Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson has urged Arsene Wenger to take a 'stronger hand' with his players after defender Andre Santos embarrassed the Gunners by asking ex-teammate Robin Van Persie for his shirt during the half-time interval of Arsenal's 2-1 weekend defeat to Manchester United.
In his column for The Mirror today, Lawro indirectly suggested that Santos' behaviour was a result of Wenger's laissez-faire management approach at Arsenal, and he urged the Gunners boss to come out and publicly condemn the issue. He observed:
"It is absolutely ridiculous! I've seen some remarkable things on a football pitch – and Andre Santos swapping shirts with Robin van Persie at half time is right up there in the top three.
"In terms of Arsenal and their history this is up there with Willian Gallas throwing a strop and sitting on the advertising hoardings at Birmingham.
"It just sends out the wrong signals, and you just wonder if, as good a manager as Wenger is, some of his players need a stronger hand"
Santos was obviously naive to do what he did, but the hysterical reaction from some people is an absolute joke. For example, TV presenter Piers Morgan called for Santos to be sacked, which is a nonsensical suggestion IMO.
I wonder how Liverpool fans would react in the same situation? For example, if Liverpool were playing Real Madrid, and, say, Daniel Agger asked for Xabi Alonso's shirt at half time; how would fans react?
I personally wouldn't care in the slightest.
Santo's wife has slammed the hysterical reaction to her husband's shirt-swapping debacle:
"The English should better understand the Brazilian culture before judging someone. No one stops being friends just for changing company. Swapping shirts is normal in Brazil"
Santos had a dodgy game against Man United, which makes it easier for people to criticise him. I sincerely doubt that he'd be getting such a barracking if he'd put in a man of the match performance.
Jaimie Kanwar
In his column for The Mirror today, Lawro indirectly suggested that Santos' behaviour was a result of Wenger's laissez-faire management approach at Arsenal, and he urged the Gunners boss to come out and publicly condemn the issue. He observed:
"It is absolutely ridiculous! I've seen some remarkable things on a football pitch – and Andre Santos swapping shirts with Robin van Persie at half time is right up there in the top three.
"In terms of Arsenal and their history this is up there with Willian Gallas throwing a strop and sitting on the advertising hoardings at Birmingham.
"It just sends out the wrong signals, and you just wonder if, as good a manager as Wenger is, some of his players need a stronger hand"
Santos was obviously naive to do what he did, but the hysterical reaction from some people is an absolute joke. For example, TV presenter Piers Morgan called for Santos to be sacked, which is a nonsensical suggestion IMO.
I wonder how Liverpool fans would react in the same situation? For example, if Liverpool were playing Real Madrid, and, say, Daniel Agger asked for Xabi Alonso's shirt at half time; how would fans react?
I personally wouldn't care in the slightest.
Santo's wife has slammed the hysterical reaction to her husband's shirt-swapping debacle:
"The English should better understand the Brazilian culture before judging someone. No one stops being friends just for changing company. Swapping shirts is normal in Brazil"
Santos had a dodgy game against Man United, which makes it easier for people to criticise him. I sincerely doubt that he'd be getting such a barracking if he'd put in a man of the match performance.
Jaimie Kanwar
Tell Hansen to get a grip and try being hysterical about his team fighting relegation the way they are going
ReplyDeleteWho mentioned Hansen it would be more like wisdom asking for torres shirt hope I don't eat my words next week.
ReplyDeleteerm Hansen ? relegation ? When did Arsenal last win a trophy ?
ReplyDeleteThe media and the pundits in this country really enjoy blowing things and actions out of proportion ....
ReplyDeleteIn no other country would this even get discussed, it's just ridiculous !!!!
Why the need for football pundits at all ?? - fans can be talking about football to each other without the views of those so-called experts, they are pointless in all honesty.
Lawrenson gets even more senile by the week
ReplyDeleteA Liverpool website talking about arsenal's shortcomings?
ReplyDeleteHow stupid is that?
It's like a hippo calling an elephant fat!
You should talk about suarez's diving, being in the bottom half of the table, and the worst start to a season in close to a century.
Let Gooners worry about Arsenal, and you worry about Liverpool.
By all means defend Arsenal if you're a supporter but let's not do it stupidly please. I hate Lawreson but he is spot on. It was beyond a joke, you're 1-nil down totally outplayed and the only thing on your mind is to get an opposition player's shirt?? Wait till the frigging game ends!!! Even Wenger as well, his team could easily be 4-nil down and rather than march straight in to sort out his talk, he's patting RvP like he's just scored a goal for Arsenal. All those sheenanigans prove that we went there with no hope of winning and that shows how far we have fallen.
ReplyDeleteHaha, you're right, Lawro has bigger problems at LFC to focus on - I think it's more like an elephant calling a hippo fat!
ReplyDeleteI agree with kk ,can you imagine the winners we have had in recent years like Adams,Winterburn, Viera etc sucking up to opposition like the lightweights we have now.Adams would have shoved his boot up Santos backside if he had done that when he was captain
ReplyDeleteHe is right. Santos has now shame. He was like a "groupie" trying to get to the Judas shirt with no shame or consideration for Arsenal fans all over the world watching the game. What a prick ! Kick him out. Hi is already out in my mind.
ReplyDeleteCruel, cruel but fair play!
ReplyDeletewww.pornhub.com
ReplyDeleteif we are losing to Chelsea at half time on Sunday and one of our players swaps shirts with Torres how do you think our fans would react? I know what i think!
ReplyDeleteTrue. But you get my drift
ReplyDeleteneil's on the right track, but i tihnk our feelings run deeper with rvp and the way he left.
ReplyDeletealso telling of the fairly sad state of the game is the quote from santos' wife "just for changing company"
This is what annoys me about fans. They think everything is personal. Football is a business, footballers are humans. I would not care if Suarez attended a Everton or Man Utd game, it's his life and he can do what he wants with his time and money. As long as he is showing commitment on the pitch and producing then these things should be relevant.
ReplyDeleteIt's not like Santos took his shirt and then kissed the United badge at the fans.
Santos done nothing wrong. People need to lighten up.
Indeed. They are so bias sometimes that is sickening.
ReplyDeleteTrust me, all other subjects you have mentioned have been discussed at length. Furthermore Lawro is connected to the club hence why his views are often posted her.
ReplyDeleteYour argument is invalid.
I still can't see what the big problem is...this is being more publicized than the Pedo case against some prominent ex politicians.
ReplyDeleteGranted, Santos should have known that this would caused a massive stirr with the fans as they would take it personally (-_-), but they making a big deal out of nothing.
If Arsenal were killing Man U then this would not have been an issue.
IMO I would not care at all as long as he is showing commitment on the pitch. Players that play together become friends after all.
ReplyDeleteThis is no exaggeration but almost every article you write concerning a player from another club is in defense of that player whereas every article regarding our players or team is an attack.
ReplyDeleteImagine Suarez ran over to swop shirt's with the opposition, you'd have a field day.
it was only a shirt swap! ok it happened in full view of everyone, he should have used the terry family rules when it comes to swapping wives and girlfriends, and did it when he thought no one was around!!
ReplyDeleteso what, its sad Lawro has nothing better to talk about
ReplyDeleteWell his manager was clearly angered by it and santos has apologised! So it was obviously the wrong thing to do!
ReplyDeleteNot as stupid as you for completely misunderstanding jk's opinion of the article. :)
ReplyDelete