Some thoughts from @foreverheady.
All this transfer speculation is interesting. Find it hard to think what might happen. Feel that the forwards are all done for this year because of Sanchez and Campbell adding to what we already had. As ever, much will depend on Walcott and Oxlade returning fully fit, but if they do then I think we have all we need there. I can’t see Balotelli adding to what we have as feel he is too needy. Not having an encyclopaedic knowledge of world forwards I don’t know if there is anyone available who is better than Giroud. I suspect there isn’t, which is why we have bought Sanchez. He might be very good indeed so let’s hope he scores lots of goals.
Don’t know about Khedira but sense he has the look of someone who thought he would be joining us but has now been told that won’t be the case. Suspect his injury just before the world Cup final put AW off as there were already slight doubts about his injury record maybe. I think that Schneiderlin would be a very useful player, but again sense that we could have already made a decisive and successful move for him had we really wanted him.
I can understand why there might have been interest shown in Carvalho, who I understand prefers to be known as William. Just William. That will sound funny, especially against Chelsea. He is certainly the sort of player that the fans think we need, and I guess we just wait and see if AW thinks that way too. They will say he is the new Vieria if he does well, the new Diaby should he ever get injured. I haven’t seen him play so can’t comment.
I keep coming back to Pogba, and the reason I do is because AW is probably putting his final side together and I can’t imagine that he isn’t on the wish list and that he hasn’t been in serious contact with him. Actually, all that means is that he is on my wish list, but it is good to dream.
And I guess that the Vermaelen situation needs sorting, and it is a racing certainty that whatever happens there the manager will be blamed, either for not upgrading or for selling to a rival – or both those things come to think of it.
I think that we will have a very good season and will play some scintillating stuff at times. I do worry about our defence though, and will be interested to see how that is organised this year.
Positively Arsenal 
All remarkably sane stuff Tim
We seem to be fully stocked in the forward department, especially helped by the strong showing by Campbell in Brazil. And since January 2012 I think we have been looking for that situation.
If there were a slot open, lets say Sanogo to go on loan or Joel and/or Arsenal be offered first team football and a generous £££££, I see Konoplyanka is still unbought down on the Dneipr – he remains my choice of good quality recruits.
At the back as far as I know we are still looking for a back up keeper and playing the TV situation by ear. I don’t see any urgent gaps to fill. Is Miquel due back ?
Midfield I suspect we are done and I don’t see Khedira happening. Carvalho ? No idea.
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I think the only midfielder Arsene would get, if he became available at the right price, would be Pogba. I think AW would go all out to get him and he would possibly break the bank to make it happen.
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NB: sorry, never said thanks for yesterday’s epic post. Enjoyed your trilogy very much.
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Cheers FH
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Carvalho is similar to Viera,will be half the price of Pogba and is an Arsenal fan.If we don’t go for one of these DMs this summer when they seem to be everywhere,by next summer when Arteta and Flamini really are past it they will be as rare as rockin horse shit.You know it. Diaby is not a DM and i wouldn’t expect him to sit breaking up play.his ankles would shatter.
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Nice one, FH. Totally agree about Balotelli.
I find the transfer speculation wearing but at the same time I am always impatient to know who’s going to be in the squad come Sep 1st – so I do get sucked in.
@ jb
It’s not Diaby’s fault that he keeps getting injured. I often wonder whether Arsene even wants a DM type – seems to like the idea of a double pivot. He adores Diaby and in AW’s ideal world, Diaby would fit and be playing in that position.
And on that note…
@ northbank1969 July 21, 2014 at 10:57 am
“I think the only midfielder Arsene would get, if he became available at the right price, would be Pogba.”
I totally, totally agree!
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Carvalho an Arsenal fan ?
(Narrows eyes suspiciously)
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great post FH
a lot of people have been advocating that we loan some of our players, but over the years such moves havent really improved such players and even the squad. apart from jack ( he would still have made it to the first team ) most others either sit on the bench in their clubs or come back worse players with different playing style. if we had loaned out gibbs instead of traore, maybe gibbs wouldnt have made it here at arsenal. we need to be careful about loaning out our players and where we even send them to.
if we must loan out sanogo, i will prefer we loan him to a franch club where he will develop without too much pressure from english media and over critical fans.
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Thanks FH.
I’m looking forward to the season too.
SANCHEZ!
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NB
I don’t know if you have an answer already, but I managed to trundle down Benwell Rd today:
Couldn’t find Albany Rd, I think it must have gone! There’s an old pub that looks like an unrefurbished flat at the moment on the corner of Benwell Rd and Bryantwood Rd called The Montague Arms. Is that it?
The area inbetween Queensland Rd and Hornsey Rd is new flats, fortunately not all built for foreign investors; I know a looney cyclist, the type that cycles from London to the south coast in the middle of the night “for fun” who is a teacher who lives there now, so it’s good to see he was sorted out. Shame he’s from Ooop Norf and is not a gooner!
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And for my final tangent, a question for FH:
Thoughts on James Foster? Hard done by not to be called up in recent times? With Kieswetter injured or not in contention what more can he do?
Kieswetter:
Ouch!
It’s not like I’m biased or anything because my brother played with James for a bit when they were kids.
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Whilst it embarasses me to admit it as it reveals an unhealthy obsession on my part there is a web site called “Lost Pubs of Islington” in which most of the former boozers of the borough are listed with address photos and date of closure
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Anicoll.
Maybe NB had something to do with do old boozers.
God forbid the worst thing that could ever happen to a boozer: becoming a wine bar.
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Pogba, loved watching his exploits with Juve the season.
With France, not so much.
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Tim, I will need to dig out my Wisdens for the early ’70’s, to nail you down!
I like your comment about Giroud.
Passenal on the 21st July 2012, told PG to stop stirring the septic tank. PG, needless to say, could not be reproved.
A little later, Passenal had this to say in words:
“JonJon.
Olivier Giroud Season 2011/12 Played 38, Scored 21, Assisted 12
That is 33 goals he was involved with in 38 games!
I have a very good feeling about him. I also like that he turned down chelski’s millions to join us for footballing reasons. Maybe there is still some decency left in football?”
It is very obvious, too many commentators, are not consistent. That is why the “wheat” has moved to PA? Leaving the “husks” behind.
FH, well written as usual. Never criticize the staff, never criticize the Arsenal players.
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cashley and Szczechy both had positive loans although I get the point about the recent loan records. Pogba would be ideal although like Arsene said some players are not available at this time. Its difficult to decide which players I think are good, which players I actually like, which players we could realistically get and how close the youth players are in particular positions fortunately I’m not manager and I trust Arsene impeccably. lets just hope the transfer moons align for us and the top targets are obtained
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Fins: I am out of the loop these days but I will ask around and try to find out why James Foster has been so unlucky. He wouldn’t be the first who was stymied because of media enthusiasm for lesser players.
Notover: mid to late 70s – you will see a disappointingly quick progression from promising youngster to nevawozza, but I was lucky enough to play with some proper players, which is nice in retrospect but frightened the life out of me at the time.
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Good post FH. I too am concerned a bit about the lightness of the centre of our defence, the continual linking of Vermealen AND Jenkinson away and also the fact that our 2 1st choice Cbs played and/or trained through the summer, instead of getting a well needed rest.
I have no issue with vermealen if he wants to go and play regularly/ However, I do have a massive issue if that place is anywhere in Nprth west England! Hopefully AW will be true to his word and refrain from selling a cap’n to that club again. A swap, however, would not be too shabby, depending on who it was. I still think Fellaini could be a quality DM, Hernandez is a decent striker and given his injury record, surely Phil Jones must be in with a decent chance!
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Rumour is that we wanted to swap Vermaelen with Smalling Dex. I know we tried to buy him before he went to manure, so it seems plausible, but ultimately the player has to want to transfer.
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Fungunner: “I often wonder whether Arsene even wants a DM type – seems to like the idea of a double pivot.”
Which is why I see him going for players like Schneiderlin and Bender. Both these players are extremely good at marking, tackling and winning duels all over the pitch, as DMs should be, but they can also come out of the back with a nice little dribble or by finding an open teammate up the pitch with a clever pass. In other words, they are responsible for making the transition from defence to offense a lot quicker and more efficiently than someone like Flamini or Fernandinho would.
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If Vermaelen goes to the red mancs do you think we could swap him for Howard Webb?
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Hey Dups, that would be the best swap ever!
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FG 3:03. ” I often wonder whether Arsene even wants a DM type – ”
Have thought that for a long time although I’m quite likely wrong as some folk on the internet and in the papers seem to think we need one of them whatever it might be. Maybe we could play, instead, a ‘false DM’
Maybe in a few years the generally acknowledged crucial FDM position will be being argued over at great length as something that we can’t possibly do without.
Roll on the days when we see teams playing ‘rush goalie’ and of course ultimately False Keeper.
My take is that I’ll turn up to watch knowing that our manager will be doing what he thinks is best and most likely proving that it is… UTA.
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RE: Tommy V, I would much rather have our guys play against him than actually in the side, strangely not bothered if its Man U for some reason. Realized last season that even as a back up, when he’s announced in the team I start to get nervous. Not Pascal Cygan nervous, but enough to question how much the team will struggle with him in the side. It’s not worth having the 3rd choice CB & ‘captain’ on the bench earning £120,000.
Barca were allegedly going to sign him last year before his injuries as they have a warped fascination with us and taking our captains or key players. He was supposed to replace Puyol when they couldn’t get Thiago Silva or Marquinhos. Weirdly after showing interest for so long, because he’s not starting for us Barca want Vertonghen. Because of his judas best buddy, Man U may be the only place he’ll go with his girlfriend and baby. He didn’t shine at the WC either, so that hasn’t helped the phone to start ringing.
I respect that he’s not gone whining to the press about not playing every week, but he is not committed to the Arsenal cause and his head was turn by Robin van Judas ages ago. He is the last one of the bunch that thought that they were better off elsewhere and didn’t think we could win anything. Nice guy, but anyone with third party links to Dein jr should move on. It’s no surprise that there has been much more harmony and contract renewals now that the agents players have left the club. Arsenal was a cash cow for him personally at the expense of the club. I wonder how many top class players he has signed apart from his former Arsenal player roster recently.
I know many fans don’t feel the same, but I am fine cutting ties. Mertscieny *groans* works for me defensively.
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@ Gainsbourg69
“Fungunner: “I often wonder whether Arsene even wants a DM type – seems to like the idea of a double pivot.”
Which is why I see him going for players like Schneiderlin and Bender. Both these players are extremely good at marking, tackling and winning duels all over the pitch, as DMs should be, but they can also come out of the back with a nice little dribble or by finding an open teammate up the pitch with a clever pass. In other words, they are responsible for making the transition from defence to offense a lot quicker and more efficiently than someone like Flamini or Fernandinho would.”
I am going to cut and paste above comment if you don’t mind when people ask why Francis Coquelin was sold. It’s not just about pass completion accuracy or technique, its about transition, absorbing and nullifying the attack, taking pressure off the defense, not just sideways passing to them. He’s had been given three seasons to develop his game, but I don’t think he has it in him. He’s good, but not good enough for Arsenal.
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£120k pw where has that come from?
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…add ons from being captain and bonuses…allegedly. Arsenal pay at the top end is very competitive. Only problem we have is what ever we offer, other clubs offer even more.
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Don’t get me started!
Too late…
Goona Gal
I agree with your I take on TV5. My problem with T started prior to his injuries. I’m not looking to slag him off even though this may appear to be the case, so sorry if it seems so.
Prior to TV becoming captain, I though I saw a man who embodied the Arsenal spirit. Determination and vocalality seemed abundant. In fact, they were, and I don’t think he’s lost them. However, if one goes back 3&4 years, it’s possible to see that despite these great attributes, he had some defensive errors/positioning/decisions which often lead to goals against us. There was the charging forward, supposedly to get back goals that were needed, without others filling in for him, and the refs weren’t kind when it came to the ghost/phantom fouls against either.
It’s not that I see TV as a bad player, it’s more that – having arrived as a relatively young centre back, I’d expected him to improve in a big way, and I’m not entirely sure that happened. (Pls bear in mind, I’m NOT an expert on these things, but I can see the usual ref suspects always, easily, penalising TV. Sure, Dean, Webb, et al were going to look for any excuse, as they did with Song. One half of one foul equals a yellow card).
Games against the Wigans and Blackburns as well as the top teams, didn’t seem to make any difference. It appeared that the couple? of years where we let in the most ridiculous and embarrassing goals, were the years when Tommy was ‘at his peak’ in terms of the general adulation swarmed around him. We blamed Song. He’s the DM, right?
LK6 looked lively from the start, but made some traditional ArsErrors, but boy, he’s improved, no? Surely it’s not my imagination, that PM4 has made a massive difference to our back line, despite his “turning circle of an ocean liner” – something nevertheless raised about one B Hangerland, or any of the other 6′ 5″ plus defenders.
Some say that TV’s reluctant to play DM, and he’s certainly not keen on LB, and let’s face it – hardly dynamic when playing in that position. TV is better than Vertongen though (though commentators would disagree. Thing is, Verto gets away with everything, cos he plays for spuds. (Mike Dean happy for Verto to pull down opposition shorts, without acknowledgement, if it means tottys can win, and that’s without mentioning all kinds of shit he’s done against Arsenal). And Verto ain’t interested in DM either.
So, DM time.
At some point in the last few years I’ve read or heard Arsène say or imply that specialist DM’s aren’t the be-all and end-all. Within this conversation there’s summat about all around midfielders, (like). Know what I mean?
Obviously, what with legend that was Makelele, this isn’t something plundits and know it all fans are gonna take to heart, is it? We’re not having that, are we? He’ll no.
The papers are full of it, innit? Arsenal need such and such DM. (Not to mention 3 goals, 2 CF’s, and a partridge on a fking pear tree. Pardon me, but Bollocks!)
We’ve been fed various crap for so long that perhaps we’d be better off continuing to hope that Arsenal bring in the players they need/want to come. The constant thing of “them” telling us who we need – has fried our collective brains, rendering us into SSFM suckers. All of that combined with perennial degradation of everything Arsenal, despite, in the circumstances – massive achievements, including the best played football in the Prem over the last almost 2 decades.
Piers ****face Morgan disagrees.
Remember the other day I had a rant about Arsenal Fan TV? Well they’ve only gone and produced a 3 part intvw with ****face Morgan. Let us include some perspective about this so called Arsenal fan. ****face Morgan was editor of the Mirror who got ArsFans banned for life – for something they didn’t do, having falsely accused them of being thugs. So remember that.
Here’s part 2 of said intvw. You can look up the other parts if you wish, though I suggest that if you’re gonna watch any of it, you could do so in the interest of “research”, unless of course you’re just… :
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I want to stress, I like TV. I’d prefer him to stay at Arsenal. I still see him as 3rd choice CB. If he leaves, so be it.
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Ew.
Morgan. He’s not desperate for publicity. Sorry Rantetta I couldn’t think of much worse then clicking on the above link.
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The position of the D**M!
Hehe.
Controversial use of the term “central midfielder” above. One that I approve of!
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FH, thanks. Prior pulled out of the rest of the series. In football you can understand playing when not fully fit, but for a five day test match…I think the some of the selectors should ‘pull out’ too!
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rantetta, i dont think tv5 gives away more free kick than say cahill or terry. its just the colour of his jersey that the referees cant seem to like. at present there is no better defender at united than tv5, but over the years the likes of smalling, jones, evans and ferdinand have been aided by officials to look very decent enough to even win the league title. but they were all exposed last season so much so that lvg has realised that our 3rd choice CD is better that all they have. how anybody will want us to swap tv5 with jones is beyond me. jones?? he might look good as a young lad at blackburn but thats all about jones. i dont even know his position on the field of play let alone his best position. smalling interest wenger as a young player but the same wenger went all out to buy tv5 to help solve our problem in the defence. and has smalling been developed in the right way since then? i dont think so. we should just stop comparing tv with these guys. tv5 might not have had a great world cup due to injuries, but non of smalling and jones would make belgium world cup squad.
the problem of tv5 at arsenal is being too similar to kos6 and not complimenting enough to pm4. while kos would always be there to help per do some of his duty against pacy players, tv5 is always minding his own half of the field. the same problem i fear debuchy may have because sagna always looks out for pm4 always.
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Prior has played since January whilst not full fit. That can’t be clever (five day test matches!).
Tommy V is another player, different sport, who has had injury horrors. Of course the culmalitive injuries, rushing back too soon, it all set him back and degraded his confidence. Yes, there were or are some crinkles in his game before but it took Xavi at his peak to exploit them! I didn’t see many others at the time have any joy.
All players have their flaws. TV5 is a good player who is probably on his way back. Second half of last season he was fine when he came on or played, much better, more confident. He won back a place for Belgium during the WC and then predictably twanged a hammy.
If he goes it’ll be for a multitude of reasons, fitness and the need to play a run of games (in succession) to hopefully further avoid those kinds of strains he picked up at an always intense WC after almost two years of not playing regularly being an important consideration.
He’s always been a better player then the underwear fetishist, if Barcelona buy Vertonghan it will be funny. I don’t want to see TV5 at the evil cheating Mancs under Eraserhead as he will improve them. He didn’t cause a stink when not playing therefore I hope the club can keep him.
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It pisses me right off when people say Vermaelan and Koscielny can’t play together, on their podcasts etc. The evidence that would consign this astounding theory to the rubbish bin is in the matches section of the Arsenal Player. Plenty of good games. Plenty.
Total confirmation bias bollocks!
Or TCBB to the rest of you.
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I would be sorry to see Tommy go as he is an above average footballer i.e. he can control the ball, pass, dribble and even score the good occasional goal. In that way he is much more like Laurent. I think, unfortunately for TV, there have been times when he has tried to play a little bit too much football when hoofing the ball out of the ground would have been a more sensible option.
I very much doubt we could go out and buy a replacement as competent and who is as good a footballer. One serious injury in our back line however and I suspect that he would have as much football as he needs. I expect him to feature often in the next few weeks in friendlies and in the CL openers as our World Cup players slowly recover their energy.
I can understand his frustration at lack of playing time. He has however handled that disappointment well and when he has been asked to step up this season he has done well. It is not easy, in spite of what the experts will tell you, to sit week after week on the bench then have to step in with no notice.
We shall see.
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Fins
Thanks for the feedback about the pub. I actually diid the google thing and took a trip along Benwell Road, and it’s not there.
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Courtesy of this summers favourite Transfermonger Kike Marin:
http://vozpopuli.com/deportes/45850-messi-le-pidio-a-cesc-que-sondeara-su-fichaje-por-el-arsenal-antes-de-firmar-su-adecuacion-contractual
If nothing else it’s just another healthy reference for the continuously Groaning ingrates.
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our players have been degraded and derided a lot by the media over the years while less talented players from other clubs have recieved greater attention. up till now the media still believe arsenal first choice goalkeeper is error prone. but last season this error prone goalkeeper won the golden glove while our former 3rd choice keeper was the player of the season at sunderland. no wonder swansea city also came in for our 2nd choice keeper while doing away with their former first choice whom some disgruntled and media following fans believed was way better than our first choice. i still cant believe some of our fans even wanted us to replace szczesny with a player whom their national team manager only deemed good at saving penalty and nothing more.
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Fins
I’m now not sure I should even have posted that AFTV intvw with Morgan. You’re right not to click. I think I just wanted to justify my hatred of the man by showing how both the interviewer & interviewee have modified their spiel.
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layksite
Having read your 10:27 post I have to say; I agree with your assessment of TV, especially compared with the other CB’s you mentioned.
I watched 70 mins of Liverpool v Arsenal last night, early 12/13 season, just cos I wanted to see, again, how magnificent AD24 played in that match. At approx 31 mins Suarez stamped viciously on the back of TV5’s knee. Needless to say, Mr Webb gave no free kick to Arsenal. TV hasn’t been alone in suffering from these assaults, as well we all know and have discussed.
That’s an astute point about certain players “minding their own half of the pitch”. If memory serves, LK6 strikes me as the best, in terms of ability to play left of right, comfortably.
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anicoll5@10:46
Correct, all.
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Top, top quality.
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top top quality
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NB
Was it replaced by the new flats/ramp up to the stadium concourse?
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I lost a post? bad link? Modded?
–
Try again:
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It looks like transfer activity is slowing down again, as most of the key people are on holidays now.
A loan for Gnarby would be a good idea – until December.
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Fins, it looks like the new ramp up to the concourse if I got my google position right LOL
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messi was seriously considering a move to arsenal before he decided to extend his contract just two months ago! …well according to twatters.
…..em… for how much? this transfer window is really getting messilessly boring now.
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Costa Rica came in first place ahead of Italy, England and Uruguay, then they beat Greece after going down to ten men and fought Holland all the way to penalties. Colombia, on the other hand, had arguably the easiest group in the world cup, beat an Uruguay mired in the suspension of the Vampire and got beat by the shittiest Brazil side ever. Despite all this, Joel Campbell is not valued at eighty million Euros nor will he line up with Ronaldo and Toni Kross next season. Gotta love hype and transfer market insanity.
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