AW after the game: ""We have a big programme," added the Frenchman. "I have to rotate until the Napoli game without dropping points in the league." All change for the weekend?
That's a riot. I didn't notice it at the time. Completely a non issue for me. But Flamini should back down. I guess he has some very deep-rooted superstition/habit of always wearing short sleeves. But how deep-rooted can it be if he didn't do it on his last spell with Arsenal (I assume). It says more than a little about his maturity and his stubborness. And there is no way it can endear him to his coaches or his teammates. Time to get over it Matthieu.
It's always been a tradition at Arsenal that the Captain chooses whether the team wear short or long sleeves. For Flamini to cut his sleeves shows insubordination to the Captain and tradition. It might not be a big issue, but if Wenger allows Flamini to do this then do we throw this tradition away? There needs to be some form of order and Flamini either has to suck it up or become a captain-- then he can make everyone wear short sleeves. This is the second time this season that it happened.
Arsene was very clear about it.....He did not like it and will stop it. He will tell Flamini to roll up his sleeves and be done with it and it will be a done deal.
But its a tradition. Just because your miniscule brain cant understand it does not make it stupid. What a totally lame comment
Patrick Vieira: "Its the captain who takes all the decisions off the field. For example, its me who decides whether we play in short sleeves or long ones. If there are 20 guys who want to play in short sleeves and Im cold, its me who makes the final decision." Source: http://www.mid-day.com/news/2004/oct/94788.htm
and that's why it's stupid. Look the same vs. have each player feel comfortable so they can perform without thinking about their clothes. If Flamini didn't like his boots, we'd all be happy if he changed them. Should the captain dictate boot choices? Underwear? Taping preference?
Just because it's a tradition doesn't make it not stupid. It's dumb. The guys should wear whatever they are most comfortable in. (not saying what Flamini did was right)
Very easy way out of this situation: Make Flamini zi capitan -- and make everyone wear arsenal g-strings for a match. Tradition, gone.
Wow...been away for a while and I'm finally back and find everyone arguing over shirt sleeves?! I guess that's a good thing that we have so little to complain about. Anyway, don't see the big deal...players choose their boots, whether to tuck their shirt or not, whether to wear gloves or not. Honestly, I don't see why the captain or manager would be willing to compromise the comfort of any player because of tradition or "look". There are plenty of worthwhile traditions that maintain the identity and unity of the club, but this sleeves thing is stupid IMHO.
Why can't he just roll them up? Cutting the sleeves is too drastic imo. Whatevers, they'll figure out a solution. I can picture Vieira making Flamini tape up his sleeves if Vieira was still captain. I think the one who has the most issue with this is Vic Akers--our Kit Manager. Maybe Vic is too traditional for hipster Flamini.