Where did it all go wrong – Cesc?

Where did it all go wrong……………………………….

Most football fans are aware of the story George Best loved to tell of how he was staying in a top London Hotel, where having just quit football he had enjoyed a few drinks and a particularly good night at the tables in the Casino,

To celebrate he phoned room service and ordered a couple of bottles of Champagne. The waiter who delivered it happened to be an Irish Man Utd fan. On entering the room he was confronted by a huge bed on which lay a half naked Miss World, surrounded by bundles of twenty-pound notes with the thousand pound bank wrappers still on them.  He looked, placed the tray on the dressing table and as he presented George the bill to be signed asked. “ George where the hell did it all go wrong”

To me that sums up the Arsenal predicament at the moment, having come through some seriously stringent times, virtually owning their new purpose built stadium and training facilities, in the best financial position of the any of the top British clubs with the possible exception of Chelsea and City both of whom owe there good fortune to rich benefactors from abroad.

The Arsenal now find themselves with cash available to refresh their injury ravaged squad and add an experienced player or two to encourage and the lead the phalanx of talented players assembled at low cost by Arsene Wenger.

Yet there is an element of their support that keep asking in whatever way possible, where did it all go wrong?

Every negative that can be found, rumoured, imagined or invented is gleefully dished up, as proof of our imminent demise. Forget the cruel injuries at crucial times, forget some diabolical refereeing that has halted momentum and cost us vital points. Forget that Champions league qualification has been achieved year after year.

Disregard a lazy press, that delights in disrespecting the club for refusing to pamper to their desire for easy headlines, by employing rent-a-quote PR men to fire ten-a- penny sound bites, designed to appease those whose demands that we chase the improbable or impossible, are only matched by there inability to understand which is which.

Ignore all these, along with the fact that our key players have for years been the subject of shameful tapping up, by overseas clubs and affiliated press, designed at the very least to unsettle and destabilise but mainly aimed at enticing them away.

Where did it all go wrong? It didn’t we punched above our weight given the financial constraints, put upon us by the property development so vital for our future. We negotiated all the perils and pitfalls outlined above. We played our way into the hearts of a new generation of fans and delighted a vast army of older fans, brought up on the cynically predictable football, of the Pre Wenger years.

Despite this in recent weeks since the season end and before the Transfer Window even opens, every blog, paper and media outlet has again witnessed an outpouring of opinion as to how soon our captain and playmaker will leave the club, maybe he will, maybe he wont and just maybe if he does, he will do as many of the Wenger boys before him have done, wake up one morning, review his career and say “sod it, where did it all go wrong?”

136 Responses to Where did it all go wrong – Cesc?

  1. Morning all

    Apologies to andy – your post is stuck in aol at the moment, hopefully we’ll retrieve it for tomorrow.

  2. SharkeySure's avatar SharkeySure says:

    Brilliant DanDan.

    It really kills me listening to Arse fans slating and berating our club all day every f***ing day. Grrrrrrr

    I just don’t get the CONSTANT moaning and whinging even if some of the complaints are actually valid.

  3. SharkeySure's avatar SharkeySure says:

    Good point :

    4. At 5:39pm on 01 Jun 2010, mcsen10 wrote:
    Well, he has really paid the price, for agreeing to play for both the under 21 and the senior squad. Wenger told him he would burn out.

  4. LB's avatar London says:

    Morning all

    Another fine post Dandan, I love them, I simply love them.

  5. MAC's avatar MAC says:

    At last someone sensible posting something of value. Excellent points and very well made. I too am sick of the negativity, not only from the media but from some of our so called fans too.

  6. Rasp's avatar Rasp says:

    Morning all,

    Superb post dandan – restores the perspective!

    Harry Redknapp is hinting that Joe Cole has already signed for us or A.N.other London club

  7. tommystout's avatar tommystout says:

    bloody marvelous post DD, you have a gift for this mate!
    morning everybody…
    yesterdays media swarm over walcotts omission – to me was another anti arsenal over elaborate frenzy of negetive publicity – honestly the media revel in it…. if that boy didnt wear an arsenal shirt then they’d have been talking about the 7 that were dropped as opposed to theo…. to me i wasnt at all surprised! its just the kick up the arse he needs to give him direction in the future.

    rasp – about cole, i heard that too, it doesnt overly excite me though!

  8. Rasp's avatar Rasp says:

    Hi tommy,

    Obviously a player like Cole is not a high priority, but he can play Wengerball and would probably be more effective than Rosicky – plus he’s available on a ‘free’ 😉

  9. tommystout's avatar tommystout says:

    i agree rasp, but he dont excite me, but but but he just might 🙂

  10. kelsey's avatar kelsey says:

    Great article dandan. Majorie Wallace, eh. December 1973, the Dorchester Hotel, Suite 528.

  11. LB's avatar London says:

    Are we taking this Joe Cole rumour seriously?

  12. tommystout's avatar tommystout says:

    – London – can we take any of them seriously? , i don’t. doesnt stop me joining in the melee though!

  13. tommystout's avatar tommystout says:

    melee ? melo? that would be nice!

  14. kelsey's avatar kelsey says:

    Joe Cole could be apossibility, but reportedly he wants 100K a week.

    I am more concerned that Gallas appears to want out, and that leaves us with poor cover.Djorou and Silvestre.

  15. Erik the Red's avatar Big Raddy says:

    Fine Post DD.

    I love your positivity, it brightens an already bright day (except for Theo 😦 )

    I met George Best in his Fulham days. A top bloke who had time for everyone. Still have his autograph.

  16. kelsey's avatar kelsey says:

    BR,

    it hit 1.20 today. What a lovely day : ) 🙂

  17. tommystout's avatar tommystout says:

    kelsey – i think we are all worried about the centre of defence, i think gallas is as good as gone so…..
    ok lets promote djorou to be TV’s main partner, it still means we need A.N.other, injuries hampered everyone last year so a proven CB is an absolute necessary.
    bartley will probably be prommoted too, but i’d prefer him to be loaned out again.

    this lorient CB seems to be getting plenty of media air time!

  18. tommystout's avatar tommystout says:

    and he don’t excite me either! 😦

  19. kelsey's avatar kelsey says:

    tommy,

    is it being negative to suggest that Djorou and Vermaelen wouldn’t be an ideal first choice pairing. We need better quality than Djorou and then use him as back up, IMO

    And then of course the keeper. if it was my choice, i would go for James, as a one year solution, and he would be cheap as chips.Can you really see him as coach/manager at pompey.

  20. Erik the Red's avatar Big Raddy says:

    He isn’t called Calamity for nothing!

    My choice would be Jaaskelinen.

  21. tommystout's avatar tommystout says:

    wouldnt be my first choice either kelsey, however i did think djorou was looking the part before he got injured. i wwant us to sign mertsaker but he AW never surprises me and signs who i have been wanting. 🙂
    as for james, well id have him for a year or two keeping the seat warm for chezzer, however i’d have taken any other keeper in the prem last term over big Al.
    although if i was AW i would be loaning chezer out for a few seasons until he shows us that he is the real deal. theres nothing like waiting for promise to be fulfilled and it dont happen. therefore i say make a quality signing…… never mind who we have coming through, deal with that when and if it happens.

  22. Erik the Red's avatar Big Raddy says:

    Didn’t really want to read this, but it comes as no surprise….

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/8717785.stm

  23. kelsey's avatar kelsey says:

    As I said before, perhaps now is better than next year, BR.AN unhappy player is not good for morale, and he is captain as well.

    A settled squad is going to have more changes than in the last 4 seasons, if cesc goes as well.

  24. Erik the Red's avatar Big Raddy says:

    I don’t agree Kelsey.

    The longer we have hi at THOF the better as far as I am concerned. Cesc is an exceptional talent.

    Who in world football can take his place?

    Though I did read a comment about his strengths being our weaknesses which was interesting.

  25. dandan's avatar dandan says:

    Thanks for all the kind comments folks. So our skipper is on his way is he, we will see. As usual there is no comment from the Arsenal. But the yanks know how to play hardball so expect Ivan to give our leaky friends from Barca a run for their money

  26. Rasp's avatar Rasp says:

    This is a sad day for the club. If we’d shown a little more ambition, we could have kept Cesc for a couple more years and by that time the likes of Ramsey would be able to fill his boots – as it is, he will leave a void. Even if we get £40m for Cesc, I can’t see the club shelling out £20m for Gourcuff.

  27. Erik the Red's avatar Big Raddy says:

    Chary 3.04

    Finally the club make their position clear, and they cannot be any clearer than that!!

    They have told Barca to Go Forth and Multiply. Well played.

    Rasp Didn’t you read Chary’s link?

  28. SharkeySure's avatar SharkeySure says:

    I bloody hope so Chary.

  29. SharkeySure's avatar SharkeySure says:

    Lol Rasp……thankfully you have the power to remove or wholly edit (!!) your last post !!

  30. ChärybdÏß1966's avatar charybdis1966 says:

    That’s some non sequiter you’ve got there Raspers.

    Or maybe it’s irony gone over my head.

  31. ChärybdÏß1966's avatar charybdis1966 says:

    I complain often about the club and Arse.com Radders, but give them their dues, today they’ve given those slimey Barca ingrates the middle finger salute they deserve.

  32. Erik the Red's avatar Big Raddy says:

    That is what happens when you are Russia’s Greatest Love Machine !

  33. Erik the Red's avatar Big Raddy says:

    Middle finger salute from Gazidis and the trusty Index and middle finger salute from PHW

  34. kelsey's avatar kelsey says:

    This is turning into a game of poker.If barca put 50 million down in one payment, I wonder what will happen.

    As mere fans, do we need all this shite every year with our players.

    One day i would like to see a reverse.Us trying or succeeding in raping other clubs for their players.

  35. Poor rasp – hes just posted and run away proabably 😆

  36. ChärybdÏß1966's avatar charybdis1966 says:

    To be honest I thought AFC would “lube” themselves up, bend over and let Barca take them from behind over the Cesc situation. It makes a pleasant change.

  37. Wow thats a real hard-hitting statement from Arsenal isn’t it 😉

    I wasn’t going to be around today but an accident closed the M1 before I could get anywhere – I did sit for 2 hours on the M1 waiting to get off though 😦

  38. ChärybdÏß1966's avatar charybdis1966 says:

    Yeah Radders, it’s what divides the septics from the Brits – same sentiment though, LOL !

  39. Afternoon chary – how are you?

  40. Rasp's avatar Rasp says:

    Sharkey, I leave my rickets for all to see. You lot should all thank me for forcing the club’s hand 😆

    This makes the statement from Barca even more reprehensible.

  41. Rasp's avatar Rasp says:

    Raddy,

    Chary’s link came up after the link to the story stating the reverse. I don’t see that Arsenal could possibly sell Cesc now after a statement like that whatever Barca offered.

  42. ChärybdÏß1966's avatar charybdis1966 says:

    Was feeling a bit cheesed off till the club finally showed a bit of backbone at last, Peachy.
    A bit of toothache in the morning hadn’t helped my mood.

    Still, I hope this means Xavi, Puyol, Joanie girlie Laporta, Tricky Burger-stain and the rest of that disreputable rabble will shut the f**k up now.

  43. dandan's avatar dandan says:

    Am I allowed to say, told you Ivan would play hardball with leaky Barca.
    Now watch the media especially the Spanish, media go into overdrive,…..Cue Hunter and his rumour mongering mate,

  44. Rasp's avatar Rasp says:

    No dandan 😛

  45. kelsey's avatar kelsey says:

    Have i been transferred to Coventry 🙂

  46. ChärybdÏß1966's avatar charybdis1966 says:

    That’s a good point Dandan – will Gillian Ball-bag now come on Skysports and admit to being a bullshit merchant ? He bloody well should.

    Kelsey, sorry were you being ignored?
    Join in the laughing at Barca and Ball-bag !

  47. LB's avatar London says:

    I read the statement by the club to mean that Barcelona simply haven’t offered enough yet…..opening bid and all that.

  48. criochnaithe's avatar irishgunner says:

    ” Barcelona have publicly stated that they will respect our position and we expect that they will keep their word.”

    And that’s how you say “FUCK OFF” in polite English 8)

  49. dandan's avatar dandan says:

    Yes of course that is how Barca will see it London, But I am told that AW is apoplectic over Barca’s behaviour and that Arsenal are unanimous in there intention to support him by making Barca pay for it, if they upset cesc well the view is, that he has thus far been given everything he has asked for, this is one ask to many.
    They believe also that Cesc is embarrassed by it all.

  50. criochnaithe's avatar irishgunner says:

    “He is a highly-valued member of the team and part of our future plans.”

    “in which we made it abundantly clear that we have no interest in transferring Cesc,”

    “we have no intention of selling our captain”

    He’s not going anywhere.

  51. dandan's avatar dandan says:

    Irish could you do a post along the lines of “just let me and Peachey get our hands on Barca’s President”.

  52. ChärybdÏß1966's avatar charybdis1966 says:

    The statement said “To be clear, we will not make any kind of counterproposal or enter into any discussion.” – that doesn’t sound like an invitation to make a further bid to me, however you read it.
    I know you can’t always take words at face value but if they wanted to invite higher bids they could have simply left that bit out of the statement; if they had then I too would have thought like London as that would have been a case where what was left UNSAID that would have been significant.

  53. criochnaithe's avatar irishgunner says:

    That would be very x-rated I think Dandan – would be for over 18s only. Blood and guts in detail.

  54. dandan's avatar dandan says:

    If they had left that out chary, Barca would have said you have agreed to sell him, now we are haggling over the price, as it is this way. Barca are in no doubt that to have any chance of getting him, they will have to break the bank. Probably with a player’s plus cash deal.

  55. criochnaithe's avatar irishgunner says:

    Nothing to say Cole isn’t coming in to play alongside Cesc.

    Maybe for a change we’re keeping a player AND buying a new one?

  56. tommystout's avatar tommystout says:

    theres a lot of smoke to this Joe Cole malarchy!

  57. tommystout's avatar tommystout says:

    if joe cole comes, who’s off? AA or Thomas? or anyone?

  58. Rasp's avatar Rasp says:

    I can’t see it. He wants to leave chavski because he can’t get regular first team football – the only chance of that at Arsenal would be if we sold AA.

  59. dandan's avatar dandan says:

    I wouldnt discount that Rasp.

  60. tommystout's avatar tommystout says:

    If Cole comes, who’s off? AA/ Thomas / neither/ anyone?

  61. tommystout's avatar tommystout says:

    whoops double post!

  62. Rasp's avatar Rasp says:

    Actually Cole and Cesc as a centre midfield attacking partnership with Song sitting behind and Chamakh up front would be pretty awesome.

    I reckon one or two players (Nik, Rosicky, EE) are worried about how much first team action they’re going to get.

  63. ChärybdÏß1966's avatar charybdis1966 says:

    Well if someone has a preconceived idea only to read into things whatever they want then anything can mean what they want it to Dandan. Short of making a binding contract with the outside world win that statement AFC couldn’t make their intentions anymore clear.
    A bit like when a guy asks a woman out and she says no, he only gets hotter for her and thinks “no” means “go one, try a bit harder and I’ll give in.”

  64. dandan's avatar dandan says:

    Chary don’t expect this to be the end of the affair, for all his anger AW has a history of not holding on to players who really want to go, He also has a track record of getting top dollar for them. EG Anelka

  65. Rasp's avatar Rasp says:

    Here’s Arsene’s new ultra-attacking formation – 2:2:1:2:2:1 😉

    Like this:

    ….x…..x
    x………….x
    …….x
    ….x…..x
    x…………x
    …….x

  66. kelsey's avatar kelsey says:

    I think this Joe Cole merry go round the blogs gathering momentum could be true.I agree with rasp, if true one maybe saying goodbye to Eduardo or Rosicky, not Nic though.

  67. kelsey's avatar kelsey says:

    chary siad

    A bit like when a guy asks a woman out and she says no, he only gets hotter for her and thinks “no” means “go one, try a bit harder and I’ll give in.”

    or in simple terms no usually means yes,but i am not usually that sort of girl 😉

  68. dandan's avatar dandan says:

    Barca have put themselves in the position where they will lose face if they don’t get Cesc. so expect them to try to find a way, they don’t have the money but they do have players. It is IMHO on a knife edge

  69. Rasp's avatar Rasp says:

    Hi kelsey,

    I think the arrival of Chamakh alone will reduce either Nik or Theo’s time on the pitch – unless Arsene is expecting RvP to get injured and miss most of the season.

  70. kelsey's avatar kelsey says:

    rasp,

    he may go the rotate route with RVP especially,as he usually plays about half a season in game time.

  71. criochnaithe's avatar irishgunner says:

    ” A bit like when a guy asks a woman out and she says no, he only gets hotter for her and thinks “no” means “go one, try a bit harder and I’ll give in.”

    or in simple terms no usually means yes,but i am not usually that sort of girl”

    Or in simpler terms no usually mean no, but a man just doesn’t know how to keep it in his pants 😉

  72. ChärybdÏß1966's avatar charybdis1966 says:

    Dandan – maybe it is over, maybe it isn’t, all I’m saying is that the club couldn’t have been more unequivocal.
    Why paint themselves into a corner about not selling Cesc with such a statement? Not only would they lose all credibility(Gazidis’ reputation would be in tatters, and coming from the tough commercial environment he did, he didn’t get such a reputation by being self-contradictory)
    I can’t predict the future, but I will say the club could have said virtually the same thing without creating a rod for their own back with the excerpt I quoted at 4.20pm, plus Barca would make themselves look foolish by contradicting their previous statement that they would respect Arsenal’s wishes if they took this further.
    This shows up the Barca machinations as nothing but naked electioneering by unprincipled individuals, with Cesc as a pawn.
    How enamoured will that make Cesc feel towards his hometown club now?

  73. kelsey's avatar kelsey says:

    dandan, on paper they are 420 million in debt, but if push comes to shove I think they will find the extra.This is Spain, remember 😉

    In an ideal situation cesc should have said, i am honouring my contract, not that he would leave it up to his manager.

    My gut feeling is this is far from over.barca have tested the water, and we (Arsenal F.C.) have pulled no punches in a response.

    Forget about cesc being under contract, if the price is right i feel that the club may give in,though reluctanly.

  74. kelsey's avatar kelsey says:

    irish,

    i will take your word on that 😉

  75. criochnaithe's avatar irishgunner says:

    Chary – Agree with you 100%. This is a definite statement from Arsenal and there is noway they would have made it if there was any possibility Cesc was going. Who knows maybe the Cole stories are true and Wenger had told Cesc this at the meeting?

    Whatever about Barca losing face we’d be a laughing stock if he left now.

    Kelsey – Do take my word for it 😉

  76. dandan's avatar dandan says:

    I am not disagreeing with you Chary Arsenals Statement does all you say it does OK…… But Barca’s outgoing president stands to lose a lot of face if he doesn’t get his man, Cesc has not said he wants to stay at Arsenal….. Arsene could be faced with a near world record bid made up of players he would like plus money.
    Given that any deal with Cesc will probably only be for one year if past dealings are anything to go by.
    Arsene would have a perfect out by getting top class players in midfield and the money to buy the defender Gk we need, I think most people would take that.
    Time will tell my friend

  77. ChärybdÏß1966's avatar charybdis1966 says:

    Great minds, eh Maire !

  78. criochnaithe's avatar irishgunner says:

    Personally, I think Arsenal have gone and called Barcelona’s bluff and about fucking time.

  79. criochnaithe's avatar irishgunner says:

    Indeed Chary 😉

  80. ChärybdÏß1966's avatar charybdis1966 says:

    The Barca electorate have very short memories Dandan – all that’ll happen is next year Tricky burger stain will promise to sign the next hottest property on the footballing horizon and the sheep will lap it up again.

  81. LB's avatar London says:

    Dandan

    What makes you say that Barcelona can’t afford Cesc?

  82. Erik the Red's avatar Big Raddy says:

    I believe it leaves Barca with metaphorical shitty pants.

    Arsneal trumped them. They waited for the statement from Barca and then rebuffed their offer and this questions their standing as men of honour….

    “Barcelona have publicly stated that they will respect our position and we expect that they will keep their word.”

    which is why Barca will back off and try to save face. I guess it goes back to the TH14 deal when we sold way too cheap.

  83. Erik the Red's avatar Big Raddy says:

    Barca can afford whatever a player costs. They do not work within the constraints of normal business practice.

  84. criochnaithe's avatar irishgunner says:

    Off topic sorry but these shootings in Cumbria are madness.

  85. LB's avatar London says:

    Simply taking out a loan strikes me as a very normal business practice.

  86. kelsey's avatar kelsey says:

    I tend to agree with london on this. Graham Hunter was just on sky sports “the oracle that he is” and he says it’s just an opening bid,to test the water. watch this space.

  87. Hi kelsey 🙂

  88. kelsey's avatar kelsey says:

    finally 😉

  89. LB's avatar London says:

    Hi Kelsey

    I have to add quickly that I hope I am wrong. I will happily eat all the humble pie going for the chance of Cesc wearing the glorious red and white next season.

  90. But Barca already owe a lot of money don’t they? In this current climate would they get a loan although they might offer players too ……..

  91. dandan's avatar dandan says:

    London, I believe that Barca are something like 600 million in debt and will have to move some players in order to pay for David Villa, I would not guarantee that info, but it seems likely as they have just said on Sky that Barca cannot afford the 87 million which is the supposedly base price Arsenal have put on Cesc.

  92. 87 million – wow thats hard-ball 😉

  93. dandan's avatar dandan says:

    You never know Irish. Barca might just be about to say,”Where did it all go wrong” LOL

  94. Goonerholic has coined a good phrase – Tapelona 😉

  95. kelsey's avatar kelsey says:

    87 million euros, and the debt as I read it is 420million euros.They will up there offer + a player.if it’s yaya, Wenger won’t take it, he had an opportunity to sign him twice before he went to Barca.if it’s Ibamovich, we don’t need him,so it’s quite complicated.

  96. Erik the Red's avatar Big Raddy says:

    Where did the €87m come from?

  97. dandan's avatar dandan says:

    Any idea if there is any mileage in these Joe Cole rumours.

  98. Erik the Red's avatar Big Raddy says:

    No idea whatsoever DD.

    Probably his agent looking to hike his price!

  99. tommystout's avatar tommystout says:

    who from barca would we take as a make weight? and please nobody say messi! 🙂

  100. criochnaithe's avatar irishgunner says:

    Its all over blogland and facebook (Kelsey’s favourite 😉 ) that Cole is a Gunner…

  101. kelsey's avatar kelsey says:

    Hunter again, reported on sky that arsenals valuation was 87 million euros and barca offered 35 million euros.he was adamant that the deal would be done at about 5o million plus a player.

    Of course he is only guessing,or is he privy to inside info.

  102. dandan's avatar dandan says:

    It seems that talks…t is saying he has signed according to the posts on facebooke

  103. LB's avatar London says:

    Well, if Cunter says it, it must be true.

  104. dandan's avatar dandan says:

    London has your keyboard malfunctioned LOL

  105. kelsey's avatar kelsey says:

    from goonertalk.

    Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole will not make a final decision on his future until he returns from the World Cup, according to reports.

    The 28-year-old England star is a free agent but his excessive wage demands of £120,000 a week have proved too much for Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool.

    However, the Metro are suggesting that Cole, barring any complications in the process, expects a deal with Arsenal to be finalised next week, with a view to announcing the move before the tournament in South Africa begins in ten days’ time.

    It seems unlikely that Gunners boss Arsene Wenger would be willing to pay Cole’s massive pay packet, especially after rejecting William Gallas’ £80,000 a week demands on a new contract.

    Arsenal have already rejected Barcelona’s paltry £29 million bid for skipper Cesc Fabregas, but it looks as if another creative midfielder could quite possibly be on the way in the form of Joe Cole if the aforementioned reports are accurate.

    Give us your views on this potential transfer and any other rumours you’ve been hearing lately!

    THIS IS WHY I HATE 95% OF BLOGS

  106. LB's avatar London says:

    Dandan

    I wrote this on Sunday, I should have made it a headline post but hey ho

    I want to clear up a point that is bugging me and that is the rumour that Barça are broke — absolute tosh.

    This all stems from one blog or another saying that they are 450 million in debt, this may be true but that does not make them broke….far from it.

    Why?……a quick example……which country in the world has the biggest debt………yes, right first time, it is the USA…..no other country comes close. Are they broke, of course not.

    The USA are not broke because they have excellent credit — so do Barcelona.

    In Spain, there is something called “La Caixa” this roughly translates to mean the Bank of Catalonia and to give you a rough perspective, imagine that HSBC were originally from the Holloway Road and you are getting close to understanding the association, although, not fully because there is more, 99% of the people in Catalonia bank with La Caixa and 99% of Catalans support Barcelona.

    In short, this is a very successful bank that can and will bank roll Barcelona until the end of the earth.

    Barcelona are no more skint than the USA so enough with that nonsense.

    Having cleared that up, all there is left to say is that if they want Cesc and he wants to go, they should be made to find 50 million or they can sling their hook.

  107. LB's avatar London says:

    Sounds to me like Joe Cole is in negotaitions with the mancs and his agent is using Arsenal to up his wages.

  108. kelsey's avatar kelsey says:

    I would wager anyone if say 6 of us went on to about a dozen blogs saying (just for example) that Torres was quitting liverpool and coming to us, it would spread round the Internet that by the end of the day many would believe it was a done deal.

    I am sure you can site a better example,but you get my drift.

    Most probably it would be more believable if one said RVP was leaving.

  109. dandan's avatar dandan says:

    Fair enough London but with the Euro going south, 20% unemployment and Vat being increased to 18% today in Spain it may well be that the bank is under Govt orders not to be seen being stupid.

    No doubt Kelsey could give us a heads up on that mate

  110. kelsey's avatar kelsey says:

    dandan, nothing is logical over here.In the early nineties,also a major recession here in Spain, Real Madrid sold their training ground to the government for 10 times it’s true value and a few years later bought it back for the true value at the original point of sale.Mourinho and his team has cost RM 50 million(as BR stated the other day)

  111. LB's avatar London says:

    The recession had an even greater grip last year but it didn’t deter Real Madrid’s bank, “Banco Santander” financing their spending spree and what a spree that was.

    As for La Caixa, they tell the government what to do rather than the other way round.

  112. dandan's avatar dandan says:

    Fair enough guys I bow to your superior knowledge

  113. LB's avatar London says:

    I find it impossible to believe that Perez’s spending spree was done in any other way than with a loan from the bank.

    I am aware of the training ground sale but my understanding was that the proceeds were used to pay off the enormous debt they had and I think you will also find that they didn’t buy the same ground back they simply moved the facilities further out where land is much cheaper.

  114. kelsey's avatar kelsey says:

    You may be right london,but the point i was making was that the whole selling and buying back of the training ground was totally corrupt.

  115. LB's avatar London says:

    Ah, I see, now that does not surprise me at all.

  116. Erik the Red's avatar Big Raddy says:

    IF and it is a huge if, Cole is coming, it must herald a major shift in personnel.

    We cannot keep Vela, AA, TR and Cole , all of whom must be on huge wages.

    If he is on his way, it is a very strange signing though he is a fine player (But thick as 2 short…)

  117. LB's avatar London says:

    Cole to Arsenal…..I am having real trouble imagining this one, now if someone said Kalou to Arsenal, well, I would expect him to be on Arsenal.com holding a shirt in front of him within twenty four hours.

  118. Erik the Red's avatar Big Raddy says:

    I would choose Alex to Arsenal

  119. LB's avatar London says:

    I would choose……ah, I can’t play this game, I hate the lot of them.

  120. ChärybdÏß1966's avatar charybdis1966 says:

    My opinion on Joe Cole to us – not going to happen.
    His wage demands will be too high and we’d have to lose TR7(not good) or Denilson(very good)
    I hear something may be happening on Friday transfer wise, so fingers crossed till then.

  121. LB's avatar London says:

    Rosicky has had a fair crack at the whip this season……..but for me he has not impressed……..time to sell?

  122. ChärybdÏß1966's avatar charybdis1966 says:

    I’d rather flog Denilson – although his wobbly head goal celebration will be missed.

  123. LB's avatar London says:

    Rosicky is supposed to be a first teamer, Denilson on the other hand is fourth place back up who still may make the grade. If Ramsey hadn’t got injured Denilson wouldn’t have hardly played.

  124. ChärybdÏß1966's avatar charybdis1966 says:

    Hmm,yeah, but on the assumption J Cole comes in, BIG assumption there, I’d downgrade TR7 to 2nd choice CM, with Rambo 3rd; that way we won’t overuse TR7, who sadly won’t get more than 30 games per season in.

  125. kelsey's avatar kelsey says:

    Good morning all.

    Contrary to what some make think, I forsee a number of changes this season to our first team squad.

    My guess is that it is Shwarzer not Hangeland we are after, to resolve short term our keeper problem, which if I assume correctly, then either Fabianski or Mannone could be number two and Almunia may go, as I don’t see him accepting a number two position. personally, I would like to see a better keeper.

    Merida has left,and one can assume Senderos is also off.

    Both Campbell and Gallas have not committed themselves as yet,if in deed AW wants to keep either of them .

    Jack appears to be staying out on loan, though to me he has already shown he has much more to offer than others.

    With Chamakh arriving, one at least of Eduardo,vela or even Rosicky may go IMO

    Cesc is in the balance and the joe cole signing to me is improbable unless he is prepared to take a cut of salary/
    .

    Wenger himself has only one season left on his contract, and yesterday usmanov bought another 250000 GBP of shares.I am not implying any connection to this, but if a takeover should happen in the next year, Wenger may look at his options.
    And will AA commit himself more to the team on the field than write daily bigging himself up on his website.

    Hopefully theo can sit back and look at himself and make a consertive effort to be an automatic first choice next season, or at least if injury free, improve his game somewhat.

    Hopefully ramsey and gibbs will recover 100% physically and mentally.
    A lot to debate,don’t you think.

  126. LB's avatar London says:

    Morning Kelsey

    When you put it like that it does seem like a lot is going on.

  127. kelsey's avatar kelsey says:

    Sorry london,

    I kept adding things, by editing a couple of times.

  128. Rasp's avatar Rasp says:

    Morning kelsey, London,

    It appears that most of your predicted changes kelsey involve players leaving.

    My, less than reliable, gut reaction, can feel it in my water view of the Cesc saga is that it is now 50/50 whether he goes or stays. The article on ACLF this morning is a brilliant summation of the situation.

  129. gnarleygeorge9's avatar gnarleygeorge9 says:

    dandan

    That was a good piece indeed. And may I add some. When the media keep hounding The Arsenal with poor copy, time & time again, Arsene Wenger should adopt the George Best line that he used when some reporter kept hounding him @ his hotel room door. His quote went something like this ” Rearrange these words Off Fuck”

  130. Rasp's avatar Rasp says:

    New Post

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