Top four this term ?

[Flight]

That's why they are signing the battling 'get stuck in' qualitys of Figo I guess

Figo gets a lot of stick, rightly so because, as Ky says, he goes down a lot. However he is extremely strong and phyical and really works his arse off.

He isnt coming for easy money - he has a year left at Madrid on �90k a week, whilst he is accepting �55k from Liverpool.

He isnt a trouble maker, he does (seriously) ' a lot of good work for charity', he is extremely fit and looks after himself very well.

His age is against him - he is 32 (against Bergkamps 36), but he has at least a couple of good years left in him. his game has never been about pace, so that isnt an issue.

He was one of the very few players who impressed for Real last term, particularly during their mid season crisis. Id make him their best player for large parts of last season. The only reason Real want him to go is that Luxembergo doesnt and wont play wingers (he is also selling JuanFran FFS).


Its not nailed on yet that he is coming but if he does he will be a hit.

 

[Flight]

Marca are reporting that an unnamed English side have bid over double what the Gooners did for Baptista. Mancs maybe ? It definitely isnt the Chavs so its the Mancs or LFC.

 

[Flight]

From another site :

Sevilla now accuses Arsenal of tapping up Baptista, and the problem for Arsenal is that the player himself has already confirmed that there has been contact between himself and Wenger. Sevilla wants an explanation from Baptista's agent....

A bit of hypocrisy from Arsenal, after the Ashley Cole saga

 

[Janie]

In the paper yesterday it say Zenden got held overnight by the police for suspected car theft, 24 hours after he signed for Liverpool - wow he'll fit in well on merseyside!

 

[Treebeard]

I'd be very suprised if we tapped him up. Dein has apparently been over there for a fair while in negotiations and we did good business with them for Reyes so we are on very good terms. The story is that Arsene flew to Brazil to meet with Atletico Mineiro. I can't see Arsene making that sort of mistake. Silly man if he has.

All of this is generally just the club and agent looking for a bigger fee. Why hasn't the other English club been named?

 

[Ky]

Unless Arsenal buy some new players I can't see them finishing higher than 3rd this season. I certainly can't see them being competitive in Europe, yet again.

 

[Agravaine]

We have Hleb!

Being shite in Europe helps to keep a lid on all the gimps who start believing we're the bestest team ever after we play well in the Premiership.

 

[Ky]

Hleb Shmeb. You need another 2 or 3 players at least including a decent goalkeeper and another striker. Prolly another central midfielder n' all.

Apparently Juve are trying to sign Paddy. I'm sick of hearing that blokes name in respect of transfers.

 

[Flight]

Dein is said to be ready to sell Vieira.

 

[Flight]

I'd be very suprised if we tapped him up. Dein has apparently been over there for a fair while in negotiations and we did good business with them for Reyes so we are on very good terms.

The deal for Reyes was �7million down, �3million this summer and a further �7million depending on appearances etc.

Arsenal are late with the �3million this summer.

Del Nido at Sevilla have told Dein there is zero chance of any kind of deal for Arsenal over any other player until this arrives.


Personally, I am far more shocked that Dein is ready to sell Vieira. he only has two years left on his contract doesnt he ? Cant see him signing another. The price though is far less than I would have expected, though.

 

[Janie]

Reyes

 

[Merly]

1. Geri
2. Posh
3. Baby
4. Sporty

\o/

 

[Janie]

No love for scary?

 

[Treebeard]

Well I've heard that Paddy dosen't want to go, Dein told Juve to feck off, Juve actually want Pires, only a couple of days ago the Seville chairman said that they loved us and we were good friends, an English club offered �10m, same as us and not double, but it was also rejected. Depends on what website or newspaper you read really mate. Its all Bollocks either way generally.

I don't think we need to sign much of anyone really after watching the team last season. Senderos is our next TA, Toure did well and Campbell's fitness looks to be improving. Cole isn't going anywhere and I like Lauren, he is solid and dosen't get injured or have 4 weeks off at the least little knock on the leg. Midfield we still have Gilberto, Pires (at the mo), Freddie, Vieira, Reyes, Hleb and some youngesters. I'm sure most teams in the world would like that group. Up front is the only concern as as good as Titi is, we need a good old fashioned strong forward. Van Persie looked to be that but not sure on his temperament. I'd stick with Jens in goal. He was amazing towards the end of the season and was our goalkeeper for all of the 49 games unbeaten.

We go through the whole Vieira thing every year. Its just the Man$$re bought press trying to unsettle him.

Arsenal are late with the �3million this summer.

Says who?

 

[Flight]

Depends on what website or newspaper you read really mate. Its all Bollocks either way generally.

The later stuff I shared is, believe it or not, straight from one of the people who is involved in all the negotiations in Spain mate. Not from anyone in any way connected with the media.

 

[Burgs]

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say Chicago Bears are gonna win teh Super Bowl!

 

[Vicslav]

England won by 9 wickets wooohooo

 

[Slainagain]

I think boringly i have to agree with Flight on the top 4, Chelsea looked unbeatable most of the time last season and if they had a better striker up front they would have won even more impressively.

Arsenal still have plenty of up and coming youngsters as well as the older players.

We (Liverpool), should do much better next season i think, now that we got rid of some of the dead wood and have bought a few new players and brought some promising youngsters in too. We should also be making 1 or 2 signings yet.

While Utd might struggle yet again, as some of their more important players are starting to get a bit past it and their intended replacements in recent seasons just don't seem able to cut the mustard. Also Rooney to me has always seemed to be very inconsistent and never a true team player. On his day he can be areal world beater but lots of times he seems fairly ordinary.

Now i just wish the season would hurry up and start.

 

[Treebeard]

As a Gooner Pre season is an absolute nightmare. We seem to get so many transfer rumours. More so than other teams I think. Maybe its because we have so many World Class players but are still regarded as a small club in comparison to the big guys that they think they can take the piss.

I love the way the press don't even think about it before they print as well. We are selling Vieira again apparently, but then we are also selling Gilberto. Now it dosen't take a rocket scientist to work out that we wouldn't in a million years sell both unless there was very extreme circumstances.

Wenger was quoted as saying that this week the transfer market was going to go potty and we would be buying in some more players. SWP was mentioned but I'm feeling fairly unoptimistic at the moment that we may see no more new signings before the Charidy Shield. I don't think we'll lose anyone either though unless by potty he means we're going to lose Vieira, Pires etc.

 

[Ky]

Maybe its because we have so many World Class players

You have Henry, Vieira and....... your other world class players are? Not being snide or anything but I'd like you to tell me who they are. World Class is a BIG statement. Pires possibly but I could think of other left sided players I'd prefer. The rest of them......? Bergkamp is too old and doesn't play international football. Campbell is getting long in the tooth and is arguably now behind Terry and Ferdinand and possibly even Carragher (after last season) in the England pecking order. Ashely Cole is a good player but still no Paolo Maldini.

I can't see Arsenal coming anywhere but 3rd this season. Which is a shame as I'd rather see a London club other than Chelsea win it and anyone win it rather than Scum.