There was a lot of talk yesterday on the shites (sorry I meant sites) that Arshavin wants to play for Arsenal, all from his agent I have to add, but it beats the ‘I want to leave stories from the other two greedy ingrates, and is the best news since David Villa said something similar.
Will Arsene act on it? I doubt it, but we can fantasise and play football manager for a day or so.
I think Arsh would work, and I think Barry would work as well. The majority of you yesterday said (Barry) he’s big buddies with Gerrard and he is expensive, but I don’t see what being mates with Gerrard has to do with it frankly, also with all these others, such as YaYa, Bitchslap, Arshavin and Nasri - they would all take a year or so to get used to the EPL, Barry would not and for me that has to be worth a few million more.
If Hoyte were part of that deal he would probably cost around 12 mil, around what we will get for Hleb, so what’s the big deal?
Arshavin and Santa Cruz would be a good swap for Ade so if we did that, we would be stronger than last term, add Vela, Rosicky, Ramsey and RVP we would have the extra players we so desperately needed last season, so in all we would be a better side.
Any less and we would not have moved and have the added problem of bedding in, Ade took 2 seasons and Hleb 3 don’t forget.
So Ade, Hleb and Flamini out Nasri, Ramsey, Arshavin, Barry and Santa Cruz in, deep, deep joy! (I didn’t mention Jens, no point)
Don’t beleive the Eto’o stories, good as he is, he’s another Ade ego and Robin crock, and as you all know we have enough in those departments already.
If you did that today Arsene, I for one would stop bleating and really fancy our chances against the free spending Chavs, Mancs, scousers and spuds. Didn’t mention City as I think they need a lot more than they have.
If Wenger thinks we have financial problems now, then dropping out of the top four is unthinkable, so get the cheque book out, we’re a football team, not an estate agency.
Have another hopeful day Grovers, only four more to go!
I’m sure they re-imburse themselves well for days they put in………………..so everyone wins, don’t they……………except us cos we haven’t got the best people to do the jobs required!
I can’t wait till the end of the season now!
Arsenal-Premiership Champions, Champions League winners, FA cup winners and even the Carling “two-bob” Cup,
Wrighty7-Fantasy Grove winner 2008/09!
Dein’s role has been taken by Frier for the time being and Endleman’s role will be filled with the guidence of Kroenke. My guess is that Kroenke will try and make Arsenal a more international brand name as well as getting American kind of prices for everything.
Question …
A few people on here think that we’ve already signed David Villa. I agree that no clubs have gone for him, but why wait to announce a signing that would make the fans happy ?
Is it possible the club is holding out on announcing the news because they want top dollar for Ade and they won’t get that if he looks like he’s surplus to requirements ?
Hello Lads how is everyone?
whats the latest today?
raif- Villa’s gonna be announced at the emirates cup…………. just kidding nothings happened excpet the fantasy league got set up
From the Sun:
Arsenal’s acting managing director Ken Friar revealed the Gunners rejected offers from other clubs — one of which is believed to be Everton — because the star had his heart set on a move to Greece.
Friar said: “We have agreed to the transfer and signed the papers. It is now an official agreement.
“We had other offers but we respected Gilberto’s desire to sign for Panathinaikos.”
Trinidad_Gunner
i dont belive we have signed VILLA.
thats transfure wouldnt go un-noticed for a second. you would get at least some kind of media spotlight on it. but since there has been ZERO. it is unlikely.
TREZE13 -
are u talking about the
http://fantasy.premierleague.com/ ????
IF not i think Le-grove should start a league for us to do. if not ill do it
it could be very fun i think
TG – It would add up! Here’s hoping………….Fab will be happy and so will ALL gooners with Ade out for a NAME!
TREZE13 -
are u talking about >>>> http://fantasy.premierleague.com/
if not. i think Le-grove should make its own Fantasy league for us to all play in.
……….everyone is refusing to speak about Adebayor’s situation…
Yeah Pedro set up a league for Le Grovers on that site if you want in make a team then enter the code: 183316-43452 where it says join/create a league
^^^ To Raif btw
So the Sun, that paragon of accurate journalism, reported Ken Friar’s comments on Gilberto.
TREZE13 -
im just setting up my team now lol. whos making the league?
Should i do one for all of use.? im can call it Le-League lol
i mean us*
Naa pedro already done one its got 5 members already
GILBERTO SEALS PANA SWITCH.
Arsenal’s acting managing director Ken Friar revealed the Gunners rejected offers from other clubs — one of which is believed to be Everton — because the star had his heart set on a move to Greece.
Friar said: “We have agreed to the transfer and signed the papers. It is now an official agreement.
“We had other offers but we respected Gilberto’s desire to sign for Panathinaikos.”
Gilberto joined Arsenal from Brazilian side Atletico Mineiro after the 2002 World Cup and won two FA Cups and the Premier League title during his spell at the club.
183316-43452 <<< the code to enter Le Grove league
Excellent… ill be Joining
If we have signed a David it is David Silver and that would be an improvement on Hleb. As for signing David Villa we have got more chance of going to the moon. If he wanted to come to London the chavs would be able to out bid us so easily that it wouldn’t even be worth entering into negotiations. Sad but true
More likely to be Long John fucking Sliver………
London, regardless of whether the quotes are accurate… he is going and we can all be certain of that.
The man has been treated poorly in my eyes and I think we are making another dumb mistake by letting a world cup and premier league winner leave.
No wonder players get itchy feet at 28…
make that 24 pedro!!
If Gilberto really has gone then the Rubicon has been crossed and a new DM has to be brought.
London – Rubicon? Is that some sort of fruit based drink for the laydies??
Does that mean Senderos is about to get itchy feet?
That is what me and Geoff were saying earlier… sticking with the kids is to much of a risk.
Flamini had 2 years experience at the club before he was given a chance… he was 24 and he had the fail safe of Berto if he fucked up.
What are the chances of Diaby or Denilson stepping up? 40% maybe? We need a big name in the middle… 25-26… hard as nails and ready.
I have no idea who… but let’s not go with the kids again.
Anyway Gilberto may have crossed the Rubicon Caesar but fucking Song stayed on the other side!
Pedro
I agree with your criticism of only giving a one year contract to any player over 30. It should be done a player by player basis otherwise how else can we expect loyalty.
Agreed on the poor treatment Pedro but not on the letting him go now. He looked too slow last season when he eventually did play. He obviously doesn’t feature in AW’s plans so would be bench at best for most of the season so Pana on a possible 3year contract is better for all, The sun, slower league are obviously better for his old bones than the EPL otherwise he would have gone to the Toffees.
A great servant of AFC and I wish him the best.
Denis
it is a river in the north of italy.
TREZE13
whats that league number again. it dont seem to work ?
32 is not old in the real world Patrick… only in Arsene land!
Look at Makelele! He is 36 and still doing a job… senna is 32 and playing his socks off!
He was bad last year because he hardly played after leading Brazil to the Copa America!
He wanted to stay, he wasn’t demanding football week in week out… he is a big loss I think.
London, I agree… Bergkamp, Keown, Dixon, Winterburn, Adams all had there best years after they were 30.
It is needlessly stingy to offer 1 year contracts unless they are a huge risk… like Anderton.
183316-43452
London – it is done on a player by player analysis or maybe Henry was an exception. I thought he was offered/playing out a 4 year contract which took him to 32 when he moved to Barca?
Sorry!
thanks Pedro. im all signed up now lol
Patrick
It is my understanding that any Arsenal player when reaching 30 will only be offered a one year contract. I can only assume that this is supposed to keep them on their toes.
A player might be offered a contract at 29 that takes them to 32… but after that it is one year deals all the way.
Dennis, no Roman could cross the Rubicon armed with an army if he did it was civil war, the last Roman to do so was Julias Caeser, so by crossing the Rubicon, it meant no way back, you’ve burnt you bridges.
He became the first Emperor after that by defeating Pompey, not Portsmouth.
Wenger seems to operate a Logans’ Run type Carousel situation when players approach 30.(Needlessly inflexible and self defeating)
He sends his sandmen out to bring back the runners
London – Thanks, i know fella, i was just being an arse to help pass the time o’ day……
Pedro – horses for courses. Depends surely on the role they play and bear in mind the EPL is getting faster all the time. Senna is still holding his speed, because they play slower in the main there but here an engine and turn of speed is required which IMO is where Gilberto obviously faded – AW views those stats incessantly to make those judgements.
I’ve heard that life begins at thirty, or is that forty? In any case life at Arsenal certainly does not begin at thirty, far from it.
If you play for Arsenal and you are approaching the big 3-0, then you might as well pack your bags.
Over the years we’ve seen a steady amount of players leaving the club when reaching or nearing thirty due to the fact Arsene only offers one-year deals when renewing their contracts.
Is it time to change that policy?
Look at Hleb’s situation. As you know, I feel that Hleb has taken a liberty at the way he is trying to engineer a move from Arsenal. But he is nearing the age of a footballer when that last long and well paid contract is on offer.
He won’t get that at Arsenal. So you understand why, in a way, his reason for wanting to leave.
Most players (at that age with Bergkamp the exception) have left for the same reason. They don’t have the security of a long term deal at Arsenal so they find it elsewhere.
I bang on about loyalty on my blog, but loyalty works both ways. If the club aren’t willing to show their loyalty to these players by looking after them with longer contracts then the players won’t return any loyalty.
Because of this policy players will always leave Arsenal when that final pay day comes. They know when they reach or near thirty, they have to accept these one-year deals or be shipped out.
Maybe it’s time for a change. Maybe it’s time to scrap the one year deals.
Oops sorry Dennis!
Denis, joke taken in good spirit
London – it’s because about that age is when the speed endurance starts to fade, one of the reasons top sprinters normally aren’t above 30 unless they’re the very best because they can’t recover for the next round having put in a very near max performance. AW’s hot on these performance stats so acting on that info’. (I’m an ex-Personal Trainer/elite athlete so am aware of this info’.)
Geoff – S’alright fella, like i said just killing time, it’s either that or i’ll go insane!!
Patrick… where did endurance get us last year?
We need experience… and we keep selling it…
The teams that finished above us all keep their experience… we should to.
Well said Wrighty.
Bergkamp is the KING. i mis watching him player week in week out,
the first time i saw him play was for AJAX along with Overmars, and i fell in love with Bergkamp and wanted him and Overmars to be at Arsenal. and when he did. Well i was just over the moon…. TWICE!! and it was the same when Overmars came a season or 2 after.
a Great player like Bergkamp and his sheer professionalism is very much a Dead Breed now sad to say. i feel lucky to have been around to see it
This fucking age thing is a joke, take the Pires decision for one, even at 32 none of our current crop can lace his boots let alone when he actually left us a couple of seasons ago. Farcical, everything is geared to remove the high earners from the squad asap, so they can be replaced with a bunch of cheap numpties…….
Well said raif……..
But Patrik7, if that’s Wengers policy why does he complain about “lacking experience” when we crumble in games or towards the end of a season ?
He can’t have it both ways.
You know what raif, you know that if Bergkamp was available now and at the same age as when he actually joined us, that AW wouldn’t even look at him! Then after he went and joined another EPL club and was doing the business, AW would come out and say how much he’s always admired DB10 and that he almost put a bid in for him, fucking clown.
Can somebody please get Bruce Rioch back!
Here’s a thought, lets say wenger did go (sacked or otherwise) who would you like to take his place?
I would say either croatia’s manager Bilic or something, or Guus hiddink, both like their teams to play attractive football but seem more “no nonsense” than Wenger.
Pires was nearly 27 when Wenger signed him, so you would have thought he would have learnt something..
We need experience on the pitch! Not sitting on the bench or in the stands. I think our endurance has shown many times: when we were surging at teams in the last 15-20 minutes, playing with 10 men, playing extra time but also how long we lasted with a very lean squad before we caved in.
The teams that finished JUST above us had very few injuries to their key players. Manure without Ronaldo wouldn’t have beaten us I’m sure and the Chavs are running on borrowed time (I hope) before they have to pay real wages and reduce their squad.
these days quality players like bergkamp,pires,henry would come in at such high prices almost equal to what cuntiano ronaldo commands and wenger would never have made such buys if those players would have been available now and for such prices.
Trinidad / Raif – Villa is a done deal…… trust your Uncle Bud !
it was sad that he let pires go.. what a player on his day and he’s still doing the business in la liga.. i’m sure he could have helped us out in a couple of CL and important league matches!!!
dennisdamenace
thats a Crushing thought, but u might be right you know.
im going to try and not think about that. im just glad we had him.
he is a footballing God in my eyes my Hero Player and i still feel the same every time i see a re-run of his goals for us.
the feeling of when i was in the stands at highbury,
“the Bolton game springs to my mind as i still remember that day”
needing a win to get into Europe
also picking my jaw from off the ground after witnessing one of the best goals ever against Newcastle
and the Timless classic of his goal for holland against the Argies,
seeing him cover his face in utter emotion after scroing even brang me to tears aswell. and im not ashamed to admit it!
Goal against Newcastle
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=3G3v9ikyyHo
Holland Goal
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=HqEWpHuib9A&feature=related
ha, i love our confidence BUD, do u have inside info or just going on your cesc hunch???
Charybdis – I’m not AW’s spokesman although I’m defending some of his actions from my own knowledge/opinions. He’s stated that most of our squad have the necessary experience (now having played CL, CC semis & finals, big matches against the top 4 etc) but not pressure ties on top of each other. What does increase with age to a point is strength/consistency more probably due to focus and ‘mental strength’ that you hear AW going on about.
Toure and Gallas have all the experience necessary but went AWOL in effect when Sagna collapsed. We apparently played our rivals off the park but lost/drew those matches having won/drawn them the previous season.
I still feel providing we replace any leavers and bring in the players AW talked about, the 2-3, we’ll be in good shape this coming season.
uncle bud… tell us more!!!!
I’m sure I read somewhere today that a few seasons ago Wenger said you cant win with kids, cant remember where though!!!!
You say this, but would either Arshavin or Santa Cruz come to play a fringe role and sit on the bench, and would Theo and Nikki stand for another season on the sidelines? Doubtful. I feel that we just need another winger and a centerback when Ade and Hleb leaves and we’d be rollin!
wrighty that was alan hansen… not wenger who said that!!
Well they’ll have to if Ade stays and Robin’s fit!
Wrighty – I’ve never heard AW say that, only the BBC pundits. I think the person who said it on this site earlier was having a laugh!
It wasn’t you on another wind up was it?
Wrighty is talking about GMR’s comment earlier.
He said you can’t blood the kids becuase they cost you points…
I’m on the Fantasy Legue, mind you my players are all over the place, I may be seeking some help from a fine Grover before the first game!!
rico01
i got a team done but i always finalise it a few days before thr leauge starts as u have a bigger idea of whos likly to play.
also other players come and go. thats why i didnt add Ronaldo in my team. or any other player linked with a move. but things like this are hard to predicate
predict*****
Wasn’t it Andy Gray that said you don’t win things with kids?
raif – yes, I am hoping to change mine too, but they dont give you much money, must be bloody AFC who decided on that.
And – I am waiting to be able to include the done deal
David Villa……………………..
I’m not holding you responsible for Wenger’s over 30′s policy Patrick7, just pointing out the paradox there.
The more he ships out experience the more he looses not only experience itself but experience of winning.
Who left in the squad has won a trophy with AFC ?
A damn sight fewer than this time last year.
Mine is a mess as well… it is registered though!
tg – yes, just before Manure won the league…. With Kids!!
I really dont like Andy Gray – Fickle Bastard….
Isn’t Kolo Toure the last man standing from the invincibles now?
You can’t say Wenger has let experience just ‘leave’. Do you really think it’s in Wengers interest to not offer longer contracts for the senior players? It’s obviously a mecanism deplyed by the board. Obviously players should be rewarded when they come to their finals days for the loyalty they have shown the club but if they choose to leave because they feel that they haven’t been offered what they want, its not Wengers choice to let them go, its their choice to leave.
Thats comforting Pedro, thanks
Adom… Wenger decides on the contracts… not the board,
I remember Wenger saying that about kids, it was after Pennant had come on against Leeds in a league match at their ground. Don’t ask me the year because I can’t remember but he was asked why Pennant wasn’t playing regularly & thats when he said all that about kids costing you points & that at a big club you can’t afford to chance it!!
its offical. Arsenal are so secretive about there transfer dealings its like its nothing but chinese whispers among us fans
http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?thisNav=news&article=493838&cpid=703&title=Emirates+Stadium+helps+break+world+record
GMR maybe he should have just said “you dont win anything with pennant”
I know, So you believe theres no interference from the board regarding players contracts?
Gilberto gone – this summer keeps getting better and better !!!
Disappointed to see him go, a good pro who will be missed by all. Never got a real chance last year – could and probably should have been used instead of Senderos at the back.
This shit of not offering longer term contracts to players over 30 has to stop.
Would Man Utd have won the double last year without Scholes, Giggs, etc
Mr Wengers inactivity in holding onto certain players and lack of activity in finding replacements is starting to really annoy me.
Fuckinell, we might not win many trophys but we got 16 trees and the chinese whispers world record!!! things are certainly looking good!
No… Wenger sanctions the contracts.
GMR, I remember him saying that.
That is it, I have registered too
I would just like to say at this stage that I have belief in this group of players, Their desire and commitment in training is excellent and I think we can go a long way together
Is there anyway we can see who is each others team?
i cant beleive the nerds i have chosen for my league!
It was ALAN HANSEN people!!!!
Who has everyone chosen as their captain for dream team?
i picked cesc
david james trez!
Pierre
Hahahahahahahahahaha.
i was thinking the same thing lol.
do u think the chinese whispers started off with. “Who will arsenal sign Next”
and Ended with somthing like “Arsenal will sign fuck all”
9 players in the Fantasy League!
Who else is joining?
Click the below link to get started… Fantasy Grove is about to begin and there is only a few months before Le Grovership starts!
http://fantasy.premierleague.com
1. Sign up to it
2. design your team
3. join the league by entering this pin into the ‘Join league bit’ ( League Pin 183316-43452 )!
4. Then you are away!
The deadline is August the 16th!
JOIN JOIN JOIN JOIN JOIN!
Yes i agreed that, just repeating yourself isn’t fruitful, i find it more patronising than anything else. Dude i’m trying to debate not argue. What i am tryin gto say is, that if Wenger was spending his money on contracts it would be understandable him being a cheap skate with the lengths of contracts, so it would be logical to suggest that the board have given him guidelines where sanctioning contracts would benefit the club rather than the players.
like your advertising skills pedro..
Pierre, that new world record will be Fiszman’s highlight for the 3rd year at the Emirates!!
THIS IS MY TEAM.
James
Sagna – Vidic – Lescott – Clichy
Young – Diarra – Fabregas (C) – Downing
Defoe – Agbonlahor
STILL TO MAKE CHANGES
i take it everyone is going to pick sagna and cesc?
My Team-TREZE13
Van der sar
richards-distin-boswinga-carragher
fabregas (c)- kranjcar-nasri-arteta
Torres-vela
might change later on
well chris, i didnt
Thats it, so Wenger did say it!
indeed you did not!
Adom, are you talking to me?
You said:
That is not debating, that is asking a question… which I answered… how is that patronising or argumentative?
If you are talking to somone else, accept my apologies.
Chris, my team is not chosen yet… I am keeping my players close to my chest… I will move on August the 15th to ensure I pick up some midnight bargains…!
my theory on Fantasy League, is to avoid putting players with no premiership experience.. i like to add them later on in the season when they start to get more games under there belts.
torres as been the only exception from what i can remember
raif- ive got nasri and vela……….woops
its a bit crap that only a couple of arsenal players are allowed, but fuck it we will struggle thru,
i have never done the fantasy football thing before so i am going to enjoy it, good idea by the way gets a bit of competition going, we are only waiting 6 months on your online competition that you threatened
Raif, you an epert Fantasist I see !!!!!!
Raif, you are an expert fantasist I see !!!!!!
Bit of afternoon fun – spot the difference on the 2 above posts?
First to guess gets to enter a team into le-Grove fantasy league.
expert-epert
I know!
Well, I was going to do a predictions game… you know how we predict the scores the friday before a game…
Well, I was going to register them on a page… then tot up the winners and do a table. Then someone suggested that might get a bit difficult to manage, and we could do a fantasy league instead!
Oh.. I also had a guy from Pikum ask me to work with his site… it’s the prediction game with real money. I wasn’t sure about the negative connotations of gambling… so I’ve given that a miss for a bit.
This is my first time as well Chris… should be a good crack… people at my work go mad for it!
TREZE13 – dont get me wrong im not saying im right. its just playing the safer bet. (well what seems the safest)
Bud – its all them years of playing Football Manger & Championship Manager Before that
Bud, I trust you will play this year?
i am looking forward to it but it looks like Raif is going to annihilate us sadly with his skills!
Yes i have my Team in LE-LEAGUE already lol
chris – hahahahahahaha
hopfully
Bud, did i win?
as long as i beat odub i will be happy with that!
nearly 430 messages on here today, what’s the most you’ve had in a day, are we going to be part of a record ourselves?
I think 630 is the current record.
It’s good going considering we are not even playing games yet…
Hopefully you’ll all hang around for the season and we can have a good year… football wise and blog wise!
sounds like hlebs departure will happen any day now …
12.5 mil+ more if barca wins stuff…
maybe thats the barry money ?!
I was referring to the answer, but forget about it.
Whats the league code?
its going to be good while the season is underway. Bcos everyone will be commenting on the game on here while watching it on the tv.
like what we did while the euroes was on.
Adom,
Click the below link to get started… Fantasy Grove is about to begin and there is only a few months before Le Grovership starts!
http://fantasy.premierleague.com
1. Sign up to it
2. design your team
3. join the league by entering this pin into the ‘Join league bit’ ( League Pin 183316-43452 )!
4. Then you are away!
The deadline is August the 16th!
JOIN JOIN JOIN JOIN JOIN!
You guys are gonna hate this message by the time the month is out!
183316 – 43452 <<<<<< code
Ethan, fantasy football?
Are you in!
So Ethan if Ade stays will you put him in your Fantasy Football team?
You were close Treze, but no Cigar…….. you failed to notice the dropped capital ‘F’ in fantasist…………. attention to detail please !!!!!!
I will be in but I will wait till Villa is signed as I am expecting him to spearhead my attack !!!!!!!
Uh ohhhhh!
Juventus are tracking Arsenal midfielder Fran Merida.
Tuttosport says Juve have posted scouts at this month’s U19 European Championships to follow Merida’s progress.
a loan perhaps?
I’m in and confident.
would i be right to think that everyone will make there kit RED & WHITE
pat …
He isnt going to stay .. !
you’ve got more chance of signing flamini from inter !
when will you learn ..
he burned his bridges but his demands ..
you know how things work ! surely .. reyes – hleb-flamini all want aways
wenger gives them what they want ! its his nature
sure pedro .. I can assure you i wont pick ade as a striker .
i like to win !!!
10 teams! Nice one Adom!
Merida pulled out of their first game (which they lost by the way) at the very last minute……… was that to go and negotiate a move to Juve????
Would be pissed off lots if he leaves……… like him a lot !!!!
I guess the interesting thing will be… who will pick a spud?
I thought everyone’s kit would be red and white … mine is orange and black
Jueventus wanted to snatch denilson a season or so back.
I was only joking my friend, it would be like me picking Eboue
I have a horrible feeling we may end up having to keep him though. Milan now look odds on to take Ronaldinho, and then it is only Barca…will they take him? I hope so
How ironic would it be another team stealing our young stars!