The media backlash towards Arsene Wenger continues apace. The latest reasoning behind the quite frankly baffling vitriol hauled his way is the apparently ‘derisory’ offer for Bolton centre-half Gary Cahill, rumoured to be around the £6m mark. Factoring in the inevitable English premium you have to pay for home-grown talent, just how far off is Arsene’s pricing?
For starters, who else now hates the word ‘derisory’? It used to be a byword for someone with a modicum of intelligence. Not anymore. Oh no, it’s now become fully immersed into the footballing lexicon. It’s now a word traipsed out and aired in public like dirty linen in an attempt to drive a player’s price up. Note to all football managers – cut it out, you’re not fooling anyone.
Anyway, back to the point at hand. Wenger bashing has become a national pastime of sorts over the summer. He has quite rightly been lambasted from all quarters for a rudimentary failure to focus on the present and a constant obsession on planning for the future. It’s become abundantly clear that serious reinvestment is needed and none more so than at centre half where Thomas Vermaelen is just crying out for a decent partner to play alongside. This is where Gary Cahill comes in.
Bolton manager Owen Coyle stated about Arsenal’s offer for Cahill: “When I make an offer for a player, I’d like to think it’s in the right ball park. But this wasn’t even close. I’m only passing it on as a third party, but the word derisory doesn’t even cover it.” Bolton Chairman Phil Gartside hardly helped matters by re-posting an infuriated Trotters fan’s protestations at the price of the proposed bid on Twitter.
Wenger responded by stating: “That number is completely wrong. If Gartside can say I am lying I am ready to confront him. I believe every negotiation is between two parties and you only have to sell the player if you are all right with the price. In this case the information is below what has been spoken about. You can believe Gartside or you can believe me. It’s not right. It’s not the truth. The truth is that we never speak about our negotiations. If a club doesn’t want to sell a player it can keep him. When we sign a player we come out here and tell you and keep the price a secret. They do not need to sell the player, they can keep him.”
He went onto add: “If you ask do I want to buy your house and you are not happy with the price you say no, that’s it. Why should you feel insulted? I don’t understand. If the player is not for sale they can keep him. I don’t understand the problem. If we want to buy the player we buy the player. I do not have to explain for how much.” Strong words indeed and it’s fair to say that in this case at least, Arsene appears to be in the right and shame on Coyle and Gartside for trying to kick Wenger while he is down.
But is £6m really that short a price for Cahill? Let’s forget for a second that Cahill is English. He is entering the final year of his contract. He has just 3 international caps to his name and he has limited experience in Europe. Putting all of that into perspective, supposing Wenger actually bid £6m for him, which considering the staunch nature of his defence means that I’m inclined to believe that he didn’t, just why is that such a ‘derisory’ sum? Would that sum be considered ‘derisory’ is Cahill was, say, Colombian or German?
Gary Cahill signed for Bolton Wanderers 3 years ago from Aston Villa reserves for £5 million. A lot of money for a reserve centre half. Since then he has hardly been injured has been magnificent for Bolton and has been capped for England.
In the meantime, we’ve seen Lescott, Jones and other untried, untested players move on for megabucks. Good old Arsene Vinegar has bid somewhere between £6 m and £9 million for him. Now, i don’t really care what Vinegar thinks he’s worth because it is patently obvious that the Arsenal manager is losing his marbles. Watch him on TV. It’s like watching a caged bear at a Zoo! He USED TO BE a great, great manager but he is not that anymore. It is reported that he bid £12 m for Jagielka! This for a 29 yr old player who is always injured, looks knackered and is not good enough to lace Cahill’s boots. A fair price for Gary would be a minimum of £12.5 to £15m on TODAY’S PRICES. I really hope that Gary signs for a club other than Arsenal because under Wenger, Arsenal are imploding.
Great post Geoff whatever these arsenal biased sites post it is as plain on the nose on Wengers face that Cahill is worth way more than 6 or even 10 million, I really wish Cahill signed a contract extension at Bolton as Arsenal or Spurs are no great shakes and Wenger is in the end game at Arsenal.
For 6 million Bolton would be mad to sell him as a replacement would cost them just as much. Wenger bid 12m for Jagielka. Typical Wenger trying to bully the little guys into selling at low prices. Low bid was a dirty trick to try and get Cahill to do what Nasri did and push for a move. He’s £85m in his tranfer kitty pay up or shut up – afte an 8 – 2 humbling £17m is a small price to pay!
Cahill is average at best. Couldn’t get in the villa team, only gets an england cap when Ferdinand Terry Jagielka, Woodgate,Lescott,Upson and Carragher are unavailable. He has now been overtaken by Phil Jones who at just 19 is five times the player Cahill will ever be. I know Coyle wants 15 million for him. He aint worth it. Its embarrassing Coyle keep moving his deadline, its pretty obvious to all that he desparately wants to sell him, only trouble is, at that price there are no buyers, remember, he’s only an england international by default. Lets see if he plays in a full international instead of a friendly when everyone else has pulled out. He’s worth 6 million at best. Accept it, its a fair price
you clearly have no idea about football. If you believe jones is five times the player cahill will ever be, you’ve obviously never seen cahill play. he coudln’t get in the villa team as he was a young cb who had to compete against the likes of mellberg, Laursen and cuellar (they’re were/are very good defenders just incase you haven’t heard of them). and finally to say coyle desparately wants to sell him is absolute rubbish. cahill is an england international who consistenly performs well, he’s still young in football terms and is wanted by the top clubs in england, why would bolton want to sell him?
bob stokes i’m afraid you don’t know what your talking about. If he’s average at best why are do you even want to sign him. He’s absolute class far better than jagielka, upson and to say jones is better is insane. He’s 25 plays week in week out, england international, if we had 3 other defenders with cahills quality we would be top 6. Please don’t post rubbish saying he’s average because anyone who watches week in week out knows he’s class. 6m is a joke 17.5m or no deal simple, if that’s to expensive sign somebody else and leave him alone. I hope arsenal really struggle this season i’d sooner see cahill join chelsea personally as their far superior.
If Cahill so average, why does Wenger want him so badly ? Does it reflect the ambitions of Arsenal to be an average side wanting an average player. If I was Cahill I’d move to a side on the up and winning silverware – career wise not the best move at the moment. My advice extend your contract with little old Bolton and bust a gut to get to Euro 2012 – then summer 2012 move on.
I suspect Wenger’s bid also includes add ons for winning things. Given their recent history and their current side Gartside is rightly thinking they’re taking the p***.
If Cahill is so good, why are bolton so desperate to sell him?? Coyle said about a month ago if no-one comes in for him by the end of the week, there would be no deal. Ever since then he keeps touting him around saying he could play for any club but really wants to keep him. Its becoming embarrssing. He’s worth about 6 million because he’s in his final year hence Coyles desperation. And yes, he is still average at best. Thats why he only plays for england when everyone else doesn’t turn up. Distinctly average english centre half. Theres not many of them in the PL, he’s not even the best of a bad bunch. You keep him
Wakey wakey Bob – Bolton don’t want to sell him. Anyway he’s going to Spurs in a money + possibly Bassong swap. Your getting Samba, as Scott Dan is signing for Blackburn (fee agreed) so free’s up Samba for you boys to sign before the window closes. Your lose will be Harry’s gain.
If you see Cahill week in week out you’ll realise why Wenger wants him – he’s got great feet could easily double up as a holding midfield player.