According to SSN, Santos have confirmed that 5 clubs have met the 45 million euros release for Neymar including us, City, Barca and Madrid (the 5th being a Russian club). Not too worried about City as I'm sure he would pick us over them at the moment. However, have we any chance of landing this player if Barca and Madrid are in the frame. I suspect not. I do also wonder how Barca are going to afford Sanchez, Fabregas and now Neymar on their alleged 40 million budget though!! Sounds like Madrid is the likely destination. Yet another forward to add to their books. What a joke. Also sounds like Juve are in pole position for Kun Aguero. Have we lost a march on some of these transfers whilst sorting out the manager situation??? United have now signed 3 players totalling 60 odd million quid!!
I honestly don't see the fuss in signing Neymar if I'm honest... Sturridge will be monstrous for us this season given the chance, as will Torres....Ramires is showing real class in being the playmaker, esp in the latter half of the season and McEachran should get more of a game as well. But that's just me
Valid points though I'm not sure any of them really add the creative spark we need. Josh is going to be a great player but it still seems too early for him.
SW It'll be interesting to see what AVB does in his pre season games - depending on who we actually sign from the 73 players we are linked with of course
Fair point about Barca not being able to afford Sanchez as it's common knowledge that they are claiming to 'only' have £40 million to spend. The thing is I don't really see where they need to strengthen as they are almost the perfect team as it is. Who are they going to drop if they get Sanchez? Pedro? Villa? Who are they going to drop if they sign Fabregas? Xavi? Iniesta? They have been 'linked' to Luiz (an absolute non starter) and Pastore as well and I can't see who they would replace either. If I where them I would keep the money and put it towards paying off the debts they have. As for Neymar, I am in two minds about him. There's no denying that the lads got talent, but he seems to be trouble with an ego the size of a planet that could put Ronaldo to shame. He's been in plenty of bust ups in Brazil and stamped on someone last week. He could be the next Robinho if we got him...off to Madrid/Barca after a year so he may as well go to Madrid as they are obviously so short of attacking players.
Neymar is a very talented and skilful lad. I think he would do very well in the premier league but we are also linked with sanchez. If we got neymar I think he would be used as a winger like sanchez and can you imagine how our attack would look like if we had those two on the wing with torres plus another striker which I hope would be falcao then what a force we would be! Get rid of kalou and malouda and bring both neymar and sanchez in and then we would be a force to be reckoned with thats for sure.
There is a way we could beat the other four clubs. We could stir things up in the Barca and Real camps, get their executives who do these deals to argue whilst waiting to speak to Neymar and in the end hopefully stab each other to death, putting them out of the race. The Russian club, once they review the deal I'm sure will realise that they cannot really afford him and just felt like trolling the other clubs and as for City well we can just pretend that it is not actually Neymar we are going after, but rather Nilmar and wait for them to become interested in him and forget about Neymar. That would leave only us for him to join.
The Russian team are not in the running as far as I am concerned as Roberto Carlos plays for them and he has just walked off the pitch due to racial abuse - cant therefore see him recommending any player to come there PLUS Neymar wants to be best in the world and win the Ballon D'Or - Brazilians who go to Russia are normally the less skilled ones or use it as a stepping stone to the bigger leagues - Neymar doesnt need to go down that route. Cant see that Barca are really in the running so I think it is a 3 horse race. Positives for us are our Brazillian contingent so I put us above Citeh so think it is a straight shoot our between us and Real Madrid. Therefore it now probably all depends on who he prefers Jose or AVB when talking to them - toss of a coin I reckon.
Madrid have a bigger reputation abroad and brazilian players of years gone by have succseeded there. I'm sure there will be players like Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo (fatty), Kaka & Marcelo who will offer their 2 pence and it may sway Neymar to head for Spain. It's a shame really as i'd love to see how he'd cope with the premier league :-/
Spot on. Though there is the factor that he wouldn't be guaranteed a start. Di Maria, Benzema, Kaka, Higuian, Ozil, Ronaldo are already established there. I think he'd walk into our front 3 but wouldn't at Madrid. But when Madrid comes a calling, there's normally one outcome...
Jesus wept. Is that really your contribution? What a total weapon. Six years now isn't it? That project of Wenger's is working real well isn't it. How d'you think you'll fare now your 2 best players want to leave?
Check out the signature to, classic. Do you 'envy' capitulation, cos I don't!!! Birmingham and Portsmouth have won more that Arsenal in the last 6 years.
Fair point 100 years, but I would still rather be a gooner in the CL every year ( up to now, a bit worried with draw coming up) than Birmingham or Pompey. An example I used to give was Shankly at Liverpool, who won nothing between 1966-73 whilst 3rd Division QPR and Swindon won trophies. As someone, who grew up in the 70's, it is a shame, but being in the CL is worth more than winning the domestic cups and finishing 6th. We know what will happen to AVB, if he wins the Carling and FA Cup next season and finishes 5th. You may just be ganging up on Vela so perhaps, fair enough.
