Arsenal Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

AnCapaillMor · 05-08-2008 09:25AM

Arsenal are PREPARING a bid for Ruben De la Red. Godammit, signing every central midfielder under the sun has replaced the past few years signing every keeper under the sun.

One of the guys on Arseblog came up with a good idea, we should sign De La Red loan him to the scousers for 2 months so they come up with a good song then take him back.

yahoo_moe · 05-08-2008 12:56PM

Some good signs at the weekend - Gallas, Denilson and Van Persie and Adebayor all looked nice and sharp (especially considering they've two more weeks to get fully ready before the League starts).

Concern at the moment is the wide areas - I'm happy to have Theo playing wide rather than up front but Nasri could take some time to bed in by the looks of things and obviously, Rosicky's not fit yet. Anyone else rather see Wilshere given a shot wide left against Twente/West Brom than Nasri? Whatever about the hype, on form he's the better player at the moment. I know Wenger never likes pushing youngsters too hard too quick but could be nice to give him a run and then take him back out for a break.

Don't think Diaby or Ramsey are ready to play in the centre yet (they each get caught on the ball too much for my liking) so barring signings, my money's on Denilson-Fabregas as first choice, which I'm happy enough about - particularly given a relatively soft run of fixtures early on (West Brom, Fulham, Newcastle, Blackburn, Bolton, Hull, Sunderland).

ErinGoBrath · 05-08-2008 01:18PM

yahoo_moe wrote: »

Anyone else rather see Wilshere given a shot wide left against Twente/West Brom than Nasri?

Yep, me. Can't get over how well he's performed given the oppositon he was up against. Walcott is looking like he's come on in leaps and bounds too, I'd leave him on the wing for now as we have enough up front.

yahoo_moe wrote: »

Don't think Diaby or Ramsey are ready to play in the centre yet (they each get caught on the ball too much for my liking) so barring signings, my money's on Denilson-Fabregas as first choice, which I'm happy enough about - particularly given a relatively soft run of fixtures early on (West Brom, Fulham, Newcastle, Blackburn, Bolton, Hull, Sunderland).

I'm not happy with any of the suggested centre midfield pairings. Diaby has plenty of energy and is quite physical however has a tendency to caught on the ball or get dispossessed is vunerable positions. Also his passing leaves a lot to be desired.

Denisilion plays a similar style of football to Fabregas but lacks physical presence. I haven't seen enough of Ramsey for me to be comfortable with him parntering Cesc, looks a littleweight light also.

I'm really hoping Wenger buys a proven defensive centre mid before the CL qualifier.

yahoo_moe · 05-08-2008 02:42PM

ErinGoBrath wrote: »

Denisilion plays a similar style of football to Fabregas but lacks physical presence.

I'm not in any way against buying someone but I wouldn't mind seeing Denilson given a shot. Injuries didn't allow him to show his true abilities last year but he's always impressed me and looks a bit stronger this preseason than I've seen him before - and for a guy who's never going to be a massive physical presence in the Vieira/Adams/Campbell mould, he really snaps into a tackle (much like Clichy).

In theory, Denilson-Fabregas means that they're each sharing the load in terms of working back and moving forward but I don't think that we necessarily have to look to a midfielder that's 100% defensive-minded. Fabregas starts a lot of moves from deep anyway and Denilson's strengths are in tracking back and passing from deep so it's not like he's constantly bombing forward and limiting Cesc to 'minding the house'. In terms of where he plays his football and how that complements Cesc, Denilson isn't massively dissimilar to Gilberto or Flamini - only with less of an engine than Flamini and far better passing than either.

Frisbee · 05-08-2008 03:36PM

ErinGoBrath wrote: »

I'm not happy with any of the suggested centre midfield pairings.

+1
I reckon Denilson or Diaby can step into CM with Cesc in some of the softer games. But against the bigger teams we're gonna need someone much more experience.
Just hopefully not Xabi Alonso...

ErinGoBrath · 05-08-2008 03:44PM

yahoo_moe wrote: »

In theory, Denilson-Fabregas means that they're each sharing the load in terms of working back and moving forward but I don't think that we necessarily have to look to a midfielder that's 100% defensive-minded. Fabregas starts a lot of moves from deep anyway and Denilson's strengths are in tracking back and passing from deep so it's not like he's constantly bombing forward and limiting Cesc to 'minding the house'. In terms of where he plays his football and how that complements Cesc, Denilson isn't massively dissimilar to Gilberto or Flamini - only with less of an engine than Flamini and far better passing than either.

They may play well together but I still think we need someone tough enough to grab the match by the scruff of the neck if it's not going our way. I really can't imagine us taking on the likes of United, Chelsea, Spurs without someone hard in the middle. Ok he can put in a tackle but he's not what you'd call intimiating, is he? I know I'd rather have Denilson marking me over Flamini!

I really hope I'm proved wrong on this though.

gosplan · 05-08-2008 03:46PM

So what's you preferred starting 11 for the first game based on pre-season?

Almunia
Sagna/Toure/Gallas/Clichy
Walcott/Denilson/Fabregas/Nasri
RVP/Ade

I think that Nasri indeed looks raw. The rest of that team should be able to carry him through the few (hopefully) games he'll need to settle in. We've a dream start with West Brom/Fulham/Newcastle/Bolton/Sunderland as well so we may be able to afford to be weak in some areas.

Also, it'll give us a good chance to use Diaby/Ramsay/Wilshire/Traore/Bendtner as subs.

ErinGoBrath · 05-08-2008 03:50PM

gosplan wrote: »

So what's you preferred starting 11 for the first game based on pre-season?

Almunia
Sagna/Toure/Gallas/Clichy
Walcott/Denilson/Fabregas/Nasri
RVP/Ade

Pretty much bang on except I'd start Wilshire ahead of Nasri if we're basing it on preseason. It'd also be a toss of a coin between Denilson and Diaby but I'd probably side with Diaby as he's more physical.

yahoo_moe · 05-08-2008 04:47PM

gosplan wrote: »

Almunia
Sagna/Toure/Gallas/Clichy
Walcott/Denilson/Fabregas/Nasri
RVP/Ade

I'd actually like to see Nasri and Wilshere rotated fairly evenly over those first few easier games - maybe giving Wilshere the Champions League qualifiers and making sure Nasri gets some game time in the Premier League. Then again, giving Nasri one leg of the qualifiers would probably help his understanding with teammates, etc. at a slightly lower pace which could be good. As I said, rotated fairly evenly would suit me fine. However, I definitely wouldn't want to burn out Wilshere or damage his confidence with a few poorer showings so for me, it'd mainly be until Nasri's more established and Rosicky's (hopefully) back from injury.

ErinGoBrath wrote:

Ok he can put in a tackle but he's not what you'd call intimiating, is he? I know I'd rather have Denilson marking me over Flamini!

Ah you see I was comparing them on the basis of Flamini not being particularly intimidating either... and we did fine against bigger teams with Flamini last year. I wouldn't have thought of Gilberto as particularly intimidating either in fact, despite his greater size - hence why I think Denilson can slot into the role okay.

Galvasean · 05-08-2008 05:18PM

De La Red would be one player I would like to see Arsenal get.

Im_No_Superman · 05-08-2008 09:03PM

A blast from the past for you Arsenal fans -

Juventus have completed the signing of former Arsenal goalkeeper Alex Manninger on a four-year contract.

The Austrian international spent last season at Siena and did enough to tempt Juventus into a bid for his services.

Manninger, 31, has spoken of his admiration for current Juve No.1 Gianluigi Buffon, while at the same time reiterating his desire to push the Italian all the way for a starting berth.

"I am very happy to have arrived at Juventus," said Manninger, who had been close to finalising a deal with Udinese, according to Juventus. "Here football really counts.

"I have gained a lot of experience playing for smaller sides but I was at Arsenal a few years ago and I wanted to return to a big club at the highest level.

"We all know Buffon's ability and his role in this squad. Only one goalkeeper can play at a time but in a squad of 25 there must be more than one custodian and we have three.

"I'm ready to give as much of a contribution as I can make to this team."

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11854_3936867,00.html

Thought he was older than 31 tbh. A nice cushy four year contract for him too. He is hardly going to get too much game time with Buffon infront of him in the pecking order.

Pepe LeFrits · 05-08-2008 09:12PM

hehe. He was actually really good for us when we won the league in 98 if I recall correctly. Made a big contribution when Seaman was out.

Im_No_Superman · 05-08-2008 09:15PM

Pepe LeFrits wrote: »

hehe. He was actually really good for us when we won the league in 98 if I recall correctly. Made a big contribution when Seaman was out.

Yeah he is quite a good goalkeeper, seems abit of waste for him to be bench warming for the next 4 years, but each to their own I suppose.

MIN2511 · 05-08-2008 09:22PM

He is 31, i don't see much of a career left for him but time would tell as usual

Im_No_Superman · 05-08-2008 09:25PM

MIN2511 wrote: »

He is 31, i don't see much of a career left for him but time would tell as usual

31 is not old for a goalkeeper, must goalkeeepers dont hit their peak till around 30.

newbie2 · 05-08-2008 11:00PM

I always thought that he was one of the best goalkeepers that graced highbury. Had the bob wilson barney got something to do with him or was it that keeper Harper?

Pepe LeFrits · 05-08-2008 11:11PM

Jack Wilshere's career in tabloid headlines

Shameless plug, but I put several minutes effort into that!

AnCapaillMor · 06-08-2008 07:18AM

Pepe LeFrits wrote: »

hehe. He was actually really good for us when we won the league in 98 if I recall correctly. Made a big contribution when Seaman was out.

Then Chelsea beat us 6-0 at home in the coca cola cup and he was never the same after that. He went on loan to espanyol and they actually tried to give him back a few months early. He'd one good season in Italy with Fiorentina then dissapeared off the scene.

yahoo_moe · 06-08-2008 12:59PM

Pepe LeFrits wrote: »

hehe. He was actually really good for us when we won the league in 98 if I recall correctly. Made a big contribution when Seaman was out.

Inspired me to go check what happened to the other great cameo star of 97-98, Christopher Wreh:

http://www.thebeautifulgroan.com/2008/08/05/where-are-they-now-christopher-wreh/ wrote:

Christopher Wreh never had as good a season as 1997-98. With a Premiership challenge in full flow, but with Wright and Bergkamp both unavailable, he scored a couple of crucial winners that sparked the long winning streak culminating in the Premiership title returning to Highbury. For good measure, he scored the only goal of the FA Cup semi final against Wolves, before picking up a winners medal against Newcastle a few weeks later.

At 23, he probably expected his career to go from strength to strength, but the opposite happened. After two seasons in and around the first team, the former Monaco striker made three loan switches. The first was a reasonably successful one, to AEK Athens, in 1999, before less enjoyable spells with Birmingham, where Trevor Francis sent him back within weeks, and the Dutch side Den Bosch in 2000.

With his Arsenal career in decline, he left in the summer of 2000 to find regular football. After six months without a club, he moved to oil rich Saudi Arabia to play for Al-Hilal, the home of Saudi legend and top scorer Sami Al-Jaber. Wreh apart, the Saudis were a team made up of home players and he struggled to adapt, leaving at the end of the season after a handful of inauspicious appearances.

In the summer of 2001, Wreh joined Bournemouth on trial, but the south coast side never offered him a contract, and he ended up moving to Scotland to join First Division St Mirren. Thoughts of a career revival were short-lived, as he made only three substitute appearances for the remainder of the season and failed to get on the scoresheet. This was largely due to persistent injuries, despite his continual optimism that he was ‘close to a return’.

St Mirren tried to offload him to ease their financial difficulties, but move after move broke down. Eventually he left at the end of the season, his reputation in tatters, and took a few months leave from the game, before returning in the Ryman Premier League with Bishop’s Stortford. The move was a disaster, and Wreh’s attitude was called into question by manager Martin Hayes after no-showing a game against Enfield:

“Honestly, even if he had turned up for the Enfield game I wouldn’t have put him on the bench, never mind started him. He didn’t turn up for training last Friday and that wasn’t the first time. I can never get hold of him. It’s not on. I have to think of the other lads who do put in the time and effort.”

Incredibly, Wreh’s next step was even further down, to Buckingham Town, but after a few appearances there, decided enough was enough and retired from the game in 2005 to concentrate on a musical project, Soul Rebels.

His football story hadn’t quite ended there, however, because in the summer of 2007 he joined Indonesian side Perseman Manokwari. Six months later, he walked out on his contract and hasn’t joined a club since.

In addition to his seemingly poor attitude, Wreh has been dogged by continual comments about his weight and fitness, something he freely admits to on his blog, now focused mainly on his musical exploits. In the early entries, he confesses that he enjoyed his food far too much to maintain his fitness, and this may one of the reasons his career nosedived so spectacularly.

Ten years ago he was an FA Cup winner. What a demise.

Galvasean · 06-08-2008 03:29PM

MIN2511 wrote: »

He is 31, i don't see much of a career left for him but time would tell as usual

Lehmann was 37 for us when he starred in our run to the Champions League Final.
David Seaman was one of the best goalies in England aged 39.
Peter Schmeichel was 36 when he won the trble with United.
Pat Jennings finally hung up his gloves for us aged 40, still making spectacular saves.

Galvasean · 06-08-2008 03:40PM

Squad for today's match away to Huddersfield:

Nacer BARAZITE
Kyle BARTLEY
Johan DJOUROU
Jay EMMANUEL-THOMAS
Lukasz FABIANSKI (GK)
Rui FONTE
Emmanuel FRIMPONG
Kieran GIBBS
Gavin HOYTE
Justin HOYTE
Henri LANSBURY
Vito MANNONE (GK)
Havard NORDTVEIT
Aaron RAMSEY
Mark RANDALL
Jay SIMPSON
Theo WALCOTT
Sanchez WATT
Carlos VELA
Jack WILSHERE

Pepe LeFrits · 06-08-2008 05:42PM

Team for Huddersfield:

Fabianski
J Hoyte
Djourou
G Hoyte
Gibbs
Lansbury
Randall
Ramsey
Wilshere
Walcott
Vela

Galvasean · 06-08-2008 07:17PM

Only three defenders? Two of them the Hoyte brothers???

http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?thisNav=News&article=494923&lid=NewsHeadline&Title=Hoyte+-+I+have+to+prove+I%27m+as+good+as+Sagna
Bwahahahahhaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :pac:

DenMan · 06-08-2008 07:23PM

Pepe LeFrits wrote: »

Team for Huddersfield:

Fabianski
J Hoyte
Djourou
G Hoyte
Gibbs
Lansbury
Randall
Ramsey
Wilshere
Walcott
Vela

Now this looks very close to Arsenal's Carling Cup team for the upcoming season. Me being optimistic about the Gunners winning that competition may have been dashed as the boss came out today saying the competition is not high on the trophy list for the season. A competition they definitely can win and at the end of the day, silverware in the cabinet (which is what we all want). Thanks Pepe.

Royale with Cheese · 06-08-2008 07:25PM

I couldn't care less about winning the carling cup and it counts for shít. The only people who'll have you believe it's of any use are spurs fans looking to get one over on the Arsenal.

OPENROAD · 06-08-2008 07:27PM

Royale with Cheese wrote: »

I couldn't care less about winning the carling cup and it counts for shít. The only people who'll have you believe it's of any use are spurs fans looking to get one over on the Arsenal.

True but at 12/1 I hope I'll be collecting a nice sum come next Feb.

Galvasean · 06-08-2008 07:38PM

It appears the illustrious career of Freddy is drawing to an end

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/7545703.stm

KO against Huddersfield was 7 o' clock. Can't seem to find the scoreline anywhere. Wonder how the boys are doing.

OPENROAD · 06-08-2008 07:42PM

1-1 Watt just equalised 10 mins left.

Live on Arsenal tv.

DenMan · 06-08-2008 07:42PM

I just went to the Sky Sports Score Center and we are losing 1-0. a few mins to go by the luck of things. Freddie was the main man, I hope he goes to Italy, he was linked with going there during the last 4-5 yrs of his Arsenal career. Go on Fred!!! By the way New York Red Bulls and Barcelona postponed, wonder what happened there? 1-1 now, thanks OPENROAD.

OPENROAD · 06-08-2008 07:45PM

DenMan wrote: »

I just went to the Sky Sports Score Center and we are losing 1-0. a few mins to go by the luck of things. Freddie was the main man, I hope he goes to Italy, he was linked with going there during the last 4-5 yrs of his Arsenal career. Go on Fred!!!

Will be interesting to see what he does, I know he loves London and London life but can only see him moving abroad.

Arsenal Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

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