***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

[ZM Punk]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

I would love to see us use the Cesc and Nasri money to get Hazzard and Christian Erikkson from Ajax. I think those would be my idea replacements for those two.

[RoyceDa59]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

I would love to see us use the Cesc and Nasri money to get Hazzard and Christian Erikkson from Ajax. I think those would be my idea replacements for those two.

I like Hazzard he would be great but Erikkson good young player with great agility but could be passed on. I think Arsenal should spend some money on a little older players with more experience.

[southernbelle]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

^^
erikkson is potential, and should not be the focal point. maybe payment now for delivery summer of 2012 to get a haircut.

who do we need? that is the question. center backs, center backs, center backs... and a holding midfielder. i say strength over skill right now. change the attitude and shape of the club.

but, who knows. would not be surprised if AW bought 4 17 year old wingers he gets at a "good price."

look, AW is stubborn and wants to do it his way. as long as he makes the champions league, he is running a very profitable business. but, there is much competition this year. man city clearly passed us last year and you really have to say we have proven talent of 6th place team. he cannot miss the CL, so he must invest for the campaign.

Mata is a good blend of youth and immediate talent.

the real issue is that arsenal may not be will to pay the big wage demands. everyone looks at the transfer fee, but i am hearing things have broken down more often than not because AW unwilling to pay huge wages.

[jesmith29]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

"look, AW is stubborn and wants to do it his way. as long as he makes the champions league, he is running a very profitable business."

That right there is the problem, a professional sports team is not a business and if you're looking to make a profit, it is the wrong train of thought.

Soccernomics did such a great job of explaining this. For those that haven't read the book, I highly recommend it.

[br82186]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

Everyone needs to get the idea of Hazard and maybe Cahill coming here!

1. We had the money to get one of them even before the sale of Clichy.
2. If we missed out (or in my terms screwed up) on getting other talented players i.e. Ozil, di Maria, Remy, and etc. what in world will make you guys think we'll get these guys?

[ZM Punk]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

I like Hazzard he would be great but Erikkson good young player with great agility but could be passed on. I think Arsenal should spend some money on a little older players with more experience.

I would like to spend some money on some older players too, but we all know that ain't happening.

[Krebstar]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

Theo still will not be quiet about wanting to play in the center. My advice to him is shut the **** up and finish your chances that you're given.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/foo...an-Persie.html

[EWRMETS]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

Im not even mad at Arsene but how can we go into a match against Liverpool with this squad? Last year it was silverware or bust, now this year we are fighting with Spurs and Liverpool for a Champion's League spot?

This is what Arsene needs to do:

Christopher Samba-he's perfect for us in that not only does he strengthen our middle but he'd give us a target man that we are sorely lacking which would actually make us dangerous on corners and free kicks

Juan Mata- Chelsea's after him...so what? If we want to be a big club we have to actually win a battle for a player. We need help up the middle.

Move Arshavin to Striker: We know Arshavin can score and he's been terrible on the wing. He needs to play mid whether it's attacking mid or striker. Right now we are stuck with Chamakh as backup to RVP and Bendtner is on his way out. I think Arshavin could regain his form if he had more scoring chances.

[Krebstar]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

Arshavin is just too damn small to play up front next to RVP. Even though Walcott is becoming annoying with his cries to be up front, I'd much rather see him paired with RVP. I think Arshavin is most dangerous when cutting in, especially from the left with the shot that he can produce off his right foot.

As for the squad going into tomorrow. It's really, really sad. Even Rosicky is now injured. Which isn't surprising to anyone, but I think we just hit crisis mode in terms of available players.

The young guys could step up, though. Last year against Liverpool their young players stepped up and helped them against us. I'm more worried about the weeks to come after tomorrow.

[misterbroom12]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

I think Wenger has the terms "potential" and "quality" swapped in his mind compared to how the rest of us view them. He said in his most recent press conference "If you look at the players we have brought in, they are all top-quality players." He is joking right? We bought Gervinho, Jenkinson and Oxlade-Chamberlain for our first team. Those three are top-quality but it would be too much of a risk for us to buy the likes of Mata, Cahill, Baines or Samba? All of whom have proven to compete more than adequately on less than top of the barrel clubs in the Prem or La Liga? He baffles me more and more as each day goes by.
On a good ending note he did also say "We are still looking to add quality." So we can at least know he feels we need more players in the squad, just the actual quality of those potential buys may not be what we want to see.

[southernbelle]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

Soccernomics did such a great job of explaining this. For those that haven't read the book, I highly recommend it.

i have not read that book, but i fundamentally disagree. if there are shareholders, then profit is the key. i have actually been proud (too proud) that Arsenal has consistently been top 4 without splashing the cash. AW has just got caught out right now.

i heard from a credit analyst who saw the paper arsenal issued and there are covenants about cash and cash deals that make it difficult to spend big

[ZM Punk]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

i have not read that book, but i fundamentally disagree. if there are shareholders, then profit is the key. i have actually been proud (too proud) that Arsenal has consistently been top 4 without splashing the cash. AW has just got caught out right now.

i heard from a credit analyst who saw the paper arsenal issued and there are covenants about cash and cash deals that make it difficult to spend big

Do you have a stake in the club? If not, then I don't understand rooting for the board to make money hand over fist. As a fan, I want trophies, I could care less rather the shareholders are getting rich.

[misterbroom12]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

Do you have a stake in the club? If not, then I don't understand rooting for the board to make money hand over fist. As a fan, I want trophies, I could care less rather the shareholders are getting rich.

I am with you 50% on this. I agree that this is a business and should be run properly as such, unlike what most other clubs do. On the other hand, I do not support the continued growth in the club financially, some of which coming from increased ticket prices year to year, (even though I have no first hand experience with this personally) while the team spends none of that profit specifically put aside to strengthen the squad and coincidentally does not win silverware. If you are giong to raise ticket prices and not lavishly overspend, that is fine, but at least spend enough to make the club equally successful on the field so the paying fans have reason to come back with joy.

[rsnomar05]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

Do you have a stake in the club? If not, then I don't understand rooting for the board to make money hand over fist. As a fan, I want trophies, I could care less rather the shareholders are getting rich.

Exactly. I want the club to make money so that they can then SPEND that money on quality players. I highly doubt Pittsburgh Pirates fans are overjoyed that their owner makes a profit every year and refuses to spend any money on payroll. The fact is, last season we were saying the goal was to win a trophy. Any trophy. Now, people are saying it would be a good season for Arsenal if they finished 4th and didn't lose their CL spot. I, for one, am tired of thinking winning the Carling Cup would be a huge accomplishment and that finishing 4th is a great season. I happen to be from New England and am thus a huge Red Sox fan. The Sox are one of the most profitable baseball teams but they also spend a ton of money and are a shining example that you can spend and still be profitable. I mean, Arsenal have at least 50 million to spend right now, and nobody could say with a straight face that you couldn't buy great players with that cash. I'm not saying we should spend like Man City, but if we have 50 million or thereabouts to spend, we should use it to bring in great players. Arsene could prove me wrong as there is still time left 'til the deadline, but if this is the team we have going forward, it will be "In Arsene We No Longer Trust."

[jesmith29]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

As the old saying goes, "You gotta spend money to make money!"