It is refreshing to see at least that Wenger is admitting how terrible the transfer window was. Some admission of failure is needed in order to progress and hopefully he won't make such a mess of it this summer. There are a couple of worrying statements though - the faith in Diaby, and also hinting that the loan players are coming back . That is bad news. I am hoping his intention is to move them on. On the whole though I would rather we brought in 2 or 3 top quality players than a slew of players not good enough to help us challenge for the title, so quality over quantity is a good philosophy. I would like to see 15-20 players moved on and 3-4 brought in, along with better contracts for our top stars.
Jayram - 15-20? Are you suggesting as some of us said before that the 71 players need serious pruning? If so - I agree. I can't imagine Wenger buying more than 2 really proven players.
Wenger is spot on in this interview I dont see what people are moaning about. He's saying that we wont be bringing in loads of, players just a few of real quality. That's all we need 2, maybe three top class additions. Our squad is already massive so for anyone we bring in, somebody is probably going to be sold. Considering the fact we've still got our best midfielder to return (Wilshere) and Rosicky has rediscovered his form from 5-6 years ago i dont think we're in need of anymore 'creative' players. Another striker and a top class defender would be a massive improvement. --------------------Sczezney-------------------- Sagna----Vermaelen----Vertonghen----Santos -----------Song-------------Wilshere----------- ----------------Rosicky/OXO------------------- Walcott---------VanPersie-----------Podolski Bench: Arteta, Gervinho, Campbell, Mertesacker, Diaby, Gibbs. Also Jayram: Dont forget campbell and Frimpong are both 'loan players' and we most certainly want to keep them.
I believe AW is outlining his intention to keep faith in players who are committed to the cause, but handicapped by injury. As far as I can recall, this has always been his way. It has recently paid dividends with the resurgence of Rosicky & RVP, written off as injury prone by many. Neither Diaby or Wilshere should be rushed back or made to feel they must hit the ground running or else. If either can contribute this Season...great! If not, we have done tremendously well minus their creative qualities till now. Make sense to assess the situation come the close Season, we need no more than 1 quality addition in each department IMO. Securing 3rd place is of vital importance to this, so let's see where we end up before we start getting too excited.
If you consider we are already good enough to finish third (hopefully) then add a fully fit Jack Wilshere and a more experienced Chamberlain and Frimpong. Then on top of that add Joel Campbell and a couple of quality signings. If Wenger signs wisely and keeps RVP we could be back in title contention next time round.
Perhaps you should be posting more in the god thread. With your omnipotence to see the future and know exctly what will happen, perhaps we should be worshiping you.
Almunia, Arshavin, Bendtner, Vela, Denilson, Squillaci, Djourou (If Vertonghen comes in), Hoyte, Chamakh, Benayoun, Lansbury (If he's not deemed worthy of a Squad Place) should all go. That's a cut of 11 potentially. Harsh, but they won't feature next season. In addition, EVERY player over the age of 19 should be loaned for the season, promoted to Squad, or sold. By that age they need experience. Even if they spend 2 years on loan, that's fine, they'll come in as useful players then. But they need to be playing regularly, and it will get them off the wage bill. That would cut a few more than the 11, and save a decent amount on wages, plus give a lot of younger players experience in League 1 / 2 & a few in Spain. Even the SPL is worth loaning to - Bartley did well at Rangers etc.
Djourou is very probably better than Vertonghen. He has more experience, palys for a better international side, is faster and has better ball control. This obsession with a player who is playing in a smaller league for a worse team and is far inferior to him is pathetic.
What does it matter which international side someone plays for? In that case weah and best were poor whereas seth johnson was amazing
Djourou is not better then Vertonghen. To say Djourou has better ball control then Vertonghen is ridiculous. Also the last player we got from Ajax turned out to be pretty decent. The point of the smaller league and the international side is rather pointless when judging an individual player. Our current CB's (TV and Kos) both came from smaller leagues for a start.
Why not get the whole of the Ajax team - if one of their players is so much better, why not get all of them?
Pretty silly over the top reaction. No one is saying the whole Ajax is better than ours! Just - obviously - that Vertonghen is better than Djourou.
Yes - youth or 3rd/4th string. 71 players is too many, and we pay too much too far down the squad. Hopefully there are some contracts nearing there end.
Maybe because their others players are not that good and not at our level. But Vertonghen is. Him and Christian Eriksen are the two outstanding players in their squad. Vertonghen is willing to come to Arsenal and I say we should make his wish come true. Quality player that can fill a number of roles if needed. As seen with the full back crisis this season we do need players like Vertonghen in the squad. I have watched Vertonghen play for Ajax and Belgium plenty of times to say that he is without a doubt a very good player who has the potential to be world class.
Perfectly reasonable statement. I agree with Djourou and him it is a bit of a toss up, but the way people are talking, he is an automatic slam-dunk upgrade to Kos, and I can't see that at all. I don't get the logic. If he is coming in to be better than Djourou, I don't see why, he may not be better and it's unlikely he will play in anything other than the league cup. If he is coming in as a midfielder or a left back then I think that is a larger amount of risk. I'm worried that in six months people might be on his back like all our other reserve players, because he isn't going to walk into the team and start playing perfectly straight away.
im not sure if this is a joke or your genuinly upset , if so i dont quite get what your so upset about ? would you rather wenger brought in five or six players of bendtner or diaby's level of ability (remember we can only have a squad of 25 ), or 2-3 players of actual quality, like podolski , vertogheon (sp) and goetze as has been linked with us . though i think goetze may be unlikely. he's also said he wants to get things done fast , not wait for a late flourish of ok , but not amazing signings after missing out on initial targets like cahill and Mata last year this for me is the right direction to be moving into , im sure there will be the odd teen he brings in aswell, he cant help himself , but adding quality to the squad is what we have needed for a while , as some of the youngster that 3-4 years looked like they would flourish have not developed as hoped , so they need outing with class signings replacing them
