I like Kola and think he gets way too much flack for his end product, but he's got too many flaws in his game to be first choice left back.

I think Emery really suffered by not having two reliable full backs last season, centre back will still be a problem but I'd wager a back four of Bellerin, Sokratis, Holding and Tierny would look fairly reliable.

But Goon at up to £140k / week how can he be a long term solution as 2nd choice left back? That’s why I’d integrate Tierney, and then buy or promote a second left back by next season

Considering how much emphasis puts on fullback play - too much imo - I'm not surprised we're prioritising a fullback. Kola showed he's just not up to it, especially in a back 4

Yeah fair point Claud. I'd keep him for at least a year though and regardless, I don't think there's any offers incoming.

I don’t think Bellerin is up to it either. Alves/Tierney, makes a huge difference compared to Bellerin/Kola.

For 25M, can't we get Gaya instead? I haven't watched much of Tierney, but reading everything on this forum (especially talk of him being injury-prone), think Gaya may be a better bet. Although not sure if he wants to move at all, I guess. What about Plattenhardt or Halstenberg - guess they likely cost a lot more.

goon wrote:

I like Kola and think he gets way too much flack for his end product, but he's got too many flaws in his game to be first choice left back.

I think Emery really suffered by not having two reliable full backs last season, centre back will still be a problem but I'd wager a back four of Bellerin, Sokratis, Holding and Tierny would look fairly reliable.

If we can get that regularly with Torreira in front of it then yeah I think so too but how confident are you of fielding that back 4 for more than half the season? 3 of them are currently injured.


What's their valuation? Don't sound like it's because of the structure of it.

I think, per Tam's posts earlier, that their valuation is £25 million and we've offered £20 million plus some unlikely addons based on future trophies and Champions League, etc. It sounds like Celtic just want to be reasonably sure that they're getting the full sum.

£25m is looking a good price in this market. We need to push this over the line.

I'm more hopeful over this than any other. The fact that we've put in two actual bids suggests we can't be far off.

Lennon trying to stay polite and not say too much is a good sign too.

Spurs are linked to Junior Firpo at 25m pounds. If that fails...

Oh...saw some links to Barca as well. Thought he was much better value than 25M even last summer?

HomeSteak wrote:

[@TheScotsman] Sources close to Kieran Tierney have indicated he is enthused by the prospect of joining Arsenal if the clubs do reach an agreement.
It is understood Arsenal will offer the 22-year-old Scotland international a five-year contract which would see him earn close to £80,000 a week.

80.000 ?? Jesus.

4 weeks of fucking around since our initial interest. £320,000 saved and still counting!

5 days later

Looks like the sticking points are related to add-ons like CL qualification and Celtic don't want to go there because we don't look like achieving that. Can't blame them really and we need to get this done. Our LB situation needs sorting.

Kieron Tierney, the most boring Arsenal transfer ‘saga’ of all time surely. This is worst than our attempts of signing Julio Baptista in summer of 2005.

We need to start looking for an alternative so if the player's head is turned, he does our bidding.
Peter Lawwell is one of the hardest chief executives to deal with and, as it stands, won't be brow beaten by Raul.
https://celtsarehere.com/peter-lawwell-teaching-arsenal-a-lesson/

Everton reportedly pulled out of a deal to sign Kieran Tierney back in the summer but the form of the man they signed instead, Lucas Digne, will make them forget all about the Scotland international. ...
Perhaps Tierney will come to the Premier League next season with Arsenal – showing Everton what they pulled away from – but for as long as Digne keeps his form up, the Toffees will be very content with the player they bought instead.
https://tbrfootball.com/digne-has-proved-everton-right-to-shun-tierney-deal-and-sign-him-instead/

Shame we settled for Kroenke's lapdog, Gazidis, instead of him in 2008.
The position at Arsenal became vacant when Keith Edelman left the Emirates five months ago. As well as Lawwell, Paul Donovan, Vodafone’s chief executive for central Europe, the Middle East and Asia has been linked with the position.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/2974125/Arsenal-fail-in-attempt-to-appoint-Celtics-Peter-Lawwell-as-new-chief-executive-Football.html

I know who did the executive search and that article is bullshit, tone.

On Tierney, I wouldn't even sweat it.