Tuesday 27 September 2011

Bloody Hell Carlos!

Isn't life funny.  My 9-year old cousin rang me after his match on Sunday.  He'd started on the bench, and he wasn't happy, but he eventually came on and scored a goal. I explained to him, that football is a squad game.  The manager makes decisions for a reason and that no-one like a sulker.

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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.

4 comments:

  1. There are always two sides to every story, before I go hating Tevez would like to hear his side.

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  2. I know what you're saying but I don't think there is an excuse. Or that it would be valid, should it become public.

    He's being paid to play football, therefore he should do his job to the best of his ability. Unless there is something medically wrong, in my opinion anyway.

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  3. It's interesting that he is now saying that he at no point refused to play.

    According to the Telegraph he says....

    "In Munich on Tuesday I had warmed up and was ready to play. This is not the right time to get into specific details as to why this did not happen. But I wish to state that I never refused to play.

    "There was some confusion on the bench and I believe my position may have been misunderstood.

    "Going forward I am ready to play when required and to fulfil my obligations."

    While I have long not been an admirer of Tevez, it does seem that it might be hard or even impossible for Man City to prove that he refused to play.

    My personal opinion, (as an ex rugby player and footballer), is that stuff like this is often best sorted out by the players. Had this happened in a professional rugby team at that level, then I have no doubts that Tevez would have been on the receiving end of at least a few slaps in the changing room. To be honest I think he would have got a few slaps at a few Premiership Football clubs too.

    Either way, I just think this shows us how far Man City actually have to travel before they can consider themselves on a par with the likes of Man Utd. They might we flying high in the league but there are cracks appearing for all to see. (No I am not a Utd fan for the record).

    It will ultimately be the other players at Man City who decide the fate of Tevez. If they publicly back his side of events, (and there has been nothing from them at all so far), then the club will find this very hard to pursue their preferred corse of action. If on the other hand the other players distance themselves from Tevez then that is the end of him for me.

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  4. I think you make a good point about the other players and their perception. I think if they were backing him, at least one of them would have made it public by now. Regardless if the club tried to silence them, they would speak out in support of their friend. It is virtually impossible for clubs to keep everything under wraps these days.

    But at the same time I think the club have to back the manager or his position will become untenable. If they allow Tevez to come back, then it will make RM look like he has no control other than what he says on the touchline. It would also be allowing Tevez to literally call RM a liar.

    From watching scenes unfold on the touch-line, there doesn't seem to be much confusion from viewers though.

    I agree, they do not have the historic club status of a ManU, Arsenal and Liverpool. That is something that may/may not come in time. But I always feel, eleven good players don't necessarily make a successful team.
    City are going to learn that the hard way...

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