As time passes this month and with little snippets here and there, I think it’s safe to say that no signings are on their way in this transfer window. Maybe a last-minute loan or two as Gibbs is still reported to be three weeks away from a return.
Eleventh hour, on the 31st, that’s Wengers style!!
Personally I think that Wenger is spending most of his transfer time preparing for next summer, hopefully he is already instructing those within the club, whose given task it is to negotiate and talk to players agents and clubs about prospective transfer business this July.
What we have, we have for the remainder of this season…
Wenger knows that decisions have to be made during the next 6 or 7 months, concerning the future of quite a few fringe players as well as those players already available for transfer but cannot be moved on because of unrealistic transfer fee demands coupled with serious over-payment in terms of salary.
Decisions have to be made about how the club can move these players on without looking stupid….
I think it was Forrest Gump who coined the phrase ” Stupid is, as stupid does”…
That phrase could easily be used to describe those responsible at Arsenal for giving such huge, unrealistic salaries, to such average footballers…
The question remains though, did those ‘responsible’ only give out those huge salaries, on the recommendations of Arsene Wenger and his judgement of those players?
It’s like the manager who spends a record amount on a new signing, his judgement is on the line. So however good or bad that new ‘signing’ has been playing, the manager will pick him to play, in order to justify his judgement and of course the money he invested.
The same could apply to unrealistic salaries?
Everyone needs a bit of a lift after a disappointing defeat and this week is no exception after the capitulation to Swansea.
Transfers and possible signings is a subject that’ll always get football fans salivating but I’m going to focus on the possible and probable departures. Not that I think we are going to see a raft of ‘dead-wooders’ leaving this month.
Maybe not even next August…
Wenger couldn’t possibly sell all of the mediocre players that many Gunners fans would love to see flogged-off, mainly because I can’t see the Board [ Kroenke ] provide Arsene with the finance to replace them.
Certainly not in the midst of a worldwide recession…
Even the self-styled ‘Biggest Club in the World’, Manchester United, have had to re-sign a 37 year-old ex-player, so what chance do we have of the world renowned spendthrift Directors of Arsenal, bucking that trend?
None….
Therefore Arsene is forced to make do with what he has, even if he is finally realising that many of the players he has invested time and faith in, are actually very average footballers after all?
So I don’t envisage a ‘clear-out’ this January, or for that matter, next August although the imminent expiry of certain players contracts, may very well take matters out of Wengers hands.
This web-site makes interesting reading:
According to the site, Manuel Almunia, Lukasz Fabianski, Tomas Rosicky, Yossi Benayoun and surprisingly Andrei Arshavin are out of contract this summer.
Meanwhile, Nicklas Bendtner and Denilson are under contract until 2014, therefore, if the club hope to get any kind of transfer fee, then this summer is crucial. Failure to sell them this August will see their value plummet, so maybe the less-stupid option is to take a reduction now in the fee, or risk a significant loss in January 2013, or next to nothing in August 2013…
Then of course we have Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott – both of which Arsenal need to convince to sign new contracts very soon, or they too will have to be sold this coming summer, or the club sit and watch them walk out for free the following July.
As always, there’s a bunch of reserve players who really should move on as they are going nowhere whilst stuck in the void of the Arsenal Stiffs.
Summer of change?
Just maybe…..
Written by Allezkev
Morning Rico, thanks for another great sub-edit.. 😉
Morning Gooners.
Check your in-box Rico.
Morning all, another cracker SAK 🙂
I looked at the link AK, we have a few who can leave for free this summer, the following one and then as Nikki, the next – IG needs to start sorting things out and earn his money…
And of course sign a few to show RvP and others we have ambition….
Time to move the unknown gunners we are not running a charity organisation…let players be Earn what they have played for.
Just looked at my inbox, thanks AK, said to Steve yesterday, i am having a very easy week, you both are writing so much 🙂
Love it…. 🙂
Not sure that all the info is 100% on that site, but it does, on first inspection, seem to be accurate…
For example, they have Arshavin’s contract down as expiring this year, not sure if it’s August or January [ we signed him in January ].
But whenever i’ve read elsewhere, they state that his contract runs-out in 2013…????
I think AA could leave this month still AK
Me and Steve could do with a bit of help Rico.
There’s some intelligent guys out there, get some posts in?
Then Rico can put her feet up more often….. 🙂
Yeah, you could be right about AA.
We keep on hearing/reading conflicting rumours.
But i think if AFC got a good enough offer, that he’d be on his way…
Hiya Sir AK.
How is the family???
Good morning guys and chicks of the Gunners’ Faith.
I think that the contract of AA is proportionate to his size!!!! Not a long one. But I was under the impression that his contract had till June 2013 to run.
Your talk of a clearout in the summer may well not be purely at team level . As I said a few weeks ago but couldn’t confirm at the time April brings us the end of the takeover agreement. This was confirmed yesterday by Tim Stillman who wrote on his Arseblog column
“”Besides which, when Kroenke took over last April, an agreement was signed, locking the current board in for 12 months. “”
expect changes there too, but which way they will go ?
BTW working on my home p.c today and all is well.
Morning Devil.
We’re all good.
Everyone tajjeb down in the Med..?
AK – maybe i should help out more 😉
morning devil – 🙂 re AA
Wenger on afc.com says he doesn’t want to sell AA, that is ofetn a good sign that a player is off…
http://www.talksport.co.uk/radio/sports-breakfast/blog/2012-01-20/robson-%E2%80%98gervinho-big-loss-arsenal%E2%80%99
Morning potter – that’s an interesting one, could be huge chages then, hopefully we won’t have to listen/read about what old PHW has to say in the near future…
Hope Gazidis is on his way too……
Glad all ok with the computer….
When it comes to RVP I would not sell him even if he doesn’t sign up this summer. I would prefer to have him for another year and let his contract wind down. I feel where he is concerned he would still sign for us within that year if he was happy with the direction of the club. Walcott for me can only be considered as being of 2nd 11 standard or impact sub as a winger, but I do see his point that he is supposed to be a striker. AW bought him to be that so the development phase out wide should be over now. I do at times see a proper finisher in him so I would like to see him with a run of games as a striker. With all the other fringe players and those that haven’t cut it like AA and Chamakh, we need to be ruthless and make a significant upgrade. I would like us to be linked with the likes of Ajax’s Eriksson and Milans Pato. These are the sort of players that will convince RVP.
I agree.
Player salaries have become the most important thing, whether signing a player or trying to move one on.
Look at Tevez – he looks a bargain at 25M, but his salary is huge. Or Diaby, Squillaci etc.- how do we get rid of deadwood if they are on ridiculous wages?
Blogs all over the net seem only interested in transfer fees, thats a one-off payment. Thats the easy part. Wages are very sticky – a gamble really, and a long-term, regular payment.
I dont agree with those who want to bring back Dein, but Arsene could maybe do with a bit of encouragement to take a risk now and then.
An interesting post, I feel the coming 12 months will be absolutely pivotal in our future. We never, ever carried so many passengers in the squad before and their wages are keeping them here.
Song, Walcott and Van Persie all have to re-negotiate contracts, I worry where this will leave us financially.
And I cannot see us getting rid of the deadwood either.
Big, big decisions must be made, and soon.
Morning Housemates,
Hope the Mrs is well S.AK, they can be a pain in the arse at times, but without them were useless I wish her GWS
Excelent post as usual specially under fire.
Am i alone in thinking we could lose almost half the team without it affecting us too much. Swansea a promoted side showed that Arsenal are an easy target to work out, they beat us fair and square by playing better Arsenal tactics than us, now this is a side with hardly any household names, A manager who has just started to get noticed and they outplay us. In actual fact they made us look like a sunday morning amateur side. Granted we can point the finger at our injured we can say the pitch was bad we can say we don’t travel well but at the end of the day the squad is shit when we don’t have the choice of all our players to pick from. What does that tell us, are we the only team in the premier that is unlucky, or maybe we keep getting Duff referee’s maybe the air they breathe on the day affects their brains i don’t know. but if Wenger cant sort those problems out there must certainly only be one answer.
Rico, i think you have more than earned your ‘posting holiday’… 😀
JB – i heard an interesting rumour last night whilst at footy. arsenalare desperate to shift a foreign player to get their number down to 17 before 1st feb. the rumour was that henry may not be registered for the epl squad on the 1st febriary if not ruling him out of bolton blackburn and sunderland. he could still play sunday and against villa and milan though. i know first team is not really your thing but can u confirm that this is our 18 non homegrown players almunia henry benayoun rosicky arshavin arteta squillaci rvp sagna vermaelen koscielny santos chamakh park gervinho fabianski mertesacker diaby
A comment from Arsenal Youth
Yes, at the moment we have one extra non-homegrown player, with the problem being that Mannone, who counted as homegrown, has been replaced by Henry, who doesn’t. There have been rumours about Fabianski leaving on loan, which could vacate a space, but otherwise it does look as if somebody will have to be left out.
Jeorge Bird’s answer
Cheers Steve…. 🙂
She’s nagging me, so that’s always a good sign….
That’s right ain’t it Rico…. 😉
She’s on the mend then, Mine moans constantly and at times i act like a woman and turn frigid 🙂
Got to go out but will catch you all later.
and at times i act like a woman and turn frigid 🙂
Get the vacuum out and bang around making as much noise as possible , then wash up clanking the pots all to make you feel guilty.
http://hereisthecity.com/2012/01/20/a-second-heavy-arsenal-loss-to-manchester-united-could-be-what-t/
Sorry guys, doorbell again ….
Nagging, yep – always a good sign AK 😉
Hi and laters steve….
welcome goonerb, just two or three ‘proper’ players between now and the end of summer should be enough to convince him to stay, whether we get though is another story…
Who would want to sign IF we don’t qualify for CL?
Ancelotti would prefer Arsenal or totts, instead PSG.
Do we have 14 players for sunday? Vermelen and Arteta are out. Fabianski too.
I read somewhere: Rosicky – Fulham?
Official: Lazio is interesting in AA
Hi JM, i thought Lazio had denied their interest in AA? Saw the Rosicky – Fulham story too….
Fabianski is fit according to afc.com and TV could make a surprise return 😉
Hi GDave, missed your comment – i think we will see Nik, Denilson, Almunia, AA, Rosicky and maybe Tossi all leave in the summer, if not before…
Who would we sign if we were out of the champions league?? First of all it will not be established stars. Secondly, Juventus were outside the Champions league and Europa cup for 3 seasons….look at them now. at the top of serie A and unbeaten. They invested in youth and waited patiently. Maybe that is what AW is doing.
What we are feeling now is all due to the 1997-2004 era culminating with the invincibles. So right now what we are going through is withdrawal symptoms. And we do not like it.
So who do we sign??? There are a plethora of players out there who can give us what we want. However there are quite a few if not the majority on the inside already.
In the Goalkeeping department we have Szcesney, Martinez and Shea. What we need is a senior goalkeeper, a Jussi Jaskelaainen. a Jorge Butt, an Andres Palop etc who is happy to play second fiddle but gets a good amount of games and gives our lads a good direction. For me Jaaskelainen would be the first choice seeing that Bolton will eventually get relegated and he would be playing in a great club. He will be a better backup than Almunia, Fabianski and Mannone. The scum have Friedel and cudicini who are both better than the latter three for sure.
In the defence there are a plethora of up and coming players. However I feel that all we need to add is just a player who can fit in every position like Vertonghen. Caceres, Gustavo, Sane are all good additions. Before I get all the kitchen sinks thrown at me just imagine what would it mean to have every defender fit. The only position I would fill in would be left back since I think Santos as a better option on the wing than as a left back. Here Neil Taylor for me. I can tell you that with a fully fit defence and a more solid midfield we will have a very good defence. Perhaps not the invincibles type or the famous five back line but a good as any defence can be.
In midfield there is already an abundance of talent. Frimpong, Coquelin, Wilshere, Ramsey are still young and they are backed by Arteta, I have not included Song for two reasons…..for me he is a better option as a defender and he has not signed a contract. Bender, Asamoah, Biglia, Chantome, Gonalons, sebastian Rudy hell even Noble can improve our midfield spine.
In attack Damiao, Schurrle, Jovetic, Zarate, Toivonnen, Vanfolfswinkel etc can all improve upon Arshavin, Park and Walcott. The only problem with Chamack is that he has RVP in front of him and he is a confidence striker. Remember how he perforrmed greatly when RVP was not fit last season.
That is just the tip of the iceberg I mentioned. There are talents out there. And they will still come off the conveyor belt in our club…remember we have Afobe, Aneke, Ozyakup, etc.
Mates do not think that all will end if Theo, RVP, Song, AA want to leave and will leave. It will simply mean that another cycle will start. ARSENAL FOOTBALL CLUB WILL STILL BE THERE WHEN THEY HANG UP THEIR BOOTS
Ideally if RVP wants to go yes sell him to the highest bidder. Hopefully we get 25 to 30 million for him and when he goes over to someone else he goes back to his favourite ways….on the treatment table.
Strength and Honour.
There is a staggering inertia at the club- doing nothing again in a transfer window when the club are staring failure in the face again appears to be a very bad business decision. It will guarantee non- qualification for the ECL. I would like to ask all you gooners – why does being 10 points behind Spurs mean nothing to you?
Finishing 7th or worse and not qualifying for Europe IS a disaster- the loss of revenue, the loss of players. It will confirm Arsenal’s decline as a top club to mid table mediocrity. We cannot afford to wait until the summer to replace ineffective players- by the then the damage will have been done.
We have 5 good players- 4 of which are injured.
I wonder what you will be writing about after Monday after another humiliation? Forget referees. This squad is just not competitive.
Tossi = Yossi 🙂
Ahhh Rico I thought you were mentioning flu when you suggested Tossi. In Italian it means flu.
I appreciate what you are saying devil and as we have all said before, we don’t need big names just to make us better, we haven’t done that before under Wenger so it’s not going to change now…
But, quite a few players will always look to the next step in their career which is often CL or Europa – now, both are looking as if they could be a struggle.
What this current side needs is established players, not players like Kos who needed a year to settle, we can’t afford them the time to get used to the PL….
If we could get 30M for RvP, how much of that would be re-invested??
goonergerry
‘I would like to ask all you gooners – why does being 10 points behind Spurs mean nothing to you?’
What on earth makes you think this?? Do you read here often, as if you did you would know we are far from happy with the current situation and not one blogger here would think in the way you suggest!!
Such a crazy crazy comment and suggestion you have made….
There are players who will always view us as the next step in their career. It even happened when we were a champions league club Rico. Even in our heydays as champions in the 97-04 era we were seen as a stepping stone to teams like Barca, Real etc. While I am not defending the board or AW for this mess I am just pointing out what reality is. It bites and hard at that. But eventually we will emerge from this. Juventus did it. They were even demoted to serie B and still got out of it. They went 5 years without Europe. If a season without Europe gives us a better team and spine and lowers the expectation of us supporters which we have come to take for granted than so it may be.
Goonergerry you got a point there….just stick it upright in the grass and sit on it will ya!!!!!!!
Are you crazy man???? We are NEVER SATISFIED AND EVEN 1 POINT MEANS A LOT LET ALONE 10.
Devil , taking all of that onboard it just smacks of the jam tomorrow syndrome that has been around far too long.
And gooner gerry being out of Europe could be good for a year , look at Juve out for 3 years and have redeveloped and are now top of serie A I believe. Having said that I would rather see us invest and put up a fight but I think that mentally the club has thrown the season and that Hill-Woods comments have confirmed this and allowed the players the freedom to drift toward the end.
just to make it more clearer Goonergerry….the day I will start seeing football with a smile will not be when we win the CL or dominate world football for 10 years but when I see the scum plying their trade in the championship.
Rico , out of the £ 30 million only £21million would go into the transfer /wages contingency fund. The rest to the clubs pay off the debt – increase the share price fund
Damn Potter. with me its not the TOMORROW SYNDROME. Why cant people see that I am pointing out the way it is happening at AFC?? That is the way AW and the board thinks. If it were for me I would have a 100000 seater stadium, with players like Ronaldo, Messi, Kaka, RVP, Iniesta, Xavi, Fabergas all playing for AFC. Sadly reality is not that way. So when I comment its that I am just pointing out the reality as it is.
Juve have been out of Europe for 5 years and besides being on top of Serie A they are unbeaten.
I know that the post was contradictory but the way things are I feel like a squash ball and don’t know which wall to bounce off next.
Which way to go next ? I haven’t got a clue and I am sure neither do they.
Is it 5 ? fair enough , it just came off the top of my head.
I understand where you are coming from and i know you are not defending the idiots on the board etc, just sometimes sitting back and watching all this unfold before me really smacks hard…
we know there is money, we know players are for sale, the logic behind the clubs reason for not signing one or two just makes me furious…
Yes, we will always be bigger than any one player or manager but how far will the board/manager take our club down before someone says ‘enough is enough’…..?
That much potter, i would have though 21M to the fund and the other £9M on two players 😉 (i shouldn’t joke i know)
devil, you trying to think like wenger, that is a very tough task, i’m not even convinced he knows what is going on inside his head 😉
Thanks for the post but I hope it’s not a round about way of saying, whatever happens in May we should give Wenger another season to get it right.
The idea of a clear-out and the strengthening of the squad is always attractive but I can’t think of any point in the last six years when Wenger looked like appreciating who was playing poorly, who needed to be sold and who should be brought in. So I, for one, won’t be getting my hopes up just yet.
Swindon Town are set to sign Arsenal defender Daniel Boateng on loan, BBC Wiltshire understands.
The 18-year-old Gunners’ reserve team captain was close to joining the League Two side in the summer but a deal could not be agreed.
But Boateng is now in talks about a move to the County Ground until the end of the season.
Steve, the post is saying who could leave and when and thats it – as for wenger, i think you know the general view on here 😉
The way they want to go is to wait patiently, BUY TIME, until the next batch of youngsters come through. Some of them are already at the club. Players like Coquelin, Frimpong, Chesney, Wilshere, Ramsey, Yennaris, Miguelm Gibbs, Jenkinson and OX have all played for the club’s first 11. While p[layers like Boateng (wanted by swindon till end of season), Martinez, Shea, Miyachi, Afobe, Aneke, Ozyakup and Henderson will all become the next generation of players. That is 18 players and I dare predict that the day will come where we will see a team of first 11 made solely of homegrown clubs. AW is simply waiting for them to develop so that he will fit in nicely into FIFA/UEFA criteria of FFP and the 6+5 rule. With them add players like Koscielny, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Arteta and maybe just maybe Song and that might be the team in 2 years time.
The only two sorepoints in this scenario who threw a spanner in AW/Board’s works were Cesc, since he pined for Barca and Theo who has not developed as well as many believed he would develop.
That is the aim of AW and the board.
I do not defend it …..but point out the truth and reality.
I see there’s a cuckoo out this morning, don’t usually hear the first one till spring.
Good read kev, summer of change, it can’t come soon enough.
I may be wrong on how the transfer fund system works but this was the way it was explained to me.
1. we sell RVP for £ 25 million. Wenger gets 70% = £ 17,500,000.
2. Saves 1 years wages approx £ 4,500,000 total = £ 22,00,000
3 Buys a quality striker 4 years at 90,000 pw = £ £ 18,000,000.
Take 18 from 22 transfer fee available £ 4 million.
Begs the question which quality striker can you get for that. ?.
Look at the dross we want to shift and to buy better , work out their value use the calculation as above and see the reduction in quality or numbers that you inevitably get.
This is why we have to produce or buy in potential , despite the original claims that the stadium would not impact on our transfer budget it obviously has.
I know its impossible to think the way AW does Rico, but I have been involved in club football for the past 19 years now and that is a pattern I believe is happening at AFC.
Nest summer we will see Nick Powell at the club maybe. 🙂
devil – if thats their way of thinking, they can stick it… 😉
Its like trying to read the mind of Jabba the Hutt, no-one knows whats going on in arsene’s head.
devilgooner, they’ve been buying time and waiting for a team to develop for 7 years now… time is up. If that’s the club policy then this downward trajectory will continue as it has been.
Hi Micko, you and me both re the summer of change, should have had one a few summers ago…..
Cuckoo – who you calling cuckoo 😉
Of course the only way this will go tits up is if AW and the present board are no longer there. Then it will be a change in club’s direction. If say Usmanov and Dein take over and another manager comes in than we will see a different policy. However I do not foresee that scenario.
And yes presently I do agree with you Rico, they can stick it upright in the grass and sit on it. It will surely be a perfect fit.
I. W.A.N.T. T.O. W.I.N. C.U.P.S. E.V.E.R.Y. Y.E.A.R. S.O. T.H.A.T. I C.A.N. R.A.M. I.T. D.O.W.N. T.H.E. S.C.U.M’S. T.H.R.O.A.T
Potter – i always assumed that whatever the club make on sales, is available to be re-invested 100% – it’s just AW who chooses to save….
Potter, call me thick but i’m just a die hard arsenal supporter, if there’s a player out there available who is gonna make us better and stronger I would like to think Arsenal Football Club would do everything in their power to make it happen.
Just watching SS’s – you guys seen Rudi Skacel’s goal against St Mirren – talk about a clone of RvP 😉
EEEEHHHH????
Micko….there are quite a few dozen who would make the present rabble stronger mate.
Jekyll – ditto, it’s been too long listening to excuses….
Devil, that was my way of saying I’m a bit slow when it comes to figures.
Rico, the closest i get to sky is when I open my front door and look up.
Tiffin time.
🙂 Micko… Laters and enjoy
Big defeat at Manchester United was simply an accident, says Arsene Wenger……
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/football/article-24029595-big-defeat-at-manchester-united-was-simply-an-accident-says-arsene-wenger.do
So what will sunday’s probable defeat be then?????
c ya Micko. have fun…. 😉
I am just as frustrated as the rest of you , and I really would like to see the squad improved however I try to look behind the bigger picture. I was given this information by someone who is au fait with the way these things work. The system was put in place by Danny Fiszman / Keith Edelman to ensure that the instalments on the stadium debt would be paid on time. Taking into account that we apparently have been paying back at a quicker rate than originally set out, It shows just how restricted the manager has been in doing deals. He of course has chosen the route to go down and has tried to get players he believed in to stay by bribing them with high wages and many of them have failed to live up to his expectations. He is tactically naive , his substitutions are sometimes baffling. I am not trying to defend him, just understand.
Exactly Potter….that is why AW is waiting for the above mentioned players I wrote earlier to develop. He cannot buy.
What irks me is why we are never told that.
Accidents don’t happen twice……
Off for a bit, laters….
Devil, 1.17;
That’s simple to answer habib, season ticet sales would fall through the floor.!!!
We are a business.
Every August we are fed a load of shit about a
war-chest,
top signings,
a busy transfer window,
blah blah feckin blah….
There you are habib. How are you. We are fine down here. High humidity but nice weather all the same.
TBH I think that if the club came clean the real supporters would still show up and the ones that would abandon the club would be the plastic supporters who flit from AFC to shitty to the chavs to the scum then back to AFC etc. Personally I would not go even near a mile near the Emirates at the moment to see some of the dross plying their trade, but if I had to pay ST60 to see those with potential plying their trade then yes.
Where I live I have not been to a premier game or the senior national team (unless I am coaching) for something like 6 years. But the under 21’s and under 19 games yes I do go. And when I was in Italy (where I go frequently) usually I check whether or not there are youth games in the vicinity. Even if I have to pay.
Looks like another AFC vs ManUre game, and,
another AFC injury crisis……
Since the 2005 FACup Final, we have certainly paid handsomely for that fortunate victory, whenever we face PLC.
June Ak, June, don’t forget they have to sell the ST’s in time for August 😉
Joke isn’t it….
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16651257.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16652028.stm
News on loanees
http://www.footballfancast.com/2012/01/football-blogs/a-super-signing-can-do-so-much-for-arsenals-future
Yeah your right Rico, but i always pay at the very last minute.
All that waiting list guff is a lot of nonsense…
If the club came clean devil, maybe we’d understand a bit more but all it seems we get is empty promises and cheap skate signings…
Just look at this window, wenger said he would be buying/loaning cover for our injuries, he we are, eleven days left and naff all…
And Gibbs is till 3 weeks away from a return, why didn’t he get a loaned Lb when the window opened, instead we are playing either a midfielder or CH in that position, one of which is now injured….
It’s pathetic imho….
Hi lee, i would say that right it is absolutely the answer…..
But as Rico said Sir AK. Its not an incident anymore. I know Rico was referring to the comment I made earlier regarding the 8-2 game, but the same can be applied to the story since that final. Its been happening too frequently to be an incident. Too many hurts along the way. With his last kick of the match PV not only kicked the ball…..but kicked our spine into orbit from where its still hovering and doesnt seem likely to come down.
Pick your starting eleven for Sunday then guys….
I’m hoping for TV to pass his late test…
Hi Rico….any chance of asking all the bloggers here to predict the line up and result of the next game??? We win nothing of course but do it just to see what everyone thinks.
Lee 3.17;
That was a great read mate.
yikes……are we telepathic or what???? 😆
back in 20 mins
So here goes…..
Chesney
Djourou, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Miguel
Song, Ramsey, Rosicky
Walcott, RVP, OX
result…..2-4 for the northern scum
Szczesny,
Djourou, BFG, koscielny, Miquel,
Ramsey, Rosicky, Song,
Walcott, RVP, Arshavin.
Don’t expect Wenger to think outside of the box and start Oxlade-Chamberlain.
i think we’ll lose 1-3…
Sorry.
We are habib… 😆
Sorry for what Sir AK?? that’s reality. 🙂
draw!!!
To my mind the first question in terms of squad re-building, because it’s re-building we need, and not tweaking, is who we need to get rid of.
These players are either not good enough, don’t fit the style of football we play, or are so injury prone, that there is not point in them being in the squad at all. It doesn’t matter how good a player someone could be, if they never play.
Almunia, Fabianksi, Mertesacker, Squillaci, Djourou, Gibbs, Diaby, Rosicky, Arshavin, Walcott, Chamakh, Denilson, Bendtner.
By my reckoning (and it’s a rough guess for some) that should free up in the region of 700K for wages. And whatever we can get for them in transfer fees.
I don’t see that it would really impact the first team at all. Mertesacker could maybe be retained as back-up, but he’s really not that good, especially in system which requires mobile centre-halves.
The one thing that we would need, and we need it now, is a left back. Maybe Santos can be taught to defend, but I don’t think it’s really in his nature, so, with Taiwo and Cissokho being available now, surely one of them should be bought now.
I say should, but I’ve lost all faith in Wenger’s ability to buy the right players. And additionally. if the above concerning Wenger’s cut of player transfer profits is true, then I am just astounded. No wonder we don’t buy adequate replacements, if so much of it is going into his pocket. And with the money he is making, he still dresses like Rab C Nesbitt.
what draw Lee??? 9-9 or 0-0??? 😆
Hope your right Lee,
Maybe we should exchange a few texts during the game… 😉
Devil fuck knows but i fancy a draw…
hopefully i’ll be back in time for it as my son is playing a cup game in suffolk (frammlingham)….north of ipswich!!
http://www.fanfeedr.com/soccer/arsenal?id=7523569e-aa88-5cb9-8c90-55d96bb260c6
Fergie afraid???????
AK you know it makes sense…no way RVP will score, he’s shite!! 😉
We haven’t got a prayer lee.
Do you sense the desperation mate… :P:
Boo!! SAK, you’re on a roll… 😉 How’s Lady AK? I hope she’s well; you make sure you’re extra nice to her. 😉
We really need to shift a lot of players. But there are no takers, it’s looking like. And why would anyone want to pay for them, in any case?? 🙁
Hi, Lee. 🙂 I fancy a win. The Mancs are due a spanking. 😀
just pulling your leg Lee. 😆
I wish I share your optimism Lee and AGAG.
I really wish.
I do not see anything other than a defeat.
Frimpong has just tweetwd, that if he’d scored at Tottenham, that he would run around the entire stadium….
Come back soon Dench…. 🙂
Hi, Devil. Everyone thought the Chavs would beat us… 😉 Hope springs eternal. 🙂 🙂
Hey, here she is, Amex in hand.
I’m always nice agag.
Flowers, chocolates, fine wines, you know the drill?
Agree totally, but as many on here have said, somebody needs to want to buy the dead-wooders before we can shift them.
What’s the point of loaning out when we have so many injuries??? We cannot be sure that Diaby and Wilshere will be able to continue for the rest of the season. Arteta and Coquelin are injured. Now why didnt he loan out Rosicky and KEEP Dench???
Btw, where is Stanley?
and what are you going to tweet Sir AK????
That if we win a cup this year you would run across Trafalgar square in your birth clothes??? 😆 😆
Ah Devil, that was last year, all bets are off for 2012, 🙂
Kev, did you get those grapes i sent to you in the post, i hope the postman didn’t have them away.
January sales are an irresistible force to me, AK. 😀 Nothing like TLc by way of flowers and chocolates and fine wines. Tres bien!
Devil, what are you going to tweet?
I hope goonster hasn’t been smashing windscreens. 😯
Hi Mick, no they’ve not arrived yet, but thanks for the thought.
You over for the Mancs or Villa?
Hmmmm lets see…………. 😕
That if we win a cup this year I will bash a few scum heads.
That’s enough AGAG?????
Agag, i did hear that Stan was last seen walking around Arnhem, wearing a kilt……. 😎
It’s Gunner be close: Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson says no chance of repeat performance against Arsenal
http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/sport/football/manchester_united/s/1471477_its-gunner-be-close-manchester-united-boss-sir-alex-ferguson-says-no-chance-of-repeat-performance-against-arsenal
Is he avin a larf????
wearing a WHAT????? Where is Arnhem AK???? gotta go there with my video camera!!!!!
Kev, i’m over for spurs next month.
Agag, window shopping is much cheaper you know.
Devil, please no more talk of birthday suits, perish the thought.
yyyyy Micko???? Dont you like your birthday suit????
Hi, Micko. How are ya? 🙂
Sounds like great fun, Devil . 😀
AK, lol. 😀 Playing a great highland bagpipe. And I certainly hope his lady wasn’t reading those comments. Tut tut. 😉 How very stanley-ish though. 😀
Frimpong is a freaking nutcase and WE LIKE HIM AS HE IS.
http://redlondon.wordpress.com/2012/01/19/frimpong-i-chose-no-26-because-of-bendtner/
Devil, i used to get by on my looks but they’ve withered away like an old piece of fruit, too many wrinkles.
I’m good agag although you’d never guess it, i’m in a whiney mood this week, i need some good news to gee me up.
Boo 🙂
Go and IRON it then mate. 😆
Joking apart, you should still like your birthsuit mate because its what you have and every wrinkle is an account of every experience and every success you have been through.
Frimpong is quite a character, Devil! And he looooves to wind people up. 🙂 🙂
Mick, I already have windows. Have no need for them. 😀 😀 Shoes on the other hand… 😉
Guys, TV is going to be passed fit, i’m sure 🙂
That is why I love him to bits AGAG. Infact my son’s pet name is Frimps. And they share the same name and initials.
Hello, rico. 🙂 Howdy? Those are loooong walks you take with the woofa! 😉 I hope the crocks recover in time… 🙁
Hi agag, i love them though, it’s really mild here and the walks do me good 😉
Evening all.
I think i have come up with a blinding idea sell all our players, Then wait for the next lorry that crosses the chanel, stop it and take out enough ilegals to fill a squad they work for nothing and work very hard, so our government tell us and no transfer fee;s. from what i read we would be lost without them, and no transport fee’s either, then all our English players can sit at home and take it easy, they might as well claim some benefits while theres still some left. 🙂
Afternoon all
Great post AK. You always seem to hit the nail on the head!
Steve Palmer, you little tinker 😉 😉
Hi rocky, was beginning to think you had left us 😉
Not a chance Rico! Been on a week-long course for type 1 diabetics so not had access to a computer until I got home, and by that time I was shattered! How are we all?! Stan still not surfaced?!
I’m pretty scared about the match if I’m honest!
Phew rocky 😉
Interesting course, unusal subject though unless you are a GP 😉
I am preparing for the worst re sunday…..
Or unless like me, you’re a type 1 diabetic!! It was interesting. Learned a lot of stuff to help overall control which is always good if you want to stay alive!!
Any more news on our injury list?
Goody for you RR07. I admire people like you. A condition does not mean the end of the world for you, but you continue to learn about it so that you can manage your life better.
Woops, sorry rocky, i didn’t even give that a thought 🙁
TV could be back 🙂
TV wont make it acc to NN Rico!!! 🙁
Cheers devil! You’re right though, it may be a lifelong thing, but it’s managable, and if taken care of, it doesn’t mean we have to live differently. Thank god, because if I had to give up Dairy milk or Galaxy, I’d shoot myself! And have you ever tried sugar free squash?! Disgusting doesn’t even come close!! Has to be full sugar. Although Diet Pepsi is king! You’d be surprised how many people actually think they can give up work and claim benefits just for having diabetes! Dickheads!
No probs Rico!! I think it’s imperitive that TV is back!
So it’s Kozzer and Merts? Please don’t let Miquel be at left back after his destruction at the hands of Swansea last week!
According to Arsene Wenger, TV may make it 🙂
which means he’ll be out until May!
you old cynic rocky 😉
i wonder why we have all adopted that cynical attittude ….
Arsene!!
I blame Wenger for my cynical, miserable, angry, bleak outlook on life in general Rico!
I’m off for dinner, back in a bit ……
If it were for me RR07 I would give up work, claim benefits and open a business and put it on my wife’s name. 😆
bye Rico
Sounds good devil! Every other mug under the sun get’s away with it!!
Bon appetit Rico
Right, I’m off too. Night all. Catch you on Sunday for a rant!
Me too rocky – he has a lot to answer for eh……
see you shortly…
Take chesney,Kos and RVP out of sunday’s game and were no better than Blackburn,Bolton or Wigan. Worrying time’s indeed guy’s.
boo…
Hi smudge – take them out and i would say we are worse…..
Depressing times rico . Can’t understand why Wenger refuses to enter the market with a signing to lift the ever increasing gloom. Even Newcastle and QPR are spending. Wilshire/Santos and Sagna will be a long way off IMO. 🙁
Evening peeps.. Another gud post SAk … some terrific comments as well,
My mind already filled with man utd game thoughts… We’ve got a highly depleted squad.,,
Formation for me is
Chesny
kos BFG song TV
ramsey mikel
Arshavin
Aoc RVP Theo
I know smudge, i know 🙁
Hi Stv, Song at the back, that’s a different one, and Arteta is out….
Spot on smudge. it’s really depressing. The injury count is only upsurging game by game.
We are watching some good performances from coq santos verm and nxt day they ‘re out !!
Wenger always looks to do just enough, He HAD TO consider our injury history. Each of the last 7 season we had hit with many injury blows at crucial times with only futile players to replace them.
so it’s a crime he done to the club seeing a problem and not doing anything about it !
Hi rico.. yes I would never allow djourou in the pitch any where if i am a coach 😉
Is Arteta fit ?
Nor would i Stv, especially at right back….
No, Arteta is definately out but TV could be a late surprise return…
Wenger said he hasn’t ruled out signing a LB . Who is he trying to kid?. He has no intention of signing anyone. He and the Board have already accepted that CL is beyond reach. It’s so depressing that the people in charge refuse to spend our money on quality players..criminal.
going to sleep ? you know it’s 2:12 here 😉
Am off good night..
Goodnight STV
I’m off too . Night rico
Night Stv, or should i say morning 😉
Nighty to you too smudge…
In fact, nighty to all of you, i’m heading off too…
Have a good one all, stay safe…..
Nighty Night
hi!
Borussia Moenchengladbach 3 Bayern 1 (76 minutes) 🙂
Devil: Juve were be relegate for the 2nd division by the justice. We must stayed there for a whiile. At the same time, they built a new stadium, the fans were arround it too and they are now (unfortunatelly …) again in the top. La vieja Senora esta di retorno!
I don’t know what will happen in Summer. It depends of the performance of the teams in the season and also what will happens in the Europe Cup. For instance, if Holland reach the final with RVP in the team, the price rise; if not, the price down.
Line-up for Sunday: Czes;Djourou,Mets,Kos,Vermaelen;Song.Ramsey.Rosicky,AA;Walcoot and RVP
Final score Arsenal 1 MU 0 (AA goal)
There is a very simple solution to all this nonsense. Replace Wenger NOW. He’s lost his mind. He’s turned a once proud team into a mess. Too stubborn, doesn’t take responsibility bad decisions ( it’s always the refs fault) and it’s wearing very thin. What, Arsenal is now going to be viewed as a “feeder” team ? Nice.
Well done Wenger. Please go back to bush league French team to develop youngsters where no one really gives a crap, not while at the helm of Arsenal.
http://www.lifesapitch.co.uk/laptv/podcast/fans-pay-harrods-prices-but-arsenal-shop-in-primark/
Interesting listen…
New Post up
Sorry for the delay in letting you on Paul, first comments go into moderation and i was in the land of nod 😉
I think they should all go and get people in who want to see our club progress, not go further into the mire….
Hi Rico
sadly, the list above is not complete. Get rid of nearly all of em