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Bad Behaviour Is So Last Season – Bring On the Role Models!

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HEARING about Samir Nasri’s outburst and the subsequent furore that surrounded France’s exit from the Euro’s made me realise that I’m no longer outraged by this type of behaviour, I’m actually bored by it.

Balotelli stamps, Rooney kicks out, Joey Barton – well Joey is Joey. John Terry is due in Court and of course our own Luis Suarez was famously at the centre of a racism storm. It’s all water off a duck’s back, I’m not interested.

What did catch my imagination watching the England team over previous weeks was the surprising way that they seemed to be honest about their strengths and weaknesses, the respect they showed to each other, the manager and the fans, and their positive attitude to the game. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mean positive attacking football, which we clearly struggled with, rather that this was, for the first time in my recollection, a group of people who actually appeared to understand that they had to work hard together to succeed for their fans. Isn’t it so sad that this was unexpected?

After Sunday’s final we look forward to August and the start of the season, I’m sure we will see many more rumours about who our new manager will sign and of course Hansen, Lawrenson, Shearer and the likes will explain to us what Brendan Rodgers can realistically expect to achieve in his first season. I for one, welcome his appointment. Swansea were a good team to watch. They played with flair and a class that surprised the Premiership and I very much hope that he will be able to do the same with Liverpool.

This isn’t enough though. I want more.

Swansea had something else, something less tangible. Misfits and outcasts from other clubs were suddenly beating the best in the league. They were running faster, jumping higher and passing more accurately than teams with much more experience and supposed class. How could this be?

Could the answer be that the mysterious Mr Rodgers has something special that can’t be taught? Something that the FA can’t give you a badge for, something that doesn’t even come with experience? Does he have the rare ability to bring the best out in people?

And I do mean people, not players. For me, a really good player has to be the right kind of person. A person who remembers that the amount of money earned does not necessarily directly relate to the talent possessed. A person who is willing to listen, to learn and to train. A person who is willing to support his team-mates and to be honest on and off the pitch. A person who realises that he is representing thousands of other people who kick every ball and would love to be in his place.
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Come the start of the season when Stevie G stands in the centre-circle to kick off the hopes of Red supporters everywhere, I don’t want to see Cristiano Ronaldo behind him. I don’t want Mario Balotelli or Arjen Robben. I want good players who are willing to work with the boss to become part of a great team. I certainly want to see some individual talent but above all I want to see a team which signals its strength through a combined ability, sublime confidence and will to win.

In the coming months we will hear much about tactics, formations, strength in depth, tiredness and pressure. There will be red cards, missed red cards, reports of players fighting, womanising and stumbling out of nightclubs. Some may even face the threat of the law. Pundits will talk of the pressure of having so much money so young. So in advance I would just like to say, ‘what rot’. Let’s be different.

My message to you Mr Rodgers, while you’re looking at new players, don’t just look for talented footballers – let’s have some good, hard-working players who are decent people. Let’s see a team that shows that it wants to win. Let’s see players work together to find the best way possible to put the ball in the net. Let’s see ego’s not just left in the dressing room but completely shattered and bussed off to Old Trafford. Let’s see players who are genuinely proud to wear the shirt because they’re wearing it for us.

No pressure Mr Rodgers but titles and trophies are not enough – I also want role models!
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3 comments

  • steve says:

    Reina
    Johnson Skrtel Agger Enrique
    Gerrard Lucas Aquilani
    A.Johnson Suarez Downing

    Subs:Doni Kelly Coates Carragher Robinson Spearing Aquilani Henderson J.Cole Maxi Bellamy Carroll

  • Bill says:

    Well written article Andrew.

    Unfortunately your appeal may fall on deaf ears. Over the past few years we have inherited supporters who want instant gratification, mainly but not wholly from the younger element.

    I’m afraid jealousy of Chelsea and City’s rich owners doesn’t help especially when Parry scuppered the take over by Arab money men in favour of Hicks and Gillett just to keep his job and line his pockets.

    We could now have had a world class squad playing in a brand new arena, as opposed to FSG who have bright ideas but no money to speak of.

  • Elias says:

    Maxi rodriguez is better than downing

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