The 2015 Transfer Rumours Thread

[Ikechukwu1]

Errrrrm there's an way way of evaluating whether Benzema is better than Giroud: they both play for the same national team. One has is older than the other. Yet, whenever serious competitive games comes along for France, count how many times different managers have picked Giroud over Benzema?
(Clue, Giroud never gets picked ahead of Benzema).
I

If Benzema is good enough to be first choice at Real for over 4 years, I'll quietly giggle as to whether he's good enough to dislodge a bloke who can't start a cup final ahead of Walcott, and has currently gone over 530 minutes without a league goal...

Benzema isn't coming.

Agreed. But Kalou could be coming....


So far, Villa, Leicester and Bournemouth have spent more on players than us.
An absolute Disgrace considering the new tv deals...
Still. At least Wankpot and Giroud can count £270k each week between the sorry pair of them!

[g88ner]

Errrrrm there's an way way of evaluating whether Benzema is better than Giroud: they both play for the same national team. One has is older than the other. Yet, whenever serious competitive games comes along for France, count how many times different managers have picked Giroud over Benzema?
(Clue, Giroud never gets picked ahead of Benzema).
I

If Benzema is good enough to be first choice at Real for over 4 years, I'll quietly giggle as to whether he's good enough to dislodge a bloke who can't start a cup final ahead of Walcott, and has currently gone over 530 minutes without a league goal...

Benzema isn't coming.

Agreed. But Kalou could be coming....


So far, Villa, Leicester and Bournemouth have spent more on players than us.
An absolute Disgrace considering the new tv deals...
Still. At least Wankpot and Giroud can count £270k each week between the sorry pair of them!

That stat is not a disgrace YET as there's a month of the window to go. It bloody well will be if it's still the case on September 1st though!

Wenger has a history of panic buys and spending money in the last few days of the transfer window so I haven't given up hope just yet (I'm seriously worried though )

[rodders999]

It's catch 22 really. Obviously we all want arsenal to start well but if we were to win all our games before the window shuts then I could quite easily see that as being a reason Wenger would use for not strengthening the squad. However nobody wants to see a cluster fuck of a performance like what happened at OT a couple of years back that saw him go on a mad trolley dash. Damned if we do and damned if we don't

[QuartzGooner]

It is not a competition to spend more than our rivals Ikechukwu.

Regardless of how much we have spent, our squad is stronger than last season's.

We are better in goal.
We are better in defence, where Gabriel is now an option, and Monreal has upped his game, as his Gibbs, though I am still not sold on him long-term.
And in midfield, where the emergence of Coquelin makes us more solid than it appeared at the start of last season, whatever your misgivings are about him.
And in attacking midfield, where we have the option of Welbeck, and the possibilities, however feint, of a few games for Iwobi and Reine-Adelaide.
And in attack, where again, we have the option of Welbeck over Sanogo; an improvement.
And Walcott is stronger, and is fit.
And we are probably better "in training", with the addition of Forsyth and the improvements to the training ground underway.

I doubt we will crack the top two though, and I refer back to my post two pages earlier where I wrote I think we need a centre back, defensive midfielder and striker to win the title.

[the playing mantis]

It is not a competition to spend more than our rivals Ikechukwu.

Regardless of how much we have spent, our squad is stronger than last season's.

We are better in goal.
We are better in defence, where Gabriel is now an option, and Monreal has upped his game, as his Gibbs, though I am still not sold on him long-term.
And in midfield, where the emergence of Coquelin makes us more solid than it appeared at the start of last season, whatever your misgivings are about him.
And in attacking midfield, where we have the option of Welbeck, and the possibilities, however feint, of a few games for Iwobi and Reine-Adelaide.
And in attack, where again, we have the option of Welbeck over Sanogo; an improvement.
And Walcott is stronger, and is fit.
And we are probably better "in training", with the addition of Forsyth and the improvements to the training ground underway.

I doubt we will crack the top two though, and I refer back to my post two pages earlier where I wrote I think we need a centre back, defensive midfielder and striker to win the title.

sorry quartz, you are clutching at straws imo.

we are no better than the end of last season, not good enough, but put a run in when there's no pressure. wellbeck/sanogo, not much difference at least postman was cheap. wellbeck was an atrocious signing one of the worst of wengers reign given the cost. gabriel wont start, the 1st xi is not stronger. coq is ok, but bar against a completely out of sorts man city overrun in every big game, spurs, monaco, etc.

its disgusting that a club of arsenals means will have an effective 0 net spend (cech, but pod and others gone, plus wages saved, although spunked away on wally and giroud)when we all know there are 100's of millions freely available to spend, and are not even attempting to improve key positions, bar the keeper who it would almost have been impossible not to sign given his determination to stay in london.

if wenger doesn't significantly strengthen striker and or dm then this is possibly his worst crime yet. getting the team nearly there, shifting some dead wood, and not having an excuse of lack of money, yet failing to add anyone to improve what he has, and no one can argue there are no obtainable dm's who would be a significant upgrade on coq, ok though he is against the weaker sides.

[officepest]

I actually agree with most of what Quartz says,

What Bournemouth, Leicester and the like spend isn’t relevant, as we’re not competing with them. I also agree that we are stronger than last season with the addition of Cech.

Are we strong enough to win the league? No, we’re not as we’re still short in key areas. Wenger will bring someone in on transfer deadline day though: some star player with either a) a point to prove or b) a horrendous injury record.

Said player will probably be a 5' 4'' winger though.

[officepest]

we are no better than the end of last season, not good enough, but put a run in when there's no pressure. wellbeck/sanogo, not much difference at least postman was cheap. wellbeck was an atrocious signing one of the worst of wengers reign given the cost. gabriel wont start, the 1st xi is not stronger. coq is ok, but bar against a completely out of sorts man city overrun in every big game, spurs, monaco, etc.

We are what we are until Wenger goes but the addition of Cech makes us a better side.

To borrow a phrase: that's a fact.

[Ikechukwu1]

It's catch 22 really. Obviously we all want arsenal to start well but if we were to win all our games before the window shuts then I could quite easily see that as being a reason Wenger would use for not strengthening the squad. However nobody wants to see a cluster fuck of a performance like what happened at OT a couple of years back that saw him go on a mad trolley dash. Damned if we do and damned if we don't

From what I can remember, the fixture list is a pretty easy start this time round isn't it? Well, we had evidence of what happens when that's the case: just look at 2 seasons ago. Easy start to fixture list, win games quite convincingly (against gash sides), all the ppl who demanded more transfer window signings are "proven wrong".
Going into Xmas Arsenal have a real chance - but then the injuries begin, and the usual capitulation at Stoke and against the big boys. January window opens with an excellent chance to consolidate.

Lord A says: "I have Wilshere coming back (from umpteenth injury), Welbec'k (from yet another injury)" etc.

Points dropped left right and centre. A signing maybe made on deadline day, an average DCM from France to cover Coquelin's season-ending injury. No striker coming as Giroud has looked good (against Palace, Villa and Norwich).

Go from 2-horse race, to clinging on for 3rd/4th.

The title isn't coming....

[markyp]

It is not a competition to spend more than our rivals Ikechukwu.

Regardless of how much we have spent, our squad is stronger than last season's.

We are better in goal.
We are better in defence, where Gabriel is now an option, and Monreal has upped his game, as his Gibbs, though I am still not sold on him long-term.
And in midfield, where the emergence of Coquelin makes us more solid than it appeared at the start of last season, whatever your misgivings are about him.
And in attacking midfield, where we have the option of Welbeck, and the possibilities, however feint, of a few games for Iwobi and Reine-Adelaide.
And in attack, where again, we have the option of Welbeck over Sanogo; an improvement.
And Walcott is stronger, and is fit.
And we are probably better "in training", with the addition of Forsyth and the improvements to the training ground underway.

I doubt we will crack the top two though, and I refer back to my post two pages earlier where I wrote I think we need a centre back, defensive midfielder and striker to win the title.

sorry quartz, you are clutching at straws imo.

we are no better than the end of last season, not good enough, but put a run in when there's no pressure. wellbeck/sanogo, not much difference at least postman was cheap. wellbeck was an atrocious signing one of the worst of wengers reign given the cost. gabriel wont start, the 1st xi is not stronger. coq is ok, but bar against a completely out of sorts man city overrun in every big game, spurs, monaco, etc.

its disgusting that a club of arsenals means will have an effective 0 net spend (cech, but pod and others gone, plus wages saved, although spunked away on wally and giroud)when we all know there are 100's of millions freely available to spend, and are not even attempting to improve key positions, bar the keeper who it would almost have been impossible not to sign given his determination to stay in london.

if wenger doesn't significantly strengthen striker and or dm then this is possibly his worst crime yet. getting the team nearly there, shifting some dead wood, and not having an excuse of lack of money, yet failing to add anyone to improve what he has, and no one can argue there are no obtainable dm's who would be a significant upgrade on coq, ok though he is against the weaker sides.

I agree with Quartz to a point,we are definitely stronger than this time last year,not just personel wise but somethings changed mentality wise,Wenker now considers his opponents strengths and weaknesses before games and we now have that winning mentality,ok it might just be the f.a cup and then the community shield but winning breeds more winning,we defintately have the bit between our teeth for the first time since leaving Highbury.the downside though is we have millions to spend and aren't doing so,we still have areas that can be improved upon and fingers crosses we will do so before the end of august,but regards what we spend in realation to other teams is just nonsense,it means nothing now and that is because we are in an ok position squad wise,the Chavs have spent feck all,what does that mean

[foxinthebox2001]

we are no better than the end of last season, not good enough, but put a run in when there's no pressure. wellbeck/sanogo, not much difference at least postman was cheap. wellbeck was an atrocious signing one of the worst of wengers reign given the cost. gabriel wont start, the 1st xi is not stronger. coq is ok, but bar against a completely out of sorts man city overrun in every big game, spurs, monaco, etc.

We are what we are until Wenger goes but the addition of Cech makes us a better side.

To borrow a phrase: that's a fact.

Yes, but listening to Wenger on Monday while basking in his glory of beating Mourinho he made much of the lack of goals we conceded in the 2nd half of last season.
Emphasises the common held opinion that Ospina did little wrong, so I can't see where the signing of a keeper that Chelsea rated inferior to their current one, will make much difference.

[rodders999]

It's catch 22 really. Obviously we all want arsenal to start well but if we were to win all our games before the window shuts then I could quite easily see that as being a reason Wenger would use for not strengthening the squad. However nobody wants to see a cluster fuck of a performance like what happened at OT a couple of years back that saw him go on a mad trolley dash. Damned if we do and damned if we don't

From what I can remember, the fixture list is a pretty easy start this time round isn't it? Well, we had evidence of what happens when that's the case: just look at 2 seasons ago. Easy start to fixture list, win games quite convincingly (against gash sides), all the ppl who demanded more transfer window signings are "proven wrong".
Going into Xmas Arsenal have a real chance - but then the injuries begin, and the usual capitulation at Stoke and against the big boys. January window opens with an excellent chance to consolidate.

Lord A says: "I have Wilshere coming back (from umpteenth injury), Welbec'k (from yet another injury)" etc.

Points dropped left right and centre. A signing maybe made on deadline day, an average DCM from France to cover Coquelin's season-ending injury. No striker coming as Giroud has looked good (against Palace, Villa and Norwich).

Go from 2-horse race, to clinging on for 3rd/4th.

The title isn't coming....

The window closes Tues Sept 1st at 6pm. Our fixtures in the run up to that are -

Arsenal v West Ham Sun 9 Aug 13:30
Crystal Palace v Arsenal Sun 16 Aug 13:30
Arsenal v Liverpool Mon 24 Aug 20:00
Newcastle v Arsenal Sat 29 Aug 12:45

You could quite see us picking up 12 points there or 10 worst case scenario so if Wenger is going to go on a spending spree it's not going to be because of massive pressure due to a bad start like in seasons past.

Lewandowski's just scored a beauty for Bayern against Milan....swoons.

[QuartzGooner]

we are no better than the end of last season, the 1st xi is not stronger.

Beg to differ.
In terms of personnel, players who are fit and morale.

For our first league game last season against Crystal Palace we had Szczesny in Goal, Chambers as a Centre Back, Arteta as Defensive Midfielder and Sanogo as Striker.

Even allowing for the omission of both Mertesacker and Ozil who were rested after the World Cup, Giroud who was on the bench, and Walcott who was injured, how will we be worse than that when we line up against West Ham on Sunday?

Cech in goal, Mertesacker in for Chambers, Coquelin in for Arteta, and Giroud in for Sanogo (and Sanchez to return after a few games deserved rest) is better than any line up that you could have picked at the start of last season.

[foxinthebox2001]

we are no better than the end of last season, the 1st xi is not stronger.

Beg to differ.
In terms of personnel, players who are fit and morale.

For our first league game last season against Crystal Palace we had Szczesny in Goal, Chambers as a Centre Back, Arteta as Defensive Midfielder and Sanogo as Striker.

Even allowing for Mertesacker and Ozil being rested after the World Cup, how will we be worse than that when we line up against West Ham on Sunday?

Cech in goal, Mertesacker in for Chambers, Coquelin in for Arteta and Giroud in for Sanogo (and Sanchez to return after a few games deserved rest) is better than any line up that you could have picked at the start of last season.

The evidence actually suggests Wenger had not a clue what his best XI were on day 1 last season.
Did he send Coquelin off to the Charlton bench to hone his skills?

[Gunnersaurus]

Let me guess, you thought Coquelin was a world beater and campaigned against him going out on loan to Charlton?

Don't get me wrong, he fell into his lap last year, be it through injuries or the players own determination but I can't remember any (many) of us claiming that he was part of out best 11 when he was getting voted one of the worst players in the German league.

That's not to defend Wenger more to pick holes at pretending he should have known better about Coquelin.

[Gunnersaurus]

we are no better than the end of last season, not good enough, but put a run in when there's no pressure. wellbeck/sanogo, not much difference at least postman was cheap. wellbeck was an atrocious signing one of the worst of wengers reign given the cost. gabriel wont start, the 1st xi is not stronger. coq is ok, but bar against a completely out of sorts man city overrun in every big game, spurs, monaco, etc.

We are what we are until Wenger goes but the addition of Cech makes us a better side.

To borrow a phrase: that's a fact.

Yes, but listening to Wenger on Monday while basking in his glory of beating Mourinho he made much of the lack of goals we conceded in the 2nd half of last season.
Emphasises the common held opinion that Ospina did little wrong, so I can't see where the signing of a keeper that Chelsea rated inferior to their current one, will make much difference.

They didn't rate him inferior, they just rated the other one as the future, if they thought he was inferior they wouldn't have give a shit to block the move.

Ospina didn't do a lot wrong, Scezeney did and that's why he's been bombed out.