http://www.havespursscoredfromopenplayyet.com

Anyway, looks like no cover for Giroud. Not enough to be genuine title contenders and still a lot to do to get out of CL group but should now be fighting for third with United...

9/2/2013 3:32:52 PM

what's the scoop on Herrera? Never heard of him. Is he worth anywhere near what United are paying?

9/2/2013 3:55:17 PM

^ an understated CM, but a complete one. i think value is relative these days, as nobody ever gets sold for what people think they're worth.

http://thebubblegame.wordpress.com/page/2/
an interesting read from earlier in the summer covering possible CM targets

9/2/2013 4:23:05 PM

thanks.

Good to see creative attacking players coming into the league, even if it is to United/Arsenal. Ozil is a huge signing. Wenger should do the announcement press conference with his dick hanging out.

9/2/2013 4:48:39 PM

Herrera deal is off according to @guillembalague, and Everton are asking for more money for Fellaini now.

I'll never make fun of Arsenal fans about transfer windows again.

9/2/2013 5:05:42 PM

Quote :

"Guillem Balague says the men purportedly from United at the Spanish league offices were not in fact United officials. "

lolwat

[Edited on September 2, 2013 at 5:11 PM. Reason : ]]

9/2/2013 5:10:58 PM

Quote :

"Edward "Niles Crane" Woodward is a complete gimp who doesnt know what he is doing and is annoyingly the executive vice-chairman of Manchester United F.C. In his current role, Woodward has top responsibility for the operation of the club. He is in charge of Manchester United's player transfer activity, alongside manager David Moyes.[1]"

Quote :

"Useless fucker, ruined the 2013/2014 campaign single handedly, needs to be sacked, should be turned out into the streets of Manchester tbh."

lols from the Ed Woodward wikipedia page

9/2/2013 5:31:21 PM

Levy must have let go of all those aces he held a little too early.

9/2/2013 6:32:31 PM

Weird not to be the one having a meltdown when the window closes.

Feels good man.

9/2/2013 6:33:03 PM

Mesut fucking Özil

feels good man

wtf were united doing this window?

9/2/2013 6:47:24 PM

If only attacking midfielder was the position Arsenal needed reinforcement. It's a good signing, but I don't think it improves their team all that much. Seems like it was a desperation signing for Wenger to be like, "See, look everyone. I DID sign someone." Good technical player but we'll see how he copes with the physicality of the PL.

9/2/2013 11:27:53 PM

lol

9/2/2013 11:54:30 PM

I think we can all agree that United are fucked though.

9/3/2013 12:21:29 AM

Lol. This season is gonna be like the last one. All our eggs in the van Persie basket.

9/3/2013 5:11:32 AM

Woodward needs to be drawn and quartered


fucked up Herrera, fucked up Coentrao, fucked up Tiago, Fabregas, and Baines


run the club's reputation through the mud


goddamn it I am so mad

9/3/2013 7:54:52 AM

Spurs, Everton, and Liverpool (I'M BIASED) all did pretty good in the window. I actually think City had the best window of everybody but it was so long ago nobody thinks about it.

Quote :

"If only attacking midfielder was the position Arsenal needed reinforcement. It's a good signing, but I don't think it improves their team all that much. Seems like it was a desperation signing for Wenger to be like, "See, look everyone. I DID sign someone." Good technical player but we'll see how he copes with the physicality of the PL."

I actually agree with the bolded parts. They needed some muscle in the midfield and a striker and got neither. Ozil clearly makes their team better though. He's a top 10 player in the world. I think he's going to ball the fuck out in the league but he'll have to be more of a goalscorer to really help Arsenal.

9/3/2013 8:19:13 AM

If a legit world class player is a available you get him. RVP was last year and United got him and it turned out they did need him desperately. Real fans are pissed Perez sold him.

Anyway, I'm not delusional enough to think this makes Arsenal favorites for any trophies but I feel comfortable saying 1-16 or so they have more class than Spurs or Liverpool. Now that doesn't even mean that those two can't finish ahead of them but they are favorites for CL again. It's a long season and Arsenal are still dangerously thin.

Regarding DM, Ozil will let Ramsey sit deeper like he likes and people were derisory about Flamini but he can be a physical presence and is a leader of that group the likes of which Arsenal hasn't had in a while. Just not very technical.

Giroud has finishing ability he just can't beat anyone face to goal one on one. Hopeful the service he can get now will allow him to get better chances and do what he is good at.

[Edited on September 3, 2013 at 8:27 AM. Reason : X]

9/3/2013 8:26:34 AM

Oh no doubt, I am certainly not knocking the Ozil signing at all. United need more than somebody like Ozil in their midfield but they should have been all over this and instead fucked around. Ozil at 42 vs. Herrera for 30? C'mon son.

And I'm not delusional enough to think 3 1-0 wins at the beginning of the season mean anything for Liverpool in the CL race either. I just think without Europe to offer and not as much money as the other top clubs, their blueprint of finding players undervalued at their current clubs with very high potential is a perfect plan. Seems to be working with Sturridge/Coutinho so I'm optimistic it works with Sakho as well. Also, the Mignolet over Reina move already looks genius (especially if you've seen some goals Peepee has given up in Italy).

9/3/2013 8:40:48 AM

who knows if this is true, but interesting read that puts together how Arsenal got Ozil.

Quote :

"Although there were enquiries about Di Maria, Özil and Benzema, Arsenal were told earlier in the summer that only Di Maria was available. Now they were being told, after the debacle with Higuain, that Di Maria was no longer for sale at the request of the manager. BUT, they had a solution that could benefit all parties. They were told that Özil was now a name they could shift and that Arsenal had first choice, and if taken, no other bid would be accepted, even for more money, to compensate for the situations with Higuain and now Di Maria. "

http://www.arsenalvision.co.uk/articles/4370-how-arsenal-landed-oezil.html

9/3/2013 9:14:51 AM

Arsenal desperately needed another striker to cover for Giroud, and if he gets hurt or loses form for any significant period of time before the January window we are screwed. I'm not that concerned about the midfield, though. A lot of people assume Arsenal needs a bruiser to play in the holding role, but I don't really think Wenger sees it the same way, and I'm not sure he's wrong. I think a more technical player is important back there with the way Arsenal plays, whether it be Arteta, Wilshere, or Ramsey. Our season does rest on Giroud's health and form, though, but so far he hasn't disappointed.

9/3/2013 9:29:53 AM

http://www.change.org/petitions/tottenham-hotspur-football-club-end-the-strategic-partnership-with-real-madrid-2?share_id=aFwxStvULO&utm_campaign=invite_page_mobile&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=share_petition

9/3/2013 10:21:58 AM

9/3/2013 10:58:51 AM

Woah woah woah... wait a minute... laughing stock? Us? Is this real life?

http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/espnfcunited/id/9202?cc=5901

[Edited on September 3, 2013 at 11:57 AM. Reason : .]

9/3/2013 11:56:07 AM

So I read that the United representatives that went to Spain to pay Herrera's release clause might have been impostors?

LOL

9/3/2013 11:57:57 AM

And, what a fucking signing, Arsene. Basically used next year's TV money and the deadwood money to get Özil.

He can stay now.

9/3/2013 12:01:11 PM

We kept our two best players and brought in some decent talent AND Lukaku on loan. Kenwright rising well above his usual penchant for mediocrity.

9/3/2013 12:20:57 PM

I thought Everton and Liverpool did extremely well.

9/3/2013 12:28:10 PM

Quote :

"Spanish newspaper El Confidencial have come out with a sensational claim on Tuesday that will be greeted with both glee and despair in north London following Arsenal’s capture of Mesut Ozil. According to El Confidencial, Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy was keen to make his mark at Real Madrid on transfer deadline day just as Gareth Bale was being introduced to the Bernabeu. Levy called Florentino Perez on Monday in an attempt to stop Mesut Ozil’s transfer to Arsenal, Spurs’ great north London rivals. Jose Felix Diaz writes in El Confidencial that Levy felt betrayed by Real Madrid after lengthy negotiations over Bale and a partnership agreement between Spurs and the Spanish giants that was agreed when Luka Modric left White Hart Lane. El Confidencial add that Levy and Spurs had enquired about Ozil in July and August during the discussions over Bale but at that point in time it was thought the German playmaker would remain at Real Madrid. Los Blancos president Florentino Perez politely informed Levy that the deal to sell Ozil to Arsenal was all but done. This follows suggestions, voiced by Sky Sports News last week, that Daniel Levy had held up Real Madrid selling a player to Arsenal to ensure they would not play against Spurs in the north London derby."

9/3/2013 2:03:58 PM

Quote :

"Levy holds all the aces"

Quote :

"Levy holds all the aces"

Quote :

"Levy holds all the aces"

9/3/2013 2:09:32 PM

^^LOL

9/3/2013 2:26:48 PM

and how'd that work out for them...

9/3/2013 2:30:02 PM

Calling a team president to scupper a deal you aren't involved in is remarkably courageous. I'd go so far as to call it highly dignified as well.

9/3/2013 3:14:43 PM

LOL at the comments: https://www.facebook.com/RealMadrid/posts/10150452050004953

Also this is incredible: http://imgur.com/a/fm2hX From the spectacular Arsenal Gentleman (https://twitter.com/ArsenalGent)

9/3/2013 5:10:04 PM

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/sep/03/ander-herrera-manchester-united?CMP=twt_gu

lol

9/3/2013 6:30:11 PM

haha clown shoes

9/3/2013 7:54:53 PM

http://www.arsenal.com/first-team/players/mesut-ozil

Damnit Wenger, dont be a cheapskate! Atleast buy Ozil a team jersey

9/4/2013 10:28:15 AM

Funny to see the media(and a few supporters too) pile on United's transfer 'failure' this summer. This season seems no different from any other under Sir Alex when deals fell through all the time. The criticism of Ed Woodward is understandable, but I think we will get our act together for the Jan transfer window depending on our on-field performance this autumn.



[Edited on September 4, 2013 at 11:48 AM. Reason : .]

9/4/2013 11:47:38 AM

Liverpool fans, is thinking Coutinho is world class really a thing right now? Because pretty much every fan I see on twitter is comparing him favorably to Ozil...

It would be like me calling Walcott the next Ronaldo after a patch of good form a few years ago.

[Edited on September 4, 2013 at 12:14 PM. Reason : And holy shit, RAWK is the best message board ever. Wish I found this earlier]

9/4/2013 12:10:22 PM

Just when you thought his face couldnt get uglier

Quote :

"Some people seem to be questioning my commitment to the England squad and the fact I had to pull out of the 2 games. There's nothing I would like more than to be helping the lads in the qualifiers. I'm sure people will see from these images the reason why I won't be able to play."

https://sphotos-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/1236966_620325871359718_1944288606_n.png
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=620325868026385&set=pb.245323855526590.-2207520000.1378312920.&type=3&theater

[Edited on September 4, 2013 at 12:42 PM. Reason : Damn too big]

9/4/2013 12:40:45 PM

Quote :

"Liverpool fans, is thinking Coutinho is world class really a thing right now? Because pretty much every fan I see on twitter is comparing him favorably to Ozil..."

I think you're a bit hung up on the "world class" qualification. In my opinion, he's one of the most creative players in what is supposedly the world's best league. He's not on Ozil's level but I don't think that means he can't be a top player.

And yes, RAWK is stupid, just like every other team message board.


^^^ Dumbest thing about United's window to me is how they fucked around on Fellaini with those super low ball bids, basically demanding a discount because of Moyes, and ended up paying like 4-5 mil more than his buyout.

[Edited on September 4, 2013 at 1:04 PM. Reason : .]

9/4/2013 1:03:36 PM

Özil is a great signing for Arsenal, but the more I think about it, the more I think that team still struggles to score. Giroud is no Ronaldo, and that's where Özil's inflated assist figures come from - the guy who scores a goal a game. I think the question we'll soon have answered is if his departure from Madrid hurt them more than it helped Arsenal. My guess is yes - two Ronaldo-mould players need service, and I don't see Isco being up to it just yet.

Also, Coutinho is damn good. That's coming from a United fan. Easily one of the best attacking players at his age in the league. Probably knocked down a peg or so because of Özil's arrival, but he's better than say.. Hazard in my eyes.

9/4/2013 10:32:44 PM

9/5/2013 9:49:09 AM

No way. Hazard is magical on the ball. He is one of the best attackers in the league. His stats aren't quite there because he often drops very deep to get the ball so he plays further from goal and doesn't always get the goals and assists. But he is a player of the highest calibre, without a doubt.

9/5/2013 10:10:09 AM

Considering how inflated the market was United had to overpay for Fellaini. Ozil is a bit of a distraction really. The way I see it Arsenal knew with the squad they have this year it would be very hard to make top 4 (especially after the injuries will kick in). They got Ozil to ensure top 4 again. If Giroud can get 20 goals, they are title contenders but the problem is I don't think Giroud can get 20 goals.

9/5/2013 4:34:30 PM

If Giroud stays healthy and Arsenal don't sign a better striker in January (maybe even if they do), I absolutely think he will score at least 20 goals. He already has 3 in 3 matches, and now he is basically the only real striker of any quality, so he has to play pretty much every game when healthy, and he will have the likes of Ozil and Cazorla feeding him balls.

9/5/2013 5:12:23 PM

no homo

9/5/2013 5:41:52 PM

Quote :

"No way. Hazard is magical on the ball."

more like magical at kicking ball boys amirite

9/5/2013 6:32:35 PM

I have no doubt that Ozil and Cazorla will feed him a lot of balls.

9/5/2013 6:34:45 PM

9/7/2013 10:50:25 AM

in Uruguay's last game vs Peru, Suarez scored twice, on a penalty and great goal from open play.

He also drew the penalty by slightly embellishing a touch and embellishment on another foul infuriated a Peru player enough to draw a Red card for the Peru player.

so yea, it will be fun to have him back on Liverpool

9/9/2013 7:36:01 PM