Everyone slated Moyes for not bringing in a CM this winter and fair enough but after seeing City having a mini-slump and Arsenal being Arsenal you have to wonder why so many clubs failed to act where it mattered this past window.
Arsenal will rarely have a better chance to win the league than they do this season and who did they go out and get? Kim fooking Kallstrom! It's almost like Wenger is wumming his own fans.
City are riding high and Fernandinho (their best player this season IMO) is out for a few weeks leaving Demichellis to play in midfield. That would be like us putting Rio (the 2014) version in CM. They'll probably struggle against Barca now where with some decent cover they might fare better. Their league challenge has taken a big hit too.
Newcastle are sinking like a stone after not investing in CM and even Liverpool who do look great at the moment are a couple of injuries in certain areas away from struggling.
I just don't understand why the winter window is so often overlooked by the clubs at the top who really need these players.
Chelsea look to be the big winners because of other managers inactivity.
Bizarre winter transfer window.
posted on 9/2/14
D'Jeezus
Do you not think that in the entire world of football there wasn't one or two players out there who would have strengthened you?
Look at Chelsea. They went and bought Matic and Salah and they look a great bet for the title while you guys went out and brought in a 31 year old guy who is not the answer.
I'm not wumming but this winter window Arsene threw away any chance he has of winning the title by arrogantly thinking he was fine.
There's a team called Southampton who play great football and who with the right offer would sell anyone of their players. I'm 99% sure that players like Schneiderlin or Lallana would have improved your team.
posted on 9/2/14
Arsenal would have collapsed even if they'd bought a striker.
posted on 9/2/14
Of course there are players who may have strengthened us, but were they getable? We tried to sign at least 3 different players and were unable to get them.
Southampton would not have sold either, and Lallana is not needed, we have players on the bench at least at his level. Schneiderlin also not needed as we have Flamini and Arteta. Cannot just stockpile players.
I personally feel we need better than Arteta and Flamini, but to go all out for Schneiderlin in January would have been futile.
posted on 9/2/14
D'Jeezus, are you sure you're not Wenger?
That's exactly the kind of reasoning that gets him into this mess season after season. But he's a hypocrite because he then goes out and buys Sanogo and Stepanovs etc.
If Arsenal want to win the league they needed a striker who is well versed in regularly scoring goals in the PL. Someone like Defoe (believe it or not) would have been perfect to come and take over the mantle from Giroud after he was spent. Bony at Swansea is scoring every week and in the big games.
Going back to Saints, look at Lambert. He was thought of as an Andy Carroll type player but thrives in a team who play decent football. The guy would have been a great short term option.
Would you rather have a great short term option or the lingering ghost of Bendtner?
posted on 9/2/14
Defoe, the striker who couldn't get games at Spurs and is retired to Canada?
Bony? So we got out and spend £20m odd on an average striker who we then have to replace in the summer and end up stuck with him for a few seasons before having to let him leave on a free.
posted on 9/2/14
Rob, I think it all comes back to melton's point about money. Arsenal are far more interested in value for money than spending on short term signings that may help win them trophies.
As an Arsenal fan I'm surprised you don't know this.
posted on 9/2/14
D'Jeezus.
Like as said above, value for money seems to be the buzzword at Arsenal these days. Well, every day.
Bony isn't an average striker. I doubt he's world class but he's certainly better than Bendtner, Sanogo, Gervinho, Chamakh or most of your strikers over the past few years. Right now i'd even say he was better than Giroud and certainly someone i'd want at the end of a chance than pretty boy.
Forget the CL as you (or United) won't win it. The PL is your main goal and you need PL players who get you goals. Bony would come in and score at least 10 goals for you which might have been the difference between a 2-2 draw at Saints or a 3-2 win. And later in the season his goals might have been the difference between 1 or 3 points on a few occasions.
Would Arsenal fans want to bring in a good but not world class striker and have a better chance of 1st or use the value for money thing and probably finish 3rd or 4th?
posted on 9/2/14
Darren
posted on 9/2/14
I would rather we continued to build and progress, not look for quick fixes that fill up our squad with players not good enough for where we want to be.
posted on 9/2/14
Not looking for quick fixed has been Arsenal's problem, in my opinion.
It all seems so idealistic and financially driven at Arsenal.
That said, it's not just Arsenal or United that have surprisingly failed to address areas of weakness in their squad in January.
I find it equally baffling that neither Bayern or Barca signed a defender in January.