Deal or no deal? - Summer 2022 Transfer gossip!

[BWFC_Insane]

“Style of play a massive attraction”

Bloody sideways passing and messing about. Reminds me of that Arsenal team we used to occasionally get a decent result against, but who also went an entire season undefeated. Useless bastards.

The undefeated team was not a team of small technical players. It was a powerful and strong team who mixed up their play. It was after that Wenger lost his way entirely.

I don’t think many people care about style so long as what we do is effective. Playing a way that isn’t effective is when questions get asked.

[The_Gun]

Sounds like Beck is pretty much a done deal. Never seen the lad play, but I like the sound of him. If we could also bring in a combative DM to compete with MJ I’d be very happy with our squad.

[Worthy4England]

“Style of play a massive attraction”

Bloody sideways passing and messing about. Reminds me of that Arsenal team we used to occasionally get a decent result against, but who also went an entire season undefeated. Useless bastards.

The undefeated team was not a team of small technical players. It was a powerful and strong team who mixed up their play. It was after that Wenger lost his way entirely.

I don’t think many people care about style so long as what we do is effective. Playing a way that isn’t effective is when questions get asked.

Yes - I don't recall the team that went unbeaten being much like the lightweight going nowhere fast versions that came later, either.

[GhostoftheBok]

Yes - I don't recall the team that went unbeaten being much like the lightweight going nowhere fast versions that came later, either.

Wenger's approach to the game didn't change a huge amount (that was part of the issue, in the end); Arsenal just couldn't compete for the top players. They still consistently finished in the top 4 and outperformed their spending playing that "going nowhere fast" football.

[BWFC_Insane]

Yes - I don't recall the team that went unbeaten being much like the lightweight going nowhere fast versions that came later, either.

Wenger's approach to the game didn't change a huge amount (that was part of the issue, in the end); Arsenal just couldn't compete for the top players. They still consistently finished in the top 4 and outperformed their spending playing that "going nowhere fast" football.

Wenger spent a lot of money on identikit small technical
players especially midfield ones. They did absolutely change how they played as he became obsessed with possession probably because they never had any punch. The team with Viera and Bergkamp etc that went unbeaten was still set up in a 4-4-2 majority of the time! Imagine that.

[GhostoftheBok]

Wenger spent a lot of money on identikit small technical
players especially midfield ones. They did absolutely change how they played as he became obsessed with possession probably because they never had any punch. The team with Viera and Bergkamp etc that went unbeaten was still set up in a 4-4-2 majority of the time! Imagine that.

Wenger's tactical approach was a reaction to what he could and couldn't do in the market. Arsenal were consistently beaten to the kinds of players you are talking about, but his approach kept them at the top end of the league consistently.

Likewise, Evatt has had to make compromises because of what he can get and what he can't get. We've steadily improved on that basis.

[GhostoftheBok]

Sounds like Beck is pretty much a done deal. Never seen the lad play, but I like the sound of him. If we could also bring in a combative DM to compete with MJ I’d be very happy with our squad.

I hope Beck is a done deal and yes, it'd be great to have a more dominant midfielder in who can maybe do more generally than MJ is able to.

However, there are a few things you'd imagine Evatt will want to fix and if we get any of them done we'll be a little bit better.

With so little left in the window I'll take any improvement we can make.

[BWFC_Insane]

Wenger spent a lot of money on identikit small technical
players especially midfield ones. They did absolutely change how they played as he became obsessed with possession probably because they never had any punch. The team with Viera and Bergkamp etc that went unbeaten was still set up in a 4-4-2 majority of the time! Imagine that.

Wenger's tactical approach was a reaction to what he could and couldn't do in the market. Arsenal were consistently beaten to the kinds of players you are talking about, but his approach kept them at the top end of the league consistently.

Likewise, Evatt has had to make compromises because of what he can get and what he can't get. We've steadily improved on that basis.

This is nonsense by the way. Arsenal spent more money on Ozil than Man City did on Fernandinho or Chelsea did on Matic. All the same summer. In the same summer Chelsea signed Kante from Leicester Arsenal spent more on both Xhaka and Mustafi. That’s not collectively more. Each player cost more than the best midfield player in the world.

Same summer spent more than double on Alexis Sanchez than Southampton got Mane for…

You can go on and on like this. But it completely blows apart the narrative that Arsenal couldn’t compete. Wenger just lost his way trying to play ineffective football and lost completely the qualities his invincibles side had. A powerful spine and two or three of the best strikers ever to grace the game. Not a bunch of technical midgets.

[GhostoftheBok]

This is nonsense by the way. Arsenal spent more money on Ozil than Man City did on Fernandinho or Chelsea did on Matic. All the same summer. In the same summer Chelsea signed Kante from Leicester Arsenal spent more on both Xhaka and Mustafi. That’s not collectively more. Each player cost more than the best midfield player in the world.

Same summer spent more than double on Alexis Sanchez than Southampton got Mane for…

You can go on and on like this. But it completely blows apart the narrative that Arsenal couldn’t compete. Wenger just lost his way trying to play ineffective football and lost completely the qualities his invincibles side had. A powerful spine and two or three of the best strikers ever to grace the game. Not a bunch of technical midgets.

Which of the players you listed are you arguing were going to Arsenal over the other clubs?

[BWFC_Insane]

Maters could be let on from Sunderland on loan. Have to be all over that surely? Every time I’ve seen him he’s been really good.

[Worthy4England]

Yes - I don't recall the team that went unbeaten being much like the lightweight going nowhere fast versions that came later, either.

Wenger's approach to the game didn't change a huge amount (that was part of the issue, in the end); Arsenal just couldn't compete for the top players. They still consistently finished in the top 4 and outperformed their spending playing that "going nowhere fast" football.

They were also a few times (not all the time) a lot nearer on points to the team that finished mid-table than the one that finished top. They weren't slightly off the top, they were better than mid-table. I picked 2005-6 to have a peek and see if this was bollocks, they managed to finish 11 points in front of us in 8th, and 24 points off Chelsea in 1st. They finished as far away from Chelsea as they were in front of Man City who were 15th...

Oh and they bleated like the whingiest fcukers you've every met, every fcuking week about how some teams (Bolton being one such) didn't allow them to play football the way they wanted to, "Football being played the right way". Well fcuk you Arsenal and pardon us. The right way is the one that gets us the points and not you. Please god don't let us become those whiny fcukers.

[BWFC_Insane]

This is nonsense by the way. Arsenal spent more money on Ozil than Man City did on Fernandinho or Chelsea did on Matic. All the same summer. In the same summer Chelsea signed Kante from Leicester Arsenal spent more on both Xhaka and Mustafi. That’s not collectively more. Each player cost more than the best midfield player in the world.

Same summer spent more than double on Alexis Sanchez than Southampton got Mane for…

You can go on and on like this. But it completely blows apart the narrative that Arsenal couldn’t compete. Wenger just lost his way trying to play ineffective football and lost completely the qualities his invincibles side had. A powerful spine and two or three of the best strikers ever to grace the game. Not a bunch of technical midgets.

Which of the players you listed are you arguing were going to Arsenal over the other clubs?

He was offered Kante but said no. I mean your argument that Arsenal spent fortunes on an identikit player but couldn’t possibly attract a robust midfield player or centre halves is ridiculous. Wenger spent his money on the same type time and time again that was down to him.

[brommers95]

Maters could be let on from Sunderland on loan. Have to be all over that surely? Every time I’ve seen him he’s been really good.

Would love it if Matete joined, would definitely improve the base of the midfield. Ipswich interested according to the Twittersphere, but I’d hope he’s someone we’d also be enquiring about.

[GhostoftheBok]

He was offered Kante but said no.

In 2010.

[GhostoftheBok]

Would love it if Matete joined, would definitely improve the base of the midfield. Ipswich interested according to the Twittersphere, but I’d hope he’s someone we’d also be enquiring about.

He'd improve us. You do wonder what he's paid at Sunderland, though.

[BWFC_Insane]

Maters could be let on from Sunderland on loan. Have to be all over that surely? Every time I’ve seen him he’s been really good.

Would love it if Matete joined, would definitely improve the base of the midfield. Ipswich interested according to the Twittersphere, but I’d hope he’s someone we’d also be enquiring about.

Bloody auto correct! But I agree he’s the identikit of what we need in midfield and would effect more turnovers and up our tempo. Him and the lad from Liverpool would represent good business and the two most problematic areas ticked off.

[BWFC_Insane]

Would love it if Matete joined, would definitely improve the base of the midfield. Ipswich interested according to the Twittersphere, but I’d hope he’s someone we’d also be enquiring about.

He'd improve us. You do wonder what he's paid at Sunderland, though.

Judging from what’s going on up there they are run on a shoestring. But a loan from Liverpool who will almost certainly subsidise wages for sake of development will be easier than Sunderland presumably trying to shed their wage bill rather than do favours.

[GhostoftheBok]

Judging from what’s going on up there they are run on a shoestring. But a loan from Liverpool who will almost certainly subsidise wages for sake of development will be easier than Sunderland presumably trying to shed their wage bill rather than do favours.

I think their shoestring is a bit fancier than our shoestring. Probably has brass aglets and everything.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Judging from what’s going on up there they are run on a shoestring. But a loan from Liverpool who will almost certainly subsidise wages for sake of development will be easier than Sunderland presumably trying to shed their wage bill rather than do favours.

True but because they've had to appoint a manager in a hurry, right before deadline day, they might just be glad to get any of his wage off the bill to give their new man room to recruit.

He also signed from Fleetwood, not PSG. Sunderland has been a basket-case club but I doubt they Seth Johnsoned him to a multimillion contract.

Perhaps interestingly he's in a local-press story among three players who might benefit from Neil leaving. Is there any rumour about him being available? Certainly there'll be some shakedown from the managerial change.

[BWFC_Insane]

Judging from what’s going on up there they are run on a shoestring. But a loan from Liverpool who will almost certainly subsidise wages for sake of development will be easier than Sunderland presumably trying to shed their wage bill rather than do favours.

True but because they've had to appoint a manager in a hurry, right before deadline day, they might just be glad to get any of his wage off the bill to give their new man room to recruit.

He also signed from Fleetwood, not PSG. Sunderland has been a basket-case club but I doubt they Seth Johnsoned him to a multimillion contract.

Perhaps interestingly he's in a local-press story among three players who might benefit from Neil leaving. Is there any rumour about him being available? Certainly there'll be some shakedown from the managerial change.

Some NE press sorts on twitter suggested he might be available on loan.