The Summer 2014 TRANSFER THREAD

[fivetothree]

I would do a little bit of wee in my trousers if we signed both, but cannot see it. One of those would be great.

[topgoon]

Have a sneaking feeling we might land both Kheidra and Cavani.

What do fellow gooners make of these two articles:-

http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2014/08/ ... al-deal-w/

and the fact that PSG seem desperate for Di Maria but will need to raise funds first:-

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football ... -departure

If we can get both players I believe we will be a force. Even speculation that there might be a cash plus player swap Giroud for Cavani and £35 million:-

http://www.caughtoffside.com/2014/08/20 ... on-cavani/

What is going on with the forum today. When people aren't crying over missing out on a lazy red card waiting to happen they are imagining we'd spunk money on 3 big players in one summer

[agooner83]

I dont think RM are going to let Kheidra go on a freebie. By the end of the window he will be gone. I hope he comes to us although I now hear Bayern are sniffing around.

Agree the money PSG wants for a 27 year old is ridiculous but he is one of a very few elite strikers available and a much better option than Mad Mario. He is also hitting his prime and we need some real quality up front which we havent had since RvP turned into a mercenary.

[rodders999]

Balotelli will go down in flames at the victims, mark my words. That guy is poison wherever he goes, good luck to him.

[Dodgyknee71]

Thing I don't get is most posters here have digs at wenger and his inabilities to buy players - how comes none of it spills over onto match days ???

It's either they don't go to games or I just haven't witnessed it bar villa last year ......

A few in block 6 groaned when giroud started warming up last week but the majority all worshipped him.

[DB10GOONER]

Balotelli is a better player than Giroud and at £16m is a relatively cheap option so would he not be a decent signing for us? I can only assume his wages are stupid and Wenger is reticent because of all the off-field stupidity that follows him.

Will our forward line really be Giroud, Campbell and Sanogo for this season? Madness if so.

Absolutely don't agree, mate. Mad Mario may have better technique than Giroud, but he will not score more in the PL and will not contribute to the team anywhere near as much. It took him 3 seasons at Inter to score 20 league goals. 3 seasons at Citeh to get 20 PL goals. And 2 seasons at Milan to get 26 league goals. People might say "but he didn't play as many games as Giroud does". I'd counter wth "why do you think that is? Him being an arsehole maybe?" Giroud scored what - 11 in his first PL season and 16 PL goals last season? And interchanged passes and assists on numerous occasions.

I've said it before, Giroud ain't world class. But I'd have him ahead of the sulky selfish arsehole that is Mad Mario.

[officepest]

Balotelli is a better player than Giroud and at £16m is a relatively cheap option so would he not be a decent signing for us? I can only assume his wages are stupid and Wenger is reticent because of all the off-field stupidity that follows him.

Will our forward line really be Giroud, Campbell and Sanogo for this season? Madness if so.

Absolutely don't agree, mate. Mad Mario may have better technique than Giroud, but he will not score more in the PL and will not contribute to the team anywhere near as much. It took him 3 seasons at Inter to score 20 league goals. 3 seasons at Citeh to get 20 PL goals. And 2 seasons at Milan to get 26 league goals. People might say "but he didn't play as many games as Giroud does". I'd counter wth "why do you think that is? Him being an arsehole maybe?" Giroud scored what - 11 in his first PL season and 16 PL goals last season? And interchanged passes and assists on numerous occasions.

I've said it before, Giroud ain't world class. But I'd have him ahead of the sulky selfish arsehole that is Mad Mario.

Fair points mate. I won't be crying into my cornflakes if we miss out on Balotelli, that's for sure, but I still think he'd be better than Giroud.

[gp543]

Balotelli at £16m is a fucking steal. Can't believe we didn't even make a move and now the scousers have got him for that

So they lose a world class striker and immediately replace him with another one? What a novel approach...

He really isnt though.

His disciplinary record is appalling, he is by all accounts an awful trainer and his attitude is beyond terrible. I don't want a player like that at Arsenal, as I am glad that we didn't get Suarez either.

We can do that better than that.

If we hd gotten Suarez, we would have won the league.

Some of our most successful sides were full of characters. They weren't all saints.

This "holier than thou" attitude is holding our club back immensely.

They are footballers. They're not supposed to be the leaders on moral authority and clean living.

[fivetothree]

Balotelli at £16m is a fucking steal. Can't believe we didn't even make a move and now the scousers have got him for that

So they lose a world class striker and immediately replace him with another one? What a novel approach...

He really isnt though.

His disciplinary record is appalling, he is by all accounts an awful trainer and his attitude is beyond terrible. I don't want a player like that at Arsenal, as I am glad that we didn't get Suarez either.

We can do that better than that.

If we hd gotten Suarez, we would have won the league.

Some of our most successful sides were full of characters. They weren't all saints.

This "holier than thou" attitude is holding our club back immensely.

They are footballers. They're not supposed to be the leaders on moral authority and clean living.

Remind me, which of our past players was accused of being racist?

I would rather not win the league if it is because of someone who bites people, racially abuses people and doesnt even apologise for it.

What if Ched Evans was brilliant, would you be happy if we signed him? What about Lee Hughes? If Malkay Mackay was a brilliant manager, would you like him to manage Arsenal?

What about Richard Keys or Andy Gray commentating on Arsenal tv?

Maybe you can live with those kind of people at the club, but I can't. Who plays for the club not only represents the club but also the fans.

Go and support the likes of Chelsea if you don't like the fact we aren't signing criminals & racists, they are 'legends' down there.

[topgoon]

Balotelli is a better player than Giroud and at £16m is a relatively cheap option so would he not be a decent signing for us? I can only assume his wages are stupid and Wenger is reticent because of all the off-field stupidity that follows him.

Will our forward line really be Giroud, Campbell and Sanogo for this season? Madness if so.

Absolutely don't agree, mate. Mad Mario may have better technique than Giroud, but he will not score more in the PL and will not contribute to the team anywhere near as much. It took him 3 seasons at Inter to score 20 league goals. 3 seasons at Citeh to get 20 PL goals. And 2 seasons at Milan to get 26 league goals. People might say "but he didn't play as many games as Giroud does". I'd counter wth "why do you think that is? Him being an arsehole maybe?" Giroud scored what - 11 in his first PL season and 16 PL goals last season? And interchanged passes and assists on numerous occasions.

I've said it before, Giroud ain't world class. But I'd have him ahead of the sulky selfish arsehole that is Mad Mario.

DB man speaketh sense. Topgoon he say there's first time for everything

[augie]

The sad fact is that right now, if it came to a choice between signing the mad Italian or signing no striker then I would def sign him. Mad Mario is undoubtedly a loose cannon on occasions, but the fact is that we all bemoan the fact that we have no striker that can make a difference in those big games, and ballotelli could be that guy. He would be a guy that has the pace and would thrive on ozil's vision and passing and he would be a real target for Sanchez, cazorla etc We are a team largely lacking a cutting edge up top and le cock will not spend the money to bring in reus, so ballotelli at £16m would be worth a gamble imo

[gp543]

Balotelli at £16m is a fucking steal. Can't believe we didn't even make a move and now the scousers have got him for that

So they lose a world class striker and immediately replace him with another one? What a novel approach...

He really isnt though.

His disciplinary record is appalling, he is by all accounts an awful trainer and his attitude is beyond terrible. I don't want a player like that at Arsenal, as I am glad that we didn't get Suarez either.

We can do that better than that.

If we hd gotten Suarez, we would have won the league.

Some of our most successful sides were full of characters. They weren't all saints.

This "holier than thou" attitude is holding our club back immensely.

They are footballers. They're not supposed to be the leaders on moral authority and clean living.

Remind me, which of our past players was accused of being racist?

I would rather not win the league if it is because of someone who bites people, racially abuses people and doesnt even apologise for it.

What if Ched Evans was brilliant, would you be happy if we signed him? What about Lee Hughes? If Malkay Mackay was a brilliant manager, would you like him to manage Arsenal?

What about Richard Keys or Andy Gray commentating on Arsenal tv?

Maybe you can live with those kind of people at the club, but I can't. Who plays for the club not only represents the club but also the fans.

Go and support the likes of Chelsea if you don't like the fact we aren't signing criminals & racists, they are 'legends' down there.

I often find it strange that supporters who yearn so much for big-money signings are also the first to poke holes in any potential signings we could make.

I'm not excusing the actions of those listed above, although all of those would never happen and you do have the benefit of hindsight there.

If our club is about being a class above (and I do believe in that) then surely that means we can bring in rough individuals and turn them around?

[IW8Goalmachine]

Absolute fu*king disgrace we haven't gone in for him when at 16m.

Sturrage, balotelli and sterling is a pretty good front line up.

No fear we have the baby giraffe/postman hybrid upfront

[Skooner]

The sad fact is that right now, if it came to a choice between signing the mad Italian or signing no striker then I would def sign him. Mad Mario is undoubtedly a loose cannon on occasions, but the fact is that we all bemoan the fact that we have no striker that can make a difference in those big games, and ballotelli could be that guy. He would be a guy that has the pace and would thrive on ozil's vision and passing and he would be a real target for Sanchez, cazorla etc We are a team largely lacking a cutting edge up top and le cock will not spend the money to bring in reus, so ballotelli at £16m would be worth a gamble imo

Have to agree, there a plenty of players out there who I'd rather have than this nutcase but if it's him or nothing I would take him at that sort of price. So often we lack inspiration and he could give it to us.

[Yankee_Gooner_Dandee]

He's better than anything we have. That was a cheap price.