I still believe we have a better squad than AFC, even without Bale. If the worst came to the worst and we did sell him, I am confident we'll remain competitive for a top 4 spot. It mean, of course, quite a few of our younger talents stepping up to the mark.
Bale won't go this year because it would completely destroy the credibility of the many people at the club who have said he will not go this year. End of story. They didn't say he wouldn't go next year, they said he won't go this year. People will continue to report Bale will leave this year because it sells papers and gets hits. Of course, they have to weigh the desire for success against the downside of making up a story, which is zero. They do. That's why they keep making up stories. Checkout line tabloid space alien stories are hard-hitting investigative journalism compared to Marca talking about Bale going to Real.
People like you piss me off more than any other fan. Levy is a very good chairman and am proud to have him as ours. People constantly abusing him for not "spending the extra £2m" but clubs like Portsmouth, Leeds etc "spent the extra £2m" - If he feels we are being done over with a price he backs out - I see that as a good thing. You would be the first to say "OMG Soldado, what a waste of money Levy over paying on crap players and panic buying AGAIN. STUPID THICK BALD TWAT" - if he forked out £28m for Soldado and he flopped. He also does whatever he can to hold onto our players - Managing to hold onto Berbatov and Modric for extra season then getting a combined £70m for 2 players that, in my opinion, werent really worth more than £25m each. I love that we have a chairman who stands his ground, doesn't get pushed around by clubs and tries to hold onto our best players. ***Have made a new thread about Levy here so please use that to discuss the above comment rather than derailing the transfer thread more than it already has been!!***
If Bale goes then it's an absolute disgrace: - Levy's end of season statement is shown to be a lie - Paulinho is, I believe, quoted as saying that he was told Bale would be here and was one of the reasons why he signed - We are shown to be a selling club - All of our good players will suddenly move nearer the exit door - not instant transfer requests, but a player would think about moving more than if he stays. - The money goes to new players - the other clubs know we have money and raise prices by a few million - If we did agree a fee, the player is going to want to screw us for cash more so than normal because the top players weren't what attracted them anymore. So yeah - if we sell him, it's back to the dark ages.
Yeah great and what progress have we made in the last 2 seasons? Perhaps read my point - Valencia made it clear that they would not budge from day one. Don't kid yourself, holds on to our best players?! Both of those you mentioned he sold. Mugs like you can't see through it string everyone along with the same old bull ****. 'He wanted to leave' 'We nearly signed so and so'
Lyon made it clear they wouldn't budge on their valuation of Lloris. They budged. And they didn't need the money like Valencia do.
They would say that though, wouldn't they? They have a ceiling price which won't be bettered, due to the release clause, so it's only natural for them to make this their public position. Whether they actually stick to it or not is a different question altogether.
According to twitter, the Bale stuff from earlier was a bid of £60m + De-Maria. De-Maria is decent but he's not £25m decent.
Maybe so but we have needed a good striker for years now and its the same old story, we nearly signed etc. I just think the whole thing is a smokescreen to ready us for the next level down signing.
That would be Remy I guess. Apparently things are very close with Soldado - I think the total fee is ok, I think it's the way it's being paid that is the issue - Valencia probably want a bit more up front and less in instalments.
Exactly. Who was it a few years back when we made a £30 million bid for someone on transfer deadline day. IMO this is just to keep people happy - we have no intention on making signings at that level and I don't expect us to either. I would be happy with a young striker or a bargain where our scouts have unlocked a gem - Michu or a Benteke both under £7 million.
...but, also... No football board deserves an Arsenal87 (except for the Arsenal board, of course). Mind you, I do love the fact that Arsenal87 is the way he is, because, on the odd occasion, he's far more entertaining than the entire 'Pool board the day after they've managed to string two wins together. Some of the things he has come out with, you just know that PESKIE will have held his head in his hands.* *The "head" on his shoulders, this time, that is.
That was Aguero I think - also I think it was more like £38m apparently. The Soldado rumours have gotten more positive this evening - we need to finish it off before Liverpool and Arsenal deal with Suarez - Liverpool with money is a dangerous thing.
I can't see Liverpool selling Suarez to Arsenal. It would be such an unambitious move. Their fans would go crazy. Maybe Higuain to Napoli, Suarez to Real and then... I don't know.
Strikers Levy has signed since 2003... Adebayor - 2012 - £5m Coulibaly - 2011 - £2m Van Der Vaart - 2010 - £8m (Technically AM but signed to play specifically behind crouch) Crouch - 2009 - £9m Keane - 2008 - £12m Defoe - 2008 - £15m Pavlyuchenko - 2008 - £14m Dos Santos - 2007 £4.7m Bent - 2006 - £16.5m Mido - 2006 - £4.5m Berbatov - 2005 - £10.9m Rasziak - 2005 - £2m Defoe - 2003 - £7m Kanoute - 2003 - £3.5m Postiga - 2002 - £6.25m Keane - 2002 - £7m Whats my point? In 10 years Levy has spent nearly £130m on strikers. 7 of which have come in the last 5 seasons costing £65m. Thats averaging out at more than a striker a season and £13m every season on a striker. Ill admit some of those strikers didn't become world beaters but they did a job for us and they are the kind of players we had to sign at that time as we were not considered a "top 4 club" - in the last 2 seasons we have become considered one of the best teams in the country and can attract a higher calibre of player. When we broke top 4 / looked like breaking top 4 Levy opened his chequebook to sign VDV, Adebayor, Modric, Paulinho, Dembele, Sandro, Parker, Vertonghen, Sigurdsson, Dempsey, Holtby - Who were all considered some of the top players in their respective leagues. So next time you accuse Levy of trying to make a smokescreen for signing lesser quality of players maybe think again! Also worth mentioning we spent £61m in transfer fees alone last season.
