Arsenal-Mania

The silly season has started

By Joël Che on Saturday, May 10, 2008

The last ball of the season has not yet been kicked. Euro 2008 has not started. The sun may be shinning but it's not summer. Yet the silly season of summer transfer speculation is in full swing and once again, Arsenal is at the heart of it.

Football journalists have a lot to talk about every day of the week during the season. Sky Sports, Canal+, Setanta, newspapers, etc., have dozens of channels, pages and employees dedicated to football. What to do when there are no games? Why, rehash the news, make a mountain out of a molehill, call agents – basically, get silly.

It's not easy for a fan because we too have to fill the void left by the absence of football with something. So we are easy prey and hungry consumers of silliness. It's addictive, it's annoying, it's tiring, it's mostly rubbish but it's also destabilising.

On this scale – with TV channels and big newspapers involved – these rumours that would normally be harmless can be amplified, replayed and eventually become harmful to certain teams. A club's stability can get harmed, players might get jittery. The mass hysteria is more harmful than lack of home-grown talent that Sepp Blatter is focusing on while dismantling the transfer system that ensures stability.

Manager Arsène Wenger is clearly rattled and annoyed. He speaks like I have never heard him before. The calmness and assurance is diminished. It is taking a toll on him.

Wenger said: "Look, [apart from Lehmann] there is one player who is free. He has already left. For me, 98 per cent of the squad will be here next season. And the two per cent have already gone.

"The rest are all under contract. If anybody wants to buy a player he has to call me. I can give you my number if you want because maybe some ignore that I have a phone.

"What is unbelievable is I'm sitting here [at the press conference and it is] like we have killed all the players. Yet when I go to my office I have 220 calls from players who want to come in."

Everybody can talk now about how crazy it was to let Flamini run out his contract. Would you have signed Flamini last season? AC Milan would never have done it either.

Alexander Hleb is about to go, we are told. Emmanuel Adebayor has threatened, Francesc Fabregas is being tracked, Karen Brady has been interviewed and we are about to sign Gareth Barry and Ben Arfa. Really?

One thing I have learned over the years is that 95% of the talk never materialises come August. Worry in August when pre-season starts, not now. I know that it is easier said than done but it's the only way to stay sane.

Also, realise that when Arsenal were invincible, nobody asked these questions. When Chelsea won titles nobody speculated this much about their players just as nobody is hassling Manchester United now. For Arsenal and Liverpool, we just have to bear it. It comes with the unwanted territory of having not won anything this season.

People who claim to know insiders and report the rumours never saw Eduardo, Hleb or Tomas Rosicky coming. They did not see Bacary Sagna coming – most of them didn't even know who he was. Don't get worried. Read and laugh about it.

Pay attention in August and get happy or worried at that point depending on what has been done.

User Comments

26

Baz the Gooner

Posted on 14 May, 2008 at 03:59 PM - Reply

The silly season is just that - don't let it bother you! AW knows that he has to make some hard decisions on spending wodges of sponduliks to bring in one or two quality players who can slot into our beautiful style of play. Meanwhile, enjoy E2008 and come on the new season!

25

demmyville

Posted on 13 May, 2008 at 09:27 PM - Reply

great article...you said it

24

Arsenal fan

Posted on 13 May, 2008 at 04:27 PM - Reply

when is the forum going to be ready???

23

Nikhil

Posted on 13 May, 2008 at 02:03 PM - Reply

Just like Tottenham we could have signed Luka Modric. I guess he is amazing and I'm sick of very young players. I want someone experienced and badly want Villa. If Wenger plans for Henry back then why can't he but Villa instead. Henry said he may want to leave Barca but also said that he likes them. Barca may sell him.

22

Panther

Posted on 13 May, 2008 at 12:34 PM - Reply

For the masochistic among you, consider how slight the margins were this season.

P Team Pld W D L Pts GD
1 Arsenal 38 25 11 2 86 45
2 Chelsea 38 25 10 3 85 39
3 Man U 38 26 6 6 84 56

This is how the table should have looked. Not after major alterations in our season, but if we had kept our concentration for the last 35+ minutes of the game at Old Trafford where we played them off the park. Instead we conceeded two needless set-pieces. That’s how close it was.

I know hindsight is always 20/20, and some will argue that if we had won, the other results may not have panned out they way they did, but that argument would also work in our favour, considering the morale boost a win over Utd would have given the lads. THAT”S how CLOSE it was!

Keep the faith Gooners!!

Ben Panther
gooner_panther@yahoo.com

For the masochistic among you, consider how slight the margins were this season.

P Team Pld W D L Pts GD
1 Arsenal 38 25 11 2 86 45
2 Chelsea 38 25 10 3 85 39
3 Man U 38 26 6 6 84 56

This is how the table should have looked. Not after major alterations in our season, but if we had kept our concentration for the last 35+ minutes of the game at Old Trafford where we played them off the park. Instead we conceeded two needless set-pieces. That’s how close it was.

I know hindsight is always 20/20, and some will argue that if we had won, the other results may not have panned out they way they did, but that argument would also work in our favour, considering the morale boost a win over Utd would have given the lads. THAT”S how CLOSE it was!

Keep the faith Gooners!!

21

jansky

Posted on 13 May, 2008 at 01:12 AM - Reply

This transfer season will be interesting. Lots of scoutin to do in Euro 08. Lots of Goodbyes, fairwell, welcome and wanted. Try to enjoy it a little. Thats all we gat for the next 68days to our usual Barnet FC tradition.

20

wil

Posted on 12 May, 2008 at 07:55 PM - Reply

Great article,its easy to get carried away with all the big name speculation and I gave up reading all the transfer hype years ago.Wenger will make a couple of signings hopefully sooner rather than later.Must admit to being alarmed at Chelsea's statement of intent for next season with a 16m signing already in the bag.

19

TriniGunner

Posted on 12 May, 2008 at 05:20 PM - Reply

We all know that Wenger has the uncanny ability to pull a diamond out of nothing, hence the Bacary Sagna, Clichy, Hleb players that we have. I'm sure that there are clubs that had the foresight to see these players. We already have a great squad, it's unfortunate that we didn't win anything this season but that doesn't make a squad great, it the quality of football that's played; and NOBODY does that better than ARSENAL! Wenger may replace Flamini, with someone and I'm sure, he just won't lose any sleep over it!

18

BOY BETTER KNOW

Posted on 12 May, 2008 at 01:09 PM - Reply

Does any one think hleb should just be sold now.All this speculation about him leaving will affect him if it does not get sorted out.Hleb has not even come out to say anything like adebayor did.On ben arfa i dont think it will be a very positive signing just my view.

17

Dan

Posted on 12 May, 2008 at 11:19 AM - Reply

Does anyone remember the Sol Campbell signing? A press conference is called and everyone thinks its for Richard Wright's signing and WHAM there's Sol wearing an Arsenal shirt. That's how Wenger does his business.

I take the view, that if I read in a paper we're buying a player, then its not true. Wenger simply doesn't work like that. I bet he already knows who he is going to sign and is 75% of the way to signing them.

As for Flamini, I say good riddance to anyone who doesn't want to be here.

16

clarkee

Posted on 12 May, 2008 at 09:00 AM - Reply

is it me or every summer the only players that seem up for sale is nearly three quarters of the arsenal team I mean gets so mundane now adays opening a paper and seeing another player from arsenal be chased by some poxy club I mean got so sick of it during the henry fiasco I stopped reading the papers for a while and looks like I may stop reading again if all im going to be bombarded with is the same story on the back page every day I mean please no no fabregas fiasco will I wont I

15

jamble

Posted on 11 May, 2008 at 07:35 AM - Reply

While I agree the rumour mill is daft already even before the transfer window is open I must say I think Wenger should be looking to wrap up all his transfer dealings asap this year as he always seems to leave it until the end of august and the players miss out on a pre-season and take longer to settle.

Also with the Euro's coming up the chance of some targets having a great tournament may increase prices further.

14

Thierrix

Posted on 11 May, 2008 at 05:25 AM - Reply

hey, that was a pretty good spot by Mr.WENGER there.. may i know how to / is there any way that can make our comment read by Mr.Wenger directly (his direct email add maybe) .. if there's any, please inform or let us know. well thx a lot for u

13

Jack

Posted on 10 May, 2008 at 07:52 PM - Reply

Very true, two days ago the sun said Hleb quits. Guess what happened the next day? Wenger says Hleb will not be leaving.

12

Nikhil

Posted on 10 May, 2008 at 07:23 PM - Reply

I just hope that Ben Arfa shines for us. There are too many french players in our squad and Wenger should be looking for abroad talents other than from his own country. People say so many things on Ben Arfa and I just hope that means Eboue out of the squad and him searching for a club. He is no good at all and Wenger keeps thinking he will improve but I dont think he will. The good thing about Wenger when u compare him with Ferguson is that Ferguson only knows how to keep buying players but can't realize any talent in any talent in any player at all. Wenger has so many young players.

11

aliyu

Posted on 10 May, 2008 at 06:35 PM - Reply

You got it right brother.Nothing more to add.

10

Jesper

Posted on 10 May, 2008 at 04:05 PM - Reply

Could not agree more.. great article.

9

SHANE

Posted on 10 May, 2008 at 02:34 PM - Reply

You are spot on. The media are pandering to the childish impatience in us all. Wenger has a long history of avoiding big names yet every spring/summer we go through the same bull with the press. Chill out folks, lets trust this man to improve an already great squad to the maximum within the parameters he is allowed.

8

Serguey-

Posted on 10 May, 2008 at 12:45 PM - Reply

good read,thanks,mate,my life is gonna be brighter from now on-)

7

timao

Posted on 10 May, 2008 at 11:12 AM - Reply

Wenger has some choice comments reported in the Sun this morning - basically saying history will remember Arsenal's unbroken record of honesty and integrity as being ultimately more important than the trophies won by corrupt means by teams such as AC Milan. Hear, hear!

6

Danish Gooner

Posted on 10 May, 2008 at 10:57 AM - Reply

Exactly right. Who knew anything about Bacary Sagna !!!!!!!

5

RollOnAugust

Posted on 10 May, 2008 at 10:35 AM - Reply

Well in Joël, needed to be said before this get out of hand. What a bunch of useless vermin the sports press and agents are... and a good few other clubs. Papers stir up speculation for sales purposes and big clubs use them to unsettle target and rivals. This we know to be true. We (the public) have been too weak to do the right thing and boycott those who publish unfounded crap, this has to change or the situation never will.

Blatter and Platini are clearly insane and the day that Wenger leaves us (which will be the darkest day in our history) it will be due in no small part to their tinkering.

On another note, I have a reliable source who tells me that we are going to sign Benzema, Afra, Robinho, Yaya and Villa in the next few weeks... and Totti in goal. I know this to be true because we have 200 million to spend. We won't be signing a centreback because its all about scoring at the end o' da day innit?

Malcontents and Championship Manager obsessives: please visit this website to learn the error of your ways, not to seek approval or backing for your ill thought out hypotheses.

4

geoj

Posted on 10 May, 2008 at 10:34 AM - Reply

............ and before that nobody was familiar with the name Arsene Wenger, and Paddy Vieira, Manu Petit, Niclas Anelka, Freddie Lundburg. AW has been aware for at least a month that Flamini was leaving, and he probably has a couple of options in mind to replace him. He does not get involved in bidding wars for players - so its reasonable to assume that he won't be 'in for' Barry, Benzema, etc, etc.
I don't know what's going to happen with Hleb though - it could be a situation similar to the one that we had with Ashley Cole - where he was clearly angered at the behaviour of Chelsea, and wanted to make them sweat over the deal. In that case we picked up the cash and Bill Gallas in return. What chance we will wring some concessions from Inter, with a player heading in the opposite direction ?

3

RollOnAugust

Posted on 10 May, 2008 at 10:34 AM - Reply

Well in Joël, needed to be said before this get out of hand. What a bunch of useless vermin the sports press and agents are... and a good few other clubs. Papers stir up speculation for sales purposes and big clubs use them to unsettle target and rivals. This we know to be true. We (the public) have been too weak to do the right thing and boycott those who publish unfounded crap, this has to change or the situation never will.

Blatter and Platini are clearly insane and the day that Wenger leaves us (which will be the darkest day in our history) it will be due in no small part to their tinkering.

On another note, I have a reliable source who tells me that we are going to sign Benzema, Afra, Robinho, Yaya and Villa in the next few weeks... and Totti in goal. I know this to be true because we have 200 million to spend. We won't be signing a centreback because its all about scoring at the end o' da day innit?

Malcontents and Championship Manager obsessives: please visit this website to learn the error of your ways, not to seek approval or backing for your ill thought out hypotheses.

2

JamesL

Posted on 10 May, 2008 at 10:28 AM - Reply

Nicely put

1

Mart

Posted on 10 May, 2008 at 10:08 AM - Reply

For the record, Ade was quick to quash the speculations about his future, claiming the reports of him threatening to leave were rubbish... I choose to believe him on that one