Arteta: ‘It’s complicated’

by .

Sorry for going dark on you, I’m on a pitch, travelled into Chicago and made a hilarious joke to my boss about coronavirus and travelling… news flash in the lounge 5 mins ago…

‘CHICAGO SEES FIRST CASE OF CORONA VIRUS’

I am the cooler of travelling. If you want a delayed plane, the furthest possible terminal, or now, a deadly virus, come fly with me.

Arteta’s press conference was fairly standard. He spoke of how happy he was about the attitude of the squad, going one deeper, saying he’s happy about how the club as a whole is responding.

A lot of things that I wanted to implement, not just with the players but around the club in terms of the culture, I’m seeing very good signs in progress.

A lot of things about our way of playing and style, even if the circumstances in some of the games have made it a little more difficult than expected.

In general I can see the direction towards what I wanted a month ago.

Remember, his sell isn’t just to the players, it’s to all the backroom team he’s working with. I’ve heard the buzz about him transcends just the players. That’s great to know.

He had little to say on transfers, outside one being quite complicated. The name that seems to be drawing the most smoke is that of Mykola Matviyenko. I actually had the first UK lead on it because some guy with 8 followers sent me the links from Ukraine. Does that make me an insider? Does that make me bigger than Ornstein? Yes to both, so show some fucking respect.

I did some deep scouting… 4.5 minutes to be precise.

What I have ascertained is:

  • He’s quite short, 5 foot 11, but he does have a tremendous leap
  • He’s built like a left-back, so he’d have to bulk. Being Eastern European naturally makes you 3.8x tougher than the average European, so I’m not too worried there
  • He sprays the ball around like Toni Kroos, his long balls are something else. He also looks like he has quite a lot of pace in his game.
  • Arteta had been trying to persuade City to sign him, the player has a bit of the Laporte’s about him, so makes sense
  • He has 18 months left on his deal, so he’s primed for Arsenal

I always worry when we sign short defenders that don’t look big enough for the league, but Saliba is huge, so little and large might work next season. I am open to this sort of defender if it moves our game forward. Also, Shaktar played future football under Fonseca, so he’ll come preprogrammed with Arteta ball in mind.

Kurzawa, a full back heavily linked to us, looks like he’s going to Juve. Made little sense to move for him with Kola and Saka playing well. Arsenal fans getting furious about a player we might not have been in for is quite something.

Arteta also spoke about another position he’s looking at.

“There are other positions as well, depending on what happens in the market that we might need to assess.”

“At the moment I am 50/50 because this transfer [window] is very complicated and I only want to bring somebody in if I’m convinced he can really improve the level that we have.”

I think he’s going to look for players that can mover the ball between the lines. Ceballos doesn’t sound like he’s impressing and the only two that move the ball the way Arteta needs are Ozil, Luiz, and Xhaka, hardly ideal. I would love more athleticism in the squad. Power and pace is still severely lacking, I really hope we address that in the summer.

In other news, there’s a breakaway Arsenal club being formed. A really mental story from The Athletic, because breakaway insinuates there’s some tie to Arsenal… but the only tie is it’s being set up by Arsenal fans. This story is like me, iPhone user of 10 years, setting up my own phone company and calling it an ‘Apple breakaway.’ It’s a rich guy setting up his own football club and trying to generate noise by tying it to Arsenal. There’s no story here… AFC Wimbledon setup because they moved the original club to Milton Keynes from London. Arsenal’s disgruntled fans have what, 3 years since we last won a trophy? 2 years out of the Champions League? Seems like the most middle class move ever. Like being mildly upset with Monmouth Coffee not having a matcha line, so setting up your own version to really show them up. Then calling it a Monmouth breakaway. I’m not telling anyone how to be disgruntled… but there are clubs in far worse situations than us with fans that have genuinely been shafted. Ditching your club because of a bad patch really isn’t cool imo.

NOT COOL.

Right, short post today because I’m in the process of catching a deadly virus. As a deathbed wish, could you please listen to my podcast. Thank you kindly, maybe see you tomorrow. x

Stitcher | iTunes | Spotify

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Nelson

I am watching CCTV new year eve celebration. It is a popular yearly event sent to all over the world. It did mention the health problem and support the people in the most affected area.

Guns of SF

Arteta and City link with this fella… 6’3 is a major plus… also a decent age for a cheap price

Dissenter

This Pablo Mari lad apparently moved to Flamengo in July for 1 million.
I wonder what we will pay for him?
Regardless he will still be a steal for a 26 year old with some experience in England, albeit in a secondary role for city.
Hope it goes through.
Welcome to the new Arsenal approach to seek diamonds in places that most people don’t go to.

Dissenter

Marko will be devastated if we sign this Pablo Mari lad.
He didn’t register on his fantasy football crystal ball and doesn’t cost 50 million like his fav -Upamecano
Pray for Marko

Guns of SF

Dissenter

Wanted to say- thanks for saying what you did when I was going at with “Dick” head. Should have kept a cooler head and ignored that POS

His trolling is very immature.

Dissenter

Guns of SF
He’s had a million monikers in the past including Aubergine and Uruguayan pitbull. He has this silly condescension of American gooners and likes to preach from a bully pulpit.
Best to ignore him.

Marko

Marko will be devastated if we sign this Pablo Mari lad.
He didn’t register on his fantasy football crystal ball and doesn’t cost 50 million like his fav -Upamecano
Pray for Marko

You are correct smart ass. He’s 26 never played for City was loaned out until they sold him for 1.5 million just last summer. Only upside to his signing is that it doesn’t stop us from signing up a better CB in the summer. He’s basically this transfer windows Kannemann with less pedigree given Kannemann has actually played for Argentina.

Marko

Welcome to the new Arsenal approach to seek diamonds in places that most people don’t go to.

He’s 26 and there 6 months

Guns of SF

At this point with Chambers out, Holding not ready, and Luiz/Sokratis stinking it up, he might be a good option…

Guns of SF

Hahah

Someone even updated his WIKI page-showing Arsenal

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pablo_Mar%C3%AD

Dissenter

Marko
If we sign this lad then we are not going to sign any of the high priced young defenders that you fancy. I’m telling you this for free [Thanks Sid]
Saliba-Chambers-Holding ————young CBs
Luiz-Sokrates. ————-experienced CBs
Mustafi — sold for 10 million
Mavros —-sold for a bag of peanuts

Guns of SF

shit its happening

shiiit

Dissenter

Why would Arsenal loan a player that only went to Flamengo for 1 million six months ago?
So we give him a big platform in Europe and then let him go back?
Marko….behave yourself. This will be a wham-bang 3 million deal.

He played in a team that won the Copa Libertadores for Flamengo so it’s all good.

Guns of SF

Sokratis is not resigning with us… this is his last year. Mustafi sold this summer,
Mavro loan again? possibly… so for the time being, we can use him.
Chamber is out for a year … Holding- not sure how he will fare with his recovery either… so – this is cheap and he knows ARTETA….

6’3 or 6’4 is great… set piece defense and on corners on offense.

Guns of SF

Now if we can snag a good CAM, we might make a little run… hoping…
Cagigago please give us another Gem!

Guns of SF

Heck I would take Santi back about now… can use that skill in the middle of the park… great passing, scoring, vision

Dissenter

Guns of SF
Chambers will be ready for the preseason
Knee ligament injuries are pretty standard rehabs these days.

Guns of SF

We’ve had 3 acl tears with our defenders
Something doesn’t add up. Overtraining perhaps?? Or bad luck perhaps

China1

Hi tony cheers you too It is possible since it does kill a small percentage of people, but so far about 80% of those who died were old and had pre existing conditions. The vast majority of healthy people who aren’t old will likely survive it if infected (not to say it won’t be a horrible and frightening one to have tho) Tbh I don’t think it’s going to kill anything like that many because the action being taken in China is really tough at the moment. Like I said wuhan and the surrounding cities accounting for over 10m people… Read more »

Guns of SF

This mari news is all over the web now
Summer transfer window in brazil and the links to arteta and edu all check boxes as does the low fee

I’d say this one has legs for sure

China1

I don’t know much about Mari so I won’t judge until I’ve seen him play a bit On paper it’s hardly a showstopper signing but it’s also zero risk at the prices being talked about and not every quality player needs to cost a fortune. See martinelli, torreira etc for evidence of that At the end of the day he doesn’t even need to be amazing at that price. If he can simply be a reliable squad player he will be an easy upgrade on mustafi and we can sell mustafi being net very much in the money. Win win… Read more »

China1

At the end of the day he’s surely not likely to be worse than mustafi so if we can shift mustafi as looks very likely now, job done

China1

Lol I just saw an official arsenal photo of Luiz standing next to torreira and it’s hilarious

Proper David and Goliath stuff and Luiz isn’t even that tall surely? Maybe only 6’2?

Guns of SF

Mustafi might be sold this window even if this goes thru…. if not summer for sure

Guns of SF

While Mari is Spanish he had some experience in the Brazil league which his team flamengo is tops and plays a pressing game and high line…. just read that . Similar to what we trying to do

China1

I wish we’d gone in for the Asian lad at Liverpool as well. These are the kinds of dirt cheap signings who can plug some holes at a discount so that we can invest the serious money where it’s needed most.

Not every signing needs to be a big one. Just like back in the day, for every Henry and Vieira, there was a Kanu and an edu. These players win you trophies by having that quality and depth at low cost and let you spend more where you need it most

Sid

The coronavirus is being overplayed so that big PHARMA have a chance to mint billions from vaccine et al.

You heard it here 1st!

Guns of SF

China agreed

Don’t always need the Johnny come latelys out there. I mean add Gilberto to that list too

Aussie Gooner

“La Liga giants weighing up a £50million bid for Martinelli”

“Arsenal are not keen to sell, and while Martinelli is contracted to the Gunners until 2024, the Mail says talks are already underway over offering the player a pay rise from £10,000 a week to around £30,000”.

And of course if he only put in like Ozil he would be worth every penny!

Sid

Re: Pablo Mari
Now thats a proper CB right there,

Im telling you for free!

Guns of SF
Guns of SF

While edu is in Brazil please bring back a cam

Martinelli friends would do fine. No doubt

Aussie Gooner

Mari is in the Brasilian Football Federation team of the year for 2019 so he must have some attributes. The story is not confirmed by any major news agency so I am a little doubtful. His youtube clips are not conclusive – even Mustafi must have a highlights reel somewhere!

Aussie Gooner

Ceballos wants out due to lack of playing time – I can see his point. Surely it can’t be a Catalan thing in this day and age! The club could not allow that to happen. And if he is poor in training , so what? As long as he performs on the match day pitch who cares. It’s a bit like the job candidate off the street who gets the job over the person doing the job because ‘he interviewd well’. A bit like Emery!

Zacharse

Whtsup w pablo mari. Reports hes landed in london for an arsenal physical. Dude looks good

Aussie Gooner

Zach

ESPN reporting now :-
“Flamengo’s Spanish defender Pablo Mari is nearing a deal to join Arsenal pending a medical, sources have told ESPN Brasil.

According to the report, the 26-year-old Mari travelled to London on Friday, where he will be on the verge of joining the Premier League side.”

Champagne Charlie

Pablo Mari rumours rife, I see our resident transfer guru has already belittled this one though so nothing to see here

Zacharse

Aussie

Watched a Youtube vid of him. Looks like a proper commanding presence. Youtube vid titled ‘why pablo mari joined arsenal’ or something. I’m into it.

Unai

Aussie, from what Arteta has said, its not that he’s poor in training, he’s simply not been training with Arsenal at all.

Got injured, went home for treatment and only returned 2 weeks ago or so.

Since his injury Arteta has been working with fit players, implementing his style & ideas and Ceballos has to get up to speed.

Not only that, if he’s only been training for such a short time, no way he’s playing 90mins of Artetaball.

Champagne Charlie

“And if he is poor in training , so what? As long as he performs on the match day pitch who cares.“

Well Arteta cares, and Arteta picks the team. So I reckon he maybe wants to put the effort in if he’s any designs on playing.

Aussie Gooner

Arteta knows Mari from his Man City days; he never pulled on a shirt for City but was loaned out to various second tier teams in Spain and Holland without making much of an impression. However he appears to have found his feet in Brazil and was included in the team of the year in 2019. For about 10m it is a gamble worth taking in view of our capture of Martinelli who had unsuccessful trail in the UK (Utd mugs!). “The consensus seems to be that he is good in the air but might lack pace. Some descriptions have… Read more »

Freddie Ljungberg

Pablo seems like a low risk signing. Apart from pace has all the physical attributes, if thee fee and wages are low it’s better than throwing away money on a loan for Boateng on crazy wages or the Ukrainian chap for 26m whose built more like a fullback. If he turns out great it saves us a fortune, if not he can’t be any worse than Mustafi which means we can sell/loan him and get his 90k off the wage bill asap and have a future squad player while not wasting too much of our budget. Think we’re getting rid… Read more »

Zacharse

I mean, flamengo has been the only team of a non-palace/burnley/newcastle variety that kept liverpool quiet for the better part of 120 Min and hes there defensive lynchpin. Seems legit

Unai

“When I joined the club he was having his rehabilitation in Madrid for a month so I haven’t seen much of him because he only trained with us a week or 10 days, so it’s very early to assess what I can and cannot do with him.

“I heard of all of those things [speculation about a move] but I don’t have a comment.

“He needs to get back to fitness and fight for his place. After that, I will make the selection that I feel is best for the team.”

Champagne Charlie

He’s a tall, robust, left-footed CB coming off an impressive season. The fee is touted at less than 10 mil Euros from what I’ve read.

I’d sooner this sort of deal than 3/4 mil loan fee for Jerome Boeteng.

Unai

I don’t want to disappoint anyone but no one is going to pay the full wages or true value for Mustafi, Xhaka or Ozil’s.

Theses guys are with us until their contracts expire or we supplement wages for a loan, such was the mishandling of the contract they are on.

I only hope that those decisions of 3-4 years ago are never repeated again and present form suggests it won’t be, thankfully.

Habesha Gooner

Links to pablo Mari, I don’t know how to feel about these type of signings when we have around 6 centerbacks stock piled. I think any Centerback we sign from now on has to be a real deal. It isn’t about prices but about how much a player can guarantee an improvement on our backline. And I am not sure Pablo Mari is that player. The last time we signed a not so obvious Center back and we succeeded was Koscielny. Liverpool knew who they signed when they went big on Van Djik. Mostly you get what you pay for… Read more »

Freddie Ljungberg

CC

His wages are going to be a lot less than Boatengs too. Think he’s on 200k so we’d have to pay that too if we loan him. That’s another 5m added to the loan fee.

Can’t imagine Pablo being put on more than 50-60k.

Freddie Ljungberg

Unai

Mustafi and Ozil both have 12 months left of their contracts in the summer. If they’re interested whatsoever in continuing playing football they’ll leave and take a lower wage on a 3-4 year contract somewhere else rather than rotting on our bench.
Still doubtful that Ozil is interested in football though.

What is Xhakas true value? We had a 25m bif that we turned down apparently, if we by some miracle can get that in the summer we need to take it, no one is going to pay us back the 35m we wasted on him.

Unai

Habesha, as others have said, its a low risk singing with potentially large rewards.

We pay little for him and put him on low wages.

He either comes in and fits into Arteta’s style or we sell in a year or so and recoup most of our investment.

If it is true, it just highlights that Arteta is more about players that fit his system than anything else, which can only be a good thing.

Unai

Freddie, As much as I criticise Ozil i do think he’s misunderstood somewhat, although I don’t think he’s suited to the prem at all. Mustafi is mentality broken, his mistakes are testament to that as he does have quality but clearly, he doesn’t trust himself. On Xhaka, 25-30m is about right for market value although I completely understand why we kept him, he’s a better player than he’s given credit for on here, offers utility in our midfield and we have no obvious replacement in the squad meaning to improve his contribution would both require an outlay of cash and… Read more »

Habesha Gooner

Unai I get the logic but If he doesn’t workout we are looking at another center back we have to offload some time in the near future. We should have a settled back four for a while. That’s how you build chemistry. That’s why I have reservations about it

Champagne Charlie

Un

Yea noted him as someone who could play as an 8 and go through the gears with the ball. I personally see him as a better operator coming centrally with his sharp feet, excellent close control, and 4/5 yard burst with the ball.

Unai

Habs, We don’t have a settled back line, literally only Luiz has been consistent this season. Holding looks miles off the pace, Chambers is out for 12 months plus another 6 to get up to speed and Mustafi is mentally broken. However good Saliba is, its likely he will need time to adapt. Its not a sexy deal by any means but it does make sense considering the low risk. I have to admit, I hadn’t realised it was him in the CWC but remember when watching and thinking how solid Flamengo looked in that game. If he brings some… Read more »

Freddie Ljungberg

CC

“Yea noted him as someone who could play as an 8 and go through the gears with the ball. I personally see him as a better operator coming centrally with his sharp feet, excellent close control, and 4/5 yard burst with the ball.”

Agree with this, if he’s coming in it’s to replace Ozil in the team and look to finally give us some creativity and goals through the middle.

Makes even more sense if Ceballos is looking to leave and ESR out on loan.

Pierre

It’s like a version of “life of Brian” on Le Grove everytime a new player( the messiah) is linked with coming to Arsenal to save us..

Freddie Ljungberg

Pierres spidey senses starts to tingle every time there’s talk about Ozil being replaced with a better player. Never fails.

Wasi

Pablo Mari is a smart signing imo. We’ll also get to see if Edu has the quality identifying sauce or not. If we are to get back to the top Edu is gonna need to be good. Can he be our Micheal Edwards? Mari is his first signing ( If we sign him). Its a position in which we are very poor. If this goes well It could be a start of something good under Edu. Pablo Mari makes sense in a lot of ways imo. Cheap signing. If he doesn’t do well, theres not much we are losing in… Read more »

Champagne Charlie

Un I think technical quality is high on the list of desirable traits with Arteta, and I think we’ll see a CM filled with characters like that in his fully fledged imagining of Artetaball. Lemar offers that in abundance, but he’s also got dynamism that will be necessary to compensate for the more static pair of Torreira and Xhaka. City are the same with Fernandinho previously and now Rodri, neither of whom move well 0-5 yards. I was actually watching the Wolves game the other night and noted how Neto (their 19 year old attacking midfielder) could be ‘our Bernardo… Read more »

Champagne Charlie

Un I empathise a bit in those situations, I wouldn’t particularly love to rush through a major transfer when I’ve got my France kit on still and seeped in sweat. As for him not handling Simeone’s football, I don’t consider that much to worry about. There’s a number of players that don’t enjoy that level of inflexibility, their star man isn’t keen on it at all either and feels shackled by it. Personally think Lemar was sold the gig by Griezmann and it’s just not come as billed. But he’s got all the tools to thrive under Arteta and in… Read more »

Sid

Pablo Mari got sauce
Lemar has no sauce, we can do better, couldnt even make up his mind about coming to arsenal shows a lack of ze mental strength.

Im telling you for free!

Champagne Charlie

Un

That wasn’t how I understood the situation, I’m sure it was a matter of us agreeing with Lemar way in advance. We didn’t then strike a deal until after Lemar had left for France duty to which he basically told us and Monaco to fuck off as he’d already said he wanted something done beforehand or not at all. So soft mentality isn’t something I’m concerned about truth be told.

Chika

There’s a different kind of “buzz” that comes with an under the radar signing. Pablo Mari seem like a sensible signing for us especially in this window.

Even though he’s reportedly not fast enough, I’m sure Arteta is fully aware of that and ultimately, the system we adopt will try to mitigate his weaknesses. Coaching is not fanciful as some seem to think.

Champagne Charlie

Chika

Agree, I noted a few weeks back about when the last time was that we bought a player from left field who turned into a little gem. Monreal fit that bill, Eduardo too, here’s hoping this fella has a similar impact.

Wasi

Un
Yeah and I also have a feeling thats why we opted for Mari instead of Matvienko. Reportedly Shakhtar wanted to do a deal with an obligation to buy whereas we wanted an option.

Wasi

Chika Well in Luiz we already have a slow player at the LCB position. Sokratis, Holding, Mustafi are also not know. for their pace. Chambers has some speed and probably the fastest of our CBs i think. Anyways CB is a position where Pace is not a necessity but a can be a very good quality if present. For a CB I think the mental attributes like Anticipation, concentration, decision making , positioning are essential. Pace is like a cherry on top. It can bail a CB out of situations he puts himself in thanks to his bad positioning, concentration,… Read more »

Chika

CC

True. Indeed it’s been a while, I guess lady luck is beaming her smiles upon on us now.

I’m about to put you on the spot now.

Lemar vs Grealish – make one pick for Artetaball.

Wasi

Chika
Grealish easy.

Chika

Wasi

I agree with your take about defenders and the role of pace. However, I don’t agree Sokratis and Mustafi are slow defenders.

Ishola70

This Flamengo CB isn’t slow.

He wouldn’t have been employed in a defensive high line if he was a snail and Jesus the Flamengo manager specifically looked for a defender that could play the high line when this guy was signed.

Still no serious news outlets about this transfer other than some Brazilian websites and twitter talk.

Champagne Charlie

“Lemar vs Grealish – make one pick for Artetaball.“ Before a ball is kicked I’d want Grealish, he’s prem proven and he’d be excellent for us imo. Based on the levels I’ve witnessed from both? Lemar is better, so really quite happy we’re looking at him. Un Giroud wasn’t left field! Just won the league with Montpellier haha I’m talking barely known, I remember us buying Eduardo and spending the day wondering who the fuck he was and where he came from. This Mari chap is similar, won’t pretend to have a clue about him. Obviously some on here will… Read more »

Champagne Charlie

“Still no serious news outlets about this transfer other than some Brazilian websites and twitter talk.“

What’s a serious news outlet?

There’s stories in Brazil which is where he plays, ESPN have covered it too apparently. Who needs to pick it up before it’s approved?

Ishola70

There were loads of stories from Brazil when Walter Kannemann was linked.

And ESPN is second rate.

Still no serious news outlets as yet.

Bob N16

Interesting Arseblog today explaining the link between Mari’s agent and Sanhelli. Good contacts or old boy network? Obviously if he plays well for us great, if not it smacks of Sanhelli sorting his mate out!

Freddie Ljungberg

Don

Josh Sippie is the worst Arsenal bloggist of all time. You can’t take anything he writes seriously.
Totally clueless.

If we get Lemar it’s not going to be to play on the wing, not with Laca and Auba still here to be squeezed in, and Martinelli and Saka more rhan capable of playing there too.

Paul Mc Daid

Know nothing about Mari but it is refreshing to see Edu eager to tap into the underworld of South American football.

Unai

“Good contacts or old boy network? Obviously if he plays well for us great, if not it smacks of Sanhelli sorting his mate out!”

Weird stance….

I actually hate this ‘contacts ‘ criticism.

Whatever business I’ve been in I’ve always benefited from continually growing and improving my contacts network.

Its just easier to get things done when you have a relationship with the person sat across the negotiating table.

Bob N16

Unai, my point is great if it facilitates a transfer that benefits the club but dubious if it’s doing a mate a favour and the player is not a good fit.

Bob N16

Un na naii, if I’m honest I’ve followed Arseblog daily for longer than I have Legrove. My two go to blogs….others nowhere close.

Unai

Bob, I guess I don’t see Raul as a bogeyman like some suggest he is.

Until he proves otherwise, I can only judge him as someone employed to improve and modernise our club with a CV that boasts being in charge of the biggest club in world football.

This is the man that landed us one of the brightest stars in world football, smashed our transfer record to pieces and employed one of the most exciting managers we could get our hand on.

For now, I’m happy to trust his judgement

Champagne Charlie

“There were loads of stories from Brazil when Walter Kannemann was linked.And ESPN is second rate. Still no serious news outlets as yet.“

Again, what qualifies as a serious news outlet for football transfers?

Champagne Charlie

There’s nothing wrong with utilising contacts, it’s when that’s your only manner of tackling the market that a problem arises.

It limits your scope, but more often than not it’s a case of having a particular portfolio of players to choose from, via these contacts, and shoehorning your needs depending on the players available rather than buying as per your needs.

The monies written off that way too is very questionable.

Unai

Anyway Bob, not taking aim at you, just don’t like the narrative as it seems to be based on fear more than fact 👍

Freddie Ljungberg

PSG in for Auba now too, if he’s leaving anyway that’s probably the best we can hope for, they’re not exactly known for underspending on players.

They want him on loan with option to buy though so probably looking to offload some players due to ffp.

If they send Cavani the other way and 50m+ I’d say we should take it, he’s bound to leave anyway so better get the best deal out of it.

Unai

CC, correct me if im wrong but the only ‘contacts’ player we have signed recently was Suarez and that was more about Emery than anyone else.

I agree though, we need to be multi faceted in our dealings, make use of contacts but also keep our eyes open through good scouting and youth recruitment.

Doesn’t need to be one or the other, we should aim to use all the tools we can, well.

Champagne Charlie

To follow on with that and reference Don Raul….

I think the criticism of him, or at least the reservation, comes because of how Barcelona have conducted their business his past half decade. Not what anyone would call very shrewdly planned or succinct in operations.

They can absorb that because they’re such a juggernaut, he pulls any shit like that here and we’re slapped down to Everton’s level in no time.

Ishola70

Charlie

What’s the problem here?

Are you crying again?

I am not saying the transfer isn’t going to happen I’m saying there has been no credible sources as yet.

You would think lessons would have been learned regarding all the talk of Kanneman joining previously with all the stories coming out from Brazil. You can’t trust anything coming just from Brazil. And ESPN is like the Daily Star of football sites. Tittle tattle.

Metro has alaso ran with it lol

Left Testicle

Un and Bob,
Agreed, Arseblog is good. Daily Cannon has its moments but tends to be written by Social Justice Warriors.

Champagne Charlie

Unai

I’m not totally up to speed with who is who in that regard mate, think Luiz was a mates rates situation too. But largely it’s the fear of us going down that path vs us actually operating argent in that way now.

I don’t think there’s one person averse to Raul using his contacts to land is a notable fish. But if he has a bit of success that way it would be very easy for a man like that to puff his chest and take the lead – and that isn’t a situation we want to be in.

Champagne Charlie

Ishola

Crying? I’ve asked what a serious news source is, twice now without reply.

So again, third time now, while you’re dismissing numerous other sources can you share these serious football news sources folk should pay attention to?

Ishola70

Charlie

I’m telling you that ESPN is not a credible source and neither are Brazilian websites.

Therefore we have not had a credible source as yet.

Not one higher end English media source has picked up on it.

Stop crying.

Champagne Charlie

Ishola

Crying? Lol wtf are you on about. Again, 4th time….

What is serious news source for football transfers?

I don’t need your hot takes on what isn’t. I’m asking what is. See if you can answer it finally.

Bob N16

Unai, I’m not suspicious of Sanhelli as such. In his position you’d want somebody who has a great network of contacts and people who are willing to do business with you. I suppose ignorance of how the deal is made may be better than having information on agents involvement. Obviously agents are a necessary part of football but it’s hard for me not to consider them self serving leeches at times, sorting themselves ( and to an extent their clients) out rather than the clubs. As long as Edu and Arteta are happy with any purchase then fair enough Sanhelli… Read more »

Ishola70

ESPN and random Brazilian websites and twitter are not serious outlets Charlie.

That’s all you need to know in this instance.

Champagne Charlie

“ESPN and random Brazilian websites and twitter are not serious outlets Charlie.That’s all you need to know in this instance.”

Hahahahaha can’t answer a simple fucking question.

Yea ok mate, ESPN and Brazilian news outlets aren’t serious, but you’re not able to name any serious outlets anyway. Thanks for sharing.

Champagne Charlie

“If he thinks this transfer is nailed on then he needs some learning to do.“

I don’t think that, I haven’t once expressed that.

You came in and typically dismissed what’s being talked about because “no serious” news outlets have covered it.

I asked what a serious news outlet is for football transfers. You failed to answer that FOUR times.

Unai

To be far, £8m for Luiz is looking genius right now.

If we hadn’t have signed him we would be fucked at this point.

Raul was also at Barca while they were poaching our best players for pittance and recruiting the likes of Suarez (the real one) while we were trying to be clever with 40m+1 bids and making utter fools of ourselves.

As things stand I’d take Raul over a thousand Ivan’s.

Ishola70

Charlie

I didn’t “dismiss” the transfer.

That’s all in your own imagination.

I simply made a point that no news outlets other than sketchy Brazilan websites and an outlet like ESPN are the only ones running with it which seems a bit sparse at this point.

This was enough to see you getting in a tiss. Yet again.

Aussie Gooner also made the same point earlier on in this post.