Ferran Soriano & Txiki Begiristain

[MillionDollarDream]

So, who would you have suggested we go for as this "world class centre back"?

We obviously tried with Pepe, but fee &/or wages were considered too high. Who next?

I'm saying we should have signed a top quality centre back, and paid the necessary fee. That's my argument, because we needed one. If the two amigos are intending to point at a reduced wage bill at the end of the season, as some sort of achievement for which they deserve credit, then they better be pointing at some trophies at the same time. Any muppet can cut a wage bill and win fuck all. Ask Wenger. While your at it, ask him why he's just smashed his clubs transfer record.

Desperation is why Wenger smashed his clubs transfer record.

Are you suggesting we take that route?

Not only desperation but he can't even name a world class defender who is ok with being rotated out during a World Cup year. Ozil wasn't bought to sit on the bench for cover. Only on FIFA can you just "pay the fee" and not worry bout anything else until much later.

 

[Shaelumstash]

I completely agree with De Niro. I think the one thing you can say about our transfer business is that the squad looks more balanced now, certainly the addition of Navas and Fernandinho add characteristics the squad was missing.

To call our business "Top draw" is extremely premature though. We're 3 games in, let's wait and see how they turn out. While the balance of the squad may be better now, the talent is in my opinion some way short of our title winning season. We've lost Balotelli, Tevez, De Jong and Barry, replaced them with Jovetic, Negredo, Garcia and Fernandinho. All of them, with the possible exception of Fernandinho are without question a step down in talent.

Fernandinho > Barry
Rodwell > Barry
Navas > Milner

Jovetic I personally think for our squad is a much better player than Balotelli. In the sense that we needed a wide left forward which he isn't, and Jovetic is.

Negredo may not have the technical ability that Tevez had but do you want to bet against him scoring more goals this season than Tevez did in the last two ?

Like I say, top drawer business. When the season ends we can revisit this no problem.

Which kind of backs up my point. Joevetic offers more balance to the squad than Balotelli. But he's not as talented a player. Same for Negredo and Tevez, Garcia and De Jong.

Negredo may score more than Tevez did last season, but is he capable of dominating games and dictating play like Tevez? No. Is he capable of dragging us through games on his own when the rest of the team are underperforming? I'm not sure. Jovetic is better suited on the left, but is he capable of leading the line on his own and being MOTM in FA Cup semi's and finals, and terrifying the shite in their own back yard? It remains to be seen.

The shite have perhaps not had the best squad talent wise over the last few years. They have probably had the best balance though, and it has proven successful for them. It remains to be seen whether it will work for us. Obviously I really hope it does.

I remember before the start of the 11/12 season being extremely confident we would win the league, because we had miles better players than our rivals. I can't really say the same this year. I genuinely think we are capable of finishing anywhere between 1st and 6th. I'm not exaggerating saying that. If we play like we did against Newcastle, we'll walk the league. If we play like we did against Hull, we'll struggle to get top 4.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

I'm saying we should have signed a top quality centre back, and paid the necessary fee. That's my argument, because we needed one. If the two amigos are intending to point at a reduced wage bill at the end of the season, as some sort of achievement for which they deserve credit, then they better be pointing at some trophies at the same time. Any muppet can cut a wage bill and win fuck all. Ask Wenger. While your at it, ask him why he's just smashed his clubs transfer record.

Desperation is why Wenger smashed his clubs transfer record.

Are you suggesting we take that route?

Not only desperation but he can't even name a world class defender who is ok with being rotated out during a World Cup year. Ozil wasn't bought to sit on the bench for cover. Only on FIFA can you just "pay the fee" and not worry bout anything else until much later.

Terrible player that Ozil. What an obvious desperation buy. Has he ever played for anyone decent?

 

[SWP's back]

Because the world class centre back that we do have is starting to pick up a lot of injuries and would benefit from having another top quality centre half at the club so that he can be rested and isn't missed quite so badly when he's injured, and our up and coming centre back is inexperienced and isn't (yet) good enough to cope without a top quality centre back alongside him. This means we're fine when Vinny's fit, but vulnerable when he's not. Is this fine with everybody else?

So, who would you have suggested we go for as this "world class centre back"?

We obviously tried with Pepe, but fee &/or wages were considered too high. Who next?

I'm saying we should have signed a top quality centre back, and paid the necessary fee. That's my argument, because we needed one. If the two amigos are intending to point at a reduced wage bill at the end of the season, as some sort of achievement for which they deserve credit, then they better be pointing at some trophies at the same time. Any muppet can cut a wage bill and win fuck all. Ask Wenger. While your at it, ask him why he's just smashed his clubs transfer record.

You've really not thought this through have you.

 

[Bluemoon115]

Desperation is why Wenger smashed his clubs transfer record.

Are you suggesting we take that route?

Not only desperation but he can't even name a world class defender who is ok with being rotated out during a World Cup year. Ozil wasn't bought to sit on the bench for cover. Only on FIFA can you just "pay the fee" and not worry bout anything else until much later.

Terrible player that Ozil. What an obvious desperation buy. Has he ever played for anyone decent?

Great player, no doubt.

But the world and his wife could see that they key areas they needed to strengthen were holding midfield, and up top. Ozil isn't the kind of player that they needed. It was very much like us signing Robinho, great talent without question, but the money could have gone to much better use.

 

[BoyBlue_1985]

Desperation is why Wenger smashed his clubs transfer record.

Are you suggesting we take that route?

Not only desperation but he can't even name a world class defender who is ok with being rotated out during a World Cup year. Ozil wasn't bought to sit on the bench for cover. Only on FIFA can you just "pay the fee" and not worry bout anything else until much later.

Terrible player that Ozil. What an obvious desperation buy. Has he ever played for anyone decent?

Well it is a desperation buy despite how great he is. they brought a world class player in a posistion they are already very well stocked in. Ignoring the fact they needed a goalie, defender, RB, DM and possibly another striker and buying another attacking midfielder shows he spent big money to appease fans while neglecting the actual squad

 

[PragueBlue]

I'm saying we should have signed a top quality centre back, and paid the necessary fee. That's my argument, because we needed one. If the two amigos are intending to point at a reduced wage bill at the end of the season, as some sort of achievement for which they deserve credit, then they better be pointing at some trophies at the same time. Any muppet can cut a wage bill and win fuck all. Ask Wenger. While your at it, ask him why he's just smashed his clubs transfer record.

Desperation is why Wenger smashed his clubs transfer record.

Are you suggesting we take that route?

Not only desperation but he can't even name a world class defender who is ok with being rotated out during a World Cup year. Ozil wasn't bought to sit on the bench for cover. Only on FIFA can you just "pay the fee" and not worry bout anything else until much later.

If he was a truly world class defender, why would he be rotated much, if at all? He would surely be first choice.

 

[BluessinceHydeRoad]

I have to say that one of the most persuasive arguments in favour of them is what happened to United in the transfer window. Articles in the press this morning claim that it all results from Moyes having too little time to prepare for the window, not taking up the post at OT until July 1. This raises a lot of questions about many of the irrational, and clearly incompetent, things United did long after that date, and the argument put forward today as well that they actually secured all of their targets this window (!!!), but it also ignores City's experience in the window. Pellegrini was appointed long after Moyes knew he'd got the job - United were actually praised for acting decisively to prevent a messy takeover and ensure a seamless transition - and suffered the loss of his mother which obviously disrupted his early days at the club. But as we know, two players were already signed, with his agreement, and the others arrived quickly, with the exception of Dimichealis. I notice Comolli has said United would benefit from a Do F, but this has been treated with contempt by those who remember his days at Anfield! What the window may well show is that City have benefited enormously from having as good a one as Txiki!

 

[Tim of the Oak]

Not only desperation but he can't even name a world class defender who is ok with being rotated out during a World Cup year. Ozil wasn't bought to sit on the bench for cover. Only on FIFA can you just "pay the fee" and not worry bout anything else until much later.

Terrible player that Ozil. What an obvious desperation buy. Has he ever played for anyone decent?

Well it is a desperation buy despite how great he is. they brought a world class player in a posistion they are already very well stocked in. Ignoring the fact they needed a goalie, defender, RB, DM and possibly another striker and buying another attacking midfielder shows he spent big money to appease fans while neglecting the actual squad

Good point although I would add that Arsenal's attacking midfield faced problems similar to our own defence which a combination of injury prone players like Rosicky, Arteta and Wilshire occupying key positions on the pitch. It is easier if you have one fit world
Class Player who you can rely on to play virtually every week.

 

[SWP's back]

Desperation is why Wenger smashed his clubs transfer record.

Are you suggesting we take that route?

Not only desperation but he can't even name a world class defender who is ok with being rotated out during a World Cup year. Ozil wasn't bought to sit on the bench for cover. Only on FIFA can you just "pay the fee" and not worry bout anything else until much later.

If he was a truly world class defender, why would he be rotated much, if at all? He would surely be first choice.

But that is not what hgblue wanted. He wanted a world class defender to step in when Kompany wasn't fit. We all agree that Nastasic if the player for left CB.