These lads could teach Alastair Campbell a thing or two
I was coming out of Marks & Spencer in South End Green, having bought some little delicacies for my dear wife, when I ran into Alastair Campbell.
"So is it true, that stuff in the papers about your book?"
"Nothing is true," he replied, "until I say it is true."
"Don't mess around," I said. "Is it true?"
"Yes, it's true. And I'm supposed to be doing five books. I'm trying, of course, to do a Rooney."
"So would you like a ghost-writer?"
"No thanks."
We chatted on, about family matters and local stuff, then he was off, his jaw stuck out, his eyes glinting so you are never quite sure if he's being aggressive or amusing.
I can see why he has done so well, and aroused reactions. But oh, if only he had not wasted his life on trivial stuff like politics and done something really useful - such as football.
Football, like most walks of life, needs aggressive, pushy people. You have to believe in yourself, have no doubts. It's not a matter of physical presence, although Alastair has that. Think of Emile Heskey, so gifted physically, yet only in flashes has he ever imposed himself. Peter Crouch, he's another who clearly has little inner belief. Sol Campbell seems to have a bit of it back, but he could have been twice the player if he'd had the mental muscle to go with the physical.
One player I've always been intrigued by is Scott Parker, now captain of Newcastle. He was an arty-farty, prematurely gifted boy footballer who could do amazing and totally pointless ball tricks, the sort who then disappears when he hits the real world and gets kicked up the arse by the thugs. He's still slight and slender, but over the years he's developed this tight jaw and narrow eyes as if to say, who you looking at, I'll show the fuckers. And it's worked.
Rooney was born with confidence in his own abilities, and although only 5ft 10in, has a physical aura which intimidates. Cristiano Ronaldo is a wonder, hissed and booed, kicked and blocked, yet even while doing silly, show-off tricks, which can easily rebound, his ego is supreme.
Paul Dickov, I've always admired his utter fearlessness, considering he's so titchy, a bantam cock, willing to take on the world. Robbie Savage I see as simply a wild player, overexcitable, rather than someone with an iron will.
Aaron Lennon, I fear he's having doubts about himself. Shaun Wright-Phillips has clearly not recovered whatever belief he had, while Andriy Shevchenko, on paper, is doing a bit better, but his eyes and body motions give away all his insecurities.
I thought Didier Drogba, when he arrived, would eventually wilt, despite his enormous gifts and physical presence. I put it down to innate niceness, a sensitive soul, polite rather than pugilistic, hence the frequency with which he used to go down, looking for sympathy, which rarely ever works when you are so big. But he seems to have pulled himself together, stayed on his feet more, got on top of his mind.
Did he do it himself, or has he been pushed to be pushy? Have the psychologists been at him, or just José Mourinho? I dunno. I just observe, from the stands or the sofa.
Currently the most fascinating player to watch is Dimitar Berbatov of Spurs. He appears to stroll, pausing to adjust his hairband, so languid and elegant, clearly hugely confident yet without being combative, or cocky, or triumphant. Alastair, it can be done.
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