He's a football Mercenary, like most players in r team

[janaage]

Rich Pullen 29/02/2008

So in your opinion (open to everyone not just RP) who are the mercenaries and who plays footie for the love of it, and the love of the club?

[sonic youth]

peacock is probably the perfect example of a player who genuinely feels something for the club as opposed to seeing us as a way of making a living / making ends meet.

[jayohaitchenn]

Michael Pook has been a Swindon fan all his life.

I'll take the mercenaries, thanks.

[janaage]

Jerel Ifil is one of the good guys imo.

[Jamiesfuturewife]

I dont know what mercenary means  

[RobertT]

All of them are mercanaries now, if you use that term.  The link to local club is long gone and players have generally spent their formative years signed up to a clubs youth system so don't really become fans.  As such, combined with the big bucks at the top, it's now a career choice as opposed to doing something for the love of it.

[BANGKOK RED]

I dont know what mercenary means  

Somebody who does something JUST for the money basically.

[Rich Pullen]

All of them are mercanaries now, if you use that term.  The link to local club is long gone and players have generally spent their formative years signed up to a clubs youth system so don't really become fans.  As such, combined with the big bucks at the top, it's now a career choice as opposed to doing something for the love of it.

Essentially you're right and maybe I could've found a better phrase.

But in the modern game Lee Peacock is a good example of someone who, yes, at first joined for other reasons but now plays with a passion for the football club that goes beyond payday.

Michael Pook is a curious one - he had the fantastic opportunity of winning over the fans because he is 'one of us' but somehow, to a large extent, failed - not always because of poor perfomances but because to watch him you'd never guess he is a local lad playing for the club he supports.

[Arriba]

i'd say every footballer is in it for themself.if it suits them to stay, good money,getting in the team,success,like the area etc,etc, then they will want to.same goes for moving clubs.
just like anyone else who works. they do whats best for them.
as long as they give their all whilst here, then thats good enough for me.

[stfctownenda]

i'd say every footballer is in it for themself.if it suits them to stay, good money,getting in the team,success,like the area etc,etc, then they will want to.same goes for moving clubs.
just like anyone else who works. they do whats best for them.
as long as they give their all whilst here, then thats good enough for me.

I would disagree that EVERY played is like that, how would you explain someone like Fleetwood at Forest Green who had the chance to go pro but turned it down as he wants to help them get up this season then look at options in the summer.

[Matchworn Shirts]

I always thought its was a sad day when you see shite players like some of the ones we have had and others in the same division get money greedy.

The unfortunate thing is that they are all mercanaries now - I think its jsut a fact we have to accept.

I know I am biased because I like Newcastle, but for me Alan Shearer was one of the last of his kind. He could have left Newcastle several times for any club in the world more or less, but he chose to stay with his team the team he supported as a boy (albeit on very, very good wages) - but he could have gone elsewhere for more money, and definately more medals without any doubt but he gave it all up to play for his team.

[Invincible]

The most loyal players i can think of are Matt Le Tissier, Totti, Shearer and Maldini.    

Anyone think of any others?

[Batch]

Even then Le Tiss and Shearer got branded unambitious by the fans of other clubs!

[RobertT]

Peacock plays with passion and gives his all to the club he is at, not to be confused with blind loyalty.  He'd go if a better offer was available I would expect - how can anyone 100% loyal play for both Bristol City and Swindon?  I respect him more than most, but I'm not expecting him to be another Trollope.

[Dozno9]

We all do the jobs we do for money and not the love, if our pay stopped tomorrow then we would all find another job.

Many of our players stayed over many seasons despite not being paid all the time, Sturrock stayed at the beginning of last season despite not being paid. There are plently of examples of "loyal" behaviour.

I agree RobertT about Peacock, he is honest and says he loves the club, blah, blah but to be honest he is probably playing at the highest level he could be for a 32 year old. If he was to leave he wouldn't be offered the contract he has been and for the money he's on.

By the same view as some has stated is Blackburn loyal? does he want to play for the club? Not really, he knows he won't play and is probably on a fairly decent wage.