Arsenal

[Gotters]

I think the 2 deals can show where chelsea aren't being as daft as people think, especially with regard to FFP - so lets start with yes in total Mudryk is a bigger commitment to Chelsea than Arsenal over the longer term, no questions asked. 

 

But Chelsea are signing new players to longer contracts, which mean they get to post a smaller amortisation cost per year to the books. Mudryk will book at £10m per year (maybe less if the 12 month option is allowable), Trossard nearer £6m, then in wages I suspect we're paying Trossard more than Mudryk's reported £97k per week.

 

From an FFP perspective Mudryk is nowhere near as damaging to Chelseas compliance as people think, due mainly to that long contract. 

 

From a footballing perspective who knows, Trossard has less risk I'd say, Mudryk potential to go either way and be a huge hit or miss, and a lot of resale value.

[Art Vandelay]

It's not an especially canny move though as they've completely overpaid for him to start with. The market is gradually shifting to fewer transfer fees and more long contracts for players running their deals down, whereas Chelsea are doing one bit right but also lumping gigantic sums of money on to start with. The other danger is when you take on someone expensive from abroad they're basically then marooned in the Premier League as the rest of world football is on the bones of its arse. If they want to recoup the fee or actually make any money they'll have to sell to Newcastle or Man City or hang around and see if PSG are interested, which they never are. 

 

Trossard as an alternative is fine, but his face is very Spursy. I'm going to have to wait and see if that wears off.

[Gotters]

Of course, I said it's not no risk at all but it doesn't kill them from an FFP perspective, rather loads them up for more years, which may or may not be a good thing depending on if he's any good.

 

Tranfermarkt had him down at €40m in Dec, interestingly they tagged Trossard at €30m. 

 

Value though doesn't come into FFP, just the hit to the annual books. 

 

The Mudryk slower amortisation does mean they'll need a bigger fee to break even every year as the contract rolls on as his book value stays higher for longer, than say if he was on a Pepe length contract !

[Gotters]

47 minutes ago, Art Vandelay said:

Trossard as an alternative is fine, but his face is very Spursy. I'm going to have to wait and see if that wears off.

 

I know what you mean that he looks Spursy, does it help that he has all the letters of Arsenal in his name though ?

[Art Vandelay]

It's certainly a start.

[Petrousgyre]

2 hours ago, Gotters said:

Value though doesn't come into FFP, just the hit to the annual books. 

 

Not directly perhaps, but if he turns out to be a dud they've got his transfer and wages weighing down the ship for years to come. In theory FFP makes it harder to just buy their way out of this problem.

 

On a related note - lets say the reverse is true and he's an absolute star - what incentive would there be for Chelsea to raise his wages given he's tied himself to such a long deal? Not that 97k p/w isn't a grotesque amount of money in the first place but you get what I mean - surely he's robbed himself of any negotiating power over wages. He'll be 30 when his contract ends by which time they'll likely be looking to move him on anyway.

[Art Vandelay]

I gather he was under immense pressure to do the deal from Shakhtar who have sort of framed his sale as some huge boon for the Ukrainian resistance. This isn't sour grapes, but it does look like he was shouldered into Scottie Pippen-ing himself. Unless it's a cultural thing where he's from I'm not aware of that when becoming an overnight multimillionaire and joining your dream club you're supposed to trudge about with a face like a melted candle. 

[Gotters]

11 minutes ago, petrolgirls said:

 

Not directly perhaps, but if he turns out to be a dud they've got his transfer and wages weighing down the ship for years to come. In theory FFP makes it harder to just buy their way out of this problem.

 

On a related note - lets say the reverse is true and he's an absolute star - what incentive would there be for Chelsea to raise his wages given he's tied himself to such a long deal? Not that 97k p/w isn't a grotesque amount of money in the first place but you get what I mean - surely he's robbed himself of any negotiating power over wages. He'll be 30 when his contract ends by which time they'll likely be looking to move him on anyway.

 

yeah, I mentioned this, there is no free FFP lunch in a longer contract but as an annual measure (with losses measured over a 3y window I think) it helps.

 

I'm sure his contract has all sorts of kickers in it based on performance and time served, if not he has Harry Kane's idiot brother as an agent, and nobody else would make that mistake

[Petrousgyre]

32 minutes ago, Art Vandelay said:

I gather he was under immense pressure to do the deal from Shakhtar who have sort of framed his sale as some huge boon for the Ukrainian resistance. This isn't sour grapes, but it does look like he was shouldered into Scottie Pippen-ing himself. Unless it's a cultural thing where he's from I'm not aware of that when becoming an overnight multimillionaire and joining your dream club you're supposed to trudge about with a face like a melted candle. 

 

I forget which, think it was the Athletic podcast, did a thing on his transfer - they made it sound like a borderline scam. As you say though, easy to sound like sour grapes - I'm sure he'll be outstanding for Chelsea. 

 

Edit: - it was the Athletic

[The Fox]

 

Can't say I know anything about this bloke at all, but hopefully he's an LCB because Gabriel surely needs a breather at some point.

[Petrousgyre]

He is a LCB according to the Graun. Apparently he played in every WC game for Poland but i can't say I recall watching him.

[Gotters]

nobody looked up at the TV when poland were on in the WC.

 

Smarterscout give him 41/99 as a defensive rating and based on his attributes suggest other players are similar like Johny Evans at Leicester, WInston Reid and Davinson Sanchez. 

 

that's his Serie A stats though, maybe he different for Poland

[Art Vandelay]

If this is the end of Rob Holding coming on for four minutes to donate his body in the grim defence of a slender lead then I'm going to be pretty upset. 

 

Fabrizio is reporting we're buying a callow youth who can play right back and also a mystery midfielder. For fans of Central European EDM all these compilation videos are sure to be a treat. 

[glb]

Fun Trossard fact: he's scored more league goals at Anfield than Mo Salah this season.

[The Fox]

This is the real big January window news

 

 

[Larsen B]

Saw someone lament that Trossard will likely be the last player signed who is older than they are, which made me wonder: who was the last player Arsenal signed that was older than you?

 

For me, I think it was David Luiz.

 

Despite complaints about how washed he was, somehow Willian is younger than me and I'm in the prime of my life.

[The Fox]

For me I suspect it's...Mikel Arteta.

[Petrousgyre]

Pfft, Arteta - fucking David Luiz!  Sol Campbell is the closest I can find.

[Art Vandelay]

Stephan Lichtsteiner ran it close but it was Petr Cech apparently. Two players with similar mobility to me. 

[Petrousgyre]

Whippersnappers

[Silent Runner]

2 hours ago, Larsen B said:

Saw someone lament that Trossard will likely be the last player signed who is older than they are, which made me wonder: who was the last player Arsenal signed that was older than you?

 

For me, I think it was David Luiz.

 

Despite complaints about how washed he was, somehow Willian is younger than me and I'm in the prime of my life.

 

William Gallas I think. I was 29 when he signed. Christ. 

Edited January 20 by Silent Runner

[DirkCrisis]

Trossard to Arsenal is a pretty decent deal for everyone. Arsenal don't pay over the odds and get someone with proven PL experience. Trossard gets to win something which I imagine was at least part of the cause of his recent tantrum and Brighton get more than we paid for him.

 

From a tactical perspective, Trossard is probably better placed to help Arsenal secure the PL title although I appreciate it is a short term signing. Sour last few weeks aside he was great for us and I'm sure he will be for Arsenal too. Just hope we can stop Chelsea from further asset stripping us.

[wev]

Can we please hold off on the "win something" comments and just enjoy the ride? We've been here before

[Art Vandelay]

Camavinga. Be still my beating heart.

[Gotters]

How many times will McTominnay be allowed to kick Saka in the ankles today without getting booked, whilst the first time Saka tugs a Utd player arm he gets a yellow ?

[wev]

Arsenal came out with less confidence than we've seen lately. Eddie just keeps on scoring 🥰

[Gotters]

First 2m were very bright.

 

why don’t they just let Fernandes have a whistle and referee the match, how is he not charged every week for hassling refs

[wev]

Andre Marriner is the fourth official? 🙄

[Art Vandelay]

The scourge of football, managers straying outside their little box.

[The Fox]

Too sloppy in possession in that half, especially from White, Partey and Martinelli. Tighten up the technical security to the usual standard and we should beat them.