Disillusionment With Football - Caused (Not Exclusively) By Fabian Delph

Last Friday evening I was left feeling completely deflated. Someone I thought I could trust had let me down. In fact, they had lied to me. Made me promises. They told me that they were loyal to me. That they were in this for the long haul. And most importantly, that they wouldn't leave me.

Step forward Fabian Delph.

As we know players come and go in every football club all over the world. Lord knows Villa have lost plenty of good players over the years. It's part and parcel of the game. Christian Benteke being the latest example.

However, there is something particularly galling for me about the Delph saga. It's not just the fact that he has left. Every single Villa fan would've (or at least should've) acknowledged his chance to move onto a team with a better chance of winning things and to increase his earning potential.

And I guess on reflection, for me it isn't even the way he bandied himself around as the most loyal footballer ever to grace this game which is what has left me feeling so dejected. Although that is obviously a huge issue, of course.

No. For me, it is the hope he gave to me which is the worst thing about it all.

First thing is first - I personally believe that Delph's signing of his contract in January was a commendable thing to do. However, at that point, nobody knew about his release clause. It is obvious now that it was only signed because there was a relatively low release clause in there for him to escape. It sticks a bit to make out that it was 'loyalty' which was the driving force behind signing. But no matter. That could be overlooked. He has firstly done right by the club and the fans in the regard that he could have left on a free transfer. That should be applauded. And he can't exactly come out and say 'I've signed this contract with the intention of leaving, but Villa will at least now get some kind of fee for me', can he? I also personally believe that it gave everyone a boost at the club going into a relegation battle. And that in itself could be worth millions.

And then once the season ended, the rumours began to circulate. The piddly release clause was made public knowledge and then we knew it was the end. Villa fans were resigned to losing our captain. It was slightly hard to take more than anybody else leaving because he had declared his love and loyalty. But ok. Most of us know that footballers kiss the badge all the time, and we, the fans, don't really come into it at the end of the day. And we would be deluded in thinking that and frankly, shouldn't expect that. And so, eventually, Delph was on his way to Manchester City.

Except he wasn't!

Despite it all being done and dusted, the news broke that Delph was staying. What was the cause of it? Failed medical? Concerns about game time? Worried about his fledgling England career? No. From the man himself, he explained that he just couldn't leave the club. Simple as that. The loyalty he professed in January, and now reaffirmed, was actually true. This man was a badge kisser who MEANT it! By his own admission he couldn't wait to lead us into the new season!

Well. This was incredible. Unheard of? Possibly. Certainly, I couldn't remember another situation like it. Suddenly my hope was raised. This man had chosen to stay at Aston Villa. This was huge. Our captain was one of us. He was going to stay and fight with us and help make us great once more.

I truly felt elated. Let me explain exactly why.

I don't particularly think Delph is a world beater. But his value to Villa can't be underestimated. To me, it was such an important signal of intent. Finally there was a player who didn't jump the Good Ship Villa at the first opportunity. Yes, we had struggled. And he couldn't be blamed for leaving if he chose to. But actually choosing to stay with us was incredibly important. This gesture of loyalty could be a beacon to others. The word 'Delph' would become a byword for bucking the trend and staying put.

'He's only gone and done a Delph'.

This man, who battled his way into being a regular starting England international through the platform we had given him would be an inspiration to others in similar situations who are force-fed being told that they need to move to a top 4 club to further their international careers. Delph's actions could potentially show many others that you don't need to leave at the first opportunity to have a successful England career.

There was more to a career than chasing the cursed Champions League football. The scourge of every middle of the road club, who lose their best players to those offering the chance to play elite European football under the floodlights. Delph saw the bigger picture.

There was more than chasing the hundreds of thousands of pounds on offer each week. Delph had recognised that he was being paid handsomely. Money beyond anyone's wildest dreams. What's the difference between £60k a week and £100k really? A humble lad like Delph wouldn't be swayed and could be that example to others.

And then came the crash.

Actually Delph wasn't quite as loyal as he's made out. And he was leaving.

I'm not going to get into my thoughts on his behaviour, as it's pretty obvious what every single Villa fan feels about that and the sense of betrayal and injustice that we've had dished out to us. My concern now is the way Delph's actions have left me feeling completely exasperated with football as a whole.

Not to put too fine a point on it...just what is the point for a club like Villa?!

Undoubtedly being a Villa fan doesn't help with this, but football leaves me feeling uninspired these days. Yet, it isn't just the fact that each season seems to be a struggle; you support your team through the dark times, of course. What makes it difficult for me to engage like I once did is the way that the elite teams have so much power and control that the rest of the league hasn't got a chance.

And that is because there is just no way a manager is able to build a successful team that will challenge for the coveted top 4 places, let alone winning the league. As soon as you develop a player into anywhere approaching international class, then they will be chased by one of the big boys. Invariably, they will then be off. How can a club like Villa ever hope to be a top team ever again, when you have the money and power and opportunities of Man Utd, Arsenal, Liverpool and especially Chelsea and Manchester City? If these teams want a player of yours, then he'll be gone. The club can try and put a brave face on things and appear defiant. But unless the player comes out and says he is staying no matter what, then your team will be dismantled before you can even try to get near to challenge these teams.

I realise this filters down through the leagues, and that the also-rans of the premier league do their shopping at Championship level and below, snapping up youngsters that the clubs have invested time and money in. Obviously Villa did this in the first place with taking Delph from Leeds. It is a food chain, and the bigger fish prey on the small fry. Players have money thrown at them, the chance of a bigger stage to showcase and challenge themselves.

But in the majority of cases, the difference (and I guess that this is now my real bug bear with it all), is that, with Chelsea and Manchester City in particular, they do not even always need these players. So many careers take a backwards step. It's not just limited to youngsters, but even this week, Fulham have been bullied into selling the highly rated Patrick Roberts. Now, Fulham will receive a fee of around £11 million for the 18 year old. However, I'm sure they would've preferred to keep the player for another 2 or 3 years at least.

There is of course an argument for holding back a players development as well, but does anyone really see Roberts developing quicker on Manchester City's bench (if he even gets as far as that) this year rather than playing 40 odd games in a tough, competitive division.

In the last couple of days it's emerged that Chelsea are turning the screw on Everton to land John Stones. A bid has been turned down but of course, undeterred, Chelsea are ready to come back and pile on the pressure with a bigger bid. It's nothing short of battering an opponent into submission, and once a young boy's head is turned with promises of untold riches then it is extremely difficult to keep him happy at the existing club.

Jack Rodwell and Scott Sinclair are the often used examples of stagnated careers. Juan Cuadrado and Mohammed Salah lesser quoted but have been left equally as festering for Chelsea.  Throw in a Victor Moses here and a Kevin de Bruyne there (who fortunately managed to escape back to Wolfsburg) and the list grows exponentially. It isn't just young players who have been victims of stockpiling at these clubs. Older examples to highlight that this isn't a new problem - Roque Santa Cruz anyone? Scott Parker?

Surely there has to be a way of combating this? Rules must be implemented to stop this steamrollering of clubs and stockpiling of players, especially young talent? Whether it be a rule to say that any player bought under the age of 22 must play a certain percentage of game time per season, or something along those lines so that at least there are implications to stop the detrimental effect to those players development. This is a real problem that needs to be addressed somehow.

This point digresses from my feelings on Delph. At 25 he cannot be classed as a young player. However, there must be real doubt as to whether he will be playing week in week out. Would he not have been better off, in his position with the Euro's coming up next year, to stay with Villa knowing he'll play every single game that he is fit and available for?

Surely there must be some players who are just happy with what they've got? Happy to make it as a Premier League footballer. Why are they so few and far between?

We've heard about one-club-men in recent years, with Gerrard and Giggs . However, these are players who have had large amounts of success at their clubs and so you can argue do not need to move around. However, what about one-club-men with little or no success? Are there any? The most obvious one for me is Matt Le Tissier. A man who turned down the chance to join Chelsea as they were just beginning to become a force in English football. There were other offers also, Spurs in the early 90's and Manchester United. Le Tissier was just happy where he was. An exceptional talent, who was just happy playing for his beloved Southampton. He wasn't from the town, so he had no natural allegiance to the club. But still he chose to stay there. Season after season. There were no European nights. No cup successes. This man won zero medals. The love of the club was enough. Just like Delph said he loved the club.

So why aren't there more Matt Le Tissier's? Players who are content. It's extraordinary, in my mind at least, that there aren't a few more players like this.

And that's why for me Fabian Delph has left me disillusioned. Because Fabian Delph could've bucked the trend. He could've been that beacon to others. He could've been an inspiration to so many young people, a role model. Perhaps he could've been the start of something at Aston Villa. With his outcry of loyalty and that this was his club, he had made his profile so public by doing that. There was a chance, by having done that, that other players, younger and older, may have just been inspired by his defiance and seen his blossoming England career fully bloom and thought 'I don't need to make this move to be successful'. For Aston Villa, he could've been an incredibly important figure in the club's history. In my mind, he could've made a difference not just for Villa, but within football as a whole. He talked himself up as such. He was different. He knew what the club had done for him through his injury nightmares. He saw that he had established himself as an international player at this club.

But his head was turned and none of that mattered in the end to Fabian Delph. He had wanted to leave for a long time.

I wish he had just said so.

It's the hope that kills you.

@lovespud83
zorba_the_greek@hotmail.com