So Wenger says that we were 'very, very close' to signing Mbappe. Isn't it annoying

how often we are really close to getting players but never close the deal.

Off the top of my head I can think of Ronaldo, Ibrahimovic, Kluivert, Mpabble, Cech (before he went to Chelsea).

If we're going to give Him a Director Of Football then perhaps we can perform better in the recruitment department.

It's simply not true. You either sign a player or you don't, closeness doesn't come into it.

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Originally Posted by Mo Britain less Europe

It's simply not true. You either sign a player or you don't, closeness doesn't come into it.

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Are you calling Him a liar?

http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/foot...-a3529926.html

I am calling him a fantasist. Higuain's another one we nearly signed, he's just won the semi-final for Juventus.

Someone needs shooting for what happened that summer.

lost both Higuain and Suarez that summer because someone thought it would be anything to big £40m +£1

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Originally Posted by Rich

how often we are really close to getting players but never close the deal.

Off the top of my head I can think of Ronaldo, Ibrahimovic, Kluivert, Mpabble, Cech (before he went to Chelsea).

If we're going to give Him a Director Of Football then perhaps we can perform better in the recruitment department.

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To be fair Richard I think you will find most clubs could run off such a list and I think you have only just scratched the surface there with those names listed.

The issue may be that Wenger does seem to go public on such nearly incidents, or perhaps we only notice his stories as would be less inclined to read stories relevant to other teams.

This morning's Mbappe story merely made me chuckle.

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Originally Posted by SWv2

To be fair Richard I think you will find most clubs could run off such a list and I think you have only just scratched the surface there with those names listed.

The issue may be that Wenger does seem to go public on such nearly incidents, or perhaps we only notice his stories as would be less inclined to read stories relevant to other teams.

This morning's Mbappe story merely made me chuckle.

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Well Pires says that he will be surprised if he doesn't come to Arsenal this summer. So hopefully he's right as Mbappe is better than Giroud.

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Originally Posted by Rich

Well Pires says that he will be surprised if he doesn't come to Arsenal this summer. So hopefully he's right as Mbappe is better than Giroud.

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I answered your Amsterdam query with some excellent information, you ungrateful bástard.

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Originally Posted by Rich

Well Pires says that he will be surprised if he doesn't come to Arsenal this summer. So hopefully he's right as Mbappe is better than Giroud.

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Despite my deep unwavering and unrequited love for Pires I am tempted to say he is deluded to the point of alarm.

Here we have a young player with the footballing world at his feet, probably the pick of all European clubs (if indeed he decides to leave Monaco now) to choose from coupled with an astronomical fee to pay for his services, and RP thinks he will choose to come to a club which appears to be heading up a blind alley with no actual idea where it is going to go.

I don’t work in football, but I can see a flaw.

Perhaps this is 1983 and Charlie Nicholas again for the Sky generation.

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Originally Posted by SWv2

Despite my deep unwavering and unrequited love for Pires I am tempted to say he is deluded to the point of alarm.

Here we have a young player with the footballing world at his feet, probably the pick of all European clubs (if indeed he decides to leave Monaco now) to choose from coupled with an astronomical fee to pay for his services, and RP thinks he will choose to come to a club which appears to be heading up a blind alley with no actual idea where it is going to go.

I don’t work in football, but I can see a flaw.

Perhaps this is 1983 and Charlie Nicholas again for the Sky generation.

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I agree with you.... in effect it might make us focus on young players who haven't yet made it and have a bit of a punt on them... of course it all depends on who is the manager. I'm not expecting much for the next 2 or 3 seasons

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Originally Posted by SWv2

To be fair Richard I think you will find most clubs could run off such a list and I think you have only just scratched the surface there with those names listed.

The issue may be that Wenger does seem to go public on such nearly incidents, or perhaps we only notice his stories as would be less inclined to read stories relevant to other teams.

This morning's Mbappe story merely made me chuckle.

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We can also comfort ourselves in the knowledge that if we had signed them, Wenger would have ruined them. Mbappe would currently be on loan at West Brom, warming the bench. Or injured.

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Originally Posted by Pokster

I agree with you.... in effect it might make us focus on young players who haven't yet made it and have a bit of a punt on them... of course it all depends on who is the manager. I'm not expecting much for the next 2 or 3 seasons

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Quite exciting all the same.

Let's be honest our groundhog day seasons have become as boring as fúck.

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Originally Posted by SWv2

Quite exciting all the same.

Let's be honest our groundhog day seasons have become as boring as fúck.

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You think Wenger is going to leave?

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Originally Posted by Peter

You think Wenger is going to leave?

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No, but even the new experience of EL football instead of simply making up the numbers in the CL is different.

I also think there is a reasonable chance that given likely player departures coupled with very likely aggressive strengthening by most of our peers that next season could be more challenging than normal/recent.

That is exciting. I embrace change, you don't.

I believe the correct term is "simples" though I am not 100% certain.

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Originally Posted by SWv2

No, but even the new experience of EL football instead of simply making up the numbers in the CL is different.

I also think there is a reasonable chance that given likely player departures coupled with very likely aggressive strengthening by most of our peers that next season could be more challenging than normal/recent.

That is exciting. I embrace change, you don't.

I believe the correct term is "simples" though I am not 100% certain.

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We will have to target different players (perhaps younger and less established) and will also get to play teams that we haven't seen for some time (or never played before).... Change can be good in the long run

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Originally Posted by SWv2

No, but even the new experience of EL football instead of simply making up the numbers in the CL is different.

I also think there is a reasonable chance that given likely player departures coupled with very likely aggressive strengthening by most of our peers that next season could be more challenging than normal/recent.

That is exciting. I embrace change, you don't.

I believe the correct term is "simples" though I am not 100% certain.

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Nobody is more positive about change than me. I agree, it will be nice to be officially **** for a change. Would prefer Wenger to go but I know deep down is probably isn't going to happen.

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Originally Posted by Pokster

We will have to target different players (perhaps younger and less established) and will also get to play teams that we haven't seen for some time (or never played before).... Change can be good in the long run

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This is one of my bigger concerns with our recent spending. In Mustafi and Perez we paid 50 million for two players who would have been available for next to nothing 18 months earlier. The old Wenger would not have needed to see Kante play for Leicester for a year before deciding he wants him.

He built the initial success mainly on signing players who sat outside or below the focus of the bigger clubs. We don't seem to make these types of signings now.

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Originally Posted by Peter

This is one of my bigger concerns with our recent spending. In Mustafi and Perez we paid 50 million for two players who would have been available for next to nothing 18 months earlier. The old Wenger would not have needed to see Kante play for Leicester for a year before deciding he wants him.

He built the initial success mainly on signing players who sat outside or below the focus of the bigger clubs. We don't seem to make these types of signings now.

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Yaya Sanogo?

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Originally Posted by Sir C

I answered your Amsterdam query with some excellent information, you ungrateful bástard.

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Didn't I thank you?! I thought I did - how remiss of me. Apologies.

I shall certainly pay the Dutch place you mentioned a visit. Will let you know how I get on.

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Originally Posted by Rich

Didn't I thank you?! I thought I did - how remiss of me. Apologies.

I shall certainly pay the Dutch place you mentioned a visit. Will let you know how I get on.

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You'll want the Suikerbrood followed by the suckling pig. No dessert, you're not a fúcking child.

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Originally Posted by Peter

This is one of my bigger concerns with our recent spending. In Mustafi and Perez we paid 50 million for two players who would have been available for next to nothing 18 months earlier. The old Wenger would not have needed to see Kante play for Leicester for a year before deciding he wants him.

He built the initial success mainly on signing players who sat outside or below the focus of the bigger clubs. We don't seem to make these types of signings now.

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That's because we *are* now one of those bigger clubs.

Blame the Emirates Stadium, imo. If you suddenly start earning alot more, everything you want to buy suddenly starts costing alot more as well.

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Originally Posted by Mo Britain less Europe

I am calling him a fantasist. Higuain's another one we nearly signed, he's just won the semi-final for Juventus.

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"Fantasist" is a bit strong but I broadly agree. He knows the business better than anyone and will be fully aware that teenage starlets don't agree to sign for you just because you went round their house for tea; you have to offer them a better deal than anyone else. Business demands it.

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Originally Posted by Rich

how often we are really close to getting players but never close the deal.

Off the top of my head I can think of Ronaldo, Ibrahimovic, Kluivert, Mpabble, Cech (before he went to Chelsea).

If we're going to give Him a Director Of Football then perhaps we can perform better in the recruitment department.

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Spreading more transfer bull**** than Harry Redknapp these days. "Oh, I nearly signed that player a year before any of you had ever heard of him. But, I decided to stick with Coquelin and Walcott instead"

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Originally Posted by redgunamo

That's because we *are* now one of those bigger clubs.

Blame the Emirates Stadium, imo. If you suddenly start earning alot more, everything you want to buy suddenly starts costing alot more as well.

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It doesn't mean you have to start thinking like them. Spending bigger sums hasn't helped at all.

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Originally Posted by Peter

This is one of my bigger concerns with our recent spending. In Mustafi and Perez we paid 50 million for two players who would have been available for next to nothing 18 months earlier. The old Wenger would not have needed to see Kante play for Leicester for a year before deciding he wants him.

He built the initial success mainly on signing players who sat outside or below the focus of the bigger clubs. We don't seem to make these types of signings now.

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This is all very true imo. Didn't Veng make the point about our scouting network lacking a little bit sharpness recently?

The somwhat bang-averageness of our very expensive acquisitions last summer shows that the spendsomefackinmoney calls were never really the answer.

Getsomefackingoodplayerscoachthemwellandsendthemou tknowingwhattheyaredoing would have been a more accurate slogan imo, albeit packing less precision.

17m on a forward who he thinks is a bit ****? whassatallabaht?

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Originally Posted by Peter

It doesn't mean you have to start thinking like them. Spending bigger sums hasn't helped at all.

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Having finally addressed the CM and CB with significant spending, we've slid backwards at an alarming rate. Xhaka and Mustafi have struggled in a dreadfully managed setup.

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Originally Posted by Peter

It doesn't mean you have to start thinking like them. Spending bigger sums hasn't helped at all.

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Of course it's helped; it's helped us spend bigger sums! It's true, you don't have to think like the bigger clubs, but equally you don't *have* to earn more money like them either. Point is though that we *want* to, that is the path we have chosen.

Wenger doesn't work for us for free and Özil doesn't play for us because he likes us; these people want paying.

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Originally Posted by Ash

This is all very true imo. Didn't Veng make the point about our scouting network lacking a little bit sharpness recently?

The somwhat bang-averageness of our very expensive acquisitions last summer shows that the spendsomefackinmoney calls were never really the answer.

Getsomefackingoodplayerscoachthemwellandsendthemou tknowingwhattheyaredoing would have been a more accurate slogan imo, albeit packing less precision.

17m on a forward who he thinks is a bit ****? whassatallabaht?

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A little harsh no??

I for one think both Mustafi and Xhaka are very fine footballers who are simply struggling as part of a larger broken machine.

In respect of Perez I don’t think Wenger ever wanted him but for whatever reason was forced or coerced into buying him, evidenced by the timing of the move in relation to the window and since then by his almost reluctance to play the lad ahead of others who have not performed so well when given the chance. Naturally and without apology I have absolutely nothing to base this on.
Wenger out.

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Originally Posted by Ash

17m on a forward who he thinks is a bit ****? whassatallabaht?

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Perez has looked ok when he's been given a go. He makes decent runs and gets into some good goal scoring positions. A Sanchez,Welbeck,Perez front three would've been interesting imo.

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Originally Posted by Ash

This is all very true imo. Didn't Veng make the point about our scouting network lacking a little bit sharpness recently?

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A certain lack of the necessary creative conflict perhaps, but we've been remarking upon that for years, you can see it for yourself on the pitch, and it is entirely a symptom of Wenger's own longevity and subsequent power over all things Arsenal; our scouts only suggest players that they *know* the manager is likely to like (in order to stay in His good books). In many cases, they do so only to discover that the manager Himself has already scouted the player and rejected him or earmarked him long before.

Perez is a very average player. He's about 28 and has only had one decent season as a goalscorer at the top level. If we'd bought Mustafi before him he'd never have been bought. It was simply a fan-placating measure.

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Originally Posted by SWv2

A little harsh no??

I for one think both Mustafi and Xhaka are very fine footballers who are simply struggling as part of a larger broken machine.

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I wasn't ripping on the players as much as the effect they've had. Squillaci was a decent footballer when he came to us.

Of course there have been many clubs before us who have spent a lot of money on players who did little to improve their team. For years AW outperformed higher spenders. Spurs and Leicester have shown over the last couple of years that combining the right profile of players who know what they are doing can reap success on the pitch. I watched Chelsea demolish Everton and Spurs demolish us and there were two teams where the players knew what they were supposed to be doing. Ours don't seem to have a clue what they are supposed to be doing as a team, so they end up trying to do it as individuals.

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Originally Posted by Ash

I wasn't ripping on the players as much as the effect they've had. Squillaci was a decent footballer when he came to us.

Of course there have been many clubs before us who have spent a lot of money on players who did little to improve their team. For years AW outperformed higher spenders. Spurs and Leicester have shown over the last couple of years that combining the right profile of players who know what they are doing can reap success on the pitch. I watched Chelsea demolish Everton and Spurs demolish us and there were two teams where the players knew what they were supposed to be doing. Ours don't seem to have a clue what they are supposed to be doing as a team, so they end up trying to do it as individuals.

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That's not some sort of glitsch in Wenger's system though; it *is* His system. Always has been, so far as I can see.

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Originally Posted by Ash

I wasn't ripping on the players as much as the effect they've had. Squillaci was a decent footballer when he came to us.

Of course there have been many clubs before us who have spent a lot of money on players who did little to improve their team. For years AW outperformed higher spenders. Spurs and Leicester have shown over the last couple of years that combining the right profile of players who know what they are doing can reap success on the pitch. I watched Chelsea demolish Everton and Spurs demolish us and there were two teams where the players knew what they were supposed to be doing. Ours don't seem to have a clue what they are supposed to be doing as a team, so they end up trying to do it as individuals.

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Spurs and Chelsea are two very good teams, well drilled and every player appearing to know their role within the larger unit, and this was Spurs without (imo) their most effective and best player this season in Dembele.

We of course are also a good team but increasingly the second part of my compliment above looks redundant as indeed you have said in your last sentence.

I thought Spurs were superb last Sunday and actually reminded me of our own team back over a decade ago.

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Originally Posted by redgunamo

That's not some sort of glitsch in Wenger's system though; it *is* His system. Always has been, so far as I can see.

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We haven't ever been quite as disjointed and disfunctional though. In previous AW eras we've played some good football and shot ourselves in the foot with poor defending. But now we're not even playing good football.

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Originally Posted by redgunamo

Of course it's helped; it's helped us spend bigger sums! It's true, you don't have to think like the bigger clubs, but equally you don't *have* to earn more money like them either. Point is though that we *want* to, that is the path we have chosen.

Wenger doesn't work for us for free and Özil doesn't play for us because he likes us; these people want paying.

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But that is earning the money, we are talking about spending it. When your manager is signing a striker that he clearly doesn't rate it suggests you have a problem.

Remember, of the four summers since we have had money to spend we had one where we didn't sign a single outfield player, another where we would have signed nobody is Ozil hadn't fallen into our lap at the last minute and then last summer where it almost happened again. We have been left short in midfield into two seasons and horribly short at centre back in another.

It hasn't been smooth sailing at all.

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Originally Posted by Ash

We haven't ever been quite as disjointed and disfunctional though. In previous AW eras we've played some good football and shot ourselves in the foot with poor defending. But now we're not even playing good football.

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Perhaps I should've said it's a natural consequence of Wenger's methods and philosophy? He has always insisted His players play with a certain freedom, hasn't He.

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Originally Posted by redgunamo

Perhaps I should've said it's a natural consequence of Wenger's methods and philosophy? He has always insisted His players play with a certain freedom, hasn't He.

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Yes, the jazz conductor, as I think Phillipe Auclair described it. Doesn't seem to work at the moment though, against contemporary systems of discipline and organisation.

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Originally Posted by Ash

Yes, the jazz conductor, as I think Phillipe Auclair described it. Doesn't seem to work at the moment though, against contemporary systems of discipline and organisation.

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Jazzer I think the term was.

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Originally Posted by Ash

Yes, the jazz conductor, as I think Phillipe Auclair described it. Doesn't seem to work at the moment though, against contemporary systems of discipline and organisation.

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I suppose Antonio Conte could win the league with this team though, just as Wenger could with Chelsea's current mob. Again, normally a squad is the fruit of several (often very different footballistically) managers' work. Rarely is it put together by just one bloke over such a long period of time. It's almost against football nature.