Morning all.
Many thought Sami Khedira was a done deal last summer, certainly Stan Collymore who claimed to know the ins and outs of Arsenal’s transfer business. It never happened though and it’s unlikely to happen in January or next summer when he’s available for free.
Why? Because according to reports in Spain, having seen Mesut Ozil struggle to adapt to the Premier League, he doesn’t want to be another ‘failure’. Not only that, he thinks football in Spain is better than the football being played in England so instead, it’s likely he’ll sign a new contract with Real Madrid.
Hmm, he has a point there, some of the matches I have watched have been pretty boring, many of course have involved us. Even Man City who have many top class footballers are struggling to turn on the style like they were last season.
I know one could cite Chelsea as being the best side in the league but how easy do other side buckle when then face them. Look at Liverpool last weekend, 1-0 up and then defend nearly as badly as we do.
Had we had a deeper, stronger and more balanced squad, we’d be matching Chelsea in my opinion, if not bettering them. In fact with a lot more discipline and organisation within the team, we’d have been sat right behind them in the league. We haven’t and we don’t.
Signing Sami Khedira wouldn’t change that either would it, he’s a great player of that there is no doubt and yes, he could be the player to turn defence into attack in a flash but what we need is balance and depth to the defensive side to our game. Sami is a bit too attack minded from what I have seen of him. A bit too injury prone too but he’d be pretty cheap, albeit expensive in wages.
Morgan Schneiderlin would help our defensive game though and he’s been quoted as saying he’s ready to quit Southampton for a bigger club, if his current club don’t make it into the Champions League. Right now, it’s looking like they might, although there’s a long way to go yet. An injury to Schneiderlin and one or two others and things can change rapidly as we all know.
Apparently, Arsene Wenger will be given £20 million to spend in the January transfer window. Where that figure has come from I don’t know but if it’s true, we can’t expect too much transfer activity once the New Year arrives.
And £20 million certainly wouldn’t get a player like Schneiderlin or Mats Hummells, so perhaps that’s why names like Virgil van Dijk, Ron Vlaar and Winston Reid are being touted around, as all are available for less than half of Arsene Wenger’s transfer budget.
Especially Vlaar and Reid who are both out of contract next summer…..
If one of those three players get snapped up, that would leave Arsene Wenger with a few pennies to sign a central defensive midfielder but who he could get for the kind of money he’ll have left over, I don’t know.
Perhaps he’ll sell Diaby before he leaves for free in the summer, that would give him an extra fiver…..
But he’d still not have enough to sign Aymeric Laporte, the 20 year old French defender linked to us today as he has a €27.5 release clause in his contract!
On that note, have a good day all….
So effectively we are exactly where the Wenger apologists are saying. There is probably no answer for our problems in the January window. Certainly if the players we need were not coming in the summer it’s unlikely their clubs will be happy to offload them now and certainly not for £ 20 million. Where does that leave us then ? Perhaps making the best of what we have , maybe coaching them to do the jobs needed , possibly getting new ideas from the coaching staff , or actually getting new coaches that tell players what to do , where to go and how to do it instead of letting them express themselves with a Laissez-faire attitude.
The only players I can see us signing are one’s who will be free in the summer….
Morning all.
Soton will fade.
Every season, a surprise packet emerges but they always die off.
Schneiderlin would be a great purchase.
Can’t see that happening if all their players stay fit Scott, a big if though I know…
I believe, a great purchase would be a coach that can implement tactics per opposition team. Oh that would be so awesome!!
Morning All,
If we look at wenger playing Monreal at centrehalf,
its likely he feels we need a bit more experience,
so maybe he will look for a bit of no-how..
Then again..That Obvious
So here’s another thing… Arsenal could’ve done with Barkley at the back hey… but they let that fella go! He would’ve been better than Monreal in the center! Cheese burgers what a rubbishly assembled team!
Ec, what would be the point though, AW wouldn’t listen. But you are right, that would be the best signing….
I had a big debate with one of the Wenger apologists and they are wedded to the man no matter what. When asked what would it take for them to turn, they do not answer. They plead for patience and that he has sacrificed the austerity years (despite being pointed that Bayern basically did the same thing and won things during their stadium move).
They simply will not bend despite overwhelming logic.
Fred, a bit of height wouldn’t go a miss….
Rico
We don’t need another lighthouse at the back.
Over 6′ though Fred…
Its horrible to be an Arsenal supporter at present… why? Because every article you read on the web is a pundit, another supporter, a non supporter, an ex-player, anyone really saying the same thing – Arsenal needs to have a BETTER defence! The ONLY one not on that wave length is AW. I understand that he needs to sort out issues within the club’s players as it is but come on now. It doesn’t look like its working sir!
Fred put another 6 footer in front of your “” Lighthouse “” doing a proper defensive job and suddenly he can do what he is best at reading the game and making interceptions . At the moment if he goes near post they go far, if he stays central they chip to the flanks and if he goes far post the glaring gap at the near is too large to cover. We built a wall for the first goal at Swansea one player over 6 foot and everyone else way under . The ball went over the low bit . Now there’s a surprise.
Lets be fair,
We could sign up the Halom Globetrotters,
and still not no how to defend a basketball net,
its the direction,the players are sent in…….
………….that’s the problem.
I said earlier it’s about coaching ,however recognising that there is a problem and a little more height would be a start.
If Koeman can get those sotos to play the footy they’re playing… just imagine what he could do with AFC!
Fred, if we signed The Globetrotters, The Syrup would attend more games.
After money, basketball is his big love…who would have guessed?….
Coaching, now that would be novel… 😉
Ec, exactly – it’s all coming from the training, or lack of it…
EC,
Take Soton with a pinch of salt. Teams try to play against Soton….
On the other hand, teams that play against Arsenal park the bus because they know they’ll get a point/3 points if they work hard enough to stop our very predictable game “plan”
I see Potter and Begeegs have made it onto Untold……
Brave men Bt 😉
Got to keep it going Bt.
True Potter, i think Begeegs has a lot of reading to do, 4752 articles to be precise…
They finally let you on then Potter..
My mistake, blinded by the same Gravatar and similar name, Porter…..Ooops..
My alter ego given by a typing error,
At least their site remembers the e-mail address and name.
Ouch! lol
Agree with Scott, Schneiderlin would be a great purchase. No idea why people keep touting Khedira, he is good, not great (see his stats on whoscored over many years), is expensive in wages, and best of all he’s injured for a good part of the season every season. The same people on here that say buy him will be the same people rubbishing wenger for doing just that or ‘over playing’ him. He’s Diaby 2.0. Good idea Rico, get that fiver for Diaby!
Either way, I would be surprised if anything big comes through in January. Stunned in fact. We just had our record spend in the summer! Not holding my breath, just faint hope for at least a rock of a CB. Hummels would be a dream.
Globetrotters dont even try to defend, so sounds like a fit 🙂
I’m a counter-current …
Our defense is worse than the MU? the m.city? the Totts? In my opinion, only the best is chelsea ..
Let me explain: If we Debuchy / bellerin Mets / Kos / chambers / Gibbs / Monreal, without Jenkinson (back and hopefully can improve in WH) and Vermaelen (still injured …) lacked noa buy a defense. All names, vlaer is the best … but what Barkley was Arsenal and plays for swansea) served. Hummels is going backwards.
The evil is in the midfield. It is the players not good. The problem is that we have not won a split ball, are “soft” to play, slow, and a team that qiuer ganahr the league and always lose the midfield to the opponent, not going anywhere.
When he left the Kalston, I was worried. Not to be a great player. But is high (our players in midfield, taking Diaby), not easily lost in shock and allowed the “artists” throw more, freeing them of defensive actions
ps ok who photoshopped Alexis Sanchez in that jumper, who was it??
Mikel Arteta on David Moyes :- He’s a coach that likes to tighten the reigns, he’ll do well with the group. He demands a lot and works hard, he’s not what you’d call a ‘typical’ English manager that sits on the bench.
“He analyses a lot and he has a clear idea of how he wants his team to play.
I wonder if that’s a pointed remark.
I would say that I know bit about football as well as most on here,
so for. what its worth,
coaching is not the problem we have,at the arsenal,or the size.
………………………..Its without a doubt the management
David Moyes isn’t a typical English manager, because he is Scottish… 🙂
I am not absolving the management or the board of directors after all whatever happens within the club rests on their shoulders. But I see the coaching and team discipline is at fault , whether it is little flicks, passing without looking, desertion of position and responsibility we have too many birds of freedom in the club and no-one appears to be pulling the players on it. New manager , new coaches , new Board , New Ideas . Any would be welcome and a start.
Evening all..
Sorry for deserting you all today, I’ve been painting and decorating. Now my back is crocked but at least I’m sat down… 😉
Evening Rico…
The January Transfer Windowzzzzzzzzz
It would be interesting to compare the vast amounts that Abu Dhabi lavish on an English football club.
And to compare those amounts, with the aid (if any) that they ‘lavish’ on their fellow SyrianArabs, living in squalor in Southern Lebanon….
I just can’t help being a cynic…, 😐
Controversial…..Kev..
Evening Kev, what a miserable evening it is….
Hi BT…
Yeah, I suddenly came over all serious. 😉
Hi Rico, it’s so slowwww out here.
Doesn’t that apply to money in sport in general though Kev.
Money in sport is far removed from real life….
Rico, hope the chicks appreciate all your efforts…..
RIP Rebekah Gibbs. Taken by Cancer at 41 years old……. 🙁
Kev, thought you’d be busy in all this rain…
Bt, ha ha, not their house I hasten to add….
Evening Rico and all.
Evening Adam..
Reassuring from Sanchez :-In a wide-ranging interview with AS Chile, the 25-year-old remains upbeat over the decision to leave Spain after the World Cup and that the Gunners can lift themselves back into contention after the international break.
“Little by little I am gaining confidence in my team-mates and am gradually learning more,” he said on http://www.chile.as.com.
“At first I had trouble understanding them, knowing where they ran, their movements, what gestures meant what, but every time I feel more confident.
“I am starting to memorise the moves of my team-mates and I learn to help them – clearly I need to improve and that is what I say in the dressing room, that I could stay a little less with the ball, play one touch play more often to facilitate counter-attacks, that is vital.
“I must learn that because the rapid transitions are key in this league and with this team.”
While Sanchez concedes the English Premier League is “the most complicated football and not easy” in comparison with the competitions back home and after subsequent moves to Italy with Udinese and then onto Barcelona, the diminutive forward insists he “likes the challenge”.
The Chile forward believes Arsenal have plenty of talent to come back to challenge leaders Chelsea and also progress in Europe.
“Now that I am here, sometimes I stop to look my team-mates during the training session and I realise that I am surrounded by a lot of quality stars,” he added.
“I have been impressed by their attitude and their talent.
“I love how they create spaces, their individual and collective movements.
“I tell you seriously: I like what I see so much that I have repeated myself many times, that if we have the required winning mentality, if we are positive and try to win every single game, I know we can win any competition.
“I know that with this team we can win many trophies in the coming years. I am convinced.
“I hope to win everything here. That’s why I came.”
Potter, that’s just blown tomorrows post… lol
Too bad, you’ll get it anyway….
Night all….
Great post (tomorrow) Rico 😉
Looking forward to it , might have repost if that’s the case.
Damn, reading through everyone’s posts was hard.
The problem is this……plenty say the same thing on every post, and also, what’s going to actually change?
Stan won’t sack Wenger, and We get won’t walk.
That’s the situation, so the more people talk of who could do the job, the more breath and energy they waste.
Hopefully, Alexis and his attitude to Stuart to rub off on other players and Wenger himself.
I should add that I’m not suggesting the man stay, but we can talk all we like…..I just don’t see things changing.
That’s it in a nutshell Scott . It doesn’t matter what we say , we can’t influence anything.
I’m sure plenty would like to, Potter 🙂
Top of the morning mate,
Scott, can I ask you a question mate… with things not changing anytime soon, how do you support the team? As I’m finding it INCREDIBLY tough lately 🙁
Still confused as to why Sanogo is an Arsenal player, let alone why he was preferred to Campbell or Podolski versus Swansea!?!? Actions of a nutter…..
Morning Lee, Scott, Ec and all….
I’m still confused as to why Arsene Wenger is still the manager of Arsenal….. 😉
Morning all,
Big dilemma, I don’t want to spend another penny on Arsenal until there are changes…girlfriend wants Arsenal tickets for her birthday against Newcastle..
What does one do
Morning Nickie, you have no choice, buy the tickets… 😉
Yes boss. Next question, how do you cheer a birthday girl up who’s just watched her team lose haha
I agree with Rico. Nickie, you always have to please the lady! 😀
Escape, I have supported the club a long time.
People say it’s Arsenal FC and not Arsene FC and they’re right, but it works both ways…….support the boys on the pitch no matter what.
Nickie, you need to be thinking about how to celebrate, we’ll beat Newcastle at home… 😛
Morning Scott – spot on, the team need supporting. No matter what we all think of the way it’s being run and managed, Arsenal will always be supported….
The Arsenal Website is shite on ticket day, crashing etc. 52.50 for dreadful seats.
That my friend is hard at the moment. Its a lot of emotion to deal with every week, which I’m sure everyone else goes through. Its the ups one week (when you’re behind them) and then the down another. We’re not a bottom or middle league team you know? I’m going to take a sabbatical away from footy… and come back later. Only problem is… the sabbatical lasts a day and then I’m back on the bloody forums, and posts, and comments, and I’m back into reading up about the team again. Damn this vicious circle!
£52.50 for rubbish seats? Cripes….
Ec, I don’t find it at all hard to support the club, my frustration/anger is with Kroenke and Wenger…
Morning all…….
Nickie, another day another moan….but i know exactly what you mean regarding the ticket section, on the site.
New post up now…