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Tuesday, August 16, 2005

Chelsea get their man, but is this the only price?

Michael Essien joined Chelsea the other day. I think that’s great and all but you know this whole thing of players refusing to play is just as unsportsmanlike as if he walked off the pitch and left the team with 10 men.

Was the 32m pound asking price too high? Yes, much too high. Did Chelsea pay too much at 27m pounds? Yes, way too much.

Lyon was stubborn and their extortion of Chelsea succeeded; but it’s still the player’s job to play for the club: he’s paid to do that, he has teammates, fans or is it just about the ‘me, me’?

In some ways this saga could have been avoided if more reasonable people were involved in the negotiations, but not playing is like tossing rocks thru windows: juvenile.

I wonder if we are seeing the Essien which impressed last season. Things happen to you when you become highly touted.

I wouldn’t purchase a player that refused to play for another club. Reason is simple; he’d do it to you too. Essien signed a contract stating he’d play for Lyon for ‘x’ years. He blew it off with his agent condoning it; another reason not to deal with him.

If we look back at Essien’s career, it resembles 90% of footballers: they were playing from some club and got a big break. They were not sons of famous athletes; they had to get noticed thru talent. That talent got him his first contract at a club and got him earning money.

Look to the moment in every player’s life when they get their first big break and ask yourself if they were thinking about refusing to play in that moment. In that moment the player knows how lucky he is to do this; what’s changed?

I’m not intending to say that there is no reason, ever, to refuse to play. If a club doesn’t pay you your wages then they have failed in a fundamental responsibility, that’s a reason not to play. If a club is doing something illegal, that’s a reason, etc. I’m not inventing some code of honor either, just pointing out self interest.

8 Comments:

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Blogger Cathal Breathnach said...

I agree that £27million is far to much and if Chelsea didn't have their millions he would of left the club for about £12-15million and I agree that refusing to play for your club is stupid. Good article.

8/16/2005 4:48 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I really think you'll find, had you verified, that Essien only threatened not to play.

After that, he went on his club's tour of Korea, where he played one of the matches. And after that, he trained with his team-mates.

It was Lyon (and in particular the coach) who deliberately didn't select him to start a match, but Essien was systematically chosen for the squad of each game.

Lyon said that he wouldn't play as his head was elsewhere, and Houllier said that, until his future was sorted out, he wouldn't be played.

That's not the same as going on strike.

8/16/2005 5:03 PM  
Blogger Football Commentator said...

EuroBlue -

I disagree. Essien was acting like a goof ball, thats why the club was taking action. Your putting the cart before the horse.

And Essien did say publically he wouldnt play for Lyon again.

8/16/2005 5:19 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

QUOTE:

"From now on I am playing with the junior players and I will not take part in any first-team matches for them," the 22-year-old Ghana international told the Daily Mirror.

8/16/2005 5:24 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Honestly, I don't have a good feeling about this transfer.

8/16/2005 5:52 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think much of the blame lies with Aulas. If he hadn't flip flopped all over the place Essien wouldn't have been encouraged to threaten a strike.

8/16/2005 6:32 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Aulas was hilarious. He runs his club brilliantly, and got a great deal for his player. I don't see the proble. Also that Essien quote was contradicted and reported as a lie the next day.

8/16/2005 8:08 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Essien is a bloody wanker! I truly hope he'll be the flop of the year! It won't matter for Chelski - they have enough depth in their squad without this little rat!

And for all of you blaming Lyon/Aulas: it's not the team's fault if the raise a great player and want to keep for few (!!!) years and benefit the team! Essien wanted to leave after the first good year!

He just showed again that there's no honor in the game. I actually hope he tackles Keano and goes to yell him "stop acting" - and hopefully we'll a replay from few years back Keano!!

-Michael "Wanker" Essien

8/17/2005 12:46 AM  

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