Summer Transfers 2014

[Babb'sBurstNad]

Surprised at how many still think Henderson will be first-choice for us next season.

 

He's a very good player and has been important for us this season, sure, but we have to keep improving to stay at the top.  If you look at our first XI and think "which positions could we improve" the first one to come to my mind after the fullbacks is Henderson.  Doesn't mean he's rubbish - the days of "getting rid of the dead wood" are gone, thankfully.  

 

It just means that we can improve there.  Kovacic, Rakitic, Bender ... I don't know who it will be, but I'd be surprised if we didn't bring in a player to compete with Henderson with the idea of making him part of the squad.  He will still get plenty of minutes even so, with rotation and injuries, but I'd be surprised if he started 30 league games next season again.

If we got someone like Rakitic I could see us rotating far more, including Gerrard, Coutinho and our forwards. Henderson would still be one of the first names on the team sheet for me though.

 

He helps link everything together and fills the gaps between defence and attack. It's often not glamorous, but unless we buy the complete midfielder - which Rakitic isn't - Henderson will be needed.

[Phoenix]

A perfect player for us would have been Eriksen. Shame he's a fame seeking wage whore.

 

Enjoy London and all those trophies you Dutch cunt.*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*before anyone jumps in, I'm aware he's Danish.

 

 

We didnt want him did we? He was just a backup signing for Spurs aswell.

[polymerpunkah]

Walcott for me as well.

 

Nothing but a speedster to start, but he has developed his creativity/goal-scoring touch.

 

He was a big loss for the Arse this season.

[WhiskeyJar]

If I was getting one player from Arsenal, it'd be Walcott.

What about Santi?

[Jairzinho]

When I first saw him he was on the right but he wasn't playing like a normal winger, he was coming in side linking up playing through balls, playing very similarly to Raheem actually but he started off better and had more strength.

 

He has now got more powerful and is even playing in cm, he can do everything basically and can play anywhere in the midfield positions, if barkley is worth 50m then I don't know what value would be on chamberlain.

 

Yes, but he isn't.

[Lee909]

I take Walcott like a shot,not for the fee Arsenal would want though

[Babb'sBurstNad]

If we're in the realms of fantasy I'd sign Ramsey over Walcott.

[No2]

Henderson will play every week, he does the work of 2 men.

[Guest Numero Veinticinco]

What about Santi?

Nah, not for me. Prefer Walcott.

[Aldonose]

Walcott would've been a possibility if they'd have missed out on the top 4. Can't see it now.

[JermainePennant]

If we got someone like Rakitic I could see us rotating far more, including Gerrard, Coutinho and our forwards. Henderson would still be one of the first names on the team sheet for me though.

He helps link everything together and fills the gaps between defence and attack. It's often not glamorous, but unless we buy the complete midfielder - which Rakitic isn't - Henderson will be needed.

The thought of a midfield three of Gerrard, Allen, and Rakitic sounds excellent to me, our possession play would be a joy to watch.

 

Henderson would still have a big part to play over a long season but that three I mentioned could have us seeing death by football every week.

[Paulie Dangerously]

Nathaniel Clyne please

[Guest LFD]

The thought of a midfield three of Gerrard, Allen, and Rakitic sounds excellent to me, our possession play would be a joy to watch.

 

Henderson would still have a big part to play over a long season but that three I mentioned could have us seeing death by football every week.

 

Henderson has a pass completion ratio of 86.8% this season.

 

Allen's is 86.9%.  So there is basically no difference between the two.  Although Henderson has more energy, is better in the air, is more versatile and has a better passing range.  

 

So can we stop this bullshit that Allen keeps the ball better than Henderson.  Thanks!

[Guest Numero Veinticinco]

He does. 0.01%. Don't knock it. That's about three passes per season (no idea if that's true).

 

I'd say Allen actually does keep the ball a bit better than Hendo, in general, but it's because Henderson plays many more attacking passes. Allen had well over 90% at one point, but not because he's a better passer than Hendo.

 

I think they make good pairing. Good young players who can both get even better. Allen needs a breakthrough season on the way Hendo has just had.

[Red Banjo]

We didnt want him did we? He was just a backup signing for Spurs aswell.

 

Dunno, rumours suggest we wanted to talk - but he wanted the bright lights of London.

 

As for the back up bit... isn't that what we are talking about tho? We want to beef up the squad with quality.

[MLB]

Walcott would be great but his injury record is pretty bad isn't it? Chamberlain and Ramsey are both players I like a lot as well. I don't think any of them are feasible though, for obvious reasons.

[SoMuch4Gravity]

Dunno, rumours suggest we wanted to talk - but he wanted the bright lights of London.

 

As for the back up bit... isn't that what we are talking about tho? We want to beef up the squad with quality.

 

That's how I remember it. In his defense, not sure anyone thought we'd be where we are now. 

 

And that is what is so bitter sweet about this upcoming window. Everyone wants CL football, but hardly anyone wanted to help us secure it. Lamela could have been a Red, Eriksen too if they really wanted it. That's why for me, guys like Kolo, Alberto, (Edit: Mig's obviously) and even Aspas have a warm place in my heart. 

 

I suppose I'm just old fashioned in this view. 

[Etienne77]

What about this Lars Bender lad at Leverkusen. Arsenal offering 17 mil for him. Scored today.Is he any good?

[Major Tom]

We didnt want him did we?

 

No. The talk was we had him watched extensively but decided against him.

[Gym Beglin]

What about this Lars Bender lad at Leverkusen. Arsenal offering 17 mil for him. Scored today.Is he any good?

He's fine, a very good midfielder.

 

But collecting good players doesn't mean you're going to amass a good football team.

 

It would be interesting if it did happen, and at that point you'd have to look at the amount of a Germans in their squad and say it's a transfer strategy.

[Trucker Paddy]

The thought of a midfield three of Gerrard, Allen, and Rakitic sounds excellent to me, our possession play would be a joy to watch.

 

Henderson would still have a big part to play over a long season but that three I mentioned could have us seeing death by football every week.

Allen hasn't one single goal or assist in the league in 2 seasons with us, and you want to drop Henderson as he doesn't score 10 goals a season, ok so

[JermainePennant]

Allen hasn't one single goal or assist in the league in 2 seasons with us, and you want to drop Henderson as he doesn't score 10 goals a season, ok so

Allen is better in tight areas and under pressure on the ball then Henderson Imo, he can get up and down the pitch as well as Henderson and if we had rakitic he would be the main one out of the three that would be responsible for scoring and creating chances.

[Trucker Paddy]

Allen is better in tight areas and under pressure on the ball then Henderson Imo, he can get up and down the pitch as well as Henderson and if we had rakitic he would be the main one out of the three that would be responsible for scoring and creating chances.

2 years without a goal or assist in the league will always trump your hypothetical imaginary line up lad.

[Etienne77]

Henderson has had a fantastic season. Totally come on and proved a lot of doubters wrong, myself included.

Allen has done really well when he has come in so really all this shite about who is better than the other doesn't really matter. Brendan prefers Henderson at this time.

That is why we may win the league. Fucks sake did I just say that.

[Trucker Paddy]

Nathaniel Clyne please

Why? Flanaghan is better and he's not even that great.