So without much to talk about in the world of Arsenal, I thought I’d have a look at the worst case scenario for us this summer.
There has been talk of Ade leaving, but I think that is a load of old tosh. Ade has catapulted himself onto the wanted list of most major European clubs this summer and his agent knows this.
Chapter 1 in the ‘Beginners guide to becoming an Agent‘ is titled:
1.0. Why earn less, when you can earn more?
So lets not get our knickers in a twist over this minor problem because at the end of the day, if somone offers you 20k more a year in your current job, you’re not staying loyal to the manager who taught you how to do a pivot table in excel… right?
The problem we have at the moment is that someone is saying to Flamini, here is £20k a week more, oh, and here is another £2million to sweeten the deal. You have to say, that would be pretty hard to turn down. I have faith he will stay, but I had faith that Henry, Paddy, Overmars, Petit and Anelka would stay. I think they call it blind faith or something?
The Hleb deal is also interesting because he has the option of buying himself out of his own contract and getting a signing on fee. Again, I have faith, but lets just say both are greedy bastards and decide to make way.
So what will we be losing?
Flamini is a good player. I like to think of him as Ray Parlour on red bull. He averages 18 miles a game, and rumour has it he runs home instead of getting on the team coach. He has bundles of passion, bundles of drive and he is just about to reach his prime. Since his introduction into the midfield, Cesc has been given more freedom to roam and Arsenal’s attacks have been able to move forward quicker.
He is good, but he is not world class (Yet).
Hleb is a great dribbler of the ball, I like to think of him as Messi with no product. When Messi was running about like a headless chicken the other night I couldn’t help but think of Hleb. The things the man can do with the ball amaze me, he brings Cesc into the game, he pulls defenders out of position and I would say he is just as responsible for the team ticking as Fab4.
Like I said though, he has no end product. No shot and minimal assists. This cannot be over looked, he is there to produce, not look pretty and make the purists go, ‘Wow, he is soooo technically gifted’.
So what are the options from within if both leave?
Flamini internal promotion candidates
Diaby: Patrick Vieira’s younger brother and illegitimate love child of Will Smith. He has been played predominantly out wide this season despite preferring a central role. He is immensely skilful, but a bit tackle shy. He has an eye for the odd spectacular goal, but he also has an eye for a shockingly inaccurate 3 yard pass. Is he good enough to takeover that CM birth? Maybe… but I wouldn’t bet my house on him being a success.
Gilberto: I love him for his loyalty and commitment on the pitch. He is a model professional but some would say he is past it. I wouldn’t agree with them, I think he has a lot to offer the team and his recent form has proved that he doesn’t need to start drawing a pension just yet. There is life in those legs, the question is… is it a step backwards considering our finishing position last year?
Denilson: I don’t get Denilson. He plays some lovely passes, he is quick and does like to stick the boot in every now and then. For me, he has had a bad case of ‘secondseasonitis’. He hasn’t really offered the team that much this year… bar a cracking goal against Newcastle in the Carling Cup and RvP some company in the physio room. He is very light weight for a stocky chap so I think I would rule him out as a candidate.
Hleb internal promotion candidates
Walcott: Theo loves to play down the middle, but with competition stiff up front – a place out wide in the Hleb role could be the only way to secure a starting birth next year. He is fast, he is starting to develop some tricks and he is gaining more confidence with his shooting. I don’t know what you guys think, but I’ve noticed lately that he is trying to thread his passes through the eye of a needle… just like Hleb does. Is Theo impersonating Hleb… to become HLEB! No… because Theo had a shot the other night. A good option though.
Vela: What… the greatest player since God put on a pair of football boots? Oh yes, King of Osasuna… President of Potential… Duke of Youtube…! CARLOS VELA! He did well against Madrid didn’t he? He even has his own blog… how much do I know about him? Zero. Could he be played out on the wing next year? Probably! Would he be good? Maybe… Did I say he played well against Real Madrid? Screw it… he is going to be a sensation! Problem solved!
RvP: Contentious call… but, he does play out wide for Holland and he does a bloody marvellous job too. He could still take all the freekicks, he could score goals from midfield and he could allow us to have a little and large partnership up front (Ade + Eddie, Theo, Vela…). Could he be the perfect solution? I think so… will that happen? Doubtful… he is never fit!
Who could we bring in from outside?
I have no idea! I’ll give you 3 names for each to chew on though:
Flamini replacement:
- Diarra (Madrid)
- Veloso (Sporting)
- Gattuso (Milan)
Hleb replacement:
- Elano (Man City)
- Arfa (Lyon)
- Robinho (Madrid)
I know there will be a minority of people who will come on and moan about the Championship manager type suggestions, but to them I say,
‘Go and blog on Arsenal.com…’
You’ll never get an ounce of transfer speculation over there.
I like talking about potential transfer targets, as do all the Grovers.
So, I have given you 12 names to run the rule over. It’s the age old battle of internal vs external recruitment and Arsene Wenger is going to let you make the decision for him in the comments section.
I hope you have enough to talk about!
Happy blogging Grovers!
Le Grove is now smart phone compatible!
Pedro
Geoff
Great post. Interesting and contentious.
Flam Day has passed, let’s move forward. Flam is a loss, no doubt but it is not a Veiera/Overmars/TH size loss. And we overcame all of those. though the team still miss PV4, Had he been there this season, we would be Champs (IMHO).
Hleb is a marvel, I hope he stays, but if not we are OK. Should Mozart recover, it gives space for him and Theo to be in the team. Mouth watering….
ADIOS FLAMINGO & CALEB !!
I was sick of the whole “will THEY or will They not” saga.
Now thats outta the way, I quite fancy the Ben Afra prospect and Le boss has commented that he is a fan. Its really hard to say who he’s going to sign as we all know he holds his cards too close to his chest.
Greed… its all about bloody greed..
Now, if youll excuse me i need to ask for a pay rise…
(Great post by the way)
Reportedly Edelman is leaving. I knew he had a new job anyway but thought he was staying on at Arsenal.
Can’t say I’ll miss the w***er, but its certainly an interesting move, if true of course!!
veloso and robino/ben arfa please…. i can see the boss going for ben arfa… young french fast clever… but think robiniho would be too expensive, would be nice for us to sign some people that other culbs are actually interested in for a change tho instead of the usuall unknowns!!!
Maybe the new accountant will actually allow Wenger to spend some money.
Its official Edelman has gone!! Yipppeeee
Oh great… what does that mean for Arsenal then?
Will Arsene takeover on a PT basis… he’d be pretty good at that job… everyones budget for this year is…. ZERO!
F-Day +1 certainly doesn’t bode well does it?
Oh well, there are plenty of good players out there!
denilson was behind diarra at the start of the season but played well in the carling cup then he got sent off and got injured twice and was out for 10 weeks so you cant judge him your comment i think was unfair and i tought he was very good on monday also noticed were as fllamini always slides into tackles denilson goes in standing and comes out with the ball and his passing is top class i think he is the player to replace flamini and remember he was captain of the brazil under 17 and undaer 19 and under 20 teams all these teams have anderson/pato etc.. so i think he rates very high in my mind
Hey, good blog and here we go again today……
So the Chavs are off to their sugar dadies home, but only to be spanked by the Mancs…. I hope. Dont want to talk about them any more other than i hope they rest a few players and get beaten at the weekend….. Oh and we secure all three points of course.
Today I expect us to hear three things,
1) Eldeman leaving is utter bollox
2) Flamster signs or goes – either way we will survive
3) Hleb is off because the EPL is too aggresive
Once that is all out the way, at least we will know and can start to guess who will be in or not……. Mind you, we all love to do that anyway, its fun and costs us nothing..
Papers say Villa may be going to Spurs!!!! Now is the time Arsene to truely stop this from happening and get him at the Emirates fast (if you havent already)
I am really hoping that Benny boy will come to us, Dimitrov, well I think that has been done aswell and he will join us at some stage -
Cant wait for the new signings, new season and then off we go again….
Pedro, worse than that its Ken Friar taking over until they find a replacement. Now seen as its taken over a year to find a director of football thats a worry. Ken Friar was supposed to be helping out Arsene with regards transfers, so as he’ll be tied up with the new job I doubt any transfers will happen.
Edelman leaving has been announced to the stockmarket.
Channel 4 report Flamster has told team mates he is off to meeeeeeeeelan
Where do they get this crap from
Good riddance. I’m glad he has gone. We are the third most profitable football team IN THE WHOLE WORLD! And we argue contracts like we are in the bloody second division. It’s time we played with the big boys for christ sakes.
I want to see what Vela can do at Arsenal….I am excited by the prospect of Vela on the left and Walcott down the right this coming season. With Rosicky playing when his legs work. CM I think obviously Fab4 and possibly Song/Diaby with him or ideally just go and buy back Diarra.
I think mattieu flamini is gone, he will announce this at the end of the season.
m diarra is a good option, he is not rated in madrid
loic perrin is another player wenger likes
Miquel Velaso is a good player, very good potential but man utd are interested too but where would they put him in thier team.
Jean Makoun is available and wenger is interested in him
Jeremy Mendez, Samir Nasri, Hatem Ben Arfa these players are potential world class midfielders they are players wenger loves
Yoan Gouffran, people have forgoten about him, again he may sign him
But valencia i read yesterday are in debt big time now,
David Villa £16-20m
David Silva £12-15m
Joaquin £10-12m
Vicente £8-10m
Raul Abdiol £8-10m
then we got
Robinho £15-18m
Ricardo Quaresma £20m
Lucho Gonzalez £18m
Klass Jan Huntelaar £16m
we need a puyol, nesta, cannavaro, materazzi type of defender, dirty but dont get caught and winds up strikers and being successful
what do u lot think???
Geoff, our shares have already gone down £100 each.
If they drop some more, maybe we can combine our resources & buy the club!! Pedro can come in as the cleaner!!
Denilson i think is currently low on confidence and needs to get back on his game possibly pre-season as I dont see him improving b4 the end of this season. I hope he plays a big part in our next season.
Once again, THEO WALCOTT named in the U-21 squad to play against Wales 15th of May. O goodie!!
AFC confirm Endleman departure
I wonder if there is a scandal that is about to be dropped??? Namely in the shape of, where is the 70 million that we were supposed to have…..?
Cheers GMR… you’re a star… as long as you rename the stadium Le Grove, I am fine with the new role!
Geoffs not about till later, business (Cough… golf…).
That is a massive drop, is that since the announcement? Does anyone know why he has left?
i just dont understand, we are a big club, good global brand just under barca, real, man utd and we still cant get players
we got one of the best stadiums in the world and wenger said it ages ago when we move in this stadium we will be able to get big named players.
it seems like the year 2020 then we will be able to get players
now endleman leaving, we had deino get dashed out…. what the fuck is going on with them directors
good post , gilberto has been great but for me slows our game down a bit now , not sure on denilson . diaby , uhmm has some qualities but can be lazy/casual ie frustrating, not the all action ground coverer that can replace the flamer for me so we need to bring in someone , who is a question . i would like to see barry come in but probably too expensive being english . i really hope we keep hleb , technically great and who i pay money to watch . would love robinho but think he would want 110 k a week , can,t see it , ben arfa , yes please , centre half zapata , thuram or similar and jaaskeilienen on a free , job done , we could clean up , so , jussi (free) ch , barry , ben arfa , lets hope . ps not sure if th 14 would be brought back , backward step ? . also , eto , 25 mill ?? !! i thought he was crap the other night , did he touch the ball ? no thanks . if we buy a forward i would like huntelaar and that maybe a possibility.
Gunnershabz, please see below…
http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?thisNav=news&article=490460&cpid=703&title=Wenger+-+I+am+not+in+the+market+for+David+Villa
It aint gonna happen unless Le boss surprises us(very unlikely) and changes his mind!!
Petrov would be a good buy in the cheap, he’s had a great first season in the PL, no adaptation period needed and we could probably get another 2-4 years out of him.
Skill at an affordable price is Wenger’s mantra, you wouldn’t see him paying 20m if he believes another player can do just as good a job at 5m. He usually gets it right….
i think the flam thing might not be as finsihed as we think… there was probably a few last min talks which he is know mulling over… hopefully fab has been in his ear telling him to stay!! we need a vidic most… somone to do the shitty defence work and let kolo get back to being the athlete we all know he is!
direct from arsenal.com
Arsenal Managing Director Keith Edelman leaves the Club
After eight highly successful years at Arsenal, Managing Director and Director of Arsenal Holdings PLC, Keith Edelman, has today announced his departure from the Club in search of a fresh challenge.
Mr Edelman, who was responsible for overseeing the historic move from Highbury to Emirates Stadium, has resigned as a Director of Arsenal Holdings PLC, but will be retained by the Club for a 12-month period to ensure that a smooth transition takes place.
Keith Edelman said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Arsenal. It has been a very exciting period for the business and I am proud to have contributed to the Club’s many off-field achievements over the past eight years, not least the Emirates Stadium project. Now that we have completed our second season at Emirates, I believe it is the right time to seek pastures new and embark upon fresh challenges.”
Peter Hill-Wood, Chairman, commented: “Keith has played a major role in the growth of the Club since he joined in 2000. In that time we have successfully implemented the move from Highbury to Emirates Stadium that has underpinned the future of the business and confirmed our position as one of Europe’s leading clubs. We are grateful to Keith for his crucial role in this transformation.
“Under Keith’s stewardship the Club has achieved record profits and the Board owes him a debt of gratitude for his contribution. We wish him the very best for the future.”
The Board has already initiated the search for a new Managing Director and will update shareholders and stakeholders when appropriate. In the meantime, Director Ken Friar, who has a wealth of football-based experience and business acumen having previously occupied the role of Managing Director (1982-2000), will assume the position of Acting Managing Director.
ANY COMMENTS PEDRO!!!!!
Yeah that is since the announcement. They’ve gone down £200 each now. That c**t is still losing me money even after he’s left.
It says he left for a new challenge. What a load of rubbish. I always got slated for daring to say he was never an Arsenal fan, which he wasn’t & anyone that had ever actually met him would know that.
Yeah if my bid is successful we will get rid of the Emirates & call it Le Grove, the cleaning job is just so you appreciate starting at the bottom!!
One of advantages of Vela on the left and Theo on the right?
They look exactly same, so all the dim wit oppositions will get confused about in which direction they’ll have to play for their goal!! So next season, same haircut please, Vela and Theo!!
t-buzz
i know, but he never admits he wants to sign anyone, its always us gunners fans dont know who the team wants and will get.
we always clueless, can u remember last summer, we did not know who he was going to be for henry replacement then all of sudden
eduardo shows up…
its just confusing
Theres talk of Michael Johnson in papers… i would like to see him in an arsenal shirt!!
However when has Wenger ever bought anyone fans/media talk about prior to signing on dotted line???
Personally I don’t think ‘Arsenal FC’ should let any player keep us in limbo!! like flamini & hleb are doing… If it was me i would call Inter make an agreement & sell him.. If you dont want to commit to arsenal then there are players that will….. ie Cesc Fabregas. Like people have previously mentioned if Hleb wants to stay then sign a new contract? then the ‘article 17′ clause wont apply….
We seem to always have to wait all summer while other teams & players dictact what we do?……….. Flamini hasnt signed okay simple… buy a replacement Michael Johnson
Get Inter & Hleb together agree fees etc… & sign Ben Arfa/Robinho…. how difficlult is that!!?? If flam & hleb delay until euros wenger wont get his purse out for anyone kos prices will have risen depending on euro performances
Arsenal are one of very few clubs that seem to let the players have control & wait to find out outcome then react… i appreciate in this era players have more power but if Arsene had given Flamini & Hleb improved contracts in January this could all have been avoided??
If Flamini said no then play Lassana Diarra & drop Flamini? now we close to losing both….. which means we have lost 2 experinced full French international midfield players for a combined fee of a few million pounds?????? doesnt make sense to me…..
Let’s get stan keonke in their now….
i will do the job of edelman, i love to be paid 750k a year and i love arsenal, il hand in my CV
and lads dont worry i promise u the quaresmas, and villas
There is nothing i hate like forcing a player who feels he should live. that means he cannot do anything better like before. therefore its better to let him go and we get others. Cole, Henry, Vieira, all these left but we carried on. Its good that we have a developer not an implover,am sure he(Wenger) already has replacements though we need to make our team more bigger which has been our major problem.
if you let kranky in, you have also go tto let jabba the hut in.
read this guys
Barcelona management are set to perform a major overhaul of Frank Rijkaard’s squad in the summer after another trophyless season.
AS says those under the gun are Lilian Thuram, Edmilson, Santi Ezquerro, Deco, Eidur Gudjohnsen, Sylvinho, Rafael Marquez, Gianluca Zambrotta, Thierry Henry and Ronaldinho.
so who would u like from there????
http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?thisNav=News&article=490948&lid=NewsHeadline&Title=Arsenal+Managing+Director+Keith+Edelman+leaves+the+Club
Theres a link for ya Pedro… doensnt bode well or us does it?
A good argentina centre half with dirty tricks and is good
Fabricio Coloccini
£8-10m we will get him, experienced and a tough customer
The Stationary is SPELT “STATIONERY”
I am not sure of the ramifications. Its always tough losing experience, but in the world of business, there is always someone with fresher idea’s waiting to take your position.
He is staying on for a year and I am pretty sure a £750k salary will attract the best!
I’m off for an hour, sorry in advance if you are a new poster and it gets held up. I will release it ASAP
Happy blogging.
Cheers Peter.
gunnershabz , not sure about zambrotta after what i saw the other night , awfull !!
Gunnershabz – I wouldnt mind Deco!
lol jules
i just put up an article clearout in barca
ronaldinho would be a lovely move, but i heard they want £30m too much unless they can take eboue, bendtner and senderos
Yeah i watched Deco the other night, his ball control is amazing, his ability to just turn defenders was great to watch
if he was on the cheap i think we should buy him. experienced and could teach fabregas new things
I’m glad he’s gone. He done ok but there are far better people out there, Arsenal have lost out on millions because of Edelman, the deals he done with Emirates & Nike were woeful. Spurs are getting more for a 4 year shirt deal than Arsenal for an 8 year deal. The board probably also blame him for allowing so many players to leave on free deals.
He didn’t resign & it will probably come out eventually that it was a mutual decision, but I think Arsenal are beginning to look forward, they need a person with real experience in there not just someone good with figures. Someone like David Gill (obviously it won’t be him, thats just an example) but we need someone of that stature to take the club forward to the position it should be in.
Ken Friar is now top man, this is good news because of Ken and Arsene’s good working relationship, I can’t see Ken Friar turning down any oif Arsene’s ideas. I think we’re gonna get some great deals in the transfer market, Ken Friar oversaw the signings of Eduardo, Sagna and Diarra.
We all said we want a defender, someone in the nesta, cannavaro mould
Bayern Munich have joined Fiorentina in their interest for Palermo defender Andrea Barzagli.
Gazzetta dello Sport says the Italy international will be put up for sale by Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini in June and Bayern’s greater spending power could see him in Germany next season.
Andrea Barzagli, italian international, he would be perfect….. dirty and clever
I think Arsene may have been the man behind Edelman going, he came out and almost embarrassed aw by saying WRONGLY time and time again that we have loads of money, but we obviously have not. Thankfully i believe he has few shares, so should not affect the boardroom too much – but he needs to be replaced, aw and friar can’t do everything.
My hunch – Grimandi, (we could have done with him this season…..) will come in and fill the role that DD did….
To be fair, over the years we’ve been blessed with many players both British & Foreign that have given the club their best seasons. As a club we’ve also allowed many players just to walk away all of which have saddened me but these two I fail to feel any emotion for them. Both have had moderately good seasons, of the two I think
Flamini had the better one and was the all action midfielder that kept the team moving. Always talking to players, unfortunately for him I don’t think thay took much notice and I think he was probably one of our most effective players. However, there are many players that can do that job and perhaps do it with a bit more style and strength ala Vieira.
Hleb, well what can be said that hasn’t already been said other than to say goodbye, thanks for talking to Inter whilst an Arsenal player and I’m not really bothered that you’re going. Lets all be honest here, what percentage of us would pick him in our all time 11? I’d prefer to have a replacement that was a little more direct, had more shots, scored more goals and would make me change my mind to get into the all time 11.
I suppose now that the anger of throwing away a league has gone, I can look at it more objectively and probably concede that this team has probably over achieved considering the weaknesses in the squad, key injuries and bad bad luck we’ve had.
Am available to do the Keith Edleman role
Don’t know who has seen this nike ad but it is absolutely brilliant….especially if you are a gooner….
http://www.nike.com:80/nikeos/p/nikefootball/en_GB/index.html
F Day is also my Birthday- what an unfortunate turn of events..
I would add Barry to that list of external replacements for Flamoney, i think he could slot in nicely, and eventually replace gallas as el capitano!
What does everyone think about Edelman leaving? Subplot or just a business decision from him?
Hleb will stay i reckon.
Flamoney is gone.
or even Gerrard H…..
See you later Pedro, as always, good post.
Gunnershabz, i hear you regards Wenger’s signing but hardly do you see him signing anyone that says “come and get me”. but like I said,lets hope he changes his mind.
how about messi!!! if hleb goes we can buy him.. hehe… wishful thinking i know…
so is this the second coming of david dein?
Gunnershabz – Wenger never signs italians! Never gonna happen
we do need an italian dirty clever defender, marking them and winding them up.
Happy B-day chippo!
TH14 SOA, Thats a great Clip!
Anyone read this yet?
Michael Johnson as Flamoney replacement- http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/may/01/arsenal.manchestercity
Thanks very much Ollie
I think he quit before the storm. I think they aleady know that Hleb and Flamini are going..
gunnershabz . was’nt suggesting that you wre suggesting we buy those players if you know what i mean ! just trying to point out that zambrotta and a few big names ie eto
may not be worth there hype anymore .
I think Jeff Plush will takeover from Edelman. He is Kroenke’s right hand man & with Edelman staying on at the club for a year just to help out it makes sense.
Plush has the experience & marketing knowledge we need plus he is an Arsenal fan & always has been even though he is American, it was him who convinced Stan to invest & he said at the time he’d love to be involved over here. It may well be a way of the current board getting KSE involved with the club incase in future they do agree to sell. PHW would never want Fat & Orange involved, thats 100% certain. It would also pave the way to a smooth transaction with regards the fans who’d learn over time that Jeff Plush was genuine.
GMR, I think Ken Friar will stay, he’s the best choice to move the club forward.
Happy Birth day Chipo, many happy returns,
that nike ad is insane but interesting except that cunt ronaldo he should just be shot!
Is that ad meant to be about RvP? It was Holland the team he was playing for, and with the free kicks and all.. still, its a great ad!
Flam should not be allowed to play for us in the 2 remaining games. I would rather see a player who will he here next season. we will finish 3rd whatever happens. Song or Denilson should get the nod so we can see what they can do, Flam should be given gardening leave. he has made his bed and now he can lie in it. Hleb has already gone.
I feel really disappointed that we had so little loyalty from these 2 players. I thought Hleb had made his big career move when he came to us so to see him so willing to leave is really disappointing.
Its well possible that wenger wont buy in either position but I think he will buy a centre midfielder. this is still not our most pressing problem – centre back is. If we go into next season with Gallas and Toure as main pairing then we will not win a trophy.
Ollie cant be RVP, the guy in the ad is right footed
Choy,Iam sure D/Dein would relish going for Eldman’s position and wenger could second that as he used to be close with Dien.
how’s this for wishful thinking(or far fetch dream)…C.Ronaldo decides after wining champions league, wants a new challenge and ends up signing for wenger? same for messi, wanting to leave as would want to experience the “English Summer”? lol
Ollie but u have to admit it, the guys girl was BUFF!!!! i love her look when he signs some girls tits
Happy Birthday Chippo. Another step closer to the grave !!
If Flam is being paid then he should play.
Greta advert. But both Horse-face and Ronaldo ?
Finestcuts, Ken Friar doesn’t want the job full time. He already done it once & he’s getting on, he left the role because it was getting too much for him. He is not the man to take the club forward & clearly he acknowledges that himself.
i wonder how he did the advert, because we played at old trafford, emirates and then amsterdam arena.
but the woman in the advert is FIT!!!
Yep she is fucking gorgeous, i dont think its meant to be any particular player (think they just picked holland as its a Nike team with some sponsored players in (huntelaar and the horse man) – Eng is umbro, Spain is Adidas, Italy is puma…
Its their ‘train like a pro’ campaign, so i guess the idea is that anyone can end up playing for Arsenal (and holland, if you’re Dutch… or have a Dutch goldfish, or whatever the rules are)
Its a nice thought. Maybe that will be my birthday wish.
p.s. i’ll have the number 8 shirt if its going!
oh.. yeah, forgot..
Yeah, did love the expression.. think he was in trouble with that one!
So Edelmen gone the gateway to better transfers? bigger transfers?
anyone know the exact reason he quit?
Raddy i’m only 23 so itll be a while yet touch wood!
(prime age for a professional footballer)
fuck it maybe I should replace Flam myself
Gunnershabz the ad is all CGI apart from the close-ups, its very slick
Happy birthday Chipo!
So instead of Championship manager, shall we play business manager today?
I hear the Managing director at Amazon is a big gooner, he is young and he has the potential to develop into something really special on the old excel spreadsheets!
Agreed Gazzap, he shouldn’t be played. Give Diaby a go if he is fit, or promote someone from within?
What about JD… his natural position is centre mid?
But Chipo, would you stay if Milan came offering you an extra £5 mill over 3 years?
Arsenal.com
Jay Simpson has been named as the Coca-Cola League One PFA Player of the Year.
The Arsenal forward has enjoyed a successful season-long loan spell at Millwall, scoring eight goals in 45 appearances to help steer the Lions clear of the relegation zone. His most recent goal was probably his most memorable, a spectacular strike against Carlisle at the weekend which set Millwall on their way to a 3-0 win and safety.
Simpson, who can operate as a central striker or on either flank, also scooped the monthly PFA awards for November and March.
The 19-year-old made history last season when he became the first player to score a hat-trick at Emirates Stadium. His treble came in a Youth Cup tie against Cardiff City.
Simpson made his Under-18s debut for Arsenal aged just 13 and, after impressing for the Reserves, earned a place on the substitutes bench for the first team’s final game of last season, at Portsmouth.
He must be quite good… if nikki b can make the step up, why not simpson?
I wont blame flamini going to MILAN
its a big club, big image, history and world class players have lived and played there
AC Milan, top european team
not van persie he is with addidas not nike i think it is just a made up player who happens to be dutch the add was made by madona’s husband and the guy who made snatch and lockstock guy ritchie he is a londoner and i think a gooner
Edelmen leaving now is such a joke. The reason I’m a peed off by this because while all the shenanigans of who gets the bigger office are going on, players are going to slip through the net both ways and will end up once again signing inferior players, if any at all.
How many jobs is Friar doing these days? Considering he was supposed to have retired a few years back, he has landed himself the job as Dein’s & Edelmens replacement. Friar, if you remember was supposed to be helping Wenger negotiate contracts & transfers after Dein departed. Now he is also Edelmens cover. Does this mean Wenger has been left to get on with? Or worse still no player transfers?
Friar, nice guy that he is, is not dynamic. We need someone with a bit more energy, doing deals, making money and a lot more.
Is Hleb really going???, like sure there is all this speculation that he ‘could’ buy out his contract and there are a few teams interested, but to me its only Flamini that is in the position to choose his own fate. Hleb hasnt been making too many noises. I strongly believe Flamini wont be as effective in a lesser team than Arsenal.
I still think our number one purchase should be a Left winger, the one person we dont haven’t replaced is Pires, and we need one desperately. Rosicky is not the answer, and none of the other CM candidates are either. RvP can easily play on the right, and we have options upfront.
people dont leave for no reason something has gone on and maybe for the better after all he was to meet the supporters trust on may 12th i would say wenger does all the donkey work on transfers as he has a economics degree so it does not mater who comes in.
GMR, but while he is at the reigns he’ll do a good job for the club, and he could of course change his mind stay for the whole season or the next two. Originally he wasn’t going to carry on being Director of football and he did. So in my opinion if Ken stayed for the next two years in what really is the most important phase of the clubs transitional period ie. We NEED to win a trophy next year, I think he’s a great option, his experience and knowledge is invaluable as well as having a good relationship with the board.
With Friar and Wenger at the helm would Usmanov ever be a threat? Is the success of the club threatened. The answer to both these questions is no so I hope Ken enjoys the role and might wanna take the hot seat for a couple of years which will give us plenty of time to decide who should continue. It should be someone who’s already at Arsenal.
Hows this for speculation, over the next 12 months Wenger will be groomed for the office job, and a new manager to come in 09/10 season.
Big Raddy- i would stay if arsenal were offering me £50 a week and Milan were offering £50,000….. My loyalty is unquestionable!
Nice idea Frichie but Wenger has a contract as manager to finish, at the earliest when that expires, but unless something drastically goes wrong which is unlikely Wenger will sign another contract. He might do shorter contracts in future, like two year ones.
Team Of The Year
Goalkeeper: David James (Portsmouth)
Defenders: Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Rio Ferdinand (Man Utd), Nemanja Vidic (Man Utd), Gael Clichy (Arsenal)
Midfielders: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd), Ashley Young (Aston Villa)
Strikers: Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal), Fernando Torres (Liverpool).
Ooh, I dont see Flamini’s name in there. I think he really rates himself.
GREAT blog Pedro!
Got home from work earlier and logged on and nearly shat myself with the headline!
I had to read the first paragraph 3 times before i realised you were on the booze and sucked me in with a ripper of a tag line!
Still nothing on the Flamini front i see? is there a new deadline now, or were they just taking the piss with us?
How good were the goals in this mornings CL game? bit unfortunate to have to say that as i hate both teams with a passion, but the Benayoon and Torres goal was a ripper!
Bring on the signings and quick fast, im champing at the bit!
I don’t want Flamini being given any more games, he’s not an Arsenal player anymore.
Listen, if Flamini goes Wenger will buy a (already) World Class replacement for him, as he has stated he is only looking to bring in experience this time round, same goes for Hleb……… and we all know that Wenger won’t spunk big bucks on a tosser, so I am fairly relaxed !
Chipo…. you are self deluded !!! I bleed Arsenal but for an extra £20k a week, I would crawl to Milan !!
And who is saying that he REALLY has gone. I haven’t seen anything official
Not seen you around much Bud. You been on holiday, or am I mistaken?
£60k plus a monstrous signing on fee! Who wouldn’t move to sunnier climbs if those were the terms?
That is why Arsenal should match it…. its going to go that way you know. Players will wind down there contracts, then demand a signing on fee. It would work out cheaper than £15mill on a replacement.
Bud, who do you reckon for his position… should he leave?
Cheers Evo, sorry for the headline, but if no one reads what you right, you have just wasted 2 hours of your life writing a cheeky blog while your bird is asleep!
Frechie, it won’t be Wenger who is groomed for an upstairs role, it will be someone groomed to be manager. An experienced manager controlling the team with Wenger upstairs wouldn’t work. The manager would need to be someone groomed to fulfil that role.
lets sign Huntelaar…that nike advert is awesome!
Van Basten and DB. Experience with a true Gooner. And both committed to the Arsenal style of football.
When AW decides to have a rest, they are the obvious replacement
I know, and I would hate to see Arsene shoved into a desk job! Would be good to get Tony Adams in now though and then groomed for the next 5 years to take over from AW! Then he can still stay in the background and ensure Arsenal continue to play the best football in the world…
It’s hard to work out if Flamini plays on Sunday will he stay or go? When Edu was leaving on a free Wenger bought him on in the thrashing of Everton for a final fair well. But last year when Flamini said he wanted to go he was dropped from the squad completely. I think if he plays it may mean it’s his final game.
That’s a good call Raddy.
Mike i agree, time will tell. Edu even took a penalty in that game as they players made sure of it as a send off!
We need a manager with class, and as much as I love TA…. he hasn’t got it. He may be able to play the piano and read poetry, but he is not the right ‘face’ for top management. At least not yet.
But as a coach? …….. yes, please
2 words Pedro…. “Steven Gerrard”.
Fuck it, we can afford him. Plus he said at the start of the season that he may have to reconsider leaving if the Mickeys won fuck all again this year. In fact they have got worse if you look at their League standing and that is what he wants more than anything, a Premier League Winners Medal !
He won’t go to Man Ure, so if he does leave it will between us and the Chavski’s, so it again will come down to money, but he may just fancy playing with Fabregas to form the best midfield in the world ?!!!!!
Bud, if we take Stevie G and Drogba, the EPL is as good as won
some goss on the flamster
http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/football/article.html?in_article_id=145603&in_page_id=43
I personally think Diaby should be given a sustained period playing next to Fabregas (if he can stop from getting injured).
Arsenal in talks with Australia U23 captain Milligan
A defender apparently, not best source in Tribal
Don’t want Drogba, would rather Villa, but Gerrard (£20m) + Villa (£15m) + (£8m) on a yet decided defender would be an outlay of £43m.
Not doubt Wenger will recoup at least £10m on fringe player sales, so £33m net outlay…….. similar in outlay size to 2001when we bought Jeffers (£10m), Campbell (Free, but a fucking huge signing on fee, so not actually free – Say £4m) that shit keeper Wright from Ipswich (£5m) and Van Bronkhurst (£8.5m).
Fuckin ‘ell….. I should be a football manager or an MD me !!!!!
i dont think Milligan is the answer lads
And just in case anyone gives it the “Gerrard will cost more than £20m”…….. remember, he in fact 28 already, so me thinks not………. and at that age, even more reason for him to make a move this year before its too late !!!!!!!
I hope that rumour is bollocks. The Flamini one I don’t really care about… how do we know he hasn’t just been a one hit wonder? It could be a good idea to leave now… he might get found out if he doesn’t!
Gerrard earns about £140k a week! I don’t think we would ever sign him… he is very injury prone to. Someone else said they reckoned we would sign him as well?
Wenger has to sign a now player though, Denilson and Diaby are unlikely to cut it next year and if we go trophyless next year… bye bye Ade, Cesc and Robin!
bud you think that scouser would ever leave liverpoo ?
i doubt it .. if he did he would go for a move only a glory team like barca would be on the cards.. and yes i agree , no need for drogba .. we already have one .supposedly(COUGH !)
We need a class striker .. like the former TH14 .. someone who complements our passing game .. not another uncultured swine ..
Sorry guys, does anyone know how much an Arsenal share costs these days?
yes bud sign him on a 2 year contract .. so arsene can keep him on a revolving 1 year contract after 30 !!! thats an incentive to join us
NOT
And actually, why would he go to the Chavskis’s, he can’t play with Fatboy and they already have Michael Essien, Frank Lampard, John Obi Mikel, Claude Makelele, Steve Sidwell. Florent Malouda, oh yeah, not forgetting their best player since Christmas a certain Mr Michael Ballack !!!!!!!
t-buzz
in lock down pretty hard to judge but i found something on arsenal . com here
In terms of how shares are priced, that depends on the price that any party has purchased shares for in the last 12 months. Contrary to some reports, if a mandatory offer is made for all the shares of a company (by virtue of a person having gone through the 30% threshold) then the buying party has to offer the highest price that they have already paid for shares in the marketplace during the last 12 month period.
I doubt he will, I was just asked who i’d like by Pedro, I gave my answer and the reasons why thats all guys……… relax the reasons why not, have a beer, a smoke, a wank, whatever is your thing, I don’t care, just enjoy the sprinkling of sunshine and look forward to the last home game of the season Sunday !!!!!!!!!!
i think its a case at the moment of how much are you willing to pay
sounds like a thai street market …
or hooker
And MU have Carrick, Hargreaves, Scholes, Giggs, Anderson, Nani, Fletcher and Ronaldo. Puts us to shame really.
What it shows is how well we do do to compete with them
lol !! Thanks Ethan.
If we got the these 3 signing and thats all over summer we would be set for trophie:
Gerrard
Huntelaar
Lescott
If Hleb Stays imagine this team:
Almunia
Sagna, Toure, Lescott, Clichy
Walcott, Fabregas, Gerrard, Hleb
Adebayor, Huntelaar
Does anyone believe that Eboue would get a game at MU or the Chavs. He wouldn’t even get a run in the reserves!!
For a trophy, damn thats what happens when you type too quickly and don’t check for mistakes before posting.
Steven Gerrard would get killed if he left Liverpool
He nearly left and signed for Chavski the season before last !
There’s stories that his wife’s involved with some gangster, they threatened him if he left.
Probably bullshit.
That’s why the Everton fans sing to the tune of ‘Monster’ by The Automatic – ‘What’s that coming over your bird, is it a gangster? Is it a gangster?’
FM again
It’s not as simple as that, if they tried anything if Gerrard left it would bounce back at them, it’s like dropping a nuke, you’d be foolish to do so.
how did Traore get on the field in that nike ad…
Cause you’d be foolish to do so, doesn’t stop people from doing foolish things though.
Yeah, I once……….. actually, I won’t say !!!!
apparently we are buying 22 y.o Australian internatinol Mark milligan http://news.smh.com.au/milligan-skips-olyroos-training/20080501-2a1l.html
http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/75101,milligan-to-arsenal.aspx
So the summer so far:
No Hleb, No Flamini… if rumours are to believed.
No one to broker the transfer dealings
No one to manage the business dealings
No transfer funds
Pretty good going really!
When is Arsenes next press conference?
Does anyone think we’ll do Everton on Sunday? Its a cup final to them, so it is going to be tough. I hate playing against Yak, he is a good player… AJ is ok too.
Transfer talk has gone quiet on Veloso since Xmas… is that because he is ManU property, or he is shite?
How are people feeling about Almunia? I hear Gomes has been touted… but for me, he was very dodgy agains the spuds earlier in the year!
Where is the link for this nike advert? Is Huntelaar the star man in it?
Pedro
TH14′s Sense of Arrogance Says:
May 1, 2008 at 10:04 am
Don’t know who has seen this nike ad but it is absolutely brilliant….especially if you are a gooner….
http://www.nike.com:80/nikeos/p/nikefootball/en_GB/index.html
thats the link for ya
I think Almunia has been one of the positives of our season, he has always been a good shot stopper but this season he’s had a safer all round game. People complain that he should catch instead of punching but that’s what goalkeepers train to do on the continent. Paul Robinson tries to catch and drops the ball at peoples feet.
ive been watching the ad over an over all night. its absolutely awesome for us!
Btw pedro, Being an aussie, I would love an Aussie to move to Arsenal. True, our team isnt one of the most recognised, but its pretty hard to get captain (Very contested, there isnt one standout, so you have to perform to retain, not like gallas who can chucka a sulk whenever), and i havnt really heard anything bad against him.. then again, i have hardly heard anything about him, but ill keep my eyes and ears peeled..
hey evo did you hear the rumor about us signing milligan
who the fuck is Danied de ridder?
http://www.fansfc.com/frontpage/frontpagenews.asp?newsid=184460
NR790 – i know a little bit about him. quite young and small in height.
seems like he could be a bit of a larrickan, he’s done a runner on the OZ team training/Sydney FC (his contracted club) a few times over the last year to seek potential signings in Europe, so im not so sure on his level headness?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Milligan
yeah i know im australian as well but i think he,s quite level headed his asian cup campaign showed that
Im In WA, so i dont get much news of that over here..and not really having a first rate team here… not much A-league news…
To the Australian guys, what’s the Arsenal support like over there? Would Arsenal sign a player to gather more a following (like an Inamoto) or would the player have a decent chance at a club like Arsenal?
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23629132-23215,00.html
Sheds a bit more light on th situation…
yeah i knew that, but you just dont bail out on your club when your on a contract and they spend ages trying to phone you to find out where you are and you ignore them…
gotta hit the sack lads, this flu is kicking my arse, catch you tomorrow!
cheers
No disrespect guys, but the only Aus I’d fancy as Flams replacement is Cahill !
Dont really know Mike.. Soccer/Football wasnt really big over here, but the world cup Hyped alot of people, and there is a lot more awareness of the EPL and other leagues now.
When I go out to some of the big shopping centers, if you see any shirts, they are usually Man Utd supporters, just jumped on the band wagon. Liverpools the second biggest. My Uncle in sydney (Lucky bugger got to go too Germany with the Socceroos Saw him Hugging Timmy Cahill when they went through to that fatefull game V Italy – Hes really big in Coca Cola, Head Of Promotions or something… dont know how he pulled it off tho..) Is a major supporter tho, hs been or 20 years, and MY Grandpa moved to sidney from living a few K’s From Highbury, so he has a fairly good background with them.. Stronger over East then here in WA i’ say…
do you realise if chelsea win the CL they wont have beaten a single european giant. group games Schalke, Valencia and Rosenborg then Olympiakos, Fenerbache, Liverpool and Man U. Arguably man u are a giant but I count them as a domestic giant not european. they are always lucky with the draws.
evo- true
mike-arsenal have a huge fanbase in australia so i cant see them signing somene for the shirt sales especcialy since aus only has a population of 21 million and footbal isnt the number 1 sport here (but its the fastest growing) but on the other hand hes a decent young player who can score from set peices but i would not have thought could play for arsenal however its splashed on every sports website in au. one player that i think could potentially play for arsenal and is ausrtalian is matthew spiranovic this is 193 cm tall and is an absolute fucking monster playing for nuremberg in the buendesliga http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Spiranovic
Bud – Cahill is probably one of the form players ATM. Bresciano hasnt been doing that bad either, i think he plays for Palermo..
to bad cahills an atacking midfielder but we can always dream
Speaking of aussies. How about Jason culina?
Don’t get too excited lads!
culina is a work horse who can play any position in the midfield would be an alright squad player
No squaddies !!!!!!!
Established World Stars only !!!!
cahill loves an injury to we got plenty of them already
There is a new one in the funnies!
It’s quiet on here this afternoon?
i cant believe that no ones talked about ronaldo spending the night with 3 katoys ( thai for lady boys )
i think thats gotta get some mileage on le grove ..
i always thought there was something not quite .. manly about ronaldo !
he needs to spend some time in BOYS TOWN PATTAYA !
im sure the locals would love him !
ethan .. whereabouts do you live in Thailand?
I have heard tht Edelman has left and our share prices have gone down i think it is a great time for tht russain billionare to buy share he might even be behind it ,he has said he would like to buy and as prices are down it would be perfect for himand ous as tht means transfer money is more,the reason he might be good is at the current board we are not getting any success and are going behind is the market to TOTTENHAM so i fell if he comes it can only get better
what do youll think??
Ethan, where about’s did you read that? Or are you starting a Le Grove rumour!
Guys, have you seen this?
http://youngguns.wordpress.com/2008/04/30/wenger-confirms-wilsheres-promotion-to-first-team/
Thats it, no signings this coming season!!! lol
I know… he said Randall, Gilbert, Lansbury and Wilshere were the next generation… at least they are all english!
I doubt any of them will make the cut next year!
No doubt about that Pedro.
Also…
http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?article=490952&lid=NewsHeadline&sub=Simpson+wins+PFA+Player+of+the+Year+award&sublid=NewsHeadline&Title=Simpson+wins+PFA+Player+of+the+Year+award&f=rss
Good on ya Jay!!
rvp is out for everton!!!
Not surprised Choy.
Ade + Bendtner together will be a good test. How will they perform togehter against a good team?
Still a home win for me.
Milligan has confirmed he is joining Arsenal subject to a work permit:
Speaking on Total Football on Fox Sports last night, Milligan confirmed he was poised to sign with the Gunners and quit Sydney FC subject to obtaining a British work permit.
An Arsenal source said that Wenger saw Milligan as a potential straight replacement for French international Matthieu Flamini, who is bound for AC Milan next season.
So after years of waiting for Flamini to come good he has one great season & leaves. Now we have another player & probably years of mediocrity before he has a great season & leaves!!
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23629132-23215,00.html
Can anyone actually watch the video from the link above, I’ve tried but it won’t seem to work om my computer.
Well, the Aussies have some good players!
Maybe this guy will be the first major superstar to make it at arsenal. It is a bit alarming he plays the same role as the Flamster!
Good luck flamini… break a leg, or whatever they say in the business?
So RVP is out as a precaution!! So what that actually means is he’s injured.
The only thing that could happen by him playing is that he gets injured & misses the Euro’s, so Wenger is giving Holland preference over us.
Can’t wait to see the Tv Online press conference tomorrow where he discusses Flamini’s future & says “It’s not decided yet & there’s no news”
That should sum it up, so now you won’t have to watch it!!
how is this milligan chap.. we’ve gone aussie this time…. lol…
Aparantly we’re also being linked to De Ridder, who hasn’t played for Birmingham in months. We’re being linked to everyone who is cheap and not good enough … I guess they’re expecting the same this summer.
http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/mostpopular.var.2238779.mostviewed.arsenal_could_make_a_shock_move_for_birmingham_midfielder.php
De Ridder was good at Ajax, but can’t be good enough for Arsenal if he doesn’t even make the 11 at Birmingham.
Another guy who was good at Ajax and turned into a flop is Van Der Meyde. Although in his case you can say he stopped concentrating on football and training hard cause his daughter hasn’t left the hospital since birth.
but isn’t he a defender?!!!!
I’d prefer Johnson, I like him… like a white Paddy! haha!
De Ridder… my god…
Milligan is a holding midfielder isn’t he?
I can’t wait for tomorrows press conference. Are you only allowed to ask Arsene nice questions?
Lets not get depressed and pretend that thing that Geoff hates……. “Arsene Knows” what he is doing !!!!!!
Might be a bit off topic, but check out my videos of
Fabregas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJxQzaHbJgk
Adebayor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgBfwZmgxH8
RVP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrtTsGiV6Mk
and a Walcott one’s coming soon…
Cheers!
Oh and Mark Milligan’s a pretty decent player. Strong on and off the ball
RVP is not playing as a precaution against us beating Everton and winning the league, he will however be fit to get injured playing for Holland in the summer, ensuring of course he’s injured in time for next year.
If Flamini knew he was going he could have told us weeks ago, if he and Hleb do go they’ll be replaced but with the promotion to the first team of the kids that means no new signings…again.
Arsene knows all right, he knows fuck all about what the fans want, that’s what he knows.
I still believe Flamini will stay, don’t ask me why, call it a journo’s instinct.
If not then I probably need help.
I just got back and am going to vote to rid London of that terrorist communist cunt Livingstone, back in ten.
So I wait all day to comment and everyone goes home, was it because I’m voting for Boris?
Why are we signing a bloke like Milligan who Wenger needed to give a trial to first. Is that the sort of players we are after now, especially on the day that PHW called us one of the leading european teams!! He is having a laugh, we are not & are nowhere near being a top european team. We sign second rate players & hope that after several seasons they’ll become good enough to do a job!!
Spuds are after Makoun, Karmeni (sorry if thats mispelt), Villa & Robinho. We are after an Australian who was attracting interest from the likes of Metz!!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1906701/Ronaldo-‘threatened-transvestites-in-Rio-hotel’.html
no i wouldnt fabricate lies
pedro
yes BB live in thailand …
and lovin it
of course its the ronaldo of AC milan ..
formerly real .
yes i wish it was the manUre ronaldo .. but im sure he would be going for gays!
not gays that look like women
geoff
the problem was he knew he was going in november(flamini) ! thats when he 1st rejected an offer ! he’s said no ever since .. just pissed off we let diarra go ! Oh you can say he was a complaining little shite , but wenger obviously promised him pitch time .. and fair enough , he already got fucked over at chevski for long enough .. diarra came out and said he was promised regular games by some arsenal representative .. Wenger should of played him more .. and starved flamini on the bench .. forced him to sign !
If this was handled correctly before christmas we wouldnt have to be shopping around.
diarra would still be here and flamini would of signed on also as he never had the chance to show his stuff .. UNTIL HE SIGNED !!
now we need to spend 10 – 15 mil on a replacement .. hampering the budget on signings we already needed to make .. AND NOW WONT !
if the ronaldo link didnt work heres another
http://www.kcra.com/sports/16054053/detail.html
http://www.kcra.com/sports/16054053/detail.html
another ronaldo link as that one was cut ..
does anyone think, crock issues aside, that Walcott+RvP could be an IMMENSE strike partnership 2/3 years from now?
Maybe it’s just me. I’ll get my coat.
rvp hasn’t played 15 games in a row!!! lol
Ethan I’ve been saying this since October, even sending Diarra out on loan would have made business sense, Arsenal are clueless and poor business men in my book, it was madness to do what they did, now as you say it will cost £15mil to replace him, but he won’t, he’ll put Randall or someone in, or worse an unknown Aussie.
No offence Aussie Grovers! I’m sure you agree.
Bradley, if he stayed fit (RVP) it could be awesome.
Just been watching the mighty Bayern Munich with the unbelievable Franc Ribery, and they’re losing 4-1 to the even mightier Zenit a shit Russian team.
Boy am I glad Wenger didn’t buy Ribery, he’s shit.
5-1 to Zenit St. Petersburg. How amusing, good call Franc!
If Wenger had starved Flamini on the bench and played Diarra … we would say Wenger has lost it, Flamini is better why is he playing Diarra?, we lost the title cause we dropped points when Diarra was playing instead of Flamini, etc…
Diarra looks the answer now, but to be honest, we were playing the better player and it was working
That’s the whole point of good business, we should have told Flamini ‘sign or well keep Diarra’ selling one for fuck all and letting the other go on a free is appalling business.
Especially if it costs us £15mil to replace one.
It’s Hleb’s B’day today. :-p
Diarra was just not good enough and not strong enough to fight for a place, so he left
But a criticism of Arsenal is that its run too much like a business and too little like a football club looking to win a trophy.
Keeping Flamini is bad business, but it was better in footballing terms, to have the better player on the field, contract or no contract.
Diarra is a jackass because he should be thinking … “hey, something is wrong here with Flamini holding out on a new contract, let me just stick it out and see whats going on, wait for the summer, I could be a regular for Arsenal next season instead of Portsmouth”
Even though they are under contract, players can do what they want these days, if he goes to Arsene and asks for a transfer he’s going to get it.
http://sport.setanta.com/en/Sport/News/Football/2008/05/01/Premier-League-Arsenal-after-Milligan/
Bring in Gattusu (Milan) as replacement for Flamini & bring in Diego Capel (Sevilla) as replacement for Hleb!
Then we’re OK!
Perhaps we will be shopping at aldi again this year when every fucker else goes to marks and waitrose for players , i’m fucking sick to death of this situation with flamini the people that deal with the players contarcts need to get educated in the football world , Edu who i though was excellent went for nothing now Flamini looks like he’s going for fuck all to……………..
Arsene Knows Bollocks……………..
With all the Names being talked about being brought into the first team squad next year from the reserves and youths ,this is leading me to believe That wenger is running scared of this webster ruling and will keep the nucleus of the first team under 26 in case he loose’s them ,when they can buy out thier contracts and walk away.
Well us The fans incase the manager and board have forgotten are the life blood of this great club not them and we rightly demand sucess.
they shold rememeber that no one is bigger that the club
WENGER……….
WRIGHT………..
TH14……………..
THE CLUB WILL GO ON…….
SO If any one is going to the Shareholders meeting in the next couple of weeks grill the bastards and remind them….
P.S.,, There are twats masquerading as Arsenal Fans ON OTHER SITES saying That MOANRINIO SHOULD REPLACE WENGER AS MANGER,,,,
Piss Off …. does any one Really want that shit type of long ball sterile football …
Before George went off on one we played with ,ROCKY, MARWOOD,THOMAS, MERSON , and played some decent Stuff,
KEEP THAT EGOTISTIC ARSEHOLE AWAY FROM OUR GREAT CLUB………………..
Look lets drop Flamini…he’s gone, Wenger already has a solution, it is not a problem, at all. If it was Wenger would not have set a date, we’ll just have to spend some money and get some new players in, some real quality, and Arsene has already admitted he’s looking for a couple of ‘real’ quality players, and I trust him. Diarra got itchy feet and left, the club did some good business onhim but we’ll have bigger and better players, he’s only scored 1 goal so far so he’s still a young gun, not the finished product, even Harry Redknapp doesn’t always play him.
Starting 11:
Almunia
Sagna, Touré, Gallas, Clichy
Walcott, Gattusu, Fábregas, Capel
Adebayor, van Persie
play him every week*
Capel is good, but Sevilla won’t sell to us right?
Robinho is better though.
If we can’t get Robinho, we could always help save Valencia from debt
I don’t know anything about the board but can David Dein come back now that Edelman is gone?
The Squad in case of Flamini & Hleb exit:
Goalkeepers: Manuel Almunia, Lukasz Fabianski (+ Gomes/PSV)
Left-Backs: Gaël Clichy, Armand Traoré
Right-Backs: Bacary Sagna, Justin Hoyte
Central Defenders: Kolo Touré, William Gallas, Johan Djourou (+ Sergio Ramos/Real Madrid)
Left-Wingers: Carlos Vela, (+ Diego Capel/Sevilla)
Right-Wingers: Theo Walcott (+ Yohann Gourcuff/Milan)
Defensive Midfielders: Gilberto Silva, Alexandre Song (+ Gennaro Gattusu/Milan)
Attacking Midfielders: Francesc Fábregas, Tomas Rosicky
Midfielders: Denìlson, Abou Diaby
Forwards/Strikers: Emmanuel Adebayor, Robin van Persie, Nicklas Bendtner Eduardo da Silva (+ David Villa/Valencia)
Other players to sell: Jens Lehmann, Philippe Senderos, Emmanuel Eboué.
So the new players we should buy are:
Gomes from PSV Eindhoven
Sergio Ramos from Real Madrid
Gennaro Gattusu from AC Milan
Yohann Gourcuff from AC Milan
Diego Capel from Sevilla
David Villa from Valencia
What do you think about that grovers?
David Silva from Valencia should also be great!
Great attacking midfielder!
I’d put in David Silva instead of Rosicky (cause he’s injured half the season anyway)
Do you think that the 2 real quality players that we’re going to sign would turn into 4 cause 2 are leaving? Or are they hoping to promote to cover their positions?
So this is final:
Gomes for Lehmann
Sergio Ramos for Senderos
Gattusu for Flamini
David Silva for Rosicky
Diego Capel or Robinho for Hleb
David Villa for injured Eduardo
+ Carlos Vela instead of Eboué
Couldn’t be better!
Let me just say, it looks great in my dreams…
The reality will be much different (it might be even better…)
The list is too long though … if I had to choose 3 from the list … Sergio Ramos, Robinho, David Villa.
But thats just dreaming
Why would Real Madrid sell their best defender & even if they did they’d want 30+ million for him.
Spuds have apparently offered 16 million for Villa so thats us out of any possible race.
Capel could be a good buy, he still has lots to learn but he is a good player, trouble is Sevilla don’t like us for some reason & would demand mega money.
Why can’t we compete with Spurs in the transfer market?
Thought i’d leave you all with my Championship Manager Arsenal Team for Season 2009/2010:
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon, Lukasz Fabianski
Defenders: Kolo Touré, Micah Richards, Sergio Ramos, Johan Djourou
Full-Backs: Gaël Clichy, Dani Alves, Bacary Sagna, Armand Traoré
Midfielders: Cesc Fábregas, Mathieu Flamini, Abou Diaby, Michael Essien, Alexandre Song, Denìlson
Wingers: Theo Walcott, Diego Capel, Alexander Hleb, Carlos Vela
Strikers: Emmanuel Adebayor, Samuel Eto’o, Robin van Persie, Nicklas Bendtner
I’ve sold out:
Lehmann, Almunia, Eboué, Hoyte, Gilberto Silva, Rosicky, Gallas, Eduardo & Senderos
My starting 11 usually are:
Buffon
Dani Alves, Sergio Ramos, Richards, Clichy
Walcott, Essien, Fábregas, Capel
Eto’o, Adebayor
Geoff,
Wenger’s argument would be that he made 1.5 to 2 million profit on Diarra, he has lost Flamini off the wage bill & signed an unknown joker on a free for very little in the way of wages.
That would be his justification, thats why he was so concerned about Flamini agreeing a new deal before the end of April. He didn’t want to lose out on Milligan as he was free.
Our club is becoming a joke & I’m sick of it!!
Its not that we can’t compete, its that Wenger won’t compete!! Although if we are to believe Arsene & PHW he doesn’t have much mone anyway so he isn’t going to pay over 16 million for a striker.
The most we can do regarding transfers is dream about which great players we’re going to sign. Because everyone knows that Wenger is going to sign players noone has heard about, and then we’ll have to look them up on youtube, where chances are there might not be anything on then anyway.
Hopefully his unknown players are as good as Eduardo and Sanga
I agree with you about Sagna but its few & far between that Wenger gets players in as good as him or that adapt so quickly.
As for Eduardo his injury was horrific, but I think people are remembering his season a little differently from what it actually was. He did score some goals (12 I think but I could be wrong) & you could argue thats what he’s there to do, however his overall performances were poor & he contributed little to our actual games. He may well have improved by now but its impossible to say, its the same as everyone always says next season will be RVP’s breakout season, the fact is it never happens for one reason or another.
I agree that because of Eduardo’s injury, he is kind of rated higher than how he actually was, but he was adapting and looking better though. His finishing looked alot better than where Adebayor is, and his touch is alot better
Its not really that few and far between though, look at our first team now and how little we knew about them … Clichy, Toure, Sagna, Fabregas, Eduardo, Ade, Flamini, Hleb.
Rosicky and Gallas were the only widely known players that we got recently
It would be great if we got people like Robinho and Huntelaar/Villa, but for now its just hopeful dreaming
It is few & far between in terms of quality. Clichy, Toure, Fabregas, Flamini & Hleb were all at the club for 2-3 years before they became even half decent.
I wasn’t saying he can’t find players that go on to be good but then the odds are quite high considering the amount of youngsters he brings in, he’s always going to find 1 or 2 that become fantastic players & I bet if you actually got the youngsters signed to youngsters that actually make it into our first team the ratio would be very low.
I don’t want more unknowns that are going to take 2-4 years to settle. I want players that can come straight into the first team now.
In order to do that they have to come from the premier league.
Thats what we all want, but what are the chances of it happening?
I’m just trying to be positive and think that, even though he’ll bring in youngsters, they’d be next season Sagnas
Carlos Cuellar would be a good central defender. He’s like a rock for Rangers in europe.
They don’t have to come from the premier league. Top quality players don’t need a season to adjust, Vieira didn’t, Sagna didn’t, Henry didn’t, Bergkamp didn’t & the list goes on. It may take 3-4 months but not 1-3 seasons. Even if you look at other teams Berbatov & Torres didn’t take long, neither did Anderson at Man Utd or what about Santa Cruz or Benni McCarthy at Blackburn.
The fact is we sign players & they may have the qualities to become premier league players but we sign them before they are ready & it shows. They step into the first team & can’t adjust.
I know it’ll be the same this summer, Wenger can’t or won’t pay the going rate for players. If we don’t strengthen significantly this summer I genuinely believe one of the other teams will beat us to fourth position.
wengers scouting system is so good that he does not need to buy a hyped version of a player when he can buy a cheap player that is just as good. without that, Arsenal would not have been able to compete at the top end of the prem over the last 5 years – make no mistake about that. the problem is, is that wenger decides he does not need to improve certain positions that we fans can all see need strengthening. if wenger really wanted to get a dominant centre half for £3-£5m he could do it. he just doesn’t think he needs to – he thinks Gallas and Toure can do the job. Well, I think he thinks that anyway, but I hope he doesn’t! I want him to want a new man – because you can be sure if wenger is motivated to find his man – he will find his man.
GMR, Henry took till Christmas and so did Bergkamp, Sagna was unusual, but any good prem player will be used to it, Torres was great from the off but look what he cost.
Gazzap I agree but as we are now officially the world 3rd richest club we ought to at least be thinking of buying the best.
By the end of 2009 we’ll be debt free, so the worlds richest club, then what happens?
ManU will still owe a billion and the chavs will still be insolvent.
not debt free exactly because we have to pay off £15m a year for 20 odd years. but I know what you mean. that is an amount we can cope with. but remember that stadium repayment is worth one top player every season that another team might be able to afford that we cannot.
On the other hand Arsenal can make the same gate money in 10 games that other teams make in 20. But yes by 2009 things will be easier.
man u have increased ticket prices massively just like we did and the people keep coming, fans are like that and the owners know they can take the piss and fans dont have a choice because its in our blood.
i think the problem this year is not the quality of players just the amount.
really all of our players are capable except eboue, and even he is playing at rb.
i want to see a veteren holding mildfielder come to us to boost the confidence. cuz ur problem isnt lack of ability its lack of confidence(cept ade,who really showed his cocky side during christmas) . someone like torsten frings or just a wish id like to see viera back. frings is one of the best there is and he isnt that slow for a big german.
flamini cant be expecting to come back after all the mess he is causing inside the club. i wonder how uncomfertable it is in the lockes rooms with the lad.
Gents
Great website. Did a lot of reading of the blog today and I’ve got to make a few points.
1) Sorry can’t agree with any criticism of Wenger – he is god
2) Can’t agree that we need a few prima-donna, big buck transfers – Wenger will get the right personnel
3) We’ve had 2 problems over the last few years a) lack of a big centre half – we definitely need someone in the summer. We seem to concede a shed load of goals from set pieces, badly defended b) effective attacking midfielders – the last 10 games or so have been embarrassing in terms of our possession, but it has not been turned into goals. In this respect, Flamini for all his defensive qualities, did not cut it for me and Milan are welcome to him – he’s a fairly ordinary DM – give me Essien any day. Hleb is a wizard, but seems incapable of shooting – a loss if he goes, but has not been that effective at all in the last half of this season. As a result, all the premiership teams just park the bus on the edge of the box, knowing that we cannot score from distance
4) So the solution. Buy a big horse of a central defender, who is also quick and a central midfielder who can actually get behind defences – apart from Walcott in patches, we do not have this person in the squad (think Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez). The last thing we need now is a another mediocre defensive midfielder (I counted 5 central midfielders playing for us in the Slavia away game this year – Diarra, Diaby, Gilberto, Denilson, Song). Flamini was on the bench. Even with Diarra, Flamini and Gilberto gone, we have enough talent to play this position well – we only need one to partner Cesc.
5) Finally, whilst we appear to be one of the richest clubs, we are rightly risk averse. We have a big debt (43% of our value if you agree with the rich list) and it only takes a bit of recklessness (Peter Ridsdale at leeds?) for fortunes to change quickly. For the time being, we are going to have to keep faith with the policy that has kept us near the top of the premiership and within a dodgy penalty away from a Champs league semi final. The talent coming through will see us have another great season next year, hopefully with a bit of luck going our way, culminating in a trophy.
Keep the faith
I would disagree with criticism of Hleb’s assist record. Outside of the players like Fabregas and Young who take set-pieces, his assist record is up there with anybody in the league. Bentley has only got two more and he is Blackburn’s set piece taker.
Hleb does alot of the work which allows the assist to be made by pulling players out of position and opening up the game.
I think far too much is made of a direct assist, especially when alot of the time the assist is usually a no-brainer five pull back or simple squared ball.
His goal record is poor though.
Milligan isn’t too bad, he can play all across the back four and in a holding role.
He’s pretty tough, hard working and has good technical skills and would bring a good hard working attitude to the club, he’s probably one of the better players in the A-League which is somewhere around the same level as the J-League or MLS (maybe). I would have said he’d be a good serviceman for a championship level or mid-lower table player in England.
Having said that he’s a player with potential and the right attitude to succeed, if placed in a successful working environment he might turn out to be worth it. It’s not like he’s going to be a big dent in the books, few grand a week on a free transfer. If it works out it works out, if it doesn’t we can drop him or trade him in a years time.
On the plus side he’s probably less injury prone than Harry Kewell.
For those who are doubting whether henry will be useful or not right now, they just need to see this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wF87vHYDjc&NR=1
Legendary!!
you know geoff it always makes sense to arsene if someone leaves to replace him with a 20-21-22 year old replacement .. The key is to hang on to the players we have, Id personally like to get rid of at least 1/2 of them .. But knowing we arent to far away from chevski – man U you have to say what makes most sense currently is to do what wenger is trying to do … keep the team together .. Shame he didnt have that mentality with diarra
or flamini … because we dont buy to many ready made replacements .. and to be honest if they are ready made replacements and they work (like sagna ) its more a surprise nowadays !
Dudu had sparks of brilliance but his 1st season here was very reyes style if you ask me ..
didnt really set my world on fire i can tell you ! I hope TH 14 or villa comes to the arsenal , because without some experience up front it will be another season of failure,
i hope ade gets some offers and i do hope arsene is typically torn into getting rid of him
for villa ..
Also rumors of eboue going to barca (fuck nose why ) but id like them to re-new the rumors , even if it just was some twisted blogger !(thats my guess) swap him with TH14 ..
swap eboue + cash for TH14
and ade for villa …
we would have the strike force needed with bends- theo – and the 50-50 RVP !
as back up .. with theo and RVP on the wings , hleb and cesc more central it would be an attacking line up ..
but as for the aussie defender i think he’s 22 .. I dont think you can expect any older than that from wenger . Stupid really because defenders dont become 1/2 decent until they are 24 + buying senderos, johan and song so young your just in for a world of pain …
they probably will become good defenders but they need to be played ! and it wont happen here ! they just had there careers stunted .. you can see why plattini has a problem with wenger …
GMR
im with you on your 9.28 post
seems your saying the same thing as me ..
so at least we have worked out that wengers replacements takes 1 or 2 years before they show promise . If he is going to recruit in this form he must try better to keep the team together … Worst part about it is the transfer season hasnt started yet .. who else will want to leave before the start of next season …
It makes you realize that chevskis and man U ways of buying a replacement is far more effective and instant than ours ..
‘the building for the future’ replacement scheme just takes too long…will see its fruits in 5-8yrs, but soooo fkn frustrating now!
Arsene will probably not get Villa. I think is a mistake. Villa is begging for Arsene to sign him , I can understand if Arsene does not want to risk too many big signings….but when a quality player asks to be bought…get him!!!!!!!
It means he will probably put his heart and soul into the games.
Woudnt it be painful if our rivals get him and then scores against us.
This is what happened to us in the Liverpool game. For Ryan Babel, Arsenal was his first choice and we didnt sign him. Look what happened he cost us a champions league semifinal spot. I mean yea bad decisions and immaturity also cost us in that game but for certain Babel was the one who killed us off in the dying stages of the game. Also look what he did against chelsea in extra time he almost brought them back again. I cant believe wenger missed the opportunity to sign him especially since he was called the new “Theirry Henry” by marco van Basten. Even though we over achieved this season the way we lost the title this season really hurts. Especially when we know our rivals will strengthen even more summer. Can you imagine when Ryan Babel becomes a consistent starter for liverpool?
Just testing this. Do I have to sign up in order for my comment to be publihed?
Arsene will probably not get Villa. I think is a mistake. Villa is begging for Arsene to sign him , I can understand if Arsene does not want to risk too many big signings….but when a quality player asks to be bought…get him!!!!!!!
It means he will probably put his heart and soul into the games.
Woudnt it be painful if our rivals get him and then scores against us.
This is what happened to us in the Liverpool game. For Ryan Babel, Arsenal was his first choice and we didnt sign him. Look what happened he cost us a champions league semifinal spot. I mean yea bad decisions and immaturity also cost us in that game but for certain Babel was the one who killed us off in the dying stages of the game.
Arsene will probably not get Villa. I think is a mistake. Villa is begging for Arsene to sign him , I can understand if Arsene does not want to risk too many big signings….but when a quality player asks to be bought…get him!!!!!!!
It means he will probably put his heart and soul into the games.
Woudnt it be painful if our rivals get him and then scores against us.
This is what happened to us in the Liverpool game. For Ryan Babel, Arsenal was his first choice and we didnt sign him. Look what happened he cost us a champions league semifinal spot. I mean yea bad decisions and immaturity also cost us in that game but for certain Babel was the one who killed us off in the dying stages of the game.
This is what happened to us in the Liverpool game. For Ryan Babel, Arsenal was his first choice and we didnt sign him. Look what happened he cost us a champions league semifinal spot.
Look at what happened with Ryan babel!
like babel did!
This is what happened to us in the Liverpool game. For Ryan Babel, Arsenal was his first choice and we didnt sign him. Look what happened he cost us a champions league semifinal spot. I mean yea bad decisions and immaturity also cost us in that game but for certain Babel was the one who killed us off in the dying stages of the game. Also look what he did against chelsea in extra time he almost brought them back again.
anyone read this yet ??
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/7377052.stm
JaGunner
dead right !
loyalty is half of the battle when you sign someone so young ..
and then villa a seasoned world class striker puts his hands up to join
and we are as silent as church mouses !
it aggravates me !!!
also edelman is leaving tried to link it before but it hasnt appeared !
goto bbc sports page to get the link …
deeOz
yeah 5 years and in the mean time win fuckk all !
and risk players that come to fruition to leave !
even ade’s Mr 20% is pushing for an improved contract , or bale !
i say fuck him let the cunt go .. get villa !
to call ade a work in progress is an understatement he is more like a
RE DEVELOPEMENT IN PROGRESS !
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/7377052.stm
how many shares does edelman own ??
i said it will be a year or 2 before we might see a take over , it seems the lock down year is almost over .. let the games begin
i beleive edelman doesnt own any shares, i think he previously sold em to that itv company…which was eventually sold to kranky
Edelman became a key ally in the rift that led to David Dein being forced out of the club almost exactly 12 months ago. Any Arsenal fans who hope that it might pave the way for Dein to return to the club, though, will be disappointed since rancour still lingers in the club’s wood-panelled boardroom towards their former vice-chairman.
But some of Dein’s qualities – not least his extensive contacts – have been missed. The failure to close out a five-point lead in the Premier League might never have happened had they not missed out on key transfer targets in the past 12 months. They slipped away after the burden of coaching and recruitment fell exclusively on the manager, Arsène Wenger.
The France international Frank Ribéry had been due to sign last summer but he headed instead for Bayern Munich. Then Wenger was angered after Alexandre Pato slipped through Arsenal’s fingers as he joined Milan from Internacional.
i thought he still had some even thou minimal ?
5.1 % is all that we would need ..
but it sounds like the lock down is still contractual up until 2012 ..
either way looks like fizman wants some players … HORRAY !!!
GET VILLA YOU PRATTS !
also proves we were going to sign ribery !
so the lamers on ACLF again were wrong .. AGAIN !!!
all telling me that arsene wasnt interested in frank…
delusional AKB brigade ..
For Ryan Babel, Arsenal was his first choice and we didnt sign him. Look what happened he cost us a champions league semifinal spot. I mean yea bad decisions and immaturity also cost us in that game but for certain Babel was the one who killed us off in the dying stages of the game.
Hey I have trouble getting posts through. Any advice?
Would be greatly appreciated.
Look how Arsenal not signing Ryan Babel cost us. We rejected him so to speak and he put us out of the champions league in return.
yeh ribery mustv been the ‘super class’ signing wenger was talkin bout…then when henry jumped ship ribery mustv decided to go germany…damn!!
i think u need to wait for pedro to wake up…hes gota do some background admin to let your comments thru
PEDRO…WAKE UP!!!
thats the most i can do dude…
Desperate for a fullback YES and YES. Just to fill you in this Australian linked to come over is ok not to much hype just does his job. He is a seaon or two behind Lukes Neill from west ham so i think he will warm the bench for awhile.
Done some quick maths today with interesting results and stats. Over the last 3 years in the league this is how we stand.
Manure Chavs America part 2 ( Liverpool ) Arsenal
Goals 229 198 178 203
Against 82 71 80 97
Points 253 255 220 212
Besides the goal count this is appalling from a team EVERYBODY in Europe fears to play, for us to produce these stats shows our defensive problems. BYE BYE big Phil the dill and eractic Eboue your not needed. Mexes and possibly Nesta should fill the gaps.
the edelman news is all over the internet now anyhow ..
he was definitely given the flick ..
is he the reason money wasn’t forthcoming to wenger ??
it seems pretty ironic that the 2 people edelman and fiz are the 2 who got rid of dein ,
only now to realize that spending is now the way forward ..
it just takes some retards years to learn what some visionaries already knew 2 years ago ..
Sorry bring on Dein ! He is the real talisman ..
question :-
how many eboue shirts do you think they sell ?
i knew he was leaving in november .. just ask pat the goon !!!
but can you see flamini’s move will be just another casualty in the life of
X gunners thinking there moving to greener fields is bettering their career only to be stuck in the mud.. and wished they stayed here ?!
i spose the argument is if your getting a one off cash fee and more wages who gives a shit!
Milan’s midfield already contains the likes of Kaka, Clarence Seedorf, Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo and Massimo Ambrosini, and coach Carlo Ancelotti believes Flamini will prove a fine addition.
Yes a fine addition who will get 30 minutes a game in all possibility ..
and once he’s found out that he isnt quality as he is not playing arsenals passing game
at AC then he will be another who wished he went no where !
good luck mmmmm MOLE FACE !
5 Ethan, 1 for his mum, the other 4 so he gets the numbers up.
NEW POST!
not quite sure what your on about geoff ..
but ill take it
oh eboues shirt .. sorry .. with you now …
ok if its an eboue shirt ill pass