The Football Thread - Season 2012/2013

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Carlo said:
and now Walcott is refusing to extend his contract, and looks set to leave! (quite possibly joining Arsenal reserves man citeh)
What on earth is going on at the Emirates????
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The club is a joke. Simple as. No ambition, no idea, and while Walcott is a bit hit and miss you can't blame him for leaving as he has no chance of winning anything if he stays.
 
There's less wrong with Arsenal and more something wrong with football in general. A few big money clubs have blown the roof off transfer fees and player wages and now every Tom, Dick and Harry think they are worthy of wages well in excess of 100k a week. It's ludicrous. Financial Fair Play is supposed to bring the market back down to earth but it left a gaping hole for suspect sponsorship agreements that still allow sugar daddies to splash their personal fortunes on overvalued players, and for clubs to operate far beyond their own financial means. It's like one big wang waving contest between the richest owners to see who's schlong bank balance is the biggest.

And don't even get me started on footballer's agents...Darren Dein, I'm talking about you!
 
The Greek said:
You hit the nail on the head.
So why would Arsenal want to keep him?
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Because In the last 12 months we have lost 4 guaranteed starters in fabregas, nasri, Rvp and song, who were arguably our top 4 players aside from wilshire. Walcott is one of the players next in line and the message that sends out will make it damn near impossible to attract good players. While Walcott is frustrating, he does score and set up quite a few.
 
TriggerHappy said:
There's less wrong with Arsenal and more something wrong with football in general. A few big money clubs have blown the roof off transfer fees and player wages and now every Tom, Dick and Harry think they are worthy of wages well in excess of 100k a week. It's ludicrous. Financial Fair Play is supposed to bring the market back down to earth but it left a gaping hole for suspect sponsorship agreements that still allow sugar daddies to splash their personal fortunes on overvalued players, and for clubs to operate far beyond their own financial means. It's like one big wang waving contest between the richest owners to see who's schlong bank balance is the biggest.

And don't even get me started on footballer's agents...Darren Dein, I'm talking about you!
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As I have said, I would not care if the club admitted they were in the same bracket as Liverpool and Everton, but it's they way the club and wenger in particular think we can still challenge Chelsea and the Manchester clubs.
 
cambsno said:
The club is a joke. Simple as. No ambition, no idea, and while Walcott is a bit hit and miss you can't blame him for leaving as he has no chance of winning anything if he stays.
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What club do you support fella?
 
TriggerHappy said:
There's less wrong with Arsenal and more something wrong with football in general
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Bingo :thumbs:

United, Liverpool and Arsenal are our 3 'great' clubs. Things change ( I've nothing against that ) but other clubs will only get credit if they can step up and take over based on what they've managed to achieve as a football team and and a business.

Financial fair play - that's a big can of worms. As things stand Manchester United are in a stronger possition than anybody. Arsenal are well placed too but they're getting pelters for generating (selling) to be in that possition. I don't get that ?

All I want to see from FFP are all our clubs operating on what the clubs themselves generate through what they deserve.

I've tipped City for the title again this year but in all honesty - it should be between City and Chelsea every year.

Yes I'd be miffed if I was an Arsenal fan but we need to wait and see whether FFP actually works.
 
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norters said:
What club do you support fella?
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Arsenal, since about 1983, which is why I am so cheesed off about how the club is being run.
 
cambsno said:
Arsenal, since about 1983, which is why I am so cheesed off about how the club is being run.
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I hardly missed a home game in the 80's.... Boring Boring Arsenal!

Are you saying we were a better club back then under George Graham?

Or Don Howe lol
 
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cambsno said:
Arsenal, since about 1983, which is why I am so cheesed off about how the club is being run.
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You mean regular champions league football and a very healthy bank balance? I know. Shocking. Totally unacceptable.
 
The Greek said:
I hardly missed a home game in the 80's.... Boring Boring Arsenal!

Are you saying we were a better club back then under George Graham?

Or Don Howe lol
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I think football was different then - as a kid and going to the odd game winning was nice but it was a lot less political and money orientated back then. I did like the Graham years, we were not actually that boring, the year we won the league losing just 1 game we scored a lot of goals. Although I should admit I do agree with Hansen a lot and am a defender at heart so quite liked the way we shut up shop!
 
norters said:
What club do you support fella?
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Haha, well apparently Arsenal, but maybe he needs to look up the definition of 'support'. Constantly berating Wenger and calling for him to be sacked is truly laughable and somebody who obviously does not follow the club other than through the tabloids.

The players that have left haven't done so solely because of the lack of ambition of the club/trophies, it's down to the money - WAGES.

Re: Walcott - why is the frustration aimed at the club/Wenger? He has offered Theo a £15,000 a week payrise (from £60k to £75K), and he's wanting more in the region of £100k. Is he worth that? No, not at Arsenal he isn't - because they don't offer these kind of bogus wages to inconsistent players. So he will look to a club that can afford it. If he goes, he will be replaced. Simple as that - the philosophy of the club will not be jeopardized by selfish individuals. If they want to play for the club they sign the contract (Vermaelen and Koscielny).

In regards to Wenger 'admitting he's in the same League as Everton and Liverpool' - why would he? Why would you want a club with the legacy of Arsenal have their manager of 16 years turn around and say 'we're a top 7 club at best' - what would that do for the teams and fans morale? I don't think you've thought this through - especially when they finished third last season after a dismal start.

Drawing your first two opening games of the season is not the end of the world, teams with new players (Arsenal have 3, just in case you haven't been following) take time to gel. Be patient, be a supporter.
 
A number of fans are questioning Wengers strategy over the last year or 2. Of course wages play a part, but be realistic, we are not in the same league as Mancs and Chelsea so why pretend we are. I would much prefer the manager to be realistic and in terms of wages we are in the same league as Everton and Liverpool so why not admit to that. I would say that the sensible and inteligent fans would appreciate that much more than the rubbish spouted out now. Its about setting expectations. He is telling the fans we are better than we are and so we are dissappointed when things dont happen.

As we now have no hope for the league, why not take the Carling Cup seriously as it is our best chance of silverware.

Yes, we finished 3rd coming from nowhere, although Spurs did throw it away at the end, and Chelsea self destructed. I think everyone admits that the Mancs and Chelsea will be top 3, so its us, Liverpool, Spurs and possibly Everton and Newcastle battling for 4th. Deep down is anyone confident we can do that? If we miss out on CL, then that will make it even harder to compete on getting new players.
 
cambsno said:
As I have said, I would not care if the club admitted they were in the same bracket as Liverpool and Everton, but it's they way the club and wenger in particular think we can still challenge Chelsea and the Manchester clubs.
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Liverpool and Everton?! The two are worlds apart. Everton barely have two pennies to rub together and Liverpool have splashed a lot of cash the last few years.
 
I'll say it again. REGULAR champions league football, many many wheelbarrows of money, manager that introduced a style of play to British football that we had never seen before, who turned Thierry Henry into the best football player the Prem has ever seen, guided you to an UNBEATEN season..

Yet I am unwavering in my love for my club EVEN AFTET WE SPENT 20 MILLION POUNDS ON STEWART DOWNING.

Just support you team fella.
 
norters said:
You mean regular champions league football and a very healthy bank balance? I know. Shocking. Totally unacceptable.
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Innit. Diabolical. Lets be like Liverpool. I have debts and struggling to play cl footy every season
 
[QUOTE

As we now have no hope for the league, why not take the Carling Cup seriously as it is our best chance of silverware.
.[/QUOTE]


Might be wrong, but were we not out played in the final by Birmingham with Theo, Song, RVP, Nasri and Co?

So its Arsenals fault we haven't won a trophy. Never mind doubling RVP Theo and Songs money to stay, should have paid them the same as the Birminghams players and reduced ticket prices.
 
There is no question Wenger should be sacked and replaced with Gary Megson.
 
Wenger's Arsenal are still the only team to beat United to a PL title without having outside sugar daddy investment.

If (and mean if) Arsenal's business is to ensure a top 4 finish then providing they sell to the teams that they think will finish in the top 3 rather than 4th - 8th then that makes sense to me.
 
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Qpr look set to sign Cesar from Inter. That's another big signing. He said he couldn't fail to be impressed by the vision of the club presented to him.

I will be very interested to see what percentage of revenue QPR are spending on wages with all their summer singings!
 
Stoke made a bid for Charlie Adam, I'd be happy to see him go, I had high hopes when he first arrived, but he's been pants.
 
TriggerHappy said:
Qpr look set to sign Cesar from Inter. That's another big signing. He said he couldn't fail to be impressed by the vision of the club presented to him.

I will be very interested to see what percentage of revenue QPR are spending on wages with all their summer singings!
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I can't say I'm unhappy with our signings, I'm generally ecstatic in fact. We're also allegedly in for Granero fro Real Madrid and about 1/2 of all current professional footballers dependent on what you read. I'm actually quite looking forward to the transfer window being over.

On the whole I think our policy has been fairly sound - minimum transfer fees, get established players to try and consolidate in Prem. Big(ger) money coming in next season for new PL TV contracts.

I hope for all parties Green is now sold for he can be a No1 somewhere - I do feel for him one bad game (and allegedly a bad pre-season) and he's No2. I dread to think how much we would be paying to have him sit on the bench.

I was started watching QPR in the mid-80s and I miss the days of signing most of our best players from the lower leagues or bringing them through our youth team (Les Ferdinand, Paul Parker, Andy Sinton, Trevor Sinclair, David Seaman etc etc). Anyway those days are not coming back.

I personally wish there was a better limit, be it on squad size or salary cap. I'm just not sure how it would work \ not be got around in practice.
 
Modric has already won more today than he had with Spurs and Song keeps up his Arsenal ways on his debut by being on the losing side :lol:

On a side note, both Arsenal and Gazidis were present at the NextGen (under 19s) game against Marsaille today - having said they intend not to miss a game - where we won 3-0 with the most impressive of performances. There's some serious quality lurking in the Arsenal youth. Gnabry, Yennaris, Ebicilio, Olsson and Akpom are all names to watch out for. Not to mention some of those who are currently out on loan.

It's a shame we let Lansbury go for £1m, he's a player that showed a lot of early promise for Arsenal and England youth but hasn't quite developed that final bit. Wouldn't be surprised to see him in the premier league though. Scored an absolute cracker for England under 21s I think it was!
 
TriggerHappy said:
Qpr look set to sign Cesar from Inter. That's another big signing. He said he couldn't fail to be impressed by the vision of the club presented to him.

I will be very interested to see what percentage of revenue QPR are spending on wages with all their summer singings!
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Cesar was officially confirmed earlier this evening. It's a sickener for Green but you can't carry a keeper in his form at premier league level. I watched the pre season games and he's looked nervous in all of them. Very odd given his excellent form at West Ham last season

As Al says, actual transfer fees have been minimal over the summer, despite the number of players coming to the club. Grenaro is looking promising as is M'bia from Marseille with Barton going the other way (best transfer of the window, shame it's only on loan).
 
TriggerHappy said:
Modric has already won more today than he had with Spurs and Song keeps up his Arsenal ways on his debut by being on the losing side :lol:

On a side note, both Arsenal and Gazidis were present at the NextGen (under 19s) game against Marsaille today - having said they intend not to miss a game - where we won 3-0 with the most impressive of performances. There's some serious quality lurking in the Arsenal youth. Gnabry, Yennaris, Ebicilio, Olsson and Akpom are all names to watch out for. Not to mention some of those who are currently out on loan.

It's a shame we let Lansbury go for £1m, he's a player that showed a lot of early promise for Arsenal and England youth but hasn't quite developed that final bit. Wouldn't be surprised to see him in the premier league though. Scored an absolute cracker for England under 21s I think it was!
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How many times have we heard about our wonderful youths in the past and how many have actually broken through and done something? Gibbs yes and of course wilshire, I guess schezney may count as I think he came as a 16yo, but the rest just play a handful of games then get sold for 1m like Lansbury, pennant, Bentley etc.
 
joescrivens said:
Stoke made a bid for Charlie Adam, I'd be happy to see him go, I had high hopes when he first arrived, but he's been pants.
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Charlie 'Hollywood' Adam probably gets a bit more in the way of attention up here (being Scottish) but I'd agree his time is probably up at Liverpool. The funny thing with him was that he showed a lot of promise at Blackpool. Everybody gets a duffer when they take a punt but with LFC it's the prices they paid. Stuart Downing, Andy Carroll, Jordan Henderson are all considered flops I guess but football has gone mad.
 
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dinners said:
Charlie 'Hollywood' Adam probably gets a bit more in the way of attention up here (being Scottish) but I'd agree his time is probably up at Liverpool. The funny thing with him was that he showed a lot of promise at Blackpool. Everybody gets a duffer when they take a punt but with LFC it's the prices they paid. Stuart Downing, Andy Carroll, Jordan Henderson are all considered flops I guess but football has gone mad.
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you can't call any of them flops because they have only been there for 1 season, it isn't long enough to make an accurate enough judgement. The first season for chelsea torres was awful and by your accounts would have been labbelled a "flop" look at him now.

Stewart downing has aleady scored a goal this season for example. Lets see how the next years play out before we prematurely start using the word "flop"
 
I agree Joe - that's what I meant by saying they're considerd flops - the world has gone mad.
 
Champions League Draw today.

From what I can gather three English teams are in pot 1

Pot One: Chelsea, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Porto, AC Milan.

Pot Two: Valencia, Benfica, Shakhtar Donetsk, Zenit St Petersburg, Schalke, Manchester City, Braga.

Pot Three: Olympiakos, Ajax, Anderlecht, Juventus, Paris St Germain, Galatasaray.

Pot Four: Borussia Dortmund, BATE Borisov, Dinamo Zagreb, Malaga, Montpellier, FC Nordsjaelland.

Celtic, Lille, Spartak Moscow, CFR Cluj and Dynamo Kiev TBC
 
Am I mad to dream of activating the buy-back clause in the Fabregas deal?
 
cambsno said:
What clause?
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Give it a Google, lots of reports of a buy-back clause being included in the deal for varying amounts depends where you read.

I'm just thinking about last night where Barca were chasing the game and brought on Song and Tello instead of a forlorn looking Fabregas on the bench, who's been quite vocal about his difficulty in settling back in at Barca. Add to that the fact Pep has gone, lots of recent tweets praising Arsenal from Fabregas' official twitter including a picture of himself in a half Barca half Arsenal kit and the statement by Wenger that he'd spend £30m if the right player became available.

Admittedly it's all a bit pie-in-the-sky, conspiracy theory stuff but it would be amazing and I love to dream :D

We could end up with a squad with:

-------Arteta------Diaby
Cazorla---Fabregas---Podolski
------------Giroud

Not to mention the various bench options we could then have.

I know, I'm going mad with transfer fever :wave:
 
Not a fan of Diaby at all, althought throw Wilshire in instead....
 
TriggerHappy said:
Give it a Google, lots of reports of a buy-back clause being included in the deal for varying amounts depends where you read.

I'm just thinking about last night where Barca were chasing the game and brought on Song and Tello instead of a forlorn looking Fabregas on the bench, who's been quite vocal about his difficulty in settling back in at Barca. Add to that the fact Pep has gone, lots of recent tweets praising Arsenal from Fabregas' official twitter including a picture of himself in a half Barca half Arsenal kit and the statement by Wenger that he'd spend £30m if the right player became available.

Admittedly it's all a bit pie-in-the-sky, conspiracy theory stuff but it would be amazing and I love to dream :D

We could end up with a squad with:

-------Arteta------Diaby
Cazorla---Fabregas---Podolski
------------Giroud

Not to mention the various bench options we could then have.

I know, I'm going mad with transfer fever :wave:
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Your mad .... MAD I SAY!

LOL
 
It was officially reported as a £35m buy-back with a season buffer. I'd love it, but I'm telling you now, with Gazidis instead of David Dein it will never happen!

I think we should ask to loan him, better chance, still too unlikely though.
 
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