A Bridge Too Far?
Feb 26th, 2010 | By KevB8ll | Category: General FootballAfter yesterdays announcement by Wayne Bridge, there has been a lot of press discussion about the situation. I thought I would blog my opinion on it.
Now this IS an emotive subject, and I am aware that people reading this may have experienced similar situations – so I hope that I can deal with this sensitively.
Ok, let’s say you discover that your work mate does what John Terry did with the lady of your life? What would you do?
I suspect there would be a variety of responses from violence to walking away from the people in question. To get a perspective on this, I think it is important to understand the feelings that you may go through. We all know that we were are emotionally involved with people, and that is challenged, it can affect all aspects in your life.
If it happened to you at work, could you continue to work with them?
It happened at a place I worked at and it was awful, the atmosphere was really affected. In the end all three people had to leave.
Ok having used that as a reference, a few comments on the situation in hand.
Some people are accusing Wayne Bridge of letting his country down leading up to the world cup – but sorry I don’t agree with that. (See opening paragraphs!) I actually think Bridge didn’t have any choice at all. He would have been living with Terry for several weeks in a close environment and I can’t believe, (having served in the forces), that words wouldn’t have been said and that would have upset the team spirit.
Wayne’s decision IMO is his attempt to try and bring some stability to the side, however it isn’t going to happen while Terry is still there. Let’s remember it is Terry’s actions that have caused this, not Wayne Bridge’s actions.
Terry should have stepped down, I don’t care if he is a quality defender or not – there are consequences to actions, something that footballers often want to avoid or think they are above.
So Wayne has my support for his decision, and I actually think that he has handled himself with dignity through this. Unfortunately I doubt this is the last of things, I am certain there are members of the England squad who won’t appreciate Terry still being in the squad, especially if they consider that it could of been their wife or girlfriend he had been with.
I know people will agree with me and there will be people who disagree with me, but this is my opinion of the situation as it stands right now.
Kev
I’m with you- completely sympathetic with Bridge ‘s decision.
Terry comes out of this looking like a bully who can get away with what he likes because it’s thought he’s more needed in the team.
Wayne Bridge is a member of the real world. He is protecting his child and as a by product, benifitting the England team. Terry defies description. If he does the right thing and pulls out of the England team it would be totally out of character.
Nice Blog Kev
I felt all along that Terry should have sacrificed himself or Fabio Capello should have just dropped him from the squad altogether. We have several good quality centre-halves for England but are short of Left backs and that position will now come to haunt England’s quest to win the World Cup because of all this and Asley Cole’s foot injury. Playing the way Terry is at the moment he is not at his best anyway so I think England and Capello have missed a trick. Nice article Kev.
If Ashley Cole wasn’t injured this would be a non-issue, Bridge is an average left back at best.
Maybe Liam Ridgewell will get a call up…
I could not agree more with you, but it is all to do with morals. Terry should have been sacked from Team England, no ifs, no buts.
It’s similar with Barton and Bellamy, especially Barton. These guys should have been sacked long ago. These players have an obligation to demonstrate role modeling attributes because of the career that THEY have chosen. If they do not wish to comply, find another job. Managers are also to blame. It doesn’t matter if a footballer is a convicted/habitual trouble maker as long as he’s a good footballer. If Barton had committed his antics in another industry, would they continue to employ him?
What do you think the outcome would have been if Terry had been seeing Mrs Rooney? I’ll tell you what would have happened; Terry would have been sacked completely. Why? because he’s more important to the squad than Terry is… and football is devoid of morals.
Fange
xxx
Nicely put Kev
I find it nothing short of disgusting that Bridge has to step down to keep the peace while a lowlife like Terry loses nothing.
I accept in football these days morals count for less than nothing and must admit to finding it harder all the time to give a damn about this game that was once ours.
I for one will not be supporting England in the World Cup, I would just find it unconscionable The perfect scenario for me would be to see England go out because of a defensive howler between Terry and Cole.
Terry should retire himself from International Football for the foreseeable future, or if he won’t Capello should boot him out. This thing won’t go away whilst Terry is still about.
The best thing to happen now (also the most unlikely) would be for Terry to hand over his medal (should he get 1) to Bridge.
As I said, extremely unlikely.
The players all want Terry to go… after all, would you want him left at home knowing your Mrs is in the same country whilst you’re on the other side of the world?