Wellington Silva starts blog about life at Arsenal
August 24, 2010 at 10:12 16 comments
Wellington Silva at Arsenal
For all the latest on Wellington Silva, click here
‘Diary of a new Gunner’ is the new blog of Arsenal (and Fluminense’s) Wellington Silva. The 17-year-old is currently in the UK training and playing for Arsenal’s B team. Written in Portuguese, his first entry was posted today but contains few surprises. The player talks about the problems he’ll have getting used to the weather, language and of course the food (can’t think why). Silva says he’s played four games, winning three and losing one and scored against Manchester United. The teenager will stay with the London club until 5th September before returning to Fluminense.
His post in full:
“Sou o Wellington Silva, jogador do Fluminense. A partir do próximo ano, jogarei pelo Arsenal, da Inglaterra. Estou na Terra da Rainha, passando por um período de experiências para me adaptar ao local e conhecer melhor meus futuros companheiros de equipe. Este diário servirá para vocês saberem como vem sendo meu cotidiano aqui na Inglaterra. Ficarei na Europa até o dia 5 de setembro. Podem ter certeza que, até lá, terei muita coisa para contar.
Sei que será bastante difícil me acostumar à Inglaterra, sobretudo com clima, idioma e gastronomia. Por isso, faço aulas de inglês e vou em busca de novas experiências. Durante o período em que estou aqui, já fiz quatro partidas amistosas pelo Arsenal B. Venci três e perdi só uma. Inclusive, marquei um gol no clássico diante do Manchester United, na última semana.”
You can follow Silva’s blog here
Entry filed under: Arsenal rumours, Wellington Silva. Tags: Arsenal, Arsenal and Wellington, fluminense, Wellington Silva.
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1. Ursu Radu | August 25, 2010 at 16:23
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2. Alex | September 6, 2010 at 06:38
Speaking of life in England has anyone read Robinho’s comments in The People magazine about his time in Manchester.
Robinho, who cost City s32.5m, said: “Neither Hughes nor Mancini understood me. Perhaps they only believed in the sporting side of things but that wasn’t enough for me.
There was a lack of contact between the players and the club. It was much like an office to training and goodbye, to a match and goodbye. I am Brazilian and I cant offer my best performance if Im not happy in every aspect of life.”
These comments make him sound like a weak man, a little boy who needs his hand held. He really makes hardworking Brazilian immigrants look bad. I wonder what the view from Brazil is?
That’s my two pence.
alex
http://www.people.co.uk/sport/football/news/2010/09/05/robinho-fires-parting-shot-at-old-manchester-city-bosses-mark-hughes-and-roberto-mancini-102039-22537528/
3. Jimmy | September 6, 2010 at 21:53
In one aspect, Robinho’s comments regarding his stay at Manchester City give the impression he is somewhat high maintenance and perhaps a little immature. Before signing with them he needed to understand life in England & the Premiership as did Manchester City need to know the person as well as the player they were getting. As weak as some of Robinho”s excuses were, no England did not all of a sudden become wet and cold upon his arrival, I am willing to give him somewhat of a pass. I do this because the greater responsibility was with the club. Manchester City, desperate to climb to the heights of Chelsea & Manchester United payed an outrageous sum for his services and instead of allowing Robinho to grow and develop within the league, Manchester City openly hailed him as the team’s savior & Superman, the next Pele. Being young and brash, Robinho didn’t help temper expectations by some of his quotes but from day one, Robinho was set up for failure. There is no way he could have met these expectations. I am not from Brasil nor Brazilian but I disagree with you Alex that he has made Brazilian immigrants, or any Brazilian for that matter look bad. Robinho is simply another gifted athlete who has been overpaid, over pampered and developed an inflated sense of self and entitlement. I happen to like the guy, hope he shines in Italy where he will mature both on and off the pitch.
4. Alex | September 8, 2010 at 08:01
Jimmy, while you make some interesting observations and rightly point out the fact that there is plenty of blame to go around for his failed move from Real Madrid, I fail to see how it is the Club who is to blame. While it might make good business sense to keep your employees happy, ultimately any employer is only responsible for their contractual commitments. Thus, the buck stops with Robinho himself. He and no one else signed off on the transfer after being advised. Was there a happiness clause which the Club breached? I think not conversely, Robinho almost admits to having beached the implied term that for his generous pay package he will give his all on the pitch. For this reason I cannot be as forgiving as you of the little Diva and I remain unconvinced by your argument.
In Robinho’s comments he states: I am Brazilian and I can’t offer my best performance if I’m not happy in every aspect of life.” “… the winter, the cold and the dark nights. I ts very hard for a young Brazilian.” These are generalizations of characteristics which he implies all Brazilians share. This is far from the truth, and at odds with the way thousands of hard working Brazilians immigrants in the UK who have found a way to get on with it; many of who do not play football but do shall we say less than desirable jobs.
For the sake of the man still developing, I hope your crystal ball is right and that, “he shines in Italy where he will mature both on and off the pitch” but only time will tell, only time will tell.
That’s my two pence
Alex
5. Jimmy | September 8, 2010 at 09:25
Alex, it is up to the club to perform it’s due diligence in signing players which not only includes their talents on the pitch but also know in-depth their off field behavior, personality, character, et al. With millions and millions of dollars tossed around like candy you would think the club would insure their investments better. This is why the greater burden lies with the club. The player simply will seek the most money possible, deserved or not and his burden is to do his best out on the pitch.
In business, when things go wrong people may sue the employee but instead always go after the company in court because they are ultimately responsible for that employee and his actions. Alex, I didn’t infer that Robinho was lily white in his time at Manchester City or agree with his comments. All I said was that this type of reaction should not have come as a surprise. This was & is Robinho. Clubs will either accept this or not.
As stated in my prior post, the real injustice performed by Manchester City was that they set this kid up to fail with unrealistic and unreachable expectations. They made him out to be the savior, the next Pele who would carry Manchester City to great heights. One man could never do that. Soon, the tide turned on Robinho with the media & fans turning against him. Next thing you know, he is at Santos. Also, look at a number of other players that Manchester City have inadequately dealt with recently which validates the fact that this is a second rate club with more dollars than sense.
Robinho once again, as many footballers & athletes, is an immature, self-absorbed man/child with a heightened sense of entitlement. Manchester City should have known that going in and did a better job in working him into the culture of both the Premiership and England. It isn’t so much letting Robinho off the hook than it is pointing the finger at Manchester City. Anyhow, I think Robinho is better off in Italy for a number of reasons. Being of Italian heritage, the more talent in the Serie A the better.
Finally, I cannot imagine one Brazilian immigrant who feels less because of his comments or any citizens who would view Brazilians in a different or lesser light. You don’t, I don’t nor does anyone else hold Brazilians accountable. Robinho is not that important to either speak for all Brazilians or influence the perceptions people have of Brazilians. I’m marrying a beautiful Brazilian woman who I love and admire greatly. The last thing in this world that will happen is for some guy who has more talent in his feet than his head to sway my opinion of her, all my Brazilian friends or anyone elses feelings of the Brazilian people/community.
If he chooses to do so, Robinho, a more mature & focused Robinho can and will be a star in both Italy and the Brazilian national team for many years to come. Equally so, until Manchester City matures and becomes a respectable, well run organization and not simply resort to short cuts & buy itself up the table they will be what they have always been, a Manchester United wannabe, second class club.
6. Alex | September 8, 2010 at 18:52
Jimmy, your powers of personal forgiveness amaze me, I bet the words personal responsibility don’t even exist in your vocabulary. The Pope could take a few lessons from you and he has let so mess slide over the last few years so that is saying something.
Seriously though does you employer see to your emotional and spiritual well-being? Do you expect to him ensure you happiness so as to secure your performance day in day out? The pay packet and benefits are not enough? Or are you the type that puts athletes, movie stars and socialites on a pedestal and the rules are different for them?
And you are right people comments have no effect whatsoever on how people see other people or ourselves. I guess all the anti defamation organizations missed that memo. I glad to hear your wife’s employer is doing right by her and that your Brazilian friends are doing well in Italy given their common heritage and their inability to deal with England’s weather and the cold Anglo Saxon corporate model.
Manchester City a second class club, coming from a Sunderland supporter that’s rich.
My 2p
Alex
7. Jimmy | September 8, 2010 at 23:53
Alex, talk about taking my comments completely out of context. First of all, the term “personal responsibility” is very much in my vocabulary & I am a Catholic so I request the comments stay between the lines. I love a good debate but that’s where it starts & stops with me, especially with light topics such as football.
Perhaps I have failed in conveying my point, I have not endorsed or excused Robinho in regards to his petulance and immaturity. I’ve been very open in calling him an immature, self-absorbed child with an inflated sense of self and entitlement. I hardly hero worship and most definitely believe there should be one set of rules, not one for athletes/celebrities and another for everyone else as you blindly suggested. Last I checked I am one of the everybody elses.
I tend to think we are on the same page on this. Where we differ is the role of his former club, Manchester City. I feel they should have done a better job researching this guy beyond his play on the pitch to know who as well as what they are getting. And yes by the way, the club has a duty, no, not to babysit the athlete but to cultivate an environment in which is beneficial to the player so he can prosper and in turn be beneficial to the club.
I don’t know the protocol in England but here in the USA, (no I don’t live in Italy but in Boston where I and the Brazilians must endure rough winters) with sports such as American football, baseball, etc., the clubs well before they even approach an athlete will have a book on a potential signing. They know every little detail. Whether it be through observation, interviews with coaches, teammates, friends or the use of a private investigator, the team knows exactly who they are getting. Granted, it’s not an exact science but when a team is going to pay a guy millions, they don’t want to be embarrassed or lose the investment. They do their due diligence and rightly so.
Manchester City should have known this was a talented yet immature, moody kid who needed to grow up. He didn’t one day simply evolve into this. He was like this all along. Additionally, I indicted the club further by the massive pressure they put on him to bring Manchester City to unseen heights.
Also, if you look at some of the contract clauses here with our athletes they are filled with allowances and accommodations to placate them, whether it be special travel arrangements, time off for time with family or other incentives. Also, there are specialists now that advise employers on creating a better workplace environment. I don’t know how it is at your place of employ but at mine, if reasonable my boss will support me, beyond a paycheck because a happy employee is a productive and loyal employee.
And once again I must clarify my comments which were taken well out of context and this is in regards to the effect his comments had on the perception on Brazilian immigrants. Being from the USA, unfortunately I know all about racism and also well aware of the various oppression peoples around the world face. I have actively worked for the betterment and support organizations to champion civil rights and help defeat suffering and oppression. To equate something serious like that with comments from a soccer player is a little much. You may be overrating the power & influence Robinho holds. I say he has none.
Discrimination & racism has always and may unfortunately always exist but I wasn’t focusing on the lowest common denominator but rather the rational, mainstream public. Brazilians are, amongst other qualities, strong, proud people and it takes more than a couple of stupid quotes from a foolish athlete to bring them down and I want to think that the general public also dismissed Robinho’s comments as rubbish and would never think less of Brazilian immigrants.
Anyone can support an Arsenal, Chelsea or Manchester United. Cheering from the front is easy and I suppose fans of these clubs view other teams in such a dismissive & condescending manner it becomes sport but whatever. Sure Sunderland has been a bottom feeder but it is my club, I am a proud supporter and remain undaunted regardless of any disparaging remarks offered.
Manchester City as you know is widely viewed with contempt as a club with endless money looking to buy it’s way to the top and many resent this short cut approach. I didn’t invent the term “second class” on them, many, including Sir Alex and your coach among many have said as much. My team, hopefully under Steve Bruce will one day be a top club but win or lose Sunderland will always do it in a first class manner. It may not reflect in the table but comparing the two sides, I gladly stand with Sunderland.
In closing, I can appreciate your attempt at sarcasm and I do enjoy a good, spirited debate, hopefully with a positive spirit and with humor. We have gone round and round on this and it is clear that we must agree to disagree. I think we agree more than you think on this issue but so be it. Not to steal your line but this is my two cents.
8. Jimmy | September 8, 2010 at 10:47
Poor Wellington Silva! Here we are in a blog about his experiences at Arsenal and who are we talking about? Robinho!! kkk I hope he will prosper in England but as a Sunderland supporter I wouldn’t mind seeing him play for the Black Cats than Arsenal.
9. Alex | September 8, 2010 at 13:25
As an Arsenal Fan, I wish Wellington all the best and at this point I wouldn’t worry to much about Wellington his time will come. Let’s just hope he is not another Robinho as he himself has already stated that he is finding the climate, the language and the food difficult to get use to. Although, to his credit he does seem to be making an effort…
Only time will tell.
My 2p
Alex
10. Jimmy | September 8, 2010 at 14:09
To hear that Wellington Silva comment on things such as the climate, culture, et al regarding life in England goes to show that moving to a distinctly different place, especially for young (spoiled & pampered) men is not always an easy transition. It also dilutes somewhat the volatility of Robinho’s complaints. Doesn’t make it better or right, just more understandable.
I don’t know much about Wellington but I do have great respect for Arsenal’s keen ability to find and groom young talent. Based on that I expect Silva to one day be a positive asset to the Gunners. I also wish him the best. I still think he would look better playing at the Stadium of Light wearing a Sunderland kit! kkk
11. Alex | September 8, 2010 at 19:15
Jimmy, are you serious? “It also dilutes somewhat the volatility of Robinho’s complaints.” Wellington’s comments are to be expected as every immigrant goes though period of acculturation. Ask you wife? What can not nor should be excused is this little diva’s comments that “I am Brazilian and I can’t offer my best performance if I’m not happy in every aspect of life.”
Happy or not with the city, the club. Robinho signed off on the transfer. No one held a gun to his head. If he felt he could not preform why didn’t he refuse his generous wages and why did he rip off the good people of Manchester. My love for Arsenal aside, It’s not the clubs job to make men of these boys any more that it is for school system to raise our kids. Is it nice or good business sense to take a holistic approach in developing these people, yes. Now ask me about the pain they cause when they ask for a raise or to be traded to a Spanish club; so much for the holistic then.
My 2p
Alex
12. Jimmy | September 9, 2010 at 00:02
Listen, I hear you and have said, ad nauseum that I agree with you. All I ever said differently was that Manchester City, before spending so much money on the guy should have had a better handle on his feelings for the area, his personality, etc. Perhaps knowing what an immature person he is they may have invested their money elsewhere. How that translate into me given Robinho a full pardon is a mystery but so be it,
With Wellington’s comments I tried, apparently unsuccessfully, to say that Robinho was not the first, nor last person from a warmer climate to complain about the weather in England along with the differences in food, culture, etc. Doesn’t make it right but it is the simple reality.
13. Alex | September 9, 2010 at 05:37
Jimmy, finally a point we can both agree on, I too enjoy a good, spirited debate, and though I may not agree with some of your views, I have enjoyed reading your point of view.
Now to paraphrase a better man than I, I’ll say “No Mas” – Roberto Duran.
My 2p
Alex
14. Jimmy | September 10, 2010 at 00:33
I couldn’t agree with you more. It was a good back & forth debate but it has ran it’s course. I enjoy our interactions and look forward to more in the future. In keeping in the spirit of all things Brazilian, I also say “nao mais!”. kkk Take care Alex.
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