Pathetic

You could argue that with Uniteds finances that spending £15m-£20m is a ''modest'' transfer fee for them,

In the same way that £8m-£12m is a ''modest'' transfer fee for us.

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not really, 20 million is a lot for a player, regardless of who you are, sometimes a bidding war starts and you have to spend that little bit extra.

its swings and roundabouts, whereas we have a larger income, we also have a larger expenditure.

You could argue that with Uniteds finances that spending £15m-£20m is a ''modest'' transfer fee for them,

In the same way that £8m-£12m is a ''modest'' transfer fee for us.

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Would agree with that. That may change for us, seeing the 8-12m would be instilled in our heads from highbury days. Emirates may help AFC reach the MUFC figures, seeing United have had a 60k stadium for yonks, and all their fans benefit from London Weighting in their wage packet as well.

Appreciate it will most likey be a quiet season as he settles, but still, we have signed him early so he has the summer to settle.
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I suggested a few weeks ago when we confirmed Giroud that I believe a very realistic scenario is that we will keep RVP for the final year of his contract and sign Llorente on a pre-contract. Llorente is in exactly the same contract situation as RVP, just that he is a little younger.

That way Llorente will not be expected to perform immediately because Giruoud would be used to the league by then. It will also be easier to have a final go at RVP because of his age. There will be fewer takers next year.

However you cannot trust the frugality of the board and they may just take the money for RVP irrespective of the offer. In which case I hope we can do better than Giroud.

It doesn't matter that Giroud will half a pre-season. Wiltord did nothing in the league for years. And Henry had Dennis Bergkamp and a very successful team when he joined. Our only backup is Chamakh. Sorry but I will join the doom sayers if Giuroud is anything more than a backup.

Jenius99 (U4918)

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well depends, if RVP injures himself, Giroud will have to step up. I think Chamakh and Bendtner will be gone this summer, as will Vela. Remember Joel Campbell is back at AFC this summer, he will prob be out on loan again, hopefully in the EPL. But I have high hopes for this kid too.

Anyways, I think we digress.

Lowrento, original OP, cheer up lad, we are the mighty Arsenal, we have seen many trophies under wenger, including the mighty invinsible season. It would be worse we could be at WHL waiting for a league title since 1961-or was it 1962. Surely at 50 years you would lose all hope?

I predict trophies. I see them very soon.

COME ON YOU GOONERS

Gonz

RVP injures himself, Giroud will have to step up.
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Absolutely. Even Chamakh did that very well after the world cup. Being a fill-in is very different to be being the main man at a very high pressure club.

Essentially the belief required in front of 60k supporters every week under intense pressure is very different to someone who knows he is backup. And the supporters know he is a backup.

Liverpool spent huge money Carroll and Suarez to replace Torres. However in goal scoring terms, they were both flops because they couldn't carry that pressure. They weren't names and didn't have experience of that type of environment.

Thats why I talk of players like Higuain or Llorente. Because although those players are partly reclamation projects or a need to make slight step up in class (llorente), they have experience of International football in high profile situations, come from top class, high pressure club league environments with some success in Europe. The French league, like the Dutch league is poor and requires a massive step up that needs a season of adjustment.

Hi All,

The elephant in the room here is that at least 2 shareholders of Arsenal PLC are billionaires.

Billionaires.

I am of the opinion that a chairman should be a fan of the club he/she chairs. If Stan or Alex are true fans then they would dip into there vast vast wealth and pay RVP the 200k a week OR spend the 30 mil on Mata (last season).

If Usmanov wants to find favor with the arsenal faithful then go and PAY THE MONEY for the players Arsene wants

it is folly to say the money is not in the club.

Im not advocating a sugar daddy scenario but something like when DD paid the money for Bergkamp just to get the dam deal done.

I miss DD.

I think we'll get somewhere in the region of £37-£42m for Modric.

He actually had a decent season for us - the whole team collapsed after Jan so not getting 3rd is not down to him imo.

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Tabloids saying Transfer request immenent and only 30mill, I cant see spurs getting more then that as I predicted.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4398686/Luka-Modric-sparks-30m-bidding-war-by-vowing-to-quit-Spurs.html