One of the papers has us linked to benfica striker Rodrigo as a replacement for Van persie. There are just 2 problems with this. A) Rodrigo is crap B) Van Persie isn't leaving. The media seem to forget that his contract DOESN'T run out in the summer, so we actually have him next season too, whether he likes it or not. When are they ever going to write something nice about us? They are quick to criticise foreign media for attempting to unsettle players, yet spend the entire time doing it themselves anyway.
In the summer window of 2010 spurs were linked with 100 plus players....none ... I repeat NONE of which were signed....the one player we did sign Rafa VDV was NEVER mentioned by any of them. It aint worth getting stressed mate ... They are just tomorrows chip wrappers.
That's not entirely true, RCL. Gallas was amongst the 100+ names touted and we did sign him, so they had an overall accuracy of a little under 1%.
RVP isn't interested in money. If he was he would have left long ago. He could go to any club in the world with his quality. He hasn't.
I don't think Nasri was interested in money, I'm sure Arsenal would've paid him handsomely if he wanted to stay. For him it was seeing good players leave I think and poor replacements brought in. The straw that broke the camel's back was surely Cesc being sold. I don't think RVP will go, he knows that Arsenal will lose a lot of money if he goes this season or on a free next season. I fully expect him to sign a contract extension then .. leave a year or 2 into it so Arsenal get some dosh for sticking with him through all his injury problems - if he does decide to go. He seems like a good loyal lad.
Yea we thought the same about torres, loyal to the club, not interested in money bla bla, then we finished outside of the CL and sold our best players. Didn't take him long to leave when Chelsea came knocking. Will be the same for RVP, unless you finish top 4 and make some really positive signings this summer
To be fair if offered £50m then I think Liverpool can be forgiven for that, the problem was they then went and spent £35m of it on Carroll and all the time transactions like these (both) take place in football, statements around business sense and value for money cannot be associated with the game....
ah yea fair enough but that wasn't really my point. My point is that players ooze loyalty when it counts but very very few (apart from Wilshere and Gerrard perhaps) stay loyal when a better offer comes that meets their aspirations, ie wage increase, CL prospects, a team that buys for success. For that reason, providing clubs like Real are interested, I see RVP leaving Arsenal this summer if there is no positive net spend and no CL. Although this article is spot on, the media have no proof whatsoever and just make up whatever they like to sell papers.
You what? Arsenal offered him £90k per week apparently and champions league football. But he chose to go to (out of the CL and FA Cup) City for a reported £180k per week. You don't think money had anything to do with it?
Clearly you haven't read or understood the OP. Why would we be signing a CF this summer when RVP is still under contract with us next season anyway?
Just because a 19 year old striker doesn't have an impact for Bolton Wanderers it doesn't mean that he is useless. As a 20 year old he's got a strong record in the Portuguese league and could certainly grow into a great striker. 14 goals in 21 appearances is an impressive striking record. But yeah, he shouldn't be signed to replace Van Persie, that is a given. I just think he seems to have talent.
It was the same for arsenal there was a website that had a list of every player that we were linked to and by who the list was about as long as this thread, was about 50 strikers, 20 keepers, 40 midfielders and we signed....chamakh
I don't think money was the first thing on his mind either Mr Head but with the departure of Fabregas and the absence of corresponding replacements, the money probably helped ease the move. Had we come through the summer of 2011 with a stronger team then it is possible he may well have stayed and we could be leading the EPL and be in all four competitions. The right things happening in 2011 could have brought Arsenal into a new golden era. Our youth team would have been mature, gained more experience and with the addition of one or two more players and the introduction of a defensive strategy, let alone a Plan B, it could have been Arsenal that the others clubs are now chasing. Instead it turned out to be the worse year in recent times for our club. I hope and imagine RvP will re-sign with us but I do also think that the management of this club should display intent in the summer transfer season giving not only him but the team and prospective players a belief that the club has greater ambitions beyond 4th place in the EPL. Surely RvP will want more than just a FA cup medal to show for what could be his best years as a footballer.
Kyle in his original post attempts to rubbish the rumour that Rodrigo is being lined up as a replacement for RVP; reasoning that he has a year left on his contract. Given that Nasri left the club just six months ago under similar circumstances, you cannot argue that RVP will not leave come the season end. It is criminal that a player of RVP's quality and current form does not have a home trophey cabinet overflowing with honours. He knows full well that he can walk into any European club and will do so in the summer. The press know that the club cannot spend big to replace him so they summise that AW must be looking early to grap a young talent as replacement. This brings us to Rodrigo. I can see it.
There's been plenty of talk about RVP and his form this season and how he deserves to play in a winning team, all true probably but he has been at the club for approaching 8 years and never reached this level of form. Only twice before has he made 40 or more appearances for the club in a season. The club have stayed loyal to him throughout his numerous injuries and he is one player who will not be tempted by $$$ - it could be that the additional responsibility bestowed on him by captaincy has enabled him to raise his game (and of course being injury free). He strikes me as more from the Dennis Bergkamp school of loyalty. I honestly believe RVP will stay regardless of where we finish this season, it of course becomes and easier sell if we have CL football next season and a Cup winners medal sitting on his mantlepiece...
The days of Dennis Bergkamp type loyalty to the club are gone i am afraid. The sheer scale of wages now is too hard to resist - also remember that Dennis was in a team constantly that challenged for honours and competed in Europe. You're last sentence is key - if we are in the top 4 at the end of the season I believe he wil stay, if not I believe he will go.
