Richard Dunne {merged}

[OrigamiNinja]

Re: Daily Mail: Dunne calls Cook "Back Stabber"!

Dunne hits out at 'back-stabber' Cook over £6m City exit

LINK: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...-hits-stabber-Cook-6m-City-exit.html?ITO=1490

Richard Dunne has accused Manchester City of deceit in an incredible attack on the Barclays Premier League's big spenders.

Dunne, who began the season as captain at Eastlands but was sold to Aston Villa for £6million this week, says he was forced out by the club's executive chairman Garry Cook, who he claims 'doesn't understand football'.

Dunne said: 'All he wants is big-money players. He doesn't understand the core loyalty of the club and where it begins.

'For him I was probably a bit of a nuisance. I found out things that were going on behind my back and I wouldn't speak to him. Every time I came around he probably felt a bit uncomfortable.

'The manager (Mark Hughes) is very quiet, he does his own thing and I spoke with him a few times through the summer about what was going on. He was of the opinion that City needed two players for every position and that was the way the squad was going to work.

'The last time I spoke to him was in Africa after I had found out some other stuff. I said, "Where do I lie in the whole thing?" and he said they were trying to sign players and I would be part of his squad and I could fight for my place.

'He said I was still the captain and even last week he said to me he would rather I stayed but he was told we needed to get money in. I don't think it was his decision.

'They told me they have a certain amount of money they have to recoup each season to make things look better on the books. I could understand if I was being sold for £200m, it might make sense, but it was a bit strange really.

'It just needed people to be honest with me. I was getting phone calls from people saying Garry Cook (pictured) was trying to sell me behind my back, two months after me going to him and saying if he has any problems to come and deal with me. I'm disappointed with people who say one thing and then do the other.

'I'm not going to cry just because the club wanted to sell me - just don't do it behind my back.'

City spent £120m in their summer spree, adding centre backs Joleon Lescott and Kolo Toure to replace Dunne, as well as Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor, Roque Santa Cruz and Gareth Barry.

Dunne, now preparing for Ireland'sWorld Cup qualifier in Cyprus on Saturday, added: 'City have just signed Joleon Lescott and he's getting dog's abuse for being disloyal and breaking a contract he signed at Everton a year ago. But City have just done the exact same to me. It's not me who asked to leave.

'I would quite happily have stayed there and been part of the squad and fought for my place. I have been loyal to them for a long time but it was their decision to cancel a four-year contract.

'It seems to me the contract they gave me last year was just pointless. Twelve months down the line, when it doesn't suit them anymore, they just put it in the bin and say, "Off you go".'

At least Dunne is convinced Villa will be competing with City for a place in the top four and that their stability under Martin O'Neill will give his new club the edge.

The 29-year-old Dubliner, who will make his Villa debut in the Birmingham derby on his return from Ireland duty, added: 'It softens the blow. I'm moving to a club which has similar ambitions. Obviously, they don't have the financial backing of Man City but we have a squad as good as most in the league.

'It is difficult at City because of the amount of players that have come in. So far everything has gelled really well and the results have been really good, but when it gets difficult there's not really the bonding in the dressing room.

'Villa's squad is young and have been together a while and they have the confidence of last year, when they were fourth for a long time.'

Dunne's point about the City superstar culture was highlighted yesterday as Robinho admitted he put country before club by asking to sit out Sunday's 1-0 win at Portsmouth.

Robinho was desperate to be fit for Brazil's trip to Argentina tomorrow, when his country can put their great rivals in serious danger of missing next summer's World Cup. 'I asked to not play because I had pains in the ankle, but especially because Brazil v Argentina is more important,' he said.

Maybe the club felt exactly the same Richard? Maybe Hughes and Cook thought about how they had saved your City career the year before and had given you a new contract with a wage way above your actual ability and were unhappy with how you repaid them with your rank bad performances?

Everyone knows I dont like Dunne as a player but I have always said I have nothing against the guy personally. He has however gone down in my estimations after this interview. He would have gone up in my estimations if he would have actually had the guts to hold his hands up and say how he had been given a chance by Hughes and the club but had a terrible season last year.

If Dunne had performed as expected by Hughes when he gave him a new contract Dunne would not have had to worry about spending this season fighting for his place, he would still be captain and would still be a 1st team regular. The fact of the matter is he performed nowhere near the level expected of a centre back earning £50k pw and that is why he is no longer at the club. He can try pointing the finger at Hughes, Cook or the tea lady but the crux of it is that he was extremely poor and his performance lead to him leaving the club!

Bye bye Captain Calamity and good riddance!

 

[Surrey Blue]

wrong

The 9 is wrong but the rest of the statement is correct as he is the most red carded defender with 8, overall he shares the record with two others a forward and mid-fileder Even if some of them were absolute bollocks there is no mention of that. Then there is sending off in Euro when he put paid to our semi final chance

As well as the corner against Everton remember the absolute bollocks penalty against Bolton when in the final minutes he put is arm up and punched the ball away for no reason?

I can't understand why he has this Sainthood, give him by some on here, this bitter attack on the club does not surprise me one bit. Yes, it is an attack on the club as GC is the Executive Chairman; if he had any feelings for the club then he should have kept quite and saved them for his book instead of shit stirring. He was totally out of order at the end of last season with his behaviour over SGE including his send off in the 8-1 he was ready to leave the club and did not conduct himself with dignity. IMHO the worse Captain I can remember with no sign of leadership, he can't even organise himself never mind a team.

Agree 100%

 

[Ducado]

That's the game I am afraid not much room for sentiment, I say thanks for everything and you loyalty Richard, but time to move on, for whatever reason the management team did not see you as part of the future, and I guess I trust their judgement on this

 

[The Fat el Hombre]

Yea he's talking out of his arse with the contract talk. Just because Hughes had faith in him and backed him with a 5 year deal, doesn't mean Dunne can play shite for the rest of his contract and expect not to be sold. When they gave him the contract last year I'm sure they didn't see it as being pointless, but it became pointless after a year of terrible performances and Dunne only has himself to blame for that. Dunne was given a fair crack of the whip and blew it. The way he refers to his contract possible suggests that he was in a comfort zone

 

[CityPar]

The 9 is wrong but the rest of the statement is correct as he is the most red carded defender with 8, overall he shares the record with two others a forward and mid-fileder Even if some of them were absolute bollocks there is no mention of that. Then there is sending off in Euro when he put paid to our semi final chance

As well as the corner against Everton remember the absolute bollocks penalty against Bolton when in the final minutes he put is arm up and punched the ball away for no reason?

I can't understand why he has this Sainthood, give him by some on here, this bitter attack on the club does not surprise me one bit. Yes, it is an attack on the club as GC is the Executive Chairman; if he had any feelings for the club then he should have kept quite and saved them for his book instead of shit stirring. He was totally out of order at the end of last season with his behaviour over SGE including his send off in the 8-1 he was ready to leave the club and did not conduct himself with dignity. IMHO the worse Captain I can remember with no sign of leadership, he can't even organise himself never mind a team.

Agree 100%

It's difficult to argue with any of that and I for one have less respect for Dunne now following this outburst. Truth is on past performances City should never have renewed his contract. Still he'll be soon forgotten about when we kick on towards the top and Villa "benefit" from Dunnes qualities!

 

[Mike D]

Dunne was treated disgracefully, in fairness.

Garry Cook should be ashamed if what Richard said is true.

The man was player of the year 4 years in a row and almost single handedly kept us up many times.

People have short memories.

He's definitely as good as lescott.

To be forced out when he wanted to fight for his place, and to say we needed the money, is disgusting.

This is a great club but I hope this kind of behaviour is not the road we are going down because of our wealth.

Thanks and best of luck Richard.

Agreed the lack of respect shown is disgraceful and ashamed of how the club has behaved.

 

[OrigamiNinja]

Yea he's talking out of his arse with the contract talk. Just because Hughes had faith in him and backed him with a 5 year deal, doesn't mean Dunne can play shite for the rest of his contract and expect not to be sold. When they gave him the contract last year I'm sure they didn't see it as being pointless, but it became pointless after a year of terrible performances and Dunne only has himself to blame for that. Dunne was given a fair crack of the whip and blew it. The way he refers to his contract possible suggests that he was in a comfort zone

I agree, players cant have it both ways!

A contract isnt worth the paper it is written on when a player plays out of his skin and a bigger club comes in for him, we have just seen that with Lescott! Yet a player plays awful and doesnt deserve his place in the team and the player thinks the club should honour his contract rather than trying to cash in!

 

[CityPar]

Dunne was treated disgracefully, in fairness.

Garry Cook should be ashamed if what Richard said is true.

The man was player of the year 4 years in a row and almost single handedly kept us up many times.

People have short memories.

He's definitely as good as lescott.

To be forced out when he wanted to fight for his place, and to say we needed the money, is disgusting.

This is a great club but I hope this kind of behaviour is not the road we are going down because of our wealth.

Thanks and best of luck Richard.

Agreed the lack of respect shown is disgraceful and ashamed of how the club has behaved.

Really? You only have Dunnes' word this is how it all went down. Think we should hear both sides of the story before you slaughter my club. Otherwise why don't you disappear and follow Dunne to Villa.

 

[scall11]

My God some of you have short memories! I've flicked through this thread and can't believe what some of you are saying about Dunnie.

"the worse Captain I can remember"

"i’ll always miss your hoofs up into the stand and your big fat arse scoring endless own goals etc"

I don't seem to recall you saying stuff like that was it 16 months ago when he was voted player of the year by the fans for the third or fourth year on the row?

Unbelievable. I'm shocked at how some people have turned on Dunnie, in fact, I'm ashamed of some of the stuff being written on here about him.

 

[Braggster]

My God some of you have short memories! I've flicked through this thread and can't believe what some of you are saying about Dunnie.

"the worse Captain I can remember"

"i’ll always miss your hoofs up into the stand and your big fat arse scoring endless own goals etc"

I don't seem to recall you saying stuff like that was it 16 months ago when he was voted player of the year by the fans for the third or fourth year on the row?

Unbelievable. I'm shocked at how some people have turned on Dunnie, in fact, I'm ashamed of some of the stuff being written on here about him.

There have always been fans who didn't like Dunne; there have always been fans who haven't rated him. Plenty of fans have expressed gratitude, thanks and regret at his leaving too, so let's not pretend there aren't some Dunne fanboys as well.

The fourth POTY award was ridiculous, and many people said so at the time (should've gone to Martin Petrov).

I'd say it's to be expected that he'll be criticised after a year of poor performance and (in my opinion) poor captaincy.

However, I'm still grateful for the good service he has given us.