If Nasri and Cesc Leave

[Master Splinter]

I remember that great winner he scored against us in Southamptons last game at The Dell. Good player.

He's shit. Didn't win a trophy.

[IBK]

I think this debate is in reality less about footballers and more about football in general. Part of what makes (has made) the game so great is the identity of the clubs, the players and their fans; the passion; the tribalism and the endeavour. Whether a football player is traditionally a fan of the club he plays for - its inevitable that fans should expect him to play for the shirt in some degree while he is at the club. Its fine to point to 'model professionals' - but football players are human beings not robots, and without that pride in, and affinity with their team and their team mates then they are not going to perform to the best of their ability. We have all seen those players who give their heart and soul to their clubs - and what they mean to their teams and their fans.

You take that 'X-factor away, and the game loses something. And it is rapidly doing so. Talented players who are essentially playing for a pay packet, directed by agents who are interested only in snouting at the trough in a game bloated by money and greed. I don't particularly blame the likes of Nasri, who are after all only operating in the environment they are presented with - but I can well understand the antipathy that supporters feel towards players who come across as coolly professional rather than passionate about the club they play for.

And this is also why the likes of Citeh don't sit right with most football players. Its the calculating manner in which they are determined to use their financial muscle to buy their way to the top and the almost obscene amounts they are prepared to spend to get there. Its a matter of degree of course - there have always been the haves and the have nots, but there is a feeling that if football is reduced merely to a question of who has the biggest cheque book, the essence of what the game is about is lost.

[Syn]

I think this debate is in reality less about footballers and more about football in general. Part of what makes (has made) the game so great is the identity of the clubs, the players and their fans; the passion; the tribalism and the endeavour. Whether a football player is traditionally a fan of the club he plays for - its inevitable that fans should expect him to play for the shirt in some degree while he is at the club. Its fine to point to 'model professionals' - but football players are human beings not robots, and without that pride in, and affinity with their team and their team mates then they are not going to perform to the best of their ability. We have all seen those players who give their heart and soul to their clubs - and what they mean to their teams and their fans.

You take that 'X-factor away, and the game loses something. And it is rapidly doing so. Talented players who are essentially playing for a pay packet, directed by agents who are interested only in snouting at the trough in a game bloated by money and greed. I don't particularly blame the likes of Nasri, who are after all only operating in the environment they are presented with - but I can well understand the antipathy that supporters feel towards players who come across as coolly professional rather than passionate about the club they play for.

And this is also why the likes of Citeh don't sit right with most football players. Its the calculating manner in which they are determined to use their financial muscle to buy their way to the top and the almost obscene amounts they are prepared to spend to get there. Its a matter of degree of course - there have always been the haves and the have nots, but there is a feeling that if football is reduced merely to a question of who has the biggest cheque book, the essence of what the game is about is lost.

Oh you're not wrong. Top level football is utter shit these days for so many reasons.

[Coney]

Oh you're not wrong. Top level football is utter shit these days for so many reasons.

Good job we aren't top level then. 2% away from being utter shit.

[Niall_Quinn]

Udinese game was a pleasant throwback. Two entertaining teams going for it. First match I've actually enjoyed for a good while.

[Niall_Quinn]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...-ambition.html

Nasri, delusional, ungrateful, contradictory, lazy, greedy little prick. Hear why from his own gobby gob. What a professional, taking his foot off the gas in return for tens of thousands of quid a week, taken straight out of the fans' pockets - the same fans he demands show him respect just because he didn't speak about his greed and disloyalty before he fled up the motorway. A coward too, I see.

See you on the pitch fuck wit. That's if you even make the team which, should you decide to take your foot off the gas again, I doubt you will. Either way, fuck you very much for nothing and I hope you get all that you deserve. And we'll still sing songs in your memory even though you'e gone.

"Samir Nasri is a cunt..."

[SayNoMore]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...-ambition.html

Nasri, delusional, ungrateful, contradictory, lazy, greedy little prick. Hear why from his own gobby gob. What a professional, taking his foot off the gas in return for tens of thousands of quid a week, taken straight out of the fans' pockets - the same fans he demands show him respect just because he didn't speak about his greed and disloyalty before he fled up the motorway. A coward too, I see.

See you on the pitch fuck wit. That's if you even make the team which, should you decide to take your foot off the gas again, I doubt you will. Either way, fuck you very much for nothing and I hope you get all that you deserve. And we'll still sing songs in your memory even though you'e gone.

"Samir Nasri is a cunt..."

Such a lesbo bowcat fanny licking cunt! I hate him, should have been a man and fought with us. Now hes just another b*** who will be despised by most for the money grabbing ship jumping bitch he is.... Wonderful footballer though and again, Arsenal losing out for not getting to grips with modern football.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Sir Alex Ferguson believes Arsenal were 'sensible' to cash in on Samir Nasri, but Harry Redknapp feels the midfielder has joined Manchester City for money.

Nasri finally resolved his future earlier this week after the Gunners accepted City's £24million offer for a player who was in the final year of his contract.

Live on Sky Sports
vs Man Utd v Arsenal
August 28, 2011 3:30pm

.Remote Record..The loss of Nasri, so soon after Cesc Fabregas left for Barcelona, has led to criticism of Arsene Wenger and the extent of the club's ambition.

However, ahead of the Gunners' trip to Old Trafford on Sunday, Manchester United manager Ferguson has backed the decision to sell the France international.

Inevitable
"We are all in the same boat," said Ferguson.

"When a player gets to the last two years of his contract you have an issue. One: you persuade him to sign a new contract. Two: he doesn't want to sign a new contract. Three: When he gets to that last year it is almost inevitable you have a problem.

"We have had issues at times with players getting into the last year. We are not alone.

"When a player is not going to sign a contract you can threaten to keep him for another year and not get anything for him or capitalise and get the money.


"It is sensible to take the money."

The Red Devils were also linked with a move for Nasri, who has stated that the chance to win trophies was the key factor behind his decision to join Roberto Mancini's side.

But Tottenham manager Redknapp, whose team host City on Sunday, feels the financial rewards on offer at the Etihad Stadium were a greater incentive for Nasri to move.

"I don't believe that, no. He could have gone to Man Utd," Redknapp said.

"He wanted to go to Man Utd, that's what I heard. But then Man City came in and offered him more money again so he went to Man City. That's how it goes. It's just a shirt and off we go.".

Well done Arry for telling it how it is.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,,11670_7127734,00.html

[Özim]

Man U didn't have a bid accepted so not sure how he could move there.

[Boss]

Man U didn't have a bid accepted so not sure how he could move there.

Let's not use facts to stop a little bit of whining.