As Good as it gets ? ? ? ? ? ?

[QuartzGooner]

I have outlined my thoughts in a long post above, but just to add to those who think we need to buy to challenge City, I agree.

It is not enough to keep the current squad Red Member, because your argument has too much reliance on players staying fit in your argument. We have seen every season that two major players or so get injured at each club.

If we buy Podolski then I am not convinced we will buy Hazard or Goetze. I think Junior Hoillet is more the type of signing we will make, costing less, and has Premiership experience and pace.

I really think Wenger will rely on Wilshere, Ramsey, Rosicky and Gervinho as the main creative players.
Song will also be seen by Wenger as a creative force, not entirely without reason to be honest.

[T.S]

As with most seasons, my issue isn't with our first XI. I actually quite like it, although it could do with a little strengthening. My issue is, and has been for the last four or five years, the squad. It's so weak. We can moan and whinge about injuries as much as we like, but what are we going to do about it? We can't guarantee that players won't get injured (and it's nothing short of miraculous that RvP has stayed fit this long), so what is the logical course of action then, if you're planning on winning the league? Strengthen the squad.

This really isn't that difficult to understand.

Apologies if I'm repeating what some have already said here, but if we are going to have a serious squad, then we need a new backup goalie, a backup fullback for Sagna, a new, proper defensive midfielder (leaving Song to occupy one of the more advanced central midfield roles), a quality winger and a quality striker. In my opinion.

Sounds like a lot, but as a couple have already mentioned before, Podolski, for example, ticks two of those boxes. That bloke Quartz keeps banging on about (Van Someoneorother) ticks a couple. It can be done. It really can, but something needs to be taken care of first - the deadwood.

Big transfer fees are not holding us back (on the assumption that we get Champions League football). Wages are. The reason for that is that we have so much deadwood at the club clogging up the wage bill, it's ridiculous. As far as I can see, this is the one thing stopping us from competing at the very top. For example, if you can get Fabianski, Squillaci, Jenkinson* and Diaby off the wage bill (for starters), then you should be well on your way to affording decent wages for a couple of (super) quality players. Getting them off the wage bill is a problem though. Who is going to pay Squillaci the 60k that he's reported as being on? No one! So, where do you think he's going to want to be? At Arsenal on the cosy bench raking in the money, or at a Ligue Deux club on a third of the salary?

So, before I get in to full rant mode, I'll just leave it here; this is a huge summer for us. Keep RvP and shift some of (preferably all of) the deadwood, and we can really get somewhere. Keep the majority (or all of) the passengers, and it's more of the same I'm afraid, comrades.




*Nothing personal against Jenkinson. I like him. I'm just talking about a hypothetical scenario here where we are serious about challenging for the title.

[brazilianGOONER]

As with most seasons, my issue isn't with our first XI. I actually quite like it, although it could do with a little strengthening. My issue is, and has been for the last four or five years, the squad. It's so weak. We can moan and whinge about injuries as much as we like, but what are we going to do about it? We can't guarantee that players won't get injured (and it's nothing short of miraculous that RvP has stayed fit this long), so what is the logical course of action then, if you're planning on winning the league? Strengthen the squad.

This really isn't that difficult to understand.

Apologies if I'm repeating what some have already said here, but if we are going to have a serious squad, then we need a new backup goalie, a backup fullback for Sagna, a new, proper defensive midfielder (leaving Song to occupy one of the more advanced central midfield roles), a quality winger and a quality striker. In my opinion.

Sounds like a lot, but as a couple have already mentioned before, Podolski, for example, ticks two of those boxes. That bloke Quartz keeps banging on about (Van Someoneorother) ticks a couple. It can be done. It really can, but something needs to be taken care of first - the deadwood.

Big transfer fees are not holding us back (on the assumption that we get Champions League football). Wages are. The reason for that is that we have so much deadwood at the club clogging up the wage bill, it's ridiculous. As far as I can see, this is the one thing stopping us from competing at the very top. For example, if you can get Fabianski, Squillaci, Jenkinson* and Diaby off the wage bill (for starters), then you should be well on your way to affording decent wages for a couple of (super) quality players. Getting them off the wage bill is a problem though. Who is going to pay Squillaci the 60k that he's reported as being on? No one! So, where do you think he's going to want to be? At Arsenal on the cosy bench raking in the money, or at a Ligue Deux club on a third of the salary?

So, before I get in to full rant mode, I'll just leave it here; this is a huge summer for us. Keep RvP and shift some of (preferably all of) the deadwood, and we can really get somewhere. Keep the majority (or all of) the passengers, and it's more of the same I'm afraid, comrades.




*Nothing personal against Jenkinson. I like him. I'm just talking about a hypothetical scenario here where we are serious about challenging for the title.

good post.

that list of useless players on high wages is never ending. i could name at least:

almunia
flappy
mannone
squillaci
denilson
vela
diaby
chamakh
park

those are players that not even the manager himself has any more faith in anymore, that's been clear this season. that's money thrown in the bin every week, money that could be spent on players who can actually help the team

[badliebenzell]

One or two out, and a max of 2 in. "I only buy quality". My worry is that if we do finish in the top four it will tell the club that we don't have to invest much in new players. I am completely confident that next year will see us 8 years without a trophy. The turnaround is very welcome, however we should not lose sight of the fact that there have been some truly awful defeats this season.I will take some convincing that we have turned the corner.

[QuartzGooner]

For sale, more than a whole team:

Almunia
Mannone
Squillaci
Denilson
Eastmond
Diaby
Arshavin
Chamakh
Park
Vela
Bendtner
Watt

Possibly Kyle Bartley and Gavin Hoyte will also be transfer listed?

That should bring in around £19M in fees, and as T.S says, save a substantial amount in wages.

[I Hate Hleb]

brazilian,

it will be difficult for any team to challenge for the title because of the money that City can throw at the league.
Fergie has proved it can be done though and the other great PL manager Wenger is slowly assembing a decent squad again.

we will need a bit of luck next season but if
1) RVP, Song and Walcott stay and keep fit
2) Wilshere returns as good as before
3) we buy Podolski as a back up striker
4) the fullbacks all stay fit

then we will be able to challenge for the title next season I think

too many ifs mate. if i had a million pounds on my bank account and a cock the size of my arm i'd probably be able to shag scarlett johansson, but it's not happening either....

I would imagine that Scarlett Johansson has already had plenty of propositions from rich men with small dicks (assuming that your arms are proportional to the rest of you!!)

[flash gunner]

too many ifs mate. if i had a million pounds on my bank account and a cock the size of my arm i'd probably be able to shag scarlett johansson, but it's not happening either....

I would imagine that Scarlett Johansson has already had plenty of propositions from rich men with small dicks (assuming that your arms are proportional to the rest of you!!)

[Goose]

too many ifs mate. if i had a million pounds on my bank account and a cock the size of my arm i'd probably be able to shag scarlett johansson, but it's not happening either....

I would imagine that Scarlett Johansson has already had plenty of propositions from rich men with small dicks (assuming that your arms are proportional to the rest of you!!)

Post of the year as far as I am concerned

[Herd]

Firstly Flash Pal get off your high horse FFS, talk about give a man a little power and goes to his head ,your worse than DB10 threatening people indeed !

Secondly My point was am I mad in thinking that the Club have finally got the message and will spend to avert mass desertion and an imploding of their Self Sustainable economic model !

Judging by the majority i would say you think not and that I am indeed mad.

[rigsby]

Isn't Fabianski off this summer anyway? So I expect a back up keeper to be purchased. Podolski up front, with probably one other (Vert perhaps) I would say that's us looking pretty good (RVP staying of course) Miyachi looks a player at Bolton so he'll be back. The squad isn't far off, which is why its been frustrating these last few years that the signings to push us over the line haven't been made.

The clear out will probably happen this summer as well, with us shipping a load.

A lot of people have picked up on Wenger's line about only signing 'quality not quantity' but really that's all every manager goes for. Would your athr Wenger sign 3 quality players, or 8 shit ones like QPR? His statement isn't controversial at all, and certainly doesn't point to a lack of activity.

[arseofacrow]

Isn't Fabianski off this summer anyway? So I expect a back up keeper to be purchased. Podolski up front, with probably one other (Vert perhaps) I would say that's us looking pretty good (RVP staying of course) Miyachi looks a player at Bolton so he'll be back. The squad isn't far off, which is why its been frustrating these last few years that the signings to push us over the line haven't been made.

The clear out will probably happen this summer as well, with us shipping a load.

A lot of people have picked up on Wenger's line about only signing 'quality not quantity' but really that's all every manager goes for. Would your athr Wenger sign 3 quality players, or 8 shit ones like QPR? His statement isn't controversial at all, and certainly doesn't point to a lack of activity.

Because Wenger has a track record of talking about "super quality" then signing super shit. It's that simple.

[rigsby]

Well that's your opinion. He's also signed some very good players.

[arseofacrow]

Well that's your opinion. He's also signed some very good players.

And he's signed a pile of shit.

That's hardly waiting for super quality.

That's the reason why some question Wenger's statements. That's all.

[augie]

Well that's your opinion. He's also signed some very good players.

Rigsby who was the last "super quality" player we signed ? Let me put this another way.....does any of arteta, mertesacker,the forehead,santos,jenkinson,benyoun or park qualify as super quality ? The "super quality" statement came directly from wenger's mouth so he cant blame anybody else and when you make these statements and fall way way short of living up to them then you cant expect your word to count for s**t and I doubt if there is anybody else in this world who actually believes his super quality promise going forward either

In todays Daily Mail it has a story that song is to be offered a new contract taking his wage from 55k per week up to 75k per week - does this class as another overpaid individual ? This new contract follows on from new deals to rosicky and djouru and hardly backs up the belief that there is a major clear out on the horizon or the notion that wenger has realised that this squad needs a step up in quality to actually win trophies again. Many of you will be well aware of my feelings on song (nowhere near good enough to be a 1st choice DM in a title winning team) but he is a player that I would be ok at retaining as a back up player but not at 75k per week. I just cannot see anything that can convince me that wenger and the board are gonna tear up the script that has seen repeated failures and behave like a proper big club going forward. People point to the early probable signing of podolski as a promising sign but they totally forget that we also signed the forehead early last summer too but it proceeded 3 months of doing f**k all.

[Supagoon]

If we finish in the top 4 we can push on and probably strengthen our position.

But i'll never expect a title push unless the owner makes it explicit that Arsenal must win a trophy, and emphasis on must. Without this pressure Wenger will never build a squad to compete for multiple trophies. Im not sure what will happen when in a few years we can boost our income from sponsorship, and we further reduce debt. Maybe then the pressure will really come on this club.

But at the moment never, never expect massive reinforcements, we've always had a thin squad, and plenty of injuries, so i dont expect two quality players for every position.

I do expect the flops to go such as Arshavin, Park, Chamakh and Bendtner, I don't need to mention Almunia do I?

Truthly its unrealistic to try and commit to winning a title when the likes of City and Cash rich clubs are around, but I just want to see some improvements on what we have.

**** me if we can improve our defending and it is better than it has been, that would be great too.

The wage bill I agree is one of the most important things to address, that has been a handicap on us for the past few years, management has got to see the light on that one.