A whole host of big names and high transfer fees does not always make the best team. Ole has no excuse to not make a proper title challenge this season though

Hi Rich,

He looked slow and ponderous to me and made some unchararteristic mistakes. Whether he just wasn't fully fit, fully switched on or injuries have deprived him of that yard of pace I don't know.

I'd rather roll the dice on a proven player who may become a flop than buy on the cheap and hope that player can step up a level or two.

Yes, Chelsea, City and United have been trying that bold method for some time now. If the other clubs were cleverer, they'd realise that buying expensive proven players is the best way to go.

Newspapers in Spain suggesting Ødegaard wants to leave and join Arsenal.

Would be a very good signing.

I would be thrilled with that, if it happens. I feel much of the lack of enthusiasm about him here last season was more than a bit unfair.

I would be thrilled with that, if it happens. I feel much of the lack of enthusiasm about him here last season was more than a bit unfair.

I'd be happy to have Ødegaard back at the right price. For me that price is closer to £35m than £50m Madrid were rumoured to want.
My reservations about Ødegaard are only based on 6 months with us but they are: lack of pace and lack of goals and a little bit lack of mobility and dyanmism.
I have no concerns about his technical quality and passing and movement and general linking of our attacking play but I do see him more like a classic 10 when I think the game in general is moving away from that type of player unless they score a LOT of goals (like Bruno for Man U)
Having said that I don't think there are many of this type of player I describe available on the market, so if you can get a22 year old with huge potential for a good price then we should go for it.

I think you’re a bit deal more inclined to believe transfer gossip than me. Both in terms of the players we’re interested in and the transfer fees.

I don’t think it’s spurious gossip to suggest we would be interested in Ødegaard, Arteta said as much.

The player is at a crossroads too, 2 years on his contract

I think you’re a bit deal more inclined to believe transfer gossip than me. Both in terms of the players we’re interested in and the transfer fees.

Sometime between now and the next 24 hours, the forum may become unavailable.

I'll have to see what happens to it to see what action needs taking.

Sometime between now and the next 24 hours, the forum may become unavailable.

I'll have to see what happens to it to see what action needs taking.

Perhaps when it returns we will have bought White and Ødegaard.

I'd be very pleased if we signed Ødegaard. Madrid are desperate for funds so perhaps this rumour is more feasable than signing Locatelli.

Good grief!

Is that Tavares?

Edit: quick google my second guess Miguel Azeez with a haircut???

Bodes well for a young midfielder looking for minutes that he looks physically prepared for men’s football. If this is Miguel...

Good spot. It is Azeez. Legs of oak.

Made me laugh. What an unfortunate bit of ‘management’ by Rooney. http://www.skysports.com/share/12365188

Is that Tavares?

Edit: quick google my second guess Miguel Azeez with a haircut???

Bodes well for a young midfielder looking for minutes that he looks physically prepared for men’s football. If this is Miguel...

Looks more like Gabriel Magalhaes.

Really?

but there are certain pieces of information from certain journalists that I wouldn't class as 'gossip'.

If you mean Ornstein as one of them, I’ve explained here that some years ago I went to an AST where he was the guest speaker. Ornstein was introduced in glowing terms with regards the accuracy of what he said. The following day I did some research on this and found many reports showing what he had said was hopelessly wrong. The examples weren’t few and far between. Really they weren’t.

From what I’ve seen of Ornstein his speciality seems to be getting things right the day they actually happen. Any earlier than that and I’m less convinced.

The only way someone like Martinez comes is if he is sold a project that is incredibly persuasive.

Agreed with regards to how much they've spent, but it would take a monumental managerial effort from Ole to get a title challenge out of his squad. That team has flaws all over; even if Varane turns out to be a success they've a weak goalkeeper and a terrible central midfield. Lots of attacking quality, but it's very difficult to see them compete with City and Liverpool.

There are rumours Chelsea and Man City are in for him, and if that's true we don't have a chance I'd assume. But in general, I think people tend to underestimate just how big a draw the Premier League is. CL football is a draw too obviously, but Arsenal are still considered a big club. We managed to sign Partey after finishing 8th in the league, and he was a starter for an Atletico Madrid side that have challenged for, and won, big titles in recent seasons.

We keep being linked with very good players, the latest in a long line being Lautaro Martinez from Inter.

Obviously the Martinez one is unlikely given our lack of CL football but I just wonder if there is something else going on, in that the Kroenkes are prepared to do something big this summer.

The only way someone like Martinez comes is if he is sold a project that is incredibly persuasive.

One thing we do have going for us is that some of the usual suspects who bid for these kind of players are out of the running due to financial pressures. Madrid, Barca, the italian clubs, maybe even Bayern are unable or unwilling to spend big. I even read that Liverpool are not going to be signing any more players this summer, though I take that with a pinch of salt.

This may be a real opportunity for clubs who do have money to get players they might normally face too much competition for.