RESPECT: Does Barcelona’s Pretty Face Hide A Dark Heart?
Russell Drury gives an alternative view to everyone’s second-favourite team
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Russell Drury gives an alternative view to everyone’s second-favourite team
moreRussell Drury’s RESPECT column looks at the examples of ‘gamesmanship’ shown on the highest stage and identifies the issues that could become the major talking points at this summer’s World Cup.
moreHas Neil Warnock gone a step too far? Russell Drury looks at the latest outburst from outspoken Crystal Palace manager in this week’s RESPECT column.
moreThe likes of Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho are intelligent men and their mind games are clever, calculated and always laced with a touch of humour. They are wind-up merchants and they know it, and know when to say the right thing at the right time in pre-match build-ups.
moreRussell Drury gets serious with some appropriate New Year’s Resolutions aimed at changing the ways of those that fell foul of the RESPECT campaign last year. Take heed!
moreWhat upsets me more though is the lack of scrutiny our homegrown players are given when they go to ground. If England wants to be the country that preaches fairness to the world, we need to start making examples of these players.
moreAnd yet our pundits and journalists continue to mock any side that is below us in the world rankings. While diving, cheating and treatment of referees regularly falls under scrutiny, the respect for the opposition always seems to be forgotten
moreThere is a strong argument that the Respect campaign, rather than being focused on amateur football, should begin at the very top. This is fair enough, but it is in the lower leagues that you will see matches without a referee because there simply aren’t enough to go round.
moreBut what about the people who pay to watch the game? Surely, we want to see a contest played out fairly without diving, sneaky handballs or ‘phantom’ goals? Apparently not.
moreThe fact is, referees can make some bad decisions. Sometimes they are horrendously bad. But that does not mean they are the sole reason behind a result. This has to stop.
moreHalloween weekend managed to conjure up the worst in players with a record nine sending-offs. Russell Drury looks at the implications for the RESPECT campaign and in particular the manner in which players overreact.
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