Even before the season is over, Arsenal must strive to eliminate the clouds of uncertainty regarding next year’s squad: Who is staying? And who is leaving? These decisions have to made as soon as possible so that preparations for next season are not hampered by useless rumors. This may seem like an obvious statement but unfortunately Arsenal have not been able to silence all the rumors. The only exception was the issue regarding Henry’s future. Arsenal’s answer was simple: Henry is not for sale! Issue closed and no more interested parties lurking about.
Last year’s Vieira saga was a mess. After that was closed, we had to endure ‘I want to leave’ calls from Edu, Reyes and Cole (his case more like ‘I am not leaving, but I want to keep my options open’). Most transfer rumors are just idle talk but some cases contain a grain of truth to them. A player lets slip that he is not happy, or he is homesick, then well, those words are used to fuel transfer speculation. Wenger needs to have a talk with his players and ask them where their heart is? If a player is unsure what he wants, then he must be let go, no matter how talented the player is. There is nothing worse than having a player who is not fully committed to the club – his slack attitude or negative talk might even affect other players.
For a change, we need positive transfer news. It would be nice to read about which players are thinking about moving to Arsenal as opposed to those wanting to leave. The only real transfer talk was last year when it was imminent that Vieira was leaving. Arsenal were making inquiries about Maniche, Angulo (his deal was almost made) and Carrick. Then Vieira stayed and those talks died down. I would be perfectly happy to read tomorrow that Adriano is aching to move to Arsenal. Or another World Class player is willing to take a pay cut so that he can play for his beloved Arsenal. Oddly enough, I can’t ever remember reading that a big profile player was seriously thinking of moving to Arsenal? But I don’t think this is Arsenal’s or Wenger’s style. They know which player they want and then they quietly go and get them (atleast I like to believe so). Unlike certain other teams which make public displays over players they are interested in.
Wenger has taken no name players or players rejected by other teams and made them World famous. But the negative impact of that is, once these previously unheard of players get more attention (and call ups to their National team thanks to Wenger), they dream of moving to a bigger club. Is Arsenal not big enough? There are only a few BIG clubs out there. And those big clubs will not always win everything (for example, moving to Madrid does not guarantee an ECL trophy). For some players, the grass seems greener on the other side, but seriously, is the grass that bad on Arsenal’s side? Arsenal need to find out which players are going to stay on their side and which have to be weeded out.
9 Responses to “Snubbing out the Uncertainty”
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April 22nd, 2005 at 7:41 am
In mots of the cases, the media give false information to get more readers.
There’s no way to “elimintate” “uncertainity” is foortball regarding to rumours.
Take the last game. The press want some sensational stories as both teams went quiet to the tie.
They “put words” in Lauren’s mounth. The same “words” totally invented by a disguting food “journalist” have put in Reyes’ mounth on this site.
April 22nd, 2005 at 7:51 am
Heard that we will buy three players including 1 superstar.
Also heard that Shaun Wright-Phillips has his heart set on playing for Arsenal.
Time will tell if I’m right.
One more thing about the game recently;
Chelsea spent ?92 million on new players this season and they still can’t beat Arsenal.
April 22nd, 2005 at 8:42 am
The future is very bright for Arsenal.
This season has been more valuable than any in recent times, because although we didn’t win the league, and again failed to impress in Europe, we suddenly have a crop of young players who have first team experience and have already proven themselves to be good enough.
In the long term, this is more valuable than a trophy.
Next season will be special, as will the season following that. Wenger has more money to spend on transfers than ever before, and our team hardly needs a major overhaul - just some subtle adjusments and a few new faces.
Happy days.
April 22nd, 2005 at 9:32 am
Bravo, S-G. Our latter half of the season has seen a new Arsenal, one that can score and keep goals out of the net, and its all been done in a matter of months and with the kids. We needed this test to improve over last season since the Russian arrived and changed everything, and we have. If one stops looking at the competition for a second, I think it would be obvious that we’re stronger.
We complain about set-pieces. Fixed.
We complain about the D, a few guys return and one steps up. Could still used some depth, but outside of the pickiest defensive experts among us, I’m going with fixed.
We complain about Bobby. He scores two crucial goals. Fixed.
We complain about our keeper. History still has us shaky on him, but a little help in front and its fixed.
We complain about tactics…well, if we were playing like we are now who here can say we wouldn’t be still in the CL? We don’t need what others have or do what others do to win. We do what we do better than the rest, and suring up the back has seen us get a string of clean sheets like you read about. Lyon are killing Ligue 1, but are out. Same with Barca. Pool the opposite. Who’s tactices are foolproof? I’m going with fixed.
We complain about not getting anyone in January, when there wasn’t anyone affordable that would fit. We’ve got Trezeguet talking turkey and a war chest and a new stadium and commitment from Wenger. Effen gonna be fixed, folks.
Where have we not improved??? In a few short months! We bounced back and took over second after crashing out of the CL. We’re in it for the FA Cup and the oddsmakers will have us to win it.
All with the kids, a couple of LOYAL workhorses, and the greatest player and manager on the planet.
Anyone can armchair manage us to death, or any team for that matter. But for me, the courage is in the positive. To that end, the future is friggin’ BLINDING.
April 22nd, 2005 at 9:39 am
Wenger’s quote on Chelsea was just the plain old truth, and went down easy mixed in with his congratulations. He said they were worthy champions, shook the hand of that tapping up arsehole, and said that “on the field” they were deserving. Then he said that they should have won it. They were close last season and went and bought (drum roll, please) 11 players. 11 players. That’s another whole side for those keeping score at home.
Props to their lads, but their title is phoney and, with the off-field tactics, suspect. I know we’re not supposed to “make excuses” but if we’re going to beat him up for his “failures” then we’re talking about the competition, right?
And I think Wenger has learned a few more things this season by his carefully chosen words. Not to mention the fact that he always comes out after games to talk to the media, where as the other “giants” send minions to do their bidding.
Now, I ask you, which manager, outside of guilty entertainment value, is good for this game?
April 22nd, 2005 at 9:44 am
SachinG, although I agree with what u said, in reality though, it’s difficult to prevent the negative transfer news. It’s part and parcel of the game, and it doesn’t apply on us only.
Take the recent Rio Ferdinand saga as an example, as soon as the news leaked out that he had been seen talking to Chelsea, almost immediately Rio asked for a pay rise. Sound awfully familiar doesn’t it?
A lot of times, those players who threaten to leave or not signing a new contract not really made up their mind to leave, they are simply looking for more money from their current club whenever the opportunity arises.
Can we call those players greedy? I guess we can, yet on second thought, “greed” is just part and parcel of the human race. If someone offer me a salary doubled to the amount I’m currently earning, hell I’m going to jump ship, in all honestly, no matter how great a working relationship i’m having with my current company. Therefore I dare not to cast the rock on the players who threaten to leave, ‘cos I guess i’m as sinful as them.
When i was a kid, i thought every Arsenal player love the club, just as much as I did. Now I grew up, I would still love to believe it that way. But I am no longer sure whether they really do.
Anyway, the bottom line is - as long as they are playing with us, and do the job on the pitch, I can live with that.
April 22nd, 2005 at 1:18 pm
All the negative transfer stuff does get tiresome, and most of it, as has been said above, is just about filling space in newspapers. What you’ve really got to ask yourself is how many players have Arsenal sold under Wenger that he has wanted to keep.
By my calculations there is only one player who has gone who we were desperate to hold onto and that was Nicoals Anelka. Unfortunately that set an agenda for the tabloids, but it also highlights the fact that the club has some very good players.
But the facts of the matter are that since we ‘lost’ Anelka, (although we didn’t exactly do badly out of that deal) we’ve only offloaded players we felt were surplus to requirements.
Manu Petit and Marc Overmars went to Barca for big money when they were still hot property but they hardly set the Nou Camp on fire and we brought in Pires and Wiltord.
I am resigned to us losing Edu, but if being absolutely honest where would he stand in the pecking order after Vieira and Gilberto, behind or infront of Cesc? And Flamini has proved he has got what it takes too.
Most peolple will say what about Vieira/Reyes/Cole but I’m pretty sure that Vieira is staying the course, and I believe Wenger when he says that Ash will stay. As for Reyes, well he’s either the most misquoted player on the planet or he’s got a serious case of homesickness and if it’s the latter the best thing to do would be to sell him and use the cash to buy someone else. The main thing with Reyes is that his reputation in his country is still high enough for us to at least recoup the transfer outlay.
I fully expect Arsenal to spend big this summer and on just two or three players. I think a keeper is coming in and I think a top class striker will be bought too, you can take your pick for a midfielder or defender but personally I’d go for a midfielder. Defence looks sorted to me :Cole/Clichey at left back Sol/Senderos/Toure at centre back Lauren/Eboue at right back and with Justin Hoyte and Johan Djourou bubbling underneath there is plenty of cover.
April 22nd, 2005 at 1:56 pm
Yes, the defence now looks a lot stronger than at the beginning of the season. Toure can play right back if necessary and, if we’re really in difficulties, Gilberto is a competent centre half. Assuming Djourou is almost ready for the first team by late in the season, we should be OK.
April 22nd, 2005 at 2:52 pm
I really like the way the defence looks right now, youth, pace and real strength in the air.
If he does go for a midfielder I’d like it to be someone who isn’t afraid to have a few shots from outside the area, Edu started to shows signs of getting the taste for it but alas he seems destined for other pastures. That is something the team has lacked for a while.