WELL GOOD MORNING! If a sign of growing old is damaging yourself doing stupid things, I fear that age is coming at me fast. I damaged my finger breaking off a piece of late night chocolate. The guilt of being a gluttonous pig was enough already, now every time I look at my thumb I’m reminded of my food crimes with a bloodied nail. Life is unfair.
ONTO FOOTBALL.
Arsenal are tracking the Ajax keeper. Inject that rumour right into my_____
What?
Oh, he’s on a doping charge that probably won’t get lifted? Ok. Cool. Well, uhhmmmm… maybe not that joke.
He’s a good keeper from what I’ve seen and I would be happy to have him as a back-up if he wasn’t banned for 3 years. The Cameroon international fits the profile, good with his feet, 25 years old, 6ft3, one year left on his deal.
Mark Irwin, who is pretty good on transfer talk reckons Mat Ryan will be signed on a perm deal this summer but is viewed only as a backup keeper. The young players seem to love him behind the scenes and he’s certainly more than capable of playing that role for us. Apparently, our interest in David Raya has cooled because Brentford has been promoted. For me, interest in him should have been cooled because the guy recommending him has a terrible rep and he also put Runarsson on our wage bill this summer.
AFCON players seem to be the hot ticket at the moment, I’m a bit worried if we do all our business with players that will exit the club for 5 weeks, we might have a problem… you would hope that is being considered.
CARLO ANCELOTTI is rumoured to be on his way back to Real Madrid. Honestly, the management nostalgia going on in Europe this year is just TOO much for me to handle. It’s a very weird decision, but it would seem the comfort of a nice guy in the dugout is tempting for an owner that is a little all over the place. Everton now the feeder club for El Classico managers? And you want to tell me they have a better league? Bitch please…
There were some leaked documents on Spanish FT over the weekend showing the signatures of major clubs in the super league. Tim Lewis signed our document and the law firm on all the docs? Clifford Chance. Just goes to show you, when it comes to business, it doesn’t matter how hard you support a team, it’s all about the pound notes. He’s spent 6 minutes with Edu and he’s already ‘contacts lawyering.’
📍| Signature from AC Milan, Atletico, Arsenal and Chelsea. #ESL #rmalive pic.twitter.com/myA2KUQQWO
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) May 31, 2021
Also, the signature. So small? IS THAT AN INDICATION THAT AT THE TIME OF SIGNING HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING WAS WRONG? I have no idea, but my cousin is actually a handwriting analyst in Australia at an elite level. Going tap her to waste some time on what we can learn here.
The England squad is getting released later on today. There are rumours that Bukayo Saka is going to be included. I mean, honestly, why wouldn’t you take a player who can drop at least 3 positions to a high standard? Part of me was hoping he’d be left out so he could rest this summer, part of me wants him to avenge the memory of Theo Walcott going to the World Cup. Good luck to him, he deserves it.
We’ll finish this post out with some Kieran Tierney propaganda.
“I listen to everything the manager tells me, word for word.
“I love working with him, he’s helped me massively.
“If you can see the differences in my game in the last 18 months or so it’s because of Mikel Arteta and what his coaching staff have been telling me to do.
“I’ve been working on their advice every day. I’m really grateful for what the gaffer’s done for me.”
“I had a meeting with the Arsenal manager and he just told me, ‘Go and express yourself with Scotland, enjoy yourself, bring energy to the team, bring energy to the camp’.
“He’s always so supportive of me, and tremendously positive. The manager always brings the best out of me.
“With regards Scotland for the Euros he also said, ‘Give everything you have, that’s how you get the best out of yourself, and it will help the team the most’.”
You can call Arteta many things, but a bad coach ain’t one of them.
A short post today, we’ll be back with MORE news tomorrow because that is what we do on the Le-Grove.co.uk.
I can see Coutinho coming here for some reason. Another loan or some contacts based shit… Not what we need… but for a cheap loan, maybe
Cant see Onana staying in with Ajax regardless of what happens with the appeal.
Ajax just recently signed a new GK who is supposedly going to be their first choice. Read somewhere that now they have 4 first team GK if you include Onana.
And anyways this is an opportunity we should be grabbing with both hands. Top class GK for peanuts
Ffs people turning their nose up for WC players . Sterling is as good as it gets , I get it the priority is low for wingers but we didnt even think twice when Aubameyang was available.
Gun of SF
Arsenal’s priorities this summer should be the positions in starting eleven which need upgrade.
We are not playing in Europe so the focus should be to have a stable starting X1 plus bench
which is ft for purpose and occasional rotation.
Frankly it would be better to have also two or three youngsters from U23s who can also play
in early rounds of cup games.
Chambers appears to overtaken Soares in RB position. Unless Arsenal are not replacing Bellerin he appears to be redundant.
so you are saying sell Soares?
I prefer Soares to Chambers any day. Its his natural position. Chambers is too big to play RB consistently. Its a position that uses quickness and skill to get down the line and constant tracking back…
If Chambers is our new starting RB we are in a world of trouble
I can see promoting Azeez next season but not anyone else. Like you said, keep the team small and compact.
Our first team needs to be first class. That is going to be our bread and butter.
Captain Tierney I agree that Onana would be an interesting recruitment albeit not likely to play until end of season. I don’t think that Leno will be offloaded unless ban is lifted and Ajax release him for a modest transfer fee. Personally I would be reluctant to shift out Xhaka unless we get a realistic transfer fee. I would certainly not want to be taking the unwanted rejects of Roma in a swap. The central defensive midfield position is absolutely critical next season and I would prefer to bring in someone like Bissouma who has played well this season at… Read more »
Lets see if the club sell one of Laca or Auba this summer.
That would indicate where Martinelli could play as well.
Which means, a domino effect on LW… could it be Sterling????
Guns of SF
I am not saying sell Soares. However we don’t need three right backs on the books next season.
If Bellerin is replaced with a new first string then either Chambers or Soares is redundant as
well.
Players I would sell this summer if possible
Xhaka
Willock
El Neny
Nelson
Nketiah
Bellerin
Holding or Chambers
AMN
Auba or Laca ( Auba more likely)
Kola
that is a lot of players that we dont need or are not going to cut it… also players we can get some cash from sale… a good amount in total. If KSE throws in 100M or so, we can really make a go of it with the right players to bring in…
Hahaha its late here in Cali….
Im tired
I missed Mr Willian on my list
_______onana______
Aarons_Saliba__Gab__KT
_____TP__Bissouma__
Saka____Buendia___Sterling
_______Martinelli_____
Possible? That is some attacking side.
I wouldnt even mind Coutinho right now. We need that kind of spark , someone who can create something out of nothing . I wish we add Sterling and Coutinho + Buendia and Onana . Just one CM required then . I will be onboard team Arteta again xD
Guns that’s a good side. In terms of what we’d need to pay: Onana- minimal, no problem Aarons – 30m? Bissouma – 35m Buendia-35m Sterling – 45m All numbers just approximated. That’s a solid 140m outlay not including anything recouped from sales (probably reduced to 90m after sales). We’d have depth in goal, across the back, on the wing, AM and up front. We’d probably have a weak bench at CM tho. But don’t get me wrong if we can build an excellent first 11 it’s ok that we are not 100% complete as a squad. I don’t expect us… Read more »
Divine you’re short a RB!
Odegaard can do a better job than Laca as CF against teams that pack the bus
?
China
I thought we were going with Cedric and Chambers . If anything we need backup to Tierney .
Aarons – 30m- maybe a little less
Bissouma – 35m or
Anguissa- 25M
Buendia-35m
Sterling – 45m- we can get him for less I think
Coutinho – Loan
adding Coutinho would help as cover- a cheap loan if we can. I added in Anguissa as an alternate to Bissouma. A little cheaper I think with fulham taking the plunge.
I don’t like martinelli up top, I think he’s more of a threat from the LW position. Yes he can finish but I think he’s overall demeanor, pace and skill set is for a LW.
He is more in the sanchez mould and we know sanchez wasn’t at his best when put up top
To the tune of the Vieira/Torriera song
Onana woh-oh
Onana woh-oh-oh-oh
He comes from Cameroon
He’s banned so can’t play soon
Et
Best chance for us to buy Onana is now imo. If the ban is upheld I would at least like to see some sort of pre-contract agreement tying Onana down to Arsenal.
And if we are looking to buy a new partner for Partey then selling Xhaka is the best option. He doesn’t seem like someone who will be happy being a rotational option. And this is the summer we’ll get the most fees out of him.
“You can call Arteta many things, but a bad coach ain’t one of them.” this is why we come here …1 line gems that just rock the boots lol……………………………….lol
If we buy Sterling then you can bet your life we will cheap skate on every other signing. That’s why it’s a bad decision – smacks of Wengerism – we need a CB so we buy a CAM. We knew we needed CMs and a CAM and a RB and a decent reserve LB and maybe a GK. Some have argued elequently for a CB too.
One thing we do have are plenty of decent wide players.
So how are we spending our limited funds? on a winger – ffs
Northbanker
Would you really pass the chance to buy an elite winger , who has WC G/A numbers when we have problems creating and scoring ?
Afcon is in January 2022 so Onana can’t be in the Cameroon squad because the ban ends in February.
Captain Tierney I agree with your logic regarding Onana. However, the question would be should we keep Leno another season if Onana cannot play? Would Leno be happy staying at Arsenal? I would not want to rely on Ryan and Runarsson as our goalkeeper options for most of next season. Xhaka is clearly leaving the club. The mood noises suggest this is going to happen. The only issue I have got is the deal being offered by Roma. I would want a transfer fee and not their offer of rejects. We landed up last season with offloading Mkhitaryan with zero… Read more »
Most of us have watched a half season worth of Odegarde and some want him on a permanent. We need rain makers next season, the more creativity and aggression going forward the better. On that front, amongst who we are being linked with, Buendia must be the priority. Or, if he’s deemed not good enough because the impressive stats are Championship level, go get someone playing at top level with similar stats. Unless a bargain, Odegarde shouldn’t be a priority . Keeping the ball moving, link up a bit, with occasional surprises and good games aren’t going to pull us… Read more »
Divine my take is chambers is backup rb and soares is backup LB. then Tierney has cover, RB has cover but we’re still shy a first choice RB because bellerin has to go
Surely the main issue to resolve is to get rid of the deadwood. Arseblog reckons we need to move on at least 13 players. That’s a massive task as not all will want to go. I doubt we will get top dollar either. Regarding buys we want players who are hungry and on the way up, not players on the way down. Surely we have learnt our lesson with the transfers of Luiz and Willian.
ET
If Onana can’t play right off the bat then we keep Leno for another season. We cannot rely on Brighton’s 3rd choice and Onana will take some time to get back his sharpness.
Re-Xhaka, I reckon we’ll finalise the transfer around 18-20 mil.
Dont think we’ll accept their dross.
Ffs lads you can’t pass on Sterling he is a cut above anything we have on the books make room for him .
Serge
Pass up on sterling?
You say this as if a) we can afford him and b) he wants to come to a club with no European football.
Sterling would be at least 80m. It’s fantasy to think we’d be signing those kind of players.
Yes let’s spunk upwards of 60/70 million on Sterling when we have the worst midfield among any of the decent teams
Sterling needs to lose the skinny jeans, they are won by soy boys, and are meant to torture men with real longstuff
We are being linked with this Solomon guy fir 21m. I’m not entirely sure the wings is where we should be prioritising, but it might be a sign we are going to be making big changes across the whole 11.
Though 11 goals and 1 assist in his last season isn’t exactly getting anyone excited.
Regardless of whether we could afford Sterling or not or even whether he would be willing to come here there are red flags everywhere. None more so than Guardiola who is a snake oil salesman(as good managers have to be). He is looking to buy big this summer,Grelish,Kane, whoever he can get that improves the team. He has Sterling on 300kpw, second highest earner yet he’s willing to let him go even though he’s only 26. Why? Don’t talk to me about wage bills, this is city. And anyway why is he on this wage if he wasn’t seen as… Read more »
#grealish
We do not need Sterling
Why do we keep doing this to ourselves?
Last year it was Willian, now it’s Sterling.
The Kroenkes have to be the most goddam stupid owners, they think the fans just want a ‘marquee signing’ after the ESL debacle.
A side with a shabby midfield and no starting right back has bigger priorities.
I can’t believe that people are working themselves up into a frenzy on Sterling over a Daily Mail rumour, lol.
We’re not spunking more than half of our budget on one player and Sterling isn’t 36 so why the fuck would have join us as of now?
Sterling: – 26, no major injuries or physical damage. – Has just won his 3rd PL title with City, came oh so close to winning the CL narrowly losing the Final. – Was City’s 2nd top scorer across all three title wins combined [45 PL goals] only to Sergio Aguero [46 goals] , an out and out ST. The next highest scorer was Gabriel Jesus, also a CF with 29 combined goals. – Is coming into his prime years having yet to win the Champions League. I’m sure he’s dead keen on a move to 8th placed Arsenal all right… Read more »
Wenger eagle,
I hear you but there is no level of stupid that I would rule below us currently. If I had told you this time last year that we would double Chelsea’s wage offer and triple the contract length to secure Willian would you have believed me? Whisper it,Runnarson 40kpw.
Also it beats the shit out of the Buendia vs Ode debate which could now be the subject of a le grove novel.
Almunia Would take an unbelievable shock from all three parties is the thing though. First one being Citeh willingly selling him to us in his prime, second would be us actually stumping up the sum that they would demand [at least 60m, more like 70+] and thirdly and most crucially Sterling actually wanting to basically throw in the towel on competing for the foreseeable future which I can’t see given he is yet to win the Champions League. With Willian, Chelsea letting him go was hardly a shock as he was past his best and 32 and it was no… Read more »
Wenger Eagle
You better be very afraid
If the story doesn’t make any sense then it’s certainly very Arsenal-like
Could see us breaking our transfer record and splurging all the budget on Sterling because the Kroenkes want to make a ‘statement’.
Yeah, this amount of talk of Sterling like there is a realistic chance of the deal to happen is pretty mad. He will not come to a team that has finished 8th and 8th in the last 2 seasons. We aren’t Manure or Chelsea where success is chased relentlessly until it’s achieved. He is up there with the best in the world or at least his stats say so. He wouldn’t waste his best years with us. No freaking way. The conversation ends there. If we theorycraft would it be a good move to get Sterling if we could? Yes,… Read more »
Yeah getting a bit sick of the Buendia talk myself.
People are in for a shock if they really do think that we’d be getting the second coming of Santi Cazorla too, very good player that he looks nonetheless.
Lazy comparison as he’s a similar height and build to Santi and Spanish speaking, like people calling Yaya Toure or Paul Pogba the new Patrick Vieira.
Since Aaron Wan-Bissaka put Sterling in his pocket, he lost his confidence and was overtaken by Folden in the starting 11. On the other hand, he can out jump Holden. Maybe swap him with Laca. LOL!
‘If the story doesn’t make any sense then it’s certainly very Arsenal-like Could see us breaking our transfer record and splurging all the budget on Sterling because the Kroenkes want to make a ‘statement’.’ Dissenter when have we ever spent 70+m on one player in an upfront fee? And before you say Pepe, we’re paying Lille that in installments over a numbers of years. Something tells me that City won’t be so charitable funnily enough. You’re also very naive if you honestly believe that we don’t live in a day and age where player power dictates virtually everything. If Sterling… Read more »
Wenger Eagle You misunderstood me,I think. The point about Willian wasn’t to illustrate our ability to attract,it was to show our incompetence with contracts. I agree with your points on Sterling though I think you rate him far higher than I do. But I would ask you this, if Grealish were to join City, who would be the most likely player that they would shed? Grealish would command serious playing time, your answer should reflect that. Also Ronnie’s goal in 88, I gather you were too young to have enjoyed that one live,some strike wasn’t it. You know the theory… Read more »
If we had the money or we had a solid midfield I would love Sterling, especially considering it is widely acknowledged that Arteta helped him to take it up a notch but the truth is we don’t have the money nor is our attack the area of the team that is most pressing. In my mind, the priorities are 1.. A midfield partner for Partey/a young attack minded left back to deputise and play so that we can keep Tierney fresh and fit for the entire season 2. A new starting attack minded right back 3. A new Attacking central… Read more »
That’s an interesting point about Sterling and the Kroenkes possibly wanting to make a statement by getting him (personally it’d be a fucking daft signing were it to happen). Given that their only sporting point of reference is gridiron (apart from shooting big game endangered species if you call that sport), they will be looking at this through an nfl lens. Spunk a ton of cash on a big name qb or wide receiver and imagine that to be a cure all. NFL and footy are evidently both team games but there seems to me a greater sense in nfl… Read more »
I would take a midfield three of Partey, Anguissa and Ramsey.
*provide
A good as Grealish is, he’s no spring chicken. He’s 25, coming into his prime. Personally for the middle of the park I want someone younger who can make that position his own for the next decade a la Cesc.
Arsenal 19/20 Goalkeepers
Leno , Martinez, Macey
Arsenal 21/22 Goalkeepers
A Brighton reject, An Icelandic clown and A Cameroonian Doper?
”Be excited”’
”Trust the process”
”Culture Change”
”Non Negotiables’
”Ruthless”
‘ESL”
Reality:
Skint, 8th and Out of Europe.
Almunia Fair enough but I think the deal would be least likely to happen because of Sterling himself so it’s nearly irrelevant even if we were willing to fork out 75% of our budget on him. No chance that any remotely ambitious footballer would want to leave serial league champions and fresh off of winning the latest one of which he has played a central role to join a team that has finished the last 2 seasons in 8th and outside the top 4 for half a decade. He has averaged 15 PL goals a season across their three PL… Read more »
I love Smith-Rowe but going into next season with him as our main creative outlet in the middle would be criminal negligence once again.
Raptora
Ramsey is a serial crock.
You’d have that midfield 3 for maybe 20 games a season.
Kroenkephobe
I think you’re on to something with that analogy to american football in terms of the way the Kroenkes see it but surely to God that is filtered by the Arsenal management? We can’t be that ineffective,that’s like an Adam Sandler film! We’ll know soon enough anyway,window opening any day now isn’t it?
The quote is from the Illiad, laocoon was a trojan priest who advised the Trojans against accepting the trojan horse as a gift from the Greeks. It translates as ‘ I fear the Greeks especially when they bring gifts’. That’s how I would view Guardiola.
It’s the 1 st June the euros start soon there is no need to worry yet about who we are getting and being fed up of the time it’s taking lol
Also I get the reluctance to sign older players but saying that Grealish is too old at 25/26 is a bit nuts, come on Leeds mate.
Seen a couple on here as well lobbying for a ‘ban’ on signing players over 25 too. Are said people aware that we signed Santi Cazorla aged 28 nearly 29?
Or Alexis Sanchez aged 26?
Two of our best signings the last decade.
We the people that day that are thick and know nothing lol
Say not day
Wenger Eagle I’m not saying he’s too old, but he is not a kid. I think for some people, when they hear the name Jack Grealish they see in their minds a picture of Jack Wilshere when he broke into the team. My point is if we’re going to spend serious money I rather spend that money on the best players 19-23 and have them grow with the team. In any case it’s a moot point, Grealish is going to cost £80m plus at the very minimum and I can’t see the Kronkes spending that much on one player again… Read more »
Wenger Eagle Your thoughts this morning are illuminating but there is a problem that you’ve highlighted. If we can’t attract players that are seeking success particularly those who have already had a taste (your sterling argument) and we cant afford to splurge on the big fish in a small pond( grealish, rice,etc),then surely that only leaves us with the youth approach. Sanchez would never have joined Arsenal 2021 and Santi is the exception to every rule. Every club is now combing what has become a very small world to find talent and by all accounts our scouting set up is… Read more »
There is an important parallel with Kieran Tierney and ESR.
When fit and on form they are automatic starters for us… the problem is they are both made of glass.
We need dependable deputies so that they can get through the season without lengthy spells of injury.
How close is Joel Lopez our U23s LB ready for first team football?
Anybody from our U23s team that could deputise for ESR?
Perhaps Kido Taylor Hart or Trae Coyle?
“What choice do we have but to gamble on youth with (hopefully) high ceilings?”
It’s what we should do but if a top player at the right age comes around, we shouldn’t say no.
Of course Arteta saw a top player in a 32 yo Willian and that’s the huge problem.
If an Aubameyang opportunity shows up, we should take it. Again, the problem back then wasn’t Auba’s transfer, but Laca’s who has offered very little for the amount of money and years we committed on him.
Forget Ramsey.
We should be filling the team with affordable bright young things, who are just reaching their peak, like Patson Daka. Not old has-beens like Ramsey.
Imagine wanting Ramsey back. Let’s get Bendtner, Denilson and Eboue too while we’re at it.
Leeds Agreed on it being moot re Grealish himself but meant more so on other players over 25 being undesirable. Experience is crucial in this sport and it really does become an afterthought to team building at times. It’s also naive to think that in this day and age that we will sign players in their early 20s and they will stay at the club their entire careers, how often does that happen? Nearly never for a reason. I love having young players but you need the tight blend with experienced and prime players too to be a successful team.… Read more »
Ramsey… remember about 7 or 8 years ago when he went a crazy spell of scoring for fun for about half the season?
He did a Joe Willock!
I don’t like the half decisions we make. Like spurging so much money on Lacazette, or Pepe when neither was top class or cheap. Why do we spend huge money on players who are not world class?
It makes way more sense to just buy someone with high ceiling for half the money and that you can always resell for a decent sum.
Imo ~25-30m young players should be our bread and butter, then the occasional 60-70m top class player.
That’s what people were saying when Cesc wanted to come back. We have Ozil right?! That decision worked wonders for us.
WengerEagle “As much as people are envisaging the dream scenario of us bringing in gifted youngsters and forming a superteam by 2025, what would actually transpire would us turning into the PL’s Borussia Dortmund and seeing an exodus of our talent by the elite clubs when they hit that next level rendering us a glorified feeder club.” Sorry to break it to you we are already there. That’s why I am still of the opinion, we should sack Arteta sooner than later because we need an experienced operator to convince our young stars to stay whilst we consolidate. If we… Read more »
Almunia
We can look at the big fish in smalls pond types, Grealish and Rice pretty much are the two exceptions to the rule as they play for wealthy and well performing English clubs that are in no need to sell not to mention both players are club captains and arguably their best player [In Rice’s case, Grealish certainly is].
Grealish is also a hometown Villa boy which just adds more figures onto the price tag.
We can absolutely still look to sign prime players from abroad, like a Bruno Fernandes or a Mo Salah.
Patson Daka is Not 22, he will only be fit for a max of 3 more years, one of which might be adapting to the EPL
You can take this to the bank!
It’s Groundhog Day…….again?
Leeds We were there in the previous decade which saw us lose Henry, Flamini, Hleb, Adebayor, Kolo Toure, Fabregas, Nasri, Clichy, Van Persie and Song over the space of 5 years. We’ve been so bad for a long time now that we haven’t had any players that any of the big boys have even wanted. Saka, Martinelli, ESR and Tierney are nowhere near being established PL stars yet as much promise as they have shown, Saka is close albeit. We still have a 2-3 year window to show some ambition and balls to convince these lads to stay before they… Read more »
Raptora You are highlighting the downside of the window for those who don’t trust Arteta,this horrible sense that no matter how much money he is given or generates,no matter who becomes available or is willing to join he’ll still fuck it up. I think like you but I’m trying to change. Charlie’s argument has always been that Arteta deserves this summer,if he makes a mess of it then he must go. I think we just have to accept he’s getting this window and we can’t change that, it doesn’t mean we’re now in agreement with it, we’re not, but we’ll… Read more »
Now it’s a complete pipe dream, but I’ll tell you what would get me buzzing… and it would be a real statement of intent.
Allegri, Conte or Zidane to manage the Arsenal.
It would be interesting to see if Conte would do any better than Areta with exactly the same group of players for instance…
Zidane and Conte would only take us over with a guarantee of massive investment short-term which is pretty much a non-starter with Kroenke. I mean it’s practically the main reason that both of them left Inter Milan and Real Madrid.
Also Allegri is off the market, he’s back at Juventus.
Come on Arteta, go join Everton! You know you want to!!! They need you!!!
WengerEagle
Would you take Galtier? The manager that won Ligue Un with Lille?
When did Allegri go back to Juventus? I thought it was just a rumour he was being considered.
Almunia ”””You are highlighting the downside of the window for those who don’t trust Arteta,this horrible sense that no matter how much money he is given or generates”” Well summed up. Levy kept Deli Alli because he knew that was the best thing to do for the club not Jose M. Who at the club s making sure the likes of Willock, AMN, Saliba ( Martinez) etc should be staying at the club because the next manager might like them and build his team around some of them? Putting all your eggs in the Arteta basket- is so so KSE.… Read more »
Leeds
Last week it was made official.
I would love us to take Galtier but he’s supposedly about to take over Nice who are backed by filthy rich owners and are looking to pull off a Lille/Monaco job on Ligue 1 while Lille are about to sell off a whole host of their title winning team like Monaco did when they won it.
Find it hard to believe that we couldn’t tempt him here but sadly looks like we’re made up with Tets.
Wenger Eagle
“Find it hard to believe that we couldn’t tempt him here but sadly looks like we’re made up with Tets.”
Errgh. I know what you mean. Just think about it, it would have been the easiest sell for the publicity team… “Our last French manager did well, why not him? ;)”
Odegaard, with Ancelotti back at Real Madrid, has our chances improved? Do you rate him, Odegaard I mean?
Could Bernardo Silva be our Santi if Pep wants to sell him?
I was critical of him the other day in the UCL final, but even if he is not of the required quality to be a game changer for City, he could maybe be a game changer for us. And we might just be the right place for him. That’s a transfer that has enough sense about it to make you to think.
Leeds I do like Odegaard but I’m not sure spending 40m on him would be a great idea. His loan has been pretty underwhelming, glimpses of his true potential in the games vs West Ham and Spurs but he’s not a guy that is going to hit the ground running in this league from the looks of it. We really do have to be careful how we spend our money and I just wasn’t fully convinced by his loan. Ideal scenario for me would be to loan him again next season and then decide next summer. Whether Real would be… Read more »
Bernardo silva is quality, he is the main guy in the Monaco side that won ligue 1. Not Mbappe, neither Lemar
Bernardo Silva is more realistic than Sterling.
I still love Silva as a player, just because he’s not the very best attacking midfielder on the planet doesn’t mean that he’s not an elite player that is levels above anything that we have.
Hard to see the Spanish clubs not being interested though, or PSG as a long-term Di Maria replacement if he were available.
Anguissa has 9 MotM awards in whoscored in 57 league starts for Fulham and Villarreal.
Bissouma has 1 MotM award in 50 league starts for Brighton.
Also Anguissa’s team got relegated so should be cheaper than Bissouma.
Imo both do similar job in defence but Anguissa’s ball progression and offensive play is better.
#teamanguissa
Rap
Agree on Anguissa. Same age as Bissouma too.
Leeds brilliant post mate. Yes get Zidane in as manager and then sign Messi. He would be gagging to come and play for us. Maybe we could pay him with green shield stamps.
Imo Bernardo is head and shoulders above current Odegaard and also he is settled in England, so if we have a realistic chance to pick between the two, it should be an easy choice.
Get buendia and bissouma and ship chaka out. I will be more than happy with that. Anything on top of that is a bonus. People always put out a list of 10 outs and 10 ins, which is unrealistic considering it Takes many parties to agree to a transfer. Considering we don’t have Europe next season, we need to trim the fat, but also keep in mind coming back to Europe the season after. I would use this season to bed in a lot of youngsters. A year out of Europe and out of the spot light should help us… Read more »
Anguissa, Buendia and Daka.
If B Silva would be a great addition. Would really facilitate us in terms of moving the ball from midfield into attacking areas.
“Yes let’s blow half our budget on sterling when we already have saka and Pepe who each got 17 g/a last season and both are improving and we have martinelli coming through as well.” Saka and Pepe had 8 and 11 contributions respectively. There’s going to have to be a point where people reconcile the fact the EL group stages isn’t a measure for quality, and the PL is the actual test. Also, it’s the only competition we’re in next year so how about we narrow the focus a bit to reflect that? We scored 55 goals last season, which… Read more »
Still think that we need a LF much more than we need another ST.
I don’t trust Pepe over a full season and Saka is still developing. Our other options are shit.
Charlie
Some of the same people putting up the disingenuous Pepe G/A numbers which are bumped up playing farmers in the Europa League really are turning their noses up at Sterling, a bonafide 15-20 PL goal a season wide man.
Can hardly make it up.
Bernardo Silva turns 27 this summer, of course he’s at a more developed stage of his career than 22 year old Odegaard.
They’re pretty much the classic promise vs pedigree example.
Almunia
Aha! Looking for Latin when it was Greek. No wonder I struggled. A metaphor for my failed life!
The only modern Greek I know is an insult that goes along the lines of ‘sta archidiamou’ spelling bound to be awry. It apparently means ‘I’ve got your name written on my bollocks’. Try using it in your local when it reopens. Not sure how this gets us out of signing Sterling but there’s always room for meaningless trivia.