Archive for June, 2007
June 12th, 2007
Probably not going after all, then. Last night, the new edition of France Football provoked cross-continent consternation with its claims that Thierry Henry had reached an agreement for a three-year contract with Barcelona.
However, later the very same night, those claims were denied by Henry’s “people”.
Frankly, I’ve got no idea where this going. Of course Henry hasn’t agreed a deal with Barca, but that doesn’t mean they won’t seek to know his intentions before making an official bid. People can call that “tapping up” if they like everyone knows that that is simply how the business works.
I’ve got no factual basis for this, but my sneaking suspicion that Henry is holding out to see the extent of the clubs ambitions in the transfer market before firmly declarling his allegiance.
If there’s any doubt in Titi’s mind (and he hardly sounds certain), William Gallas reckons he should be off:
And as far as departures are concerned, if certain players want to go we should not prevent them from leaving.
I have to agree with him – if Henry decides he isn’t happy here, we’re better off without him.
Talks to sign Havard Nordveit have stalled over the fee being demanded by FK Haugesund. Apparently they want well over £1m – a bit pricey for a 16-year old centre-back.
Finally, it sounds like Arsene has picked up another confident keeper. After Jens Lehmman (“When I am physically fit and have nothing distracting me mentally, then nobody can match me for experience.”), comes Wookash Fabyanski:
“Lehmann and Almunia are very good, but I’m not afraid of anyone. I’m confident of my skills. I want to be first choice at Arsenal as much as they do. My message is clear – I’m ready to fight from day one.”
I say we decide it by fight to the death.
June 11th, 2007
I’ve been away for a few days, and in that time Jeremie Aliadiere has provisionally agreed to join Middlesbrough. However, there’s no time to lament, with yet more stories linking Thierry Henry away from the club – more on those when I’ve got a bit more time.
Arsene Wenger, however, will be staying for next season at least, and hopefully beyond. I imagine that after two years without a trophy, our performance next year will be pretty critical in helping him to reach a decision.
Yesterday, Wenger was in Norway to watch teenage centre-back HÃ¥vard Nordtveit. Apparently a deal should be completed any time soon.
It seems the site may not be working. One thing that can help is inserting www. before any of the urls you might be trying to reach, but fear not – I am working on it.
June 7th, 2007
See how due to time constraints I’ve cunningly compressed two stories into one headline? Florent Malouda has been heavily linked, and the white kit unwittingly unveiled:
That’s your lot.
No, really.
June 5th, 2007
Thing is, I’ve already used Daylight Ribery.
For the best part of a year now, I’ve been fairly certain that preliminary meetings between Arsene and Marseille officials would lead to the scar-faced winger’s arrival at the Emirates Stadium. However, it looks like the deal has soared out of our price range, with Bayern Munich set to agree a £17m deal for the Frenchman.
Ribery has his detractors, and it’s certainly a lot of money, but it does seem to me that he really fits the bill in terms of what we need to add to the squad this summer. He’s a far more proven talent than both Anderson and Nani, who both recently fetched similar fees. Presumably Arsene has spent the best part of a year watching Franck, and has now decided that either a) he’s not up to it or b) we can’t afford him.
Whatever the case, it makes the question of just who we could possibly bring yet harder to answer.
Any ideas?
June 4th, 2007
It doesn’t matter a jot to me. At a time when people have suggested boycotts and petitions, I’m afraid I can’t find it in me to care quite so much about a kit we will wear half-a-dozen times next season.
But the picture you see above is the most convincing image of the kit to appear to date. The lower picture shows you a close-up of the Herbert Chapman label – a slightly naughty attempt to con us into believing this is a “special” kit. You have to wonder if they would even have brought Chapman into it had there not been so much uproar.
As for proper football news, there isn’t a huge amount about. Gael Clichy has come third in our Player of the Year competition – I’d expect Robin van Persie, Cesc Fabregas, and Gilberto to occupy the final three positions, probably in that ascending order. I can’t help but wish they started from right at the bottom. I’d love to know who got the least votes…
The Sun has a couple of interesting transfer tidbits: Bakari Sagna, a powerful right-back, has been linked with a £6m move, whilst Milan are interested in Thierry Henry. Well, I’d have no objection to Sagna’s arrival – I remain unconvinced by both Hoyte and Eboue.
As for Thierry…? Well, of course, I want him to stay. But these stories are not fanciful: there are direct quotes from people high up Europe’s top clubs declaring their interest. Once the Spanish season is over, we could have a real fight on our hands.
If Henry and a couple of new signings are playing in a successful team next season, it won’t matter what colour they’re wearing.
Next Posts
Previous Posts
