Other games - 23/24th April

[peekay]

The problem with Wenger is that I would imagine if you asked a decent proportion of Arsenal fans, certainly the couple of season ticket holders I know, they want him to move upstairs and allow someone else a chance, as this team without a backbone is a reflection of his runner-up mentality.
Unfortunately for them, the board are only to happy to continue with a manager who does not challenge for the title with massive investment..........just continues to deliver continuous Champions League money, with a generous profit margin in the transfer market.
That could change with the Kronke fella in charge, but he certainly aint taking over to lose money.

If Arsene steps down he should stay away from Arsenal for a couple of years at least so that the new manager can stamp his authority on the club. It is going to be very difficult otherwise as if he is around, everyone at the club will still address him as the boss.

[Rudo]

FWIW, Fabregas has been linked with Real many a time so it's not something i'm randomly coming out with.

[Craig_H]

FWIW, Fabregas has been linked with Real many a time so it's not something i'm randomly coming out with.

Cant say i've seen any credible links suggesting him going to Madrid. But if you've seen them, fine.

Re the 'way barca treated him' thing - i'm not really sure there's an issue with that, is there? He's been gagging to re-join them for about 2-3 years now, so it doesnt seem like he holds much ill feeling with that.

[McDermotX]

If Arsene steps down he should stay away from Arsenal for a couple of years at least so that the new manager can stamp his authority on the club. It is going to be very difficult otherwise as if he is around, everyone at the club will still address him as the boss.

Oh...I agree, but they could never bring themselves to just get rid.

They would even convince themselves that a move upstairs is a promotion for him......they are that deluded. Whereas most of us would understand that a clean break is what is necessary.

[Rudo]

Get Cesc! Real Madrid aim to pip rivals Barcelona with £50m bid for Arsenal skipper Fabregas

By CHRISTOPHER DAVIES

Real Madrid plan to steal a march over rivals Barcelona after the Spanish giants demanded first refusal on Cesc Fabregas, should Arsenal decide to sell their captain.

With Chelsea also interested, the Gunners are determined to keep hold of the midfielder and Barca ruled themselves out of the running on Wednesday, declaring any move for Fabregas is 'dead'.

The Catalan giants, who face Arsenal in the Champions League next week, are unwilling to pay more than £35million for their former youth player after missing out on his return at the start of the season following a failed summer-long pursuit.

But Real have made it known they would be prepared to offer £50m for the World Cup winning Spain international.

Spanish sources claim Real’s director general, Jose Angel Sanchez, has spoken to Fabregas’s advisers after club president Florentino Perez gave the go-ahead for plans to bring the midfielder to the Bernabeu.

Chelsea have the financial muscle to outbid Real but the chance to join the most successful club in European history is likely to appeal more to Fabregas than a move across London.
Jose Mourinho knows Real must buy top players to overtake Barcelona as Spain’s number one club and Fabregas comes into this category.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...#ixzz1KShqyZY7

Cesc Fabregas has revealed Real Madrid made an audacious bid to pip bitter rivals Barcelona to his signing from Arsenal during the summer transfer window.

Fabregas was the subject of the most protracted saga during the off-season, as Barcelona and several Spanish players publicly expressed their wish for the 23-year-old to return to his hometown club.

But despite suggestions the Gunners captain wanted to move, Arsene Wenger blocked any prospects of Fabregas leaving - meaning he will play out at least one more season in north London.

One factor that appeared to scupper the proposed transfer was Barca's under-valuing of Fabregas - who played in Spain's World Cup final victory over the Netherlands - with just a £30million bid.

However, the former Barca youth team star has now admitted to Spanish newspaper Marca that he was also aware of a bid from the Catalan club's most hated rivals.

'It's hard to say who showed more interest in me - Barca or Real Madrid,' Fabregas revealed.
'I am lucky that both the two clubs asked about me. That's very important - it doesn't happen every day.'

Fabregas also spoke openly about his desire to join Barcelona - a transfer that is rumoured to have been merely postponed for 12 months rather than called off.
'We tried for the summer but in the end it could not be. In my head I thought it might have happened,' he explained.

'It was a very good opportunity for me but [at Arsenal] I have everything, I just need to win titles.

'In the future I do not know what will happen [but] playing in Barcelona is a dream I've had since I was very young.'


Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/footbal...#ixzz1KSi1KPFK

[Leyton388]

£50m LOL as if not a chance he will most likely go for £25 to £30m. He has had a **** season and its common knowledge he wants to go.

[Craig_H]

Metro

And from October 2010 - so how's that gone them, with their bid to get 'first refusal' ? Doesnt seem to have happened.

[Rudo]

Don't think i referred to a particular date, did i? just said he's been linked with them many a time before.

Loads of other articles linking Fabregas with Madrid.

He would be better off at Real Madrid.

[Bender]

You're falling for the WUMery mate

Everyone knows he's Barcelona born and bred, and wouldnt go to Madrid. It'd be like Stevie going to the mancs

i've picked my self up craig..........i know he's a Barca boy

[Bender]

Think he fits into the FSG transfer policy and for £25m we should consider it.

would be a great signing

[Rudo]

i've picked my self up craig..........i know he's a Barca boy

I think we all know he's a Barca boy, but to claim Fabregas joining Real Madrid would be like Gerrard joining United is like saying Dirk Kuyt is unproductive in terms of assists/goals. Utter nonsense.

[Craig_H]

Think he fits into the FSG transfer policy and for £25m we should consider it.

He'd be very good for us but Le Arse wont sell to us and i doubt he'd come.

[Bender]

I think we all know he's a Barca boy, but to claim Fabregas joining Real Madrid would be like Gerrard joining United is like saying Dirk Kuyt is unproductive in terms of assists/goals. Utter nonsense.

Think you'll find it was craig who said that rudd boy

[wiw]

Warren Barton (who probably knows **** all to be fair) said on the stream I was watching that he knows for a fact Arsenal don't practice set-pieces in training. Did anyone else hear that or was I imagining it. Unbaleebable if true

They just cannot defend, their shape without the ball is horrible. Had they not let that 4-0 lead go down the ****ter though I reckon they'd be 1st now

[dww]

I think we all know he's a Barca boy, but to claim Fabregas joining Real Madrid would be like Gerrard joining United is like saying Dirk Kuyt is unproductive in terms of assists/goals. Utter nonsense.

Seriously, you need to stop dragging this up. It is unbelievably tedious and such an obvious attempt to get a rise out of Craig.