I don't want to get the season off unduly negative, but I would like to know where the much vaunted investment has gone. Podolski, Giroud and Sahin cost around 39 million, Van Persie and Song have brought in about 39 million, Sahin will be on loan. We are probably going to get 6 or 7 million from Bendtner. It seems to me that we are going to make our usual profit from transfers. Each year for the last 7 years we have made a profit from transfers, we must be the only club in the country to have done that. So I ask again where is the investment in the team.
The amount we have spent is irrelevant. Carzorla, Podolski and Giroud are all quality additions and at £39 million you would have to say we've spent well. Wenger had planned to bring in one more - Hopefully Sahin deal will get finalised then on top of that we now have to replace Song. If we bring in... Podolski Giroud Carzorla - £39 Million Sahin - Free (possible 2 million loan fee) M'Vila or Bilgia - £15 Million Sale from RVP and Alex Song = £39 Million. (24 +15) We would have spent a total of £15 Million on a squad that is a BIG improvement on last years. I think its great business by Wenger (although I still hate the fact we sold RVP to a rival)
Sorry Bear it's very relevant when you see an Arsenal team with Gervinho and Diaby in it, When we have no experienced cover for Sagna, when Gibbs/Santos have huge question marks over them, when we have no DM to cover for Song, and when Giroud and Podolski are very much untried, and didn't look great on saturday, ok I know it's early days. Neither M'Vila or Biglia has signed so how can you say the squad is better, Cazorla looked very good, but where are the goals coming from? RVP and Song were responsible for 67% of goals or assists last season. Podolski didn't look great at the Euros and I hardly saw Giroud. I agree that selling RVP and Song was good business, it was inevitable anyway. but only if the club are going to re-invest the money.
I cant really agree with anything your saying. 1. There's not a team on the planet that has experinced top class backups for EVERY position.(bar Madrid and City) Also if we want to keep bringing through young players they have to be moved through our squad into the first team. I kinda agree about the RB situation but you can understand the reluctance to spend when we have the leagues finest RB as our No.1. Jenkinson is also a raw talent - who could turn into a really special player. (I read somewhere that he's as quick as Walcott in the speed test and that he is also the fittest member of the whole squad when it comes to endurance.) 2. We havnt played a formation that requires a traditional DM for 3 Seasons. Although I would like Wenger to sign one I can also see the value of playing a 4-2-3-1 with Sahin and Arteta/Wilshere both as deep lying playmakers. Madrid play the exact same system with Khedra and Alonso. I think It would work well. Also you cant be moaning we hav'nt replaced Song yet - He was Only Sold yesterday!! 3. Podolski is'nt yet fit. Giroud will take a little while to adjust. Sure RVP is TOP class and his goals were vital but with Sahin, Wilshere and Carzorla we will now create FAR more than last year making it considerably easier on the forwards. Dont get overly negative - it's rare that teams play well on the first game of the Season.
As long as we carry several passengers in our squad who must be replaced it is relevant. Wenger complains about the 25 squad rule, saying it is not enough, yet there are several players in his squad who simply are not trusted to play week in week out. And yet we have a lot of money that we do not spend. Why? I do not believe these players are difficult to replace with better ones. Then again Wenger said several times that Giroud and Podolski were not brought in as RVP replacements, they were meant to play alongside RVP. Now he is saying RVP has already been replaced with Podolski and Giroud. Nice. I doubt we will buy another midfielder, definately not M'Vila for 20 ml EUROs, maybe some unknown cheap full back, like that Tolouse guy, but that is not enough. From what I saw Podolski is not a natural CF, he is drifting in and out all the time and not good enough in positioning himself in the 6 yard box, he will need a lot of time to adapt. So we rely on Giroud who is not proven in EPL, and if he gets injured, then what? Chamakh? We need another proper striker, yet again, Wenger prefers to carry passengers. So it is relevant.
To be fair, Wenger has been trying to shift Bendy, Park and Chamakh. I think it's pretty clear that Arsenal will look to recoup any money they spend, that's not a bad business model to be honest. But I would agree that it has left us short in key positions. I think we still need to replace RVP and bring in a DM
Dont forget the 4Mil we got for Vela. Taking that into consideration we have actually made a profit this season. Looks like the boared fooled us with the early spending only to get it all back plus more a few weeks later. Hopefully we can add Sahin & M'Vila to our squad.
I don't see why people have problem with us recouping money. We're spending it on new players. What would you rather have? A throw as much mud at the wall and see what sticks type approach like £ity and the Chavs ?
I do not think anyone has problems with that. The problem is - having enough money to invest we yet again seem to prefer to live on a shoestring. You have mentioned another forward and you are spot on. I think he is badly needed. But a good CF costs a lot, and this is a huge stumble block for Arsenal. They will never spend 20+ ml on a player even if they have 40+ ml in their coffers. Why? Aren't we a "Big Club"?
Park, Chamakh, Gervinho, Podolski, Giroud, Arshavin, I ask again, where are the goals coming from, and by the way Wenger new a long time ago that Song would go I read that Zenit are offering 8 million for Arshavin, plus 4 million for Vela, The whole point of this thread is that we are now a selling club for profit, and we don't need to be. It has been 7 years since we won anything and in each of those years we have made money from transfers. Perhaps I am cynical by nature, but I believe that we are now in the grips of an American businessman who will use our club to enhance his personal wealth at the cost of a successful club. Project forward to next year who will we sell. Probably Cazorla, Vermaelen, Koscielny maybe Sagna, even Wilshere and that is a real possibility.
I have to say balham makes some very good points and I understand his concern. The only thing I would say is that the time frame to replace like for like is not really possible. How many RVP type players are there available for transfer or that clubs are willing to sell for 20mill not many. Also even if they are bought into the squad then what guarantee is there that they will start scoring immediately? I'm one of the optimists who believe that the squad we have will get sharper every game we play. Once the first goal is scored the rst will follow. The full back situation is slightly worrying but Song can be replaced with an even better version. I would like us to get both sahin and m'villa. It's early days to really criticise to squad for a lack of quality but I believe we will get much better as the season progresses.
Sorry, but I find this comment ridiculous. We've had Giroud and Podolski for one game and you're asking where the goals are coming from? If they don't score enough then we'll buy someone in December. Up until then I am confident Giroud and Podolski will score plenty.
Now that Darren Dein's influence on our players has ended i think there is less chance of other players leaving
I think Giroud's movement was good when he came on and he would have scored on his debut if he hadn't been a bit rusty, he looks like an intelligent player. Poldolski will score many goals too, he has skill, determination and a strong work ethic. With the right service (which looks likely with Cazorla + hopefully Sahin in the team) his name will be on the score sheet regularly.
The stories were that once Song had ****ed off that Dein no longer had his grubby fingers anywhere near our players.The club has to accept some responsibility for having any dealings with that ****ing spiv
