Looking good!
The news (or rumour today) is that Hleb has agreed a deal with Barca, and that Ade will not be too far behind, I hope it’s true but I have a feeling Ade had really pissed Wenger off and he’ll be going nowhere, if it were my call they would both be gone, it’s not so I’m doing a wish list in the hope the boss may read it and take notice of this fans wishes, so here goes, the list…
I want David Bentley, N’Zogbia and Obefemi Martins, with Pascal Cygan brought back to shore up the defence with big Phil. Give Eboue a pay rise and play him out wide instead of Theo.
OK that was for the AKB’s and to ensure some of you would be throwing up in your shreddies! This is the real list!
David Seaman says 6′ 4″ Almunia is good enough, so that’s good enough for me. Bring in Barry for Flamini and bring Diaby in to deputise, we won’t get Villa as that will cost too much so at 6′ 3″ I would go for Santa Cruz in place of spiderman Adebayor.
Arshavin for Hleb won’t happen so I’ll stick with Nasri and maybe the cameo role from Wilshere as back up.
I would get a centre back but I really can’t see that happening as he came out and said a flat out no.
Maybe big Phil or Djourou will step up, don’t forget centre backs come on late in life and those two are still babies.
I think we have enough forward options in Theo, Vela, Eduardo, RVP and Bendtner so a swap with Ade for the big guy should do it, don’t forget we almost did it last term, the kids are no longer kids, we do have a team spirit and Nasri for me will be a revelation, so three in and three out plus Vela may be enough, but he needs to bring in Barry, who in my opinion will be like having a young Lampard, English and stylish and can tackle.
It would also be nice to watch England with a few Arsenal boys in the team for a change. Also nice to stick one on the scousers too.
O’Neill hates Benitez and really likes Hoyte so it wouldn’t be too expensive, if we can’t get Barry then maybe YaYa for Ade plus cash.
It has to be this week so let’s keep ‘em crossed, one more week of this shit and we get to doing match reports again, so get ready.
A big thank you to all you Grovers yesterday who got back on track being mates, so well done, we had twice as many new people as AKB’s so that was neat too, let’s just hope we can do the South Africans today and start the week off on a positive note.
Have a hopeful and fruitful week Grovers, this is the countdown!
July 14, 2008 at 8:54 am
1
July 14, 2008 at 8:54 am
hell yeaaaaaaaaaaah im le grover of the day
July 14, 2008 at 8:55 am
new signing Amaury Bischoff will link up with the squad tomorrow as he participates in his first training session as an Arsenal player. Midfielder Bischoff signed on a free transfer from Werder Bremen over a week ago. He has been given a one-year deal which will be extended for a further season if he impresses. Bischoff, whom Wenger has been aware of since his time at Strasbourg, has spent the past week in the gym at London Colney in order to gain fitness. The 21-year-old spent the vast majority of last season on the sidelines at Bremen due to injury. It appears that the Portuguese playmaker did not put in all the work he should have whilst injured as he is now considerably overweight. Amaury Bischoff will wear number 32, previously worn by Theo Walcott.
Joining Bischoff tomorrow will be Carlos Vela who will also participate in his first training session as an Arsenal player. The much-hyped Mexican attacker has spent the past three years on loan at Cela Vigo, Osasuna and Salamanca respectively.
Fitness permitting, both players should be involved in the annual pre-season friendly against Barnet at Underhill on Saturday.
July 14, 2008 at 8:56 am
(4th) 1st !!!
July 14, 2008 at 9:01 am
Grrrrrrr……….5th??
July 14, 2008 at 9:03 am
6th
July 14, 2008 at 9:08 am
my wish list:
arshavin (if available for 15 million), bischoff, Diogo/Auguero… i doubt we bid for auguero… i think it was pool… but he is closest to maradona since years.
Zapata….. and make cesc the captain…. thts all.
And ohh…. sell adebayor and dont run a poll again on arsenal.com with Ade’ name in it. Next thing you know he will be ranked ahead of clichy by few dumb asses.
July 14, 2008 at 9:10 am
Eto’o AND £15 MILLION for ADE????
Effin hell yeah!
Hleb for £15 Mill. Sweet.
Arshavin and Barry signed.
Sorted, finished, we are ready. Thanks and goodnight.
July 14, 2008 at 9:11 am
It’s ironic when someone come on and demands Le Grove talks ’sence’…
How are we all this morning?
Arshavin for Hleb?
Or will Franny the II be replacing Hleb?
Geoff, I am not sure about Barry? He is 28… and worth £18mill!
That is a bit on the extortionate side!
July 14, 2008 at 9:11 am
barry wants to go to liverpoo !
or so i heard ..
i wouldn’t hold your breath on that one !
July 14, 2008 at 9:12 am
A defensive midfielder - preferably two is what I’m after…we seem to losing ours at the rate of three a season!
July 14, 2008 at 9:13 am
Stay away from Eto. Bad attitude and he wants too much money P/W to play.
July 14, 2008 at 9:15 am
yeah eto’o knees are fucked, and he’s bonkers
July 14, 2008 at 9:16 am
Stonroy…
Players with a bad attitude at previous clubs:
RvP
Overmars
Adebayor
Hleb
Pires
We’ll transform him and restore him to greatness… he is only 27!
July 14, 2008 at 9:18 am
Stonroy, who’s the “P/W to play” ?
July 14, 2008 at 9:18 am
not been online over the weekend so apologies if im repeating anything, but didn’t we turn down £24m from barca for Ade? How come we’re willing to accept lass than that from AC, unless theres a player coming this way as well? Oh and Santa Cruz, he will do nicely if Ade goes in my opinion!
July 14, 2008 at 9:18 am
With Gilberto leaving and Diaby, Song and Denilson relatively inexperienced we need someone like Barry but my feeling is he is too pricey. We need 24-28 year old players. Arsene has been saying that for some time but players in this age group cost more and our manager is not prepared to pay so he opts for more and more youngsters. It is abit frustrating but I think if we sell Ade and Hleb we will have to spend some money in buying top players in the calibre of Schweinsteiger, Arshavin, Barry(Is he a top player?) and Aguero
July 14, 2008 at 9:19 am
In an ideal world we would get Benzema, Arshavin, Barry & Zapata. But as the overall price of that lot would be somewhere around 95 million, I think I’ll stick to more realistic targets!!
So I’d still take Arshavin, Barry & a defender. Then you just have to hope that Bendtner can step up to replace Ade!!
July 14, 2008 at 9:19 am
i think he meant per week charyb
July 14, 2008 at 9:19 am
Check out Eto’o’s stat for last season.
The guy’s shit hot in front of goal.
Of course any effin half decent medical would detect some sort of injury no?
Get with the program people.
I demand this transfer effin happens. And I will scream and scream till it does or i pass out.
July 14, 2008 at 9:20 am
do you guys really rate barry ??
July 14, 2008 at 9:20 am
Barry will cost way to much, no way is he worth 18 million. Also I really don’t think nasri is enough, we need arshavin as well. Rosicky will be injured, eboue is total garbage, and theo is not ready to play week in week out. Not quite sure why you think wilshere should already be making cameo appearances in a club going for the league. The lad looks promising but is clearly far to physically weak to play in the premier league at the minute.
July 14, 2008 at 9:21 am
Loner if a tree falls in a forest but no-one hears it, did it make a sound?
July 14, 2008 at 9:21 am
if the rumblings about Aguero are true I’d be quite chuffed
July 14, 2008 at 9:21 am
i agree with everything, even the bit about doing the south-africans. hard to say as that was, i’ll ease my tongue by saying that the aussies still rock both your worlds! hahahah!!! =D
i think we could get eto’o fit actually, and being awesome again. pairing him with his cameroonian teammate, alexandre song could be a revelation. they would spurn each other to heights i think. if that 10mill + eto’o bid is true, i think wenger would take it. maybe more news on it through-out this week?
July 14, 2008 at 9:22 am
I hope so Pedro. I just feel unlike all the others on the list, he has gone to the heights of Barcelona usually players go the other way and i think he feels a little untouchable. I hope i’m wrong, I just feel we would get more spirit from Santa Cruz….
July 14, 2008 at 9:22 am
http://onlinestore.arsenal.com/content/ebiz/afc/invt/75000/A_L_75000.jpg
beautiful
July 14, 2008 at 9:22 am
We will be making some money of Bentley’s 17m move to Spurs
Wilshere looks an amazing talent but he is still only 16
July 14, 2008 at 9:22 am
Thanks Choy that’s what i meant.
July 14, 2008 at 9:23 am
gunner fever where did you get the info about bischoff
July 14, 2008 at 9:23 am
i will be happy if we start with the team we have now but since song is off to olympics and Gilberto is set to move on i think we need t2 players ..Nigel De Jong shoudnt cost a lot so he is realistic and Albelda from velencia ..if we want a quality CB with experience then id go for Marchena as well so maximum 3 of course i will love Aguero but dont think it will happen as we have lots of option in that position…i would like us to keep Ade..dont think there are many better option available and if he leaves we loose the option of crossing the ball as well as the odd long ball so we must keep him i think
July 14, 2008 at 9:23 am
Thanks Choy, I thought he meant to say PHW(Peter Hill Wood) wouldn’t pay that much and put a “/” instead of “H”. Must be my time of month !
July 14, 2008 at 9:23 am
Me too, Aguero is quality.
July 14, 2008 at 9:24 am
Has anyone else noticed they have shortened the new away kit picture so that Alan Smith is still pictured heading the ball, but Ade is cut out!!
July 14, 2008 at 9:24 am
lol! charyb….
July 14, 2008 at 9:24 am
nasri was coming in whatever happened!!!!! with hleb going we need another winger/attacker ro we’ll end up with eboue and diaby there again
July 14, 2008 at 9:24 am
noticed that GMR…. but they cut out theo too!!!
July 14, 2008 at 9:25 am
PS also chuffed Crouch has gone to Pompey and not us
July 14, 2008 at 9:25 am
charybdis I guess I’m just getting too old then.
July 14, 2008 at 9:25 am
Ash, if the Bentley deal comes to around 20 million in total Arsenal will get a nice 4 million from it!!
July 14, 2008 at 9:26 am
so we signed a guy called Bischoff who never played for Werder Bremen and who is overweight .. we aint gonna win much with that sort of players, are we??
we are light years away from the likes of Real/ManU/Barca/Milan .. we are a little club that enjoyed success under a great management team of Dein/Wenger .. two highly talented individuals in their own rights .. thats all .. no European trophies and none on the horizon .. we have to be realistic .. we are a feeder club for the big boys ..
and will stay this way for many years to come .. btw ANR is saying that we are penniless.. not offering any reasons for it, but linking it to a possible setback at the Highbury devepoment .. and hinting at Edelman as being the one who paid the price ..
and its true that we were the only of the big 4 EPL clubs not having a representative at last European clubs meeting .. as mentioned by GMR .. we are fukked and doomed ..
this is the year we will drop out of the big 4 .. mark my words .. no TH14 to save our graces anymore .. and next year, its bye bye to Cesc ..
how negative can I be?? but thats how I feel ..
July 14, 2008 at 9:26 am
bentley and barry for 20 mill each… hleb for 15??? wtf?
July 14, 2008 at 9:26 am
Isn’t Theo the make-weight in the Dkembe Dkembe deal?
July 14, 2008 at 9:26 am
Choy, maybe Theo’s off to Macclesfield then!!
July 14, 2008 at 9:26 am
BB.. bischoff is here to win us the carling cup!!
July 14, 2008 at 9:27 am
BB there is no way Wenger will start the season without at least two more quality signings.
July 14, 2008 at 9:29 am
Where’s all this Bischoff stuff coming from again??
July 14, 2008 at 9:29 am
Though I must admit i’m excited for us to play the spuds this year. See them slump after spending all this money…….??
July 14, 2008 at 9:29 am
I thought that stonroy …before we started losing players! Now we need at least 4 more quality signings!
July 14, 2008 at 9:29 am
Would Bentley be a good buy for us?
If we buy him we get a nice discount!
July 14, 2008 at 9:31 am
Arse shavings is hleb’s replacement..
July 14, 2008 at 9:31 am
I don’t know if we will get four unfortunately.
July 14, 2008 at 9:31 am
no pedro don’t want that cunt… theo is much better on the right hand side!!!
July 14, 2008 at 9:32 am
Angry… that would be my dream to… but it’s a little to simple don’t you think?
Replacing with like for like? It’s not the Arsene way!
July 14, 2008 at 9:32 am
I’d prefer to have Theo on the right, rather than rat face Bentley. he’s a one trick pony with no pace, only good at crossing for big lump strikers.
Theo is fast direct and a goal threat, who will only omprove.
Fuck that big mouth arrogant ungrateful c*nt.
July 14, 2008 at 9:34 am
Choy, if you click that picture on arsenal.com it goes to an article where they have four additional shots, they show the Theo/Merson one but not the the Ade one!!
I don’t think they’ve sold Ade, the c**t has just pi**ed them off!!
July 14, 2008 at 9:34 am
Pedro;
I thought there was no chance of Asshave signing, but I think it may well happen.
he aint going to barca, the Chavs dont want/need him and now his agent is saying just how fab it’d be to come to da arse. And with a surname like Asshavins, he’s well suited innit.
July 14, 2008 at 9:35 am
Not as old as me ! (Am a geezer BTW, only kidding about being pre menstrual)
I am clinging onto the hope that when Wenger talked about premiership experience he meant Barry or Santa Cruz - or hopefully both.
But to be honest he spoke about reassuring signings and a defence agaisnt the long, high ball over the middle and now it seems both of those promises have vanished.
I’m not so sure that everything has to be concluded, transferwise, this week as we all know how much Wenger likes a bargain and could hold out till the daythe transfer window closes. This does sound like trying to console yourself in advance when we don’t make any signings this week.
July 14, 2008 at 9:36 am
realistically i’ll take Santa 4 bayor, asharvin 4 hleb, and diogo. we already av too much young talents dat need opportunity to play, b4 they all turn into grumpy want-away players
July 14, 2008 at 9:36 am
GMR .. apparently he has siged for us already and is living in the gym as during his injury ridden last season at Werder, he spent a lot of times eating ice cream and got fat like a cunt he must be .. great addition to the squad .. our replacement for Flamini is a fat bastard ..
stonroy .. you mean winning the CC as per losing 5-1 to the biggest cunts in the world ..
July 14, 2008 at 9:37 am
by d way where is RIco and Pedro
July 14, 2008 at 9:37 am
haha GMR.. toure and gallas are also there… so does that mean no CB…
i really like that kit
July 14, 2008 at 9:38 am
BB, but where is the information coming from on Bischoff. I can’t find anything new on him since he left Werder Bremen.
July 14, 2008 at 9:39 am
football rivalries….
http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-6825459148163048902
July 14, 2008 at 9:40 am
Apparently we’ll get 40% of Harper’s transfer from Reading.
Wwe aint got that much of a percentage on bentley have we?
Shit! That’d be close to £8 mill!
July 14, 2008 at 9:41 am
I thing the spuds feel they have a chance of beating us this year. I really hope we destroy them. I’d be happy with a good 3-1 BB, the CC, that’s always a bonus not a priority.
July 14, 2008 at 9:41 am
BB
im leaning towards your way of thinking these days mate… everyone is busy except us, even shity clubs like fulham & wigan are tryna spend 11m on players like anyd johnson and we’re doing fuck all except helping our players get their dream moves to barca!!!!
if man ud and l’pool can go get big strong no nonsense defenders like vidic and skrtel for 8mil ish why the fuck cant/dont we!!!
July 14, 2008 at 9:42 am
Chaps, don’t forget that if a deal for Barry was to go through it would probably include Hoyte, and Hoyte’s value would probably be something ridiculous like £5 or maybe even £6m purely because he’s English, therefore any possible deal for Barry would be a more realistic £12m……….
July 14, 2008 at 9:45 am
That’s true, I reckon that O’Neil would drop the price as well, Barry can’t play for them anymore and Villa hate Liverpool, so Hoyte and £10 mil should do it.
July 14, 2008 at 9:48 am
If we sign Bischoff it just sum’s us up, this summer we will make a profit again in the transfer market, flamini, gilberto, lehmann, hleb, probably adebayor. diarra last Jan. Song missing start of season due to olympics, rosicky and van persie eternally injured and Eduardo coming back from serious injury. Will our squad be strong enough? And what happened to Wenger’s comments in May about the fans being reassured, anyone here feeling reassured and optimistic about the new season?
July 14, 2008 at 9:48 am
Well either Barry or why not try and nick Alonso?
July 14, 2008 at 9:48 am
Hleb will go
Ade will stay
AW has said he won’t buy a defender, and he thinks we have enough strikers, that leaves GK, and MA has the No.1 jersey, and in midfield we now have Nasri, Ramsay (& Bischoff).
Conculsion, that’s your lot for this year folks, no more signings.
July 14, 2008 at 9:49 am
I’d take Barry but if I’m honest, i’d prefer to have kept Flamini.
July 14, 2008 at 9:51 am
cant see us getting barry… him and stevie g are bum buddies and thats his main reason for going to l’pool
alonso for 16m?? no thanks we need some size, energy and agression in our midfield
July 14, 2008 at 9:51 am
I can’t agree Tim - I think the club know it was squad size that let us down last year…
July 14, 2008 at 9:54 am
Tim, I think you are way off…
Hleb staying? What makes you think that?
He is off to Barca my friend.
July 14, 2008 at 9:54 am
Bischoff is just a punt on a young promisding player, won’t cost hardly anything and if he comes good, then top, if not, then laters.
I wouldnt get me knick nicks in a twist over him.
There WILL be more signings, for sure.
July 14, 2008 at 9:54 am
lol pedro .. read it again!!!
July 14, 2008 at 9:55 am
gunner fever - where’d that extensive Bischoff info come from, very interesting to say the least!
July 14, 2008 at 9:56 am
I think it was GMR who said we only conceeded 3 headed gioals all last season. So i would prob say a CB maybe aint as urgent as reported.
I got more concern about Almunia in goal to tell da truth, as he for me, is average.
July 14, 2008 at 9:56 am
Did i read somewhere that Song is off to the fucking Olympics? Well fuck him too! Even though he might only be a squad member, when he returns stick him back directly in the stiffs, fucking priorities, we’ve got a couple of CL qualifiers to begotiate and he fucks off to the fucking Olympics……….cunt.
July 14, 2008 at 9:56 am
Oh my…
I stand corrected… selective vision!
July 14, 2008 at 9:56 am
do we have a sell on % on Diarra, cos I’d be happy for him to come back to us at a discount, he always said pompy was a steppin stone to a bigger club.
July 14, 2008 at 9:59 am
pierre .. you know our policy on players who leave don’t you?
July 14, 2008 at 10:00 am
Pierre;
Dunno fella.
I know its old news and aint worth going over again (well thats what my therapist says anyways) BUT, why the effin fook didnt we just LOAN Diarra to Pompey???
July 14, 2008 at 10:00 am
I think Barry would bring us something different, he always seems a very calm player, and for an English player quite assured in possetion, he’s also very good with dead ball beliveries and protects the back four quite well, and he knows how tough the EPL is………and at 27/28 he’d be just the right age to hand-over to the next generation of Arsenal younguns coming through………so for £12m i’d take him.
July 14, 2008 at 10:01 am
You’re kidding Pierre? We don’t want that twunt anywhere near the Emirates again.
He’d come in and be agitating for a move after 5 minutes if there was a bit of paint chipped off his locker room peg. “It’s not fair - Wenger promised me a freshly painted peg!!”
July 14, 2008 at 10:03 am
Wenger has taken this young player thing to excessive levels, 24 year old flamini replaced with 17 year old ramsey, 27 year old hleb replaced by 21 year old nasri, possibly 32 year old gilberto replaced by 21 year old bischoff and old man lehmann squad place goes to a rookie italian keeper. You can hear the exsuses from the boss already for next season, “we lack maturity and experience but we had good spirit”
July 14, 2008 at 10:04 am
Diarra or Diaby, I know who i think would do the better job. Arsernal greatest, no 5 PV04! I know its trivial, but theres nothing else of interest on Arsenal.com!
July 14, 2008 at 10:04 am
Brad Friedl anyone - for the squad?
July 14, 2008 at 10:06 am
queen - if brad friedel wasnt that old i would take him in a heart beat, the amount of double and triple saves he’s made over the years must dwarf other keepers!
July 14, 2008 at 10:07 am
WEll Pierre, its obvious the last 4 willl be a permutation of DB10, Wrighty, Adams and TH14. My order would be:
1. DB10
2. TA6
3. TH14
4. Wrighty
July 14, 2008 at 10:08 am
He’s available on a free and for some reason Wenger quite likes having an old timekeeper around the place - I could see that happening…
July 14, 2008 at 10:10 am
chary, wot, no Cygan?
July 14, 2008 at 10:10 am
Friedel turned 37 in may, so he’s up with lehmann, i dont see it happening, but i would be ok with it as he has been awesome over the years!
July 14, 2008 at 10:12 am
the thing is with our team now we dont really lack experience now….
almunia, cesc, clichy, kolo, gallas, sagna, RVP & rosicky (when fit) are all experienced prem players now… we lack depth and aggression massively
July 14, 2008 at 10:20 am
We lack winning experience and we don’t have a gelled team anymore…
This year is going to be tough regardless of who we sign…
July 14, 2008 at 10:21 am
Greatness awaits at Villareal for our bald-headed custodian of the back 4.
July 14, 2008 at 10:24 am
Why do people still talk about Diarra?
AW sold him on as he realised he was not suitable for Arsenal. AW would not be pressurised by some jumped up kid; if AW thought Diarra would fit in at Arsenal he would not have been sold.
No way is he coming back.
July 14, 2008 at 10:31 am
Ronaldo is injured for 3 months, Rooney is fat and the Mancs don’t have an assistant coach!
Brilliant…
Diarra wasn’t sold becuase he wasn’t suited to Arsenal, he was sold becuase he asked to leave.
I agree he wont be bought back, but he was a good player all the same. We should have loaned him.
July 14, 2008 at 10:33 am
Agree with Pedro there, ‘ole Dolphin head got impatient and demanded a move so of course “you have to respect that..”
July 14, 2008 at 10:35 am
GMR .. I read the Bischoff info this morning somewhere .. I will try and find it again .. was surprised myself as Arsenal havent made any comments yet ..
same article said that he might be fit in time for some action at Barnet .. that he was signed for free on a 1 year contract only to prove himself .. and that Vela would be joining the squad shortly too ..
July 14, 2008 at 10:40 am
I’m looking forward to the Barnet game but I’ll put money on it that Wenger won’t give us any interesting news when he speaks to arsenal.tv afterwards. No doubt he’ll claim nobody is leaving & he isn’t close to buying anyone else!! They might as well just replay the interview he done 2 years ago!!
July 14, 2008 at 10:41 am
Pedro - agreed on the Man scum info, ive been thinking about that for a couple of days…if we can get the jump on them at the start of the season - same as the one just gone - we’ll have a good chance!
July 14, 2008 at 10:42 am
Bergkamp on life outside the Prem:
“Once you play in the English Premier League you realise there is nothing better. It is difficult to see the beauty of the Italian League.
“Knowing you can hardly ever play real attacking football makes you desperate when you have been brought up with a different work ethic.
“The problem for an attack-minded player in Italy is that you can never play your own game.
“Their fans are happy with a draw. Some times they consider a draw like a win. It is all about the result.
“I care about the result, too. But great players also care about the style of play.
“There were also intrusions into my private life I did not like.”
July 14, 2008 at 10:43 am
This made me laugh:
Arsenal have received no firm offers for Emmanuel Adebayor.
The Sunday Mirror says while the 24 year-old Togo international has repeatedly declared his intent to quit the Gunners to join the likes of AC Milan or Barcelona, he now faces an embarrassing truth.
At the moment there are no takers for him.
He faces the prospect of starting next season in an Arsenal shirt and having to win over the Gunners fans who have been incensed by his lack of loyalty.
July 14, 2008 at 10:44 am
GMR, I am going to the Barnet game… so I’ll have a word.
July 14, 2008 at 10:45 am
Ade really does face the risk of getting bo-oed by Arsenal fans doesn’t he?
July 14, 2008 at 10:46 am
Pedro, if Arsenal don’t get any bids for Ade I seriously don’t want to see him turning out for the club no matter how bad things get.
I’d rather finish outside the top 4 than rely on him to get us into the top 4. Him & Hleb are scum & can piss off!!
July 14, 2008 at 10:46 am
Wenger must be looking to bring in a CM.
Last season, he started the season with Gilberto, Flamini and Diarra, and its looking like we wont have any of the 3 at the beginning of this season.
I cant see that we will go into a new season with just Diaby and Denilson as potential starters there.
Lets hope YaYa is part of the Hleb deal.
And i agree with whoever said it earlier - £10M + E’too for Adebayor???
I would bite their hand off!
July 14, 2008 at 10:49 am
I wouldn’t go as far as GMR but I don’t want him in an Arsenal shirt again either.
I almost hope we don’t sell him and that the club just use him as an example to Greedy players the world over instead!
July 14, 2008 at 10:55 am
The trouble with the Ade transfer is that Arsenal are in a very weak position, thats not so with Hleb because we already have the replacement in Nasri.
Barca & AC Milan can afford to leave it to the last day of the transfer window to conclude the deal knowing Arsenal wouldn’t have time to replace a 30 goal striker. Arsene needs him out now so he can buy a replacement, they know the later it gets the cheaper he’ll become, either that or Arsenal will be stuck with an arrogant player that won’t perform because he doesn’t feel ‘valued’ & that none of the fans want.
July 14, 2008 at 10:56 am
Unfortunately, QoS, the Arse aren’t in a position to make an example of anyone due to being skint and the manager saying “you have to…..”. however I’d be pleasantly surprised if Adebayor is taught a lesson like that.
July 14, 2008 at 10:57 am
He has breached our trust… imagine being in that situation?
He was close to getting booed last year at points. People don’t like him…
This year, the fans wont accept him and he wont have another season like the previous one.
GMR, in my opininon, we will replace his goals this year if he goes and if he stays, he will be replaced in the first team by someone else at some point this year.
Matt, I don’t think he will buy another CM despite the fact we need one.
This year he is gonna gamble on Diaby and Denilson I think.
Surely not Ramsey though?
July 14, 2008 at 10:57 am
Pedro,
Vieira asked to leave as well on numerous occasions but he was not released.
I have heard that Wenger released Diarra ’cause he held onto the ball far too long!!
July 14, 2008 at 10:59 am
Pedro
Now that Man City have bid on Goofy, I think Milan will have to decide who they’re going to buy..Ade or Ronnie, their hand will be forced and they have stated it will be one or the other this summer. I think you’re right, Ade may well start for us next year.
with Barca having bought Alves & Hleb, i’m not so sure they’ll have another wad of cash for Ade…..time for his agent to start declaring how much ade has always loved/admired Madrid, Bayern or Inter.
I know it’s good for the team to hold on to its better players, but i agree with GMR, i’d rather not have Ade turn out for us. If he scored another 30 we’ll just be going through all this shite again next year, who am i kiddin, whether he scores 30 or not he’ll angle for a move away again anyways..would rather get shot now.
July 14, 2008 at 10:59 am
We’re going to piss the league this year!
July 14, 2008 at 11:03 am
I think Pedro might be right about Diaby and Denilson - Wenger started with Cesc and Denilson in the Carling Cup final vs Chelsea didn’t it?
I know a lot of people are unconvinced about our little Brazilian but i’m a big fan…if he ups the energy levels like Flamini did when he started in Central Midfield, i can see him doing well. He’s got good technique.
July 14, 2008 at 11:04 am
pedro
We lack winning experience and we don’t have a gelled team anymore…
This year is going to be tough regardless of who we sign…
I agree totally .. after last years 2- 3 horse race ..im sure the established teams (and spurs ) want to get off to a flyer ! Why because they dont want to cut it that fine again !
coming down to goal difference would and should be avoided , im sure all established camps feel that way ..
Experience is the key .. i hope if we get any more players they are from the EPL !
the 6 month settling in period to English football would kill us .. then again so does the lack of experience ..
Unless something amazing happens i would keep your expectations realistic this season … if we keep 4th spot and win a bit of silverware id say it was a successful year
And BB your right we will be a feeder club for years to come because you never know when these youths will turn good .. if they turn good at the rate of 1 or 2 a year
they will leave as fast and we manufacture them ! and thats the problem ..We need instant players NOW !
we need 15 players who are top shelf .. like the other top clubs you mentioned !
or they will trickle thru so slowly we will never build up enough momentum to mount a challenge !
July 14, 2008 at 11:05 am
im keen on denilson as well. the best part about the season starting soon is hopefully all but rosicky will be fit, so we have more to choose from!
July 14, 2008 at 11:07 am
GMR - If we buy SCruz we’ll be in pole position on that basis.
Pedro - I can’t believe AW would gamble in this crunch season on Denilson & Diaby. For me he’ll bring in some real experience; I still think Yaya for cutting out those high balls to attackers which he said was our weakness.
July 14, 2008 at 11:08 am
I thought he (Denilson) was the best player on the pitch at the Derby game..he put in a lot of work almost like he’d been told go out and play like Matty..
Also something I noticed during that game, Kolo told the bench to substitute Denilson at around 70 minutes…almost as though he was saying, he’s tiring after all that running…you’ve had long enough to see that he can do that job for 3/4 of a game….
July 14, 2008 at 11:09 am
QoS - I still rate Denilson but you can’t gamble the season on him especially after last year.
July 14, 2008 at 11:10 am
I think that we should not overplay the Ade hatred card .. all the guys are mercenaries these days .. I think that if TH14 had had his glory days in the mid 2000s rather than the mid 90s, he would heve left a long time before he did .. for money and glory .. also,dont forget that we are not winning any trophies anymore .. so even a guy like Cesc will get serioulsy pissed off at one not too far away point .. now I dont particularly like Ade, but he performed to his qualities .. yes he did .. and he gets paid 35K/week which is not what other strikers get paid at other clubs .. lets be honest ..
btw I could NEVER stand the Ade songs at the Emirates .. hope that they will never ever come up again .. and I hope that he leaves and that we buy Eto’o .. haha
July 14, 2008 at 11:11 am
I think we still need to bring in someone as well for that role Patrick because last season if Flamini hadn’t have worked out as well as he did we had Diarra to take his place and Gilberto coming back from the Copa America.
I’d like to see him getting a shot though..
July 14, 2008 at 11:11 am
I hope you’re right Patrick…
I have no idea what all the fuss about Denilson is… I don’t see a style of play? He isn’t particularly fast, energetic or strong… his passing is average, he takes a nice corner and he gets injured a lot.
Ethan, buying from the Prem sounds like a good idea… but who is good enough and who could we afford?
I wonder if the slow down in the transfer markets has anything to do with the economic slow down?
With business in the UK heading into a recession, I guess marketing will be top of the cost cutting list.
Reduced advertising revenue for sky = Reduced prize fund for the prem and reduced tv money?
Is that a fair assessment?
July 14, 2008 at 11:14 am
I agree with the earlier comment, i’d rather finish out of the top 4 than have to use that arrogant, overrated fuckwit from Togo.
July 14, 2008 at 11:14 am
I reckon the E’to / Ade swap might be a goer - like GMR said earlier it needs sorting sooner rather than later because as the window starts to close the value starts to drop. That’s true of Ade but Barca have the same problem with Et’o….
July 14, 2008 at 11:14 am
bbc says barca are goin to offer us £15 plus samuel eto for adebayor…… does anyone else think we should bit etheir hands off????
July 14, 2008 at 11:15 am
L Diarra, reckon he’d be affordable and open to return….don’t think AW would go back for him though, may be worried about looking stupid.
July 14, 2008 at 11:17 am
GMR - Sorry fella, i didn’t realise it was your comment about Ade v Top 4 finish, i’m so incensed at the thought of that cunt sliding his way back to Arsenal, that i was eager to write my point down before looking to see who i was agreeing with………
July 14, 2008 at 11:17 am
Qos/Kenny,
There might be a large wage difference there & would Eto’o settle for probably a reduced wage of £60K?; and that’s assuming he makes it through the medical.
July 14, 2008 at 11:18 am
They can’t reduce prize money or tv revenue. They can try when the rights come back up again but thats not until 2012 or something so its not an immediate concern!!
July 14, 2008 at 11:19 am
But AW had Denilson and Diaby last season, to go with Flam, Gilberto and Diarra, to play alongside Fabregas.
So he had potentially 5 (6 if you include Song) players to choose from.
Now he only has 2, 3 if you include Ramsey, 4 if you include Song.
I dont see how logically he can think that is an improvement on last season.
I will be amazed if we dont see at least 1 CM come in.(fingers crossed!).
Going back to E’too.
I dont think his attitude is any worse than Adebayors, and If he has dodgy knees then it will show up in a medical.
The guy is a goal machine, is quick, strong and good in the air too.
Imagine him up front for us - almost a certainty to get 20-25 goals.
July 14, 2008 at 11:19 am
ethan .. we need these youth to leave as we are skinned .. thats the worst aspect of the game .. even Wenger said so !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
we are fukking skinned .. this is the biggest problem that the club is facing .. and the credit cruch is eating a massive hole into our already skinned ass..
DD knows this .. Wenger acknowledged it last week .. we must wake up .. the club is completely fukked .. and hats off to Wenger that he puts his reputation on the line each year and gets something out of this bunch of inexperienced youth with no EPL and no winning experience ..
and we as fans have to endure this financial debacle with the highest ticket prices in the world
ask yourselves this question .. how many coaches would have been able to a) turn that goat Ade into a 30 goals a season striker .. and b) then get offers of 25MM quid for him .. we got to respect this ..
but its not enough in order to winn trophies .. you tell me whether we need Yaya/Velosos or Bischoff .. you know the answer .. but who do we get?? .. its the end of the road and the cliff is right in front of our windscreen .. and there is no reverse gear .. so what do we do??
its incredible that Wenger hasnt jumped out of the car yet .. we need financial help .. and urgently .. the current board is working against the interests of us fans ..
July 14, 2008 at 11:20 am
Did anyone see that RVP played in a charity match and came off injured !
Un-f*****g-believable …
Shall we guess how much of next season he’ll miss ? I say 50%
The man is made of twigs. I would swap adebayor for eto’o and pay them £5m plus eboue.
Seems fair.
July 14, 2008 at 11:20 am
easy gang, the report about Eto + 15 mil is not from the BBC, its quoted from The Daily Star and listed in their Gossip section. Would be great though.
July 14, 2008 at 11:20 am
Pedro,
I think Denilson in flashes has shown an ability to “run games” I think he’s quite happy bringing the ball through the midfield - last season he was a bit injury hit but if he adds a bit more energy to his game, i think he could be very very good indeed.
Re: Sky - their advertising revenue is holding up pretty well, obviously our Marketing Director looks at TV advertising quite often and so far we aren’t seeing the “deals” around that you tend to get when they are struggling…in general it seems that conpanies are taking less “risks” rather than cutting back on the sure fire visibility exercises like Televised football.
July 14, 2008 at 11:20 am
DDM- don’t worry about it, I feel like you I don’t ever want to see him at Arsenal again. It seems Hleb has got his move, now Ade needs to get his!!
July 14, 2008 at 11:21 am
Patrick,
If they are giving us £15M plus Et’oo - then we could use some of the money for his wages…..Still sounds a good deal to me.
Aw clearly gets the best out of players - and who would you rather have on his day - E’too or Ade?
July 14, 2008 at 11:24 am
Et’o everyday of the week for me. Plus it’d be a really big morale boosting signing. Shows we can lure the big names. His t-shirt sales would pay for his wages.
July 14, 2008 at 11:25 am
Pat…
The wages thing…
Arsenal pay world class wages to world class players. If we signed Eto’o, he’d get top wages… £80k+… because he’d merit them.
QoS, I hope you are right about him… he just needs to bulk up a bit, he was very weak last year.
TH14… I read it… what a joke!
Matt, it pains me to say this… but youth is the key to the CM issue.
He has all the Brit pack coming through and they are all about 18… knocking on the door.
That is why I don’t think he will buy… not that I agree.
July 14, 2008 at 11:36 am
I for one don’t want to see Eto’o at the Arsenal.
The guy is hugely talented, but he also has an attitude problem which is just as big, and trying to keep him happy all the time would be hard work, it’d have a bad impact on the rest of the team.
I also dont want to see Arshavin at the club either, he’s already stated he dreams of playing for Barca - i can see - we buy him, he has a good season, barca come knocking, he demands to leave !!
July 14, 2008 at 11:39 am
its ‘2 years on week’ for the emirates stadium on arsenal.com…
the title ‘how the emirates changed arsenal’ this should be pretty intresting how those cunts cover up our lack of top signings and skintness, with some bullshit about us being the most profitable and how proud they are of the stadium…
as it stands i think we’re pretty fucked for a title challenge next year
July 14, 2008 at 11:44 am
Hi Grovers! So I hope Hleb goes 2day, as well as Ade. Swap deal 4 Etoo would be great , if they give money on top would be top deal.
I dont know why are still talking Arshavin here, as this is not happening. For me we shouldnt get him as he is not proven here, he is 27, his price gone up a lot , and from 3 games I watched him , he had 1 great, 1 good and 1 very poor. so no thanks
July 14, 2008 at 11:46 am
RVP will play no more than 20 PL matches at most, and will be sold to a UEFA cup side next summer. You heard it here first!!!!!
July 14, 2008 at 11:49 am
If Arshavin comes in as a replacement for Hleb I’d take that, as long as we also get a decent replacement for ade.
July 14, 2008 at 11:54 am
Morning Grovers………. only 5 days to go till Pedro with the help of the Mayland Gooner Massive, will be bringing you the big exclusive interview with Mandingo Dkembe Dkembe when he brings his boots to Barnet in case we are short !!!!!!
July 14, 2008 at 11:55 am
Bud I am excited… I’ve got my ‘I love Le Grove’ piece of paper loaded and in the wallet!
July 14, 2008 at 11:56 am
TH14 - Where did you see that about RvP?
July 14, 2008 at 11:57 am
eto’o & yaya for then we’ll start talking
July 14, 2008 at 11:59 am
Pedro - Have you got a dictophone for interviews?!!
You know me, I will push it…… I will get you an interview for Le-Grove with someone, even if it is only Vic Akers !!!!!!!
That is obviously in addition to the Mandingo exlusive that GMR kindly arranged for us !
Should be a good read actually !!!!!
July 14, 2008 at 12:00 pm
AW wont resign L Diarra as he has made a point of not buying back players once they leave! He said he could have brought Anelka back to the club but because of his ethics chose not to.
I had a wager with my friend that Arsene will keep us waiting until the last day/ possibly last minute of transfer window before signing someone else. My friend thinks this is it now. He reckons 3 players is all he will sign.
July 14, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Anyone seen that The Nutty boy has gone to Blackburn Rovers as a defensive coach ?
Why on earth can’t the Arse use that sort of experience, and why did they let Keown go when he was doing a similar job a while ago ?
No doubt we have an unknown halfwit doing that as we’re still shit at defending corners/free kicks/crosses.
July 14, 2008 at 12:05 pm
The Bischoff and Ramsey deals look oportunist to me and not pre planned, these cant have been 2 of the 3 signgins that were supposed to re-asure fans!!!
plus if nasri is helbs replacement as people keep saying we’re also due a ‘creative player’ as wenger stated at the meeting with the AST!
July 14, 2008 at 12:06 pm
http://goonertalk.wordpress.com/2008/07/13/arsenal-striker-sustains-knock-in-charity-match/
This was the RVP rumour….not sure if he actually has as there is nothing on the Arse.com but no smoke without fire if you ask me.
It would be just typical for this cunt to injure himself pre season
July 14, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Diarra signed on the 31st of August 2007, wanted Flamini’s place and jump over Bert who was away with Brazil…. Afterc just seven weeks at Arsenal said..
22 October 2007. For on that day it was reported that he told the The Times: “For the moment, everything is going fine and I’m learning, but I cannot stay like this for ever.
“I’m not going to wait for a year because I changed clubs in order to play. I’m not stupid. If I come to Arsenal and my situation is the same as at Chelsea, then I should have stayed at Chelsea. If I come to Arsenal, it’s to play. In a few months, I’ll have to decide what I want to do.”
July 14, 2008 at 12:09 pm
You have to hand it to Wenger though, he said 3 signings & he’s made 3 signings (Vela, Ramsey & Nasri, you could even call it 4 with Coquelin), he also said the fans would be reassured, but he didn’t say how we’d be reassured.
Now most of us as certain we’re going backwards which means we have been reassured of something by his signings!!
July 14, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Exciting week - lets hope Wenger gives us something to smile about. Barry would be a superb signing though, as somebody mentioned on here a couple of days ago - Barry and Steven Gerrard do seem to be rather fond of each other! I reckon if he has his heart 100% set on the Kopites - there is pretty much nothing we can do even if O’Neill would rather sell to us.
On a different note, had my wallet stolen last night in Islington, whilst cancelling cards etc is a massive pain the the arse - the biggest thing was losing all my ticket stubs from every Arsenal cup final (Coca cola, FA, UEFA, Champs league) from 1993. Yes a bit geeky carrying them around with me (not that I ever showed anyone) but they can’t be replaced. Cup finals attended with grandfather, dad, mates (dramatically wipes away a single tear drop) : (
July 14, 2008 at 12:11 pm
I agree AT… bischoff and ramsey were not planned deals…
nasri was.. and a defensive player before losing any players…
so that would mean a replacement for hleb and ade if they leave…
seems pretty simple.. but when does our club do everything the simple way??
July 14, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Ramsey was a planned deal. He had inquired about him in January!!
July 14, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Highgate, that is pretty gross…..what kind of people aye?
Scum. If they had any decency they would post them to you in an envelope to the address on your other stolen cards.
Obviously they stole your wallet meaning they likely have no decency.
July 14, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Bud my friend, i shall be there, if only to kick the arse of that thieving pikie Nasri, he stole my promied No.8 shirt, i will kick his scrawny fucking arse…………does he have any Scouse blood??
July 14, 2008 at 12:13 pm
lol GMR.. we enquire about a lot of players.. they are not all planned!!
I am sure he was not on top of the list that wenger carries around!!!
July 14, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Highgate, that is a gut wrencher…
I was sitting in a bar in upper street and this guy came over with a bit of cardboard with some begging message on it… he showed it to us on our table… luckily my mate saw that he was putting it over my phone to nick it!
People have no morals do they?
You wallet might show up at the police station… most thieves chuck the wallet, they’re only interested in the cash and cards.
Bud, I haven’t, but maybe I should!
I am looking forward to your sales manner getting us some quotes! If there is beer involved, I can imagine it being a pretty amusing day!
July 14, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Choy,
One of the most sought after british youngsters in the game & you don’t think Wenger planned it?? Not sure I can agree there.
You don’t pay 5 million for a youngster without planning it. I’m pretty sure Ramsey was top of the list of talented youngsters he wanted to sign!!
July 14, 2008 at 12:19 pm
choy…
nasri was.. and a defensive player before losing any players… finally somone agrees!!!
so that would mean a replacement for hleb and ade if they leave…
yeah and if we get the 2 QUALITY replacements and a defensive player DM/CB then we’ve got a good chance
vela shouldnt count as a signing, he’s been our player for the last 2 years, he’s just another youth promoted like bendtner was last year
July 14, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Well fuck me, if that story about RvP is true then i hope the cunt doesn’t expect to be paid until he plays agin, fucking ridiculous, his ‘career’ is descending into little more than a fucking joke………
July 14, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Imagine if his contract was pay as you play… the man would be living in poverty!
He’d probably be getting paid incapacity benefit!
July 14, 2008 at 12:22 pm
RVP will probably pipe up again with his views on why he should be earning more money whilst he’s off!!
July 14, 2008 at 12:23 pm
I read over the weekend that hleb has wanted to go since Eduardo’s injury because he’s scared it’ll be him next, Anyone else heard that rumour?
July 14, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Yeah im not sure if i agree with today’s blog. What’s to stop any of our future stars from leaving??? it sure aint Arsene. I can understand Hleb because he hasn’t been feeling london for a while but Ade? he’s clumsy and why doesn’t anyone else see it. yeah he scored 30 goals but he missed a lot of sitters. Arsene better get Barry and/or YaYa and a striker that can help our young strikers.
Im gonna try and remain hopeful tho
July 14, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Does anyone understand why barca would want ade? Milan are a bunch of classless, cheating cunts so I don’t give a shit about them.
July 14, 2008 at 12:27 pm
http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?article=493886&lid=NewsHeadline&sub=Winterburn+joins+Blackburn+coaching+staff&sublid=NewsHeadline&Title=Winterburn+joins+Blackburn+coaching+staff&f=rss
July 14, 2008 at 12:27 pm
That is the type of wimpy attitude you’d expect from Hleb Michael.
Moe… I think you’ll find a few of the grovers share your opinion on Ade.