Upcoming Hazard Deal Carefully - The Transfer Thread

Panic buy.

Wenger did buy Park.

 

his form fell apart as soon as the season started that year. His early performances at center forward were actually a boon period for his form that season.

 

Really? I seem to remember him playing well at Goodison, and there were the goals at Old Tramshed and Anfield.

Plus, he racked up a ton of points for my fantasy team that year.

 

he was awful at Goodison. Was subbed off after 60 or 70 minutes, iirc.

He scored at Old Trafford but didnt do much either.

Anfield was after he became a CF

He got more involved at central forward than he had out wide, imo.

He is the odd player who gets goals and assists but really doesnt play well. He fooled a lot of people with that. It almost makes me wonder if that was the case his first half season at the club too. I know it was like that in the 4 goal Anfield match, and he even admitted it.




and my bad, when I say "boon period for the season," I meant the early season.

 

i think arshavin is just one of those players who looks like shit except for when he has those good plays (or those tricks works) so, as you said, he'll put up the numbers while frustrating the hell out of us the rest of the time. the biggest difference, i think, is that during that special first half season at the club, the good moments just came more often and more regularly where, after that, the period of looking bad became more norm and the results (goals and assists) were sprinkled in.

 

right. and we're that team that has always been known for our tendency to try to walk the ball into the net. and then we have teams that park the bus against us . . . and we're boned.

at least unless or until song makes a special pass to van persie who makes a special play to score. but, uh, relying on that to get through is either suicidal or stupid. or both.

the argument that we can't be bothered with players who do not possess world player of the year-level talent and are, thus, not "arsenal quality" is absolutely asinine. we cannot carry 22 "arsenal quality" players because, well, they're going to be rather pissed about playing time. not that we could afford them anyway. there are times when players of lesser talent who could serve or provide needed functions can be contributors and role players. no more, no less.

can i see dempsey "controlling" the game? hell, no. he's limited as hell. but, then, i'm not foreseeing him as somebody i'd stick in either of the central midfield role. and i hope wenger does not, either. can dempsey be the guy who tries to pick up trash goals on the far post from some of those crosses that either walcott or sagna send in where we have only van persie attacking the ball and he has 2 centrebacks marking him out? i think so. we have the virtuosos who can dance, prance and make beautiful passes. i don't want or need that from dempsey. i want some cheap, ugly and unartistic goals from him that may nick us a point or two in ugly games where we dominate the hell out of possessions but can't break through. i'm thoroughly and utterly tired of "we deserve more" post-game interviews. we have a uniquely built team where we, generally, field 3 central midfielders, 1 striker and at least 1 outside attacker ALL capable "controlling the game" and delivering killer final balls, i think we can afford ONE outfielder who is just a tad less capable.

 

if u think he is good enough, that's u

i don't rate him, but admit he is a good goalscorer from 'midfield' where he starts in an advanced system

he wouldn't score half those goals with rvp though, he usually works off a target striker in the space between attack and midfield but rvp is much more technical....could he read the game arsenal play?

 

I personally think Dempsey is a smoke screen. It is an effort to make LFC buy him. We will get Podolski and some bloke no one has ever heard of. The RvP to Madrid rumors are stirring up again and I think he leaves at the end of the season.

 

so the Korea leg to this summers Asia tour has been cancelled...itll be China and Hong Kong only. I believe an EPL club will be met in China while Gunners will play the top team in the HK system.

take it as a sign that Park is all but gone this summer.

 

City and Madrid will be in the papers ALL summer, especially Marca will
have a RvP snapshot photo-shopped of him walking around
with Rosetta Stone (Español version) under his arm.

I swear if I didn't receive proper Transfer Training from the OG, Rick, I would
go absolutely mad every Summer, LOL.

 

My money is on RVP staying.

 

Same here. As much it was a foregone conclusion that Cesc would leave, I have a strong feeling that RVP will stay.

 

RVP is staying

 

I think RVP is staying if we invest the amount of money currently being theoretically thrown around.

If we spend a moderate amount we will be title contenders and he will want to stay.

 

Anyone who had reservation about Wenger and his capabilities as a manager should give it up.

If Wenger can do THIS with this crew of players (possibly his poorest team in a decade), think about what he can do when he has his dream team once again.

RVP knows this and he isn't going anywhere. Its going to be nice when he gets Podolski by his side.

 

disagree.

with a few minor tweaks this could be the best Arsenal side since 07/08.

as is, there's no way this is a worse side than 08/09 or 06/07

 

I think this is a pretty strong team when everyone is fit, but not everybody has been fit. Wenger deserves credit for shepherding this team through some pretty tough times.

I think the most impressive trait of this year's team has been its ability to respond when backed into a corner. By and large, this team has answered the bell every time its character has been tested. This trend began with the Udinese games and has continued with wins against Chelsea, Tottenham, and, most recently, Man City. The fightback against Milan is another good example. Yes, we crapped the bed once or twice (first Man U game, first Milan game), but by and large this squad has been great in "must-win" situations.

I think that is a credit to Wenger, but also to the players. RVP as captain along with the return of Vermaelen, the arrival of Arteta, and the continued development of Szczesny, Song, and Koscielny has made a big difference. Cesc is a good player, but I question his backbone and his ability to be "the man" for a team. He seems more comfortable in a supporting role. Overall, I think this year's team is grittier and calmer with a lot more resolve. We are the ones scoring the late winners, rather than allowing junk teams to get points they don't deserve through late meltdowns, like we did last season (see: Tottenham games, infamous 4-4 game against Newcastle).

I like this new direction and I think potential new signings like Podolski and our developing youngsters like Chamberlain are cut from this same mentally-tough, determined cloth. I think we can do big things next season if the squad stays intact and we make 1-2 key additions.

 

this is what I said in the match thread about this year's side

 

06/07

-------Lehmann-------
Eboue-Toure-Gallas-Clichy
Hleb--Cesc--Gilberto-Rosicky
---Van Persie--Henry---

Subs: Almunia, Djourou, Senderos, Flamini, Ljungberg, Baptista, Adebayor

Not a bad looking squad really, injuries to Henry, Van Persie and Gallas were obvious issues, along with a lack of depth at fullback. Did Justin Hoyte really have 29 starts that season? Not good.

08/09

--------Almunia-------
Sagna-Toure-Gallas-Clichy
Walcott-Denilson-Cesc-Nasri
---Van Persie--Adebayor--

Subs: Fabianski, Djourou, Silvestre, Eboue, Song, Diaby, Bendtner

Hmm, that's pretty weak, injury plagued as well. Denilson started 47 matches, Silvestre started 21.

I'd say 08/09 is the weaker of the two on paper.

 

True, but look at how much turnover we've had as well. From the 06/07 team i listed, only Van Persie, Rosicky and Djourou are still around (please don't bring up Manny) .

From 08/09, the only starters still here are Sagna, Van Persie and Walcott. Four other starters were sold to Man Citeh alone!

 

fair point. by the same token, if you do not think he is good enough, that's you.

right, i agree that van persie is not a classic "target striker". on the other hand, he is, by this point, quite solid as a target man and, most importantly, unlike most classic "target striker", he possesses a ridiculous amount of vision and skill to find his teammates in open spaces.

think about this: if van persie can find walcott like he did for those two goals against wolves, would he be able to find dempsey? and, if dempsey can score goals when being fed by what fulham trots out, what will he be able to do when he gets chances gift wrapped by the likes of van persie, song, and wilshere?

 

Where would you play him? It seems to me the role he is currently filling for Fulham is the equivalent of a point forward in basketball. Which is sort of the role Van Persie has on the Arsenal team. Now assuming Persie stays, I cannot believe you are suggesting he takes his place. So that means probably moving him to one of the wings. To replace who? Walcott has come along nicely in recent weeks/months and there is no reason not to believe that Oxlade-Chamberlain could not continue his progress in his sophomore season.

From the outside looking in, it seems to me that Arsenal has far more pressing concerns than what Dempsey could give them. I think your n°1 priority is adding depth to the central axis, and specifically someone who can double as a CB/CM cover. => Vertonghen.