Loyalty, love and the modern world.
Does a professional footballer owe a supportive manager anything? How often have we seen a manager develop a player through skilful coaching and encouragement, back a player through difficult times and then the player accepts more lucrative work elsewhere? Money talks and talent walks. Managers do it, too. It’s the way of the football world. It’s the way of the world for many. Loyalty has ebbed, if not completely disappeared.
It’s partly the nature of the modern game: squads get constantly refreshed, new managers come in wanting new faces in the dressing-room, agents get busy, most players aren’t from the area so have no local loyalty, and the sheer wealth on offer from bigger clubs triggers transfers.
It’s hard to explain the concept of a testimonial to younger fans of elite clubs. Well, the attempted explanation goes, when a player has stayed at a club for 10 years they are often given a special game, sometimes in pre-season, to raise money for them, to thank them for their loyalty. Premier League players now don’t need that financial fillip, the calendar is too crowded anyway, and few stick around long enough to receive this additional pay-day (and those admirable few who do tend to use the occasion for fund-raisers).
That is why Tom Cairney’s recent signing of a contract extension at Fulham, taking him to 2027, felt special. He’s still playing his heart out for Fulham, is adored by the fans and is committed to them into his 12th season at the club. Cairney, 35, impressed broadcasters on recent shows, could stroll into a media career, but loves playing, and loves representing Fulham.
Few transfers in history have been quite the bargain of Seamus Coleman moving from Sligo Rovers to Everton for £60,000 and still playing for them 17 years later. Joe Gomez has been a decade at Liverpool, similarly Luke Shaw at Manchester United, Ben Davies at Tottenham Hotspur, Adam Smith at Bournemouth and Solly March and Lewis Dunk at Brighton & Hove Albion. Ryan Yates, Lewis Cook, John Stones and Rico Henry will all celebrate a decade at their respective clubs later this year. But they are the exceptions at Premier League clubs rather than the rule. Players move.
During Tuesday’s press conference to preview tonight’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Manchester City, Newcastle United’s head coach, Eddie Howe, was asked about headlines linking his accomplished midfielder Sandro Tonali with Arsenal. Howe confirmed he had spoken to Tonali on Monday and “he is totally focused on the here, the now and playing for us”. Phrases such as “the here, the now” hardly signal belief that the Italian will be on Tyneside longer term. Howe then told reporters, “there is absolutely no issue with Sandro himself”. The “himself” felt telling.
Tonali is undeniably focused on Newcastle – “he is very happy and he is committed,” Howe emphasised – and he certainly plays that way, whole-heartedly. His agent also denies all knowledge of the Arsenal link. Arsenal also denied all knowledge. But it is easy to understand why some Newcastle fans might fear some pre-transfer ritual being played out here, especially if Newcastle don’t qualify for next season’s Champions League.
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Whatever the current substance, the story immediately raised a few thoughts.
1.Tonali’s good but does he get in Arsenal’s current midfield with Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice forming a strong, balanced partnership? No. Does he force out one of the more attacking midfielders, one of the 10s like Martin Odegaard? No. Tonali’s form remains good but not at his 2024/25 level.