no player is bigger than the club. and I think it is very dangerous to treat academy graduates any differently to the other players. we fans are in danger making a rod for our own back, if we contribute to a situation where they can use the fan's loyalty to dictate terms, or pick and choose what they want to do. once they are establlished full squad members, with a couple of seasons under their belt, they have to be treated exactly like any other player.
really it's not the poor form that has changed my mind. it's that interview from last month, plus the poor form, plus the stories in the paper.
he shouldn't have criticised hughes the moment he was out of the door. That and the constant stories surrounding his future suggest loyalty is not a strong point of his. It also suggested to me that he has forgotten that last season's heroics began and ended with his determination to take full responsibility for making the most of his gifts. I find that very worrying when his biggest strengths are his mentality, focus, awareness. He was also foolish to have a little dig at Mancini for playing him out of position. This club is moving forward at a pace, he can't think we have an obligation to build the team around him, he has to show that he is determined to make the most of his opportunities whenever they arrive.
last season was magnificent. at times this season I've looked at him and thought, my god, he has improved technically, he could really turn out to be something very special. but if he isn't completely committed to making it happen here, if he really thinks the grass is greener, then I'd let him go, because what it would really mean is that he has regressed to someone who is looking to solve his problems by changing the situation, rather than taking full responsibility for himself.
if that is the case, and he did move, it's entirely possible that he could improve and make us look very foolish. but that happens sometimes, there is nothing you can do about it. it might be that if he was forced to become just another player at another club, that situation would bring the best out of him.
I rate the guy, nothing would make me happier than for him to stay and to go on to become the player I think he can be. he has some rare gifts. what I'm saying is, if he isn't committed to taking responsibility for himself, and doing everything he can to make it happen here, it just won't happen. and if he coasts he won't be of any use to this team, he's just not the kind of player who can get by on natural talent alone. that scenario would be much worse than seeing him fulfil himself somewhere else.
