Wenger, "I won’t buy ‘names’ just for the sake of it."

[Catfish]

http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?article=264309&lid=NewsHeadline&sub=Wenger+-+I+won%26rsquo;t+buy+%26lsquo;names%26rsquo;+just+for+the+sake+of+it&navlid=&sublid=&Title=Wenger+-+I+won%26rsquo;t+buy+%26lsquo;names%26rsquo;+just+for+the+sake+of+it

I understand what Wenger is doing. He doesn't want to do a RMCF, nor does he want the club to fall out of contention. Sometimes I think his Economics background play a big part of his player recruitment...just a hunch. Team chemistry is something very delicate and in the end ok all of you say it with me,

"Arsene knows."

[mad theory]

arsene knows. the youngsters have done brilliantly this season. but i want atleast one proven defender and striker.

[Catfish]

arsene knows. the youngsters have done brilliantly this season. but i want atleast one proven defender and striker.

You were reading my mind. 1 defender and striker will satisfy me.

[TheSlipperyOne]

Three posts and nobody has called for a new goalie?

You're all slipping.

[mad theory]

no need. lehmann's doing fine.

[Catfish]

I know that Mad Jens has a wee bit of a temper and has let in some real howlers, but he has grown on me...either that or I really need to see a doctor.

Lehmann is now a part of the Arsenal lore. He was fantastic during the most recent match vs. Blackburn...in my humble opinion. Considering how shaky our back 4 have been all season, the lads seem more at ease with him guarding the goal. He is also more vocal about instructing players about their positioning. I think part of this comes from playing with big name clubs like Borussia Dortmund and Schalke 04. You just can't teach experience.

I still want to know why on Earth has Stuart Taylor not gotten a chance? Is he that frickin awful? I won't believe it until I see it with my own eyes.

Sorry about the Mad Jens rant...I'm ready to buy a Lehmann GK kit after that therapeutic session.

Out with the bad,
In with the good.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

Has anyone considered that it could be the defence that is causing Lehmann to be poor? Everyone, myself included, has had a go at Jens, but could an experienced defender make the difference?

[antifan]

I suspect that Wenger will bring in one big name player, probably a striker/winger, one veteran role player in defence, and another young midfielder.

[pookspur]

I know that Mad Jens has a wee bit of a temper and has let in some real howlers, but he has grown on me...either that or I really need to see a doctor.

Lehmann is now a part of the Arsenal lore. He was fantastic during the most recent match vs. Blackburn...in my humble opinion. Considering how shaky our back 4 have been all season, the lads seem more at ease with him guarding the goal. He is also more vocal about instructing players about their positioning. I think part of this comes from playing with big name clubs like Borussia Dortmund and Schalke 04. You just can't teach experience.

I still want to know why on Earth has Stuart Taylor not gotten a chance? Is he that frickin awful? I won't believe it until I see it with my own eyes.

Sorry about the Mad Jens rant...I'm ready to buy a Lehmann GK kit after that therapeutic session.

Out with the bad,
In with the good.

your last two lines are a direct contradiction to all in this post that precedes it. ;)

[otterulz]

While I understand Arsene's reasoning, do some of you feel a bit impatient with what he's doing? Obviously the youngsters have played a huge, huge role this season with many of them filling in admirably. But will half of them (i.e. Hoyte, Almunia, Clichy) become world class caliber players? While winning domestic titles is important, I wonder if the core of youngsters we have can carry the team to European glory; something I'm dying to witness.

And I'm not saying that Arsene should rush into buying players just for the sake of it. Obviously his shrewdness with money and spotting young talent has worked out, but it almost seems as if being one of the European giants comes with a "win now" philosophy, especially with a brand new stadium opening soon. So do you guys think that maybe Arsenal doesn't need any youngsters to nurture but rather need a superstar? Of course, I assume that these funds would also come once the new stadium opens but I could be wrong. Anyway, just wondering what you guys think.

[jwaldman11]

While I understand Arsene's reasoning, do some of you feel a bit impatient with what he's doing? Obviously the youngsters have played a huge, huge role this season with many of them filling in admirably. But will half of them (i.e. Hoyte, Almunia, Clichy) become world class caliber players? While winning domestic titles is important, I wonder if the core of youngsters we have can carry the team to European glory; something I'm dying to witness.

And I'm not saying that Arsene should rush into buying players just for the sake of it. Obviously his shrewdness with money and spotting young talent has worked out, but it almost seems as if being one of the European giants comes with a "win now" philosophy, especially with a brand new stadium opening soon. So do you guys think that maybe Arsenal doesn't need any youngsters to nurture but rather need a superstar? Of course, I assume that these funds would also come once the new stadium opens but I could be wrong. Anyway, just wondering what you guys think.

It depends on whether you're willing to sacrifice the future of the squad by taking one big shot at glory now, with the chance that nothing will come of it. On paper, signing a Nesta or an Owen and pulling a Cesc or a van Persie out of the lineup looks like a great move, but you never really know when or how quickly these guys will hit the downturn in their careers. While it's also a gamble to stick with young players, in that you don't know if they'll pan out or not, the upside is much higher and much more long-term. This is especially important because a lot of the veterans are starting to show their age. Pires has been inconsistent all season. Vieira hasn't been nearly the player he's been in the past. And Bergkamp, while still dangerous, just isn't the same player he was five years ago. Replacing those guys has to be a consideration as well, along with the other big holes we need to fill. Buying big names and plugging them in is a band-aid on a bigger problem. You need younger players to step in and fill voids on a permanent basis or you never know what you'll get from one year to the next.

The other thing you have to be wary of with going out and buying big names is that you run into money problems very fast if you're not careful. Man City, for example, will be paying for Kevin Keegan's spending sprees for a long time to come. And, while Chelsea are enjoying success now with the lineup they have, if Abramovich suddenly decides to pull out, Chelsea's debt will rival the U.S. national debt. Granted, Arsenal's corporate structure is a little more stable than Chelsea's, but it doesn't make a whole lot of fiscal sense to spend money that you might not have. While I know the temptation is there to build a monster club to move into the new stadium with, I don't want Arsenal to become one of those clubs that blows the budget in an effort to win a trophy, then falls to the bottom the next year.

Mind you, I'm not saying I'm totally against bringing in Gerrard or Owen or another big name. I'm saying that we have to be careful about solely relying on doing that to fix the problems. I think it's important to take a look at the squad as it is now, figure out where the holes are now and where they will be in a year or two, then figure out who within the club could fill the gap and then decide if there are better options out there.

[michaec]

Wenger is right not to rush into the market without carefully selected targets. As has already been said, many teams have rued that kind of philosophy at their leisure in the lower reaches of the premiership or the football league.

A keeper and central defender should be top of the list of recruits in the Summer. If any "names" are to come in, I'd prefer to shore up the defence before adding to the attackers. We score plenty, but our defensive frailties have been our undoing this year.

[Forza Moskva]

no need. lehmann's doing fine.
ROFLMAO!!! :D

[fedwood]

i want Nesta and Shevchenko
maybe they will both read this and decide to come to Arsenal

[rgrayson]

i want Nesta and Shevchenko
maybe they will both read this and decide to come to Arsenal

:D That would be amazing. Could we get Pirlo as well though?? :p

[surfcam]

AW knows where the weak points are and what positions need to be filled. I have faith that he will buy smartly and bring in some good players next year. He will never be an SAF, CFC or RMFC who want a 'galacticos' type team.

[nicephoras]

The problem is that there's usually a reason why the "big names" have big names. Not always, of course, but quite often.

[michaec]

Yes, most of the big name players are very good players, but it doesn' neccessarily follow that they will make a great team when thrown together. See Real Madrid. This is a major area where the manager earns his money.

[Saukrates]

I think Arsene is going on the right direction,Arsenal might need one or two new signings,definately a goalkeeper but they don't need high profile signings,aside for the goalkeeper which I think they should pay some top dollar to I don't think they should get especially another top midfielder. Essien should definately not be signed, he will bee too pricey and with the strides Flamini has made there is actually no space for Essien,and there are still younger players who have been tipped for greater things like England Under 17 Fabrice Muamba. The gains for this season which actually are turining out to be huge gains have been earned painfully,but this makes the Gunners compete next year on a better footing with Chelsea.The likes of Hoyte,and Sendoroos due to injuries have gained experience as a result of this. The defense has learned to play without Sol,Kolo looks like he has settled down and can now play without Sol,but we do need another young quality center back. The only players I think we should sign are probably,Antonio Mavuba and Michael Owen. Mavuba is young and probably would not cost so much money. A high price tag in England means that the player has to produce immediately,just look at JAR. At the end of it all Arsenal cannot compete with Chelsea and Man U in the transfer Market but increasingly a team like Chelsea will not compete with Arsenal when it comes to attracting young talent

[Rick B]

Yes, most of the big name players are very good players, but it doesn' neccessarily follow that they will make a great team when thrown together. See Real Madrid. This is a major area where the manager earns his money.

I agree, though to be fair i would of loved to have Etoo or Morientes at Arsenal. We will see what Arsene does with his Transfer Balance in the summer. I have a feeling tht a big name will come in the next season, if not only because we need to get more shirt sales for the new stadium......Not that Im a cynic...... :rolleyes: