Arsenal Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 2011/2012

dorgasm

dorgasm wrote: »

He seems to love the club too. Can't buy that and we need it.

Loyalty is a great trait but should be rewarded within reason. We cant keep the likes of Walcott on the wage bill on the promise that we may see one or two glimpses of his supposed talent in the future and risk further barren spells.

Matter of fact id be very confident that we have seen the maximum of his abilities and no other club would hoard him for as long as Arsenal have. You could increase his pay but it wont give him bravery or a football brain but of course the English media would be all over it if Arsenal were to sell him. It would be all 'Mad man Wenger selling yet another prized asset and one of Englands finest. Who next Jack Wilshere?'

To be honest at times its like we are trying to convert an Olympic sprinter into a footballer. He doesnt look one bit comfortable on the ball and has barely if at all improved from the 17 year old that was picked as part of Sven's world cup squad 6 year ago.

HazDanz

Deleted User wrote: »

Loyalty is a great trait but should be rewarded within reason. We cant keep the likes of Walcott on the wage bill on the promise that we may see one or two glimpses of his supposed talent in the future and risk further barren spells.

Matter of fact id be very confident that we have seen the maximum of his abilities and no other club would hoard him for as long as Arsenal have. You could increase his pay but it wont give him bravery or a football brain but of course the English media would be all over it if Arsenal were to sell him. It would be all 'Mad man Wenger selling yet another prized asset and one of Englands finest. Who next Jack Wilshere?'

To be honest at times its like we are trying to convert an Olympic sprinter into a footballer. He doesnt look one bit comfortable on the ball and has barely if at all improved from the 17 year old that was picked as part of Sven's world cup squad 6 year ago.

I disagree. He has improved every year since he has joined and I think he will continue to improve. He managed to get 11 goals and 13 assists this season which are decent stats for a winger. Consistently he manages to get into decent crossing areas what lets him down is his final ball, which he can still sort out, he's still learning.

Letting him go now when the man is on the verge of being a major asset to the team would be a mistake by the club.

He runs down a lot of blind alleys and seems to mess up a lot but only because he makes so many attempts. How many players had better stats than him last season?

HazDanz

HazDanz wrote: »

I disagree. He has improved every year since he has joined and I think he will continue to improve. He managed to get 11 goals and 13 assists this season which are decent stats for a winger. Consistently he manages to get into decent crossing areas what lets him down is his final ball, which he can still sort out, he's still learning.

Letting him go now when the man is on the verge of being a major asset to the team would be a mistake by the club.

Compare him to the days of Pires and Ljungberg though and their contributions to the club. The fact we are relying on Walcott and consider him a major player shows just how far our stock has fallen. I think for all his pace he makes it very easy to defend against him. As for his assists sure Wiltord used get 10+ goals a season and had a knack for scoring against United but i doubt many shed a tear when he left in 2004.

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

He runs down a lot of blind alleys and seems to mess up a lot but only because he makes so many attempts. How many players had better stats than him last season?

Thats even worse tbh. it shows we are putting hope in a player who's usage of possession leaves alot to be desired.

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

Thats even worse tbh. it shows we are putting hope in a player who's usage of possession leaves alot to be desired.

Not really, look at the players Liverpool signed, all they do is pass it back or hit the ball against someone when trying to cross, they have no imagination or adventure.

Liam O

Big fan of Walcott, had a great end to the season for him and if he can carry that into next season Arsenal have a very dangerous player in their hands imo.

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

Not really, look at the players Liverpool signed, all they do is pass it back or hit the ball against someone when trying to cross, they have no imagination or adventure.

That may be true but you cant make a case for a player merely because other clubs have worse.

I dont know off the top of my head who could replace Walcott but surely surely to god there is a player in the world who can offer alot more consistency and potency. All the pace in the world but he as well not have it sometimes he gives up the ball so easily.

The only argument i could make for him is that he might be better as a striker because if he could hang on the last man and beat the offside trap he is fairly good in those situations. Even then i think a good centre back would more than likely find a way of dealing with him.

Look he may improve and i could be wrong but i think we have seen the best that Theo Walcott has to offer.

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

That may be true but you cant make a case for a player merely because other clubs have worse.

It's not quite what I'm doing, you can only compare players to others, has to be done. Some ould lad says Messi is ****, you ask why, he makes false comparisons with players from back in the day. I'm making valid comparisons using statistics and the like :pac:

tayto lover

Liam O wrote: »

Big fan of Walcott, had a great end to the season for him and if he can carry that into next season Arsenal have a very dangerous player in their hands imo.

He annoys me terribly. He had another poor season. 11 goals and 13 assists with the amount of possession he was given is not that good a return. He started most games and played well over 40 i'd say. I wouldn't get rid of him yet but would next season if he does not improve and start showing a bit of courage too.

Sgt Pepper 64

tayto lover wrote: »

He annoys me terribly. He had another poor season. 11 goals and 13 assists with the amount of possession he was given is not that good a return. He started most games and played well over 40 i'd say. I wouldn't get rid of him yet but would next season if he does not improve and start showing a bit of courage too.

Wow, you are tough to please - 11 goals and 13 assists from someone who isnt a striker?! No wonder Chelsea and others are interested

And talkign of getting rid of him? Amazing - what a fan

tyler71

emergingstar wrote: »

Reports that ozzie is on the way out really disappointed if its true fully expected him to make it

Really? Haven't seen much of him, but as far as I remember he was in the squad for the second Milan game and afterwards Wenger was going on about how they had no midfield options at all on the bench and I remember thinking that that was not a good sign, bit surprised at Wenger tbh - I'd say he probably felt the same.

tyler71

tyler71 wrote: »

Really? Haven't seen much of him, but as far as I remember he was in the squad for the second Milan game and afterwards Wenger was going on about how they had no midfield options at all on the bench and I remember thinking that that was not a good sign, bit surprised at Wenger tbh - I'd say he probably felt the same.

Good sign for Conor Henderson perhaps or could be become a victim if we sign a M'Vila and Song takes a more forward role?

tayto lover

Sgt Pepper 64 wrote: »

Wow, you are tough to please - 11 goals and 13 assists from someone who isnt a striker?! No wonder Chelsea and others are interested

And talkign of getting rid of him? Amazing - what a fan

He would seriously improve that ratio if he wasn't such a coward too.
I have been a fan since 1969 and spent almost 2 years living about 200 yds from Highbury, used to see the players arrive for matches. Fans are people who are allowed to express opinions. Just because Walcott plays for my team it does not mean I have to say only good things about him. It would be a boring situation if we could not criticise the faults we see in our players. I have praised him when he played well which was not too often last season.

tayto lover

emergingstar wrote: »

Reports that ozzie is on the way out really disappointed if its true fully expected him to make it

http://www.goal.com/en/news/11/transfer-zone/2012/06/04/3148211/besiktas-open-up-talks-with-arsenal-outcast-ozyakup

I thought he'd make it too. Going for a fairly small fee in the scale of things.

emergingstar

tayto lover wrote: »

emergingstar wrote: »

Reports that ozzie is on the way out really disappointed if its true fully expected him to make it

http://www.goal.com/en/news/11/transfer-zone/2012/06/04/3148211/besiktas-open-up-talks-with-arsenal-outcast-ozyakupse

I thought he'd make it too. Going for a fairly small fee in the scale of things.

Think there is a 25% sell on Clause as well, still not happy About it thought he would be there or there abouts this season
I'm thinkih they rate eisfield higher and he will take ozzys place in the squad

HazDanz

emergingstar wrote: »

Think there is a 25% sell on Clause as well, still not happy About it thought he would be there or there abouts this season
I'm thinkih they rate eisfield higher and he will take ozzys place in the squad

For Eisfield let's see what number he has in the new squad, that can indicate sometimes what Wenger has planned for him regards loaning or if he is verging on first team material.

greendom

It looks like Hodgson may well pick Milner over Walcott in the English midfield. Think I'd be much happier as a defender to be up against Milner rather than Walcott. Maybe Milner provdes better protection for the defence though.

HazDanz

greendom wrote: »

It looks like Hodgson may well pick Milner over Walcott in the English midfield. Think I'd be much happier as a defender to be up against Milner rather than Walcott. Maybe Milner provdes better protection for the defence though.

He has a good cross Milner thats another plus of his and yeah you are right he is more defensive than Walcott which in the current England style is appropriate.

I thought though Walcott looked lively for England in the second half of the Belgium game. He always has something that defenders are afraid of in his speed so I hope he starts for them. It would be great if he had a strong tournament.

KCAccidental

for all the people comparing Walcott to Pires & Ljungburg, you cant do it because the way Arsenal play now is very different from 2002-2004. for one it was 4-4-2 back then with much more emphasis on counter attacking, it was easier for Ljungburg to get behind defenders because we would attacking them while they were on the front foot and out of position.

unlike now where we play possession football high up the pitch. This pushes opposition defenders very deep and make its very hard for a player like Walcott to get in behind them, if he was in the 2004 team he would have got many more goals imo, just look at the goals he has scored for arsenal a lot of them have come from the rare times we do find ourselves counter attacking these days.

Also in 4-3-3 he plays much higher up the pitch than freddie or robbie ever did which doesnt suit his game too much, he needs to space to run at defenders and not receive it ball to feet with his back to goal while some neanderthal snaps at his heels. despite this his stats are very encouraging, while his performances can be very inconsistent, but thats to be expected for a 23 year old. Not everyone can be a Fabragas and be the finished article at 21

wandatowell

Sgt Pepper 64 wrote: »

- 11 goals and 13 assists

I have a feeling those goals/assists came is blasts which kinda takes away from the stats.

He might smack in 2 or 3 in a game and then you wont see him for a month as he tends to hide quite a bit.


Very frustrating for the fans who watch the games. But then Id happily accept those figures if he put some effort in when things aren't going his way.


Unfortunately he wont though

batistuta9

arsenal get athelic bilbao, marseille & anderlecht in the nextGen series group stage. link

if you don't know what it is, it basically a under 19's champions league

Doesn't matter, we won't win it anyway.

ImpossibleDuck

KCAccidental wrote: »

for all the people comparing Walcott to Pires & Ljungburg, you cant do it because the way Arsenal play now is very different from 2002-2004. for one it was 4-4-2 back then with much more emphasis on counter attacking, it was easier for Ljungburg to get behind defenders because we would attacking them while they were on the front foot and out of position.

unlike now where we play possession football high up the pitch. This pushes opposition defenders very deep and make its very hard for a player like Walcott to get in behind them, if he was in the 2004 team he would have got many more goals imo, just look at the goals he has scored for arsenal a lot of them have come from the rare times we do find ourselves counter attacking these days.

Also in 4-3-3 he plays much higher up the pitch than freddie or robbie ever did which doesnt suit his game too much, he needs to space to run at defenders and not receive it ball to feet with his back to goal while some neanderthal snaps at his heels. despite this his stats are very encouraging, while his performances can be very inconsistent, but thats to be expected for a 23 year old. Not everyone can be a Fabragas and be the finished article at 21

That may well be true, but all you're really doing is backing up your opponents point about Walcott. He shouldn't have to rely solely on pace and space to beat defenders. Ever heard of a little thing called dribbling? Granted, it's not something we see very often at Arsenal any more, especially since Jack got crocked, but it's a skill Walcott certainly comes nowhere near to possessing IMO. Take Walcott's pace out of the equation (vs a speedy LB for instance) and he's completely out of ideas. He has very, very poor ball control and possesses a complete inability to beat a defender with the ball at his feet.

The only time I ever remember him doing this effectively was that goal in the 5-3 against Chelsea and, like the Spurs goal, that was down almost entirely to blind luck. I'm not saying ship him out just yet, but if he asks for a wage that we determine is anything over what he's worth, I think we should tell him to piss off. Fúck what the English media say, they've hated Wenger since the day he arrived, and tbh, I don't think Wenger gives a fúck.

batistuta9 wrote: »

arsenal get athelic bilbao, marseille & anderlecht in the nextGen series group stage. link

if you don't know what it is, it basically a under 19's champions league

Hmmm might actually watch the Athletic game at least. If this fits right in between that gap we have between Reserve and u18 level, it could well be an interesting watch, and the obvious great benefit of competitive tournament football for our younsters. I love the idea.

ImpossibleDuck

In other transfer news, United announce the signing of Kagawa and apparently Lucas Biglia "claims he has held talks with Arsenal about a possible move to North London this summer". Quotes of him saying Arsenal and Real Madrid are both interested are floating around. IIRC, the same was said about M'Vila last week? It looks like we'll just see who Madrid go for (as they're clearly in the market for a DM too) and then just go for the cheaper version of who they buy.

So, that's M'Vila, Ahmedov and Biglia we've all been heavily linked with. It appears Wenger is quite serious about a DM.

batistuta9

RVP 11 wrote: »

Doesn't matter, we won't win it anyway.

ever the optimist :pac:

ImpossibleDuck wrote: »

Hmmm might actually watch the Athletic game at least. If this fits right in between that gap we have between Reserve and u18 level, it could well be an interesting watch, and the obvious great benefit of competitive tournament football for our younsters. I love the idea.

yeah it's a great idea. I dunno if it be's televised, it'd be something like eurosport would show though & probably be on the arsenal player but hopefully it's on TV somewhere.



arteta's looking for more dosh link

wandatowell

batistuta9 wrote: »

arteta's looking for more dosh link

A player of his quality/experience shouldn't really have had to accept a pay cut. It shows how much we wanted to join us/ play champions league football which is great to see in a modern footballer.

He'd rather challange himself and earn lower money than make easier money at the 'Ton.

Overall I would say he deserves a little bump in wages................not sure Ivan will think the same though

wandatowell

wandatowell wrote: »

A player of his quality/experience shouldn't really have had to accept a pay cut. It shows how much we wanted to join us/ play champions league football which is great to see in a modern footballer.

He'd rather challange himself and earn lower money than make easier money at the 'Ton.

Overall I would say he deserves a little bump in wages................not sure Ivan will think the same though

Song got one so why not.

jmayo

First off have not been around in a while so have to say fair dues to Wenger, he did a great job in turning the team around and getting third.
Thankfully it was third.
Oh and hard luck spurs. Sorry couldn't resist.
Pity that was at cost of allowing terry and cole have CL medals. :mad:

Anyway just back from France and sad to say I did not have Squlliaci or Chamakh in the car to Bordeaux as offered a while back.
I could even have gotten a case of wine for squillaci and had to do lots of haggling to manage that at the knackers yard.

So what are the latest rumours and when is hazard, M villa, the "Barca youth" squad on their way, how much are Barca, Real, Chelski and City offering for RVP this week and have any of denilson, bendyboots, park, chamakh, squilacci left ?

Bergkamp linked with the Swansea job on sky text but there has been a few names touted around.

I'd become a Swansea fan.......................:D

RVP 11

RVP 11 wrote: »

I'd become a Swansea fan.......................:D

If he did get it then hopefully just like Rodgers it would be in preparation for a big job and i think we all know the big job we'd like him to get eventually

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

If he did get it then hopefully just like Rodgers it would be in preparation for a big job and i think we all know the big job we'd like him to get eventually

Eventually??? give it to him now FFS jk :pac:;)

wandatowell

RVP 11 wrote: »

Song got one so why not.

Ya but we've only got one Song

wandatowell

wandatowell wrote: »

Ya but we've only got one Song

it used to be "1-0 to the arsenal"

wandatowell

RVP 11 wrote: »

it used to be "1-0 to the arsenal"

Touché good Sir

KCAccidental

Deleted User wrote: »

If he did get it then hopefully just like Rodgers it would be in preparation for a big job and i think we all know the big job we'd like him to get eventually

what would happen if we drew Shaktar Donetsk in the champions league with Bergy in charge? :eek:

tayto lover

10 important rules of being a Gunner --

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1208892-10-important-rules-of-being-an-arsenal-fan

greendom

KCAccidental wrote: »

what would happen if we drew Shaktar Donetsk in the champions league with Bergy in charge? :eek:

Good point and I can't see him going on too many far flung trips to check out the latest potential import

brianregan09

When did rogers get a big job haha

Mickeroo

KCAccidental wrote: »

what would happen if we drew Shaktar Donetsk in the champions league with Bergy in charge? :eek:

We'd respectfully destroy them of course. *twirls moustache*

DenMan

Fore some reason I believe we are going to be top scorers in the league next season. Keeping RVP and the acquisition of Podolski coupled with Walcott, Rosicky and possibly Benayoun and Arshavin. I have a great feeling about this. Defensively we are not going to ship as many goals as we did last season either. Come on Arsenal.

L'prof

DenMan wrote: »

Fore some reason I believe we are going to be top scorers in the league next season. Keeping RVP and the acquisition of Podolski coupled with Walcott, Rosicky and possibly Benayoun and Arshavin. I have a great feeling about this. Defensively we are not going to ship as many goals as we did last season either. Come on Arsenal.

What about when we sell van Persie?

L'prof

L'prof wrote: »

What about when we sell van Persie?

And Arshavin, Benayoun won't be back :pac:, thats stumped him.

DenMan

L'prof wrote: »

What about when we sell van Persie?

We're not going to sell van Persie. His own mother and wife have both come out and advised him to stay. His wife said he owes the club so much for sticking with him when he was injured and he said himself it's not about the money. A year ago we would never have been linked with a player of Podolski's quality and now we have him. As for Benayoun and Arshavin, that's still up in the air. Arshavin played brilliantly for Russia against Italy recently and has just won the league with Zenit so he's a winner now. It's about time Arsenal fans stopped fu**king complaining and started being positive and upbeat. Look at the season we had in the end. Take the Manchester clubs out of the equation and we were top of everyone else. Not bad for a team missing players (Wilshere for the whole campaign). Wenger is a great manager and when doubted during the season by so many he trumped up brilliantly.

Sigurdsson's deal has fallen through and looks like he is going to Liverpool to be with Rogers.

DenMan

DenMan wrote: »

We're not going to sell van Persie. His own mother and wife have both come out and advised him to stay. His wife said he owes the club so much for sticking with him when he was injured and he said himself it's not about the money. A year ago we would never have been linked with a player of Podolski's quality and now we have him. As for Benayoun and Arshavin, that's still up in the air. Arshavin played brilliantly for Russia against Italy recently and has just won the league with Zenit so he's a winner now. It's about time Arsenal fans stopped fu**king complaining and started being positive and upbeat. Look at the season we had in the end. Take the Manchester clubs out of the equation and we were top of everyone else. Not bad for a team missing players (Wilshere for the whole campaign). Wenger is a great manager and when doubted during the season by so many he trumped up brilliantly.

Because being upbeat wins you the league doesn't it?:rolleyes:
You have to be realistic, Arshavin is way past his best (which was teh Liverpool game many years ago) he has no desire to do teamwork for Arsenal and the loan just shows that the fans forced him out of the club, get over it.
Van Persie if offered 180k a week by Manchester City, will take it, i'm sure of it.

Harry Redknapp is worried he's entering into the final year of his contract.....

"You don't let good players get down to the final year if they're any good and you don't let managers get into their final year if they're any good"
LOL
You're no use Harry.

DenMan

Great news.

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/view/255218/Arsenal-chief-Ivan-Gazidis-promises-big-spending-summer/

Barca linked with Vermaelen.:D