Football Food For Thought / Alsy / 28 March 2008 / 2

Morgan in the driving seat - Allsy looks at the players in the modern game who seem to consistently attract headlines for all the wrong reasons

For Liverpool fans Grand Slam Sunday was the worst kind of horror show. If only there had been some kind of warning - if not a 'Cert 18' icon then perhaps some kind of notice that this match contains flashes of Argentinean temper and uncensored scenes of Steve Bennett butchering Rafa's gameplan.

I'd love to forget everything but the nation's press has decided that there's something rotten in our beloved game and apparently it looks a lot like Mascherano with a touch of Ashley Cole thrown in. The so-called Bad Boys of football are back and every suit, from the FA to Uefa, has something to say about it.

So who are these criminals destroying the beautiful game and misleading our impressionable youth? Mascherano and Cole are already marked men but there are plenty of candidates to join them.

Step forward Zlatan Ibrahimović whose legendary ego ensures he's never wrong - refs, managers, fans and journalists beware.

Along with Melberg and Wilhelmsson, Ibrahimović was sent home for violating a team curfew; apparently clubbing into the small hours of the morning was not part of the Swedish match tactics. However, one player refused to accept any wrong doing. You've guessed it, Ibrahimović boycotted the next three Swedish qualifiers in protest.

The goals do fly in for Ibrahimović in Serie A (30 goals in 50 appearances for Inter) but in the Champions League his finishing has been patchy.

Martin O'Neill once called Ibrahimović the most overrated player in the world. Unsurprisingly Ibrahimović holds a more positive assessment of his talents previously stating, "Only injury can prevent me becoming the world's greatest player".

Hhhhm, I'm not entirely sure about that one especially since Liverpool's rookie defender Martin Skrtel managed to stop him without resorting to violence.

Ibrahimović may be fallible in European football but he's banker in Serie A. Currently second in the scoring charts with 17 he has a excellent chance over overtaking Juventus' Trezequet so I'd happily back him at a tempting [7.8] as Inter close in on another title.

Next up is a good old-fashioned bad boy Marco Materazzi. A quick internet search reveals a treasure trove of reckless tackles and petulant trips but ultimately he'll be remembered for a blow he received.

Materazzi's indiscreet comments about Zidane's sister provoked one unforgettable headbutt and the Italian is destined to remain the pantomime villain of the event. Here's what happened. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAjWi663kXc

However, much like club colleague Ibrahimović, (and presumably not Zidane's sister) Materazzi is a sure thing when representing the Nerazzurri and the price of [1.41] to win a third consecutive Serie A title looks likely to pay dividends.

Unable to direct his spittle any better than his shooting, El-Hadji Diouf is a player opposition fans hate. Perhaps it's his "Am I bovvered" scowl.

Bolton remain favourites to be relegated alongside Derby and Fulham at [1.79] but if they are to stay up I suspect Diouf will play a key role with his ability to create and take goals.

Injuries this season has clearly limited the opportunities of Lee Bowyer and Craig Bellamy to generate column inches for all the wrong reasons but there are more candidates.

On reflection I'm not impressed with this new generation of trouble-makers. I suspect they're not dangerous or rotten enough to warrant the tag.

When you consider the partying of George Best, the left hook of Duncan Ferguson, the training techniques of John Hartson, the Shaolin Kung Fu of Eric Cantona and the ball skills (a la Gascoigne) of Vinnie Jones these modern candidates pale in comparison.

Standards of behaviour are important but they've not declined in many areas - especially off the field of play. Only Joey Barton seems willing and able to carry the torch for old-skool standards of unacceptable behaviour. Thankfully, he may be the last of a dying breed but have I missed anyone? Who is you're bad-boy of choice and why?

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1. Duje | 28 March 2008

   Mark van Bommel slipped your attention. I think he should be involved in your picks cause of his perfid way of tackling and insulting refs and opposition players. I don't remember many examples but I'm sure there are to be found cause he's built a reputation of a filthy player in my mind throughout the years. I remember the latest example when he gave a ref a 'screw you' sign behind his back after being awarded a yellow card.

2. wag | 16 July 2008

   ibra isnt so bad. he's only a bit arrogant, and not without reason

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