Comments on: Nicolas Anelka dying with laughter at French clowns

By: carol

carol — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 19:35:54 +0000

Why should he be punished by and pay money to an organization that doesn’t pay his wages? It’s like a charity suing its volunteers for money on grounds of disrespecting the incompetent boss.

If what the gossip rags say is true, then Domenech can sue Anelka for defamation. The thing is, Anelka states that he only said “I won’t stay in the front,” and “deal with your team.” Disobeying orders, which Joe Cole repeatedly and continuously did last season, but you didn’t see the Chels taking him to court and going all Mutu about it.

If the FFF follows your legal council and goes for the cash, then they lose whatever thin thread of respect they are hanging on to in the eyes of the public. Anelka could just ignore the fine, as he should only care about the FA. He ignores the fine, further embarrassment. They take it to court, FIFA might see it as even more governmental meddling in Football and might seek censure.

They want to hide this stain, not smear it.

By: carol

carol — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 19:32:42 +0000

My contribution was just to highlight the awesomeness of the photo.

By: Sophie Stepover

Sophie Stepover — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:58:03 +0000

Nix…your view is nicely articulated. (As was Darren’s.)

I agree with your statement that Dommenech was a complete idiot. And I’m certain the team found him exceedingly frustrating and difficult to play for him. But didn’t Anelka (and the rest of the team) know this BEFORE they went to the World Cup?

I just think they could have handled things differently and still got their point across in a more professional, respectful manner.

But…it looks like I’m outnumbered in here on this issue…so I shall quietly slide my soapbox back under my desk.

By: nix

nix — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 15:49:37 +0000

Sophie – you raise some good points but I don’t think you are looking at this from the team’s perspective. Domenech was a complete idiot. Anelka respected those duties of which you stated, yet, Domenech couldn’t fulfill HIS duty to competently coach/manage his team. When Domenech couldn’t respect the team for what it was then how should the team be expected to respect him? The difference is the team TRIED to respect duties even after a horrible EURO 2008. Domenech stubbornly made horrible decisions and didn’t value the team privileged to him. Anelka is probably the most respectable player on the team because when shit finally hit the fan he was man enough to call the manager out for his incompetence.

By: Sophie Stepover

Sophie Stepover — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 15:22:29 +0000

And your contribution to this dialogue is what Carol??? Oh yes. The use of the word “moronic”. Thank you.

Darren…I know it’s selfish but I do admit that I would rather see my club’s players devote all their energies to league games…however…I still say that if someone commits to playing for a national team…they should honour that commitment. Maybe I’m old-school..but I believe there should still be a sense of pride and duty associated with representing your country–whether in sports, business or politics. If you don’t think your country deserves your dedication…or your prime minister/coach is a nimrod…don’t accept the call-up to the national stage.

By: carol

carol — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 15:12:35 +0000

Sophie’s comments are completely moronic. The photoshopped photo is hilarious.

By: Darren

Darren — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 14:27:17 +0000

Despite his slightly harsh tone, I do have to agree with Matt’s points. A ban is irrelevant for someone who has already said they won’t play for their country again. I’m always surprised at people who think that international football is the be all and end all of everything; not everyone thinks that way. Some players actually see their loyalties as being with the people that pay their wages, and are therefore quite happy not to play for their country again (whatever the reason).

I’m a United fan and I wish that Patrice Evra had received the same “punishment”. I’m thinking of taking it up with UEFA, in fact. Do I want the world’s best left-back to not have to travel to the back of beyond for meaningless friendlies? Hell no! Would I rather he had every summer off and rested ahead of the new season? Damn right I would.

The person that really loses out here is Blanc. He’s had some of his best players stripped from the team just so the FFF don’t (in their opinion) lose face. When the French end up playing Abidal, Govou and Gignac because better players aren’t available, and they don’t qualify for the next European championship, they’ll realise who lost out.

By: Sophie Stepover

Sophie Stepover — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 14:16:38 +0000

I know the national team doesn’t pay him wages. I should have been more specific and said they should have fined him the EQUIVALENT of six months wages.

I wonder if Anelka were representing his country at the Olympics…would he go on strike to protest the idiocy of the coaching staff? Or would he try to win the gold in spite of the coaching staff? I suspect he’d suck it up.