Bitter, Indifferent or Happy by Cesc's Parting?

[The Realist]

Cesc conference on SSN now.

[IBK]

Indifferent at him leaving. IMO, like AW, he has tarnished the reputation he built with Gooners over his first 6 years with his agitation to leave for the past 2 years - during which 2 year period he has played nowhere near his true potential.

Being 'professional' is never enough when your head is elsewhere - and Fabregas has looked every inch the Barca player for a year now - the nadir being the Barca 2nd leg last season.

Unmerited or not, Fabregas embodies everything that's wrong about AFC these days. A player loyal to the manager not the club; a brilliant technical player but not a leader; and a player that sees our club as a stepping stone not a destination.

I don't care whether players feel that they have to go elsewhere to acheive things, and the club is certainly not exonerated in this respect, but the bottom line is that I want to see players who are proud to play for my club, not players who feel they are too good for it.

[The Realist]

The saddest thing is we sold him for less than what liverpool paid for Andy Carroll.

[Syn]

I don't care whether players feel that they have to go elsewhere to acheive things, and the club is certainly not exonerated in this respect, but the bottom line is that I want to see players who are proud to play for my club, not players who feel they are too good for it.

Amen.

[Arsenal Fan]

The saddest thing is we sold him for less than what liverpool paid for Andy Carroll.

[Fist of Lehmann]

but the bottom line is that I want to see players who are proud to play for my club, not players who feel they are too good for it.

It strikes me that Fabregas is one of the least guilty in this regard.

But regardless of that, how do you instill pride in player?
A player feels pride in representing a club if that club represents something the player identifies with. History, core values, success or personal feeling (i.e. they support they club).

All four of things apply to Barcelona for Cesc (although it's more about perceived core values than actual values).

For us, we have history, though not as illustrious as the biggest clubs.

We have core values, though these are too nebulous to sell a player on.

We have success, but not recent enough to convince anyone we are a destination club.

And there are professional players who claim to be fans, though this is too small a pool to effectively recruit from. Instead we have bought young and hoped that faith would be repaid by loyalty.

[Ernesto]

It strikes me that Fabregas is one of the least guilty in this regard.

But regardless of that, how do you instill pride in player?
A player feels pride in representing a club if that club represents something the player identifies with. History, core values, success or personal feeling (i.e. they support they club).

All four of things apply to Barcelona for Cesc (although it's more about perceived core values than actual values).

For us, we have history, though not as illustrious as the biggest clubs.

We have core values, though these are too nebulous to sell a player on.

We have success, but not recent enough to convince anyone we are a destination club.

And there are professional players who claim to be fans, though this is too small a pool to effectively recruit from. Instead we have bought young and hoped that faith would be repaid by loyalty.

You see, FoL, this is what I will continue to argue. We NEED players who want to play for Arsenal, who have been fans of Arsenal. If this equates to more Englishmen, then so be it. At least we won't see that formulaic bullsh!t we saw at Newcastle which was just a cut and paste of any limp performance last season.

There are, of course, exceptions to the rule. Ashley Cole hanging Arsenal out to dry despite being a "fan". Dennis Bergkamp with an unwavering loyalty to the club despite being dropped by Wenger countless times in the 2000/01 season.

However, there is an emotional attachment that keeps English players close to their clubs and, more importantly, stops other clubs (be they English or forign) from trying to poach these players.

[The Realist]

[Justhandguns]

Now I am really admiring TH14's professionalism when he left us.
And consider that he really did give his best to Arsenal not just by
saying it, but by carrying the team to so many glories.

While looking at Cesc now, he is just disappointing. Like many other has said,
why couldn't we squeeze more money out from his sale. This is pathetic.

[bignev]

I bear Fabregas no ill will. It was ultimately Arsenal that let Fabregas down rather than Fabregas letting Arsenal down.