02 Jul 2016 11:00:42
Eds, is this going to be another summer where Wenger makes no signings or makes a very late signings which will not vastly improve our team.
{Ed002's Note - Granit Xhaka has already agreed the move.}
02 Jul 2016 11:40:10
It seems to me there is a genuine desire to improve the team and squad this summer and the club really are doing all they can to get the players we need.
Personally I've not always felt that was true in the past when we chased the Benzema and Suarez rainbows that made lots of headlines but absolutely no headway.
02 Jul 2016 12:13:22
Patience people, patience.
02 Jul 2016 12:28:48
Vardy was a realistic target that just didn't come off and there's little anyone could do about that, if he scores 40 goals next season people will say we should have done more to get him but I genuinely feel we did all we could this time.
02 Jul 2016 12:54:53
Yeah, feel DG and G62 are pretty spot on.
A lot of our fan base are going to get frustrated (probably myself included eventually) when we see City signing Nolito and Gundogan, Chelsea moving for Batshuayi and Utd splashing out on Bailly, Zlatan and literally just now Mhiktaryan.
02 Jul 2016 13:07:02
Sorry accidentlally cut my post off, so I'll restart!
I think DG and G62 are right here.
Our fan base is going to get frustrated (myself included) when City have already got Gundogan and Nolito, Chelsea have Batshuayi and Utd have splashed on Bailly, Zlatan and Mkhitaryan, whilst we've got Xhaka, failed in our Vardy pursuit and seem to be linked with every player going and still sign none of them.
I think the penny has dropped at the club, £30m for Xhaka is a big purchase for a midfielder who's only really had 2 years at the top level, so I think the desire to spend is there and we will attempt to exercise that.
The problem is, whilst City and Chelsea have near bottomless funds and Utd have that coupled with the 'skill' of happily paying over the odds for a player, we don't.
We're a very well off club, but the media throw the whole 'Arsenal have £127,484,485,48.72 in the cash reserves' every year and it causes even more frustration on our part and sells them more papers/ get them more clicks.
As an example, based on no facts what so ever, as I see it while City can go for, Aubamayeng, miss out, then go for Higuain, miss out, then Cavani, miss out, then eventually think sod it and just splash £25m on Bony to be 3rd choice striker, we can't.
If we're going to spend big money on a forward, he has to be a starter and if we don't get our first or second choice, splashing out on a player who's plan C, isn't really a clever move.
Vardy was our first choice, as G62 says, I too think we did the best we could to sign him, but I don't think he was ever going to leave Leicester, it may of crossed his mind, but I think he owes them too much, coupled with the fact he's loved by 90% of the Leicester population, it would of taken a mad offer to get him.
I doubt Asano is plan b (if we even sign him) I'd imagine he's 'one for the future'
So it will be interesting to see who/ if we target next.
As per usual, I've gone off on a tangent, so, as a final point, I'm positive we're going to make a mark in the market, but if we don't, I'm cleaning the pitchfork ready!
02 Jul 2016 13:29:51
Same old same old
an early signing to please some, then a total unknown from the Far East who will no doubt be loaned out
How can anyone say we are strengthening the squad knowing DW is out until January, before we kick a ball we are weaker
I see M Utd have signed another.
02 Jul 2016 13:35:23
Good post D.
02 Jul 2016 16:41:13
Top post D_.
02 Jul 2016 19:28:37
Wasn't there some discussion that Kroenke uses the funds to guarantee other loans? He is building a very expensive stadium in LA at the moment - so maybe we are stadium poor once again ;- (