According to Wikipedia ( i know. I know) he decided to voluntarily leave as he felt he was not automatic first choice and due to being subbed in the cl final.
Oh that, tbh he was getting older and we had guys like Theo, and other wingers breaking into the team. Pires had already established himself as a legend so we let him leave to where he wanted to. I don't see how what happened to Pires was bad.
I mean I wanted him to sign but he was getting older and maybe it was time for both parties to move on.
As I understand it Pires was offered a 1 year deal, which was Wenger and the board's policy at the time (not to offer more than 1 year contracts to over 30's) I never really agreed with that policy. But to say that we showed Pires no loyalty is rubbish. He was adored at Arsenal and if he'd signed a 1 year contract and played well that season, he would have likely been offered another one. His career was effectively over the moment he signed for Villareal (although he did suffer another knee injury)
I understand the point you're making, but I feel that Pires was supported through his best years at Arsenal, he was given healthy contracts (I believe he was one of our highest earning players at the time) and his contribution to the club was legendary. RVP has had one injury free season at Arsenal, the club have stuck by him, helped to rehabilitate him (both on and off the field) and given him a chance at the top level. I think it owes Arsenal more than one decent season given the support the club have shown him.
I dont think what happened to Pires was showing him a lack of loyalty, but I was very disappointed in Wenger for not offering him a 2 year deal. He still had a lot to give in my view. Wenger has often be too rigid with stupid rules, and it was especially annoying that shortly after he offered ****ing Silvestre a 2 year deal when he was over 30.
Arsenal did the same with bergkamp don't forget, he was on a one year contract for the last 4 years he was at the club, or at least last three years. Pires should have just taken the offer, and if he was playing reasonably well, he would have gotten another year. With regard to the CL final, there was only one choice to be subbed, and it was pires unfortunately, he offered little defensively, and it was obvious that we would be under the cosh, being down to 10 men, surely in his heart of hearts he knew that deep down.
Spot on and it IS a lack of loyalty. You give the club your best years and they can't give you a 2 year contract ? Lets not forget how good Pires was for us and there were no signs he was losing anything performance wise. Pires was still quality for Villareal, we should never have let him go. As for Bergkamp playing the last 4 years in 1 year contracts - does that sound like loyalty to you ? The man is obvious quality, why would you give him 1 year contracts ?
that '30 years-old' so cannot last more than 1 more year policy was stupid. The point is a class player will always be offered better somewhere else so they will walk......
Exactly - and that was disgusting behaviour from Wenger. One of the reasons I dont rate him as a top man manager.
its not a lack of loyalty at all. If you have a policy in which you only give 1 year contract extensions to players over 30 that shouldnt be a problem. The players are already awaire of this so it shouldnt be a big deal for them.
No, but its a big deal for us though. When you have a rigid rule like that you dont differentiate between the talents and fitness of players, and we end up pissing off players that have the ability to carry on, and even those players at 28 will know that as they approach 30 they should at least be looking for other clubs. It's the same stupid mind set with the wage structure - pay everyone about the same regardless of talent. The 30 year rule has now been scrapped, although Wenger saw fit to put in another stupid rule by upping it 32. Why be so absolute?
The 1 year was and is stupid. Why would a top player for a club at Arsenal's level accept a 1 year deal? Most would get a 3 year deal at many clubs in the country of their choice. We would cease to be attractive.
Well Wenger is a bit crazy abou measuring cardio performance. Players over 30 tend to have aggravated injuries over the years which often causes them to slow down. However, with advances in medical treatments and nutrition athletes are now going longer. The average retirement age is now 36-7 whereas only 15 years ago it was 33. In another 10 years most atheletes will go to 40.
.. Or Giggs or Scholes for that matter... All players are different. Having a universal rule based on age is dumb in the extreme.
RVP will leave and we will sign no-one and move Walcott into the CF role. PROVE ME WRONG YOU STUBBORN, SENILE OLD PRICK!!!
