Laurent Koscielny – A quitter or another victim? Wenger/Sagna ready for new challenge elsewhere?

Morning all,

Big story hitting the headlines relates to Laurent Koscielny who is supposed to have said:

I feel good at Arsenal, if we have ambition to fight against the other teams of course I want to stay here.

It’s hard psychologically. We are constantly pressured because if Arsenal is not in the Champions League it would be a catastrophe.

It is hard to not win titles year after year. We are competitors, professionals, we want to win. I want to add to my list of achievements. If Arsenal cannot allow me that, I’ll seek a move elsewhere.

That was reported by Eurosport and nearly every other newspaper. The Metro decided to add their own view and sneak in, what is probably a pack of lies:

The 27-year-old has four years left on his current contract, but is said to have privately asked Arsene Wenger to improve the squad with big-name signings.

Haven’t they have simply decided to write pretty much what RvP told the club before he turned yellow?

Bayern Munich may very well be interested in Laurent Koscielny, but that doesn’t mean Laurent Koscielny is interested in Bayern Munich does it?

No!

Yes you!!
Yes you!!

Kos has had his best season with us, well, half a season. He had troubled times just like so many other players, especially the defenders but just a few months ago, the player showed just what he’s made of. He’s good, very very good and I doubt very much that he’s ready to turn his back on our club.

In any case, £15 million for a player as good as Kos, the Germans are having a laugh!

A quitter or a victim of media mischief?

Another the press/media have made up a nice newspaper selling headline about is Bacary Sagna.

Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna has confirmed he is in talks to extend his contract, but the full-back has not ruled out a return to France for a ‘new challenge’ in the future.

Talk about cover all options!

It’s the same situation for Arsene Wenger. He too has just one year left on his contract and I’m sure if it wasn’t for the retirement of old red nose, the return of Jose, the imminent arrival of Pellegrini and all the Spanish players he will bring with him, the gutter press would right now be having a feast off of the back of that story.

I’m sure it won’t be too long before they do….

In other news, Beskitas apparently want to sign Lukas Fabianski. His contract runs out next summer and he wants to play regular football. No-one can really blame him if he goes….

Another player on the move is Etienne Capoue according to the newspapers…

Go on Arsene, you know we all want you to!

Finally, good luck to England as the Under 21’s Euro’s get up and running today.

I suspect Arsene Wenger will be there with his cheque-book…..

On that note, I’ll end…

Have a great day all..

0 thoughts on “Laurent Koscielny – A quitter or another victim? Wenger/Sagna ready for new challenge elsewhere?

  1. Bradster says:

    Morning all,

    Quite scary that a few players are all piping up in the media that we need to strengthen the team with top class players. Who are the weak links in the team if so many of them are mentioning we need better players.

  2. rico says:

    Morning Devil, Brad..

    Maybe the players have been watching DvD’s of games and seen things as we fans have…

    I’m not so sure they see players are weak, maybe they just see areas of weakness. Like up front, the wings, between the posts and central midfield 😉

  3. George says:

    Good morning Rico and Adam

    As always the case with our best performers, the media witch hunt and the anti Arsenal journos put they’re 2ps worth in.

    If Koscielny leaves ,I’ll be upset .Not at him but at the board of not doing enough to keep the better performers and improve our team, so we can be true challengers.

    1 player leaves , another joins…

    Whether we spend or not ,(likelier we don’t as we are run by tightarses), if we keep 80% of the squad who done well since march and actually practising shooting and scoring from set plays , we may excel.

    If we were to believe the media our transfers would read:

    Koscielny-Bayern
    Podolski-Real Madrid or Besiktas
    Chamakh-Bordeaux
    Sagna-PSG
    Arshavin-LA Galaxy
    Mannone-Hull
    Fabianski-Legia Warsaw
    Jenkinson-Stoke
    Gervinho-Lyon
    Miyachi-Feyernoord
    Vermaelen-Barcelona
    Mertesacker-Wolfsburg
    Bendtner-Spurs
    Park-Celta Vigo
    Coquellin-Frankfurt
    Frimpong-Fulham

    With us retaining burger boy Santos and buying a bunch of nobodies hoping one or 2 turn out ok-ish.

  4. Nedox says:

    Good morning folks. Another day, different news! Has kos blown his goodwill? I think not! Expect him to come out and claim misquotations very soon.

  5. rico says:

    Morning George, AW has said Kos is going nowhere, that should settle our minds 😉

    Hull are looking for a keeper, a free one too so Mannone to there could be on….

  6. devilgunner says:

    Laurent said……………“I have the desire to add to my list of honours. I hope the club will give me the means.

    of course he wants to add to his list of honours.

    Erm……what honours has he won? 😉

  7. Lee says:

    Joy bells are ringing,
    The songs birds are singing,
    And ev’ryone’s happy and gay.
    Dull days are over,
    We’ll soon be in clover,
    So pack all your troubles away.

    The sun has got his hat on
    Hip-hip-hip-hooray!
    The sun has got his hat on,
    He’s coming out today.

    Now we’ll all be happy,
    Hip-hip-hip-hooray!
    The sun has got his hat on,
    And he’s coming out today.

    He’s been roastin peanuts out in Timbuctoo,
    Now he’s coming back to do the same for you.
    So jump into your sunbath
    Hip-hip-hip-hooray!
    The sun has got his hat on,
    And he’s coming out today.
    Never saw the grass so green
    Never saw the sky so blue
    What a lot of fun to ev’ryone,
    Sitting in the sun all day.

    All the little boys excited,
    All the little girls delighted,
    What a lot of fun to ev’ryone,
    Sitting in the sun all day.

    Now we all be happy
    Hip-hip-hip-hooray!
    The sun has got his hat on,
    And he’s coming out today.

    He’s been roastin peanuts out in Timbuctoo
    Now he’s coming back to do the same for you.
    So jump into your sunbath
    Hip-hip-hip-hooray!
    The sun has got his hat on,
    And he’s coming out today.

  8. devilgunner says:

    hmmmmmmm

    we have the non-philosophical homo sapiens,
    we have the mud hutt fisherman
    we have the taxi-fiver
    we have a complex mind (me)
    we have a GG expert
    we have a chick-poo seer

    and now….

    we have a Poet.

    Ahhh yes.

    we have one of the most complete houses ever created

  9. Lee says:

    Well, if he hadn’t had a Stan Laurel moment in the CC final he might of won something….French dipstick!

  10. devilgunner says:

    funny-Lee you should have mentioned that Lee…….a Stan Laurel moment by a Stan Laurel carbon copy face.

  11. rico says:

    You chaps being cruel again, poor old Kos 😉

    Hi Lee…

    It’s taken its time here, but finally the sun has dug it’s hat out…

  12. devilgunner says:

    we like being cruel Rico. It sort of liberates our inner sense of cannibalistic attitude towards wankers of the highest order.

  13. Nedox says:

    Its just a pity that we as fans use every season to fear about who leaves rather than be more confident about who comes in. I just pray we buck the trend this season.

    That being said, its looking like jovetic was all rumors? Personally though i prefer higuain or rooney….

  14. Scott from Oz says:

    Guys, i saw the questions asked of Kozzer.
    The concoction that came out of it was a disgrace.
    Talk about a stitch up!
    Good morning all.
    Devil, on your 10.07, which am i mate 🙂 🙂 🙂

  15. Xr!s says:

    I do not believe that what he said is bad(if correctly translated). He wants to win something. He’s 27 and before you know it,it would be late to do. Thank God he said this quite early so there would be no excuses

  16. Xr!s says:

    Lee,you should blame the whole team for losing the CC. If they had played well,created and put away their chances,that mistake wouldn’t have cost anything. Szcenzy(I don’t know how to spell it,someone correct me) didn’t communicate well with Kos and that error was made

  17. rico says:

    Xrs, just wish he’d keep it to himself if it’s true… Or, if true, why the need for the ‘or I’ll go elsewhere’ threat…

  18. rico says:

    Arsenals whole approach for that day at Wembley stank!

    We showed arrogance, ignorance and were a disgrace to the occasion imho….

  19. Scott from Oz says:

    Rico, if you saw the full interview, you’d know it was a set up…believe me.
    When i first saw the “statement”, i thought here we go again.
    Then a mate showed me the questions being asked, and though very smart, it was bordering on dishonesty!

  20. Adam says:

    And it was pissing down with rain that smeared the remaining straggling locks of greying ginger hair across McLeish’s freckled forehead in manner that I found quite revolting.
    By the time I got home from Wembley I was saturated and irritated and infuriated. All the “ateds” in fact.

  21. rico says:

    Scott, I believe you honest and in any case, I just cant see Kos saying such things, not having be taken from being a ‘nothing’ to where he is now….

  22. tsgh says:

    Morning all,

    Kosser is being stitched up here… 2 weeks ago he was saying he was very happy playing for AW and Arsenal and improving…

    On Mauren-ho I know Dev has previously given his views on his success at Porto but to me that means jack all… I dont mean Devs views btw…

    AVB did better than he did with a lesser squad albiet UEFA cup instead of CL but folks must rememeber that Porto beat Le Squid in the final that year…

    And like OM crumbling against AC in 1989/1990 the french team crumbled….

    I am yet to be convinced he is a special manager…Its like the media saying Harry is a special manager because he took a team that had played 8 games in the EPL and sitting 15th or so 4 seasons ago to finish 5th…

    Porto had in previous seasons prior to his arrival spent very big but where under acheiving, possibly because the players were younger and inexperienced… 18 months later they won the treple purely because the team had matured and were arguably the best squad of players in Europe at that time. In my view Portugal should have done what Spain are doing then but thanks to the mismanagement of Jose and Queroz they got no where.

  23. allezkev says:

    I think that Koscielny is absolutely 100% correct….

    Wenger must strengthen the squad.

    And therefore, he should immediately go out and buy a new centre-back to partner Mertesaker…

    There ya go Kozzer!
    Happy now, you plank…

  24. Adam says:

    From what little I remember of Mourinho’s Porto, they were possibly the biggest bunch of cheating wankers I had ever seen.

  25. Adam says:

    Didn’t they fit up O’Neil’s Celtic team? A commendable thing in some ways though, I must admit.

  26. Lee says:

    Xrs, yeah the whole team were dire it was a bit of a tongue in cheek comment tbh..
    If the special needs one wants Jovetic why don’t we have Mata off their toes? Coz that dickhead Moreheenhoe won’t do business with AW?

  27. Scott from Oz says:

    Lee, i read earlier that Mourinho has told Roman he doesn’t want Mata or Torres.
    Anyone else read this??

  28. tsgh says:

    How many chances did Nastry miss in the CC match… he then had the audacity to say he was leaving us to win trophies…

  29. Canadian Gooner says:

    Rico – Re: “Jose wants Jovetic, probavly just to cheese AW off…”

    I don’t think Abramovitch will allow Jose to buy and wearhouse young players like he did in his first stint as manager. That would complicate them declaring their 25 man playing squad, unless they are under 21, and swell an already bloated wage bill.

  30. Canadian Gooner says:

    Scott – Much as I enjoy the HH ‘family’ I can’t be on every day as the time difference is a killer. Most daily articles aren’t posted until about 1:30 a.m. local time. Life’s a bitch sometimes.

  31. tsgh says:

    Cg, you need to learn to time travel like Adam does… lol

    He has lived through the ages because of his affiliation with the likes of Annie Besant, Crowley, P Manly etc… he is now a stand in for Davide Icke…

  32. Canadian Gooner says:

    Adam – Yes, eight hours behind GMT, except Canada and the USA switch to Daylight Savings Time one week before the UK and return to Standard Time one week after the UK which is always a source of confusion for adjusting kickoff times.

    tsgh – Alas, I am a humble Earthling, not a Gallifreyan. I’m stuck in the present.

  33. Scott from Oz says:

    I am the same CG….i see the first few hours of banter, then wake up when our English counterparts are heading off to bed.

  34. Gavin oz says:

    Just got on wikipedia to have a look at aleksandar mitrovic they say his team is arsenal must know more than us.

  35. devilgunner says:

    Good one Kev. You fried him with his own medicine. If I was the manager I would not have done differently if I would have been cheesed off.

  36. ArsenalDK says:

    Hello everyone, just stopping by quickly as usual. Just read that Miralem Pjanic had already agreed terms with us, and was ready to make the transfer from Lyon a few years back, but his dad had givem Roma his word, that Pjanic would pick them. And that’s why he ended up in Roma..

  37. ArsenalDK says:

    I would be excited rico, I am Bosnian my self, and know a lot about the players. Pjanic would be the perfect addition to the squad, as rosicky is getting older :). But we won’t be getting him anytime soon i reckon…

  38. rico says:

    I’ll have to take your word on that one Adk, and good news then. I didn’t realise he was good… Oops 😉

  39. potter says:

    The Koscielny quotes are to be expected as the media and fans now see The Arsenal as a selling club. The reports about 2 weeks ago of Bayern’s interest in him are enough for the soothsayers to produce the questions that he was forced to answer. The only way to stop it will be to make Marquee signings to show a complete attitude change . If we sell to buy as a book balancing act again the stories will just continue to spread throughout the media and eventually will adversely affect the fans and the squad.

  40. ozgunner says:

    we’ve brought the Wenger has no monies theories, or some of us have, for years despite the financials every year indicating different. I see him as being somewhat cornered now and he has to spend and seriously. We haven’t become wealthy overnight its a sham, i think Wenger’s hit and miss transfers have us standing still. I also think he’s scared to invest large amounts because of all the failings but we will see – This next few weeks we tell us plenty and starting the summer again with two potentials doesn’t really give heart things are changing does it. RVP transfer did us much harm and we became a feeder club. Wenger needs to put this right and we all know who makes the decisions, he’s told us often enough

  41. George says:

    Until kroenke does 1 , we will always sell before we but, and shop at lidls expecting Michelin star cuisine

    How I so could do with some cheering up in the transfer window….

  42. ozgunner says:

    here ya go George – I tipped this one 4 weeks back

    Gonzalo Higuain: “I have offers many outside Spain, but I decided to accept the offer of Arsenal, but that does not mean that I have finished all the procedures move to Arsenal, but there are still negotiations between me and them”

    “I decided to go there because I’m still young and I see that the way the team played for me too and you’ll get used to there quickly”

  43. Scott from Oz says:

    Oz, plenty buy the idea that though the money is there, it is not necassarily avilable for him to spend.
    None of us now one way or the other.
    None of us.
    You may believe he mus spend, but plenty believe the entire club has recognised they have to.
    Who really knows, and who cares as long and they finally spend 🙂

  44. Scott from Oz says:

    Just read that back…forgive the 38 spelling errors and if a translation is required…….

  45. Kevin KJ Downton says:

    Adam (from yesterday)
    “My 4th wife was an Usbeki and she was a filthy, oversexed and rather depraved woman with a touch of the animal about her”.

    Have you got her number please?

    George 9:47
    I agree. This is the silly season – the journos have no news so they have to be ‘creative’. They have to fill column inches at the end of the day. Clever questioning and manipulating the actual content of an interview is standard practice for these people. I hate the press with a passion, they are lying, smug, arrogant individuals with poor knowledge of the subject they write about.

  46. Canadian Gooner says:

    With apologies to Benjamin Disraeli, There are lies, damn lies and journos being ‘creative’.

    With that I bid you all a Good Day. Keep the Faith fellow Gooners.

  47. ozgunner says:

    we got the message Scott 🙂 I am showing signs of excitement (well not literally) where Higuain is concerned, this is one big statement if we can pull it off – At last maybe less of the bridesmaid and more of the bride? maybe? could be?

  48. Lee says:

    Adam, I’ve invited him on Monday night….he’s going to do a bit of after dinner speaking for us!

  49. tsgh says:

    Scott, judging from DD latest interview, he does not believe or support the idea that AW should be spending BIG… at least not the way fans want.

    He seemed to be taking credit for the stadium move as well even though he was against it…

  50. ozgunner says:

    “Arsenal fans should be delighted with the miracle of a fourth place finish” oh dear – did he actually watch spuds, the one man band that so nearly pipped us again. Definitely don’t want his kind back after that rubbish

  51. SD London says:

    Well funny how time changes, so Koseiny now thinks he is so good he can dictate things in the club.

    Well I am sure Verminator is taking note ans smilling because he knows what is going to happen to him next season.

    Wenger is going to bench him for getting into the bed with the media to dictate terms for the the manager.

    We are going to get Williams from Swansea and there will be more competition and God help him if Williams plays like he plays for Swansea that means real competition.

    He should have kept his mouth shot , even Wenger knows that fans are not ready to see any of our good players leave again especially if they are still under contract more than a year.

    Are footballers this thick ?

  52. ozgunner says:

    not sure SD he got skinned so many times in the heart of that defence, is Williams actually that good mate?

  53. potter says:

    Was he actually against it or did he see that building the stadium without a monied investor would put us in the position we now find ourselves. This is why he introduced Kroenke and got turfed off the board , it was only when PHW / Fiszman et al realised that there was money about that they welcomed KSE on board but unfortunately diverted the cash away from the club and into their back pockets.

  54. devilgunner says:

    Footballers will always be thick. SD.

    I agree regarding the TommyV and Williams situation. Maybe Kozzer already knows what is going to happen and he knows something more than we do. He knows that BFG is immovable at the heart of AFC defence. So he knows that the fight for the next place will be between him, iommyV and Williams.

  55. devilgunner says:

    Rico, about that fiver get a daisy and start………..win, loose, win, loose, win……

  56. Adam says:

    Lee. I look forward to meeting him. I am bringing the morbidly obese Adrian Durham in the hope that East London muggers have more success than those in Rio.

  57. devilgunner says:

    I have a feeling that this summer we are going to end up like a kid with a fiver in a newly opened super candy shop.

    Hopefully we wont end up like the last 5 summers where we ended up knocking at the door of Ebenezer Scrooge.

  58. ozgunner says:

    the planets seem aligned to give us a real skyshow of quality signings mate – dunno about you but i am looking for three key players and Higuain would start things off very well

  59. SD London says:

    Why cant they just go on holiday first and just remissness about last season.

    Imagine , he had the audacity to talk about winning a trophy when he made us loose the Carling Cup that we would have so much cherished now 🙂

    He just wants to know how much Bayern Munich wants to pay him , so decided to tarnish his loyalty a little bit.

    Funny how time flies, to think he was playing in the ligue 2 just 4years ago.

  60. Kevin KJ says:

    Lee, that was funny. Big man.

    SD, yes most players are as thick as that chav Tulissa whatshername. But I am sure there has been some reporting license in there, so take that into account.

    Good point though. Players nowadays are vastly overpaid and they have become greedy. They are pampered, disloyal parasites that demand more money, negotiate new ‘improved’ contracts well in advance of the expiry of the existing one and then can do as they please. This may mean under performing but you still have to pay them the £3-£5 million per year salary. “Oh dear, I may have been a nobody in a lower league but so what if the club made me, we didn’t win a trophy so I will sod off somewhere else, it’s not my fault”. Well, it isn’t the manager or the fans that miss 6 yard sitters or fail to pick up runners, is it now.

  61. devilgunner says:

    Seems as if we have already two deals in the bag……Sanogo and Mitrovic. While they are not the big names we want I think they are replacements for Bendy, Park and Chamack. All of the latter three play centrally. And the same goes for the first two. Who would you prefer……..the latter three in the Carling Cup games or something new in the first two?

  62. Kevin KJ says:

    tsgh,
    Yep money does not guarantee success. There is so much of it about you cant all spend big and win. Look at that Man City attack and they scored less than us!

    Williams? Seriously, is he good enough for us because I do not think so. He certainly has not played in the CL – so not sure why some think he is such a good signing.

  63. devilgunner says:

    While I would like to see Rooney in an Arsenal shirt next season I feel that the arrival of Sanogo and Mitrovic is the prelude to Villa competing with Giroud at the Emirates for the next two seasons. Sanogo and Mitrovic are the alternatives for the Carling Cup.

    Hopefully Cesc will follow Villa and come to the Emirates.

  64. ozgunner says:

    Villa makes sense if we have singed Sanogo and Mitrovic as he would not be seen as being in the long term way of either – both these youngsters may well be loaned out next season

  65. devilgunner says:

    No they wont Ozgunner. They will be held at AFC to play in the reserves and be there for the CC and FA and if one of Villa or Giroud is injured.

    I think that Giroud will be played against the Stokes, NUFC, Hull etc while Villa would be used against Manures, Chavs and Sjhitties.

    If Rooney comes then expect Giroud to warm the bench and one of these two loaned out.

  66. ozgunner says:

    i think we’ll loan out at least one of them, lets see mate – you think the Higuain stuff is hot air?

  67. devilgunner says:

    its one of either Higuain, Rooney and Villa. I cant see all three coming to the Ems with Giroud already there, unless he is to be sold. So I do not think its hot air………..it may simply mean one of three things.

    1) Either there is real contact with Higuain and he is the first choice of AW.

    2) He is being used to off-track other clubs from his real deals

    3) He is simply one of the three options wanted by AW in case one of them refuses to come to the Ems. If all three say yes then it is possible that AW will choose the best option for AFC.

  68. Micko says:

    Lee, do ya want some, I’ll give it to ya, you want give it to me, haha that was funny, like something out of Harry Enfield.

    Oz, how’s mutley, match fit I hope.

  69. SD London says:

    Man city is a joke, they just signed Navas for £20 million or so, Sevilla snatched the money and nearly bit Man Shity’s hands.

    The dude suffers from home sickness, injury prone and not good travelling.

    Do they know about football management at all in that club, the other I heard Santa Cruz was still in their books and compensation of Adebayor’s salary meant they are still paying part of his salary.WHAT A CLUB

    Koscielny will learn because Wenger will be ruthless this season,
    I prefer Higuain to Villa.
    Wenger better buy him because Morinho might buy him or might not considering he use to be his coach and didn’t play him much (It wil be nice if he hates Jose M)

    Wenger should be quick because we have Champions league qualification , that means short break , short pre season.

    ARSENAL! ARSENAL! come on get off your back side 8o|

  70. potter says:

    Re Higuain , we are the perfect stalking horse to get a deal from an Italian club . An offer of £80,000 a week from us is a great opening gambit.

  71. allezkev says:

    What a beautiful, sunny day. The kind of day that makes your soul soar into the stratosphere…

    It’s also another day of exciting transfer speculation and edge-of-your-seat ‘reports’…

    I luv it. It makes you feel alive…

    Who are we gonna sign then Gooners?

    Could it be; Higuain?!
    Yes, I can see him now, soaring like a salmon to meet one of Theos metronomic, pinpoint crosses…..

    Or could it be; Jovetic?!
    Ah, imagine little Jovi and Diaby ripping thru our opponants midfield, umstoppable…

    Then, could it be; Rooney?!
    Yes, Rico is desperate to see Wayne’s raw beauty personified. An Adonis dressed in Arsenal red…

    Or my choice; Villa?!
    The forever youthful David V, smashing the foul rumour that Arsenal are a selling club. ‘Intent’, as Lee often states, followed by an intense gaze…

    But maybe Arsene has his eye on someone who has sneaked under the radar???

    Maybe Wenger has a striker in mind, who can trump our rivals???

    Money is no object this time….

    Time to show that Arsenal mean business…

    Yes, I give you, Darren Bent….

    What’s more, he’s on a Free….

    Yes, that’s right, money is no object……

  72. rico says:

    I am not a fan of them Devil, I like to chop them with Fido’s ball thrower 🙂

    Ha ha Adam…

  73. devilgunner says:

    but you might need one Lady………..to see where the fiver is going to end up……Rico, Kevin, Rico, Kevin, RIco, Kevin……..

  74. Adam says:

    Lee. I was too ashamed and scared to watch. She reminded me of my second wife who had teeth like Suarez but made a fantastic blackberry and apple pie.

  75. Lee says:

    Is that the wife that could eat an apple through a tenis racket? You could use her teeth as a bottle opener too, if my memory serves me right!

  76. Lee says:

    Citeh have paid £34m for Fernandinho…. FFS!
    Gervinho only a few letters different, surely we’ll get bundles for him?!?!?

  77. NashuaGunners says:

    Good Afternoon Rico and All

    Footballers never learn… again they’re not stupid. If the statement is true well, Kos knows what he is up to. RVP did it; many more will follow the same routine.

  78. EastSidePaul says:

    Lee did you mean FFP?! 😉
    Sad to Arshavin go, what could have been.

    We already have 3 signings n the bag! Chins up everyone!

    Is it really bothersome to anyone self that City have spent more in te last 24hrs than we will during the entire summer?…

  79. devilgunner says:

    Breaking news……..seems as if Squilli has returned because he has forgotten the letter of reference that PHW has written in his locker besides his lucky horseshoe and bridle.

  80. rico says:

    Hi Ng, those who have heard the whole interview believe Kos was stitched up…

    Esp, you really are the barer of good news 😉

  81. eastsidepaul says:

    That I am Rico! It does feel good that some of these players are finally gone! Would like to see a lot more go!

    Gervinho
    Santos
    Bendtner
    Diaby
    Chamakh
    Djourou
    Park
    Mannone
    Fabiański

    Lets get it done!

  82. ozgunner says:

    Some serious wages saved there Rico – What a wages holiday sqil and AA enjoyed – wow talk about money for nothing

  83. devilgunner says:

    dont bash them for it. you would have taken the money if you were in their place. who bought them in the first place? and who did not play them?

  84. Wavy says:

    Squids in then!
    That’ll pay for Vain’s wages in one fell swoop! Hurrah, transfer paid for!!!

  85. devilgunner says:

    I never bashed Almunia and never will. the guy is a gentlemen. a and with all his faults he always tried his best. which may not have been enough but at least he tried.

    Its the person who bought him and stuck him between the posts which should be bashed.

  86. ozgunner says:

    When you look at the lists mate its not that we don’t buy, we do, its the quality that is so often mistaken by Wenger that causes all the issues and these terrible looking lists of rejects on the payroll he had a huge say in creating in the first place.

  87. NashuaGunners says:

    who bought them in the first place… that part I agreed with but who did not play them, that is the part that I found troubling. Some of them were giving the opportunity to prove themselves and they fail miserably on Arsenal shirts.

  88. SD London says:

    😀 City is laughable really, £34Million for another player ? who ?

    They are crazy.

    Unless they know something we dont : That the FFP is bananas and nuts and not going to affect any club.

  89. ozgunner says:

    and it was never going to end any other way Nash despite Wenger “most underrated player in the EPL” comments on Denilson and “future world star” comment on Bendtner

  90. NashuaGunners says:

    @Ozgunner, we’ll agree on ‘AW not perfect’ and ‘He’s adamant’ to face changes. But, some of these players come with huge responsibility on their part to show us what they’re made of and they fail. AA for example (is) was Russia captain and a good player and he did showed us what he was made off during Liverpool and Barc games, but he turn out to be lazy and cant fight for his place in the first eleven. You cant blame AW for not playing him.

  91. rico says:

    Esp, I reckon most of your list will be gone…

    Seems like the focus is getting rid, I just pray that the club are working out how much they can pay who…

    Like Rooney… 😉

  92. SD London says:

    They were all useless,

    At least it seems Wenger is getting things right again.

    How we qualified is beyond me not commending Wenger but just thinking about how damn lucky we were.

  93. devilgunner says:

    Troubling???

    Nah mate.

    its not troubling for me.

    what is troubling is the thought that they were given the opportunity and they did not take it. Did AW play to some player’s strengths? Did he play to Arshavin’s strength? No he did not. He damaged Denilson beyond repair due to having Cesc. Yes mate. AW wanted everyone to fit in his 4-2-3-1 formation and everything revolved around Cesc.

    Denilson was bought as an AM. initially that is what he played for and he wasnt crap. he became crap when AW wanted to transform him to DM and then as a box to box midfielder which he is not. Denilson is not up to Cesc’s standard so he suffered.

    Arshavin used to play in the hole. We had Cesc and a 4-2-3-1 formation which did not suit him and was stuck on the wing. So he became lazy.

    Squillaci, Cygan, Stepanovs, Silvestre were all panic and fill in the blanks signings and therefore were never going to work. Park was bought to get more money from the far eastern market.

    Bendtner had a super sized inflated ego yes. But we had the togolump, then RVP who played in the centreforward role. We had Chamack who did a fine job till Pursie overcame injury. His form became worse and he could not recapture the scoring of the first three months.

    Santos was a panic buy because he became available and we needed a quick fix.

    yes mate…….it is troubling when you think that HomeWork was not done properly before they were bought.

    Or were they bought with FFP in mind to inflate the total amount of wages so when it came ‘in vigore’ in 2015 it would mean that AFC could pay any wages they want due to having a large ceiling?

  94. stevepalmer1 says:

    Evening all, Keep on ringing those bells Rico someone might listen. 🙂 Whether Kosi said those words or not doesn’t really matter lets be honest every player should be saying that. Kosi obviously thinks the rest of the squad are not good enough, he’s not alone there i know.

  95. SD London says:

    I disagree everybody got there chance , Denilson just wasn’t good enough.
    Fabregas clicked immediately how Barca can’t use him well is beyond anybody, he is a genius.

  96. SD London says:

    I disagree, everybody got there chance , Denilson just wasn’t good enough.
    Fabregas clicked immediately how Barca can’t use him well is beyond anybody, he is a genius.

  97. devilgunner says:

    Rico………..as I said above. There will be a lot of players who AFC will be getting rid off this year.

    Why? is it because they were crap? yes and no

    but even if they will be shown the door, the wage bill total of over 120million will remain there. So next year AFC will work on that total plus 4%, which means that AFC can now work on 125million wages ceiling.

    So in essence they are like the soldiers in chess. use them to your means to defend the king and queen.

  98. devilgunner says:

    Cesc did not fit in with Barca’s system for the simple reason that they play a different formation to AFC. They play a 4-1-2-2-1 formation whereas AFC play a 4-2-1-3 system. Its complex I know but they differ in the Pivote…..AFC play with two. Barca play with 1.

  99. rico says:

    SD, he’s on the way to getting things right, as far as the clearout out goes. But, he has a long way to go on the ‘ins’ to think he’s changed….

  100. devilgunner says:

    Cesc is used to play in the hole with AFC. But with Barca he has to accomodate Messi.

    So, at AFC the team was geared around Cesc and everyone had to play to the general’s whims. At Barca he had to play second fiddle and he does not like it.

  101. rico says:

    Night SD..

    Devil, and so there should be, but as I keep saying, I just hope this saved money will be spent, not hoarded….

  102. allezkev says:

    At least with those three gone and off of the wage bill, it allows the club to make Darren Bent an offer he cannot refuse…

  103. NashuaGunners says:

    @dg, agree with some of the things and formation you point out. But buying players at the price range that we offer hoping that the prospects will turnout good and His selling price will go up is everyone guess. Why PV turn out the player he was and not Dennilson???

  104. devilgunner says:

    The team was built around the PV+Petit/Gilberto axis. When PV went AW tried to circumvent the formation due to lack of pace and raw power to revolve around Cesc. Denilson is the poor man’s Cesc. The formation was not built around Denilson but around Cesc. Denilson had to accomodate and AW tried to turn him into someone who he is clearly not. That is why Denilson did not turn out into a good player because AW always tries to accomodate the players to the team instead of the playing system to the players available.

  105. NashuaGunners says:

    Some players just giveup trying and just feel comfortable collecting their cheques. I cant fault AW for praising Gerv even though half of the time he only sees the side netting. The quality is there but his head is somewhere else. There were lot of praise about him before he joined us. And he’s not been played out of position.

  106. devilgunner says:

    England under 21 team for tonight…………Butland; Clyne, Caulker, Dawson, Robinson; Henderson, Lowe; Shelvey, Redmond, Sordell; Wickham.

  107. devilgunner says:

    Italy under 21 team……. Bardi; Donati, Bianchetti, Caldirola, Biraghi; Florenzi, Verratti, Marrone, Insigne; Immobile, Borini

    Look out for Florenzi, Verratti, Insigne and Immobile

    They are good technical players.

  108. NashuaGunners says:

    dg, I just saw your 6:19 My point is some players convert or adjust to their new role while others just give up. I don’t know PV previous role before Arsenal but he dominate the MF. Unlike Denilson, who was a good and promising prospect, was unable to keep up.
    Again, a huge responsibilities are on the players how they turn out.

  109. devilgunner says:

    PV used to play in the same position both for Cannes and for Milan. The problem was that he had Desailly in front of him.

    Denilson was an AM who was used to others playing for him. He was 2nd striker due to his lack of pace. He could never transform into a box to box midfielder………..thus unable to keep up.

  110. stevepalmer1 says:

    Nasha, find a good player that play’s in the position your after and play him there , don’t find a winger to play central, its not that hard.

  111. devilgunner says:

    If a player has SPEED plus a good level of TECHNIQUE and SPATIAL AWARENESS then he can adapt anywhere. TH and PV had it in abundance. But Arshavin, Denilson and not even CESC have all three. So they cannot adapt.

    then there are players like Bendy and Squilli who have a little bit of all three albeit in small doses. 😆

  112. devilgunner says:

    Adam has the TECHNIQUE and SPATIAL AWARENESS however he has managed to fix a regulator to control his SPEED. 😉

  113. NashuaGunners says:

    @Stevep. Once you tried something and it works, you think you can do it all the time.(TH, Ashley Cole,Ebou) to name a few.

  114. devilgunner says:

    AW had two plans he wanted to work out. PRoject youth and a flexible system of 5 defensive players and 5 attacking players, where the defending players all fit anywhere along the back line and DM while the 5 attacking players rotate to fit anywhere along the AM and forward positions.

    IMO he failed in both.

  115. stevepalmer1 says:

    This transfer window will tell us a lot, If he buys young then he intends to renew his contract, if he buys cheap as usual then he may stay and sell them on then again he might buy cheap so theres money for the incoming Manager, Whatever happens he won’t be spending big.

  116. rico says:

    Hello again all. Sorry, phone rang, then dinner and all that jazz…..

    Ak, there was a time that the thought of signing Darren Bent would have really be pleasing…..

  117. devilgunner says:

    seems as if the special one will have a special nose leading his attack. Ibrahimovic for the chavs.

  118. tsgh says:

    Evening all,

    The Miralem Pjanic news is a revelation… he could have been an effective player for us…

    Dev, I am certain AA23 was ever a 2nd striker… he never played centrally both for club or national team… he has always been a playmaker who hugged the left flank and afforded the luxury not to defend. I do agree though that AW failed to use him well especially from the season before last when the new formation required the full backs to defend and act as wingers 90 mins per game 2 times a week…

    That is one reason why the likes of BVB who play a similar set-up to us do not allow their full backs to go too further forward. When you consider FC Munchen formation they utilise either 2 very defensive or disciplined DM against attacking team like us as they did in the 2nd league and lost or they only push one full back forward and hold one back. In their formation Lahm or Alaba do not overlap at the same time like we do..

    The issue we had with Song was he was not defensive intelligent like the likes of MA08 or Ramsey to cover the fullbacks when we went forward. That lack of discipline ensured that teams that had CB or DM with long cross field passing range could hit us on the brake when we lost the ball in opposition half with 1 or 2 simple passes, leaving our CBs 2v2…

    😀 Dev you have to blame Denilson Mr Stats poor performance and chronic back pain to his marriage 😉

    Kj, NG and SD good points as always

  119. stevepalmer1 says:

    Wenger sitting watching the tele, Oh Maureenes got Ibro i was thinking about him, Bah too early yet, bet i can squeeze a cheapy right in the last minute. and still make top 4.

  120. tsgh says:

    devilgunner I agree with your 7:35 pm… That is similar to the formation we played from 2001 to 2004… BVB and Athletco reverted to 4-2-4 after the winter break… but you will need very disciplined DM… one reason Gustavo is not used often now by the Bavarians

  121. rico says:

    Shame we didn’t get him Ts, Adk suggests he is a good player… Could be off to the Totts….

  122. tsgh says:

    Denilson still plays as a box-to box for Sao Paulo in a 4-4-2 formation… I think when AW moved from 4-4-2 to 4-2-1-2-1 or 4-2-1-3-1 he failed to get the right person to be the pivot. After 2010-2011 season when both Song and Denilson had their best seasons with us with the introduction of the lone striker formation, both him and Song, I suspect could not tolerate the fact that the team was being built around Cesc (who was not technical the most gifted but had the biggest footballing brain).

    Those two players were Cesc’s best friends at that time and I am sure they knew Cesc wanted out… one reason I guess Song went from decent DM to a wanna be playmaker…

  123. tsgh says:

    Rico him and Rossi make Roma worth watching… he is a very good attacking midfielder… he has gone backwards though imo…

  124. tsgh says:

    Rico, but then a deal for Ozil was also agreed but he chose RM because of the tax situation then… and Ozil is a known party-holic… 😉

  125. Lee says:

    Someone at work called “Durham” a drill bit today…..a boring tool! Wish I’d thought of it!
    No Arsenal players involved in the England U21 team/squad….project youth not working?!?!
    ESP’s list earlier is £400k pw of wages off our books……

  126. Lee says:

    Come on you’re Arsene…spend the “£70m”…….
    Rooney
    Cesc
    Capoue
    Schwarzer then we’d be ready surmount a challenge!

  127. devilgunner says:

    the ref had given the goal but the goal line official told him that Caulker had held one of the players in the build up for the goal.

  128. stevepalmer1 says:

    Cheers Devil just popped out to get another bottle and noticed it was still 0.0 wondered what happened.

  129. devilgunner says:

    the Italian no10 is Insigne. I told you mates to look out for Florenzi, Verratti, Insigne and Immobile.

  130. devilgunner says:

    the first England goal was ruled out for offside

    the second England goal was ruled out for foul

    Italy go ahead through an Insigne free kick. The Zico type free kicks remember them?

  131. stevepalmer1 says:

    Watching the seniors and now watching this tells me England are shit now, and also for the future as well.

  132. devilgunner says:

    The problem lies at grassroots level and coaching at under17 and under 21 level Steve.

    The mindset of Pearce is wrong in itself and doomed from the start. He plays to win. He does not play to develop players which takes them to the next level. No. The end justifies the means.

    Pearce is a failure and he is such a failure that he fails to comprehend why he is failing.

    At Under 17 level the stress does not lie on the development. Rather on the team winning as a team at all costs.

    The players are not taught how to decide during the match situations where their skills come to the fore. Safety first tactics are important at Senior level. But at under 17 level downwards it should not be that way. Rather development at individual and tactical level needs to go forward.

    But until dinosaurs such as Poolis, Allardyce, etc etc continue to pollute the EPL game the English team will not go forward.

  133. tsgh says:

    Matuidi has really improved under Carlo. Capoue patrolling in midfield…

    Impressed with Gourchuff

  134. potter says:

    Pearce is a dinosaur disciple of the Charles Hughes long ball system. He picks players not on their skills but on pace and strength. He doesn’t appreciate his place in the gene pool and tried to compete with Capello for his job. He shouldn’t be let loose on any developing set of players , he will hold them back.

    Other than that , he’s a good bloke.

  135. allezkev says:

    When I get that Fiver off of you Rico, I think I shall put it towards a bottle of Cava, to enjoy when Arsenal win a trophy…

    Whenever that will be?

  136. allezkev says:

    Yaya Sanogo, 20…
    Alekander Mitrovic, 18…
    Matthias Ginter, 21…

    Can you see the pattern?
    Doesn’t look like the transfer business of someone planning to leave next summer, does it?!

  137. allezkev says:

    Glad that Rosicky is staying, we need experienced players staying put, as we’ve lost so many ‘old heads’ in recent years, and it’s had a debilitating effect on the squad, with not enough experienced performers around to guide the youngsters.
    For that reason we must retain Sagna and Vermaelen…

  138. allezkev says:

    Sagna and Vermaelen are worth retaining, but there’s still a few who are not!

    Not sure about Chamakh, as I was sure that his contract was finished this summer, maybe not?!

    Bendtner has what, one more year to go, like Denilson…
    Wonder if the club offered him a deal to walk, and he turned it down?

    Park is another, we need to sell him, just get rid…

    Djourou looked set for a move, but that seems to have stalled, I wonder why?

  139. rico says:

    Morning all..

    New post will be up just after 9.30, I’m out for the day so catch up later on….

    Thanks for the post Adam, I love it 🙂

  140. rico says:

    Ak, I reckon the young ones are to replace the ones we have sold on or let go over the last few weeks and their has been a lot…

    My fiver is still safe, I’m convinced 😉

  141. stevepalmer1 says:

    Morning All, Sorry Devil, I signed off before i read your comment last night, I do agree with a lot that you said, but i believe that the under 21’s should be able to express themselves, it seems to me that coaches today seem to take that out of the game by all the tactical play and drills. Personally i believe that the under 21’s should be given a chance to show what skills they have. Maybe they don’t get enough time together to gel but all the passing back seems to me to be copying the seniors their skills seem to evaporate before they reach senior level. My moan for the day.

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