I happened to stumble across an excellent article over the weekend written by Steve Claridge. I don't know if any of you read it or not? Anyway, he was making a case once again for wage capping in the Premiership, and in the end he convinced me that it may be the way to go, mainly because he used Harry Kewell as a prime example.
The point has raised it's head after Harry allegedly refused to play against Leverkusen because he claimed he was injured again. Rafa was not happy to say the least. The question is, Harry Kewell may be work-shy (the last 18 months prove this) but is it just that he has had so many injuries his body can no longer take the strain of the premiership. Rafa Benitez's comments about one week it being the groin, the next his ankle suggest the club think it's more he won't play than can't play. I wouldn't want to judge Kewell but I've certainly known a few players who have lost the will to play football. Other times it just comes down to a genuine lack of desire. Stan Collymore was one who for all his talent, eventually fell out of love with the game.
It's one of the main reasons why a salary cap of say £10,000 a week could be inforced in the future. It would certainly stop youngsters abusing their wealth and power for a start. It would also make the likes of Kewell more determined to get fit, rather than ambling along, picking up £67,000 a week or whatever his ridiculous wage is.
Bonuses for playing, scoring, winning or keeping a clean sheet could still be as sky-high as they wanted. Players could still pick up £100,000 per week. But the difference is they would have to earn it. Clubs would embrace it to prevent another Leeds United happening. And any player worth his salt should accept it because it rewards their hard work and success. It would be the end of the work-shy football millionare milking the game without giving anything back.
Thoughts?