So after a day when Arsene Wenger is delighted that Aaron Ramsey has signed another long term deal to stay at the Arsenal I found myself wondering what exactly it was he signed last year? Wasn’t that a contract too?
It seems to me the reason we have no money is because we keep paying our youngsters more and more to stay. It explains why Benitez said he couldn’t compete with Arsenal on signing kids from around the world.
Now I’m all for keeping our young talent, but what we seem to do is keep extending their contracts to keep them happy, why? They already had long contracts and those contracts mean nothing anyway, take Ade and Henry, they both had 3 years of their contracts left, long enough you think, but Henry left his to go to Barca and Ade had his wages trebled to keep him, surely we could have just said, sorry boys, you have three years left, a bit like Fergie did last year, if they then don’t give it their all then there must be grounds not to pay them, it seems to me we are being held to ransom by our own daft policy.
Don’t misunderstand me, I really rate Theo and Ramsey, but Ramsey is hardly a regular and Theo is a long way off to be earning £60k a week, didn’t we lose Flamini because we wouldn’t stretch to £60k a week?
Anyway, that wasn’t a rant, more of a question.
However if you add up what we pay a lot of these youngsters that aren’t regulars, and sell them on, then I’m sure we could get 2 or 3 top players that will be ready right now.
We missed out on Melo and Benzema, but Cana is available, we have now turned back to Inler and Matuidi, whom I know nothing about, I hope we do something because we still lack that bite in midfield and I would be very surprised if Denilson and Song stepped up this coming season, great if they do, and I really will applaud that, contrary to what some may think, but what if they don’t? That then means another season with nothing but potential.
Wenger said yesterday he will maintain project youth because he believes in it, but what happens when the youth get older, like RVP, Ade, Rosicky, Kolo and so on, does that mean we ditch them and bring in more 18 years olds, does that mean project youth will go on for ever?
I would go out and bring back some of those that were foolish enough to leave us at a fraction of the price, bring back Flamini, Reyes and maybe even Hleb.
Whatever you think of them leaving, they are all not playing and may come back grateful, I know a lot of you will be saying no thanks, sod off, but think about it, that’s all we’re missing an enforcer and a winger, and then all we need is a big centre back to replace Silvestre, what about this Naldo guy? Or it that just another rumour. Get that lot in and we aren’t that far off.
We have a lot of youngsters in the team that I don’t think will make it, so cut our losses, admit it, move on and win the league, or even try and win the worthless cup, it’s so frustrating seeing the same thing every season, we are so close to it, and then bring in those kids if and when we need them.
Youngsters like Vela, Ramsey, Wilshere and Bendtner for me will make it but some of the others I feel won’t, we can’t live on hope for ever, no one else in the EPL does and I’m fed up with people that support other teams taking the piss.
It’s alright Ade saying that Evra’s comment about men against babies was disrespectful but even the most ardent AKB must admit he had a big point.
It’s no use saying we almost did them at Old Trafford, because the following week they were playing Barca in the final of the European cup and didn’t want to get injuries.
Come on Arsenal, we all renewed our season tickets, you do your bit now.
Incidentally I was watching the Fernebahce game last night and in the commercials they were still advertising Highbury square as 90% sold, not 90% deposits, but 90% sold, so if it’s not true, why do they insist on keeping the lie going, they can’t have it both ways.
Have a great day grovers, maybe it will happen today, time is running out so why not!
wow, 6 goals in 18 games in the league? 2 assists. Thats better than I thought
make that 40.
Nobody thought RVP could go a season without injuries…He was pretty much injury-free this season.
rosicky gives us a different dimension..a sort of dynamism…
It felt like that didn’t it Pat, but he only started 24 league games. Next season though he’ll be fine, this year’s injuries were just because he’s not had to keep playing for so long as he’s always had alot of breaks, they weren’t recurrant like in previous years
Michael Owen Opens Tentative Discussions With Manchester United – Report
We still on Rosicky?
He is a quality player. One of our best and if he can play regularly next season then we will defo challenge for trophies.
But actually winning something is down to whether we can keep the team fit and together. Avoid injuries, get in a DM and we will win something.
Where’s that from Pat? Bloody hilarious if it’s all true
I dunno stu – i reckon we’ve finally got the strength in depth to win something even if we don’t get lucky with injuries. Before we had Hleb and Rosicky as the two playmakers, and with them out we had noone to bring in, eboue and diaby played out wide! Now we’ve got probably Arshavin and Rosicky, with Nasri and Theo as back up, Vela and Wilshere also coming through. Up front as well we’ve got so much more depth now that a serious injury or two wouldn’t derail us completely as Eduardo’s did with VP already out.
If we get that DM we’re in a very very strong position imo
if ade does go i reckon we should bid for higuain
a midfield comprising attacking flair like cesc rosicky arshavin nasri walcott is surely enogh to frighten any defence.
Owen would make 40,000 a week if the rumors are true.
Pat where are the rumours from??!
Rohan, true. But flair and Theo don’t go well together. Flair and “english” don’t go well together lol
lol.. utd fans must be pissed
I like higuain pat, but doubt it’d happen. He’ll be one player who Madrid will want to keep
i’m still not convinced about our defence..dunno if vermaelen can stand up against the likes of stoke etc. i really want one old fashioned monster of a cb like vidic..don’t mind if it is a sagna type signing.
You seen Vermaelen then Rohan? What’s he like?
Im tellings ye. Juhasz is the perfect signing for defence. Huge, great in the air, at reading the game and a good leader. BINGO!
I hear Vermaelen is really aggressive in the air. A real fighter. Thats good enough for me. And Dutchman says he is fast so thats another great quality. Mean and fast.
However, Sky Sports News is reporting that it “understands” that “tentative” talks have begun between Owen’s representatives and United, after bookmakers’ odds on a likely move fell from 20/1 this morning to an astonishing 9/4 on this evening.
Owen, despite the injuries, still managed 11 goals for Newcastle last season, and, given the right service and a clean bill of health, still possesses a lethal finisher’s instinct in the box.
Such an ability is priceless, and, with the Red Devils always likely to create plenty of chances, perhaps Ferguson feels that the player is worth taking an unlikely punt on.
The only thing that worries me now is controlling games. We need that CDM to stabilize the middle.
We have plenty of attacking options.
Cheers for that Pat. Please let them just sign owen
How about buying someone from eastern europe like Liverpool with Skrtel, united with Vidic and Chelski with Ivanovic? Shakhtar, Dynamo Kiev, Zagreb, Red star etc etc….
m.o would definitely suit us prehaps wenger should step in he like to sign crocks
higuain would be a better choice then chamakh
So would David Villa bbk, doesn’t mean it’s realistic!
higuain is good will consistently give you 20-25 goals per season but i don’t think he is at the same level as a torres or an henry woho could give you 35 goals in a season….just doesn’t seem that special.
he ahrdworking has a good attitude but doesnt seem to ahve that xfactor.
just my humble opinion.
The Anderlacht RB has 13 goals in 68 games
And cost about 3 times as much BBK. You got a spare 20+million lying around?
Whats his name Pat?
well wenger seemed to be keen on benzema by all accounts so he must have a few bob tucked away
Well, there is an eastern European, Serbian to be exact, who is very impressive. He played for Serbia in the u-21 tournament. His name is Gojko Kacar and its rumored that Manchester United have already offered 12 million euros for him.
He is a CB, 6 ft.
7 goals in 42 games for Hertha Berlin
8 goals in 14 for Serbia u-21, including 5 in a 8-0 demolition of Hungary. I really hope Juhasz wasn’t playing for Hungary u-21 when that happened!lol
it’s a better choice then bendtner and chamakh
Stu, Wasilewski. Anderlacht have a pretty good defence. He looks a lot more like a CB cause he’s huge and dominates in the air. Surprisingly, he’s pretty fast too, considering he looks like a bodybuilder.
I doubt it Pat. Juhasz plays for the full team.
This serbian fucker. You sure he is a defender? 8 in 14!?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwWCZUNUpuA
Pat, this Wasilewski fella is 29. I guess that rules him out.
vermaelen is good on the ball, reasonably quick, pretty good at snuffing out counter attacks,good distribution has an eye for a pass, good threat at set pieces(somewhere inbetween toure and gallas)
hes good in the air, but i wouldn’t call him a monster like vidic..he is like a gallas with better aerial ability, but i am still not convinced he will solve all our problems… keep my ifngers crossed tho because i don’t think we’ll get another CB.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7rjRUN8mCI
Some PL team should snap him up before BVB finalize the deal. He’s 20 and pretty talented. Similar to Berg.
Kacar played attacking midfielder against Sweden in the u21:s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rutC3mT_fdo&feature=related
Thats the lad LPool are constantly linked with, but BVB want over 10 million
anyone else feel bendtner ahs come on in leaps and bounds this season and will be a pivotal player next season ( 20 goals ) imo he now looks to be an even better prospect than theo.
Rohan;
Cross you legs too, theres a right dradft in here now…
Ah ok rohan, cheers. Maybe there’s some truth in the naldo talk then as an aerial beast??
Bendy is quality and will be a top player for us next season…. Unfortunatley every other player is fuckin shite…..
Will there be a lot of movement at Arsenal this summer?
We’ll start with the same players. We’ve got a “anti-Real” policy. We build on the long term, a bit like Barca. We don’t need a lot of signings, only if there’s players leaving.
Oh No, that last line about only if players are leaving.
Seriously, if we are not bringing in a DM then we will have another frustrating season. Wenger infuriates me at times.
Have we signed Buffon and Maradona yet?
hahahhaha m.g that was funny bendtner is shockingg
Thats once Serbia was losing. He’s naturally a CB, but he could attack like Gallas or the Toure of old.
pattg;
Yeah he does my head in too, the way he slurps his soup at dinner…. twat!
I think he’ll score more than 20 goals next season Rohan, he got 15 this year as it was and went through an absolutely horrible period! Not to mention being very in and out of the team. I disagree about better prospect than Theo though, they’re different players, and both have the potential to be very very useful in coming seasons.
Bendtner is gonna be amazing next season. Defo a bigger prospect than Theo.
A, from what i hear, Naldo is anything but a beast in the air. Apparently he is shite for someone of his height. Afraid to get in the way of shots bla bla bla
BBK;
Yo my melancholy bruvver! How yee doin?
no youth in their right mind would go to pool to develop their careers..i mean look at babel..
ptg why would that worry you?! It makes me more optimistic, saying we don’t need lots of signings unless people leave, sounds to me like he’s saying we do need signings if people stay, but if people leave we need lots.
Oh ok stu, i was just going on his height, maybe not then!
Yeah Rohan, although Babel was never gonna be amazing, his lack of intelligence is startling and would always have limited him
Maybe I read into it wrong but a few barren summers and under-investment has worn me down A
I read into it that players will only come in if some go out.
Is that down to the fact that he is happy with the squad or is it down to he spunked the lot on Vermaelen and now needs to sell to buy, or is he indeed looking to strengthen still.
I remember I was saying that this season Nik would be great cause he came good towards the end of 07/08. Then he started 08/09 as shit again. He came good towards the end.
i doubt if bendy is going to get as many appearances this season if ade leaves and eddie stays fit……
pattg;
Wenger said he aint interested in any French players apart from Benzema, which for me is fair enough, we have enough French players! He also saiod before, he expects to bring in another 2… So, lets see….
As for the underinvestment, I think thats pretty clear why that was; balancing the books n shit, but i forgot, he is really sitting on a mountain of money and goes to bed on a solid Gold Kingsize…
dunno A, i still believe that babel under wenger could have been a force to be reckoned with…and he also seems to be a player who needs confidence to perform well..
I know A, but like I said I am worn out.
I remember oh too well his promises of last Summer and the one before that never came to fruition, and if he is balancing the books he should not come out with rubbish about super super class player and signings that will reassure the fans.
And again lets see, I hear this every year, I am almost expecting the comment that there is 8 weeks left of the transfer window and relax. It is groundhog summer and the sooner the window is shut the better in my books.
Lets hope last season was a humougous fuck up and wont happen this….
Come on!!! Lets effin hope!
i think wenger is waiting for more clubs namely the chavs and liverpool to enter the market…
don’t know the motive though….
I think I am going to self-impose a transfer deadline on myself
If Wenger has not signed anyone else by the start of August, it is pretty obvious he is happy with his lot. Infact as soon as I hear his annual “I believe in this team it is a year older blah blah blah” then I am going to hermit myself until the 1st September.
i am going to take a positive outlook until the season starts and we lose to wolves..
THE RETURN OF THE INVINCIBLES……
That will mean he has missed out on his targets for me, Pattg… Of course he will say he is happy, dont mean he aint tried to sign anyone…
Hopefully, that shit will not happen again. If it does, then why the feck is gazidis there? For me, he is a sharp cookie…
Things will be cool….
I ahve only 3 wishes for next season..
1. we win the premier league title
2. chelsea drop out of the top 4
3. spuds and hull get relegated
Well lets hope son Mangoonian.
Personally I cant believe that there is not a DM in World Football that is
1) Better than what we have got
2) In our price range
3) Realistically Available
4) Would come to Arsenal
Especially one in two summer transfer windows on the bounce…
Mamadou Diarra is the one Id like to see, however, thats based on nuffin more than personal preference, I have no idea if he’d fit in, or suit us or even last the pace…
he’d be a risk given he’s jsut back from a long layoff
We like a gamble at Arsenal tho…
you maybe right patg..good shout…
i won’t be too displeased if we start the season with the current squad..
I still wouldn’t bet against the Verminator playing at DM …. It isn’t his position, so he would be perfect there
I sound all doom, but I honestly would be happy going into the season with just one more signing (a DM)
I have grave concerns about our midfield if Cesc gets injured again, and it is not just about improving the DM position it is about being able to cope and win games without Cesc.
HB;
I was about to post that before the MamaDou post… Yeah, wouldnt be too surprised myself…
I think the current squad is capable of winning the vast majority of games as it is… But 1 or 2 more and we WILL win something, no doubt a-bleedin-bout it, IMO!
Adios muchachos!!!
Hasta la vista hombre
Howdy… to me it’s proving difficult for us to sign the cream of the crop players atm because the agents fill their minds with greed and therefore they can demand the highest salaries hence that is why we can not compete with Barce, Madrid and Manc clubs.. oh and least forgetting those unpopular Chavs too!
In the interim we do not appear to be going in for anyone… maybe the bids are being prepared but there’s nothing going!
Unfortunately I feel that it will be a summer full of frustration because the players in demand agents will say to their clients to hold out for the best offer and if nothing materialises then there may be a mad frenzy of transfer activity towards the end of the window which I understand closes at the end of August. It happens all the time now… clubs hold out until either a stupid to good to be true offer comes in or they will bide their time and cut their losses just before the window closes!
Still in saying all this.. I would rather have a player who wanted to play and commit to our club than have him sign later because he didn’t get the wage or interest which his agent had previously hyped him up to believe he would get… so in conclusion either our targets are pricing themselves out of a move to us or we are reluctant to do business with these money pinching buffoons!
Unfortunately money talks in a world where good principles are quickly starting to become meaningless and unfashionable… find us another Bergkamp!
I want a harworker. Thats all we need in our system and to suit cesc. We don’t need world class, just a a hardworker. Flamini is not world class for anyone other than us.
pity that is the only thing we seem to do on the amrket these days…
Denisov it is then Pat.
Some manc called Gaz emailed SSN and basically said that if Owen signs for united then England will win the WC.
If Cesc gets injured than either Tomas or nasri shift to the center. I’m leanign towards Rosicky cause he covers a lot more ground and takes more responsibility, which is needed at CM
you know if cesc puts in a bit more work defensively we might be able to use someone like nasri to partner him. probably would only work on weaker teams but it is still worth a shot…
coz lets face it cesc has been disappointing this season
i was just thinking how it must feel to be a real madrid fan right now…
In light of Madrid revealing all their players etc etc i pondered..Why dont we ever do shit like that. Never unveilings like that. All we get is a couple of photos om arse.com.
Maybe like all their Christmases had come at once!!
Wilshere Coquelin Ramsey Walcott
Fucking hell that is going to be some midfield within a couple of years
Christmas is over-rated.
Rohan
Or how about we dont gamble our season on someone like Nasri playing CM. He can play instead of Cesc, not alongside Cesc, I think Chavski proved that towards the end of the season.
We must must must must buy a competent ready made quality CM.
Faceman, what about Merida and Lansbury? Thay are quality too.
i bet they still won’t play anything resembling wengerball….
Agree with that Faceman.
Coquelin looks the nuts from the games I have seen him in. I think Walcott will have moved up top by then though,
Yeah, they will play Pelligrini-ball. He teams play very nice football
yeah defo lansbury… merida could do the job on the right and allow theo to be a super striker with vela and bendy
i’m positive about the future, tieing up these lads on 6/7 yera deals like we done with cesc at that age is a very good sign that they will make it to world class level.
I’d like a midfield 2 of Lansbury and Ramsey. Both are centre midfielders. Neither attacking or defensive so they would both but in a defensive shirt while the other attacks. Proper CM and CM partnership as opposed to a DM and AM.
i know patg, but it all ties in with the nasri claiming he could be the DM on arse.com and i really don’t think wenger is going to spring for any other player…
Robben Alonso Diarra Ronaldo
Kaka Benzema
managed by pellegrini….
playing
Messi Xavi Toure Iniesta
Henry Eto Villa
in el classico mext season????????????
like some kind of sick all stars games… the tickets to the 2 games next season will be like gold dust
Nasri as a DM is a joke! We are asking for a physically dominant midfielder to protect the flair players. Nasri aint ecaxtly the biggest, meanest mo-fo around, now is he. And he is only about 5ft 10 so wouldnt solve any problems there.
5ft 10?
more like 5ft 8
Faceman, Eto is trying to force his way out tho. So he ether wont be there anymore or will have lost his place to Villa.
It’s gonna be nuts Faceman, a front 5 of
——–Xavi——–
——-Iniesta——-
Messi———-Henry
——–Villa——–
VS
Ronaldo-Kaka-Higuain?-Ribery
——–Benzema——–
That’s assuming Alonso if he’s signed is the DM behind him, or one of the Diarras otherwise.
Nah he is 179cm. Thats 5’10 according to wiki and ESPN.
i really like the look of fran merida..classy
*178.
A, word out of spain is that they are gone off Ribery because Bayern want too much, They have switched their attention to the cheaper Silva.
http://goonertalk.com/2009/07/02/wenger-interview-chamakh-will-sign-if-ade-leaves/#more-5969
My favourite youths….Merida, Wilshere, Ayling and…probably Murphy because of his clinicalness.
atleast the el classico will be something to look forward to……
Oh and not forgetting Coquelin but not as much as the others.
Ah ok Stu – I dunno though – with Ribery saying today he wants to go to Madrid I can see it being forced through, they should snap up Silva as well, although Valencia hate Madrid so would rather sell to someone else
stu..lets hope he doesn’t spend too much time in the clinic then…
Yeah, i heard that Ribery wanted to leave but Bayern want at least 40m and Madrid sont want to soend that kind of money agains. Same reason why Alonso deal is less likely. Liverpool want more than Madrid are offering.
oh god not chamakh..it will probably turn out to be wenger’s worst transfer ever,,
haha anti-Real policy……..
Chamakh is sooooo shit. Im not an expert on the french league but on the few occasions i have seen him he has been shite. No way is he good enough. He might flook one good season but not good enough,especially for his age.
I’d much rather Pogrebynak on a free, or Janko for 6million.
I’m very dubious about the translation of those wenger comments, they don’t sound like him at all. I can see it being something like “do you like chamakh”, and wenger saying “he’s a good player but we aren’t interested in a forward player unless someone leave”
Therefore “WENGER SAYS CHAMAKH WILL BE SIGNED IF ADE LEAVES”
or Owen on a free
especially as he is not demanding the stupid wages…
I would love a hungry Owen keen to earn his Arsenal Place to ensure he gets an England place.
If Owen goes to Man Ure, I will put a tenner on him being top PL goal scorer.
i;d get owen instead of chamakh…
great minds eh pat
did someone mention Wasilewski here? fuck me, this guy is shite – fair enough, some pace and presence but a bit thuggish, he gets booked left, right and centre…
I guess so Rohan although I think there will be a lot of Gooners that would say no to Owen.
yea we do have eduardo…..
pat i’ll take odds of 30-1 if you’ll give me that tenner rather than any bookie!!?
we don’t need to buy any strikers, we’re stocked up in this department as it is
all we need is a CDM, and that should be AW’s focus atm; apart from that we’re good to go…
I must say Valdano seems to be a truthful bugger so far. he spilt the beans on , Kaka, CR and KB even while their respective clubs were saying otherwise. he shoots from the hips and i respect that.
I take it you would say no to Owen then A?
I think he is worth a gamble if Ade goes. Dont think we need another Ade type if he goes, we already have Nic, and I would rather Owen than Chamakh (who will be off to the ANC)
agreed suga3
imo vela is better than a crocked owen…
Everytime pat, if I was a hull fan I’d be dubious about Owen…. His legs have completely gone, not just straight line speed, but in every way. I’d start Vela or Theo up front every time ahead of Owen, he’s completely done, and I’m praying Utd do sign him as a replacement for Tevez, though I reckon even if they do he won’t play much in the end
yeah agreed Rohan, even as Vela currently is, very raw and with alot of developing to do he’s better than Owen, watching Owen play last season was just an embarrassment, he should go to the states now to keep his career going and save himself embarrassment.
agreed Rohan – I really rate Vela, I was gutted to see useless Diaby on the left wing rather than him…
there were a few close-ups of him sitting on the bench and he wasn’t a happy bunny…
Owen does have an eye for a goal tho. Not that i want him, far from it but he does know how to score.
PTG, we don’t need another crocked midget, we need some presence…
still, I’d rather have Owen on pay-as-you-play deal rather than Chamakh who is utterly shite…
if AW signs him, he’s lost it…
He won’t suga3, i don’t believe for a second he’s interested in the slightest, he’s either had his words twisted, or he’s just playing about with the media!
even crocks already…
please no owen
owen should just settle down with those racehorses he has
A, i hope to fuck you are right. I trust the judgement of those on here and someone has said he is amoungst the worst strikers in the french league. Over exaggeration(sp) maybe but he must be shite for them to hate him that much.
I dunno about that stu, 8 in 28 last season isn’t that great, i’d rather have martin from newcastle than owen, but wouldn’t want either!
Absolutely no way it’ll be true stu. Wenger REALLY rated Bendtner, we currently have ade, vp, eduardo ahead of him, with vela coming through along with theo when he starts playing through the middle. If ade went, the only way Wenger would sign a forward is if he felt we needed or could get someone top top quality who would come in and play game in game out, he wouldn’t sign someone to just make up the numbers. If Benzema was available then maybe, but otherwise someone like Chamakh would never come in
If at all there is to be a replacement should Ade be sold then my vote goes to Pogrebnyak simply because he is cheap, experienced and proved (internationally)
Or Janko….
Also if Wenger said “In my opinion, Adebayor will stay” Then i would be inclined to translate that as “If anyone can offer what i want, i’ll sell him”
He would have probably gone to Milan but they didn’t wanna pay enough for him
A,
I really hope so – IF he was to sign someone who is THAT shite, then it would have to be taxi for Mr Wenger, I’m afraid…
But wat is enough Bill. I agree with your translation but how much does he want because consiering most fans want him gone and the poor season he just had then surely Wenger cant be asking for 30m again. 20m would be a good price imo.
But i doubt Milan wanna pay 20 for him, they will no all about the problems the fans have with him, and that coupled with his dip in form last season probably saw Milan’s bid decrease slightly
*know
Yeah i suppose, but its not like they dont have enough money. jey are loaded after selling Kaka. And if Leo wants him then the club should just get him.