If you didn't know, I am a ever faithful fan of Tottenham Hotspur and I'm honestly pleased with the gradual progression my team have shown in the last 5 years or so, from the days of Martin Jol taking over from Jacques Santini (who remembers him?!). While mentioning him, I am very pleased to see Mr Jol back in the Premier League and wish him good luck with Fulham (not against Spurs though!) this coming season.
Simultaneous with Spurs’ gradual improvement, I am almost ecstatic on Arsenal’s ongoing fall from grace, and find it very amusing that after six empty-handed seasons, gooners seem to have just realised that something is very very wrong at the Emirates.
My thoughts on Arsenal will come in due course. My colleagues PEC (an unfortunate West Ham supporter) and JF and MJ (both gooners), will testify that I have been proclaiming their downfall for 5 years, and everything I have said has come to pass.
Anyway, enough of the gloating because things in football can change almost overnight, what I wanted to write about was the state of the transfer window. Take my team Spurs for example; in 2009/10 they reached the promised land of 4th place, beating Arsenal and Chelsea in consecutive weeks in the run-in, before beating City at home in penultimate match of the season. In 2010/11 Spurs enjoyed an impressive Champions League run, and ended up 5th in the league, after faltering in the final third of the season, dropping points against the likes of West Ham, Wolves, Blackpool, West Brom and so on.
Now, it isn’t rocket science to work out that in order to compete at the highest level and achieve what the club says it wants to achieve, the squad needs to be strengthened, and strengthened appropriately. There are a million and one opinions across north London as to what is required – in short, a central defender, a midfielder, possibly a winger and a striker. What is baffling is WHAT IS TAKING SO LONG to get the cheque book out and a get a new player at White Hart Lane, holding a Spurs shirt above his head, with a smile on his face and a couple of soundbites for the media and fans.
What is the club waiting for? The right deal? To save maybe half a mill on the transfer fee? Can’t they see that Sir Alex isn’t resting on his laurels by signing players early (Phil Jones a couple of weeks back, and Ashley Young today!) and building his new squad to they can integrate as soon as all the players get back from holiday?
Mr Levy, Mr Redknapp – I respect you both, but PLEASE hurry up!!! Get those players in. Please do not wait till lastminute.com.
I would guess that this concern applies to supporters of other teams as well. Arsenal have not been active yet, despite the well publicised need for players in certain positions. Even City and Chelsea have not been that active, although Liverpool and Utd have. Maybe I’m a bit twitchy – a bit too anxious perhaps? Maybe I should be patience and stop scouring the net, where I read a thousand rumours a day...Maybe I should have faith that Levy and Redknapp know what they are doing, and will address what needs to be addressed well before the season starts. Have faith GWA, have faith...
Are you nervous about this transfer window? Who should your club buy to help them achieve their aim? Let me know by commenting below.
GWA
I share your frustration.
ReplyDeleteNot only am I disappointed that Man Utd are seen to be strengthening their squad, but they’ve signed two players I would have liked to see Wenger sign. The obvious deficiencies in Arsenals squad have been well covered and there’s no need to go over old ground. I’ll cover that one when I’ve seen the signings and the team’s set-up for the season.
There is though a separate issue regarding the length in which transfers are taking. It has been nearly two weeks since Gervinho stated his intentions to sign for Arsenal and that a contract had been agreed. Does it really take 2 weeks to agree a fee? Once a player has indicated he’s agreed a move, it really should be a formality to tie up loose ends.
The Ashley Young transfer is testament to that, it was more or less all confirmed by both clubs about 3-4 weeks ago.
Lets not forget there’s a Champions League qualifier to play, and with preseason a week or so away, there’s not much time for new signings to blend with the team.
I know what you mean JF - it's taking Barcelona ages to take Cesc off Arsenal's hands!!! The story goes he is desperate to leave, so the strengthening Arsenal have to do, will need to including trying to fill the chasm that Cesc will leave in the first team.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I was being twitchy, but the ongoing speculation combined with what we all know our respective teams need, is driving me NUTS!!!
The say patience is a virtue, but come on...action already please!
The Cesc transfer (or lack of one) is starting to annoy me. I can understand Barcelona are trying to get him for a good price but Cesc is locked in to a contract thats still got 4-5 years on it. The offer of £31 million that I've read this morning is a joke. No doubt it's just part of the negioating process to start low and Arsenal will counter with £50 million and we'll all meet in the middle at £40 million.
ReplyDeleteAside from Cesc there's the unresolved contracts of Clichy and Nasri. I would have expected Wenger to have those contracts tied up or players moved on by now.
I think fans have every right to expect action at this stage of the off-season. Clubs have had at the very least the month of May to identify areas for improvement and targets to rectify them. June should be where transfers are finalised and squads are preparing for preseason.
Wenger - With concerns from fans and PLAYERS, get your act together.
£31m is just about right for an injury prone midfielder who disappears in the big games...Accept the money and move on - please. Its not as if he had a great season - Barcelona have a lot of work to do with him to bring him up to their standards.
ReplyDeleteThe Nasri issue isn't unresolved and he is right if he is waiting to see what the club will do in the transfer window before thinking about signing a new contract. As for Clichy, he is pony, so sell him and get as much as you can for him (no more than £6m I would guess)
The more we talk about it, Arsenal have a lot of work to do...
Every player has the ocassional season where they don't reach their own high standards. That doesn't make Cesc worth only £31 million. If a plyer like Sanchez is being spoken about with a value of £40 million, Cesc is worth at least an extra £10 million.
ReplyDeleteIn the end Cesc will leave, But Barca need to show how much they want him and pay the asking price. Cesc understands he has a price that Barca need to meet, which is why he's kept quiet showing the upmost respect for Arsenal.
Spot on about Clichy, he's had his time in an Arsenal shirt, but Wenger needs to sign the replacement before off-loading him.
I agree that Nasri is waiting to see what Wenger does in the market before signing any new deal. Which is why I'm surprised Wenger hasn't already signed 2-3 players to show the likes of Nasri and Fabregas it might be worth sticking with Arsenal.
If Wenger loses those talents this summer, there's surely no way he can keep his job? It would be his fault they left....?
OK, for an unhappy player - no more than £33m. Clichy? All gooners have been going on about is the unproven Gibbs, so the replacement is there, and still no further news about Nasri. I read in the paper today that the 1st July will be a big day for Arsenal - possibly 3 players in on that day...
ReplyDeleteWith Arsenal, its a bit like walking around tesco's, putting stuff in your trolley, then putting it back again, repeating this all day long, then bringing your trolley to the counter, with only a curly wurly in it!s
ReplyDeleteWenger, us gooner fans are hungry! get shopping!
MJ
tesco? I swear Wenger usually goes shopping at aldi and lidl, when gooners are desperate for a bit of Marks and Sparks.
ReplyDeleteNo one does there weekly shop at M&S, you get basics from asda and top that up with a bit of quality from M&S or Waitrose...!
ReplyDeleteRegarding Cesc, £31 million is a disgrace. Despite a poor season he was still 3rd in the assists ranking. Over the last 5 years he is Europes leading goal maker with 89. £31 million will buy his left peg. Barca need to put up the right money for such a quality player.
JF
No, Arsenal need to look at the situation, realise that they were bordering on the 'out of order' in the way they got Cesc in the first place, and realise that £31m of pure profit is a good deal, for an injury prone player who hasn't won anything of note, and from Barcelona and Spain's point of view has become "english-ised" over the years.
ReplyDeleteIf Cesc is worth more than the £31m we are talking about, then Xavi and Iniesta must be nearing £100m each, given their superior talent over Cesc.
Don't get carried away with the injury problems he's had with his calf. The bottom line is Cesc has an abundance of class that Barcelona want in their team.
ReplyDeleteBarca recongise that if Cesc was in that team he'd probably be suplying 30 odd goals a season with the likes of Villa and Messi to set-up.
Comparing him to Xavi and Inestia is interesting, because I think Cesc is a much better goal threat than both. To be fair, Xavi and Inestia should probably be scoring more goals in that team.
But all that aside when you see Ronaldo go to Real Madrid for £80 million, around the £45 to 50 million mark is probably a fair price. Anything less and Arsenal aren't getting a good deal.
JF
Do you think the £18m bid for Juan Mata from Valencia is a replacement for Cesc or do you think Wenger may try and retain the likes of Cesc and Nasri?
ReplyDeleteWhat about Scott Parker why have Arsenal not bid for a player that takles, passes, scores and most of all retains the ball when pressured.........why?
Is Alex Oxlade_Chamberlain the new Theo? What does this mean for Theo? hmmm the two of them in the same starting line up.....could be trouble or are they to weak???
The Gervinho talk seems to have gone quiet also, any news from the Emirates???
I think all will become clear at Arsenal at the end of the week... Scott Parker? Good call PEC - he would do a magnificent job in the Arsenal midfield. The only thing going against him is his age - if only this opportunity came a couple of years earlier for him...
ReplyDeleteIf Oxtail-Chamberlain is the new Theo, does that mean we will have to wait until 2016 before we see any Premier League quality from him? I doubt whether he's a starter - if he is Arsenal have problems! As for Cesc - he's gone, that much is accepted. Nasri, if they can hang onto him - HE can be the 'new Cesc'.
Parker would be very welcome at Arsenal. A proper throw-back, no nonsense English player, with a touch of quality. Arsenal need to balance youth with experience as they have been found wanting when they come up aganst the big guns....and stoke....Newcastle...Villa!
ReplyDeleteMany of the current squad should be on their way, but i feel only those us fans would like to remain, will leave, unless.......
CESC, NASRI and GAEL TILSLEY rumours abound. Bob Marley sung about the "Exodus is the movement of Jah people", but boy, seems to be an appropriate song seeing what is happening at the Emirates.
ReplyDeleteI don't rate Clichy, but not only will 3 first teamers be leaving Arsenal, but 2 will be moving to a 'top 4' rival.
Gooners best hope that Mr Wenger pulls something out of somewhere and buys decent replacements which will fit in quickly, or I fear (hope rather) that Arsenal will struggle again, and end up empty handed for the 7th season in a row...