Arsenal Transfer Rumours And General Chat

Pepe LeFrits · 10-07-2008 09:38AM

10. Pat Jennings
9. Charlie George
8. Liam Brady
7. David Seaman

Pepe LeFrits · 10-07-2008 09:41AM

Next up will be Pires, IMO. Methinks:

5. Wright
4. Vieira
3. Adams
2. Bergkamp
1. Henry

Indie18 · 10-07-2008 11:04AM

Pepe LeFrits wrote: »

Next up will be Pires, IMO. Methinks:

5. Wright
4. Vieira
3. Adams
2. Bergkamp
1. Henry

i'm guessing that it will look that way as well but i would go with bergkamp over henry (but thats just personal preference)

gosplan · 10-07-2008 11:34AM

I'm bringing this up because some blogs are reporting rumors about Gilberto leaving.

Who's gonna take his place? What do ye think?

Personally I'd like to see Denilson step up with Song as cover option.

Anyone think we're going to get someone new in?

I think Wenger hit on something quite significant last year with the Flamini/Fabregas combination - the ultra-mobile and skillful midfield pairing.

Football's big teams have totally embraced the Makelele role over the last decade with the DMF considered the linchpin of most teams. I'm wondering if Wenger is looking to continue going in another direction. I think that Denilson can probably do this if he can up the tackle count.

Royale with Cheese · 10-07-2008 11:38AM

Letting Gilberto go on top of Flamini and not signing anybody to replace at least one of them will be a disaster.

Pepe LeFrits · 10-07-2008 12:06PM

I dunno, I think Denilson is more or less ready. Song and Djourou would be able deputies. Maybe signing someone like Raul Albiol who can play CB and DM would provide insurance.

I think the more important issues are replacing Hleb, Adebayor and sorting out central defence. Of the players we've been linked to recently, I'd be happy with the following this summer:

Out
Lehmann, Flamini, Hleb, Adebayor, Gilberto

In:
Vela, Ramsey, Nasri, Bischoff, Arshavin, Santa Cruz, Albiol.

leninbenjamin · 10-07-2008 12:10PM

what do people make of Ramsey? I know nothing about the guy so can you see him figuring at all? and who for? or will he be confined to a year of Carling cup action as he's so young?

Diddy Kong · 10-07-2008 12:11PM

Pepe LeFrits wrote: »

I dunno, I think Denilson is more or less ready. Song and Djourou would be able deputies. Maybe signing someone like Raul Albiol who can play CB and DM would provide insurance.

I think the more important issues are replacing Hleb, Adebayor and sorting out central defence. Of the players we've been linked to recently, I'd be happy with the following this summer:

Out
Lehmann, Flamini, Hleb, Adebayor, Gilberto

In:
Vela, Ramsey, Nasri, Bischoff, Arshavin, Santa Cruz, Albiol.

With the reported money being touted for Arshavin, I doubt we will see him in an Arsenal jersey. Would be worried about this Bischoff guy...seems very injury prone and for someone his age he has not played many first team football.

From that list of In's the only defensive player is Albiol, so would prefer another one...maybe Song as CB as he played in the last few games of the season is the option he is going with....

Ramsey looks a decent prospect, kind of a Giggs type who can also play the same position as Cesc...so may give Cesc the rest needed throughout the season.

Royale with Cheese · 10-07-2008 12:11PM

Denilson looked like he'd gone backwards last season. And I couldn't imagine Alex Song being 3rd choice centre mid for any of the other top teams in Europe. Gilberto would be a very handy player to hang on to, and if he stayed then I think cm would not be a priority for a new signing. If he goes then they've got to get somebody with a bit of experience in there.

Suppose there's also Diaby. He's never impressed but then again, Flamini hadn't before last season either. I'd be happy enough with Cesc, Gilberto, Diaby and Denilson. Ramsey probably won't get much of a look in.

Galvasean · 10-07-2008 12:33PM

Out of our current crop of midfielers I think Diaby is best option for DM (assuming Gilberto leaves). When he is put in the holding position he looks solid. h eonly plays poorly when out of position ie: being put on the wing. With the emergance of Vela and Walcott we shouldn't need to put Diaby on a wing. Especially if Rosicky gets fit and we bring in a replacement for Hleb.
Similarly I think Eduardo is poor playing left wing but very good when allowed to play up top.

yahoo_moe · 10-07-2008 12:40PM

I think a slightly more polished Diaby would be more suited to replacing Hleb than playing as a defensive midfielder - I don't think DM is where his skills lie at all really. Denilson and Fabregas as a combination could work - they each work back and can each contribute to the passing football that Wenger wants to hit teams with.

As for Song, Wenger's on record as saying that he sees him as a centre back and I think he'll take over the 'first cover' role next season.

Evil_Clown · 10-07-2008 12:41PM

RTE have €15 mil for hleb and say it's a done deal
http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2008/0710/arsenal.html

Hopefully we get Nasri now

leninbenjamin · 10-07-2008 12:41PM

i'd actually love to see Diaby and Denilson both get a chance to make that midfield position their own. while I know the team lacks experience in midfield, at the same time you can't keep signing players over them. someday you're gonna have to take a punt on them. I'd be happy enough personally if no one was signed for CM because i do rate those two. Give them the first half of the season to make it their own, and if it backfires get someone in in Jan.

i'd prefer Denilson though as the holding replacement over Diaby. he strikes me as being slightly more dynamic and a more direct replacement of Flamini.

Mr Alan · 10-07-2008 12:43PM

sure Hleb is worth more than £11-12m?!

Pepe LeFrits · 10-07-2008 12:47PM

Figures for Hleb vary from £11 to £15m. Not a great deal either way but I suppose it is possible that the spectre of the Webster clause is a factor.

Diaby certainly looks better centrally but he's never for a second looked like a DM to me. He's good at bringing the ball forward and looks suited to playing as the offensive half of a CM pairing but he doesn't appear to have the mobility, tenacity or defensive smarts to play the defensive role. Song, Denilson and Djourou, whose natural position is as a DM, are much better suited as far as I'm concerned.

Re: Denilson, he was injured for most of last season and looked good at the end when he got a few games. Produced a couple of outstanding cameos in his debut season as a teenager, got injured, lost form and then started being doubted in his second season. He's got unquestionable ability, a great attitude and is a strong personality. He's the next Clichy. Wait and see!

leninbenjamin · 10-07-2008 12:48PM

Mr Alan wrote: »

sure Hleb is worth more than £11-12m?!

not really. he doesn't score enough. one of my favourite players, he's so technically gifted, and i'll be sad to see him leave, but he never developed into the player Arsenal thought they were buying. he rarely controls games like a player of his ability should, doesn't make his mark enough imo. He's capable of it no doubt, but there's something wrong in his attitude.

gosplan · 10-07-2008 12:58PM

leninbenjamin wrote: »

not really. he doesn't score enough. one of my favourite players, he's so technically gifted, and i'll be sad to see him leave, but he never developed into the player Arsenal thought they were buying. he rarely controls games like a player of his ability should, doesn't make his mark enough imo. He's capable of it no doubt, but there's something wrong in his attitude.

He's also not going to get in the first 11 for Barca.

I know teams play with big squads these days but Xavi, Iniesta, Messi etc are all ahead of him.

Unless him improves quickly, I can see him going the same way as Gudjohnnson and Guily

leninbenjamin · 10-07-2008 01:14PM

gosplan wrote: »

He's also not going to get in the first 11 for Barca.

I know teams play with big squads these days but Xavi, Iniesta, Messi etc are all ahead of him.

Unless him improves quickly, I can see him going the same way as Gudjohnnson and Guily

indeed. but the weird thing is is that he seems happy at this. some of the quotes attributed to him sound like a player who doesn't really give a sh*t and just wants a nice cushy number. I know they can't be trusted to be fully accurate, especially with translation, but i always though Hleb had a lot more to offer. now it seems like he's reached his peak, mentally. i'd be happy to take the money and run now.

L'prof · 10-07-2008 09:39PM

Anybody else fed up with all this transfer window nonsense? I think it's made all the worse by the fact that I know we have to improve the squad with about 3-4 players, with no departures or have a virtually injury free season in order to win trophies! Fingers crossed Arsene has a few tricks up his sleeve a la Sagna & Eduardo (maybe not as successful, but I wudn't mind a few unknowns to bulk up the squad).

AnCapaillMor · 11-07-2008 01:26AM

Yeah its annoying before it was only just 1 player, and Ade and hleb have really dissapointed me.

Pepe LeFrits · 11-07-2008 06:47AM

Happens when you don't win anything in three years.

Evil_Clown · 11-07-2008 08:44AM

Finally Hooray !!!!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/7462281.stm

Welcome and lets hope we will see you score and perform for the Gooners

L'prof · 11-07-2008 09:20AM

Evil_Clown wrote: »

Finally Hooray !!!!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/7462281.stm

Welcome and lets hope we will see you score and perform for the Gooners

Yeah, it's good to see:

Then again, I we have been waiting for this for quite some time! Only 3-4 more needed now :rolleyes:

gosplan · 11-07-2008 10:22AM

So if we assume that Ade leaves and someone like Falcao, who's mentioned today, comes in.

That would give us an attacking line up of:

Deep breath.....

Fabregas, Rosicky, Diaby, Walcott, Vela, Nasri, Van Persie, Eduardo, Bendtner, Falcao.

10 players for five places - that's a hell of a lot of attacking strength.

leninbenjamin · 11-07-2008 10:34AM

gosplan wrote: »

10 players for five places - that's a hell of a lot of attacking strength.

that only dawn on you now?

PHB · 11-07-2008 10:48AM

Nasri is a very good signing because it finally replaces your over reliance on Fabregas. No surprise to me that Fabregas was the best player in the premiership at the start of the year, but as he had to play every single game, he got more and more tired. Wenger was unable to rest him because Arsenal just didn't perform as well without him.
Nasri means that Wenger can rest Fabregas, which means you get not only Nasri, but a full strength Fabregas for the entire season.

If Arsenal can keep Abedabyour, or else replace him with a similar target man, they've only gotten better this year.
Hleb was amazing, amazing, but it just didn't produce goals.

Flamini was good, but imo overrated. Very replaceable, maybe by Diabi, maybe by somebody brought in.

IMO all Arsenal need now is some more cover in defence, 2 squad defenders even, especially RB, and replacing Flamini, and if they lose nobody else, they'll be right up there again this season.

gosplan · 11-07-2008 11:25AM

leninbenjamin wrote: »

that only dawn on you now?

No, I'm just really looking forward to the start of the season and seeing what this team can do.

Also, I don't think Ade would be such a big loss.

PDN · 11-07-2008 12:00PM

gosplan wrote: »

So if we assume that Ade leaves and someone like Falcao, who's mentioned today, comes in.

One quote from Falcao in that link doesn't actually inspire confidence:

"I can guarantee my financial future. The Premier League is sensational."

Couldn't he at least pretend that it isn't all about money?

Bounty Hunter · 11-07-2008 12:05PM

gosplan wrote: »

That would give us an attacking line up of:

Deep breath.....

Fabregas, Rosicky, Diaby, Walcott, Vela, Nasri, Van Persie, Eduardo, Bendtner, Falcao.

10 players for five places - that's a hell of a lot of attacking strength.

and dont forget Ramsey, paid £5m for a 17 year old who only played in 17 championship games last season, must be decent.

Evil_Clown · 11-07-2008 01:31PM

Setanta have released the 1st set of fixtures

http://sports.setanta.com/en/Sport/News/Football/2008/07/11/Live-Setanta-fixtures/?facets/sport-space/great-britain-locale/football/

We get to see the Fulham, Newcastle, Bolton and Hull games there before the end of Sept

Arsenal Transfer Rumours And General Chat

Comments