I've lifted this from the BBC Football website, and have highlighted some classic wums from both SAF and RVP. Either would be banned by PESKIE and cym-rag if they repeated these things on the Gooner board:- (start of article) Robin van Persie has completed his £24m move from Arsenal to Manchester United. The Dutch striker, 29, has signed a four-year deal and could make his debut at Everton on Monday. He said: "It's an honour to sign for Manchester United. I am looking forward to following in the footsteps of so many great strikers, bringing my experience and playing my part to help the team compete for the biggest trophies in the game. I can't wait to get started." Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said: "The boy wanted to come. He turned down various clubs. If he hadn't told Arsenal he wanted to go to Manchester United, the transfer wouldn't have happened." He added: "Robin is a world-class striker with a proven record in England and in European football. His talents need no introduction to our fans. He has scored a number of goals against us in some classic battles with his former club. His movement, finishing and all-round ability are outstanding." A statement on Arsenal's website read : "Everyone at Arsenal would like to thank Robin for his contribution during his time with the club." Van Persie announced in July he would not extend his current deal, which was due to expire in June 2013. It is understood Arsenal were willing to make Van Persie their highest paid player ever, but never actually offered him a new contract. Juventus and Manchester City also bid for the striker , but it is understood that of the three, United were the only side Van Persie would have considered joining. United will pay £22.5m, with a further £1.5m one-off bonus to follow if they win a Premier League or Champions League title in the next four years. The Netherlands international scored 44 goals in 57 games for club and country last season. Van Persie was named Professional Footballers' Association and Football Writers' player of the year, but scored only once as the Netherlands were eliminated at the group stage of Euro 2012. (end of article) Some great quotes, there, including one or two from RVP, himself. It's interesting that Arsenal never actually offered RVP a new contract. To me, that makes it clear that the aging Arsenal board was more concerned about getting its hands on the £24m than it was in building a football team. Perhaps the Gooners ought to rethink their new-found hatred of RVP and turn it, instead, against the club?
SAF is the biggest WUM in football, the guy is still the master at showing arrogance with a smile on his face. Posting here is just as blatant as posting on the goons board as what happened when RVP left? they come on here and look for our reaction.
The worst thing about this for the Gooners has got to be the "Arsenal never actually offered him a new contract" line. Moronic.
Very true ...with the sweet exception that PESKIE cannot ban me from this board! I'm posting this thread on the Spurs board because I do believe that it is a valid subject for discussion among us, as is anything that affects the squad depth and strength of our deadliest rival. I don't mind Gooners coming on here to join in the discussion, but would please ask that they don't come here merely to wum.
Absolutely! I cannot believe that the club never actually offered him a new contract! What is the poor bloke supposed to do? As far as I am aware, he didn't put in a transfer request. It all points to the Arsenal board of old codgers wanting to pocket £24m. It's the only excuse I can think of for their actions.
HIAG, In some ways you have to admire Wenger as a person, as look at the list of players that turned their back on him while he has been manager yet he still remains belief he can challenge for the title. Viera Henry Adebayor Clichy Cole Toure Fabregas Nasri RVP Song is soon to be off. I know many say Wenger is a great manager but can you imagine SAF allowing man utd to lose their top players and remain without a trophy for 8 years? this is why SAF is the master and superior to Wenger.
If you add in Lehman, you could make a very decent team out of those Arsenal rejects, Boss! I'm betting that Walnut will leave after Song, although I doubt that Walnut would make the first XI of the Arsenal reject squad.
"It is understood Arsenal were willing to make Van Persie their highest paid player ever, but never actually offered him a new contract."
If that's true, then it's extremely damaging to the reputation of Arsenal's board and manager. Their fans should be furious, if there's any confirmation of that.
Lol what exactly would have been the point in offering the guy a new contract when he released a public statement saying that he would not sign a new contract.
There's every point! A lot of you Gooners were saying that RVP wrote the things he did in order to give the board a kick up the arse and get them to match his own ambitions for the club. Offering him a contract with greatly enhanced wages, coupled with the signings you have made, might have convinced him to stay. The fact is, however, that your board did not offer RVP a new contract, or make any attempt to get him to change his mind. It would appear that it was your board's decision to let RVP leave and pocket the money.
Nobody really knows, they decided to wait till the end of the season to discuss a new deal, or rather RVP said he would not discuss it until the season was over, then wenger and RVP had a discussion before the euros, I think RVP told wenger then that he wasn't signing.
Was he offered one last season, when he still had 2 years left? Allowing him to run it down to a final season was pretty stupid.
The club wanted to discuss a new contract with him last august/ September, but he said he did not want to enter discussions until the end of the season
So you are right in a sense that no contract was offered, but the guy was unwilling to enter discussions, coincidently, he got a new agent last summer, I'm pretty sure he would have had something to do with it.
I truly believe that Gooners can no longer berate RVP for leaving the club now that it has been revealed that the club couldn't even be bothered to offer him a new contract.
its the fans i feel sorry for. Imagine if Bale was sold and it turned out we hadn't even offered him a contract! I'm not gonna WUM the Arsenal fans, we've had this sort of thing happen to us and its not nice. They've done very well to resist this long against the the behemoths and sugar-daddy clubs tbh. Sometimes i wish City/Utd/Chelsea would just **** off to a european super league so we could enjoy a league that at least resembled a level playing field.
You mean like Rooney did before his agent secured him a massive new contract? It is a bargaining position. All you gooners would have been fawning all over him again if he had re-signed, the "I want out" statement soon forgotten. To be fair, he is a huge a gamble, especially at the price/age considering his fitness record.
