Arsenal

[Lucky]

Sky Sport's summer transfer centre.

That would be a suprise!

7.23 Arsenal midfielder Gilberto is in Greece today to tie up the loose ends of a deal in place to sign for Panathinaikos. The Brazilian will become the highest paid player in Greek football.

7.30 Gilberto's departure could kick-start one of the summer's more surprising transfers, according to reports. Liverpool's Xabi Alonso is wanted by Arsene Wenger to partner Cesc Fabregas in a new look Arsenal midfield. Should the Gunners move for Alonso, it would certainly clear the path for Liverpool to seal a deal for Gareth Barry, who is also interesting Arsenal.

Probably bullshit, but it looks like Juve have ended their interest so if Liverpool want Barry it seems they need/want to sell Alonso. You never know.

He's only 26, I thought he was older.

Not sure what I think about this one.

[Steve007]

Sky Sport's summer transfer centre.

That would be a suprise!

Probably bullshit, but it looks like Juve have ended their interest so if Liverpool want Barry it seems they need/want to sell Alonso. You never know.

He's only 26, I thought he was older.

Not sure what I think about this one.

I like Alonso but Juventus were put off by Liverpool's valuation of him, I'd not want to see Wenger pay £15m for him or whatever amount Liverpool were looking for in that area.

[Daley]

No chance. Him and Cesc would be too slow together, although I guess Flamini wasn't exactly quick.

[Dude Ranch]

Does anyone else think we will be better off in the long term because we invest in youth & don't pay lots of silly transfer fees that the likes of Liverpool do?

Just read the article below. I'm not saying I agree with all of it but it's how I've felt for some time. I also mentioned on here a while back about us being a stepping stone Club, I still see that as the case.

What do the top 5 Arsenal players of all time have in common?

They all reached that magical age of 30!

We had Keown, Winterburn, Dixon, Adams, Bergkamp, and Ian Wright, all played well into their 30’s and I have to say playing their best football, look at Maldini and Zidane.

The only reason Wenger wants youngsters is so they can dominate for ten years, then they’d be what? 30!

Trouble is they get to 24 and sod off, so the experiment is shite, it doesn’t work, look at those that have left, Anelka, Flamini, Hleb, Overmars, Reyes and now Ade.

And those that don”t even get to 24 Aliadiere, Sidwell, Muamba, Larsson, Stokes, I’m not saying they were great, but they all ate away at the wage structure and all came with high hopes.

Change the script Arsene, it’s not working.

Yes you get them cheap, but you pay them top wages to come, so with all the kids we have our wage bill is huge, so are they really cheap? I think not, then after years of watching them fumble their way around a pitch, they bugger off (Flamini) or go to the Olympics (Song) the last time a player did that by the way (Brazil game) was Edu, then he rarely played again until he went on a free, because you had the hump with him.

Then when players near the magical age they get thrown out, we need the experience, but we throw them out, unless of course they are French (Gallas) the point here is when they get to 27, they see their last chance for a payday because they know they only have 3 years left before Arsenal dump them.

Look at those we lost, Pires, Henry, Viera, Campbell, Ralph and now Gilberto, when you’re chasing trophies, it helps to have an experienced head, what have we left now? A sulky bastard that when the going gets tough, sits on the pitch and throws wobblies.

I wish I had an answer for why you are obsessed with youth, we know it’s not money because when they get good you have to pay them and those you buy young aren’t that cheap, Theo was £12mil (revised because the Saints got into trouble so don’t claim that one) and Ramsey was £5 mil, plus all the hundreds of £3 mil kids knocking around, it all adds up.

Finally how many of these kids make it? How many FA Youth cups do we win? Are these kids that good?

Well, are they?

Keepers - no.

Clichy - yes.

Sagna * - yes.

Traore - not likely.

Eboue - no.

Senderos / Djourou - no.

Song - maybe next year.

Cesc - obviously.

Diaby, Denilson - possibly.

Walcott - needs a good season.

Ramsey - don't know.

Bendtner - could go either way.

Eduardo * - more than likely, God willing.

Merida - don't know.

Vela - don't know.

Nordtveit - don't know.

Wilshere - high hopes, apparently.

* Not bought as kids.

We've had loads leave (as pointed out in the article) cos they didn't make the grade or wanted out when they got good, the outstanding Cesc and Clichy plus lots of question marks.

[Steve007]

We've had loads leave (as pointed out in the article) cos they didn't make the grade or wanted out when they got good, the outstanding Cesc and Clichy plus lots of question marks.

But if you have a batch of talented kids and 2 or 3 out of a pool of 20-25 go on to be world class footballers then it's not bad going! You can't produce 20 Henry's, Bergkamp's & Seaman's out of one generation of youth players. The only club that used to be able to do this were Ajax, but even they are struggling to produce the quantity of quality that they are famed for.

[Daley]

I wonder if something will actually happen with Hleb and/or Adebayor now Ronaldinho looks to be on his way to Milan. Barca have spent a ridiculous amount of money already this season, if they buy them two, for the prices quoted, they will be close to £100m.

[Dude Ranch]

But if you have a batch of talented kids and 2 or 3 out of a pool of 20-25 go on to be world class footballers then it's not bad going!

No, I quite agree. But that's our only viable option for getting world class players. We won't pay world class wages, we won't pay world class transfer fees, we wont sign experience. We can't get by on two or three players eventually becoming world class. We're not supplementing those two or three world class 'home grown' players with anything other than a bunch of hopefuls. I read at the end of last season that Wenger has assembled a team of squad players. A bit harsh but what else do you call Senderos, Djourou, Traore, Denilson etc.?

Of course, we might be on the verge of getting a couple of ready made decent players but who knows?

[Benji]

Adams No 3...

Looks like Berties defo off then. We HAVE to sign someone now

[Lucky]

I've got a feeling that Hleb will still go to Barca, to replace Deco, but Adebayor might not get his move to Barca and he'll stay with us, unless AC Milan come in for him that is.

I wonder what kind of reception Adebayor will get from the rest of the players and the fans if he stays. Not a good one I imagine as he wont be staying out of choice.

It'll be quite disruptive if he stays, I'd rather he fucks off.

[monobrow]

What do you Gooners think of Diaby? A couple of years ago in the cups, I thought he looked outstanding, but Wenger seems to use him on the left-wing now. Can he replace Flamini or do you need to buy?

[monobrow]

What do you Gooners think of Diaby? A couple of years ago in the cups, I thought he looked outstanding, but Wenger seems to use him on the left-wing now. Can he replace Flamini or do you need to buy?

[Steve007]

I've got a feeling that Hleb will still go to Barca, to replace Deco, but Adebayor might not get his move to Barca and he'll stay with us, unless AC Milan come in for him that is.

I wonder what kind of reception Adebayor will get from the rest of the players and the fans if he stays. Not a good one I imagine as he wont be staying out of choice.

It'll be quite disruptive if he stays, I'd rather he fucks off.

I'd quite like Santa Cruz as a replacement. He's a natural goal scorer and would put away chances. Much to my surprise, Adebayor had a good season in terms of goals, but how many chances did he miss? Tons! We need a greedy selfish little shit who will put the ball in the net the moment he gets a sniff. We've been lacking someone like that since Henry & Pires left.

[Steve007]

What do you Gooners think of Diaby? A couple of years ago in the cups, I thought he looked outstanding, but Wenger seems to use him on the left-wing now. Can he replace Flamini or do you need to buy?

He's a very good player. Reminds me of Vieira at times when he's played central. He's never going to be Vieira but he shows signs that he could do a job in midfield. He's wasted when played out wide, he's never a wideman.

[Daley]

Arsenal's Belarus midfield man Alexander Hleb is undergoing a medical at Barcelona on Wednesday ahead of an £11.9m move to the Nou Camp.

Indeed it does look like he is off, for a bit less than I hoped really. Adebayor is going to be interesting as it might be dependent on Eto'o leaving and there doesn't seem to be much going on there.

With regards to players leaving, before this summer it was generally players leaving when we wanted them to, with the exception of Anelka. Maybe it's just harder to build a team with players so powerful/greedy now.

I also think we reap what we sow a little as foreign players are probably more likely to move on than English players, not because of them being disloyal or anything but, well they have moved country and club once, why not again?

[Benji]

I've got a feeling that Hleb will still go to Barca, to replace Deco, but Adebayor might not get his move to Barca and he'll stay with us, unless AC Milan come in for him that is.

I wonder what kind of reception Adebayor will get from the rest of the players and the fans if he stays. Not a good one I imagine as he wont be staying out of choice.

It'll be quite disruptive if he stays, I'd rather he fucks off.

Hleb's moved to Barca... it's on their official site... medical today...

[Benji]

http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/catala/noti...0716104941.html

[Dude Ranch]

Hleb's moved to Barca... it's on their official site... medical today...

Good, the little shit. Great on the ball, no end product, no goals. He'll get marked out of games over there.

[Benji]

How many players have Barca bought from us now though???

Overmars, Petit, Sylvinho, Henry, Hleb off the top of my head!

[V3zna]

Does anyone else think we will be better off in the long term because we invest in youth & don't pay lots of silly transfer fees that the likes of Liverpool do?

Eh? Why Liverpool? Surely the likes of Chelsea paying £30 million for Shevchenko is more applicable?

[KRP]

How many players have Barca bought from us now though???

Overmars, Petit, Sylvinho, Henry, Hleb off the top of my head!

Van Bronckhorst as well.

[Lucky]

It would have been good if Yaya Toure had been part of this Hleb deal.

It looks like Gilberto is off, which isn't such a bad thing, but with Diarra and Flamini leaving recently even if Wenger sees Diaby as Cesc's partner we still need to add a CM surely.

Maybe Wenger has got someone else lined up.

[Benji]

Van Bronckhorst as well.

Oh yeah!

Barca's feeder club?

[Peter Hitchens]

Good, the little shit. Great on the ball, no end product, no goals. He'll get marked out of games over there.

I know it's nice to say this how that he's left (Hleb), but I disagree. I think he'll do well there, he's an exceptional player, and it'll probably suit him a bit more than the Premiership.

As for Alonso... he's a good player but I'm not convinced he'd be a great partner for Fabregas, and it would feel rather depressing if we were getting the Liverpool reject, and funding their move for Barry at the same time.

[mop]

Hmm, seems I might be alone here but I think an Alonso\Fab partnership would work well.

[Steve007]

Barca's feeder club?

We sell them rejects or has-beens. Hardly a feeder club! Barcelona is where we send players to enjoy their last few years before their impending retirement...

[monobrow]

Good, the little shit. Great on the ball, no end product, no goals. He'll get marked out of games over there.

Obviously I haven't seen him week-in week-out, but he's always struck me as being a bit special. No, he doesn't get many goals, but his touch and passing always impressed me. I reckon your team might miss him more than you think

[Dude Ranch]

Obviously I haven't seen him week-in week-out, but he's always struck me as being a bit special. No, he doesn't get many goals, but his touch and passing always impressed me. I reckon your team might miss him more than you think

We'll miss his ability on the ball. He always looked good to Gooners but his stats are woeful and tell the true story. His final pass is on such a thin line that it quite often goes astray. He doesn't score goals, and that's for the want of trying! He simply doesn't shoot. He certainly can pull something out of the locker but the number of times it actually comes off is so few that I'll take my chances with Nasri.

[Daley]

We'll miss his ability on the ball. He always looked good to Gooners but his stats are woeful and tell the true story. His final pass is on such a thin line that it quite often goes astray. He doesn't score goals, and that's for the want of trying! He simply doesn't shoot. He certainly can pull something out of the locker but the number of times it actually comes off is so few that I'll take my chances with Nasri.

This.

Playing well but doing nothing in other words. Which unfortunately sums us up as a team in the last few years. I won't miss him.

[Petrousgyre]

Agreed, he's been the epitome of what's wrong with Arsenal over the last couple of seasons. Tremendous ability but no end product, no killer instinct. His ability is confined to close ball control too, his passing range was poor and his shooting woeful. Weirdly every time I've been to watch Arsenal since he arrived he's scored, sadly I've only been four times over the last two seasons.

[allday247]

possible Alonso transfer?

Link