Puts into perspective Guendouzi at £7m then.

https://metro.co.uk/2019/02/05/matteo-g ... n-8444192/

Right back is a major problem area for us, we simply have no cover for Bellerin.

The fact that we are paying 120k a week combined for both reserve right backs who aren’t good enough to play sums up the situation. I’m really not sure you can blame Emery for this. He’s one of 2 decent defenders we have in our whole squad

As soon as Hector got injured I knew we had a problem and I think it’s affecting us more than any other issue.

The defence wasn't fine before the injuries, its been shite all season. I've lost count of the gilt-edged chances we've gifted the opposition, even during the unbeaten run. We were/are playing a high line and teams were/are able to get in behind us at will. The difference in that period was that opponents weren't taking the chances whilst we had an extremely high chance conversion rate. It was only a matter of time before some of those chances began to be taken by teams and our chance conversion rate dipped a little.

If we are looking to raise some money a la Liverpool and Countinho then perhaps Guendouzi might just provide the answer. It can't be too long before the big boys start sniffing around.

Sorry I’ll rephrase the defence was “adequate” considering the personnel we have not fine.

You and I both know any manager losing his right back would struggle. City deliberately targeted that flank on Sunday. Holding and Sokratis are also missed and it also doesn’t help the full backs that we don’t have any pacy natural wingers which mean opposing full backs and wingers can pile forward without being worried they could get caught out.

Let’s be honest the whole thing is a major piss hard boner that we can’t shake off but I’m not convinced any success can be driven by ANY manager with the combination of injuries and lack of personnel we have in defence

You have to include Mustafi as a player that improved too, until his injury. He's been poor since, but was part of the defence that you describe as fine until the injuries hit.

People are being too negative about Emery in my view. A number of existing players improved under him, I forgot to mention Iwobi who started well also despite falling away, and his new players have mostly done well (Guendouzi and Torreira way better than 'well'). Lichsteiner has been the exception, but was free, 34 and a one year fill in. What did people expect? He won't be an Arsenal player next season.

My main criticism of Emery has been deciding to play five at the back when four worked better. Yet he was left an unbalanced squad with various ordinary players with little money. Do people expect miracles? Özil was put on a huge contract before Emery arrived. Maybe he could have used him better, but he clearly doesn't fancy him. I think Emery has done more good than bad. He raised team spirit.

But the main problems were there before he arrived. If Kroenke isn't going to fund big money transfers, improviing things to the extent we want isn't going to happen overnight. People should be realistic. Sorting out Wenger's mess without big money isn't just a big job, it's a long job.

Maybe but he deserves until the end of next season surely. It’s only really the summer when transfers are properly conducted and this summer he will have seen his players for a full season and what they are about. He really hasnt been able to influence a window since he joined that he could make recommendations as those signings were probably identified by Mislintat without his influence.

If Özil goes I think we need a minimum of 5 players in before we can realistically challenge the top 4


New right back to offer competition to Bellerin
New dominant centre half
New left back ( although I think the club will stick with what we have)
New central attacking midfielder (to replace Özil and Ramsey)
New left winger

With additional players needed that would probably need to wait

New right sided attacker
New back up centre forward to replace Welbeck.....

We are just missing way too much to realistically get mad because we are not breaching the top 4

The only hope I have is that if we could somehow sell Özil and Mustafi for 20 million each and maybe say Elneny for 10 we might be able to cobble together a budget of 100 million to bring in some of the players we so desperately need. Signing all 5 would be a stretch but you possibly could get 3 or 4

Someone was suggesting yesterday that all the press about our 40 million budget might have deliberately leaked by the club to prepare fans understanding that the club will sell one of the strikers in the summer to generate funds to improve the whole team.

Not sure I believe this as it would be an act of unparalleled stupidity

Hi Soc.

I think that's partly true but also a little unfair as injuries have not allowed us to play a settled back line for any length of time. Understandings take a while to develop and flourish and the signs were quite positive with Sokratis and Holding. Bellerin has clearly improved too. However, I feel Mustafi is the real weak link in the CB dept. He may be less bad for some games, but he is not the top class defender I hoped he was. I would play Holding over him any day of the week when fit and for me Kos & Sokratis are better suited to us too. We should definitely offload in the summer.

First summer signing?

https://www.onlinegooner.com/articles/view/4708

If you haven't listened to yesterdays bonus Arseblog Arsecast with David Ornstein, you really should. Gives an insight into what went on in January, the Mislintat situation, our finances etc. Well worth listening to.

Yep - listened this morning, it's very good. Ornstein reckons our summer budget is closer to £100m rather than £40m

Chambers should probably go depending on the amount we can get - £20m? He's getting decent reviews at Fulham in a holding mid position, I'm just not convinced he's good enough for us. He would be useful right now to be able to cover RB and CB mind!

We didn't add Mavropanos to our Europa squad so we only have Sokratis, Kos, Mustafi as CBs for the rest of the Europa league campaign.

I read that Rich and was bemused as to why he was not included given the lack of quality and injuries we have in that area. There was talk a few weeks ago about how highly he was regarded but clearly not high enough to merit a place in the Europa squad, a competition which we need to have a right go at.

Another one of a number of baffling decisions from those in charge at the club.

I've got relatives who support Fulham. Apparently he was a disaster in central defence. They've been terrible at the back this season and they say it was down to Chambers as much as anyone. If anybody thinks Mustafi is bad, count yourself lucky we haven't had Chambers instead. Having said that, he's been better in midfield.

Is Medley in it?

It isn't unrealistic to expect an improvement. That, after all, was the whole point of getting rid of Wenger. I thought our defending would improve. It hasn't. There was more grit about the team for a while but that seems to have disappeared. We have consistently put in totally ineffective first half performances. Why is that? I really hope things improve and Emery deserves another summer transfer window to change things. I'm not particularly confident that he will get things right. He seems to be a very conservative coach and hasn't managed to forge a cohesive attacking unit despite having some excellent creative players.

We’ve only got 7 players good enough in our entire squad when all fit and at the moment 3 of them are injured. Emery isn’t beyond criticism and has got some things wrong without question but to fail to see that he’s screwed right now is just so harsh.

On the creative front Ramsey wasn’t his issue and hasn’t provided many impressive games this year likely because he’s leaving and Özil aside I see few excellent creative players you seem to.

Were 5 points better off to where we were last year at this time with many difficult games played. No matter what anybody says we are improved this year

Cardiff city have gone public with the information that Nantes are asking them for payment for Sala which they are obviously entitled to.

Just when you thought football couldn’t get any lower

Love it when you or anyone posts their disdain but doesn't state what side they are coming down on?

Imo Nantes have a right to demand the money as soon as he put pen to paper and the club's agreed he became a Cardiff player. They should have insured him and made sure his transport was safe.

It is a shame they are arguing over such an issue but the matter has to be settled one way or another.

No I agree totally. Cardiff leaked the information to bbc wales. Totally inappropriate

Nantes are 15th in lique 1, of course they want payment he wasnt their player anymore.

He said including wages.

He's the clubs mouthpiece so the £100M is just spin - it's £45M + wages which is NOT £100M to spend on players in transfer fees!.

No doubt when things turn sour people will turn on Emery or Sanllehi, not the real problem which is and has always been Silent Stan.

And so the 'Wenger out' cycle continues as Arsenal slide further towards mediocrity. Our fans are too gullible.

Agree with both of you. Nantes have every right to ask for the money and Cardiff should pay it. I will actually find it embarrassing for Cardiff if they try and get out of paying via a legal dispute, unless of course there's some background information we're not aware of.

Of course it is tragic the player died, but Cardiff had already signed him and apparently the transfer fee wasn't linked to him playing a certain number of games. I fail to see any reason why Cardiff shouldn't pay the transfer fee they agreed with Nantes.

I think the side called Humanity is relevant here. Just think of the families and friends of the two men in that plane. Money and football - a combination that never ceases to degrade.

We’re the only side to not keep an away clean sheet. Won’t get a better chance than v Huddersfield.

No chance

Well Mustafi is doubtful. So there's hope.

Surely in this tragic situation UEFA or FIFA should step in and cover whatever costs have been incurred to the clubs. Both organisations awash with money so they could any arguments about monies owing/owed to bed immediately and saves the families of the victims additional grief.

Cardiff will have insurance anyway. It’s all irrelevant and classless by Cardiff.

I don't get that at all. Why should they, whether UEFA & FIFA are awash with money or not?

Listening to Emery reminds me of the old sketch where Eric Morecambe says “I am playing all the right notes. But not necessarily in the right order”.

I recognise each of Unai’s words but at the end of each sentence I’m left thinking “what did he just say?”.

His latest interview on Sky Sports is a great example of this.

https://www.skysports.com/football/news ... y-day-woes

Gesture of goodwill? Show that UEFA and FIFA have a heart after years of stories of corruption and lies?

Just my opinion Bernard.

Cardiff city are contractually obliged to pay Nantes 15 million quid. It has nothing to do with fifa or anyone else.

Try telling your mortgage company things were tight over Christmas so you will be missing this months payment and see how far you get.

Fair enough. I stand corrected.

Mind you I might try that line with HSBC and see what the response is.

He seems a decent enough bloke, and I suppose should be judged on his football management abilities, but it has to be said he is a communications disaster area. When you think of the loquacity of Bertie Mee and Terry Neill; the dour clarity of Don Howe and George Graham; and the humour of Arsene Wenger, poor old Dick is way behind. I think even Ossie Ardiles was more understandable.

The clubs should be able to sort it out themselves, but in a desperate time for both families, a bit of button-lip from them both wouldn't hurt. After all, there will still be a thing called money in a few weeks time - it won't go out of fashion.

I'm with you Old Man. It's all about timing and this is just crass from both of them at this moment in time.