Abou Diaby watch?

[Power n Glory]

My clearly made point is that footballers are a lot better compensated these days than they were in the past. The threat of injury is still there but its consequences are massively reduced, in effect removed. Had Diaby been permanently injured on his debut he'd still have been entitled to the value of his contract, probably somewhere in the region of 2 million quid back then. So yes, it's unfortunate he hasn't been able to fully pursue his ambition of playing football from his point of view but at least (if he has a brain at all) the remainder of his life is taken care of financially. That's a luxury few if any of us have here I suspect.

He is of no use to the club, if we are realistic about it. He's been handsomely rewarded nonetheless so he's in the best position he could be in given his misfortunes. The club has lost out on its investment, a risk with all players so no great sympathy there either. The manager has been an idiot if he really thought he'd ever get anything from Diaby, or an insufferable cheapskate if he kept him on just to avoid activity in the transfer market. And the fans have ultimately footed the bill while observing an empty space in the midfield where the departed Song used to play and Diaby was never fit to play (in both senses).

Save your sympathy for the fans maybe?

This is the point I've been getting at. If I always thought in terms of social hierarchy and class then why should I have sympathy for fans that can afford to spend a grand each year on a season ticket when I can't afford the same luxury. And make no mistake, it's a luxury not a neccesaity. See where I'm going?

It's getting long winded now and I don't see either of us moving on this one because it's more of a personal thing and it bugs me how you're able to bring finances and social hierarchy into almost every debate. I always tend to bite and challenge your opinion