bergkamps number10...?????

[carw2005]

From arsenal.com

Arsène Wenger is not in favour of retiring Dennis Bergkamp's shirt when the Dutchman departs from Highbury at the end of the season.

The 36-year-old has worn the No 10 with distinction for the past decade and will leave a lasting legacy at Arsenal in the years to come. However Wenger believes once you start retiring shirts you would never stop.

“We have had so many monsters at this club in the past,” said the manager. “You have good reasons not to give the out the shirt numbers of Tony Adams or Ian Wright. But then we would run out of shirts. The goalkeeper could be No 97 and the right back No 73.”

On Wednesday, Bergkamp is set to play what is almost certain to be his final competitive fixture against Ajax - the side where he first shot to prominence.

Although Wenger is against retiring shirts he may leave a respectful gap before re-allocating Bergkamp’s number.

“I have not really thought about it,” he said “But you would have to look at the consequences. You would be reluctant to give out the No 10 in the season after Dennis retires. You would not feel comfortable about it.”


Would you retire the number?
or
Who would you give the number 10 shirt to?

[HighburyGoon]

There was a similar discussion when Tony Adams retired. In my opinion, football numbers should not be retired. Leave #10 unassigned for a season or two out of respect, then it goes to whoever's playing the #10 role for the club.

[Roscoe P Coldchain]

I am not exactally sure how it is done in England but in America you are retired for the great service you have done for your team over a sustained period of time. That man has fit that to a tee. I can understand Mr. Wenger's point of view but heck the New York Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals are going to run out of single digit numbers to wear because they will all be retired very soon. Either way if he doesn't have his number retired, he should at least have his name hanging from a banner at the Em Stad...Thank ya now...Roscoe!

[DoctorK]

Respectful gap, but you can't retire 10! What # would my son wear when he's a Gunner in fifteen years? :D

[DougG_ATL]

Instead of retiring the number, why not name some section of Ashburton Grove for him? Let the name Bergkamp resonate in the halls of Arsenal for the future in some way.

[carw2005]

Instead of retiring the number, why not name some section of Ashburton Grove for him? Let the name Bergkamp resonate in the halls of Arsenal for the future in some way.

I like that idea.

[fox point fury]

Who would you give the number 10 shirt to?

Cesc, after one season of no #10.

[Lanesra]

I'd give it to ronaldhinio :)

[red & wite army]

I think no shirt number should be retired. It gives out the message that players can be bigger than the club.

It would be good to retire a shirt for a season, provided only new players get that shirt later on. How would you like it if you got a Fabregas shirt with the# 15 on it, and then it suddenly changed. Persides, i don't think playersd would just want to change their number randomly. :)

[PsychedelicCeltic]

Bergkamp's been a great servant to the club, but he's not the only great no. 10 in Arsenal history.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

Unless you are talking about easily the greatest player in the history of the club, then I don't feel it is right. Elite clubs like ours will always have great players, so why bother in the first place? There needs to be some control and unless you want to have squad numbers starting at 50 odd at some point in your history, I wouldn't open the floodgates. There are better ways of paying tribute to great players.

[Cannon]

Unless you are talking about easily the greatest player in the history of the club, then I don't feel it is right. Elite clubs like ours will always have great players, so why bother in the first place? There needs to be some control and unless you want to have squad numbers starting at 50 odd at some point in your history, I wouldn't open the floodgates. There are better ways of paying tribute to great players.
Since when is Livingston an elite club? ;)

[mixmastermatt]

Unless you are talking about easily the greatest player in the history of the club, then I don't feel it is right. Elite clubs like ours will always have great players, so why bother in the first place? There needs to be some control and unless you want to have squad numbers starting at 50 odd at some point in your history, I wouldn't open the floodgates. There are better ways of paying tribute to great players.

For once the stupid tosspot is right!

I like the idea of naming a part of Ashburton Grove after Bergkamp, but Adams is higher up than him on the list, easily.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

Since when is Livingston an elite club? ;)

We have been the most successful non-Old Firm club over the last decade and the last to break the OF stranglehold on trophies. That settles it in my eyes. :cool:

[fox point fury]

... How would you like it if you got a Fabregas shirt with the# 15 on it, and then it suddenly changed. Persides, i don't think playersd would just want to change their number randomly. :)

Kits get changed almost every season so I don't see any negative repercussions from the fans. Plus, the number "10" is a very important number for soccer players so I don't see whoever gets it being upset.

[red & wite army]

Yes, but names and numbers are different to changing kits...or maybe its just a personal thing.

Well, i think that players like Fabregas may think, 'I've had such luck with #15, i don't want it to change, my kit # is lucky'.

Last season, in my team, i wanted to be #3, but i got #4. Later on, the # 3 shirt became availible, but i didn't want to change because i got a few motm awards. :)

[fox point fury]

Yes, but names and numbers are different to changing kits...or maybe its just a personal thing.

Well, i think that players like Fabregas may think, 'I've had such luck with #15, i don't want it to change, my kit # is lucky'.

Last season, in my team, i wanted to be #3, but i got #4. Later on, the # 3 shirt became availible, but i didn't want to change because i got a few motm awards. :)

I definitely hear you, I just think the number 10 is significant enough in football lore that a young cm would be eager to accept it.

[mpeabody]

At the University of Kentucky we have a lot of basketball numbers retired, but players can still wear those numbers. There are several numbers that have been retired 3 and 4 times to different players.

So, I guess the numbers really aren't "retired". Perhaps something like this would do well. Put up a banner with a name and number in the stadium somewhere and in 5 years or so let someone else wear it.

[jwaldman11]

I don't think it should be retired officially, but I do think that it can just be "forgotten" when new numbers are handed out, at least for the time being. I know that there are certain numbers from the '70s that the Steelers won't ever give to anyone. I don't think it should necessarily be permanent, but for at least a few years, it would be OK.

I do like the idea of naming part of the Grove after him, and I think the club would give a great nod to its history by naming sections of the stadium after different greats. There could be the Charlie George section, the Tony Adams end and the Bruce Rioch women's restroom. :D

[gothamite]

At the University of Kentucky we have a lot of basketball numbers retired, but players can still wear those numbers. There are several numbers that have been retired 3 and 4 times to different players.

So, I guess the numbers really aren't "retired". Perhaps something like this would do well. Put up a banner with a name and number in the stadium somewhere and in 5 years or so let someone else wear it.

That's really goofy. That reminds me of the Packers retiring Reggie White's "jersey" a couple years ago, whatever that means. Either retire the number (which they eventually did), or don't bother.

As for the Arsenal, it's not part of the tradition, so they shouldn't do it. As much as I love him, and as much as I've loved watching him play, you don't start such a tradition with Bergkamp when there have been so many worthy players before him.

Heck, if they did retire numbers, we'd be where the Yankees are - out of single digits.