LU Arsenal Brigade II

[Habitual Linestepper]

Jagielka is more 'cultured' than Cahill, and we all know how much Wenger loves cultured players.

Yep this is true.

I'm not saying he's not our number one target at CB cause it seems like he is, i'm just saying i'd prefer Cahill. We need someone who can defend at set pieces, so getting the player (Cahill) who won the most aerial duels last season would be my preferred option.

Knowing Wenger all this talk for Jagielka/Cahill will be bs anyway and we will end up signing some defender out of no where, ie Koscielny/Vermalen, which i must say, i wouldn't be too upset with if we signed someone at their level.

 

[Habitual Linestepper]

Exactly. He's not worth anything above 15m, and that's with the English 'inflation'. If the club wants to spend 15m on an EPL experienced defender, Samba is a much, much better option.

Future England captain? Please. He has less than five caps to his name. Hardly captain material. Wilshere will have more caps by the time his 21 than Jagielka ever will.

I don't think Fabregas will go. If Barcelona we're serious on signing him, they wouldn't have signed Sanchez. And wouldn't have left negotiations drag on a week before kick-off.

Despite having terrible luck with previous contract expiry dates (Flamini, Merida) I expect Nasri to stay. The absolute worst case scenario is that there are no further players signed in this, or the Summer window. Contradicting Arsene's statements about signings being a "notion of intent" for the club's ambitions, and Nasri will be a free agent for 2012/2013.

I'm more confident about the LB position now than I was after Clichy was sold. Both Gibbs and Traore have done well in the friendlies. It's whether they can successfully rotate across the length of a season that will be the real test. This season will be 'make or break' for Traore.

I was mildly confident of Mata's signing a week ago, sanity has now kicked in and I've now gone somewhat cold on the idea. If he signs, brilliant. If he doesn't' it's not the worst possible outcome. A CB is much, much more important. I think every Gooner, and everyone involved in football knows this. So surely Arsene does. Unfortunately it's neither up to Arsene, the club or the fans. We all know he (thankfully) wont pay overs for average players. Such as 20+m for Jagielka.

Although I still feel as if any substantial signings will occur in late August after the second champions league qualifier (23rd/24th). As this will have a substantial impact on the clubs attractiveness to potential targets, as well as the transfer kitty.

Good post bud.

I do disagree on one point though. LB is easily our weakest position, it was our weakest position before Clichy left and now he's gone we are left with two players that weren't good enough to start even when Clichy was here. Gibbs forgets he's a defender at times and gets caught out all the time, plus he's as injury prone as RvP is. And Traore is more of an athlete than a football player. He's a beast physically (what is he? 6'1" and is fast as f**k) but he's just not that great defensively, from what i've seen anyway.

I'm gutted we missed out on Enrique cause realistically he was the only left back on the market that we could have got.

But who knows, Gibbs may finally play at the level he can play at and start remembering he isn't a left winger or a midfielder anymore.

 

[CC_Eagle]

Good post bud.

I do disagree on one point though. LB is easily our weakest position, it was our weakest position before Clichy left and now he's gone we are left with two players that weren't good enough to start even when Clichy was here. Gibbs forgets he's a defender at times and gets caught out all the time, plus he's as injury prone as RvP is. And Traore is more of an athlete than a football player. He's a beast physically (what is he? 6'1" and is fast as f**k) but he's just not that great defensively, from what i've seen anyway.

I'm gutted we missed out on Enrique cause realistically he was the only left back on the market that we could have got.

But who knows, Gibbs may finally play at the level he can play at and start remembering he isn't a left winger or a midfielder anymore.

Totally agree. With a 100% fit squad, LB is the only position that worries me. But, I have more confidence in Gibbs now than I did six weeks ago. Although I'd love a LB signing out of the blue. Aly Cisssoko from Lyon would be my 'dream' pick.

Enrique makes perfect sense. He's desperate to leave Newcastle and wouldn't be more than 10m. But instead there are numerous papers stating that Wenger will finally sign Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain this week. With 7m up front and a potential 5m worth of add ons. I haven't seen the guy play, so I wont judge. But from a sheer squad perspective, a LB for the same price (Enrique) surely is a better option? Then again, we like the papers, have no idea what happens, or will happen behind closed doors.

The Mata rumour has completely died in the backside unfortunately. Maybe Fabregas will stay after all?

 

[Habitual Linestepper]

Totally agree. With a 100% fit squad, LB is the only position that worries me. But, I have more confidence in Gibbs now than I did six weeks ago. Although I'd love a LB signing out of the blue. Aly Cisssoko from Lyon would be my 'dream' pick.

Enrique makes perfect sense. He's desperate to leave Newcastle and wouldn't be more than 10m. But instead there are numerous papers stating that Wenger will finally sign Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain this week. With 7m up front and a potential 5m worth of add ons. I haven't seen the guy play, so I wont judge. But from a sheer squad perspective, a LB for the same price (Enrique) surely is a better option? Then again, we like the papers, have no idea what happens, or will happen behind closed doors.

The Mata rumour has completely died in the backside unfortunately. Maybe Fabregas will stay after all?

Aly Cissokho would be awesome, apparently Liverpool were looking at him a couple of weeks ago but now it looks like they're getting Enrique, i think i read they had agreed terms with Newcastle and it was just contract etc to go before it's official.

Yeah i don't see the point of getting AOC. Esp for 12 mill, we are on the brink of getting Joel Campbell and he plays pretty much the same position and has been playing pretty well in the U20 World Cup so i wouldn't see the point in getting two similar players in a position we are already stacked in. Esp with Gervinho and (hopefully) Ryo.

I definitely think Fab will stay, he loves the club. I don't think he would leave us knowing how much shit we would be in if he did leave. With him we are top 4, without probably top 6. That and Farca don't have the money, they were stupid enough to throw 30+ mill at Sanchez when they could've just used it to get Fab.

Yea that Mata saga is a funny one. According to some papers we had up until a week or two ago to make an offer but something in his contract meant that because we didn't his release clause went up to 35 mill instead of the ~20 it was at recently. Could be all bs though. Would love Mata to come and for us to ship the lesbian (Nasri) off the City.

 

[andrew057]

I definitely think Fab will stay, he loves the club. I don't think he would leave us knowing how much shit we would be in if he did leave.

Agree 2 years ago. Now? Dont think so, Wenger has known for the past 2 seasons that Fabregas wanted to leave.

Lets not kid ourselves, if Fab was off contract he'd be gone in a second, regardless of Arsenals situation. Wenger has no one but himself to blame if he leaves and theres no replacement.

 

[Habitual Linestepper]

Agree 2 years ago. Now? Dont think so, Wenger has known for the past 2 seasons that Fabregas wanted to leave.

Lets not kid ourselves, if Fab was off contract he'd be gone in a second, regardless of Arsenals situation. Wenger has no one but himself to blame if he leaves and theres no replacement.

It's definitely Wenger's fault that he hasn't even thought of getting a replacement for Cesc but maybe he is waiting for Barca to give us what he is worth and then using that to buy someone, ie Mata.

I think that's why we apparently told them if they were going to make a serious offer for him that it would have to be before the end of July so we would've had all of August to find someone for his spot. I can't see us selling him at this stage of the window, Wenger knows that if he did we would be no hope for top 4 and he would effectively be signing his resignation letter.

I wouldn't mind letting him go to Barca if they actually paid what we were asking for, which seems to be around the 45 mill mark. That way we could chuck like 30 at someone like Modric and then use the rest to pay for some of Mata's transfer. I'd be ecstatic with that happening but there's no chance of it happening.

 

[andrew057]

Agree with everything except Modric. The money being talked about for him is ridiculous.

 

[Twizzle]

no chance in hell of getting Modric

don't think Barca have got €45 million, they seem to be crying poor alot atm

 

[andrew057]

no chance in hell of getting Modric

don't think Barca have got €45 million, they seem to be crying poor alot atm

Yeah I think he was referring more to a Modric calibre player, rather than the man himself.

 

[Habitual Linestepper]

no chance in hell of getting Modric

don't think Barca have got €45 million, they seem to be crying poor alot atm

Nah just someone at Modric's level. Modric is below Cesc but above Mata. Couldn't think of many other players at that level. Gourcuff maybe. We have been linked to him in the past. I can't see Modric leaving tbh, if they're not gonna sell him for 30 then he wont be going, no one else would chuck 30 at him like Chel$ea did.

Nah Barca definitely don't have the 45 atm. That's why they're offloading some youngsters with buy back options, ie Bojan and Romeu. Just scraping the barrel trying to come up with as much as they can before the window closes.

People laugh at Arsenal saying we are holding Cesc hostage but unlike Rooney, Tevez and Modric he hasn't handed in a transfer request so he's obviously ok sticking around here till his contract his up. Which he is well in his right to do and i wouldn't have any ill feelings towards him if he did do that.

 

[Habitual Linestepper]

Agree with everything except Modric. The money being talked about for him is ridiculous.

Definitely, considering Spurs are being offered 5 mill less than what we are being offered for Cesc shows how f**ked the market is atm and how disrespectful Farca are being.

 

[CC_Eagle]

Gourcuff?

Yes please.

Or even someone like Hamsik.

 

[Habitual Linestepper]

Gourcuff?

Yes please.

Or even someone like Hamsik.

We were linked with Gourcuff before he moved (and tanked) to Lyon. Haven't heard anything since though. Hamsik would be exciting but his release clause is way out of our/Wenger's price range.

Pastore would have been a good pick up too had he not gone to PSG.

No idea why we aren't looking at Riccardo Montolivo, he's looking at leaving Fiorentina and is extremely creative, which is something we lack whenever Cesc isn't playing.

 

[CC_Eagle]

Definitely, considering Spurs are being offered 5 mill less than what we are being offered for Cesc shows how f**ked the market is atm and how disrespectful Farca are being.

Exactly.

If Modric is worth 30, Fabregas is worth 60.

Yes, I think he's twice the player.

 

[CC_Eagle]

We were linked with Gourcuff before he moved (and tanked) to Lyon. Haven't heard anything since though. Hamsik would be exciting but his release clause is way out of our/Wenger's price range.

Pastore would have been a good pick up too had he not gone to PSG.

No idea why we aren't looking at Riccardo Montolivo, he's looking at leaving Fiorentina and is extremely creative, which is something we lack whenever Cesc isn't playing.

Plus every other promising young French player.;-)

I agree about Montolivo, veeeery classy player. I don't watch a lot of Serie A, so maybe either half or hybrid tiger would be the more appropriate judge, but from what I've seen he's a very tidy player.

Plus, he wouldn't cost more than 20m.

 

[Habitual Linestepper]

Plus every other promising young French player.;-)

I agree about Montolivo, veeeery classy player. I don't watch a lot of Serie A, so maybe either half or hybrid tiger would be the more appropriate judge, but from what I've seen he's a very tidy player.

Plus, he wouldn't cost more than 20m.

Yea i haven't seen much of him just youtube clips and the odd international but he looks like he can pick a pass and is a good finisher.

And considering how late it is in the window it's not like any other teams are chasing him too hard so we could grab him pretty easily.

Too bad all we have to look forward to is hearing Wenger say a fit Vermalen is like a new signing.

What would be your lineup for the game this weekend? Barring injuries because it sounds like RvP, Vermalen and Gibbs are all in some doubt.

 

[CC_Eagle]

Too bad all we have to look forward to is hearing Wenger say a fit Vermalen is like a new signing.

:lol:

We hear the same rhetoric every pre-season.

Last season it was "a fit RvP and Fabregas". The season before it was "a fit Rosicky".

What would be your lineup for the game this weekend? Barring injuries because it sounds like RvP, Vermalen and Gibbs are all in some doubt.

I think they'll all play. I knew that Wilshere was a 50/50, but from all the reports I've read he's all but confirmed to be starting. So bar Fabregas, we should be at full strength.

Chezzy.

Sagna Vermaelen Djourou Gibbs


Song
Nasri Wilshere

Walcott Gervinho

RvP


But I think we'll probably see Nasri on the left, Gervinho on the right and Theo on the bench. Apparently he's carrying a niggle or two.

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

I don't condone us selling star players but if we don't give him game time here's your Cesc replacement

http://youtu.be/mKNYLG579BQ

Twice the player Modric is

 

[Twizzle]

I don't condone us selling star players but if we don't give him game time here's your Cesc replacement

http://youtu.be/mKNYLG579BQ

Twice the player Modric is

of course he is,

and how much did Chelski offer for him ?

 

[Habitual Linestepper]

Looks about right. We should win with that side. It's not like we will be able to make 8-9 subs at half time so Squillaci won't be able to come on and lose us the game. That guy is a cancer, i'd actually prefer Sylvestre.

Hoping Frimpong gets a run at some stage, will be pretty interesting to see how he goes in the prem league, Wenger rates him pretty highly and from watching the preseason he looks a lot more mobile than Song does and looks pretty fckn powerful too.