Kalou rejected Arsenal transfer in January 2014

[officepest]

Sensible, rational points Quartz, I do, however, disagree that Kalou would be a good signing. In my opinion the mooted wages are far too high considering what our wage bill already is.

If true, then I think we all know how are transfer policy is going to pan out:- free transfers with transfer fees shifted to the players wage instead. My only problem with this strategy is if they flop (eg Chamakh) then we are lumbered with a player that we cannot shift (again).

It's only hypothetical of course but I would be expecting us to aggressively pursue one or two 'marquee' signings to show intent for a change instead of another 'meh' player.

He hasn't pulled up any trees at Chelsea either

[SteveO 35]

The Kalou rumour has been circulating for seasons now and Wenger is a known long term admirer......so having him available as a free transfer is right up his street. I definitely expect to see him wearing an Arsenal shirt next season. Like Quartz, I don't mind us signing someone like him but as a squad player (at the end of the day he is better than the Moroccan clown and national service boy). My fear is that he will become another one of these bloated wage also rans - neither a centre forward or winger, who will flounce around in the wide midfield berth and further restrict the Ox's chances of establishing himself in the first team.

I go back to the time when there was some moaning and groaning about having Wiltord and Kanu as backup strikers and when I think of what we had last year i.e. one world class player backed up by SQP and the Camel, I don't think any further illustration needs to be drawn up of how far Arsenal have sunk over the past few years. If like me you accept that RvP is going and Podolski was his replacement then I'm looking at Podolski, Kalou, Chamakh and Park and comparing them with Henry, Bergkamp, Wiltord and Kanu. Then take Jose Reyes vs Gervinho - our attacking options are absolutely piss poor. I'm pleased we signed Podolski but lets be honest, if he is an RvP replacement then in his first year of PL football it will be one hell of a tall order to come even close to replacing RvP's goals from the season just gone. Kalou looks like a 5-10 goals a year man, especially if he's made to play pretend winger like Bendtner, Ramsey and Diaby have been made to in recent seasons

I also agree with Baba on the Ashley Cole take - for me that was the first example of a domestic rival bullying us into a sale and the start of things to come in terms of Arsenal becoming a feeder club. People can say what they like about that shower from up the road but I can't see them selling Bale or Modric to Chelsea for one of their cast offs plus a few million. In recent years we've made good money only from Man City - a desperate club throwing good money after bad in the case of Barndoor and Fatboy Toure - but the sales of Cole, Henry and Fabregas, 3 far superior players were at substantially below their true values. If RvP goes for something like £25m it will be the latest debacle.

I thought last Summer's transfer window was the worst in memory, but trust me if RvP is allowed to leave for £20m-£25m during August and our answer is Kalou + Podolski plus the two jerks mentioned above, we are in the sit big time. I also fully expect Denilson, Bendy, and Arshavin to still be here or worse still farmed out on loan with us paying half of their wages until their contracts finally expire. Those 3 are supposedly taking a combined £180k per week out of the club's coffers - can't see anyone mug enough to pay that in full

[zero 6]

makes me laugh how, a week before season ticket renewal date we're linked with the hottest property in Europe, same spin every year

Come June the 2nd that story will die the same death as it does every year & lo & behold we'll get Kalou

Would rather have Cleauseau, he's French, cheap & wouldn't piss off to the ANC( unless the Pink Panther seeks refuge in Somalia)

[REB]

a good post by baba and so true it hurts, but id take kalou as 3rd striker behind rvp and podolski on the provision that bendtner chamahk and park were sold , saying that isnt joel cambell going to be here this summer and since we have only got a 25 man squad then maybe he wont sign him,

[stg]

I have no problem with signing Kalou, IF we sign good players as well.
He is an ok squad player.

I would question his wages though, I do not think him worth 80,000 Euros a week.

As for the examples of us signing poor squad players from rivals, they are not comparable as individuals.

Silvestre was poor, very poor. So too Squillachi.

But Benayoun was a decent signing, a one year loan that worked out well.

I have my own theory on what our recent spending patterns represent.

1.) New stadium meant belt tightening.

2.) New stadium meant Wenger pursued a policy weighted heavily towards younger players.

3.) Manager's ego means he has kept faith with failing younger players for longer than others might have done.

3.) Property crash meant less money came in from property sales than was expected.

4.) Recession has caused a cautious board to suggest retaining as much of the treasure chest as possible, as a safety net against falling ticket sales and possible default on stadium bonds.

5.) Vast wealth of Chelsea and Man City, and willingness of their owners to operate at a loss at times, has pushed transfer fees of many top players too high for our resources.

Good job USM still isnt on here Quartz lol

I think transfers will change over the next few years, lots more loan deals and lots of using players as a bargining tool.
Also all the power is now with the players regarding contracts and Arsenal seem to get themselves caught in the middle between spalshing the cash on contracts or holding out for a sencible contract. I think this comes from the indecision in the boardroom filltering down to the manager.

[OneBardGooner]

If he signs Kalou....all hell will finally break loose. So bring it on Turnip.

It may do on here mate, but not at the E******s, because all the AKB sheep will follow on mindlessly like the feckin' moronic drooling bits of hot dog and over-priced (poor excuse for) beer saliva they are.

[arseofacrow]

If he signs Kalou....all hell will finally break loose. So bring it on Turnip.

It may do on here mate, but not at the E******s, because all the AKB sheep will follow on mindlessly like the feckin' moronic drooling bits of hot dog and over-priced (poor excuse for) beer saliva they are.

[rigsby]

Another moaning Arsenal thread. WE GET IT.

And all this 'on the verge of' is pure speculation. Its based on we went after him a few years ago.

[SteveO 35]

Another moaning Arsenal thread. WE GET IT.

And all this 'on the verge of' is pure speculation. Its based on we went after him a few years ago.

Why don't you set up a nice cheery thread to get us all upbeat for the weekend ?

[flash gunner]

Another moaning Arsenal thread. WE GET IT.

And all this 'on the verge of' is pure speculation. Its based on we went after him a few years ago.

Dont worry mate the moaning amnesty week starts on here tomorrow 6am

[arseofacrow]

Another moaning Arsenal thread. WE GET IT.

And all this 'on the verge of' is pure speculation. Its based on we went after him a few years ago.

Dont worry mate the moaning amnesty week starts on here tomorrow 6am

so we get everything off our chest for a week...then all is rosy in the wenger garden?

[flash gunner]

Another moaning Arsenal thread. WE GET IT.

And all this 'on the verge of' is pure speculation. Its based on we went after him a few years ago.

Dont worry mate the moaning amnesty week starts on here tomorrow 6am

so we get everything off our chest for a week...then all is rosy in the wenger garden?

[donaldo]

Another moaning Arsenal thread. WE GET IT.

Thats the point we dont get it.And for 7 years we havent got it.Kalou wouldnt be the worst signing we would have made compared to Chamakh Park Squillaci and Gervinho.But like Silvestre if he was any good Chelsea would not be letting him go on a free.We are the 4th richest club in the world yet we are scraping around signing players on a free

[Gunnersaurus]

Baba you mean Champions League winning Kalou ala World Cup winning Mata? Has to mean something surely????


But yeah,this looks like it could well happen and would be an accident waiting to happen.

[rigsby]

Its just getting boring now. I know what's wrong with the club, its hardly new. Infact its been going on for years and years even before Wenger. Its just every thread seems to be retreading along the same path. I'm all for having a good moan, but at the moment the forum resembles an angry bloke trying to hammer a nail into a wall with his head