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Up the Arse! Goons thread. :)
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I don't know if Denilson's got the defensive capabilities to do it like Flamini did. He's typically played when Cesc hasn't, in Cesc's position, we haven't really seen them together when it's someone half decent or when it mattered. I'd like to see Diaby and Cesc together but how can we rely on Diaby when the after effects of his injury have made him one of Rosicky's best mates?
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Can he play the defensive role? I always thought of him as a poor mans Cesc. Albeit he hasn't had a lot of opportunities in the league.
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Diaby is certainly the more suited player to the more defensive midfielder.
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If it, um, wasn't obvious before.
I want proof god damn it. He looks pretty happy with himself there. Must of just checked his bank account
Still Lassana Diarra would be handy right now
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If it, um, wasn't obvious before.
F___ you Flamini. F___ you very much you c___. Mercenary, money hungry, piece of cr*p. After one season of being good you just jump ship. No respect for your manager or team mates.
P___ off.
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I agree with PP. Wenger brought him in to the club as a project player and unlike Fabregas he hasn't repaid Wenger and the club.
Flamini you are an ungrateful prick.
Flamini you are an ungrateful prick.
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http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footb...to-talent-it-ll-be-very-scary-89520-20406893/
Jens Lehmann has said a tearful goodbye to his beloved Arsenal - and voiced his hope that a summer of change at the Emirates will see the Gunners back on top next season.
The German goalkeeper of the great Invincibles side, who had been at the club for five years, made a farewell appearance on Sunday when he came on as a sub in the 1-0 win over Everton.
And the temperamental 38-year-old admitted he found it difficult to control his emotions as he was given a rousing send-off by the Arsenal fans.
"I had one or two tears in my eyes," he said.
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"It was a great farewell for me. This farewell will always stay in my heart.
"I had five good years here in terms of life, in terms of learning something about football, in terms of being part of a team which is playing probably the most attractive football."
------------------------------------
LEGEND.
Jens Lehmann has said a tearful goodbye to his beloved Arsenal - and voiced his hope that a summer of change at the Emirates will see the Gunners back on top next season.
The German goalkeeper of the great Invincibles side, who had been at the club for five years, made a farewell appearance on Sunday when he came on as a sub in the 1-0 win over Everton.
And the temperamental 38-year-old admitted he found it difficult to control his emotions as he was given a rousing send-off by the Arsenal fans.
"I had one or two tears in my eyes," he said.
Advertisement
"It was a great farewell for me. This farewell will always stay in my heart.
"I had five good years here in terms of life, in terms of learning something about football, in terms of being part of a team which is playing probably the most attractive football."
------------------------------------
LEGEND.
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I love Jens. Was just about the best character in the EPL.
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Not sure why the anger toward Flamini.
Cost you next to nowt, did a good job for you over the duration of his contract, and is totally within his rights at the end of that contract to sign for whoever he likes.
Loyalty is a two way street, and I'm sure Wenger wouldn't have hesitated to git rid of Flamini if his standards dropped.
Cost you next to nowt, did a good job for you over the duration of his contract, and is totally within his rights at the end of that contract to sign for whoever he likes.
Loyalty is a two way street, and I'm sure Wenger wouldn't have hesitated to git rid of Flamini if his standards dropped.
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There is a video clip on the Arsenal blogs of Lehmanns interview after the game that is very good.
Flamini's wages and signing on fee is meant to be over 100,000 pounds which is ridiculous and no wonder we couldnt match the offer.
Flamini's wages and signing on fee is meant to be over 100,000 pounds which is ridiculous and no wonder we couldnt match the offer.
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Well he is contracted to the club until the end of May and he could of shown respect and not appeared in photos at least until our season was over.
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It is disappointing to lose Flamini. However, in this sport, money talks. Good luck to him for the rest of his career. 
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Exactly, I for one wouldn't give Flamini 100k pounds.
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12 months ago was probably the best defensive midfielder in the world but this season, like most Milan players, didn't perform at his best. If the article is true I think he's worth the punt
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12 months ago was probably the best defensive midfielder in the world but this season, like most Milan players, didn't perform at his best. If the article is true I think he's worth the punt
I haven't seen him play much since the WC...does he still have the legs to keep up with the pace of Wenger-ball? Flamini was so good for us because he could run like a maniac for 90 mins.
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Rino is done im afraid. 30 years old ... to slow - Id prefer Makoun
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Interesting article, some valid points, What do you other gooners think?
Arsenal Fans Must Blame Wenger, Not Flamini
Arsene Wenger has mishandled the Mathieu Flamini situation, and sent a very dangerous message to the rest of his team, writes Abhishek Thakur...
Flamini: A Second Rate Player?
Only three years ago, as Arsenal prepared to move to The Emirates the following summer, the headlines were dominated by the fact that Thierry Henry was moving into the final 24 months of his contract.
Attempts to get him to sign on sold newspapers throughout the season, and it was public knowledge that he would be on his way to Barcelona if he did not.
He did eventually commit in an emotional moment after the Champions League final – a decision he was to reverse the following summer – but the astute Wenger had taken no chances as far as the club's future was concerned.
The key point is that he understood the importance of the moment – they needed their skipper and star player as they moved to a big stadium and into a new era. He broke the trend, and Arsenal's wage policy, to hand the Frenchman a mammoth five year deal, one which put him at par with Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack as far as the rich list went. Smart move.
As Henry was signing, a certain Mathieu Flamini was moving into his final 24 months. Did anyone even care?
What You Did Last Summer
Fast forward to last summer, when Flamini was moving into the final 12 months of his contract. He was, once again, conveniently ignored. What was 'the professor' doing? He was getting Cesc Fabregas – who had light years to run on his deal – to sign a massive extension through to 2014.
So, before one demands loyalty from Flamini, one has to ask whether Arsenal were loyal to him. If that was business, so is this. The only reason he was not offered a new deal was because Wenger thought he was expendable at that point. He might as well have been shown the proverbial finger.
Put yourself in Flamini's shoes for a moment. Would you grudge him for feeling treated like a second rate player? You move into the final year of your contract and watch as a teammate signs on for seven seasons. The person who has to answer for this is Wenger. The Arsenal manager knew full well what he was doing, and it is he who must carry the can, not Flamini.
Personally, I strongly believe that the hugely improved midfielder should still have stayed at the club. He will never mean to Milan what he could have to Arsenal, just like Henry will never mean to Barcelona what he could have had he retired at the Emirates. But that is a moot point.
What About Last Month?
Let us move on, assuming Wenger took a calculated business decision, and assuming he thought he could get Flamini to sign on. Let us now look dispassionately at what has happened over the last month. Let's talk business.
Within six months, the midfielder's stock had risen, and with that the interest of other clubs – particularly as he was available on a free. That was the risk Wenger had taken.
Flamini's agents advised him to hold out for a meaty offer. Wenger was to refuse, and made it very public that he would not be blackmailed into breaking his wage policy – the very policy he had broken to keep Thierry Henry at the club.
Another finger, only this time, the player decided to respond in kind. Within six hours of Arsenal's final game, he was in Milan, and another 18 hours later, he had completed a medical and signed on for four seasons at around 4 million euros per year (equivalent to around ₤60K per week). Supposedly, Arsenal would not go beyond ₤50K.
I would rate Flamini at around ₤10-12 million today, even if I was to be conservative. Now, Wenger will go into the market, and probably spend at least ₤8 million as he looks to shore up his midfield again. Flamini, in that sense, would have been a free-transfer, so that eight million could easily be amortised into an extra two million over four seasons.
Even from a purely business perspective, it makes no sense to let him go and then spend more money on a replacement. If Henry earned in excess of ₤100K, surely Flamini could have been offered more than ₤50K as a player effectively signed for free. There have been some great French mathematicians in the past. Arsene clearly doesn't tow that line.
What Message Does This Send?
And the most concerning bit is yet to come. In doing all this, Arsene has broken up a midfield partnership that was perfect for the way he likes to play his football. We have seen some absolutely amazing stuff from Arsenal this season, and a lot has to do with how Flamini has combined with Fabregas. Arsene must now strive to recreate that from scratch, with a player who may or may not suit Cesc's style.
What is more, by losing a key player, he has sent a very dangerous message to the rest of his team. With a new deal for Flamini wrapped up, today, he would have been thinking of consolidating for an even stronger assault on Manchester United. Every Arsenal fan would have been thumping his chest proudly.
Instead, he has told Cesc Fabregas, Emmanuel Adebayor and Alexander Hleb that he is unwilling or unable to do what it takes to keep this team together. Nice way that to demand trust.
The likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter and Milan interested in one or more of those players, who will surely have been disillusioned somewhat by the developments. Reports this morning already claim that Fabregas is unsettled after Flamini's departure. Real Madrid circle over him, while Inter refuse to give up on Hleb. The chest thumping fan has been replaced by a worried one!
'Hey gaffer, if you care so much about building a team, why did you not keep Flamini?' That could so easily be the refrain, one that Wenger might struggle to respond to as mega offers start coming in. There will be teams willing to offer Adebayor and Hleb ₤80K per week, and Madrid and Barcelona would probably hand Fabregas a bumper ₤120K. Worrying times at The Emirates, and of their own doing.
Be it lopsided priorities last summer, poor mathematics last month, or simply a sloppy estimation of the damage this exit could cost, there is only one person who must answer for this. So, before Arsenal fans abuse Flamini, they must ask their professor how he managed to land the club just where they were two years ago.
To conclude, what would have been a summer of strengthening for Wenger now threatens to turn into three months spent desperately trying to hold on to his key players. This desperation was already evident in some of his comments about Adebayor on Monday, as well as his anger towards Ramon Calderon.
Talk about swinging the axe onto your own foot! Sorry Arsene, but you have got this one completely wrong.
Abhishek Thakur
http://www.goal.com/en/articolo.aspx?contenutoid=686506
Arsenal Fans Must Blame Wenger, Not Flamini
Arsene Wenger has mishandled the Mathieu Flamini situation, and sent a very dangerous message to the rest of his team, writes Abhishek Thakur...
Flamini: A Second Rate Player?
Only three years ago, as Arsenal prepared to move to The Emirates the following summer, the headlines were dominated by the fact that Thierry Henry was moving into the final 24 months of his contract.
Attempts to get him to sign on sold newspapers throughout the season, and it was public knowledge that he would be on his way to Barcelona if he did not.
He did eventually commit in an emotional moment after the Champions League final – a decision he was to reverse the following summer – but the astute Wenger had taken no chances as far as the club's future was concerned.
The key point is that he understood the importance of the moment – they needed their skipper and star player as they moved to a big stadium and into a new era. He broke the trend, and Arsenal's wage policy, to hand the Frenchman a mammoth five year deal, one which put him at par with Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack as far as the rich list went. Smart move.
As Henry was signing, a certain Mathieu Flamini was moving into his final 24 months. Did anyone even care?
What You Did Last Summer
Fast forward to last summer, when Flamini was moving into the final 12 months of his contract. He was, once again, conveniently ignored. What was 'the professor' doing? He was getting Cesc Fabregas – who had light years to run on his deal – to sign a massive extension through to 2014.
So, before one demands loyalty from Flamini, one has to ask whether Arsenal were loyal to him. If that was business, so is this. The only reason he was not offered a new deal was because Wenger thought he was expendable at that point. He might as well have been shown the proverbial finger.
Put yourself in Flamini's shoes for a moment. Would you grudge him for feeling treated like a second rate player? You move into the final year of your contract and watch as a teammate signs on for seven seasons. The person who has to answer for this is Wenger. The Arsenal manager knew full well what he was doing, and it is he who must carry the can, not Flamini.
Personally, I strongly believe that the hugely improved midfielder should still have stayed at the club. He will never mean to Milan what he could have to Arsenal, just like Henry will never mean to Barcelona what he could have had he retired at the Emirates. But that is a moot point.
What About Last Month?
Let us move on, assuming Wenger took a calculated business decision, and assuming he thought he could get Flamini to sign on. Let us now look dispassionately at what has happened over the last month. Let's talk business.
Within six months, the midfielder's stock had risen, and with that the interest of other clubs – particularly as he was available on a free. That was the risk Wenger had taken.
Flamini's agents advised him to hold out for a meaty offer. Wenger was to refuse, and made it very public that he would not be blackmailed into breaking his wage policy – the very policy he had broken to keep Thierry Henry at the club.
Another finger, only this time, the player decided to respond in kind. Within six hours of Arsenal's final game, he was in Milan, and another 18 hours later, he had completed a medical and signed on for four seasons at around 4 million euros per year (equivalent to around ₤60K per week). Supposedly, Arsenal would not go beyond ₤50K.
I would rate Flamini at around ₤10-12 million today, even if I was to be conservative. Now, Wenger will go into the market, and probably spend at least ₤8 million as he looks to shore up his midfield again. Flamini, in that sense, would have been a free-transfer, so that eight million could easily be amortised into an extra two million over four seasons.
Even from a purely business perspective, it makes no sense to let him go and then spend more money on a replacement. If Henry earned in excess of ₤100K, surely Flamini could have been offered more than ₤50K as a player effectively signed for free. There have been some great French mathematicians in the past. Arsene clearly doesn't tow that line.
What Message Does This Send?
And the most concerning bit is yet to come. In doing all this, Arsene has broken up a midfield partnership that was perfect for the way he likes to play his football. We have seen some absolutely amazing stuff from Arsenal this season, and a lot has to do with how Flamini has combined with Fabregas. Arsene must now strive to recreate that from scratch, with a player who may or may not suit Cesc's style.
What is more, by losing a key player, he has sent a very dangerous message to the rest of his team. With a new deal for Flamini wrapped up, today, he would have been thinking of consolidating for an even stronger assault on Manchester United. Every Arsenal fan would have been thumping his chest proudly.
Instead, he has told Cesc Fabregas, Emmanuel Adebayor and Alexander Hleb that he is unwilling or unable to do what it takes to keep this team together. Nice way that to demand trust.
The likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter and Milan interested in one or more of those players, who will surely have been disillusioned somewhat by the developments. Reports this morning already claim that Fabregas is unsettled after Flamini's departure. Real Madrid circle over him, while Inter refuse to give up on Hleb. The chest thumping fan has been replaced by a worried one!
'Hey gaffer, if you care so much about building a team, why did you not keep Flamini?' That could so easily be the refrain, one that Wenger might struggle to respond to as mega offers start coming in. There will be teams willing to offer Adebayor and Hleb ₤80K per week, and Madrid and Barcelona would probably hand Fabregas a bumper ₤120K. Worrying times at The Emirates, and of their own doing.
Be it lopsided priorities last summer, poor mathematics last month, or simply a sloppy estimation of the damage this exit could cost, there is only one person who must answer for this. So, before Arsenal fans abuse Flamini, they must ask their professor how he managed to land the club just where they were two years ago.
To conclude, what would have been a summer of strengthening for Wenger now threatens to turn into three months spent desperately trying to hold on to his key players. This desperation was already evident in some of his comments about Adebayor on Monday, as well as his anger towards Ramon Calderon.
Talk about swinging the axe onto your own foot! Sorry Arsene, but you have got this one completely wrong.
Abhishek Thakur
http://www.goal.com/en/articolo.aspx?contenutoid=686506
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http://arseblog.com/
The Arsenal Supporter’s Trust met with Arsène Wenger yesterday. Points to come from these discussions are brought to you and are as follows:
On Flamini, Wenger said that Flamini had left purely because of the
money on offer. He commended the Board for having done the maximum they
could to make Flamini a good offer within sensible limits. Interestingly
he pointed out that one of the risks of having overseas players at the
club is that they are attuned to the concept of moving clubs.
On transfer activity. He said he was looking for a defensive player, to
address the team’s weakness defending route one. He said we defended as
well as Manchester United and Chelsea from set pieces and open play; but
not the long ball aimed down the middle and he would address this. He
also said he wanted a creative player and told Ken Friar that he
shouldn’t plan for much of a holiday as the phone would be busy.
He was very clear that he did not want Hleb to leave. He said that he
was sceptical that the Webster clause would be invoked. (This is
probably a to the gentleman’s agreement between clubs not to
do the dirty on each other). In Wengers own words, ‘we have lost one
player and we do not want to lose any more’.
I love it when stupid journos are made to look even stupider.
The Arsenal Supporter’s Trust met with Arsène Wenger yesterday. Points to come from these discussions are brought to you and are as follows:
On Flamini, Wenger said that Flamini had left purely because of the
money on offer. He commended the Board for having done the maximum they
could to make Flamini a good offer within sensible limits. Interestingly
he pointed out that one of the risks of having overseas players at the
club is that they are attuned to the concept of moving clubs.
On transfer activity. He said he was looking for a defensive player, to
address the team’s weakness defending route one. He said we defended as
well as Manchester United and Chelsea from set pieces and open play; but
not the long ball aimed down the middle and he would address this. He
also said he wanted a creative player and told Ken Friar that he
shouldn’t plan for much of a holiday as the phone would be busy.
He was very clear that he did not want Hleb to leave. He said that he
was sceptical that the Webster clause would be invoked. (This is
probably a to the gentleman’s agreement between clubs not to
do the dirty on each other). In Wengers own words, ‘we have lost one
player and we do not want to lose any more’.
I love it when stupid journos are made to look even stupider.
PendlePie
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So thats two starting team players who have left/are leaving, and this season hasn't even ended yet. Hleb's a c___ though - what kind of player has secret meetings with another club while on UCL duty in another country?
If we are serious about winning something next year then money will need to be spent. A defensive midfielder, a creative/attacking midfielder and a centre back will need to be purchased if we want to have any chance. If not top 4 will be a struggle let alone titles.
Probably bulls___ but who knows. A big problem if its true.
So the question that I ask now, given all of this Famini, Hleb, Adebayor confirmation/speculation is ... are we developing the right sort of players?
That is, by bringing in all of these wonderfully talented yet under-rated youngsters and developing them over a few years, are we also bringing in precocious, disloyal egotists who do not have the capacity to handle the fame which rises exponentially once they actually make it at Arsenal?
At least the clubs who bring in "ready-mades" are also bringing in blokes with an existing conception of their own status in world football, whatever other baggage and costs that accompanies them (eg. Ballack, Torres, Tevez etc).
Are we also going to run into the same issues this time next year with the likes of Denilson, Walcott and Clichy? I dare not mention Fabregas.
That is, by bringing in all of these wonderfully talented yet under-rated youngsters and developing them over a few years, are we also bringing in precocious, disloyal egotists who do not have the capacity to handle the fame which rises exponentially once they actually make it at Arsenal?
At least the clubs who bring in "ready-mades" are also bringing in blokes with an existing conception of their own status in world football, whatever other baggage and costs that accompanies them (eg. Ballack, Torres, Tevez etc).
Are we also going to run into the same issues this time next year with the likes of Denilson, Walcott and Clichy? I dare not mention Fabregas.
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