Just how close Vardy came to joining Arsenal... apparently.

[Corky]

I wouldn't have begrudged him a move- he'd done so much for us and was 29 with probably one big move left- but it says a lot that he was so keen to stay and feels settled here. Of course, being the main man helps but it looks as though the set-up makes players want to join and stay too.

[Paninistickers]

He owed it to himself to speak to arsenal. 

 

But I'm not so sure it was ever that close. I've done the same with job moves in the last; interview, agreed package, knew it made sense in terms of progression but deep down never really fancied it and turned the offers down.

 

And he made the right decision. For Vardy to fully, prosper the whole team has to be designed around him

 We do that. Arsenal would never.

[MPH]

it’s probably all true. lol. he went to speak to wenger but was never close to joining. and politely told them “ i want to thick about it” which as Mr Law says is usually bad news.

[Leicesterpool]

Vardy's career would have been down the pan in no time, he would have gone to Arsenal played on the wing and then after a few games never been heard of again. He would have probably have been offloaded to somelike Watford or Southampton down at the bottom or maybe find himself in the championship again.

[sacreblueits442]

21 hours ago, StriderHiryu said:

In his book he said that he very seriously considered the offer and he and his wife even went to see prospective schools for their children. It wouldn't have surprised me that in terms of agreeing financial terms, a deal was struck.

 

My suspicion is that he came to the realization that in signing for Arsenal, he'd be just another player, whereas at Leicester he would retire as a legend. Some people say the style of football they play wouldn't suit him, but this season has proved that to be the load of codswallop that theory is, because now when we play possession football, Vardy is still banging them in.

 

I would be shocked if there isn't a statue of him outside the ground or even a stand named after him when he's done here. He's got to be the most popular player we've had in recent times, if not in history. He might have won some more silverware with Arsenal (though these days we look by far the more likely to do so), but it depends on what you are after. At his age, I think he made the right decision as very few players go down into a club's folklore no matter which club they play for. By the time he's retired with us, Jamie Vardy may well be a contender for the best ever player to have played for us.

 

Look at Drinkwater, Kante and Mahrez. All 3 have gone onto win more trophies, but will any of them go down as club legends for their new teams? Kante is loved by Chelsea fans but there are rumours he might be sold as he doesn't fit their new style of play. Of course it depends on what you're after as an individual and most players want to win as many trophies as they can. But I have a lot of respect for players like Gerrard, Vardy, Le Tissier, etc who are players are synonymous with one club and though Vardy isn't a one club man, he is in terms of the Premier League. That said when he's 35/36 if he left to have a season with his beloved Sheffield Wednesday I'd have no ill feeling toward him whatsoever. In fact I think that might be a nice story for him - to end his career by helping get his boyhood club promoted back to the top flight 20 years after they said he wasn't good enough to play for them! Would make a great ending to his movie too!

...had the vote on Radio Leicester.....the GOAT!!!!!

 

[Wymsey]

Couldn't imagine him getting on with the likes of Giroud and Ozil.

The latter still currently a thorn in the Arsenal squad (under-performing a lot of the time and apparent lazy attitude).

[HankMarvin]

Dick also says they pulled out of the Kante transfer, over agent fees.. paving the way for Chelsea 

[Chrysalis]

If we had sold both him and kante in that summer, the board would have had questions to answer.

[twoleftfeet]

On 18/04/2020 at 22:21, Paninistickers said:

On the euros thing, Any major nation in Europe with Kane and Vardy at thier disposal would've played them together. 

 

What a partnership. The movement of both players would've been an absolute nightmare for any defence of the highest level. And that both can continually pick up the ball deep or play on the shoulder.. How the hell does a centre half track two doing hat? 

 

 Southgate would make a great.manager in business. Good at media. Diplomatic. Creates positive culture. Empowers staff etc. But woefully out of his depth as a football tactician. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I know we had them both on the bench at the same time.

 

[foxfanazer]

I know I'm heavily biased but he made an excellent career choice by staying. He has immortalised himself as a club icon. Mahrez, Kante and the other title winners will go down as club legends but Vardy is a level above in my eyes 

[Ric Flair]

2 hours ago, Chrysalis said:

If we had sold both him and kante in that summer, the board would have had questions to answer.

We were powerless though as both had release clauses, thankfully Vardy saw sense and stayed and will be the biggest legend this club has ever had. You could argue neither should have been allowed to have release clauses, especially Vardy given he only signed a new deal during that season and we must have known £22m was fcuk all for one of the most devastating strikers in the league, if not Europe.

[Collymore]

9 hours ago, Ric Flair said:

We were powerless though as both had release clauses, thankfully Vardy saw sense and stayed and will be the biggest legend this club has ever had. You could argue neither should have been allowed to have release clauses, especially Vardy given he only signed a new deal during that season and we must have known £22m was fcuk all for one of the most devastating strikers in the league, if not Europe.

It was a bit of a fashion at the time to bash Rudkin for the release clauses but when you think what dross £22m gets you these days, it was bordering on criminal. 

[RonnieTodger]

I remember having a tenner on him staying when he was about 1/10 to join Arsenal.

 

Mahrez, Kante and even Drinkwater leaving hurt, but Vardy wasting his career at Arsenal would have been something else.

[Gamble92]

On 18/04/2020 at 20:40, Mok said:

This is on good authority,  he was never close to joining them.
they showed an interest and it was played up by the media, he thought about it for a few seconds , to the extent I got 7/1 for him to stay and had a grand on , when the media were right stuck into it and he went odds on to leave , it’s  another non story , 
 

 

Thanks Rebekah

[Corky]

Arsenal wouldn't have suited him at all. I think he'd have thrived at somewhere like Chelsea, maybe even Liverpool for a while, but Arsenal wasn't a natural fit.

 

I doubt he regrets not going there.

[CosbehFox]

Arsenal other than a FA Cup have achieved **** all so he made a good decision 

[Leicesterpool]

14 hours ago, Cardiff_Fox said:

Arsenal other than a FA Cup have achieved **** all so he made a good decision 

They've been in downwards ever since that season 2015-16, luckily unlike many others who've chosen the limelight Vardy stayed and lets face it on reflection to many he made the right choice. Even Kante despite winning the league and europa league with Chelsea... I'm not even sure that move has really worked out. World class yes certainly... but he's certainly not at a world class team.