Thomas Vermaelen

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Sandikan said:
What is it with them and centre backs.
If they're not pissing about converting defensive midfielders, they're going for players who can't get in Arsenal's first team.It's mad.
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They just seem to want defenders who have skills further forward. For example Mathieu's pace and crossing rotating positions with Alba saw Valencia have one of if not the most effective left flank in world football. Now they take him for CB.

Vermaelen has the "extra" that he had a season or two of scoring some nice goals, from open play. They were linked with Agger too right? Same there.

I guess Barcelona just want CBs who can break from their backline position and do something high up the pitch. Like some of the goals Pique has scored too
 
Funnily enough I prefer Verm ending up at Barca then Vidal ending up at United. The Vermaelen deal has Owen Hargreaves sort of transfer written all over him
 
Think Wenger has learned his lesson and is unwilling to sell Verm to another rival and since we are now willing to cough up a big fee for him I think he will end up at Barca if they really want him something that wont bother most United fans one bit.
 
Good as a done deal now this. Well done Woodward you prat, that's another centre half we have missed out on.
 
Ekeke said:
Oh no. We'll never get over this
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Can't understand why people have mocked this potential transfer. Who else are we going to get in? Has anyone actually considered that? We cannot go into the season without buying a centre half, we're not going to get Hummels and De Vrij has gone elsewhere so who else is there apart from Vermaelen?
 
Acole9 said:
Can't understand why people have mocked this potential transfer. Who else are we going to get in? Has anyone actually considered that? We cannot go into the season without buying a centre half, we're not going to get Hummels and De Vrij has gone elsewhere so who else is there apart from Vermaelen?
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There are quite a few CB out there better than him, and most importantly, not as injury prone.

I think we can get over not getting that Arsenal reject.
 
Godfather said:
There are quite a few CB out there better than him, and most importantly, not as injury prone.

I think we can get over not getting that Arsenal reject.
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Ok list some realistic ones that you think we can get.
 
I'm surprised everyone got over Garay so fast, we could've gotten him twice and now he's off to Russia for about a quarter of his value.
 
The way i see it unless it's Hummels we want a Left footer or someone to play LCB in a 3 basically.
 
Its just wierd that Barca are signing Arsenals rejects and not the other way round...
 
Acole9 said:
Can't understand why people have mocked this potential transfer. Who else are we going to get in? Has anyone actually considered that? We cannot go into the season without buying a centre half, we're not going to get Hummels and De Vrij has gone elsewhere so who else is there apart from Vermaelen?
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Are you serious?

Why do you list 1 top quality CB, 1 good young CB and then an injury prone CB who wasn't deemed good enough at Arsenal?

Those are the only 3 CBs in the world?

I'd rather 1 Smalling over 2 Vermaelens
 
ivaldo said:
Its just wierd that Barca are signing Arsenals rejects and not the other way round...
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Not really when you consider that he'll be behind Masherano, Pique and Mathieu in the pecking order. There's only a certain level you can expect for a 4th choice CB when you have 2 spots each week.
 
Ekeke said:
Are you serious?

Why do you list 1 top quality CB, 1 good young CB and then an injury prone CB who wasn't deemed good enough at Arsenal?

Those are the only 3 CBs in the world?

I'd rather 1 Smalling over 2 Vermaelens
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I've only listed those three because they're the only ones we seem to have been linked with regularly. I just think right now he seems the best option, he's experienced which is what we need, £10 million is a good price, he can also play at left back and if he stays fit he'd be a good player for us. We may well find another centre half from somewhere but at the moment that doesn't seem likely.
 
Ekeke said:
Not really when you consider that he'll be behind Masherano, Pique and Mathieu in the pecking order. There's only a certain level you can expect for a 4th choice CB when you have 2 spots each week.
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I wouldn't have thought an injury prone put of form centre back would be the best choice for a 4th choice centre back.
 
ivaldo said:
I wouldn't have thought an injury prone put of form centre back would be the best choice for a 4th choice centre back.
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same

Acole9 said:
I've only listed those three because they're the only ones we seem to have been linked with regularly. I just think right now he seems the best option, he's experienced which is what we need, £10 million is a good price, he can also play at left back and if he stays fit he'd be a good player for us. We may well find another centre half from somewhere but at the moment that doesn't seem likely.
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Experienced? What experience would he bring to the team? Our younger CBs have won more than he has and dont lack for games.

£10 million is ridiculous. That would be his price if he wasnt injury prone and was in good form, on a long contract. Because at that time he still wasn't a completely convincing CB, he was a fairly good one with massive brainfarts and scored a bunch of great goals, creating hype

He's a much worse David Luiz, rated for the "extras" he has rather than his defensive ability which isn't very good.

Posters complain a lot about Jones, and Vermaelen is most like him
 
I thought I heard it mentioned on one of the World Cup podcasts that Luis Enrique has told Mascherano he'll be playing him as a midfielder. Hopefully I haven't dreamt that, if only because it would make me even more of a dullard.
 
Ducklegs said:
Arsenal would rather have him join a rival, it costs the rival team money, and takes up one of their squad places with a player that will NEVER play.
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I'm sure Wenger is not looking forward to selling his captain to us again and it doesn't really matter that he's not first choice anymore.

Don't really understand the money point either. It's not like we don't have money so even if we get him, his signing shouldn't affect our budget...at all.

His injury record is a concern, but one would think that if we and Barcelona are seriously chasing him, then we've been reassured about his fitness (as much as possible). If Van Gaal wants him, then he thinks that Vermaelen could improve our team and that he could keep him fit, so that's things Arsenal/Wenger wouldn't want to risk IMO.
 
For 12m EUR I'd take Vermaelen in a heartbeat. Great backup option to have for a very good price
 
Brophs said:
I thought I heard it mentioned on one of the World Cup podcasts that Luis Enrique has told Mascherano he'll be playing him as a midfielder. Hopefully I haven't dreamt that, if only because it would make me even more of a dullard.
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I think I heard that too, that he'd be given a chance to play his normal position. But you still have to wonder if he'll fit into the role at Barcelona or be accepted there by the fans. You definitely wouldnt want both him and Busquets in midfield
 
Acole9 said:
Can't understand why people have mocked this potential transfer. Who else are we going to get in? Has anyone actually considered that? We cannot go into the season without buying a centre half, we're not going to get Hummels and De Vrij has gone elsewhere so who else is there apart from Vermaelen?
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Agree, he is vastly under rated by a lot of people on here, good player, and for the right sort of fee a welcome addition to our squad.
 
Ekeke said:
I think I heard that too, that he'd be given a chance to play his normal position. But you still have to wonder if he'll fit into the role at Barcelona or be accepted there by the fans. You definitely wouldnt want both him and Busquets in midfield
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That would be probably the most annoying, detestable midfield of all time.
 
I know most are happy enough for us to miss out on him but I'll be a little disappointed. He is a van Gaal target, and I trust the man. Wonder will we go all out for Hummels should Vermaelen join Barcelona? We'd have to break the bank so I'd be surprised...
 
If we have to spend more on a different defender I assume that means we have less to spend on the midfield?

Vermaelen + Vidal = Hummels + De Jong
 
Actually, maybe Blind could be the Vermaelen alternative? I can't think of many available centre-backs who would be an improvement on our current selection, as well as being left footed.
 
I know we should really trust LvG's judgement but we can't just ignore our pre-existing opinion of Vermaelen either. There are a lot of sound and logical reasons not to want him, injuries being top of the list.

I do worry who our back up option will be if the Vermaelen deal doesn't happen though. Someone who is like Vermaelen but not as good... :nervous:
 
Arsenal are obviously going to push for Barca, but him and his missus have had a kid and she has a TV presenting and modeling career to think about. There are circumstances keeping him in England.
 
In a summer of fantasy transfers I thought this was pretty much a lock - a cheap buy in a much-needed position. Doubt Arsenal have much influence on his choice, he'll go to Barca if he wants to go to Barca.

Have we matched their bid?
 
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