Clrnc wrote:

We shouldn't persists with backup, he has never been good enough to challenge Monreal at any stage.

Should have gotten a proper LB and make them fight for the position. That's how to bring the level of competition up

Not many top players are going to come here to compete for their position - half the time they choose us BECAUSE they're guaranteed playing time. Madrid can get away with it, not us, and even then that only lasts for a season before one of them leaves.

Jed wrote:

JazzG wrote:

Liverpool & Ox's agent have played us a bit here. I think they felt we wouldn't entertain any bid from Liverpool, so he got one from Chelsea. Once we agree in principle that we will sell, he rejects them and out of the blue Liverpool com in. With a day left there isn't much time for arguing over things.

For someone like Gibbs I don't mind, guy has been here since he was a kid and it hasn't worked out. The problem is our transfer strategy is general is a complete and utter fucking shambles. To think we pay dickheads millions every year to be in charge and this happens every year. Absolute fucking shambles.

Surely the worst run club in the league? Who else comes close?

I don't think I have ever seen a supposedly top club get such widespread condemnation from all quarters of the footballing world. Says it all really.

Tactics wrote:

I hope Ox doesn't end up at Chelsea (where he'll likely play as a wingback and win trophies) but would tell Liverpool to fuck off if they put in a  bid for him.  Classles club. That Firmino clause was soo childish, frankly embarrassing for a club of their stature

What is the Firmino clause?

Mirth wrote:

Klaus wrote:

And they say he didn't have any skills.

I mean that is pretty impressive. If only he had that level of consistency as a footballer!

To be fair Gibbs has always been very consistent. Unfortunately he was juzt always consistently average. Never had many highs, and was never really terrible either. Just one of those guys that you don't notice aa they just blend in with tbe background.

Jed wrote:

JazzG wrote:

Liverpool & Ox's agent have played us a bit here. I think they felt we wouldn't entertain any bid from Liverpool, so he got one from Chelsea. Once we agree in principle that we will sell, he rejects them and out of the blue Liverpool com in. With a day left there isn't much time for arguing over things.

For someone like Gibbs I don't mind, guy has been here since he was a kid and it hasn't worked out. The problem is our transfer strategy is general is a complete and utter fucking shambles. To think we pay dickheads millions every year to be in charge and this happens every year. Absolute fucking shambles.

Surely the worst run club in the league? Who else comes close?

Newcastle and West Ham, at least. But the point of a league system is that the worst run clubs are relegated, so you would expect the really shoddily run clubs to dissappear, ie. Leeds, Aston Villa, Blackburn, Bolton, to name but a few. 

dreamlord wrote:

Clrnc wrote:

We shouldn't persists with backup, he has never been good enough to challenge Monreal at any stage.

Should have gotten a proper LB and make them fight for the position. That's how to bring the level of competition up

Not many top players are going to come here to compete for their position - half the time they choose us BECAUSE they're guaranteed playing time. Madrid can get away with it, not us, and even then that only lasts for a season before one of them leaves.

I'm not talking about top top players, but buying players that have the potential to challenge for a first team place. Something like what Juve has been doing for years, building an all-round good squad.

Big Willie wrote:

Mirth wrote:

I mean that is pretty impressive. If only he had that level of consistency as a footballer!

To be fair Gibbs has always been very consistent. Unfortunately he was juzt always consistently average. Never had many highs, and was never really terrible either. Just one of those guys that you don't notice aa they just blend in with tbe background.

Think he had this spell where he was really terrible in both attack and defence, ducking away from balls in defence and consistently hitting the first man in crosses during attacks. The game against Monaco was the peak banter game for him, every single touch he had was shit and killed our attack completely.

Ivansen wrote:

Jed wrote:

Surely the worst run club in the league? Who else comes close?

Newcastle and West Ham, at least. But the point of a league system is that the worst run clubs are relegated, so you would expect the really shoddily run clubs to dissappear, ie. Leeds, Aston Villa, Blackburn, Bolton, to name but a few. 

Newcastle seem to have sorted themselves out to be fair, since the Joe Kinnear days. West Ham seem to be doing alright. In Chicharito they have made a better signing than any we have made in the last 3 transfer windows. They'll sack Bilic for underperformance before we sack Wenger for the same reason as well.

goon wrote:

Or buy/promote a top prospect until they're ready to take over.

Exactly. Gibbs was a weak link for most of his career here. West Brom level really. We held on to him way too long. Monreal is the type of footballer /talent Gibbs should've been, and then we should've had a Kolasinac type as our established LB. Oh well.

Ah crap I was hoping we'd agree a deal with Liverpool for the Ox and send them Gibbs

JazzG wrote:

mdgoonah41 wrote:

i love that we bend over backwards to please our own players and allow them to take advantage of us.

For someone like Gibbs I don't mind, guy has been here since he was a kid and it hasn't worked out.

Agree with that. I think there is value in treating players well when they act professionally and treat the club with respect. I'd have a zero tolerance policy for those who don't though. Arsenal treat players like people and thats a great thing but if those people act like arseholes, as Ox is, then we should treat them as nothing more than assets and we should use them in whatever way we feel is best for the club.

What's the deal with Chambers? Completely frozen out, yet still here with no sign of him leaving. I guess he'll be loaned out somewhere in the last min.

Stuck in limbo while we're trying to decide what to do with Mustafi, probably.

Wenger mentioned he was injured in the previous presser.

If Ox wants to move to his choice of club he will have to see out his year, hopefully rotting on benches and training with the u-21s.

Times | City will return with a second bid that is close to #AFC £70m price tag for Alexis.

How the fuck is Debuchy still here?

Lucas Perez probably off to Deportivo on a loan. 4m fee is what's being bandied about

spaceman spiff wrote:

Lucas Perez probably off to Deportivo on a loan. 4m fee is what's being bandied about

This is getting more and more ridiculous.