Krul Intentions

[Nick 0208 Ldn]

So there is a rumour [likely spurious but what the hell] that Arsenal are considering a £10m bid for Newcastle's Tim Krul, a fine pretext to put a few questions to you learned people.

Firstly, how highly do you rate Tim Krul? Do you think he can regain his form of 11/12 and even surpass it?

Similarly how do you view Szczęsny and the ups and downs of his career to date?

Thirdly and most perhaps importantly, would the signing of Krul be a good one for Arsenal?

It goes without saying IMO that a bid of 10m wouldn't cut the mustard here.

 

[JmRssll555]

Pardrew is going to go off his head if Arsenal unsettle another of his players.

Krul is a decent goalkeeper, but I'm not sure he's good enough for Arsenal.

 

[Antisocial]

One if my favourite films as a teenager

£10m seems a bit much for him, though I suppose he has many years in him and probably low wages. I'm not sure how big an improvement he would be over Szczesny tbh; not that big a step-up IMO.

 

[Someone]

Kudos for the thread title.

There's no way newcastle would let both cabaye and krul go, both would be good signings for arsenal.

 

[Fergus' son]

Sczezny is a permanent accident waiting to happen.

 

[Donut]

Why not get a Begovic, who is much more of a sure thing?

 

[BAMSOLA]

I'm sure they could have got Julio Cesar for less than that in terms of transfer fee.

 

[Ish]

Great title Nick

I rate him, solid. But surely Begovic would be a better target?

 

[Aint gota Kalou]

I wouldn't spend 10m on him. I actually still think Chesney has it in him to be long term number 1 and he just needs a more experienced keeper to push him. I don't think signing another fairly young keeper is the way to go.

 

[peterstorey]

Goalkeeper's not an issue for me, we've got other problems to address.

 

[Feed Me]

Goalkeeper's not an issue for me, we've got other problems to address.

It's certainly not an issue if Krul is the sort of 'keeper AW is looking at. He's not better than Chesney.

 

[alastair]

I'd be very keen on getting Begovic and just making them compete properly for number one.

I love Szczesny but his form tends to worsen when he feels completely certain in his place.

 

[Feed Me]

I'd be very keen on getting Begovic and just making them compete properly for number one.

I love Szczesny but his form tends to worsen when he feels completely certain in his place.

If you get Begovic, then Chesney's days would be numbered. Begovic is one of the very best in the league.

 

[Marching]

Krul is a very good goalie but I'd have thought Arsenal would have bigger problems to solve.

And as for players having their heads turned....FFS! Get on and play, you nancy boys!

 

[alastair]

If you get Begovic, then Chesney's days would be numbered. Begovic is one of the very best in the league.

I used to basically think Mignolet and Begovic were of the same standard, but it's becoming clear that the latter is really going to be top class. It does appear as well as if Stoke are confused to why he's not being asked for, given they signed a replacement in anticipation of his departure.

One thing I did hear from Bob Wilson(great Arsenal keeper back in the day if you didn't know) at some Q&A session was that Begovic is supposedly 'mentally weak.' Maybe that's the reason.

 

[Count Orduck]

I'm shocked no one's signed Begovic, given that both Arsenal and City could do with a new 'keeper. Also, why the hell did Liverpool sign Mignolet and not Begovic? Madness.

 

[That'sHernandez]

Wenger persisted with Lolmunia for seasons, what makes you think he's going to give in on Szczesny when he's a far better talent?

 

[That'sHernandez]

I'm shocked no one's signed Begovic, given that both Arsenal and City could do with a new 'keeper. Also, why the hell did Liverpool sign Mignolet and not Begovic? Madness.

Perhaps Barca will swoop in for him.

 

[Feed Me]

I used to basically think Mignolet and Begovic were of the same standard, but it's becoming clear that the latter is really going to be top class. It does appear as well as if Stoke are confused to why he's not being asked for, given they signed a replacement in anticipation of his departure.

One thing I did hear from Bob Wilson(great Arsenal keeper back in the day if you didn't know) at some Q&A session was that Begovic is supposedly 'mentally weak.' Maybe that's the reason.

That's always the concern. There's plenty of talented 'keepers knocking around who couldn't cut it at the very top. Foster and Howard are two from United.

Chesney is prone to dropping a bollock, but I happen to think he's good enough to hold the number 1 spot for you lot.

 

[MikeUpNorth]

Begovic has only just turned 26 - he would seem an obvious choice for Arsenal. Not sure Krul is what they need.

 

[Brightonian]

I like Szczesny. He's still very young - I think he'll grow out of the errors and fulfil his prodigious potential.

 

[That'sHernandez]

I like Szczesny. He's still very young - I think he'll grow out of the errors and fulfil his prodigious potential.

I think so too, he seems very level headed and he generally pulls out the stops when he has to. He's not helped by the shambolic defence in front of him.

 

[alastair]

The second best defence in the league last season. I'm not having a dig, but I just want to make it clear that generally our defence isn't that horrendous.

 

[kouroux]

The thread title is good !!

 

[MikeUpNorth]

The second best defence in the league last season. I'm not having a dig, but I just want to make it clear that generally our defence isn't that horrendous.

It's a weird one. You don't actually concede all that many goals, but your defence appears calamitous.

 

[That'sHernandez]

The second best defence in the league last season. I'm not having a dig, but I just want to make it clear that generally our defence isn't that horrendous.

It's not exactly consistent though, is it? By way of the players in it, I mean. I'm happy to concede, that is largely down to injury and cannot be helped but I think Szczesny would do a lot better if he had some continuity with the same centreback partnership in front of him.

 

[Feed Me]

The second best defence in the league last season. I'm not having a dig, but I just want to make it clear that generally our defence isn't that horrendous.

If you look at the GA tallies in general, it was a bad year for defences.

 

[a_devil_inside]

I like Krul, think he can become a good keeper if he had better players infront of him. Had his injuries last season but the season before that he played well

 

[Sixpence]

I think Krul is potentially a top class keeper.

 

[Nighteyes]

I don't think Krul is all that better than Chesney. Arsenal should go for Begovic

 

[x42bn6]

It would be a sideways move at best.

It is a dilemma, though - you have a talented young goalkeeper who needs competition. Personally, I think Szczęsny could still come good - the main problem is that he hasn't really developed in several years - maybe a coaching issue? I think Schwarzer would have been a good signing for Arsenal - good enough to give Szczęsny competition, and old enough to let Szczęsny know that he's still the long-term solution (if he performs). That boat has sailed, of course.

If you get Begovic, then Chesney's days would be numbered. Begovic is one of the very best in the league.

You could argue that if he can't win back his place, he's not good enough for Arsenal. On the other hand, I'm not sure this always applies to goalkeepers, as unlike outfield players, you don't tend to substitute them on in safe games, or let them play out of position.

Szczęsny is contracted until 2015, so my thoughts are that if Arsenal sign Begović, one of these will be itching for a move in 1-2 years. This is probably why Wenger doesn't want to go for a goalkeeper - it's too short-term for his liking - he probably wants to give Szczęsny another year just to see what happens.

 

[Eboue]

If you look at the GA tallies in general, it was a bad year for defences.

What? There were 2.80 goals per match last year, compared to 2.81 the year before and 2.80 the year before that.

 

[alastair]

What? There were 2.80 goals per match last year, compared to 2.81 the year before and 2.80 the year before that.

I really hope you just knew that.

 

[Eboue]

It's on the top of the wiki page for each season.

 

[alastair]

Oh.

The fact remains here that getting Krul would just be a bit of a waste of time. Top class keeper or nothing, please.

 

[Ramshock]

Pardrew is going to go off his head if Arsenal unsettle another of his players.

Krul is a decent goalkeeper, but I'm not sure he's good enough for Arsenal.

It wouldn't take much

 

[SATA]

Krul's now the Dutch number 1, isn't he?

 

[Feed Me]

What? There were 2.80 goals per match last year, compared to 2.81 the year before and 2.80 the year before that.

The best defensive record in the PL was 34 goals conceded - that's a very generous rate to ship goals, even if it was the "best".

In context, Arsenal's all-time best defensive record under AW was 17. Mourinho's Chelsea the first time round had a ridiculously stingy backline.

Boasting the second best backline in the league having conceded 37 goals is nothing to write home about.

 

[Eboue]

The best defensive record in the PL was 34 goals conceded - that's a very generous rate to ship goals, even if it was the "best".

In context, Arsenal's all-time best defensive record under AW was 17. Mourinho's Chelsea the first time round had a ridiculously stingy backline.

Boasting the second best backline in the league having conceded 37 goals is nothing to write home about.

You said it was a bad year for defences. It wasn't. It was almost exactly the same as the last two years.

 

[Feed Me]

You said it was a bad year for defences. It wasn't. It was almost exactly the same as the last two years.

Sorry, it was a bad year for the top four's defences.