LOL @ Arsenal

[Rob]

Sevilla turn down new Baptista bid


MADRID, July 15 (Reuters) - Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido says he has rejected a renewed offer of £13.75million, €20million, from Arsenal for the club's Brazilian attacking midfielder Julio Baptista.

Baptista: Arsenal's top target? (Picture/GettyImages)

'There is now a written offer on the table for Baptista for 20 million euros,' Del Nido told reporters on Friday.

'The offer is much higher than the three previous ones, but we haven't reached an agreement with Arsenal and the figures are still not close to what we are asking for.

'We are in no hurry. The player is under contract and if we don't agree a deal, then he will play at Sevilla next season.'

Del Nido confirmed that neither Barcelona nor Real Madrid had made an offer for the 23-year-old international.

Last week Del Nido rejected what he called a 'derisory' offer from Arsenal for the player.

Spanish media reported on Friday that the English club were prepared to use the 20 million euros they had raised from the sale of Patrick Vieira to Juventus to finance the deal.

Baptista joined Sevilla on a five-year contract from Sao Paulo in July 2003 for £2million.

He made an immediate impact at the Andalucian club, earning the sobriquet 'La Bestia' (the Beast) for his rampaging runs into the area, ending his first season as leading scorer with 20 league goals from 30 appearances.

He continued his rich vein of form last term, notching up 18 goals to help Sevilla to a sixth-place finish in the Primera Liga for the second season in succession.

Baptista was part of the Brazil squad that won the Confederations Cup last month and has not begun pre-season training as he remains on holiday.

Del Nido also confirmed that the club was poised to sign Italian midfielder Enzo Maresca on a four-year deal for a fee of three million euros from Juventus.

'The transfer has been done and if we agree personal terms with the player he will soon form part of our squad,' he said.

[Rob]

Wenger: We can still win the title


Arsene Wenger has £13.7million to spend and insists life and the pursuit of trophies must go on at Arsenal after Patrick Vieira's departure.

Wenger: No need to panic (BenRadford/GettyImages)

The manager will be given the funds realised from Vieira's sale to strengthen a squad he is already convinced will rise to the challenge of being without their former captain.


Vieira completed his transfer to the Italian champions today, with Arsenal allowing him to leave after several summers of fighting to keep him at Highbury.

Wenger said: 'You have to respect that a player can have the second part of his career somewhere else. It leaves a massive hole because of his quality, presence and charisma and that's not easy to replace.

'But we have done some work already with our players to face the challenge because that is what is in front of us. The experienced players have a big part to play now to show strength and character.

'I feel a massive player has left but that we still have enough quality to fight for the championship.'

Vieira passed the formality of a medical in Turin and the transfer is expected to keep him on his Arsenal salary, around £80,000 per week.

But whereas he had just two seasons left on his Gunners deal, with Juve he has signed for the next five years.

Arsenal will receive the Vieira fee in three chunks, spread over the next two years, and Wenger will be allowed to spend it all.

He lost another star midfielder Edu, who moved to Valencia earlier this summer, and may choose to strengthen in that area.

But Wenger, who has been strongly linked with Newcastle United's Jermaine Jenas and Lyon's Mahamadou Diarra, is not so short of midfielders.

He has already brought in Stuttgart's Alexander Hleb to join Gilberto Silva, Freddie Ljungberg, Cesc Fabregas and Mathieu Flamini.

Wenger told Arsenal TV Online: 'We are open (to strengthening) everywhere. Yes, I would like somebody to come in and if the right opportunity comes along we will take it, although the timing is not the best.'

Newcastle have indicated they want huge money for Jenas, while Wenger has rejected a move for Diarra out of hand.

Asked whether Arsenal were keen, he said: 'Not really. He's a player I like but we're not really after him.

'He's not for sale anyway. So therefore it is a name we have been linked with but we have not gone into any negotiations with his club.'

Wenger also recognises the loss of a leader, saying: 'I feel I had a special relationship with Patrick.

'He had a tremendous impact on not only Arsenal but English football in general. We still have a lot of talent but we are not desperate. So let's make sure everybody is fit for the season.

'Now we have to find another captain to lead the troops. I have not yet made up my mind and I have to do that in the next few weeks.

'I have many options among the experienced players but we have to stick together and work more as a unit and compensate for the massive departure of Patrick.'

Wenger promised: 'The fee for him will not be used for the stadium, it will be used for the team exclusively. I can give you that guarantee. Use it now or later in the season? I don't know. We don't have any specific financial problem linked with the new stadium.

'It's always a gamble to let a massive player go. He had a special place in our team, but it's a challenge and an opportunity for a young player to show his qualities.

'I'm confident we will be strong next season and it depends how well we overcome that psychologically and how strong our spirit will be.

'The ideal solution is, of course, before you sell to have someone to replace him, but football doesn't work like that.

'We had to play some big games without Patrick last year and that was always a massive blow but it was a good opportunity for young players to gain experience.

'That has given them confidence and they can take advantage of that at the start of the season.'

---

"Trust me"
"We can still win"

:D

[Popos]

Gilberto is good quality but apart from that they have no experience or depth in the CM. Wenger will have to pull off a multi-million pound coup or Arsenal fans will be relying on Wenger's whippersnappers :)

The cracks are really starting to show at Arsenal. There are so many unadressed problems with the squad that I just can't see them cathing Chelsea next season. I know with Keano in the middle Chelsea will need a mighty slip up for us to win it, but all in all I think we're in a better position to catch them

[Aeon]

Wenger will pull something good off im sure .£13.7 is a lot to buy a good player with.

[kevin_kyle]

At the moment as i see it, we will be playing with Gilberto in the DM spot that he has been playing his entire time at Arsenal, and at the moment Fabregas in the AM role vacated by Vieira.

*incredible hatred: I can't stand people who think Vieira was a DM and that he played DM and Arsenal need another DM because Vieira is gone.
Gilberto covers the back four and always has....

Arsenal need to sign a playmaker.... I'm scared for this season...
Fabregas is not ready...

[Aeon]

a play maker like Kaka???
did u see him go in the Confed Cup and for Milan against liverpool?

thats who we need IMO

[Shorty]

Wenger will pull something good off im sure .£13.7 is a lot to buy a good player with.
Arsenal with Viera, i'm looking forward to next EPL season, they'll have to buy one of hell of a player to replace Viera in the arsenal line-up, we'll c arsenal slid behind Man Utd this coming season

[james_j]

I wouldn't be surprised if Wenger player Freddie in the middle and Hleb out on the right if be turns out to be a good player.

[kevin_kyle]

That could work...
Ljungberg is definitely a winger though...his pace is a tool for being a winger.
Don't know if he could pass well enough for the Centre Mid spot.
It is a possible option though...

[james_j]

Better option would be to buy somebody, and I don't think Flamini is at that the top level yet.

[Kieran]

Better option would be to buy somebody, and I don't think Flamini is at that the top level yet.
Flamini isnt a defensive midfielder.
He can't tackle :cool:

[eskimo]

a play maker like Kaka???
did u see him go in the Confed Cup and for Milan against liverpool?

thats who we need IMO

Too bad he's staying put. :)

[Rob]

a play maker like Kaka???
did u see him go in the Confed Cup and for Milan against liverpool?

thats who we need IMO

Im sure Milan will just give him to you :confused:

[Aeon]

Im sure Milan will just give him to you :confused:

yep ur right. they wont let go of him thats for sure.

[aL3n]

I heard that Wenger wants Ballack

[Kieran]

I heard that Wenger wants Ballack
He tell you that did he? :p
------------------------------
I've also read numerous articles linking Ballack to United.
We'll have to see what happens :cool:

[kevin_kyle]

Flamini isnt a defensive midfielder.
He can't tackle :cool:WE DON'T NEED A DM.

[Kieran]

WE DON'T NEED A DM.
Yes you do.
Injury-prone GIlberto can't shoulder the responsibilities all year long :rolleyes:

[kevin_kyle]

Gilberto had a long term injury last year. Lots of players get them.
Of all the good clubs in the world, who has two quality international DM's?
Not many.

[irish]

this makes my day

[STampSY]

Why? You another Man U supporter.

[Kieran]

Gilberto had a long term injury last year. Lots of players get them.
Of all the good clubs in the world, who has two quality international DM's?
Not many.
Nah :rolleyes:
Most of the top quality clubs in the world have a quality DM (Gilberto is good, not quality) and have a decent back up.
Arsenal have Gilberto and then sh1te.
Simple. You need a DM.
Wouldn't be surprised if you converted Baptista (if/when you get him) back into his Defensive Midfield role :cool:

[STampSY]

Gilberto is quality when he is fully fit, but I have to agree that we need a decent backup. Flamini *shudder*. We also need a play maker in the centre.

[kevin_kyle]

I don't see what is different from last season.
Vieira didn't play DM then and no-one went on about needing a DM last year.
We need a playmaker (eg Ballack) (ie good luck)
I can't stand people who say Vieira was a DM because Champ Man said he was.

[james_j]

We need a playmaker

Well at least one person has the right idea.

[Nch]

As a UNITED supporter I have to say Arsenal did very good buisness getting shut of Viera on their terms, he had tried to sign for Madrid for the last two seasons until Real blew him out.
He was crap last season so hes gone just wish fergie would learn from Wenger and shift Keane on, I hear Celtic are in need of players. :p

[Aaron]

Rob - what club for you 'go for' ?

[Rob]

Melbourne Victory.

[Aaron]

Rob - dahhhhhhhhhhhh ! I mean outside of AFLand ..... Before Victory was formed who did you say you went for ?

[irish]

Why? You another Man U supporter.


yes i am s this means me and you (STampSY) hate each other but not on this forum or at the games (melbourne victory games)

[kevin_kyle]

yes i am s this means me and you (STampSY) hate each other but not on this forum or at the games (melbourne victory games)Thats what you like to think...

[Gunner4Eva]

We clearly dont need another defensive midfielder. Its just stupid talk from people who suggest so. Gilberto is a defensive midfielder, and will remain in that spot. If he gets injured, Flamini will provide ample back-up until Gilberto is fit again.

A replacement for Vieira (who was NOT a defensive midfielder!) was purchased in Alexander Hleb. He plays all over the midfield, but is essentially a playmaker. Ljungberg wont come inside, he'll stay on the right. No use in weakening another spot by putting him central.

Clearly Arsenal hasn'y had a big off-season purchasing wise, but we have been looking pretty good in the friendlies to date, and I dont mean against those 4th division Austrian sides. Just because we sold Vieira, doesnt mean we are going to fall to pieces. Yes, we will miss his height, but we played some of our best football without him last year.

I think some people are looking too much into the Vieira sale. So what if we didnt get Baptista. We'll build a bridge and get over it. His loss in the end. I hope he enjoys life on the bench at Real Madrid. We made a great signing in Hleb, and he's going to be a great player for us because his style of play fits right into our system.

[kevin_kyle]

I agree with all that you say here.
Finally someone who knows what they are talking about in this thread instead of the Man USA and Scousers who have barely watched Arsenal ever and base their opinions on Vieira based on Champ Man.
(By the way, someone is going to hammer you about the club Patty went to)

[Kieran]

I agree with all that you say here.
Finally someone who knows what they are talking about in this thread instead of the Man USA and Scousers who have barely watched Arsenal ever and base their opinions on Vieira based on Champ Man.
(By the way, someone is going to hammer you about the club Patty went to)
*cough* Juventus *cough* :)
I personally think that Arsenal do need a another DM.
Just to give some squad depth.
IMO, I don't think Vieira has had much impact on Arsenal's performances for a while.
So I suppose you could do without one.
But surely you'd rather a good quality DM to go along with Gilberto?

[STampSY]

yes i am s this means me and you (STampSY) hate each other but not on this forum or at the games (melbourne victory games)
No exceptions.

[kevin_kyle]

But then we would be wasting money on a quality back up for a position when we can spend that on a player in a position we need like a striker.
I have no problems with having good good good players for each position, but Arsenal cannot afford to do that as we don't have the spending power of Chelsea, and i guess United to a lesser extent.

[Gunner4Eva]

*cough* Juventus *cough* :)
I personally think that Arsenal do need a another DM.
Just to give some squad depth.
IMO, I don't think Vieira has had much impact on Arsenal's performances for a while.
So I suppose you could do without one.
But surely you'd rather a good quality DM to go along with Gilberto?

Why would we want to buy a back-up for? Gilberto is our defensive midfielder, we dont need two on the pitch at the same time. We have our starting defensive midfielder (Gilberto) and we have our backup defensive midfielder (Mathieu Flamini). We lost a playmaker, and now have Alexander Hleb. We do need to further strengthen our squad, but no need for another defensive midfielder.

As kevin_kyle said, we'll be wasting our money on a back-up, instead of strengthening a position we need, like a striker. If we had plenty of money like a Chelsea, we'd buy heaps of back-ups, no doubt, but we dont. We're not as fortunate as Manchester United and Chelsea to have plenty of money. We do our purchasing through shrewd business.

[Kieran]

Why would we want to buy a back-up for? Gilberto is our defensive midfielder, we dont need two on the pitch at the same time. We have our starting defensive midfielder (Gilberto) and we have our backup defensive midfielder (Mathieu Flamini). We lost a playmaker, and now have Alexander Hleb. We do need to further strengthen our squad, but no need for another defensive midfielder.

As kevin_kyle said, we'll be wasting our money on a back-up, instead of strengthening a position we need, like a striker. If we had plenty of money like a Chelsea, we'd buy heaps of back-ups, no doubt, but we dont. We're not as fortunate as Manchester United and Chelsea to have plenty of money. We do our purchasing through shrewd business.
I'm not stupid :)
I know you don't play 2 DM's on the pitch at same time.
I'm merely stating that when injury prone Gilberto goes down with an injury, you guys will be fecked as you will have no decent DM's.

And no, Mathieu Flamini is not a decent DM. Second rate IMO :cool:

[Gunner4Eva]

He's going to be a good player is Flamini. He's got one hell of an engine and showed plenty of promise last season when he did play. Just ask Chelsea, when Flamini shut down Lampard at Highbury.

He's a good back-up, but not many people outside of the Arsenal fans will know too much.

I'm not stupid :)

But dont you follow Manchester United? ;) :D

[kevin_kyle]

He's going to be a good player is Flamini. He's got one hell of an engine and showed plenty of promise last season when he did play. Just ask Chelsea, when Flamini shut down Lampard at Highbury.

He's a good back-up, but not many people outside of the Arsenal fans will know too much.



But dont you follow Manchester United? ;) :DAlthough i am not the greatest of Flamini fans he played a killer game against the commies that game.
The reality is that Arsenal do not need to sign another DM at all.
A playmaker maybe but Hleb can play all the way across the midfield so i will reserve my judgement about that after watching Wengers thought processes.
A striker yes, but we will be competitive as always this year.
Head and shoulders above 5-20th places.

[Kieran]

He's going to be a good player is Flamini. He's got one hell of an engine and showed plenty of promise last season when he did play. Just ask Chelsea, when Flamini shut down Lampard at Highbury.

He's a good back-up, but not many people outside of the Arsenal fans will know too much.

I understand what your saying.

But IMO, you can't rip the heart and soul out of a club and not even half replace him. As the boys said on Total Football last night, your whole team was built around him :cool:

[kevin_kyle]

Time will tell...

[Gunner4Eva]

I understand what your saying.

But IMO, you can't rip the heart and soul out of a club and not even half replace him. As the boys said on Total Football last night, your whole team was built around him :cool:

Those ********s (that is what Im going to call them now) suggested that Gilberto had to take over Vieira's position.

They know nothing. :rolleyes:

[sam.]

shit thread

Julio was crap!

[NULL]

lol @ arsenal

[Buckz]

i will remember this rob, and all the rest of you.



btw shit bump sam. forget the content, i don't wanna see that title on my forum!

but yeah shit thread.

[sam.]

i will remember this rob, and all the rest of you.



btw shit bump sam. forget the content, i don't wanna see that title on my forum!
but yeah shit thread.

YOU DONT OWN THIS FORUM!!!1! :gunsmilie:

[Buckz]

MY FORUM!!!!!!!!

anyway stop posting in here now.