The Premier League season is only a few days old yet we’ve already been rewarded with a classic outburst from Sunderland manager Roy Keane.
The man who famously laid into the ‘prawn sandwich brigade’ of corporate fans when he was a player at Old Trafford has had a go at ”weak and soft” players who are dictated to by their wives and girlfriends. Here’s the pick of the quotes:
- “I find it surprising that geography seems to play such a big part or that players let their wives decide.”
- “I think it’s weak. You see it with a couple of big players now. Clearly their wives and girlfriends are running their lives and that’s a bad sign.”
- “Why is there such a big attraction with London? It would be different if it was Chelsea, Arsenal or maybe Tottenham, but when they go to a smaller club just because it’s in London, then it’s clearly because of the shops.”
It might be tempting to dismiss it all as just another Keane rant (and there have been quite a few of them — see here for a good list). But is he right in saying the Premier League millionaire lifestyle is getting out of hand? Shouldn’t the players be thinking about the football itself rather than where it’s played? Surely a spell in a slightly less WAG-friendly zone with regular football is preferable to a career on the bench, no matter how good the shops are.
Tom Spaven, London
Trackback
6 comments so far
Personally i think its a bit harsh to blame the WAGs. I think its the players themselves nowadays, they are all a bunch of complete pansies.
Just look at the way they act on the pitch. They are all a bunch a utter cry babies.
- Posted by TomIf he’s talking about the trashy celebrity aspect of being a Premier League footballer these days then he’s spot on, and all credit to him. I hope he takes a very hard line with the players at his club.
- Posted by RafaGreat comments. An instant classic rant. Couldn’t care less if he’s right or wrong.
- Posted by LondonCheers to the Ol’ Govn’r. The few true Hard Men left in the game. He’s spot on with the comment. And we need a few more of those to keep the current players in-line. For God sake, this is the English Primier, not Serie A.
- Posted by WilWell one would expect such entertaining statements given that he’s Roy Keane. But yeah I totally agree with Rafa who mentions the celebrity aspect. Look at some of the ‘English’ players from the Premier league. They even have their auto-biographies published, when they have yet to prove themselves on the international stage.
- Posted by NachiketAnd being in London will just add to that celebrity status.
Personally I see nothing wrong with enjoying a hard earned prawn sandwich whilst watching the footie.
- Posted by Bamf