It is often said that rugby is a thugs game played by gentlemen and football a gentlemen’s game played by thugs. And yet over the years it has oft been the footballers who have had the most scandalous of stories sprayed across the red tops. But oh how the mighty have fallen. Almost five years since winning the Rugby World Cup, and with four members of their squad being investigated for an alleged sexual assault on tour, the England team has reached a new low.
In New Zealand, a country where the rugby stars are followed and reported on as if they were Premiership footballers, a group of English players have landed themselves rightly in the mire. The line between professional rugby players and professional footballers could officially be muddied.
With their team not playing to anywhere near their potential, their new management not yet in place (I don’t pity Martin Johnson), this ship is truly rudderless. Clive Woodward ran a tight ship, but equally his players were given much responsibility and they reciprocated with respect for the manager, fellow players and most importantly the team. The shenanigans in New Zealand would not have happened under Woodward.
When Brian Ashton was not replaced following last year’s World Cup, it caused a number of difficulties for the team. Many of the senior players distancing themselves from the manager in the aftermath and it did not allow the team the opportunity to turn a new leaf. So the team made it through the Six Nations without any real conviction, despite finishing second.
The RFU have a lot to answer for. They hummed and hawed about Ashton’s position rather than simply ending his contract after the World Cup and starting anew. And so Director of Rugby, Rob Andrew, took charge of the tour to New Zealand.
For the players, the tour (as it was for all the home nations, probably two games too many at the end of a very long season) was probably not seen as a chance to impress the new management, but more a means to and end – finishing the season.
The team failed to impress during either test against the All Blacks but without proper leadership off the pitch, and not enough leaders on it (not like 2003), what more was to be expected. And so after the first test, instead of relaxing a few of the players decided to blow off a bit of steam, naively unaware of the hype that would surround their midnight escapades.
Johnson now has a job on his hands to re-build the team, re-build the public’s confidence in the team and re-build respect for his team in the international rugby arena.
The former England captain must now hope for two things. Firstly, that this is as low as they can go. And secondly, there are more gentlemen than thugs in the squad.
Showing posts with label Premiership. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Premiership. Show all posts
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Titles on a shoestring. But for how long?
When Arsene Wenger first arrived at Highbury, a relative unknown, the greatest talking point was the similarity of his first name to his new club. Very much a thinking-man’s manager, Wenger quickly moved on to demonstrate he is one of the most astute managers in Europe and has brought the London club success on a shoestring, but has not reached the next level of a European title.
Now more than 12 years at Highbury, there is no sign of his motivation waning and indeed in the midst of another team re-build, this latest team could well be one of the most talented in a number of years.
Most striking about Wenger’s time at Arsenal has been his astute purchases of young, relatively unknown players and his ability to maximise their talents and provide them with a playing philosophy within which to display their undoubted talents.
Some of his first signings included Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit, Marc Overmars and Nicolas Anelka. The following year, as the Arsenal back four began to break up, the French-man controversially signed Tottenham Hotspurs captain, Sol Campbell, as well as Frederik Ljungberg and the French duo of Thierry Henry and Robert Pires.
These signings along with the existing English players in the squad developed into one of the best teams to watch play football in the Premiership; a trait that continues to this day.
And while these signings have thrived under Wenger’s tutelage, it is their exit from Highbury that is most telling.
There has often been uproar from the stands when word circles that particular players are being let go or sold. However, in the years that follow their exit, not many of the players have maintained the same level of success from both an individual or team perspective.
Overmars and Petit, two of the mainstays of the Arsenal midfield, were sold together to Barcelona. Overmars lasted four years with the Catalan club, but it took him a number of years to settle into the club. Petit only lasted a season before returning to London and Arsenal’s arch-rivals, Chelsea, where he did not have any like the impact he previously had in the Premiership.
Nicolas Anelka moved through so many clubs that they are not worth mentioning, and while continuing to be a goal-scorer, has not reached the same heights of success when at Arsenal.
This season Wenger kept his wick dry and did not dip into the transfer market during the January window. This ultimately was to the detriment of their Premiership challenge. While their nearest rivals Manchester United and Chelsea both suffered injuries, players of equal calibre were able to step into the fold without too much disruption. And it was they who ultimately finished first and second.
As the wheelings and dealings of the summer transfer season begin, but most likely to intensify further after the European Championships, Arsenal’s comings and goings will make for interesting viewing.
Already gone to a bigger paymaster is Gilles Grimandi. Will others follow or be pushed out and who will be brought in?
Players like Cesc Fabregas and Emmanuel Adebayor want to play at the highest level. If this Arsenal team does not step up to the mark in the Premiership (last won in 2004) and Europe in the next couple of years, it may be the end of the team or the manager. Only time will tell.
Now more than 12 years at Highbury, there is no sign of his motivation waning and indeed in the midst of another team re-build, this latest team could well be one of the most talented in a number of years.
Most striking about Wenger’s time at Arsenal has been his astute purchases of young, relatively unknown players and his ability to maximise their talents and provide them with a playing philosophy within which to display their undoubted talents.
Some of his first signings included Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit, Marc Overmars and Nicolas Anelka. The following year, as the Arsenal back four began to break up, the French-man controversially signed Tottenham Hotspurs captain, Sol Campbell, as well as Frederik Ljungberg and the French duo of Thierry Henry and Robert Pires.
These signings along with the existing English players in the squad developed into one of the best teams to watch play football in the Premiership; a trait that continues to this day.
And while these signings have thrived under Wenger’s tutelage, it is their exit from Highbury that is most telling.
There has often been uproar from the stands when word circles that particular players are being let go or sold. However, in the years that follow their exit, not many of the players have maintained the same level of success from both an individual or team perspective.
Overmars and Petit, two of the mainstays of the Arsenal midfield, were sold together to Barcelona. Overmars lasted four years with the Catalan club, but it took him a number of years to settle into the club. Petit only lasted a season before returning to London and Arsenal’s arch-rivals, Chelsea, where he did not have any like the impact he previously had in the Premiership.
Nicolas Anelka moved through so many clubs that they are not worth mentioning, and while continuing to be a goal-scorer, has not reached the same heights of success when at Arsenal.
This season Wenger kept his wick dry and did not dip into the transfer market during the January window. This ultimately was to the detriment of their Premiership challenge. While their nearest rivals Manchester United and Chelsea both suffered injuries, players of equal calibre were able to step into the fold without too much disruption. And it was they who ultimately finished first and second.
As the wheelings and dealings of the summer transfer season begin, but most likely to intensify further after the European Championships, Arsenal’s comings and goings will make for interesting viewing.
Already gone to a bigger paymaster is Gilles Grimandi. Will others follow or be pushed out and who will be brought in?
Players like Cesc Fabregas and Emmanuel Adebayor want to play at the highest level. If this Arsenal team does not step up to the mark in the Premiership (last won in 2004) and Europe in the next couple of years, it may be the end of the team or the manager. Only time will tell.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Respect the Ref? Two chances!
Hands on hips. His chin lowered to his chest and back to the referee, the player refused to look at the official. Only when threatened with expulsion from the game did the player petulantly make half a turn to receive his yellow card. Having looked the referee in the eye, he was already running away by the time the official’s arm was fully outstretched.
If this was an under ten’s game in the Phoenix Park, the emotion and frustration of the player may be understandable, but when it happens at White Hart Lane and the player is Ashley Cole, any feelings of sympathy toward the player quickly dissipate.
Only four days later Liverpool’s Javier Mascherano received a second yellow card and was dismissed. His offence? Charging more than 20 yards to dispute a challenge made on one of his team-mates.
The issue of player-official respect has once again been brought to the fore.
But a trip down memory lane is not a long one to discover when this was last the favourite bar-stool topic of conversation. It is less than 10 years since Paolo Di Canio infamously pushed referee Paul Alcock to the ground after being given his marching orders. Before being banned for 11 games and fined £10,000, politicians and former players were outraged at the Italian’s behaviour. “Chuck the book at him,” said then Sports Minister, Tony Banks MP.
Such fines are nowadays not going to hurt the top professionals where many in the Premiership will be earning about three to four times that amount a week.
Players like Cole now earn more in a week than the referee earns in a year. The Chelsea player believes he is a minor celebrity – he’s not – and therefore has a right to look down his nose at anyone who dares challenge him. Likewise his team-mates.
In football, the players believe they have a God given right to challenge every decision made by the authorities, it doesn’t matter if it took place five or 50 yards away from them.
Indeed, it is not only the players who find themselves in trouble, clubs are increasingly being brought to task for not being able to control their players or 'bringing the game into disrepute'. Arsenal and Chelsea are most often at the top of the list, with the Stamford Bridge club already fined three times this year and assistant coach, Steve Clarke, also fined for abusing an official.
How often in the past number of years has a referee made a decision, or not, and is almost immediately been surrounded by a large number of players. The jostling, barracking and abuse is now seen as a valid tactic to seek to sway the decision about to be meted out. Such incidents do not take place by accident.
In the past week the Football Association (FA) launched a grass-roots campaign to recruit more referees but also improve player behaviour towards match officials. Such a campaign is not an over-night solution but must be welcomed.
Everton manager David Moyes was one of a number of Premiership managers to come out in support of the FA’s proposal to tackle the issue. But he believes respect is a two way thin: “We know they want us to give them respect. They have to give us respect also.”
However Sunderland manager, Roy Keane was highly critical of Premiership managers preaching about players respecting referees. The antagonism shown by players does not happen by mistake. And it is no co-incidence that the teams with the most vociferous managers are those with the most vocal players.
“There are a lot of hypocrites out there. The same bosses talking about players showing respect have been sent off themselves for abusing officials,” said Keane.
The Cork-man who was one of the fiercest competitors on the pitch has been one of the calmest man patrolling the touchlines and believes it is his job to set the example in the club: “I’ve made it clear to everyone here – from the academy to the first team – that a lack of respect towards referees will not be tolerated. How can the players show respect if their managers does not?”
While the FA are seeking to hire the referees at grassroots level, they would do well to include a chapter in the document for managers.
Chief Executive of the Professional Footballer’s Association, Gordon Taylor has called for an exclusion zone around referees to stop players’ dissent. “I have made it clear referees should be a no-go area. It is time managers and players did accept a responsibility because what happens at the top level happens lower down.”
While an exclusion zone is good in principle, any comments can still easily be shouted from five yards away.
If the message is to get across to the players that dissent will not be tolerated, then they must be hit where it will hurt most - on the pitch. Why not take a leaf from the rugby rule-book? Any lip or back chat – ten yards.
If Cole had 10 team-mates shouting at him to shut up as the referee moved a free-kick a further 10 yards up the pitch he might just listen. He respects them.
If this was an under ten’s game in the Phoenix Park, the emotion and frustration of the player may be understandable, but when it happens at White Hart Lane and the player is Ashley Cole, any feelings of sympathy toward the player quickly dissipate.
Only four days later Liverpool’s Javier Mascherano received a second yellow card and was dismissed. His offence? Charging more than 20 yards to dispute a challenge made on one of his team-mates.
The issue of player-official respect has once again been brought to the fore.
But a trip down memory lane is not a long one to discover when this was last the favourite bar-stool topic of conversation. It is less than 10 years since Paolo Di Canio infamously pushed referee Paul Alcock to the ground after being given his marching orders. Before being banned for 11 games and fined £10,000, politicians and former players were outraged at the Italian’s behaviour. “Chuck the book at him,” said then Sports Minister, Tony Banks MP.
Such fines are nowadays not going to hurt the top professionals where many in the Premiership will be earning about three to four times that amount a week.
Players like Cole now earn more in a week than the referee earns in a year. The Chelsea player believes he is a minor celebrity – he’s not – and therefore has a right to look down his nose at anyone who dares challenge him. Likewise his team-mates.
In football, the players believe they have a God given right to challenge every decision made by the authorities, it doesn’t matter if it took place five or 50 yards away from them.
Indeed, it is not only the players who find themselves in trouble, clubs are increasingly being brought to task for not being able to control their players or 'bringing the game into disrepute'. Arsenal and Chelsea are most often at the top of the list, with the Stamford Bridge club already fined three times this year and assistant coach, Steve Clarke, also fined for abusing an official.
How often in the past number of years has a referee made a decision, or not, and is almost immediately been surrounded by a large number of players. The jostling, barracking and abuse is now seen as a valid tactic to seek to sway the decision about to be meted out. Such incidents do not take place by accident.
In the past week the Football Association (FA) launched a grass-roots campaign to recruit more referees but also improve player behaviour towards match officials. Such a campaign is not an over-night solution but must be welcomed.
Everton manager David Moyes was one of a number of Premiership managers to come out in support of the FA’s proposal to tackle the issue. But he believes respect is a two way thin: “We know they want us to give them respect. They have to give us respect also.”
However Sunderland manager, Roy Keane was highly critical of Premiership managers preaching about players respecting referees. The antagonism shown by players does not happen by mistake. And it is no co-incidence that the teams with the most vociferous managers are those with the most vocal players.
“There are a lot of hypocrites out there. The same bosses talking about players showing respect have been sent off themselves for abusing officials,” said Keane.
The Cork-man who was one of the fiercest competitors on the pitch has been one of the calmest man patrolling the touchlines and believes it is his job to set the example in the club: “I’ve made it clear to everyone here – from the academy to the first team – that a lack of respect towards referees will not be tolerated. How can the players show respect if their managers does not?”
While the FA are seeking to hire the referees at grassroots level, they would do well to include a chapter in the document for managers.
Chief Executive of the Professional Footballer’s Association, Gordon Taylor has called for an exclusion zone around referees to stop players’ dissent. “I have made it clear referees should be a no-go area. It is time managers and players did accept a responsibility because what happens at the top level happens lower down.”
While an exclusion zone is good in principle, any comments can still easily be shouted from five yards away.
If the message is to get across to the players that dissent will not be tolerated, then they must be hit where it will hurt most - on the pitch. Why not take a leaf from the rugby rule-book? Any lip or back chat – ten yards.
If Cole had 10 team-mates shouting at him to shut up as the referee moved a free-kick a further 10 yards up the pitch he might just listen. He respects them.
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