View Full Version : Now, why did we ditch Witord?
Arsenal_pwns_all
08 Mar 2005, 09:47 PM
He was never the class of Henry or Bergkamp, but he is certainly a good player as his performance against Bremen shows. And he would certainly have performed better than Van Persie and Reyes when they were partnering Henry. I wouldn't have mind ditching him, but we should have done that only if we could find someone better than him in that position. And we didn't have such a player whenever Bergkamp is not around.
Gunners11
08 Mar 2005, 10:06 PM
He was never the class of Henry or Bergkamp, but he is certainly a good player as his performance against Bremen shows. And he would certainly have performed better than Van Persie and Reyes when they were partnering Henry. I wouldn't have mind ditching him, but we should have done that only if we could find someone better than him in that position. And we didn't have such a player whenever Bergkamp is not around.
Wasn't it more his doing? If I remember right, and I could be wrong, didn't he want more money then we were willing to offer him?
reasoner
08 Mar 2005, 10:24 PM
Wasn't it more his doing? If I remember right, and I could be wrong, didn't he want more money then we were willing to offer him?
I share your observation and may I add, this pay-cap thing is hindering Arsenal from becoming a really great team. But then, can they help it thus far. Some good news though of late about buying only star players come summer. I have to admit though I enjoy watching how af's building obstacles on himself at mu with cap against that thug keane's pay.
One more thing is I can't agree with Keegan's comment about the "three" teams' killing the English game. It has been more like mu's killing the game in England :mad: But it could be he was speaking through a heavy-metal filter and was trying to refer to mu only.
billyho96
08 Mar 2005, 10:25 PM
I was hoping that this thread was coming as Antifan was angrily predicting in another thread.
SW didn't want to play second fiddle to Henry, when there were many clubs in the world that would have made him the featured striker. He often looked good in patnership with Henry, but IMO this is the only area DB10 ever hurt Arsenal.
SW is obviously not the player DB10 is, but on the other hand he doesn't mind riding on a plane. DB10 contributions in the league have been as much or more than any player Arsenal have ever had. When he is on, we are a different side, but he doesn't play away matches in Europe. Its just a fact.
SW was our third choice striker and he, somewhat understandably, didn't want to do that.
As I recall, Arsene tried to convince him to play some in Midfield, and he threw a fit. I think it was his decision and he just wanted to go home to France to the ol' "big fish in a small pond."
The score of the Lyon today was terrible misleading. WB had to chase the game being down so bad after the first, and what happened today after Lyon scored the first was inevitable and not all together unusual. DepLaCor. hung 8 on someone last year as I recall.
Jasonisimo
08 Mar 2005, 10:25 PM
Mark it... T plus 04:46:00.
antifan
08 Mar 2005, 11:06 PM
Mark it... T plus 04:46:00.
Me and my big mouth. ;)
paulocesar
08 Mar 2005, 11:15 PM
No...Depor got 8 goals handed to them by "a big fish in a small pond" Monaco.
Its not the fact that a player like Wiltord left/forced/allowed to go that is of note...its that a gutsy player that fights like Wiltord was allowed to go from Arsenal (other players that had fight last year were Parlour, Martin Keone, and Edu ...he's been practically gone because of contract negotiation fits and now injury).
The young guns have benefitted by playing this season for Arsenal, but they aren't tough enough yet. Maybe next year...who knows.
jwaldman11
09 Mar 2005, 12:39 AM
That's funny...I seem to recall the opposite debate the last couple of years, when everyone was talking about what an overpriced waste of a buy Wiltord was and how Arsenal would have been better off without him. Not once do I remember reading the word "gutsy" used when describing Wiltord, nor do I remember much complaining when he was let go. I also never heard anyone say that they'd rather have him than DB10 or Reyes until now.
I'll admit that I thought Wiltord got somewhat of a raw deal from some of the supporters and I thought he was a decent player who gave us some great moments. But I'm not going to, on the basis of one game, sit here now and talk about how much we miss the guy. As was mentioned earlier, he didn't want to just ride the bench or only play in Europe when DB10 couldn't, so he left. That's it. His departure is not the reason we're down 0-2 to Bayern and not the reason we're in third right now, unless he also defends for Lyon.
Not to go off too much here, but I'm really starting to get tired of hearing everyone say "what if we had kept Gio/Wiltord/Upson/Taylor on the squad? I'll bet we'd be better off then!" I know everyone's frustrated, but we did go unbeaten last year without contributions from any of them, save the occassional Wiltord appearance. Could we please stop looking at the past and look ahead to the future?
SportBoy333
09 Mar 2005, 02:14 AM
Wiltord has only started playing outstanding for the past few weeks. He was very average for most of the season prior to that and he was out injured 2 times. He's on a tear right now but he didnt score many goals for OL prior to the great run hes on right now.
phishy
09 Mar 2005, 02:19 AM
do we need to go over this AGAIN????
okay.... HORRIBLE first touch... always offsides, cant pass.... do i need to go on?
big deal, he had a good match yesterday... look at his stats this year in the, ahem, french first division. drogba tore up that league.. lol
Gunners11
09 Mar 2005, 02:23 AM
Not to go off too much here, but I'm really starting to get tired of hearing everyone say "what if we had kept Gio/Wiltord/Upson/Taylor on the squad? I'll bet we'd be better off then!" I know everyone's frustrated, but we did go unbeaten last year without contributions from any of them, save the occassional Wiltord appearance. Could we please stop looking at the past and look ahead to the future?
I agree with you, I think it's kind of silly to look at one game and say "why'd he leave", if you look at the overall picture it was for the best that SW left. I remember when he was on his way out, no one was to pissed, and to wish he was still here because of a match that was already won is stupid.
SportBoy333
09 Mar 2005, 02:24 AM
As I recall, Arsene tried to convince him to play some in Midfield, and he threw a fit. I think it was his decision and he just wanted to go home to France to the ol' "big fish in a small pond."
Actually he really wanted to sign with Barca but they didnt give him a firm offer or commitment. The Lyon owner came after him hard. They wanted a veteran leader/scorer on the team. Since Barca didnt show that they really wanted to sign him he signed with Lyon because they showed that they really wanted him so he took less money to go there and play in his home country for the best team there. I agree that his leaving has nothing to do with Arsenal's struggles/problems. He is an inconsistant player.
Cannon
09 Mar 2005, 02:59 AM
This thread is the silly cousin of the thread asking about Arsenal letting Gio go. :rolleyes:
Wiltord is not as good as he looked in this particular match. You should have watched him throughout the season. Check his stats. Remember the way he played for us. I'd tell you to go back and watch all his heartless, gutless performances but I doubt anyone holds on to those moments other than scouts. When you're finished you'll have answered your own question.
michaec
09 Mar 2005, 04:07 AM
I can only echo phishy's assessment. He couldn't control the ball! The phrase "his second touch is a sliding tackle" could have been invented from him. Added to that, he's not particularly quick, he's not a particularly clinical finisher (I'm trying to be kind here), his passes were almost always underhit and it seemed he had never heard of the offside rule. Indeed, this morning when I saw the goals from the Lyon match last night I was amazed he managed to stay onside for the second one! For someone with no obvious skill or pace, I can't believe we paid £10m+ for him and was so glad when Wenger told him he's not that good and if he didn't like the contract offer he could lump it. Good riddance!
Miles Brasher
09 Mar 2005, 06:04 AM
Personally I can't believe we ever got rid of Jeffers, GVB , Wiltord, Kanu, Silvinho , Suker, Nigel Winterburn,Ian Wright, Paul Merson, Steve Bould,Stewart Houston,George Graham,Martin Keown, Nik Anelka's brothers, the bus driver from the 89 game at Anfield, the little old lady from the ticket office, Fred the lucky cat, the old style badge and of course John Lukic. I think they could all do a job for us... ;)
babyduck85
09 Mar 2005, 07:56 AM
I knew this topic would come up when I saw the Lyon-Bremen highlights... ;) :)
I can understand why some people would feel this way, especially at the moment, but I'm with Phishy and the others who said that a) he isn't that good and b) he wasn't willing to play second fiddle (third, really) to Henry and the others. I do agree that he's looking a hell of a lot better to me than RvP or Reyes at the moment, but it doesn't matter since he wasn't willing to hang around anyway. I totally don't blame him and I don't think we should be worrying about the striker situation, anyway. Defense is a much bigger priority IMO.
Its only Ray Parlour
09 Mar 2005, 10:23 AM
Rubbish!! Wiltord's partnership with Henry was absolute garbage, it never worked. Wiltord roamed around in the same way that Henry does but too much lesser affect. Wiltord was an okay player and he'll always be remembered for that goal at Old Trafford but he is hardly the missing link for us. Even in this seasons of ups and downs for Reyes, i go so far as to say that he has still made a bigger impact than Wiltord ever did.
Does anyone remember the goal we conceded at the Mestalla (Valencia) that knocked us out of CL two seasons ago? I'm still fuming at Wiltord for fooking around with the ball on the edge of our area (& losing it).
Do you see Man U supporters clamouring for Diego Forlan to come back? Please....
"Where have you gone Dwinkler, Wiltord fans turn their lonely eyes to you..."
Dan and I were both Wiltord fans. He played every game (Reyes, DB10?) and was consistently our 2nd or 3rd top scorer. Plus he brought a load of intagibles to the team (ran his socks off, played with a smile...). A perfect player? No, but deserving of better treatment than he gets around here.
canadagooner
09 Mar 2005, 10:46 AM
Personally I can't believe we ever got rid of Jeffers, GVB , Wiltord, Kanu, Silvinho , Suker, Nigel Winterburn,Ian Wright, Paul Merson, Steve Bould,Stewart Houston,George Graham,Martin Keown, Nik Anelka's brothers, the bus driver from the 89 game at Anfield, the little old lady from the ticket office, Fred the lucky cat, the old style badge and of course John Lukic. I think they could all do a job for us... ;)
:eek: We got rid of Fred the lucky cat!! Nobody tells me anything!! Well now, that explains alot!! :D
Miles Brasher
09 Mar 2005, 11:17 AM
:eek: We got rid of Fred the lucky cat!! Nobody tells me anything!! Well now, that explains alot!! :D
well he was never the same after he strolled into the changing room to hear Ray Parlour saying, "This rooms too small, there's not enough room to swing a...hello Fred, come here boy" :p
Good to see someone on the Manu board suggesting wholesale changes because they lost, not just us that does that then... :rolleyes:
NB no animals were harmed in the making of this post