Squillaci on his way to Arsenal???

[DanielD]

If we sign the entire legendery back 5 on their prime, they would say their shit too.. People on here won't be satisfied with anything Arsene does.

The funny thing is that most of us haven't seen him play more than 2-3 times (and even than, not follow the player carefully), so saying it's a shit signing before you've seen him play a minute in the red shirt, is ridiculous.

[augie]

As one of those that hasnt said that this is a shit signing (though I aint sure tbh) can I just point out that it isnt so much that we criticise everything wenger does but more like that we criticise him for not doing enough. He needs to do more regarding bringing in more quality players into the squad and those that he brings in have to be at a certain level and this could have all the hallmarks of the silvestre signing.....buying a player past his prime that his current club no longer wants Other clubs could buy this guy and argue that he is good enough as a squad player but at Arsenal that argument just does not stand up what with our record of injuries plus as wenger has "amassed" such a tiny squad (not doing enough again) every single player in the squad has to be good enough to step up when (and not if) he is needed.

[DanielD]

I too, am critical of Wenger's transfer policy, but after he finally brings in a CB (past his prime? he's 30, for his position it's the right age), I clap and hope he turns into a Vermaelan, rather than Cygan.

If Schwarzer does come too, Wenger will improve our chances greatly to do something better this season. I think it's probably the best you could hope for, in terms of transfers. Leaving City aside, I think Arsenal made the most out of this transfer window.

[Barriecuda]

Wenger's haters do not give him credit where credit is due. They are usually pretty silent (or have some smart ass comment) when it comes to Vermaelen but they are quick to point out failed transfers. At least we didn't drop millions on a flop like Berbatov.

Anyway if Squillaci is on his way, hopefully he's a good CB. Any cover is better than no cover, and Wenger doesn't make "random" signings so I wouldn't be surprised if he had been watching Squillaci from a distance for a while.

[GunnerDude]

As I said before I have seen him on several occasions and I stand by what I said.
I was worried because I had a feeling Kos was going to be first choice, now that is fine against certain teams but we need a strong defender for the fight against Drogba, Stoke and the other thugs in the league.

It is a necessity which Arsene hasn't addressed since July.

[augie]

I too, am critical of Wenger's transfer policy, but after he finally brings in a CB (past his prime? he's 30, for his position it's the right age), I clap and hope he turns into a Vermaelan, rather than Cygan.

If Schwarzer does come too, Wenger will improve our chances greatly to do something better this season. I think it's probably the best you could hope for, in terms of transfers. Leaving City aside, I think Arsenal made the most out of this transfer window.

Seriously ?? We have let more players leave than we have brought in and in an already too small squad surely it leaves us further in the mire than ever ?

To break down your point in more specific detail can we look at the goalkeepers situation - here we have a position where wenger all but came out publicly during the summer and admit his dissatisfaction with his current options. He has had over 3 months now to sort it out yet we are going into the 2nd weekend of the season with the same options as we had last season If he was waiting to see how the keepers scenario unfolded at man shitty and we ended up signing shay given or joe hart then I could have understood it but if, as is expected, we end up signing schwarzer then it is unbelievable that it would take so long to buy a player that we first made an offer for some months ago

Secondly, and every bit as crucially, where has this supposed transfer kitty gone ? Everybody (even the akb) has agreed that he has about 30m to spend this summer but yet we have only bought kos for 10m (dont include chamakh cos he was a bosman and I am sure his wages would be offset by the wages of those departures like gallas) so again I ask where has this money gone ? To say that he has made the most of this transfer window suggests that he has used the funds at his disposal to strengthen where needed and that clearly is not the case

[Percy Dalton]

Augie, are you actually suprised?

Wenger's policy not only relies (wrongly) on youth, but also cheap youth.

When we appear not to be in the market for a player of Ozils quality who is 21 years old and sold for a paltry £12million then it tells us all we need to know. you can bet your arse if Ozil was available on a Bosman this summer we would have been in for him but no because a meagre sum by these days standards was involved.

I don't know who to blame but all I know is we are being sold short.

As much as I want a decent 'keeper I find myself feeling very depressed by the thought I actually hoped we might be able to sign Mark Schwarzer. Yes, 37 year old Mark Schwarzer, current Fulham and ex-Middlesborough goalkeeper.

How many words have been written on this forum about this journeyman player alone?

It is all very strange at Arsenal these days!

[Boomer]

Once we paid £8m-ish for Kos this was always gonna be the sort of CB we’d see coming in after I guess. No way I could see Wenger paying £8m for a CB to be anything but first-choice so any signing after Kos was only ever gonna be second fiddle, and thus second-rate. Cant say I know much about the guy so I wont write him off but it definitely has the feel of a making-up-the-numbers signing. Truly inspirational stuff.

agreed mate, not going to pay £8.5m and stick him on the bench.

happy if another body is coming in, but all seems so off the cuff and patchwork. again, the defensive side is an afterthought.

And if this does materialise, I simply cannot understand why AW waits until August 19 when he's had since May 9.

Is three-and-a-half months not long enough for him? Why start fucking around only ONCE the season's started?

It's pathetic, and the same as the goalkeeping nightmare.

He admited that he was waiting on the decision from Sol. Sol was on honeymoon so wasn't able to commit until late.

As for the GK!? No idea on that.

[OneBardGooner]

Is Arsene only looking to sign players that have nightmare names to get songs for???

Squillaci whoa ah whoa whoa
Squillaci whoa ah whoa whoa

we've tried to rhyme
but nothing fits
as long as he can play
we don't give a shit !!

Squillaci whoa ah whoa whoa

(Then everyone does the Squillaci Samba Dance Thingy - Whilst sat down of course )

[OneBardGooner]

Augie, are you actually suprised?

Wenger's policy not only relies (wrongly) on youth, but also cheap youth.

When we appear not to be in the market for a player of Ozils quality who is 21 years old and sold for a paltry £12million then it tells us all we need to know. you can bet your arse if Ozil was available on a Bosman this summer we would have been in for him but no because a meagre sum by these days standards was involved.

I don't know who to blame but all I know is we are being sold short.

As much as I want a decent 'keeper I find myself feeling very depressed by the thought I actually hoped we might be able to sign Mark Schwarzer. Yes, 37 year old Mark Schwarzer, current Fulham and ex-Middlesborough goalkeeper.

How many words have been written on this forum about this journeyman player alone?

It is all very strange at Arsenal these days!

I think a more suitable term might be 'Cheap'

[nino_rojo]

Would people be complaining so much if he was 29? Seems its the big 3-0 thats scaring people. He only turned 30 a week ago. Plus, there are plenty of CB's that are 30. Look at the job Sol did for us this season and hes nearly 36...

John Terry is 30 in December (always a Chelski starter), Ferdinand is 31 in November (ok hes injured but you can bet your ass he'll be straight back in the utd squad when hes fit), Gallas just turned 33 (had a great few seasons with us).

Maybe he will be great, maybe he'll be slow and cost us some points, but no1 here will have seen all that much of Squillaci play. I'm assuming Wenger, or at least his scouts, have seen him play a lot so lets just hope that he'll be at least strong enough to fend off the likes of Drogba for 2 games a year...

[Percy Dalton]

Would people be complaining so much if he was 29? Seems its the big 3-0 thats scaring people. He only turned 30 a week ago. Plus, there are plenty of CB's that are 30. Look at the job Sol did for us this season and hes nearly 36...

John Terry is 30 in December (always a Chelski starter), Ferdinand is 31 in November (ok hes injured but you can bet your ass he'll be straight back in the utd squad when hes fit), Gallas just turned 33 (had a great few seasons with us).

Maybe he will be great, maybe he'll be slow and cost us some points, but no1 here will have seen all that much of Squillaci play. I'm assuming Wenger, or at least his scouts, have seen him play a lot so lets just hope that he'll be at least strong enough to fend off the likes of Drogba for 2 games a year...

We haven't even signed him yet!

[OneBardGooner]

Would people be complaining so much if he was 29? Seems its the big 3-0 thats scaring people. He only turned 30 a week ago. Plus, there are plenty of CB's that are 30. Look at the job Sol did for us this season and hes nearly 36...

John Terry is 30 in December (always a Chelski starter), Ferdinand is 31 in November (ok hes injured but you can bet your ass he'll be straight back in the utd squad when hes fit), Gallas just turned 33 (had a great few seasons with us).

Maybe he will be great, maybe he'll be slow and cost us some points, but no1 here will have seen all that much of Squillaci play. I'm assuming Wenger, or at least his scouts, have seen him play a lot so lets just hope that he'll be at least strong enough to fend off the likes of Drogba for 2 games a year...

We haven't even signed him yet!

As if that EVER mattered when it comes to rumours and transfer threads on here!?

[rigsby]

As someone said, if we signed the entire legendary back 5 now a lot of people would be slagging it off. 2 from Stoke, one from QPR, a wimbledon player.

It really seems that its gone a little bit TOO over the top on the criticism of the players we are interested in signing.

[goonersid]

Would people be complaining so much if he was 29? Seems its the big 3-0 thats scaring people. He only turned 30 a week ago. Plus, there are plenty of CB's that are 30. Look at the job Sol did for us this season and hes nearly 36...

John Terry is 30 in December (always a Chelski starter), Ferdinand is 31 in November (ok hes injured but you can bet your ass he'll be straight back in the utd squad when hes fit), Gallas just turned 33 (had a great few seasons with us).

Maybe he will be great, maybe he'll be slow and cost us some points, but no1 here will have seen all that much of Squillaci play. I'm assuming Wenger, or at least his scouts, have seen him play a lot so lets just hope that he'll be at least strong enough to fend off the likes of Drogba for 2 games a year...

We haven't even signed him yet!

Who? Joe Cole?