Does Ched Evans realise playing professional football is a privilege, not a right?

After wanting the dust to settle from Oldham’s aborted and ill-advised attempt to sign the convicted rapist Ched Evans before writing this, his legal team has today submitted ‘fresh evidence’ in their latest bid to get his conviction overturned. Which has compelled me to pipe up on this issue, where it seems Evans, his legal team and (unsurprisingly) members of the football community still haven’t grasped the full ramifications of the crime he’s been convicted for and why there is such fierce opposition to him returning to the professional ranks.

Whilst the continued lack of a moral barometer in football allowed both Sheffield United and Oldham to consider re-signing Evans, the reality that supporters or sympathisers of Evans are choosing to ignore is that playing professional is a privilege, and not a right, as they would have you think. A privilege – besides the wages across the country’s top four divisions which I can bet are well above the current average UK annual salary of £26,500 – that comes with a high-profile, public-facing responsibility of being a role model who represents clubs, communities, towns, cities, years of history, countries (Wales in the case of Evans), our national game, sponsors and professional sport as a whole.

Yes, having served (only half of) his sentence, Evans has every right to pursue new employment and move forward with his life without prejudice. The old adage says everyone deserves a second chance. But that employment does not have to be professional football, a job that comes with a profile, lifestyle, responsibility and higher-than-average wages that only a lucky view will ever enjoy. Put another way, if a recognisable or high-profile figure such as an MP, television presenter or company CEO were convicted of the same crime as Evans, would they even be allowed to entertain the thought of returning to that same position or holding public office?

Especially, after seemingly showing no signs of remorse or regret until issuing a carefully worded and belated apology to their victim? (In the wake of public pressure deterring Oldham from signing Evans).

Because that in effect is what football would be condoning if Evans were to return to its paid ranks – unless his conviction is overturned.

Whether Gerrard is jumping ship or has been pushed, Liverpool still can’t afford to lose him

As a Liverpool fan, the surprising news of Steven Gerrard’s (premature) departure was certainly not the New Years gift I was hoping for. For the second half of the season, an error free Simon Mignolet or an injury free Daniel Sturridge was closer to what I had in mind. But after cutting through the crimson waves of emotion, sadness, sentiment and appreciation that have greeted Gerrard’s announcement to seek pastures new, despite advancing years and the inevitable restriction of his abilities, this season – with the possible exception of Raheem Sterling – he is once again proving to be Liverpool’s best player. And Liverpool can ill afford to let him leave and should have done more to keep him.

At the time of writing, his match-winning brace against AFC Wimbledon has put Liverpool into the next round of the FA Cup taking him three goals clear as the club’s top scorer this season. His fourth goal in two games as manager Brendan Rodgers has finally realised the most effective place to deploy his aging skipper is higher up the pitch – as Rafa Benitez first did – where his in still-in-tact match-winning thrusts are best utilised.

This is surely why Brendan Rodgers – as big a Gerrard fan as any of his previous managers at Anfield – wants to measure his game time so that he’s available for the key battles. A strategy, despite Gerrard’s apparent fear of becoming a ‘squad player’, that has seen Anfield’s most celebrated no.8 once again be amongst the team’s top league starters this term. Against the backdrop of Frank Lampard’s continued excellence at Man City after being discarded by Chelsea, it beggars belief that Gerrard is even being allowed to leave, before you even consider how much experience and know how would be lost. Amidst the accolades and eulogies, the PR spin from Gerrard and Liverpool is clouding whether he has jumped, is being pushed or has simply misinterpreted Rodgers wanting to protect his 34 year old legs. But what is clear is that even after 17 years of distinguished service and excellence, this Liverpool side will be a significantly lesser team without Gerrard in it.

Nobody wins when sports stars attack those they acheive success with

Each year brings yet another revealing-must-have-warts and all autobiography from a sporting icon either retired, soon to pack it all in or in the cases of Messers Beckham and Owen, still safely in mid-career (cashing in whilst their celebrity stock is high).  Last year it was football’s ‘Sir Alex’ and this year it is cricket’s ‘KP’, two men united by their almost unparalleled success, forthright opinions, unshakable self-belief in their ability, and confidence bordering on (and sometimes crossing into) the arrogant. So it comes as no surprise that both has upset, and continues to rile, former colleagues, friends and team-mates as they re-count past glories, victories and defeats.

What is surprising and slightly saddening is that the mud-slinging is from two men who both played instrumental roles in periods of uncharted success for Manchester United and the England cricket team respectively. Nobody is naive enough to believe that in every team, everyone is best friends, whistling in the shower, holding hands and singing ABBA songs to one another. Like any successful organisation – in fact, ANY organisation – not everyone will see eye to eye. But whether it’s the pursuit of silverware and trophies, or promotion and pay-rises, human beings have long ago realised the best teams / workforces are ones that pull in the same direction.

However true or accurate their accounts actually are, they only serve to cheapen and tarnish the all-conquering sides they were both integral to. Sports men and women involved in elite sport are incredibly driven souls and the pursuit of success requires that few prisoners be taken and that quarters are not often given, but it shouldn’t mean we then attack and even humiliate those who’ve sweated blood to help us achieve success. Because then we are effectively saying it’s okay to use, manipulate and exploit anyone as long as they help us achieve our goals. A scary prospect if we all applied that kind of thinking.

Ten ‘alternative’ Jose Mourinho Christmas sound bites

Jose Mourinho’s post-match taunt that Arsenal players ‘like to cry’ after the Gunners and their manager vented their irritation with Chelsea’s tough tackling during Monday’s drab 0-0 draw got me thinking about ten ‘alternative’ festive or New Year’s statements you’re unlikely to hear from ‘The Happy One’ this Christmas*.

* Please note the below statements are all fictional and at no time is any claim being made they were uttered by Jose Mourinho or his staff (though I’d pay very good money to hear him say ANY of them).

Merry Christmas everyone!

1. I’m essentially a defensive minded coach whose success is routed in stopping other teams from playing. Win by taking risks? I’m the Floyd Mayweather of football m*therf*cker! I’m still learning how best to deploy attacking players, Ronaldo pretty much carried Real Madrid during my time there. And yet I still couldn’t win the European Cup. Not so special after all eh?

2. I send Rafa Benitez a Christmas card every year. Easter too, if I have time to get round to it. What a guy.

3. John Terry is a player with little shame, in all likelihood a racist, though if he helps win me football matches he is still a ‘champion’ in my eyes. What did he say to Anton Ferdinand again?

4. Of course I wanted to be Manchester United manager – who the f*ck is David Moyes anyway? The timing was perfect but I suppose I’m too controversial and never stay anywhere long enough to finish a big ‘project’. And even I couldn’t keep Anderson in my squad.

5. There’s nothing wrong with constantly reverting to players you trust and have managed before. You know the saying, age is just a number always more important than goals per season. That’s why Eto instead of Lukaku was a no brainer. Duh!

6. Hiding in a laundry bin? That’s rubbish! I mean, it was a rubbish bin and of course I was hiding in there. Take that Platini!

7. Sir Alex Ferguson is an infinitely better manager than me. I was rolling in money during my first spell at Chelsea and at Real Madrid and guess what…never took a team to a Champions League final. #winning!

8. Arsene Wenger is really my half-brother, we’re just siblings squabbling really. It’s ‘cos I got the looks at birth, hence why he’s always been determined to play more attractive football than me.

9. I fucking love sliding on my knees when my team scores. If only I could do a proper Klinsmann. Groundsmen never water the touchlines enough. Bastards.

10. ‘Special’ is a strong word, I did okay at Porto. And Madrid. Fair is fair, Rafa winning the Champions League with that Liverpool team of nobodies was way more special. I sent him an extra Christmas card for that, though The Drog will always be my Christmas number one.

Wilshere’s nationalistic flag waving shows why English football is being left behind

Seeking to clarify and defend his comments about why ‘foreigners’ shouldn’t be eligible to play for the England football team, which ignited mini media and Twitter storms last week, Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere was “…just saying his opinion.” Fair enough, as we live in a democracy founded on the premise of free speech.

But Jack the Lad’s patriotic words – supported by the pre-historic football views of chest-beating, Neanderthal Match Of The Day pundit Alan Shearer – demonstrate why the England national team, English club game and England players are increasingly being left behind by other nations. And other sports in this country.

The advent of full-time time professionalism, advances in sports science, million pound TV deals, lottery funding and increased global exposure has seen sports such as cricket, cycling, rugby union, swimming and athletics flourish, delivering a steady stream of successful international teams and champions. All embracing new ideologies, avenues and ways of thinking in the pursuit of success; without sacrificing our precious national identity. Wiggins, Woodward, Wilkinson, Radcliffe, Flintoff and Addlington are as ‘English’ as they come.

And whilst nobody is pretending athletes qualifying to represent England or Great Britain purely through historical ancestry or residency are descendants of King Arthur, they are reflective of Britain’s modern day, multi-cultural society. Spawned in a large part by the length of the Old Empire’s reach abroad.

By national and international law, anyone living in the UK, amongst its citizens, contributing to its economy and wellbeing, is entitled via citizenship to choose if they want that commitment honoured. So why can’t sportsmen and women do the same?

The battlefield cry echoing through Jack’s words of “We are English. We tackle hard, are tough on the pitch and are hard to beat”, sound like nostalgic sound bytes from the 60s, 70s or even 80s. The game has moved on, whilst English attitudes have not. Identity is precious, but nature dictates evolution is necessary for survival. The alternative is extinction. A tad dramatic, but I hope you see the point.

Ironically, Wiltshire is the standard bearer for a more technically astute generation of England football players, trying to break free of the shackles of Shearer & Co.’s preferred of recipe of 4-4-2, high-tempo, crosses and bucket loads of passion.

But until the English game embraces modern attitudes towards possession, tactics and coaching, like dear old Jack, it will remain stuck in the last century.