No, I think he made a mistake not bringing a DM in during the summer. Several were available and I'm sure we could have got a quality player if we'd tried. What I'm saying is that in January I don't want us to sign a player just because he's an extra number. It has to be the right player who will improve us.
Although i partly agree that it is harder to get signings in Jan, it is far from impossible, especially for a team and manager like ours. For me it all comes down to the manager and what he perceives to be an acceptable purchase, sometimes he gets it right sometimes he gets it wrong. But it appears that you're already trying to make excuses in case he doesn't get a signing this Jan, because you know, as well as the majority of us, that he might not bother getting anyone in. I'm sure we can look at teams who have got very good signings in the Jan window and i've already mentioned one in Arshavin. But ultimately it comes down to our manager, and we all know how stubborn he can get. As i said before, he gets paid a shed load of money to manager a top Premiership/European team. He needs to make sure that our team gets what it needs and can compete at the highest level, which presently is struggling big time.
I'm still confused over why Morgan Schneiderlin was snubbed. He was linked to us in 2014 but Southampton refused to let him leave as they had already lost a plethora of players in that window. That, I can understand. Come summer 2015 and everything seemed in place to sign him; he's french, PL ready and we have a good relationship with Southampton. If it really is a case of £25 million being too steep then that is disgraceful. Even though it is rumoured to being that reason, it seems the most plausible. Wenger is too archaic in his approach to the transfer window. It's not like 10 years ago where you could get the odd bargain. All teams have to overspend to get a decent player. Injuries aside, I still can't believe that no outfield player was bought due to a lack of "value" in the market. A euphemism for being a stingy git if ever heard it. Don't expect any signings January. Any player that comes off our injury table is 'like' a "brand new signing."
It is perplexing indeed. He is archaic but depending on the type of player that he's going for. He is more than willing to splash the cash for an attacking midfielder, but rarely ever spends big on defensive type players. I wouldn't be surprised if he has wet dreams over fielding 11 attacking midfielders!
Excuses already being gotten in from some for the possible scenario of Wenger not signing anyone... quelle surprise.
Not making excuses, just outlining that Jan isn't the best time to get a top quality player and the right deal might not be available. That said, given the thread bare nature of our cover I think he should bring somebody in even if they are not a long term solution. Perhaps we should try and poach out long term target Yann M'Villa from Sunderland
Funny though it seems, but getting a decent DM in the window would add so much to our team. We need someone who has the legs and awareness to give proper cover to our back 4 and allow our attacking players to focus going forward. Coqs did the simple things right and made us work so well.
... based on...? Best time for what? In the last few January windows the following have all moved: Schurrle, Shaqiri, Paulista, Alli, Herrera, Mata, Matic, Cabaye, Zouma, Sturridge, Coutinho, Danilo, Perez, Silva, De Bruyne and the mighty Djourou. Players are available to move. You're making excuses. Is that Arsene?!
The big issue for me is that we have kept Arteta/Flamini. Why are we pay the wages of players who are clearly not of the required standard anymore? They are using up space in the side/wages that should be there for players that can make a difference
As I've said, I think Jan is okay to get somebody in for cover, but most of the top players are involved in CL matches with their clubs and are less likely to move. Yes some players do move in Jan, I just don't think it's as easy to get the best players in that window.
Agreed. Those two players including Rosicky have skewed our squad strength and depth. Getting rid of Arteta and Flamini and getting in 1 DM would have been so much more beneficial for us, even if it was a decent and not amazing one.
But do we need a really good player? I think a DM who could do a tidy job at the back and has the legs to do it would help to maintain our league position. Problem is Arteta and Flamini don't have the legs anymore to perform the DM role satisfactory over the course of 3 months.
William Carvalho is not in the CL. He's probably of the required quality. If we pay enough money then we get him. Simple. If we don't sign him then Wenger has no plausible excuse except incompetence and/or stubbornness (which is just as useless as incompetence)
I would have liked Lars Bender but he just picked up a major injury. Carvalho would be a good signing. Grzegorz Krychowiak would be perfect IMO.
He also said he wants to play for us. He's young and has great potential. In spite of all this, Wenger won't sign him. http://www.espnfc.co.uk/story/2658991/william-carvalho-reveals-fondness-for-arsenal
Yup. Krychowiak won't be able to play CL for us, but let's face it who gives a stuff as we've only got a max of three more games in that comp. I'd sign Carvalho now and then Krychowiak in the summer. Then we'd have a top drawer central midfield again. Carvalho, Krychowiak, Coquelin, Ramsay. Cazorla and Ozil compete and rotate at CAM.
I agree on Carvalho too. Now, will it happen? I'd pay the extra so that we have a better chance of challenging for the title. I'll say it now, having no proper DM cover will blow any chance we have of winning the Prem.
Wenger ceiling is 4th place. Nothing else matters. If 4th comes under threat, then he acts. If we go on a winning run and shoot up the league and are top by Jan, common sense says strengthen to have a tighter grip of top spot. But not for Wenger. He will leave things as they are until 4th is threatened, then he recalls loaned out players.
