Could the whole Fabreags saga have been handled better by Arsenal? And, if so, how?
My take on it is that no one comes out of it smelling rosey...
Barcelona - seem to have pushed Arsenal to the limit knowing their man wanted to join them so they had the upper hand. Their tactics seem grubby to me. However, they probably feel aggrieved about how Cesc (and others too) joined Arsenal in the first place.
Arsenal - held on to the last hour to get the most for their player, but seem to have got far less than open market value. Should they have sold earlier rather than leaving only a short period of time to spend the money from the transfer? How could they if Barca were still offering silly money up until recently...
Fabregas - what about the player himself? He didn't formally request a transfer thus forcing the hand of the club and his mentor and risk alienating the fans. He forewent 'loyalty' payments owed to him by the club to help push through the deal. However, his attitude in pre-season was poor and he did sign a new contract only relatively recently (for whatever that is worth in football nowadays).
Were Arsenal bullied?
posted on 15/8/11
@Helen
Sorry, I don't understand when you mean he has been completely respectful. Are you telling me when if your friends say something publicly disrespectful about a member of your family or a friend you would say nothing? Is that being disrespectful?
He has used his friends to get him out and for a cheap price, even my Barca mates see what he has done. Anyway fed up with going on about this!
posted on 15/8/11
He said he loves Arsenal, and has been happy here for eight years. I don't see why he should get dragged into petty arguments in the media. He did the right thing to keep his mouth shut, the papers would only have put words in his mouth. I don't see how he used his friends either. The last interview he gave he said he's not bigger than the team, it's down to Arsenal wether he stays or goes. We held out for a higher price and got it. But you're right, pointless discussing it now!
posted on 15/8/11
I think Fabregas comes out of the whole thing reasonably clean. He could have behaved far worse like, say, Tevez, but at the end of the day he did sign a contract extension a couple of years back.
posted on 15/8/11
Arsenal were bullied. Barca has behaved in a despicable manner. As for Cesc, I have lost all respect for him. Not that he cares for my opinion or Arsenal anyway?
posted on 15/8/11
What about the karma idea, i.e. that Arsenal poached Cesc from Barca so they underpay in getting him back?
posted on 15/8/11
61
posted on 15/8/11
58.
posted on 15/8/11
Are we playing the random numbers game? I like that.
posted on 15/8/11
61 articles in the last 24 hours about Fabregas' transfer.
posted on 15/8/11
That's sum counting.