Invisiblewall.net: Gilberto Silva News

From Local Guardian:

Gunners midfielder wants talks with Wenger

GILBERTO SILVA will hold showdown talks with Arsene Wenger when he returns from his holiday in Brazil and the midfielder has not ruled out a move away from the Emirates.

The Brazil captain lost his place in the side last year to Mathieu Flamini, and despite the Frenchman departing for AC Milan this summer, Gilberto remains uncertain about his future at the club.

Speaking from his hometown of Lagoa da Prata, the 31-year-old said: “I will sit down with Arsene Wenger when I come back for pre-season training and see whether I have a future at the club.

“I want to play for Arsenal, but if they don’t want me I will have to leave. It’s really up to the manager what happens now.”

So far this summer, Gilberto has played in Brazil’s two World Cup qualification games for the 2010 World Cup. Brazil have come under fire, along with a host of players, as well as manager Dunga. Criticisms levelled against A Selecao include playing boringly.

Brazil’s first qualification game was against Paraguay; Brazil lost 2-0. Sports Ya reported,

Paraguay crushed Brazil with a 2-0 win in Asuncion, to keep leading South American Qualifiers as “lord and master”, claim the media. Paraguayan sports papers stress the national team victory over Brazil and have headlines such as “They are the best,” “Dad rules at home,” crushing “Paraguayan rage”, and “Paraguayan show”.

Paper Abc Color labeled Argentine Gerardo Martino’s side as “Father of the wins and standings,” making reference to the matched played on Father’s Day and to the top of the South American Qualifiers table.

“Paraguay’s rage is impossible to master,” newspaper Ultima Hora claims, adding that the formation displayed by Paraguay coach “tied Brazil up”.

A big performance at home to Argentina was required, but Brazil could only manage a 0-0 draw with their blue rivals. FIFA.com reported:

It seems hard to believe it was only 11 months ago that Dunga, Brazil’s 1994 FIFA World Cup USAâ„¢-winning captain and current coach, masterminded an emphatic 3-0 victory over Argentina in the final of the Copa America. On Wednesday night, on home turf against the same opponents, the tactician was subject to the harshest wave of criticism in his long and fruitful involvement with the Seleção.

“So long, Dunga!” was just one of the discordious chants to fall upon the fiery coach’s ears over the course of an anaemic second half. With the visiting Albiceleste dominating possession and threatening to break the deadlock via Lionel Messi and Juan Roman Riquelme, the 57,000 fans packed into the Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte turned viciously on their team.

So far this summer, Gilberto has played in Brazil’s two World Cup qualification games for the 2010 World Cup. Brazil have come under fire, along with a host of players, as well as manager Dunga. Criticisms levelled against A Selecao include playing boringly.

Brazil’s first qualification game was against Paraguay; Brazil lost 2-0. Sports Ya reported,

Paraguay crushed Brazil with a 2-0 win in Asuncion, to keep leading South American Qualifiers as “lord and master”, claim the media. Paraguayan sports papers stress the national team victory over Brazil and have headlines such as “They are the best,” “Dad rules at home,” crushing “Paraguayan rage”, and “Paraguayan show”.

Paper Abc Color labeled Argentine Gerardo Martino’s side as “Father of the wins and standings,” making reference to the matched played on Father’s Day and to the top of the South American Qualifiers table.

“Paraguay’s rage is impossible to master,” newspaper Ultima Hora claims, adding that the formation displayed by Paraguay coach “tied Brazil up”.

A big performance at home to Argentina was required, but Brazil could only manage a 0-0 draw with their blue rivals. FIFA.com reported:

It seems hard to believe it was only 11 months ago that Dunga, Brazil’s 1994 FIFA World Cup USAâ„¢-winning captain and current coach, masterminded an emphatic 3-0 victory over Argentina in the final of the Copa America. On Wednesday night, on home turf against the same opponents, the tactician was subject to the harshest wave of criticism in his long and fruitful involvement with the Seleção.

“So long, Dunga!” was just one of the discordious chants to fall upon the fiery coach’s ears over the course of an anaemic second half. With the visiting Albiceleste dominating possession and threatening to break the deadlock via Lionel Messi and Juan Roman Riquelme, the 57,000 fans packed into the Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte turned viciously on their team.

BBC.co.uk reported the same thing.

Gilberto Silva, however, garnered some half-hearted praise [Goal.com] despite the draw:

Gilberto Silva 6.5/10: An acceptable performance from the defensive midfielder. Did well to break down some dangerous Argentine attacks. Still, more is expected of him.

Media-reportage aside, Gilberto has played 90 minutes in both qualifiers – this should keep him sharp for the start of Arsenal’s 2008-09 Premiership season.

Before that, though, is Brazil’s Olympic bid in Beijing, with Gilberto expected to play a key part in the tournament.

Reposted from Mirror.co.uk

Brazil are preparing for two crucial World Cup qualifiers – against Paraguay tomorrow and arch-rivals Argentina on Thursday – as the South American campaign for South Africa 2010 gets serious.

And Elano says the squad are all guessing Ronaldinho’s next move.

“At first sight, one could believe it is a mistake to leave Barcelona for Manchester City,” said the midfielder.

“But I know Manchester City, I know its structure and I can say one thing for sure: it would be very good for Ronaldinho and excellent for our club. I hope it becomes concrete.”

Ronaldinho, 28, is currently resting in his home city of Porte Alegre. City owner Thaksin Shinawatra will finance any deal with the help of sponsors including Nike, and the club claim the player is enthusiastic about joining them, however that will change if Chelsea step in.

Arsenal midfielder Gilberto Silva is hoping talks between Manchester City and Barcelona fail as he wants Ronaldinho at the Emirates. He said: “Ronaldinho is special, and anyone would like to have him as his team-mate.”

Elano and Silva are in the underpressure Brazil squad for the clash with Paraguay, along with Manchester United’s Anderson. Javier Mascherano is involved for Argentina, who play host to Ecuador before travelling to Brazil, but Carlos Tevez is suspended after being sent off against Colombia last year.

Brazil – who are missing Ronaldinho and Kaka – are third in the group after four games, behind leaders Paraguay.

A defeat in a friendly to Venezuela last week increased the pressure on coach Dunga, and any setbacks this week will not help his cause.

Re-posted from Goal.com

Gilberto Sings Scolari’s Praises

The Blues’ appointment of the man who led Brazil to their fifth World Cup in 2002 has certainly captured the imagination, and the enthusiasm is clearly not limited to the extended Chelsea family.

“At the 2002 World Cup he was a fantastic manager and a fantastic man,” said Gilberto, who knows ‘Big Phil’ very well from their time together with the ‘Selecao’.

“He was like a father to us. It was as if we were all under his arm.

“He took all the responsibility and shielded us from any negatives.

“He kept any criticism away from the dressing room and allowed us to play without fear,” he added.

“For me he was extra special. I was one of the newer players in the squad, but he made me feel every bit as important as Ronaldo.”

Gilberto, 31, certainly has been in talkative mood since he arrived in the Brazilian training camp, as yesterday he also sprung something of a surprise by insisting that it is still undecided whether he will elect to extend his Arsenal career.

Scolari, in the meanwhile, could be set for the perfect swansong, as Portugal have become early favourites to achieve glory in Austria and Switzerland this month after their blistering start to EURO 2008.

Re-posted from Arsenal-Mania.com

Gilberto: Win trophies if you want a pay rise

Midfielder Gilberto Silva today told his team mates to start helping the club win trophies if they wanted a pay rise.

He was responding to comments from Robin van Persie, who had earlier said that the club were too rigid with their wage structure and hence stars like Mathieu Flamini were leaving to go to other clubs.

But Gilberto says that this was the wrong attitude to take, and that players had to earn pay rises by winning trophies for the club.

The Brazilian World Cup winner said: “When you win things you achieve more than anybody else. It follows that you get better contracts and more money.

“I cannot blame them if they have a good contract at another club but I still believe if they stay at the club and have a good season they could do a lot for the club and themselves. Then try new things.

“Most of the players who leave miss the club for lots of reasons. The lifestyle at Arsenal is fantastic. You get so well looked after.

“Next season will be very important for the club and the players.

“They must win something to keep the ambition of everybody and to maintain the hope of every player.

“If we don’t win anything next year it will be difficult to keep everybody happy. If you don’t see any possibility of winning the title they will change their minds.”

Re-posted from The Telegraph

Gilberto, Arsenal’s senior pro, has advised the club’s young stars against getting itchy feet and warned them they would regret it if they left Emirates Stadium prematurely.

The 31-year-old Brazilian, who has spent six seasons at Arsenal, says he is dismayed at the prospect of Arsene Wenger’s young team breaking up just when they seem on the verge of something special.

Mathieu Flamini, who took Gilberto’s place in the side for the majority of last season, has joined AC Milan, Alexander Hleb is in talks with Barcelona and Real Madrid, and Emmanuel Adebayor’s head has been turned by interest from Inter Milan, AC Milan and Barcelona.

“I don’t know what they have in mind but they should stay a little bit longer,” Gilberto said.

“Maybe they want to try something different, but they could develop themselves and achieve big things at Arsenal.

“The team is young and getting better. It could be really special if the players all stay. What is important is to keep everyone at the club, for them to stay long-term at the club.

“I haven’t spoken to them since the end of the season but in my opinion Arsenal is still a great, great club and fantastic for any player in the world.

“It’s a gamble when you move to another club. Everything is different. You don’t know how things work. You don’t know how the team plays. You don’t even know if you will play.

“It would be a good thing for them to stay at the club because they know each other very well. They have a better situation than last season and could use the feeling of disappointment as an inspiration for next season.”

Flamini joined AC Milan on a more lucrative contract than Arsenal could offer and Hleb and Adebayor would also expect considerable salary hikes if they moved to the Continent.

Robin van Persie has been publicly critical of the club’s strict wage structure, comments which angered senior director Danny Fiszman, who says Chelsea are the only British club who pay better significantly wages than Arsenal.

“When you win things you achieve more than anybody else. It follows that you get better contracts and more money,” says Gilberto.

“I cannot blame them if they have a good contract at another club but I still believe if they stay at the club and have a good season they could do a lot for the club and themselves. Then try new things.

“Most of the players who leave miss the club for lots of reasons. The lifestyle at Arsenal is fantastic. You get so well looked after.”

Gilberto recognises that it could be difficult for Arsenal to hang on to their star names if they go a fourth consecutive season without silverware.

“Next season will be very important for the club and the players,” said the midfielder.

“They must win something to keep the ambition of everybody and to maintain the hope of every player.

“If we don’t win anything next year it will be difficult to keep everybody happy. If you don’t see any possibility of winning the title they will change their minds.”

Gilberto, who is expected to feature in the Brazil team that plays World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay and Argentina next week, is still undecided about his own Arsenal future after losing his regular starting place last season.

He said: “I do want to stay. It depends when I come back if Arsene wants me to stay. I still have one year left on my contract. I’m happy to stay at the club. I will wait until I return to London and pre-season training on 21 July and then I will sit down and talk about it.”

You’re not going to believe this.

Source: Tribalfootball.com

Arsenal’s Gilberto late for Brazil duty: I left my passport in the wash!

Arsenal midfielder Gilberto Silva turned up late for Brazil duty – after leaving his passport in the washing machine!

The Brazil captain arrived in the United States on Tuesday, having already missed the 3-2 victory over Canada on Saturday, with a sheepish admission.

The 31-year-old had left his passport in dirty clothes and put them in the washing machine, which completely destroyed his visa.

After rushing to get new documents, Gilberto trained with his team-mates on Wednesday and is in contention to restore some dignity when Brazil face Venezuela in Boston on Friday.