The TT Football Club

Ross K · Aug 30, 2013

PED said:
Marseille is NBD

I respect Napoli but no Cavani takes some of the bite out.

I am however scared as hell of Dortmund.

Ross, regarding your summer spending spree.

What happens if the Bale deal went awry? Is there still the funds to cover all this spending or would they run afoul of FFP?

Well, here's my take on it (and it's not the definitive truth but just what I think might be the situation)...

We've received about £40 million in TV money - probably to be used to pay wages etc... We've sold almost £30 million worth of players - gone straight back into the transfer funds... I think, judging from a lot of the more informed/reliable ITK info, we've been given a £50 million interest free loan from J Lewis (the real owner/man behind Spurs). This I believe was a loan to allow us to purchase players before the window closes and the bale deal is done, something we failed to do with Modric & Berbatov (clever move by the club and JL IMO)... Add on the Bale sale of £80-£90 million or whatever - you probably see £50m paying off JL as mentioned above and the rest invested in to the transfer funds, wages etc.

But... if the Bale deal was to fall through? All I can say is... hmmm...

BTW, Great to see Holtby showing his true class yesterday... have a feeling Siggi could be out come Monday but I do hope Holtby isn't also loaned/sold, as some reports are suggesting.

Feña14 · Aug 30, 2013

PaulFCB said:
Group G is a joke pe Chelsea, looks like a Europa League Group, but I think they hate it cause it leaves them exposed for the 2nd Round in February ( they can play tough teams that finish 2nd like when they got screwed in 2010 when they were in top form actually.
Group F is nice, it would've been maximum with PSG instead of Marseille who look set for 4th.

For Barcelona it's standard, just look at Milan guy's face when he saw H drawn :haha:.

Chelsea's draw isn't a joke, it could of been alot harder for sure, but Schalke are on the up it seems. Draxler, Huntelaar and Papadopoulos are all great players. They had a good Champions League last year too. Basel have been doing well the last few seasons, they aren't to be taken lightly. Steaua were probably are toughest challenge last year in the Europa League so it will be interesting to see how they do, they will give it a good go for sure.

Chelsea really should progress, but there are some intriguing games in that group.

PED said:
Marseille is NBD

I respect Napoli but no Cavani takes some of the bite out.

I am however scared as hell of Dortmund.

Ross, regarding your summer spending spree.

What happens if the Bale deal went awry? Is there still the funds to cover all this spending or would they run afoul of FFP?

Napoli are stronger this year imo, Rafa proved last year that he's adapting as a manager and i'm thinking he will do well. Callejon, Higuain, Mertens, Albiol, Radosevic and Reina are some top new signings.

They're like Spurs in many ways, selling their best player and investing the money to make them a much stronger team all round.

For me it will be between Arsenal and Napoli to get second spot behind Dortmund.

PureAlph4 · Aug 30, 2013

Ross K said:
we've been given a £50 million interest free loan from J Lewis (the real owner/man behind Spurs)

I'm assuming that's a £50m interest free loan from Joe Lewis, rather than John Lewis! :shock:

Ross - what's the consensus amongst Spurs fans (if such a thing is possible amongst football fans) as to how Joe Lewis views the club? Obviously he's a very wealthy man, but in the past I've been told by mates who support Spurs that whilst being a fan, he is a wiley investor that ultimately seeks to make a profit. Is this the impression you have, or is there the sense that he is willing to pump in £50-100m of his own cash under the right circumstances?

Ross K · Aug 30, 2013

Is it just me, or does Wenger taking the time now to make negative comments re buying players seem like perhaps not the smartest thing to do?...

http://www.london24.com/sport/arsenal/wenger_questions_spurs_spending_spree_1_2360127

Ross - what's the consensus amongst Spurs fans (if such a thing is possible amongst football fans) as to how Joe Lewis views the club? Obviously he's a very wealthy man, but in the past I've been told by mates who support Spurs that whilst being a fan, he is a wiley investor that ultimately seeks to make a profit. Is this the impression you have, or is there the sense that he is willing to pump in £50-100m of his own cash under the right circumstances?

No consensus or generally held view on this/him as far as I'm aware. All somewhat cloaked in mystery, though most (me inc.) would indeed suspect the wiley investor scenario to be the case.

Feña14 · Aug 30, 2013

Always loved Torres, me

Great goal though, wow.

PSNELKE · Aug 30, 2013

As i said, Chelsea's gonna win this.

Bayern will fall apart with Guardiola as their head coach.

Feña14 · Aug 30, 2013

PSNELKE said:
As i said, Chelsea's gonna win this.

Bayern will fall apart with Guardiola as their head coach.

We look 10 times better than we did in the Champions League final 15 months ago. Was expecting it to be like that game, liking what i'm seeing so far!

PSNELKE · Aug 30, 2013

Feña14 said:
We look 10 times better than we did in the Champions League final 15 months ago. Was expecting it to be like that game, liking what i'm seeing so far!

Definately, Chelsea's looking great so far this season. Well Mou knows what he's doing.

Bayern on the other hand can't find their rhytm so far. That's what happens when you change a winning system/formation, Mr.Guardiola.

NickC · Aug 30, 2013

WTF

Not content with Vlad and Lamela, Spurs dip into their pocketbooks and sign Erikssen? WOW

Let's all laugh at Arsenal I guess. Ross I can only imagine you've already left cloud 9 behind, you're probably on cloud 20 right now!

PSNELKE · Aug 30, 2013

LMAO at those short corner kicks by Bayern.

I've never seen anything this ineffective. :lol:

They got some really tall guys in there, Mandzukic who's one of the best strikers scoring with headers and they still play em short.

Great defence by Chelsea though, very smart.

Feña14 · Aug 30, 2013

PSNELKE said:
LMAO at those short corner kicks by Bayern.

I've never seen anything this ineffective. :lol:

They got some really tall guys in there, Mandzukic who's one of the best strikers scoring with headers and they still play em short.

Great defence by Chelsea though, very smart.

Cahill has been incredible. He did it in the final on one leg, he's doing it again tonight.

Oscar has been great too, he'll be done for the season by Christmas the distance he's been covering so far these first few games.

crosscourt · Aug 30, 2013

Two matches in a week and Chelsea lucky to come second in both of them. Bayern seemed to be resting some of their better players. Is this a serious contest?

PSNELKE · Aug 30, 2013

crosscourt said:
Two matches in a week and Chelsea lucky to come second in both of them. Bayern seemed to be resting some of their better players. Is this a serious contest?

Bayern didn't rest anyone. Besides Schweinsteiger (who is injured), Bayern played with their first team.

Chelsea did a solid job, definately a team to look out for again in this years CL competition.

Feña14 · Aug 30, 2013

crosscourt said:
Two matches in a week and Chelsea lucky to come second in both of them. Bayern seemed to be resting some of their better players. Is this a serious contest?

They actually rested their players against Freiburg for that game.

At the end of the day, look at the teams on paper. Defence is very similar, strikers on both sides aren't great, the trio behind that striker on both sides are some of the best around though (Robben, Ribery, Muller, Gotze, Oscar, Hazard, Schurrle etc..).

The only difference is the sitting midfielders, the quality of Kroos and Martinez vs the technical limited Ramires says it all. Hazard and Oscar pick the ball up on the edge of our penalty area and have to beat 3-4 players to even get into the oppositions half. Bayern's big trio were getting the ball on the edge of our penalty area. That's always going to happen with Kroos, Martinez and Schweinsteiger as they give you the base to work from.

We've basically purchased a crap load of ammo and heavy artillery, but forgot to get anyone who knows how to set it up and make it work.

PSNELKE · Aug 30, 2013

Oh and anyone have an idea how Franck Ribery won the annual Messi appreciation award??? Like seriously.!!

I mean, i was definately positively surprised that Ribery won the award, he definately deserved it.

PSNELKE · Aug 30, 2013

Feña14 said:
They actually rested their players against Freiburg for that game.

At the end of the day, look at the teams on paper. Defence is very similar, strikers on both sides aren't great, the trio behind that striker on both sides are some of the best around though (Robben, Ribery, Muller, Gotze, Oscar, Hazard, Schurrle etc..).

The only difference is the sitting midfielders, the quality of Kroos and Martinez vs the technical limited Ramires says it all. Hazard and Oscar pick the ball up on the edge of our penalty area and have to beat 3-4 players to even get into the oppositions half. Bayern's big trio were getting the ball on the edge of our penalty area. That's always going to happen with Kroos, Martinez and Schweinsteiger as they give you the base to work from.

We've basically purchased a crap load of ammo and heavy artillery, but forgot to get anyone who knows how to set it up and make it work.

Agree with everything but the striker part.
I rate Mandzukic higher than Torres. Mandzukic is surely a typical penalty area striker when it comes to his finish. What Mario got over Nando and every other striker in Europe, is that he is also one who is always going for the ball and retrieve it. Just look at his contributions when it comes to Bayerns defense. They are unparalleled by any other striker in Europe, that's why he displaced Mario Gomez who actually had a great scoring ratio here.
We don't need a opportunist strikers like Gomez or Luca Toni (remember him? lol) who would camp in the penalty area for hours.

Chelsea really needs someone like Schweinsteiger or Martinez. Robust players with vision and football brains. Ramires just can't fill out that hole.

Oh and why the heck didn't Mata play?? I thought alongside Hazard he was the best player last year in Chelseas squad.

Feña14 · Aug 30, 2013

PSNELKE said:
Agree with everything but the striker part.
I rate Mandzukic higher than Torres. Mandzukic is surely a typical penalty area striker when it comes to his finish. What Mario got over Nando and every other striker in Europe, is that he is also one who is always going for the ball and retrieve it. Just look at his contributions when it comes to Bayerns defense. They are unparalleled by any other striker in Europe, that's why he displaced Mario Gomez who actually had a great scoring ratio here.
We don't need a opportunist strikers like Gomez or Luca Toni (remember him? lol) who would camp in the penalty area for hours.

Chelsea really needs someone like Schweinsteiger or Martinez. Robust players with vision and football brains. Ramires just can't fill out that hole.

Oh and why the heck didn't Mata play?? I thought alongside Hazard he was the best player last year in Chelseas squad.

Mata has played for two years straight, pretty much. The Olympics, Euro's, Confederations Cup, Spanish national side, 60+ Chelsea games last year etc..

He was burnt out at the end of last season, he really could of done with a summer off, but he played the Confederations Cup. He only got in 45 minutes minutes during pre season, where he got injured and he's been slow in recovering. The longer we can get away wihtout playing him, the better.

Totally agree about needing a Scweinsteiger or Martinez. Been saying it for 4-5 years in this very thread, people must be sick of hearing me go on about it. The problem is just obvious, but when was the last time he got an established midfielder? Meireles? Ramires before that. You're facing an uphill battle in todays modern game if those are the types of player you're putting in the heart of your team.

PED · Aug 30, 2013

PSNELKE said:
Oh and why the heck didn't Mata play?? I thought alongside Hazard he was the best player last year in Chelseas squad.

He's busy signing his deal at the Emirates.

Good point above Fena, the game changed tonight when Martinez came on.

PureAlph4 · Aug 30, 2013

PED said:
He's busy signing his deal at the Emirates.

Good point above Fena, the game changed tonight when Martinez came on.

Correction. He's busy agreeing personal terms at the Emirates before Arsene pulls the plug as he doesn't want to block the path of Gedion Zelalem.

How I see things now is that Wenger will not buy another defender or DM. He sees Sagna as the CB cover, and Flamini as cover for both RB, LB and DM/CM. So I think he'll only try and bring in a wide attacking player (di Maria, depending on whether he has any interest in signing with us), a striker (over-priced Michu on deadline day, having found out there is nothing else available), and the outside possibility of a keeper (Begovic). So probably two, maybe three additions if things go 'well' on deadline day. Though knowing Wenger, if we beat Spurs on Sunday it may well be none!

PureAlph4 · Aug 30, 2013

Ross K said:
Is it just me, or does Wenger taking the time now to make negative comments re buying players seem like perhaps not the smartest thing to do?...

http://www.london24.com/sport/arsenal/wenger_questions_spurs_spending_spree_1_2360127

Clearly a sign he feels under pressure with deadline day coming. I'm hoping it's not reflective of pressure felt within the playing squad, as it remind me of last season when AVB needlessly came out when you lot were 10 points ahead and gave a press conference on how Arsenal were a club in crisis etc etc, and we know how that turned out.

On the flipside, if you listen to the actual press conference with Wenger yesterday, and how the questions are posed to him, it's clear the journos are just out to stitch him up.

Ross K said:
No consensus or generally held view on this/him as far as I'm aware. All somewhat cloaked in mystery, though most (me inc.) would indeed suspect the wiley investor scenario to be the case.

Interesting - based on Spurs' prior movements in the transfer market (players in, but players also out, roughly balancing the books), I thought this was the case, but you hear plenty of fans banging on now about how Joe Lewis is worth so-and-so amount, and that he's willing to put in the same amount as Abramovic / Sheikh Mansour etc.

Ross K · Aug 30, 2013

NickC said:
WTF

Not content with Vlad and Lamela, Spurs dip into their pocketbooks and sign Erikssen? WOW

Let's all laugh at Arsenal I guess. Ross I can only imagine you've already left cloud 9 behind, you're probably on cloud 20 right now!

Cloud 20 and rising! Still can't quite believe it. What a sensational transfer window it's been. Here's a just a mere quartet of our signings...

Feña14 · Aug 31, 2013

^^^^^^^

Not bad, they don't have hair like Willian though. Sorry

Ross K · Aug 31, 2013

^^^

Feña14 · Aug 31, 2013

Ross K said:
^^^

Lol! Just for that i'm going to not say anything hilarious, yet true about Spurs, their players or their fans.. until after todays game anyway

PureAlph4 · Aug 31, 2013

Feña14 said:
^^^^^^^

Not bad, they don't have hair like Willian though. Sorry

I've heard that AVB has told Levy that he really needs just one more midfielder, just in case, and will be in for Fellaini at 23.55 on deadline day, right after he's had his medical at Carrington. :mrgreen:

NickC · Aug 31, 2013

PureAlph4 said:
I've heard that AVB has told Levy that he really needs just one more midfielder, just in case, and will be in for Fellaini at 23.55 on deadline day, right after he's had his medical at Carrington. :mrgreen:

And the deal will get done.

Unlike Wenger, who will put in an offer that he feels is sufficient, which will be 20 million below Everton's asking price.

And Arsenal will sign nobody. They'll wait until the 31st of January having signed nobody, and will sign some 12-year-old African kid from somewhere nobody's ever heard of, and will never make it to the first team.

Benhur · Aug 31, 2013

Feña14 said:
We look 10 times better than we did in the Champions League final 15 months ago. Was expecting it to be like that game, liking what i'm seeing so far!

I totally agree, they looked pretty good to me, though I was only able to watch the first half. I plan to watch the rest later today. But from what I saw they looked much better than in that final you mention.

The one thing that never seems to change is Mourinho’s comments. There is a universal referee conspiracy against him, his team was the best and deserved to win, and his head-to-head against Guardiola is distorted by jealous journalists who fudge the statistics.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/aug/31/chelsea-jose-mourinho-conspiracy

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...ourinho-stumped-by-Pep-Guardiolas-genius.html

crosscourt · Aug 31, 2013

I didn't see the whole match but of the bits I saw Chelsea couldn't get the ball save on two occasions and then they couldn't hold it.

Bayern were clearly missing Schweinsteiger.

Not optimistic about the English clubs -- teams would be the wrong word -- in Europe this season.

PED · Aug 31, 2013

crosscourt said:
I didn't see the whole match but of the bits I saw Chelsea couldn't get the ball save on two occasions and then they couldn't hold it.

Bayern were clearly missing Schweinsteiger.

Not optimistic about the English clubs -- teams would be the wrong word -- in Europe this season.

Possession stats at the end of 90 were 68 BM to 32 Chelsea. They def missed Schweini.

Either way, I preferred watching BM last year from an entertainment standpoint.

PED · Aug 31, 2013

Ross, I ask this from an envious standpoint, not a bitter one.

Isn't that an awfully large number of players to integrate in a fairly short time in a new league?

It reminds me a bit of Ranieri's first year under Red Rom when they bought big.

Of course, they went on to win the title the following year under Jose so I may be very wrong.

PSNELKE · Aug 31, 2013

Feña14 said:
Totally agree about needing a Scweinsteiger or Martinez. Been saying it for 4-5 years in this very thread, people must be sick of hearing me go on about it. The problem is just obvious, but when was the last time he got an established midfielder? Meireles? Ramires before that. You're facing an uphill battle in todays modern game if those are the types of player you're putting in the heart of your team.

What about Gündogan? He was just brilliant last season and I'm pretty sure he will replace Schweinsteiger in our national team once Schweini is approaching the end of his great career.
Chelsea got the money, I'm sure a high enough offer would bring the BVB around to let Ilkay leave the club.

PSNELKE · Aug 31, 2013

Benhur said:
I totally agree, they looked pretty good to me, though I was only able to watch the first half. I plan to watch the rest later today. But from what I saw they looked much better than in that final you mention.

The one thing that never seems to change is Mourinho’s comments. There is a universal referee conspiracy against him, his team was the best and deserved to win, and his head-to-head against Guardiola is distorted by jealous journalists who fudge the statistics.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/aug/31/chelsea-jose-mourinho-conspiracy

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...ourinho-stumped-by-Pep-Guardiolas-genius.html

I love it. :lol: Mou is probably the sorest loser in football history, but still he is a coaching fox.
Anyway I have to admit that Mou always had a hard time with referees when Real played FC Divelona. Those guys are the biggest fruitloops I've ever seen.

Ross K · Aug 31, 2013

PED said:
Ross, I ask this from an envious standpoint, not a bitter one.

Isn't that an awfully large number of players to integrate in a fairly short time in a new league?

It reminds me a bit of Ranieri's first year under Red Rom when they bought big.

Of course, they went on to win the title the following year under Jose so I may be very wrong.

I totally agree. Patience is required. However, I think our stated aim - CL qualification is achievable, hopefully...

So many imponderables though, specially at this stage of the season and with other clubs, new managers etc, and indeed with our brand new squad needing to become cohesive and gel. Long term though (next 2/3 seasons), we look well placed I'd say, and no Spurs fan could or should have anything but praise for Levy/Lewis etc and how they've gone about business this summer. For me, Levy has played his hand like a master poker player these recent months/weeks.

Anyhow, great opportunity tomorrow to asses and test the waters VS your gunners, a side I'm all too aware were in title winning form at the close of last season.

PED · Aug 31, 2013

Levy has been masterful I agree. Youve brought in alot of quality.

I'll be curious if we end up with anyone signed other than Flamini or Sanogo.

I rate Flamini though and wish he'd never left.

On another subject, how is the power of the graphene mp compared with the blade?

Would love to see Pool get a result tomorrow, Rogers taunting Utd that Fergie would have gone for it against Chelsea and he was totally right.

BlackSilver · Aug 31, 2013

PSNELKE said:
Bayern didn't rest anyone. Besides Schweinsteiger (who is injured), Bayern played with their first team.

Err, no. Martínez only entered in some moment in the second half, Gotze in the end, plus Alcantara was also injured. Lahm was playing as defensive mild, so Bayern was far from playing with it's first team by most of the match

PSNELKE · Aug 31, 2013

BlackSilver said:
Err, no. Martínez only entered in some moment in the second half, Gotze in the end, plus Alcantara was also injured. Lahm was playing as defensive mild, so Bayern was far from playing with it's first team by most of the match

Martinez wasn't fully fit. FYI Neither Martinez nor the other two, Götze, Alcantara are part of the first squad.

Neuer - Lahm, Dante, Boateng, Alaba - Schweinsteiger - Robben, Müller, Kroos, Ribery - Mandzukic

I doubt Thiago will make it into the first squad this season. His transfer was unnecessary in my opinion. Guardiola won't play with 2 defensive midfielders as Heynckes did last season, that being send Martinez will have to take a set on the bench as he did all season so far.

Götze might replace Kroos sometime in midseason when he's fully fit, as he is obviously the bigger talent of them two.

Edit: Götze injured himself against Chelsea. Will be out for at least 3-4 weeks. Thiago also out for 2 months.

That said, no Bayern didn't rest anyone against Chelsea but Schweinsteiger.

BlackSilver · Aug 31, 2013

PSNELKE said:
Martinez wasn't fully fit. FYI Neither Martinez nor the other two, Götze, Alcantara are part of the first squad.

Neuer - Lahm, Dante, Boateng, Alaba - Schweinsteiger - Robben, Müller, Kroos, Ribery - Mandzukic

I doubt Thiago will make it into the first squad this season. His transfer was unnecessary in my opinion. Guardiola won't play with 2 defensive midfielders as Heynckes did last season, that being send Martinez will have to take a set on the bench as he did all season so far.

Götze might replace Kroos sometime in midseason when he's fully fit, as he is obviously the bigger talent of them two.

Edit: Götze injured himself against Chelsea. Will be out for at least 3-4 weeks. Thiago also out for 2 months.

That said, no Bayern didn't rest anyone against Chelsea but Schweinsteiger.

Yes, they did. Gotze it is going to play in the main team save some disaster, so that's two. Alcantara and Martinez might not start all the matches, yes, but one of them would be playing today instead Lahm as defensive midfielder.
So not only Bayern couldn't play with the full squad, but some of substitutes couldn't start from the beginning

NickC · Aug 31, 2013

PSNELKE said:
What about Gündogan? He was just brilliant last season and I'm pretty sure he will replace Schweinsteiger in our national team once Schweini is approaching the end of his great career.
Chelsea got the money, I'm sure a high enough offer would bring the BVB around to let Ilkay leave the club.

I would cream my pants if Chelsea signed Gundogan. He would be amazing.

PSNELKE · Aug 31, 2013

BlackSilver said:
Yes, they did. Gotze it is going to play in the main team save some disaster, so that's two. Alcantara and Martinez might not start all the matches, yes, but one of them would be playing today instead Lahm as defensive midfielder.
So not only Bayern couldn't play with the full squad, but some of substitutes couldn't start from the beginning

What on earth are you talking about buddy? Götze is not playing in the first squad yet, even when he's fit. He might replace Kroos sometime during midseason as he tends to run out of energy by November, December.

Lahm won't play as a defensive midfilder since he just replaced Schweinsteiger. Bayern will play with ONE defensive midfielder unlike last season (Schweini). Other than that, yes Bayern played with the full squad.

Alcantara and Martinez will be substitudes for now.

Feña14 · Aug 31, 2013

PSNELKE said:
What about Gündogan? He was just brilliant last season and I'm pretty sure he will replace Schweinsteiger in our national team once Schweini is approaching the end of his great career.
Chelsea got the money, I'm sure a high enough offer would bring the BVB around to let Ilkay leave the club.

Funny you should mention Gundogan, he's someone i've been wanting in this thread from before he was even at Dortmund. He's just what we needed 3 or 4 years ago, even more so now.

There are players out there, Man Utd want Herrera who is that kind of player and he has a £25 Million release clause. We don't even look at players like that, we prefer to pay £30 Million for Willian when we already have so many players in his position, which makes no sense to me.

We're just far too inbalanced. Ramires is decent and breaking things up, Lampard is good at getting back to help out, and get forward in the oppositions box. What we don't have is someone who can hold he ball, start things off, make simple passes, play the dangerous creative players in etc..

No wonder we have to resort to counter attacks and hitting it long.

Feña14 · Aug 31, 2013

Ross K said:
I totally agree. Patience is required. However, I think our stated aim - CL qualification is achievable, hopefully...

So many imponderables though, specially at this stage of the season and with other clubs, new managers etc, and indeed with our brand new squad needing to become cohesive and gel. Long term though (next 2/3 seasons), we look well placed I'd say, and no Spurs fan could or should have anything but praise for Levy/Lewis etc and how they've gone about business this summer. For me, Levy has played his hand like a master poker player these recent months/weeks.

Anyhow, great opportunity tomorrow to asses and test the waters VS your gunners, a side I'm all too aware were in title winning form at the close of last season.

Spurs are already winning the battle with Arsenal. Been hearing they are trying to delay the Bale to Madrid thing for as long as possible so Arsenal won't have enough time to bring in any combination of Benzema/Ozil/Di Maria. Cheeky

PureAlph4 · Aug 31, 2013

Let's not be silly. As if Ozil or Benzema would sign for us at this point! The only chance of that happening would have been if it had been done at the start of the summer, while selling the notion to them that they would be the first of many big money signings working under Wenger. Even then they'd probably refuse. As things stand, we'll be lucky to get Michu on deadline day for £25-30m, and perhaps another average to good PL player. In other words, the supporters forking out £2k a season treated like mugs once again.

Still think we've got a good chance of beating Spuds today, seeing as it will be a decent XI out (the bench will be atrocious, as ever) that knows each other well. They're favourites now for 4th place, though. A couple of weeks ago the odds were heavily in favour of Arsenal; now Spurs are marginally shorter odds. We have seen this all before of course, but this time the £110m (+wages) Spurs have invested may be too much for even penny-pinching Wenger's to overcome. At least he'll be truly motivated to make 4th so he can triumphantly lecture everyone about how anyone can throw huge amounts of money off the Eiffel Tower, and look very smug in doing so.

Like every other gooner, so disappointed about this summer.

Feña14 · Aug 31, 2013

PureAlph4 said:
Let's not be silly. As if Ozil or Benzema would sign for us at this point! The only chance of that happening would have been if it had been done at the start of the summer, while selling the notion to them that they would be the first of many big money signings working under Wenger. Even then they'd probably refuse. As things stand, we'll be lucky to get Michu on deadline day for £25-30m, and perhaps another average to good PL player. In other words, the supporters forking out £2k a season treated like mugs once again.

Still think we've got a good chance of beating Spuds today, seeing as it will be a decent XI out (the bench will be atrocious, as ever) that knows each other well. They're favourites now for 4th place, though. A couple of weeks ago the odds were heavily in favour of Arsenal; now Spurs are marginally shorter odds. We have seen this all before of course, but this time the £110m (+wages) Spurs have invested may be too much for even penny-pinching Wenger's to overcome. At least he'll be truly motivated to make 4th so he can triumphantly lecture everyone about how anyone can throw huge amounts of money off the Eiffel Tower, and look very smug in doing so.

Like every other gooner, so disappointed about this summer.

Yeah no chance Benzema will leave, that would leave them without a recognised striker. Ronaldo can play there, but yeah, that won't happen. Ozil said a few days ago that he won't be moving, that only leaves Di Maria, apparently they accepted a bid from Galatasaray but he didn't want to move. Arsenal could probably get him, but is he really what you need? For me it would be a striker, central midfielder, lots of help in defence and a keeper.

Ross K · Sep 1, 2013

Given it was the NL derby, I'm probably overreacting here, and (as discussed on this thread yesterday) it takes time to bed in new players - plain and simple (look at Man City in recent years), but... "Clears throat."... that was pretty dire imo. :evil:

Whatever AVB had in mind didn't work. Too predictable and no creative and incisive spark. Holtby and Eriksen need to be brought into the proceedings ASAP imo. Soldado desperately needs that kind of support.

Anyhow, Arsenal deserved the victory and I thought AVB was somewhat glossing over what really happened in his post-match chat. I also have to say Chadli, Dembele, Dawson, and Paulinho are starting to concern me with their so-so performances thus far.

Ah well, a long way to go yet.

PED · Sep 1, 2013

Love having Flamini back, small in stature but he packs a big punch. Rosicky did well and Rambo is like a new signing.

Thought spuds looked dangerous on both wings with Townsend and Rose. Jenko and Gibbs looked vulnerable at right but then the pressure lessened.

Was impressed with Lamela, he seems to be the only new signing with a sense of urgency.

Some one needs to tell Soldato that unlike Spain, tackling is allowed in England

Wow, do Utd miss fergie. Gigggs is past it now as a starter. He was off the pace in the Cl final against barca and its gotten worse. Guess now that he's player and mgr, Moyes is afraid to sub him, couldn't believe he lasted 70 mins.

Good result for us but Ross, your boys will gel and continue to improve. The title race could be a good one.

NickC · Sep 1, 2013

Just still in shock over the Bale fee.

absurd amount of money, that.

PSNELKE · Sep 1, 2013

The transfer fee for Bale is just ridiculous.
First of all I would've paid max. 65m €. Sure Bale's an extraordinary player, but 100m€ (85m GBP)??? Seriously get real.
Secondly how the hell is that in the framework of financial fairplay?

Ross K · Sep 1, 2013

Right, with Bale done at last, let the fun and games begin... Ozil to Arsenal?... Suarez to RM?... I'm sure they'll be some big moves in the upcoming hours as the window shuts.

PSNELKE · Sep 1, 2013

I'm almost certain about Özils move to Arsenal. Ronaldo, Modric, Isco, Bale seem to be seeded in midfield. As Özil can't play as a DM, Khedira might take that spot until Xabi Alonso comes back from his injury.

That said, I'm pretty sure Özil's transfer will be announced within the next few hours.

Cesc Fabregas · Sep 1, 2013

Ozil get in. Best no.10 in Europe. Wenger deserves to spend big money, he's carried this club on his back for the last 10 years.

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