Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Yes it does look rather ominous and if he does leave who do you get to replace such a important player.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Get Remy and Giroud would be pretty epic. Struggling to see how both of them would get in the squad - also won't happen.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Yes there is a big difference regarding speculation and reality and l for one will not believe anything until it actually happens and as we see in the news this morning there is a Maelstrom of speculation but nothing more then that.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

We should offer a deadline to RVP, sell him if he doesn't sign by a given time to allow us to plan this time.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Yes l agree because as we all remember last season Wenger was put in a position where several players left just before the transfer window and then he had to suddenly rush into buying 3 or 4 players on the last couple of days before the transfer window closed.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

i wish those comments were true yesterday. this will probably drag out now

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

And thats what you don't want and we don't want the managerial situation vacant at Liverpool to drag on either.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18101799

Maybe the scousers will have him back? :D

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

As long as he's nowhere near a black and white shirt he can go wherever he wants.

He chance to retire and play with his horses instead.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

He's no damn scouser.:nono::nono: and he is not welcomed back in Liverpool thats for sure.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Maybe because he was one of the worst players on the pitch that night!

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Feel sorry for him. Promising career ruined by injuries. You do now have an impression that his focus and motivation has gone however.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

It does seem strange when the millionaires like Keane and Neville have had theirs and even donated the cash.to charity while he had to wait, perhaps he wasn't there long enough to qualify under normal circumstances.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Jack Wilshere to undergo minor knee procedure.

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-arc...knee-procedure

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

well from yesterday at least 2 of the comments could be true. M'Vilas, fee agreed between clubs and Kagawa, "You have to ask Arsene Wenger [about Kagawa's future" that quotes from a German source translating from this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=Jp6odsjY2AY

17:45min

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Kagawa is a weird rumour. It doesn't make much sense to me. Where would he play? Do we really need yet more attacking minded midfielders? How many do we have? Walcott, Chamberlain then Podoski is widely expected to play on the left of the front three, we have Wilshere, Ramsey and Song who all like to push forward, Arterta plays just behind them, we'll already need to find space to get M'Vila (if we get him) and Miyaichi has to come back from Bolton.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

attacking players that will hopefully leave Arsenal: Arshavin, Benayoun, Diaby, Vela, Park, Denilson, Bendtner, Chamakh

I know theres strikers in there as well as a holder if you like but still, theres a lot of names that should be leaving which will make room for players like Kagawa.

Anyway I don't know what the big fuss is about. if we are to fight on all fronts then we need numbers, and those numbers have to be quality or we'll fall short yet again.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Both wages and ensuring players are happy as squad players is a problem. I am happy to have depth but there is an element of realism to consider. I hope we do get rid of the players you mentioned but I suspect some of them will be staying. The rumours suggest Bendtner would be part of the deal with Dortmund. Excellent business if true.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

for both parties yes when you consider Kagawas in the last year of his contract is he not?

wages would be freed up by outgoing and as for players being happy, well theres 4 major comps. again if we are to fight on all fronts we'll need numbers.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

We'll see. I hope it happens but experience has left me wary of transfer rumours. It would well be a ploy to force United's hand.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

his agent said after meeting Utd that he wants to look at other offers or something. thats hardly promising. i doubt Utd will have trouble offering him a good deal which makes you wonder whether its wages been toyed with or Kagawa wanting to join another club

---------- Post added at 14:34 ---------- Previous post was at 14:23 ----------

tell you the truth Den Wengers got himself in this mess by mismanagement. a overhaul needs to be undertaken at Arsenal. Every man and his dog knows that. Fans have been asking for extra signings etc. for years but the direction Wenger went in ended in an implosion. i know as an Arsenal fan letting Van Persie go to the Euros with this contract not yet signed is a negative but because the mess at Arsenal is big I personally cant dwell on it. focus is on the overhaul from all angles thats it.

Liverpool do need a manager ASAP to get building for next season. Den what baffles me with Liverpool is your club over spends BIG time. is there not 1 wise head at the club that can see right from wrong. also have you got a scouting network?

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

The mess at Arsenal isn't big compared to any other club. Stable management situation, decent finances, well prepared for FFP and a new stadium already constructed. There are many in Merseyside who would be envious of such a mess and for whom the 15th consecutive qualification for the Champions League would be an ambition, not a failure.

The direction Wenger took the club was largely forced on him as a result of the strain on finances that resulted from the stadium move. Only in the last few years has there been money to spend. The youth policy he enacted allowed Arsenal to keep the costs of the first team down and it's nothing short of extraordinary that he has continued to keep the club in the European Elite whilst averaging one of the lowest net spends in the Premier League since the construction of the Emirates. Arsenal fans, every man, and their various dogs may want to evaluate their definition of mismanagement because the numbers and the respective achievements explain why Wenger is still one of the most sought managers in European football and why he still commands such respect abroad.

We can agree that the last transfer window was mismanaged, he himself has conceded as much, but we recovered well and are third. The squad needs improvement, some players need to leave, it's a problem but fails short of a mess or serious mismanagement. These terms are warranted at United where, despite their excellent manager, the owners have been creating problem after problem and stifling their inability to compete in the transfer market for no other reason that real mismanagement - not because of infrastructural improvements as was the case with Arsenal. It's merited at Chelsea where managers have been in and out and where they will struggle to be competitive in a post-FFP era. Liverpool never made that stadium move and each year they stall the longer it will be before they can return to their previous status. In fact Spurs are probably the only other well-managed club at the top of the Premier League and they still have to make that stadium move. You may well add Newcastle to that list as well.

I think the problem is the circumstances have changed but some Arsenal fans still expect (not desire, expect) Premier League titles but this is increasingly difficult given the wages and fees that first Chelsea and now City can offer. We are fighting a losing battle there and can only hope that Financial Fair Play will be effective because if it is then we may be able to compete again. Until then expect us to struggle to challenge their dominance.

Still. Wenger is doing pretty dam well all things considered. The future looks good.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

We no longer have any in-house scouts as the scouting was "outsourced", in other words probably limited to the shifty blagger Comolli watching youtube clips, dvds and playing Football Manager 2012.

Seriously, we don't know. FSG are supposed to have a knowledgable think-tank supporting them, Brian Barwick supposedly being one of the wise heads.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Mmmmm Barwick a wise head and as for a decent scouting network well we are certainly way behind on that score Peter.:td:

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

we're Arsenal not any other club. if we go comparing with negative clubs we'll never move forward. I agree CL qualification has been brilliant but we've been in a position for a few years now where we could push on but we didnt.

wrong. yes in the couple of years of moving we were somewhat skint but following on from that we gained monies. its funny how your saying there wasnt enough money yet Wengers always said if we had to buy big we could. Plus the man banged out mega contracts. hardly skint or extraordinary. and yes mismanagement has gone on. our stars are fed up playing with average overpaid players. its become a joke wheres players have the nerve to slate the club even though their crap and still be allowed to get away with lack of hunger to play, improve etc.

i think you need to evaluate. we need to move forward not backwards and sideways.

yeah ok.

wrong but you obviously blindly support Wenger and this hype about monies when weve got money to spend.

theres a heck of a lot of players that could make a difference for Arsenal that dont carry massive fees.

yes watching him step backwards and sideways all the while managing to get CL footy is impressive but incredibly frustrating when we could be moving forward.

---------- Post added at 15:43 ---------- Previous post was at 15:41 ----------

buying on hype and spying on other clubs transfer activity isnt the way forward.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Yes one or two players we have bought on half a seasons promise but lets be clear every big club in the world keeps a eye on his opponents and Arsenal are no different to Liverpool in that respect.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Sorry where I am I wrong? We came third and people are not happy we didn't challenge for the title? So am I wrong about some of the expectations about what we should achieve or am I wrong that we can't compete with City and Chelsea's resources? We have about £50 million to spend, that includes contracts, according to the AST and Swiss Ramble. That is not going to make City worried.

Stop saying wrong and assuming you speak for the whole fan base. People are allowed differing opinions to you. I go to a majority of home games, am an AST member, and read about the club. I don't enjoy being patronised and lectured at without substance to back up the arguments. People can have differing perceptions around the club.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

you think just because City and Chelsea offer huge figures we're somehow brushed aside. theres loads of players out there. we have a network that has many names down as possible incomers. what you say is we can't do anything, you make it sounds as if its impossible. theres ways around not spending big. its been Wenger whos mismanaged.

we have flops at Arsenal that need shifting which will not only bring in some money in transfers but free up a lot of wage spend. that can then be put towards other players.

good for you, I'm sure you'll be made ambassador soon. all you do is blindly support Wenger, you as well as others blow smoke and then wonder why the club is in a mess. In Arsene We Trust, yeah great. its a shame the playing squad, functionality has been neglected and mismanaged for years yet fans who speak of whats needed are ridiculed then what.. those same fans get proven right.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

No. I don't blindly support Wenger. That is a aspersion you have made that is unfair and unwarranted. I have criticised the handling of the last transfer window both in my last post and previously on this forum. However I think his record of 15 consecutive Champions League finishes is impressive, only United and Real Madrid have done the same, and he has done it with fewer resources than those clubs - even if you take into account the money that is there that he has yet to spend. It's even more impressive when you consider that money has only recently come available so from 2002 to, say, 2010 he did so without that £50 million being there.

The current squad isn't great. This is largely a result of Fabregas and Nasri leaving in the same summer and Wilshere being out. This year we went into the season with three of our best players from last year gone. We should use this window to improve.

All I do is blindly support Wenger? I'm sorry but you need to back up your arguments rather than question my motivations.

No. I am saying we adjust our expectations. Wenger shouldn't be judged on his ability to win the Premier League because of the resources he is up against. There are ways around that but the richest team won the title this year and Chelsea dominated when they had massive investment in the first team.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

To be fair arsenal went quite a bit down when dein got the boot from the board and i have to think that the board had too much input in the players and wages they could offer. Another thing like some other clubs we don't have oil money or a billionaire that doesn't mind putting in say 400m into the club.

Wenger is the right manager and yes we have some slackers in the squad and 1 misplaced midfielder that would be better as striker in my eyes

Hopefully Kagawa joins United :)

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

there you go again, we all know our CL participation is brilliant we don't need reminding of that. what we need reminding of is pushing forward. like you say theres money so why not spend it. oh wait lets bang out contracts to average players even though their crap and let them run riot with those silly figures off the field. yeah brilliant management right there.

Nasri left because he was tired of not achieving success, Fab too. you can add other factors into it all you like but the fact is our players that have left were tired of playing with average players. We've now got Van Persie in the same boat, question is where will he end up.

yes you do blindly support Wenger. the man warrants criticism over the way HE has handled things. you not long ago said a overhaul wasnt possible or something, we have to do with the likes of Diaby etc. thats pathetic melting into Wengers hand. these half players we've got are useless. the fact we've got half players as depth is stupid. we could replace them with fighters without breaking the bank. oh no wait, how will they all play. DAMN!!! really?!

so we've got a wage structure that could support a squad full of fighters. we could have a transfer budget big enough to support a overhaul should all the flops be sold but no, not possible, no club will take them. no not possible because they will want to play. no not possible because Wengers got other commitments such as commentary.

I want whats best for Arsenal not whats best for Wenger or 1 or 2 players. We're an elite side able to fight on all fronts if its done correctly.

---------- Post added at 16:40 ---------- Previous post was at 16:37 ----------

its been proven the board didn't have a big hand in whats gone on as some have suggested. the wage bill is a complete mess, thats whats held Arsenal back. Wenger and his stubborn ways.

Dein brought Stan to the clubs attention because of the influence billionaires would have on the league. I'm not entirely sure whether Dein brought him in as security or as a suger daddy. Dein brought loads of players to Arsenal to which they ended up walking out the door untouched. Ribery being one, someone let him go. we had him.

---------- Post added at 16:50 ---------- Previous post was at 16:40 ----------

the board have not had any real hunger for years, they havent got the bottle. it took a grilling at the AGM to wake them all up. funny how Dein brought Stan to the clubs attention, got ousted and the board were sticking their fingers up at everyone left, right and center including fans, PHW the dinosaur! then because Dein got ousted and got treated unfairly he sold his shares to the Russian billionaire. that then prompted Arsenals board to wake up and look at things and surprise surprise, they went with Stan. Why didn't they go for another security outlet. the whole board havent got the bottle, they've left Wenger to ruin himself, he hasn't had support which was Dein. the whole things a joke. thats why I get vexed when people settle for players like Diaby. the overhaul, the problems are deep at Arsenal which need sorting out. the AST heads even know this but keep silent because of the dinosaur that is PHW.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Then why doesn't the Champions League participation factor into the discussion? That's a massive achievement and is evidence that Wenger is not mismanaging the club. We are spending the money, Podoski is already here before the transfer window is even open. More should have been spent last summer, which I have already conceded and criticised Wenger for, however I think he has redeemed himself in the end with the final position of the team.

Doubling his wages may also have helped.

I don't however. As I have repeated three times now and you continue to fail to back it up. I keep mentioning it today.

You need to calm down. I have not made any personal remarks about you or your motivations but you have failed to extend the same courtesy to me.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

if we as fans keep going on about CL then we wont move forward. wenger will keep saying the same thing and be stuck in his ways. yes we've luckily got to 3rd this year with Tottenham loving a cock up.

of course that factors in, but what if we had a solid team, not those average half arsed players? we would have been 1 much stronger obviously, 2 had a very good chance of lifting trophies and 3 would players then leaving be as big as a blow if they went because of wanting more money? no because we'd be in the mind set of replacing with quality to push us on. that hasn't happened. we've moved backwards and sideways. 4 would players actually want to move with the club their at being successful? that could go either way, the good old new challenge quotes may be.

you've blindly supported Wenger Damien. you've even taken shots at me for not when you fail to understand why I don't support him at the moment with the issues at Arsenal.

because you support Wenger too much, he doesn't warrant it. I'll be the first to drop this front if the overhaul is complete. theres a lot of work that needs to be done. the CL thing can be boasted about to other fans but within discussions to do with Arsenal moving forward it should be left aside. thankfully we got it this year so now Wenger has a chance, a last chance in my opinion to correct things. he's all done riding out his luck

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Martinez & Rodgers Set for Reds Interviews, AVB Open to Talks.

http://www.kopsource.com/martinez-ro...open-to-talks/

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Louis Van Gaal? or is he Chelsea bound?

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Cannot see him at a English club anytime soon.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Surely Martinez will just be another Hodgson for liverpool?

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Please explain why you think that Shadow.:)

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Under Kenny we only won a couple more games than Wigan in the league. Having spent quite a significant wedge in the summer and before, that's a pretty damning indictment in what is a results driven business.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Martinez has been officially approached to talk with the owners.

That would be a very interesting and exciting prospect. It could go either way, he will certainly attempt to get Liverpool playing a more fluid and attacking brand of football and it would suit their fans and heritage well. His record at Wigan is good and while he has detractors who would point to his teams poor form for most of the season it's ultimately about where you end up and he proved he could cope in that situation. It has done it season after season on a very small budget. However it's never an easy call if a manager can make that step up, it's quite different to be expected to win most of your games. Be a very interesting appointment.

That said Liverpool have said they will approach a number of candidates so we'll see. I would feel sorry for Wigan, he showed great loyalty to them but rejecting the Villa job and they returned the favour by refusing to fire him during the season. Class acts on both sides.

---------- Post added at 19:02 ---------- Previous post was at 18:59 ----------

Reading the RAWK forums they aren't universally happy with the idea to say the least. Very risky. If they turn on him it won't be pleasant and make it much more difficult.

edit: Actually they seemed to have calmed down since yesterday.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

He has no experience of working at a big club and has only narrowly avoided relegation two seasons running. Hodgson had a better CV than Martinez (UEFA cup final, international management) and he wasn't good enough. I know you need to give managers like Martinez a chance, but will he get enough of a chance at Liverpool? I doubt it.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

His brand of football and the fact that 'King Kenny' isn't behind him ready to step in may help.

---------- Post added at 19:29 ---------- Previous post was at 19:25 ----------

https://twitter.com/robharris/status/203190167878643713

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Sir Alex Ferguson had no PL experience when he took over a huge English club and was repeatedly questioned on whether he was good enough for the first few years so l think Martinez deserves to be given the same chance at Liverpool.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

When I heard Kenny was sacked I thought Benitez would be making a return. The EPL hasnt been the same since he left

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

There is no chance of Benitez being brought back and as l always say never go back to a previous manager as it usually ends in tears.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer now 6:4 for Villa job...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18106578

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Roy Keane interested in the Liverpool job...

Somehow I don't think he will be asked :)

http://twitter.com/#!/roy_keane_esq

Quite amusing in places

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

is that a verified account?

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Big Sam is the best fake twitter account but in no way linkable on here.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

No idea

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

I think he would do really well for them. He was excellent as our reserve coach and has done a great job at Molde. It will be interesting to see if he actually wants the job or if he decides to carry on gaining experience in Norway. Whatever he does, it looks like he has the potential to be a good manager.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

No it isn't. it's a PARODY ACCOUNT! just seen it at the top

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

players would play for him thats for sure but has he got tactical knowledge, training etc. etc. to be a manager?

i remember hearing or reading he was on twitter which amazed me, could be wrong. surely his account would be verified.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Yes, one of the good guys as well, despite the 'baby faced assassin' tag!

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

ahh in that case has he got twitter? may be im mixing him up with someone else :confused:

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

It should be noted that more often than not, when it comes to manager markets, betting companies do not have information so their prices respond to incoming bets. Someone starts a rumour, a flurry of bets are placed as a result, the bookies computers respond to reduce risk and the price goes down.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

You're wrong if you think financial fair play is going to help you, it's already been watered down and now there's talk of postponing it a few more seasons, won't be long before it's abandoned altogether and imo that's no bad thing as let's be honest it was only ever designed to stop anyone else joining that elite little group at the top table.

---------- Post added at 02:06 ---------- Previous post was at 02:00 ----------

He had also won a European trophy, broken the old firm dominance and managed a team at a world cup finals hardly the same as keeping Wigan up.

---------- Post added at 02:11 ---------- Previous post was at 02:06 ----------

Capelo to Chelsea is doing the rounds at the mo, I can see that happening but then you can also get odds in Lilly savage being the next Liverpool boss so...

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Not on your nelly.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Roy Keane would sort out the idiots in Liverpool's squad, He's a crap manager but he'd sharp fix Carroll and Downing.

Seems the Liverpool job has become what the Newcastle job used to be.

I remember when we got criticised to hell for sacking managers after a year, how lovely it is to see Chelsea and Liverpool do the same.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

I hope Financial Fair Play will help us, it remains a hope, I am also concerned it will be ignored. It isn't being delayed however, kicks in this year.

I disagree with the idea it was only ever designed to stop anyone else joining that elite little group at the top of the table. Certainly some of the clubs advocating it, including Chelsea most of all, have an element of self-interest in ensuring that another Manchester City doesn't come along and hit their club. This is true.

However that's not why UEFA brought it in and it isn't the main intention. The idea should actually help smaller clubs, and bigger clubs, by stopping the crazy inflation of wages that Chelsea and Manchester City have caused. The wages across football keep increasing at a higher pace than the the money football makes. The wages increase across all clubs as a result and many are already struggling to pay their wages bills. It's not sustainable. Yes, this may limit the desire for a billionaire to buy out a smaller club and spend £1 billion to make them a title fighting side but it would help all the other clubs, who are not so lucky, survive. If football's main prospect for growth is the arrival of wealthy benefactors then we're playing a lottery which most clubs will lose.

This is why the Championship enacted their own version of Financial Fair Play this year. The same principles are involved albeit with different punitive measures since they don't have the carrot of European Football to take away, but massive fines and a transfer embargo shows they are taking it seriously. This was voted for by the clubs, 21 of the 24 voted in favour, this was not the elite trying to stop people joining them. This was about clubs trying to survive.

I would also say that clubs are still able to challenge the elite. Tottenham, Newcastle and to a lesser extent Arsenal have been able to challenge for European Football without excessive riches. Newcastle almost made the top four with a sustainable business model, in a post-FFP era they would find it easier not harder to continue to do so since everyone else would have to run their club in the same way. Spurs have managed to challenge for top 4, getting in there twice, with the same limitations. In a post-FFP era they would have an easier time keeping Modric and Bale. Why? Because when all clubs have to balance their books there will be fewer transfers and salaries will not be so disproportional between clubs.

What's more there are exceptions to allow stadium and youth development. Any money spent on infrastructural improvements (stadiums, training facilities, youth development) are exempt from being counted as losses. If you want to move forward then you can invest to these areas as much as you like.

Anyway. In summary I think FFP, if it works, will be a good thing. It's not designed to pull the drawbridge up on other teams. It will actually make it easier to compete because the clubs will be brought closer together. All it will stop is the benefactor-funded clubs being able to win the league by buying £1 billion worth of players. Instead they would have to do it the way all clubs did previously, by investing in the club itself. It will help all other clubs who did not win that lottery by deflating transfer fees, wages, and stopping all promising players being stockpiled by the elite.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Don't get too comfortable adzii as you never know whats round the corner.;)

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Anyway on a unrelated note, the Sky Sports montage for the end of the season: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rm1SE37N_I

:)

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

wages are a problem but no one forces clubs to sign players or keep them on new ridiculous contracts, the man cities, Chelsea's and Madrid's of this world can't sign every one and as so many have found rvp included if he goes, the grass isn't always greener no matter how much cash on offer and that'll be one of the last times you'll be able to cash in so well on a player in the last year of his deal if it goes through. Although interestingly third party ownership is allowed under ffp but the main reason it'll fail is 'coz arsene said it will and as already established you're duty bound to fall into line and agree :D

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/kfqleyqleyoj/rss2/

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Rogers has turned down Liverpool - the better half of South Wales breathes a collective sigh of relief.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Well I didn't say it would work. I said I hope it does. ;). We'll have to see. I think it's stronger than everybody thinks but Manchester City have indicated they will test it. UEFA seem determined to push ahead and close loopholes the emerge.

Wages are a problem and no one forces people to offer such wages other than market forces. This is clearly happening with the continued rapid escalation of wages in the Premier League and beyond.

To be honest if FFP fails then we will start to make big steps towards a European Super League and a franchise system where people spend what they like and there is no relegation. This is the end game and one UEFA are trying to avoid as it kills their cash cow.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

http://m.guardian.co.uk/football/201...l&type=article

---------- Post added at 10:43 ---------- Previous post was at 10:40 ----------

That's what'll kill football, relegation is more exciting than the top half most years and franchising is just crazy, hope they do it in a way, I preferred the old days tbh and hanker for their return.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

For it to be avoided however something needs to be done about the growing indifference between the 'big' clubs and the rest. It's harming smaller clubs as the top clubs in England, and across Europe, race ahead of them and widen the gap but compete in the same leagues. Extracting those clubs and putting them in a Euro Super League will isolate them away. You could see it being a European NFL.

I think FFP is the better way to redress the balance. I don't think the fact it stops another billionaire owner making another big club is a real disadvantage.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Solskjaer is now in talks with Villa.

Get two or three years of good experience there ready to take the hot seat, that would be my dream scenario :)

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Manchester City & United talk to Lille over Eden Hazard.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18117516

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Thats the type of player United need if they want to return to the top.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Lots of reports that Van Persie has indicated he will not sign a new contract at Arsenal under any circumstance with Manchester City being the most likely destination at £250,000 a week. We can't compete with that, our biggest offer is £130,000 which would make him the highest paid player by far.

If this is true then I hope we get the deal done with as soon as possible and use the rumoured £25 million to get two new strikers to replace him. One of them being Remy would be a decent buy and then get another dinky, creative forward that Wenger likes so much. That wouldn't be a bad return for losing Van Persie and, considering his age and injury record, might actually be an improvement. Two very good strikers for one great striker, more depth.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

not true. the 130k is twitter sourced and you take shots at me for quoting twitter. Van Persies waiting, stronger squad and euros. its good for him to wait. that doesn't mean he's gone. plus the quoted 25mil isn't enough for Van Persie. Ask any former player at Arsenal and there'll say the same.

Remy is close, I mean really close to joining to Tottenham

---------- Post added at 18:49 ---------- Previous post was at 18:48 ----------

and Matias Suarez has failed gaining a work permit so that looks to be off

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Yes we would welcome him with open arms at Anfield.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2...persie-arsenal

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footba...t-ready-838373

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/foo...Euro-2012.html

As I said in my post, 'reports said'. There are a number of reports from respected news sources. John Cross of The Mirror is close to the club. They could all be, and probably are, based on the same information but that would be stronger than 'twitter sourced'. None of the papers would lead so empathetically on £130,000 is it was someone on Twitter.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

like i said twitter sourced. that news broke on twitter first, jurnos jumped it. John Cross got stick.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Didn't realise St Mary's had been chosen to test goal line technology:
Link

Not happy AFC Totton lost though, as that's where I went to grammar school...

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

How do you know their sources? They are reporting it 'first hand', i.e not saying 'reports suggest'. Journalists have sources other than Twitter.

Anyway, that wasn't the point of my post. I was references the newspapers, not Twitter, and added the cavet of 'if it's true'. If it is true I suggest we sell as soon as possible to avoid a repeat of last summer and get replacements in early. The team must be done and dusted by the first game of the season, ideally before pre-season.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

ok but its not true if you ask me. Juve are chasing someone else. City will have to cough up a lot more than 25mil for him. 50mil for Torres ?

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

But remember thenry he is in the last year of his contract thus the fee will not be as high as it would if someone had 3 or 4 years still left on their contract.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Arsenal always play hardball. Wenger would let a player see out his contract. City for example have no patience as we've all seen and ultimately throw money. 25odd for Nasri? you can add at least a quarter on for Robin.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

l think the days of club spending money like confetti are over and you will be lucky if you get £25 million.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

It would be hard to coax too much more money out of City. One year left on his contract? Then again the same could be said of Nasri but Nasri was younger. Maybe £30 million for RVP if you add the Man City Premium.

So depressing. I don't want to wait until the end of the Euros. One way or another I want it decided. I like him a lot as a player and as Arsenal's captain but I don't think it would be a diaster if he left as long as we used the money to replace him. It's worth remembering he has that injury risk all the time and is getting near 30. If we got a big fee then we could get two very good strikers which may well be a better option. Three forwards in essence. Depth and quality. It's better to have a better all round team than one superstar and Park.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

doubt it. City hardly need a overhaul and plus theres outgoing to add to their current budget. they need to cut the wage bill if i recall correctly thats all and even then the reports stat 200+k. silly reports if you ask me, way too many flaws.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

City aren't concerned about spending money. If they were concerned they wouldn't be chasing Eden Hazard when they have Nasri and Silva in their team. I mean degest that for a moment, they spent over £50 million last year on those two and now they want to Hazard to complement them. Amazing.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

they need to cut their wage bill. there will be outgoing players from City which will sort out the books then they will push on.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Dennis Bergkamp has said on twitter (real account) that he is confident Van Persie will stay...whether that means anything...

---------- Post added at 22:21 ---------- Previous post was at 22:18 ----------

Scrap that...its probably a fake account :)

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

has Steve Kean left Blackburn?

did big sam get asked about keans comments caught on camera?

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Oh dear...
Link

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Looks like he's been approached

http://m.mirror.co.uk/article?id=839519/

---------- Post added at 02:44 ---------- Previous post was at 02:39 ----------


Remy deal may fall through due to his heart defect

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4325730/Loic-Remy-Spurs-worried-about-signing-French-star-due-to-heart-defect.html


And where did you hear about Suarez as from what I read it's bs no application has been made for a work permit, apparently

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

No real news from up here regarding transfers.

Ba and Tiote are the top possibilities to leave. Two good players and Tiote has years left on his contract so I wouldn't expect him to leave for under £20 million.

Ba has a clause which has been confirmed by Pardew himself. Having not scored in a while a few of the big clubs having a look may have just had a change of mind. He'll either sign an improved contract with no clause or be on his way. Newcastle United will be enforcing a policy in which no stupid clauses will be present in contracts from now on.

I'm content with Ba leaving though and Tiote if the money is good and we scout another brilliant replacement like we did by replacing Nolan with Cabaye.


Linked with.

Jan Vertonghen (Pardew travelled to watch him) Unlikely now considering everyone is after him.

Gylfi Sigurdsson - Been linked with this guy for a while now.

Luuk De Jong - Been linked with this guy most of the season.

Pretty much confirmed for us are a Midfielder supposedly a friend of Cabaye's

A Centre-Back will be signed in the window and possibly a striker depending on if Ba goes or Best is moved on.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

l really do hope he as not been approached as in my mind it would be a retrograde step.:(

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Ba has been playing wide left since cisse's arrival so can't be blamed for the goals drying up imo and again imo there's no way tiote is going to bring in twenty million even at todays vastly overinflated prices he's worth no more than twelve.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

I was hoping they would have sorted the contract out before Euros too.

I have almost reconciled myself to him leaving now as then I won't be disappointed if he does leave in the summer.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

He is replaceable...but..you have to spend money..and don'yt leave it until last minute...that rarely works out

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Remys heart condition has stabilized. he should pass a medical but will need extra monitoring as hes getting now i suppose.

i saw the Matty Suarez comments on forums although well placed sources still saying awaiting paper work. not entirely sure now :confused:

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Well with 4 minutes to go West Ham have scored possibly the goal that will take them back to the promised land.:tu::)

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

I wanted blackpool..but best side won...Now want Chelsea to win tonight

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

noooooooooooooooooooooooo Bayern :D

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Well done the Hammers on their return to the Premiership!!!! :)

Tough luck on Blackpool - maybe your turn next year. :clap:

Good luck to Chelsea this evening too!