Round-up

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Fans went into meltdown yesterday over a player they thought Arsenal were signing because he went to Aston Villa. The internet exploded. The club is apparently finished. Villa are now a bigger club than us… because fans take rumours as fact.

Quite the spectacle.

Buendia is no doubt a top talent. He’s powerful, mobile, and energetic. He’s also a chance creation machine. But that doesn’t mean we were in for him. If we were, we’d have landed him. No doubt. There is not a world where a player picks Villa over Arsenal unless there’s something wrong with them.

I suspect that the reason we’re not moving on him is Odegaard.

The rumour that really should have us worried is Reuben Neves replacing Granit Xhaka. That feels a lot more Arsenal if I’m honest. He’s with Jorge Mendes, he’s just had a very average season, and his signing probably doesn’t move us forward. He’s not really that mobile, he’s been outclassed this season by our current midfielders, and he’s quite one-paced. He’ll not be cheap.

It’s a peak-Edu move in my opinion. No imagination.

SPURS WERE BINNNED OFF BY CONTE. Amazing stuff. Daniel Levy tried to lure him to convince Harry Kane the project wasn’t dead… then he received the middle finger because Conte doesn’t think winning values align. Magic.

Right, short one today because I’m traveling. See you tomorrow!

 

 

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Mr Serge

Always good to be first

Mr Serge

And 2nd

grooveydaddy

Tr4phy

grooveydaddy

Oops

Invisozil

Pedro officially about turned on Edu, formerly Le Grove’s second coming of Christ.

Mr Serge

Lol battery died while i was going for sweep

niell

Odegaard is sooo average, Buendia will have a much better season next year.

grooveydaddy

Neves, a Xhaka-esque player who takes a lot of shots??

How does this improve us?

Kenyangunner

Pedro ,; where are you traveling to?
If you are on your way to Nairobi,can I reserve some crocodile delicacy at the Carnivore hotel ?

Moray

So it seems Campos has gone to Real..

Eduardo

Arsenal were clearly interested in Buendia but Villa wanted him more. Not something to get overly animated about, but the overall lack of movement on incoming or outgoing players is disconcerting, if predictable.

Mr Serge

Campos another failure lol

Mr Serge

I dont think ode is average he is a good player with a high ceiling that’s still 22 we would do well to get him

Left Testicle

I see Minister for School Dinners is captain!? 🤔

Left Testicle

And Grealish has already fallen over. 😒

Bob N16

I’d much prefer Bissouma to Neves.

Marko

Literally obsessed with football agents

Demetrios

We officially bid for Buendia, and Villa outbid us…..that is what is embarrassing about all this.
Neves isn’t as bad as you say, not too far behind bissouma this season for tackles and interceptions (check the stats).
Neves and Bissouma would upgrade our midfield for next season if they happen, along with Odegaard and a couple of full backs.
All is not lost yet, just feels a bit shambolic at the mo

Danny S

Window hasn’t even opened yet, plenty of time. Though I’m not massively excited about Ode or Neves.

Ishola70

What’s worrying about getting in a midfielder that can actually engage and compete in the middle of the pitch against one who can’t and has to play deep all the time thus making us a man short in the centre of the pitch.

The back handed compliments to Xhaka are lovely.

I wouldn’t be worried about Neves himself.

I’d be more worried about Arteta just placing Neves in the same exact position deep that Xhaka plays. Literally taking like for like to the exact letter.

Don’t like dem agents. Especially Mendes and the whole Wolves set-up eh.

Tom

“ There is not a world where a player picks Villa over Arsenal unless there’s something wrong with them.” Unless there is a world in which Buendia and Emi Martinez are both from the same country, close friends, their families hang together, are represented by the same agent, and Villas brass put on a major charm offensive spearheaded by Emi Martinez himself. And what if in this imaginary world the Arsenal were coached by a rookie manager who chopped and changed his squad the entire season without a clear direction or vision, and a 24 year old player looking for… Read more »

DivineSherlock

All Neves has to do is play auxillary Left Back . Peak Tactics from Arteta.

AlteredReality

Sincerely hope we are not in it for Odegaard. Just read some articles and he’s got a chronic knee problem, which they say will get worse with time. Already injury prone

He’s not dynamic at all, he doesn’t dribble or burst forward, slow and use only his left foot.. Other than the occasional and very few nice passes forward, he’s not shown anything.

Marko

Ask a wolves fan if they dislike the influence of Jorge Mendes at the club and they’ll probably tell you he made them a premier league football club. Ask Valencia if they’d have his influence back and they’d probably say yes in a heartbeat. Ask Pedro and he’ll make him out to be the devil incarnate

Ishola70

There have been many reports that Arsenal made a bid for Buendia.

If so that means that Buendia was not interested to sit and force the Norwich hand in ultimately accepting the Arsenal offer.

This was in his power to do this.

Peckobill

It’s not hard to admit buendia turned us down in favour of villa , it’s not our club per se it’s the inept clown arteta is the reason . He’ll soon be gone end of this year . Fan of arteta or not who can honestly say in their right minds would expect the player to choose to play under him . Everyone seen what kind of football we served up last year . Everyone hears the stories how arteta has piss poor management . Just half a season left of him

Guns of SF

Emi M likely had some sway in this entire thing.
The keeper we should have kept. Perhaps if we did , Buen would be with us?
Who knows…

Anyhow, if ODe is who we want, then fuck Edu. This player is not worth the money nor is what the team needs. FFS, his time with us was not anything to write home about at all. Less than a handful of good games.

I think we need to get Bissouma or Anguissa if we are going for Aouar.. those 2 can be good cover around him on the defensive end.

Bob N16

Aston Villa offered Norwich an acceptable offer, Arsenal weren’t willing to match or better this offer.

If you want to draw any more conclusions from his transfer, fair enough, but it would be guess work and possibly narrative driven.

Graham

I know pretty well every respectable football journalist says we bid for Buendia but the same journalists mistakenly claimed that there was a backlash which would stop the ESL. I trusted Pedro and his sources when they told us the ESL was unstoppable and I trust them now.

Peckobill

Oh and let’s not go down the road with it’s just edu who’s involved with the attempt to get the xhaka clone neves . Arteta is above edu , he’d have final say on any transfer , that’s well established now . Bland buying bland , shouldn’t shock really

Northbanker

Pedro – don’t t know where you get your facts from but we bid for Buendia but wanted it all on tick

Agree though that Neves would be a depressing signing as would Ode

If this is the best we can come up with then next season will be as underwhelming as this one

Buendia was the perfect target , exactly what we needed and it is incredible we have allowed him to go to Villa

Mr Serge

North banker did we allow him or did he chose them over us i think the latter
We are a shambles

Obum

Peckobill… the report didn’t say Arsenal offer was accepted and Buendia turned it down. We are not even sure if Arsenal really made a bid for him

Dream10

Guns of SF

I don’t think it’s Edu who is pushing for Ødegaard. It’s all Arteta.

Sid

“”” There is not a world where a player picks Villa over Arsenal unless there’s something wrong with them.””””

Is it joke friday already? Keep em coming!
3 words Mar ti nez

Marko

If you want to draw any more conclusions from his transfer, fair enough, but it would be guess work and possibly narrative driven

Isn’t that what you’re doing

Mr Serge

My mate is a wolves season ticket holder this is his take on neves

Neves is a decent player, loves a Hollywood ball. 2nd most interceptions in league last season. Loves a shot from outside of the box but rarely scores…that’s his downfall!

Champagne Charlie

Pedro Neves getting slandered because he’s Mendes-linked? Think that’s a low blow, would it apply if we were in for Pedro Neto too who’s far sexier? Neves is the most Xhaka-like replacement there is in the league (PL-proven), meaning he’s the same profile of player like Rodri who sets the play from deep. Bissouma and co. don’t do this and it’s widely reported we want a ‘different profile’. Read a summation which puts it into perspective for me, said Wolves fans were reeling at the prospect of losing a guy they love, who is a leader for them, and Arsenal… Read more »

DivineSherlock

Honestly Ruben Neves is still an upgrade on Xhaka. Atleast we save points on costly errors and red cards.

Bob N16

Pecko – ‘Arteta is above Edu’ not sure how you know this. ‘Buendía turned us down’ sources?

Northbanker ‘we bid for Buendía but wanted it all on tick’ – don’t know where you get your facts.

Avi

Honestly cannot comment on Neves, I’ve spent the last couple of years actively avoiding watching Wolves, considering how incredibly boring they are, so I’ve no idea how Neves has actually been playing.

Claver

Just watched a YouTube video named “most unforgettable mistakes of the Season.”

Dear Lord.

Aside a few classics from Allison Becker, it is mostly arsenal. Leno is a walking, talking gaffe. Xaka and Luiz deserve their own reel. Dani cabellos, you greasy haired bastard,a Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.

Mr Serge

CC Neto is out until October no chance we sign him he will fail medical

Peckobill

Obum We bid confirmed by credible sources . When a player is for sale and the two bids is just a small difference between them the player has the power to pick which club he wants not the club selling . Buendia says I’m not going to villa I want the arsenal move then the arsenal move he gets . How every transfer works . We gained off it with Sanchez when he picked us when the Liverpool bid was bigger and we lost with it with rvp made it clear he’d only go to Man U when juve put… Read more »

Sid

If we do Not qualify for CL this season, and Saka has a great season, we will lose him next season.

You heard it here 1st & you can take it to the bank!

Ishola70

The difference being that Neves can step up into centre midfield when required.

As has been noted by seeing that he is more mobile and nimbler than Xhaka.

Jorginho the same.

The requirement for that is important.

Shouldn’t be in a position where we can’t push up a midfielder when required and the player operates almost exclusively deep.

Avi

Bissouma offensive numbers are actual poverty but his defensive numbers are elite

Avi

Ishola
From the eye, it just seems as if he’s is an ever so slightly more mobile version than Xhaka, although still not the most dynamic so the question remains is he really a good enough upgrade, if any at all?

Peckobill

Avi
Neves much like your description of wolves , boring that’s neves and I’ve seen lots . He’s xhaka with a cigarette paper thick better . Xhaka or neves , we finish in the league the same place swap same for same and be about 15 mill down for the hell of it . Sounds just about up arteta street

Sid

My bro @Nortbanker vs Robert, quality entertainment!

Ishola70

It sounds like people want a “baller” for the DM position.

Fine.

Just find one that can operate in the centre of the pitch please

Champagne Charlie

Serge

No I get that, dodgy patella injury for the lad sadly. What I’m saying is, if we were in for Neto (a player that excites) then there would be no talk of Jorge Mendes and ‘laziness’ in the transfer.

Just poor to label Neves as such because he’s not sexy. He’s the most sensible replacement there is for Xhaka on these shores. Argue against there being better abroad etc etc, but if we already know there’s a view to bring in more PL-proven players this summer then tell me who replaces what we lose with Xhaka better than Neves?

Vickingz

A quick glance at the players we are being linked with and you will in no time realize that we are in deep mess. Neves? What does he do better than zhaka, really? Ordegard?? Was he not mostly eaten up in games he played in the just concluded season? Arteta out yet?

Sid

Bissouma will not take us to the next level, we need a dynamic CM to dictate play.
Neves alone will Not move us to the next level, but is a better fit alongside Partey or rotating with Partey who will continue with fitness problems.

China1

Pedro going on full PR spin mode to turn the Buendia embarrassment into something positive

You are allowed to criticize the club when arteta is in charge dude. Mikel doesn’t read this blog, he won’t know or be offended!

Bob N16

Pecko, you have no insider knowledge about the comparative bids for Buendía, the amount and the timing of the payments. AV’s offer was acceptable to Norwich, Arsenal’s was clearly not.

You appear to hate Arteta with a passion so you choose to make assumptions that put Arteta’s managed Arsenal in a worse possible light. Fair enough but a passionate opinion doesn’t make it any more factual than a reasoned one.

Avi

Neves much like your description of wolves , boring that’s neves and I’ve seen lots . He’s xhaka with a cigarette paper thick better . Xhaka or neves , we finish in the league the same place ”

Lol, someone mentioned him as just a right footed Xhaka

But honestly signing Bissouma would be pointless too because you got Partey who is better we need different profiles

Bob N16

China, if you don’t just pile on to Arteta on any given day are you out of step with reason?

If Pedro followed this line of thinking wouldn’t he be simply playing into ‘the Arteta is Satan!’ posse?

Frost

Side talk. This highlight reel for Balogun is nuts.

https://twitter.com/Armziinho/status/1401561454327873539?s=19

Boy would be huge if he even comes close to fulfilling that talent of his.

Its crazy the amount of young talent we’ve got coming through at the same time. Beacons of hope. Abit surprised at how two footed he is btw

Left Testicle

Bertrand, Odegaard, Neves. This is going to be a completely underwhelming transfer window.

Pierre

Frost
very impessive, I thought he was right footed but not so sure now.

It does beg the question, why wasn’t he given game time in the 2nd half of last season..

Explosive .

Habesha Gooner

Oh FFS pedro. Every credible journalist has said we bid for buendia. We just didn’t match villa’s offer. And we didn’t push hard for him. Either way Now Arteta and Edu need to pull out an Odegaard or a Pereira out of their ass. I wouldn’t mind neves at all. I think he has another gear to his game and he might pull it out out at a higher level. I like him. Anguissa, Bissouma or Neves and I wouldn’t mind any of them. We just have to adjust the tactics. I would mind Aouar either if he is being… Read more »

Left Testicle

It does beg the question, why wasn’t he given game time in the 2nd half of last season.
>>>>>>>>
Two words…
Mikel. Arteta.

Game time? Arteta didn’t even put him on the bench. 😒

Matt

Seems pretty obvious that Buendia absolutely chose villa over arsenal. Trying to say otherwise is what’s embarrassing.

Peckobill

Bob I don’t hate arteta , I just think he’s the most inept manager we’ve had in my forty odd years of supporting the club . I truly believe we’ll never progress until he’s gone . We’ve all seen the crab dull as shit football he produces with all our own eyes which under his methods takes the team about 3 weeks to get from end of the pitch to the other . I haven’t got the patience to write his litany of bad records he set last season ( we all know them ) Losing to the bum and… Read more »

Tee

“Bertrand, Odegaard, Neves. This is going to be a completely underwhelming transfer window.”

Hope you know Bertrand favours Leicester

Just saying to reduce your tears.

Bob N16

Again Matt, Norwich accepted a Villa bid over ours(assuming we made one.) – that’s all we know!

What’s embarrassing are all the posters who state categorically that Buendía chose Villa over Arsenal without having any insider knowledge.

Rich

Frost

That video is really good, some brilliant finishes with both feet

We can sell both Lacazette + Nketiah this summer, and go with internal replacements of Martinelli + Balogun

If we make room for Willock for next season, we’d have Saka, Smith-Rowe, Willock, all into our first team from the academy within 3 seasons

If we could get a truly world class striker as well, would save us a fortune

Always preferred Wenger’s mantra

“We don’t buy superstars, we make them”

Tee

“Bob
I don’t hate arteta , I just think he’s the most inept manager we’ve had in my forty odd years of supporting the club . I truly believe we’ll never progress until he’s gone”

Like seriously? You really don’t hate him. Lol

Tom

I actually like Neves. I think he would definitely improve us.
His heat map is way more impressive than Xhaka’s , he’s not a defensive liability in the open field, and he scored more goals for Wolves in their awful season than Partey and Xhaka for Arsenal combined in almost twice the minutes played.

Frost

“It does beg the question, why wasn’t he given game time in the 2nd half of last season”

Mind boggling really. I’m really hoping we don’t regret entrusting rookie with the keys to this golden generation…

He’s already made lots of mistakes with them

Left Testicle

Is it ‘Tee’ for Tit?

Bob N16

Pecko, I feel your pain! We all want a better future, I have no real confidence in the Arteta/ Edu partnership but I haven’t given up all hope!

Let’s see how the TW works out, I guess you’re not holding your breath! Take care with your blood pressure.

Gentlebris

‘Welcome back GentleBris, I am back for a while , on thin ice though methinks. Hows that little one, must be bigger than Torriera by now?’ CG, my dear fella! I just hope I can hang on here till summer chit chats are done. I suspect I walk on worse than thin ice here now and through the summer I may have to address the host here as Mr Pedro, Sir, yes Sir! And about the little one… My son is a huge footballer and this is not just my word. You have to see him control the ball. And… Read more »

Jim Lahey

“tell me who replaces what we lose with Xhaka better than Neves?”

Why the fuck would we want to do that? The whole point of finally getting rid of Xhaka is to get a ponderous side-ways passing merchant out of the midfield, why would we go out and buy another one? Christ…

Peckobill

Tee
Nope don’t hate that’s a strong word , a useless manager yes .
Bob
Scenario for you , Liverpool , city or Man U puts the same bid as us for Buendia , less than villas but the same as ours . I bet you my bottom dollar he ends up at Liverpool , city or Man U . Why ? Because buendia would force the move .
He wouldn’t for us he was happier to go to villa

Jim Lahey

Are there any more Chelsea has-beens’ floating about for Arteta to snatch up?

Frost

“We can sell both Lacazette + Nketiah this summer, and go with internal replacements of Martinelli + Balogun”

That’s what dortmund would do. Our coach does like his 30yr olds.

Fingers crossed those two get lots of chances next season. I’d personally send Balogun on loan next season to accelerate his development if he’s going to have 3 people ahead of him here

Peckobill

Jim
I’m sure arteta is thinking of luring John terry out of retirement for that right sided CB he wants so he can bin off saliba

Champagne Charlie

Jim

Xhaka is very much in the same ‘type’ as Rodri, Jorginho, Neves etc. It’s not a matter of you liking or disliking it I’m afraid, that’s the facts.

If we’re selling Xhaka, and want to replace that type of player (suggested in the media), then Neves is an obvious consideration. Again, your feelings aren’t anyone’s concern.

Foxy

Just watched a few compilations on Neves and noticed two immediate things he can do that Xhaka cannot. One turn with the ball when under pressure and two actually run with the ball. That’s enough to get my vote!

Guns of SF

Neves would be decent, but Anguissa or Bissouma is probably more what we need. That size and power in our midfield is critical to allow us to protect the back and not get run over like we usually do.

Xhaka due to his lack of pace sits back to not get burned with fast counters. Its hampered our attack a lot.

Who we pick will give us an idea of what Mike has in store… if he is really going for a 433 or sticking to his 4231

Jim Lahey

“Xhaka is very much in the same ‘type’ as Rodri, Jorginho, Neves etc. It’s not a matter of you liking or disliking it I’m afraid, that’s the facts.”

If they are all slow moving, 5 yard pass stat padders then you are correct. And why would we want another one of those players Charles? It hasn’t exactly worked for us over the past 4/5 seasons now has it?

Bob N16

Pecko – you may have a point but the teams you listed are all in the CL ( CL club coming in clause/agreement)I have no idea how much power a player has when one club offers more than another. Maybe the agent negotiates a slightly different salary package to get the deal his player wants. The relationship between the selling club and the outgoing player may also come into the equation.

Crimson

England missing Saka
Protect our star

Peckobill

Bob
That’s my point we no longer compete with the manc clubs and Liverpool for players no more , we compete with villa , Everton and Southampton. Some we’ll win some we’ll lose but that’s our level now with arteta

Crimson

So many useless debates our midfield 😀

Rich

Guns

I want a Cazorla type

Someone who can take the ball in tight areas, beat the press, and create overloads in the final third

Someone with Xhaka’s passing range, but who can get the ball out of his feet much quicker

Someone who can dictate the whole pace of the game from deep when teams cede possession, or we’re chasing a game

I really hope we can pull a world class technician from somewhere

Guns of SF

Rich

That sounds like a prime Aouar.

It could have Buen.

Champagne Charlie

Jim Maybe because a player of that ilk is fundamental to balancing CM, and allowing a base from which we build a coherent philosophy? Ozil was a flawed #10 but because he was flawed didn’t render the position or inclusion of a more appropriate player necessary. Same with Xhaka. Rodri and Jorginho are big parts of the PL champions and CL winners first XI’s, so the fact you consider them stat padders speaks more to your ignorance than anything else. Was Busquets also a stat padder? Probably by your reckoning, but he was crucial to arguably the best CM ever.… Read more »

Crimson

10 Cazorlas and Onana.

Pierre

It’s clear to see why Southgate wants to start Henderson in the middle , crisp passer and a good understanding of the role.

I also like Trippier, a proper full/wing back who is lethal from dead ball situations.

Bob N16

Pecko, Our squad management has been shocking for five years +, our leadership over those years both on and off the pitch has been inadequate. The good news is we have some great young players in our squad and we still have money to compete with all but the top four. They can’t hoover all the good players, we just need a coherent transfer policy, good negotiating( take a bow Dick Garlick) and a cohesive way of playing.. Whether your glass is half full or half empty, our glass need some serious topping up. A great TW will be a… Read more »

The Bard

I dont understand your take Pedro. If he is all the things you say he is why arent/ weren’t we in for him. I well remember the Suarez debacle. Imagine what we might have achieved of we had made a proper bid rather than taking the piss.

azed

Pedro

“It’s a peak-Edu move in my opinion. No imagination.”

Do you think Edu has power over Arteta?

You’ve already laid the ground work for your Arteta excuse.

If it’s looks like a poor signing, it’s Edu, if it’s good, then it’s Arteta.

Rich

Guns It’s who I think we’ll go for There’s red flags, only completed 90 minutes 6 times this season, regularly subbed early in the second half, had his application called into question on a few occasions The last thing we need is another stroppy mercenary with an over inflated ego, and there’s a danger that if he can’t last 60 minute in Ligue 1, what chance does he have in the PL… On the flip side, he’s got a lot of the qualities I like in a midfielder, he’s someone who can really turn up the tempo, offers a few… Read more »

Kroenkephobe

Almunia Group of debt. Nice one. I remember some economist wag branding Portugal, Ireland, Greece and Spain as the ‘PIGS’ group of countries following the 2008 crash. Charming. The big white bubble was a reference to the 60s programme the Prisoner. Actually shot in North Wales in a quirky little village /holiday camp in Portmeirion, it involves all these people who are brainwashed in a future dystopian society except Patrick McgGoohan (everyone had a number instead of a name – I think he was number 6, the Tony Adams of political prisoners! ). Anyway his constant attempts to escape the… Read more »

Peckobill

Bob
We got some great youngsters but careers are short and unless we start progressing those youngsters in a few years will want out . Stick with arteta and we’ll be waving goodbye to these players when the top clubs come calling . We need a decent manager and soon

Bob N16

Pierre, I think I would give minutes to Bellingham over an unfit Henderson. Depending on opposition I’d go:

Grealish- Kane- Sancho/Rashford/Saka
Foden- Mount- Rice
Shaw -Maguire(if fit)- Stones- Walker

Unfortunately that midfield and attack have never played together. England well set for quite a few tournaments. Hoping for a more inspiring manager than Southgate.

Sid

The heatmap of Xhakalson only confirms Diet Pep is a charlatan tactically.
Is Xhakalson a midfielder or LB? We are basically playing with one midefielder and the opposition dont have to worry about covering the middle.

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