I know footballers have never been the best role models around, but the behaviour of some of them this summer has definitely plumbed new depths. I am certainly not naive enough to believe that all footballers should be as loyal to their club as the most hardcore of the supporters, however they are professionals, they are paid to play football and are often rewarded with very lucrative long term contracts. Therefore I believe we are entitled to more than a little commitment and more than a modicum of decorum. Before I begin my rant I am perfectly aware that it is not only footballers who are to blame for this sorry state of affairs, certainly the clubs who throw around millions in an unsustainable manner and thus inflate the wage/transfer market out of all proportion are the chief culprits.The avarice and greed on show is not attractive for us fans, in fact I believe I am right in saying that it is turning quite a few people off football in a rather big way. After all how many of us can say we really got behind Emmanuel Adebayor last season and enjoyed watching him play for Arsenal, after we had watched him behave like a brain dead blinging moron in the previous close season. I am sure many Manu fans felt the same watching the prize tit Ronaldo diving around and feigning injury after his recurrent flirtations with his beloved Madrid. These tossers seem to have very little insight into their own unpopularity, for example Adebayor seems perplexed that his own fans would boo him. What morons, they would do better to apologise for their pathetic behaviour than treat us fans like idiots with their patronising pap as they act the innocent.
Ronaldo must be one of biggest tools to have ever played the beautiful game, not only does he regularly embarrass himself with his on field cheating, rank arrogance and petulance, but his off field behaviour is what one would expect from a self obsessed teenage film star. He clearly loves himself more than anyone else, in fact I am amazed than Manure fans didn't show more spine by giving him some abuse after his repeated betrayal of the club in the media. As fans we would do better to make players aware that this kind of whore-like behaviour will not be tolerated by supporters.
Gareth Barry's betrayal of Villa hasn't been quite as shameful as Ronaldo or Adebayor's behaviour, but I find it very hard indeed to believe him when he claims his move to City was due to the club's ambition, it may well have been down to ambition, most likely his ambition for money ahead of trophies and success. Tevez is another member of the 'greedy and spoilt infant brigade', he is reportedly turning down an offer of a five year deal at Manu worth 110k a week and instead opting for even more cash elsewhere. Tevez does work hard, but his goalscoring record is average at best, his complete lack of loyalty and devotion to only money portrays this modern malaise creeping through the game. Alonso is another footballing whore, apparently discussing terms with Madrid without the knowledge of his current club.
Football is in danger of alienating those that love it the most, the most loyal and die hard supporters, for if clubs continue to be dictated to by this bunch of mercenaries then something very special will be lost. Personally I don't want to see the likes of Adebayor at Arsenal, I only want players who will behave like adult professionals and show some commitment to those who pay their wages while they are under contract. Maybe something has to change, changes to the law have seen far too much power go to the player while certain clubs should not be allowed to spend in such an unsustainable manner. I don't know what the answer is, salary caps for individuals or clubs, caps on transfer spending or prison for Ronaldo? I have a feeling that Ronaldo would enjoy the prison shower a bit too much though. Whatever the solution, I don't want to see Arsenal sign any greedy mercenaries, I'd rather win nothing than sell our soul by becoming a collective of narcissistic whores like Real Madrid.
7 comments:
the situation has been created by the owners, sponsors, etc. if Man U is worth 1.8 billion, there is no reason for the footballers not to make money.
it is a business and has been so for a long time, especially since the Premier League was founded, etc.
all of us would probably take twice the wages we are being paid. almost all of us.
i hate ronaldo, but say he gets run over tomorrow and his leg is amputated. where is he at then?
there is only one life for glory, only a few shots at making money, when Gareth Barry is 45 we probably wont be talking about him too much either.
-rahul-
True.
Things will be different when our current crop of youngsters come through. Players like Wilshere have no other club, nor will they ever have, in mind than Arsenal.
Part of Wengers experiment that is our current side is that the players would grow love and affection for the club, and I do think we see that now. Clichy, Cesc, Djourou and van Persie are all players who I have no doubt love this football club. Most of the players in our squad have been at Arsenal almost their entire professional careers. That leaves a huge mark on them, and I believe we will see the benefits of that in the years to come.
Things are looking up for Arsenal in alot of ways, and this is one of them.
good points.
maybe the business does need levelling to a degree though as other major sports leagues, for example the australian rugby and football, or the US american football leagues
you are right that clubs will reap the benefits from having the more loyal and committed players, they will have a stronger team spirit and are likely to benefit from this
after all the madrid galacticos experiment ended up failing dismally in the end
also alex ferguson has repeatedly shown that when players get too big for their boots it's best to ship them out
there is so much more to life than money, i am sure the likes of ronaldo will realise this much too late in life though
also i don't expect ridiculous loyalty, players will always want to move for various reasons, it's just pathetic how they go about getting a move whilst under contract, it's so disrespectful and unethical
The players wages are out of control. I understand their argument that the clubs are making a killing, and they want their share. But the clubs aren't sharing their increasing profits with these players. They're just raping the fans for more money to pay the larger wages, not cutting into their profits.
The entire game needs to take a step back in my opinion. To the tune of about 50%. I can't see the current situation continuing without causing the creation of some sort of wage cap for clubs.
By the way, great post 1979. I identify with your fervor on the subject.
cheers Rhino.
you are right, wages like that of Ronaldo do not appear to be profitable for clubs.
i wonder how much trouble madrid could get in if they have a couple of dodgy seasons with their massive expenditure?
Almost none of the clubs are making a killing. Arsenal is one of the few that actually makes money, most of the rest are run on a financial model that is dependant on a generous benefactor (Chelsea) or a ever-increasing debt that is never repaid (Manure or Liverpool).
The clubs are giving money to players that they don't have in the first place. Eventually, this bubble has to burst, because we are not going to pay £100 per month to Sky.
Alonso has every right to do whatever considering the crappy way Benitez treated him by making him feel expendable so he can make love to Barry
Tevez was left in limbo by Manure for too long. He is bitter. At least he loves the city of manchester.
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