Wenger Building On Talent Not Egos
Arsene Wenger is unlikely to buy a big name player in the transfer window. Ballack for instance can be ruled out. I'd love it if I was wrong. Torres will not sign. Unless we sell Henry.Arsene has a clear philosophy, he doesn't like to bring in players with big egos. He'd prefer someone who is humble, with the right attitude, a player with something to prove, who is hungry for success. That is why he has bought in a lot of youngster's.
He also likes to make unknown players big stars, it gives him a sense of achievement. When asked about whom he would bring in over the transfer window I recall him saying, in a slightly jovial way, that 'We don't buy big names here, we make them'. Joking aside. That sums it all up.
Wenger is also determined to build a team to compete with Chelsea, spending as little as possible. He called Chelsea's current monopoly of the transfer market and extravagant outlays on big names 'financial doping'. Arsene views it as a challenge and will only spend big if he is sure the player is worth it, and let's be honest, the majority aren't.
Wenger really believes in the new breed of young players he has assembled at Highbury and wants to give them a chance. He would prefer to do that, or potentially add to the rising stars at the club, rather than buy a big name player, with an ego to match.
That's why it is more likely we will bid for Carlos Vela, the 16 year old Mexican. Several sources claim we have a deal in place to send him on loan to Valencia for a year, before he turns professional. That would be more of a Wenger style signing.
As would Theo Walcott, the young Southampton striker, but reported interest from Chelsea and Liverpool among others is likely to inflate the price and put Wenger off. It really would be nice to see us sign an Englishman wouldn't it?..
Just expect subtlety from Wenger in the transfer market, not sensation.
posted by JoeBoni @ 1:07 PM
22 comments
22 Comments:
Good to see that you have used my big egos comment to create an article! Richard Godden
Being an Arsenal fan for 16 years I guess. I just wanted to share some views and see what other Gooners thought to be honest.
At last, an Arsenal fan who talks as much sense as you and I Joe! Big up the gun. anon is probably a Ch£ls£a (Spit) fan. Cheers, Richard Godden
I agree with most of your comments,although anybody who has seen us this season would agree that we are desperately short of quality cover in the middle of midfield.It would be most unlike Wenger to spend in January but if he does bring someone in an exciting, creative,cheap,young and hungry cental midfielder would help the jigsaw come together.I notice that we seem to have run out of "Wenger doesn't know what he is doing"comments ....has The Daily Mail gone out of circulation?
last should have read...."I agree with most of your comments Joe ...."
ur wrong wenger will buy in january because he got stung with baptista, robiniho and SWP in the summer. i dont know who he will sign but dont be surprised when u see 2 new players at highbury in jan 2006.
Cheers the Gun, good man, I really don't understand people who waste their time posting comments like that. Godden is probably right.. Like you say, Kuyt is solid but like a lot of players is way over priced at even £10m. I read an article from a guy in Africa who has watched Ghaly play for 10 years and he said he was unique, even went as far as comparing him to Maradonna. Could be a good addition but we do need a midfield powerhouse. I don't disagree Andy, but I am not convinced they will be big names like Torres or Ballck.
I agree that Arsene Wenger likes to make big stars, rather than sign them.
But like Reyes, Henry, and Hleb, Arsene is not sacred to splash the cash to big talents....
Of Course, Arsene would never buy Ballack, but i wouldn't rule out Kuyt or Torres.....
In the summer, he said he wants two world class 'super -quality' players.
So, i'm for Torres to sign.
amin
Astute observation, Joe. But if Wenger use 'ego' as one reason for not bringing in established players, then I think it is a cop-out on his part. A big part of a manager's job is to deal with egos and characters in the team. On that point, I would say that Moanrinho has done a pretty decent job to-date with so many seasoned pros in his ranks. My belief is you don't win championships with youth alone - a good blend of experience and youth is needed. Wenger has already stated that the current Arsenal team is imbalanced with not enough players in the 24 to 29 age group. Unfortunately, the really good players in this age group tend to be established stars as well.
Yes AW does like to be a star-maker but it appears that three things have changed since he made that statement in the summer. First, TH14 has backed away from his long-held position that he will stay at Arsenal for as long as the club wants him and many feel that is due to the fact that we haven't replaced the experienced players that have left and, ergo, cannot challenge for the big prizes anymore. Second, the Board are now urging AW to spend the money available and to bring in some names who will attract the fans to The Emirates Stadium next year; it will be a disaster if that stadium is only half full. Third, I believe that AW has now realised that his hopes that the kids would fill the experience gap will not be fulfilled for a few more years yet; he has said himself that we have some excellent 30+ year olds and some great kids but nothing much in between. Everybody understands that it is not possible to wait for several years, for the youngsters to blossom, particularly with the new stadium on the horizon. So, I think there will be some spending this year, hopefully some in January too.
Anon i agree, like i said, he doesn't mind buying established players but they have to be a decent price and have the right attitude. I seriously doubt he will buy Kuyt as he is over priced. I really would like to see some big players, especially in the 23-27 age group. However, the fact remains that the new stadium will be full even if we don't buy any big names. Wenger is not Fergie, he doesn't panic buy.
Hey Joe! I absolutely agree with you that AW is a brillant man at polishing the raw diamonds. All our us Arsenal fans have no doubts about that. Arsenal doesn't need to sign any big names to be play fanastic football. At the same time, I also wonder whether any of the big names at Arsenal at the present moment would see this policy of no signing any big names as a lack of ambition of the club. I certainly feel that our greatly loved PV4 was one. That is one of the reasons he left Arsenal. Our KING TH14 might be having the same doubts in his mind when he is still pondering whether to put his pen to the contract paper. I believe it would be interesting to see if AW sign a big name, not because we want to boost egos nor because we need a big name but because we want to send a message to the current players and other potential Arsenal stars that Arsenal is a club with ambition. I remember that when PV4 wants to leave the club a few years ago for Real Madrid, AW dipped into the transfer market with a big bag of cash, got Francis Jeffers, Giovanni Van Bronckhorst, Richard Wright. We won the title in the season that follows and PV4 stays at the club for a few more years. However these new players never really hold down a regular place in the club and was sold off subsequently.
good blog.
your wrong though, for ones this will be a transfer window to remember!
I agree Clark, AW won't buy big names for the sake of it. He bought Hleb ( a pretty big player in Germany) because he thought he was an Arsenal style player, quick, mobile, good close control, good off the ball movement and technically gifted. I think he bought Hleb because he was a decent price and that was probably because Chelsea couldn't realistically buy him and SWP. I agree that we need some experience, and the 23-27 age group is perfect and much needed, especially for the midfield, but I wouldn't think AW will be in for the so called superstars, because they are rarely value for money.
Anon, I hope you are right, a massive cash splash the likes we have only had on championship manager.. That would be awesome!!
I fail to see how you can categorically rule out the signings of either Ballack or Torres. Neither are known to to be "problem" players with inflated ego's.
Ballack would actually be cheap as his contract at Bayern is due to expire soon. Torres would be more expensive, but is another "Reyes" type of signing - loads of potential and quite young.
I don't think Wenger has a policy of "not buying big names", it's more a policy of being very careful about making expensive, big-name signings. If the right player at the right price comes along, Wenger has shown he's not scared to make a move.
...remember Sol?
I seriously don't think he will sign Ballack. He's too old for a start but hey.. I wouldn't mind seeing him in, so I hope i'm wrong, as for Torres, I don't think he will sign unless we lose Henry, but I agree that is more believable. What I meant was AW won't sign a big name to please Henry or the fans for the sake of it.. Like you said, he is very cautious when spending lots of money, they have to have all the attributes and be at a reasonable price..
Now why the hell is everyone shunning Ballack eh? Wenger included, if that is the case. He is an absolutely fantastic player, a stronger more experienced lampard, who would really bolster the midfield. And he's out of contract. I absolutely love arsene, really really i do, but I can't agree with his policy on this player if what you are all suggesting (rightly probably) is true. What's wrong with trying to sign Ballack?
guys i agree with a lot of what you are saying. I spent last year in Madrid and watched a lot of Torres and whilst i agree he will be expensive for an arsen signing i think he suits the mould described in the article well. He is a young kid with bags of potential without the baggage that usually comes with that. He would be an incredible signing as he hasnt got an ego that will cause problems.
Chaps:
Let me put a little poser to you all.
Let’s assume we have now turned the corner as far as the results are concerned.
Now that Van Persie is looking good?
+ any sane person can see nobody can compete with Chelski @ the moment without breaking the bank. & 2nd place is not the end of the world is it?.
Now apparently there is a £60mil surplus sitting within Highbury.
What would you as a businessman be looking to do with regards to the clubs impending debt???
wouldnt gravesen be a good buy? v cheap ?
mike richards
Not so sure Gravesen would fit into the style of our play to be honest. Probably not enough flair for us and not mobile enough for Wenger.. I think a more long term option is needed. But the idea is right, a strong midfielder is def required.
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