5 Things Football Fans Don’t Understand About The Sport
4. Loyalty
No matter what they may say in the press, the majority of players really dont care about playing for the club they are contracted to. Why would they? That is, unless they actually support them, of course. They are there because it is of benefit to their overall career and financially beneficial too. This is the main reason why Samuel Etoo, who was one of the worlds top players at one point, now plays for mega-rich Anzhi Makhachkala in Russia. Its all about the money.
This is something that the fans really dont understand, especially when it comes to derby games. Some players will benefit from the increased atmosphere in the stadium, but generally it is treated as, just another game by most. These players are paid their salary (and various other bonuses) to win matches, no matter who they are facing. This can cause fan anger when there seems to be a, a lack of passion. The same rings true for both managers and owners, who want to achieve the best result for the club but not necessarily sharing the same passion that the fans have. However, there is a minority of players that will develop that sort of fan-like passion for the club. Just take a look at Liverpools Jamie Carragher, who grew up as a diehard Everton fan. But that is definitely the minority. It is also the case when a potential signing is revealed and that player eventually passes on joining the club. This can personally offend some fans, despite the player probably making the best choice for his own career. But if it turns out that the player ultimately made the wrong decision? Then he can expect to hear about it if he plays the team he turned down.