[NOT HAPPENING] Kieran Gibbs

Would make me lose a lot of respect for Harry if so. Ive always respected him as a solid, honest, football man.

 

Harry's just jealous. Of course he's never been know to sign a glut of foreign players during a transfer window!

 

Harry and Baz of the hard hat would have been the ultimate dream team!

 

Triffic.

 

Top top top top manager

 

Baz was never creative enough to open a bank account in his dog's name and get away with it! Ole' 'Arry has Teflon underpants whereas Baz is just a nailed on loser. Luv to see 'Arry give SSN a car window interview late on transfer deadline day again. The Peter Odemwingie episode driving down from WBA to QPR and 'Arry's denial that he had not been encouraged to do so was pure football comedy.

 

He's 1/5 now so it looks pretty likely, especially considering all the talk surrounding it too.

Hopefully announced tomorrow or Tuesday!

 

If so, i'd be very, very happy with Gibbs. Unbelievably underrated if you ask me. Reminds me of Ashley Cole when he (albeit rarely) plays for Arsenal

 

I'm back in the UK at 14.15. expect it done and announced by 14.16

 

Would love this. He's 28 next month and possibly should've left Arsenal 2/3 seasons ago and he'd probably be in the same boat as Bertrand as a £40 million left back.

However, he didn't and he has 4/5 good seasons left in him, if he makes them count then he could possibly secure a move back to a top 6 team at 30 y/o and a faint chance at an England recall.

Would be a very, very good signing if we pulled this off. And another HG!

(Just checked and surprisingly he's younger than Bertrand which came as a shock)

 

Harry can't count!

 

Has the tide turned yet? If we get Gibbs and Lennon does that start to put some of the non-HGs under threat? Must assume that Arlauskis, Parades, Berghuis and Beharami are already going. To be joined probably by Britos, Amrabat (controversial I know) and Capoue? Not forgetting Pants possibly if we get another GK, Zarate if he really does want to return to S America, we are not sure what Silva makes of 'D'D and not forgetting a new bid for Deeney late in the window. I suppose I've ended up answering my own question! Hope someone is keeping count but clearly not an issue at the moment. COYHS

 

Gibbs isn't a bad person to get on board but I think you're going a tad overboard! I wouldn't say he's 'unbelievable underrated' and I certainly wouldn't compare him to Ashley Cole other than the fact they are both LB's and played for Arsenal. He's nowhere near that level.

 

Not necessarily saying he's as good as Ashley Cole, I just think his play-style is quite similar.

In terms of underrated, I feel he could've had a great career if he left Arsenal earlier on. The fact that he doesn't play that regularly has no doubtedly affected his development so if we can snap him up for £10 million, I feel Watford would be able to get the best out of him yet considering he is 'only' 27.

 

Good point. But I would say he's been unfortunate in that he's always had a better LB in front of him rather than being underrated. He's had plenty of time to make it in an average Arsenal defence and never done so for whatever reason. And we won't get him for £10m as that's the bid WBA had turned down. I'd suggest it'll be a few million more because I doubt it would've been an issue had Arsenal wanted an extra £1m or something. Can see Arsenal asking for £15 and it being settled somewhere in between. Wages could be the issue with this deal though I think.

 

Absolutely, there is always a reason why a player isn't starting games regularly but it doesn't always relate to whether they are actually good. Look at Doucoure for example, he spent half last season in the reserves because Mazzarri thought he wasn't good enough, after he got a couple of games (due to injuries) he was blatantly and obviously not as bad as Walter suggested.

Now i'm not implying the same thing will happen with Gibbs because to say he has 'never' played would be wrong (over 120 league games for Arsenal in 10 years) but in my opinion, if he was given consistent game time I think the £10-15 million valuation would be worth it as he has still got quite a few years to develop (around 5)

 

Had to find much to complain about with this one, if we end up getting him. Good age, English, experience at the highest levels and probably with something of a point to prove. Injury record isn't great, but it sounds like the type of signing we've been crying out for over the last couple of years. There's been a definite change in our transfer policy, which is for the best.

 

Decent enough for us, without getting carried away

 

Signing Gibbs would mean Holebas can play in that attacking three behind the striker, which is probably a better option than Success or Sinclair at the moment.

 

I am a better option than Sinclair at the moment and I haven't played since my trial for Waford Ladies when God was a boy!

 

Is he better than Jordan Stewart though?

 

He's no Keith Pritchett.

 

If he can't hit a free kick like Paul Mayo, we should save our money IMO.

 

Will he be granted a work permit though?

 

I think Success has done well in the last few friendly matches. Been very direct running at the fullback. Would rather him than Holebas in an advanced roll.

 

Sexist pig



(Joking btw)

 

I am beginning to wonder now if we will land Gibbs. It has been rumbling on for a few days now. Probably the issue is less the fee. Sure Arsenal would accept a fee of about 11 - 12 million. No the problem is likely salary and personal terms. If Fosu-Mensah comes on loan, although not a left back, maybe something can be worked out so that the Holebas position can be covered. Not entirely sure how this will be done but left backs are always at a premium and the market is also crazy at present.

 

Can't remember which game it was but didn't Mazzarri try playing Holebas in an advanced position once? If I'm remembering correctly it was at home and he had one ripsnorter of a shot early on and was then woeful the rest of the game. Would still be better than Sinclair though, obviously.

 

Man U away? Think Britos played behind him at LB. Could be wrong though

 

A mixture of bad luck and not quite having the level of performance, I'd say.

Gibbs suffered a couple of bad injuries in his youth, which set him back ahead of breaking into the squad and, much like all our other British core (Chamberlain, Wilshere, Ramsey, Walcott), has then had a number of smaller periods of injury over the years which hasn't helped his ability to remain a consistent fixture in the Arsenal backline. He had a good run in 2012-13 and 2013-14 but, by then, Wenger was clearly looking to give him competition and signed Monreal. The Spaniard has been the more durable and reliable player, arguably the standout leftback in the division the season before last, and is a favourite of Wenger's - Gibbs has barely had a kick in anger over the last two seasons.

He is a good player and will do well for Watford; rapid, forward-thinking and composed. Does lack a consistent final ball though - crossing one of the weakest parts of his game - and I could argue he lets his head drop a little too easily. A confident, injury-free Kieran Gibbs would be an asset.

I don't expect the fee is the issue concluding the deal. He was left out of our Australian/Chinese tour and has been training away from the squad. Wages may be an issue, but it's more likely to be the fact he's into the final year of his Arsenal deal and may be holding out to see what other interest materialises. He has no future at Arsenal and would do well to leave and resurrect his career - the chance to remain close to home may work in your favour. To his credit, he is a good character and there's never been a hint of an attitude-issue throughout his career. He's simply been ousted by a better player.

 

Have a feeling that this will be announced tomorrow. Not willing to bet on it though.

We had a great surprise today with Richarlison being announced. The WP will be granted because he meets the requirements to do so and I wouldn't have that Fluminese would have confirmed if they new that without a WP he would be heading back to them.

Just think we will see that surprise followed up tomorrow with the announcement of Gibbs.

 

Reported in today's papers that Arsenal are worried because they can't sell their unwanted players due to none of them wanting to take a pay cut...wouldn't surprise me if we moved on from this one, as it seems he's stalling for one reason or another.

 

On one hand you can't blame a player not wanting to take a pay cut, but on the the other you're clearly not worth what your club are paying you anymore as they don't want you, and nor does any other club at the same level so why would you expect continue to earn the same?

 

Particularly when you're 27 and only have another 3-4 years at the top. Seems foolish to waste those years on the bench.

 

Precisely. He'll be a long time retired.

Take a leaf out of Chalobah's book Kieran and play some football.