Article by Shaun ReynoldsClick here to follow e-Spurs on Twitter!
There comes a time when most vehicles are parked up in that lock-away or either sold off/part exchanged for a desired newer improved model. If you're a driver then you've experienced this at some stage or another.
It's the same thing with footballers, ultimately they are vehicles which clubs utilise to fulfil their clubs league ambitions, though they are rewarded in a much more satisfactory way, more so than just receiving an extra coat of polish on the odd weekend and the annual service.
Players are needed, utilised and their energy and talent (best footballing years) put to use within the club they choose to sign for, if a club is fortunate there comes a time when their experience comes to a par with their ability and it shows earning vital points or victories during a season or competition.
Then we have the time when all the experience in the world can't outweigh the physical deficiencies age has forced upon an ageing player. Loss of pace, fitness issues and ability to recover as speedily, even lessening resistance to knocks and niggles.
Just like the car that requires too much attention between services and makes more noise than it use too, doesn't quite run as smoothly and is starting to appear outdated especially when the neighbours and guys at work have stepped it up a notch with newer more powerful and technically superior models, there comes a time to make a decision.
Thank the man upstairs that cars don't have a say in this decision, the owner and finances are the key factors here.
Unlike in comparison the scenario with an ageing footballer reaching the end of is playing days, still clutching to the clubs badge crest, turning up for training an hour before everyone else, finding all sorts of inventive uses for himself in an attempt to highlight his flexibility and warrant a stay.
You'll probably find him serving lunch in the club canteen, taking the managers clothes to the dry cleaners as its 'on my way'. Cleaning the car park and helping to clean up the changing rooms post match!
Nothing wrong with that at all, trying to lengthen your stay at the club you love and supporting it as bet you feel you can putting yourself to use. But when your cub attempts to sell you season after season, various managers freeze you out of the team in an attempt to force you out of the club and you're told your no longer part of the current plans, then perhaps you need to take note.
Resist this, yes, if you feel that your club needs you, if you feel you can still perform to the level your club needs to maintain in order to make their ambitions a reality. It may prove to be beneficial to the club during periods of unforeseen injury crisis's. Your refusal to go may prove well judged, but surely even after this you should respect yourself come the end of the season and then bow out gracefully!
The club has shown that they do not see you as part of the future on the pitch, your performances over the past two seasons have highlighted your technical and more so major physical deficiencies which other teams seek to expose during games. You're now a weakness more than a strength.
The fans still respect what you gave, they still love you for loving us and the club but that can change in an instant and needn't be the case. Don't let your love affair with the club and professional stubbornness cause you to put your own desires above that of the clubs aims and ambitions. Don't hold back the club you claim to love.
Michael Dawson, we wrote this article for you, it's definitely time to go.
Though if you must stay then it would be in an ambassador role similar to that of Ledley King, but without as much accolade and definitely not at Legend status. Keep away from first team proceedings and support the club in other ways if you have no ambition to put what playing days you have left to use at another lesser club with lesser demands.
Nobodies saying you're not good enough to play Premier League football, you're just not good enough to play for Tottenham Hotspur anymore, and you being club Captain actually weakens us substantially. Great organiser, yes, giving maximum effort, yes, ability sadly no!
Yes the truth does hurt, especially when your hiding from it Mr Dawson.
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Agree entirely with everything you said in your well written article.
ReplyDeleteYes, Dawson has been a good player and Captain for Spurs, but it's now time to call it a day and move on.
Yeah totally agree, he has been a great servant over the years and also a great captain but time does run out for us all and capt Dawson's bell is now ringing.
ReplyDeleteI think if you are to criticise someone for their grammar, then a basic spell check should then be followed by a brief proof read, as you will find that the comment should have been "for YOUR affront" rather than "for YOU affront". Can you spot the difference!
ReplyDeleteWhat a stupid article. In case you forgot this is the player that the club who supposedly want him out so badly offered him a three year deal to stay only a year ago.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the author loves his job so much that with a lucrative contract for the next couple of years would happily take any offer on the table maybe uproot from family and friends and move to a new location
Apart from the fact that Daws is still only 30, comparitively young as defenders go, is one of the few players at the club with leadership, drive, character and experience and still overall a very good player. Sure last season the defence struggled but Hugo aside they all struggled Dawson was far from the worst even if he didn't have a great season, unsurprising really though with different coaches and a constantly changing defensive line up
We could use a new CB in the mix but I'd rather see Kaboul still struggling to get his old form back after two years or Chiriches still looking a long way from a PL CB leave before Dawson
Either way if it takes someone to have to leave before we add a new player it's hardly any of those players faults but poor management at the club
Part of the problem,as I understand it, is that Dawson only has until December to qualify for a testimonial. In which, case, surely the club could stretch a point and assure him of one even if he goes now.
ReplyDeleteI have always liked Daw's and think his love for, and loyalty to, us is admirable - how many of the mercenaries we have bought in the last two seasons give a toss about Spurs?
ReplyDeleteTime is catching up with him, but he is nowhere near as bad as some people would have us believe. He isn't very quick and won't adapt well to the "high-line" but remains very effective in the air, makes many last ditch tackles preventing goals and will throw himself in front of any ball - unlike two I could mention in relation to duties in a defensive wall. I think his experience as senior professional adds a lot, but I don't see him as first-choice for all games.
As for Kaboul, now there is a man that is past his sell-by date with us. He seems asleep most of the time in matches, loses defenders and, on last years showing, makes suicidal tackles to the detriment of the side.
Lol, nice re-write. But you still missed one ****you're***
ReplyDeleteyou will never break top 4 with dawson at the back his commitment is great but that dont always win u fotball matches!! we need a young an confident on the ball center back
ReplyDeleteI'd say no(politely) to Dawson.
ReplyDeletedawson was bad and should go, not good enough one captain hugo
ReplyDeleteI assume that you know Michael Dawson personally by the assumptions that you have made in your article. If you don't know him, or have inside information at White Hart Lane I don't know how you can possibly know what has or hasn't been said to the player. Have any other teams actually approached Spurs on his availability, and if so what wasTottenham's reaction to any approaches?
ReplyDeleteTo just assume that the player is digging his heels in and waiting for a testimonial without knowing any facts is a bit disrespectful to a loyal player.
Why should he move on? He has a contract and is presumably on good money (£60k per week?) He is due a 10 year testimonial this year. Presumably he will only go when that is finished. He could even wait until the end of his contract. He can then leave on a Bosman free and then be in a position o negotiate a better wage deal!
ReplyDeleteWHY SHOULD HE GO? Just to please the fans? Wake up and smell the coffee!! Football is all about money! He's earning a great salary. He's not nuts! Playing football is his job. Would you leave your job if you knew that if you stayed you would be getting a big fat pay check? Of course not. It's like leaving your job before getting a big fat redundancy pay out.
Did anyone here actually watch the game on Saturday?
ReplyDeleteIf anyone should leave, you've got to put Kaboul ahead of Dawson.
Vlad, another one not good enough yet.
Verthonghen, very good when he defends, but he return to defensive duties after going forward are lackadaisical.
If you really believe this then you should never whinge when a player refuses to show loyalty and does a Modric strop. Dawson is doing the opposite, sometimes football is more than about progress. I'd rather see a player in the shirt that loves the club than a mercenary doing his 5 minutes.
ReplyDeleteI'd understand this article a little more if the player in question hadn't been through exactly this with AVB only to prove his worth to that manager and spend the next two seasons being almost an ever present starting player.
ReplyDeleteLikewise, if it were a player with a record of strop throwing and undermining managers, fair enough. But it isn't.
So to pen such nonsence about a man who embodies team spirit and a die for the cause attitude in all situations just seems crazy.
We have lost no one in recent years that we should not be pleased to be able to replace with some one loyal. Dawson is our captain for good reason and I hope he keeps fighting for Spurs.
Well I for one am just about sick to death of so called Tottenhams show them a good solid dependable player and it out the door ,but show them a so called namepreferably foreign, who they havnt got a clue about its yeah yeh must have him he'd be a great fit.So Dawson wont fit in Poncho's high pressing game,well we saw what happened to avbs high pressing game .Unsuprisingly the West Ham game looked straight out of one of avb's broadsheets.avb mk2 perhaps.
ReplyDelete