Still, before this season Flamini was regarded as pure, undiluted shite.
Not even birmingham wanted him, so he was given one last chance to prove his worth in order to get a new contract and he did it. Then a big money offer came up and off he went.

@kurt, the problem was never Wenger. Players like Bergkamp, Campbell, Parlour and Seaman all stayed at the club until they knew they couldn't produce high-quality football anymore.

The difference between those and the current players - and no disrespect intended - is that they had a chance of winning the league and we're being paid more, these younger kids aren't getting as much which is why they complain and want out. Also, most of the players you mention are English, and it's uncommon for them to move abroad.

Not completely true.
Bergkamp, Parlour and Seaman all stayed on during that horrible period 1999-2001, when there was lots of clubs who wanted to sign them, hell Man U made more than one offer for Bergkamp.
And about being payed more, Bergkamp accepted several pay cuts during his later years when he could have gone off to Quatar and played not even remotely hard opponents and still cash in several millions a year.

Well if you want to raise that argument, I'd have to point out what we did to Gila. He was given a contract extension, the year before last, inspite of it being a disappointing season. I think it was a public gesture of confidence. Perhaps Flamini wanted the same thing?

The big money offer is I guess a matter of conjecture. I don't know how much Arsene offered him. I doubt, Flamini asked for 100,000 a week. To understand this situation, I placed Brocchi in a similar situation and asked myself how I'd react if he played well next season, and then refused a contract extension. And I think it would be difficult for Milan to outbid the player, if Arsenal truly wanted to keep him.

Sepp Blatter has once again showed his love towards the Premier League. He's comparing what United are doing with Ronaldo as 'slavery' and that if a player wants to leave, you must let him go.

Now the last I heard, United never forced him to sign a 5 year contract. And earning 120,000 a week is hardly slavery now is it. Contracts are pointless now, to the point where they may as well not even be signed, players should just choose whoever they want to play for. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

And... ?

I really don't see what he did wrong... he was out of contract and a couple of big offers came by... I don't see why he should have stayed... ?
You honestly confuse me when you compare him to Hleb and Adebayor who are under contract and considered vital members for the team's future...

He hasn't done anything wrong in terms of legality, it's more of a moral thing. Arsenal bought in this very average player, paid him and made him who he is.. so he leaves. Not illegal, but just not a very classy thing to do.

Completely agree, I feel if players sign it then they should abide by it. Not just flake out cuz they want a new city or "challenge"

He was not given many chances and when that happened he was fielded at LB. I don't think Arsenal made him who he is. I mean... it was just one season for all we know he could turn out to be a big flop. A player does not turn from **** to great in one season because of somebody else. If he had been consistent for let's say 3 seasons and then he went out like that then yeah I'd agree with you.
I don't think class has anything to do with it but if anything he was class. He gave everything until the end even when he had decided he would go, he did not create any problems that we know of, he never talked about any transfer and he never talked bad of Wenger. If you care about not classy things, look at what Wenger said about him and Milan... the Alsatian is a whiner and a jerk.

That's two completely different scenarios.
Gilardino had proven himself to be a great player before he came to Milan, so you always knew the potential was there. Flamini was seen as a complete waste of space, and Wenger was the only one who saw any kind of talent in him, gave him the chances, and basically made him the player he is today.

@dst, the reason I'm so disapointed about him is that when no top-side in Europe would even think about signing him he was complaining about lack of playing time. Then, this season, he talked non-stop about how he loved the club and everything about it, and how this was a team with a glorius future and how he could see himself staying for maaany years to come etc.
Then big money enters the scene and off we go.

Yeah he could have avoided speaking about his future but I don't think it's just money that drove him away.
In any case, whether he's class or not and whether he's a mercenary or not I don't think one can put him in the same basket with Hleb and Ade.

We'll have to disagree on this one then dst. If you're given a chance by a lub and you play well, I think you owe that club something, otherwise you'd be a nobody. Martin Laursen was the same at Villa, he was injured for 3 years, we decided to give him a chance and he was amazing, his contract was up at the end of the season and he could have walked away to a bigger team. But he owed us, and he signed a new deal. That's exactly what Flamini should have done in my view.

I do agree about Wenger though, he's very hypocritical and whines an awful lot. Maybe Flamini leaving for free is karma for him taking all these young players.

Oh damn no! We had 100% coincidence of views up until now! (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)


How can you give that example for this case? What you did for the guy was amazing! I don't think giving a chance to someone you chose to buy is the same as what Villa did with Laursen... what if Flamini had blew the chance he was given? Would you still consider it to be immoral if he left? I mean the chance was given in both cases that's what matters to me...
In any case, I think he was already frustrated with the fact that he was refused a contract extension last summer.

I do agree with what you've said regarding the whole if he wasted his chance thing. This one is a tough one really, but some of the blame does need to fall on Arsenal for not giving him a deal sooner. You can't expect to let the contract run down and expect him to stay I suppose.

In defence of Wenger..I assume most of the animosity you feel for the guy comes from his comments about Milan, no?
Those were indeed hasty words, but I'll give him the benefit of doubt on this one. It was a time when half our squad was linked with practically everyone and I think he did not mean it in the way the press publicised it.
He has said a ot of good things about Milan as well, but like every time Wenger says something that isn't critical or complaining, then the press doesn't care. They want whinge-stories from him, nothing else.