Vantastic wrote:

asajoseph wrote:

Not worried about Liverpool. They still have Gerrard.

But also have Lucas, Allen and Sahin.

We've got worse players than Gerrard starting for us.

No, we don't. Lucas and Sahin have missed the best part of a year's football - I'd take Cazorla, Wilshere & Arteta over any combination you can make of the Liverpool midfield.

Lucas is out for three months.

Spearing is out on loan, Aquilani has gone, Adam has gone.

They only have Sahin, Allen, Gerrard and Henderson left in midfield

asajoseph wrote:

For all the doom, I think this is more a blown opportunity rather than a disastrously weak squad. We have plenty of quality in some areas, plenty of flaws in others but even judging by the players we've been linked with and the players that have gone elsewhere, it doesn't feel like we've really missed out on anyone that special today / yesterday.

It's just another case of Wenger really over-estimating his squad and over-obsession with prudence that will cost us any chance of a trophy, but we aren't completely 'out of the top 4 fucked' either. It'll just be another middling season that will certainly result in nothing but likely the 4th place trophy.

I think that's what is grating most.

Another case of nearly then. 80% of the job done, the rest neglected.

It's just annoying although if the new players come good, the injured return and contribute from the off and the youngsters like Chamberlain really show quality on a consistent basis then it won't be that bad.

Too many ifs.

squallkid wrote:

I think that's all down to Wenger Clrnc, he likes total secrecy on transfers until the player is holding up the club's shirt.

Other clubs just do it to boost morale amongst their supporters

Don't understand that stand tbf. Honestly think we suffers the most by loving Arsenal. Make us go through everything the most painful way.

We have managed to fucked up all our good early business dealings. I am not convinced we have the quality to finish in the top 4.

Clrnc wrote:

squallkid wrote:

I think that's all down to Wenger Clrnc, he likes total secrecy on transfers until the player is holding up the club's shirt.

Other clubs just do it to boost morale amongst their supporters

Don't understand that stand tbf. Honestly think we suffers the most by loving Arsenal. Make us go through everything the most painful way.

We have managed to fucked up all our good early business dealings. I am not convinced we have the quality to finish in the top 4.

So if Arsenal was to update us on the Sahin deal that went from close to being done to the deal dropping through that would have hurt more (depending on how close it actually was) than what actually happened which was us scratching our heads wanting to know what happened. Who knows how many players we end up close to signing and I can see why Arsenal like to save us from all of that. They could just to be safe just post a tweet saying that x player is on his way to a medical or personal terms agreed.

We'll have to wait and see on where we finish.

Some people are definitely going nuts over players that aren't that great, or still have a lot to prove. Spurs' signings would be fantastic on Champ Manager, but in real life the likes of Dembele and Lloris are a long way off top quality as things stand.

Moutinho deal stalling over personal disagreements. This could be the equivalent of us signing a player!

Of all the players Spurs have signed, Moutinho's the only one I'm a little bit jealous of. The rest of them are nothing special IMO, though Adebayor is certainly effective.

Moutinho + Dembelele will not replace Modric's and Van der Vaart's goals.

Giroud will be better than Adebayor

He has already shown better mike skills.

I wish we'd show some effing ambition. Moutinho and Llornte would both massively improve this squad and both by the looks of it are available at the right price.

Not happy at all.

We'll sign someone, I'm sure of it but it'll be a Barton/Essien type loan signing.

Twitter rumours insist we are locked in talks over Essien. It seems as if it's Essien or no one.

I was hoping for someone to play with or replace Cazorla if he's injured.

This is so frsutrating.

Just got home from work. Whats the word on the street? Are we after anyone?

Well, not like there's anything else to do I suppose.

ch2 wrote:

wengers just left colney

https://p.twimg.com/A1ox67_CQAAK-gF.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I was somewhat OK with the sales of Song and RVP, because I felt like it went without saying that we'd sign at least one or two other players.

We should be fine in the midfield. Song was limited, and I think we're going to be a lot better off defensively than most of us think. Our attack, on the other hand, is in fucking shambles. What are we left with? Walcott, who's never been a prolific scorer (although he's never had the chance- I doubt this is the season where that changes). Giroud and Podolski, who are unproven at the highest level (I think this is our biggest question mark. If both of them fail to step up, we're going to be at a severe loss for goals). And Chamakh and Gervais. That's just poor management, especially considering the fact that the guy who was bailing us out many games isn't with us any more.

Rohit wrote:

Moutinho + Dembelele will not replace Modric's and Van der Vaart's goals.

Giroud will be better than Adebayor

He has already shown better mike skills.

Sigurdsson is signed to replace VDV. He can replicate his goalscoring form.

Moutinho and Dembele is more of replacing Modric especially as both is B2B CMs.

Didn't know Wenger drives a Lexus

Very impressed with Swansea's signing this season. How did they get Pablo Hernandez? Same for Soton getting Ramirez

Olly Girude wrote:

ch2 wrote:

wengers just left colney

https://p.twimg.com/A1ox67_CQAAK-gF.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Taking an early night off.

Why the fuck didn't we sign Sahin if we weren't going to sign anyone.

asajoseph wrote:

Vantastic wrote:

But also have Lucas, Allen and Sahin.

We've got worse players than Gerrard starting for us.

No, we don't. Lucas and Sahin have missed the best part of a year's football - I'd take Cazorla, Wilshere & Arteta over any combination you can make of the Liverpool midfield.

Er Diaby? Pretty sure he's a guaranteed starter now that Song's gone.

Plus, in Suarez, they've got a potentially top tier striker on their books, can't say the same for any of our forwards.

I guess we'll have to see how the season pans out, but I do believe Wenger is the major difference between them and us. If Rogers proves to be a competent manager then I'm of the opinion they'll challenge for a CL spot(doesn't mean they'll finish in the top 4 though).

Kel Varnsen wrote:

Fantastic.Mr.Fox wrote:

Why the fuck didn't we sign Sahin if we weren't going to sign anyone.

he cost too much. that's how we operate these days. if wenger doesn't feel the player is worth the money, he backs out. for a guy with a degree in economics, he sure as heel seem oblivious to how the market works. players are worth what clubs are willing to pay, not what he thinks they're worth. not to mention, £10 mill for gervinho? wtf happened...

I think with gervinho arsene put a lot of stock into his stats at Lille

Vantastic wrote:

asajoseph wrote:

No, we don't. Lucas and Sahin have missed the best part of a year's football - I'd take Cazorla, Wilshere & Arteta over any combination you can make of the Liverpool midfield.

Er Diaby? Pretty sure he's a guaranteed starter now that Song's gone.

Plus, in Suarez, they've got a potentially top tier striker on their books, can't say the same for any of our forwards.

I guess we'll have to see how the season pans out, but I do believe Wenger is the major difference between them and us. If Rogers proves to be a competent manager then I'm of the opinion they'll challenge for a CL spot(doesn't mean they'll finish in the top 4 though).

If you're going to factor in Sahin and Lucas, migh as well consider Wilshere (in for Diaby) too.

As for Suarez, he's a dangerour, and stylish player, but also not that efficient in the final third. He's a very good player, and the sort of person who might click one year and destroy the league for 6 months, but until this point his goalscoring record has been quite ordinary in England (and typically overhyped, as a Liverpool player).

Liverpool have a decent defence, usually, but their midfield has been a bit of a mess for years considering the money spent on it. Up front, they're not all that special, and if Podolski and Giroud can't each match Suarez for goals I'll be quite disappointed.

comparing player for player is a bit pointless, it all depends on how the teams gel together. so far i think we've looked terrible going forward. we need to improve a lot if we are to finish in the top four.

Ben Fairthorne ‏@BFairthorne
Believed M'Vila info and came from reputable agent. Like most agents he had own agenda. Get over it. #TransferDeadineDay

Sorry to bleat on, but I just cannot get over this Wasn't once or twice, this guy was saying it was nailed on virtually every other day for four months! Oh well, least it seems Moutinho deal could fall through.

I'd say currently our defence is stronger than Pool as a whole, midfield on par, attacking wise yet to be seen cause we haven't gel.

Kel Varnsen wrote:

Fantastic.Mr.Fox wrote:

Why the fuck didn't we sign Sahin if we weren't going to sign anyone.

he cost too much. that's how we operate these days. if wenger doesn't feel the player is worth the money, he backs out.

Even worse is the apparent lack of a proper back up plan whenever we miss out on the originally targeted player.

Shady Shakes wrote:

Ben Fairthorne ‏@BFairthorne
Believed M'Vila info and came from reputable agent. Like most agents he had own agenda. Get over it. #TransferDeadineDay

Sorry to bleat on, but I just cannot get over this Wasn't once or twice, this guy was saying it was nailed on virtually every other day for four months! Oh well, least it seems Moutinho deal could fall through.

You should blame yourself for taking him (some random twittering dude) as an authority on all things Arsenal.

Get over it.

Reminds me of the 2 summers before the last one where we did absolutely fuck all on deadline day.

Olly Girude wrote:

I think with gervinho arsene put a lot of stock into his stats at Lille

No, twas Captain who did that!

So Citeh already signed 5 today, Javi Garcia, Matija Nastasic, Maicon, Scott Sinclair and Richard Wright. How many did Mancini earlier on promise to unveil today?

Olly Girude wrote:

Kel Varnsen wrote:

he cost too much. that's how we operate these days. if wenger doesn't feel the player is worth the money, he backs out. for a guy with a degree in economics, he sure as heel seem oblivious to how the market works. players are worth what clubs are willing to pay, not what he thinks they're worth. not to mention, £10 mill for gervinho? wtf happened...

I think with gervinho arsene put a lot of stock into his stats at Lille

what i don't understand is how the glaring weaknesses in his game were ignored. walcott handles our passing game better than this clown.

Clrnc wrote:

Reminds me of the 2 summers before the last one where we did absolutely fuck all on deadline day.

You mean the summer we were linked to Alonso, desperately needed a DM and woke up the morning after the transfer deadline only to go on Arsenal.com and read the announcement that Randall had signed a new deal?

Looking at our squad, I have to say that unless it is a top class player - then I'd rather we signed no one. We certainly don't need any more decent to goodish players. We have plenty of those already IMO.

The only player we have been linked to in the last 48 hours or so I feel worth persuing is Essien. With him we at least know that at his best he is a top, top class player. He is also versatile and has played competitive games for Chelsea pretty much all over the pitch bar striker and goalkeeper. His knees may be finished, but then again they may not. At 29 he is the kind of player we should be willing to take a punt on.

Loan for the season with an option to buy, and Chelsea to pay part of his no doubt high wages - do it!

Olly Girude wrote:

I think with gervinho arsene put a lot of stock into his stats at Lille

I think so too. Year by year they showed a clear improvement. His stats aren't that bad in Premier League either to be fair. His output is comparable to players like Young and Valencia. The problem was perhaps that he was just another cog when we needed a more dominant player who could raise the level of the team.

If someone told me that this guy would be fit for the rest of the season starting tomorrow I'd be fine with not signing anyone too:

We know for a fact that he won't though.

It's kind of funny in a sort of grim way.
Maybe it's the sheer predictability of it all.
'Spect Geoff Shreeves will be despatched to the Emirates under a dark cloud to tell us we've sold Van Persie and Song and signed Essien on loan.

State of those fans outside Spurs Lodge. Man I will laugh if Moutinho and Lloris fall through.

Clrnc wrote:

So Citeh already signed 5 today, Javi Garcia, Matija Nastasic, Maicon, Scott Sinclair and Richard Wright. How many did Mancini earlier on promise to unveil today?

None of those players will make City a better team though.

Maicon will. The others will provide them with squad depth.

I would have taken Scott Sinclair, if we had sold Theo to be honest.

As for Essien, I don't think it'd be a bad loan signing at all, to be honest. You might say that his legs have gone, but you can't underestimate the intangible benefit of having an experienced winner in the dressing room. I'd trust him to do a solid job as back up at RB/CB/DM and CM. Obviously hoping we sign a midfielder though.