There have been many articles on this site despairing about the lack of loyalty of players in the modern game, and the fact that money takes precedence over all other things. As Abhijan Barua talked about in his article on Monday on player agents, there seems to be a higher quotient of mercenaries than there has ever been, and along with this, players rarely staying at one club for the majority of their career.
It is not necessarily always down to money but the fact that the likes of Fernando Torres, Javier Mascherano and Raul Meireles have moved on from this club after relatively short periods of time, all of whom have stated before and after their moves to Chelsea and Barcelona their affection for the Reds, suggests that loyalty doesn’t really come into consideration anymore.
They were three quality players in my view who could have added something even more to the great squad that Kenny has assembled. Who wouldn’t have loved to see Fernando Torres (at his best) alongside Luis Suarez I ask? Yet, there would be nothing less satisfying than seeing Torres in a Liverpool shirt again because of the sense of betrayal.
I find it very hard to invest in a player any sort of adoration anymore, because as a fan it is hard not to feel paranoid about whether they are considering to move on to another club for either the pursuit of trophies or purely financial reasons. Even in a player such as Luis Suarez who I admire greatly, there will always be a nagging feeling that if we are not successful in the next few years, he will move on too.
That is why it is refreshing to hear Kenny Dalglish talking about Craig Bellamy’s return. The Liverpool manager said:
“He’s really enthusiastic to be back and made a lot of sacrifices to come back here, financial and otherwise, because of what the club means to him, so we’re delighted to have people with that attitude here…he loves this club which is very important and he’ll be a fantastic asset for us.”
Bellamy’s commitment is demonstrated in the financial hit he took to join the club. Just like many of the others who have joined the club this summer, these players are here for the long term. Unlike Torres, Meireles and Mascherano, they want to be at the club and as King Kenny has said previously, there is not point having players at the club if they don’t want to be here.
Having players with such an attitude means that the squad is more together, there is a more positive atmosphere in the changing room, 100% commitment to the cause and it all combines to generate a team spirit which can win matches and eventually trophies. Hopefully I am not wrong in regards to our current group of players.
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I will love to see fernando torres in red shirt again. I just love him, i felt so sad anytime i see him in blue shirt. His memory will last forever.
Torres was badly advised and he made his choice – destroying like Owen before him any affection or respect from 99.9% of the fanbase – no player or memory is bigger than the club – hero to zero – the lack of respect and the disregard for Liverpool are unforgiveable – I’m forgetting him – dead easy….
As a player one would always want to win trophies, medals. That is what makes a professional athlete, no one can say anything against that.
HOWEVER Torress case needs to be judged on the light of the situation. All the reds and LFC as a club relied too much on Torress, and right when we decided to build a title challenging squad on the wave of change that was sweeping Anfield, he decided to leave. So even I would call him a traitor, and I do not wish him success at Chelsea. No I do not hate Chelsea, or any other club for that matter, but can’t give him a corner when he betrayed our trust.
On the article: the present generation is driven by money, and greed seems to have the last say more often than not. If you ask me no player should wear the red shirt for a club who sing proudly “You will never walk alone” if ‘loyalty’ is not the driving force for them, sadly that is not the case anymore as much as it used to be.
Kk is 100% correct ‘ship them out when they don’t want to be in a red shirt’ i wish to have a team of alan shearer’s than of rooneys.
Players pride should be in bringing glory to there teams. Thats why we talk of captain fantastic and say we over reliant on them, no its not over reliance its the determination in him to never look down until 90mins not givin room for defeat where there is no hope. You could see guys like paulo mauldini in the a.c shirt they fought for it thats what made him great player.
Torres could have been some great if he fought alongside suarez well he made hes choices.
I agree with the writer with not trustin players like suarez there loyalty can be questioned when big pocket teams come by……
Long live alan shearer steven gerrad paulo mauldini alexandra delpiero totti…. I can have them in my team any minute they made football interestin
WHAT WRONG WITH TORRES NOW?????
1. The reach club can promise you with money but they can`t promise you a good choise..
2. When torres come to liverpool with banitez, the team look like spain… not a portugal.
3. He get a real partner with gerrard and kuyt. Gerrard and Kuyt will play attacking behind him. so he will get full support.
at chelsea :-
1. Not get a ball like the reds team give to you.
solution
>> i think its better u come back to the reds with only 17 million pound. ( 2nd choise )3 years contract.
>> or we sell gerrard to chelsea for 25 million??? – noooo !!!!
2. >> If you come to melwood, i give u 10 goal must get this seasson.
3. >> you will get your place at national team.