***Offical Summer Transfer Thread***

[ThaSaltCracka]

Arsenal complete the signing of Sagna from Auxerre. It also is being reported Wenger convinced Cesc to stay, possibly hinting at Wenger extending his contract?

Finally, it looks like Bouhlarouz is going to Sevilla on loan.

[JaredL]

RJ,

Do you not see how your post could be taken as being condescending and/or pompous? Given that I took it that way can you not see how hearing such a thing from a fan of a monster club with no particular connection to the area or club would find it annoying?

My tone may have been over the top but such comments from fans of big clubs are actually annoying. That's my entire point.

[ QUOTE ]

What you said was FAR more pompous than what i said. "ohh, i lived in sevilla for a year, i am legit, i now have a license to talk about how annoying it is for other americans to like a spanish team, man, if they had went to spain like me they would be way cooler". what an absolute heap of garbage. i would be ashamed if i was you. when i first got into soccer i tried to ask questions and learn things here, specifically from you, someone who made it known they knew a lot about the sport. after awhile it became clear that you were too much of a pompous douche specifically because I *GASP* hadnt been to the city of my favorite spanish soccer team.


[/ QUOTE ]

I wasn't saying that at all. I have no problem with Americans liking Spanish teams despite never having been there. I personally think the Spanish league is the best to watch (choosing England or Spain IMO comes down to taste in style as both are excellent leagues) and if one is a fan of the sport it would make good sense to support some Spanish club. I don't even have a problem with choosing Real Madrid or Barcelona as your club of choice.

I do find it odd that one would be a fan of a club and know very little about it. This is especially true when the club is a politically charged one like FC Barcelona. I have made this clear in the past and am impressed that you sought out this information and surely grew closer to the club in doing so as the history is fairly unique and interesting.

I'm also curious at what point you decided I was too much of a pompous douche. Must have been a while after the PM exchange where you thanked me for directing you to the Jimmy Burns book or the numerous positive exchanges we've had on the boards for the entire 2006-2007 season.

Again, all I was saying is that I found it annoying that you were (IMO, I apologize if that's not what you were doing but it's how I took it at the time) talking down to my favorite team from your position as a fan of a major club given that you weren't born into it or anything. I would find it similarly annoying if MEbenhoe were talking [censored] about Oregon or the Giants and Pirates as a Duke or Yankee fan.

[JaredL]

[ QUOTE ]
Finally, it looks like Bouhlarouz is going to Sevilla on loan.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm quite happy with the way things have gone so far. Sevilla have signed Keita and De Mol who are apparently two talented young guys. Boulahroz is a good signing as Javi isn't getting any younger and may only have a good year or two left. I was going to add the possibility of Boateng but I just read that Tottenham signed him [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] A couple of youth squad signings look great as well based only on what I've read.

Looks like Sevilla are sticking with the sign the young guys plan, which I think is a fine strategy as long as they now dedicate themselves to holding on to them. The core group is fantastic now and could be unbelievable later.

On that front the Alves situation is bizarre. According to both Spanish and English press Chelsea have improved their offer from 14 million to 16 million pounds. The source for this is apparently Peter Kenyon, Chelsea CEO. They are also giving an ultimatum that soon they will stop bothering and go after someone else. According to the Sevilla president no club, including Chelsea specifically, have made a single offer for Alves. I'm not sure what is going on. I would imagine that Sevilla have gotten an offer or two and that they're a fair bit below what they want so they are playing games. Hard to say though as one side is clearly lying.

[ThaSaltCracka]

I hope Alves stays at Sevilla. I [censored] hate Chelsea.

[ThaSaltCracka]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...48&cc=5901

hey, Fergie, I agree with you!

[PITTM]

to be honest, i do too. i dont think henry was what arsenal needed right now.

[ThaSaltCracka]

He will succeed at Barca if he accepts that he isn't the main show and just tries to be part of the team. He doesn't have a whole lot of history of succeeding on star packed teams until he accepted that role.

In all honesty, Henry was last remaining member of a team that had all but dissapeared. I had pretty much become accustomed to him not playing with Arsenal because he missed so many games last year. His absence is a major opportunity for many of the younger players and I fully expect a few of them to step up, in particular Cesc, RVP, and hopefully Walcott and Adebayor.

[mosdef]

On to other news:

Rumored that Man City is after L Giuly and T Motta from Barcelona (makes sense to me - they both have no place in that squad) and also a new personal favorite of mine: striker Nery Castillo from Mexico.

[PITTM]

saviola to real madrid. soooo gross. i have a feeling we will regret this one.

[PITTM]

yeah, i think adebayor is a better fit than henry. also, walcott needs to get some [censored] playing time. being on the english world cup team(albeit controversially) and making like 2 club appearances the following year is pretty lame.