Arsenal Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

Pepe LeFrits · 16-07-2008 03:36PM

Fabregas is more of a CM then Gerrard, although I take the point.

What Wenger is looking for in my opinion is a partnership of 2 all-rounders, two box-to-box midfielders like Vieira & Petit, Keane & Scholes, Fabregas & Flamini etc, which is a lot more dynamic than having a dedicated holding midfielder, a dedicated attacking midfielder etc. Fabregas being a bit more naturally focussed on attacking than defending needs a player who is the opposite like Flamini was. I’m not sure that’s Alonso really.

yahoo_moe · 16-07-2008 03:51PM

Galvasean wrote: »

As for Hleb, how many times this season alone has he been in a goalscoring opportunity position, only to hesitate, stall and pass it to someone in a worse position, wasting the chance?

Absolutely - and I won't miss that. But I will miss the positives he brought to the team, which we can't just forget about.

leninbenjamin wrote:

i'd rather Barry than Alonso

Me too - but I'd still like another Hleb-type player too.

Pepe LeFrits wrote:

What Wenger is looking for in my opinion is a partnership of 2 all-rounders

Agreed. It's always been Wenger's way really - he just doesn't seem to do Makelele-type 'break up the play and pass it 10 yards' players. Even Gilberto and Petit were likely to crop up 2/3 of the way up the pitch often enough.

PHB · 16-07-2008 03:53PM

Alonso is a passer. Finds space. Passes. Scores the odd goal. Breaks up defence with clever positioning rather than tackling. Pirlo and Carrick are in the same mould.
IMO they work well in 3 men midfield.

Fabregas is imo a newer version of Scholes, although perhaps a bit more about passing than finishing, but only slightly.
If you want him to play in a 2 man midfield you need a midfielder ala Keane, or Hargreaves, or Flamini.

I don't think you want a Mascherano style figure either, he's really more of a 3 man midfield, with a passer than a fast dribbling attacker [ala AC Milan].

I think Yaya Toure would be a great shout for that sort of person. I think Barry would be better at it than Alonso, but to be honest, I still think Arsenal should be aiming higher.

That said, maybe Wenger wants to be able to take some workload off Fabregas at times.

Carrick (a passer) and Scholes worked pretty well for a league challenge (although not great in the CL)
Alonso and Fabregas could do the same.

Frisbee · 16-07-2008 04:12PM

We really should have tried to wrangle Yaya away from Barca as part of the Hleb deal.
Missed opportunity imo..

Galvasean · 16-07-2008 06:04PM

I agree that Yaya would compliment Fabregas quite well in our midfield.

Pepe LeFrits · 16-07-2008 06:09PM

I don't. He's too Diabyesque.

leninbenjamin · 16-07-2008 09:15PM

Hleb is a done deal.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/7509273.stm

finally is all i'll say. £11.8 million apparently. meh...

Pepe LeFrits · 16-07-2008 09:39PM

There is another £3.2m tied up in various difference performance related clauses I think.

At least he's gone and we can talk about something else now!

jank · 16-07-2008 11:40PM

Like who to bring in...nobody it seems.

Galvasean · 17-07-2008 12:59AM

That was good money for Hleb IMO. Add another 2million for Gilberto and once again we are pretty much in the green after transfers..
Does Wenger even get a transfer kitty anymore or do the board just expect him to raise his own transfer funds?

OPENROAD · 17-07-2008 01:20AM

Galvasean wrote: »

That was good money for Hleb IMO. Add another 2million for Gilberto and once again we are pretty much in the green after transfers..
Does Wenger even get a transfer kitty anymore or do the board just expect him to raise his own transfer funds?

Gilberto is going on a free,as far as I know the club are allowing him go on a free because he has served the club for six years and his wages were quite high.

OPENROAD · 17-07-2008 01:28AM

Can't see us going for Barry, certainly at that price

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/arsenal-could-go-for-barry-as-gilberto-and-hleb-depart-869564.html

OPENROAD · 17-07-2008 01:30AM

Interesting interview with Peter Hill-Wood

http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?thisNav=News&article=493916&lid=NewsHeadline&Title=Two+Years+On:+Hill-Wood+-+Why+the+Club+is+in+good+shape

Frisbee · 17-07-2008 09:44AM

OPENROAD wrote: »

Gilberto is going on a free,as far as I know the club are allowing him go on a free because he has served the club for six years and his wages were quite high.

Thought I hear he was going for c. 2-3 million....
Although cant complain, he's been a great man for the club

Pepe LeFrits · 17-07-2008 09:56AM

Still plenty of time for players to come in. Prices drop towards the end of the window which can be an important factor.

jank · 17-07-2008 11:33AM

The Ice Man at No.2
http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?thisNav=News&article=492961&lid=NewsHeadline&Title=Gunners%27+Greatest+Players+-+2.+Dennis+Bergkamp

Looks like Henry is number one. Not surprised really but there was something more likable about Bergkamp. Never said a bad word about anyone.

Evil_Clown · 17-07-2008 12:55PM

jank wrote: »

The Ice Man at No.2
http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?thisNav=News&article=492961&lid=NewsHeadline&Title=Gunners%27+Greatest+Players+-+2.+Dennis+Bergkamp

A great article brings back floods of great memories. the single best thing Rioch did for the club was to sign that man !!
An absolute legend and will probably always be my favourite Arsenal player ever

Indie18 · 17-07-2008 03:02PM

Evil_Clown wrote: »

A great article brings back floods of great memories. the single best thing Rioch did for the club was to sign that man !!
An absolute legend and will probably always be my favourite Arsenal player ever

i will comfortably second that. the man was a class act all the way there will never be another player like him. and never mind single best thing rioch ever did for us it was the ONLY! good thing he did for us.

yahoo_moe · 17-07-2008 03:21PM

Indie18 wrote: »

never mind single best thing rioch ever did for us it was the ONLY! good thing he did for us.

No, 2 good things - he also got himself sacked, which gave us Wenger

As for Bergkamp, I'd agree - absolute legend. Having said that, I can easily see why Henry got #1. Different players, different effects, different legacies.

AnCapaillMor · 17-07-2008 03:50PM

Rioch did'nt even do it, Dein told him guess who we got and rioch saying Yay!! was his involvement in us signing Bergkamp. rioch cost us Seedorf, altho he was involved in us getting Wenger.

Galvasean · 17-07-2008 04:02PM

Bruce Rioch, the man who played Ian Wright on the left wing...

Mr Alan · 17-07-2008 06:17PM

Bergkamp was always one of my favourite players ever, even pushing my favourite Liverpool players close. loved him. just class class class.

AnCapaillMor · 17-07-2008 06:54PM

Story with Rioch was Dein had Seedorf wrapped up all it was waiting on was Rioch, don't know what exactly happened but Rioch farted around the deal fell through and that was the final straw for the board.

gosplan · 17-07-2008 09:54PM

Merida playing for spain u-19 on Eurosport right now

leninbenjamin · 17-07-2008 10:37PM

gosplan wrote: »

Merida playing for spain u-19 on Eurosport right now

what's he look like? a long way off the first team i presume?

Evil_Clown · 18-07-2008 09:04AM

Quick note on Gilberto
Sad to see him go he was a great player and an Arsenal stalwart in his time with us. Best of luck Bert

http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?thisNav=News&article=494019&lid=NewsHeadline&Title=Gilberto+leaves+Arsenal+-+a+personal+tribute

PDN · 18-07-2008 09:06AM

Evil_Clown wrote: »

Quick note on Gilberto
Sad to see him go he was a great player and an Arsenal stalwart in his time with us. Best of luck Bert

http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?thisNav=News&article=494019&lid=NewsHeadline&Title=Gilberto+leaves+Arsenal+-+a+personal+tribute

+1

Sad to see him go, but the timing is probably right. Wenger normally knows when to let someone go.

Indie18 · 18-07-2008 09:08AM

and then there was one......only one left now from the invincables. toure.

PDN · 18-07-2008 09:14AM

Indie18 wrote: »

and then there was one......only one left now from the invincables. toure.

I didn't realise that. Toure the only one left just over 4 years later - amazing!

Pepe LeFrits · 18-07-2008 09:34AM

Although he wasn't a first teamer, Clichy made enough appearances that season to be an 'Invincible' league medal winner too.

Arsenal Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

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