Arsenal Transfer Rumours And General Chat

ghost26ie · 10-07-2006 03:24PM

according to his brother Kolo, yaya is a better player than him.

AnCapaillMor · 10-07-2006 03:35PM

His one major fault is he lacks Kolo drive and determination. Apparently if he had that he'd be unstoppable.

sgarvan · 11-07-2006 07:42AM

Arsenal are ready to make a £12m bid for Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. (Daily Mirror)

Arsenal's £10m bid for Marseille winger Franck Ribery is set to be beaten by a £26m Real Madrid offer. (The Guardian)

AnCapaillMor · 11-07-2006 08:34AM

26M thats insane.

WBA want 8M for Curtis Davies who arsenal are interested in. 8M!!!!!!! its no wonder Chelski are the only ones who can afford to buy english players.

Gangsta · 11-07-2006 11:20AM

AnCapaillMor wrote:

26M thats insane.

WBA want 8M for Curtis Davies who arsenal are interested in. 8M!!!!!!! its no wonder Chelski are the only ones who can afford to buy english players.

English players just aren't good value for money. Foreign players are a lot cheaper and can even do the job better.

sgarvan wrote:

Arsenal are ready to make a £12m bid for Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. (Daily Mirror)

Arsenal's £10m bid for Marseille winger Franck Ribery is set to be beaten by a £26m Real Madrid offer. (The Guardian)

Would be nice to get Buffon but then again it is from the Mirror?:(

gosplan · 11-07-2006 12:21PM

Hi All,
Just got access and want to get up to speed on Arsenal rumours.

From what I read in the news etc it's Yaya, Appiah, Davis then rumours about Buffon and Ribery.

IMO I'm not sure if Ribery would suit Arsenal the best.
He ticks the skillful and fench boxes but his temprement and finishing seem to be a bit off. I've constantly hear that he needs a strong dressing room and I noticed that in the WC any time Zidane went missing, Ribery did too. If Real are prepared to pay 26 million then I'd rether see Arsenal get someone good cut price from the great Italian clearout bonanza.

As regards Buffon, do Arsenal really need to spend loads of cash on the worlds most expensive goalkeeper? He'd be welcome but more then anything I'd like to see Arsenal get a really top class defender from the Italian clubs, Nesta, Cannavaro, Zebina, Stam, Kaladze...take your pick.

Otherwise Trez or Ibrahimovic would be welcome.

Also did anything happen with the Saviola rumours that were circulating recently?

I'm really hoping that Wenger will do very well in transfers this year. The Rosicky thing was obviously an inspired move. I think on the back of this he may do well out of the Italian sale or just the general market as the italian sale will obviously distract people from other things.

Remember after the last world cup, Arsenla got Gilberto and Utd got Kleberson?

tred · 11-07-2006 12:47PM

gosplan wrote:

Hi All,
Just got access and want to get up to speed on Arsenal rumours.

From what I read in the news etc it's Yaya, Appiah, Davis then rumours about Buffon and Ribery.

IMO I'm not sure if Ribery would suit Arsenal the best.
He ticks the skillful and fench boxes but his temprement and finishing seem to be a bit off. I've constantly hear that he needs a strong dressing room and I noticed that in the WC any time Zidane went missing, Ribery did too. If Real are prepared to pay 26 million then I'd rether see Arsenal get someone good cut price from the great Italian clearout bonanza.

As regards Buffon, do Arsenal really need to spend loads of cash on the worlds most expensive goalkeeper? He'd be welcome but more then anything I'd like to see Arsenal get a really top class defender from the Italian clubs, Nesta, Cannavaro, Zebina, Stam, Kaladze...take your pick.

Otherwise Trez or Ibrahimovic would be welcome.

Also did anything happen with the Saviola rumours that were circulating recently?

I'm really hoping that Wenger will do very well in transfers this year. The Rosicky thing was obviously an inspired move. I think on the back of this he may do well out of the Italian sale or just the general market as the italian sale will obviously distract people from other things.

Remember after the last world cup, Arsenla got Gilberto and Utd got Kleberson?

If arsenal can sign Buffon....at 28 years.....there is 5 great years left in him, and he is a great keeper. We have lehmann but is he going to be number one in 2 yeasr time, and the oppurtunity to sign a world class keeper only comes around every so often. Kolo and Senderos had great tournaments. They are young. I think Thuram is coming for 2 seasons to add some inspiration and competition at the back. Thuram and Wenger go back years. Hell be offered a year contract plus another yearly option. When you have players like henry Rosicky Fabregas at a club, theyll draw world class players easier..

gosplan · 11-07-2006 01:17PM

Jesus, Thurman I would love.
I tended to assume that with his age he'd just retire at the end of the cup with Juve being sent down but I can see given his preformances that he'd want to play on.

I think Senderos and Toure are totally top class, Toure always was and Senderos had a great world cup which I hope will be the sign that he's come of age as a player.
The only thing I'd worry about is cover in case of injury or game congestion as a result of progression in the champions league again. Arsenal did amazingly well last year with the makeshift defence but it's not a trick I'd try and repeat too often.

Buffon would be a good signing but I think it's tough on mad Jens who for me has had the best year of any Goalie. Gven that Buffon probably had the second best I don't think a club can sign both and keep them happy.

tred · 11-07-2006 01:38PM

gosplan wrote:

Jesus, Thurman I would love.
I tended to assume that with his age he'd just retire at the end of the cup with Juve being sent down but I can see given his preformances that he'd want to play on.

I think Senderos and Toure are totally top class, Toure always was and Senderos had a great world cup which I hope will be the sign that he's come of age as a player.
The only thing I'd worry about is cover in case of injury or game congestion as a result of progression in the champions league again. Arsenal did amazingly well last year with the makeshift defence but it's not a trick I'd try and repeat too often.

Buffon would be a good signing but I think it's tough on mad Jens who for me has had the best year of any Goalie. Gven that Buffon probably had the second best I don't think a club can sign both and keep them happy.

Love Jens but id sacrifice him for Buffon for the long term health of the club..

Roddy23 · 11-07-2006 01:52PM

Buffon would be a good signing but I think it's tough on mad Jens who for me has had the best year of any Goalie. Gven that Buffon probably had the second best I don't think a club can sign both and keep them happy.

Have to agree with this. Would much prefer to sign a Central Defender and Midfielder. Thuram would be great, and either of Yaya or Appiah, I wouldnt mind.

gosplan · 11-07-2006 01:56PM

Ach, such a tough thing to do but I can't say I'd disagree.

Wow,

So that could potentially give a team of:

Buffon
Thuram
Toure/Senderos
Eboue/Lauren
Cole/Clichy
Gilberto/Diaby/Flamini
Cesc
Rosicky/Ljundberg
Hleb/Reyes
Van Persie/Walcott/Adebayor
Henry

If Thuram were coming I can't see any need to splash 8 million on Davis.

Roddy23 · 11-07-2006 02:11PM

Ye've left a few other players who will probably get another few games this year: Kerr Gilbert, Larsson, Hoyte, Almunia.

Really can't see Wenger selling Jens, he has had a brilliant season. After seeing him play for the Germans, I think it has dawned on him that he is now one of the senior players, and its good to see him encouraging the younger defenders around him.

Pepe LeFrits · 11-07-2006 02:44PM

Larsson is never going to make it at Arsenal. Almunia is a back-up and a shakey one at that, so another keeper needs to come in. There's no way in hell Lehmann will be sold, he's been fantastic for the guts of 18 months now.

There are stories going around that Diaby's injury is particularly serious hence the apparent renewed interest in Yaya Toure - I can't see Toure being signed otherwise as himself and Diaby are far too similar players, and they've already got Fabregas and potentially Rosicky to compete with. Diaby is far more raw than Toure and neither have the defensive discipline, tenacity and work-rate to play the defensive midfield role yet.

If no other defensive midfield player is signed I can only hope that Gilberto maintains his end of season form, or with the added responsibility Flamini makes another quantum leap forward (as he did last season at LB) and gets close the level of Gattuso - similar type player but he's a good bit short of him at present. If Alex Song is anywhere near the first team next season I will be an unhappy camper.

Ribery has been linked again on SSN with Marseilles apparently asking for £14m, which seems a more realistic figure to me, there's no way Real would pay £26m. Ribery apparently said that he'd like to play in the Premiership under a French coach. If he was signed it'd leave Rosicky, Hleb, Ribery and Ljungberg in competition for the two wide spots (with Rosicky potentially playing in the centre when Cesc is rested) which would be excellent.

Hoyte is back in training at Arsenal but I'm not sure where he fits in - I suppose he could replace Cygan (who frighteningly, is still here) as a squad player, filling in anywhere across the defence where necessary. He's never impressed me as much as Eboue or Gilbert have though and there are already 3 young centre-backs at the club, so I can't see him getting much of a look-in.

The priorities for me remain a backup keeper, an experienced centre-half and a top class defensive midfielder. Strikers, wingers and full-backs are not required, but if top quality players in those positions were brought in at good value I'd have no complaints.

Vokes · 11-07-2006 03:29PM

Surely Rosicky would be first choice ahead of Fabregas?

tred · 11-07-2006 03:33PM

SofaKing wrote:

Surely Rosicky would be first choice ahead of Fabregas?

Rosicky will play behind Henry as second striker id say.....

Roddy23 · 11-07-2006 03:55PM

I suppose he could replace Cygan (who frighteningly, is still here) as a squad player

Ye've just ruined my summer. Forgot all about this chap.

Pepe LeFrits · 11-07-2006 04:01PM

Unless he has a serious dip in form, Fabregas will be first choice for the rest of his Arsenal career. Wenger has said that Rosicky is a direct replacement for Pires, but even if he had not said it, i'd have bet my house on him playing left-midfield.

Van Persie, Adebayor and Reyes are the three main options as partner for Henry. All offer something different which I like.

gosplan · 11-07-2006 04:14PM

I agree that the team is quite solid. The only thing that could call the squad into question is a bout of injuries similar to last season which is unlikely to happen.

I would however argue that Arsenal need a second excellent striker. Neither Van Persie, Reyes or Adebayor are going to come close to matching Bergkamps contribution of a few years ago.

Van Persie may someday(and it could be this season), Adebayor is a totally different type of player who honestly I think will never be really first team material and Reyes has failed to live up to expectation and his first season.

I feel that if Arsenal are really going to contend they need another world class striker to go with Thierry. Too much was asked of Henry last year. In fairness, he did deliver on almost all counts but he need reliable backup.

A Herny and Torres partnership would be about the level I'd start looking at.

Regardless Arsne knows and I'd bet that if another top class striker doesn't come in then one of the other three will really perform.

on a side note, I thin the form or Reyes over the last 1-2 years has been dissappointing. is he still Arsenals biggest signing???

tred · 11-07-2006 04:28PM

gosplan wrote:

I agree that the team is quite solid. The only thing that could call the squad into question is a bout of injuries similar to last season which is unlikely to happen.

I would however argue that Arsenal need a second excellent striker. Neither Van Persie, Reyes or Adebayor are going to come close to matching Bergkamps contribution of a few years ago.

Van Persie may someday(and it could be this season), Adebayor is a totally different type of player who honestly I think will never be really first team material and Reyes has failed to live up to expectation and his first season.

I feel that if Arsenal are really going to contend they need another world class striker to go with Thierry. Too much was asked of Henry last year. In fairness, he did deliver on almost all counts but he need reliable backup.

A Herny and Torres partnership would be about the level I'd start looking at.

Regardless Arsne knows and I'd bet that if another top class striker doesn't come in then one of the other three will really perform.

on a side note, I thin the form or Reyes over the last 1-2 years has been dissappointing. is he still Arsenals biggest signing???

Watch our for Van persie, It thought he did well for holland and he might be ina good vein of form. He has some shot wiht that left foot of his!.

Pepe LeFrits · 11-07-2006 04:29PM

To my knowledge no more money has been paid for Reyes since the initial outlay so Wiltord is still the most expensive at £13m.

Splurging millions on a top level striker would be a waste of money as far as I'm concerned, particularly on the type of striker who would perform best instead of Henry and not with him. Henry has had out-and-out strike partners like Trezeguet before and he's very rarely clicked with them. Torres, who hype-aside is not 'world class', falls into that bracket. Very few top teams play two of these types of players - they play one striker to lead the line, and one to link the midfield - Henry and Bergkamp, Van Nistelrooy and Rooney etc. Arsenal need a regular partner for Henry who links midfield and attack. Trouble is, there aren't many top quality players of this ilk available, though there is one I can think of - a certain Jose Antonio Reyes who keeps getting shunted out to left midfield where he plays about as effectively as Bergkamp did when he was shunted out to right wing. Hopefully now that Rosicky has been signed, he'll make left-wing his own and Reyes won't need to be drafted in constantly to plug the problem position.

PHB · 11-07-2006 04:31PM

The problem Arsenal have with Henry is that he is quite clearly a second striker, not a target man, and Adebayor is the only real first striker they have, while Reyes plays in the same position as Henry, and Van Persie in a similar one.

Arsenal still need some steel in midfield to get them through the tough games that Vieira used to do, which will be Wenger's major signing/failure to sign this year.

Gangsta · 11-07-2006 04:34PM

Pepe LeFrits wrote:

To my knowledge no more money has been paid for Reyes since the initial outlay so Wiltord is still the most expensive at £13m.

Splurging millions on a top level striker would be a waste of money as far as I'm concerned, particularly on the type of striker who would perform best instead of Henry and not with him. Henry has had out-and-out strike partners like Trezeguet before and he's very rarely clicked with them. Torres, who hype-aside is not 'world class', falls into that bracket. Very few top teams play two of these types of players - they play one striker to lead the line, and one to link the midfield - Henry and Bergkamp, Van Nistelrooy and Rooney etc. Arsenal need a regular partner for Henry who links midfield and attack. Trouble is, there aren't many top quality players of this ilk available, though there is one I can think of - a certain Jose Antonio Reyes who keeps getting shunted out to left midfield where he plays about as effectively as Bergkamp did when he was shunted out to right wing. Hopefully now that Rosicky has been signed, he'll make left-wing his own and Reyes won't need to be drafted in constantly to plug the problem position.

I remember when that side used to cause teams all sorts of trouble; cole, pires and henry really worked well together.

tred · 11-07-2006 04:35PM

PHB wrote:

The problem Arsenal have with Henry is that he is quite clearly a second striker, not a target man, and Adebayor is the only real first striker they have, while Reyes plays in the same position as Henry, and Van Persie in a similar one.

Arsenal still need some steel in midfield to get them through the tough games that Vieira used to do, which will be Wenger's major signing/failure to sign this year.

Well his failure to sign Baptista last season seems to be a godsend, all thought rumours have it hes being offered back. Is Gilberto not regarded as his steel in midfield? Do you think he might say buy Ya ya toure and drop gilberto?

Pepe LeFrits · 11-07-2006 04:38PM

PHB wrote:

The problem Arsenal have with Henry is that he is quite clearly a second striker, not a target man, and Adebayor is the only real first striker they have, while Reyes plays in the same position as Henry, and Van Persie in a similar one.

Arsenal still need some steel in midfield to get them through the tough games that Vieira used to do, which will be Wenger's major signing/failure to sign this year.

lol, I thought you said Henry was a winger? He's anything but a second striker. Just because a player drops deep sometimes doesn't mean he's a no10. How many goals does Henry score off the shoulder of the last man?

He's no target-man, but he is a line-leader. He's just highly mobile and very unorthodox. Himself and Bergkamp operated brilliantly together for years, are you saying that Arsenal won all those trophies with no strikers? Van Persie is of a similar ilk, but tends to stay high up the pitch more, while I agree on Adebayor (who is a useful option as a partner to Henry because of his size and work-rate, but not a genuine starter for me).

Vokes · 11-07-2006 04:47PM

Pepe LeFrits: I know you say Wenger has signed Rosicky in place of Pires. But didn't Pires play CM, as opposed to LW, towards the end of last season? Is this what Wenger means?

It would be an awful waste i reckon to play Rosicky out on the left wing (i can't remember seeing him play there before) when he is clearly Arsenal's most talented CM.

Pepe LeFrits · 11-07-2006 05:09PM

SofaKing wrote:

Pepe LeFrits: I know you say Wenger has signed Rosicky in place of Pires. But didn't Pires play CM, as opposed to LW, towards the end of last season? Is this what Wenger means?

It would be an awful waste i reckon to play Rosicky out on the left wing (i can't remember seeing him play there before) when he is clearly Arsenal's most talented CM.

I highly doubt it, as that was only for the 4-5-1 in the CL. Pires really needed to be replaced a year ago, as left-midfield has been a problem for quite a while now. Rosicky has played left-wing a few times before. He's got all the attributes for it and once he's settled in I think he'll have no problems playing there for Arsenal, he's certainly displayed no qualms about doing it.

Rosicky more talented than Fabregas? Naaah.

11-07-2006 05:30PM

Strong possibility 1 or the other or both may arrive at the Emirates in the next few days. I think a fit Abou Diaby is as good as either.

I think the Cesc rumours are unfounded to date. His agent is bound to instigate a move as hes in win-win. Either a pay-rise for his client (which is a rise for him no doubt) or a lump sum from a transfer fee.

Reyes is a frustrating player who i wouldnt be sorry to see the back of. Arsenal need big strong lads for the big games and esp vs teams like bolton & blackburn.

PHB · 11-07-2006 05:46PM

Is Gilberto not regarded as his steel in midfield?

While I think Gilberto is a great player, he is a brazilian DMC, not exactly known for their steel, more for their ability to read the game. Arsenal because of how they play, required a box-to-box midfielder who will get stuck in. Baptista is not that either btw.

Leading the line and being a second stirker aren't mutually exclusive.
Rooney for example is a second striker but could easily lead the line. You get the best out of Rooney when he plays with Van Nist, just like you'd get the best out of Henry if he played with target man. It's why Henry tends to be ****e for France, because he is being played effectivly out of position. Berkjamp was special, and with him in your team you could win pretty much any game, and he had an ability to play at the front of an attack, and hold up play if required.

Roddy23 · 11-07-2006 06:37PM

Lads just to step away from the transfer talk, just seen on another site there, that the Bergkamp testimonial is a sell out. Was hoping to get a ticket, just wondering if anybody was successful .I see that for the Barnet game there are still tickets available. Unfortunatley its on the 15th, 4 days away :eek:.

Would anybody reckon there'd be a chance of getting a ticket before the Testimonial. (I am not condoning ticket touts).

Freedomfighter · 11-07-2006 08:36PM

My 10 cents......
Buffon would be a great signing. Lehman to play first while Buffon settles in. Italians are not known for settling in fast at clubs.
The great italian sale, well stam is too old, Thuram would bring experience for a season or two. I would not want to see Torres bought as he would not play well with henry.
Cannavaro would be good but cant see him with Arsenal. Cole i can still see going but not sure to who.
And to be honest Davies would not fit into our team well. He is not a player that i would look at seriously. Reyes i can see playing extremily well this season.

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Arsenal Transfer Rumours And General Chat

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