He has been lambasted in several quarters for upstaging and indeed undermining the recently departed Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas, but in the victorious midweek triumph over Napoli last week showed John Terry again passionately directing his playing counterparts on the pitch, with his interim manager Roberto Di Matteo only a few footsteps in front of the club captain after he was substituted.
Whilst the media coverage of Terry’s actions in recent months have been huge, with several players including Arsenal’s Wojciech Szczesny ironically claiming ‘the English lads run Chelsea’, Terry has remained committed to his motives and remains adamant that it was the whole playing and backroom staff at fault for the clubs poor form and not the culpability of any sole individual.
But with four wins out of four in Di Matteo’s short caretaker charge and with a new wave of optimism going into the final straight of the season, should more players indeed undertake a John Terry or sub-managerial role and be more vocal during match days? After all his passion is in the right place, isn’t it?
First and foremost, it must be contended that John Terry is a rare example of the ‘one club player’ these days and his connection to Chelsea and the fact he is a former England captain playing in this country means he negotiates a greater sense of power when talking or communicating anything related to the club. In this respect, he has one over on the foreign players in that the fans will always respect him and hold his views valid.
Terry’s commitment to Chelsea has always remained, and whilst opposing fans have sometimes viewed him as arrogant and sometimes a trouble making influence in the squad, his viewpoints have always centred around the good of the club and indeed winning. A trait Terry has been associated with since his time in the Premier League.
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So what’s wrong with some added motivation from the playing staff? Scott Parker reportedly took a West Ham half time team talk during last year’s game at the Hawthorns whereby the Hammers trailed by three goals to West Brom at the break, only for a miraculous comeback to take place at 3-3. Perhaps Parker’s doing over the blurred guidance of then manager Avram Grant?
The thing is, motivational speeches from players will always be associated with an undermining or disrespect of the manager. In any team sport, the manager-player relationship is governed by a respect and admiration of one distinct individual. Time and time again, cases of ‘player power’ often represent a period of struggle whereby a manager has lost the dressing room and inspirational players are then looked upon to deliver some sort of incentive.
It is unusual for any such media or digests to look upon cases of ‘player power’ in an opposite or positive light. For some fans, Terry embodies the passion, determination and hunger needed with any squad to sample victory, and this added motivation can surely be employed parallel to the wiser guidance and functional know-how of Roberto Di Matteo. Just think if a few members of the substitute’s bench rallied round a bit more and had a more collective input, surely this could be used in a productive fashion?
Of course, arguments that the touchline would represent a vociferous circus of misinterpretation and that the manager’s role is invalid if every player believes he is one are comprehendible. But wouldn’t it be refreshing to see players more actively involved on the touchline instead of disappearing deeper into their oversized coats whilst wearing the expression that they don’t really want to be there. If a more active role where to be employed, the substitute’s bench would not only represent the culmination of a player’s ninety minutes but the beginning of a new job whereby the player has to cheer or direct his team mates for the time remaining in the match.
John Terry will always receive criticism that his influence in the Chelsea dressing room is too large. But in terms of responsibility, perhaps many more players should take a more active role in turning around the clubs fortunes in a more collective and unified manner so football fans and onlookers alike can see a more harmonious spirit.
What do you think of these ideas? Should John Terry’s passion and support be celebrated more readily than it is condemned? Follow me @ http://twitter.com/Taylor_Will1989
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