Upcoming Hazard Deal Carefully - The Transfer Thread

yeah.

 

that was in response to the suggestion of running a 3-man backline.

also, they aren't both playing now. and it wouldn't have to be - they can both be up front with van persie dropping into the bergkamp role in front of song and arteta/wilshere.

and, no, i'm not suggesting that this is what wenger will or even should. just saying that it is possible.

 

I love Dempsey, and I think folks overrate him and underrate him because he's American. My heart says I'd love it it he played at Arsenal, but my head understands it's not a good fit. That said, I hope he stays at Fulham, where I can effectively root for him. I don't want him to go to Spurs or Liverpool or some other team I dislike.

 

There's a rumor coming out of Cologne that Chelsea have scuppered our deal for Podolski with an offer in excess of €5M over what we offered.

EDIT: I really have not seen this reported in the press, so can't point to any link. My source as it turns out is that my son is currently training at FC Koln academy and this is what they are hearing being whispered. Hope it's just speculation.

 

That is cool for your son to train with them. Arsene has been burned by last minute bids before and if true I hope they already have Lucas' signature. This is the reason to get them early. Also Chelsea is on the decend and the only thing they can offer him is more money. Again if true if Lucas turned down Man U, he hopefully should turn down Chelsea. Thanks again for the tidbit!

 

We're never going to play this formation - Wenger's too conservative tactically for it.

We could play a 3-4-3, theoretically, but effectively, that becomes a formation where (assuming no one leaves) we have this:

Gervinho/Ox ---- RVP ---- Walcott

Rosicky Ramsey

JFW/Arteta Song

Three man backline

I don't really think this formation makes sense - we rely way too much on the width that the fullbacks create, and we haven't had problems attacking this season, despite all the injuries. Third most goals in the league, despite massive dry spells at times when the fullbacks were out.


That sort of leads to an interesting question: assuming Van Persie stays, how would you improve this team? Based on the results from the beginning of February, the only answers I can come up with are:

1. Backup striker - Podolski seems to fit the bill. I like the idea of a big ugly Bendtner esque striker for the cold night at Stoke, so to speak, but we don't have anyone who can cross the ball consistently anyhow.
2. Fourth CB to back up Vermaelen, Koscielny, and Mertesacker
3. One more midfielder for depth.
4. A drill sergeant to make players work - we really need someone who's going to make the players run a thousand laps for not tracking back.

I don't see a lot of gaps in the first XI when everyone's healthy - anyone we sign really has to be a big upgrade over what we have, and the kind of players that fit that bill aren't going to be cheap.

 

They just play Football Manager, to find all the good youngsters.

 

Exactly, but FC is in a bad situation now with a relegation battle they fear they may lose. They will need all the parachute money they can get if that happens.

Hopefully we do have the signature wrapped up or if not, we stand strong against the odious chavs. I do also think their player recruitment strategy seems to be "who are Arsenal interested in?". You could do worse than that, I suppose.

 

Why couldn't we have told the world we were going for Squillaci last year so Chelsea would take him, and we could have been nice and taken Alex off their hands?

 

haha...that should be are tactic in this summer transfer. We must hype up all the mediocre players so Citeh & Chel$ki will overpay for them while we actually buy the real quality players. When next season begins, Citeh and Chel$ki is stuck with all these crappy overrated divas.

 

Likely you are right about the American thing. Of course I would be thrilled to finally have a Yank at my club. However, I find the arfa/dembele/sessengon the wrong choice for Arsenal. The squad is full of players like that. Do we really need a team of 9 midfielders, one defender and a keeper? Arfa is going to fade as teams adjust to him and realize he only uses his right foot to stand on. Dempsey has a much better soccer brain than Dembele at the moment and I don't think Dembele would be an immediate impact (and is he actually better than your average Arsenal youngster?).

Dempsey would give Arsenal something for those games where all our lovely passing and possession aren't working and we need to win the game on a half-chance. I am a diehard Arsenal fan and have been for a very long time. I also support Wenger's approach for the most part but we need to add some grit to the team. How many goals has Dempsey scored with his thigh or knee by just putting himself in the right spot? Quite a few. Arsenal needs DEPTH and it is time to spend money we shouldn't to get it and have a few unhappy players on the bench dying to get in. What Clint does so well is come from midfield into the box at the right moment.

Let me put it this way. If Arsenal does splash some cash this summer and more liberally than in previous summers, would you mind him being on the squad?

 

Frankie and Danny hate you.

 

LOL.

Must spread rep blah blah blah...

 

dempsey is 30, can't pass very well or con troll the game

his best asset is his shooting and goals....i wouldn't want him because wenger isn't going to change our play to suit him, if podolski comes then he is the direct player who is vastly superior to dempsey

dempsey scores a decent amount of goals, but isn't arsenal quality

 

Would Podolski control a game? Not shoot or score but only pass well? I think much of what you said simply isn't supported by fact:

http://theoriginalwinger.com/2010-12-04-clint-dempseys-assist-against-arsenal

http://youtu.be/6MTi_rn6yIc

How would you define Arsenal quality? Really think about it in view of the fact Arshavin, Chamakh, Bendtner, Vela etc. are still on the books.

 

Of all of those guys, only Arshavin cost more than Dempsey did, and while we were all frustrated by him at times, Arshavin looked like the was playing a completely different game in his first 12 months here. It's only when we started playing him as as striker in the Great Striker Apocalypse of 2009-2010 (TM) that his form fell apart.

Look, I get that people want American players to be good. But the way to do that is to have better American players, not to hype up players beyond their talent level - there's a reason players like Dempsey stay at mid-table sides forever. Arsenal's scouts probably know way more than we do about Dempsey, and there's a reason we haven't signed him.

Yes, I get that the obvious exception to the above is Arteta, but everyone realized that Arteta was good enough to play for us about five games into his Everton career - the only issue with him was going to be cost/injuries.

 

True, true, but then you must take into account the fact that Dempsey is a bigger, more muscular and finely crafter human being than Arshavin.

 

Dempsey turned 29 last month.

As I said already, he may not fit our offense. And I doubt Wenger would go for him but your argument sounds utterly hollow. Yes, he shoots and scores goals. He has good pace and can hold the ball.

 

dempsey isn't a striker, podolski is so shooting is more of an issue and he doesn't need to control the game

youtube videos can make even chamakh look decent

 

I don't think he is coming, but Arsenal did make an offer last year at the deadline, Dempsey said so himself. So Wenger thinks he is worth something.