Is it essential for a player to "love" a club to play for them?

MrStuffins

Following on from the traitor thread (which itself was a follow on from the Keano thread), do you think it is essential for someone to love the club they are playing for?

I mean, I never understood why some supporters just presume that because some kid who grew up in the slums of Botswana and got an opportunity to make a shed load of money by playing for a football team, should be derided if he happens to move to a rival?

This does not mean a "Traitor" to me. I mean, it's the guy's job.

Back when there were less foreigners in the game I would understand. A lot of the squads were made up of local guys. But now?

if you go to that thread, you will see that most of the players being called "traitor" are in fact players of a different nationality playing in a foreign league. So why should they care deep in their heart just because the club happen to pay their wages?

Anyway.......... discuss!

JPA

There's very few football fans who still think a player loves their club.
If they do they are deluded.

MrStuffins

JPA wrote: »

There's very few football fans who still think a player loves their club.
If they do they are deluded.

Then why are players still called traitors and "Judas"?

Man United fans call Tevez a traitor. And they were calling Wayne Rooney a Judas... even though he never even left the club. Someone made up a story about him angling for Man City and United fans brought a sign saying "Judas" to Old Trafford.

Why is this?

JPA

MrStuffins wrote: »

Then why are players still called traitors and "Judas"?

Man United fans call Tevez a traitor. And they were calling Wayne Rooney a Judas... even though he never even left the club. Someone made up a story about him angling for Man City and United fans brought a sign saying "Judas" to Old Trafford.

Why is this?

Some fans feel that a player owes the club or is disrespecting the fans by moving to a rival but I don't believe most players feel like that. They tend to do what their agent and accountant recommends.

mikemac

Your club is your employer.

If you lost form they'd drop you.
If you get into trouble with the law you could get sacked, yes notable exceptions like Rio Ferdinand

I expect an player to give as much loyalty as me or you give to our employer and we've a longer career then them.

Only a fraction of footballers are financially set for life at the end of their career.
But lower league rivalries can be just an intense

However, you are expected to give effort during your contract. Sulking, going outside to the media or not even trying isn't acceptable

Just give effort and take your Bosman move if you wish

JPA

feelingstressed wrote: »

Your club is your employer.

If you lost form they'd drop you.
If you get into trouble with the law you could get sacked, yes notable exceptions like Rio Ferdinand

I expect an player to give as much loyalty as me or you give to our employer and we've a longer career then them.

Only a fraction of footballers are financially set for life at the end of their career.
But lower league rivalries can be just an intense

However, you are expected to give effort during your contract. Sulking, going outside to the media or not even trying isn't acceptable

Just give effort and take your Bosman move if you wish

But if you sulked and moaned and didn't put in the effort at your job you'd be sacked with a bad reference.


In football they'd get a move to another club desperate or delighted to take them.

M5

There are very few players who love the clubs they are playing for. I would imagine teh exception would be palyers who supported teh clubs as kids and then went on to play for them.

It seems to be the thing to do to profess your love for the club your playing for. Stories like that are generally published on the official sites

SlickRic

love? no.

but player probably needs to respect the manager, and the staff around him, to be play to the best of his ability IMO.

which is why the role of the manager now is so so scrutinised. back in the day, a manager probably needed to be less savvy with players, because generally, they would have loved the club through thick and thin.

another reason why, when talking about players and managers from different eras, it's virtually impossible to compare.

stovelid

It's pretty rare and when the odd one comes along that does, it's special.

That said, I think there is something a bit strange with a top player that wouldn't test himself at a higher level just to stay loyal to a club even though it's still admirable. Like the big fish small pond syndrome.

L'prof

With the likes of Sol Campbell (at Spurs for 12 years from a youth level) and Ashley Cole (at Arsenal for 9 years from a youth level and supporting them as a child), then you really would expect them to. It all depends how long you're at a club really, but spending 10 years at a club you'd surely develop a certain animosity towards it's closest rivals, so to then turn around and sign for them is poor form to say the least!

Ush1

Nevermind the club, I would say there is large amount of players who actually aren't that interested in football. They just see as how they make money.

pickarooney

Make a list of players who you think genuinely love their club. You'd be hard-pressed to find 20, I'd say. Sure, you'll find the odd Neville or Adams, but for every Maldini and Del Piero there's a Robbie Keane or David Speedie (for younger members this guy moved clubs so fast nobody has ever been able to take a still image of him)