Sleeping with your team mates missus TSS March 2, 2010 Leeds United 25 Comments As the World Cup approaches, it’s hardly suprising we have some drama within the England national team for the papers to dig their teeth into and cause as much turbulence in the squad as possible. I probably should mention before continuing that I’ve always felt Wayne Bridge was massively overrated and wouldn’t have had half the success he has without conveniently being left-footed. Something we often have a shortage of when it comes to team selection in England. That said, no matter how it’s cut and diced and how important Terry is to England, no player should ever feel uncomfortable wearing the national shirt because of another and it’s indicative of Terry’s ‘f**k everyone elses feelings, I’m number one’ attitude that he’s shown little remorse and refused to drop from the squad as a result. JT has built up such an unparallelled arrogance over the last ten years or so, that I wasn’t even slightly surprised to see him attempt to cling onto his captaincy throughout the entire drama. When you’ve gotten away with as many thuggish acts as he has and been forgiven by your wife, your club and everyone else, it’s only natural you’ll start to believe you’re untouchable. To Chelsea fans it’s only added to his popularity, but that won’t surprise anyone thats seen the kind of thugs this team has produced over the years. I bet Terry never thought for one second Capello would actually strip him of his captaincy. The underlying problem with that decision however is that it changes nothing. Yes, Rio Ferdinand will wear the armband and fulfill the glorified figurehead role that the national captaincy is, but on the field John Terry’s arrogance still means he’ll feel the need to dictate everything, attempt to control the entire team and shout at others for his own mistakes. Essentially, nothings changed and the only reason JT is upset is because he liked the ego-massaging abilities the title brought with it (and no doubt the money). Personally, I think all decisions within the England team should come down to football and Capello seems to be on the same page. That said, when it comes to a point where there’s this level of bad publicity and other players feel they can’t play for their country because of one mans actions, I think the culprit should be dropped. Terry is bringing nothing but negativity to the side as far as I’m concerned at the minute and for that reason, and that reason alone, he shouldn’t be in it. In light of all this, it seems a good time to remember probably the worst transfer decision in the history of the Premier League and the various rumours that followed. That transfer is of course, Howard Wilkinson’s sale of Eric Cantona to Manchester United. Howard Wilkinson had just guided Leeds United to their first league title since the 1970’s and 1992 seemed like the year we would rise again. Mr Wilkinson however had other ideas, deciding to sell footballs hottest prospect – one, Eric Cantona – to bitter rivals, Manchester United for the measly sum of just £1.2million. Leeds fans around the world were in total disbelief having witnessed the players match-changing ability in our title winning season. Meanwhile, Manchester United fans were having the times of their lives celebrating what many knew would be a crucial signing by the soon to be knighted Alex Ferguson. Whilst Leeds struggled to get anywhere near the standard of the 1991-92 season, Cantona’s signing proved to be a catalyst for Manchester United’s success who went on to dominate the top flight for what is now, nearly two decades. In reaction to the move, those Leeds United fans that weren’t furious at Howard Wilkinson’s short-sightedness, began to coin theories of why he was sold so cheaply. Top of those theories was the one involving Leslie Ash, who is Lee Chapman’s missus. The rumour would have you believe that Eric Cantona had been sleeping with the fish-lipped WAG behind the back of Lee Chapman and that the animosity it had caused within the team left Sergeant Wilko with no other choice. Of course, the rumour was a complete myth dreamt up by some Leeds United pranksters or Howard Wilkinson apologists, but it didn’t stop the majority of the country believing it. To this day, Manchester United fans still sing a song about that fateful “affair”. Terry won’t be living this down too quickly either, after all, mud sticks!