Arsenal come PAINFULLY close to last-gasp £16m STAR
by Mr Comfort on September 2nd, 2008
| 251 words |
Well, apparently Arsene tried hard to seal the deal for this Liverpool star but just failed to bid enough for Rafa’s liking!
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The Independent has reported that Arsenal tried to sign Xabi Alonso just before the transfer deadline, submitting an improved offer believed to be around £14million.
Yesterday Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez had reiterated that Spanish international midfielder Alonso was not for sale, although it is thought was always prepared to deal if a would-be buying club met his valuation of the player.
Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger had admitted the Gunners needed an experienced midfielder and had hinted that a deadline day deal or two might well materialise. In the event, none did, though Wenger has also stressed that he believes his existing squad is strong enough to challenge for major honours.(goal.com)
The Gunners fans had been promised at least one more big name a few weeks back but it appears that the clock ran out on this bid. Even though Benitez has said that Xabi is part of his long-term Anfield plans it’s worth noting that for most of the summer the Spanish supremo had been trying to offload him to all and sundry! Are Arsenal fans disappointed they failed to bring anyone in on deadline day or do they think they have enough talent in their line-up to challenge for the big honours and end their three-year silverware drought? Do Liverpool supporters think that Xabi deserves to be in the starting 11 on a regular basis?
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Tagged Under: arsenal fc, liverpool fc, Premier League, Transfer Rumours
Bryan - September 2nd, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Alonso is the player i really hoped we would get but i am sure we will be okay, as long as none of our backbone gets serious injuries!
Sue - September 2nd, 2008 at 5:10 pm
We will be ok no matter what the doom and gloom merchants say - they are only glory hunters anyway
martin - September 2nd, 2008 at 5:12 pm
why did he leave it to the last minute to sign alonso he had all summer
Mikkel Moff - September 2nd, 2008 at 5:18 pm
I agree with bryan and martin, i cant understrand why wenger always are so disepointmen, ;s
fred - September 2nd, 2008 at 5:22 pm
there is really no excuse as the arsenal board said there was money in the coffers to spend, considering they sold 3 players or more!
aladdin - September 2nd, 2008 at 5:24 pm
martin is right, why did he leave it to the last minute, wenger is pissin me off with his stubborn approach sumtimes
andy - September 2nd, 2008 at 5:30 pm
just glad i aint a season ticket holder to pay a lot of money to watch a feeder club, i reckon it dont matter how we do were lose couple more players end of the season and be told how the youngsters will step in same old shit
chippy - September 2nd, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Hey only 6 more weeks to go filling up your blog with who we did not buy Mr Comfort.
Then it will be time to start making up the story’s from your “sources” about who we going buy in January.
Neal - September 2nd, 2008 at 5:45 pm
It was Inler or no one. We were never in for Alonso.
andy - September 2nd, 2008 at 5:47 pm
beginning of the transfer window all looked good full of confidents just needed to get a couple of players to strenghen the squad really push for the cups ,now we must be the only fans thet feel we gone backwards losing players if i remember this goes back to viera days he only wanted to see the team strenghened ,how long do people think fabregas will stick around if there talk of rebuilding next season lol
martin - September 2nd, 2008 at 5:49 pm
why does wenger make promises he can’t keep. He said he was going to make a signing before the fc twente game and at the weekend he said he was looking to sign one maybe two players before the deadlne.
Arranblonde - September 2nd, 2008 at 6:39 pm
@martin - Wenger did not make promises he could not keep. He said there would be a signing before the Twente game … and there was. He said he was hoping to get in one or two more - hoping is different to saying they are signed.
What AW says to the media and what his real intentions are are often very different. Don’t get hung up on it
Gooner Gooner - September 2nd, 2008 at 7:47 pm
Let’s be very honest about all of this. Wenger , at various times during the summer has said ( These are not direct quotes)
1 - He would sign a midfielder with premiership experience
2 - He would sign a midfielder before the FC Twente game (Sylvstre does not count)
3 - He was looking to sign one or two players before the deadline
HE HAS FAILED ON ALL THREE COUNTS
Now one of two things is going one and either one of them could prove to be detremental to Arsenal’s future either
Wenger has lost the plot. Instead of looking at the Twente and Newcastle games, he should look at how easily Fulham run the midfield. Was he, all along ,just appeasing the fans for fear of having to publically acknowledge that ths squad is still nowhere near being premiership winning material
or
Have the board been lying to us and in fact the development of the new stadium and Highbury has been a bigger drain then they thought and Wenger was right we will have to raise £24million per year to fund the loans?
If either of the above is correct we could be facing a very bleak future
gooner get ya - September 2nd, 2008 at 8:45 pm
ah boo hoo its all doom and gloom with u girls, we needed a midfielder, we didnt get 1, but we will in january, we’ll b fine till then.. end of.. how come everytime a minor thing goes wrong the arsenal ‘faithfull’ turn on wenger, we were nowhere near where we are 2day when wenger took over, and he’s made us a major force in european football on a shoestring budget(compared 2 chelsea and united we’ve spent fuck all!) so shut ur fat face, sit back and watch the wenger boys make us proud.. by the way on our day we undoubtedly play the best attacking football on this planet! that has nothin 2 do with what we’re talkin about, im just sayin.. oh and happy birthday micheal jackson!
Jason - September 2nd, 2008 at 10:16 pm
I think, this could have been a good purchase. Too bad, Arsenal is gonna miss out this season!
Jason - September 2nd, 2008 at 10:17 pm
By the way, call home via Adepto Telecom!!! Dump skype as Adepto Telecom has much cheaper rates.
bubble9 - September 2nd, 2008 at 10:56 pm
I understand that wenger was watching the arsenal reserves on transfer deadline evening. So much for trying to buy new players, unlike fergy who apparently went to manchester airport personally to pick up berbatov. You were never in the market to buy anyone as you simply do not have any money, and you still have to sell players from your threadbare squad just to make ends meet. And before you all rant on about you dont need anyone your squad is good enough, I will leave you with one thought. The bulk of the team that you are relying heavily on this season was the one that got spanked 5-1 by spurs. Ade, Bendtner,Walcott,Fabregas,Denilson,Eduardo,Traore,Diaby,Gallas and Sagna all played a part and that is the bulk of your hopefuls for this year. Good luck with that!
Dexter - September 2nd, 2008 at 11:18 pm
I also argee with martin and bryan why the hell did Wenger leave it to the last minute to sign alonso he had all summer to rap up this deal. Why is wenger so tight it not his money just pay the damm asking price he know he will make it back on another player we sell next summer. What the issue we submitted an offer of 14m to Liverpool last night their see the player worth between 16m or 18m as reporting in the papers pay it. Every club is trying to break into the top four position we are the only club not spending even shitty spurs are spending BIG
Megat_93 - September 3rd, 2008 at 6:28 am
Hey guys,there’s no need to argue here about we’re not buying another player for the team..As you all know,Wenger have tried to sign several players but it did’nt work out the way we all hoped..If all of you are calling for Wenger to be sacked,then who do you think can replace his place?His importance and contributions to the team is one that equals Sir Alex Ferguson in Man Utd..If you saw the last two games against FC Twente and Newcastle,you know that our midfielder are getting their act bak together.And also don’t just sit and think about players that we didn’t get to see Wenger buy this summer,instead think about the signing that we have secured..Nasri,Silvestre,Bischoff and Ramsey..2 of this player had already proved their worthiness,Nasri for his excellent adaptation to the EPL and good quick feet with sharp eyes for excellent passes and goals while Silvestre was one of the key CB for Man Utd success before moving to Arsenal. He can also play as a DM and he has a lot of experience to be shared with the young Arsenal defenders..Ramsey meanwhile is an upcoming midfielder who shows he can play alongside the big boys as shown during his time at Cardiff City in the FA CUp..I think he is a good buy for Arsenal while Bischoff although didn’t get to play much during at Bremen due to injury,but I think he has the mentality and right physique to be a good DM for Arsenal..We also have some upcoming player such as Vela and WIlshere who will always be better..to bubble9,yes,maybe they played a part in that defeat,but can you tell me one time Spurs managed to enter the CL?Arsenal also played better than Spurs and also Spurs stinks..
Stanley - September 3rd, 2008 at 6:58 am
I do not understand why he had to wait upto the very last minute to try and get Alonso. Wenger really frustrates me.
shedzy - September 3rd, 2008 at 8:27 am
oh well, I suppose thats alright then
as long as we NEARLY win the league yet again this season, those of us paying a hefty chunk of money to go and watch a team that ALMOST always plays beautiful football, and NEARLY always gets just about 3 points (or 1) from ALMOST all of their games will be NEARLY satisfied with the job that the manager has been doing.
Its about time he stepped up to the boardroom or to some kind of Director of Football role and let someone with a passion for winning the title take over.
cliff - September 3rd, 2008 at 9:04 am
As for Wenger, he has real flopped in the transfer market (the demand side). If he could chance coming to some small country in Africa called Uganda, he won’t survive a beating. Why does he tell lies? I mean promising an experienced midfileder and not delivering? Why should Arsenal rely on Fabregas all the time?
Anglesey Gooner - September 3rd, 2008 at 9:37 am
First of all i am not a doom and gloom merchant or a glory hunter i am merely a concerned arsenal supporter, while i am amazed and extremely grateful for what arsene wenger has done for my beloved club and have never before felt the need to question him, i am scratching my head at his failure to bring in the central midfielder he supposedly wanted. we are without doubt in need of a bigger squad it was evident at craven cottage when we had eboue in central midfield and subsequently lost the match. i know there are rumours that we tried to sign alonso at the 11th hour but why if we wanted the player did we leave it so late? we have without doubt the weakest squad in the top four and our only real hope i feel is that we dont get any major injuries, if we keep our players fit we can scoop the lot but i just feel that wenger has left himself short this year and in the process harmed our chances of a succesful season. I hope im completely wrong but somehow doubt it.
nobby - September 3rd, 2008 at 9:47 am
Why do these so called Arsenal fans think we have a god given right to win something every season. We have the priveledge to watch probably the most entertaining football in the whole of Europe whilst building a side that will be all conquering within a couple of seasons. It is very frustrating that we didn’t manage to sign a couple of the big names that we were linked with but injuries aside, we have a squad that many of our premiership rivals would love to have. We also have the best manager who has tranformed Arsenal from 1- 0 specialists to a team that many others try to emulate but fail. Would these socalled fans prefer that we were like Chelsea (boring) and just buy a side.
kenntall - September 3rd, 2008 at 11:49 am
The trust i always had in arsene is gone
dog - September 3rd, 2008 at 1:47 pm
kenntall, u are such an idiot, its ridiculous. wenger is a genius, and u are nothing.
goonerNO.1 - September 3rd, 2008 at 2:46 pm
bubble9 your idiot,get happy about that 5-1,because your gonna have to wait 9 years more and beyond to beat us,dont take our fans moaning as a weakness.
why we have wenger we will always finish above your tosh.
THE FUTURES BRIGHT,THE FUTURE’S ARSENAL
ArseAndWanger - September 3rd, 2008 at 5:41 pm
“Arsenal are a unique team: their coach hasn’t won for years, but he’s an idol,” said Mourinho
Love him or hate him Mourinho is right.
Wenger is living on past glory. Time to get a new manager.
dave bees bollox tang - September 4th, 2008 at 12:36 am
dexter and all worried wee men
Why not start supporting west ham or fulham even Bolton? They play beautiful football and have great managers don’t they?
14£ mil grows on trees does it
You could go to the headquarters after a cuppa”
and smoke more crack and get a directing role to change things up since ten mil is loose change and you know how to run a football club.
Arsene is the man, nasri was a good signing.
Nuff said.
O'Neillio - September 4th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
If Arsene is so confident that we have a squad capable of competing then why did he want a replacement. He left it too late, as he was trying to get Alonso at a reduced price and it backfired. There is no way that Denilson and the likes can compete with Essien, Hargreaves, Ballack, Lampard or Gerard. I predict Arsenal will probably finish much the same as last year. They will falter in the big games that decide the league and champions league. There is no midfield enforcer and all sucessful must have at least one. Fabregas has no protection beside him and we will be exposed as a result. If Arsenal want to win the top trophies they need have established players. Its no good having a squad capable of competing, we want a team that will win.
Donavan Ried - September 4th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
I Think we need to sell Xabi Alonso now. For if Rafa insists on not playing him regular then it is only a matter of time before he goes at a reduced price, same of Dirk Kuyt…
Don’t get me wrong here I will go on record having said that I liked Vladimir Smicer,Milan Baros,(Players that take people on) Stephen Warnock( A Good little left back, great coming forward) ,John Arne Riise (Such a Thunderous Left foot, played out of position) Dirk Kuyt,(hard working and will score a lot more goals if played where he should be played) Xabi Alonso…If Rafa is going to continually misuse players then let them go, or better still let him go