Flamini

[g88ner]

Firstly Fabregas said it was an honour that United were interested in him. Secondly Flamini wanted a new contract, but was told by the club that he would have to earn it, and was rightly pissed off. Lastly Fabregas went round sulking in his last season at the club, look at Flamini's performance in his last season, he gave everything, you just sound bitter he chose to leave.

It is an honour

I'd be honoured to be approached by Manchester United. Who wouldn't? they're one of the world's biggest and greatest football clubs.

[northbank123]

Flamini still seems to be getting abuse on here, and undoubtedly by some people who still see Fabregas as a legend. The same guy who sulked his last season at the club, and who would have joined Unted, if it suited him durng the summer, there is a double standard here. Flamini on the other hand wanted a new contract, but was fucked around by the club, so decided to leave, i dont see how that makes him a money grabber, and he left Arsenal in 2008, to go to a club that won the CL in 2007, so it wasnt like he joined some small club.

Back that statement up - all I read was bullshit media talk and unsubstantiated rumours suggesting that he wanted to join them but not once did he ever say he wanted to join them Let me point out another simple difference between Cesc and flamoney - Cesc gave us a few seasons of top quality service and left once he realized that we are a club without ambitions, whilst flamoney left us as soon as his stock was high enough to get a move to a bigger club even though that move was going to leave him sitting on the bench for 4 seasons and was gonna kill off a fledgling international career

Steve o is 100% correct ....people on here have very very short memories when it comes to flamoney - it is easier to totally ignore the point that he has previous when it comes to chasing the money just because he fills a need Those sames people would probably have no probs accepting the return of the judas chav c*** and justify it cos he felt he was being screwed over 5k

Firstly Fabregas said it was an honour that United were interested in him. Secondly Flamini wanted a new contract, but was told by the club that he would have to earn it, and was rightly pissed off. Lastly Fabregas went round sulking in his last season at the club, look at Flamini's performance in his last season, he gave everything, you just sound bitter he chose to leave.

If Fabregas wanted to join United he would have - as much as I'd have loved for him to nut Bobby Charlton and spit in Ferguson's face are we really going to hold it against him because he didn't communicate his decision not to go there in a particularly disrespectful manner? Although it's not generally disputed that Fabregas' last season was a disappointment - although partly explained by injury frustration and having carried the team to a standing above their level for years, he checked out which wasn't acceptable.

Why would Flamini be justifiably pissed off at being told he had to earn a contract??? We all complain about our contract policy so how can you moan that we didn't go and hand a bit-part player at best a long-term deal when he would also probably have been asking for substantial wages? I don't buy that he was ever treated badly - his form when he got the chance at CM was nowhere near justifying dropping Gilberto for until that point and as admirably as he covered at LB in 2006 it would have been lunacy to leave Cole out of the CL final as I've heard some people who have lost all perspective suggest.

As discussed above his motives for leaving are open to personal interpretation but I firmly believe that he made his choice based almost solely on the money and that it somewhat predictably saw him regress massively as a footballer as well as hitting us hard. He didn't owe us anything but that's not going to stop me from having utter contempt for his willingness to let his career play second fiddle to his paycheck.

[officepest]

I repeat - why was anybody surprised he left us on a free when he left Marseille to join us, also on a free? If he would shit on Marseille then why would he not do the same again to us?

[1989]

But Stevo although Arteta has quality he is not a tackler, he does not shout / organise and he doesn't show a tenth of the passion that the Flammable one does.

Flam does the ugly unspectacular job that is essential for a consistent team.

He will come in useful when Flamini gets the inevitable suspension tho!!!!

I don't agree mate - I think Arteta is the best organiser at the club and should be captain IMO. Its not about charging round chest thumping - the bloke is one of the strongest players around. He's a really good tackler but just makes it look simple. Flamini for me still makes reckless challenges that look spectacular when they come off but I wouldn't be surprised to see him walk a couple of times this season. If the challenges the way he does against Napoli there will be 11 fairies waving imaginary cards at the ref

Is that the same Arteta who killed off any chances of an upset at the Allianz with his succession of brainless fouls in the dying minutes?

[QuartzGooner]

He [Flamini] didn't owe us anything but that's not going to stop me from having utter contempt for his willingness to let his career play second fiddle to his paycheck.

How is moving to AC Milan letting his career pay second fiddle to his paycheck?

[arseofacrow]

He [Flamini] didn't owe us anything but that's not going to stop me from having utter contempt for his willingness to let his career play second fiddle to his paycheck.

How is moving to AC Milan letting his career pay second fiddle to his paycheck?

Good question.

And footballer in looking after himself and his paycheck, particularly in relation to teammates shocker

[northbank123]

He [Flamini] didn't owe us anything but that's not going to stop me from having utter contempt for his willingness to let his career play second fiddle to his paycheck.

How is moving to AC Milan letting his career pay second fiddle to his paycheck?

I'm going to be repeating the same things as previous pages but we were very marginally off the top in 2007/08 in what was by far the strongest league around at the time - look at that season's CL where English clubs were only knocked out by other Englsh clubs - and what's more he had an absolutely integral role that with all due respect belied his ability as a footballer. AC Milan are a huge club but had fallen down the Serie A table in each of the last four seasons, weren't even going to be playing CL football and Serie A was a league that was slowly on the slide, particularly following the match-fixing scandal. They also had Gattuso who was essentially a nailed-on fixture in the side and his role there was never going to be anywhere near as important or his appearances as regular.

I agree with g88ner above that it's open to interpretation but for me the whole Italian father thing doesn't really wash - he moved for the money.

[SteveO 35]

But Stevo although Arteta has quality he is not a tackler, he does not shout / organise and he doesn't show a tenth of the passion that the Flammable one does.

Flam does the ugly unspectacular job that is essential for a consistent team.

He will come in useful when Flamini gets the inevitable suspension tho!!!!

I don't agree mate - I think Arteta is the best organiser at the club and should be captain IMO. Its not about charging round chest thumping - the bloke is one of the strongest players around. He's a really good tackler but just makes it look simple. Flamini for me still makes reckless challenges that look spectacular when they come off but I wouldn't be surprised to see him walk a couple of times this season. If the challenges the way he does against Napoli there will be 11 fairies waving imaginary cards at the ref

Is that the same Arteta who killed off any chances of an upset at the Allianz with his succession of brainless fouls in the dying minutes?

FFs '89 - I thought you were a bit better than that. You've picked on a 5 minute spell that the bloke had where quite rightly he earned some stick. I agree he didn't cover himself in glory in those 5 minutes OK.

You guys crack me up - 5 bad minutes for Arteta, and 4 reasonable games for the Marseille Mercenary and you tip 2 years of history on its head and want to consign Arteta to the bin and talk about the poor man's Diarra like some form of god.

When Wenger did his mad trolly dash signing useless wankers like Park and Santos and even back then Mertesacker who was shite for a year after joining, he signed one guy who rescued our fucking season with a string of consistent, mature displays after we'd been pasted 8-2. He took a pay cut to join us as opposed to greedy one season wanker Flamoney who fucked off the first time another club came calling.

Shall I wait till Flamini has 5 shit minutes and then come back on here and remind you.....or shall we stick to grown up rationale that looks at the facts of the past 2 years and recognises the contribution of a bloke who has been mostly outstanding since he joined us and who in that first season was pivotal in turning around what was one of the worst starts in history.

Piss off now Mikel - those 5 minutes in Munich mean you're no longer welcome here

[DB10GOONER]

Personally I don't think Flamoney has done anything THAT wrong tbh. He looked after himself - just like every other modern day footballer does. They are all motivated by one thing; self interest. We just have to accept that the days of the "club man" are gone. This would have infuriated me years ago but now I just kind of accept it.

We fucked Flamoney around with his contract extension and he did one for more money. That is what happened.

I personally think Arteta is better in the DM role. And all this bollocks about "Arteta wasn't playing as a DM" is just that; bollocks. He has been playing as a DM. I also think Flamoney has done well since he came back but he is going to get sent off. He is a risk taker. And I can't but help feeling he'll take one risk too many when it really matters and fuck our season.

I've said it before; Song was a shite DM, always reacting, never anticipating and thus having to dive in with the Hollywood tackles all the time, usually giving away stupid free kicks. Flamoney is waaaay better, but still can be rash and also quite often reacts more than anticipates. He too gives away alot of silly free kicks. But for me Arteta fills the role better; he is intelligent, anticipates the play and positions himself brilliantly. Yeah he's had one or two howlers but to slate him because of one or two howlers when he has had so many excellent games in that role is crazy.

I think Arteta as first choice DM with Flamoney as back up is a good plan. We've whined like beeyatch's on here for years saying that the squad is thin and we need solid back up for the first choice players. Now we have it for one of the key positions in modern football and still people are unhappy!

[SteveO 35]

Personally I don't think Flamoney has done anything THAT wrong tbh. He looked after himself - just like every other modern day footballer does. They are all motivated by one thing; self interest. We just have to accept that the days of the "club man" are gone. This would have infuriated me years ago but now I just kind of accept it.

We fucked Flamoney around with his contract extension and he did one for more money. That is what happened.

I personally think Arteta is better in the DM role. And all this bollocks about "Arteta wasn't playing as a DM" is just that; bollocks. He has been playing as a DM. I also think Flamoney has done well since he came back but he is going to get sent off. He is a risk taker. And I can't but help feeling he'll take one risk too many when it really matters and fuck our season.

I've said it before; Song was a shite DM, always reacting, never anticipating and thus having to dive in with the Hollywood tackles all the time, usually giving away stupid free kicks. Flamoney is waaaay better, but still can be rash and also quite often reacts more than anticipates. He too gives away alot of silly free kicks. But for me Arteta fills the role better; he is intelligent, anticipates the play and positions himself brilliantly. Yeah he's had one or two howlers but to slate him because of one or two howlers when he has had so many excellent games in that role is crazy.

I think Arteta as first choice DM with Flamoney as back up is a good plan. We've whined like beeyatch's on here for years saying that the squad is thin and we need solid back up for the first choice players. Now we have it for one of the key positions in modern football and still people are unhappy!

Well said DB10 - pretty much agree with all of that. Have no problem with Flamini being here just the complete over-hype after 4 games and forgetting one of our most consistent players for the past 2 years....or worse still trashing his reputation based on 5 minutes

The people who get impressed by double footed lunges and chest beating at the expense of a guy who takes it all in his stride, are no doubt the ones who love Flapper flying around making Hollywood saves whilst ignoring his pathetic positional sense

[1989]

But Stevo although Arteta has quality he is not a tackler, he does not shout / organise and he doesn't show a tenth of the passion that the Flammable one does.

Flam does the ugly unspectacular job that is essential for a consistent team.

He will come in useful when Flamini gets the inevitable suspension tho!!!!

I don't agree mate - I think Arteta is the best organiser at the club and should be captain IMO. Its not about charging round chest thumping - the bloke is one of the strongest players around. He's a really good tackler but just makes it look simple. Flamini for me still makes reckless challenges that look spectacular when they come off but I wouldn't be surprised to see him walk a couple of times this season. If the challenges the way he does against Napoli there will be 11 fairies waving imaginary cards at the ref

Is that the same Arteta who killed off any chances of an upset at the Allianz with his succession of brainless fouls in the dying minutes?

FFs '89 - I thought you were a bit better than that. You've picked on a 5 minute spell that the bloke had where quite rightly he earned some stick. I agree he didn't cover himself in glory in those 5 minutes OK.

You guys crack me up - 5 bad minutes for Arteta, and 4 reasonable games for the Marseille Mercenary and you tip 2 years of history on its head and want to consign Arteta to the bin and talk about the poor man's Diarra like some form of god.

When Wenger did his mad trolly dash signing useless wankers like Park and Santos and even back then Mertesacker who was shite for a year after joining, he signed one guy who rescued our fucking season with a string of consistent, mature displays after we'd been pasted 8-2. He took a pay cut to join us as opposed to greedy one season wanker Flamoney who fucked off the first time another club came calling.

Shall I wait till Flamini has 5 shit minutes and then come back on here and remind you.....or shall we stick to grown up rationale that looks at the facts of the past 2 years and recognises the contribution of a bloke who has been mostly outstanding since he joined us and who in that first season was pivotal in turning around what was one of the worst starts in history.

Piss off now Mikel - those 5 minutes in Munich mean you're no longer welcome here

That was in response to your claim that Arteta was "a really good tackler". Should've bolded that bit sorry.

[1989]

Personally I don't think Flamoney has done anything THAT wrong tbh. He looked after himself - just like every other modern day footballer does. They are all motivated by one thing; self interest. We just have to accept that the days of the "club man" are gone. This would have infuriated me years ago but now I just kind of accept it.

We fucked Flamoney around with his contract extension and he did one for more money. That is what happened.

I personally think Arteta is better in the DM role. And all this bollocks about "Arteta wasn't playing as a DM" is just that; bollocks. He has been playing as a DM. I also think Flamoney has done well since he came back but he is going to get sent off. He is a risk taker. And I can't but help feeling he'll take one risk too many when it really matters and fuck our season.

I've said it before; Song was a shite DM, always reacting, never anticipating and thus having to dive in with the Hollywood tackles all the time, usually giving away stupid free kicks. Flamoney is waaaay better, but still can be rash and also quite often reacts more than anticipates. He too gives away alot of silly free kicks. But for me Arteta fills the role better; he is intelligent, anticipates the play and positions himself brilliantly. Yeah he's had one or two howlers but to slate him because of one or two howlers when he has had so many excellent games in that role is crazy.

I think Arteta as first choice DM with Flamoney as back up is a good plan. We've whined like beeyatch's on here for years saying that the squad is thin and we need solid back up for the first choice players. Now we have it for one of the key positions in modern football and still people are unhappy!

Flamini played over 150 games for us and never been sent off, he's now older and wiser why is it more likely he will???

[arseofacrow]

He [Flamini] didn't owe us anything but that's not going to stop me from having utter contempt for his willingness to let his career play second fiddle to his paycheck.

How is moving to AC Milan letting his career pay second fiddle to his paycheck?

I'm going to be repeating the same things as previous pages but we were very marginally off the top in 2007/08 in what was by far the strongest league around at the time - look at that season's CL where English clubs were only knocked out by other Englsh clubs - and what's more he had an absolutely integral role that with all due respect belied his ability as a footballer. AC Milan are a huge club but had fallen down the Serie A table in each of the last four seasons, weren't even going to be playing CL football and Serie A was a league that was slowly on the slide, particularly following the match-fixing scandal. They also had Gattuso who was essentially a nailed-on fixture in the side and his role there was never going to be anywhere near as important or his appearances as regular.

I agree with g88ner above that it's open to interpretation but for me the whole Italian father thing doesn't really wash - he moved for the money.

AC Milan finished 5th - was that set in stone when Flamini expressed an interest in going there? Ddin't they get through to the CL final in 2007 - and win it? NB, I think you're pushing the point too much and it doesn't really hold up. You didn't like the fact that he left for money - ok. You don't think much of his shouting and are peturbed by his perceived recklessness - again, ok.

But what's the problem with him looking after himself ? And how does this make him any different to any other footballer. They all look after themselves, first and foremost. The other players certainly would have had no problem with him. Reality and just because this was all pretty much played out in public shouldn't seperate him from anyone else. And who cares about the reason? How are we to know his motivation - 50% money, 80% money - who knows, who cares - you know we didn't when we tried to ship him off to Brum.

[arseofacrow]

And another thing - Flamini contributed as much to Arsenal's midfield between 2009-2013 as Diaby did - and cost several million less in wages, so how can he be such a greedy *word censored*? Value for money I'd say.

[arseofacrow]

And another thing - Flamini contributed as much to Arsenal's midfield between 2009-2013 as Diaby did - and cost several million less in wages, so how can he be such a greedy *word censored*? Value for money I'd say.