I do NOT like to gloat, but come on, Ole at the wheel? It’s my current binge-watch.
A month or so ago, after two solid wins against top 6 opposition, the media weighed into the irresistible.
PLUCKY OLE FINALLY TURNS CORNER
Passion, heart, glory… call it what you want, OGS has his team of young lions achieving the sort of elevated football we haven’t seen at United since 1999. King Ole, he knew.
They do it EVERY FUCKING TIME and it makes me JOY EVERYWHERE.
What an utterly garbage coach he is, United are in so much trouble because they’ve basically hired in a beloved family labrador that has perma-diarrhea. He’s stinking out the house, the cream carpets will never be the same again… but who wants to be the one to put him out his misery?
Not me. That’s for sure. Let’s ride this out and hope Woodward makes the correct decision with some elephant strength Immodium, a £100m ‘last chance’ vet bill, and #4moreyears.
… back to Arsenal.
The hottest rumours on the internet are firmly focused on Upemacano being the #1 target for the club this January. That makes me very happy, I really worried we had some contacts scouting™ going with Boateng. The last thing we need is another high earner where the ceiling has collapsed due to a burst water pipe.
Bringing in a 21-year defender that can play in a highly technical system works for me. RB Leipzig is one of the best incubators in the world for talent, so you know he’ll be a hard worker, have an excellent attitude, and be open to new ideas as well as being receptive to feedback.
He still feels like a very big signing for us considering the financial challenges we have, but I guess if we were going for him in this summer, we’re just eating into an overdraft. My initial thoughts were that we’d sell a few players this window, but all of the potential liquid assets seem to have been retained and reinvigorated. The only problem child we have is Mustafi who interestingly wasn’t even trusted to play at right-back. He’s gone from World Cup winner to someone you wouldn’t start in your Sunday League pub team. What a shambles.
I think there are a few folk that worry that Arteta is blinded by players that have let us down, I see it differently, I think he’s probably thinking that signing in new players is a huge gamble and disruptive. If he can get 5 months out of players that know the club and the league, he’s far more likely to have a chance at winning trophies now and going on a run in the league.
That said, I think the summer will be very dramatic. We’ll absolutely have to shift on players to fund the sort of summer that’ll move the dynamic of the squad in the direction of an Arteta model of play.
Our biggest issues at the moment sit in the middle of defence and at full-back. I think we can probably deal with the full-back issue internally, but at centre back, we’re relying on two defenders on the back 9 to see us through the season, playing in a far more intense system than the one we operated in under Emery. I love Holding, but he looked shot the other night.
The numbers on Arteta are moving in the right direction. Interesting that in your head, you imagine that we’re playing a totally different game, but really, the most dramatic shift in the above numbers is the tightening of defence and the build-up stats.
Shines a light on why Arteta doesn’t really care for distance run stats, they’re not particularly important as we saw under Unai Emery’s headless chicken approach. He’s looking at how you use your energy in the most efficient way. The team is only running 4km extra a game, but exerting far more energy through the more intense style. It’ll be very interesting to see what those numbers look like by the end of the season.
I watched back the Leeds game again. Couple of things. I thought Martinez made some truly excellent saves, he really did keep us in the game. I also still can’t believe the output in the second half. It really does show how much of football is in the mind at the highest level. We went from absolute bums to menaces… despite the team being heavily fatigued. It might not last, but you cannot put a value on a winning culture built on dedication to 100% commitment on the pitch at all times. Some leaders can command that, others simply can’t. I really, really, really hope this continues through the next few years. It’s electric to watch when it works. Plenty of massive tests ahead, but I’m excited.
Also, some fool said it was Sheffield United at the weekend, it’s actually not, it’s Palace. I think this game is going to be very interesting, Arteta threw everything at the cup game, so how will his team respond against a side that has regularly bullied us? He’s constantly talking about aggression, I’d really love to see us show some bite against Hodgson’s side. I’m hoping the learning from the Leeds game is that we can’t let our foot off the gas, it’ll be a huge physical test, one that we bottled last season when it counted, so a win here would be symbolic and a very strong indicator of how well the rest of this season will pan out.
After that, the squad has a whole 7 days off to recuperate and get some proper TLC with the coach.
“Right now I am more interested in how we improve as a team under Arteta than signings. ”
Same for me. I wait to see what Handsome Sauce really got.
On AMN, it’s because he’s a space cadet mentally and cannot be trusted. He gets away with it at the Emirates when we are on the front-foot, but away at places like Goodison he folds, and can’t do the basics. He was horrendous there last season after some good performances at home, and who can forget him basically losing the Europa final with his stupidity. Bellerin is limited but physically and mentally far more robust and will do the hard yards home or away. Arteta will realise this, even though AMN can drop a shoulder ala Lauren now and then… Read more »
I prefer one high pressing CB and one deep lying CB combination to a high pressing CB duo. Koss-Mertersacker sort of combination suits us the most.
Marc
those numbers are from last year aren’t they? Before we lowered the wage bill. A lot of of our transfer business was back loaded last summer so I’m not buying the whole we don’t have a pot to piss in scenario.
Plenty we could still do in offloading players to raise cash or lower the wage bill even more . Depends on if the will is there or not and if we can get the targets we want.
If Roma and Besiktas offer £10m a piece for the likes of Mkhitaryan and Elneny, sell them and let them go.
As for Mustafi, take the hit and sell him at £10m if you have to and resolve not to sign droppings like him again.
Mavropanos and Macey should fetch £2m each…
In the summer sell David Luiz and Sokratis for £5m each…
Thats’ £44m and clearing most of our deadwood… more than enough to acquire a talented and hungry young centre back with a world class pedigree.
Better to buy 1 person of pedigree rather than 5 average players.
Agree on the mentality related issue with AMN as I said he is prone to losing focus at times but AMN is better going forward than Bellerin in the sense AMN can beat a player unlike Bellerin who runs in straight lines without any guile or trick up his sleeve.
TR7 – Bellerin is better overall though. He might lack that ability to curve a run better he’s more consistent and ballsy in terms off the ball movement, and he just does it with more intensity. That last minute equaliser against Chelsea a couple of years ago, that run and cross for Ozil against Bayern late on. I think he’s in a totally different class, although it only shows over long periods of time because of the consistency aspect. Overall though, going forward we need an upgrade because Bellerin might never get back to what he was physically, and we… Read more »
Paulinho
That’s the thing with AMN and to a degree most of our players, look good at home when we’re in control but away from home, it’s like mentally they’re somewhere else….
AMN and his bouts of loss of concentration also always comes at critical times in games too, can’t be trusted at all
Paulinho
Yes, Bellerin’s consistency makes him a better player. He is the kind of player who will always give you 6 or 7 out of 10 performance. I do feel AMN can play at a higher level if he is serious about his game.
The best friend for a CB is your CB partner and your corner back. Leeds put manpower to cover Luiz and allowed more room for Holding. His right back should be his primary outlet. Having an immobile PapaSok as RB is not helping, isn’t it? Once Holding is playing with a proper RB, his game will improve.
Maintland-Niles plays with a THC hangover over other week. He needs far more in his locker to compensate for his regular lapses in concentration.
Mustafi same thing, expect his lapses always result in him going to ground and fouling the player running past him. Shame, because he’s a decent passer of the ball but his overall play is cack and he’s always been a liability at the back.
Saliba will be under so much pressure at 19 when he joins. We need an experienced CB in the interim, imo. Not Boateng, obv.
The concerns around AMN are more than valid. At 22 though he’s still coachable. A lot of the young guys need direction and hopefully they get that under Arteta. Things can change with them. it’s the more senior guys i’m less tolerant with. There’s less mileage with them. I’ll judge AMN over a longer period of time. For the first three games, him and Torreira have been the biggest beneficiaries of Arteta’s management imo. Concentration is something that can be easily addressed if the player is willing though because I remember Kyle Walker used to have a lot of those… Read more »
I think the thing that stands out to me is the importance/value of good coaching. You saw with Leeds under Biesla on Monday that the important thing is to get the team being better than the sum of its parts. A good system can always hide flaws and accentuate strengths. Obviously there’ll always be a limit to it and quality will eventually tell.
Though, as Romford was saying the other day, with the full back playing more in-field in Arteta’s team, AMN is probably more suited than Bellerin, so that might play a part in Guardiola’s decision-making. Arteta is flexible though; he played Sokratis right-back the other day and there’s no chance of him playing that role, so time will tell.
*Arteta not Guardiola
Yes, RB plays more infield and Xhaka moves to left back position vacated by Kolasinac when he moves forward. This tactics gives Xhaka more space to operate with so that he can comfortably spray passes around. Less scope for a running the channel like right back such as Bellerin in this system.
We’re still learning so much about Arteta so it’s hard to predict. For example, i’m projecting here, but I don’t think he’ll play 4231 long-term. It was interesting the other day he said the other day his priority is to get the fitness levels up and then he’ll start introducing more tactical nuances so he’s probably just managing for now and not changing too much. The obvious changes we’ve seen so far though: Position of the RB infield to act as another CM during build up. LB pushed all the way up as another attacker so Auba joins Laca central… Read more »
Fred “””A lot of of our transfer business was back loaded last summer so I’m not buying the whole we don’t have a pot to piss in scenario””” Well , you better. Front loaded or back loaded ,bills still have to be paid. And We ain’t got a dime. Not even a lousy cent. The FFP lawyers – will be all over our accounts like a rash. Chelsea posting record losses Everton posting record losses Arsenal to follow. At least we will be top of that sorry table. TheMoney has been spent – mostly on a concoction of one footed… Read more »
Xhaka occupying the space at LB gives me the chills. Kola loses the ball further up the pitch and Zaha will gallop past him at the weekend (if he’s their RW).
The importance of quick and athletic CMs who have to drop back and hold the left or right side can’t be overstated.
From what I’ve seen, one of the main reasons Saka has done so well at LB is his recovery speed. Xhaka takes 4 minutes to get up to top speed he’s that immobile.
Jamie – definitely a worry. Hopefully he plays on the left! But I think the aim is that we are compact so players aren’t often left isolated as we saw in the initial games. Hopefully we can force Zaha to spend most of the game defending.
Romford –
Totally. Under Emery, we would’ve played such a defensive and reactionary game (which we’ve been shite at for over a decade) putting so much pressure on the back line and keeper.
Arteta definitely doesn’t roll that way, thank god. Play to our strengths, be proactive and, like you said, Zaha doesn’t see much of the ball and his threat is nullified.
Freddy Ljungberg
Our transfer business in the summer was
Sales £48.2 Million
Purchases £137.16 Million
Deficit £88.97 Million
What is true is that we agreed an instalment plan specifically for Pepe and
possibly Saliba. However, the fact is that we have a commitment to pay these
transfer fees and it impacts on our transfer budget both this season and in
the future.
Emirates Stroller
‘”””However, the fact is that we have a commitment to pay these
transfer fees and it impacts on our transfer budget both this season and in
the future.”””
Well explained ES.
Because of last summers recklessly inept spending spree and FFP rules we really are in a pickle without CL revenues for the foreseeable future.
I know it
You seem to know it.
I am afraid most on here do not.
We will try to educate them.
Re: Holding
Agreed he looked rusty but I thought his defending was fine, it was his distribution that looked quite poor — that will improve will playing time…I’m confident he has a useful role to play
ES Swiss Ramble @SwissRamble · “13 aug. 2019 So, from a cash payment perspective, #AFC have spent £46m gross and £22.5m net this summer. It will not have gone unnoticed that the gross cash outlay is very much in line with the alleged £45m budget. More importantly, spreading payments allowed the club to buy Pépé.” It depends on how it’s calculated. No way did we spend all that money up front on Saliba for example to loan him back for a year. We’re still paying off previous transfers and are still receiving payments from clubs having bought our players years… Read more »
‘We also increased our sponsor deals by quite a lot (30-40m) after the latest numbers were announced and lowered the wage bill with a similar amount.’
Sorry your numbers are all over the place.
Tr7
https://www.espn.com/soccer/arsenal/story/3661933/arsenal-confirm-adidas-sponsorship-deal-worth-60m-per-year
http://dailycannon.com/2019/09/how-much-money-did-arsenal-remove-from-their-wage-bill-this-summer/
Oh really.
Adidas adds 30m annually to our sponsorship by themselves, can’t be bothered to look up the rest but there was a small increase there too.
It was actually 46m off the wage bill. I was being conservative.
Fred
“””CG You still struggle to understand that we haven’t spent 250m in the last 18 months so not sure who you’re going to educate.””””
You are actually correct.
Now we have sacked The Clown and his merry men and appointed MA.
We have actually spent more.
The thing is we have not hardly made a dent into paying any of it off.
There will be financial carnage this summer- if we dont get CL soccer.
And we wont.
I’m not sure if the new signings wages are included in that though, would still be 30m + of the wage bill even if it wasn’t.
Jamie
“Xhaka occupying the space at LB gives me the chills. Kola loses the ball further up the pitch and Zaha will gallop past him at the weekend (if he’s their RW).”
If opposing managers have any sense they’ll soon wise up to this tactic and target Xhaka on the break. First time yellow card, second time penalty and second yellow card. I’ve been impressed with what Arteta has done so far but if he thinks he can utilise Xhaka without it seriously biting us on the arse at some point he has a lot of growing up to do.
“If opposing managers have any sense they’ll soon wise up to this tactic and target Xhaka on the break.” It’s not that simple. While Xhaka himself is a flawed player. if you have a system that covers players’ flaw you’re unlikely to get to expose them. We all know Otamendi and Mendy at City are calamities but when City are pressing effectively you’re never gonna be able to expose their weaknesses. United had O’Shea, Brown etc as part of title-winning squads for years. On their own they weren’t great players but in functional set-ups they were serviceable and weaknesses were… Read more »
Freddy Ljungberg
I accept the points made by both Swiss Ramble and yourself including the
increase in sponsorship.
However, the reality is that the club has commitments to cover the transfer fees even if by instalments. It means that our ongoing budget will be reduced.
Romford
Well made point.
When Xhaka fucks up (again) I’ll remind you.
I see it differently, I think he’s probably thinking that signing in new players is a huge gamble and disruptive.
Has to be said this sounds very Wenger-esq
Marc – don’t shoot me mate, i’m just explaining the logic behind the madness!
Like you I want Xhaka out and I want him replaced. I’ve said quite a few times i’d be signing Grealish and Soumare for our midfield. I can understand why Arteta likes him (progression in terms of build up) but I think his lack of mobility will be an issue if we strive to be a team competing for trophies. Get rid in the summer imo.
What most people fail to understand is, don’t expect too much change in this transfer window even I don’t want new player Because it’s better for alteta to insert his phylosophy with less pressure because most of us knows that there is a very little chance to salvage this season. But say if the team can hav
Consistency with this squad come summer by all means buy Away.
Freddie
As per the filed 2018-2019 financial report our wage will reduced by approximately £4M.
Tr7
Yes, before the summer. We did a hell of a lot of shifting out of deadwood on high wages this summer. I did say it was after the published account numbers. That is what we have to work with now, this seasons budget.
The adidas sponsorship also came into effect after the accounting was done so that isn’t reflected there either. Doesn’t mean that money isn’t there.
I’m not a numbers guy so i’ll defer to the better people but how does the installment process affect our budgeting on other windows. By all accounts we paid a nominal fee for Saliba upfront as he was spending the season on loan so how much do we pay this summer? The next stage of the Pepe fee is also due. Does this then detract from our summer budget?
“When Xhaka fucks up (again) I’ll remind you.”
Me too. lol
I really don’t understand why so many on here think AMN is a shit player
One can only assume that either you’ve barely watched Arsenal play the last two seasons or that great footballing brain of your takes a break every time AMN has a poor game. It’s not made up or plucked from the sky these criticisms of him they are totally warranted. He should have been sold after the Europa League debacle honestly. Bottom line we need a starting RB anyway irrespective of AMN or Bellerin. I’d bin both
Romford Let’s take Saliba’s example for instance. Say the transfer fee is £40M and we paid £10M upfront. The £10M is registered as an expense in profit and loss statement and reduces our profit and eventually our cash reserve by the same amount. The rest £30M is captured as accounts payable in the balance sheet and doesn’t impact our cash reserve for that year. Next year if we pay £10M as the 2nd installment, the profit and cash reserve will again reduce by £10M and our total payable will reduce to £20M meaning we have paid £20M out of £40M… Read more »
Again Arsenal fans talking about the same things AMN this and Xhaka that. No such thing as last chance saloon at Arsenal all past transgressions are forgiven and we go again. I predict the future will be the same as the past for Mikel if he continues with certain types. Mediocrity resumes at Arsenal. The hope is that he’d be different but talking up Ozil and seemingly refusing to sell a problem player these past few years when we have the chance to is a worrying sign.
CG
Your incessant ramblings on Arsenal’s financial dealings is very very boring.
Look at it this way, if Arteta manages to turn things around, we will be financially better off. Logical, right?
Remember, we were already well over a £100m in the red when Emery took over. The Sanchez and Ozil contractual debacles come to mind, not to mention the many hundreds of millions dished out to undeserving players and over the years.
The one common factor in all of this was what or, should I say, who?
Go on, have a guess.
TR7 – thanks dude, that makes sense. Cheers for clearing it up.
undeserving players over the years.
Sky are all over the place btw. We’re not bringing in anyone we’ve no money but they mention us as a team interested in signing Soumare and quote 50 million. They’re very unreliable until something is at a late stage and then they try to break it like a sort of exclusive.
“Wilfried Zaha’s new agent Pini Zahavi is trying to broker a deal with Spurs…”
Mind you his new agent has been trying to flog him to Bayern as well!
Marko
As I said earlier the problem with AMN is not a lack of talent as is the case with Mustafi, Sokratis, Kola,Nelson etc. The only major flaw in his game is lack of focus and application at times, something which can be improved.
Zaha when you have Son. Love Mourinho creating problems out of nothing
Poor Mustafi, even after changing his agent and only having 18 months left of his contract the best links he can get are still only Galatasaray on loan.
Worst money we ever spent that 35m, at least we’ll get some money back for Xhaka when we finally decide to boot him out. Ozil a contender based on his contract and the last 2 years but he had a couple of very good years before his decline so was never completely useless.
Spurs don’t have the money for Zaha.
Eriksen, Vertonghen and Alderweireld all likely to walk on frees this summer and need to be replaced.
Epic stadium debt, CL next season far from guaranteed and therefore a huge loss in revenue, they’re in quite a financial pickle.
Jamie
Alderweirald has signed a new contract.
Also, they have to save some money in the bank for the inevitable Jose severance package in approximately 18 months.
Zing!
TR7 –
Oh! My bad. Any idea how much he’s on now? Hopefully £150k a week minimum.
Jamie
Alderweireld signed a new 4 year contract a couple of weeks ago. Vertonghen keen on renewing too apparently.
Was hoping they would lose more players on frees this summer but it doesn’t look like it’s going to be that many. Still in trouble after mucking up the stadium build and hiring Jose the club wrecker.
Well, that puts a dampener on things.
They’ve saved £50m easy on those two extensions alone.
TR7 it’s amazing how when a player performs poorly or awfully (over quite a long period) that it can be dismissed so easily because he’s still quite talented. I personally don’t know where you see this talent it hasn’t been on display in the previous 18-24 months at all. But I’ll play along. What exactly are his talents? Before you answer I’ll tell you what I see from the player. Eh fuck all really. Neither good enough offensively or defensively, not great technically speaking most of his passes seem sideways and backwards nothing special about it, his pace is good… Read more »
Vertongan will be 33 by the start of next season and Alderweirald 31 on the basis of their current season they are declining so Spurs signing them to new deals is pretty silly imo.
Signing Alderweirald on a 5 year deal at 31 is crazy.
It also tells you that the big money offers he thought would roll in aren’t there. If Vertongan signs on it’ll mean the same thing, the big financial loss will be Eriksen.
I have only seen a little of Upamecano and what i have seen is all good. Nevertheless the valuation being quoted is crazy money and I share CG’s thoughts that pairing him and Saliba together, whilst a potentially excellent pairing, is still very much a massive financial gamble. We should start looking properly at home with someone used to EPL or Championship experience. The argument that it is cheaper to buy abroad no longer seems to be the case. English football takes at least 1/2 a season to adapt to and in the CB position that is a big problem.… Read more »
Sorry 3 year not 5!
And my previous post should also have added that the induction time means that if we do buy Upamecano and leave it to the summer to get a better price, then the gamble gets greater, albeit on slightly lower outlay, because now both players (Upa and Saliba) will be going through their induction together
Why arent we in for vidal? Wages too high? Seems like he’d be a pretty damn good fit post barca
Marko
AMN can beat a player, something which only a select few can do in our team. His passing, touch etc. is decent. He has good pace too. Under Arteta his performances has improved which suggests under proper instruction and guidance he can perform at a good level.
Also isnt the actual TR7 coaching these days? Would love to see him lining up on the bench w arteta freddie and per
Can’t see Leipzig selling Upemacano now. They want to win the league and can’t afford to move him on. And why would they? This is not a traditional German owned and managed German team. They don’t need the cash. They need the title. If they want to move him on they will wait until the summer window. That window allows more time to put together big deals as well as allow teams to move on assets to raise funds for big acquisitions. Come the summer United, City, Bayern and perhaps Inter and Barcelona will line up or him and if… Read more »
Vidal is 32, they want 17m for him and he likely wants high wages too.
We have to keep building for the future with young top prospects. Only 30+ players should be short term loans if we can’t get our targets or don’t have the funds to cover all the positions we want to cover.
Difficult coming in to the PL in that role at 32 as well. Man U are allegedly interested so maybe we’ll find out. I hope so because that’s one team out of the running for Soumare then.
NorthBanker
“”””Nevertheless the valuation being quoted is crazy money””””
Crazy, crazy crazy..
When Dortmund Eye was here.
We were fairly sensible.
Genduzi £7mill
Sok £18 mill( still too expensive)
Leno £20 mill
Torreira £24 mill
They all made sense.
There was a strategy.
Then he was ousted.
And since then Raul has run total amok with his insane transfers and decimated the club finances.
Exactly what he did at Barcelona
Dembele at £100 million??
There can only be trouble a head.
Zacharse, heard quite a few rumblings with players. Both Cesc and Santi apparently want to go into coaching and Cesc has been opening his legs to Arsenal again recently. Wouldn’t surprise mt to see him back here at some stage.
The one I thought would end up here is Xabi Alonso who is Arteta’s best friend.
Frank C.
Absolute no on lower cost defenders. We already have enough of them. If Upe is the best we can find out there then go for it and keep the dross we already have. What’s the point in buying more second or third tier defenders?
And as for buying English defenders, anyone that is half decent will cos three times the equivalent foreign player.
“And as for buying English defenders, anyone that is half decent will cos three times the equivalent foreign player.”
This is it. You have Norwich valuing Ben Godfrey at £50m. Now I like him but that’s Upamecano money right there.
TT
“”””And as for buying English defenders, anyone that is half decent will cos three times the equivalent foreign player.”””
Rob Holding
John Stones
Harry Maguire
Bolton,Barnsley and Hull City
All went cheaply at one time.
Scouting and getting your hands dirty dear boy.
The Hard Yards.
Our problem- our swanky new executive team- dont like the grime of Grimsby on a Tuesday night.
They don’t want that aroma of fish around their cudgels.
Too bloody Up Themselves.
Oodles of talent in the lower leagues.
And they are all desperate to sell too.
Maitland-Niles is shit. Should’ve been sold after the Europa Legaue final.
Reiss Nelson is Jordan Sancho’s best mate as widely reported by the Athletic and other sources … worth an approach in the summer?
I wonder if we offered something like Lacazette plus £30m whether Dortmund would go for it?
Arteta was his youth coach as well when he was at Man City — it would be one statement of intent…
Leeds –
Dortmund just bought Haaland. No way they’d take Laca on as well [whose wages would be significant too].
Sancho is going to go for at least £80m straight cash, imo.
CG
Rob. Holding first. He has not proven world class yet.
Stones. Can he even get into the City team atm?
And Harry….what did United pay for him again?
If we want to progress we need to buy players that are either known big prospects or already the real thing.
Nothing wrong buying young talent like Holding but not for the 1st team imo. And that’s what we need now.
Xavi Alonso is first in line to manage real sociedad. Can see him going to Madrid after that. I doubt he wants to be a number 2
Think Southampton got VVD for something like £12m from Celtic
There are always bargains if you look for them.
CG – agree Sven was a big loss although not all came cheaply eg Auba (although if you got that return you’d always pay it). Mavrapanos may still only be £2m!
Jamie
It’s because they bought Haaland, I think they would be willing to sell Sancho to recover some of the outlay… just a thought.
Cost*
Leeds – Sancho is almost impossible mate. He’s been touted for a fee of £140m. probably the most sought after young player in the world. We won’t pay that and I don’t think we should either. The majority of our money should be spent strengthening defence and midfield. Nelson is his best friend though. They grew up on the same estate and have been playing football since they were young. I also read that Athletic article which was a really good insight into Nelson. Arteta even managed him when he was 16. interesting that as youth nelson was rated higher… Read more »
Luke – Xabi Alonso only started coaching last year. He said he wants to establish himself first so I don’t think he’ll be looking for a role for while. It’s important to remember Arteta started his coaching badges back in 2014 when he was still a player so is much further along in his development.
Romford Pele
And Arteta took Sterling on as a pet project and look how that turned out.
Romford – I hope he’s right but i haven’t seen anything great about Nelson at all. My gut feeling is that he is one of many youngsters that can’t make the next grade
Northabnker – Think Southampton got VVD for something like £12m from Celtic
This was before the new TV deals meant transfer prices inflated beyond belief.
Right now all the English clubs have money which means they have no need to sell. You’ll have to pay a premium for players. Maguire went for £80m and Leicester tried to sign Lewis Dunk from brighton – were quoted £45m. even Villa bought Tyrone Mings from Bournemouth for nearly £30m.
Money in the PL is insane right now.
Amazing… Romford, get a life ffs!! lol
TT/Northbanker – yeah I don’t think Nelson has been great myself but it’s worth remembering players develop at different rates. You can’t judge everyone by the same metric. Not everyone can explode like a Cesc/Rooney at 16. With some it’s much further down the line/.
We’ve all seen the quotes from Pep and the players themselves about the work Arteta did with Sterling and Sane etc so hopefully our young players like Nelson, Saka and Martinelli can benefit too.
“Amazing… Romford, get a life ffs!! lol”
What the hell are you talking about?! Do you contribute any insight or do you just ‘lol’ at everything?
Romford
I think there is a danger of us pulling another “Serge Gnabry” if we start jettisoning our youth players too soon.
We need to give Reiss Nelson, ESR and Nketiah more time to come good.
I’m probably in the minority here but I would include Ainsley Maitland Niles in this group too. If we manage this well, it will save our club millions.
Leeds gunner.
AMN has surprised me since Arteta came. I agree we need to be careful when discarding promising youth players. As Romford said players develop and mature at a different pace.
Leeds – it’s always tough with young players though isn’t it? How much of a chance do you give them? how long do you persevere and when do you pull the plug if there’s no development?
Definitely don’t want another Gnabry on our hands. Imagine he was LW right now ffs
Romford – I think that is one of the more exciting aspects about Arteta being in charge – its come at a time when we have anther golden generation of young players – not all admittedly academy – and if he can get another 20 or so% from them then that could be huge for us. It is ultimately the only way to really get our finances properly back under control.
Cesc will always be welcome at arsenal. Always
A Martinelli / Guendouzi like purchase at £6m and an Iwobi type sale at 40m each season would help considerably too
People love to write players off early Reiss Nelson has a very interesting loan spell last year and after a handful of average performances in a crap system under emery he was written off I for one still haven’t written him off. Holding was one of our best players last season until the injury. Comes back and plays a whole one bad game and he needs to go. I’m not writing him off either It’s always the trendbthat means something, not the individual performance. Bad players hit good form sometimes. Top players have poor patches. Unless a player has been… Read more »
@romford, agreed, just going on what Sid Lowe has said on his pod. He’s highly rated and definitely in line to be sociedad’s manager in the near future. It’s his boyhood club if I’m not mistaken.
Amn might yet come good. I’m not really convinced that he will but he has looked better under arteta so there is that.
If he can even just be a reliable 7/10 defender that would be very useful for the squad if not as first choice, as backup
Plenty of potential future managers from the golden generation of Spanish midfielders – Xabi Alonso, Xavi and Cesc are all apparently interested in management. Cazorla, Silva, Iniesta etc. are still playing but it will not surprise if some of them take a shot at football management.