Arsenal Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

OPENROAD · 21-07-2008 07:23PM

leninbenjamin wrote: »

was that not more a case of not having a full squad to select from?

Nope, apparently Arsene sees him as a left midfielder and not a left back.

Pepe LeFrits · 21-07-2008 07:29PM

I think that's more a case of Clichy being untouchable at left back than Traore being more of a midfielder. I doubt we'll see Traore anywhere other than left back this season. He reminds me of Eboue in midfield too much anyway.

leninbenjamin · 21-07-2008 07:34PM

OPENROAD wrote: »

Nope, apparently Arsene sees him as a left midfielder and not a left back.

that's interesting. he's never struck me as the most creative of players, but then again i've seen very little of him.

AnCapaillMor · 21-07-2008 07:43PM

Traore's ridiculously quick, good going forward not great in defense.

Pepe LeFrits · 21-07-2008 07:46PM

True, although we've seen with Eboue and occasionally with Clichy that being good going forward when you're a full-back doesn't necessarily translate to being good going forward as a winger.

I doubt Wenger sees Traore's future in midfield; he is just trying to maximise his playing time to develop him. He does that pretty often with young players.

OPENROAD · 21-07-2008 07:54PM

Pepe LeFrits wrote: »

I think that's more a case of Clichy being untouchable at left back than Traore being more of a midfielder. I doubt we'll see Traore anywhere other than left back this season. He reminds me of Eboue in midfield too much anyway.

Apparently he started off as a left winger, will be interesting to see him given a role as a left winger possibly in the carling cup or as a sub 1st team. He can't be as bad as Eboue, that said I am of the opinion that Eboue could be a decent squad player for us as cover as right back.

Galvasean · 21-07-2008 07:59PM

I see Traore as 2nd choice left back at the moment. Who else do we seriously have in that position? I know Gallas did a bit for a while but that was just because we were stuck. With Flamini gone Id say Traore will be our go to man for when Clichy needs a rest and play a pivitol role in our CC team.

OPENROAD · 21-07-2008 08:01PM

Galvasean wrote: »

I see Traore as 2nd choice left back at the moment. Who else do we seriously have in that position? I know Gallas did a bit for a while but that was just because we were stuck. With Flamini gone Id say Traore will be our go to man for when Clichy needs a rest and play a pivitol role in our CC team.

True but remember Gallas also played lb for Chelsea.

Pepe LeFrits · 21-07-2008 08:05PM

Yep, I'd say so. Traore is also at that special age which Wenger recently described (in relation to Theo) as the age when most players make big strides forward in ability. If Traore is anything like Cashley and Clichy he'll improve considerably, particularly defensively, over the next season or two.

Galvasean · 21-07-2008 10:18PM

OPENROAD wrote: »

True but remember Gallas also played lb for Chelsea.

Isn't that part of the reason why he left Chelsea, in that he didn't like playing out of position. That's why so many eyebrows were raised when he made his Arsenal debut playing at left back. Aparently Wenger assured him it was only temporary.

OPENROAD · 21-07-2008 10:42PM

Galvasean wrote: »

Isn't that part of the reason why he left Chelsea, in that he didn't like playing out of position. That's why so many eyebrows were raised when he made his Arsenal debut playing at left back. Aparently Wenger assured him it was only temporary.

But I would like to think he would not have a problem playing lb for a few games if Gael was injured.

cson · 21-07-2008 10:50PM

He wouldn't complain imo, anyway fingers crossed Clichy will be ok. Afaik he was almost ever-present last year?

Besides that, Willy only has next year left in him. After that we're stuck with a CB problem again.

OPENROAD · 21-07-2008 10:52PM

cson wrote: »

Besides that, Willy only has next year left in him. After that we're stuck with a CB problem again.

I still have a feeling we will buy a cb over the next few weeks.

cson · 21-07-2008 11:12PM

Im very pessimistic about anyone else coming in. Its only 3 ish weeks until the new season.

Which is incredible, because at the moment we have a weaker team than last year despite the fact Wenger said he'd be signing at least 2 quality players, one of them a CB. Who'd have thought it'd be Samir Nasri and Adam Ramsey he was talking about. Maybe Ramsey can play CB :rolleyes:

He just neglected to mention we'd be losing 3 fairly important players in the grand scheme of things. In Wenger we trust but the strength of that trust is going to be tested over the next season.

Smartly Dressed · 21-07-2008 11:31PM

cson wrote: »

Im very pessimistic about anyone else coming in. Its only 3 ish weeks until the new season.

I wouldn't be too worried. Wenger himself admitted that he was still in the market so that is a good sign.

I'm still waiting for us to sign a proven English player. I'm pretty sure I remember reading somewhere that Wenger was looking to buy one.

leninbenjamin · 22-07-2008 01:23AM

cson wrote: »

Im very pessimistic about anyone else coming in. Its only 3 ish weeks until the new season.

Which is incredible, because at the moment we have a weaker team than last year despite the fact Wenger said he'd be signing at least 2 quality players, one of them a CB. Who'd have thought it'd be Samir Nasri and Adam Ramsey he was talking about. Maybe Ramsey can play CB :rolleyes:

He just neglected to mention we'd be losing 3 fairly important players in the grand scheme of things. In Wenger we trust but the strength of that trust is going to be tested over the next season.

this is such a deflated transfer market though. everyone seems to be playing it cautious, biding their time. in some regards this current window is a bit of a catch 22. the big clubs aren't spending as they usually might, and the usual trickle down of funds to stimulate the market isn't there. it's very hard to know the lie of things, but i've a feeling its going to pick up to frantic levels in the next few weeks, after all the game has more money now than ever before. just a waiting game.

on the mention of the CB though, very disappointed the one off reported interest in Zapata came to nought. he's a player i'd like to see. and there doesn't seem to be a huge amount of realistic alternatives out there. I reckon AW will stick with Senderos and Song as cover rather than take a gamble.

AnCapaillMor · 22-07-2008 07:37AM

Song was actually pretty decent at CB for the few games he played.

As for no signings yet, think back to when we got Henry and Suker after the first game of the season.

Pepe LeFrits · 22-07-2008 09:00AM

Or the final day of the window in 2007, when the Gallas, Baptista and Denilson deals were all completed...

AnCapaillMor · 22-07-2008 09:49AM

Who's the middle guy you mentioned.

leninbenjamin · 22-07-2008 10:26AM

Pepe LeFrits wrote: »

Or the final day of the window in 2007, when the Gallas, Baptista and Denilson deals were all completed...

don't you mean 2006?

for shame...

Pepe LeFrits · 22-07-2008 10:37AM

When you're old like me, all the years blend into each other.

Galvasean · 22-07-2008 12:30PM

If there's one thing about wenger its taht he has the ability to just appear witha new signing out of nowhere. When Reyes was signed Arsenal were being linked with every player under the sun but Reyes just popped out of nowhere.
Although the way agents are this days its getting harder and harder to make a covert signing. Now instead of trying to put the head down and organize the move, agents just tell every newspaper in Europe that teams are interested in signing their player in an attempt to get more offers in which means more money for their greasey pockets.

AnCapaillMor · 22-07-2008 01:12PM

We're after reyes for ages, i remember watching Sevilla matches for months, the sevilla president was doing an us and shot us down several times. Altho it was a shocker because i'd thought he was as good as gone to inter. It came out of nowhere.

Diddy Kong · 22-07-2008 03:13PM

Good interview with Walcott here. Sounds like a very down to earth kinda guy. Very similar to Gael.

leninbenjamin · 22-07-2008 03:20PM

dbfarrell wrote: »

Good interview with Walcott here. Sounds like a very down to earth kinda guy. Very similar to Gael.

saw that a few days ago. didn't realise it hadn't been posted here. I think it sort of explains why he's taken longer that perhaps expected to develop. the WC06 fiasco seemed to really hit him hard and knock the confidence out of him. but it sounds like he's gotten over it and hopefully it will have made him stronger in the future.

still, sounds like the England squad back then were a right bunch of arseholes to him, even if he is too dignified to say as much. I really hope this is the year he makes good on his promise.

Pepe LeFrits · 22-07-2008 04:54PM

Team for this friendly (can't be arsed looking up the name of the opposition):

Almunia

Sagna Hoyte Hoyte Clichy

Walcott Ramsey Denilson Wilshere

Bendtner Vela

Pepe LeFrits · 22-07-2008 04:55PM

lol, 1-0 to er... Szomething.

leninbenjamin · 22-07-2008 04:57PM

Theirry talks about Ade

Thierry Henry acknowledges that Emmanuel Adebayor has to make a decision about his future at Arsenal.

Adebayor scored 24 Premier League goals last term to become a summer target of AC Milan and Barcelona as both clubs attempt to improve on unimpressive 2007/08 campaigns.

Milan have made no secret of their interest in the Togo international striker and the possible signing has become one of this summer's ongoing transfer sagas.

And Henry, who left Arsenal to join Barcelona last June, recognises his former team-mate is in a difficult situation.

"The only thing I can say is that he had an amazing season last year," Henry told Sky Sports News.
Choice

"Whenever you have a season like he had a lot of teams are coming to get you.

"It is up to him in his mind. I can't talk for him about what his choice is going to be."

Meanwhile, Henry believes Arsenal are capable of ending their three-year trophy drought next season because of manager Arsene Wenger's ability for unearthing hidden talent.

"Arsenal, I don't know how they do it, but they bring players who people say, 'I'm not sure' and suddenly everyone is raving," Henry added.

"Hopefully they can win something because all the time no-one gives them credit, but they are always around.

"But hopefully this year they can bring some silverware back to the Emirates."

doesn't really say much in the end, although I'm disappointed he wouldn't come straight out and recommend him to stay.

leninbenjamin · 22-07-2008 05:10PM

bloody hell. i just dipped into that friendly. the youngsters certainly wouldn't inspire confidence. trying to pass it around under pressure in their own 18 yard box!

Pepe LeFrits · 22-07-2008 05:13PM

1-1, Walcott. Smart finish, terrific setup by Bendtner.

Arsenal Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

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