There comes a time when you sit down to write a post and you realise that the team you support have decided to leave it to the last-minute before they enter the transfer window, so once again good news is not forthcoming.
How I would like to inform you of defenders joining by the bucket load, maybe a couple of wingers and to top it off a goalkeeper who is not wet behind the ears but I can’t.
I kid you not but I am beginning to get a bit worried.
I of course realise that our Manager knows we are in a tricky position, he knows we are a left back down, he probably knows better than me what is about to unravel with our present Captain Cesc, the same with our want away Nasri, if of course the newspapers stories are real.
To tell the truth I am beginning to not care what happens to Cesc and Nasri. I believe that if they think the future is greener down the street, perhaps its best they move on. Both have had their spells of brilliance but at the end of the day if they go good luck to them and I think they will need it too as others that have left have not featured that well.
I was asking myself why has Wenger and the Board been slow starters as to most of us it has been very clear what positions need changing and I must admit being linked to forwards has left me a bit bemused when what we need is in the defensive department.
When it’s as clear as it can be you naturally assume it will be defenders to come in first yet right now is seems that Wenger may not even be looking.
It makes me believe he has secured them all ready but why wouldn’t he say? Why not announce it as he knows supporters are very agitated.
Well I have a theory why he hasn’t!
Now you all know that Wenger and the Board are Money crazy, they love to see money coming in but hate it going out. I was doing my lotto tickets on-line £166 million up for grabs and I read that the interest on that amount that a day was at 1% which equals £41,000, the penny then dropped.
If Arsenal leave that money in the bank to the last-minute, the amount of interest builds up over the weeks and when reports are said that our fund is holding £50 million that must work out about £96 thousand a week, an amount not to be sniffed at.
I have heard of player deals between clubs where a player is transferred and a clause in the players contract is written in, including things like – if he progresses and plays for his country or if he scores so many goals in a season, then another couple of million would be paid out but over a season that couple of million would have made a fair bit of interest, so off setting the total outlay.
Maybe my theory may not be the answer but I like to think that money will be paid out for the players we need and if he has already struck deals, I hope he tells us soon because I am sure other supporters would at least feel he has taken notice.
What I’m getting at is, we could have spent £50 million and with it, made £384,000 interest already, not bad after a month is it?
After all it is the way business works isn’t it?
I may not have the figures exact, but I’m sure you catch my drift…. 😉
Finally and in case you haven’t seen the news, Bendtner and Almunia are both in transfer talks about a move…
Written by Steve Palmer
Breaking News on Sky Sports……
We are going for Stewart Downing and have contacted Aston Villa ….
How rude of me, Good Morning all and another good post Steve..
You reckon he has signed the players but not parting with the money yet?? Surely the clubs from who we are buying from wouldn’t allow that, they’d need the money to replace their player…
Morning all.good read steve.
There is no way we are after Downing.
Yawn
Morning Kt, not according to Sky Sports, they have been told we have made contact….
Morning all……slow day today. Its raining like hell and it feels gloomier because its quiet on the transfer front. How I wish this club will wake up and smell the alfalfa. We have been ursuped by scum sucking chavski and man shitty now liverpoop and the sPuds are right on our tail yet the club still dawdles. Lord help us all…
Gutted for Faye White and England Women, cruel way to go out….
Morning Stan, in a good mood then 😉 😉
good post…..
rumours are that man city are on the verge of completing the move for nasri….
Hi AF, they have been on the verge for a week 😉
Welsey is going to Manure, deal to be done on Tuesday, supposedley….
Morning rico,
Not if all the clubs did the same thing, the interest comes from the banks, and if you all wanted to earn money which lets face it it is a business after all no one loses, as long as the money is paid before the player plays everything is hunky dorie in some cases its paid out in installments even better, Wengers been known to have done that i’m sure
Go back to bed then Le Grave, if you are tired…!
not downing?????? I thought we were after mata…….
Morning Steve, you could very well be spot on with your view, we all know afc don’t like parting with cash and losing so much interest would really hurt them (it shouldn’t) as they are a bunch of penny pinchers….
The Glazers don’t seem to worry about their bank account …..
All stories AF, the Downing one has come form Villa I think, could be a ploy to get Liverpool to up their offer 😉
I don’t think mankini has got any real plan in the transfer market.i don’t think he was even interested in nasri before the media drummed up lots of stories about him.nasri has often spoken about liking to go to a club where he enjoyed playing football he liked and city don’t have that.if he goes there its definitely for the £€$¥…
Downing says he prefers Liverpool, we don’t want him then 😉
does anyone think we are even after cahill?all rumours i say….
I don’t think we are after Downing.sky sports ‘understands’ is just bullcrap.i don’t think we have any interest in Downing/Cahill.
AF, no i don’t think we are…
Downing doesn’t want to join us anyway, their sources during the transfer window are not far wrong most of the time ….
I am sorry – is news that we are going after Downing good news ? I don’t see it as good news that we are going after a player who has more than a passing acquaintance with the treatment table and who is, even when fully fit not very good. If Nasri and Fabregas wants to go then at least replace them with quality and not a player whose value will increase by another zero simply because he is english
Boo. Another good one, Steve. The wait continues. Sigh. We’ve been crying out for solid, no-nonsense defenders for ages now. We’ll see if AW and the Board have the good sense to actually buy rather than just trying to buy.
rico, how are you? Methinks, AW and the Board need shopping lessons. Want to volunteer? I’m willing! 😉
Hey, KT! I don’t want Downing either. Hello, AF. 🙂
Hi Leon, i’m not takimg too much notice of the Downing story, best wait and see if there is any thruth in it before having a worry 😉
Hi agag, all good thanks, you?? I don’t think our kind of shopping would do Wenger much good 😉
Downing u mean DOWNER…..that freak wont fit into our style…its all hogwash there’s no way wenger will pay 17m For that shit. I think his agent is just trying to stir something so the scousers will pay his full valuation..don’t see this one happening..
Sky sports ‘understands’ is just a cover to spread unfounded rumours on a slow news day.
Update on Sky, £18 Million we have offered for Downing….
Surely not…
I guess we’ll have to see what happens, if anything at all of course…..
What else is in the news then….
Wenger WILL NEVER offer £18mil for Downing.never!he would only shell out such a sum for messi.
Like I say Kt, let’s see… I hope there is little truth in it, that’s for sure….
Haha, rico. But our shopping and theirs are underpinned by the same principle: cash equals purchases. Now, whip out that checkbook, AW. 🙂
KT, Downing is hardly worth £18mil. Sky is being it’s usual silly reporting self.
FFS!! £18m for Downing? Why don’t we buy Mata or Benzema? Is Downing REALLY that good? Disappointing transfer news as usual.
🙂 agag, i bet we’d get a lot more purchases done and dusted…
Hi G38, he’s not worth £18M thats for sure, £8 maybe 😉
if we want a winger we should go for bale….i know hes spud and all that but hes certainly better than downing….and can play as lb aswell……
hey hi agag…..
Will somebody slap me all over and call me charlie….aren’t we supposed to be after CB’s where are all these news emanating from? is wenger’s head in his ass. Sign cahill already. We don’t have time for this. Our season starts later this month yet no CB, decent DM and a winger..and we still haven’t shipped out the deadwood. What kinda people run this club….its beyond me!!!
Why our we looking at second rate English players,seriously disillusioned haved got a player who can head a ball!!! If Downing is the height of our abition GOD help us.Grow a set and buy real players,not second rate ARSES!!!!
If your theory is correct, then surely Wenger would also want to immediately sell the deadwood that seem certain to go in order to again increase earnings from interest rates. Seeing as only one major player has left, and that also being recently, I don’t think the reason you’ve mentioned is the biggest factor in the transfer delays.
Stewart Downing…is that what we have come to?next we are going to be linked to Tony Hibbert? Zoltan Gera?
For a club that shipped in 43 goals last season you will think the first priority will be a decent CB but no wenger wants a winger and a shitty one at that….stuart what? Lord give me strength!
Much better post than of recent,I have to agree just cant see Wenger signing Downing ,what I do think is happening is there is another player we are in for along with Liverpool and Wenger is sending out the message ‘do not force the price up’ or we will mess your deal for Downing, who I do see as a Liverpool player. (Northern boy an all), I would suspect that player to be Enrique but he might not be too keen if Fab leaves.one thing is for certain ,whatever AW says Gibbs will not be a first choice left back this season and an experianced LB will be brought in.
Gunnerule,
I bet he is trying to sell them, but, no-one wants them!
Guys, it’s a ‘story’ let’s worry when we hear something concrete, just like the Nasri story…
No to Downing.
Jonathan Woodgate?Owen Hargreaves?Stewart Downing?John oshea?…we are not really viewed as a top club anymore if that is what we are linked to.
all bullshit stories coming from agents to drive the prices up for their clients
afternoon all
Nice article Steve,as always, but…..
I am reminded of Michael Caine, in Zulu, with a thin-red-line holding their fire against four thousand approaching Zulus; shouting… ‘steady…hold your fire…steady lads, steady…’ and then at the last, whites-of-their-eyes, moment screaming ‘Fire!’ and winning the day against impossible odds.
Or Russell Crowe in Gladiator charging on the Germanian horde; screaming ‘Hold the line, hold the line… before ultimately decimating the barbarian ranks with a final devastatingly co-ordinated assault.
Are we losing our nerve, at the very moment we should be holding it?
Transfer rumours that we would have laughed at a few weeks ago, are now beginning to unnerve us… I don’t see what’s changed?
Fifth-columnists, like Sky and co, have always drip-fed rumours, via all sorts of second-rate media. They are are now starting to come out into the open, and this is beginning to unsettle certain members of the Arsenal siege defence.
It should be quite the reverse… it means the media’s devious drip-feeding isn’t working… now, they are having to commit their reserves.
In the absence of any Arsenal media management, and God knows we could have done with it, we have to be doubly strong.
Let’s listen to the rumours and laugh, albeit a trifle nervously, and wait for the real news that is surely to come and relieve the siege of the Emirates… There’s still so much time to move and wheel and deal. For goodness sake, we’re still in the stages of checking on the worth of our junior ranks in the Far East.
Let’s wait until the window closes and see the shape we’re in… Then I really believe we’ll be extending a solitary digit vertically at these Wapping rags and vested-interest T.V. stations.
Or to quote another Hollywood blockbuster; as Kevin Costner shouts across the courtroom to Robert De Niro at the end of The Untouchables…
‘Now it’s over!’
Morning all.
It’s double edge sword really , if we are stacking up interest on money not spent then we are losing it on fees not coming in for sales. Also of course there are wages on top but possibly they offset each other.I can’t see there being a Machiavellian plot it’s more likely that he wants to see the outcome of the Nasri/Cesc situation before he steps buying up.
Hi rsd and Mike
rsd, i think it’s all about raising his price too…
Philbet, ‘much better post than of late’ ??
Are your post’s always perfect??
Hi Will….
I don’t think any afc fan wants to see Downing join us…
Morning Rico,
In and out a bit today, so may not imediately get to the put-downs, that will surely follow.
Hi mike.always a voice of sanity.
who is downing?
Mike
How long do we wait and see for though?? If AW was true to his word surely we’d all be sitting comfortably now – it’s ame old same old and it’s frustrating….
Hi Potter
He must know by now whether he is selling both Nasri and Cesc, if he is prepared to sell them he should be getting the players in before he lets them go, what happens if he sells them on the final day of the window, we are snookered…
Hi zulu,
He’s an English ‘winger’ who plays for Aston Villa, he’s a crock and 26 years old….
Philbet, seriously???
Hi, MikeB. I haven’t seen you around. I hope you’re well. Your comment is, as ever, a post in itself. 😉
Zulu, Downing is no one we should be even thinking of buying.
The only thing about Downing is he can cross a ball 😉
Goonerstan I am right with you, What are the board and Wenger doing, if they want to hold on to Nasri they need some quality signings on board, Cahill and Samba would be nice, Samba’s not great but would be very effective against the Stokes of the PL. The Gervinho transfer is taking forever , assuming it is happening, and we seem not to have prioritised a move for a good DM to back up Song. Why is it that all of our transfers take forever, is it because Wenger will always play a waiting game in the hope of getting another £1 off the price and then we miss out on them altogether.
The fans should be their No 1 priority but they treat us like we are an incovenience when in fact it is us that fund the whole operation.
Downing can cross a ball o.k so let him come through the door as Bendtner goes the other way.
Top read SP, I see the “post police” are about Rico…where’s that village again? 😉
Mike B remember the film well what you missed out was fire at Will dont know who he ment perhaps our leader A.
Gunner rule, i think he would want to lose the deadwood I’ll call it driftwood as it lays on the beach discarded and thats how our deadwood appears to look
Thats where i’ve been all morning Lee
Rob, good comment, we fans are like mushrooms….
Potter, straight swap, good deal – but 18M, Villa are having a laugh, all because he’s english….
SP don’t you pick on Will!!!! 😉
Hi Lee, nowhere near us i hope 😉
You always get one or two at the weekend
I just would of thought our first priority would of been signing a shit hot CB……
Probably when they get let out…..
Sorry Lee i always put my foot in it ha ha
Downing, please tell me this is bollox!!!
Lee its bollox
Lee, with a tag 😉
I’m amazed w haven’t signed a central defender yet and after all he said… We keep saying wait until the window closes etc etc and see who we have bought, but the good ones are going to be bought and we’ll end up with another squilli kind of player with an excuse that he tried but no-one was for sale…
Well, samba and Cahill are for sale, IF we pay the price their club wants..
Simples 😉
Steve, hope you are right…
Wenger knows our weaknesses and he said it but he seems to ignore it.it wouldn’t surprise me if we didn’t sign a CB.
Remember Field of Dreams (Kevin Costna)
You build it and they will come
6,000 turned up, we only need another half doz
Wenger out.
Make no mistake, he will sign a CB of that i’m certain, But will he be any good!!!
Never saw that one Steve 😉
Stewart f**king downing!!
Im actually starting to believe Gervinho will be our only signing.
rico you have to get out more
Have faith KT he’s a notorious late starter but he’ll come good
Steve i admire your optimism but i have no faith in Wenger anymore.i think he has lost his midas touch.uch.
Steve – I do honest 😉
Dpt, can’t be true, don’t worry just yet….
Re AW,
I’m waiting until Aug 31st, but i’ll probably keep whinging about him along the way 😉
I must admit he can wear you down, but i will give him one more year, and i reckon (gut feeling) that we are going to do very well.
I reckon we are ‘stuck’ with him until he walks away, and knowing how loyal he is about contracts, that’s a couple of seasons yet….
I like the fixtures we have in the first six weeks, we often start well, could give us a bit of an advantage…
At this rate there will be no St.Totts day next year.Wenger am afraid has become deluded.since 08 he has been saying no team can win the league after conceding as much as we do.what does he do in turn?nothing.this year he has done even worse.Gael wasn’t my cup of tea but he is better than gibbs and was one of our fittest players.Wenger has let go of experience for potential again and you can be sure we’ll concede 45+ goals.
Few things to be doing in the garden, back in a while….
Under Wenger’s reign we have endured a decade of trophyless seasons.
Not so sure about being stuck with him. If the reports that Kroenke has over ridden him to sell Nasri are true , he might just walk.
wellington going on loan to levante….
Afternoon folks..
Hi Rico.
Great post Steve, very interesting..
Off to read comments…
Aftanooooon all, Nice post Steve…….. We aint bought anyone but nice theory 😉
Potter, is that Stan using common sense to sell a player for decent money rather than letting him walk for free in 12 months…? If so “maybe” just maybe it’s him starting to take a bit of interest and next he might even tell wenger he aint bought a club to be also rans…!! Go buy whats needed there is plenty money in the bank use it…! Get quality to replace what we loosing and to galvanise the fans again as they are loosing faith and they need to see some ambition and intent… I did say “maybe” !!
That’s a big maybe , would be nice though but I can’t see it.
One for you KT……. can you confirm the following for me….! Very interesting if true….!
Nasri since joining Arsenal – 27 goals & 16 assists.
Arshavin (joined 6 mths later) – 28 goals & 34 (!) assists
If it’s not a maybe why spend 500million on a club to watch it stagnate and in your first full year as major shareholder to have fans up in arms as you sell your best players and replace with kids and mediocre players…? It would make no sense what so ever..!
Thats true Wath.i wrote about how AA is more decisive in the final third while nasri isn’t.
You know, AA lacks discipline, concentration and stamina.
So why not give him a free role just behind RVP where his goal threat can be more beneficial, that’s if Nasri goes?
Downing eh? How exciting…. 🙄
That will severly affect our pressing game AK.
Hold on there WATH…..you’re getting all positive again second day on the bounce!! 😉
Kev, that’s where he plays for the Russian team, no?
Steady now Wath…
I’d rather Mata than downing… in a heartbeat!!!
You picked up on that AK…..? 🙂
Modric has said he was threatened by Levy that he would rather they sent him to the reserves or stands rather than sell him.
KT, you are probably right, but he a dreamer in front of our left-back..
He cannot [or won’t] defend/track-back.
But he scores goals mate.
I’m not sure our pressing game is all that anyway..
It’s just an idea, maybe AW can use it in the games where we don’t need to press, a Plan B maybe 😉 ???
Wath i thought you were on the darkside…
Where is me being positive Lee…..? steady on….. I am merely stating Stan can’t possibly put up with all this crap going on and be happy with it or to let it continue..!
Lee, maybe Wath is having liver for dinner???
Mata for me Lee, every time mate.
I’m a Jedi Master KT 😉
I was just pullin your leg…. I agree re Stan’s stance on the crap going on etc ie if we keep Nasri and he can fuck off in a year for jack shit sell him now…..
Phew wath.for 1 minute i thought if we had lost you.
Relax KT, I’m still me…… 😉 Lee I can’t let you down mate gotta show some sense when all around is burning and falling down…!
Tbh, its nice to learn more about AFC….
KT, any strength in the Mata rumours you think?
I think mata is like a fail safe incase nasri/cesc depart.i don’t think he’ll come unless one or both leave.
I hear where your coming from KT but why would he wanna come if one or both of those two leave…?Surely we should be looking to buy him whether they stay anyway..? that seems to be our mentality these days, don’t look to strengthen regardless just look to replace if we lose someone…! piss poor way of looking at progressing and improving the team/squad….!
I think it’s because we promise games to all that sign so we keep numbers the same despite needing to upgrade the quality.
Nasri pulling strokes like he has and saying he wants to win trophies whats he going to do take it easy while the rest of his team bring trophies to him, if he hasn’t got the heart to fight then fuck off, he’s a nancyboy, plays a couple of games pretty good and thinks he’s in Cec’s league, he has a lot more to do before he comes near a Cesc in my book
Good story. I don’t know about the finance bit, but whole heartedly sympathize with your frustrations regarding defensive players.
In my little fantasy world, *if we are not going to focus on defenders* then we sign Gervinho, Diaria, and Benzema. basically we would have to go with the philosophy that the best defense is a good offense. Our formation then looks like this (4 4 2)
Giant from Poland
Sagna Verminator. Djourou. Gibbs
Nasri. Wilshire.
Walcott. Gervinho
Van Persie. Benzema
Captain = Van Persie, co captain = verminator.
We would cycle through Diaria, Ramsey, Song, Rosicky and Arshavin as needed depending on the game/tactics. So yeah, no Fabragas, and we still wouldn’t have a single defensive minded midfielder.
Our back line doesn’t exactly inspire confidence (although they could be great), but a team like that would be scary with all that pace on the wings and two proven goal scorers up top. But again, it would be vulnerable defensively.
Formatting got messed up. The midfield was supposed to look like:
Walcott Nasri Wilshire Gervinho
At the end of the day Doc, Don’t look bad
Huh. Does anyone rate this Per Mertesacker rumor?
Recalled Wenger had said before that if he changed more than 3 players, it will disrupt the TEAM.
I cna’t see him buying players now as he wanted to have a better idea of the improvement in his existing squad before he will buy.
Why should he buys when his whole strategy is based on retaining Fabregas for one more season (allowing WIlshere and Ramsey – and the likes of Conor Henderson, JET, Lansbury, RYo, Galindo, et al – one more year of development); and also with Djourou developing, Bartley developing, and Vermaelen returning like a “new player” this season?
In Gibbs and Traore, he has a ready-make replacement – and perhaps Botelho returning nexts eason? – he will not be panick in buying a new LB at soem obscene price. Perhaps he is in secret negotiaiton to buy Royston Drethe from Real….at a bargain???
But I see wenger is perhaps toying with a new tactical formation like 3-5-2 when he intorduced in his first game against Blackburn in Sept 1996…which so infuriated Adams that he demanded an explanation from Wenger!
Wenger has an option to field this team:
………………………….Fabianski
…Sagna…….Djourou………….Vermaelen……..Gibbs
…………………Song………………Wilshere
….Walcott……………..Fabregas……………..Arshavin
…………………………..Van Persie
And revert to 3-5-2 in 2nd half to attack a defensive team with counter-attacking plays:
………………………….Fabianski
…Sagna……………….Djourou………….Vermaelen
…………………Song………………Wilshere
….Walcott……………..Fabregas……………..Rosicky
……………………………………………….Gervinho
…………………………Van Persie
Wenger is taking a massive to give DJourou a chance to sement his spot in the team; and to demosntrate to Wenegr during this pre-season that he had improved form last season.
Yes, it is a massive gamble and typical fo Wenegr to take all his transfer dealings down to the wire on AUgust 31 just so that he is not forced to buy above the odds.
And Wenegr ahd said os…that dealings and frantic pricing reduction is the name of the game…liek buying Arshavin at the last second and perhaps beyond with special permission from FA.
Expect more nail biting transfer news on AUgust 31…..and do not be too disappointed when the likes of overprived Cahill, Samba and Jagielka will not be coming.
If push came to shove maybe Song partnering JD and Virmin replaceing Gibbs
Mertesacker?
DOubt s as he is not mobile enough to play WengerBall when we need CB that are swift and can attack the box during corners.
Hope I am wrong and Wenger is in secret negotiation and perhaps, Cahill and Samba is just a smoke-screen on Wenger’s actual target for a CB.
Perhapas even FUlham Hagelaand may enter the picture as well!
Ajax technical director Danny Blind has revealed Jan Vertonghen has a release fee of “well over €20 million”.
Arsenal and Manchester City have both been linked with a move for Vertonghen, 24, who is capable of playing at centre back or in a defensive midfield role.
However, the Belgium international has indicated that he wants to remain at Ajax for another year and Blind has now warned interested clubs that he will not come cheap.
“There is nothing concrete at the moment,” Blind said on Eredivisie Live. “Jan has a limited fee release clause in his current deal, but that amount is well over €20 million.
“There are some clubs in England that are willing to pay those kind of fees, but Jan is pretty picky when it comes to a potential new club.”
In July last year, Vertonghen had revealed he was ultimately keen to try his luck in the Premier League.
“I am ambitious,” he said in The Sun. “I want to play in the Premier League. The Premier League is my favourite competition but I need one more year before I am ready. I always said I don’t want to move this year so the clubs never came to me.”
http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/100377.html?CMP=OTC-RSS
____________________________________________________
Perhaps this is Wenger’s actual target to fill the CB spot?
Merlin, Wenger had stated that he was going to bring in taller and tougher defenders, so i believe we will definitly see a defender come in.
As always all the linking of players has come from the press, Everyone knows we need a centre back and so the names put forward are logical were we to be buying in England. If we were really after Samba he would have come in January and as he didn’t when our injuries had us short in numbers , I doubt he will be coming now. Probably we will see another off the radar signing hopefully better than the last ones we took.
WHy spend daft money for Downing when we have Jay Emmanuel-Thomas who can play on the wing as well?
And if Wenger is willing to offer Rosicky a one-year extension, that is another option better than Downing.
Curious. why isn’t JET features in Wenger’s plan?
He has also partnered virmin for his country, he has been linked to us for some time now
Steve Palmer says:
July 10, 2011 at 4:38 pm
Merlin, Wenger had stated that he was going to bring in taller and tougher defenders, so i believe we will definitly see a defender come in.
_______________________________________________
You still believe Wenger when he said the same thing after 2009/10 season like “we need to address thed efence..” and he bought Kos and Squillaci..lol..
We have tall defender – Djourou and Bartley.
Fair comment, but i don’t remember Gazides also saying the same then
I suspect Wenger’s main concern si to forge a settled team to survive a tough AUgust with CL Cup qualifiers as well.
To disrupt the existing team with brand-new CB, midfielders and attackers is a recipe for disaster as new players will need a few months to develop understanding and to play WengerBall…a unique brand that is played at Arsenal.
We have a little more than a month before we play our first CL Cup qualifier on 17-August…with the existing squad…….
I believe the existign squad is storng enough to see off Newcastle on 13-Aug and win the CL Qualifier on 17-Agug…and then onwrds to ough matches against Liverpool and ManU.
These tough matches will concentrate Wenegr wonderfully as to the need of new players by 31-August.
Recalled Wenger siad new players needed at least 3 to 6 months to adapt to English Football.
No Steve, I don’t recalled Gazidis saying anything at all about players.
He si jsut a drone ready to carry the mesages of his master, and to executive their wishes.
Perhaps Gazidis is the reason for the tardiness of getting players now?
With every finanical decision going back to Stan to obtain his approval?
Boo, any news???
Well we wont have to wait to long to find out will we
Hi rico, all quiet on the stands
On another point, seriously, Nasri is behaving like FLamini, just giving hints he will stay, but really has no intention of staying…..
The proof is that at the beginning of the season, Wenger said it is 95% closed and a bit of financial details…but now Nasri said he is leaving to win trophies……
Recalled also hsia gent syang that Nasri had no intention of leaving Arsenal in May or June?
The final proof is that NAsri should make a public statement that “he will sign the new contract upon returning to England..”
He hasn’t and he isn’t signing any new contract or made any public statement that he will sign the new contract.
Might aswell go back in the garden then Steve 😉
Only kidding, I am bored with painting the garden furniture… Still, at least it’s drying well 🙂
He’s keeping his options open, an injury on tour could jepodise all plans we may have no option than to keep him, Reading between the lines he looks like a stayer why take him on tour and risk it
Nice to hear your keeping busy anyway
Just read the stats for Nasri and Arshavin which Wath put up earlier -I would never had guessed they would favour Arshavin…
Merlin, I don’t like the way Nasri is going about things either – I have a horrid feeling that he may stay and then s***e on us next summer….
But, if what Potter said earlier about Stan telling Wenger to sell him is right, I can understand why, too many have gone for free….
Got to when the weather is good Steve 😉
I just been reading about Modric, Levy is a hard man!
Nice talking to you all…it is late in Far East…..goodnight.
I went mad and cut the grass, looks like rain now
Speak again Merlin, take care
Do you believe that rico
See you soon Merlin, rest well…
We sure get some strange weather here Steve..
Good question re Modric, I don’t know is my answer but you know there is no smoke without fire …..
Mind you, not that i should be confused with someone who cares about what goes on down ‘there’ 😉
He would look good in a red shirt though rico
I get a bit confused at times, Torres 50mill and players who are actually doing the biz bugger all strange old world eh
Amazing, ST renewal time and wenger states we need big strong players and we suffered defensively and we will be very active in the transfer market……………… first week of July, i am looking to bring in 1 or 2 players only top top quality……..! Has a certain ring to it eh……….. it’s prob a recording of what he’s told us the last 4 years..!
Your not buying it then Wath
wenger may go 3-5-2 who knows…its risky but who knows this season daglish used this 3-5-2 against chelsea at the bridge and won so…..
scezeny
kos jd verm
sagna gervinho
nasri fab wilshere
rvp
chamakh
AF you have resigned yourself to Cesc going then
I have the feeling that all our hopes of new signings rests on the sale of either Cesc or Nas, I’m getting the feeling that the money they are talking about in our fund is not there, or they only intend to use half of it at the start of the season
He sure would Steve 😉
Hi WATH
Steve, i have, Gazidis and Stan are just waiting for the scummers to up their bid 5million….
Or, give us Messi 😉
Off for dinner, catch you shortly…..
we will soon see
The money the accounts say is in the bank Steve is screaming to be spent…………… Does Stan have the will to impose his views on wenger…? Does he want to signal his intent, does he want to show clear indication in his first year how he wants the club to progress…? If wenger is waiting for the last minute to get all the cheap bargains he’s walking on mega thin ice runs the risk of stuffing up badly and what if we out of the champions lge by then…?
N’Zogbia or Downing?
Daily Mirror ‘s latest on this is that along with taking the money for Nasri the board are preparing to go above Wenger’s head and take £ 35 million for Cesc as well. I can see him walking out.
Potter that would be very interesting if true BUT lets ask a question here….? who exactly is “the board” to go above wengers head…. PissHeadWanker doesnt have the balls and is merely a mouthpiece now…… The only person who can go above wengers head is Gazidis if told to do so by Stan…? So that story IF true and its a miles bigger IF than my “maybe” from earlier on today 😉 means Stan may well be thumping the drum to announce “I AM IN CHARGE”…..!
Off 4 dinner as well back in a while………
Lee, probably N’zogbia ….
Potter, I saw your comment earlier about the Nasri talk and I can see that being true, as I said earlier, too many have walked away fro afc for free and maybe Stan is making sure we get 20 Million + rather than see that happen…
If that is the case, stan has got it right imho..
Wenger may have to finally wake up and realise that he has a boss….
Hi Rico, how was dinner?
See that AFC are being linked with a Serbian wing/forward, Nenad Lukic, 19 [in Sept], on trial.
Saw some of him on YouTube & he seemed ok, although with some good editing anyone can look good on YouTube!
Hi AK, lovely night thanks, Carrot and Coriander soup and home made bread went down a treat 😉
How’s you??
No doubt, now that he’s been linked to Arsenal, we’ll now see Mancini show an interest in him…
Hmmm i luv carrot & coriander soup…
Had pasta, very nice…
Real simple recipe on the BBC site 😉
What did you have with your pasta – i love pasta… yum yum..
Your comment has pooped on tomorrows post 😉 😉
I emailed you earlier kev, you seen it?? 🙂
I’ve been in the garden as well, finished all the weeding/tidying up and now it looks a treat…
Slept really well last night. Got to be the gym 😀
I had a look first thing Rico, sorry, i’ll go and have a butchers now.
Nothing like it is there, weed free and with the flowers and veggies all ready in their own way… ahhhhhhhhh summer… 🙂
I slept well but i think that was more to do with what accompanied the dinner 🙁 🙁
Gym always made me tired too when I was younger 😳
Great news Rico, he is a nice guy…
Ah the gym, i should go at least twice a week, but work gets in the way…
The pasta? carrots, onions,mushrooms,garlic,red pepper,tomatoes and [sorry boss] mincemeat 🙁
He sure sounds like it kev, and yes, very good news 🙂
I was being naughty about ‘Gym’ 🙂
In my sporting days, three times a week, running, rowing and steppers, that was all i really did – loved it and felt great after…
Now, i just take the escalators 😉
Don’t be sorry, no need – sounds lovely – bet you overdo the garlic? I’m a bulb in the dinner gal not a clove 😉
HaHa, yes, if i feel guilty i take the stairs, otherwise it’s ditto for me.
Can’t handle that one that replicates skis, if you know what i mean. it destroys my knees.
Treadmill for me, some curls and a few [light] weights…
Three times a week! Wow you must have been fit…
Yeah love the garlic, good for the ticker.
Oh yeah, i put a bit of celery in as well.
So you and agag are gonna take Wenger shopping eh?
What for, a pair of shoes? 😆
Making me knackered listening to you ywo
Sounds pompass but yes I was back in the day – couldn’t run to save my life unless it was chasing a ball – tennis, hockey, footie and cricket – even a couple of game of lacrosse – badminton and squash for fun too….
jeez, that does sound very pompass but it’s not meant to be honest 🙁
kev, just go when you can, that’s all you can do and odn’t feel guilty 😉
Hi Steve – mine was a few years ago, now it’s just a walk with the woofa 😉
Handbag kev, or a new John Cleese DVD 😉
Garlic is good for everything, especially getting rid of folk you don’t like 😉 See, take the mince out and that would do me a treat, lovely chubbly 🙂
Now i don’t know the strength of this rumour, but i’ve heard that Juan Mata’s agent is in London…
Could be bollox…. Could be kosher… 😉
As long as he is not at Stamford Bridge, I like that rumour 🙂
Where have you heard that AK?
Hi Steve…
Not pompous Rico, sounds great…
For me it was footie and cricket, hopeless at both, but loved it…
I just read we are in talks to sign José Salomón Rondón and Royston Drenthe…..
A blogger on ACLF, that’s why i don’t know the strength of it.
Just thought you’d like to know KT, then i know you’ll dig out the truth 😉
Hey guys, speculation is that Pardew wants Bendy and Enrique is part of the deal…
I love the rumour site 😆 :P:
Rondon, never heard of him Rico?
What do you know about him??
Thats sounds more like it, never heard of any of them.
Pompous rico and Positive Wath and i’m coming back in stages Will
I wonder if Wenger has left Gazidis his shopping list while he jets off to Asia??
He’s 21, striker, from Venezeula – currently plays for Malaga..
6′ 1″ tall…. – scored 14 goals in 30 appearences for Malaga last season….
Drenthe is a very average player.if its true it will be very sad.he started out well at madrid but soon he was exposed to be out of his depth.last season he was on loan at Hercules and it says alot that they don’t want him back.
Yeah Rico, that’s it.
Get Wenger to sod off to the other side of the world, and while he’s gone spend some dough before he gets back… 🙂
Drenthe is a 5′ 5″ (ish) is a Dutch LB/LW who is currently with real Madrid but been on loan at Hercules – he’s 24 years old….
KT, is Drenthe any better than what we have?
From what you’ve said, no..
I’d rather give Lansbury and Frimpong a game rather than some Real reject…
Sorry Kt, ddin’t see your comment on Drenthe…
Don’t believe either to be honest…..
KT, Rondon, any good???
Frimpong and Lansbury must stay, a bit of ‘club factor’ – just what we all need…..
Rico, the club spends a fortune on it’s academy, so it makes no sense not to give our own lads a chance…
He and the beast (Baptista) formed a good partnership to prevent Malaga from being relegated.he is a decent player but not what we need imo…
Dont mind feeding the lads in gradually but the fans need a couple of decent players now and again just a nice blend after all its not cheap to watch them and its about time they got value for money
Cheers KT.
More from the ACLF blogger….
Nasri to City for £22million
Downing to Liverpool
Mata to Arsenal [hopefully]
All in the next few days…
Don’t shoot the messenger…
Agree Steve, but we haven’t had much of either for awhile, except for Jack & Aaron…
exactly kev and thats why when i read rumours about Lansbury going really upsets me – just look what chances Diaby and Denilson have had – and Eboue… grrrrrrrr
Steve – i think we all feel the same about that – what weed right now is a couple of true winners, players that have been there and got the t-shirt – let the youth players take that in and learn form their attitude….
weed = we need 😉
I have a lot more patience with our own lads. In most cases they have an affinity with the club that players brought in, don’t have, unless they stay for a long time….
I know a lot of fans are unsure about Gibbs, for example, but i’d like to see him given a chance. Yes, i know it’s a risk and i accept that many, maybe most, won’t agree with me. But there you are Gooners, that’s my view…
AK I think that rumour is basically a combination of rumours of the past few weeks to suit all parties making it sound true.since mata has been linked with us its easy to think that it means city get nasri.we also expect downing to go to pool anyway as we know for a fact that they have bid for him.i don’t think city actually want nasri,i feel the media want to push that story as it would be a megacoup for city and a ‘disaster’ for us.this will give them enough ammo to churn out articles to sell more papers.i don’t think Mankini actually wants nasri.
I think its time for two good signings personally i think it should be in defense but the team need it and the fans do as well, i know we have debts but so does everybody else but two good signings would lift the doom and gloom from players and supporters
Rico, mellowwwww 😛
Good comment Kev, I’d rather see our own in there too – if they don’t succed, i’d like to know and see they have been given a chance first rather than just been thrown on the tip without having a go…..
KT, fair comment.
In your view, do you think that any club has enquired about Nasri?
Is it his agent, on the make??
Or is it Flamini revisited???
What position’s Steve?
Centre-back?
Goalkeeper??
Left-back???
If nasri does go to city he’ll regret it.he’ll never play in the middle for them as Yaya owns that position.Mancini has proven that he wants physically imposing players in there.silva owns one of the forward positions,Tevez the other and Balotelli the remaining spot.he also will not like the brand of football city play especially against the big boys.hleb can tell him first hand how well Arsene treats his players in comparison to other clubs.
Anyone read this…. sensible article for a change and spot on !!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2011/jul/10/cesc-fabregas-departure-arsenal
The big question in the article is as the reporter says “IF” Arsene keeps his promise to be very busy or not…!
Rico, can they do any worse than some of Wenger’s hunch’s???
If they’re given the same opportunities, who Knows?
As it stands, you have to wonder if a young Tony Adams or Martin Keown would get a chance?
Guys, I have to sign off for the day – catch you all tomorrow…
Nighty night all, have a good one..
🙂
KT, Mata would play left wing eh….????
Nite Rico, no snoring 2nite….! drunkard…!
Again, too right kev, yet they were two of our best ever…..
WATH – i’ll read that in the morning, when you have done the crossword….. 😉 😉
Ssshhhhhh WATH – you said you wouldn’t tell 🙁
Night……
I’m surprised AGAG didnt hear you the noise you were making…!
AK nasri has a very good agent.i believe majority of the rumours are his own doing.i think if the mancs actually made an inquiry it was to force us to offload nasri abroad since its unlikely we’d do business with them.they may be hoping to unsettle sneijder at the same time to ensure inter will accept a bid from them.inter then won’t have to go far to look a replacement as we’d rather nasri went to them not any of our local rivals.i know it seems far-fetched but who knows?
Look at how Ade has been treated by city.once they get a shinier toy they damp the old toy…
I’m off too catch you all later nte nte
Ak all defence mate
Wath i think thats where he would play if we were to sign him.
Cheers Steve,
Where is his best position though KT, where do you think he plays best…? Am just thinking out loud here and assuming its not just a rumour and yes gonna be positive yet again… UF we got him i reckon thats us being able to go back to 4-4-2 but that would aslo mean wenger knows he needs an animal in central midfield AND another big dominating centre back…!
Wath, that was an interesting article mate…
It does make you wonder?
Last trophy was 2005, Vieira was the main man, Cesc was a bit-part player.
From 2005-06 onwards the team is constructed around Cesc and AFC win a big fat zero. Despite a couple of close misses.
Coincidence or not?
I suppose we’ll all find out this season… Good night all…
Good morning, good morning…
Anyone got a clue that Arsenal FC can comply with that 25-man squad?
lLike 17 no. homegrown and 8 no foreigners max?
Am I correct?
Not sure Merlin, i magine that AW has that kinda thing well in hand…
Kev, got this June 2011 post from Jeorge bird:
from jeorge bird’s arsenal reserve and youth blog
Effects of 25-man squad rule become clear with Arsenal forced to adopt more ruthless approach
June 6, 2011 by Jeorge Bird 2 Comments
Almost a year after its inception, the effects of the rule limiting Barclays Premier League sides to naming just 25 players over the age of 21 in their squads are beginning to become clear.
The rule had little initial impact on Arsenal, who were able to ensure that all of their young professionals were eligible to play in the Premier League last season by splitting them between their ‘senior squad’ and their under-21 squad, with the latter allowing an unlimited number of players.
This year, however, things are a little different, as several of the players who came into the younger category last season must now either be included in the ‘senior squad’ if they are to be eligible for any top-flight action. This has already had something of an impact on the club, as evidenced by the decision to release Mark Randall, who, under the criteria, would be classed as a senior player for the 2011/12 campaign, whilst the decision to allow Thomas Cruise to leave is likely to have been made as part of the process of culling the vast number of young professionals at the club.
A decision does not need to be made on Hoyte’s future until next Summer
Pedro Botelho is also considered a senior player for the new campaign and, if the indications suggested by the player himself are to be believed, is likely to be part of the first-team squad, especially given that Gael Clichy is yet to commit to a new deal. Gavin Hoyte, meanwhile, is a somewhat different case as, despite being part of the same scholarship intake as Randall (2006), his birthday falls in June, meaning that he is not considered a senior player until the following campaign.
In effect, then, the impact of the 25-man squad rule is that it has forced the club to adopt a more ruthless approach with regards to its young professionals. Jay Simpson, Havard Nordtveit, Nacer Barazite, Roarie Deacon and Cedric Evina have all been allowed to leave in the past 12 months, whilst the rule has also ensured that a situation such as the one that saw Kerrea Gilbert remain at the club beyond his 23rd birthday despite being nothing more than a fringe player will not be allowed to materialise again.
Instead, the club must make their decisions regarding the fate of their young professionals much earlier than before. This has been reflected in the policy to only award one-year pro deals to those scholars who have impressed in patches but are yet to fully convince. That policy saw Deacon leave the club earlier than many had anticipated, whilst Jernade Meade and George Brislen-Hall, the latest scholars to graduate to professional terms, have only been offered 12-month contracts.
The rule also means that the forthcoming season will be a pivotal one as far as some of the club’s 2007 intake of scholars is concerned. This group, considered to be one of the most illustrious to be incorporated into the club since the switch to the Academy format, has already lost two key members in Cruise and Luke Ayling. Decisions, however difficult, must be made over the futures of the likes of Henri Lansbury, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Craig Eastmond and Rhys Murphy over the next 12 months.
For the 2011/12 campaign, under 21 players are those born on or after January 1st, 1990, meaning that Theo Walcott, Kieran Gibbs and Armand Traore will have to be included in the ‘senior’ squad if they remain at the club. Club’s cannot include more than 17 ‘non-homegrown’ players in their squads.
At present, the current breakdown is:
SENIOR SQUAD:
1) Manuel Almunia (age 34)
2) Abou Diaby (age 25)
3) Bacary Sagna (age 28)
4) Cesc Fabregas (age 24)
5) Thomas Vermaelen (age 25)
6) Laurent Koscielny (age 25)
7) Tomas Rosicky (age 30)
08) Samir Nasri (age 23)
9) Robin van Persie (age 27)
10) Carlos Vela (age 22)
11) Theo Walcott (age 22)
12) Denilson (age 23)
13) Alex Song (age 23)
14) Sebastien Squillaci (age 30)
15) Johan Djourou (age 24)
16) Lukasz Fabianski (age 26)
17) Gael Clichy (age 25)
18) Andrey Arshavin (age 30)
19) Emmanuel Eboue (age 28)
20) Kieran Gibbs (age 21)
21) Marouane Chamakh (age 27)
22) Vito Mannone (age 23)
23) Armand Traore (age 21)
24) Nicklas Bendtner (age 23)
25) Pedro Botelho (age 21)
UNDER-21:
Gavin Hoyte (age 21), Craig Eastmond (age 20), Jay Emmanuel-Thomas (age 20), Henri Lansbury (age 20), Rhys Murphy (age 20), Sanchez Watt (age 20), Gilles Sunu (age 20), Francis Coquelin (age 20), Aaron Ramsey (age 20), Kyle Bartley (age 20), James Shea (age 19), Jack Wilshere (age 19), Luke Freeman (age 19), Emmanuel Frimpong (age 19), Conor Henderson (age 19), Damian Martinez (age 19), Samuel Galindo (age 19), Benik Afobe (age 18), Daniel Boateng (age 18), Jernade Meade (age 18), Oguzhan Ozyakup (age 18), George Brislen-Hall (age 18), Ignasi Miquel (age 18), Ryo Miyaichi (age 18), Wellington (age 18), Sean McDermott (age 18), Nico Yennaris (age 18), Sead Hajrovic (age 18), Chuks Aneke (age 17), Martin Angha (age 17), Kyle Ebecilio (age 17), Jamie Edge (age 17), Elton Monteiro (age 17), Zak Ansah (age 17), Samir Bihmoutine (age 17), James Campbell (age 17), Reice Charles-Cook (age 17), Ben Glasgow (age 17), Jeffrey Monakana (age 17), Nigel Neita (age 17), Josh Rees (age 17), Philip Roberts (age 17), Steven Smith (age 17), Callum Webb (age 17), Jordan Wynter (age 17), Alban Bunjaku (age 17), Anthony Jeffrey (age 16), Isaac Hayden (age 16), Zak Fagan (age 16), Serge Gnabry (age 16), Jon Toral (age 16), Kristoffer Olsson (age 16), Hector Bellerin (age 16).
__________________________________________________
We are limited to 17 no. “non-homegrown” players.
If Almunia, Bentner, EBoue, Nasri and Clichy leave, it will not open-up 3 no. slots for foreign players sicne Bentnder and Clichy are classified as “home-grown” as they wer in the Youth for 4 seasons before 21 year old.
Meaning…a mad rush to buy English players, whiche ven make Downign looks attractive to Arsenal.
If you notice, there are only two Englishmen – Walcott and Gibbs – in the 25-man squad…excluding all those youths.
Make you wonder how Wenger had evolved Arsenal into a European team…perhpas losing lots of those ancient Arsenal’s English traditions and shedding ’em when moved to Emirates in 2006.
So we have signed the G man.
Morning all
New Post up..