Hereâs my latest post on http://the-beautiful-game.org/. A topic thatâs recently had a lot of attention â this is my take on it. --- You probably know where this going. Iâm writing this probably with some reflection of the game last weekend where the result need not be repeated. But at St. Jamesâ Park on a fine Sunday afternoon, the fans were in for a treat. To see two of our former players, be embarrassed by a club supposedly inferior to them was a sight to see. This isnât an article of sour grapes, pointing out the failings of ex-players, more to the issue that an increasing number of players see their names in headlights and leave their club in search of glory. As we all know on January 31st 2010, a £35million bid was accepted for Newcastle talisman Andy Carroll from Liverpool. Much was made at the time of the price of the player, the timing of the incident, as well as whether he walked the plank or was he pushed. Whatever happened, its fair to say that his career has seemingly taken a plummet, and will take some real graft to get the recognition he had before. He could have written himself into the same lines of the likes of Alan Shearer and Jackie Milburn. Instead he seems destined to share the embarrassment that is akin to Sean Dundee and Robbie Keane â the players that the scouse will remember with a sigh and a shake of the head. Away from Andy Carroll, there is a long list of players that thought leaving for a supposed âbigger clubâ with an injection into their own bank accounts would suit for the best. Well maybe, in terms of the number of zeroâs at the end of their bank statements. But what happens on the pitch is the playersâ bread and butter. Note, this isnât a gripe to all those who have left my club, this is a genuine article looking at those who leave a club in search of personal ambitions. Step forward Fernando Torres. Three years ago, he was supposedly one of the most feared strikers in the world, rifling goals in a team challenging for the title. Now he is one of the worldâs most expensive flops. Again, another case of the âbigger clubâ syndrome. Torres has looked a shadow of his former self, with the list seemingly endless of those who left for âa club with more ambitionâ. Now Iâm not here raving that the players mentioned above left purely for cold hard cash. There was probably an incentive of moving onto bigger and better things (probably being the key word). But this perfectly alludes to the point that one of the most valuable things in football is the adulation and idolisation of the fans. After all, despite all the money and goals, the fans tend to stick with the players that have stuck with them. That is why I have the utmost respect for the likes of Alan Shearer and Steven Gerrard (despite him being a first class plank). Footballers who declined moves to more successful clubs to stay with their club, their fans, their people. Money isnât everything in football. Andy Carroll and Jose Enrique can join the likes of Charles NâZogbia, Kevin Nolan, Joey Barton, Habib Beye, Damien Duff and Obafemi Martins. Look where they are now. The grass isnât always greener on the other side⦠Comments welcome --- Follow and comment at http://the-beautiful-game.org/ Follow on twitter https://twitter.com/#!/beautifulgame9
Just watching MOTD and Bassong playing for Wolves, another one on the way down. I liked the lad, thought he could have been a top CB for us.
Yeah, I think that's a little harsh on Nolan, but aside from that its a decent article...In many ways, Torres has made the right move, granted its not good for Chelsea, but he's playing in a team in the Champions League, fighting it out for the top 4 and with the guarantee of more investment in the summer - it could be worse, he could be at Liverpool!