing too, which is ultimately where he wants to play. He will need to outdo Martinelli in the short term for that.

I would say up to 40k...perhaps a little bit beyond. I worry with his comments of 'I leave that down to my parents and agent' that we will be subjected to the greed of his parents and/or agent though. You're 18 now kiddo, that's a gown arse man in the eyes of the law....it's down to you.

But hey, I get why they peddle that line...

Let's be honest, Tierney has been a disaster so far, he may be talented but he arrived injured, played a few games then got injured again, why do we always find these injury prone players?

As for Saka he doesn't really deserve a pay rise based on a handful of games, but again if we rated him why does he only have 18 months left, if he wants to play hard ball then let him and sell him in the summer for 30 million and be done with it, football should be his primary concern not money, if he turns out good riches will follow (well he's already rich but more riches).

[fakeyank]

If I were Arsenal, I'd give him an offer of 40K per week plus huge incentives and a written promise that we will revisit his contract again in a year if the performance continues. If he declines, I'd put a 50 million price tag on Saka for the summer and also tell him that he will not play a single game next season if he goes unsold. Let's see what top teams come to touch an 18 year old who had a few decent games in 2020 and then didnt play an entire season after that. Good luck playing in the championship after that.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Let's be honest, Tierney has been a disaster so far, he may be talented but he arrived injured, played a few games then got injured again, why do we always find these injury prone players?

As for Saka he doesn't really deserve a pay rise based on a handful of games, but again if we rated him why does he only have 18 months left, if he wants to play hard ball then let him and sell him in the summer for 30 million and be done with it, football should be his primary concern not money, if he turns out good riches will follow (well he's already rich but more riches).

I've no doubt it is....but at that age and of his particular culture, it wouldn't be unprecedented to put too much in the people around you, I.E agent, parents etc the advice of which will obviously have a big influence. Let's not forget he's playing where he would rather not and other clubs may sway him with the offer of playing left wing. So ironically 'focusing on football' may still take him away from here.

Personally I'm not especially worried and I think of the 18 month contracts we have to sort his is probably the one that will be the most straight forward.

[I am invisible]

Before all of this virus business I would have said selling made the most sense for both parties. Now though, who knows what state the game is gonna be in once we all come out of lockdown? Suitable buyers might be scarce, and the player himself might be looking at a new deal with us a little more favourably, if we’re sitting on decent cash reserves and looking relatively stable compared to everyone else?

In conclusion, I haven’t got a fucking clue.

[Mac76]

Before all of this virus business I would have said selling made the most sense for both parties. Now though, who knows what state the game is gonna be in once we all come out of lockdown? Suitable buyers might be scarce, and the player himself might be looking at a new deal with us a little more favourably, if we’re sitting on decent cash reserves and looking relatively stable compared to everyone else?

In conclusion, I haven’t got a fucking clue.

It's a good point and if we'd made CL i would agree with you the chances have increased he'll stay, but as i don't think they'll finish the season that won't happen so i think someone in the CL will snap him up, i'm sure he wants CL badly at his age

[Ralpheroo72]

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