The pros who place wages above loyalty and professional conduct

At a time when the business around the world are universally tightening their belt buckles amid fears of an imminent recession, there remains a breed of character in the beautiful game who believe they are owed a living, and clubs should feel blessed to pay them top dollar for their services.

In no particular order, here’s ten people in football who are more concerned about putting another Maserati on the driveway than advancing the prospects of their club…

Emanuel Adebayor
It’s possible that Adebayor feels unappreciated by Arsenal fans, who prefer to whine about his misses against Liverpool and Man United rather than his 30 goals. Yet the way he pledged to stay at Arsenal, only to U-turn hours later was bold behaviour for a player who has given his club to just one great season and no trophies.

Frank Lampard
Princess Frank is always eager to show his love for Chelsea by kissing his badge at every opportunity, but it seems there are limits to his affection. Despite turning 30 recently, Lampard believes that a four-year deal at £140,000-a-week is unreasonable; only a five-year £150,000-a-week deal will suffice. Otherwise, he will be kissing Inter Milan’s badge/ Jose’s lips in the very near future.

Cristiano Ronaldo
Despite signing a five-year deal for £120,000-a-week, making him United’s highest-paid player ever, just over a year ago, Ronaldo believes it would be akin to slave labour to keep him there any longer. Rumours he would be offered a stupendous £200,000-a-week and the chance to sit on Sepp Blatter’s knee have clearly influenced him.

Robinho
The poor Brazilian

To pay or not to pay, that is the question

Obviously, Lamps is a Chelsea favourite and an integral part of the current team, however, his latest rumoured contract demands see him asking for £140k+ a week for the next four years. That will mean the largest weekly withdrawal from the Bank of Chelsea will be going to a 34 year old.

So should the Blues acquiesce to Princess Frank’s demands, or should they wave him goodbye as he prances off to Spain? Vote now!

Is Lamps a victim of the moneymen, or making his bed and crying in it?

Despite being one of the best paid players in the world and an a huge asset to his club, Frank Lampard has decided to lay his cards on the table and speak to the press about his contract once more. Negotiating huge deals should be second nature to a club like Chelsea, so why has this scenario become so messy? Is it because Frank wants a get out clause (as some papers are suggesting) and more lightbulbs around his dressing room vanity mirror, or does it all come down to simply wanting a few more notes from Mr Abramovich every week? Who is the villain here?

Get voting!

Chelsea star becomes master of contradiction in puzzling contract outburst

Frank Lampard quotes in this morning’s Sun:

“I said at the beginning of the season that I didn’t want to talk about the contract because I wanted to concentrate on my football.”

A few sentences later:

“If we wait until May and nothing happens then I’ve only got a year left on my contract - which is not a position I want to be in. I’ve made it very clear that I want to be here but I also want to know what is going on.”