Alexis is not a striker in a one-striker system. Debuchy is £10-12 million spent to weaken the team.
Mathieu Debuchy (Latest: Reports of medical)
Well, we apparently were not prepared to pay Sagna what he wanted, which I disagree with, so we need another RB; Debuchy is not a bad choice.
As for Alexis, I never said he would be the CF in our current formation; I think that is madness myself, even though I see a lot of posters wishing for it. However, he is about as much a striker as Walcott is from out wide. It is foolish to say that Walcott plays that role as anything other than a striker.
I really don't care what the issue was with Sagna. Maybe it was money. Maybe he just wanted to go to a better team. Either one is understandable when you're 31 and running out of time. I expect us to replace him with someone who's at least as good though, and Debuchy certainly isn't that player. He's just another average footballer who will be added to a team that already has too many average footballers in the starting eleven. It's beyond me how anyone can be happy about this. It's literally £10 million spent to weaken the team.
Rex wrote:As for Alexis, I never said he would be the CF in our current formation; I think that is madness myself, even though I see a lot of posters wishing for it.
Right, so you agree that we still need a striker then. What are you arguing about? The semantic difference between the use of 'striker' and 'centreforward'?
In your opinion Kla. Deschamp clearly prefers Debuchy
Deschamps prefers Sakho and Varane over Koscielny too, and now he's knocked out of the World Cup because the defence let him down.
It's just random ball World Cup where all teams are equal.
They'd have probably gone out with kos and Sagna
Klaus wrote:I really don't care what the issue was with Sagna. Maybe it was money. Maybe he just wanted to go to a better team. Either one is understandable when you're 31 and running out of time. I expect us to replace him with someone who's at least as good though, and Debuchy certainly isn't that player. He's just another average footballer who will be added to a team that already has too many average footballers in the starting eleven. It's beyond me how anyone can be happy about this. It's literally £10 million spent to weaken the team.
Rex wrote:As for Alexis, I never said he would be the CF in our current formation; I think that is madness myself, even though I see a lot of posters wishing for it.
Right, so you agree that we still need a striker then. What are you arguing about? The semantic difference between the use of 'striker' and 'centreforward'?
I am at peace now with the realization the Wenger will continue to see Eeyore as his first choice. It is so full of sads, but there it is. He'll spout nonsense about how we have both Sanogo and Campbell to 'share the burden' with the donkey, and Alexis too to 'increase our offensive potential'. Just you wait!
People are over-reacting on Debuchy. Complete the signing and move on to the front of the team. This guy has been highly rated in France and by the French national team coach. To some extent we overrate our own defenders - neither Koscielny nor Sagna were favoured by voters for Premier League teams of the year nor their own national team, with players from England getting in ahead of them.
We have not upgraded RB, but we certainly have not downgraded, and the idea of spending 10m to weaken the team just doesn't fit with this transfer
Claudius wrote:People are over-reacting on Debuchy. Complete the signing and move on to the front of the team. This guy has been highly rated in France and by the French national team coach. To some extent we overrate our own defenders - neither Koscielny nor Sagna were favoured by voters for Premier League teams of the year nor their own national team, with players from England getting in ahead of them.
We have not upgraded RB, but we certainly have not downgraded, and the idea of spending 10m to weaken the team just doesn't fit with this transfer
It is only Klaus that really hates the signing of Debuchy and to a lesser extent Qs.
Claudius wrote:To some extent we overrate our own defenders -
Absolutely. We concede too many goals and it's not because Ozil and Cazorla don't track back.
That being said, Sakho over Koscielny is clearly madness.
Sagna is likely to degrade over the next few years and would have cost us £6-7m to keep for 3+ years plus a sign on of £3-5m. In total, keeping Bac would have been in the realms of £21-26m for a player who is going to get worse over time.
Debuchy is going to cost £9-12m, plus £3.2-4.2 mil a year for 4+ years and a £2-4 m sign on fee. So about £24-£33m for a player who isn't going to be any worse at the end of his deal than he would be today.
It is good deal for the club.
That's a bit too mystic Meg there mate.
No way can you be sure of that and there is the small fact that other managers were willing to pay the man more.
Klaus wrote:Deschamps prefers Sakho and Varane over Koscielny too, and now he's knocked out of the World Cup because the defence let him down.
I remember scratching my head when Carlton Palmer helped Graham Taylor fail to qualify for the "94 World Cup and now Paulinho is assisting Big Phil in his quest to lose this World Cup at home.
I think club managers, Wenger apart, are less tolerant of shitty players as their job security is on the line.
Good comparison for those who are interested in the stats.
Contradictory to stats before that be actually wins more headers
word is deal is almost done for 8m quid. cant say i'm excited but i guess we could do worse.
Good as Sagna was you don't win that many matches from right back. Near enough is good enough if this gets done and at least Carl won't be stinking the place up over 60 appearances.
That's my feelings too Burnwinter. Absolute shame to lose Sagna but while the signing of Debuchy isn't anything to celebrate it at least looks to address an issue. Would have been far more concerned were we entering next season with just Jenkinson and a new striker/winger/CM.
I love when transfers get to this stage where players are being spotted in certain places ...
... Debuchy in London!
Get er done
Its done. Everyone knows it. He will join in time for our pre-season by all accounts.