what does it take to make people happy?

[highburyJD]

I'm delighted with the signings of Podolski and Giroud,
think most people here can agree on that
(maybe Baborietiya reckons Giroud is rubbish but he's still banned)

I would like to see us ship out Bendtner, Squillaci, Chamakh, Vela and Denilson,
again pretty uncontroversial (unless redmember still has some Denilove?) and pretty likely

Obviously keeping RVP maintains squad strength,
I understand the 'big money for an injury-prone 29 year old?' make a sale arguments
but I now see losing our captain as a real blow, bearing in mind our last few summers
Thinking this view is probably pretty standard

so I wanted us to
1- sign 2 x good strikers. Done
2- ship out dross. Still looks pretty likely
3- keep RVP. Who knows...

I also would like us to sign a midfielder and probably a backup keeper (unless Damian Martinez is wicked...I don't know)

Main midfielder linked has been MVila, I see Coquelin and Frimpong as good prospects
my preference would be an attacking player Goetze, Sahin, Sessegnon...

personally I'm a bit unsure about Santos, who I like and think has good ability but must be consistent
and about Gervinho, who hasn't got near to convincing me and in my mind would be behind Ryo in the pecking order let alone Podolski.
I can take Miquel and Bartley as back up to Verm, Kos, Mertesacker and, in an emergency, Song

so I would be happy with pretty minor tweaks
what would others here want us to do squadwise?

[terry henry]

Aside from what you have already said, I'm most worried about our fullback situation. Sagna is world class but after two leg breaks, one really has to ask if they will ever be the same player again. Jenkinson certainly has a bright future if he continues to improve, but he is not quite there yet and should be restricted to carling cup, early round FA cup games. On the left back side, I do like gibbs but his injury record is abysmal and cannot be relied up. Santos is utter dog shite and should be sold. So what if he is ok going forward. We already have much better attacking options. I want defenders who can defend.

[highburyJD]

think you're harsh, Santos is quality in the air,
his tackling technique is unorthodox but he missed far fewer tackles post the win at the Bridge...
concerned but would give him a go

[Rosie_titters]

a bit of noshing on my cock and some bum fun with the missus, would make me happy

[Eboue-Why?]

a bit of noshing on my cock and some bum with the missus, would make me happy

I can recommend her...

[Rosie_titters]

a bit of noshing on my cock and some bum fun with the missus, would make me happy

I can recommend her...

nah you fool, that's her mother you got off with,, fair play her mum isn't bad for 70

[OneBardGooner]

"what does it take to make people happy?"

TROPHIES.

[OneBardGooner]

"what does it take to make flash happy?"

A Sofa.

[QuartzGooner]

Left Back (Santos not good enough)

Defensive Midfielder - Wilshere missing start of season, Coquelin probably required at right back.

Second choice keeper.

Sell Song + deadwood.

[highburyJD]

if we bought a def mid but retained Song in the squad you wouldn't be happy Quartz?

[northbank123]

It depends how realistic we're being. In an ideal world I would love another centre-half, a quality left-back, cover at right-back, a good keeper who can possibly push Szczesny as his form dropped and he's too comfortable although I do really rate him, a defensive midfielder, RvP staying and Wilshere, and Sagna being fully fit (in addition to the likes of Chamakh, Denilson, Squillaci, Fabianski, Arshavin, Bendtner and Park leaving the club).

That's not going to happen. For me our priorities have to be keeping RvP, a defensive midfielder (who can actually defend) and if possible a signing a left-back and cover at centre-half.

That said, if we make no new signings and actually experience a bit of success I'll be happy, whereas if we make several good moves in the transfer market and fall disappointingly short again I won't be, so I guess to echo some of the sentiments above only trophies/success will make me happy in the long run.

[highburyJD]

northbanks post is fair enough and I agree with many of the sentiments
but not a lot of diff between what is unrealistic and 'not gonna happen'

another centre-half, a quality left-back, cover at right-back, a good keeper who can possibly push Szczesny as his form dropped and he's too comfortable although I do really rate him, a defensive midfielder, RvP staying and Wilshere, and Sagna being fully fit (in addition to the likes of Chamakh, Denilson, Squillaci, Fabianski, Arshavin, Bendtner and Park leaving the club).

and the minimum he expects

keeping RvP, a defensive midfielder (who can actually defend) and if possible a signing a left-back and cover at centre-half.

you only gave up a 3rd choice RB (I don't see 3rd choice fullbacks as a good place to invest and wouldn't get rid of Jenkinson)
and a goalie backup

unlike many on here I rate Song highly, indisputably Wenger does too, so he won't be leaving
if a new defmid is on your 'happy list' who would you sell Frimpong, Coquelin or both?

[g88ner]

We need a defensive minded holding midfielder. It's ridiculous that we've ignored this position for so long, and quite frankly, despite the talk of m'vila, I'm not convinced we'll sign one this summer either.

So signing a holding midfielder and keeping (or, if need be, replacing Van Persie) would be a start, although I still think we're crying out for creativity to fill the void that Cesc and Nasri left.

Too be honest, I think the horse has already bolted. For several years, I thought a couple of signings would make the difference, but we've let so many players go and lost everything resembling a winning mentality to the point where I think the squad needs a fresh start with a new manager.

[northbank123]

That's not the minimum I expect, more like the maximum. That's the best possible outcome I believe that could (just about) realistically happen, I don't for a minute think it will happen and to be honest although we will still be light in defence I would be chuffed if we keep hold of RvP and sign a DM.

As for Song I reckon he's a good player but not in the DM role, positionally and generally defensively I think he's just too reckless. The games Arteta was missing last year (United home, Swansea away, Wigan home onwards) we had no shape in midfield and were carved apart at will. I wouldn't sell him because I believe he'd be a really useful player to have in the squad but not as a shoe-in starter and certainly not at DM.

[franksav63]

Got to admit, so far I'm underwelmed, we urgently need strengthing in defence and midfield (defensively) and also need a good back up keeper to keep the big head that is Szczesny on his toes...