Good Bye RVP!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Yeah I would've preferred that, it's much preferred to someone professing love for the club. And then they leave anyway. Having said that, it wouldn't be particularly helpful for the club but...I don't think this was either.

You keep going back to what the majority of fans say, what the majority of fans have said but you're talking to me! I didn't have a huge problem with how Cesc did it - it's entirely feasible he arranged for clubmates to speak out on his behalf for sure but he got his move without needing to speak out against the club and speak out in a way that might dissuade anybody else to come in the future (thankfully it seems like that won't be the case, even after RVP saying what he said).

[Power n Glory]

Yeah I would've preferred that, it's much preferred to someone professing love for the club. And then they leave anyway. Having said that, it wouldn't be particularly helpful for the club but...I don't think this was either.

That's a very childish outlook and why RVP was wrong to presume fans could handle his statement. It's like having to sit a child down and explain why his parents are getting divorced. After 8 years at the club and supporting us as a kid, I don't doubt RVP's love for the club but shit happens.

You keep going back to what the majority of fans say, what the majority of fans have said but you're talking to me! I didn't have a huge problem with how Cesc did it -

Regardless of your stance, it's still relevant and this is an open forum, so what may not apply to you, is relevant for other readers. Also, I get the impression that RVP is aware of fans reactions and may have been slightly influenced by what he's seen and heard in the past. This idea about players being disconnected from the fans and players needing to do more to interact with fans... Personal statements on websites and Twitter accounts....not a good idea. I hope players in the future rethink before they make some misguided attempt to communicate and connect with fans. It's not wise.

RVP hasn't hindered any movements with his statement either. He's kept it vague and just said he disagrees with the direction we're going in. Has his statement hindered the Cazorla move? Doesn't look like it. Poldoski signed even though he knew RVP's contract talks were stalling and we had just lost Cesc, Nasri and Clichy. Clichy and Nasri were blatant with their parting shots but that didn't stop us from signing Arteta, Merts, Santos and all the rest. The situation has been blown out of proportion and imo you're clutching at straws.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

That's a very childish outlook and why RVP was wrong to presume fans could handle his statement. It's like having to sit a child down and explain why his parents are getting divorced. After 8 years at the club and supporting us as a kid, I don't doubt RVP's love for the club but shit happens.



Regardless of your stance, it's still relevant and this is an open forum, so what may not apply to you, is relevant for other readers. Also, I get the impression that RVP is aware of fans reactions and may have been slightly influenced by what he's seen and heard in the past. This idea about players being disconnected from the fans and players needing to do more to interact with fans... Personal statements on websites and Twitter accounts....not a good idea. I hope players in the future rethink before they make some misguided attempt to communicate and connect with fans. It's not wise.

RVP hasn't hindered any movements with his statement either. He's kept it vague and just said he disagrees with the direction we're going in. Has his statement hindered the Cazorla move? Doesn't look like it. Poldoski signed even though he knew RVP's contract talks were stalling and we had just lost Cesc, Nasri and Clichy. Clichy and Nasri were blatant with their parting shots but that didn't stop us from signing Arteta, Merts, Santos and all the rest. The situation has been blown out of proportion and imo you're clutching at straws.

It's not a childish view at all because a child wouldn't be analysing what they have said to see what you think they really mean. Saying stuff like 'I love the club' are just words, the context I'm placing it in, for me shows those words to not really mean a thing. It's more childish to say words without much meaning behind them, just like a kid would say: I hate you etc etc.

Yeah it's an open forum but you have criticised Letters for condensing your posts to a one line reply so if you're saying something to me that holds no relevance, I'm just going to be leaving huge chunks of your post out!

I've already said, thankfully he hasn't hindered anything. That does not mean it couldn't have - if somebody does criticise the ambition of the club it can hold resonance, however I can recognise, Arsenal, the club, the football we play (or are at least considered to play) and Wenger all still hold enough sway. It would've been better had he said something like: Arsenal are still a great club and a potentially great move for any player but after eight years I feel the time is right to try something new.

You can bet some players will choose Citeh or Chelsea ahead of us, players that we are after (like Mata) so I don't really see how it is clutching at straws when as a supporter you surely want the best possible scenario for your club, RVP talking about a conflict of views on going forward is not the best way to help bring those players in you apparently want for the team.

We're fortunate on Cazorla because of Malaga's situation but I am very pleased that's the case.

[Power n Glory]

I am very proud of being part of this fantastic club for the last 8 years.

Is that not enough? Is not as if he shitted all over us with that statement. And believe, if a player is going to choose Chelsea or City over us, it has nothing to do with RVP's statement. The fact that we haven't won a single trophy in 7 years, our wage structure, our transfer policy and this rep for lacking ambition, which precedes Van Persie and his statement are the stumbling blocks. As a supporter, I realise that we will have the same problem with future players if we don't address these problems which is why I've gone past the point of blasting certain players. This is a mere symptom of our problems and there is little point in focussing all our energies on it.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

No it isn't because he still said what I don't like. And to say it will have nothing to do with it is a little bit misguided: it's coming from a high profile player highlighting (re-highlighting) a high profile problem, the guy who supposedly loves the club. All of these things play a part because you can bet the agents will note it when trying to get their player to the best possible club for the biggest amount of money and I mean that just for themselves, not even for the player they represent.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Fergie hasn't travelled with United to a friendly in Oslo because he is trying to wrap up a deal for RVP this week, apparently.

I think this is more to do with Fergie knowing he needs to take things a little bit slower than he had been - he recently said he needs to do less travelling now.

[Power n Glory]

Did you not see the part I wrote about us not winning anything for 7 years or the fact that other players have been more blatant about our lack of ambition? Do you think our wage structure is a secret? Hasn't Board members and our coach even said we can't compete with clubs like City and Chelsea financially? Wouldn't those things be a more crucial sticking point for when a player weighs up moving to Arsenal or Chelsea?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I did. I don't know how to reconcile it with what I think though, I mean those other guys are not longer part of the club, they have less of a responsibilty to be cautious - I'd rather they didn't say the oft-repated things but it's not going to be at the forefront of their minds anymore to think 'hold on, I'm an employee, hope I know what I am doing'.

And yes board members have said things I don't like. And Wenger has said things I don't like - the statement about saying you cannot be ambitious if you sell two of your best players was stupid but I'm not going to mention it as a defence for every player I take issue with, there's just no need to. Also, I know all that contributes, that's why regarding Van Persie I said it plays a part - I didn't indicate it was the full problem because I know that it isn't. It is the current and most relevant problem though.

[Power n Glory]

It's just a symptom of the problems we face. Players are always going to leave and right now, Theo still hasn't signed a new deal and there is a lot of noise about Song leaving. These guys might not be so diplomatic when their frustrations boil over. We have a host of players that have aired dirty laundry while still playing for us and it will continue to happen unless Wenger and the Board start making serious changes. I hope the message has finally got through to them this summer.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I think they'll both stay, might only be for a year but then, this season is of the only importance currently. Both qualify as homegrown, so if only for that reason.