I haven't been "wowed" by Hoyte yet but he hasn't really disappointed me either. He's very young and I still think he has a promising future.
The new kid, looked decent during pre-season. But seriously his friend Ne is the really talented one, he reminded me of a young Vieira. But we have enough in midfield, so maybe that's why AW didn't go for him.
Yes, Ne only arrived at Beveren last season so hasn't acually got enough years under his belt to make the EU passport scam, I mean scheme that Arsenal and Beveren exploit......
More Ed http://skysports.planetfootball.com...le=Edu+issued+ultimatum&channel=Football_Home Reyes says get Torres http://skysports.planetfootball.com...le=Reyes+keen+on+Torres&channel=Football_Home Pennant to Liverpool or Everton? http://skysports.planetfootball.com...Merseyside+eyes+Pennant&channel=Football_Home
It's 100 percent certain that we are "nearly over the line" on a new contract? That doesn't sound so certain to me.
Torres would be amazing even though we aren't in need of strikers. I know it won't happen, but anyone have an estimate on what kind offer it would take to steal him away from Athletico?
Um, huge. I'm pretty sure that At. Madrid have turned down some big offers already. His contract has a minimum buyout of something like $250m, and I think he's valued somewhere around $50m. They won't be able to hold onto him forever, but its going to take a huge amount of money to pry him away.
Not in need of strikers? I respectfully disagree. While it shouldnt be the first priority, lets keep in mind DB10 isnt exactly 22 anymore, Wenger seems to prefer playing Reyes in midfield, and Alaidiere is injured. That leaves Henry and Van Persie... I wouldnt mind another striker. However, central midfield should be the priority.
ib4, I think Reyes can play up front if the need calls for him to do so. However, I do see your point. I think I could have worded my meaning better by simply saying if Arsene were to spend that kind of money there are more pressing needs.
Wenger may look at strikers in the Summer depending on Bergkamp's status, but with Henry, Bergkamp, Van Persie and Reyes all fit and able to play up front I don't see why he would buy one now. Aliadiere and Lupoli are young (and Aliadiere is injury prone), but I think he'll be hoping at least one of them comes through in the near future. I don't think central midfield is a priority either, even if Edu leaves then Vieira, Gilberto, Fabregas and Flamini should be enough, at least until the end of the season. The defence has been holding up pretty well in recent weeks, but I wouldn't mind seeing a decent experienced central defender signed and slide Toure over to right back. With Sol out it's even more apparent just how many high balls Toure doesn't win, expect that the be highlighted against Bolton on Saturday. I like what I've seen of Senderos and at least he will challenge in the air, but Campbell is over 30 and the young Swiss has time on his side. He could do with another season playing regularly in the reserves and getting the odd first team run out here and there. Both the keepers we have are complete muppets and I'd love to see Wenger sign someone to shore up this position. People mention Robert Green and I'm unconvinced, but I doubt he could be any worse than the present two. However signing a good centre half would make this less of a problem. After Lehmann's outburst yesterday I'm sure his days at Highbury are numbered even though he reckons he's going to stay and fight for a place. I expect him to be gone by the end of this transfer window and while I'd be quite happy to have Taylor on the bench I think that would prompt Wenger to look for another keeper as it seems he doesn't rate him much.
Got to disagree with you here. If Edu leaves before the end of the season we will definetly need to bring some cover in and that assumes that Gilberto isn't done for the season or longer. If we don't have either of them and we don't bring in some cover then I for one will be striking the panic button. That would leaves us too week to finish the season especially if we progress to a degree equal or greater to last year in europe and the fa cup. I agree that Green might not be worse than Jens or Almunia but I've seen little to convince me that he'll be any better either. Who could we realistically bring in during this month that will be a certain upgrade over what we have without breaking the bank? For all of the talk of bringing in a new GK, I haven't heard anyone present a reasonable list that are proven improvements over what we have and that are available at the prices we're looking at. My answer is that we'd be better off buying cover at positions like center mid and center defense and not wasting money on a position where one player can cover almost all necessary matches. The fact that we already have adequate cover at the gk spot makes buying another now just silly. If jens is leaving at the end of the season then that is when we should bring in somebody not now.
Cannon, i mostly agree with you, but if i were Wenger i would try to sell Lehmann back to the Bundesliga and buy Van Der Sar with the proceeds. Mind you, i don't think Lehmann is that bad, i just think Van Der Sar could do a job for us. He has so much experience. PS Stuttgart eyes Lehmann swoop
Well there are other options. Lauren or Toure could both do a job if we really needed them to. There is a degree of flexibility in the squad that could be utilised. I agree that there doesn't seem to be many obvious candidates to take up the gloves. But as I said, good cover in front of the keeper would make this less of a problem. Even then, a good keeper is a necessity in the Summer if one can't be found in this window. My comments were based on the assumption that Lehmann will be on his way earlier rather than later due to his comments to the press as I said in my original post. If he doesn't leave in this window then I wouldn't expect any movement on the goalkeeping front before the Summer.
Another older GK with no proven track record...um, great. He has looked good for Palace but did anyone else notice his complaints about the need for a rest last week? Not a great sign for a GK who didn't even start the season and who doesn't have to deal with europe games. Love the tracksuit though.
Shocking Is Robert Greene Out of our price Range or something? I really really hope we dont get this guy, I honestly dont think hees good enough to play at Arsenal. I say we get Greene, or someone proven. Nobody elese.
inter milan have an overabundance of strikers... wish we could go for Obafor(?) Martins... bags of pace and skill~
Obafemi. They wouldn't sell him though - Vieri and Recoba are being pushed out, so Martins and Adriano will likely be Inter's starters for a couple of years.
Allow me to overreact for a minute... Arsenal has needed another top Centerback going back a season and a half now. Has this situation changed suddenly that we can dream of bringing in other attacking players? Arsenal's attackers are plenty versatile and an astute manager such as Arsene could shuffle them around easily. Scoring goals has not been terribly difficult. A Centerback... and if not, possibly center midfielder or goalkeeper. Hard spots to fill now, given Arsenal's resources. I think Almunia has been adaquate, but has he been better than Lehmann? Is he ever going to be a top goalkeeper? I really feel Arsenal missed out when Chelsea signed Cech. He's had the best year of any goalkeeper in 2004 and has all the ability in the world. Bottom line for me is that if Arsenal don't bring in another defender (who is at least close to the finished article) then my outlook for the league and the CL will be fairly dour. There isn't any attacker Arsene can whip out of a hat that won't leave me non-plussed, insofar as this season is concerned.
oh i know nice... just dreamland anyway, we arent chavski.. yakubu would make a great partner for titi as well...