Grampa Vieira

[Original Dub]

Silly signing. When we needed a hungry, attack minded midfielder, he was chosen to take us to the champions league.

I don't blame him alone.... in fact I don't really blame him full stop, but depending on him being our BIG signing and LEADER when we were in with a shout of champions league was a BIG mistake.

He's all but gone (retired more likely), and some will say he didn't cost us much. But to a club that has endless funds, our biggest cost will never be money - in this case it was Champions League IMO.

I couldn't understand his signing at the time and looking back I do believe that the richest club in the world could have gotten at least twice the player somewhere else.

[Slim]

Wow, you are approaching stalker level obsessed here, did this petty and stupid argument between you and Antii need another thread?

[Mike J]

whilst i do not believe for 1 second that he cost us the CL, i do think he was a very poor signing. surely mancini should of seen that.

everyone knew he was finished. he has had maybe two good games. the rest have been dreadful. its sad to see, he was the absolute bollocks at arsenal.

then again we dont know how much macini had to spend in jan.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

Ok, let's play this game. Name attacking central midfielders that were available. And I mean AVAILABLE not best central midfielders in Europe whose clubs would've NEVER realeased them during the season.

Edit. And why was Vieira our BIG signing? Who said that? I think Johnson was much BIGGER signing than Vieira. And neither of them count as BIG signing. In fact, we didn't even sign Vieira, he is on loan.

[Original Dub]

Wow, you are approaching stalker level obsessed here, did this petty and stupid argument between you and Antii need another thread?

I know it looks that way, but we were arguing over Vieira in the Santa Cruz thread. I feel his signing, instead of a younger attack minded midfielder, was a major reason we didn't qualify for the champions league (not the only reason obviously!), so I felt that warrented a thread of its own.

You might disagree chief, but its worth debating IMO.

[Original Dub]

Ok, let's play this game. Name attacking central midfielders that were available. And I mean AVAILABLE not best central midfielders in Europe whose clubs would've NEVER realeased them during the season.

Edit. And why was Vieira our BIG signing? Who said that? I think Johnson was much BIGGER signing than Vieira. And neither of them count as BIG signing. In fact, we didn't even sign Vieira, he is on loan.

You keep telling me he's on loan, I'm glad you're here to educate me... I really thought we signed him on a 6 month with view to further 1 year, but its irrelevant anyway, because I'm talking about bringing him to the club full stop, in any capacity.

Now, I don't know what central attacking mids were "available", because I'm not an agent, but players are always available at the right price and if you think Vieira was the best that the richest club in the world could get, you're deluded mate.

So you thought Mancini's answer to what we needed was Adam Johnson?!! The cunt didn't even KNOW him I bet! No, Vieira was our big singing - the one that would be a "leader both on and off the pitch", with the "winning mentality". Mancini depended on that signing, hoping he'd play most if not ALL of our remaining games. For all of this, he was our BIG SIGNING, when we really needed something else altogether.

Didi Haaman could have done a similar if not better job and he was singed by Stuart Pearce I think.

[Ted Hughes]

It was a consequence of chucking a new manager, who hadn't had chance to work on targets & set up deals beforehand, into the deep end with only a few weeks to sort it out.Then the main deal he did set up was scuppered by people on the work permit revue panel. He didn't fancy our options & tried his best to sign a few players out of those available, Vieira being the only one we got.

There will have been several targets previous to that & I'm sure but those may not have been to his liking or been players he hadn't seen much of, like Johnson. Now he has the time, Mancini will be working on a better plan for next season I'm sure. It could still have been held back slightly if they have only just given him the green light to proceed as most managers would have been setting up deals for summer round about the time Mancini arrived. If the board have been pissing him about then he won't have been able to do much of that. Hopefully it won't have hindered him in the summer transfer window because it totally wrecked the winter one.

[Dus5354]

I thought he is only on loan in Manchester city..am I right?

[Original Dub]

It was a consequence of chucking a new manager, who hadn't had chance to work on targets & set up deals beforehand, into the deep end with only a few weeks to sort it out.Then the main deal he did set up was scuppered by people on the work permit revue panel. He didn't fancy our options & tried his best to sign a few players out of those available, Vieira being the only one we got.

There will have been several targets previous to that & I'm sure but those may not have been to his liking or been players he hadn't seen much of, like Johnson. Now he has the time, Mancini will be working on a better plan for next season I'm sure. It could still have been held back slightly if they have only just given him the green light to proceed as most managers would have been setting up deals for summer round about the time Mancini arrived. If the board have been pissing him about then he won't have been able to do much of that. Hopefully it won't have hindered him in the summer transfer window because it totally wrecked the winter one.

Exactly and I'm delighted his future was clarified, because we will finish in the top four next season under him IMO.

I just felt that Vieira was a poor signing, for whatever reasons, and had we gone for/been able to go for someone with a more attack minded play (McDonald Mariga is not an attacker), we could well have made that final push.

[Ted Hughes]

It was a consequence of chucking a new manager, who hadn't had chance to work on targets & set up deals beforehand, into the deep end with only a few weeks to sort it out.Then the main deal he did set up was scuppered by people on the work permit revue panel. He didn't fancy our options & tried his best to sign a few players out of those available, Vieira being the only one we got.

There will have been several targets previous to that & I'm sure but those may not have been to his liking or been players he hadn't seen much of, like Johnson. Now he has the time, Mancini will be working on a better plan for next season I'm sure. It could still have been held back slightly if they have only just given him the green light to proceed as most managers would have been setting up deals for summer round about the time Mancini arrived. If the board have been pissing him about then he won't have been able to do much of that. Hopefully it won't have hindered him in the summer transfer window because it totally wrecked the winter one.

Exactly and I'm delighted his future was clarified, because we will finish in the top four next season under him IMO.

I just felt that Vieira was a poor signing, for whatever reasons, and had we gone for/been able to go for someone with a more attack minded play (McDonald Mariga is not an attacker), we could well have made that final push.

Mariga can run though, so he would have been able to support attacks & get an extra man into the box (a big one at that!). None of our midfielders, bar Ireland in the days when he used to be arsed, can get up & down the pitch. Barry & DeJong cover the central areas very well but the box to box stuff is a struggle for them.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Given the "fact" that Mancini is supposed to be more than happy to blood the youngsters I am very surprised that Ibrahim didn't really get a look in either when Vieira wasnt fit or serving a suspension or when it was patently obvious how lacking he was.

[Bingo Lewis]

He's on a free now isn't he?
Don't know if its worth keeping him on or not. Depends on who we sign I suppose.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

Given the "fact" that Mancini is supposed to be more than happy to blood the youngsters I am very surprised that Ibrahim didn't really get a look in either when Vieira wasnt fit or serving a suspension or when it was patently obvious how lacking he was.

Maybe he isn't good enough (yet?)? Looked quite slow to me when he got his chance.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Given the "fact" that Mancini is supposed to be more than happy to blood the youngsters I am very surprised that Ibrahim didn't really get a look in either when Vieira wasnt fit or serving a suspension or when it was patently obvious how lacking he was.

Maybe he isn't good enough (yet?)? Looked quite slow to me when he got his chance.

Compared to Vieira he is roadrunner

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

Given the "fact" that Mancini is supposed to be more than happy to blood the youngsters I am very surprised that Ibrahim didn't really get a look in either when Vieira wasnt fit or serving a suspension or when it was patently obvious how lacking he was.

Maybe he isn't good enough (yet?)? Looked quite slow to me when he got his chance.

Compared to Vieira he is roadrunner

Point taken.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Given the "fact" that Mancini is supposed to be more than happy to blood the youngsters I am very surprised that Ibrahim didn't really get a look in either when Vieira wasnt fit or serving a suspension or when it was patently obvious how lacking he was.

Maybe he isn't good enough (yet?)? Looked quite slow to me when he got his chance.

Compared to Vieira he is roadrunner

Point taken.

But it does take us to a question that will be very interesting for the next years. No doubt Mancini didnt think Ibra was ready but there is a belief in some that he will be prepared to play more from the academy and reserves. I wonder. There are a couple in this years academy well worth a look in pre season .

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

Given the "fact" that Mancini is supposed to be more than happy to blood the youngsters I am very surprised that Ibrahim didn't really get a look in either when Vieira wasnt fit or serving a suspension or when it was patently obvious how lacking he was.

Maybe he isn't good enough (yet?)? Looked quite slow to me when he got his chance.

Compared to Vieira he is roadrunner

Point taken.

But it does take us to a question that will be very interesting for the next years. No doubt Mancini didnt think Ibra was ready but there is a belief in some that he will be prepared to play more from the academy and reserves. I wonder. There are a couple in this years academy well worth a look in pre season .

I personally think Nimley, Weiss and Boyata will all play part next season as squad players. Who do you think will make it out of current Academy crop, mr.David?

[Douglas Higginbottom]

mr.David? I am now Mr Confused.

I like the idea that Weiss will be given a proper chance , I think Boyata will be in the squad but only used in emergencies but I don't think we will see Nimley. Good player though he is I feel he won't quite make it at prem level. The 2 current academy players I would hope to get a look in pre season and have high hopes for are Benali and Guidetti.

[Geo123]

Given the "fact" that Mancini is supposed to be more than happy to blood the youngsters I am very surprised that Ibrahim didn't really get a look in either when Vieira wasnt fit or serving a suspension or when it was patently obvious how lacking he was.

Maybe he isn't good enough (yet?)? Looked quite slow to me when he got his chance.

Compared to Vieira he is roadrunner

Point taken.

Completely missing the point here, you cannot compare ibrahim to Paddy V and say Ibrahim is more athletic,, you have to take account of his experience, composure, charisma, positioning and what he gets from others around him, Ibrahim is not near ready and will only be fring again next year at most

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

mr.David? I am now Mr Confused.
I like the idea that Weiss will be given a proper chance , I think Boyata will be in the squad but only used in emergencies but I don't think we will see Nimley. Good player though he is I feel he won't quite make it at prem level. The 2 current academy players I would hope to get a look in pre season and have high hopes for are Benali and Guidetti.

Check the "Townley" thread in off topic. Can't picture you now without seeing your hands waving and you ranting and raving like Larry David!

Anyways, Benali? That's Francis Benali's son we signed to our Academy some years back?? Is he good then. Honestly, don't even know what position he plays. Regarding Guidetti, I try and watch Brommapojkarna on telly they are on this season (and I'm actually planning on going Sweden this summer hopefully getting to see him live).