Arsenal Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

OPENROAD · 27-08-2008 10:29PM

I feel that the player he was going to sign was Alonso but this obviously depended on the Barry deal going through. I am just thinking that if Barry were to move in January we might sign Alonso then.

DenMan · 27-08-2008 10:36PM

It's a possibility alright, no doubt about it. Don't know if Wenger has ever taken anybody in January if they were cup tied and unable to play in Europe. May be wrong here and hopefully someone can confirm/deny this for me. He also seemed to have all his players available to him for both domestic and European football. He really wants to push for the Champions League this season and will need everybody at his disposal.

OPENROAD · 27-08-2008 10:41PM

DenMan wrote: »

It's a possibility alright, no doubt about it. Don't know if Wenger has ever taken anybody in January if they were cup tied and unable to play in Europe. May be wrong here and hopefully someone can confirm/deny this for me.

I might be wrong here but I think he is only cup tied for the group stages, so if the deal was done in January he could play in the champions league if we make it through the group stages.

Mossy Monk · 28-08-2008 07:46AM

I believe so. Essentially cup tied up until the January transfer window

Evil_Clown · 28-08-2008 08:37AM

Arsenal now been linked with Jonathan de Guzman from Feyenord by the sun.
He is a 'tough tackling midfielder'
I know it's the sun but I will take any sort of hope with regards to a signing at the moment.:rolleyes:

Pepe LeFrits · 28-08-2008 09:18AM

lol, tough tackling midfielder me hole (not directing this at you btw, but the papers). He's an attacking midfielder, similar to Nasri and the like. I'd be pleased if we signed him 'cos we could do with another creative midfielder, but he's no Flamini replacement.

Royale with Cheese · 28-08-2008 04:47PM

Arsenal
Porto
Fenerbahce
Dynamo Kiev

Could have been easier.

BobbyD10 · 28-08-2008 05:16PM

Tricky is one word that comes to mind, long trips to eastern europe to return to premiership saturday. Still, your not in it you can't win it.

Gangsta · 28-08-2008 05:23PM

Don't like Kiev in there. Still, I fully expect us to finish at least 2nd in the group.

eZe^ · 28-08-2008 05:26PM

Gangsta wrote: »

Don't like Kiev in there. Still, I fully expect us to finish at least 2nd in the group.

Pfft, shhh, Arsenal should definitely be aspiring to be topping this group. If you go in with the attitude of thinking you'll be 2nd you'll never win the cup! Although it does look funny to note that this year especially it may not really matter if you qualify 1st or 2nd..

Royale with Cheese · 28-08-2008 05:39PM

I can see home wins against Fenerbahce and Kiev without too many problems. At win against Porto at home too shouldn't really be too difficult. After that 1 draw away from home and they're through.

A slip up at home may mean an away win is needed. Could be tough if that is the case.

Royale with Cheese · 28-08-2008 05:46PM

Some guy on Sky Sports News saying Arsenal are closing in on the signing of St. Etienne midfielder Blaise Matuidi.

Who?

OPENROAD · 28-08-2008 06:39PM

Anyone see the interview with Danny Fiszman after the champions league draw and what he had to say about transfers?

Royale with Cheese · 28-08-2008 06:51PM

Same old crap. Money is there if Arsene wants to spend it. That's about it.

Gangsta · 28-08-2008 08:02PM

I don't think you fully understood my post. Meh, anyway, a new cm signing is crucial if we're gonna pick up any silverware. Was watching the invincible season a while ago...me weeps in comparison:(

DenMan · 28-08-2008 08:29PM

Anybody know where County Lifford is?, I sure as hell don't.

Manuel Almunia v Shay Given

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/saturday-s-key-battles-arsenal-v-newcastle

leninbenjamin · 28-08-2008 10:08PM

DenMan wrote: »

Anybody know where County Lifford is?, I sure as hell don't.

Manuel Almunia v Shay Given

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/saturday-s-key-battles-arsenal-v-newcastle

lol. who do we complain to? we should start a petition of protest or something.

OPENROAD · 28-08-2008 10:46PM

Nothing new but interesting article all the same.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/arsenal/article4630035.ece

Galvasean · 28-08-2008 11:57PM

Was at the FC Twente match. great result. But if I have to be negative I taught RvP played rubbish again. I mean he missed two absolute sitters. He just can't place the ball. He blasts it every time.
Was very impressed by Wallcot and Nasro though.

Evil_Clown · 29-08-2008 08:41AM

That Champions League draw is exactly why Arsenal need a bigger squad of premiership ready players. We need to be able to rest a few after trips to Kiev and Turkey without losing the entire balance of the team which at the moment we do. At least the trip to Kiev is 1st so that gets out of the way quickly.

Galvasean · 29-08-2008 11:04AM

Evil_Clown wrote: »

That Champions League draw is exactly why Arsenal need a bigger squad of premiership ready players. We need to be able to rest a few after trips to Kiev and Turkey without losing the entire balance of the team which at the moment we do. At least the trip to Kiev is 1st so that gets out of the way quickly.

...or suffer a defeat get the confidence knocked out of us..

kronsington · 29-08-2008 11:12AM

this is the first time in 12 years i have begun to question wenger's methods. i think the team over-performed last year and unless something is done in the next 72 hours, we wont launch anything like a title campaign. that timesonline article that someone just posted i found quite interesting, and can find myself agreeing with the point that is a bit indulgant on wenger's part for relying on his youngsters too much, refusing to stump up the cash for signings. he wants to prove you can win things without spending the obnoxious amounts displayed by chelsea and others. but the simple fact is, the current squad, and thats crucial, the best first 11 can beat anyone on their day, but the squad is not equipped to win the league. our keeper doesnt have the reliability of a reina, our captain is a petulant twat (probably the result of being treated like a prince at chelsea), kolo has looked out of sorts, rosciky and eduardo both crocked, rvp is only minutes away from an injury, and e bay doesnt want to be there. this team is so reliant on cesc, it's ridiculous, even more reliant than liverpool are gerrard and united are ronaldo. i have no idea what arsene is going to pull out of the bag before the deadline, if anything at all. but something needs to be done, that performance on saturday ws abysmal, fulham are as average as it gets in the league and it was simply pitiful. so come on arsene, do the right thing and give cesc the foil he needs to shine, because without re-inforcements can any of you, honestly, see us winning the premiership? we've had nothing to smile about all summer and we deserve something to pick our spirits up before what i hope wont be another trophyless season

L'prof · 29-08-2008 01:07PM

kronsington wrote: »

can any of you, honestly, see us winning the premiership?

Yes I can, but there would have to be one condition...a virtually injury free season :rolleyes:, which is very unlikely as we seem no better off noe injury wise than we did at any point last season!

The squad this year, if anything, is weaker than last year which is a pity. We really need a few more squad players and I guess I'd settle for 1 CM as Wenger doesn't seem to want to get the finger out!

gosplan · 29-08-2008 03:37PM

Been offline for a while but am back now.

Boo to the doubters. BOOOoooooOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooo :mad::mad:

Arsne is a legend - don't forget it!

The man was building a team and his plans were derailed by Flamini, Diarra and Gilberto all leaving.

I think that going into last year Wenger probably expected Flamini and Gilberto not to feature at this point in time(although Flamini got real good before he left).

Diarra is another story and that's who we're looking to replace.

Don't forget that most of Arsenal's dealings are done behind closed doors without the press finding out - unlike some other clubs. We've no idea who Wenger is really in for or how many enquiries have been made.

Also, Wenger can hardly come out and say 'we need a new signing...badly' because nothing is concrete and what kind of message would that send to players like Denilson if we don't manage to capture anyone?

I trust the man with the football club - if we don't get anyone and we end up finishing in fourth with no trophies, the I for one will believe that there was no-one available worth buying and fourth was as good as we could do.

The fact that we need a holding midfielder does not mean we need any holding midfielder.

I mean are people so desparate that they'll think that someone like Inler or Barry is a suitable Arsenal solution for the position our rivals fill with players like Essien and Mascherano?

Evil_Clown · 29-08-2008 03:39PM

He is up to his old tricks again...... hopefully

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_4065632,00.html

Royale with Cheese · 29-08-2008 05:04PM

gosplan wrote: »

Been offline for a while but am back now.

Boo to the doubters. BOOOoooooOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooo :mad::mad:

Arsne is a legend - don't forget it!

The man was building a team and his plans were derailed by Flamini, Diarra and Gilberto all leaving.

I think that going into last year Wenger probably expected Flamini and Gilberto not to feature at this point in time(although Flamini got real good before he left).

Diarra is another story and that's who we're looking to replace.

Don't forget that most of Arsenal's dealings are done behind closed doors without the press finding out - unlike some other clubs. We've no idea who Wenger is really in for or how many enquiries have been made.

Also, Wenger can hardly come out and say 'we need a new signing...badly' because nothing is concrete and what kind of message would that send to players like Denilson if we don't manage to capture anyone?

I trust the man with the football club - if we don't get anyone and we end up finishing in fourth with no trophies, the I for one will believe that there was no-one available worth buying and fourth was as good as we could do.

The fact that we need a holding midfielder does not mean we need any holding midfielder.

I mean are people so desparate that they'll think that someone like Inler or Barry is a suitable Arsenal solution for the position our rivals fill with players like Essien and Mascherano?

I agree with you, up until the last paragraph.

Barry and Inler are better than Denilson & Diaby. Well Barry anyway, never heard of this Inler guy. Doesn't matter if they're no Essien, they'd still be improving the squad.

Quazzie · 29-08-2008 06:15PM

Hi,

This is my first post on the soccer forums and I am an avid Arsenal fan so came straight here. After reading some peoples opinions on the current squad I though I should just start off by stating my own

1. Manuel ALMUNIA - In reality he isn't good enough to be in a team that should be challenging for the trophies Arsenal should be challenging for.
2. Abou DIABY - A decent player but is he anywhere near the standard of the sides above and around us (Hargreaves, Carrick, Essien, Lampard, Gerrard, Alonso, Mascherano)
3. Bacary SAGNA - Has had a poor start this year but last year was no fluke and his class is evident.
4. Francesc FABREGAS - Quite simply the best midfielder in the EPL
5. Kolo TOURE - The damn African nations cup seems to have drained him of all good he had. He used to be my favourite player but he seems to be distracted lately and a hollow shell of the superstar he was.
6. Philippe SENDEROS - Ac Milan, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. This waster should've never been given Adams' number
7. Tomas ROSICKY - Good player, injured now, but should be back, the question is will he be as good in the current midfield wiyout Hleb, Famini etc
9. EDUARDO - No one knows how he will return.
10. William GALLAS - How he got Captaincy is a disgrace. Am easily distracted defender, that is easily manipluated and put off during the course of a game. Definitely not a leader.
11. Robin VAN PERSIE - Oh to have him fit and form for even two weeks running.
12. Carlos VELA - looking at him play last year shows he is a good prospect but not quiet at the right level yet.
14. Theo WALCOTT - Class player and finally starting to show, albeit in patches
15. DENILSON - Quiet easily the worst player on the field against Fulham and although it might be just a glitch in form younger players don't bounce back as quick as experienced players
16. Aaron RAMSEY - Looks good but way too untried to be considered a serious contender for this season
17. Alexandre SONG - Looks a decent player but never shines. is consistent in his performances though. A squad player and no more
20. Johan DJOUROU - Looks decent but again is he really good enough?
21. Lukasz FABIANSKI - Looks shoddy at best
22. Gael CLICHY - Class player, Honest, Down to earth and hardworking, does the simple things right and thats his best trait
24. Vito MANNONE - 3rd choice and thats where he'll stay I imagine
25. Emmanuel ADEBAYOR - Not half the player that his goal tally might suggest. He finished about half the chances he could have. the supply that was coming from that midfield was enough to make any half decent striker score as many (if not more) than he did.
26. Nicklas BENDTNER - A decent looking player but the Championship seems about his level
27. Emmanuel EBOUE - Where to start. I don't think I need to. after reading a few posts I think we are all singing from the same hymn sheet
30. Armand TRAORE - Not adequate and only slightly better than his namesake Djimi.

I know this might seem like a bad report on the squad but in reality I think we as fans and Arsenal, being the club that it is, deserves more. Whilst Nasri looks like a good buy that will slot into a position made legendary by his fellow countryman Bobby Pires I still think Wenger needs to Splash some cash and bring in players that are up to that standard.

Sorry if this was a long read

Royale with Cheese · 29-08-2008 06:21PM

Justin Hoyte's been sold.

Quazzie · 29-08-2008 06:26PM

Royale with Cheese wrote: »

Justin Hoyte's been sold.

Damnit I thought that was only a season long loan. My bad

OPENROAD · 29-08-2008 08:02PM

Going to get lots of this over the next 72 hours but just been reading the Evening Standard which has stated that Wenger has refused to rule out a bit for Michael Owen, have to say if he kept fit wouldn't mind him.

Arsenal Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

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