Arsenal Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 12/13 MOD POST #232

maximoose

This magical exploding knee of Ba's sure is taking a long time to materialise..

premierstone

maximoose wrote: »

This magical exploding knee of Ba's sure is taking a long time to materialise..

A week in Shenley or sharing a dressingroom with Diaby wouldnt be long bringing it to a head.

gosplan

gosplan wrote: »

I'm kind of with you in a way but will they just spend the fcuking money already.

I do worry that this financial picture we get of the club is just the owners financial picture - i.e. CL = money = success. I recognise that not getting the CL place would limit our disposable income but we've been doing nothing with it anyway.

So, if these new deals and all this extra money amounts to serious strngthening of the squad, then brilliant ... and believe me, nothing would make me happier than for Wenger to take this squad, strengthen it and bring the club back to where it, and he, belong.

But if it simply amounts to a continuation of the 4th place status quo, then what's the point of the last 7 years? A period of sustained hardship and the sacrifice of some of the best years of one of the greatest managers we'll ever have, and all for what? So the club can charge more people more money for tickets and become a decent investment vehicle for a billionaire? I mean what was the point of moving stadium? Why is being some Amercian billiionaire's sound invesement so much better than being some Usbieck nutjob's plaything?

I don't believe in the Jan transfer window so this clubs has this summer to convince me what it's true identity is - a sporting institution that actively looks to win trophies, or a good investment.


If it's the latter, then I'm with 12guagedave. I can support a losing team, i can support bad players, hell I'd probably support racists and rapists and Joey Barton as long as they looked like they gave a **** when playing for Arsenal. What I will not be able to support is a lack of effort or ambition. if Arsenal have been playing the long game, then we should find out this summer. However, if we find out that mounting a challenge on Utd or City would eat into our profits a bit too much then I'd find it hard to be too upset if those profits began to dissappear.

I fcuking hate Patrice Evra and I'm waiting for the club to ram those comments about 'Utd being a real club that looks to win things whereas Arsenal is just a training centre' down his throat, but he said them years ago and we still haven't. And Jack, bless him, does his best to kick him around the pitch every time we play them, but regardless of how much he does that, Evra's still right.

What people don't realise is that CL guarantees nothing. The idea that Liverpool or Tottenham are good examples of what can happen if you drop out of the CL. Years in the wilderness and so on.

What people don't seem to accept is that we've been in as much a wilderness as Liverpool have, only a profitable one. They've won a few major trophies since we have. They actually competed properly for a title since we have. What do we have to show for our years of continued CL participation?

Nowe I'm not saying i want to swap places but you can see the point. Liverpool are on the up, Spurs are on the up, we are exactly where we've been for nearly a decade and unless this summer is very different, we're not getting any closer to anything.

Well bold isn't true at all. In 2011 we were right in the title race up until very late on when we collapsed (rather spectacularly), of course most will just look at that season and have the opinion the media have forced down their throats about it being just another 4th place no trophy season, when in reality we lost in a cup final, were competing in the league up until March/April, and were shafted by a referee when quite close to knocking Barca out of the CL.

Not even gonna bother with the rest..if you can't see the obvious benefits of CL football at this stage then I think your mind is made up.

farna_boy

How much do you think we could get for Walcott if we decided to sell him? I presume we could avail of the English player premium that seems to be associated with all the rest of them, so realistically how much do you think we could get for him?

(Note: I did not ask how much he is worth, which could cause significant disagreement )

emergingstar

farna_boy wrote: »

How much do you think we could get for Walcott if we decided to sell him? I presume we could avail of the English player premium that seems to be associated with all the rest of them, so realistically how much do you think we could get for him?

(Note: I did not ask how much he is worth, which could cause significant disagreement )

8 million of we're lucky

He would be mad to agree to be sold wait 6 more months and he will get a massive contract as a free agent

Ed Winchester

farna_boy wrote: »

How much do you think we could get for Walcott if we decided to sell him? I presume we could avail of the English player premium that seems to be associated with all the rest of them, so realistically how much do you think we could get for him?

(Note: I did not ask how much he is worth, which could cause significant disagreement )

At this stage of his contract, we'd get 5 mill tops for him. Cannot see any club stumping up cash, or him agreeing to it either this month though.

He's blind if he can't see his best option is to stay with us.

farna_boy

Ok, one more question so. If he doesn't sign for us between now and the summer, should we try to resign him after that? Or at what point should we forget about him and move on?

batistuta9

farna_boy wrote: »

Ok, one more question so. If he doesn't sign for us between now and the summer, should we try to resign him after that? Or at what point should we forget about him and move on?

23:59 January 15 2013

gnfnrhead

farna_boy wrote: »

Ok, one more question so. If he doesn't sign for us between now and the summer, should we try to resign him after that? Or at what point should we forget about him and move on?

The day he signs for someone else. Until then we may as well keep trying. If it doesnt happen in January we should assume he is gone and look for replacements even if he stays after all.

gnfnrhead

gnfnrhead wrote: »

Also, its a shame we didnt keep Benayoun after last season. Even though he was on loan from a rival he gave it everything he had every single time. Would have been a better option than Gervinho and Arshavin, Ramsey too but I'm happy to give him time. He'd also be available a lot more than Diaby.

I think he's injured now anyway so probably just as well :pac:

Massive respect for Benny. Honest as the day is long. Would have been well worth a contract. We should have signed him years ago after Romford Pele left, he'd have went on to become an Arsenal legend for effort alone

emergingstar

Did we sign mvila yet?
And if not, why?

Marty McFly

premierstone wrote: »

I love the way this old chestnut gets thrown out the whole time, its boll*x btw the Everton wage bill is very high, Arteta had to take a pay cut to come to us. Moyes deserves great credit for the job he has/is doing at Goodison but it is not the shoestring budget we are all led to believe.

Bollocks not really the fact remains we have the fourth highest wage bill in the EPL in fact I just read a list which showed the top paying teams in the world across multiple sports Arsenal are 16th, Everton all the way in 108 so to reiterate not bollocks, yes it is believed Arteta took a pay cut which in fact further illustrates the how ridiculous or wage structure is .

meriwether

emergingstar wrote: »

Did we sign mvila yet?
And if not, why?

I can't wait to get Juan Mata.

AdamD

AdamD wrote: »

Well bold isn't true at all. In 2011 we were right in the title race up until very late on when we collapsed (rather spectacularly), of course most will just look at that season and have the opinion the media have forced down their throats about it being just another 4th place no trophy season, when in reality we lost in a cup final, were competing in the league up until March/April, and were shafted by a referee when quite close to knocking Barca out of the CL.

Not even gonna bother with the rest..if you can't see the obvious benefits of CL football at this stage then I think your mind is made up.

We more or less competed in 2008 and 2010 also only to fall away.

07/08 is always one that sticks in the craw. Never the same team after Gallas meltdown at St Andrews. Tbf Eduardo's injury would affect any team mentally but it should serve to galvanise the squad and it should be noted we went 2-1 up until our idiot captain decided to protest in the middle of the pitch at that penalty award. Senderos blundering at Anfield in the CL also proved costly though would we have beaten Chelsea in the semi that year? or United in Moscow?

Wenger likes to take the 'nothing to see here' approach and continue on as normal and to some extent he is right but in hindsight, Gallas position as captain and perhaps also as a player at the club was quite simply untenable that day at St Andrews

My honest belief is that the board are too willing to take cash on offer now then take a risk in the hope it might yield greater fruit down the line and if there is a counsel for their defence, you have Arshavin and Reyes + the duds on huge money at the moment. Big splashing out doesnt always work out.

I half wonder what would the likes of Kanu cost to buy and pay had he starred in the last World Cup instead of 1998? Here was a player who could play up front or midfield and was blessed with skill. How about Overmars? Or Pires? Or Petit? Thinking back at their affordability considering they were relatively top internationals, it would make you think of what football has become and its quite sad how Arsene Wenger gets the vilification he gets in modern times.

I think part of his vilification comes from the fact Arsenal have morphed from this team of big strong challengers all over the pitch who loved to get stuck in and had a woeful disciplinary record, into this team of softies who wont try when the chips are down and contrastingly are around the top of the discipline tables.

farna_boy

If Balotelli is on the way out of Man City, do you reckon he would be worth bringing in to the squad?

Marty McFly

The rumours mill really has gone into full swing again hopefully some of them actually turn out to be true this time :cool:.


Edit: On Balotelli not a chance would I want him or could we afford him.

gnfnrhead

If we're looking to take any City player it should be Dzeko.

irish son

gnfnrhead wrote: »

If we're looking to take any City player it should be Dzeko.

Good player but to similiar to Giroud for my liking, couldn't see Man City selling him especially with the Balotelli situation anyway.

TBH we don't really need a lot, we have good players all over but just seem to be lacking effort, maybe a replacement for Diaby.

tayto lover

gnfnrhead wrote: »

If we're looking to take any City player it should be Dzeko.

Yaya Toure is what we need for midfield. Big, strong and mobile. not easily bullied. (I'd prefer Fellani though.)

Marty McFly

tayto lover wrote: »

Yaya Toure is what we need for midfield. Big, strong and mobile. not easily bullied. (I'd prefer Fellani though.)

Id prefer Yaya Toure imo hes the best midfielder in the league but we have no hope in hell of getting him, so yeh Fellaini would be a great option but cant see that happening either at least not in the January transfer window.

blingrhino

farna_boy wrote: »

If Balotelli is on the way out of Man City, do you reckon he would be worth bringing in to the squad?

Marty McFly wrote: »

Id prefer Yaya Toure imo hes the best midfielder in the league but we have no hope in hell of getting him, so yeh Fellaini would be a great option but cant see that happening either at least not in the January transfer window.

Never mind the small fact of €250000 a week

Marty McFly

blingrhino wrote: »

Never mind the small fact of €250000 a week

Huh I said we had no chance of getting him?

tayto lover

blingrhino wrote: »

Never mind the small fact of €250000 a week

We can still dream

irish son

tayto lover wrote: »

Yaya Toure is what we need for midfield. Big, strong and mobile. not easily bullied. (I'd prefer Fellani though.)

Yaya's exactly what we need or else a fit Diaby, hard to know which is more likely:pac:

emergingstar

Chamak to westham maybe
This could be the best transfer window ever and we signed nobody yet

emergingstar

irish son wrote: »

Yaya's exactly what we need or else a fit Diaby, hard to know which is more likely:pac:

Can we not just break gervinho up an use him for parts for diaby

Marty McFly

emergingstar wrote: »

Chamak to westham maybe
This could be the best transfer window ever and we signed nobody yet

Seen that to and it sems to be coming from sources from both clubs, talks are said to be ongoing well still be paying some of his wages.

Talk of a few players going on loan surely if Wenger is freeing up this much space and wages he must have replacements lined up.

emergingstar

Marty McFly wrote: »

Seen that to and it sems to be coming from sources from both clubs, talks are said to be ongoing well still be paying some of his wages.

Talk of a few players going on loan surely if Wenger is freeing up this much space and wages he must have replacements lined up.

Ah ya see presuming that will be your biggest downfall

premierstone

Marty McFly wrote: »

Bollocks not really the fact remains we have the fourth highest wage bill in the EPL in fact I just read a list which showed the top paying teams in the world across multiple sports Arsenal are 16th, Everton all the way in 108 so to reiterate not bollocks, yes it is believed Arteta took a pay cut which in fact further illustrates the how ridiculous or wage structure is .

Any list I have seen for the EPL has Arsenal either in 4th or 5th and Everton around 7th so yeah it is bollox to say their bill is ''tiny'' compared to ours.

Agree completely re our wage structure and some of the contracts given to younger unproven players are appaling.

Marty McFly

premierstone wrote: »

Any list I have seen for the EPL has Arsenal either in 4th or 5th and Everton around 7th so yeah it is bollox to say their bill is ''tiny'' compared to ours.

Agree completely re our wage structure and some of the contracts given to younger unproven players are appaling.

Well Evertons wage bill is a reported 63.4m pounds ours is a reported 143 million fair bit of a difference there.

Yeh hopefully in the coming seasons we will see more balance to our wage structure.