Arsene wants De Jong! Double French swoop? Scouting players at a World Cup.

Morning all.

How many stories/headlines have we read which suggest that Arsene Wenger/Arsenal are going to ‘scout’ a player during this summers big competition?

Lorenzo Insigne and David Ospina are two in the last couple of days.

When clubs are looking for new players, I’d like to think and I’m sure they have, monitored any potential target for a lot longer that a one off competition.

Scouting players during a World Cup would be a complete disaster for many reasons. One being if he has a great tournament then the players club will slap a hefty price on him which may have not been so high previously and of course, any player can have a bad game or two at any time.

So all this ‘Scouting at the World Cup’ is a crazy suggestion and the mere fact that Arsene Wenger is in Rio commentating seems crazy also!

But, in saying that, if we start signing 2/3 players in his absence, then it’s a good thing. Keep old Ebenezer away from any discussions and financial dealings and get the signings done without any dilly dallying, or squabbling over a million pounds here and there!

After all, if reports are right, we’d have never signed Mesut Ozil had it had been left to Arsene Wenger….

I nearly choked on my afternoon cuppa yesterday when I read the we are allegedly interested in signing Steven Caulker. I mean come on, there’s rumours and there’s really stupid ones and surely this has to be the latter, doesn’t it?

Mind you, William Gallas once said that he thought Caulker would one day be one of the best English Centre-backs…

One to watch I guess…..

Then there is Paris Saint Germain pair Kingsley Coman and Adrien Rabiot. Arsene Wenger is reportedly hoping to snap them both up. Rabiot is a 19 year old, 6′ 2″ central midfielder who has represented France at all age groups. Coman is a 17 year old attacking midfielder who has also represented France at all age groups.

To be honest, I would object to either of these two signings IF they are good, no, make that great for their age and only IF they aren’t seen as players for now, but for the future.

What we need right now is players who are ready to step right into the first team and make a difference.

The Sun believe that one who is on the clubs radar is midfield brute, Niger De Jong who back in December 2013, was ranked tenth in list of the world’s dirtiest footballers by Spanish football website El Gol Digital!

I can still remember the nasty incident he had with Xabi Alonso, ouch!

Just what we need in our midfield then!!

And of course the Alvaro Morata story rumbles on, even more so now that Carlo Ancelotti has told the media that he is free to leave in search of playing time. Whether that’s on a loan or permanent deal, who knows….

That’s your lot for today…..

 

232 thoughts on “Arsene wants De Jong! Double French swoop? Scouting players at a World Cup.

  1. Bt62 Gooner says:

    Morning me Lady, slow news this transfer day, like every other day to be honest.You’re right Rico, keep old Eb away from the finances or we’ll up in Lidls’ again doing the Arsene Dash. We need players for now first and foremost, as for Morata i think Madrid would want a loan or a big fat fee.De Jong, the type of player we could use ,but not him.Rico, i salute your fortitude in these times of slim pickings, the clock ticks slowly towards Thursday.

  2. Lee says:

    Nigel De Jong has made 3 kung-fu style kicks in his illustrious career, his most famous was on Xabi Alonso causing him 25% bruising……

  3. Adam says:

    Brudder. That is an astonishing stat. But did you know that he led with his right boot in two thirds of those assaults?

  4. tsgh says:

    Morning Rico and all…

    Not a big fan of De Jong personally…. he has struggled at Milan too so…

    For the same size and background, I will consider De Gruzman (spelling)

  5. Lee says:

    I didn’t Adam, but his left foot is a EUR 42 and his right foot EUR 41 so as a youth he tended to dance in circles…..

  6. southyorkshiregunner says:

    Nigel De Jong, Gareth Barry and Samuel Eto aren’t really the way to go.. I can see the odd one as a ‘stop gap’ – if the player is on peasant wages, but medium to long term is always the best way…

    Man Utd had won the European Cup in 1968 and had an ageing side that was never truly overhauled. They got relegated a few years later.

    Leeds got to the European Cup Final in 1975 with an ageing side that was never truly overhauled. They got relegated a few years later.

    Ageing players playing on reputation are never the best way to go…
    Charlton, Stiles, Law, Clarke, Bremner, Lorimer ???

    Look at Man Utd last season. Van Persie was an aged and expensive stop-gap and Rooney has been playing on reputation for the last few years… Those two are going to cost the club half a million quid a week for the next few years… They panicked with Mata – £60M? and they are panicking now… HISTORY OFTEN REPEATS ITSELF …

    Rooney, Ferdinand, Evra, Vidic, Giggs, Scholes

    Busby, Revie and Ferguson all knew what they had before they left.

    Rule one. Don’t buy old players on phenomenal wages, as half the time they are playing on past reputation…

    Rule Two. Don’t buy kids as you never know what you are going to get

    There’s a rule three, but you all know my rule three.

    Somewhere in between – 20-28 year old internationals with top tier countries is always a good starting point….

  7. rico says:

    I have one foot bigger than the other but I don’t dance in circles… Walk a bit strange after a Cobra or two, but no dancing in circles… 😉

  8. rico says:

    Morning Syg, I don’t want us to sign a bunch of oldies either.

    Not against 18-20 year olds as long as they are in a very good place for their age.

    Ross Barkley would be one….

  9. tsgh says:

    Rico, I know you don’t read my comments now… 🙂

    Ciro is old news… I had been talking about Immobile since January for us to sign him but… most on here wanted Costa… 😉

  10. rogerbij says:

    I havent seem Nigel De Jong much since he went to Milan, but one things for sure, sign him and noones gonna f*** with us 😉

  11. allezkev says:

    If Arsenal sign Bender, I will happily get an Arsenal shirt with Bender in the back and arrange to meet Adam and Mrs Adam for afternoon tea in Old Compton St…

    Morning All
    Morning Rico…

    Off to catch up.

  12. tsgh says:

    Roger, Essien was ahead of him towards later part of season… and I bet most won’t want Essien with us… lol

    I am gutted Montolivo broke his leg… i was looking forward to Italy’s midfield of Thiago, Pirlo and Montolivo…

    Not sure how Italy will line up; maybe Marchisio or Verrati will occupy the advanced midfield with Rossi, pirlo and Thiago competing…

    Rico, I thought you had your software sniffing around to spot my comments with ‘some’ and ‘as I said’ so you tell me off… 🙂

  13. Bt62 Gooner says:

    Syg, never mind ageing players living on past achievements and reputations, what about managers doing the same. Morning all.

  14. Bt62 Gooner says:

    Ts, Montolivo was one i was looking forward to watch, always liked what i saw of him. As you say a shame.

  15. rogerbij says:

    Heres a thought, everyone knows we need a DM as badly as we need a striker. How about an article breaking down the pros and cons of all our DM options?

  16. tsgh says:

    Same here Bt… He and Pirlo had excellent understanding.. He covered teh fullbacks perfectly and kept things very very simple…

  17. allezkev says:

    Ted Drake scored 7 goals with 8 attempts, against Villa at Villa Park in 1934…

    What’s that, a 92% strike rate?

  18. rogerbij says:

    I think I just volunteered didnt I? Ill see what I can knock up with some stats before the end of the week Rico?

  19. Bt62 Gooner says:

    Ts, exactly, always on the move, reads the game well, keeps his passes simple, no fancy unnecessary passes and tackles, a bit of a class act.

  20. Wath says:

    I’m quite happy to do grey goose consumption stats for the Camden area compared to the rest of London………….

  21. tsgh says:

    Interpol may knock on your door after you publish those stats as Barcadi will wonder why those consumptions in Camden are not reflecting in their sales.. 😉

  22. Wath says:

    Some of the sales reflect Ts can’t be drawing to much attention to the containers that get sent my way 😉

    Am sure it’s the last thing Bacardi have to worry about..!

  23. allezkev says:

    I have heard, via Twitter of course, that the consumption of Grey Goose, is a massive 54% higher in Camden, than in any other London Borough…

    That rises to an astonishing 72% when taken with a mixer…

    Vaping has shown an enormous increase, some say as much as 86%, in certain areas of East London and Essex….

    Egg production is at an all-time high in Berkshire.
    Experts say it could be as much as 92%…

  24. tsgh says:

    Kev, read between the lines of Wath’s post above.. he says he gets special delivery.. 😉
    you are not the man from ONS?

    Can you give us teh stats on quorn consumption in Berkshire too? 🙂

  25. Wath says:

    Those truly are amazing Stats Kev….

    I also heard that tourists are being charged an amazing 52% more by certain black cab drivers in the City of London compared to 2013….

  26. tsgh says:

    It looks like Rakitic will be replacing Cesc at Barca according to NN… if true a very very shrewd business by the Barca hierachy…

  27. tsgh says:

    Turan’s release clause has been met allegedly too.. £33M

    That would mean Alexis or Pedro might be available…

  28. Wath says:

    Ts, the thing with that Shaw thing is “IF” true… why do they want or need another left back they have two already…. 160k a week for a 19yr old… that’s him set for life…. Are they now looking to buy players just to stop others from strengthening..?
    It’s like people saying we need to buy Cesc just to stop him going to the Chavs… what utter tosh… we need to buy players that we need to just make us better and not worry about what the Chavs do..! “IF” we buy the right players to add to our core team we can be better than the Chavs BUT we need to buy the right players but we all been saying that for years.

  29. tsgh says:

    I am totally with you Wath…

    Man City haven’t learnt from fat Michael johnson deal;who was on £90k a week or so and did not play football at all for 3 or 4 years.. set for life…

  30. potter says:

    No reason to believe that it isn’t , as I said earlier this week the news from the Barca Penya’s suggested that there were wheels within wheels on this particular deal.

  31. Wath says:

    Ts, Fernando for 16million….. Now who says everyone out there is expensive….! No guarantee he’ll be great but from what I have seen of him he looks pretty bloody good and for that price a steal…!

    Sanchez and Pedro have apparently been on the “unofficial” for sale list (along with he who shall not be named) since the spanish season closed Ts…!

    If we’re not trying to get Sanchez then the way we identify players is a total fuck up…!

  32. Wath says:

    Isn’t he now skint though Ts… Am sure i read somewhere that he’s blown all his money….. If true hardly surprising when he’s spunked his footie career in just a manner…!

  33. tsgh says:

    Interesting potter…

    Its a dirty old game… with Blatter and co. choosing to play the race card when it suits them… whilst they pay Indian kids 2p a day to make WC ball which will get sold for upwards of £25..

    That is why I have decided to not stress about what these con men in expensive deals do…

  34. tsgh says:

    Very true Wath.. I am working on post about how we recruit… just struggling not to get myself in any trouble 😉

  35. Wath says:

    I bet a few on here would sell Santi for that kind of money…..

    IF true of course lol………..

  36. tsgh says:

    Rico, rememeber Ath. were after him last summer too…

    Allegedly one reason why we in the end pulled out of Josuha deal…

    More moves and manoevres to unfold…

    As AW does his canal+ commitment… the 3 musketeers are well and truly well…???

  37. tsgh says:

    Honestly, Wath I would sell for that cash especially for a 30 year old…

    But IG and his handler AW won’t invest so…

    I will get Dev’s buddy Pastore for £15M…

  38. tsgh says:

    Wath- I don’t know if Michael Johnson is skint but it won’t surprise me either…

    In my view, if I had my way all footballers would have to complete GCSE/O’level bfore they sign a pro contract…

    The agents in my view are the one’s making the dosh…

    Rico, I thought Shaw would head to Chelsea but…

  39. tsgh says:

    Bild reckon, Ozil will be used as a false 9…

    If true, it was predicted on HH first in August…

  40. rico says:

    I bet Wath..

    That went through my mind Lee. If Arsenal let Santi go, if could mean they will go for Cesc…

    If true of course… 😉

  41. rico says:

    Ts – the papers suggested Atletico wanted him but the same as this year, it’s all paper talk….

  42. tsgh says:

    Lol… Rico..

    I think SC19 really likes it here…

    He will need to take a pay cut to return back home too… imo

  43. rico says:

    I think he does too but this is Arsenal, if they decide he’s getting too old to run around, he’ll be sold I guess..

    Hope not though…

  44. Wath says:

    If we got rid of Santi…. Just thinking out loud here… It would mean we could/should get a “proper” left winger….! Just a thought..!

  45. tsgh says:

    Ath will have £66M to spend when/if Costa and Turan leave…

    With Villa also moving to the MLS, they will need to recruit at least 2 strikers;
    They have lost out on Immobile but will most probably get Corduana, Cerci or Baca;
    If Yanited meet Koke’s £56M clause then they will seriously be looking hard for a creative force…

    Either way I think you are right re. papaer talk… I doubt SC19 is Simeone’s type of player…

  46. rico says:

    Neither do I Ts, Simone, from the little I have seen of AM, ‘demands’ work rate in all areas. I love Santi but he does tend to dip in and out of games sometimes…

  47. tsgh says:

    If Aw wanted Poldi gone we would have swapped with Uchida last summer imo of course…

    Poldi and Schurle have been Germany’s best players during pre-Wc games…

  48. Wath says:

    Neither Santi nor Poldi are wingers Rico we all know that and the closest we have to a winger is Theo and he isn’t a proper winger either he just has the afterburners…!

    Crying out for speed and width but again we all been saying that for years as well…!

  49. Wath says:

    I don’t want Santi gone Rico… wash your mouth out your sounding like a journo and making things up….

    BUT………….

    If AFC were to consider selling then it would allow us the option of bringing in a proper left winger… then again we should be looking at that kind of player and keeping Santi so there…!

  50. Wath says:

    No Thanx to SInclair Ts….. I think I want someone a bit better than that…! How about we offer 50mil for Sanchez & Pedro…?

  51. tsgh says:

    SC19 just extended his contract so…

    But knowing Fox n Dicks modus operandi… we extend contracts to sell on so…

  52. rico says:

    🙂 Wath, I’ll get onto that right now.

    After I have managed to work out how to set up my new HD box of course… 😉

  53. tsgh says:

    Wath, if we were street smart, we would be asking for Alexis already as an option to cancel the Cesc clause. By ‘we’ I meant the 3 musketeers in charge of signings…

  54. tsgh says:

    Jm- its going to be Bellerin at RB until AW decides he is not ready during pre-season… I mentioned that in a post I wrote before the far east tour last summer…

    If Bellerin does not get a chance then we have to allow him to go… allegedly a gentleman areement AW offered…

  55. Wath says:

    Ts, the fact that us and Sanchez is a non story for me means it’s a possibility as well as Pedro…. We will know full well they both available…! Snachez for me quick direct and would fit in well with us. Scores and makes…. Ideal plus a good age as well. Also compared to others that have been mentioned he’s not stupid money.

  56. tsgh says:

    Very true Wath…

    Pedro for me is like Muller… a big game player who you know will turn up and score goals from midfield… the proper winger you have been calling for… he can occupy both flanks too which is a bonus…

    Alexis Sanchez should have been bought last summer same as Ross Barkley… imho

  57. tsgh says:

    Milan will have to continue paying Seedorf until 2016. Inzaghi officially appointed as new manager. WoW, those in charge of football are clueless it seems…

    New Barca coach Luis Enrique taken to hospital with appendicitis.. wish him well..

  58. tsgh says:

    El Confidencial: “Di Maria’s agent Jorge Mendes met with Juve. They are willing to offer €45m to R. Madrid & €6m to the player as salary.
    Probably all tosh but still…

  59. Wath says:

    Is Di Maria nother Mendes player…………? Surprised he not on his way to the chavs then…….

  60. tsgh says:

    Di Maria is apparently not exclusively under Mendes; Eugenio Lopez is his main agent plus Di Maria’s father too…

    Its imilar to Darren Dein and Kees Vos working for RVp… possibly

  61. Wath says:

    Well we know Mendez won’t do us any favours Ts….

    Rico, He def ain’t a Clyde… Def a Charlie….!

  62. frednerk says:

    Surely if we have first option on Fab and if the newspapers are right we don’t want him/don’t need him,
    there must be a time limit on ,First option…………Surely.(Confused)

    Rico posting to quick on the site.Wordpress

  63. Wath says:

    Adam, there are some amazing facts that there are many Charlies in Chelmsford and Colchester…!

  64. Adam says:

    Wath. Is that a fact or a stat though? I believe the Earl of Colne operates a feudal system out that way.

  65. Wath says:

    It’s one of those rare ones Adam whereby it is both a stat and a fact….! Control you enthusiasm please..!

  66. Wath says:

    Don’t include Marks in this Lee apparently they are sensitive types….! Apologies to any Marks out there…!

  67. rico says:

    Afternoon Adam…

    fred, bear with it, all wordpress problems should be resolved by the 1st of August, hopefully….

  68. allezkev says:

    Hi Wath, you ok, I’m very busy…

    Those certainly are eye watering stats mate…
    I reckon I’ve been able to push that 52% up to around 62%…

  69. Wath says:

    Great Going Kev, All good mate. Statsinc will be very impressed with your endevours mate…! Keep it up..!

  70. Adam says:

    It’s done it again. I would say that statistically speaking, there’s more chance of Bendtner being bought by Real Madrid for £80 million, that that happening twice in 30 seconds.

  71. southyorkshiregunner says:

    Some stats for Ginge

    Midfield Maestros of the 70’s
    Goals per game ratio

    179 – 49 george = 3.65
    217 – 52 ball = 4.17 regular penalty taker
    270 – 52 sammels = 5.19
    307 – 59 brady = 5.2 regular penalty taker
    500 – 68 armstrong = 7.35
    326 – 49 talbot = 6.65 p/t penalty taker
    464 – 51 rix = 9.09
    501 – 15 storey = 33.4 regular penalty taker

  72. goonster says:

    Lee am done creaming there’s very few hours in the day these days. Brianna brakes all my time. God why did i have a baby??

  73. southyorkshiregunner says:

    Sorry Adam, I have absolutely no stats re: the ACON.

    I just use Wenger’s visionary ‘near quote’ of ‘Gervais Yao Kouassi is the greatest player in Africa’.

    That gives you an apt summarisation.

  74. goonster says:

    Am doing good kev…morning rico. I ll have a post for you soon. My first ever. Don’t laugh adam.

  75. goonster says:

    Hey AK how far is hyde park from Trafalgar square? Never been to London before but hey I know some spots. So be a pal and tell me. I have a reason for asking.

  76. rico says:

    No, but I will need it to watch catchup TV, so need to have a re-think about the router location…

  77. Adam says:

    Yes, I thought so as I hooked mine up quite recently. Gives you access to crazy amounts of extra programming though.

  78. rico says:

    Think ours will be simple, just a cable around the house and into where the router is… Seem to have more cable than bricks these days… 😉

  79. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Fernando goes to M.City. good player
    But Tuoré, Fernandinho, Javi Garcia and Fernando , 4 for the same position????

  80. Bt62 Gooner says:

    Just a thought, have you giving the idea of a signal extender/booster any thought? Might save on having another cable,snaking round the place.

  81. rico says:

    Sorry Bt, nipped of for dinner.

    Tbh, the guy who does things like this is really good and he doesn’t rip us off. Prob cheaper than getting an extender/booster maybe?

    No idea how much they cost though…

  82. Bt62 Gooner says:

    No problem Rico, doing the same myself, we all need to eat. lol. Sky do a booster for £20, have you a Maplin store near you?

  83. rico says:

    No Maplin Bt. I’ll sort it somehow, but thanks for your help, really appreciate it.. Food for thought between the two options…

  84. rico says:

    I’m off for the day now folks, need to walk Fido now it’s cooler…

    Catch up tomorrow..

    Night all…..

  85. BrainwashedKev says:

    I understand that 99% of non-Chelsea fans, think that Jose Mourinho is a cnut…

    The remaining 1% think that he’s a Portugese Prick…

    Night Rico
    Night All

    Morning Lee

    Scott, my order is in the mail Digger, cheers… 🙂

  86. Lee says:

    Media rife this morning with Vela coming back…..
    Hopefully that fucks up the Portuguese Warwick Davis!
    Come on arsenal get some other transfers sorted!!
    Morning all btw..

  87. Adam says:

    Morning Rico and all. I wonder if these are the first moves in a wider deal involving Vela. Having seen him a few times this season he does look much more powerful now but I doubt he wants to come and play on the wing again.

  88. Lee says:

    Agree Adam, buy players and play them in them in their correct positions.It’s not rocket science is it?

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