I just heard Wenger's Udinese post match response and wasn't filled with much optimism. This part of the interview was quite worrying: "On the subject of potential new signings before the transfer window closes on 31 August, Wenger commented: "We work very hard. "I have said that many times, but we have many players out as well so I think we can be very positive as well. "There may be signings but I cannot give you any names tonight. I cannot lie and say we sign somebody tomorrow." The same deluded Wenger seems to be coming out again........
well its being reported that a loan bid for kaka has been rejected and a bid for cahill turned down so i DO expect signings
I must be the eternal optimist then as I read that as a positive message! We've now qualified for the CL proper and now we can negotiate with good players (not the dross we would have had to deal with had we lost) in earnest. Not going to be instant signings but I think we will still get someone in - hopefully more.
The main reason for me saying this is he didn't answer the question clearly. Instead he decided to talk about his squad players and the injured coming back. His body language looked happy talking about his players and the impression i got was he thought they were good enough. I know he is usually a cagey person but he clearly didn't look like a man that needed to buy. Beating Udinese and playing in Champions League proper was a get-out-of-jail card for him....
How would it help ongoing or future negotiations if wenger said: I am definitely looking for new signings I have X million pounds to spend The positions i wish to buy in are as follows... The wages I would like to offer are...
Or is he just bracing himself and passing a veiled message to us that the board may not get realistic about transfer prices and player salaries.....
As the manager of Arsenal FC, he needs to give the fans some solice and alay any fears regarding transfers. He knows that the fans are demanding more activity over transfers but instead he reverts to type and dodges and diverts from answering the question. He's worse than a politician!
With respect I think you are completely wrong - the key thing in negotiations is not to give away exactly what you are attempting to get. I dont believe the role of manager is to ease the worries of the fans during the transfer period - strangely enough i think his role is to get good players for us. I wonder how many people who said signing Jenkinson was not worth anything are willing to at least consider that Wenger might know a bit more about players than we all think we do?
Why are you surprised at what Wenger has said to the press? Throughout his time at Arsenal - qualification for the Champions League group stages 14 consecutive years, beat that Spuds - he has always dealt with the press at arms length and with Arsenal's interests key to his deliberations. His result - villification, made up stories, hipocracy and mis-quotes. He doesnt have to answer to the press - he just has to answer to Arsenal Football Club. Last night's was the beginning of a good answer and I am sure he is aware that he needs more of the same, starting with a good result on Sunday. I know that many of you will say that you have run out of patience and I agree that it is frustrating that we have had little to show for the last seven years in terms of trophies. I honestly believe that, overall, we lost the title last year rather that United winning it - not taking anything away from them - the table never lies at the end of the season. But that was last year. He now has to get on with the task in hand. I expect some new arrivals - but it will be done his way.
I saw a talk in last week or so where it was suggested that the salaries had to come out of the entire budget so the pot has to accommodate the bids and the salaries of the players which would not leave much room for manoeuvre. I thought it was silly to include the salaries in the available budget because the salary we pay to departing players should contra out that which we pay to incoming hopefuls, plus a bit more to get realistic. Who knows?
Im not talking about specifics, just that he is definately looking to get someone in. Instead we hear the usual hogwash of we are good enough. Only a deluded fool would think scraping past an Udinese side, having lost there 3 best players, was a great achievement. Lets see how good the squad is against Manure Mr Wenger and lets see what he has to say! Also the last time i checked, we sold 2 of our best players for a combined total of £60m and we still haven't brought any world class players in to replace them?!?!
Again you see I think the problem for many of us is that we somehow think that he can always be direct and honest. How does it impact on the current players if he says "I think many of my current squad are not up to it". How does it impact if he reveals precisely what he is up to? Wenger has never revealed his transfer options in his time with us - why should he start now? Oh and by the way i am not saying we dont need signings as we clearly do, I just dont believe that a manager needs to keep fans in the loop on negotiations
I think you have taken his comments wrong. That to me looks like fairly positive comments. Sounds like he is saying - "things are not as bad as fans are making out - we have some quality new players comming through, but we are looking to make signings, it is just difficult with the way of football at the moment" I still expect to see atleast one or two new faces comming in.] I'm still crossing my fingers for Kaka
We won't make any new signings this transfer window, Wenger says he is happy with what he has, same old, same old. he's building up his pension pot and doesn''t care about the fans. Sunday afternoon will be his waterloo.
Can't belive some of you are so sure he won't sign anyone when all the noises comming out the club are that we are desperatly tryign to make atleast another signing. I think these comments are positive and the reports of rejected bids are good news.
