The only ridiculous thing that can happen to this deal is if we don't bring him back. 4m is fucking peanuts, even Viviano costs more.

I would be absolutely delighted if we sign him. He can even play lone striker up front these days. Would be a dream player for Ozil to play with.

I'm sure Özil can dream of better players to play with.

Here's why I think the club is not going to sign 2 wide players. Let's say-

-----------------Chez----------------------

RB-------Mert-----------Kos---------Gibbs

------------DM/Arteta-----Ramsey--------

---------------Ozil------------------------

Walcott----------ST---------------LM

I've listed who're are pretty much bang on to start games. For the wing spot you have Cazorla, Rosicky, Podolski and Chamberlain competing along with maybe Gnabry as well. For midfield positions you have Rosicky, Cazorla, Chamberlain, Wilshere and Flamini. There is no space for other midfielders when you account for the DM the club might also look to buy. Unless the club want to alternate between Giroud who's according to many not good enough himself and a player who hasn't played as a striker naturally for years in terms of those wing options plus the touted purchases of Vela than only would the players possibly get enough match time. Given the resources available it is absolutely negligent to start with Giroud next season. 12 against the top 7 every season where he is pretty much anonymous.

The lone striker theory on Sanchez and Vela has no credibility beyond the forum football managers. Not only that but it's plain ridiculous- Hey I want this player here no matter what. It doesn't matter that he's never played up-top convincingly before but it's better to spend money on winger's and play them as strikers in the most physical league rather than sign an established striker.

A lot of AMs are guys with no end-product, Gunner89. We need to sign either two wide men or one wide man and a striker who is markedly better than Giroud. We cannot persist with guys who just fill up space on the pitch.

Claudius wrote:

A lot of AMs are guys with no end-product, Gunner89. We need to sign either two wide men or one wide man and a striker who is markedly better than Giroud. We cannot persist with guys who just fill up space on the pitch.

Walcott has end product, Podolski has end product, Cazorla has end product. They are going to be here next season. Oxlade-Chamberlain will need and deserves game time for his excellent performances.

The only guy wasting space is the player who struggles to get 10-15 league goals up-top with the supply line he has and is anonymous against decent league opposition.

The proof of this rumoured supply line would be in some of these other so-called productive folks actually scoring off the charts. I just don't see it.

Gunner89 wrote:

The only guy wasting space is the player who struggles to get 10-15 league goals up-top with the supply line he has and is anonymous against decent league opposition.

Seems a bit harsh on Sanogo to expect 10-15 goals.

I think the only reliable providers on this team are Ramsey and Ozil
And the only reliable scorers are Walcott, Ramsey and Giroud

Everybody else needs to prove their worth either way.

Vela will certainly be a good addition to the squad. He can cover 3 positions across the front line and offers something different to Podolski, Giroud, Cazolra, Jack, etc

I just hope this isn't our striker for the summer.

Given the fee Sociedad paid this transfer would cost around 1m, Bendtners wages...

This is great value, he's worth far more than what we can get him for, but I don't want him here because I don't rate him as a wide player.

Something doesn't seem right about this, i don't think we want him or he doesn't want us.

Would be a nice pick up though. We're not spending big money on 4 starters so probably the best we can hope for is 3 + Vela. Although i do wonder if we are to sign Vela and keep Podolski, that would surely mean no need for Wilshere to play wide. Which might mean the long term plan is a Wilshere-Ramsey midfield and no CM signing.

Good depth and a player who has goals in him for peanuts, I don't see the problem.

Yep a park upgrade

Gunner89 wrote:

The only guy wasting space is the player who struggles to get 10-15 league goals up-top with the supply line he has and is anonymous against decent league opposition.

His upside with us can be sky high if he comes in with the mentality to succeed. For that fee and limited risk, why the hell not.

Quality signing. 16 goals and 13 assists in 37 matches.

Meatwad wrote:

JazzG wrote:

Naah something like €3m, first season was a loan and then transfer fee. The reason we sold him so cheap was because of those clauses, he scored 12 & set up 7 on loan there in his first season so they knew they were getting a good player on the cheap.

from my notes back then: €3.34m. 50% sell-on and €4m buy back option at the end of the 2013-14 season.

2013-14 Goals and Assists

Goals -

Assists -

Those lofted through balls are fantastic.

Vela is finally showing the promise that made him one of the most talented U17 players around.