For love, not money.

The goals flew in - top corner, bottom corner, through the keepers legs. It was relentless. Complete and utter domination by one team over another. No, I'm not talking about the World Cup where the Germans made a mockery of the English game. I'm not even talking about any one-sided professional encounter. This is Under 12', proper grassroots stuff. The team I coach lost the match 9-0. It was hard to take. Watching your team you had trained all pre-season get ripped apart by a much stronger, faster, better side is quite de-moralising but I couldn't of been prouder. Not one player moaned, nobody stopped trying, nobody asked to be subbed off. For the full length of the game every single player gave it their all. It was incredible to witness - players so young just playing on regardless of the score because that's what they enjoy.

Around the UK there are teams that get methodically broken down over and over, game after game but keep coming back for more. I play in a local Stroud league. There is a team in the same division I play in that have conceded 59 goals in only 5 games. One week the score was 19-1, then next, 12-1 (hey at least they are still scoring!).Nationally there are teams a lot worse than this though.

Back in November 2010 a Cornish team by the name of Madron FC took to the pitch to face Illogan Reserves. At 2.30pm Gary Lord blew the whistle for the start of the match, then things went a bit crazy. I imagine by the end of the game the goalkeeper had a very sore back having had to pick the ball out of the net an amazing 55 times in the course of 90 minutes. Yes you read it correctly, the game ended 55-0.

Why do these players keep on going? They don't get paid - with 99% of local teams the players actually have to pay for the right to play. Imagine that, paying money every week to get beaten.With kids and adults around the UK doing this why hasn't this sheer love for the game fed it's way to the top? The petulant Rooney kicks as things go wrong for England. Refusal to step onto the pitch by Tevez for Man City. What's happened to the passion for simply playing the game. Is it the money? Is it the celebrity status? At the back of these players minds they must think "it doesn't matter, I'll still get £100k put into my bank account at the end of the week"

These over-paid 'stars' must have come from somewhere though. Take Carlos Tevez for example -

Tevez grew up in Barrio Ejército de los Andes which is a neighbourhood of Ciudadela in Argentina. Better know as Fuerte Apache, a nick name given to it from the 1981 film Fort Apache: The Bronx, it is home to around 20,000 people and is not far from the much more famous city of Buenos Aires. He started playing football for local teams such as Estrellas del Uno, Santa Clara and Villa Real until the age of 14 where he had the chance to join the youth system of All Boys. From here he went on to greater glory...Olympic medals, Argentinean championships, the lot. For such a big team to secure a players signature out of hundreds of talented kids he must of had more than talent. It takes commitment, determination and drive to make it in the professional game. What has happened to this fighting spirt? I think Mr Tevez needs to take a trip home to remind himself what he went through to get to where he is today.

So, I present an invitation to the professional players of Britain. Carlos Tevez. Wayne Rooney. The 'stars' in our game right now. Get yourself down to a local park near you and watch a local team. Look at the desire in each players face. Watch the passions run high as both sides do their very best to win. Maybe you'll rekindle that love you had for the game when you first kicked a ball and be able to show the fans who pay hundreds of pounds over the course of a season to watch you play, that you actually give a damn about the sport.

There are millions of amateur players out there who would do anything for a professional contract and yet we watch players turn down the chance to play. It's pathetic.

Forget managers team talks. Forget tactics. We just want to see players who care play the game we love.

From hero to zero.....again!

In the light of my blog regarding my opinion of Capello, another Italian manager has been the centre of attention this week. The reason for this was a scene of unprofessionalism and confirmation of the self absorbed nature of Carlos Tevez. Obviously, I couldn’t leave this and not have my say on the matter.

As far as players go, Tevez is not shy of attracting attention and making a nuisance of himself. On his arrival to the premier league due to the transfer not being a conventional transfer, he had already upset the suits because they didn’t seem to be able to understand who actually owned Tevez. It predictably ended in tears with Tevez leaving West Ham.

Tevez chose Manchester United to ply his trade for a fee of around £20 million. With his all-action style and natural goal scoring ability, he soon became an Old Trafford favourite. With the United fans keen to sign Tevez up, the Argentine was hankering for a permanent deal at United. This was not forthcoming. He ruled out a move to Manchester United’s rivals Liverpool, due to the implications of signing for such a big rival. His next move was to then agree a deal with Manchester City. Seems inter club rivalry wasn’t that much of a problem after all. In hindsight perhaps this should have rung alarm bells for Manchester City.

This was a transfer that was well received by Manchester City fans. The club didn’t miss their chance to rub their rival’s nose in it; hugebill boards were erected with an image of Tevez emblazoned with ‘Welcome to Manchester’.

As usual, things got off to a good start; he scored important goals, annoyed Gary Neville and was named captain by Roberto Mancini. You’d think that along withthe amount of money he is being paid Tevez wouldn’t have much to moan about. Think again. I’m sure anyone reading this blog is aware of the continued requests to leave from Tevez, citing family reasons for wanting out.

So on September 27^th Roberto Mancini approached Tevez and requested him to prepare to enter the field of play. Tevez seemingly refused, sparking outrage from the manager. After the game, Mancini stated that Tevez’s career at Man City has finished.

In light of his apparent refusal to play, I believe now is the time for Manchester City to back Mancini and try to help put this player power culture to bed. In my opinion, Mancini has dealt with this situation very well.The focus that has been placed on this incident has been intense and it would be quite easy for him to continue with statements suggesting the end of his career in an attempt to bolster his position, or even worse to back track and accept the player’s behaviour.

So far the player has been suspended by the club and since then very little has been said publicly -the way it should be - albeit with an apparent ban on even mentioning the Argentines name in press conferences. Mancini is strengthened by the support of the fans that spent a large portion of the Blackburn game chanting Mancini’s name.

So where does this leave Mancini? A striker down, made all the more interesting after Aguero had to be replaced in the first half against Blackburn. I believe that he needs to stay firm. Of course, easier said than done as the owners could quite easily undermine his position and force Mancini into playing Tevez, or at least have him in the first team squad. It’s a crucial time for the owners to back Mancini, if they don’t they might as well handover control to Tevez.

As a Liverpool fan I was naive in thinking that Torres was loyal and that if he was to leave, it wouldn’t be to a league rival. I was proved wrong. I was gutted but after the dust settled it didn’t take long to realise that this was one of the best transfers Liverpool FC had ever been involved in. A cloud was lifted and with the help of a couple of new signings there was a return of form but most importantly harmony within the squad.

Mancini’s reaction after the game may have been knee jerk, however as with the Torres scenario, Manchester City in my opinion would be better off without Tevez. Even if it turns out he didn’t refuse to play and it was a miscommunication he will still bring endless issues and transfer requests. If there is one thing Sheikh Mansour will need to learn is that you cannot buy love for a club. A player’s character is equally as important as their talent these days and that’s not something you can trust with all players.

How this plays out will be very interesting. I am very much on Team Mancini, but there will be a lot of factors involved. On a side note, this could be Mario Balotelli’s chance to realise that being the bad boy does not pay and to put his obvious talent in to action to help Manchester City realise they don’t need Tevez.

The Italian Job

So we have another international break looming with England looking to secure a place in Euro 2012. The last international break passed with England completing it with a 100% record. The results included a convincing performance away to Bulgaria, winning 3-0 and a not so convincing win against a Welsh team showing signs of a slight resurgence. All England have to do now is avoid defeat at Montenegro.

We all have our own opinions on the international breaks, the England squad, Capello and the FA. The one fact that stands is that the international friendly breaks are unlikely to go away, and we will always need to qualify for World Cup and European tournaments. Unless we win one of course,which even the most optimistic fan must admit is unlikely.

One thing has completely bemused me after the most recent set of internationals. No, it’s not the constant battering from the national press, stating the obvious, rehashing old stories of how good/bad England are. It’s not even the remarks popping up from ex England internationals giving their ‘expert’ opinions on what is wrong with the national team and ‘It’s not like it was when I played’ comments feeding the press with the anti-England ammunition they crave.

What irritated me most were the comments made by the national team manager. This is the same manager that is being paid a vomit-inducing amount of money to lead the national football team to European and world glory. The same manager that is meant to inspire our players, the staff and football fans throughout the country. To bring the glory that every football fan that follows the national team have yearned for! Hell, just a team that plays attractive football and gives it their all! It has been so long since we have seen an England team look as though they are enjoying themselves; having a team playing without fear and confusion would be progress in itself.

This brings me to my main point. At what point does Fabio Capello think that publicly stating that the players are weak minded will help inspire the players? Stating that one of England’s potential future stars has adrinking problem to the press. It just doesn’t make sense to me. In an environment where the players are already easy prey to the pack of wolves writing the articles millions of fickle senseless The Sun (other pointless tabloids are available) readers digest, who hang on every word these so called journalists write.

Of course, sympathy for these players is at a minimum given the amount they get paid. The salaries, lifestyles and opportunities open to them are the stuff dreams are made of. I think most people agree that the expectations laid upon the national team far exceed the actual quality that exists. Expectations that are created by the fans, the FA and mainly the press, smashed and then built right back up again.

So with pressures mounting it would nice to count on the manager, to show confidence in the squad. To avoid giving any bait for the press and fans. Capello apparently finds this difficult. Perhaps this time round Fabio can show confidence in the players and not add to the constant wave of attack the players get. More over showing a bit of attacking intent wouldn’tgo a miss.

I find myself dreading international breaks. Not because of the constant under achievement of the national time. Not because of the hype that the press heap on to the squad. Not because of the irritating comments from ex internationals that didn’t win anything either. It’s because ofpossibly one of the least convincing managers ever. There’s no passion from him, he doesn’t instil any passion in the players or the fans alike. I don’t know who would be better but for me Capello is making a bad situation worse. Let’s get someone who wants to sincerely make a difference. Not boost their ego and bank account.