Time flies, and summer break is approaching soon. With no major tournament looking forward to, it’s going to be a long, and football-hungry summer for me!
But at least there is one consolation - that you bet there will be plenty of transfer rumors flying around during the summer transfer window. Though most of them will be only pure rumors, I quite like it, ‘cos at least it sets our imagination free and wild! Ronaldo to partner Henry up front? Terry decides to be wear the number 6 at Highbury? Buffon wishes to have a new challenge at North London?!… Well, you know it wouldn’t be true, but won’t harm to dream about the prospect will it?! Besides, sometimes some of the transfer prospects are better to be left in the fantasy land. ‘Cos when we are dreaming about the prospect, nothing can go wrong. Yet in real life there is no guarantee things will work out just as fine as we imagined, even if the player is a new Maradona.
So here we go, I would like to know: if we put aside the fund restriction, and whether or not the transfer would harm our young guns development, or any other realistic factors, just pure IMAGINATION, to pick one player, who would you want to bring it to Arsenal?
My choice would be John Terry. Because I miss Tony Adams. And Terry is the closest thing to Tony I have seen so far. I remember watching Chelsea’s Barcelona Champions League tie the 2nd leg at Stamford Bridge. Just when I thought Barcelona were going to go through, Chelsea won a free kick in the later stage of the match. The camera, as usual, swinged to the center-half. I was thinking “oh man, here comes Terry…” and before you knew it, he rose and headed it home, again, and just when his team needed it most.
This was what Tony did so frequently during his 19 years with Arsenal - rising to the big moment in the big games. Like his match-winning goal against Spurs in 1993 FA Cup semi final, earning us a sweet sweet revenge.
Like Tony, Terry seems like a natural leader. And like Tony, he may not be the most talented central half around, but he got something even more crucial in my eyes - DETERMINATION, CONCENTRATION and CONSISTENCY. Rio Ferdinand maybe a more gifted player, but I will take John Terry anytime.
Lastly, and again, I’m talking about pure FANTASY here. I know we can’t afford him, and I also don’t want to hurt young Sendros’ development, and also, please don’t bring Wenger, Cole, Paddy, Reyes debates into it. It has NOTHING to do with them.
32 Responses to “Pure Fantasy - DREAM Signing”
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April 26th, 2005 at 2:18 pm
Valeri Bojinov
pace, power, natural finisher
April 26th, 2005 at 2:21 pm
Since we’re talking fantasy, Andez, I’d quite like for Wenger to bring my a** in. I could play for those crucial three minutes at the end of the game, target Gary Neville, and take my red for the red and white. Just pummel him.
But even in fantasy, I think we have to consider repercussions to our signings and how to make room for them. I like Terry, and I don’t know who would say they didn’t, but he might be quite a different player outside the Chelsea camp. He’s got a great keeper, a great soul teammate in Frank Lampard, and a lot of people around him to make him look good. But if we could convince Wenger to have Senderos block the keeper on a free kick, then maybe. ;^)
I see us needing backup for Freddie, as our right side is illin’. Shaun Wright Phillips is my man. He could add that extra there if we need him, and/or be a strike partner for Henry in much the same way.
April 26th, 2005 at 2:36 pm
Wouldn’t want Ronaldo in our team anyway but my dream player for us would be SAMUEL ETO’O.
Pace, Power, Skill, would fit into our 100mph team like a glove.
April 26th, 2005 at 2:39 pm
I’d go with sometihng more realistic (or maybe it isn’t) Andrea Pirlo….great long shot/free kick….and can really get the ball to the guys up front from deep in mid field….and it seems to me that is something the team is lacking at times….so it would be a great additiion.
April 26th, 2005 at 2:53 pm
Andez I have to agree, numerous times this year i’ve thought that Terry looked like the next coming of Adams( who was my favorite player ever). But if I had to pick one player it would be Adriano right now he just has the whole package(strength, speed, touch, finishing, vision etc…)
April 26th, 2005 at 2:54 pm
Steven Gerrard. We still don’t have enough attitude on this team for all our incredible skill. I’d pick a world class goalkeeper, but they don’t add much attitude across the length of the pitch.
April 26th, 2005 at 3:10 pm
SCotty, you could be our new CD the fans have been waiting for.
My own agent told me about an interest from various italian and spanish clubs but if Arsene wants me to add more experience to Arsenal’s attack, I would consider a move to north London.
Both my wife and his dog love London, and I would like to my career in England.
April 26th, 2005 at 3:11 pm
Pavel Nedved. End of story.
April 26th, 2005 at 3:20 pm
I cannot pick a dream signing. Arsenal need so much more. This is Wenger’s biggest season for buying. We can look at the team now and say we need 4 players. Goalkeeper, Central Defender, Right Midfield, Striker. Knowing Wenger, he will make the mistake of ignoring the Central Defence. So that means he will go for 3 players.
But then we’ve forgotten something, Reyes & Edu are as good as gone. Cole could be going too, and what about Bergkamp?
So in theory, he needs to buy 5 or 6 minimum. I read today he said he wants 1 or 2, but I don’t believe anything he says to the press. One thing is for certain, there will be a lot of change, and there needs to be a lot of change. Not only does the team need to balance its defcit of players, but it really does need fresh faces to give everyone a boost. Otherwise Arsenal will start the season in a negative frame of mind.
April 26th, 2005 at 3:37 pm
cesc fabregas!! oh we already have him
April 26th, 2005 at 4:08 pm
Andriy Shevchenko would be my first choice. On a more reasonable note I think David Trezeguet to partner with Henry makes sense. I also like Jermaine Defoe along with Wright-Phillips or of course Gerrard. I had heard some time ago rumors of Francesco Totti, that would also be interesting.
April 26th, 2005 at 4:09 pm
Oh man, I would love to play for Arsenal for free! And me too would want to be a central back, all I want just one minute before the end of the game, against Man U, and i would just go out there and kick the hell out of Van-Diver, and do a Martin Keown afterward!
April 26th, 2005 at 4:18 pm
Adriano. Toldo (or Dida).
And Zidane (he still has a good season or two left in him).
April 26th, 2005 at 4:51 pm
Get it touch Pat Rice.
YOU ARE THE TYPE OF PLAYER WE NEED.
April 26th, 2005 at 5:40 pm
Though my list is quite long, given Arsenal’s goalkeeping problems right now, I’d have to say I would either take Gordon Banks to the Fountain of Youth and then sign him, or I would raise Yev Lashin from the dead.
April 26th, 2005 at 5:42 pm
Hmmm, given that Reyes is probably on his way out, I think I would go for a striker that would fit in with the set-up, so I think I would go for Wayne Rooney.
He comes from behind the strikers very well which suits Henry out good. His ability to play from midfield positions would strike the fear of God into opponents having to mark him because, like Bergy does, he pulls the defenders out of position, but has the pace to blow by them as well.
Also, he has not peaked yet as far as potential goes.
April 26th, 2005 at 8:54 pm
If we could have anyone past or present, besides the OBVIOUS (DB10 circa 1990), Franz Beckenbauer or Johan Cruyff would be awesome. As for present, Ronaldinho & Henry would be great to see!
April 26th, 2005 at 10:29 pm
I’d have to say that Either Lampard or Gerrard would be great additions to the club. Either one of them would partner well with Vieira, and they both control the center of the pitch very well.
April 27th, 2005 at 1:04 am
Rafa of Liverpool said something today to answer why his team is not doing good in the prem league, also to why Chelsea is doing more than great. saying that Arsenal’s points shows that Arsenal is doing just great.
Well, Rafa said that Chelsea have a bigger ready squad… means that Liverpool can have 11 player that can play chelsea in a game like the CL. But playing 38 games, as we all know the EPL’s games are over crunched together with no winter break, it would be hard to play the same 11 all the time (injuries, fatigue, suspensions, …)
Arsenal have great 11, to be fair great 15-16. but when we have injuries we have to play subs that are not as great. Sandouros, Cesce, V Persie, Falmini, ? ( are great, those are part of the 15-16 great players).
But say the sub keeper ( Alumnia …I dunno about him), Cygan I don?t think he can be a first choice sub, I would use him as an Emergency sub not a rotating sub. In my opnion what we are looking for is a Rotate able team that can win every game without worrying of who is playing. For example, Chelsea’s Robbin was out most of the season, but Chlesea had a great sub for him and another ok sub for the sub ?
We don?t need big names, but we need good experienced player who are willing to rotate.
What I mean : our 5 strikers are good when AW rotate them. Keep the best 2 for the big games … Arsenal should be fine if AW lets say Ali and Reyes play against say Villa… the question : will they ?
Same for Defenders, we need CB to rotate, I think Arsenal need 4 good ones ( we have 3 … ) bring a sub player from a big club who accepts rotating …say Southgate
Not to refer this to the actual, in Fifa 2005, I have a full team of player that rotates …so the Fatigue points would not go over 60 … but I keep the best : Henry, Cole and those to the big games.
No need for big names like Gerard …we have the big names, we need the subs that we can depend on .. the EPL can be for us next year with adding only 3-4 with a budget that is not less that what AW have now.
Maybe we need English players for the CL ?
April 27th, 2005 at 7:31 am
faresk, EXCELLENT point!! can’t agree more with you here!
April 27th, 2005 at 8:23 am
Everything you say is 100% true, but you left out that he’s a fat, thick-headed, hag-shagging, bar-brawling, foul-mouthed, Shrek-looking, minotaur. I would set myself aflame in the middle of Avenell Road if he were ever to come to The AFC.
But your points are well-observed, sir. ;^I
April 27th, 2005 at 8:28 am
If we’re well up by that time and can afford two reds and two bans for life, once you get sent off, Andez, I’ll swoop in and execute the leg-scraping, coup de grace. Then, when I’m heading to the showers, I’ll rip Gary Neville’s arm off and slap Rooney, Keane and Fergie with it a la 3 stooges.
This is quite fun isn’t it? Sick and violent, but fun.
April 27th, 2005 at 10:14 am
How about a fantasy signing that could actually happen: Alexander Hleb
very creative, great pace, young - would fit well with Arsenal style of play
April 27th, 2005 at 10:27 am
u bet scotty! both of us would surely have our conduct being reviewed by FA’s video panel, remember we are playing for ARSENAL?! But I would announce my retirement of football right after the game, citing i want to spend more time with my family.. never would let them getting their fun to ban me for life!
April 27th, 2005 at 10:51 am
Smart move! And I didn’t think about the disgrace factor. Maybe, I’ll retire right before and come on the pitch later as the killer streaker.
April 27th, 2005 at 1:28 pm
I like Dida too but did you see he had an Almunia moment last night?
April 27th, 2005 at 3:51 pm
My dream signing would be myself to partner Henry… if nothing else to hear some people on this site complain I only get a goal every 4 games or so…
April 27th, 2005 at 4:40 pm
Oops, missed that one
Also, come to think of it, he probably does not get tested as much as Toldo because AC have a better defense than Inter.
April 27th, 2005 at 5:39 pm
Ditto!
April 28th, 2005 at 10:02 am
my dream signing would be Danny T as director of football, he could be our david pleat.
April 28th, 2005 at 10:06 pm
Unfotunately Wenger does not believe in squad rotation. He likes to play the same team irrespective of form & faitgue.
April 29th, 2005 at 6:06 pm
I’d love to see Xavi and Vieira in the middle, Iker Casillas in the Net.