Arsenal

[SomeNaiveChump]

I don't even know how to respond to the wrongness there.

Literally stuck for words.

Um, I'm just looking through last season's Arsenal starts for Diaby and variously Gilberto, Flamini, Song or Diarra were holding the midfield with either Denilson, Fabregas or another one of those four holding players taking the other central berth.

He played an attacking midfield role either left or centre in all of them.

So don't give me 'wrongness', what I said is entirely accurate. You might be able to find maybe *one* game in which Wenger used him as a holding midfielder, but I can't - and even if you do that doesn't make it his position. From all available evidence he can't defend and has nothing like the composure and reliability required of a holding midfielder... and if he's got such potential there, why have Gilberto, Song and Diarra always been preferred there whenever Flamini was unavailable?

If you're counting on him as Flamini's replacement you're taking a massive long shot.

As Ian Wright said 'the only thing he has in common with Vieira is that he's a brother'.

[Mars]

He is (soon) out of contract with Pompey.

And he did say he wanted to come back as a Defensive coach. Though I did read between the lines alot.

He's signed another year long contract with them

If only that away kit poster was an actual shot of our changing room (without the merse, maybe). That kit is aces though!

[Dude Ranch]

and if he's got such potential there, why have Gilberto, Song and Diarra always been preferred there whenever Flamini was unavailable?

We had problems and gaps all over the pitch last season. Rosicky left a big hole on the left that Diaby quite often needed to fill. He also suffered injuries himself. He isn't really a holding type whereas the others you mentioned naturally are so they were used instead.

[SomeNaiveChump]

He isn't really a holding type

Which is exactly what I'm saying. Apparently that is 'wrongness'.

[Mars]

I cannot believe that Eduardo will probably be back before Rosicky. I mean, honestly!

[Dude Ranch]

As Ian Wright said 'the only thing he has in common with Vieira is that he's a brother'.

That's wrong though, there are certain similarites. The very first picture I saw of Diaby, I thought it was Vieira. Not looks but body shape as he was passing the ball etc. Overall though, you wouldn't really compare their games. Not least cos Vieira was possibly the best player I've ever seen in his prime. He ruled the pitch.

[Dude Ranch]

Which is exactly what I'm saying. Apparently that is 'wrongness'.

Hehe, I didn't say that . It's possible he could play the role though but he's got too much on the ball going forward. In theory.

[Daley]

So £30m for Adebayor? Take it yes?

[Lucky]

So £30m for Adebayor? Take it yes?

We should bite their hand off and then buy him his plane ticket.

[mop]

We should bite their hand off and then buy him his plane ticket.

Yes indeed.

Now, who will we get to fill his postion? Or can we leave that up to glass man Van Persie, new boy Vela, Bendtner, Walcott and hopefully a soon to be fit Crozillian and splash the cash on other areas?

[Lucky]

Now, who will we get to fill his postion? Or can we leave that up to glass man Van Persie, new boy Vela, Bendtner, Walcott and hopefully a soon to be fit Crozillian and splash the cash on other areas?

First we should ask Adebayor to take Hleb with him, then put the money we already have together with the money we get for these two mugs and go shopping.

We should finally tie up the Nasri deal

We should buy a CB

We should buy a DMF

We should go and buy Kenwyn Jones

I think Wenger could make Jones a better player than he's made Adebayor. Kenwyn Jones reminds me of a mixture of Drogba when he first came to Chelsea and Adebayor when we first bough him. I reckon he's got enough about him to become a top quality player at a big club playing with top players. Also with Wenger as his manager he could become as good as Drogba was the season before last.

[Lucas]

So £30m for Adebayor? Take it yes?

Yes. £30m after one good season? Barca are idiots.

Yes, he got a lot of goals, but when we needed him the most, he didn't turn up.

Imagine what he'd be worth if he was able to pull another season like that out of the bag!

[Lucky]

Imagine what he'd be worth if he was able to pull another season like that out of the bag!

Imagine what he'd be worth if he knew the offside rule and could control the ball.

[Dude Ranch]

First we should ask Adebayor to take Hleb with him

My feelings. £40m for the pair would be great business. It does start to break up the team and Hleb especially does have the X factor that makes us tick but it's all gone too far now.

Walcott, Eduardo, van Persie, Vela and Bendtner is a bit young and inexperienced. I'd be happy to go with it if it they all stayed fit though. I've got half an eye on Martins. Knows the Prem and gives us the muscle we lack. A bit like Baptista but not scared of his own shadow .

[toythatkills]

Yes, he got a lot of goals, but when we needed him the most, he didn't turn up.

Surely "when we needed him the most" was during the ACN when other players were missing alongside all the injuries, and that's when he was at his absolute best.

£30m for him is ridiculous though. That's like 9x profit in three years.

[Daley]

Surely "when we needed him the most" was during the ACN when other players were missing alongside all the injuries, and that's when he was at his absolute best.

£30m for him is ridiculous though. That's like 9x profit in three years.

He was £7m wasn't he? Also I think the "needed him" refers to the run in when he hardly scored.

Still the point is get him out. Hleb too. Overmars and Petit part two anyone?

[toythatkills]

Ah, I was basing it on the £3m Wikipedia quoted, I had no idea really. Still megaprofit though and we could do with someone who's less of a ME ME ME player.

[BlinkyBear]

Diaby has never played in defensive midfield and so far no-one has ever seen him defend well.

There's your wrongness.

I'm not gonna bother arguing the ends and outs of his game, style and try to second-guess what Wenger will do with him, but I'd have him in that role if we need him.

And as much as I think we should take the £30mill for Ade, bear in mind that he does have a habit of turning up on the big games. Not in the League maybe, but if we didn't replace him with someone huge or proven, it'd be a disaster.

[Lucky]

Still the point is get him out. Hleb too. Overmars and Petit part two anyone?

Overmars and Petit weren't cunts, they are Arsenal legends who helped us win many things, Hleb and Adebayor were no one when Wenger gave them their big chance at a big club. Adebayor has had one good season and Hleb has done reasonably well and all of a sudden they think they are Henry and Pires.

The sooner Wenger gets them both out the door the better.

[Daley]

Overmars and Petit weren't cunts

That's a fair point. I just meant more the "ripping off Barca for every penny they have" part of it.

[Lucas]

Imagine what he'd be worth if he knew the offside rule and could control the ball.

I thought you rated him?

He was £7m wasn't he? Also I think the "needed him" refers to the run in when he hardly scored.

This. I think he went 7 or 8 matches without scoring in that spell where we pissed it all away.

[Lucky]

I thought you rated him?

I do / did.

I think he's an important part of our team but I've always said he can also be the most frustrating player in the world. He has improved loads since he came and if he got his head down and concentrated on the football I think he could have continued to improve and turned into an excellent all round player. But with all the shit he's come out with lately I don't want him playing for us. I think he's shown Wenger and the club no respect and shown absolutely zero loyalty so he can fuck off. I originally didn't want him to go, even for £30mill but the way things are at the moment I can't see how he can stay.

I for one have lost all respect for him and think he's a disgrace to the shirt.

Comparing himself to Henry? Is he joking?

[Dude Ranch]

Still the point is get him out. Hleb too. Overmars and Petit part two anyone?

Yes, I was thinking that. We'd have Overmars and Petit back in a second though . And as has been said, they didn't leave under a cloud.

Imagine Cesc with Manu Petit watching his back . Now that would be awesome.

[Lucky]

Marseille midfielder Samir Nasri should complete his transfer to Arsenal in around '10 days', according to the player's agent.

The playmaker has been strongly linked zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

A deal had reportedly been struck towards the end of June zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Since then, Marseille have wrapped up the signing of Hatem Ben Arfa from Lyon zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

And the 21-year-old's agent, Jean-Pierre Bernes, has explained that he expects Nasri to seal his move to Arsenal when he returns from his holidays.

"He is on his holidays. It (the transfer) will be made when he will be back, in about 10 days," said Bernes.

can this get any more...............what's the word?

[hobo]

Suddenly realised what Wenger is thinking re DMF...

Song!

[Daley]

Suddenly realised what Wenger is thinking re DMF...

Song!

"One Song! We've only got one Song!"

Surely he is not gonna start the season with him?

[Dude Ranch]

Suddenly realised what Wenger is thinking re DMF...

Song!

Well, he went from laughing stock to very much improved and borderline impressive . He's tenacious and strong, the only problem is that he hasn't got any pace and neither has Cesc. I can't see Song being first choice this year, and he's more likely to play at the back IMO. If we don't sign a direct Flamini replacement I'd put my money on Gilberto or possibly Diaby.

[mop]

can this get any more...............what's the word?

The thing is, while I'm bored of the whole thing, when it's a done deal and all official I'll let myself get very excited. It'll be a great signing. Just a damn shame it's one of the most protracted signings (for us) I can remember for a while. I guess we're used to these things coming out of the blue.

[Dude Ranch]

The thing is, while I'm bored of the whole thing, when it's a done deal and all official I'll let myself get very excited. It'll be a great signing.

Yeah, I'm telling myself this. But I have a nagging doubt that we'll see fuck all of him for at least a year. I hope no-one's expecting the new Pires on day one.

[Lucky]

Well, he went from laughing stock to very much improved and borderline impressive

I agree with that.

Can't see Wenger starting with Song in midfield, maybe his future is as a CB anyway, but in the ACN he played very well as a CM and was even in the team of the tournament.

We'll see.

I still think we need to buy someone though.