Morning all.
Diego Costa’s name is popping up everywhere as he’s linked to us. The Atletico Madrid man signed a new contract in August this year but it’s believed he’s still on a low wage. Well, not low to you and I but in terms of salaries for big players, it’s low. Costa has scored 21 goals in 22 matches so far this season, just the kind of return from a striker that we as a club seriously lack.
New contracts mean very little when or if a player is ready to move and I strongly suspect many players simply do the decent thing to ensure their current club get a good fee for him. Suggestion is that a £32 million buy out clause was written into his new contract, an amount which is peanuts to a club in our financial position and we’d no doubt be able to pay them in full and in cash.
I don’t know where this rumour has come from but if we are to believe what is written, scouts from Arsenal have been in Spain watching the player.
True or false I don’t know but he’s the kind of player we need. Fingers crossed on this story.
Staying with the transfer stories – here’s today’s post from Kev.
I suppose it was only a matter of time but the recent rumours of Barcelona’s interest in Aaron Ramsey came as no real surprise and why should it???
The top clubs routinely watch any player who is hitting form and the headlines and Arsenal do exactly the same, so I’ve no doubt that Man City, Utd, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, etc etc, are also watching Ramsey.
That’s the way it works, it’s only those puerile idiots in the Press/Media, allied to those usual rubbish rumours websites and the ITK twerps on Twitter, who’re getting in a tizzy over this earth shattering news. Yawn!!!
Of course Arsenal to a certain degree are culpable for all this Ramsey nonsense. The clubs recent policy, for whatever reason, of selling a top player or two every summer, has created a feeling that Arsenal are a selling club and vulnerable to any multi-million pound bid…
Signing Mesut Ozil this last summer, whilst retaining our best young talent, was a welcome change but the feeling in the Football Village that Arsenal will always sell, will not disappear overnight.
So maybe the Ramsey rumours are the perfect opportunity for the club, Stan Kroenke, his son and Co. to prove a point, put down a marker, and maintain that Arsenal are very much a ‘buying club’. A club that keeps it’s best players and instead of selling to Barcelona, Real Madrid, Man City, Utd and company, we instead look to purchase ‘their’ best players, like Luis Suarez etc.
But what of Aaron Ramsey himself?
Is he the kind of player, who would agitate for a move, even supposing that his Welsh ‘mate’ Gareth Bale was whispering in his ear about playing in Spain???
Somehow, I don’t think so, and certainly not if Arsenal continue to purchase quality footballers like Cazorla and Ozil, and not if the club show ambition and seriously compete for honours…
You see, it’s all connected, quality signings, ambition, intent, competing for honours, cause and effect, that’s what the top/best footballers want, plus a top wage of course. As long as this past summer was a sign of the clubs new policy, then none of our players will want to leave. Not Vermaelen, not Monreal, not Podolski and not Ramsey…
There is also another way for Arsenal to prove their new credentials. And that’s by not chasing a top player, then standing back and allowing Man City or Gazprom to just waltz in at the 11th hour and outbid us…
If the player concerned is that good and can make a difference, then I’d like to see Arsenal go toe to toe with the Petro-Dollar clubs….
Written by Allezkev.
Morning, nice post rico, very true about contracts. The exception being AW who has always kept to his, even at times over the years when I have been pulling my hair out that he ‘was’ staying 😉
After the Higuan fiasco in the press, it’s difficult to get excited about any stories any more. When we did sign a player, news only broke a day beforehand and it was the least expected, and about the only name NOT linked with us by the press!
Morning all..
Ah, it’s Kev’s post today, he takes all the credit.. 🙂
Love it Kev. I doubt Ramsey will be the only player other top clubs come sniffing around especially with Kos and Merts doing so well but – Ozil signing set a statement and it’s one that needs to remain rather than go backwards to our old ways and like you, I think selling is a thing of the past.
Other clubs won’t get the message until they are turned down a few times…
With our ‘hard times’ done and dusted, money is always available so no excuses but I expect the odd few younger stars to be signed as well..
Hey all! I don’t doubt Barca scouts are monitoring Aaron, amongst many, many others – it’s their job, after all! It does really wind me up that it’s all been spun from nothing by the press. When Wenger was asked if he would sell Ramsey for £50 million, his reply was “we do not look to sell any of our players”. That’s not exciting enough for the back pages, so was reported as “Wenger: Ramsey worth more than £50m”. It then emerged that Barca were “preparing a bid” for, you’ve guessed it, £50m. Yawn…
Another fine post from Mr Kev…
I disagree slightly with this though ‘quality signings, ambition, intent, competing for honours, cause and effect, that’s what the top/best footballers want’…
I personally think salary a big one comes first for majority of players as the departures of Anelka, Overmars, PV etc showed when we were winning the double.
Overmars left immediately after winning something to Barcelona who were stagnant and going through a bad spell but the promise of BIG money i.e ambition as the media like to put it nailed it for them…
Likewise Ade-da whore, Toure joined $hitty because they were offered 3 times what they were on…
Ts to be fair, I think addeebadboy and Kolo were sold because shitty made the Arsenal offers they could not refuse, and why would they?
Wenger was pissed off with addy (to my bank balance) I’mawhore, because of his lack of effort and commitment and for kolo, after his malaria attacks he was never the same player, and still isn’t.
Selling the pair of them for mega bucks was really a no brainer. Bank the cash and move on!
A few silly folk trying to get on this morning, needless to say they are in the bin…
Morning, Nice one Sir,
I’m not so certain as you Sir, f an 80 to 90 million bid came in from anywhere i believe Arsenal would be prepared to deal no mater how much dough they have in the bank. Football is big business and we are talking big money, Wenger would be disappointed to lose Ramsey but he’s also a realist. Ozil was a deal done to keep the masses sombre, it has worked a treat, sell off the deadwood make a few quid in the process and reduce the wage bill, with the profit we have made and the estimated saving of wages for the season allowed us to make a Marquee signing, our form this season has been a bonus and all at Arsenal are looking good. But we are still a business and 80 mill is 80 mill Arsenal would look at the big picture and realise that 80 mill could buy 2 maybe 3 very good players so its a 3 for one situation. I would sell Ramsey in aheartbeat if i was in charge, of course as a supporter i would be gobsmacked but at the end of the day the club has to be run right. Ramsey has had a good half season can he make a full season as his form is dipping i hope he can but there are others nearing fitness Aaron and Jacks places may not be that safe.
Welcome Greg. I think it was the rumour about Barca which prompted the idiot to ask AW the question..
Ts – I also believe that salary comes first for many players and that’s why we could get Costa if Arsenal want him and if they pay what is reportedly a get out clause of £32 million.
Depends on who Chelsea are looking at as they clearly need a striker next month..
Wavy, Nasri was an example of letting players get into their final year of contract but I think he was always thinking of us as a stepping stone into England and then a move for mega bucks..
If a club offered £100 million for Ramsey, I think they’d sell, but ultimately, it’s down to the player and at this moment in time, I can’t see him wanting to go.
In a few years time, things could be very different, we may have a new manager, we may still be without a trophy and who knows, he may think about moving elsewhere, any player might…
I should add, that I completely agree with BdK formerly AK, that we sent out a marker when buying Ozil, and rightly or wrongly it will take the so called ‘bigger’ clubs who come calling for our players on form, a while to get used to the idea that they can no longer cherry pick, successfully! In fact I would consider it something of an insult if they did not! However, they will not be able to prise our players away with just the promise of big money! If silverware is the lure then we shall have to win a few things to remove that lever from the ‘selling equation!
Hmmm!for instants we realy need a finishing striker,but there’s truth in all wath we’re hearing linking players with us all over the globe?ho knows lets see.
but the Ramsey remours can be truth,because every big club would want the type of player he is right nown;for us we need him more than any other club and it’s down to AW to keep him and add some addition in this january tw.
Morning all….
I agree with those who mention the dosh side of things…!
If the money is right 95% of players will go to who ever offers the most money, winning things is then just a bonus.
Do I think they are mercenary money grabbers… Most definitely..!
I certainly believe it’s the first thing on their mind Wath, long gone are the days of joining a club which has a history and does everything the right way..
Why else would all the players City have, had gone there..
Nice post.
If Costa is available for £32 mill, go get him!!
Amen to that Lewis.
None the less, money talks!
Agreed if a club were to offer 100m plus then selling would be inevitable, everyone has their price! Was Annelka worth £23m? Nah, never, but if unreal had offered £15m, say would he have been sold or just left to sulk until he got over it? The latter probably, we’ll never know.
One thing is certain though, there is far too much money washing around the football marketplace to the point that no club can buy another club’s star player if the ‘selling’ club is cash rich, eg Suarez! I mean why would they?
Mr.kv my problem is the fact that Barça is mixing up with us,wy that nosensse?serveraly they’ve denied us from geting thier players in the last summer.for Ramsey,it sould swop deal if they want,we need Leo Messi.
I too believe that Wavy, the right money would almost certainly get any player, IF the player was happy to move..
Good post Kev, agree with most of the comments money talks these days in the football world. I also think arsenal style is the most attractive in the PL, if afc wants Costa in Jan he will certainly come if he is offered good money, agents think for footballers these days, so I don’t think the transfers is impossible if the rumors are true. Plus afc is 1000 times bigger than A. Madrid, so it’s definitely a step up. Imo. Good morning..
At Madrid are having a good time right now Gdna but will they ever beat Barca or Real for a trophy? I can’t see that ever happening which gives weight to him may wanting to move. And money of course.
The only downside is the CL, Am are still in and if he moved to us in Jan, he’d not play. However, the up side is, he won’t expect AM to get to the final… 😉
Sorry Kev, should have noticed it didn’t say ‘That’s Your Lot’ at the end 😉
Good point Rico, but if rumors are true, he and the postman might b on the same wages at the moment. Lol
🙂 Ah…
Ha ha Gdna, I always forget who the postman is, I assume NB?
”Do I think they are mercenary money grabbers… Most definitely..!” 😀 😀
That comment has made my day…
Better squad management is crucial from now on to February as our fixtures will be coming thick and fast
February we play Liverpool (a), Man Utd (h), Bayern (h) Arsenal’s March: Bayern (a), Tottenham (a), Chelsea (a), Man City
Personally, I am still not sold on South American strikers in the EPL; I know Aguero and Suarez go against the pattern but majority fail wen they come this part of Europe imo…
If I was AW I would go for Konstantinos Mitroglou instead who has a bit more to his game in my view…Basically a faster Batistuta or a faster and right footed OG12… lol
This is what AW said about Costa in November… very interesting and unlike AW…
http://www.insidefutbol.com/2013/11/06/hes-an-animal-and-will-challenge-for-ballon-dor-arsenal-boss-arsene-wenger-admits-admiration-of-atletico-madrid-striker-diego-costa/107508/
There you go Ts, good job AW rates him 😉
Rico your buddy Wayne Veysey says: Arsenal scouts will travel to Atletico Madrid’s two matches this week to run the rule over in-form striker Diego Costa.
Arsene Wenger and the Gunners’ chief scout Steve Rowley have identified the Brazilian-born Spain international as a potential January target as the Premier League leaders step up plans to reinforce their front line.
THE VIEW FROM SPAIN
However, if Arsenal can pay the release clause – believed to be around €38m – and reach an agreement with the striker then we could see the most impressive signing of the transfer window. But why he would decide to leave a team who are strong contenders for La Liga and capable of going far in the Champions League?
Scouts have been instructed to assess Costa in Wednesday night’s Copa Del Rey clash against Sant Andreu and Saturday’s La Liga match against Levante, both of which take place at Vicente Calderon.
😀 😀
The report I read this morning suggested Rowley has already watched him twice…
No doubt it’s all paper b****x but I can hope…
Off for a while now, catch up later…
Nice one, Kev.
The players have nibbled away at the transfer ‘restraints of trade’ they see as threatening their ability to fleece the clubs and through them the fans who ultimately cough up by paying for season tickets or for pay TV.
The players international union FIFpro have begun legal proceedings in the European Courts against transfer fees etc as — yes, you’ve guessed it — a restraint of trade, stopping them moving when and where they want and negotiating their salaries directly with clubs without the transfer system which protects the clubs investment in them to a certain degree.
You might think, if they are successful, that it would be a ‘good thing’ as the removal of the transfer system would level up the playing field for all as the Oily clubs would not be able to buy up all the available talent every transfer window no matter what the price tag.
Not a bit of it.
The players are not taking this action to be ‘good guys’, it would just enable them to put themselves on sale directly at any time of year, so that the transfer funds available in what amounts to a huge financial market between the clubs, would see all that money going to them instead, with no controls at all.
The Oily bastards would simply have even more money available to buy players, and would ruin football.
In theory, it seems, if Arsenal had a great team going into the last 2 months of the season, with every hope of winning the league, the Chavs or Citeh could have a word with an agent or two or three, and the players involved would just say bye bye,
Ridiculous.
Hi Rico — 🙂
Mauren-yo is already hinting at needing new players… tsk
What a joke of a manager he is…
Michael Owen: “[Arsenal] don’t have the class of player to go toe to toe with the main title contenders.
“Despite people constantly telling me Mesut Ozil is world class, his inconsistency means that we only see occasional glimpses of real quality.
“His odd good performance is usually followed by half a dozen poor ones.” Another garbage bin, justifying his existence.
I’m wondering if Ozil was English people would talk him down like that.
Afternoon Hb, Gdna, Ts and all..
Owen is a W****R!!
Give the poor guy a chance to get used to the change.
That old crock knows sweet fa….
If Ozil played for the dippers and had displayed the same form he would have been described as, stratesferic, beyond even world class! It’s just another negative dig. We can take it and so can MO11.
Spot on Wavy…
🙂 Owen?? Another mercenary who chose to sit on the bench instead of using his talent…
On Konstantinos Mitroglou. Wenger said recently “he’s a true finisher, you can’t ignore him”
Afternoon Rico.
I think that, on some points, Owen might be closer to the truth than we might like to admit. Loathsome though that thought and Owen himself might be.
Afternoon Adam..
I think a few players seemed to have gone off the boil, Ozil, Ramsey and Giroud being just 3….
Which is why I think they are tired. How Ozil will cope without a winter break remains to be seen..
Hi Rico. You know my feelings about Giroud. As for the rest, it seems that an inadequate squad depth and Arsene’s reluctance to use what we do have might be costing us. The signs have been there for a while though, even when we were winning.
Owen’s words are inconsequential to me, as is he.
I agree Adam, not enough rotation and lack of depth in certain areas. 100 midfielders and then it ends…
Maybe I am being harsh, we have two left backs 😉
Rico,
Don’t let Adam lead you into wicked thoughts! 🙂
“Inadequate squad; AW’s reluctance to use what we do have; will cost us”?
Good gravy – that’s what is said when we are top of the League in December — God knows what would be said if we were a paltry 2nd. 🙂
The Diego Costa rumour is being rubbished by some.
Given a choice between a rubbish rumoured transfer in, and a rubbish rumour rejection, I would prefer the first one. 🙂
🙂 Hb but I do believe that some of our players are tiring having played so many games and now we are heading into a really really busy time of the season..
It’s going to be tough, very tough…
Dinner calls now…
Didn’t miss much then 😉
Rico
I cannot stay, but the rumours that most interest me are those concerning the youngsters we are trying to pinch off Barca and others.
Just as unlikely of course but there is a better chance of these upcoming kids being snaffled. Sanabria for example could be a great addition altho everyone else is after him too.
If we get him he would join Bellerin, Toral, Miguel and others like Cesc before him. Interesting.
I think we’ll get Sanabria Hb, he’s reportedly told Barca he is off and he’s agreed to join another club..
I reckon he’s heading our way…
Evening All…
Cheers Rico.
Very busy atm….
Thanks for positive comments…
Sanabria would be a great signing…
Evening Kev. I guessed you were busy, that’s good as you can earn plenty of money for my Christmas present 😉
Evening Rico Kev and HB and all…
I do not see a purchase of Sanabria as moving forward… is he better and robust as Akpom or Afobe or even Joel Campbell..
Another one for the future again… the clock is seemingly ticking for Aw. That £3.5M compensation can be half of the greek striker’s fee imho…
tsgh,
You have a point about Sanabria because he would be one for the future, but have you noticed how quickly the future shows up and then becomes the present?
A wise squirrel gathers his nuts before the winter snows arrive. 🙂
I have always wanted Afobe to do well, but with all his injuries and his lack of penetration I rather think he may be let go in the summer when his contract finishes. Pity if so.
Akpom is certainly another nut to be collected with one eye on the future 🙂 You cannot have too many nuts. 🙂
Hi Ts, I hope we get him, it will be 3/4 years until he gets into the first team – the reserves will benefit …
Still want to see a ‘proper’ striker signed though….
Hb, it would make a refreshing change to have a number of strikers to select from in a few years time, unlike now.
🙂 HB.. interesting comment.
Hiya Rico, the Barca B team players do not move to us without big promises.
Bellerin was guaranteed first team place after 2 seasons, the reason why he is on loan to Watford.
Toral will be pushing the same if it was not for his long injury.
Sanabria is pushing for a move because he thinks he can make the Paraguayan squad asap.
AS Roma have guaranteed him a squad place too so watch the space I will say…
That’s me done for the day.
Night all….
Night Rico
Arrivederci, Rico. 🙂
Morning all, it’s still dark outside 😉
Spurs are trying to get Frank De Boer as their next manager, I certainly hope they don’t succeed….
I’m out for morning so catch up later.
New Post will go up at 9.30…
Morning all.
Morning Scott
Morning All
Ginge,Kev….how goes it?
Rico, I got you present.
It sparkles, and it’s in a bottle… 😉