Morning all.
Come on, it was hardly the Champions League Final was it? Heck, it wasn’t even as important as the first fixture in the League Cup so losing to Chelsea yesterday means nothing. Well, it doesn’t to me anyway.
As said before this summer, it’s nice to win but pre-season isn’t necessarily about that, it’s about fitness, checking out fringe/youth players and blooding in any new signings, of which we have two.
The latter concerns me more than the loss because so many other clubs this summer are strengthening their squads in a big way. City are spending money in a way we Arsenal fans can only dream of although apart from Walker, who knows how their players will adjust to English game. Everton and West Ham are quietly going about their business too with a mix of PL players and overseas players, and to be honest, if the managers of both clubs get their team clicking, both look like they could cause a few upsets over the coming campaign.
Meanwhile, at Arsenal, everything has gone quiet since the day Lacazette arrived and we went on tour soon after. Yes, there’s plenty of stories linking to us to players, the biggest being Lemar, but by now and with pre-season almost over, getting anyone in and used to his team-mates before we face Leicester on the opening day of the season, is going to be tough. And with Monaco selling so many of their squad already, we are going to have to pay big money to tempt them to sell another. Well that’s tough, we should have got him much earlier eh!
Going back to the game yesterday, the performance was pretty awful, certainly from what I saw, although I did have to suffer my father in law walking in front of the television throughout the game so there’s a chance I missed the good bits, although for some reason, I feel I might be clutching at straws. I did see Ospina put Pedro in hospital with a brave save and another good double save during the game before being replaced by Emi Martinez who I think I’m right in saying, kept a clean sheet. Hey, there’s a positive eh!
Seriously, let’s not forget that this group of players have been hit by some kind of virus, they’ve been jetting around every few days as the fixtures changed location and it’s been hot and humid, something perhaps not many will have easily acclimatised to. I know it sounds like I’m making excuses and maybe if we hadn’t seen performances line yesterday’s before during a league season, no one would really be concerned about it.
What matters more imo is getting whatever players we need through the door, getting the future of both Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Alexis Sanchez sorted out, enjoying the Emirates Cup and being ready for the opening day of the season against Leicester City.
Oh, and spanking Chelsea in the Community Shield, that would be nice!
I know it’s preseason, make shift team etc but another ground hog season awaits….this pattern will continue until Wenger leaves!
Morning Rico and All
Sorry rico 100% disagree..Losing like winning is a habit.
The Chavs put the A’s out…
The Cup Final result must have ruined the holidays for them,
going by the starting 11 Conte put out.
This is the problem we have under Arsene,he says he hates losing
but still sends teams out to go for the win first not even thinking about
losing the game.
The training session’s and friendly’s should be full on always,it must
run through the club.
Felt sorry for all those supporters in The Arsenal shirts,after that display,
half of them will off to support another club I suppose now.
I don’t anticipate a great season ahead either, after all, a leopard doesn’t change it’s spots..
Morning Fred. I get what you are saying but nothing is won or lost in pre-season.
rico
If Alexis leaves The Arsenal are stuffed for this season anyway.
Depends who comes in in his place Gg…
Morning all and thanks Rico……………………………..some of the stuff you write is so close to my thinking it`s like we`ve had a Vulcan Mind Meld ! ……………either that or you pointy ears are reaching Cornwall ! hahahaha
However, I`m not bothered about the Community Shield or whatever it is called as I`m sure there`s a stat that says winning it puts the kiss of death on winning the league in the coming season !
I`ll still be amazed if we but someone of Lemar`s ability !……………Wenger thinks he only has to buy one quality player per window !……………………Kolasinac doesn`t count as he was free !…………………hope he turns out to worth the freeness as I would have gone with what I said last season………………..Ox at left wing back !…………………Bellerin on right, Ox on left, what`s not to like, all the ingrediants of modern footballers, fast, skillfull and fit !
Still, what we really need is Usmanov !………………notice all the big spenders are the usual suspects…………….and if Moshiri(spelling) can spend decent at Everton, what would Usmanov spend at Arsenal ?………………….yes, Usmanov would keep Arsene on, but, only for so long as per his mate at Chavs !…………….nothing or no improvement in first season then your arse is kicked out of here !
Kroenke Out !………………………and I dont care how it`s done ! hahaha
Morning Rico et al.
There is one fundamental weakness which has not been addressed. Himself.
He can tinker with formations and bring in a couple of half decent players, but losing Sanchez will make a big difference. Two steps forward and three steps back.
We can get shot of a few others, ie Gibbs, Wheelchair, Ox (not Giroud), but Wenger is the one thing we can’t get shot of.
Rico I agree with the virus reasons for the display. I have worked for long periods in the far east and had a few stomach bugs in that heat that lasted for a least a week. To think about playing a game against a fully fit , side full of their super stars is stupid. To put our a defence full of non defenders is ludicrous. Arsene will never learn that defence is what wins trophies not all out attack. To see the OX playing against a team that has obviously poached him was an insult too. As for signings? Well AFC always try to play this bloody annoying cat and mouse game and lose so many bargains along the way. Why we did not go for Keane and Morata is beyond me. I am sure we will get another costly star who will be expected to plug all the holes we Gunners know we have. Why oh Why have we not sold all the ‘not wanted players ‘ already and be sitting there with loads of cash is yet another proof that AFC are the worst traders in the PL. Now after seeing all the teams above and below us adding top quality to their already stuffed squads, I cannot see us competing much unless AW has at least 4/5 top players already lined up………….yeah I don’t think so either.
Lc, you touched on it yesterday too which was just what I was thinking. How often do we say that early signings are so important? This summer, if Lemar really is who Wenger wants they why the heck leave it so long? Headlines suggest AW wants to sell before buying but imo, it should always be the other way around…
Morning Meerkat. Have to agree, the one major flaw in the Arsenal camp is the manager himself. Until he departs, we are stuck where we are.. We might get back into the CL but I doubt we’ll win the league, we are only about 2nd, 3rd, 4th – although this season, with so many other clubs showing ambition, we could be lucky to get 5th…
Pete, we might change our mind re the heat and virus after the Leicester City game… lol
Spot on thought imo re the selling/signing of players…
A general pall of ‘we’ve been here before and many times’ is settling over preseason. Not so much because of the horrible performance yesterday but because we have.
Wenger got lucky with the Cup Final again. Without that I wonder what would have happened to his shiny new contract. There are still so many questions about the players and it is all dragging on and on toward a conclusion that we hope we haven’t seen before. Can he change at 68 years old? Probably not.
For me the Mentality is lost Rico.
Yer bit early to make a judgement I know..But
Can anyone see the big Change Yet?
There’s been changes Fred, just not the most important one. As said, I doubt they’ll be much change as far as the football goes because little has changed for so long now. But until the season proper kicks off, I’m going to wait. After all, what else can we do?
Out of interest Adam, why do you think we got lucky with the FA Cup?
Exchange Ox for Fabregas sell the fringe players and bring in Mahrez ,push out Sanchez and bring in lemar. Transfers done.
You win the league by beating ALL the small teams taking points at home against your rivals and not losing away to them. If we don’t beat the small teams we won’t win the league.
Ox for Fabregas? Not keen on that idea…
By the way,we keep Walcott, he has the goals that the ox doesn’t,and we don’t have to use 3 at the back at home against the smaller teams which is a disadvantage to Walcott.
Our starting 11 v there’s.
On paper, which was closer to a best 11?
All the other stuff aside-transfers, Wenger himself etc etc-why anyone would stress over that particular performance is intriguing, to say the least.
Maybe those complaining just jumped at the very first sign of weakness.
I’m not sure why they’d wait, because even if we’d won, we’d still have only signed two players, and we’d still have Wenger, but the fans using logic over sentiment would still be saying it was only a trial game.
Morning all.
Well,rico winning has no sentiments.It is true the ox brings penetration, but not much in terms of goals/assists. Fabregas will bings15-20 assists.Marhez 10-15 goals,so also lemar.If we want to beat the lower teams we need assists.we floundered last season when ozil’s assists dried up.It wouldn’thave happened if we had Fabregas.Each time he entered a match for Chelsea you could see a goal coming could you? Is that the same for Chamberlain?
Rexes, I can’t see any way Wenger will bring him to the club.
Rexes, you are just guessing. No-one can predict who will give what number of assists or goals.. Fabregas is history as far as Arsenal goes imo.
Mahrez, surely it’s him or Lemar, not both… Or neither…
Hi Rico, I know we’ve all said it often over the years, but surely Wenger will strengthen.
Surely 🙂 🙂
We have over relied on ozil. Ther is no other assist kings in the team. In chelsea willian, fabri, hazard, pedro (big big names) all doing the job. They also have deadly stikers in the form of costa, batshuai etc. In city, silva and De bruin doing the job for aguero and jesus. On the otherhand we have walcott, iwobi, welback, Ox, blablabla… can any one of these is able to get a starting role in any of top 4 teams in the worlds top leagues.. ?? Ha ha…
Hi Scott. One would have thought so bearing in mind the abuse he got last season, deserved I hasten to add, but as we know from years gone by, he’s in a world of his own when it comes to strengthening the squad….
If he doesn’t and it all goes wrong, then he can’t moan when the atmosphere at the grounds is toxic…
Fabregas would be a great santi replacement….
Typically we’ll lose our best player and sign Ozil up on a monster contact.
What a joke that would be?!
Wenger will do exactly what he wants to do, he’s too reactionary in how he handles the squad.
The win rate with Santi in the team is bloody good, why gamble on his fitness? Why not get a player like him?
Rico, if that happens, he will have nobody to blame but himself.
I do hold out hope he’s waiting to get back to London before finalising some deals, though.
Getting a player like Santi is far too obvious for Wenger to spot. Should have done that long ago…
Exactly Scott. Mind you, he’s still got to work out a way to play to the teams strengths…
Rico. Not that we got lucky in the game. We fully deserved that win. I meant that Wenger got lucky in so much as it might well have tipped the contract offer his way. Football fans have notoriously short memories but I can vividly remember, as all supporters can, the absolute nonsense that he and the team served up during that disastrous spell. The Cup win, I believe, diverted attention away from that.
Rico, he did that towards the end of last season.
Ozil will finally fire with Lacazette in from of him, so we now need a top Class winger who can deliver to Giroud and we have two lethal options up front.
Without that winger, we may as well sell Giroud.
Under rated by fans, but never given his proper chance to shine by Wenger, imo.
Adam. I think he was staying regardless of the FA Cup win. As for the diversion after we won the cup, I can only speak for myself but it made no difference to my view at all. He should have been replaced in the summer and that’s the one thing I blame our useless owner/board for. They are gutless!
I think it was very much in the balance Rico. The board had Ivan’s resignation offer on the table at the time too. The reason he is still there is based on Wenger’s offer to change, otherwise it would never have happened. He would be history and we would have a new manager.
I’m not so sure I agree Scott. Yes we looked better, a lot better but we still had/have a lot to improve on. And funny isn’t it that only when a top four place is under threat he can get the players motivated?
This time though, it was too little too late… A great manager would have made changes long before Wenger did – as Lee says, he’s a reactive manager, not a proactive one.
So we can expect changes this season then Adam? 😉
I’m not convinced though, imo, Kroenke was always going to favour Wenger staying.
So Ozil has one year left on his contract…no other teams sniffing around him? That says it all…
What’s Rafinha like? Any good?
But are you surprised after last season Lee?
Still, can always count on Arsenal to give him a pay rise and a new contract…
Changes? I have no idea but I doubt Wenger has the capacity to change too much. You would have thought that his plans would be clear by now but I haven’t seen it so far.
As for Kroenke, he makes cold business decisions and succeeded in the keeping both Arsene and Ivan after brokering an agreement between them. As ever, the results will tell us more but I think the danger is that Wenger agreed to change and will pay only lip service to it.
The fans will let him know and ignore his excuses this time I think, although as we know, some just want him to stay forever, regardless.
As far as tactics go, or the way he selects his team, I can’t see much changing either. He’s far too old in the tooth…
Agree re the fans and making their feelings clear.
Got to agree with Rexes , if the Ox wants to go there we need to bring something the other way and Cesc would solve a lot of problems. He is at an age where he can be substituted without acrimony and would be a perfect foil for Xhaka , Ramsey , and Elneny. With his ability to see the final pass alongside Ozil Lacazette should have a field day.
Who knows it might even persuade Sanchez to stay.
But if Wenger wanted Fabregas, he could have had him. That ship has sailed imo…
The fall out with Cesc when he forced his way out of Arsenal to Barca was so acrimonious and Wenger is so spiteful and vengeful, there is no way the two of them will ever kiss and make up. Imo. At that point Fabregas was a busted flush, never to darken Arsenal’s doors again.
Stubbornness is Wenger’s fatal flaw. It’s one of the reasons he will never win another EPL and he will never even get close to winning the CL. He won’t buy the right players for the job he needs doing. As part of the post war bulge generation he was brought up with the make do and mend mentality and even in these days of wine and roses he just can’t bring himself to be more expansive. It’s against his every instinct. Long in the tooth? I think he’s reached the point where he only has his gums left and even they can’t hold his teeth in his head. He should have gone several years ago. How he is still in Arsenal’s employment defies reason.
Still it is what it is and we shall all just have to put up with it, for now. But, I’m with those who believe that if he thought last year was bad the toxicity of his failure will see him racing after his pension book sometime shortly after Christmas, unless he’s very lucky!
Afternoon all.
Sunny intervals and showers here. A typical English summers day………in Cornwall? (Apologies LC., couldn’t resist it!)
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/631936/Arsenal-Transfer-News-William-Carvalho-Sporting-Lisbon-Talks-Gossip
Moot point about Cesc if this has legs.
Why don’t you think he’ll sign a PL player Wavy, after all, he went for Vardy only last summer…
As Obi said the other day, we have a CDM in Bielik, surely he would have benefited from a few games in that position during pre-season. Then we might have seen how good/not so good he was…
I don’t think I suggested that the aged one would not buy a PL player. I did say that he would not win the EPL again and that Was because he has had a habit of not signing the right players for the needs of the team. Often in the past he’s used players, already on the staff to fill gaps that really they are not suited for Eg Ramsey on the right, left and eventually centre, but he was never comfortable or successful playing in those positions etc etc. Until he learns to fill gaps with bought players to fill the holes he knows he has the team will just continue to hit the same brick wall of failure.
Why the “housers” want OX to leave?
I don’t but reports suggest he does.
Neither do I !……………….Ox one of the first on the team sheet for me…………..especially at Left Wing Back in a 3/4/3 formation !…………………………….I love pace all over the place !
🙂
Hot and sticky here in the Cornish Sahara ! 😆
Oops sorry Wavy. New specs required… 😉
I don’t want Ox to leave either…
That`s a few of us who want to keep Ox !………………………I`ll have a word with Ornstein then !…………… 🙂
Ramsey or Ozil these two players are useless without the ball,
Ramsey runs around the pitch like a schoolboy
Ozil always looking for his own space,
so if it was down to me away from home just one.
Ox wants to go..his dad feels Arsene has let him down
he thinks he should play 90 minute games to improve his stamina.
He says to day its not money he wants.
Agree, can only carry one passenger in a game at most, but then why should the rest have to carry the one?
Ramsey and Ozil’s work rate is as good as most,
but these two seem to only look forward Rico
Arsene seems not to worry about playing both..
I’m still unconvinced he knows what his doing.
Prehaps Ray Parlour had it right when naming Arsene Cloueseau.
Clouseau: This is a door??
Jarvis: Yes, that is a door
Clouseau: Yes, I kneow that… I kneow that
Ozil Fred? He’s a lazy so and so imo…
I thought that about him Rico body language and all that,
so decided to watch him a bit closer.
I was surprised He run about more than most
averaging 11kilometers per game.
But he doesn’t actually do a lot Fred does he. He might run about, but he doesn’t do much defensively.
I had geezer play for me many years ago
He hardly ever turned up for training,
He would always get a burger from the wagon before the game.
He had a very big beer belly.
He was the best player I ever played with,
every scout or pro player who see him play
never left till the end.
He would walk in the dressing room eating his burger
and ask me or my brother Where am I playing to day lads.
We both always said the same thing.
Anywhere you like son.
I’d be amazed if Arsene dropped him Rico
like I said earlier Ozil and Ramsey clocking up
the mileage going forward leaves us light at the back
even with 3 defenders.
Night guys
How many Arsenal Ladies are in english team?
Sorry Fred, nipped off to walk the hound and watch England beat Spain… lol
Not sure Jm, Nobbs is one..
Ozil isn’t lazy, he just doesn’t take any responsibility when it comes to defending.
We can’t afford to have him playing alongside Theo and/or Iwobi as they too don’t track back.
Saying that, Iwobi has been working harder on tour, so let’s hope that carries on.
We can carry one guy, but too often, Wenger has played a few of them and that’s when it really hurts us.
Carvalho-can’t say I know much of him other than he’s been linked a few times with us-who hasn’t been lol-but all reports suggest he’s a hell of a talented player.
When does the squad arrive back in London?
Once that happens, we should see some action.
Well, we’d hope to 🙂
That’s will only be because old wrinkly face is in total control and nobody else is allowed a say!
Dark here. Bedtime.
Aren’t the two the same Scott?
Morning guys..
Morning Rico, yeah ambiguous statement imo. You can run 15k in a match but if you don’t do your job properly what’s the point??
Morning Lee. I personally think that how far a player runs during a match means bugger all. What they do is far more important…
Morning Rico and Brudder. There’s a lot to admire in Ozil but I often forget he’s on the pitch.
Ramsey is similar imo, runs a lot, a few fancy flicks and tricks which don’t often come off but apart from our winning goal in the FA Cup, he’s been pretty average at best.
Morning Adam. If we are enjoying freedom etc during a game, Ozil can be a master, but I wouldn’t want to go to war with him by my side. He’s toothless.
I tend to agree Rico.
I guess now the team and Wenger are back in London, our transfer window might kick off again… 😉
We iseem to need to shift players out first.
Odd way around to get things done though…
He who hesitates is lost. 🙂
Exactly. Didn’t Boycie once say the same to Marlene….. 😉
Would any of you want to go to war with Alexis, though?
He’d charge off on his own yelling “every man for themselves” lol
You can’t run 11 k’s if your lazy.
You can, however, be ineffective and that’s definitely somewhere Ozil can improve.
Of our lads, i would want Per in the trenches besides me.
No, not because he’d make an easier target 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Morning all.
So they are back, Rico?
Good, no more excuses for a lack of action on the transfer front.
I would re Alexis, he’s a fighter. If he trusts in someone, he does imo. The problem is at Arsenal I don’t think he trusts many of his team mates which is why he goes alone so often. He looks up, sees no-one, and off he goes…
I’d have another ten of him at the club if it was possible…
They left soon after the Chelsea game Scott so they should be back by now…
I would lie to know just how far Gilbert Silva ran in a game but he was often in the right place at the right time. Run your legs off by all means but do it sensibly .It’s called reading the game.
Looking from the outside I have never felt that Alexis really bought into the club in the way that someone like Kos or Per have. I might be wrong but I reckon Alexis is about maximising his financial situation. Not a criticism, just an observation.
That is spooky Potter as I wrote the same about Gilberto earlier but deleted because he played in a different position. Dull minds eh…. 😉
Maybe because of the difference in culture Adam and the life/struggles their respective families had, or didn’t have in the case of others… Just a thought.
It could well be a criticism of the clubs culture that Alexis hasn’t bought into it-I make you right on that point, Adam.
Rico, I do agree that he trusts a few players, but isn’t it ironic his most trusted player, at least on face value, is Ozil?
He will look past others to pass to Mesut.
Maybe Mesuts real attitude to the game is belied by his demeanour.
The mans a quality footballer, so I hope he stays and extends…..Alexis, I mean.
Then, It’s up to Wenger to surround him with others who’ll draw the best out of him, and vice versa.
Of course he’ll pass to Ozil Scott because as said before, when we have freedom or going forward, Ozil can be a master. That is never in doubt but he’s just lazy tracking back etc.
And yes, Wenger should be surrounding the likes of Alexis with better players but isn’t that what many of us have been saying for a while? Alexis, like RvP it appears, wants the club to show ambition both on the pitch and in the transfer market…
And so do the fans.
Rico. Possibly, but then Gilberto quickly became part of the Arsenal family and he came from a very poor background. Personally, I wouldn’t keep any player who didn’t want to stay. Some have found that the grass is seldom greener but they end up a few million richer. Perhaps that’s enough for them.
I must say though, if the club give Ozil £280k a week as reported in the media, they have lost the plot imo.
Adam. Very true re Gilberto and Anelka came from Europe… 😉
If Alexis really wants out of the club regardless of how much he’s offered or who we sign then yes, the club have no other choice but to sell him I’d have thought. As long as the money is reinvested.
Apparently we are in talks for Marco Asensio
RVP-that bastard never complained about the clubs ambition when injured lol
I do get your point, but at that stage, we still did have financial limitations.
Now, we don’t but would anyone here endorse the club paying Alexis 400 a week?
That’s ludicrous money-he ain’t that good, but nobody is imo lol
Then, has he actually asked for that?
Who knows?
Has he actually said he wants to leave?
Who knows.
So many questions, and, as always, very few answers.
Rico. Yes, that’s an interesting dilemma. I sometimes feel that Wenger is struggling trying to keep all the balls in the air at the same time. All this “Alexis is staying” stuff set against what we read about him wanting to leave has probably strengthened Ozil’s bargaining power in an odd way. If Wenger was to lose both of them it would certainly be portrayed as an abject failure on his part. From the outside, to me, it seems as though there are serious problems at the club when it comes to personnel. We are told Ox wants out, Perez too. Alexis seems to want a move and we could have Giroud skulking about the place with the hump too if we manage to sign another striker. Wenger has a job on his hands here.
Personally, I would strengthen the defensive side of our game.
The million dollar question Scott and one which AW has no to. He hasn’t asked to leave…
Morning Rico and All
I get the feeling most on here are thinking these players
from other shores should be giving blood to us gooners.
Yer we pay top dollar,but only for a four year contract,
then it’s Taxi onto the next club or who ever pays the most.
As a player…Not runner..Sanchez has been great..
A player that can win a game..
A player that changes games..
We have know other player like him..
Our league has some of the best player’s in the world,
because we pay the big bucks,most will go back home
and retire.
One club player’s local lads die-hards have gone..it seems.
I find it hard to rally around any of these Prima-Donna’s,
talking telephone numbers.
Lets be fair can anyone see a captain amongst this lot?
I’d have to agree Adam.
Morning Fred. Perhaps that’s it, we expect them to be loyal to Arsenal yet loyalty is long gone in the game. Only money equals loyalty for most players these days….
I guess John Terry and the likes are a dying breed…
Unfortunately, the answer to placate these players is simple-pay them more money.
It’s amazing how many don’t seem to care about getting splinters in theire arses when given a pay rise.
Can’t accuse Alexis of being one of those…
I was hopeful Jack could be that player,I hate the fact
we are selling the home growns for the four year contract
money spinners.
I would have half a dozen home growns if we could get
the balance with the imports anyday.
As do I Fred but that’s football these days, little to no patience/time given to those trying to break through…
I’d say they all have their price, Rico.
There’s too much money in the game, now.
I meant the splinters Scott..
Yeah that’s definitely not him.
Dembele for £20M… I would if I was Arsene….
My memory isn’t what it used to be, often I forget the destinations given me by passengers and have to ask them to remind me often making a joke, but this is partly down to not concentrating a problem I was often accused of by teachers when I was at school and caught gazing out of the window during some mind numbing lesson by a teacher who had long lost the gift of inspiring interest in his/her students, but I digress.
Anyway a few weeks ago, following the conclusion of the Alex Lacazette deal I’m sure that some tosser from the FA had informed those that are interested in these things and via our ever so reliable and ‘balanced’ press, that Arsenal would have to sell and balance their books or risk being fined…
This I found astonishing especially when Arsenal are probably the only club in the Premier League who actually and authenticially live within their means and spend what they realistically earn.
Of course the press, Sky, BT and all the other media cnuts ignored all this and pushed it aside because it didn’t fit their perverted narrative of the greed is good League…
Financial Fair Play was dead wasn’t it, or did it only apply to some and not to others?
Anyway in the world of Super Sunday football and all the other media generated shit, it didn’t register…
But Man City this week have just pushed their spending towards £220 million and not a peep.
Now Arsenal, if my hazy memory is right, spent £44 million give or take a few euros, some £175 million less than Man City!!!
Arsenal get warned.
Man City get sweet fa…
The media comment sweet fa…
Conspiracy or what?
Corrupt or what?
Did Arsenal get warned then Kev? I thought it was just the Daily Mail making the finance story up because they could…
Maybe it was Rico, if so then it’s still the same fcuked up narrative.
I really hope we keep all our players, whatever happens in a years time happens, let’s worry about it then, but I’d luv it, luv it, if we fcuked all the big spenders over, how we would laugh…
And Afternoon to you Rico… ?
£102 million for a pair of full-backs…..that’s fcuking full backs….
Man City, you couldn’t make it up, except unfortunately you can…
Man City’s defence has cost over £200 million, ha ha ha, what a fcuking joke. And they still defend like shit!
Seems odd that Monaco is strengthening clubs they may face in the Champions League but are reluctant to sell us Lemar! Bakayoko is the one I really rate. Would have been perfect for us but the Chavs don’t mess about when it comes to signings!
Afternoon to you too Kev.. 😉
On paper, City’s defence should be strong, however… lol
Bob, that’s something I don’t get either. Why on earth would they sell so many players in the first place and then to haggle over one extra seems odd.. Unless it’s simply because it’s us…
Possibly because they put a price on a player and Chelsea / City pay it . We however look at their price and try to haggle .
That’s probably more like it…
Everyone haggles, Arsenal put prices on the players we sell, but buying clubs haggle, it’s not just us.
Man City are haggling over Alexis, why don’t they just offer us £80 million and get it done?
Chelsea wanted Lukaku, but were out bid by Man Ure.
John Stones on paper looks a better player than Holding, but I know who I’d prefer in my team Rico…
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/lucas-perez-arsenal-deportivo-transfer-10861827
If true, a dreadful way to treat a player…
But I bet we haggle harder than the likes of City etc Kev…
Imo, Stones has regressed since going to City Kev. He looked good in the Everton defence, apart from when Aguero ran rings round him that is..
But £50M… Nope.
I feel really sorry for Perez, but if he’s leaving or wants to leave that badly, why is upset at losing the No.9 shirt, that seems a bit odd?
Deportivo are probably haggling over the price for him Rico. ?
Yeah, agree on Stones, you can’t blame him for moving and taking the big wages and his agent no doubt did very well out of it as well, but he has definitely regressed as you say.
Not to me Kev. I bet it was a right kick in the teeth seeing his shirt given away to another. Perhaps he wasn’t so set on leaving until that point…
🙂 Re Deportivo, more like we are wanting more than we paid for him…
I don’t blame Stones for going either… I bet he wishes he hadn’t though… lol
Not sure about that Rico, he’s made it clear, or his agent has, that he wants to leave, I haven’t seen Gibbs or Jenkinson or Szczesny complaining about not going on tour, don’t get wrong, I’d like him to stay but he’s the one whose pushed for the move, so don’t start whinging about your shirt number.
I just think that we want most of our money back and Deportivo want to pay the same as Juventus originally offered for Chesney, you know, when they were haggling… ?
https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/df-sportmanagement-gmbh/beraterfirma/berater/3734
Well, I’m not surprised he wants to leave Kev, the way he’s been treated by Wenger is a disgrace… imo of course…
Watching on whilst others either can’t be bothered or are playing badly but still get picked must have really cheesed him off. I know it would me…
Perez going, Wilshere could be going and now Elneny is linked with a move away.
Add them to Gibbs, Jenks, Ospina and possibly Sanchez and Ox, we are going to have a thread bard squad.
Either Wenger has totally lost the plot or he’s planning a big spending spree.
Evening all.
Read this yesterday and what surprised me was that FFP is still around !………………………..still not sure how Mansour City get around it with over £200M already spent and for those who wanted Pep……………..he has spent over £350M since he became manager……………………………….and still waiting for his first trophy !……………………………………no doubt it will come when you are spending money like there`s no tomorrow, but wouldn`t it be nice if there was a level playing field and everyone except Spuds could spend like that !
I will never change my mind that anyone on here or anywhere could win trophies with money to spend like that !……………how hard can it be ?
Messi and Ronaldo : Ok boss, how shall we play ?
LCM (new Arsenal manager) : Come on guys……………………..you are the two best footballers in the world , do you really need a van driver to tell you how to play !………………………………..ok then !………….kick the round thingy !
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40690701
LC,
Pep hasn’t done anything that plenty of other managers haven’t and couldn’t achieve with the squads he had-seems he’s now showing he’s lost without world class players so is buying up.
He was no hope or coming to Arsenal as our owner would never, ever endorse the spending of 200 million, and Pep knows it.
When we talk of silverware, yes, it clearly makes look Pep look good, but as you said, plenty of others could have done the same job with the talent he had at his disposal-two of the best squads ever assembled.
At this point, he remains totally over rated, imo.
I bet Wenger wouldn’t win the league with the squads Pep has had…
As much as I think the amount of money being spent is ridiculous these days, football is what it is just as the cost of a player is.
Had Usmanov succeeded with his bid for Kroenkes shares, we may very well be spending the kind of money City are this summer. The only difference would be is that we’d possibly still be stuck with an old has been while City have a young and ambitious manager.
And I wasn’t ever someone who hoped he’d be the Arsenal manager…
Rico, maybe, but imo, if he had Barca and Bayern, he’d have won titles-remembering they’re hardly competitive Leagues barring one or two sides and the quality throughout the squads, but It remains a discussion point only.
Do you think if Usmanov was in Stans position, he’d accept top 4 finishes?
I don’t believe he would.
He’d have had Arsene doing and/or spending what’s required to win the League, and if he failed, he’d be gone, I reckon.
It really is obscene, the money in sport, and it’s getting worse.
I wonder if the bubble will ever burst.
He’d still manage to cock it up Scott because imo, he doesn’t know how to manage his players which is why so many appear to be jumping ship, or certainly looking like they want to.
I don’t know re Usmanov but he too has suggested Wenger is the right man for the job. Wenger has money, of that I’m convinced, he just doesn’t spend it…
Agree, Scott……………………………………..no way would Usmanov be anything like Kroenke……………..definately more along the lines of Abramovic, but wealthier !…………………..more chance of trophies = spending more money…………………….no success would mean new manager(s)………………………………………………………shit !………………Kroenke Klan needs terminating ! hahaha
Yes, Rico,but Usmanov, imo, would be more demanding than Stan of results-anyone would lol.
960 million is what City have spent in the last 6 summer transfer windows.
Pep has the top two yearly spends in that period-380 million pounds and counting.
The mighty Pep….he’d have had a Stan shaking in his riding boots if he joined us 🙂
You’d like to think so Scott… but I still maintain that Wenger has money to spend and it’s not down to Kroenke to spend it on players, it’s down to the manager…
Exactly why Kroenke probably wanted Wenger to stay because the old man looks after the clubs money like it’s his own, instead of sorting the squad out. Still, even if he did, he’s highly unlikely to ever win the league…
Sleep time for me. Night you two…
Night, Rico.
Wenger has had money and it’s him that decides not to buy players no one else…..the only team not to buy a single outfield player the other season?!?!
The way he’s treated Perez is abysmal, he looks a potent striker to me but Wenger loves Danny Wellcrock who’s injury record/stats are appalling!
Two more years of this shit show hopefully he’ll be gone at the end of his contract.
Morning Rico and Brudder. I see it’s that crystal ball time of the year again.
Morning Brudder, yeah usual bollocks in the media..I just read an article in the Independent saying that we’ve offered Sanchez £300k pw but he will take less in order to join City. Also that Wheelchair and Elneny are off to Turkey!
Shambles at Arsenal right now!
Morning Lee, Adam and all.
I agree, the club is in a mess and as said yesterday, this squad will soon be threadbare with so many wanting out.
As for Lucas Perez, don’t get me started…
Alexis to take a pay cut to join City? Well, if true, that blows the theory about him being a money man…
I think it’s called being ambitious and wanting to win…..
Lucas Perez a cock up of monumental proportions.
It seems that half the squad were behind Wenger and others wished to see him go. Those that are happy are very quiet whilst the rest want out.
Hi Rico. Sure seems that way from the outside doesn’t it?
A bit like the fans then Potter.
It does Adam. What a bloody mess the club appears to be in right now..
Evening all,
If the Nothern Chavs have spent what you say, why can’t they get the right players? Pep is like the labor party, you throw enough of someone else’s money at something after a while you are bound to get a result?
……….. & meanwhile Tottenham don’t have any funds now ?
What makes you think they aren’t getting the right players Gg?
Pep had one season, realised some of his players weren’t who he thought they were and is sorting his squad out. Meanwhile, dear old Arsene seems to be doing very little about our needs…
Rumours.
Love ’em 🙂
I wouldnt give the “going to City for less” any more credibility than all the other rumours we rubbish.
All will be revealed at some stage.
I doubt anyone will ever be able to sufficiently justify why Perez hasn’t played more.
From what we know, it’s just a farcical situation.
Look at all the managers of the large clubs-they’re all under massive pressure.
Jose has spent a fortune.
Pochettino needs to win something.
Pep-spent the budget of a small country.
Conte-well, with Roman as the owner, enough said.
Even Koeman has spent a whack of cash.
I doubt there’s ever been more pressure to produce the goods.
The difference is Arsene only gets pressure from the fans, because good old Stan doesn’t give two hoots 🙂
The amount of money being spent on transfers in European football is disturbing tbh. When are the escalating transfer fees going to peak?
They, the club that is need to appoint a new manager or coach or Director of football who can come in, dampen the fire and unify the squad. Will it happen? Not a cat’s hope in hell imo.
The situation at the Arsenal has reached farcical proportions. Someone, needs to get hold of the club and give it a really good shake. Starting with the bow divisive, Wenger. His time is up and he’s well past his retirement date. Time he looked up, smelt the coffee and found himself a five star home for once great ‘has beens’. I really feel that his journey at Arsenal has finally reached its destination and is about to crash into the buffers! Time he martyred himself, under the clock on the south bank!
Morning all. A bit dull here but dry.
Rico, we can’t use the first season thing as an accuse as he spent 180 million, last season.
180 million.
He hardly inherited a dud squad, and plenty of Arsenal fans are happy to say a good manager would improve results with our current squad…..180 million and absolutely no improvement.
He just found himself in his first competitive league.
This season, he may well show himself to be the great manager plenty think he is and I’ll be the first to say so.
What did the Northern Chavs win last year for instance rico? My point is they get very little trophy per £100 million spent. That is a piss week strike rate.
GG,
Money is killing the sport.
Killing clubs.
It’s making mercenaries of players.
It’s just evil.
Rico. Surely the reason prices of players has risen dramatically is because the club’s incomes have. The financial arms race has been with us for years now, only the figures are higher. It’s making the ‘final year’ of the contract less important to the bigger clubs.
I agree about Pep. He has his ideas about his squad and is spending what he can to improve. He himself says that he’ll be sacked if he doesn’t deliver.
Scott, you are right.
For a club with a ‘blank cheque’ so to speak on players, the people running Manchester City are in short, dumb! But hey, money is no object with that lot.
Naturally, Pep is spending to improve the squad because he had the backing, but he did that last season and they never improved.
He needs to step up and show the doubters (like me haha) that he’s up to the challenge.
I hope he fails, and Arsene surprises us all 🙂 🙂
GG, there’s no easy answer, though.
Salary cap-players head to Europe or China.
FFP was THE key but EUFA didn’t have the balls to take on the likes of Real and Barca.
It really would’ve stabilised things.
Wavy. On the money there with your comment… imo of course. lol
Absolutely Adam. Clubs can’t moan about the cost of a player and then happily accept the vast amounts of money thrown their way at the end of the season.
Scott. Ok, he spent £180m last summer, but in all honesty, so what? We shouldn’t measure what he spends against what Wenger doesn’t. Pep was coming into a new league, perhaps he didn’t know quite what to expect but after just one season, he does and he’s changing things accordingly.
The difference between him and Wenger is vast, but one thing he is doing is moving on those who either can’t get on board with his ideas, or who he sees as simply being not able to do what he asks of them.
Wenger however has held on to average players for so many years just hoping that one day, they might improve yet he and his coaches, have been unable to improve them…
He’s like a a person whose house you walk into to find lots of useless things which have been hoarded for years….
Wenger spent £90m last season and we were worse off, same shit will unfold this season…
Rico, I didn’t measure him against Arsene.
The man spent 180 million and made no improvement, another 200 so far this TW.
All I’ve said about him is, imo, he’s got plenty to prove as he’s been handed World class squads in uncompetitive Leagues.
Spot-on Rico. The reason the club are touring is a money-making excercise. It’s all about raking enough money in to buy and develop players. The top clubs employ the best managers who buy the top players. It’s a marketplace. From this range though, it does look as though Arsenal are floundering and I wish that Wenger would just get on with it. Shows of artificial strength where contracts are concerned don’t win games.
Anyone think we’ll win the league or Europa this season?
CL for me Brudder 🙂
Didn’t Arsenal go to Australia in the 70’s? My old man was waffling about it the other day to me….
Lee, 90 million for an FA cup, or 180 for nothing.
I know which one I’d take.
Yes Lee, in 77 or 78 they came over.
May 2014-I said then Wenger should go and I haven’t changed my mind, guys.
My question mark over Pep has absolutely nothing to do with Wenger.
Agree again Adam. Why else would any club travel so many miles, suffer such heat etc at the beginning of pre-season?
Certainly wouldn’t be for the fans benefit, that’s for sure.
Also, how can we forget that we are talking about a club/manager who before the £ signs lit up, struggled to travel beyond Austria before a new season kicked off.
Why shouldn’t we Aussies get to see the guys live?
The club itself has been taken aback at how much support they have here, so I’d say we will be seeing more of them and rightly so.
How often do players head off around the world every season for international friendlies?
They’re used to it.
They’re athletes.
I know Rico. This season is really going to bring some pressure for Arsene. Our first spanking will re-open all the old wounds and who knows what might happen then?
I can see the headlines now.
I didn’t suggest you did Scott, just the spending.
I couldn’t care less what City, Chelsea, Everton etc spend to be honest. In fact, all I am is envious of the fact they have managers who demand money from their owners with the sole intention of bettering their squad with the aim being to win the league and the champions league.
Even West Ham are more ambitious than us this summer ffs! F is for flip by the way. 😉
Morning Rico and All
Sanchez wants to go now Arsene is staying,
he can see right through Arsene like most of us clever ones.
Arsene digging his heels in is only a reaction to the Judus stick
he got..and what it resulted in.
Arsene is just a copycat,he has know idea of whats going on.
I have loved watching Sanchez..But we can’t have him and Arsene
on board..Take the dosh and move on.
I’d sell ozil as well and all the others on 1 year contracts.
What Arsene done last year with his contract seems to be a
green light for the players to squeeze every penny the agents
can get out of us.
The whole thing is a panto for me..OH Yes it Is.
It’ll be exciting Adam… 😉
Rico, I’m envious those clubs also have owners who demand success 🙂
We are caught in a little cycle.
Neither party makes demands required to give us every chance.
The money has been there, who decided not to buy a single out field player???
Morning Fred. I tend to agree.
Rico. Exciting? Yes, probably but perhaps there are one or two rabbits waiting to be pulled from hats in the shape of new players. (He said, wishfully)
Surely a manager must demand success of himself, that’s his job no?
Behind you Fred.
Morning Fred. I reckon a more ruthless manager would do just that. But then he’d go and spend every penny on replacing them..
Scott, I get the old Kroenke stuff, I really do but as so many have said before, the money is there, but only one man chooses not to spend it.
I wish Kroenke would bugger off too but apart from not letting Wenger go in the summer, as far as the squad/football goes, Wenger is 100% responsible.
Adam, it’ll be exciting if he’s gone by Christmas… 😉
New post is up now..