http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/wenger-early-signings-allow-us-to-move-on â[We want to make early signings] if possible, yes,â he told Arsenal Player. âWe wanted at least one target to be sorted out early. âNow we are in a position where the second part of our signings will be to take care of the players who are injured and to get them back for the start of next season. âI think of course about Jack Wilshere, and about Abou Diaby. Per Mertesacker I think will be ready at the start of next season. Then, if you look at our squad, we have quite a big one and before we buy again we have to look at how many players we will have. Wenger concedes that another swift deal may have to wait until the futures of some of the Clubâs other stars are concluded. âI don't exclude it but we have to respect that [25-man squad] number,â said the Frenchman. âThat is a big problem for every club and before you go out on the transfer market you have to see how you cope with the 25 players.â What does this mean? Does he mean that Podolski was the early bit of business and that the second round of transfers is Jack Wilshere, and about Abou Diaby. Per Mertesacker? Also does it mean until we get rid of our players/or wait for what others will do we won't do anything? What does everyone else think about this.
That's what it sounds like to me. He wants a clear-out before targets will be brought in. Here's hoping there's clubs looking at Denilson / Vela / Squillaci etc etc and they sign them up soon.
I had hoped that with the signing of Podolski and the rumoured negotiations with Vertongen and M'Villa in progress that Wenger had finally realised he needed to supplement the squad with some experienced quality players. Unless it is subterfuge, his latest quotes seem to indicate he will once again sit on his hands waiting for the sale of our rejects, while other clubs nip in pinch all the best options and we will end up with more last minute second rate dross. How long before the fans vote with their feet?
I think by mentioning Jack Wilshere and Abou Diaby in the same sentence, it means that he's going to assess whether they will be ready for the start of the season, before deciding whether to buy another MF. Personally I hope we do anyway, I think we need another creative MF.
Even if Wilshere is ready for the start of the season, I don't think we should expect too much from him too soon. He has missed a whole year of football and it will take a while for him to get back to competitive match fitness. I also think that Rosicky, Benayoun and Arteta, whilst good options, are not long term solutions in our midfield. I'd like to see a top quality young attacking midfielder brought in who can cement a place for himself.
What is there to wait for ? the same way he concluded the Podolski transfer quickly and early he can announce the fringe players he wants to put up for transfer and let clubs make approaches, lets get that done and dusted nice and early, what are we waiting for ???
I can actually understand that he wants to ship players out first to clear up the wage bill. We dont want to be stuck with the likes of Bendtner sucking up wages and not playing a single game. I am though hoping he is not waiting for the news on injuries because that has been his biggest failing over the last few years - he raises his own hopes that we will have players back only to be frustrated and / or the same players getting injured quickly again. Forget Wilshere and Frimpong - both can be registered next year as under 21-s and therefore have no bearing on the 25 man squad rule. Forget Merts/Walcott/Arteta - they are good enough and will almost certainly be back in time anyway. Plan to include them. We dont have any other injuries - so the injury stuff is just a red herring. Players he should be seeking to offload now: Diaby - good enough but never going to be fit. Denilson Chamakh Bendtner Arshavin Squillaci Park - clearly hasnt worked Vela Almunia Incoming: Podolski 2 more. Thats it - get rid of 9 and bring in 3. No 25 man sqaud issues at all. Not saying it will be easy to offload that dross (there's probably around £40m total left to pay on their wages to fulfil their contracts). Perhaps forgoing a percentage of the transfer fee so they can take lower wages at a new club is a possibility - they do something similar in American sports to get rid of unwanted players). If all those players are worth £30m, then take £15m, and give them an exit payment so they can take lower wages elsewhere. We'd end up about breaking even cash wise, but having £40m of wages freed up over the next 2-3 years. There is also no reason why negotiations can not be going on to get rid of these players at the same time as bringing new ones in.
To be fair, that is basically what he's saying. That he needs to clear out some players before bringing new ones in.
Yes, except the injuries - he should just forget about that side and focus on getting rid of the rubbish. You missed this part of my post:
To be honest it is never clear what Wenger's intentions are from what he says. He hardly said anything leading up to the day we brought in five players.
I think it's difficult for him really, if he says we're after this player and that player and we don't get them, then he leaves himself open for criticism. If he keeps quiet, then he's accused of dithering. I think the transfer market is a lot more complex than some people seem to think, there is much more to it than simply plucking out the player you want. There's got to be an agreement between both clubs, player and agent and there are a lot of variables within that. That said, I do wish that we'd just get our man sometimes, the Podolski deal was a breath of fresh air
Park may well leave but I feel we have wronged him. If we weren't going to give him a proper chance why buy him? I feel we may two more players but I would rather one of them a creative midfielder rather than an M'vila type of player. People say coquelin is too light weight to fill songs boots but I disagree. I've seen him in reserve games and I feel he is a more accomplished version of song. His tenacity in tackle, distribution and vision make him a great deputy to song. True he is great going forward but that's a role played by song too in our formation.
