Abou Diaby watch?

[Power n Glory]

Van Persie didn't leave. We sold him. I don't think normal people can be too angry with him but we can roll our eyes when Diaby picks up this injury. This was not unexpected. It was a ridiculous gamble but as long as we stumble across the line for CL revenue, it's all paid off for Arsene.

There are few folks that would argue we were forced to sell him but I don't believe that either. Also, I can understand why he and many other players would want to leave this club and can't really come down hard on them when I know that this club lost it's way a long time ago. Diaby's injury woes just puts things into context because nobody is guaranteed a long future in football.

His injury wasn't unexpected and I can't understand why Wenger has gambled on his fitness so much. When ever fit he gets thrown back into first team action. It's reckless and it seems as though Wenger should have eased him in instead. But who knows if that would have made a difference. It sounds as though his career is over and he's seen every specialist.

[Power n Glory]

Fair enough - but the argument seems to be akin to continuing to hire a surgeon in the same role after he has lost his sight as the result of an acid attack.

I think most feel bad for Diaby and the aftermath he faced as a result of that POS all those years back. Had footballers not been so richly rewarded, I'd expect and attend a testimonial for him, but he is set for life. While that can't cushion the blow insofar as regret he'll always have for not fulfilling his potential, he is luckier than most and has been given every opportunity by the Club. It is not as if they left him lying on the pitch after that tackle - and neither did the fans. But surely now - it is clear, he can't fufill his role and everyone needs to move on.

I was mainly irked by NQ's argument and wasn't impressed with the 'fuck him, he's rich' type arguments as if he deserves no sympathy at all. There has been a few posters that have let their frustration for the club boil over to this argument. If we were in a better league position and not pent up with so much frustration for the club and manager, I doubt there would be such hostility for the player and more just wishing him well.

[Syn]

There are few folks that would argue we were forced to sell him but I don't believe that either. Also, I can understand why he and many other players would want to leave this club and can't really come down hard on them when I know that this club lost it's way a long time ago. Diaby's injury woes just puts things into context because nobody is guaranteed a long future in football.

His injury wasn't unexpected and I can't understand why Wenger has gambled on his fitness so much. When ever fit he gets thrown back into first team action. It's reckless and it seems as though Wenger should have eased him in instead. But who knows if that would have made a difference. It sounds as though his career is over and he's seen every specialist.

Diaby would've probably been awesome if he was fit for a couple of seasons. But it was never likely. And the most disturbing thing was that maybe even Wenger didn't think it was likely. He was just there to fill the numbers and give the illusion of depth because he is quite highly rated (was usually in the French NT if fit and Rooney said recently that Diaby was a top player).

[Ollie the Optimist]

Haha I remember he injured himself in that aswell !

tbf i was to injure myself, i would love to do it by kicking john terry in the face

[Niall_Quinn]

I was mainly irked by NQ's argument and wasn't impressed with the 'fuck him, he's rich' type arguments as if he deserves no sympathy at all. There has been a few posters that have let their frustration for the club boil over to this argument. If we were in a better league position and not pent up with so much frustration for the club and manager, I doubt there would be such hostility for the player and more just wishing him well.

Yeah well, as usual I didn't say 'fuck him, he's rich', I said I had zero sympathy (genuinely, I don't) and he's well looked after by comparison to the players this has happened to in earlier decades. I have no sympathy because I just don't feel any sympathy. I don't feel any connection to the player. I could pretend I had sympathy. Truth is, beyond this thread Diaby doesn't register in my thinking at all. Does he really, genuinely, cross your mind? Fine if he does, we're just different I guess and it has nothing to do with corporations or Barcelona.

Who do I have sympathy for? Rocky Rocastle's family I guess. Baby P, that one stuck on my mind. Abou Diaby? No, not at all. I have a bit of sympathy for some of the ex-footballers I see from the past who have to do shitty jobs today because they didn't get the big bucks back then. Not sympathy because they have to work for a living, we all have to do that, but sympathy because I remember them on a bigger stage and in better times. But that sort of sympathy is fleeting.

I'm sure it must be sad for Diaby he hasn't been able to play. Hasn't been sad for me though. Not because I'm happy he's injured (I'm not happy, sad or bothered) but because I never enjoyed him fucking up when he did make it on to the pitch. So okay, once a year he put in a decent performance. Why don't we get a cheaper player who can put in two decent performances a year?

[Power n Glory]

@ Syn. I agree. Could have been a massive player for us. Could be so dominant and influential when on his game. It's a real shame but he'll probably go on a free once his contract is up. But I can understand why Wenger would stick by Diaby in this case. He needs to be ruthless with certain players but Diaby was really young when he got done over by Dan Smith. Where else would he get top level treatment if we let him go when so young?

[Power n Glory]

Yeah well, as usual I didn't say 'fuck him, he's rich', I said I had zero sympathy (genuinely, I don't) and he's well looked after by comparison to the players this has happened to in earlier decades. I have no sympathy because I just don't feel any sympathy. I don't feel any connection to the player. I could pretend I had sympathy. Truth is, beyond this thread Diaby doesn't register in my thinking at all. Does he really, genuinely, cross your mind? Fine if he does, we're just different I guess and it has nothing to do with corporations or Barcelona.

Who do I have sympathy for? Rocky Rocastle's family I guess. Baby P, that one stuck on my mind. Abou Diaby? No, not at all. I have a bit of sympathy for some of the ex-footballers I see from the past who have to do shitty jobs today because they didn't get the big bucks back then. Not sympathy because they have to work for a living, we all have to do that, but sympathy because I remember them on a bigger stage and in better times. But that sort of sympathy is fleeting.

I'm sure it must be sad for Diaby he hasn't been able to play. Hasn't been sad for me though. Not because I'm happy he's injured (I'm not happy, sad or bothered) but because I never enjoyed him fucking up when he did make it on to the pitch. So okay, once a year he put in a decent performance. Why don't we get a cheaper player who can put in two decent performances a year?

It's no comparison to Rocky or Baby P but still....most people have some sympathy for him.

That recent challenge on the Newcastle kid dragged up the issue of nasty fouls and I always think of Eduardo and Diaby when I see such shit.

Abou Diaby? No, not at all. I have a bit of sympathy for some of the ex-footballers I see from the past who have to do shitty jobs today because they didn't get the big bucks back then.

Don't you think that's a little fucked up? So if Diaby was on a shitty salary that may have made a difference? What if he were forced into retirement right there and then after that tackle, Arsenal career cut short and at a time where there was still hope and optimism around the club. Before Stan and Gazidis. Would that make a difference to the sympathy level? He'd probably evoke more sympathy but because it's been a long drawn out and frustrating road, coupled by the fact that the Board and Wenger have really taken us for a ride, he's not getting that much sympathy from you.

[Niall_Quinn]

My clearly made point is that footballers are a lot better compensated these days than they were in the past. The threat of injury is still there but its consequences are massively reduced, in effect removed. Had Diaby been permanently injured on his debut he'd still have been entitled to the value of his contract, probably somewhere in the region of 2 million quid back then. So yes, it's unfortunate he hasn't been able to fully pursue his ambition of playing football from his point of view but at least (if he has a brain at all) the remainder of his life is taken care of financially. That's a luxury few if any of us have here I suspect.

He is of no use to the club, if we are realistic about it. He's been handsomely rewarded nonetheless so he's in the best position he could be in given his misfortunes. The club has lost out on its investment, a risk with all players so no great sympathy there either. The manager has been an idiot if he really thought he'd ever get anything from Diaby, or an insufferable cheapskate if he kept him on just to avoid activity in the transfer market. And the fans have ultimately footed the bill while observing an empty space in the midfield where the departed Song used to play and Diaby was never fit to play (in both senses).

Save your sympathy for the fans maybe?

[fakeyank]

It's a bit of a double standard and the player/fan loyalty talk is an illusion. I've heard so many berate RVP for leaving and other players for taking the money but if they had the sort if injury problems Diaby is going through, fans would be calling for them to be given the boot. There is no real loyalty. If we're going to talk logical then we can't really begrudge players wanting to leave for more reward at another club.

I dont begrudge players for leaving us. They are all leaving a sinking ship.. I'll still call them a c*nt coz they left my ship. Logically it doesnt make sense for any top player to stay at Arsenal with our priority only being just a top 4 finish. Similarly, logically, Diaby and Rosicky have no place at AFC.. they need to be moved on.

[Power n Glory]

My clearly made point is that footballers are a lot better compensated these days than they were in the past. The threat of injury is still there but its consequences are massively reduced, in effect removed. Had Diaby been permanently injured on his debut he'd still have been entitled to the value of his contract, probably somewhere in the region of 2 million quid back then. So yes, it's unfortunate he hasn't been able to fully pursue his ambition of playing football from his point of view but at least (if he has a brain at all) the remainder of his life is taken care of financially. That's a luxury few if any of us have here I suspect.

He is of no use to the club, if we are realistic about it. He's been handsomely rewarded nonetheless so he's in the best position he could be in given his misfortunes. The club has lost out on its investment, a risk with all players so no great sympathy there either. The manager has been an idiot if he really thought he'd ever get anything from Diaby, or an insufferable cheapskate if he kept him on just to avoid activity in the transfer market. And the fans have ultimately footed the bill while observing an empty space in the midfield where the departed Song used to play and Diaby was never fit to play (in both senses).

Save your sympathy for the fans maybe?

This is the point I've been getting at. If I always thought in terms of social hierarchy and class then why should I have sympathy for fans that can afford to spend a grand each year on a season ticket when I can't afford the same luxury. And make no mistake, it's a luxury not a neccesaity. See where I'm going?

It's getting long winded now and I don't see either of us moving on this one because it's more of a personal thing and it bugs me how you're able to bring finances and social hierarchy into almost every debate. I always tend to bite and challenge your opinion