This is just a thread in which I'm asking you guys your thoughts on the impending fire sale that will come if West Ham United get relegated from the Premier League, which seems highly likely. They've got 4-5 members of the England U-21 team playing for their first team so there will be rich pickings in terms of talent. The team will not only be willing to sell but will be forced to do so due to the necessary extra cash they'll need to survive the drop in revenue earned between the Premiership and the Nationwide. Sadly selling all their youngsters and top players seems the only solution (as it is for any relegated club). Defoe, Carrick, Cole and a few others I'm forgetting right now will be available at cut rate prices.
They may take the hit in finances in order to make the run back into the Premiership. It seems every club runs with a deficit. I would love to see Joe Cole come on over, plus Defoe has looked good and might compliment Henry well. I dont believe Arsenal will spend much this off season so the point may be moot.
I think I remember several media outlets reporting 11m GBP would be availible for transfers, the rest all going to fund Ashburton Grove.
It did not say, I would assume £11m + any fees from new transfers. Also not sure if that included the money from transefers in January. No matter what it is I don't think it will come close to the spending spree rumors about Man U right now.
Its Hammer Time With West Ham likely to take the drop the Vultures are starting to circle. Here's who Arsenal is being linked to. Kanoute- The Guardian just reported that Kanoute will be playing at Highbury next year for a 4 million pound transfer fee. Wenger loves to buy young French attackers and Kanoute is very fast with a penchant for scoring goals (26 in his first 67 games for the Hammers). He is built like Thierry and plays like him too, though he's not quite the team player. At 4 million he's a steal and could team up with TH14 for the fastest strike force in the premiereship. But is there room for 2 greyhounds on the same team? Defoe- The England U-21 striker signalled his premiership debut last season with 14 league goals in his first full season and has followed it up with 11 so far this season. Would be a steal for anything under 6.5 million pounds, as he is every bit as much a poacher/natural scorer as Jeffers is. Rumours have been flying around that he'll be an Arsenal player next season, but with Jeffers, Aliadiere, Jerome Thomas, Pennant, and Bentley all waiting in the wings, would we really need him? Joe Cole- Was hyped as the next Gascoigne and the jury is still out. The London boy and England midfielder can make some amazing dribbles and passes, but the question is whether he can play as effectively when opposition have the ball? Its been said that Wenger is an admirer of Cole and it could very well be true. The 21 year old could learn a lot under Wenger's tutelage and could play big part in the Arsenal midfield for years to come. Michael Carrick- Like Cole, Carrick is also 21, an England midfielder and been linked to Arsenal more than a few times. But unlike Cole, Carrick can play in a holding role or push forward. A very complete player, but not having his best season for the Hammers. Would be a great addition to the Arsenal team, and could probably be got on the cheap. Glen Johnson- Captained the England U-19 team in the European Cup in 2002. A quality tackler who I really don't know much about. But the way Arsenal's defense is falling apart, it couldn't hurt to have the kind of insurance this young un would provide. David James- England International goalkeeper who usually features when Seaman's unavailable. In his 30's, so could be a stop gap while Taylor continues to be groomed. Of course, if West Ham stays up, none of this may matter, but I still want to know who of the above (if any) you want to see lining up in the red and white next season.
https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=45946 Go here for similar talk. Actually, Andy!! How 'bout just merging the two threads? I'll say this much. These Freddie Kanoute rumours astound me. No no no a thousand times no!! We're fine in attack, it's the defense and midfield where we need help.
I missed it yah, i neglected to look at that thread in my over-ecxitement at the possibillity of raiding west ham and snatching half of the england u-21 team. sorry.
I don't know about the attack being fine. Goals haven't come as easily in the second half of the season as they did in the first. I think it's more a midfield problem though, as the dynamic runs we are all accustomed to just haven't been there for a while. This Glen Johnson guy--is it just me, or have West Ham been much better at the back since he got into the starting XI? I don't get an opportunity to see them enough to know how good a talent he really is, but maybe he could be the guy on that squad who would be most helpful to the Gunners.
Since the title of this thread is "Impending Fire Sales" than we can't forget to mention Leeds United along with West Ham. Relegation or no they're going to have to do something to clear debts in excess of £78m. And the only way to do that is to sell off the remainder of their once formidable squad. Alan Smith, Paul Robinson, Ian Hart, etc.
Alan Smith to the GUNNERS? We are already known for our disciplinary record and to add Smith would almost be funny! Or Danny Mills! I would like Harry Kewell and if Smith werent such an ass Id like him too.
I think Defoe would be good. I think that him and TH14 could hook up for some great things. Maybe we could use some of the Kanu money for him. It hurt to say that last bit just now, but I know it's inevitable. Oh well. Carrick and Johnson would be real good for the mid and the defense, since that is, in fact what we need. Does anybody know about the CL experience that these 3 have (or don't have), because we REALLY need that. We've got Premiership and FA players out the wazoo, but we need those players with some games against international clubs under their belts. That's my thinking, at least. Vive le AFC! OPArsenal ____________________ [size=0.75] "Believe." - Senor Askew, April 22, 2003, on what Arsenal fans need to do during the Premiership stretch run.[/size]
At this point, what exactly is Kanu worth? It's pretty clear he has no future as a Gunner; where would he go? Who wants him? For how much? I can't imagine a club breaking the bank to acquire him. Arsenal just released their financials, and they were 9 million pounds in the red for the past 6 month period, even though revenues increased! So, given that, it looks like Arsene may have to sell before he can buy. What about center-halfs? Any good ones out there to pair with Campbell who are 1) young; (2) available; or (3) inexpensive?
I personally don't think that Kanu is worth much to the AFC (sob...) but one club's junk (sob...) is another club's treasure. He'll find someplace (sob...) where he'll fit in just fine, I'm sure. Vive le AFC! OPArsenal ______________ [size=0.75]“OPArsenal, you rock!” – Farrell Fan, singing the praises of a punk kid from Vice City[/size]
I never meant to suggest Alan Smith as a target, I was just mentioning him as one of the players Leeds may be forced to sell. Though he is the poaching type of striker we hoped Jeffers would be but never has been (mostly because of injuries). Robinson and maybe Kewell are the only two Leeds players I'd really be happy to have come on down to London. -- Believe!
With finances as they are, we might be off-loading as many players as Leeds or West Ham and there maybe few purchases till January? If ManUre don't slip up and, heaven forbid, we balls up the FA cup, the club will be light by another £5 million! Then it's gonna be all about the wage bill. Goodbye Kanu and at least some from Stepanovs, Luzheny, Keown, Parlour, maybe Jeffers and DB10 might not get another contract without a pay cut? We will probably loose at least one of the Big Guns. It could be Pires, but, don't be suprised if it's our Pat! I don't think AW will buy a centre half, he'll continue with Cygan, Tavlaridis and Volz, with Gilberto as emergency cover. If he decides to strengthen at right back, Lauren will either drop to back up or be on his way; he can't compete for a mid-field birth and I think Toure gets the nod as utility cover. We might not even buy a goalie; just let Seaman cover behind Taylor till Shaaban is fit? The worst thing is, these speculations must be going through the players' heads, but, magnified x100. Is this one of the factors for our poor form, since exiting the CL?
This would be suicide. Striggling for a top four finish and out in the first round of the Campions League unless he buys some decent defenders.
In the Middle--Sol needs help. We could do worse than get Christian Chivu from Ajax, IMHO. He's quick and relentless, speaks English (hint, hint, Cygan), and has the fighting spirit we're lacking. Sol would be the rock, Chivu the man to organize the defense. Yes, I know he's more expensive than either of the Chelsea duo. But I think he could be had for 10m if we send Kanu the other way. I'm not giving up on Cygan, but he shouldn't start. With Keown and even Gilberto as back up, this means adios to Stepanovs. Wasn't he linked with Southampton at some point? On the Right--Lauren attacks well for a fullback and defends well for a midfielder, but I'm not convinced he possesses the core skills to hold either job. His biggest problem--he's not getting any better as a defender. I get nervous late in the game when teams start pumping the ball in his direction, and too often those nerves have been well founded (Heskey's equalizer, Giggs' equalizer). Bolton didn't adopt that tactic until Luzhny replaced him, but sadly it worked for them. Let's hope Toure improves enough as the utility man to let Luzhny go. I hear nothing but praise for Volz, who seems like a natural defender, but has anyone seen him play? I think this is the position where we're going to have to gamble. Either get someone new in or give Volz a shot. I could see Lauren going back to Spain.
Chivu would be an incredible signing, but I believe he'll be playing for Real Madrid next year. They came in for him at the beginning of this year, but for some reason the deal was not made. But after his CL showing, he'll definitley be playing in Madrid next year.
Sell Kanu ASAP! Whatever happened with Van Bromel and Holfold(sp) from last season. We were linked to them throughout last season.
Boys, it's all about the cash!!! No double no big signings. If we win neither I think we'll see AW having to cobble through till January!
Hofland got injured playing against us in the Champions League early in the season. No idea what happened to him since.
Perhaps the prospects for strengthening the squad don't look so gloomy after all? http://uk.sports.yahoo.com/030503/80/dz5ix.html