Premier League Nonsense

I’m sorry you find 40,000 GBP an inadequate income. It must be tough having a job where you run around a few mornings a week, kick a ball once or twice and you have to get by on such a meager salary.

I tried recently asking my boss to increase my salary threefold. That was last Monday. More than one week later she still hasn’t stopped laughing. ‘What planet are you living on?’ she asked me incredulously.

Ade, I recall an interview recently where you mentioned spending 750 GBP on a pair of jeans. And you’d bought a new Bentley. And you still need to increase your salary to 120,000 GBP a week? Just what will the 80,000 extra bring you eh?

I know we’ll get all the player apologists come out and say it’s a short career and if someone gets offered such sums of course they should take it. My heart bleeds for the poor darlings.

How difficult it must be to get by on a salary that could allow you to buy a house on the outskirts of London every three months?

You can bet your last pay cheque most fans who chant your name week in, week out would be happy to earn 40,000 GBP. A year! Following a football team in the Premier League isn’t cheap. Well, for you maybe but not for most of the population.

A season ticket can cost nearly 1,000 GBP. Or slightly more expensive than a pair of jeans. If the fan has kids then they’ll want the club jerseys, two new ones a season at 40 GBP a time. Transport costs are rising, food and drink aren’t cheap. A day out at the football with two kids can cost in excess of 100 GBP!

Listen Ade. Last season you did well. 30 goals is always a good achievement. But you went missing in important games fella. When the club needed leaders on the pitch you were nowhere to be found. Think on that.

You came from Monaco where no one knew you. Arsene Wenger showed trust in you when many of us were unsure. But one good season does not a good player make.

Take a look in your trophy cabinet. If you have taken it out of its box yet! You have won nothing Ade. Nothing.

So one nearly good season and you want to triple your earnings? What would you want if you won the Premier League and the Champions League?

Your 46 goals put you below Tony Adams in the all time goal scoring lists at Arsenal. But then he was a legend and you are a long way from being remembered in such illustrious company.

If you don’t want to stay then go. Players come, players go all the time in football. Just don’t bleat on about needing money for retirement or that you want to challenge yourself. Be honest, be a man and say you just want more money.

If you stay? Don’t even think about kissing the badge. Such a hollow gesture would be an insult to a great club and its fans.

This piece was written 30/6/2008 for www.espnstar.com I forget whether they used it or not!