Flamini

[LDB]

Ahhh, so to run down your contract and join a foreign team for nothing is fine, but to be sold to a domestic rival for £24m after singlehandedly propelling you into the CL makes you a *word censored*? I get it now. That's the argument done

Wasn't it our Marseille Mercenary who a few years ago declared that Milan was the club of his dreams before announcing how he felt delighted to be back here for "unfinished business" only to declare how he'd end up back at Marseille before he's done

You nasty mercenary Robin. Make way for Mr Arsenal himself, Mr Flamini - perhaps Tony Adams nickname is now under threat after the return of this club diehard and legend

It was the club that didn't offer him a new contract until he was in his final year, I don't blame him for not dancing to the board/wenger's tune when they finally decided he was worth keeping. As others have said, it's not as if he left for a anzhi makchakakakalaa type club where he could count his bank notes in some footballing backwater.

Besides, for a player you think is shit you seem to resent him for leaving the club. He has always given 100% in an Arsenal shirt, as far as I'm aware he has never slagged off the club so while I wouldn't say he's a player I "hero worship" I certainly don't understand the hate.

Maybe I haven't been explaining myself properly - my dislike of him isn't cos he left us, isn't cos he left us for more money or cos he ran down his contract before departing.......my dislike of the guy is because he left us to go to a club where he was never going to be anything other than a bench warmer If he had of joined a club like anzi where he was going to make twice the amount Milan were paying him BUT was going to be a regular starter for them then I would have zero probs with him going cos I don't think that he was all that in the first place - fact is that, from a work challenging point of view, sitting on a Milan bench doesn't require much motivation

Over the 4 years he played for milan (he was injured for the whole of 2011-12) he averaged 24 games per season

[augie]

Ahhh, so to run down your contract and join a foreign team for nothing is fine, but to be sold to a domestic rival for £24m after singlehandedly propelling you into the CL makes you a *word censored*? I get it now. That's the argument done

Wasn't it our Marseille Mercenary who a few years ago declared that Milan was the club of his dreams before announcing how he felt delighted to be back here for "unfinished business" only to declare how he'd end up back at Marseille before he's done

You nasty mercenary Robin. Make way for Mr Arsenal himself, Mr Flamini - perhaps Tony Adams nickname is now under threat after the return of this club diehard and legend

It was the club that didn't offer him a new contract until he was in his final year, I don't blame him for not dancing to the board/wenger's tune when they finally decided he was worth keeping. As others have said, it's not as if he left for a anzhi makchakakakalaa type club where he could count his bank notes in some footballing backwater.

Besides, for a player you think is shit you seem to resent him for leaving the club. He has always given 100% in an Arsenal shirt, as far as I'm aware he has never slagged off the club so while I wouldn't say he's a player I "hero worship" I certainly don't understand the hate.

Maybe I haven't been explaining myself properly - my dislike of him isn't cos he left us, isn't cos he left us for more money or cos he ran down his contract before departing.......my dislike of the guy is because he left us to go to a club where he was never going to be anything other than a bench warmer If he had of joined a club like anzi where he was going to make twice the amount Milan were paying him BUT was going to be a regular starter for them then I would have zero probs with him going cos I don't think that he was all that in the first place - fact is that, from a work challenging point of view, sitting on a Milan bench doesn't require much motivation

Over the 4 years he played for milan (he was injured for the whole of 2011-12) he averaged 24 games per season

He played in or started in ? Huge difference wouldn't you agree ?

Edit that - just researched it and he averaged 14 serie a starts during his time in milan

[1989]

Quality again tonight. Can we forget the past and get behind him now, as he's been giving his all and then some for us ever since his return. Thank you.

[northbank123]

Quality again tonight. Can we forget the past and get behind him now, as he's been giving his all and then some for us ever since his return. Thank you.

I'm aware I seem to be looking to highlight every minor point but even though we absolutely bossed the game tonight he still managed to fit in a studs-up challenge of the nature that referees here are inclined to give controversial red cards to, got skinned at least twice pushing too tight to his opponent too high up the pitch when they were countering in the second half and also gave the ball away before blatantly and mindlessly hauling the opposition player down, only through inexplicable refereeing avoiding a deserved yellow and giving away a free-kick on the edge of the box from a situation of zero danger.

He also did a lot of things right and by no means had a stinker but for somebody whose job it is to responsibly shield the back 4 he made a fair few errors and when they did get a foothold midway through the second half they had quite a lot of joy getting at our back 4, although fortunately we were well-marshalled and they invariably spurned long shots.

[1989]

Quality again tonight. Can we forget the past and get behind him now, as he's been giving his all and then some for us ever since his return. Thank you.

I'm aware I seem to be looking to highlight every minor point but even though we absolutely bossed the game tonight he still managed to fit in a studs-up challenge of the nature that referees here are inclined to give controversial red cards to, got skinned at least twice pushing too tight to his opponent too high up the pitch when they were countering in the second half and also gave the ball away before blatantly and mindlessly hauling the opposition player down, only through inexplicable refereeing avoiding a deserved yellow and giving away a free-kick on the edge of the box from a situation of zero danger.

He also did a lot of things right and by no means had a stinker but for somebody whose job it is to responsibly shield the back 4 he made a fair few errors and when they did get a foothold midway through the second half they had quite a lot of joy getting at our back 4, although fortunately we were well-marshalled and they invariably spurned long shots.

Well he'll make errors here and there, he's only human.

His pass accuracy was 90% tonight.

[northbank123]

Quality again tonight. Can we forget the past and get behind him now, as he's been giving his all and then some for us ever since his return. Thank you.

I'm aware I seem to be looking to highlight every minor point but even though we absolutely bossed the game tonight he still managed to fit in a studs-up challenge of the nature that referees here are inclined to give controversial red cards to, got skinned at least twice pushing too tight to his opponent too high up the pitch when they were countering in the second half and also gave the ball away before blatantly and mindlessly hauling the opposition player down, only through inexplicable refereeing avoiding a deserved yellow and giving away a free-kick on the edge of the box from a situation of zero danger.

He also did a lot of things right and by no means had a stinker but for somebody whose job it is to responsibly shield the back 4 he made a fair few errors and when they did get a foothold midway through the second half they had quite a lot of joy getting at our back 4, although fortunately we were well-marshalled and they invariably spurned long shots.

Well he'll make mistakes here and there, he's only human.

His pass accuracy was 90% tonight.

Pass accuracy is surely the most useless and uninformative statistic that is widely quoted. I'll always remember Scholes' return match against Citeh in the FA Cup where United fans wanked themselves silly over his 96% pass rate off the bench whilst everybody with a brain in their head saw that he came on at 3-0 up against a knackered 10 men and nearly single-handedly contrived to hand them a replay. Show me a bloke with a 95% success rate of making 5-yard backwards and sideways passes under no pressure and I'll take the guy with the 60% success rate that has carved the defence open 4 times thanks.

And nobody has ever played a perfect match but all I'm saying is that he's continuing to display poor discipline and some rash decisions that have seen him get skinned even in comfortable victory, and if he doesn't cut them out of his game they'll cost us on numerous occasions over a season.

As I said it probably comes across that I'm being unfair on him but as I said I don't think he had a bad game, I just don't buy into him being praised to the hilt after every single game when I don't think it's completely justified.

[augie]

Some of the tackles do concern me - a bit too like pingpong's tackles for my liking

[Step]

I see that some are saying that praise for Flamini is wildly exagerated.

Its not. Its just that the more informed can see just how important the unspectacular role he performs is.

In my opinion some of the praise for Jack Wilshire is widely exagerated. If he wasn't English he would not be lorded as much as he is.

He has no pace, his passing is poor and he doesn't score (or create) enough chances.

Seriously over rated in my opinion.

There I,ve said it !!!!

[QuartzGooner]

Surely some of the praise of Flamini is not for him as a player, but rather that we are lining up with that type of player in midfield - the dynamic ball winner who goes to the cause of the trouble but avoids too many forward forays?
That in itself provides the team with shape and balance.

Coquelin had the odd game last season, Frimpong has barely played more than a handful of games for us, but we have not had an out and out a dynamic ball winner since Flamini last played for us, prior to that Michael Thomas, Schwartz, Vieira etc were the closest to that type.

Parlour, Petit, Edu, Gilberto, Denilson, Wilshere and Arteta all having done tackling defensive duties as part of their overall game, but none of them quite as dynamic or with as much bite (though Wilshere has a bit of bite/spite about him for sure).

Song remains a special case, physically tough, but apart from his one good season, prone to leaving too much space for the opposition to take advantage of, though in mitigation he was under instruction to get forward from Wenger.

[donaldo]

Some of the tackles do concern me - a bit too like pingpong's tackles for my liking

We have been crying out for years for a player who can dish out some hard tackles now we have one. For too long we have been a team of power puffs.If teams are gonna kick us the Flaminator will kick them back.Nothing wrong with that

[donaldo]

Some of the tackles do concern me - a bit too like pingpong's tackles for my liking

We have been crying out for years for a player who can dish out some hard tackles now we have one. For too long we have been a team of power puffs.If teams are gonna kick us the Flaminator will kick them back.Nothing wrong with that

[northbank123]

Surely some of the praise of Flamini is not for him as a player, but rather that we are lining up with that type of player in midfield - the dynamic ball winner who goes to the cause of the trouble but avoids too many forward forays?
That in itself provides the team with shape and balance.

Coquelin had the odd game last season, Frimpong has barely played more than a handful of games for us, but we have not had an out and out a dynamic ball winner since Flamini last played for us, prior to that Michael Thomas, Schwartz, Vieira etc were the closest to that type.

Parlour, Petit, Edu, Gilberto, Denilson, Wilshere and Arteta all having done tackling defensive duties as part of their overall game, but none of them quite as dynamic or with as much bite (though Wilshere has a bit of bite/spite about him for sure).

Song remains a special case, physically tough, but apart from his one good season, prone to leaving too much space for the opposition to take advantage of, though in mitigation he was under instruction to get forward from Wenger.

And I agree with this - you can't put our improvement in form or certain personal performances down to Flamini's role but I certainly think that our shape is far better with somebody playing the role he does, without necessarily feeling the need to praise him to high heaven after every game.

[1989]

@Arsenal 22s
Wenger: 'Flamini had a job to do on Hamsik and he did it very well. We stopped them counter-attacking' #AFCvNAP

[arseofacrow]

The guy did a good job again.

Until we reverse-nigerian yaya toure and find out he's 23 then buy him out of his man city contract/the window opens, Flamini is doing a grand job. Let him get on with it.

And if he wan't to run his contract down again and fuck off for free then more power to him.

[DB10GOONER]

Was wondering when someone would compare Flamoney to RVJC. Simply no comparison. Flamoney was fucked about by the club (and that as Babafucko would say is FACT!) over his contract whilst shite like LegoHead and Mong were treated like they were Messi. He got the hump (and who wouldn't?) and did one for more money. Not particularly nice, and I don't personally like him for doing it, but par for the course nowdays, understandable, and nowhere near as cunty as Cashley or VanJudas who both disgracefully engineered moves to clubs that are historically and currently hated by Arsenal fans, with both players having given it the old "I've been an Arsenal fan all my life and am one of you" shite.

RVJC sat his whining injury-prone arse on our treatment table for 7 fucking years. We carried him for 7 years with little or fucking no return. FOR 7 YEARS. He fucking owed the club. And don't start that "he was loyal for those 7 years whilst we won nothing" bullshit - he was fucking "loyal" because no other fucker would sign him and pay him his monstrous wage while he sat on our treatment table. Then he has 1 injury free season and cashes it in for a move to Manure. Cashley pimped himself to the fucking chav so his poxy agent could pick up 5K a week. Both are far far worse than anything Flamoney did. No comparison.

I'm not saying Flamoney should be hailed as the returning son (because he did look after his own interests first and foremost) but if he is delivering the goods then fine, play him. Use him to our benefit. Run the fucker into the ground then replace him. Wenger has for too long put the well being of his players ahead of the club's well being.