As we're unlikely to see terraces again at football, this is the virtual equivalent where you can chat to your hearts content about all football matters and, obviously, Arsenal in particular. This forum encourages all Gooners to visit and contribute so please keep it respectful, clean and topical.
Iceman29 wrote:Don't tell me you wouldn't have wanted a Carroll type player to sign for Arsenal
With tight finances very much the agenda for Arsenal Football Club in the modern era, I wouldn't want them to go back on their policy and make the exception for somebody like Andy Carroll.
If we ever spend £30m+, I'd want a truly world class player, which Carroll isn't.
On a side note, I'm pretty happy with our attacking options actually. Because we don't just rely on our strikers, and create so much from midfield, a new striker isn't imperative at this time.
Bring Back Pires wrote:I'm frustrated that we don't strengthen the positions we need to in order to really cement our challenges on four fronts. As has been well documented, a couple of purchases in the right positions could set us up nicely.
However, I'm also very proud to not be involved in the circus that Sky Sports has presented today. Splashing £35m on mediocre players (Carroll), sneakily trying to do last minute deals, despite claiming just hours before that no business will take place (Redknapp), splashing out £70m+ just because they're not winning the league (Chelsea), and all the knock-ons that came with those dealings, is not my cup of tea.
Despite Wenger's many faults, I'm proud that he's assembled a team currently inferior to just one in the entire country on a relatively shoestring budget; that he doesn't have to tarnish our club's great legacy by airing our dirty transfer laundry for the baying media to scrutinise; and that we're not at the mercy of the likes of Newcastle or fucking Blackpool to save our season.
To the same extent, we don't have glitz and glamour outside our stadium at god knows what hour whilst some shit-stirring prick tries to interview our players or fans.
So yes, I'd like to make a couple of signings, but I'm glad we're staying a cut above the rest and keeping our integrity whilst everyone else exposes themselves like a cheap whore for Sky Sports to penetrate at will.
My thoughts exactly. We are "the" Arsenal and do things the Arsenal way. If Wenger splashed even £20m on a player like Caroll everyone on here would have said he had lost the plot. Pundits on Sky Sports saying that £35m is good business are crazy, King Kenny will be sectioned within a month.
Yes, I wanted a centre back, but if we were doing any business today, Cahill, the player we seemed to be most linked with would have been £25m+. Times have changed, Chavs spending £70m of money that is provided by a billionnairre is not how clubs should be run but that is modern football. Those two buys smack of desperation to try to get an awful season/squad back on tracks from a team that was meant to be self financing after a couple of years under Roman.
frankbutcher wrote:So Wenger hasn't bought. He thinks we have enough in the squad. IMO the following needs to happen to allow us to win the League / Champions League.
- Vermaelen comes back from injury in 2-3 weeks and slots straight back into the team.
- Kos and Djourou stay fit and play well in each game.
- Fabregas and VP stay fit for the whole season.
- Arshavin returns to form.
- Nasri is only out for 3 weeks and does not have a recurrence.
- Scezsney stays No 1 for the rest of the season and doesn't drop any clangers.
- Song and Wilshere stay fit for the rest of the season
- Bendtner, Chamakh and co chip in with important goals when needed.
- Theo stays fit as our 'impact man'.
- Chelsea take points off United (probably need to beat them twice).
- We either beat Barcelona or don't go into one of our normal slumps if we get knocked out.
- We win the Carling Cup.
frankbutcher wrote:So Wenger hasn't bought. He thinks we have enough in the squad. IMO the following needs to happen to allow us to win the League / Champions League.
- Vermaelen comes back from injury in 2-3 weeks and slots straight back into the team.
- Kos and Djourou stay fit and play well in each game.
- Fabregas and VP stay fit for the whole season.
- Arshavin returns to form.
- Nasri is only out for 3 weeks and does not have a recurrence.
- Scezsney stays No 1 for the rest of the season and doesn't drop any clangers.
- Song and Wilshere stay fit for the rest of the season
- Bendtner, Chamakh and co chip in with important goals when needed.
- Theo stays fit as our 'impact man'.
- Chelsea take points off United (probably need to beat them twice).
- We either beat Barcelona or don't go into one of our normal slumps if we get knocked out.
- We win the Carling Cup.
Can we realistically see all of this happening?
Basicaly our title chances rely on one main thing, our luck with injuries. Sounds familiar...
Bring Back Pires wrote:I'm frustrated that we don't strengthen the positions we need to in order to really cement our challenges on four fronts. As has been well documented, a couple of purchases in the right positions could set us up nicely.
However, I'm also very proud to not be involved in the circus that Sky Sports has presented today. Splashing £35m on mediocre players (Carroll), sneakily trying to do last minute deals, despite claiming just hours before that no business will take place (Redknapp), splashing out £70m+ just because they're not winning the league (Chelsea), and all the knock-ons that came with those dealings, is not my cup of tea.
Despite Wenger's many faults, I'm proud that he's assembled a team currently inferior to just one in the entire country on a relatively shoestring budget; that he doesn't have to tarnish our club's great legacy by airing our dirty transfer laundry for the baying media to scrutinise; and that we're not at the mercy of the likes of Newcastle or fucking Blackpool to save our season.
To the same extent, we don't have glitz and glamour outside our stadium at god knows what hour whilst some shit-stirring prick tries to interview our players or fans.
So yes, I'd like to make a couple of signings, but I'm glad we're staying a cut above the rest and keeping our integrity whilst everyone else exposes themselves like a cheap whore for Sky Sports to penetrate at will.
Wait a minute then you're saying that when we invested in buying players we were surrendering our dignity - you know like from 1998-2005 when winning trophies seemed more important than our precious digniity.
No our dignity is just another way to spin our lack of ambition and our Board's benefitting from its lack of ambition into something special and unique. Even if we had spent as much as those clubs which no one isuggesting we had to - we could have done it early on and not been so whorish as you say or are you goign to say that the only alternative to being like Chelsea and Liverpool was doing nothing at all. Which would hardly surprise me if you were.
To win the CL, we have to beat Barcelona. If we can do that, we will immediately be considered serious contenders and we will have all the confidence to go forward and take on other top European sides.
However, our defense is highly suspect and I doubt it can stand up to the insane Barcelona offer which is dripping in confidence. Whereas last year we could count on lazy Ibra to miss a chance or two, Villa is ruthless. Coupled with the improvements made by Barca's new boys Pedro, Maxwell, Busquets, as well as the obvious suspects Messi, Xavi, Iniesta... Arsenal has got to be 7:1 underdogs.
If we are realistic and put the CL outside of our reach, we have a good chance of winning the EPL, a good chance of winning the FA Cup, and an outstanding chance to win the Carling Cup. For me, winning two of three of those would be plenty enough to restore some (lost) faith in Wenger. However I think for the board, a top-3 finish and the Carling Cup would be more than plenty.
How can we achieve my goal of 2 of the 3 English competitions? I say:
-Do not drop points to "beatable" teams
-Improve our home form to the point where 'Arsenal home' is an intimidating fixture again
-United loses a game and follows it with a brief slide
-Nasri and Vermaelen return without major setbacks
-Song, RVP and Cesc stay healthy
The Prem' is weaker this year than in recent years and will not take as much to win. United are due for a few losses (which they already would have had were it not for the refs bailing them out on multiple occasions). Arsenal just need to continue and can't afford to fuck up any more games against teams like Wigan etc.
frankbutcher wrote:So Wenger hasn't bought. He thinks we have enough in the squad. IMO the following needs to happen to allow us to win the League / Champions League.
- Vermaelen comes back from injury in 2-3 weeks and slots straight back into the team.
- Kos and Djourou stay fit and play well in each game.
- Fabregas and VP stay fit for the whole season.
- Arshavin returns to form.
- Nasri is only out for 3 weeks and does not have a recurrence.
- Scezsney stays No 1 for the rest of the season and doesn't drop any clangers.
- Song and Wilshere stay fit for the rest of the season
- Bendtner, Chamakh and co chip in with important goals when needed.
- Theo stays fit as our 'impact man'.
- Chelsea take points off United (probably need to beat them twice).
- We either beat Barcelona or don't go into one of our normal slumps if we get knocked out.
- We win the Carling Cup.
Can we realistically see all of this happening?
The only thing that will happen is we will win the beer cup because the other big teams havent tried to win it.Ipswich in the semi Brum in the final its handed to us on a plate.Barca will batter us and the lack of CB cover and Midfield cover will cost us in the league.But our profits will be up and our fucking board will be happy
Bring Back Pires wrote:I'm frustrated that we don't strengthen the positions we need to in order to really cement our challenges on four fronts. As has been well documented, a couple of purchases in the right positions could set us up nicely.
However, I'm also very proud to not be involved in the circus that Sky Sports has presented today. Splashing £35m on mediocre players (Carroll), sneakily trying to do last minute deals, despite claiming just hours before that no business will take place (Redknapp), splashing out £70m+ just because they're not winning the league (Chelsea), and all the knock-ons that came with those dealings, is not my cup of tea.
Despite Wenger's many faults, I'm proud that he's assembled a team currently inferior to just one in the entire country on a relatively shoestring budget; that he doesn't have to tarnish our club's great legacy by airing our dirty transfer laundry for the baying media to scrutinise; and that we're not at the mercy of the likes of Newcastle or fucking Blackpool to save our season.
To the same extent, we don't have glitz and glamour outside our stadium at god knows what hour whilst some shit-stirring prick tries to interview our players or fans.
So yes, I'd like to make a couple of signings, but I'm glad we're staying a cut above the rest and keeping our integrity whilst everyone else exposes themselves like a cheap whore for Sky Sports to penetrate at will.
too many ifs Frank. If he bought a decent centre back if he bought a top class striker if he bought a defensive midfielder then there could be a chance.
USMartin wrote:Wait a minute then you're saying that when we invested in buying players we were surrendering our dignity
Nope.
Just said that I wouldn't want to be involved in the media circus that is 'deadline day'. I'm sure if you lived in England and had Sky Sports News you'd be able to relate.
Bring Back Pires wrote:I'm frustrated that we don't strengthen the positions we need to in order to really cement our challenges on four fronts. As has been well documented, a couple of purchases in the right positions could set us up nicely.
However, I'm also very proud to not be involved in the circus that Sky Sports has presented today. Splashing £35m on mediocre players (Carroll), sneakily trying to do last minute deals, despite claiming just hours before that no business will take place (Redknapp), splashing out £70m+ just because they're not winning the league (Chelsea), and all the knock-ons that came with those dealings, is not my cup of tea.
Despite Wenger's many faults, I'm proud that he's assembled a team currently inferior to just one in the entire country on a relatively shoestring budget; that he doesn't have to tarnish our club's great legacy by airing our dirty transfer laundry for the baying media to scrutinise; and that we're not at the mercy of the likes of Newcastle or fucking Blackpool to save our season.
To the same extent, we don't have glitz and glamour outside our stadium at god knows what hour whilst some shit-stirring prick tries to interview our players or fans.
So yes, I'd like to make a couple of signings, but I'm glad we're staying a cut above the rest and keeping our integrity whilst everyone else exposes themselves like a cheap whore for Sky Sports to penetrate at will.
Excellent post BBP
I would agree with the majority of that and I'm proud of us doing things the 'Arsenal way,' but I'm still frustrated that all we need are one, if not two players to tweak the squad in certain positions and I fear that Wenger's stubborness has seen us miss out on a centre-half and a back-up holding midfielder for Song, as well as continuing to play tripe like Denilson and Bendtner. We do have money to spend, we needed 2 players, he didn't even sign 1 and he had the whole month to do so imo.
Wenger's bollocks are, in my opinion, on the line in the second half of the season. I've been pissed off by some of his nonsense this season, but I'd be happy for him to carry on if he comes 2nd in the league, wins the Carling Cup, gets close to (if not win) the FA Cup, lose respectably to Barca, keep Sczesny as number 1 and phase out players who clearly aren't good enough for Arsenal whilst preparing to strengthen in the summer. I'd consider that progress and be happy for him to carry on, as well as getting the trophy or two. However he hasn't signed the players I wanted him to get in the transfer window and I wonder if injuries and not signing the players we need may cost us the trophies and 2nd in the league and I may be joining the 'Wenger Out' brigade
USMartin wrote:Wait a minute then you're saying that when we invested in buying players we were surrendering our dignity
Nope.
Just said that I wouldn't want to be involved in the media circus that is 'deadline day'. I'm sure if you lived in England and had Sky Sports News you'd be able to relate.
When the hell has he mentioned anything about buying players and thus surrenduring our dignity? All he's said is he's happy that we've done things our way and we haven't spent crazy money on average players and caught up in the Sky Sports Deadline Day Circus.
I don't agree with all that BBP has said in his post, but at least I don't spin what he says into a load of nonsense
