The Mail Bag
Common sense and Integrity in Football
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At a time that the Terry/Bridge debacle, the Portsmouth disaster and the Shawcross tackle hit the headlines I would like to point to two people, who until recently have been on my hated list, who have given me hope for integrity in the game.
Neil Warnock, who you either love or hate, has shown tremendous integrity in saying he would only go to QPR if a compensation was paid to Palace. In their hour of need, I think this shows Warnock's love of the game!
Secondly, and more relevant to the site, is Wayne Rooney, Increasingly I believe he is showing maturity and real class. He has started to make amends with us as been documented and I have just read his comments on the BBC site re the Terry/Bridge situation and also the Shawcross tackle. it is diplomatic and sensible and if England need a captain then surely he is getting to be the prime candidate.
Hopefully one day before he is past it he will once again be a blue!
Tim O'Connell, Posted 01/03/2010 at 21:11:32
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I have a grudging like for Warnock but don’t give me that ’integrity’ bollocks. Apparently, he had a £1m buy-out/get-out clause in his contract and Palace have settled for half of that. The whole thing at Palace is a minor shambles — the lesson being that it doesn’t matter how well-intentioned an owner-fan you may be (and Simon Jordan spent a huge stash of his own money at Selhurst Park), if in the end you’re forced to get into bed with venture capital, you’re going to be fucked one way or another.
Liam Reilly, is’nt Paul Stretford banned from signing/representing players due to the uefa ban on him recently?
Rooney is just great to watch these days. His intelligence is so superior to many around him. When he is in the mood he must be awful to play against and what about his heading prowess? Thank heaven he was quiet at Goodison recently. Imagine him playing alongside Messi — the 2 best offensive players in the world — what a thought.
Rooney is in nothing more than an orchastrated PR campain.
The World Cup coming up he will have signed bumper deals and this realining of his image against the players recieving bad press will only help matters for brand-Rooney.
Has anyone else seen the Rooney advert where he’s... playing with himself?
The World Cup coming up he will have signed bumper deals and this realining of his image against the players recieving bad press will only help matters for brand-Rooney.
Has anyone else seen the Rooney advert where he’s... playing with himself?
Chris,
I could be wrong but I thought Stretford’s ban was competed early this year, but even if he is still banned I reckon he’ll still have a big say in Rodwell's future, much to the detriment of this Club.
I could be wrong but I thought Stretford’s ban was competed early this year, but even if he is still banned I reckon he’ll still have a big say in Rodwell's future, much to the detriment of this Club.
I don’t have anything against Rooney - (although he still owes me £29.99 for the shirt I brought my little lad as a present 2 days before Rooney left!)
I really think he was in his rights to leave and we got a good deal at the time - easy with hindsight to say we could’ve got more, but probably he wasn’t worth £25m even at the end of last season.
But I really do think he’s being outrageously over-rated on the back of his recent good run of goals. Every season, the player leading United’s line scores a sackful; that’s why they’ve been a machine for 15 years.
But Yorke, Sheringham, Solskear, Cole, Van Nistelrooy or, until the very end, Ronaldo, were hyped-up to this extent on the back of a decent goals:games ratio.
I just don’t think Rooney is in the same league as Messi or Ronaldo in terms of skill and game changing ability.
And, in terms of goalscoring, he’d need this streak to last a lot longer than 20 odd games for me to pick him ahead of Torres or Villa or Drogba - all proven goal-getters over 3+ seasons.
I really think he was in his rights to leave and we got a good deal at the time - easy with hindsight to say we could’ve got more, but probably he wasn’t worth £25m even at the end of last season.
But I really do think he’s being outrageously over-rated on the back of his recent good run of goals. Every season, the player leading United’s line scores a sackful; that’s why they’ve been a machine for 15 years.
But Yorke, Sheringham, Solskear, Cole, Van Nistelrooy or, until the very end, Ronaldo, were hyped-up to this extent on the back of a decent goals:games ratio.
I just don’t think Rooney is in the same league as Messi or Ronaldo in terms of skill and game changing ability.
And, in terms of goalscoring, he’d need this streak to last a lot longer than 20 odd games for me to pick him ahead of Torres or Villa or Drogba - all proven goal-getters over 3+ seasons.
Ah fair enough Liam...although I do hope Rodwell has the sense to stay away from that guttersnipe.
Rooney remains a twat in my book. Stretford the same. Maturing my arse... he’s pissed off with all the stick he gets thats all.
Fuck the two of ye. I personally wouldn’t give a shit if Rooney's career finished tomorrow.
Fuck the two of ye. I personally wouldn’t give a shit if Rooney's career finished tomorrow.
All this he may come back one day bollox. When? When he’s past his best? Where worth more than that.
English players are mostly thick and scumbags hence no common sense and no integrity. Take the England Team:
James - Weirdo
Glen Johnson - no idea but stikes me as an idiot
Ferdinand - drug cheat
Terry - cheat and thug
Ashley Cole - Rat
Beckham - nice guy, cheats on his wife but who cares
Gerrard - Thug
Lampard - smug cocky arrogant git who loves Chelsea (once they increased their previous derisory offer of £100k
Joe Cole - He’s sound
Rooney - shags not just prostitues but grannies for FS
Heskey - Dope
etc etc
James - Weirdo
Glen Johnson - no idea but stikes me as an idiot
Ferdinand - drug cheat
Terry - cheat and thug
Ashley Cole - Rat
Beckham - nice guy, cheats on his wife but who cares
Gerrard - Thug
Lampard - smug cocky arrogant git who loves Chelsea (once they increased their previous derisory offer of £100k
Joe Cole - He’s sound
Rooney - shags not just prostitues but grannies for FS
Heskey - Dope
etc etc
"Rooney is nothing more than an orchestrated PR campaign."
184 appearances for Man Utd, and 88 goals to his name; 57 England caps... 25 goals, ram those words back down your malicious, envious throat.
I’m so glad he’s not given the press what they were originally sniff ing for: A Scouse chav stereotype they could mock with impunity,and who would repeatedly fall foul a la Vinnie Jones,Gazza etc,so that they could slaughter him on a regular basis.
Realigning his image? Your own prejudice more like. Perhaps he grew up? Happens to us all. Bumper deals? Economic jealousy on your part I think...
Pure bile, Nick... Rooney is brilliant. Period.
184 appearances for Man Utd, and 88 goals to his name; 57 England caps... 25 goals, ram those words back down your malicious, envious throat.
I’m so glad he’s not given the press what they were originally sniff ing for: A Scouse chav stereotype they could mock with impunity,and who would repeatedly fall foul a la Vinnie Jones,Gazza etc,so that they could slaughter him on a regular basis.
Realigning his image? Your own prejudice more like. Perhaps he grew up? Happens to us all. Bumper deals? Economic jealousy on your part I think...
Pure bile, Nick... Rooney is brilliant. Period.
I think some of us need to forgive ourselves before we can forgive Rooney. Like your best girlfriend ditched you and you won’t ever find a better one. Ever. Sorry, but you’ll have to live with it.
Rooney is a credit to the game, and to come out and state he’s an Evertonian is simply a bonus. He’s a professional paid to do his job. Is Rooney an orchestrated PR campaign? Well judging from his interview yes I suppose. He’s basically giving the press nothing to write about. Credit due to Sir Alex but if you ask me, him becoming a father changed his ways.
Rooney is a credit to the game, and to come out and state he’s an Evertonian is simply a bonus. He’s a professional paid to do his job. Is Rooney an orchestrated PR campaign? Well judging from his interview yes I suppose. He’s basically giving the press nothing to write about. Credit due to Sir Alex but if you ask me, him becoming a father changed his ways.
Behave Kevin. Standard practice for a top line athlete signed to the hilt with endorsements. What an over reaction!
Media orchestration and naviety for beginners...
His change is due to breast milk. You can tell by the look on his face before the game starts that he’s had a good breakfast from Coleen.
Had the same effect on me once!
Had the same effect on me once!
Did I mis-interpret your post Nick ? I was under the impression you were cynical of Rooney. If you were actually being positive, then I got the wrong end of the stick !
Tim I watched the interview, and like you thought it was impressive how he flat-batted the questions posed.
As Jason says, he’s giving the press nothing to write about, other than the fantastic football he’s playing, which is how it should be, and what we all wanted for him, albeit in a Royal Blue shirt!
If his PR team want to maximise commercial revenue,and trumpet what he’s become, then his record (see post 11) doesn’t require any spin. So why shouldn’t he be celebrated ?
Can’t see how anyone could have a problem with that.
Tim I watched the interview, and like you thought it was impressive how he flat-batted the questions posed.
As Jason says, he’s giving the press nothing to write about, other than the fantastic football he’s playing, which is how it should be, and what we all wanted for him, albeit in a Royal Blue shirt!
If his PR team want to maximise commercial revenue,and trumpet what he’s become, then his record (see post 11) doesn’t require any spin. So why shouldn’t he be celebrated ?
Can’t see how anyone could have a problem with that.
Kevin, I don’t think it's being cynical as such, more not buying into the purpose of the PR campain andviewing it objectivly.
PR campains are in themselves a manipulation of image towards those who would concern themselves with such things for the benefit of, in Roony’s case, commercial indorsements.
You may look at what he’s doing in these interviews and see he’s becoming more mature etc; if that is the case, it's job well done to his representatives.
Rooney is a class footballer — end of story.
I feel he would love to return to Everton when he has won everything there is to win. I would welcome him back for sure.
He comes back on a free in 5 years and bangs in 25 a season and because of his intelligence. (Football brain!) He will go until at least 35 if he stays fit! He would also help us recruit other players.
Put the venom behind you and appreciate a product of the Blues academy that will become world footballer of the year in the near future!
COYB
I feel he would love to return to Everton when he has won everything there is to win. I would welcome him back for sure.
He comes back on a free in 5 years and bangs in 25 a season and because of his intelligence. (Football brain!) He will go until at least 35 if he stays fit! He would also help us recruit other players.
Put the venom behind you and appreciate a product of the Blues academy that will become world footballer of the year in the near future!
COYB
Yeah, I see where you’re coming from. Although I just think he’s coming across as a nice guy... Bill Hicks once famously asked anyone who happened to work in marketing & advertising to "kill themselves!" We all laughed-and agreed !
He’s made a great success of things, and as there was a fear during his early days that he wouldn’t fulfill potential, or become another Scouse whipping boy for the tabloids, kudos to him for it...
Let’s hope he bangs in a hat-trick tonight!
He’s made a great success of things, and as there was a fear during his early days that he wouldn’t fulfill potential, or become another Scouse whipping boy for the tabloids, kudos to him for it...
Let’s hope he bangs in a hat-trick tonight!
"Media orchestration and naivety for beginners.."
There’s nothing "orchestrated," about 113 goals for (current) club, and country. At 24 years old! Try cynicism for experts...
There’s nothing "orchestrated," about 113 goals for (current) club, and country. At 24 years old! Try cynicism for experts...
Are we now discussing football pedigree?
Ah, the Rooney debate.
He is without a doubt one of the best players in the world and one of the best players I have ever seen... but he still shat on us big style.
All this lovey dovey PR shite cannot disguise the fact that he walked out on the club that he "loved".
He is without a doubt one of the best players in the world and one of the best players I have ever seen... but he still shat on us big style.
All this lovey dovey PR shite cannot disguise the fact that he walked out on the club that he "loved".
Rooney himself did not shit on us!
He was easily led by the crook that is Stretford!
What kind if football would be seeing without the money from Man Utd?
50% of the current team was purchased with the money from the Rooney sale.
He was easily led by the crook that is Stretford!
What kind if football would be seeing without the money from Man Utd?
50% of the current team was purchased with the money from the Rooney sale.
Rooney’s great, Rooney’s brilliant, Rooney’s class, Rooney is one of the best in the world on current form.
I just wish he hadn’t kissed the manure badge at Goodison when he did. Not the most intelligent thing he’s ever done if he’s got aspirations of returning one day.
I just wish he hadn’t kissed the manure badge at Goodison when he did. Not the most intelligent thing he’s ever done if he’s got aspirations of returning one day.
Ciaran,
In 100 years time, history will scrutinise his footballing pedigree which equates to genius. When all’s said and done, that should be how it is.
The fact he left EFC as a teenager will probabaly be a mere footnote, and "media orchestration" of him won’t get a mention.
In 100 years time, history will scrutinise his footballing pedigree which equates to genius. When all’s said and done, that should be how it is.
The fact he left EFC as a teenager will probabaly be a mere footnote, and "media orchestration" of him won’t get a mention.
Future generations will celebrate his brilliance, and remember his achievements. What else is there to discuss?
Kevin — "Future generations will celebrate his brilliance, and remember his achievements. What else is there to discuss?"
Shall we use the same analogy for Stevie G laa, or any of the other cretins who think they can act the way they like because they are footballers?
Rooney dumped on us from a great height, end of. That I find as an Evertonian hard to forgive, and I never will.
Not quite sure how he dumped on us from a great height.
It was impossible to read all the theories and... stuff at the time.
This was one of the more interesting and considered pieces
Still worth a read:–
http://www.toffeeandtayto.com/Stretford.htm
The (related) article ’Billy Liar’ also very good and relevant.
(We can’t know ’it’ all but fuck me, we can do a little bit better than having our opinions formed by the Sun and The Echo.)
This was one of the more interesting and considered pieces
Still worth a read:–
http://www.toffeeandtayto.com/Stretford.htm
The (related) article ’Billy Liar’ also very good and relevant.
(We can’t know ’it’ all but fuck me, we can do a little bit better than having our opinions formed by the Sun and The Echo.)
Dave Lynch:
"Wouldn’t give a shit if Rooneys career ended tomorrow"
And you claim you can’t forgive him "as an Evertonian"?
Not the sort of magnanimity I associate with Evertonians.
Some would even refer to us as bitter...
"Wouldn’t give a shit if Rooneys career ended tomorrow"
And you claim you can’t forgive him "as an Evertonian"?
Not the sort of magnanimity I associate with Evertonians.
Some would even refer to us as bitter...
If Rooney shit on Everton, then Lescott shit on Wolves then shit on us, and Baines shit on Wigan, and Cahill shit on Millwall etc etc. Rooney did what every footballer does and has ever done and that is try to increase his chances of silverware, of playing in big games, and of course getting more money. Get over it.
David - you are entirely right but there is a difference in Rooney’s case.
None of the players mentioned above ran around with a "Once a Blue Always a Blue" t-shirt on under their jersey, were viewed as the best player of their generation or in some ways a symbolic "great white hope etc" to their club.
Rooney, quite rightly, garnered much support from the fact that he was a local lad and an Evertonian, so has to take the rough with the smooth when leaving in the manner which he did - the manner of which I don’t blame him for, more his agent and the mismanagement of the situation by the club.
The closest we had to this was Franny Jeffers but in the end we were glad to get rid because he simply wasn’t as special as Rooney and hadn’t secured anywhere near the same place in the affections of the support.
I’m sure Evertonians deep down know it was the best thing for the player and possibly the club, the people who lost out when Rooney left were the Everton support, which is why they have found "it" so difficult to "get over".
None of the players mentioned above ran around with a "Once a Blue Always a Blue" t-shirt on under their jersey, were viewed as the best player of their generation or in some ways a symbolic "great white hope etc" to their club.
Rooney, quite rightly, garnered much support from the fact that he was a local lad and an Evertonian, so has to take the rough with the smooth when leaving in the manner which he did - the manner of which I don’t blame him for, more his agent and the mismanagement of the situation by the club.
The closest we had to this was Franny Jeffers but in the end we were glad to get rid because he simply wasn’t as special as Rooney and hadn’t secured anywhere near the same place in the affections of the support.
I’m sure Evertonians deep down know it was the best thing for the player and possibly the club, the people who lost out when Rooney left were the Everton support, which is why they have found "it" so difficult to "get over".
Mike, you have a point but when Rooney wore the now infamous t-shirt, he was still at school, and we’re all naive and idealistic at 15-16, so you shouldn’t hold anybody to what they said before their 18th birthday.
I’ve said this before on this site, but I think the blame lies solely at the door of the stewardship of the club, in that we went from a member of the ‘big five’ and winning trophies in the mid-80s to perennial relegation candidates in less than 10 years; if Sharp, Steven Reid etc had been called into Kendall’s office and told that they were being sold to Man U would they have looked on it as a step up?
So by the time Rooney arrived on the scene, if I would’ve been his dad, and even if I was a season ticket holder, I’d be telling him to get the hell out Everton, after all in his last season on a tour of the states, we could even put as full bench out and we were going nowhere and let’s face even with the upturn in our fortunes can you see us challenging for the Premier League in the foreseeable future.
My wife reads Chat mags about the private lives of [so-called] famous people, I cannot understand why. She said "I bet you would read them if they where about footballers." I wouldn’t because I’m not arsed. Rooney has come across as a bit of a twat, I didn’t like the badge kissing, but as a player he is top draw, world class, end of.
David - don’t get me wrong, I completely agree, and I think thats where much of the bitterness towards Rooney comes from - our own inability as a club to have kept hold of him. God knows had we been able to offer him real opportunity to win things and fulfill his potential he would’ve given his eye teeth to stay at Everton.
We cant vent our frustration at Heysel, Peter Johnson, etc whatever the reasons may be for the decline of the club but we can vent it at a little chubby ginger lad in a Man Utd shirt who’s departure embodies the fuck up we’ve made of the past 25 years. So thats what we do because that’s a lot easier than turning it back on ourselves.
Do I see us winning the Premier League in the foreseeable future? Not a chance.
Do I think we could win the Premier League with the team / squad we have now + Wayne Rooney. No, but I’d be fascinated to see what sort of crack we could have at it.
Again - thats part of the point of the disappointment of Rooney going. Man Utd were so much better than us as it was, we get a world class youngster coming through our ranks and what happens? He goes to Man Utd - even when he’s a died in the wool Blue - making it even more difficult for us to compete and all the fans can see is this going on and on and on, the gap getting bigger and bigger and our place in football turning to shit.
Hence the bitterness, the frustration and the bile thats thrown his way.
In my opinion.
Would I want to see him back in an Everton shirt? I’ve always said over my dead body but if he were to turn around today and say he was going to run his contract down at Man Utd and come back on a free in 2012 would I turn him down? Wayne Rooney, 26, on a free...? Of course not.
Would I take Wayne Rooney back, 36, on a free? Jog on mate.
He left for his own interest so we should only take him back for our own interests, but then thats what footballers and football clubs do every day of the week - which is exactly what you said in the first place.
The difference is when situations like Rooney come up it can mean more than a simple player tranfer, it becomes symbolic of the state of the club. Imagine how we’d felt if he’d gone on a free like Sol Campbell did to Arsenal....! Jeez....
We cant vent our frustration at Heysel, Peter Johnson, etc whatever the reasons may be for the decline of the club but we can vent it at a little chubby ginger lad in a Man Utd shirt who’s departure embodies the fuck up we’ve made of the past 25 years. So thats what we do because that’s a lot easier than turning it back on ourselves.
Do I see us winning the Premier League in the foreseeable future? Not a chance.
Do I think we could win the Premier League with the team / squad we have now + Wayne Rooney. No, but I’d be fascinated to see what sort of crack we could have at it.
Again - thats part of the point of the disappointment of Rooney going. Man Utd were so much better than us as it was, we get a world class youngster coming through our ranks and what happens? He goes to Man Utd - even when he’s a died in the wool Blue - making it even more difficult for us to compete and all the fans can see is this going on and on and on, the gap getting bigger and bigger and our place in football turning to shit.
Hence the bitterness, the frustration and the bile thats thrown his way.
In my opinion.
Would I want to see him back in an Everton shirt? I’ve always said over my dead body but if he were to turn around today and say he was going to run his contract down at Man Utd and come back on a free in 2012 would I turn him down? Wayne Rooney, 26, on a free...? Of course not.
Would I take Wayne Rooney back, 36, on a free? Jog on mate.
He left for his own interest so we should only take him back for our own interests, but then thats what footballers and football clubs do every day of the week - which is exactly what you said in the first place.
The difference is when situations like Rooney come up it can mean more than a simple player tranfer, it becomes symbolic of the state of the club. Imagine how we’d felt if he’d gone on a free like Sol Campbell did to Arsenal....! Jeez....
Des.
I was alluding to the fact that he is no longer an Everton player.
NO! I don’t give a shit about any players that don’t run around in the blue of Everton.
I am an Evertonian. What’s hard to understand about that.
I was alluding to the fact that he is no longer an Everton player.
NO! I don’t give a shit about any players that don’t run around in the blue of Everton.
I am an Evertonian. What’s hard to understand about that.
"Future generations will celebrate his brilliance, and remember his achievements. What else is there to discuss?"
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The actual point of the article?
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The actual point of the article?
Post removed for abusive content
Post no 10 - Peter Warren.
Fantastic post: to the point and accurate except for one thing. I would describe Gerrard as "scum" or "lout" rather than thug.
I particularly liked the descriptions of Glen Johnson and David Beckham.
I look forward to your views on the forthcoming General Election :)
Fantastic post: to the point and accurate except for one thing. I would describe Gerrard as "scum" or "lout" rather than thug.
I particularly liked the descriptions of Glen Johnson and David Beckham.
I look forward to your views on the forthcoming General Election :)
Mike, you are 100% correct, my description of Gerrard was inaccurate and should be replaced with yours.
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1 Posted 02/03/2010 at 09:27:08
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I doubt he’ll ever wear the shirt again but he does seem to be maturing into a better person. I think we tend to forget he was only a kid when he left under advisement from Stretford, who unfortunately has also signed Rodwell.