The Shopping List—aka We've got flipping great wadges of cash: Page 176 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

The Shopping List—aka We've got flipping great wadges of cash

Klaus

Vantastic wrote:
He's now worth far more than the £20+m they paid for him considering his stellar performances in the Copa America in the summer and his good performances for Liverpool(people should stop looking at stats).

Nah, he's a commercial suicide after the racism scandal. Liverpool couldn't ship him now to another English club even if they tried.

Burnwinter

Humble Rex wrote:
Burnwinter wrote:
Yes, but I'm open to persuasion?

I dunno Burnsy, ARE you open to persuasion?

Yes?

Just don't think there's much point trying to pick up Vertonghen. He'll be expensive, probably being chased by other PL clubs, and he would complement the side in an area where we don't desperately need it.

But persuade me - can Vertonghen play at our standard at left back?

Ricky1985

He'd play in a way much more like Vermaelen, than Ashley Cole, mate.

Rex

True. Not at all good enough going forward.

Klaus

He's an incredibly dirty player too. Almost Savage-like.

Burnwinter

Ricky1985 wrote:
He'd play in a way much more like Vermaelen, than Ashley Cole, mate.

Exactly. He's not a specialist at LB so calling him cover is flattery ... would rather see Gibbs either settle into the role, or if his injuries persist, a specialist LB brought in to back up / compete with Santos.

Meanwhile at CB we've got Vermaelen, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Djourou/Squillaci/Song/(Bartley?) which is plenty of depth defensively, and arguably a need for more refinement and ball retention rather than a dedicated holding player in central midfield.

I'd say we won't sign Vertonghen and we don't need him ...

Ricky1985

I agree. He's a good player, in my view, a centreback and only really a centreback, but he's not needed here because he's not as good as what we have.

Burnwinter

I know people aren't sold on Vermaelen and Kos as a partnership, but really we've got an embarrassment of depth at CB in many ways.

Ricky1985

The three we have to pick from would get in most teams we compete with. All good players.

Will be interesting to see what Bartley can offer next season, too. Maybe I've read him wrong and he'll be a non-factor - to be fair, Wenger constantly loaning him out would suggest I have - but he looks a really good player in the making to me, and I fancy him to be a good option for us.

Klaus

What's encouraging with Bartley is that he was renowned for his sound technique and excellent distribution at youth level. He hasn't really played for teams which have made great use of those skills during his loan spells, but unless he's turned into a completely different player he should theoretically fit Arsenal well. He's stronger mentally and has more nous than Djourou in my opinion. If he can get the same type of experience there's no doubt in my mind that he'll end up a better player.

Miquel has made me interested in him in the past two seasons too, though. Starting to think there's a really good defender there.

Ricky1985

I'd like to see Miquel go on loan next season and Bartley come into the squad to compete for a place.

Weren't Everton one of the interested parties in a loan deal this season for Miquel? Could get himself some great Premier League experience.

Klaus

I don't know about Everton, but I read that he was on his way to Bolton for a while. Some of their fans eas expecting both him and Miyaichi on loan apparently. I think our situation at the left-back position forced him to sit tight.

DāftYoda

I've not seen much of Bartley myself, but one of my friends who's a Rangers fan (season ticket holder until he moved to Australia last summer) kept telling me after the games that Bartley was a proper all-round footballer, with athletic as well as technical skills, and a good footballing brain too. He was dead chuffed when they got him on loan this season after he got injured last season.

Captain

Burnwinter wrote:
Humble Rex wrote:
I dunno Burnsy, ARE you open to persuasion?

Yes?

Just don't think there's much point trying to pick up Vertonghen. He'll be expensive, probably being chased by other PL clubs, and he would complement the side in an area where we don't desperately need it.

But persuade me - can Vertonghen play at our standard at left back?

He's probably going to be quite cheap for the quality he'll provide.

Klaus

nahoum wrote:
I've not seen much of Bartley myself, but one of my friends who's a Rangers fan (season ticket holder until he moved to Australia last summer) kept telling me after the games that Bartley was a proper all-round footballer, with athletic as well as technical skills, and a good footballing brain too. He was dead chuffed when they got him on loan this season after he got injured last season.

That's great to hear. That was my impression of him when he played for our reserves too.

Tam

To be fair neither loan spell has been a great success given his injuries. He did look much better first time around, he just hasn't seemed to get going properly this time around, but I think the whole situation this year both on and off field may have contributed to that. He looked a class above technically in his first spell, this season hasn't been as impressive in that respect though. I'd be expecting a player who we're hoping can come in and make an impact in our team to be head and shoulders above anyone else out there technically but I haven't really seen that this time around. He looks comfortable, and a good defender in the making, just not as impressive as I'd have hoped.

His mental strength and ability to cope with pressure has been fantastic. I'd say it's the thing that got most of the fans onside with him straight away. No doubt his experiences at Ibrox over the last few weeks have been humbling and will stand him in good stead. He's not going to suffer, but he'll see people around him losing their jobs and possibly having their football careers finished at an early age.

Ricky1985

You don't suddenly lose that technical ability though, Tam. It's there in his game, always has been.

I haven't seen much of him this time around, mainly because he's barely played due to one injury or another, but I watched nearly all his games last season, and the kid looked very impressive. Will be really disappointed if he doesn't get a chance here.

Good of the young lads to agree to rip their contracts up btw, Tam. Shame though, because Greg Wylde looked a talent.

Tam

I don't doubt that at all Rick. And I think it's probably all to do with not being able to get into a rhythm due to injuries, it's just something I'd have liked to see a bit more of from him, that's all.

Yeah Wylde looked good in flashes but despite getting chances hasn't really been able to kick on and show a great deal of improvement. I think Coyle was seriously interested in him for a while, I think he'll eventually be picked up by a club in the Championship. On the subject of wingers, Forrest at Celtic looks a good player though, that boy has talent.

lorddulaarsenal

I'd like us to sign rami. Superb centreback

Ricky1985

Rami's not good enough. I saw a fair bit of him at Lille and I don't think he's close to the class of our best three centrebacks.

Tam - yeah, it's a shame the injuries have got in his way this season, think he would have been brilliant for you otherwise. Seems to have a real soft spot for the club.

Was really impressed with Wylde in that PSV home game last season. Lovely left foot, quick and clever. Not seen anything of Forrest, is he the one Spurs were linked with a little while back?

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