Burning Ambition

Money grabbing, disloyal, disrespectful……there are many other phrases that are thrown out by supporters at footballers who leave their club, or rock the boat by publicising their unhappiness at the club, or eagerness for pastures new.

This season in particular has seen public upheaval by some of the biggest names in the Premier League. Wayne Rooney, Fernando Torres, Carlos Tevez and Darren Bent have each endured the wrath of supporters. These four players have quite a lot in common. All are proven goal scorers, the most valuable commodity in football. All can be prone to loss of form at one stage or another, but since Torres and Tevez came to the Premiership in 2007, these players have scored 217 goals between them.

Goal scorers will always be the most valuable players on the transfer market, and will generally command the biggest fees. Rooney was a record teenage buy, Torres is the most expensive signing in Britain, while Bents transfer fees have now risen to over £50 million. West Ham agreed last year to pay Sheffield United £4 million a year for five years for the single season Tevez played with the Hammers. His goals helped West Ham survive and sent Sheffield United down. These strikers are supporters favourites when they scoring for their team. They are undoubtedly the most popular names on the backs of jerseys, but when the player wants to move on of his own accord, there is a sharp change of attitude.

Rooney and Tevez both handed in transfer requests which caused at stir on both sides of Manchester. Whatever the reasons, both men changed their minds, but considerably improved their wages. Torres has caused angst among Liverpool supporters by joining their rivals, but has also had a pay rise. Bent’s move is a little more curious. While Aston Villa may be traditionally viewed as a “bigger” club, Sunderland are in a much healthier league position. When there is little to choose between clubs, money talks, and Bent has reportedly doubled his wages.

The consternation of fans when a player leaves is clearly felt. Leaving emotion aside if possible, and looking at football in business terms, it is easier to appreciate. When an employee is unhappy, they must be moved on if a solution cannot be found. Torres is a prime example of when the solution cannot be found. Tevez and Rooney were able to find solutions with their employers, most likely financially. Is there any employee in any organisation who would not push for a pay increase when they know they are one of the most valued members of the organisation? Granted football is quite a public profession. What about the hypocrisy of abusing a player for moving onto better things, while campaigning for the removal of a manager when things are going badly. Where is the loyalty from those same supporters?

Loyalty does have a place in the game, though it is diluted like any profession. People commend Carragher, Gerrard, Scholes and Giggs etc for their loyalty, but they have silverware to show for their loyalty, as well as the financial perks that go with being an international player. If any of these were at a lower league club, would they still be there? And while Liverpool and Sunderland curse their recently departed strikers, without doubt, both improved the clubs they were at, both on the field and off it. Both clubs have more than doubled their outlay on their purchases, so the club has gained in every sense. Replacing players is nothing new in the game

Football, in many ways, is the same as all businesses. Every employer (club) wants to be successful, and will take every step it can to do so. They will employ people who they feel will progress the club, and let go those who do not. Employees will look to achieve as much as they can, both financially and through achievements. When these two stakeholders goals cross, supporters are happy. When they don’t, they show their displeasure, and test the flammable qualities of their replica jerseys.