Quick question: Why is Robbie Keane getting so much stick for poor form, while Berbatov get’s little or none? Since their respective transfers, Berbatov has scored less goals than Robbie, played more minutes on the pitch than Robbie, cost 13 million more than Robbie and visibly works far less on the pitch.
posted by Cass
An interesting article in The New York Times regarding the Brett Favre Backup Club. After making his debut for the Green Bay Packers in the 4th game of the 1992 season, he played every single competitive game until his retirement this year, racking up an incredible 279 consecutive appearances. During this time the Packers had 18 understudy quarter backs who, judging by the sheer number of comings and goings, weren’t happy to settle as understudy.
How Non-Americans Know Favre
Once you get past the staggering consecutive appearance record, what I found interesting was the 18 backups in 16 seasons. Surely one of those 18 would have been happy to hang around, picking up an easy, pressure free and presumably very healthy pay packet, without the added stress of actually having to play? There seem to be very differing opinions reserved for players who have been happy to play a bit part role at their club. Think of the contrast between views held about Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Winston Bogarde.
Winston Bogarde arrived at Chelsea in the 2000/2001 season on a mind-blowing GBP 40,000 per week. Shortly after arriving Claudio Ranieri took over the reigns at the club and announced that he wanted Bogarde out. Wily Winston announced that it would be impossible for him to find another club to pay him anything like the stupid amount of cash Chelsea were wasting so decided to see out his 4 year contract, making a grand total of 11 league appearances. Bogarde was universally mocked and hated for his greed and lack of ambition, but the opposite opinion was reserved for the next fellow who in my opinion is only slightly less culpable.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer A.K.A. The Baby-Faced Asassin holds the record for most substitute appearances for Manchester United, coming off the bench 150 times (out of a total of 217 appearances) between 1996 and 2007. Contrarily for Solskjaer, he is considered somewhat of a hero for staying loyal to United and being happy to be a squad player. Although he contributed many important goals for the club, he was never at any stage considered a first choice striker, yet his lack of ambition was always lauded as loyalty.
Bogarde is derided for his lack of ambition at a club who weren’t yet challenging for honours and his happyness to pick up a pay packet for doing little. Ole was lauded for his lack of ambition at a club who were winning honours (and presumably were paying him a decent pay packet), rather than challenge himself to see what he could do as a starting striker at any top team around Europe and England who would have been happy to buy him. Okay, Solskjaer was making some kind of a contribution with his good scoring record, but what player can be happy being an eternal substitute? Solskjaer was also winning trophys which seems to be a bit part of the reason he stuck around. But can he really feel proud of all the silverware he picked up when he was never a regular starter for the team?
Outside of football there are many of us who are happy taking home a pay packet in a comfortable job, rather than really challenge ourselves to discover the best we can be (No, I’m not talking about the US Army) so maybe we shouldn’t be quite so harsh on Bogarde, and maybe we shouldn’t revere super-sub Solskjaer. I honestly believe that part of the love affair with Solskjaer was that even at 29, he still looked like a fresh faced 17 year old biding his time while trying to break into the first team.
posted by Cass
So the photo shop skills are somewhat lacking but you get the point. The US Treasury’s recent purchase of AIG, who happen to be Manchester United’s main sponsor, means that in a way, all US tax payers are financing this team. This will be particularly galling for Man City fans, but at least they can be happy in the knowledge that a small percentage of $4 gas is going into the city coffers via new owners Abu Dhabi group. It really has become a global game!
posted by Cass
Annoying Commentators – Part 1,478
Sunday, September 21st, 2008Watching the Chelsea v Manchester United match this morning on Fox Soccer Channel, co-commentator Robbie Earle used one of those commentator cliches that really get my goat up. Approximately 9 minutes into the game, Joe Cole received the ball just inside the area and let loose with a rasping shot that just clipped the outside of the post and side netting. Indeed, many Chelsea fans celebrated in the mistaken belief that a goal had been scored. Earle added a zany religious element to the oft used cliche by exclaiming ‘it’s a cardinal sin not to hit the target from there’. Forgetting His thoughts on the issue, I’ve never understood why it’s better to hit the target and not score than to narrowly miss and not score. We all agree that the best outcome is a goal but I don’t understand why a weakly hit shot right at the keeper is any better than a powerfully hit shot that beats the keeper all ends up but narrowly misses.
posted by Cass
Tags: Chelsea, Commentators, Fox Soccer Channel, Manchester United, Robbie Earle
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