[punkski]

have football stars become bigger than their clubs?

http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/22...f-player-power

interesting article i just stumbled across. how can one player hold an entire elite european team of footballing professionals at ransom? ask Carlos Tevez, ultimately welcomed back into the squad, Luka Modric, who is now AWOL to demonstrate his desperation to leave White Hart Lane, and now Robin van Persie, who Wenger is reported as being 'desperate' to keep.

the article ends on a powerful note: "Loyalty. It no longer has a place in football."

now personally, while i agree on one hand, i wouldn't think twice about moving clubs for a higher salary. after all, it is a career, and i'd have to be Denis Law to care about what the fans think of me.

[Zerforax]

It's not so much that they are bigger than their clubs, more that they are happy to put their own self interest, above that of their current/ex clubs. Whether it be for money, more game time or trophies, players want to move to where they think the grass is greener.

[SnoochToTheBooch]

it surprises me that they even bother with contracts any more, they mean absolutely nothing to the players

[Kevmeister]

Citing Modric is a bit weird, considering he left Dinamo [?] to join Spurs in the first place. Loyalty will be there as long as the player is happy with his bank balance, look at Gerrard in 05 - almost joins Chelsea, only to sign an improved deal at Liverpool - he was hardly on a pittance anyway. And Rooney not that long ago..... Cesc went on strike to get his move to Barca, but he was loyal to Arsenal for 8 years.

And it could be argued that loyalty is dieing due to the influence of agents.

[Sephiroth]

At the end of the day these people are employees of a company. Most people would leave their current job for a good salary increase. Most people would also leave their job for one they would enjoy doing more even if the salary is the same or a bit less. I imagine working for a company that is constantly winning trophies is more enjoyable than working for one which sees defeat after defeat in their attempts to win.

[DaveSmith99]

Top footballers want to play at top clubs, nothing wrong with that.

[Busby_Babe]

It's always been that way it's just that the media spotlight burns brighter these days.

[Tommyjw]

Shock horror, footballers are like every other employee in the world and would leave for a different job if they would get paid more and have a happier time there.

[Jack93o]

(Original post by SnoochToTheBooch)
it surprises me that they even bother with contracts any more, they mean absolutely nothing to the players

without contracts players can leave for free at any time

[SnoochToTheBooch]

(Original post by Jack93o)
without contracts players can leave for free at any time

you know what I mean though, when a player signs a big deal pledging his future to the club it means bugger all once some other club turns his head

[Conzy210]

I agree that the majority of players aren't loyal, but let's be honest why should they be? If you're a top player, and carrying your team the way in which RVP was would you not leave? If i had the chance of winning trophies while earning more I would, add the fact that the majority of players were bought by their current team opposed to coming through their youth system it's hardly surprising.

I do disagree with going to China, India etc though, your career is short and you'll make more than enough money in a good league so imo leaving for money and effectively ending your career is worthless.

[Laertes]

Loyalty still exists in football; pragmatism has just superseded it.

[Jack93o]

(Original post by SnoochToTheBooch)
you know what I mean though, when a player signs a big deal pledging his future to the club it means bugger all once some other club turns his head

how else then are the clubs going to flog their shirts and merchandises to their mass herd of supporters?

[jilebinator]

Comparing football to a real job


Playing at Arsenal is completely different to working at McDonalds.

[thetopnotch]

(Original post by Tommyjw)
Shock horror, footballers are like every other employee in the world and would leave for a different job if they would get paid more and have a happier time there.

But unlike footballers we don't have agents taking a cut. As far as I can see it's in every football agent's personal interest to renegotiate deals or to push through transfers regardless of the player's best interests since they will be getting a cut of the fee.

[Tommyjw]

(Original post by thetopnotch)
But unlike footballers we don't have agents taking a cut. As far as I can see it's in every football agent's personal interest to renegotiate deals or to push through transfers regardless of the player's best interests since they will be getting a cut of the fee.

It is also in the players interest to get better deals or play for more successful clubs, it isnt all about agents.

[manchesterunited15]

(Original post by SnoochToTheBooch)
you know what I mean though, when a player signs a big deal pledging his future to the club it means bugger all once some other club turns his head

The club has to pay more for a player with 5 years left on his contract compared to 1

[Marco Dilivio]

loyalty? forget it money is more important now.
real shame.

[Scumbaggio]

(Original post by Tommyjw)
Shock horror, footballers are like every other employee in the world and would leave for a different job if they would get paid more and have a happier time there.

But they're not really like every other worker, most people have their wage dictated by their employer and are highly unlikely to demand/receive the kind of wage increase people like Wayne Rooney have had in the past.

Also the average employee will strive to leave their employer on good terms, footballers don't need to do this.