Tonights AST end of season review

[Toronto Gooner]

Mate, he's talking about media bullshit, being misquoted etc etc.

I.e. He loves the club, and doesn't want to tittle-tattle to ruin the relationship he has with the club and it's fans. And that anything that goes on regarding his transfer* will be carried out behind closed doors and not through the media.

EDIT:* I shold say possible transfer / future.

Would your opinion of Fabregas change if he put in a transfer request? I still believe that he (or his advisers) are trying to portray him as loyal to Arsenal while still agitating for his transfer.

All of the tittle-tattle could be eliminated by saying (or something to the same effect):
(1) I love Arsenal and have 4 more years left on my contract. I fully intend to honour that contract. Obviously, I am a Catalan and started my career in the Barcelona youth system. If Barcelona would like me to join them, then they can talk to Arsenal to see if both sides can reach an appropriate resolution. Until such time, I am Arsenal's captain and I am fully committed to the success of my team.

or

(2) I love Arsenal and have learnt so much in my 8 years at the club. However, I am a Catalan and started my career in the Barcelona youth system. Barcelona have indicated that they would like me to join them. After considerable thought and discussion with my family, I have reluctantly decided that I would like to return to my home. Therefore, I am putting an official transfer request. I will not leave Arsenal to any club other than Barcelona.

[Coney]

Better than what? DO you seriously believe that everything that has happened over the last two years has not been approved and orchestrated by Fabregas? The past two years could have been avoided by Fabregas doing one of two things:
(a) Publicly saying that he wanted to stay at Arsenal; or
(b) Putting in an official transfer request.

He does not do the latter because it will hurt him financially. So he plays the outside pressure game using others to talk about his Barcelona DNA, etc.

I do believe it has not been orchestrated by Fabregas, as I do also believe that the twin towers were brought down by terrorists flying hijacked civilian aircraft into them.

You say 'he does not do the latter' but don't delve into the former and the fact is that he has said he wants to play for the Arsenal and has no plans to do otherwise on any number of occasions. He just said it again today. But let's not let the facts get in the way of a good conspiracy theory.

[Kano]

Would your opinion of Fabregas change if he put in a transfer request? I still believe that he (or his advisers) are trying to portray him as loyal to Arsenal while still agitating for his transfer.

All of the tittle-tattle could be eliminated by saying (or something to the same effect):
(1) I love Arsenal and have 4 more years left on my contract. I fully intend to honour that contract. Obviously, I am a Catalan and started my career in the Barcelona youth system. If Barcelona would like me to join them, then they can talk to Arsenal to see if both sides can reach an appropriate resolution. Until such time, I am Arsenal's captain and I am fully committed to the success of my team.

He has pretty much said all of that already. The only thing he hasn't is he will see out his full contract.

Only the occasional homegrown player would ever state that and bar those guys, he is weakining his position as an employee, which no smart person would ever do.

[LDG]

If he put in an official transfer request, I'd be pissed off. He would effectively be driving his price down.

If he says, I love arsenal blah blah, four more years blah blah....it would be bullshit, and everyone knows it.

Like I said. I don't think he's overly fussed. If he has to stay at Arsenal, he's happy to do so (though after the guff from last season, I think he's want some major assurances in the form of quality additions to the squad and some ambition from the club).

He knows he's Barca bound one day....but if he has another couple of years with us, it's not going to worry him.

He will always be professional on the pitch, and give his all.

The point really, is that Arsenal need to show some ambition. If we're not prepared to show ambition, then we're not worthy of a player of his claibre regardless.

[Toronto Gooner]

I do believe it has not been orchestrated by Fabregas, as I do also believe that the twin towers were brought down by terrorists flying hijacked civilian aircraft into them.

You say 'he does not do the latter' but don't delve into the former and the fact is that he has said he wants to play for the Arsenal and has no plans to do otherwise on any number of occasions. He just said it again today. But let's not let the facts get in the way of a good conspiracy theory.

I did not say that he did not want to play for Arsenal, I said stay at Arsenal.

And if he had absolutely nothing to do with what has happened for the last 18 to 24 months, then why has he not stopped it? These are supposed to be his friends, it would be pretty easy to send a text or even talk to them when of national team duty, telling to stop things.

BTW: Conspiracy = An agreement to perform together an illegal, wrongful, or subversive act.

[Master Splinter]

He will always be professional on the pitch, and give his all.

Like last season? He was generally shite and looked like he was on his holidays long before everyone else decided to take them early too.

[Toronto Gooner]

If he put in an official transfer request, I'd be pissed off.

He will always be professional on the pitch, and give his all.

The point really, is that Arsenal need to show some ambition. If we're not prepared to show ambition, then we're not worthy of a player of his claibre regardless.

I cut out some of your reply as these are the points I wanted comment on.

Strangely enough, I would respect him more. I would be pissed off than he wants leave, yes. But, he has at least been honest and put the proverbial money where his mouth is.

Before this season, I would have totally agreed with his professionalism but this season, he has shown some less-than-professional actions, IMO.

Totally agree that Arsenal need to show ambition. I has said before (on the other site) that Arsenal need to make a "statement" signing; a top name player.

[Coney]

I did not say that he did not want to play for Arsenal, I said stay at Arsenal.

And if he had absolutely nothing to do with what has happened for the last 18 to 24 months, then why has he not stopped it? These are supposed to be his friends, it would be pretty easy to send a text or even talk to them when of national team duty, telling to stop things.

BTW: Conspiracy = An agreement to perform together an illegal, wrongful, or subversive act.

You can't stop everyone from saying things. And if you think he should be not doing what you claim he is, then you presumably think it is a wrongful act, etc ......

[LDG]

I cut out some of your reply as these are the points I wanted comment on.

Strangely enough, I would respect him more. I would be pissed off than he wants leave, yes. But, he has at least been honest and put the proverbial money where his mouth is.

Before this season, I would have totally agreed with his professionalism but this season, he has shown some less-than-professional actions, IMO.

Totally agree that Arsenal need to show ambition. I has said before (on the other site) that Arsenal need to make a "statement" signing; a top name player.

I do get your point mate, but to me, he is being honest and open. I honestly don't think he minds playing for Arsenal. I think he loves the club. The only spanner in the works is our lack of ambition to match his own.

There will come a point, if we don't change (maybe even this summer) where he's had enough. But he'll make his case to the manager, not through the media, and do the right thing i) by himself and ii) by Arsenal. He won't whore himself, as I think he has more respect for Arsenal than that.

[Coney]

I do get your point mate, but to me, he is being honest and open. I honestly don't think he minds playing for Arsenal. I think he loves the club. The only spanner in the works is our lack of ambition to match his own.

There will come a point, if we don't change (maybe even this summer) where he's had enough. But he'll make his case to the manager, not through the media, and do the right thing i) by himself and ii) by Arsenal. He won't whore himself, as I think he has more respect for Arsenal than that.