Must be season ticket renewal time.
For what Arsenal charge for season tickets they better be selling themselves as contenders for major trophies.
(The not-so-temporary quite-official) Gooner Thread
Must be season ticket renewal time.
For what Arsenal charge for season tickets they better be selling themselves as contenders for major trophies.
We are. See Sig.
http://www.dw.de/kick-off-kick-off-special-the-arsenal-double-club-2014-05-27/e-17620655-9798
Will have to keep an eye out for this. It should be on around this time next Friday on CUE if you decoder gets it.
25th Anniversary
That celebration man, so good!
Lot's of rumours doing the rounds. Fabregas coming back keeps cropping up, and at $35m. I'm really unsure on this. I want him back, I want him wearing the arm band. But the reality is if he comes back then we need to make room, it would surely see the end of Arteta, and could possibly see the end of Rosicky. However given how frequent our squad is injured he might be able to slip in.
Regardless we're still short a CB, a RB, a striker, and a DMF. It has to be a big off season, otherwise we're buggered next year especially if TV5 leaves.
Why on earth would we pay $35mil for Cesc when we can get (allegedly) Khedira for $15mil? No brainer!
Why on earth would we pay $35mil for Cesc when we can get (allegedly) Khedira for $15mil? No brainer!
I'd take both ;)
That said I also forgot about a keeper and Begovic is a name being touted...maybe champions league might convince him to come knowing he's not gauranteed starting spot?
25th Anniversary
I went to write the date at work today and almost wrote 26.5.89. Haha. It just seemed so natural. That date is ingrained into my memory.
Last summer we were being linked with Di Maria and a few on here rubbished it. Watching him the ECL final was unbelievable, he was the best player on the pitch and contributed more going forward than both Bale and Ronaldo. He might not have scored the goals, but his drive created many opportunities and drew many fouls. He'd be a phenominal wide option for us and I'd put him to start ahead of any of our front 3 options.
The 89 season is still the greatest ever ending to an English first division season, though Man City fans wouldn't realise that.
brumbys I agree on Di Maria, would be a step up on any of the current front 3 we have and is the type of world-class player we need.
My immediate response to the Cesc rumours, is that, well it's Cesc. I'd have him back in a heart beat, but
A) not at the expense of positions we need strengthening, with or without players leaving
B) I really, really don't think it will happen
C) I don't know where he would play, CMF next to Ramsey?
But to just picture something..
Ramsey Fabregas
Walcott Ozil Cazorla
That's a you score 3 we'll try and score 4 lineup. Too many playmakers, not enough grafters. Yet another midfield playmaker is absolutely the last thing we need this summer. Especially one who has already forced his way out of the club once, and at what he would cost.
Fabregas could be a viable candidate to convert to a deep-lying position, or we could go with a diamond midfield like;
Arteta
Ramsey-Fabregas
Ozil
Walcott-Giroud
However I doubt wenger would go for either of those options.
Reckon if he did bring cesc back it would be more likely that cazorla comes out and ozil moves to the left side.
Although this would only be a problem when we're fully fit of course... which is not very often!
I just think we could spend the reported 35 million squids somewhere else. In anyone's book that is a heck of a lot of money spent on a position that is prolly last in our priorities list.
Sp*rs could of course spend 35m and finish 2 spots lower than they did this season just gone. It's just what they do.
I've applied for a space down at Nike Phenomenal House to try and get my hands on one. Here's hoping...
Well they were only selling prints of the shirt so I grabbed one (out of 1055 for the amount of games Nike have provided Arsenal's kit).
The day was improved by getting a photo with the Ox nonetheless:
Khedira for $15mil....or so it keeps getting reported. Not sure what we are waiting for sign that boy up
the seven EPL matches we had neither Ozil or Ramsey = 14 points. Would Cesc make a difference when front-line players are unavailable?
IMO, yes.
Of course he would.
Should/will we pay 35mil for a squad player? Not on your Ryan Nelsen.
Sagna keeps moving further out the door, I'm just hoping when he goes he ends up somewhere not in England...a Monaco or a PSG.
That said I'd also like to see a hail marry and offer him 2+2 pay as you play so he can retire with us.
OK here's my thoughts on the current squad:
GK
Szczesny - Immense number one.
Martinez - Up and coming keeper, unlikely ready for this level yet.
Recruitment Needed - We need a back up for Szczesny. Ideally someone at Butland level who we can build for the future. Or an old hand that can mentor Szczesny.
Options - Butland could be a goer from Stoke, down the other end of the spectrum is free agent Mark Schwarzer
CB
Vermalen - He's still got it but must be frustrated by his lack of game time.
Mertesacker - He's been in solid form all season, hopefully he can come through w/cup unscathed.
Koscielny - His form is amazing, and his partnership with Mertesacker solid.
Miquel - Returning from loan he will hopefully provide some valuable support to the above 3 and be ready for more first team football.
Recruiment Needed - should we loose Vermalen we need a genuine contender for starting CB. Reid anyone? If Vermalen stays we should be looking for up and coming CB that can challenge for first team action, think Varane.
Full Back
Gibbs - Room for improvement defensively but # 1
Monreal - Great back up for Gibbs and squad player
Jenkinson - Improving leaps and bounds since we all went "who da fuk" when he was signed
Sagna - Let's be honest, he's gone.
Bellerin - much hyped youth player, maybe he's a little too raw yet
Recruitment needed - We need another first choice RB. Aurier keeps being banded about and could do the job.
Midfield
Ozil - More to give next season, but a great ambitious signing
Arteta - Slowly moving deeper into the midfield as he gets older, struggles with pace in the DMF role
Wilshere - Not a great season not a bad season, injury prone but still loads of energy going forward
Ramsey - Make him the captain and give him a pay raise, FA Cup hero and total GC
Rosicky - Scores screamers against Sp*rs and provides energy from the bench and during squad rotation
Flamini - Brings passion from Invicibles era and makes sure the dirty work is taken care of
Zelalem - Insipiring youngster that deserves more chances. Ozil/Ramsey will be great mentors
The Ox - Is he midfield or wide player. Given midfield is stacked his ability out wide helps us immensly.
Diaby - When he's not broken he's great. Which isn't often. Pay as you play contracts going forward.
Coquellin - Good loan season in Germany, hopefully he comes back and get's some time in the DMF role but I don't think he's the answer yet
Recruitment needed - Given we have phenominal options in the box to box and attacking zone it's the DMF area that the ageing Arteta and flamini own. We need a rock solid replacement in this zone. Another summer, another hunt for the Viera replacement.
Wingers
Walcott - Damn those ACL's in speedy people. Finishing is getting better and will absolutely thrive with Ozil feeding him next year.
Podolski - Seems to be on Arsene's list of 'eats too much' but he has a stonking left foot and a half decent cross. Solid squad player.
Gnabry - Tonnes of initiative going forward, pace and creativity. Injury's slowed his progress, expecting more this season.
Cazorla - Cutting in from the left he's working well with Ozil and Giroud. Hopefully this season he get's less game time so he's more effective
Myiachi - Injuries kept him out. Hasn't really progressed much since setting the dutch leagues on fire.
Wellington Silva - Had a loan spell in spain's second div and did OK. Team came 4th. Should Myiachi move on he's a good candidate for staying in the squad for cup matches.
Recruitment needed - Arguably we can continue with this lot. That said an Angel di Maria and or an Alexis Sanchez would be fantastic signings for us.
Strikers
Giroud - Improved this season and contributes lots. Lacks a little bit of clinical finishing at time, and pace, but brings the team in well.
Sanogo - Wengers rough cut diamond. Spending the first half of the season in his homeland getting strength training showed, but he's still a little raw. Either a loan spell or cup matches will keep his progress ticking on.
Joel Campbell - Great season for Olympiakos and get's a winners medal helping them take out the league. Hopefully he'll come back and bring pace and finishing to challenge Giroud for the starting berth.
Recruitment needed - We need a world class, Cavani/Benzema type signing. Firstly to score tonnes of goals, but secondly to give the team the same level of motivation Ozil's signing did. If we can't get this level of signing, we need someone of Giroud's quality. Someone who can chip in with 20 goals a season and 10 assists to take the load off Giroud...
Shopping list:
1 x GK, 1 x RB, 1 x DMF, 1 striker
Bonus checkout extras:
1 x CB, 1 x Winger
What say you people?
the seven EPL matches we had neither Ozil or Ramsey = 14 points. Would Cesc make a difference when front-line players are unavailable?
IMO, yes.
Interestingly, that is 2 points per game and for the other 31 games you guys were getting 2.1 points per game if averaged over 38 games meant you would have gotten 79.7 points (80 points) so might have been 1 point better off, not really much difference in performance without those two.
Shopping list:
1 x GK, 1 x RB, 1 x DMF, 1 striker
Bonus checkout extras:
1 x CB, 1 x Winger
What say you people?
Agree completely.
Morata rumours have re-surfaced and are being reported fairly strongly, with a couple of the "done deal" headlines floating around.
Don't take that the wrong way, it is definitely not a done deal, but there must be smoke round that fire for this to have gone big so quickly.
Is that really what we need? I mean one for he future, sure, but Benzema level? Nah bro.
I don't think we can expect to see anything coming in at a higher level than that brumbys. Think Wenger will be going for someone to compliment Giroud, or challenge him, not someone to be his superior. Especially is there will be multiple positions to fill. From the limited amount I have seen, I have liked Morata. There are other players I would prefer but just can't see Wenger going for.
Morata rumours have re-surfaced and are being reported fairly strongly, with a couple of the "done deal" headlines floating around.
Don't take that the wrong way, it is definitely not a done deal, but there must be smoke round that fire for this to have gone big so quickly.
He COULD be great......i'd be ok if we signed him and remy
Fabianski off to Swansea, wish him well.
Arsene Wenger calls for medical and training review after Arsenal slump bottom of 2013/14 injury list |
It pains me that Stoke Rugby Football Club come out top on that list. Apparently there is merit in having Charlie Adams' and Shawc*nts in your team simply to chop opposition players.
Well, merit in mediocrity.
United also in the top seven each of the past four seasons.
United also in the top seven each of the past four seasons.
Only scraped into the top seven this year though...
Morata and Vela - that would be very Wenger-like... and satisfactory (appreciating we can't/won't get Benzema, Lewandowski or Cavani). Now throw some wedge at Draxler, a quality DM and Aurier. That'd do me!
Pretty interesting piece that. Seems to me it's probably a combination of all the factors he suggested in this paragraph;
"There are numerous theories, such as the training methods, a style of football that might invite dangerous tackles, an over-reliance on certain players because of the size of the squad, a transfer policy that might favour technically gifted but more fragile players or simply bad luck. "
Be interesting to see what they turn up in this review. Although I doubt much of that info will feed through to us.
So now eto'o has been released he's talking smack on chelsea, some rumours he wants to come to Arsenal.
If we did sign Morata it wouldn't be the worst thing to get Eto'o in for a year while Morata and Sanogo develop further.
I know we all want a Cavani or some such but this wouldn't be the worst alternative.
lots of talk about buy back clause in morata deal........not sure how well that would go down. really hoping we make a signing or 2 before world cup
lots of talk about buy back clause in morata deal........not sure how well that would go down. really hoping we make a signing or 2 before world cup
As suspected, Wenger signs new three year deal:
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/may/30/arsene-wenger-signs-new-arsenal-deal
Now time to make some more signings...
Also had to laugh at this quote from Angel Di Maria:
"It hurts when you're trying to always do your best for a club and then it comes out that you might be going to Tottenham."
Sign him up!
Ah well, that's 4th place wrapped up for the next 3 seasons then.
Ah well, that's 4th place wrapped up for the next 3 seasons then.
Don't forget about the FA Cup.