(The not-so-temporary quite-official) Gooner Thread

Thanks for debunking that for us Sleuth.

I think they would be ok due to extremely high revenue, but in reality, I'm pretty sure all the clubs have found their own interesting ways to skirt around FPP and no one seems to give a crap anymore. 

In a the current climate how is it the Sanchez deal that shocks you?

Martial for Sanchez having a laugh haha.

It's the 550K per week for a single player - I thought that with FPP it would keep everyone on a level playing field or at least within reach, but this doesn't look like it at all.

FFP was simply introduced to prevent teams from spending more than they earn. It was supposed to restrict the spending of clubs when it is directly derived from investment from owners - hence why City / PSG got hit by it. 

In 2017, United's revenue was $581 million and player wages was $263 million (45% of revenue).

Arsenal's 2017 revenue was $424 million and spent $199 on wages (46% of revenue).

Every transfer and every wage should really be looked at based on the percentage of revenue. Its why bigger clubs have to pay more, and sell for less. If you want the best players, you have to pay for them. 

NB: there is too much money in sport and these millions could/should be spent on better purposes.

Also, reporting a 500k wage is disingenuous. It's basically a normal transfer fee + normal wages paid in weekly instalments. 

To be fair that is the key difference when it comes to ManU versus clubs like Man City and PSG. 

Wenger as usual said it best in his presser this morning, this from ESPNFC;

"When questioned about the deal, Wenger told a news conference: "I respect Manchester United because they generate the money they pay to the players with their own resources so you have to respect that.

"After that it's down to them to know how much they want to give to the player. Overall, United are a club very well managed financially and of course as well on the pitch so that's why I don't have any problems with the money they pay."

Wenger's comments appear to be a dig at City, who have been penalised by UEFA in the past for violating financial fair play rules."

Ozil, Koscielny, Monreal and Kolasinac apparently ALL FIT for this weekend. That's massive quite frankly. We have missed the first three terribly, and the last one is very timely as AMN apparently has an illness.

Line up? If they're fit enough I'd bring all 4 straight in. 

                   Cech

     Koscielny-Mustafi-Monreal

Bellerin-Xhaka-Wilshere-Kolasinac

             Ozil-Welbeck

                Lacazette

Not sure about Welbeck starting but we are a bit light in that spot with Sanchez surely unable to play, Walcott gone, and new signings yet to come in. I don't think we're likely to see Iwobi and Ozil both in forward roles, we lose to much pace and directness. 

I was about to say that i'm fudging over this window and drama of it. But then i saw that chelsea have been linked with Carrol and Crouch! Lols for days!

Some juicy bits from Arsene's press conference overnight;

On Sanchez-Mkhitaryan swap deal

“It can happen, it can as well not happen. It is as that stage.”

Will Sanchez play for Arsenal again?

"Yes. If it doesn’t happen he will play on Saturday.”

Will it happen in the next 24 hours?

“Yes it is likely to happen. But any minute things can break down. That’s how the transfer market is. These things are never guaranteed.”

On Mkhitaryan coming the other way

“Yes that is my understanding. I like the player.”

Will wages be an obstacle?

“No, the wages will not be a problem.”

On Aubameyang

“No I have nothing to add to that. This kind of thing is better when it’s secret.

“You announce it when it’s over the line. Nothing else [other than Sanchez] is close.”

Will Auba fit in with his ‘big’ character?

“Yes, a character can be very positive or very negative. Overall you look at achievement over career and if he has done well the character has been used in a positive way.”

Will Ozil be here in February?

“Yes.”

What about Jonny Evans? 

“I have nothing to add on that.”

On not selling Sanchez in the summer

“Look, the problem was similar to what it is today. I only accept to let him go if somebody comes in instead of him.

“I would have let him go in the summer but it [getting a replacement] didn’t happen.”

On a new deal for Jack Wilshere

“We know what we want. We want him to stay. He wants to stay. We have to find satisfying financial agreement and that’s what we’re trying to do.” 

Wenger on signing Malcom 

"No I don't think it is close. No I don't think so."

On Giroud's return

"Giroud is one week away."

Sorry for all the posts but there is a bit of interesting stuff out there this morning. 

Keown has had a real pop at Sanchez, can't really argue with what he is saying;

“Sanchez has got to be the biggest mercenary in football,” Keown told the Daily Mail.

“Manchester City have wanted to sign Sanchez since the summer and, if no deal is done in January, they will be waiting for him at the end of the season.

“City would be the natural place for Sanchez to go to develop his football. He has worked with Pep Guardiola before.

“But for Sanchez, this is clearly not about going to the best team, working with Guardiola and taking his game to another level.

“He has probably thought that he will not get a better offer if he waits until the summer, so he might as well take the best deal on offer now. It has been all about the money.”

And on a different note, really interesting and heartwarming story on Ryan Garry, played one league game for us (first game of the invincibles season) before his career was cruelly smashed by injury, and is now a coach with our youth teams;

http://www.planetfootball.com/in-depth/englishman-...

I believe it was the first game of the 49 game unbeaten run? 6-1 vs Southampton the season before where you had the 2 hat tricks? I recognised the name and thought I saw him on some thing on BeIn maybe.

Man, thanks so much for that insight - really appreciate it :)

@Paulm, RE lineup maybe we start Elneny deep with Xhaka and push JW10 further up? Two creative players who can finish might be helpful for sorting Lacazette's lack of service.

Tell you what - I don't mind the look of this guy. I suppose when you're used to Sanchez and you're told someone who hasn't been a hit at United is coming the other way it does look pretty grim. But there is some real quality and pace in here. If he can contribute some goals and assists and be a bit more of a team lad player who doesn't give the ball away as much we could be in for a winner here.

Season before last he hit 32 assists(!)

Ahh yes I think you're right, I stand corrected

Not a bad idea at all. Also Ramsey is back which I hadn't really taken into account. Ramsey could play as a forward, or sit in with Xhaka and allow Jack to go forward.

I still worry about the pace of the side though. We'd need Bellerin to really get forward and give us the width. He's improved of late, but overall he hasn't been the player he was season before last. 

Being an ex Arsenal player Keown's comment are obviously biased.

Did he even think that perhaps Sanchez suddenly realised that City have 5 quality strikers and Pep rotates them so I might end up more on the bench. Going to Utd ( who don't have as many quality strikers)  he will get a lot more games. That would have been the way I would think.Most players just want to play, it is not just about money.

Sanchez is a winger.

Keown is often scathing of Arsenal, and Arsene. For example his heavy criticism of ozil in the past, and his comments after the deeney carry-on earlier this season. 

And on Sanchez, pull the other one. If it was about playing time he'd be staying. If it was about winning trophies he'd be going to City. It seems quite obviously about money. 

Why would he want to stay and play for a team that has a less than good manager and win nothing.By the way, I don't care if he comes or not.

http://metro.co.uk/2016/12/05/alexis-sanchez-is-no...

Depends which rag you read as last I read he wanted an increase from his 140k to 200k/week but allegedly personal terms have been agreed  (& United could pay towards it)  so who knows - I take any figures re, salaries/transfer fees (or anything & everything) in the press with a large dose of salt.

I'm pretty "meh" over Sanchez joining United tbh. I wonder if this latest saga & potential $$$ on offer will make Ozil think about seeing out his contract looking for a bumper salary somewhere (United?). And although I saw previously on the thread JW has allegedly agreed terms, but if not I'd actually be happy if United took a punt on "Jack Wheelchair" under the right terms - I know its unlikely as he's another Mr.Arsenal but you never know. Of course that move could either be brilliant or end up like Owen Hargreaves but hey...

With Mikhi you'll get a player who could score you a winning goal in the FA Cup at Old Trafford (obviously next year ;-) ) or frustrate you like Welbeck can.  I thought Mikhi was gonna do good things (as I did Kagawa & Januzaj ! ) & I hope he does well at Arsenal as it should mean he's taking points of our rivals - & if done in time (about 2.5hrs to go) Sanchez can help you by taking points of one of your rivals this weekend ;-)

To be fair I don't think ManU fans can really tell us anything about Mikhitaryan, he just hasn't been himself for them. We can learn more from watching him play for Dortmund, where they had a proper attacking philosophy. 

If you would rather totaly exclude a more recent season and a half at United, then thats cool. But it seems a but picky and choosey to me. Two points about Mkhitaryan:

Inconsistency. He was amazing in his last season at Dortmund. But he was bang average in the 14/15 season before that. He played well in the Europa for United but average in the league. Granted that you hope he can replicate his last season at Dortmund, but he could also continue his United form or the previous seasons at Dortmund. 

Most of the time that he plays well, the team has played well. And most of the time the team has done poorly, he has been poor. Not sure which causes which, but it doesn't help him when he is out of form (team plays poor) or when the team is out of form (he plays poor). He is not one of those players that when the team loses, you say he played well. Just a thought.

I think he will be a good player for Arsenal and will fit into the Arsenal style and culture. Whether or not that is a good thing or not, I am sure we will find out. 

Mikhitaryan is just another player who is unable take a game by the scruff of the neck - we have enough of those already. Personally do not think he will be successful at Arsenal.

I will miss Sanchez. He is the one player we've had for the last few years who tried things out of the ordinary. Sure, it doesn't always come off - but he's still one of the best in the world. He never dies wondering. Have always been a big fan.

Auba is an interesting one. Not sure where he will fit in tactically.

Personally I would like to see us go for someone like Seri - we desperately need shoring up in midfield. 

Excellent piece on theo by michael cox
https://twitter.com/Zonal_Marking/status/954392993536118784

LOL Aaron Lennon to Burnely to make room for Walcott. Feel like Walcott's career's gone a lot better than that mug.

I'm desperately hoping this happens, or something like it, this window.

These are the types of posts / comments that highlight what is wrong with the world at the moment. One person is not willing to even consider that another person can have a valid opinion / viewpoint. 

Flat Earth Society

Holocaust Deniers

Scientologists 

Moon Landing was a Hoax

Everyone has a bullshark limit bro and if the cut off mark is the football analysis and knowledge of Man U fans then Paul's take may be strident but certainly an effective time saver. 

In fact I'm going to like his post

I'll rephrase slightly bro

I like the ideal you suggest but the real life manifestation is totally different for every single person I have ever met

Ain't Nobody Got Time for that

Notice how I didnt say that some peoples opinions / viewpoints are what people would call shark. But a lot of people out there do not even consider that someone else can have a different opinion / viewpoint. 

And not having time to consider a differing opinion screams of ignorance and arrogance. 

The real world manifestations are pretty obvious and numerous. 

It's neither ignorant or arrogant to ignore or filter the opinions of people who indulge in bullshark beliefs or ideologies. 

It is both ignorant and arrogant for me to tell you exactly what beliefs and ideologies you should consider to be unworthy of your consideration and time. 

The real life manifest ions of not calling and combatting rank idiocy is very obvious and numerous

stunning first 20mins this morning, we looked unplayable. 

Maybe Sanchez really was the problem all along.

I think we got the balance right a bit more, Elneny sitting deeper who can break down attacks while Xhaka and JW10 had more room to push on and create with Ozil, Iwobi, Laca in front of them.

What impressed me was that defensively Iwobi and Ozil were getting back to their defensive corners to make tackles, even Laca dropped into midfield to cover Elneny doing his boots up on the half way line.

Sanchez has his moments but this season they've been off set by plenty of give aways and turn overs - which for a team that focuses on possesion and unpicking the lock it really was counter intuitive.

Ozil needs a lock down contract right now. 

Good to see Monreal come back firing. We do need to get Kolasinac playing he's going to be very good.