jones wrote:
Tam wrote:
You also said if you were Auba you'd knock Arteta's teeth out. It's clear where you're laying the blame, and for all the criticism of Arteta's handling, there isn't much for Aubameyang's disregard of the rules.
I mentioned Auba's poor attitude several times now, even talked about it being an issue when he was in Germany. You focussing on my wanting to deck Arteta makes it clear where you're laying the blame, and for all the criticism of Auba's behaviour, there isn't much for Arteta's disregard of consistently applying the rules or use of common sense.
Your initial reaction was to speak out against Arteta. Arteta has horribly mismanaged this situation, that's obvious and almost par for the course now. My issue is that we're now discussing Arteta's reaction in the Aubameyang thread, where the architect of the situation is virtually being given a free pass because of the general ill feeling towards the management.
The bolded section is what gets me. We're supporters. We follow the team regardless and will continue to do so, but Aubameyang is paid over £300,000 per week to turn up and do his job. I don't have the luxury of fucking off to France and not returning when I should, and wouldn't be excused for lacklustre work performance because I don't like my manager. You turn up, you do your job, and you get on with it. He's failing to do the bare minimum. One of the worst aspects of the prima donna age of football is not the obscene money involved, it's that it's acceptable to fans that players down tools simply because we have the same feelings towards the manager.
I agree that if we're to get anything out of the season we'll likely need Aubameyang performing well. But I don't think he's got much to offer us going forward. His star is waning, he's absent when the team need leadership, he's creating needless disciplinary issues (that Arteta is exacerbating) and his carefree attitude is at odds with the serious and switched on nature of the recent squad additions. He also doesn't suit our current set up but that's a separate issue which could be addressed with different management.
Auba's wage is completely irrelevant to this. If he were making 10k a week like a youth player he'd still be making more than probably everyone of us and we should be able to expect the same. The thing is we know football players are primadonnas, they have the maturity of children and their job is to show up and perform. Managers however are a little older and they have the right to drop, field, banish and reward players at their discretion. Arteta is failing full fucking magnitudes harder at his job than Auba is at his, even if he weren't his boss I'd look at his behaviour first because while Auba kept us from dropping into irrelevancy at least a year earlier Arteta doesn't offer jack shit.
By that definition he's failing in basic responsibilities that even youth players have no trouble meeting. His actions directly led to him being unavailable due to COVID protocols/testing processes etc. Performing could only be the loosest description of his form of late. He's been a warm body and no more.
Of course his wage isn't irrelevant, with higher wages comes higher responsibility and higher expectations. With captaincy comes an even higher bar.
Who's to say that Auba's star would be waning at this point with a good manager in charge of him? A disciplinarian who knows how to set a team up to score goals? About 90% of Europe's best forwards are Auba's age or older and it's not like he's fell off a peak physically. We're watching Arteta creating a ridiculous atmosphere at the club where his favourites are free to do as they please and those he doesn't like are banished and hated even by fans. Xhaka Willian and Luiz one hand can do no wrong, Pepe Saliba Guendouzi and now Auba get no chance to even change his mind once he decided on them. He's a cancer on this club.
I won't agree with the cancer comment but agree with majority of the rest. For avoidance of doubt, I want Arteta to go. I'd have loved him to exceed and probably backed him longer than most, but it's clear it's not working.
Qwiss! wrote:
Tam wrote:
One of the worst aspects of the prima donna age of football is not the obscene money involved, it's that it's acceptable to fans that players down tools simply because we have the same feelings towards the manager.
When did Auba down tools exactly? He wants to play and isn't let play. This isn't a Cesc Fabregas situation we are dealing with here.
I didn't say he downed tools. It was in response to Jones' speculation about whether he is interested in playing for Arteta any longer. If he followed the rules he'd have massively increased his chances in playing. Particularly when he knows the manager who is stopping him doing so far better than we do.
It seems widely accepted that Arteta's actions will turn the squad against him. There doesn't seem to be as much consideration given to the impact of Aubameyang's actions on a squad, many of whom may not have been given the opportunity to see their families (regardless of health or otherwise).
