A new-found respect for an owner, ‘sleeper, drinker’ and captain, leader, villain
MAYBE I’m getting soft in my old age but I felt a surge of admiration this week for two men I’ve spent years kicking.
Who didn’t laugh at a court being told that whenever Mike Ashley is bored at meetings he slides under the table and falls asleep?
Or that during one meeting, in a pub, he vomited into a fireplace to wild applause after downing 12 pints and as many vodka shots in a drinking challenge?
This is the very definition of an owner thinking like his fans, Mike. So why have you hidden this loveable side for so long?
Then there’s John Terry signing for Aston Villa. It’s easy to see this as the latest example of the self-styled legend’s Trumpesque narcissism. Especially after he referenced himself in the third person at his unveiling: “Aston Villa will get 100 per cent of John Terry this year.”
Or the David Brentesque response when it was pointed out that Villa fans, like most outside Chelsea, loathe him: “When I walk down the street, whether it be a Tottenham supporter or an Arsenal supporter, they’ll say, ‘I don’t particularly like you but you’re a good footballer and I appreciate what you’ve done in the game.’”
Words that sound as credible as the Crystal Palace fan who was kung-fu kicked by Eric Cantona, claiming all he’d said was: ‘Off you go, Cantona – it’s an early bath for you!’”
But despite the instinctive cynicism that accompanies most things Terry says and does, I respect him for dropping down a division and taking a basic pay cut (albeit with hefty bonuses) to remain playing competitive football as he approaches his 37th birthday.
He had plenty of other offers to earn more, and play at a higher level, from Premier League sides West Brom, Stoke and Bournemouth. At his age and with his wealth and honours, it would have been easy to just go out at the top, head to the pundit circuit and play a lot of golf. Or go into semiretirement in China or the USA, where he wouldn’t be judged as he topped up his pension pot. Instead, he’s taking on a fight to get out of one of the most competitive leagues in Europe, where the standard is high, opponents can be brutal, and he certainly will be targeted and judged, not to mention ridiculed, if it all doesn’t go to plan. As for Villa, you can see why they’re labelling Terry’s capture a coup and feeling pretty chuffed with themselves. Apart from everyone talking about them again, fans are ecstatic that he snubbed Harry Redknapp at Birmingham City where a better offer awaited. I just hope they’re prepared for the possibility it won’t work out. The situation has similarities with Joe Cole moving from Chelsea to Anfield in 2010, which Liverpool also sold as a coup, mainly because the player had snubbed Arsenal and Spurs. The euphoria was short-lived though, when it became clear very quickly why the Blues had let Cole go, and Liverpool were landed with a very expensive misfit. It’s possible that Villa may feel like that in a couple of months and Birmingham fans could be relieved they spent the £100,000 a week they’d offered Terry on four other players who do the business. But for now those fans should enjoy the surge of optimism. And the Captain, Leader, Villain should be commended for leaving his comfort zone and having the courage to believe that he won’t end a long and glorious career with laughter ringing in his ears.