Football Food For Thought / Dan Fitch / 03 February 2009 /

Dan "The Betting Man" Fitch on player power that has seen Charles N'Zogbia get the transfer he wanted just because his manager mispronounced his name and Craig Bellamy unashamedly walk out on his club. If Only Alf Ramsey and Brian Clough were around to see this...

I think the thing that I love best about being a writer, is the fact that I don't have to leave the house, whilst the rest of the world faces the horror of commuting.

So you can imagine my disgust at the way the present inclement weather, has lead to a reversal of fortunes. If I look out of my window now, I will see the street full of kids building snowmen and office workers celebrating this impromptu skiving opportunity.

Meanwhile, as someone who works from home, I have no excuse to down tools. What's worse, the wife has been sent home early from her job and is unlikely to want to watch Sky Sports News' transfer deadline coverage all day.

It is thoughts like this that are making me realise how bitter and twisted I'm becoming with age. Another thing that never ceases to get my fury muscle pumping is the modern day footballer.

Take Chelsea's Salomon Kalou for example. After Kalou scored against Middlesbrough recently, he crossed his arms/wrists in a gesture that many thought to be a token of support for the Ivory Coast political activist Antoine Assale Tiemoko.

At first we thought this was a rare example of a Premier League footballer actually concerning himself with an issue more profound than how to get into Danielle Lloyd's knickers. But then Kalou had to spoil it all by admitting that he'd never heard of the man and that his celebration was instead a tribute to the WWE wrestling star John Cena.

Here was a gilt-edged chance for Kalou to trick people into thinking that he was intelligent. Instead he actually seemed quite annoyed that anyone would think that he would support the notion of freedom of speech in his homeland, when he could instead be choreographing celebratory routines based on the antics of a man in spandex.

At least Kalou is only guilty of stupidity. The January transfer window tends to bring out the nasty side of our pampered professionals. If Charles N'Zogbia really gets that annoyed at his manager forgetting his name, then it's a good job that he wasn't at Newcastle when Bobby Robson was manager.

Of course, N'Zogbia's display of petulance had nothing to do with being annoyed with Joe Kinnear and everything to do with him wanting a move before transfer deadline day.

It worked as well. Steve Bruce realised that it's not everyday that a footballer is so desperate for a move, that they will tolerate living in Wigan and quickly snapped N'Zogbia up. High-flying Wigan are now [50.0] to be relegated.

Unfortunately for N'Zogbia the move comes with a price. By drawing attention to an interview with Joe Kinnear that otherwise no one would have ever seen, he guaranteed that from this point on, he will be forever known as Charles Insomnia.

Then there is the case of Craig Bellamy. West Ham had Bellamy tied to a contract, had refused him a transfer request and had turned down all bids for the player. So Bellamy decided to take matters into his own hands and just walked out on the club and refused to play for them.

He did so safe in the knowledge that West Ham couldn't afford to just sling him in the reserves. These days if a player makes enough of a fuss, he'll get his move. That is, unless his manager is named Sir Alex Ferguson.

Fergie is the last breed of the old school managers who have enough clout to still call the shots. If Charles Insomnia had pulled that trick with Brian Clough, he'd have received a punch in the stomach. Ferguson is one of the last survivors from these halcyon days when assaulting players was the norm.

Sir Alex seems to be the only manager left, with total control over his players. Whether it's fear or respect, they dare not cross him. Yet even in the case of Fergie, you suspect that it's the position he holds, rather than respect for the man that keeps his players in line. Most of them know (except Ronaldo), that when they leave Old Trafford, their career will be on a downward trajectory. United are [1.38] to win the title.

The days are gone when players quaked before the eccentricity of Brian Clough, or could be made to feel second best by the haughty tones of Sir Alf Ramsey. The players hold all the power now and they bow before no one. Well, except for maybe John Cena.

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