McDowell its over dude...no more - Hallelujah

[kite]

clockender1 Podolski is a good player. But is he good enough to REPLACE van Persie? He will only ADD quality if van Persie isn't sold. If van Persie leaves it will be a small step backwards because I doubt Podolski will (especially in his first season) be as good as van Persie was this year.
It was the same before this season. Arteta is a very good signing but you don't add quality by buying Arteta and selling Fabregas (Gervinho-Nasri, Santos-Clichy...).

[mcdowell42]

Arsenal clearly want M'Vila, but deal not progressed behind inquiry. Club adamant not close. Agent looking to stir interest


youngguns blog on twitter

[Top Londoner]

I would like to state that losing RVP is not the end of the world. The bloke has been world class, this season. With his record of injuries in recent seasons then, an offer of £25-30 million should not be sniffed at.
I admire this player and he reminds me very much of Bergkamp. I would prefer to keep him but, I shall not lose any sleep over us selling him.
Considering the world class players that we have sold, down the years, a decent bid for him will be accepted and I for one, will accept it for what it means. That we are now a selling club.

[SteveO 35]

Podolski is indeed a top quality signing. In terms of realistic Arsenal goalscoring targets he's as good as it probably gets unless suddenly Benzema really did find finishing 4th in the PL and a last 16 spot in the CL attractive.

But lets not kid ourselves - he is a replacement for RvP. RvP is 28, has one big move and contract left in him and could probably take his pick of top European clubs and name his weekly wage within reason. He could join Real Madrid, Man City, Juventus and be challenging for top domestic and European honours - so why stay with Arsenal? He's already given it seven years and won 1 FA Cup and we're further away from honours than when he joined.

There will be the traditional £20m transfer window profit banked, the sale of RvP will be handed appallingly with Wenger in denial until the final week of August, we'll sign a one season wonder from Ligue 1, Nick Powell from Crewe, and none of the major deficiencies in the squad will be addressed

But everyone will forget this window just like the previous umpteen and when April 2013 comes around will be wondering which £25m star we'll be supposedly signing once more.

Just book the close season off, ignore the papers, face the reality and accept that next season the squad will be weaker than the one just gone. That's the way this football club has been run ever since the stadium move, the ludicrous 'lockdown' agreement that took us backwards by 2-3 years and now Kroenke's stewardship

[SammyDroppedHisShorts]

Podolski is indeed a top quality signing. In terms of realistic Arsenal goalscoring targets he's as good as it probably gets unless suddenly Benzema really did find finishing 4th in the PL and a last 16 spot in the CL attractive.

But lets not kid ourselves - he is a replacement for RvP. RvP is 28, has one big move and contract left in him and could probably take his pick of top European clubs and name his weekly wage within reason. He could join Real Madrid, Man City, Juventus and be challenging for top domestic and European honours - so why stay with Arsenal? He's already given it seven years and won 1 FA Cup and we're further away from honours than when he joined.

There will be the traditional £20m transfer window profit banked, the sale of RvP will be handed appallingly with Wenger in denial until the final week of August, we'll sign a one season wonder from Ligue 1, Nick Powell from Crewe, and none of the major deficiencies in the squad will be addressed

But everyone will forget this window just like the previous umpteen and when April 2013 comes around will be wondering which £25m star we'll be supposedly signing once more.

Just book the close season off, ignore the papers, face the reality and accept that next season the squad will be weaker than the one just gone. That's the way this football club has been run ever since the stadium move, the ludicrous 'lockdown' agreement that took us backwards by 2-3 years and now Kroenke's stewardship

What a miserable git you are man....shocking

[SteveO 35]

Podolski is indeed a top quality signing. In terms of realistic Arsenal goalscoring targets he's as good as it probably gets unless suddenly Benzema really did find finishing 4th in the PL and a last 16 spot in the CL attractive.

But lets not kid ourselves - he is a replacement for RvP. RvP is 28, has one big move and contract left in him and could probably take his pick of top European clubs and name his weekly wage within reason. He could join Real Madrid, Man City, Juventus and be challenging for top domestic and European honours - so why stay with Arsenal? He's already given it seven years and won 1 FA Cup and we're further away from honours than when he joined.

There will be the traditional £20m transfer window profit banked, the sale of RvP will be handed appallingly with Wenger in denial until the final week of August, we'll sign a one season wonder from Ligue 1, Nick Powell from Crewe, and none of the major deficiencies in the squad will be addressed

But everyone will forget this window just like the previous umpteen and when April 2013 comes around will be wondering which £25m star we'll be supposedly signing once more.

Just book the close season off, ignore the papers, face the reality and accept that next season the squad will be weaker than the one just gone. That's the way this football club has been run ever since the stadium move, the ludicrous 'lockdown' agreement that took us backwards by 2-3 years and now Kroenke's stewardship

What a miserable git you are man....shocking

Just stating what happens every window Sam. I wish I had your optimism. I don't see why this Summer will be any different to the previous four....do you think it will be ?

[SammyDroppedHisShorts]

Well the Podolski deal suggests it is already a better window already

[SteveO 35]

Well the Podolski deal suggests it is already a better window already

Well he is far better than "NUMBER 27 - GER-VEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEN....." if thats what you mean.

If RvP stays, we'll forget about the Goetze saga

[k1tsun3]

Well the Podolski deal suggests it is already a better window already

It's a start, but I won't be convinced until it's all over. I'm ready for this season to be done. I'm nervous about the final match, and I want RvP to stay and a few good more signings. We need to win something. I'm tired of our drought, and this City thing is pissing me off. The last I wanted this season was for 'the c*nt' to win the EPL with Sh*ty.

[g88ner]

Also, to replace Van Persie you'd have to be top top class, and regardless of caps, Podolski still has much to prove before he can be considered a good replacement.

why ? - because you don't rate Germany or something ?

would he be proved if he was Italy, France or Holland's 6th all time scorer ?

c'mon i know people are anti-wenger & anti-board but you do have to give them credit for signing an already proven goalscorer here at least, don't you ?.

hang on there, fella. What sort of response is that?

You've completely misunderstood my post, and asked so many questions that it's a bloody effort to put you right but as you've gone off on one about anti-Wenger and not rating Germany, I feel I should reply!

To be clear... I've hardly ever seen Podolski play and I won't make my mind up on him until he's joined us, so pretty much all of your response is null and void.

In my post, all I'm really saying is that for ANYONE to replace RvP will be difficult. After all, we're talking about one of the worlds best strikers, who has just scored 30 league goals and, at age 28, is hitting his best years.

To answer your questions... I DO rate Germany, of course! - and no, it would make no difference if he was Italian, Dutch or whatever. Why would it??

As for the anti-Wenger/anti-board stuff...firstly, it's irrelevant as that side of it hadn't even entered my head, and secondly... I'm certainly NOT anti-Wenger. I'm one of the more positive ones on here, thank you very much!

Your reply took me by surprise, so just to be extra clear... if you've read anything in my post that is negative towards Podolski, then you've misread it. I'm delighted he's signed and look forward to seeing him play WITH RvP... however, if he's here to replace RvP, we may not be any better than we are now, as it wouldn't be building a better team, but instead just replacing one star with another. And that can't go on forever.

Phew

[1989]

M'Vila will happen. 100% sure of it. The club will obviously deny everything as it's not completed yet. Plus more important things to focus on such as the game at the weekend.

If Wenger smiles while denying the deal tomorrow then you know it will happen.

I'll be shocked if the lad is not playing for us next season.

[mcdowell42]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... -move.html

[augie]

Somehow projoe's transfer threads were always more enjoyable dont you think ?

[mcdowell42]

[quote="augie"]Somehow projoe's transfer threads were always more enjoyable dont you think ? [/quote


This is not a transfer thread


Its a rumours thread about transfers

[clockender1]

hang on there, fella. What sort of response is that?

You've completely misunderstood my post, and asked so many questions that it's a bloody effort to put you right but as you've gone off on one about anti-Wenger and not rating Germany, I feel I should reply!

To be clear... I've hardly ever seen Podolski play and I won't make my mind up on him until he's joined us, so pretty much all of your response is null and void.

In my post, all I'm really saying is that for ANYONE to replace RvP will be difficult. After all, we're talking about one of the worlds best strikers, who has just scored 30 league goals and, at age 28, is hitting his best years.

To answer your questions... I DO rate Germany, of course! - and no, it would make no difference if he was Italian, Dutch or whatever. Why would it??

As for the anti-Wenger/anti-board stuff...firstly, it's irrelevant as that side of it hadn't even entered my head, and secondly... I'm certainly NOT anti-Wenger. I'm one of the more positive ones on here, thank you very much!

Your reply took me by surprise, so just to be extra clear... if you've read anything in my post that is negative towards Podolski, then you've misread it. I'm delighted he's signed and look forward to seeing him play WITH RvP... however, if he's here to replace RvP, we may not be any better than we are now, as it wouldn't be building a better team, but instead just replacing one star with another. And that can't go on forever.

Phew

Hey G88ner

my point was (and certainly not personal to you or anyone ) is that the feeling seems to be 'no-one is good enough to replace RVP' - , which I don't think is strictly true.

two years ago we would have been (and did on here) seeing plenty of criticism of RvP as a lightweight, glass ankles, goes missing in big games etc etc despite all the goals.

but now he could go, his ability is used against the board and AW as a crutch to hit them with - IMHO Podolski is a top, top, European and International proven striker.

the only thing that is unproven is whether he can do it in England or be crap like Rebrov and then Schevchenko for example.

whether he is RvP's replacement or not, his quality is proven chap and i think there's a group of fans that won't accept that, simply because it was AW and the Board who bought him in and they begrudge them anything.

me ? - i'm not impressed with the board or AW lately, but i can't think of any available striker in Europe with a better pedigree than Pod who is/was for sale this summer.

cheers

c1