What has happened to football today? Where is the passion? Where is the drive? Having endured a torturous 90 minutes of the Man United vs Tottenham match – all be it I write this from the perspective of a Spurs fan – I can’t help but feel infuriated and sickened by footballers today.
I cannot deny that when I heard the reasoning behind Luka Modric not starting, I did expect it. I’ve often tried to see the positive in all footballers, at one point in time I remember attempting to justify Joey Barton’s antics. However, it has gotten to a stage where there no longer can be any justification. If your ‘head isn’t clear’ – get up and get on with your job like any other working professional. Tell me, do us average wage earners not go into work because our ‘head isn’t clear’ – no.
The problem behind this incessant transfer saga whining is that, managers, sporting directors and chairman’s pander to it. Of course I can relate to the fact that you want to keep a player – I want Luka Modric to stay at Spurs just as much as the next person. Unfortunately, having watched Tottenham’s defeat it was clear to see that we missed him a great deal. We had no creativity or flare in midfield – yes Bale was often a threat, but we can’t rely on Bale for a whole season, we all know how injury prone he is. However, I have to question that by attempting to hold on to a player by the skin of our teeth – really is the best solution? We all can recall what happened with previous Eastern European Sagas (Berbatov) and have we not learnt? Isn’t it easier to sell the player now; rather than suffer the consequences later?
If we sold Luka now, we could potentially rake in £30 million and with that we could buy a selection f players; a striker, another creative midfield player and if we have a little extra – another defender. If we try and hold on to him and play hardball, like we always do we will come across as the weaker side.
Lets be progressive Harry and acknowledge the fact that we can still move forward without Modric or even Bale. I know its difficult to fathom how – and I am sure many of you would disagree. But, it will have a much more positive effect on football in the long run.
If more managers took the approach of Ferguson, maybe more clubs could be on the same scale as Man United. No player, in essence, would refuse to play for Sir Alex and expect to get away with it. I guarantee you; they’d be asked to leave. Ferguson has the correct approach – no player is bigger than the club.
Therefore my message to you Harry and other managers, is take back your control and show them who is actually the boss.
