Serie A 2013/2014: Page 31 - The Arsenal discussion community: One More in the Tolly

Serie A 2013/2014

Burnwinter

Nah, confidence player.

There's a chance he might've done well this season but there's probably a better chance he would've continued to suffer. Happy to see him doing ok elsewhere and I think the move is good for all concerned.

Rex

Yeah, I am certainly not sad Gervinho is no longer with us. He wasn't a poor player for us, but so, so frustrating.

Klaus

Oh, Gervinho was done at Arsenal. I just think it's a shame that the fans felt the need to hassle him the way they did. Wenger practically admitted that he couldn't play him at Emirates any more.

Volante

Allegri must still be picking the team in Milan. Essien-De Jong in midfield 😆

Volante

Balotelli crying on the bench.

Volante

🙁

flobaba

He'd be suicidal if he joined us.

Klaus

He didn't cry because he was substituted. Napoli's fans were shouting racist insults at him and his mom.

Volante

You sure? Seedorf didn't say anything about racism after the match.

FEBravo

Not according to Seedorf (doesn't mean it's not true, but there would have been more reports I think if it had been the case).

http://football-italia.net/44993/racism-not-behind-balotelli-tears

Klaus

Been widely reported since. Not sure how much Seedorf knew right after the game at his press conference. He might just have been sticking up for a player who clearly was in an emotional state.

Irishgunner

I was under the impression that the claims of racism were just the usual twitter bollocks.

Claudius

I read racism as well. Wasn't aware his mother was there. Seriously though. These are Klaus' boorish men in large groups. Serie A attracts some Neanderthals.

Burnwinter

Sure, no doubt reports of racism from the fans towards a black player at a Serie A match are wildly exaggerated. :hmm:

Klaus

I see the point to be fair, because some of the accusations aimed against Serie A really are baseless, and they arise precisely because people think: "That's just how the league in Italy is". All I saw yesterday, however, was a lot of journalists and Serie A proponents doing damage control on Twitter and in their respective blogs, and that sort of behaviour doesn't sit right with me. People can ask Balotelli why he cried and I'm sure they will. He might even give an answer. What's probably undeniable at this point is that there were racist chants during the game. People who were there heard them. I'm thoroughly disappointed at journalists who dismissed the suggestion off hand based on what Seedorf said at his post-match presser minutes after the final whistle. As if it would debunk anything. And extending that thought - as if the possibility of Balotelli crying solely for being substituted would make the issue go away.

Burnwinter

I don't understand the incident fully, probably nor does anyone except Balotelli himself, but if there's a prevailing attitude that racism from the fans is normal, and that therefore Balotelli shouldn't be unduly disturbed by it, that's not cool.

For all the usual reasons, that's just not the right calibration for a response from the media and the football world.

Klaus

The implication isn't so much that racism is normal but more along the lines that 'it didn't happen' because there were apparently other, semi-valid reasons for Balotelli's tears. So the discourse turns into a version of: "Oh people are so prejudiced against Serie A, they always cry racism when something happens". That shit doesn't sit right with me for a number of reasons.

ebouefan

Klaus wrote:
Oh, Gervinho was done at Arsenal. I just think it's a shame that the fans felt the need to hassle him the way they did. Wenger practically admitted that he couldn't play him at Emirates any more.

If you charge tourist prices, you can't expect unconditional support. People want good players on the show for the 2 hours they are there.

I don't like Wenger passing the buck like that. Can't expect him to keep his nerve in a title race if he can't even put up with criticism.

Rex

It was more a case of Gervinho not being able to cope. As a manager it is just smart to not select a player who can't perform, for one reason or another. Wenger has been getting abuse up and down the country for 17 years - I think he can cope just fine.

Burnwinter

Wenger gave Gervinho every chance last season, and in fact Gerv looked like he was stepping up at one point, then reverted. He wasn't up to being an Arsenal player.

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