Southampton ITKs claim £25m fee has been agreed for Schneiderlin

Not sure how I feel about it, if true. Who is he replacing? We have a thousand central midfielders. Coquelin deserves a proper run in the first team, and I can't see Schneiderlin replacing any of the options we currently have in CM.

Tbf we were screaming for a CDM last transfer window, and although Coq has proven valuable for us since then I don't think Flamini/Arteta provide enough backup as of now. Another strong defensively oriented midfielder will probably strengthen us quite a bit over the term of a season. I approve

Tbf we were screaming for a CDM last transfer window, and although Coq has proven valuable for us since then I don't think Flamini/Arteta provide enough backup as of now. Another strong defensively oriented midfielder will probably strengthen us quite a bit over the term of a season. I approve

That's fine, but will Schneiderlin move to Arsenal to sit on the bench until Coquelin gets injured?

This is their main forum - so not surprising they broke Chambers stuff.

Interesting though. Coquelin and Schneiderlin in tough away games could be nice.

We definitely need another defensive midfielder, whether its Schneiderlin or someone else. Arteta is more of a deep-lying playmaker than a ball-winning defensive midfielder, especially at his age, and although Flamini can do the job, I don't really want to rely on him. Having Coquelin and another top quality player would make us very strong at that position for the first time in a long time.

We definitely need another defensive midfielder, whether its Schneiderlin or someone else. Arteta is more of a deep-lying playmaker than a ball-winning defensive midfielder, especially at his age, and although Flamini can do the job, I don't really want to rely on him. Having Coquelin and another top quality player would make us very strong at that position for the first time in a long time.

But we're not using a 4-2-3-1 anymore. This season (and most of last season) we played a 4-1-2-3, with a dedicated DM centrally positioned in front of the back four, and two attacking midfielders. Lately we've used Coquelin+Cazorla+Özil, but we also have Ramsey and Wilshere ready to get back into the team.

I'm all for anything that improves the team, I'm just worried that this move (if true) means Coquelin goes back to second choice. I don't think he should be second choice at this stage.

That's fine, but will Schneiderlin move to Arsenal to sit on the bench until Coquelin gets injured?

Well, all I'm saying is that - if he does, I wouldn't mind. It would also give us a massive improvement as to (valid) available tactics. Another good DM could prove vital for us, that's my point. And with the squad we're currently building I think we sound very tempting to join for a lot of talented players out there. Schneiderlin could be among them. I believe that, if he thinks he's good enough to put up a fight for the first team spot (which I can't imagine he doesn't), he would want to play for us ahead of Southampton. He doesn't seem too pleased there after last summer's crazy-sale-bonanza.

Great signing. Coquelin's rather erratic passing means that at home games he isn't really needed. Schneiderlin is perfect to build from the back whereas in away games Coquelin would be integral. It's a great option to have rather than having to rely on fucking Flamini or Arteta if Coquelin gets injured.

Schneiderlin even qualifies as homegrown. Surprising City not in for him

Schneiderlin even qualifies as homegrown. Surprising City not in for him

That can't be right. To be homegrown you must have been registered to a British club for three years in total before the season of your 21st birthday. Schneiderlin came to Southampton as a 19-year old.

http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/clubs/profile.squads.html/southampton on some resources i found info about him joining Saints at the age of 18. so maybe he's HG afterall

http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/clubs/profile.squads.html/southampton on some resources i found info about him joining Saints at the age of 18. so maybe he's HG afterall

Hm, interesting. Premier League themselves claim he joined June 2008. Let's assume it's June 1st. He was born 8 Nov 1989, which means that on the day he arrived he was 18 years and seven months old. Exactly three years later he would have been 21, and his 22nd birthday would have been in the upcoming season.

The rules state that in order to be homegrown you need to be registered to an English (or Welsh) club for a combined period of three seasons (36 months) prior to your 21st birthday (or the end of the season during which you turn 21). So you're right. Schneiderlin spent three seasons at Southampton before the end of the season in which he turned 21.

His birthday is in November and he joined Southampton in July, so that makes him barely qualifiable for the home-grown quota. Unless you're BlackburnGeorge on Twitter then he is definitely 19.

"Negotiations are ongoing and should be completed in the coming days, hopefully before training next week" - Morgan Schneiderlin

http://www.francebleu.fr/football/rcsa/football-morgan-schneiderlin-2455425

"Negotiations are ongoing and should be completed in the coming days, hopefully before training next week" - Morgan Schneiderlinhttp://www.francebleu.fr/football/rcsa/football-morgan-schneiderlin-2455425

!!!

I think he would be an excellent addition. He can play as the lone DM against the lower bus-parking teams, where can distribute the ball better than the Coq, and he can also play alongside the Coq in the big away matches and provide further depth in CM in case Ramsey/WIlshere get injured.

All in all, I think the addition of Cech and Schneiderlin would give us a solid spine in the back. Now we just need a striker may be and to tell Madrid to piss off.

"Negotiations are ongoing and should be completed in the coming days, hopefully before training next week" - Morgan Schneiderlinhttp://www.francebleu.fr/football/rcsa/football-morgan-schneiderlin-2455425

What I read from this is: "I don't wantz to go to the trainiiiing :( Dose Southampton coaches tease me... Pliz, Arznul, rezku mee!" also: "y u do diz?"

Go get him, Wenger.

Schneiderlin would be a great addition to the team. I love Coquelin, he's hard as nails, but Schneiderlin would definitely improve us. Against tough teams, we could even play them together. Imagine our bench too.

Wonder what happens to Arteta though..

Schneiderlin would be a great addition to the team. I love Coquelin, he's hard as nails, but Schneiderlin would definitely improve us. Against tough teams, we could even play them together. Imagine our bench too. Wonder what happens to Arteta though..

I'm not against a double pivot of Coquelin and Schneiderlin, I just worry that it will end up being Coquelin on the bench for most games, and then we spoil another talent.

I'm not against a double pivot of Coquelin and Schneiderlin, I just worry that it will end up being Coquelin on the bench for most games, and then we spoil another talent.

It's a fair point but I think Schneiderlin is better than Coquelin and is better starting attacks from deep.

Coquelin would still end up playing 25+ games. The guy can play full-back pretty well too.