If that's true I would hate to be an Arsenal fan right now. Selling Song even though he wanted to stay?
Alex Song
- Thread starter Mersault
- Start date
-
In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) and Imran (@Annihilate Now!) are here to discuss Amad saving our blushes in a win against Southampton as well as our now annual loss at home to Brighton. They discuss Amorim's post-match comments, revisit how mid-table we may or may not be, and discuss some transfer news.
Everybody is going to eventually want more money at Arsenal if you are a key player. They have a fixed wage structure and they'd prefer to profit from a sale rather than improve wages - it's their fiscal model for the club rather than a sporting one
If that's the case they better keep Wenger happy. Once he leaves I'm not sure there are many managers out there who can keep the club competitive with the likes of United, Arsenal and Chelsea with such a strict monetary restrictions.
Wenger's a fighter, he even competes with himself
He was sold because the manager no longer wanted him at the club not because we didn't want to give him a payrise. In the past year we have given Vermaelen and Koscienly new improved contracts so for people to think we didn't want to pay him more is nonsense. Eventually Song took the hint and realised he was no longer wanted here.
Like I've mentioned before during last season and this pre-season there are rumours of a lot of incidents and rumour has it the club had enough and let any interested clubs know that he was for sale at the right price.
Like I've mentioned before during last season and this pre-season there are rumours of a lot of incidents and rumour has it the club had enough and let any interested clubs know that he was for sale at the right price.
You hardly got the right price for him.
Personally thought he was worth around £18mill so £15mill isn't the worst fee in the world, certainly isn't worth £25mill like some people here seem to think. Apart from his fancy assists last season he had a rather poor season imo.
I've heard a bit about this Darren Dein fellow and the Arsenal hive mind seems to think it's all his fault based on some guy saying he was Clichy's, Nasri's, Cesc' and RvP's agent. If you google it however you'll barely manage to find anything that isn't from an Arsenal forum or twitter or news page. Found one Telegraph article that said that Wenger asked him to broker the Clichy and Cesc move and that he was RvP's agent, probably. Nothing to do with Nasri though.
Interesting case with no concrete information what so ever.
Interesting case with no concrete information what so ever.
More conjecture than a case then.
Wenger rarely gives up on a player. He virtually made Song the player he is today, and to sanction his sale means that there had to be severe indiscretions on Song's part.
So Song forced the move, like every other good player Arsenal sold.
All this talk about him slacking at training in pre-season makes it fairly obvious that the moment he heard about Barca's interest he gave up on Arsenal completely. His talk about wanting a new contract is clearly a load of hot air.
All this talk about him slacking at training in pre-season makes it fairly obvious that the moment he heard about Barca's interest he gave up on Arsenal completely. His talk about wanting a new contract is clearly a load of hot air.
Difficult to ever know what the hell the truth of the matter is, always in the club's interests to leak stories badmouthing the player, while the individual can say anything he likes to not make himself out to be a money grabber. I feel like this post should be accompanied by a captain obvious sticker.
United had a fixed wage structure in the 90s but the club were winning trophies and had a core of English players which makes a difference. The internal wage cap apparently stopped a few world class players from signing in the late 90s (thinking Batistuta and Salas off the top of my head). Keane did force the club to break that structure around 2000.
Heard he's almost out of favor and has 6 months left to demonstrate to the coach that he's up for it or Barca will consider selling him.
Worth sniff if they sell him under 20m ?
Worth sniff if they sell him under 20m ?
Where did you "hear" this ? You're another ITK ?
Some Thai website translates from either Goal.com news etc... Not that the source is reliable in anyway, just the same BS like the usually Sunday talk.
However, point was if he was up for sale regardless of the made up news, should we have a look ?
However, point was if he was up for sale regardless of the made up news, should we have a look ?
No, thank you.
They signed him for 15m. Why would anyone pay 20m to take a player they want to get rid of?
Qu'elle surprise.
No thanks. Another Hleb story.
And Gunners fans everywhere rejoice in his misery.
Another trophy to go with their 4th place cup.
Life is good for him, isn't it? Play shit, but just because he's in Barcelona, he's guaranteed at least a medal.
I'd take him in a heartbeat. Excellent player.
Thought he was pretty good last night, actually. Not sure how much he was ultimately needed but ostensibly he was purchased for dual duty. As a CB, he's been adequate depth but certainly isn't capable of being a regular starter there.
As a DM he plays behind Busquets who rarely misses a match so he's basically training fodder
As a DM he plays behind Busquets who rarely misses a match so he's basically training fodder
To be honest, he's still young and is quite experienced. One year spent with Barcelona would probably make him a better player too, even if a lot of it is just training.
Not only that but he was signed very cheap considering his potential surely? How has he performed so far? I gather from the tone he hasn't seen a lot of minutes..
6 months to prove himself? He was always going to be a bench warmer/back-up there.
Considering how difficult it is to slot into a team like this, I think he's done better than expected. I believe some, including myself, find him a liability at CB but considering how little time he had to adapt he's done well.
You can see he's still trying to learn how the team plays so he has moments where he is tentative (Which is to be expected) but other times where he demonstrates an aggressive midfield presence that perhaps can be exploited more going forward
I saw a lot of things last night I really liked from him
If Song was available I'd expect United to make a bid.
He would improve our options. Say next year Fletcher went and Scholes retired he would be a good addition to the ranks. He's PL proven and a good player.
I thought in the summer there was a chance Modric and Song would not work out and expect us to monitor the availabilty of both next year.
He would improve our options. Say next year Fletcher went and Scholes retired he would be a good addition to the ranks. He's PL proven and a good player.
I thought in the summer there was a chance Modric and Song would not work out and expect us to monitor the availabilty of both next year.
I'd love us to get him. Exactly the sort of midfielder we need - one who could play either alongside or in place of Carrick equally well. And we know how well he plays with RVP.
He's not been at Barca long enough to have been 'ruined' like Hleb. I reckon if he moved to another top club, who used him as the proper box-to-box midfielder which he is, he'd quickly recover his Arsenal form. Plenty said it at the time - moving to Barca was an idiotic move, which never made much sense for him.
However, I don't see that he's done much other than what Barca expected him to do - be back-up to Busquets, and back-up at CB.
He's not been at Barca long enough to have been 'ruined' like Hleb. I reckon if he moved to another top club, who used him as the proper box-to-box midfielder which he is, he'd quickly recover his Arsenal form. Plenty said it at the time - moving to Barca was an idiotic move, which never made much sense for him.
However, I don't see that he's done much other than what Barca expected him to do - be back-up to Busquets, and back-up at CB.
I don't know if he could replace Carrick. I seem to recall his positioning and discipline were abit off in the PL and he left gaps that could be exploited when he was the most defensive player and that his qualities were more attacking. He would still fit our style of play IMO and is more than good enough for United. More a partner for Carrick than a replacement. How he would perform alongside Cleverley or Anderson I'm not to sure.
But Carrick's never been a proper DM either, and when he's not in his top form, he tends to be a bit dodgy defensively considering he's the most defensive midfielder in our team. His defensive weaknesses are just less noticeable because of the difference in their styles. If Carrick backs off too much, and doesn't act decisively to halt an attack, a few passes get made and the opposition score, but he's unlikely to be the player getting the blame for the goal. If Song goes in for the tackle rashly, too early, and either concedes a free kick or gets skinned, he'll automatically take any blame for a resulting goal.
Personally I don't think there's much between them, defensively or in attack, when on top form. Of course Carrick's produced more top form in his career than Song, but then Song is six years younger.
I think Song next to Carrick would be very good
What's the deal with this guy? Did he even get any games for Barca? How did he do when he got to play?
I don't think we need a superstar or spanish midfield maestro simply because Carrick is so good. But I think a player like Song with a good mixture of physicality and skill would be good for United. Or a similar player like his mold.
I don't think we need a superstar or spanish midfield maestro simply because Carrick is so good. But I think a player like Song with a good mixture of physicality and skill would be good for United. Or a similar player like his mold.
Had a scuff with Pique during the title celebration parade. Probably his most notable contribution this season. Good midfielder, crap defender Barca playing him in the wrong position mostly, though he ain't good enough to play regularly in his right position at Barca.
Mediocre
Bollocks.
Indeed
Was a strange sequence between the two, Puyol & Piqué also had an odd scuffle - the intoxication events for the parade were embarrassing, IMO.
He hasn't been that bad really but considering he was both an alternate purchase (Javi Martinez) and that he was brought in to be both a CB & DM I'd say he's been an overall disappointment. Strictly as a backup to Busquets, however, I think he's been fine although no telling whether the club thinks this way.