QUOTE(Duke Red @ Apr 13 2009, 10:31 AM)
We've probably taken this discussion as far as we can from the perspective of a fan. Someone commented that players move, so why can't fans? Well here is my take on it from the perspective of a player then.
Unlike fans, football is not just a passion to them, it's a livelihood. From a monetary perspective, they have their futures to consider and therefore sacrifices have to be made. I'm sure most of us would sacrifice things we love for something important like our families? There is an increasing number of football mercenaries I admit which is why it's refreshing when you have players who end their careers in the club they started at. I'd hate to think that just because you move clubs, you cannot still show some loyalty i.e. not moving to a rival club.
Aside from the monetary aspect, players also have to consider the emotional side of it. Can you see someone like Jamie Carragher signing for Everton? Fernando Torres for Real Madrid? Gary Neville for Manchester City? John Terry to Spurs? Well I suppose the answer will never be definitive when you have the likes of Sol Campbell willing to incur the wrath of Spurs fans, or Luis Figo realising he had a craving for goat's head was it? Even if they move to neutral sides, it doesn't mean they fall out of love with the hometown clubs. Players still watch matches involving 'their teams' whenever possible, and have been quoted as saying it's still the first result the look out for when flipping through the sports section. To take things a step further, you get the likes of Robbie Fowler giving Man Utd fans the 5 finger salute although he was playing for Man City.
Bottom line, I feel it's unfair to draw a direct comparison between being a loyal fan, and a loyal player.
Henry is and will always be an Arsenal fan simply because he was brought up here and spent some really good years playing at Highbury. He has a special connection with the fans and that will never change even if one day Barcelona comes to Emirates and Henry scores. He's a fan of Arsenal, thats for sure but he has a job to do at Barcelona. Unlike fans, football is not just a passion to them, it's a livelihood. From a monetary perspective, they have their futures to consider and therefore sacrifices have to be made. I'm sure most of us would sacrifice things we love for something important like our families? There is an increasing number of football mercenaries I admit which is why it's refreshing when you have players who end their careers in the club they started at. I'd hate to think that just because you move clubs, you cannot still show some loyalty i.e. not moving to a rival club.
Aside from the monetary aspect, players also have to consider the emotional side of it. Can you see someone like Jamie Carragher signing for Everton? Fernando Torres for Real Madrid? Gary Neville for Manchester City? John Terry to Spurs? Well I suppose the answer will never be definitive when you have the likes of Sol Campbell willing to incur the wrath of Spurs fans, or Luis Figo realising he had a craving for goat's head was it? Even if they move to neutral sides, it doesn't mean they fall out of love with the hometown clubs. Players still watch matches involving 'their teams' whenever possible, and have been quoted as saying it's still the first result the look out for when flipping through the sports section. To take things a step further, you get the likes of Robbie Fowler giving Man Utd fans the 5 finger salute although he was playing for Man City.
Bottom line, I feel it's unfair to draw a direct comparison between being a loyal fan, and a loyal player.
I'm sure the same goes to Phil Neville who was brought up at Man Utd and the likes of Robbie Fowler who's born and bred at Liverpool. They all have a job to do at their new clubs but that wont stop them from supporting their childhood clubs
And yes, please dont compare players who switch clubs and to a fan who switches clubs.
Apr 13 2009, 11:51 AM

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