Greedy footballers

Oh boy this is going to be a long post....

''or were promised first team football that didn't materialise.''

But surely if that is the case, then it isn't their fault?

Nevertheless, I half-agree with you. On one hand, players seem to follow the money these days and don't seem to think if they will get sufficient playing time or not. But what I think some players need to understand is whether they will be valued or not at other clubs.

You could be earning £70k p/w at a midtable/top six club and be getting regular game time, lots of admiration and glorification from the supporters whilst being one of the highest earners there - which shows that you feel valued and you are in a nice environment. Or you could go to a Oligarch or Arab-subsidized club where you may be earning double that amount for, but will be surrounded by sterner competition/world class players, you wouldn't be one of the highest earners at the club and there is a high possibility of you being on the bench for most games.

Players do need to understand that it's not just about money, it's about whether you would feel valued at a club or not.

However - on the other hand, you may need to look at it from the players' perspective and whilst I can agree with the sentiment, I don't particularly agree with the examples you've used.

The situation with Kakuta must be demoralising for him but at the time he was at RC Lens. And Chelsea can allure players to their club with big money and with the possibility of trophies. He probably thought he would develop his game at Chelsea and in a few years, would break into the first team if he is nurtured right.

But Chelsea have brought in more and more ready-made established players which hinders the progress of the youth like McEachran who all the Chelsea fans were saying was ''better than Wilshere'' and now Kakuta/Lukaku. It's not their fault if the club are not cultivating them well enough.

And besides, from their perspective, Chelsea is an attractive place to go to - playing in the best league in the world, with better players, earning more money and winning illustrious trophies whilst living in one of the richest areas in London - it looks win-win, on paper.

It may not be their fault if the club promised them something and haven't delivered. But we don't know what their motives are for staying, however, it is understandable why they went to Chelsea.

What I hate is when players like Milner, Santa Cruz or Moses are blatantly going to City/Chelsea for lots of money when it is obvious they will flatter to deceive at a big club and just move because either club can offer more money. Players like this need to think more than whether they will just get more dosh - they were doing well at midtable clubs, were praised consistently and were the highest-earners at their previous clubs - now they are a small fish in a big pond.

Now they are disillusioned with their football. And this happens so many times but players don't seem to learn.

The same could have been said about Chamakh, Squillachi and a host of players who joined us and never fufilled their potential. I feel most players join a team with the believe they were moving on to a better club and that they were going to be a part of winning something. A new manager comes along with a fresh way of doing things and they struggle. Even though you could not attribute that reason to why players like Torres, Andy Carroll continue to struggle.

I feel it is all about ambition and whether you are content to be a big fish in a small pond or a small fish in a big river. I have worked in the same company for 14yrs, something unheard of in IT, some will say I lack ambition, and they might have a point! However, if I was to move now, it would not be just for the money, I have to enjoy the role as well!

I think the days when a player began and ended his career at a single club are long gone!

The only reason why I mentioned Chamakh and Squillachi was because you said players joining Chelsea did so because they were chasing the dollar.... Everytime a big club makes a signing, it is always a risk, we signed Arshavin for top dollar, we had 2 good seasons from him and unfortunately it has not gone to plan..... All I am saying is because a footballer went to Citeh/Chelsea/Manure, does not really make them mercenaries or greedy.