My biggest problem with this type of stop-gap panic buy is that it gives Wenger another excuse not to invest properly.

Burnwinter wrote:

Because he hasn't been very good in recent years, and the last thing we need is a mediocre squad player who also thinks he deserves a guaranteed start and a fat wage packet.

No, god forbid.

Burnwinter wrote:

Because he hasn't been very good in recent years, and the last thing we need is a mediocre squad player who also thinks he deserves a guaranteed start and a fat wage packet.

No, god forbid.

Shit, yeah. Should've said "another mediocre" ... but I think the point stands, also Flamini only looked good in 07-08 because that kid you like to call "Fabregrease" was playing alongside him.

I like Flamini, haven't seen him play since he left but based on previous I assume he would be a good squad signing, but 100m + in the bank and the best you can come up with is Flamini?

Just heard on the radio that Wenger has played down the chances of signing Flim Flam.

He didn't rule it out either. Guessing they know what the reaction would be if our second signing of the summer is another free transfer.

qs! wrote:

I Am Arsenal Till I Die wrote:

I wanted Arteta to be back up to our DM to begin with.

That was never gonna happen.

Would have happened had we signed Gustavo.

Timothy wrote:

Just heard on the radio that Wenger has played down the chances of signing Flim Flam.

On signing Flamini, Wenger: "I don't say there is no chance and I don't say there is a chance." Q So there is some chance? Wenger smiles.

Why doesn't he just say "there is a possibility" like every other normal person? He should really stop all this tedious pseudo-intellectual speak, it worked while he was successful and we were all in awe of him but his decisions, and results over the last few years show just as much intellectual activity going on in his head as in Paul Jewell's.

I Am Arsenal Till I Die wrote:

qs! wrote:

That was never gonna happen.

Would have happened had we signed Gustavo.

I doubt it.

lagos wrote:

Why doesn't he just say "there is a possibility" like every other normal person? He should really stop all this tedious pseudo-intellectual speak, it worked while he was successful and we were all in awe of him but his decisions, and results over the last few years show just as much intellectual activity going on in his head as in Paul Jewell's.

His inability to give a straight answer is incredibly frustrating. THere are plenty of things he COULD say that would be honest, and help people understand what he's trying to do, without giving away the details or anything that would be better kept under wraps.

Well thats because he doesn't really know himself what he's doing.

asajoseph wrote:

lagos wrote:

Why doesn't he just say "there is a possibility" like every other normal person? He should really stop all this tedious pseudo-intellectual speak, it worked while he was successful and we were all in awe of him but his decisions, and results over the last few years show just as much intellectual activity going on in his head as in Paul Jewell's.

His inability to give a straight answer is incredibly frustrating. THere are plenty of things he COULD say that would be honest, and help people understand what he's trying to do, without giving away the details or anything that would be better kept under wraps.

Yeah agreed. He can be honest without divulging any information.

i don't care for his honesty. the only time his honesty would matter to me would be him saying "fuck it, i'm off, bitches!"

he's messed around with us long enough that we can't take a single thing he says seriously. as Biggus says, the gaffer himself probably has no clue what's going on

His only now instinct is self preservation.

A desiccated coconut araldited to the seat of power, Burnsy Gazza and a few Aussies will recognise that quote.

I do, though the effectiveness of the analogy could be likened to being flogged with warm lettuce.

I hate Wenger's bullshit talk at pressers as well, but it must be noted that when he says "I don't say there is no chance and I don't say there is a chance" it's a do-nothing, mean-nothing statement with the intent of avoiding "WENGER RULES OUT FLAMINI" or "WENGER WARMS TO FLAMINI" headlines the next day.

Some journo or other pointed out during the week that after the Villa match he'd basically had a contractual obligation to hold a presser every day for several days. All of which have naturally been dominated by the issue of transfers.

A coach with real charisma speaks past the press directly to the fans. Wenger stopped doing that years ago. The fans are a "they" he refers to disparagingly.

Burnwinter wrote:

A coach with real charisma speaks past the press directly to the fans. Wenger stopped doing that years ago. The fans are a "they" he refers to disparagingly.

Indeed.

Returning to the analogy with the dramatis personae of Australian democracy, he's a bit like one of our self-absorbed, careerist politicians who come up through the ranks of the fixers and technocrats and subsequently drift away from any connection with the electorate.

Of course, by further analogy to the forthcoming Australian federal election, the distaste for one such human pimple shouldn't necessarily recommend a suck on the alternative, who could just be a rottener apple plucked from roughly the same tree.

Terrible analogy Burnsy........

"Peter Costello … I mean … I used to call him the talking knee"

Ah, the great man. A wonderful way with words.

This was the skit I referred to earlier.

Has nothing to do with Flamini or Arsenal, but is amusing nonetheless.

Thats okay Asterix theres no stuffy repressive AnthonyG around here (Burnsy tried once but his heart wasn't in it), we're a colony of free radicals Cathars heretics liberal thinkers absurdists dadaists, we're like a Marx brothers film- Theres a basic plot (the thread title) but no script, it's left to the individual to create of it what they will.

Edit: taking Mod's name in vain.

This one's a doner.

Biggus wrote:

Edit: taking Mod's name in vain.

I'm claiming poetic licence.

Back to St Mattew, are we calling him a new signing or like a new signing?

He's a new signing. This is what Wenger will say:

Wenger wrote:

Well, we signed Matthieu Flamini. It's like we spent some fucking money, n'est-ce pas?

Instead of "like a new signing" it's "like we spent some money." "It depends what you mean by money."

Wasn't really in favour of signing him but we're at the point now where it looks like we actually need him to start against Spurs.

Yep, it might be worth drafting him in for a couple of years just to make up the numbers during the current injury crisis that appears to be threatening us in midfield.

Flamini for £0 or Cabaye for £15m-£20m. Difference in their quality is definately not that big. I doubt we were ever in for more players in midfield than one so it all makes perfect sense. For Wenger.

Except of course it will be Flamini and noone else at all, not just no other midfielder.

Heh heh very droll Ser Burnsy I doff my visor to you .

invisibleman18 wrote:

Instead of "like a new signing" it's "like we spent some money." "It depends what you mean by money."

Wasn't really in favour of signing him but we're at the point now where it looks like we actually need him to start against Spurs.

Hey I love Matt as much as the next person but even I don't think he's the solution to all our problems.
We all know the situation is fucked up and it's all Wengers fault- Lets just hope no one beats us 8-2 again before he goes.

Another issue would be convincing all these guys we're being linked to that they'll get ample playing time. We know Wenger's preferred midfield consists of Jack, Ramsey, Teta and Santi. Ramsey and Santi are presently undroppable, and Wenger will persist with Wilshere despite his patchy performances.

Don't think Mata, Ozil, or even Cabaye will want to accept squad roles. Flamini, maybe.

Ozil and Mata would need to accept squad roles? Not a chance.

A bit tongue in cheek as i expect only Flamini and/or Cabaye. That's the way of the Weng.

They'd be played in the left forward role anyway where Wenger always like to have central players.

flobaba wrote:

A bit tongue in cheek as i expect only Flamini and/or Cabaye. That's the way of the Weng.

Pretty depressing. Might get one AM/forward as well if we're lucky.

Ladyarse reckons we've agreed a deal with him.

Premium transfer fees? Nah, premium wages on peripheral squaddies, that's the Arsenal Way.

That's why mercenaries and shitsters like us in the first place. Have we not learned anything from 07-11?

Sanderson saying we are still haggling. Guys this is deadline day material.