[rockrunride]

(Original post by Zürich)
That's how we roll man. Making world class players as opposed to buying them and all that.

Podolski didn't work out at Bayern for a number of reasons. He scored for fun in an awful Koln side and is 44 in 100 for Germany so his quality is undoubted. He could get 15+ quite realistically in the EPL. Giroud probably more unpredictable but several big clubs were in for him and Wenger knows what hes doing wrt French footballers...

As someone who watches the Eredivisie alot, and Ajax in particular, Jan Vertoghen is not worth the money you parted with. He's a step up for you lot but he wouldn't make the Arsenal XI, which says alot considering out defensive record. If Modric leaves then your midfield is significantly weakened.

Not trying to stir the ****, but if Spurs couldn't make it past Arsenal last season(considering the start we had etc)then I don't see how you can be 'confident' of doing it this season.

He's of the same (or better) quality than Koscielny, definitely.

Modric leaving opens the door for a new signing. It won't be a case of him going and nobody else coming in.

[Zerforax]

(Original post by rockrunride)
He's of the same (or better) quality than Koscielny, definitely.

Modric leaving opens the door for a new signing. It won't be a case of him going and nobody else coming in.

Tbfh Koscielny was very good last season. Vertonghen is still unproven so might be great or poor.

[EmperorMustard]

(Original post by milkybarsareonme)
Arsenal's new blood is unproven and over-hyped already. Wilsheres their only real hope of a title challenge and hes hooked on gea...injured.....

Podolski has already had his big breakthrough move to Bayern, couldn't cut it at the top. Giroud could come good to be fair. I am not in the slightest bit worried. They consistently rely on run-of-the-mill average ability players like Song playing out of their skin for a season to drag them up, complimenting whatever scrimping of quality they have left. RVP will be the last to go. See how well world renowned names like the Ox and Abou Diaby carry them next year.

We, on the other hand, have a former Ajax captain, middle of his career, with plenty to prove and a bright young, premier league proven, goalscoring midfielder. We WILL end up with striker(s). In my opinion, Ade will come through as, despite the city press stuff, they arent even going to register him for squads and he isnt exactly going to help morale lying around. As well as that i could see Rondon or Daiamio (spelling?), however the latter may have priced himself out of a move due to his olympic form....

All in all, top 4 next season, confident

The bolded part really made me laugh. I guess Tottenham fans were hoping Vieira would be the last to go. Or Henry? Fabregas? Nasri? Time to face the facts, whenever we lose our best player somebody comes in and shines. Hell, last season we lost our two best players, had one of the worst starts in our history and yet still finished just a point below the season before and still above Tottenham. This is with our 'run-of-the-mill average players', just so you know.

You call our players over hyped and unproven and yet profess how Vertonghen is going to be so good, despite probably never seeing him play in one of the poorest divisions of the major football nations in Western Europe. You're kidding yourselves if you think he's better than Koscielny to be honest, Vermaelen would be a better comparison.

But still, given your comments, I would love to hear how two time European Champion and former Spanish player of the year Cazorla, 100+ caps for Germany Podolski and Ligue 1 champion and top scorer Giroud constitute 'unproven'. If we signed Messi would he have 'a point to prove'?

And just so you know Rondon has already gone to Rubin Kazan.

[rockrunride]

This will just turn into a "let's overrate our own players" charade and get dull. I have seen Vertonghen play this year for the record, and he has been fairly solid. Felt the need to defend him from the sour grapes, if anything, that the Arse couldn't get their hands on him first.

[Zerforax]

He's always going to look good for Ajax, they are so much better than all of the other teams that he's always going to have an easier job.

He's obviously a talent, otherwise he wouldn't play for Belgium regularly, who have a great crop of CBs currently.

Even then, it takes plenty of players a season to adapt to the premier league.

[EmperorMustard]

I never said he isn't solid, but there are certainly no sour grapes as we don't even need another centre back and you won't see us buying one this window unless it is somebody who can be a backup RB as well. Vertonghen claimed we were in for him to force Spurs to tie up the deal, but we've been linked with him for about 4 years and if we'd wanted him we would have got him long ago.

[jam277]

(Original post by Zürich)
That's how we roll man. Making world class players as opposed to buying them and all that.

Podolski didn't work out at Bayern for a number of reasons. He scored for fun in an awful Koln side and is 44 in 100 for Germany so his quality is undoubted. He could get 15+ quite realistically in the EPL. Giroud probably more unpredictable but several big clubs were in for him and Wenger knows what hes doing wrt French footballers...

As someone who watches the Eredivisie alot, and Ajax in particular, Jan Vertoghen is not worth the money you parted with. He's a step up for you lot but he wouldn't make the Arsenal XI, which says alot considering out defensive record. If Modric leaves then your midfield is significantly weakened.

Not trying to stir the ****, but if Spurs couldn't make it past Arsenal last season(considering the start we had etc)then I don't see how you can be 'confident' of doing it this season.

I 100% doubt that tottenham will finish above arsenal when defoe is their main striker from what it seems.

[Darth Vader 7]

(Original post by rockrunride)
He's of the same (or better) quality than Koscielny, definitely.

Modric leaving opens the door for a new signing. It won't be a case of him going and nobody else coming in.

I don't think you could say he's "better" than Koscielny. He's firstly got to prove himself in the Premier League which is always a difficult task for a defender in their first year of the Premier League. Not to mention that the Frenchman was one of the best CBs in the league last season and imho, was only pipped by Kompany in terms of the actual season.

Wenger had the opportunity to sign Vertonghen but decided against it. You have to wonder why. I've talked to quite a few Ajax fans on Twitter and they've all said that Vermaelan was a better player when leaving Ajax. So if Wenger thinks that Vermaelan is better than Vertonghen at this current moment, I'd generally take his word for it.

Also, you have wonder, why did teams like Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Man City, Madrid etc. go in for the Belgian? They all certainly need a new CB personally and have been actively looking for one.

Barcelona did inquire about Koscielny and Vermaelan this summer that were met with swift nos from Arsenal. If Vertonghen was better than both our CBs, surely they would've went and got him when he was readily available rather than waste time getting players that are contracted and had no intentions of leaving the club?

I have no doubt that Vertonghen will be a good player for Spurs (maybe even great) but to say he's better than Koscielny at this moment in time is a bit unfounded personally.

[Zürich]

(Original post by rockrunride)
He's of the same (or better) quality than Koscielny, definitely.

Modric leaving opens the door for a new signing. It won't be a case of him going and nobody else coming in.

Not saying that Vertonghen is a bad defender, just that I was surprised at the fee. He's a cultured defender who likes to play the ball but I've seen him get absolutely rinsed by quality strikers on a few occasions. You have to wonder why a Champions League club weren't in for the guy...You can be sure that Wenger turned down the chance since Arsenal had been heavily linked with the guy for years and De Telegraaf was regularly reporting Arsenal scouts at the ArenA. Pretty sure he was at the Emirates with as a guest this year already but no offer materialised.

[FK]

(Original post by Zürich)
Wenger knows what hes doing wrt French footballers...

Like Sylvain Wiltord you mean...

[EmperorMustard]

(Original post by FK)
Like Sylvain Wiltord you mean...

Yep I think he means twice Premier League and FA Cup winning, 33rd best Arsenal player of all time Sylvain Wiltord.

Come on if you're gonna play that card at least get it right. Do you not remember Cygan?

[jam277]

(Original post by EmperorMustard)
Yep I think he means twice Premier League and FA Cup winning, 33rd best Arsenal player of all time Sylvain Wiltord.

Come on if you're gonna play that card at least get it right. Do you not remember Cygan?

Cygan was bought for 2 million as a backup/fringe player.
Gallas, silvestre and squillaci are better examples.

[EmperorMustard]

Silvestre and Squillaci were also brought in as backup/fringe players, but I'll give you Gallas. Although in fairness he wasn't as bad as the others, he was more-so a victim of our defensive system as well as being a complete and utter ****.

[Zürich]

(Original post by FK)
Like Sylvain Wiltord you mean...

He has as many league titles as Spurs, and they came more recently than 50 years ago...

[Spencer42]

Look, this is a Tottenham thread, would all Arsenal scum please **** off, much obliged. On a lighter note, we seem pretty focused on getting Leandro Dalmio, who is world class for brazil. And they're interested in our bid of £15 million? Even if it's upped to £20 mil, that's a bargain for a world-class player.

[Darth Vader 7]

(Original post by Spencer42)
Look, this is a Tottenham thread, would all Arsenal scum please **** off, much obliged. On a lighter note, we seem pretty focused on getting Leandro Dalmio, who is world class for brazil. And they're interested in our bid of £15 million? Even if it's upped to £20 mil, that's a bargain for a world-class player.

Why are you threatened by Arsenal fans discussing what's happening at Tottenham? It's just banter regardless of our rivalry.

Do you really think that Damiao is world class?

[doggyfizzel]

Damiao as world class is a stretch, big one at that. He's got a lot of potential though, don't think £15m is unfair for someone in the Brazil national side.

What's happening with Modric, is it seemingly just Spurs lining up the replacement before the Madrid deal is announced or has it actually died?

[DaveSmith99]

(Original post by doggyfizzel)
Damiao as world class is a stretch, big one at that. He's got a lot of potential though, don't think £15m is unfair for someone in the Brazil national side.

What's happening with Modric, is it seemingly just Spurs lining up the replacement before the Madrid deal is announced or has it actually died?

From what I can tell, Madrid still want him, he wants Madrid, but they won't meet Levy's valuation. If neither side gives in then Spurs are going to have a very unhappy Modric in the dressing room.

[Spencer42]

(Original post by Darth Vader 7)
Why are you threatened by Arsenal fans discussing what's happening at Tottenham? It's just banter regardless of our rivalry.

Do you really think that Damiao is world class?

Not 'threatened', and the banter is fine. But some are taking it too far, that's all.

Well he's a regular in the brazil side, and from what I've seem of him yes, he is world class. Also he fits into our new strategy of buying young with potential.

Also, Vertonghen is a massive signing for us. As far as defensive skills go he is good, but the best thing is his age and physique. AVB likes to play a high, pressing back line, and regularly play the offside trap. All our previous CB's were good tacklers but slow (Like Terry, hence why it didn't work at Chelsea). Once Caulker is integrated into the first team, we have the perfect defence to play in AVB's style.

[Spencer42]

(Original post by DaveSmith99)
From what I can tell, Madrid still want him, he wants Madrid, but they won't meet Levy's valuation. If neither side gives in then Spurs are going to have a very unhappy Modric in the dressing room.

Correct. Although PSG are interested, and have the money to meet the £40 million valuation easily. And Modric would much rather go there than stay at spurs for another season, so he should agree to it. My bet's on PSG.