Erm, fuck off.
Ian Symes - May 31, 2008 @ 10:01 am
Isn’t this sort of thing against the rules?
It’s called tapping up, and it’s an incredibly twatty thing to do. No matter what goes on in private, it’s thoroughly disrespectful and snidey to say things like that to the press. Gerrard should know better, but it’s another unfortunate bit of business in what was already a very messy and ugly saga.
No doubt our Liverpool-supporting mates will be here shortly to defend Gerrard’s comments, but honestly – you know that if it was Fat Frank or Rio or the like saying the same things about one of your players, you’d be calling for their heads.
Well no tapping up is the club itself approaching a player without the player’s teams consent. You can argue that Gerrard is being used as a go between, an ‘agent’ of Liverpool FC, but aren’t they supposed to be long term friends and room-mates? It would be complete ignorance to think they (Barry and Gerrard) wouldn’t have talked about the situation.
I can understand that it must hurt and feel exceptionally shitty. We went through it ourselves when Gerrard had apparently left for Chelsea only to change his mind 24 hours later. However this stuff is part and parcel of football and always has been. Players will want the best players at their team, particularly if they are also their mates.
Yes, but players shouldn’t be telling that to the world’s press.
It’s not like he called a press conference to declare his opinion though is it? The world’s press asked a question. He answered honestly.
The only time footballers ‘take the fifth’ is when something they say might deemed to harm themselves or their club, even then it comes out in the book deal.
I can see why it makes him public enemy number 1 for Villa, likewise I can see why he’s being a good captain and doing his bit to improve our lot as a Liverpool fan.
Does his desire going public realistically affect Barry’s decision in the slightest?