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.
