Arsenal Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

OPENROAD · 19-08-2008 10:55PM

This really would be a shock signing

http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/sport/football/article-1047102/Gunners-shock-steal-Uniteds-Silvestre-noses-Sunderland.html

GuanYin · 19-08-2008 11:07PM

I thought Toure and Gallas were a strong partnership. Do you think Toure would go to CM then?

OPENROAD · 19-08-2008 11:12PM

I would be very surprised if Toure went into cm, hard to figure this one out probably just paper talk, that said Toure came back a different player after the African nations wasn't as strong as he was actually many said Senderos should have kept his place in the team as he actually looked very good.

GuanYin · 20-08-2008 03:48AM

Lots of news agencies reporting Silvestre now.

I wonder does that mean 2-3 signings instead of 1.

Xavi6 · 20-08-2008 03:56AM

GuanYin wrote: »

Ok, so Fox Soccer Channel (FSC ... I know, I know) have reported here on their round up that Arsenal are looking at 3 players and will sign at least 1 if not 2 after the international round of games.

The players they claim are in contention are Gökhan Inler who I know from Serie A, Michael Johnson who is a young Man City player (that I don't know) and Anthony Annan who I've never heard of but is apparently viewed as the best young African player around.

They say the complications lie in the fact that Blackburn are also after Annan and that Johnson is cup tied.

Has anyone heard anything on this?

Yeah, Jonno's going nowhere. Hopefully going to sign a new deal with us, plus his existing one has another four years to run having only be agreed last October/November.

Bounty Hunter · 20-08-2008 04:16AM

GuanYin wrote: »

Anthony Annan who I've never heard of but is apparently viewed as the best young African player around.

Sounds like a typical Arsene Wenger singing to me... and his bio sounds like exactley what Arsenal need: 22 years old Ghanaian Defensive CM playing in Norway that despite being unheard of in most circles already has 16caps and is considerd a direct replacement for Essien at international level, who after a great African Nations tournament last year has been scouted by Chelsea, Man Utd, AC Milan, Atletico Madrid and more.

pesireland · 20-08-2008 07:53AM

Hey Liverpoolfan here, watched you guys on saturday, what did ye make of Nasri??, seems another good Wenger signing to me and good ball player.

Royale with Cheese · 20-08-2008 08:50AM

I'd take Silvestre. Don't care where he's coming from, or if he headbutted Freddie Ljungberg a few years back. Just an experienced defender to provide cover. He'll do.

A decent centre mid signing on top of that, and I'll be much happier than I was a few weeks back.

L'prof · 20-08-2008 09:10AM

pesireland wrote: »

Hey Liverpoolfan here, watched you guys on saturday, what did ye make of Nasri??, seems another good Wenger signing to me and good ball player.

Same as that, a lot of fans reminiscing about his link-up play with Clichy and likening it to Cole & Pires, Wenger himself has noted on the similarities between Nasri and Pires. He has some lovely passes too.

I think he's injured again, so yes, a typical Wenger signing :rolleyes:

Evil_Clown · 20-08-2008 09:20AM

Royale with Cheese wrote: »

I'd take Silvestre. Don't care where he's coming from, or if he headbutted Freddie Ljungberg a few years back. Just an experienced defender to provide cover. He'll do.

A decent centre mid signing on top of that, and I'll be much happier than I was a few weeks back.

Totally agree, He could provide cover at CB, LB or even RB (I think I saw him play there before) and has experience or both prem and CL, for 750,000 that would not be good business for arsenal imo

Wreck · 20-08-2008 09:31AM

Silvestre would be a good signing imo, exactly what we need - experienced cover for defence. I'd be very surprised if this does happen however.

yahoo_moe · 20-08-2008 09:31AM

Evil_Clown wrote: »

Totally agree, He could provide cover at CB, LB or even RB (I think I saw him play there before) and has experience or both prem and CL, for 750,000 that would not be good business for arsenal imo

Not be bad business I assume you mean?

I'd agree that he'd provide decent cover but I wouldn't let him near RB and I'd be surprised if Fergie had ever let him near there either - like a lot of lefties, he's very left-footed.

Not sure how I'd feel if we signed him

- I definitely think an experienced 'utility' defender (ie CB + full back) is what we need but I would hope for someone younger, more mobile and better technically (and who could maybe push for a starting place). We could probably do worse than Silvestre though so I don't know - and at least it would strengthen the squad where we need it most...

Evil_Clown · 20-08-2008 10:40AM

yahoo_moe wrote: »

Not be bad business I assume you mean?

yea thats what I meant

The more I read about this the more unlikely it looks, Utd fans are saying that Fergie would never go through with this and I tend to agree
maybe we could give them Eboue in a swap deal

Galvasean · 20-08-2008 11:48AM

OPENROAD wrote: »

This really would be a shock signing

http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/sport/football/article-1047102/Gunners-shock-steal-Uniteds-Silvestre-noses-Sunderland.html

That would be VERY surprising. Is the bad blood between Wenger and Fergie gone?

Pepe LeFrits · 20-08-2008 12:03PM

Stronghold of reliability Myles Palmer says Silvestre is in Highbury House signing now!

Strange one if true.

yahoo_moe · 20-08-2008 12:54PM

And the Guardian's saying Wenger sees him as first-choice partner for Gallas:

guardian.co.uk wrote:

Another surprise for Arsenal's fans is that Wenger does not regard the former Internazionale defender merely as a squad player, or as a back-up for Gaël Clichy at left-back, but as a first-choice centre-half alongside William Gallas, primarily as a replacement for Philippe Senderos.

Now I don't mind breaking up Gallas/Toure but I really didn't see Silvestre as the man to do it - is he a better footballer than I ever noticed or is this a bit of a change in policy from Wenger?

AnCapaillMor · 20-08-2008 03:48PM

Can't see alex let it happen, remember Heinze and the pool.

Frisbee · 20-08-2008 04:11PM

No way I'd want him signed as a starter in the First team.

If he's for cover that would be ok considering the low price. Although do we really need cover at the back?

LB - Clichy, Traore, Gallas

CB - Toure, Gallas, Senderos, Song

RB - Sagna, Eboue (only position eboue is fit for, cover at rb... :mad:)

And if the plan is to put him in at CB and move Toure up into midfield Id start getting really worried...

eagle eye · 20-08-2008 04:16PM

Frisbee wrote: »

No way I'd want him signed as a starter in the First team.

If he's for cover that would be ok considering the low price. Although do we really need cover at the back?

LB - Clichy, Traore, Gallas

CB - Toure, Gallas, Senderos, Song

RB - Sagna, Eboue (only position eboue is fit for, cover at rb... :mad:)

And if the plan is to put him in at CB and move Toure up into midfield Id start getting really worried...

I would consider him ahead of Senderos at CB. I think he would be really good signing for Arsenal.

Frisbee · 20-08-2008 04:21PM

Completely forgot about Djourou at CB as well...

OPENROAD · 20-08-2008 07:29PM

We have signed Silvetere according to sky sports news.

Esse85 · 20-08-2008 07:36PM

Silvestre is a safer bet at CB than Senderos

AnCapaillMor · 20-08-2008 07:37PM

BBC says so, so its offical.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/7573520.stm

OPENROAD · 20-08-2008 07:38PM

I wonder will he be first choice cb i.e Gallas and him?

Frisbee · 20-08-2008 07:40PM

OPENROAD wrote: »

I wonder will he be first choice cb i.e Gallas and him?

I seriously Hope not..
Someone who can barely get on the United bench walking into the Arsenal starting line up?
What kind of signal would that send of us a title challengers?

Also Kolo is a better player...

Little-Devil · 20-08-2008 07:48PM

I actually think its a good signing for Arsenal, proven and experience in the premiership and europe. In fairness to him as well, he was injured for most of last season apart from a few games and the season before i thought when he played he was very good.

I think Arsenal fans will be suprised by how good is.

Royale with Cheese · 20-08-2008 07:51PM

He must have been signed as a squad player. Can't see him starting. Experienced, cheap, French, can play in a number of positions. Sounds alright.

Actually I've a pool supporting friend who thinks he's awful and that's it a rubbish signing. Something about having no positional sense. Admittedly I've never paid him a huge amount of attention. Anybody else out there who thinks he's shyte?

OPENROAD · 20-08-2008 07:54PM

It is official

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/arsenal-announce-signing-of-mikael-silvestre

OPENROAD · 20-08-2008 07:54PM

Royale with Cheese wrote: »

He must have been signed as a squad player. Can't see him starting. Experienced, cheap, French, can play in a number of positions. Sounds alright.

I have a feeling he might start.

Boggles · 20-08-2008 08:03PM

Odd signing indeed. Has he ever played in the centre with Gallas for France?

Arsenal Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

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