I'm kinda skeptical about Giroud's signing. Forget this season but I have a feeling they want to bring him as a potential replacement for RVP if he doesn't sign a new contract and lets it run through this season. If Arshavin and Walcott stay I see no point in having another central striker or misplace Giroud like Arshavin by flanking him down the wings and what not....
Football Transfers Thread
- Thread starter Auwais
- Start date
thedon5
Panel of Selectors
Novara beat Inter, Chelsea beat Barca, etc. One result can't prove much.
CSKA are decent, but the Russian League is hardly the best league in the world. CSKA has some very nice players though, Honda is amazing and Doumbia is great too. He's been in Russia all his life too, so a move is likely for Dzagoev. Maybe wants a change of scenery, a bigger pay check, or a bigger club.
I think he'll go to either Anzhi or Chelsea, or perhaps Italy. If he was going to sign the contract, he sure as hell wouldn't wait till there were 6 months remaining. He isn't staying.
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Bendtner never had a future at Arsenal after last season, both he and Arsenal knew this. He isn't good enough so good he's leaving, though I would take him over Chamakh and Park, who are awful.
Vela is good and had a great season, but wouldn't want to return.
Podolski will rarely be used as a striker he's been brought in as a winger primarily for sure.
Hell, if RVP leaves we might even sign another striker. Giroud was the best striker available at our price range though, without going into the Falcaos and Cavanis, or even the Llorentes and Higuains.
Makes perfect sense. Bendtner, Vela, Chamakh and Park out, Giroud in. Considering the other four played probably less than three or four games between them combined, it's a good signing.
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Yeah, and not to forget RVP is 28, 29 when the season starts. The general cycle with Arsenal players is they leave around 31 to 32 and the club's policy is only allowing one year contract extensions at this stage (Pires left for this season only, he wanted a two year extension). Plus it's unlikely RVP will be able to have another season like the one he just had. So Giroud is a very necessary signing, replaces both Chamakh and Park, means RVP can be rested, and is a long term replacement for RVP. Though he is more of an Adebayor type player. Chamakh was meant to replace Adebayor, I suspect Giroud is another attempt at this, as in recent times Adebayor was the only true CF that performed well in our system.
Giroud will take a season at least to get settled anyway. Was average in his first season for Tours and Montpellier, lit Ligue 2 and Ligue 1 up in his second season at those clubs.
Arshavin is highly unlikely to stay, his sub position will be replaced by Gervinho and Podolski will take Gervinho's starting spot. Good for both him and the club, as he clearly hates England and isn't getting the job done any more. Poor player really. Giroud would be a terrible winger anyway, Arsenal wingers need pace, he is very slow. There are also rumours we might still be in for Afellay or Hoilett.
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Overall things are shaping up well. I suspect we'll make one more signing, we'll go for M'Vila but probably fail and have to settle for someone like Capoue.
Way I see it though, if we can get one CB (to replace Djourou), one good LB, one back-up RB, one experienced GK, a good DM, a good AM and perhaps a decent winger to replace Walcott, I reckon we have sufficient quality and depth to mount a serious title challenge. So maybe in a few years.
thedon5
Panel of Selectors
Yes, but Yann has more experience and is two years younger. Plus he is far more disciplined, Capoue always picks up a tonne of yellow cards, M'Vila does not. M'Vila also has an amazing eye for a pass, so potential to be play in a more forward role occasionally too.
'Settle' is probably the wrong word to use with Capoue. He is a different player, he is a physical monster in midfield. I would still take M'Vila though any day of the week.
It would be more appropriate to say settle for Biglia or N'Zonzi.
'Settle' is probably the wrong word to use with Capoue. He is a different player, he is a physical monster in midfield. I would still take M'Vila though any day of the week.
It would be more appropriate to say settle for Biglia or N'Zonzi.
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Bevab
Staff Member
BBC Sport - Didier Drogba signs for Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua
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Although obvious news, it has been officially confirmed.
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Although obvious news, it has been officially confirmed.
Sahil 7
Panel of Selectors
yes drogba joined chinese club for mega money on 2 and half year contract
Bevab
Staff Member
Interesting to see Milan linked with Reina, almost sure they won't sign him.
Abbiati had a good 10-11 season, but a pretty average, if not poor previous season. I don't think so depending on him is good, for he's old and his reflexes, which was his strong point has disappeared with age. Unless they want to go with Amelia, which will not be a good choice, they'll have to sign a new one.
Abbiati had a good 10-11 season, but a pretty average, if not poor previous season. I don't think so depending on him is good, for he's old and his reflexes, which was his strong point has disappeared with age. Unless they want to go with Amelia, which will not be a good choice, they'll have to sign a new one.
MasterBlaster76
ICC Chairman
Everything's been a bit quiet on the Utd front recently - and we've hardly heard a peep from City, which is surprising. 
Everything's been a bit quiet on the Utd front recently - and we've hardly heard a peep from City, which is surprising.
Agree with the latter. Very surprising. Then again, they don't really need any players, do they? Maybe 1 defender & 1 midfielder would do for them.
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Just so he can help out in the civil wars and the people back in his country.
Alberto Aquilani returning to Anfield, says agent - ESPN Soccernet
I was thinking Milan's 4-diamond-2 would suit us pretty well for this season. What do you guys reckon?
Just one quality striker required, if we were to employ this formation.
Edit: Oh and included Sigurdsson in that XI, considering he's all but a Liverpool player now, after hearing he'd rented an apartment in Liverpool.
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Why in god's name would they need a starting CB, when they Kompany and Lescott?! Maybe a backup CB to replace the awful Savic, but defo not in necessity of a starting one. So yeah, bidding 25m euros for Skrtel sounds insanely crazy to me.
I was thinking Milan's 4-diamond-2 would suit us pretty well for this season. What do you guys reckon?
Just one quality striker required, if we were to employ this formation.
Edit: Oh and included Sigurdsson in that XI, considering he's all but a Liverpool player now, after hearing he'd rented an apartment in Liverpool.
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Why in god's name would they need a starting CB, when they Kompany and Lescott?! Maybe a backup CB to replace the awful Savic, but defo not in necessity of a starting one. So yeah, bidding 25m euros for Skrtel sounds insanely crazy to me.
Bevab
Staff Member
Lescott will turn 30 in August, and they need a long-term replacement for him. Obviously Savic was bought for that reason, but unfortunately he performed horribly.
Also if Toure leaves, that becomes a necessity. Although Boyata could be the solution to the problem.
Still, I never said that they need a starting XI player. They need just a CB.
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Do you guys really need a quality striker?
Carroll has been in great form, and keeping him on the bench would be quite harsh. All you need is an icy cold finisher who is quite okay with the bench and also has the quality to score whenever introduced.
Also if Toure leaves, that becomes a necessity. Although Boyata could be the solution to the problem.
Still, I never said that they need a starting XI player. They need just a CB.
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Do you guys really need a quality striker?
Carroll has been in great form, and keeping him on the bench would be quite harsh. All you need is an icy cold finisher who is quite okay with the bench and also has the quality to score whenever introduced.
Carroll is not quality, atleast imo. Still needs some time to come good.
Hearing we're linked with a 10m bid for Roma's Borini. Chelsea fans should be proper pissed, I'm sure Jason was (on twitter), when Borini was scoring goals for fun for the Romans last season.
Hearing we're linked with a 10m bid for Roma's Borini. Chelsea fans should be proper pissed, I'm sure Jason was (on twitter), when Borini was scoring goals for fun for the Romans last season.
