Interview shows John Terry to be small-minded and self-centered
Just had a quick read through the comments of Chelsea captain John Terry here (his interview in the ICON magazine published yesterday), and I’m afraid he should have kept his mouth shut and gotten on with the game instead of giving this interview.
He’s quite passionate about football – we see that at Chelsea so if he’s upset about losing the England captaincy and thinks of it as a snub to his leadership qualities, that’s understandable. The way he goes on in the interview, he’s defending himself against all the press he’s been getting about his ‘behavior’ off the pitch and on the pitch when playing for Chelsea and that his right.
On the other hand, giving such an interview – even if he’s talking about himself and Capello rather than anyone else – is essentially shitting on his teammate Rio Ferdinand, who has done, by all accounts, a fair job when asked to be Manchester United captain and has led his backline with authority and passion. You only need to see the bawling over Rio gives to EVDS when the senior man makes a mistake – if that’s not passion, what is?
Here’s part of what Terry said:
“If they don’t want an England captain fighting for England in every way possible, fighting to win the ball and come out of the tackle, fighting for the cause, then that’s down to them to make that decision.”
and…
“If Mr Capello wants someone who is going to go out there, desperate to win and to do everything it takes, then I’ll be his right choice. If not, that’s down to him to make the decision.”
A lot of what he says, I agree with. He wants to win, he fights hard, etc etc, I believe it and I value it. The only problem is that he does that for Chelsea, while not for England. None of his other teammates perform at the same level either as they do for their clubs, so you could argue that it’s relative, but if the whole team is playing piss-poor does that transform one man’s efforts into ‘great’? No, on an objective scale, Terry is a winner for Chelsea, not necessarily so for England.
But more than that, John Terry, as Chelsea captain and former England captain, and as a person who wants the armband so very much, should be smart enough not to put down his teammate and temporary captain the way he has in this interview. Where Rio Ferdinand talked about the temporary nature of his appointment and his desire to do the best for England, Terry was going on about how he deserved the captaincy.
Terry:
“The money, the lifestyle, counts for nothing, it’s about the performance. More than the performance, it’s the winning. I am not going to change. It’s for the people in charge, the new manager, to make their decision.”
This is outright whining and childish stubbornness. You’re being asked to lead by example, and part of that ‘leadership’ requires you to be respectful to your teammates as well as respectful of the spirit of the game. If you can’t do that, then at least perform when called upon.
At this point, JT is showing all the necessary passion and none of the intelligence that leadership requires. That might work in the Premier League, it doesn’t work on the international stage.
His comments are the sort of talk that divide teams – and it not only hurts his relationship with Rio but with other Manchester United players as well. I’m sure both are big enough to work it out between them, but if Terry wanted to keep his public image clean, he could have gone and fucked Britney Spears and caused less damage.
“At this point, JT is showing all the necessary passion and none of the intelligence that leadership requires. That might work in the Premier League, it doesn’t work on the international stage.”
On what basis, exactly? On the basis that Fabio Cannavaro reads di Lampedusa? On the basis that Didier Deschamps can do long division?
You. Are. Full. Of. Shit. You grab hold of a couple of quotes from some little magazine and your substandard collection of grey cells thinks Yes, I can squeeze 250 words out of this one. You’re either willfully misunderstanding a man who clearly isn’t the sharpest tool in the box, or you’re every bit as slow on the uptake as he is.
Terry was the first to congratulate Rio and send him a good luck text for the game.
Rio is not a captain, excellent defender, but he is no leader of men.
Leaders are born and not made. Terry has his faults and he needs to look at them otherwise it will stop him being the true leader he should be.
As for Rio go back to your day job, great defender, but no captain
JT shouldn’t have done the interview. He is being closely watched by Mr Capello and he will make his own decision in time. I’m sure he won’t be happy that any of his contenders are discussing it with anyone.
Not sure that I agree it shows too much disrespect to Rio, but it certainly shows a bit of naivety and a lack of thought.
I suppose some of JT’s comments can be warped by the press to deliver a slightly less than glamorous view, however I for one would rather have a passionte captain who leads from the front not one who avoids drug testing.If Capello wants a squeaky clean and a good image captain its got to be Steve G
Thom, surely he’ll also want one that can show he can lead at an international level? If so, Gerrard can’t be captain, the armband seems to transform the strong chance of him going missing to almost certainty.
By passionate Captain, you mean one who leads several Chelsea players in a good few matches, to THUG up referees, spitting venom like baying wolves, and then thinking it’s ok?. Being a public nuisance, peeing into plastic cups at bars because he’s so blind drunk he can’t find his way to the toilet. His behaviour is disgusting when he is out on the town, and an England captain should respectfully represent us when he is in the public eye too. Owen Hargreaves seems to be one of the few England players whose behaviour is exemplary on and off the pitch. I hope Terry never comes back as Captain. And Rio’s off field behaviour leaves a lot to be desired at times too.
Hey rob wy dont u F urself u frickin jack ass..WTF do u know abt football.I know rio is not a great leader but so is terry,he just wants all the attention all the time cmon men I would prefer gerrard as the captain..so go f ur self
craig mc..agree with u about hargreaves..maybe mr capello should take a look at hargraves as captain
A magazine article would’ve been written a week ago – just published today, so there’s no possible link with Ferdinand.
In any case, Rio only got it for one game and managed a 100% record of defeats in it. Capello had no confidence in him either, else he wouldn’t have only been given it for one game.
I imagine it was given to the unlikiest choice firts. The last time I saw Rio in a suit he was in court.
Blog shows Ahmed Bilal to be small minded and out of ideas.
Haven’t you noticed that last weeks flavour of the month was Ashley Cole and this week you are supposed to run down Wenger, Gallas and Arsenal’s chances of ever winning anything again.
Hargreaves? are you people insane? he shouldnt even be in the team…give the armband back to JT
I don’t think Ferdinand is outspoken enough to be a great captain but has enough quality to be a bloody good one, remember 2002 world cup anyone?
I tell you what Craig, Owen Hargreaves is a great shout for a captain, seems to be a nice lad, his behaviour is exemplary on and off the pitch and he is probably the best speaker on the whole team. He’s not frightened to shout at players either.
Hargreaves for captain!
Sam – get some specs mate!!!. Hargreaves was Englands best player at world cup in Germany – as most England fans agreed. He was amongst the top player ratings in all the papers today for his performance in the France game. John Terry is low life extraordinaire – he only leads Chelsea players into ref baiting and crying every time a decision goes against them. His off field behaviour is vile – and we need an ambassador to lead England, and not a lager lout.
Craig Mc. Does John Terry know you are stalking him? Oh a mate of mate of a mate was there to see him pissing in cups blah,blah,blah.As for ref baiting you are obviously either a united fan and needs to borrow the specs you thought sam should have or like a lot of tabloid readers thinks he has an original thought every time he reads the back pages. As for Hargreaves being captain how can you have a captain who is always injured. Fact-he has tendonitis in his knee a debilitating condition that never gets better. Yes that’s right Bayern caught united nicely with that signing. Check out the no. of games Hargreaves has played in last 3 seasons and it will decrease steadily
If you asked me (and not that my opinion counts for jack), I would rather take a humble, hard working player who would not look for any opportunity to talk to the media under the illusion that anyone actually give a toss what you think over a classless, arrogant thug who takes his LUCK of representing a nation for granted – any – day – of – the – week.
I doubt Hargreaves will be given the captaincy over the clamour of idiots not able to discern real leadership qualities from bullying and egotism; but I’d easily take him over John Terry (although, that doesn’t mean I think he’d be a perfect captain).
God damn it! Don’t anyone point out my retarded grammatical mistakes or I’ll give you my JT treatment…!!
JT may have flaws..so did Roy Keane..didn’t he?
Did it come in way of being a great captain?
Keano was more aggressive to refs, its not a black mark..
I think captain’s efficiency should be judged by his influence on team and performance of team..
Terry’s performance was not at all bad..apart from Croatia where a strange formation and own goal killed of match..
Sid – fair point about the possibility of this being written before Rio’s captaincy was announced. That puts the whole thing in a different perspective and makes me look like an idiot
“…shitting on Rio Ferdinand”
Well it gets my vote!
Give the guy a break JT is an inspirational leader and an outstanding footbaler, he will put his head in where others are afraid to put their feet.
There is a press and internet campaign to constantly run him down and highlight his faults of which he has a few, but then who doesn`t. Does it get a mention that JT has got all the England team to donate their bonuses to childrens charities! Of course not that does`t sell papers, I have met him and found him to be polite, decent and always willing to sign autographs.