Bergie questions answered!

[OklahomaGunner]

Looks like the Dutchman wants one more year. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/4203097.stm)

[Cannon]

Looks like the Dutchman wants one more year. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/4203097.stm)

Great timing. ;) Renew him.

[fedwood]

you think he was gonna ask when he was on a goal drought?

[otterulz]

you think he was gonna ask when he was on a goal drought?
Haha. Exactly.

Do you want him resigned? Last season seemed to be a resurrection for Bergie and was glad to see him back at his very best. Things started off well enough this season for him as well, but it seemed as if he started sinking along with the club. Not that I'm against giving him another year, but injuries seem to keep him out of the lineup often as well as his age. We have the young talent to replace him so I don't know. But then again, it'd be nice to have some depth in the lineup.

[TheImposter]

Haha. Exactly.

Do you want him resigned? Last season seemed to be a resurrection for Bergie and was glad to see him back at his very best. Things started off well enough this season for him as well, but it seemed as if he started sinking along with the club. Not that I'm against giving him another year, but injuries seem to keep him out of the lineup often as well as his age. We have the young talent to replace him so I don't know. But then again, it'd be nice to have some depth in the lineup.
I want him re-signed, especially if he can accept being a role player and role model, and if he can still produce that sublime flash of brilliance from time to time. At his age, we've no right to expect him to be at top form all the time, and maybe not all that often, but he can come in and do a job in the right places. Let's all hope he can show the same grace in dealing with the last stages of his career that he's always shown on the pitch.

I wonder if he has any inclination toward coaching. Though, of course, that would probably involve air travel.

[OklahomaGunner]

you think he was gonna ask when he was on a goal drought?

Then I hope he makes some emphatic demands after a brace against Man U.

haha!

[Bergkamp_4_ever]

Christmas sure came early for me this year! :D

[yossarian]

I want him re-signed, especially if he can accept being a role player and role model, and if he can still produce that sublime flash of brilliance from time to time. At his age, we've no right to expect him to be at top form all the time, and maybe not all that often, but he can come in and do a job in the right places. Let's all hope he can show the same grace in dealing with the last stages of his career that he's always shown on the pitch.

I wonder if he has any inclination toward coaching. Though, of course, that would probably involve air travel.

I'm all for having him back for one more year. Only seems fitting to close out Highbury with a Bergkamp testimonial perhaps?

I've read in the past (can't remember where now) that he doesn't have any interest in coaching....but maybe he'll change his mind.

[surfcam]

I'm all for having him back for one more year. Only seems fitting to close out Highbury with a Bergkamp testimonial perhaps?



Good point yoss. Hopefully he can also pass on a few things to RvP and others before he is done. Even when he is not at his best, he still commands respect from the defense, which can help free others up.

[fedwood]

it would be perfect
to play next season
and then his testimonial can be the first game in Emma`

[otterulz]

it would be perfect
to play next season
and then his testimonial can be the first game in Emma`
There would be nothing more fitting than him lifting up the Premiership trophy one last time next season.

Seems like he knows his role and accepts whatever time he gets on the pitch. Unlike someone, say.....Craig Bellamy? He still has the ability to put the ball in the back of the net but even more important I think is his sublime passing.

[fedwood]

There would be nothing more fitting than him lifting up the Premiership trophy one last time next season.

Seems like he knows his role and accepts whatever time he gets on the pitch. Unlike someone, say.....Craig Bellamy? He still has the ability to put the ball in the back of the net but even more important I think is his sublime passing.

yes, the king can play shocking all game and then do 1 or 2 passes that make the game ours

[nucgunner]

He's my all-time favourite player so of course I'd like another year.

However, I'd also like another big name striker to be signed that will, once-and-for-all relegate Bergy to the bench where he (honestly :( ) should be for most of the season.

Presently, his influence is such that the team looks unnatural without him on the pitch, to the point where he has to start again instead of a Reyes or van Persie. And that is detrimental to the long-term health of the team, because one day Bergkamp will retire, and Arsenal still hasn't got their offence sorted.

Give me Torres or Julio Baptista to play with Henry, and Van Persie and Bergy to play off the bench. Reyes to the wing. Easy-breezy, just like that :cool:

[babyduck85]

It's a tough question... cuz he's undeniably one of the best players of his generation and has done wonders for us. But he is aging. And we have young players that need time on the pitch.

With that said, I don't believe RvP is going to fill Bergkamp's role even half as well. So I guess I want us to get another striker that can play just off Henry the way Bergy does and is hopefully tall, too so that we have a better shot at sef pieces... But then, that's my ideal... :D

So yeah, I guess he should get an extension but he must be content to be subbed....

[Val1]

I think it's time to move on. This team that has been personified as Vieira - Henry - Bergkamp - Campbell is winding down. DB's hitting the wall. He's looked poor more times than he's looked good this season, and that will only continue as he gets older. Vieira, though he's played better the past couple of weeks, overall still looks like he left his heart in Madrid. Henry is drifting out of games for longer and longer periods of time. Sol's great, but the amount of time he's spent in the physio room is worrisome.

This team, this year, cannot keep up with Chelsea. And we're older than they, so it would require a more herculean effort to catch up with them next year. Given that Europe is problematic with DB's unwillingness to fly, it's hard to imagine that we'd be better primed to challenge in the CL with a year older Bergkamp.

Bergkamp has been the best performer in Premiership history. He's arguably the greatest player in Arsenal history. But I think it is time to move on. I'd love to see him spend another year as a super sub, sort of like an Ole Gunnar Skolsjaer, but I don't think Wenger's got it in him to be able to use him in that role. So, he's taking up minutes when we need to develop another striker to go with Henry. I think it is time for Bergkamp to go.

[michaec]

Well Val, I think what you're advocating comes down to whether we have actually given up on the league or not. To me, any slim hope we have of overhauling Chelsea rests with Bergkamp playing more or less on top form for the rest of the season. Van Persie and Reyes haven't learned how to play that role behind Henry yet and it really shows when Dennis isn't in the side. If you're willing to sacrifice the championship in the hope that one or both of the two youngsters can help us to the title next year by getting their experience this season then fine. For me, we stick with the master until the season is done one way or the other. Then the apprentices can take over.

[Val1]

I'm not really talking about this year. I don't think we should extend him next year.

As for this year, I certainly agree, we need a dynamic, on-form Dennis Bergkamp. But I don't think we're going to get that. We have 20 - 25 games left. If he played in 18 of them and started 15, how many great games are we going to get out of him? 5? 7? 10?
When he's off-form, the whole team struggles.

[Miles Brasher]

I think it's time to move on. This team that has been personified as Vieira - Henry - Bergkamp - Campbell is winding down. DB's hitting the wall. He's looked poor more times than he's looked good this season, and that will only continue as he gets older. Vieira, though he's played better the past couple of weeks, overall still looks like he left his heart in Madrid. Henry is drifting out of games for longer and longer periods of time. Sol's great, but the amount of time he's spent in the physio room is worrisome.

This team, this year, cannot keep up with Chelsea. And we're older than they, so it would require a more herculean effort to catch up with them next year. Given that Europe is problematic with DB's unwillingness to fly, it's hard to imagine that we'd be better primed to challenge in the CL with a year older Bergkamp.

Bergkamp has been the best performer in Premiership history. He's arguably the greatest player in Arsenal history. But I think it is time to move on. I'd love to see him spend another year as a super sub, sort of like an Ole Gunnar Skolsjaer, but I don't think Wenger's got it in him to be able to use him in that role. So, he's taking up minutes when we need to develop another striker to go with Henry. I think it is time for Bergkamp to go.

I'd disagree with most of this (opps!) Vieira and Henry are now at their peak and will be for 3 more years. Campbell although older should also have 3 more years at his level. Henry may be drifting out of games, but he always has, and if you saw him against Newcastle he could have had a couple of goals, and his goal scoring record is excellent this season. Vieira (although poor against Bolton, but who wasn't) is getting back to his best. Campbell missed games recently because he was fouled, not because he's falling apart.
Bergkamp has been near his best this season, and while I appreciate that we need to blood new players to replace him (Reyes/V.Persie) this can be a gradual process with DB playing less games, and being subbed more often, rather than kicking him out the door. The fact that he wants another season means he's enjoying his football,(he can't need the money) and a DB that's enjoying his football is a player you want to keep. He's not on a huge salary anymore and he's still the player that unlocks defenses and provides that magic touch more than anyone else at the moment. I believe we'll be stronger with him in the squad than without him. It would also be kinda fitting for him to bow out as Highbury (sorry, "The Arsenal Stadium") bows out

[fedwood]

I'd disagree with most of this (opps!) Vieira and Henry are now at their peak and will be for 3 more years. Campbell although older should also have 3 more years at his level. Henry may be drifting out of games, but he always has, and if you saw him against Newcastle he could have had a couple of goals, and his goal scoring record is excellent this season. Vieira (although poor against Bolton, but who wasn't) is getting back to his best. Campbell missed games recently because he was fouled, not because he's falling apart.
Bergkamp has been near his best this season, and while I appreciate that we need to blood new players to replace him (Reyes/V.Persie) this can be a gradual process with DB playing less games, and being subbed more often, rather than kicking him out the door. The fact that he wants another season means he's enjoying his football,(he can't need the money) and a DB that's enjoying his football is a player you want to keep. He's not on a huge salary anymore and he's still the player that unlocks defenses and provides that magic touch more than anyone else at the moment. I believe we'll be stronger with him in the squad than without him. It would also be kinda fitting for him to bow out as Highbury (sorry, "The Arsenal Stadium") bows out


you got that part right
hes the richest premiership star and only Beckham has more according to that list someone put here a few months back

[JCGooner]

I think it's time to move on. This team that has been personified as Vieira - Henry - Bergkamp - Campbell is winding down. DB's hitting the wall. He's looked poor more times than he's looked good this season, and that will only continue as he gets older. Vieira, though he's played better the past couple of weeks, overall still looks like he left his heart in Madrid. Henry is drifting out of games for longer and longer periods of time. Sol's great, but the amount of time he's spent in the physio room is worrisome.

This team, this year, cannot keep up with Chelsea. And we're older than they, so it would require a more herculean effort to catch up with them next year. Given that Europe is problematic with DB's unwillingness to fly, it's hard to imagine that we'd be better primed to challenge in the CL with a year older Bergkamp.

Bergkamp has been the best performer in Premiership history. He's arguably the greatest player in Arsenal history. But I think it is time to move on. I'd love to see him spend another year as a super sub, sort of like an Ole Gunnar Skolsjaer, but I don't think Wenger's got it in him to be able to use him in that role. So, he's taking up minutes when we need to develop another striker to go with Henry. I think it is time for Bergkamp to go.

Could not agree more, Dennis has been a great servant but 1 goal in 3 months is not good enough to warrant another contract, his lack of form has been instrumental with us blowing the Prem. Sentimentality can play no part in this - compare Robben's from over tha last 3 months with Dennis's. I'm not saying he's the sole culprit (stand up Paddy and Bobby etc..) but he must share his portion of the blame. Also the whole fear of flying thing is a joke, lots of people have phobias but have to get over them! - it has cost us dearly in Europe.