Flamini in La Gazzetta dello Sport.

[SPUDMASHER]

I have to say that putting personal predujices aside, I can see exactly why he went, and why he chose Milan as his destination.

Let me put this to you:-
You are a professional footballer that has the following choices to make.

1. (a) Earn £80k a week (b) Earn £55k a week
2. (a) Play in one of the most famous football arenas in the world in front of a crowd that is constant noise from start to finish.
(b) Play in one of the most modern best equipped stadiums in the world in front of what a times can be a wall of deafening silence where half the supporters fuck off with 10 mins to go.
3. (a) Know that your management team is prepared to invest and fight to get the player they want.
(b) Know that your management team will back away as soon as another team express interest in a target because they don't have the stomach or money for a fight.
4. (a) Be totally anonymous when away from the ground knowing that if you fuck up it will go unnoticed.
(b) Be known to all when away from the ground and have to watch your every move because you know some crunt is watching and waiting to make a few quid off your back to the highest bidder.

If any of you would rather choose option b then you need to take off the rose tinted glasses. I love Arsenal but given the choice professionally, I would rather play for Milan.

I think thats a bit harsh Spuddy although do i agree with some of what youve said but maybe slightly diluted version. Wenger gave him his chance last year and he repays him by fucking off for nothing i think that is unfair of Flamini on the club. If i had no allegances to the club (maybe in my own workplace for instance) i think i would have some loyalty towards a boss that gave me chance to prove myself then when i did offer to quadruple my money. The facts are his contract run out and he was free to go just wish he would stop lying about the reasons if it was more cash then say it

I see what you're saying and essentially I agree. I think my company are complete crunts but my boss is a decent fella. However, when it came to it I would leave for a better offer in a heartbeat. It would not necessarily be a financial decision either. I'd look at the whole package and if I prefferred it I would go regardless of any feeling of loyalty to my boss. At the end of the day my priority concern has to be for my job satisfaction and overall happiness.
I think Flamini has done exactly that. The finance is without doubt an influencing factor but I don't think it is the overriding one.

[BT]

I have to say that putting personal predujices aside, I can see exactly why he went, and why he chose Milan as his destination.

Let me put this to you:-
You are a professional footballer that has the following choices to make.

1. (a) Earn £80k a week (b) Earn £55k a week
2. (a) Play in one of the most famous football arenas in the world in front of a crowd that is constant noise from start to finish.
(b) Play in one of the most modern best equipped stadiums in the world in front of what a times can be a wall of deafening silence where half the supporters fuck off with 10 mins to go.
3. (a) Know that your management team is prepared to invest and fight to get the player they want.
(b) Know that your management team will back away as soon as another team express interest in a target because they don't have the stomach or money for a fight.
4. (a) Be totally anonymous when away from the ground knowing that if you fuck up it will go unnoticed.
(b) Be known to all when away from the ground and have to watch your every move because you know some crunt is watching and waiting to make a few quid off your back to the highest bidder.

If any of you would rather choose option b then you need to take off the rose tinted glasses. I love Arsenal but given the choice professionally, I would rather play for Milan.

I think thats a bit harsh Spuddy although do i agree with some of what youve said but maybe slightly diluted version. Wenger gave him his chance last year and he repays him by fucking off for nothing i think that is unfair of Flamini on the club. If i had no allegances to the club (maybe in my own workplace for instance) i think i would have some loyalty towards a boss that gave me chance to prove myself then when i did offer to quadruple my money. The facts are his contract run out and he was free to go just wish he would stop lying about the reasons if it was more cash then say it

I see what you're saying and essentially I agree. I think my company are complete crunts but my boss is a decent fella. However, when it came to it I would leave for a better offer in a heartbeat. It would not necessarily be a financial decision either. I'd look at the whole package and if I prefferred it I would go regardless of any feeling of loyalty to my boss. At the end of the day my priority concern has to be for my job satisfaction and overall happiness.
I think Flamini has done exactly that. The finance is without doubt an influencing factor but I don't think it is the overriding one.

True, but isnt the point that he might not be playing at the highest level of his profession (in terms of league, european cup competition, current state of the team) and that happiness is debatable too (more press intrusion likely, not knowing who will be managing/playing alongside him, new country and leaving behind his friends). None of these factors are known to be better so his one guarentee is more money and possibly atmosphere IF the fans like him. Which is fine but then say it! And why say that he would have signed/was going to sign right up until his contract ran out if he wasnt happy with these factors at Arsenal already?

[SPUDMASHER]

When we are faced with a change of that nature do any of us really know how we feel throughout the whole process. Have you ever been offered a job and changed your mind a dozen times? I know I have. We are all assuming, me included, that he made a cold calculated decision, but none of us actually know that for sure. I'll give the guy the benefit of the doubt and choose not to believe press quotes attributed to him. We all know what a bunch of rogues they are.
I wish him luck at Milan (unless they play us), thank him for what he did for us and accept that time will tell if he helped or hurt us by leaving.

[Number 5]

What's all this about Wenger gave him a chance ahead of Gilberto and he should owe him something? Did I miss how the season started or something? Did AW sit Flams and Gilberto down and say that Flams was going to get the starting berth? A more likely version is that Gilberto had an extended Copa America came back too fatigued to start the season and Wenger had to turn to Flams. Had Gilberto opted out of the Copa America you can be sure he'd have started the season ahead of Flams. The only thing Wenger did was not drop him once Gilberto was back to full fitness, which can be directly attributed to Flams. He wanted a contract and was told to play for one. He could have had an Eduardo moment at any time given the robust nature of his game and had fuck all contract left to support him. Arsenal hardly helped him out there did they. So he plays his heart out to earn a new contract and the big boys come sniffing. Sorry but Arsenal dropped the ball by not signing him up in the first place and probably for £30k a week cheaper too.

The man goes with my blessing and I wish him all the best.

[BT]

When we are faced with a change of that nature do any of us really know how we feel throughout the whole process. Have you ever been offered a job and changed your mind a dozen times? I know I have. We are all assuming, me included, that he made a cold calculated decision, but none of us actually know that for sure. I'll give the guy the benefit of the doubt and choose not to believe press quotes attributed to him. We all know what a bunch of rogues they are.
I wish him luck at Milan (unless they play us), thank him for what he did for us and accept that time will tell if he helped or hurt us by leaving.

Yes but if you left a new job for more money and better life, would you then publically say in your trade magazine, for example, that 'the clients are better, the office has a nicer feel, the car parking facilities are great, I'll get to go to better christmas parties' - having told your previosu employers you were more than happy - or would that sound unprofessional, petty and disrespectful?

I wish him well, I think its unfortunate and short sighted that we didnt offer him a contract earlier and i agree that we benefited from this approach when buying him but it would be nice if he stopped brandishing ever other excuse to distract from the money factor.

I think he has gone directly to the press - at least for the Sun interview - but he doesnt need to make excuses, we understand why he went. I think he's doing it as a reaction to wenger's statement about money being the over-riding factor and in the process he's looking petty and a little silly by trying to counter that with every other argument under the sun.

[redstevo]

The man doth protest too much!

Can't blame him for leaving, i'm highbury born and bred but would still move to an AC, Real or Barca.

Never slag of your previous employers though, lacks a touch of class, a la cashley.

[augie]

I still find it amazing that some people are reacting as if we lost one of our top players We lost a midfielder who has had just 1 good season with us in that position since he arrived at the club. For all his hard work and commitment he does come up short in the physical battles and a Vieira he is not (and never will be). I dont blame the club for not tying him up last summer like I dont blame him for going for the money but just be honest about it cos at the end of the day if he spends much of his time on the bench then he will never be able to convine anybody that it was a career enhancing move not a financial one

[IW8Goalmachine]

i think he knows himself that he went the wrong way about it and is now trying to justify it for himself

[Belfast Boy]

The reason everyone's gettin a bit worked up about Flamini is cos he was definately one of our players of the season, he brought some much needed steel to the side with his all action and aggressive style and perfectly timed tackles and also because he is probably the first player in recent memory who has actually left against AW's will while still on the up and worse, at the tender age of 24 still to reach his peak!
I think that privately AW is livid at losing Flamini the fall out of which led to the hasty departure of Edelman, as when he was asked about why we'd lost our midfield dynamo he simply said "negotiations" which can only be interpreted as a thinly veiled attack on our former managing director who was temporarily in charge of contracts in the wake of DD's exit!
Sorry Spuddy it's not often I disagree with your views but I do this time regarding your post on why he'll be better off in Milan, they haven't even got their own stadium, and most of the others he'll be playin in are crumbling (WHL ) along with the integrity of the division itself, violence and corruption are rife and the bit about less intrusion on your private life is ludicrous, the fans have even been known to be allowed to enter the dressing room at half time if they feel the team is letting the club down and your wife and kids will be spat on in the street if your form dips in what is a totally ruthless league and this is in stark contrast to what every other footballer who plays for us has said in that they loved the privacy they were afforded in London compared with the continent!

[gus ceasar is a legend]

Again agree with Augie!

He became a bit of a cult hero last season but I hardly think he is irreplacable and neither did Arsene or there would have been more dough on the table!

Gone and forgotten already in my mind!

[Number 5]

Gus, Augie I have a question or two for youse

If Flamini is a one season wonder and not irreplaceable even one of our top players what would you guys say of Clichy, Sagna, and Adebayor?

The three fall under the same umbrella as Flams. Only really proved themselves after one full season. Perhaps we could get rid of them without breaking sweat as we are likely to do without The Flanimal (TM TS). Hell we could make some serious dough if we sold them as they are all under serious contracts. Who would fill the shoes of the three I quoted? Hoyte, Traore and Bendtner? And who is to fill the Flamster's boots? Diaby, Denilson or a new signing as yet unknown. Unless it's Mahamadou Diarra they ain't gonna have better year than Mr Mini has had this year.

They guy was a revelation this season and if we'd have kept him not one would be saying lets strengthen midfield. He is and was better than what we currently have. There is no shame in admitting it, it hurts like hell but he is the real deal and will go on to prove it.

[gus ceasar is a legend]

Sorry Number 5 but that doesn't really add up!

Clichy has now had two seasons as first choice left back and has been magnificent in both!

Sagna has only had one season at ArsenaL and to my knowledge has not run out his contract and demanded more than £55k a week to stay!

I quite happily admit that the jury is still out for me on Adebayor. If he was to go this summer and the finances were used to buy a top level replacement I wouldn't lose much sleep!

Flamini had one decent season! ONE! At the start of the season the club told him to go out and earn himself a new contract.....of a measly £55k a week! Sure Flamini proved himself but then used this one decent season to hawk himself around Europe looking for the biggest deal!

He was no Henry, no Pires, no Viera and not even a Campbell!

The only differences between him and Cashley is that Cashley had proved himself over several seasons and that Flamini was legally entitled to meet other clubs whilst still wearing an Arsenal shirt!

The morals and the ethics are still the same........he used our club on the strength of one season that started fantastically for him but soon became mediocre, to secure personal gain!

Wonder if his car swerved off the road?

[augie]

Number 5 I take your point about sagna but he has one outstanding season after just 1 season with the club. Flamini on the other hand has been with us a few seasons and this time last year I doubt if 5% of Gooners cared whether he left or stayed (although many will claim otherwise now ). I believe if we had sold flamini for 5 or 6m and that money was invested in a replacement then not many would complain especially when you consider that wenger picked up diarra for 2.5m last summer.

Also agree with gus re clichy who has been with us a few seasons now and looked very good before he had that bad run of injuries and in the last 2 seasons has been outstanding for us so is obviously no 1 season wonder

[Number 5]

Gus, Gus, Gus, Gus, Gus,

Clichy has only had one season as the first choice. This season. If you recall he missed the first two months of last season. Not a full season in his preferred position was it?

Flamini too did not demand an extravagant contract after one season, we had him for four years, on the same money if we believe him. So it's ok Sagna don't ask for a bigger contract, one more year and he probably will.

My point is if we were to lose Sagna, Clichy, Adebayor after there one and so far only good seasons would it be so much water off a ducks back to you? I for one feel we will really miss Flamini's prescence next year, more than most can imagine

Clichy, Sagna and Adebayor have all had ONE decent season. Just cos they choose to stay doesn't make their contribution less worthwhile than The Flams this year.

[Number 5]

Number 5 I take your point about sagna but he has one outstanding season after just 1 season with the club. Flamini on the other hand has been with us a few seasons and this time last year I doubt if 5% of Gooners cared whether he left or stayed (although many will claim otherwise now ). I believe if we had sold flamini for 5 or 6m and that money was invested in a replacement then not many would complain especially when you consider that wenger picked up diarra for 2.5m last summer.

Augie do you really believe we could have got £5/6mil for a player with on year left on his contract and no real proven class at the top level except for an emergency left back? We'd have been lucky to get £500k for him at that stage. Just cos we didn't offer him a contract when he wanted one he cannot be held accountable if he then says, you know what I'm offski come end of the year. Even if he had a shit season I reckon he'd have gone