Simple question...why arent we buying?

Trevheff · Post by **Trevheff** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 1:51 pm

I don't think this thread is a knee jerk reaction to Tuesday night as I think we're all saying what we've been thinking for a few months now. It's a honest assessment of how far we've come and what we now need to do to make the transition from promising squad to Champions.

Considering expectation levels in the summer, we're having a great season. And we all know that Arsene has done an amazing job in buidling the squad he has on peanuts. In the summer I thought we were a good 30% short, but given the improvements we've made it's probably now nearer 10%. So the point is how do we make up that final 10%? I don't think we need an influx of players, just one or two work class proven performers.

Working to a budget was fully acceptable when we had limited funds. But we're now rolling in money. I'm not advocating spending for spending sake, but whats a bigger gamble; Â£15m on a proven 20+ goals a season striker (Anelka) or Â£3m on an unproven, promising talent?

Anelka would have been perfect (forget what whappened b4). RVP's constant injuries are an increasing concern and we're starting to rely too heavily on Ade. The others aren't ready yet. Â£15m for a player of Anelka's class, proven in the Prem League, is a snip. Put Â£18m on the table for Micah Richards. Young, very talented, already aclimatised to the Prem, already a regular International. For me that's sensible spending.

Question for you all. Do you think Arsene has been put off spending big given the failures of Reyes, Jeffers etc...?

And a second question (and just playing devil's advocate here); Do you sometimes think Arsene gets over obssessed with doing it 'his way' (sound like Ardiles now) and that he sometimes unwisely ignores the resources at his disposal just to stay true to his philosophies?

Magic Hat · Post by **Magic Hat** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 2:30 pm

Just in defence of the other strikers, Dudu is on double figures and Big Dane hasn't done badly this season, indeed outscores three of Man U's strikers including Saha.

donaldo · Post by **donaldo** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 2:31 pm

I still cant get over Arsene not trying to sign Ribery a player we deperatley needed and a player we could have offered CL football.He only cost Â£18m the same as Manure paid for Carrick.As it is we have either Helb and Rosicky playing out wide when neither is a winger and if one or both are injured we are stuck with Eboue and Diaby(who should never play wide again).Every Wenger title winging team has had a natural wide man(Overmars and Pires)

green gooner · Post by **green gooner** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 4:27 pm

If the transfer kitty is not going to be spent can I have it please, because I likely would spend it!

Despite all the doom 'n' gloom we are still in a strng position in the Prem, I am heading over to the CL clash with AC and iff Saturdays game with Newcastle goes into extra time Barton will miss his curfew deadline and will get loccked up again.

Not all bad then!

donaldo · Post by **donaldo** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 5:08 pm

If Theo goes on loan and with Diarra sold and RVP injured plus the players at the ANC the squad is starting to look even thinner than before.

augie · Post by **augie** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 7:19 pm

Donaldo, dont worry about our squad being a bit bare - we have signed that 15 year old from gillingham so we should be ok now (eyes rolling)

Number 5 · Post by **Number 5** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 7:51 pm

Ribery would have been an excellent buy and I heard over a year ago that we were really hunting him down, so was surprised when he turned up at Bayern. Rotating with Hleb, Rosicky and Ribery would have made for a sensible buy, but I couldn't advocate Â£18m on Micah Richards, he wouldn't get in the first choice XI for a start, so would be one hell of an expensive substitute. Ok would have fitted in whilst Kolo is away but again Â£18m for just over a month? Can't get behind it, Woodgate would have been a cheaper and more sensible option, injury prone yes but as an occasional centre back to cover Mr G and King Kolo makes more sense to me.

donkeywinsthe derby · Post by **donkeywinsthe derby** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 9:49 pm

Magic Hat wrote:The players are not there at a price Arsene thinks reasonable is my guess

So, I know I'm two days behind here but it was my undersatnding that the primary reason for selling the Home of Football was to be able to compete with even the likes of Chelsea in the money stakes.

Let's not get carried away with one (very) bad performance but the fact is that we need one or two VERY good players (espe. defenders) here and now. The players of that calibre are always ridicously overpriced - look at Rio Ferdinand.

But, getting back to my original statement, isn't that why we're at The Emirates?

Keep the faith guys - and send some money to the Arse with "Buy Gattuso NOW" sellotaped to it!

southampton gooner · Post by **southampton gooner** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 2:53 am

So let me get this right, most of the people on here would rather we were Liverpool having spent lots of money on world class players. After all thats all that matters if we have money we should spend it. I'm only guessing but I would guess Newcastle, Spuds, Liverpool, Man City, Sunderland and many others have all spent more than us. So you would swap with them ?
I'm sorry but it's the same old problem a bit of success and everybody thinks we have a god given right to win everything we want. Get real.. I have a real worry that this bunch of players are going to go down in history as the best team to win nothing. But if thats the case then as long as I see players trying 100% and the manager doing what he thinks is best for my club then I'm not going to take any cheap shots at OUR players or the best manager we have ever had.
NEWS FLASH...... The worlds not perfect we cant win every game some would say 19 games without defeat against your bitter rivals is bloody good. I can understand frustration with some players Swiss Phill's not my fave player in the world but some people seem to want to have a go at our keeper in the hope that he will have a bad game so they can say "told ya so" I would rather support him and hope he can go from strength to strength.
I can just imagine it on here 11 years ago "Vieira who the fuck is he we should of signed a world class player"...
I know everyone is entitled to there opinionand I dont want to stop it but. Come on lads we are supporters so lets support.

Rant over............

Magic Hat · Post by **Magic Hat** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 8:57 am

I do remember at the time that there was a story going around that Arsene was really really annoyed with the board for sacking David Dein as it meant we missed out on Ribery. I honestly doubt Arsene was that upset but it is possible we missed out due to internal matters but rather that was sorted for the long term future of the club and miss out a player then had we left it festering.

donkeywinsthe derby, yes that is the goal and that is what has been done. Well possibly not Chelsea, that would require selling our soul but just about every other club in the world yes

augie · Post by **augie** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 10:43 am

Southampton Gooner, nobody here thinks that we have a god given right to win everything but some, and I most certainly am one of them, think that we are not doing all we can to bring success to the emirates. We have all been strung a line saying how we needed to move to the emirates to enable us to compete in the transfer market but despite our massive influx of money since moving I do not see us buying diddly squat. Look at all the players that have left in the last few years(PV4,DB10,pires,henry,freddie etc) and I ask you have we done enough to replace them with quality ? 11 years ago PV4 came into a team with a very experienced backline of seaman,dixon,bould,adams & nutty & also had the experience of DB10 & platt alongside him and as I stated yesterday it is a lot easier bring along 1 young player like vieira in an experienced team than it is to try and bed a load of young players into a team with little or no winning experience. So many people churn out the trust arsene line but I ask you does arsene trust arsene ? Is he afraid to buy quality experienced players in case they dont work out(a la cloughie) or is it just that he wants the glory of building a team of unknowns into a huge success ? If its the latter then he is driven by personal glory on this occasion. Truth be told sg deep down you feel the same way as most of us in that you dont think this squad aint good enough cos why else whould you express concerns about them winning nothing ?

donaldo · Post by **donaldo** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 11:35 am

Southampton Gooner

You missed out two teams on your list of money spenders.Both our biggest rivals Manure and Chelsea and that is the point Augie is making we are not keeping up with the teams that have won trophies over the last two seasons.As one of the most expensive season tickets in the country is it too much to ask the club to sign some world class players other than 15 year olds?