***
Looks like I decided to watch the right Manchester team in the Champions League tonight.
Admittedly, United's 3-3 draw with
Basel sounded tasty, but that won't beat the sight of actual sadness
in Roberto Mancini's eyes as he told the world:
He [Tevez] refused to go on [the
pitch].
Or the sheer anger on Graeme Souness' face on Sky Sports as he described the player as a 'bad egg'.
I think his behaviour or lack off, is
frigging ridiculous. To sit on the substitutes bench while your team
are losing 2-0 away to Bayern Munich, and to refuse to go out there
and try and help your teammates shows me a lot about the man. And a
lot more about his lack of character.
I know there are many who hate how much
footballers earn and the lifestyle they lead. But that is beyond the
point right. This is about a employee who has refused to work for
his employer, for no justifiable reason. Simple as.
Okay, we all know he wants to go. He
wants to be nearer his family and blah, blah, blah.
No-one is disputing that but as it
stands, he belongs to City and until someone else pays his wages he
just has to put up, or shut up.
If you feel really that strongly Tevez;
then buy yourself out of your contract or go on strike. For all I
care go and sit somewhere sunny and wait until the club have to sell
you for 25% of their preferred fee. But what you don't do is
embarrass the club and disrespect the fans. And please don't do it
with all the class of a toddler with toothache.
He has shown a disregard for the club
but a complete lack of respect for all those involved. I would love
to know the thoughts of David Platt or Brian Kidd on the bench. Two
old school football men, and I can't imagine they were too impressed
with the Argentinian. They must wish for the days of Clough and
Robson when players did what they were told and managers were feared
more than the wife. After all their years in the game, it must leave
a nasty taste in their mouths.
Mancini has said he will never play for
him again and the owners have to back him. For me, he has to leave
the club. A precedent needs to be set, both at the club and in the
world of football that the clubs are calling the shots. Because for
so long, it has felt like the players have too much power. For City
to continue to pay him and allow him to stay involved, they would
only be confirming the latter. To keep him at the club would be a
big two fingers up to the fans who must be completely out of patience
with the forward by now.
We always talk about the loyalty in the
game, and how quickly it is disappearing. Judging by tonight's
events, respect is on the way out too.
