Winter Transfer Speculation

[Static]

Yes that one, rumours circulating Costa will return to Athletico....so much for a transfer ban. Looks like we should have gone for Giezman after all, now that they've sold martinez tho, no chance

They wouldn't have sold Griezmann to us in the window just gone. I very much doubt he would want to come here anyway.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...o-simeone.html

Have a look at that, he chose Atletico over us already, why would he want to go back on the decision he already made? Especially considering the way he spoke about Simeone.

Edit, also: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...Griezmann.html

[Özim]

They wouldn't have sold Griezmann to us in the window just gone. I very much doubt he would want to come here anyway.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...o-simeone.html

Have a look at that, he chose Atletico over us already, why would he want to go back on the decision he already made? Especially considering the way he spoke about Simeone.

Edit, also: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...Griezmann.html

I'm not entirely disagreeing, we don't have the appeal we once had as we're not successful anymore and are seen as serial bottlers, however if you don't try you don't get.

Newcastle tried their luck with Lacazette, wouldn't have minded him and West Ham signed Tevez and Mascherano in the past so stranger things have happened.

We could have gone for these players if we'd wanted to and we may or may not have got them, thing is we never try.

[Power n Glory]

We don't even need a world class striker. Just find someone that's competent in front of goal and has a bit of a pace. Giroud is the wrong sort of striker for that type of game. He always wants the ball played to his feet and he's not creating space for himself or others. Unless the ball is looped in over the top or crossed, it's difficult to get him an assist in a game like that.

There must be strikers available that can provide a bit of movement up top. It's not like we're looking for the impossible. For crying out loud, I'd even wager Walcott or Sanchez doing better in that sort of game up front because it's easier for our midfield to get them the ball.

[Munchies]

We don't even need a world class striker. Just find someone that's competent in front of goal and has a bit of a pace. Giroud is the wrong sort of striker for that type of game. He always wants the ball played to his feet and he's not creating space for himself or others. Unless the ball is looped in over the top or crossed, it's difficult to get him an assist in a game like that.

There must be strikers available that can provide a bit of movement up top. It's not like we're looking for the impossible. For crying out loud, I'd even wager Walcott or Sanchez doing better in that sort of game up front because it's easier for our midfield to get them the ball.

Could've easily bought Lacazette in the Summer

Just as strong, really fast and can score

[I am invisible]

We don't even need a world class striker. Just find someone that's competent in front of goal and has a bit of a pace. Giroud is the wrong sort of striker for that type of game. He always wants the ball played to his feet and he's not creating space for himself or others. Unless the ball is looped in over the top or crossed, it's difficult to get him an assist in a game like that.

There must be strikers available that can provide a bit of movement up top. It's not like we're looking for the impossible. For crying out loud, I'd even wager Walcott or Sanchez doing better in that sort of game up front because it's easier for our midfield to get them the ball.

If you get a chance, see if you can find a compilation of Aubameyang's goals from this season - he sounds like exactly the kind of player we'd all love to have up top with his blistering pace, and his current goal-a-game record, but there's a hell of a lot of tap-ins from a couple of yards out in there, and a lot of them are actually quite scruffy?

I think he's a great example of how you don't necessarily have to be a world-class finisher to be a very, very effective striker - what he lacks in super-sharp shooting, he makes up for in positioning and timing, and generally knowing where his team mates are going to put the ball. And there's obviously got to be more to his all-round game than that - if his sole contribution was rolling the ball in from a yard out, then Dortmund would just take the money and run. However, my first thought after watching that compilation was pretty much the same as yours: how hard can it possibly be to find a striker who can do that (and certainly for a shit sight less than Dortmund would want)? And also why can't one of our current lot do a similar job? Welbeck in particular looks very similar in terms of build, physical attributes and work rate, but I suppose for that plan to work he'd have to a) get fit, b) stay fit, and c) actually be played as a striker, and not shoved out on the wing while we try and keep Giroud and Walcott happy?

[Power n Glory]

If you get a chance, see if you can find a compilation of Aubameyang's goals from this season - he sounds like exactly the kind of player we'd all love to have up top with his blistering pace, and his current goal-a-game record, but there's a hell of a lot of tap-ins from a couple of yards out in there, and a lot of them are actually quite scruffy?

I think he's a great example of how you don't necessarily have to be a world-class finisher to be a very, very effective striker - what he lacks in super-sharp shooting, he makes up for in positioning and timing, and generally knowing where his team mates are going to put the ball. And there's obviously got to be more to his all-round game than that - if his sole contribution was rolling the ball in from a yard out, then Dortmund would just take the money and run. However, my first thought after watching that compilation was pretty much the same as yours: how hard can it possibly be to find a striker who can do that (and certainly for a shit sight less than Dortmund would want)? And also why can't one of our current lot do a similar job? Welbeck in particular looks very similar in terms of build, physical attributes and work rate (although I suppose for that plan to work he'd have to a) get fit, b) stay fit, and c) actually be played as a striker, and not shoved out on the wing while we try and keep Giroud and Walcott happy)...

I think Aubameyang started his life as a winger. I really don’t know how this sort of player can slip under our radar. He was playing in the French league before arriving at Dortmund. But I agree with you. Welbeck should be capable of playing the role. Theo, Sanchez even Campbell. Just someone that has a decent touch, a bit of pace and has the mobility to work from channel to channel, come deep for the ball on occasions, go in behind and also be effective on the counter. When teams sit deep against us, block the middle and restrict the space, we can’t afford to play a slow immobile brick of a player that can only play with his back to goal. I’ve noticed how Klopp’s playing Frimino and I don’t know why we haven’t tried the same.

Why not buy a winger and convert them to a striker? I thought that was the plan for Sanchez. Just before selling Gervinho we played him there and he didn’t look that bad and that guy has terrible shooting technique but he’d manage to find the net and pose a threat. Constantly moving. He had a great game against Southampton scoring 2. The Chelsea and City games were too much for him (even though he scored against Chelsea) but I don’t get why Wenger hasn’t tried this again. I don’t accept that there is no one on the market. I think he’s lost his eye for talent.

The problem I have with Giroud is that he’s not a threat to defenders. Hardly ever a menace that’s a thorn in their side. He has moments where he pops up for a goal but never a constant threat. For all of Theo’s faults, you could see against Bayern and Utd that he was a problem for their defenders and he didn’t have to score. We just need an upgrade on that sort of player. That should be our plan A all the time. Giroud should be plan B. There has to be a player out there or within the squad and it shouldn’t take £60m to get that from a player. I really don’t know why he hasn’t put pace up front as a priority now. Against Chelsea he took off his top goal scoring striker to play with pace. Surely that’s a sign? He’d never do that if that were Anelka, Henry, RVP…even Adebayor.

[Niall_Quinn]

Headlines this morning speculating Sturridge is leaving Anfield and we head the queue to buy him. This is an easy one to believe. Absolute crock who is likely to play 5 games a season tops? What's not to love?

[Özim]

Wenger saying cuts in ticket prices won't happen as players will need to be paid more and transfer fees will rise Oh dear Ironic really as the guy spends peanuts most of the time but overpays players who've done nothing, he's part and parcel of the problem.

He can't leave soon enough

Arsene Wenger: Arsenal boss says clubs need TV cash for players

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35502898

[Globalgunner]

Wenger saying cuts in ticket prices won't happen as players will need to be paid more and transfer fees will rise Oh dear Ironic really as the guy spends peanuts most of the time but overpays players who've done nothing, he's part and parcel of the problem.

He can't leave soon enough



http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35502898

Need the money for Players.... and Managers......They are not exactly cheap either

[Özim]

If you believe reports he might be getting tired of the way the club does thing already, if he's holding out for signings he'd better not hold his breath, may see him playing for a Manchester club some time soon....

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/foo...ntract-demands