[jmayo]

Originally Posted by danlen

Are we calling anything that resembles optimism 'blind faith'?

Surely something like being linked with a £15m+ bid, for someone a lot of top European teams would be happy to have, is a positive thing?

It is a positive thing if we weren't talking about Arsenal where transfer budgets are limited, where there are other areas needing addressing and there were still major problems with that position at the moment.

What is bloody infuriating is that the club and Wenger did not seem as bothered about spending money on a keeper when there were huge problems with the position.

At the moment there is more need for top money to spent on other areas.

Originally Posted by danlen

There were so many complaints about lack of activity this time last year, and now we are fussy enough to turn our noses up at the possibility of signing top players?

You don't think that signing Podolski and Giroud for over £20m before the transfer window is even open is at the very least a sign of intent. What exactly are you expecting from us in the transfer market?

Messi.
If you in the business of dreaming then so can I.

I don't rate Podolski as a great player.
I think of him in much the same way as Mertesacker.
Yippee they have loads of German caps, have done ok for Germany, but have questionable club form behind them.
Podolski hardly set the world alight during his 3 years at Bayern.
In fact he had to run back to Koln where granted he has resurrected his career.
Maybe he will work out ok at Arsenal, but what worries me is that fact he couldn't cut it at Bayern.
Maybe he will turn out like Henry and Viera who had failed at big clubs or maybe he turns out like Arshavin.
We can only hope.
As for Giroud, I hope he lives up to the hype and doesn't go the way of our some of our last French imports.

They are positive moves but the Arsenal squad need a hell of a lot of regigging.
Sadly it looks like a sizeable chunk of the wage bill could be still tied up with the wastes of space.
Yes I am picky and a pessimist.

Originally Posted by Kirby

Good news for you guys. Apparently Denilson has extended his loan at Soa Paulo for another season.

Are they paying all his salary ?

[Bam Bam Mickey]

Originally Posted by tayto lover

Agree. No word about Dempsey now at all. He would be a good signing too as would Leighton Baines.
Who should we spend the RVP money on if he goes ?

Do you think we will spend it?
Well Giroud should start every game now i feel as the striker, so get an AM, DMC or another CB for cover.
We would be taking a risk on Giroud but Wenger will do that anyway i think

[Royale with Cheese]

Originally Posted by jmayo

I don't rate Podolski as a great player.
I think of him in much the same way as Mertesacker.
Yippee they have loads of German caps, have done ok for Germany, but have questionable club form behind them.
Podolski hardly set the world alight during his 3 years at Bayern.
In fact he had to run back to Koln where granted he has resurrected his career.
Maybe he will work out ok at Arsenal, but what worries me is that fact he couldn't cut it at Bayern.
Maybe he will turn out like Henry and Viera who had failed at big clubs or maybe he turns out like Arshavin.
We can only hope.
As for Giroud, I hope he lives up to the hype and doesn't go the way of our some of our last French imports.

Yes, the club are taking a punt on a couple of players. Every transfer is a risk though. No matter how big the name, the deal is not guaranteed to be a success. Looks at Torres, Shevchenko etc.

If they were to go out and spend big money on a striker it'd probably be someone like Llorente coming, he'd be no more guaranteed to succeed than Podolski or Giroud.

[belcarra]

Originally Posted by RVP 11

Do you think we will spend it?
Well Giroud should start every game now i feel as the striker, so get an AM, DMC or another CB for cover.
We would be taking a risk on Giroud but Wenger will do that anyway i think

Given that AW was blindsided by RVP's announcement do you think he might now go for another striker to replace him? Personally, I think Podolski and Giroud between them should get us as far as January at which time AW can decide if he needs a bit extra up front. If he was to go for another striker I thought Lewandowski did well during the Euros. He linked play well and looked dangerous. Utd were supposed to be looking at him but from what I can tell it seems to have gone quiet again...

(Yes, I know priority might be for DM/Def...)

[Bam Bam Mickey]

Originally Posted by belcarra

Given that AW was blindsided by RVP's announcement do you think he might now go for another striker to replace him? Personally, I think Podolski and Giroud between them should get us as far as January at which time AW can decide if he needs a bit extra up front. If he was to go for another striker I thought Lewandowski did well during the Euros. He linked play well and looked dangerous. Utd were supposed to be looking at him but from what I can tell it seems to have gone quiet again...

(Yes, I know priority might be for DM/Def...)

I wouldn't expect him to and now i have thought hard about it i don't think we need one.
As you say Podolski & Giroud should be able to fill his boots between them and we always have Chamakh as cover, here's hoping he finds some form.
But i agree totally, January window would be there if we really did need re-inforcements, even though January is not the best window for players (CL cup tied etc).
I don't think we need to panic buy just yet.

[Bam Bam Mickey]

Breaking News: Apparently Fire crews are tackling a massive Fire at Robin Van Persie's country mansion. Police suspect Arsene

[emergingstar]

So theo is holding out for 100 grand we offered 80, should we pay up or sell

[AnCapaillMor]

He can f'off with his 100 anyways thats for sure.

[Bam Bam Mickey]

Originally Posted by emergingstar

So theo is holding out for 100 grand we offered 80, should we pay up or sell

I'm sorry, he's not worth 100k a week.

[belcarra]

Originally Posted by emergingstar

So theo is holding out for 100 grand we offered 80, should we pay up or sell

Would we be too bothered if we let him go? I think he's getting better but will never be top class in my view. I don't think we'd fear him if we played against him.
What would we get for him if we sold him? Young, best years ahead of him, in demand, 1 year left - £15-20million?
Wages? £100k x 52 weeks x 5 year contract(?) = £26million contract.

I'd say that £46million could be better invested but with that Board that investment wouldn't happen!

[tayto lover]

Originally Posted by emergingstar

So theo is holding out for 100 grand we offered 80, should we pay up or sell

Sell. Take the hand off them.

[emergingstar]

I agree I wouldn't bend over backwards to keep him either

[kryogen]

Originally Posted by tayto lover

Sell. Take the hand off them.

Reckon you could get 20mil easy off Liverpool for him

[Bam Bam Mickey]

Originally Posted by emergingstar

I agree I wouldn't bend over backwards to keep him either

Is he that way inclined?
I hope this isn't the start of a trend "Let's all look for more money now Arsenal are in a spot of bother"

[Hyzepher]

Reading Arseblog this morning does raise the question as to whether the RvP and Red & White statements were coordinated. It does seem that they were aware of RvP intentions before he released his statement and had something ready to go.

If that's the case is there a possibility that Usmanov has talked to RvP in secret in some sort of Arsenal shake-up or mega-bluff sort of thing? or is Usmanov just better connected than the Arsenal board?