If I had the opportunity to make a sideways career move to a bigger organisation but chose to stay where I was because I was a bigger fish in a smaller, pond then I'd freely admit to playing it safe and lacking in ambition. That's what Vardy is doing. Yes, they've won the league. Chance of them doing it again? Next to none. Chance of us doing it again during Vardy's playing career? Much higher given AW should be stepping down end of this season. Chance of Leicester winning the CL or even being it again after next season? Next to none. Chance of Arsenal being it every year and maybe at some point winning the CL during Vardy's playing career? Slightly higher than none when AW leaves. He'd get to live in London (OK maybe not a positive for some), play in bigger, nicer stadium, play with players of higher renown, play with a better manager (hopefully, next year). it's not arrogant to say that Arsenal are a bigger club than Leicester. It's fact. Winning one league title doesn't change that. Just like if Spurs finished above us this year it wouldn't have made them a bigger club than us. The only reasons I can see for Vardy staying at Leicester now is because he knows he's a guaranteed starter, plays in a team built around his strengths and he plays with mates (but then he'd have mates here so that's a pussy excuse). BUT - I'm glad he turned us down. He's not that great and he's old. But it's embarrassing that we can't attract players of his moderately good standard and it's a statement of playing it safe from him.
I won't call it lacking in ambition. Like you said it is a sideways move. Leicester are most likely gonna match/better whatever wages we have offered. He doesn't have to move his family. He has struggled all his career and has finally 'made it' very late on. Leicester is a club that has clicked for him. He has become a legend at the club. He is comfortable. We do not offer him anything that he is not getting at Leicester. We have been the same for years so why would anything change in terms of winning title of CL now?? How about he wants to do right by the club that game him a chance even at this late stage of his career. I just don't like the way make these high-horsey statements thinking we are big dogs without real evidence of it. We accuse L'pool of living in the past, while we do the same thing.
The bit in bold is the problem and why players like Vardy are turning us down. Hopefully this will end once AW leaves although even now you'd like to think that most players would see that Arsenal will actually be a promising club again once a progressive manager comes in and tries to do things to win the big trophies. Surely most would put up with a year of AW.
Yeeaahhh....about that... http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsenal-planning-arsene-wenger-contract-8223944 Let's hope it's all speculation/tabloid rumours to wind us up.
Leicester to Arsenal isn't a sideways move. He's chosen to stay at the club which made him, which is fine, but let's not pretend the clubs are equal. I don;t think it's that embarrassing. If we really truly rated and wanted him we would have pulled out all the stops to get him. This just feels like : Oh he's cheap and does a job, let's sign him > Urgh, I guess > What do you mean he's not sure? > He doesn't feel we're that bothered > We're not though are we? > Yeah but you're not supposed to tell him that > Shall we change the deal? > Leave it, only thing more embarrassing that being turned down by Jamie Vardy is haggling for Jamie Vardy > We've not signed Jamie Vardy > Meh.
How saints have managed to sell him for less than they bought him for I'll never know... Would have loved him here. Spurs always seem to make signings that are obvious to everyone. Thought he would have done a fine job at the Emirates...so slightly annoyed by that...
Southampton are normally good at getting good money too... No idea why they let him go so cheap. For £11m I'd have snapped him up.
Because he's in the last year of his contract. It's £11m now or nothing at the end of the season. No-brainer really.
I don't want him. Decent player but poor discipline. I'm much happier with our current purchase tbh. I personally thought the Spuds had a perfectly good DM in Dier. I guess for that price though it's not much of a gamble.
I think one of Spurs issues last season was depth, this gives them great depth and quality in midfield for a bargain price...
We have Elneny, Xhaka and Coquelin in those positions now. Didn't need Wanyama, although I still think he's a good signing for Spurs
I've actually liked what I've seen so far in the Euros which bar one or two Juve games is all I've ever witnessed him playing in. Tall, quick and obviously talented. £60m is a crazy figure though and could probably get you Aubemayang/Lukaku or someone proven of that calibre (least I assume it would).
