PIERS MORGAN: Don’t feel sorry for Sol Campbell, the most selfish man in Britain

26 September 2009 20:15
I used to know Sol Campbell quite well. We weren't bosom pals but in my early days as a Fleet Street showbiz hack, I'd bump into him on the party circuit so beloved of footballers and he was always good fun to hang out with.[LNB]He used to smile a lot back then, crack jokes, have a bit of banter and generally give every impression of enjoying himself.[LNB]But the last time I saw him, something had changed. It was at the Grove hotel near Watford, he was on his own and had a face like thunder. I said hello but he just stared at me with dead eyes, shook my hand with what seemed like severe reluctance, muffled a response and walked on.[LNB] Alone with his money: Sol Campbell can hardly be called a 'strong man' with hishistory[LNB]I remember feeling really surprised by his reaction. Even Jeremy Clarkson greets me warmer than that and he occasionally punches me in the head.[LNB]But then I spoke to a delightful lady friend of mine who dated Sol Campbell for a while and she painted an extraordinary portrait of the man.[LNB]'He'd be absolutely fine for a few weeks, then suddenly disappear,' she said. 'And I mean disappear. He'd vanish, refuse to answer any calls and never explain himself when he finally got back in touch. It was weird.'[LNB]Perhaps we should all be kind and understanding before jumping to too harsh a verdict on Sol's behaviour towards Notts County last week.[LNB]But I'm not, to be perfectly honest, in the mood to be overly forgiving. Because I think the sad truth is that Sol Campbell is one of the most selfish men in Britain.[LNB]Think about his track record for a minute. This was the guy who was captain of Tottenham when he signed for Arsenal.[LNB]I remember the day well because I was editor of the Daily Mirror at the time and the moment I heard the news I ordered a picture desk executive to get a taxi to Arsenal's club shop and buy me the first CAMPBELL 23 shirt off the presses.[LNB]I wore it all afternoon in the newsroom. Then I rang my dad and Andy Coulson, David Cameron's spin doctor - both lifelong Spurs fans - and laughed so hard down the phone I thought my spleen would burst.[LNB] I'm not sure I like this: Sol Campbell made only one appearance for Newcastle against Morecambe[LNB]So we Gooners were thrilled, of course we were. But imagine being a Spurs supporter. Could there possibly be a more selfish act than your skipper waltzing off to the arch-enemy?[LNB]Well, possibly, yes. What about the day Sol was substituted at half-time after letting West Ham run riot over Arsenal at Highbury and reacted by throwing his toys out of the pram and marching off home, not playing again for a couple of months?[LNB]A spineless, pathetic reaction. But what Campbell did to Notts County made what he did to Spurs and Arsenal seem almost heroic by comparison.[LNB]Let's get one thing absolutely straight here. He signed for such a lowly League Two club for money. They offered him a deal worth £40,000 a week for five years and, at 35 years old, he couldn't believe his luck.[LNB]Rather like David Beckham defecting to LA Galaxy, Campbell decided, with calm calculation, to put his wallet before his serious football career.[LNB]He came out with all this guff about a 'new challenge', just as Beckham did, but we all knew the score. He'd landed a nice little earner for himself.[LNB] He's gone where? Campbell stunned football when he moved from Tottenham to their bitter north London rivals Arsenal[LNB]But then, as with Beckham again, Campbell began reading how this would end any chance he had of playing for England again and panicked. And he did what he's always done when that selfish gene kicks in, he walked.[LNB]A livid Sven Goran Eriksson, who had expended a lot of personal effort to land Campbell, talked of feeling 'let down' by the player.[LNB]He said: 'I don't know the real reason he left but he didn't like the training ground or the dressing room and things like that.'[LNB]Oh really? What exactly were you expecting, Sol? A state-of-the-art Dallas Cowboysstyle stadium with underfloor heating in the gym and 50ft Jacuzzis? No, my old mate, you knew exactly what to expect because Sven showed you everything before you signed.[LNB]What you didn't like was everyone laughing at you and saying your remaining England prospects had just gone pear-shaped faster than Kerry Katona's backside.[LNB]Arsene Wenger says Campbell is a 'strong man' and that's why he tore up his County contract. With the greatest of respect, Arsene, he's not.[LNB]He's just a selfish git.[LNB] How Arsenal could do with a pitbull like BellamyPassionate: Craig Bellamy has impressed this season for Manchester City[LNB]When I did what I do every summer and compiled a list of all the players I'd like to sign for Arsenal, it included the likes of Messi, Ronaldo, Torres and Gerrard. It didn't include the name Craig Bellamy.[LNB]In fact, short of penning the words Robbie and Savage, I can't think of anyone less likely to have been on my shortlist.[LNB]Yet watching Bellamy's performances for Manchester City this season, I've realised how wrong I was.[LNB]Bellamy is EXACTLY the kind of player we need at the Emirates. He's an honest thug and I mean that as a compliment.[LNB]Seeing him terrorise Manchester United's defence and score two great goals in the process, I saw a ferocity of determination, guts and spirit that you just don't find in so many gifted young foreign players (and we have hundreds of them at Arsenal, so I speak as something of an expert in the genre).[LNB]He never stops running, whether into his own or rival penalty areas, he never stops tackling, he never stops complaining and he never stops trying.[LNB]The man is a human pitbull terrier, a snarling, aggressive, loyal, passionate, nasty piece of work who is best muzzled for his own safety.[LNB]Every time Bellamy steps on to the pitch he makes the statement: 'Mess with me and you're going to get it, sunshine.'[LNB]Arsenal used to have guys like that - men like Vieira, Parlour, Adams, Keown. The kind who lined up in the tunnel like gladiators in a Roman amphitheatre, prepared to fight to the finish to win.[LNB]Now we don't. And when I watch Bellamy blowing his fuse, for the right reasons, I wish we had.[LNB] Annoying: Gary Neville[LNB]PS Every time I think Gary Neville can't possibly get any more annoying, he does.[LNB]The shop steward of soccer declares that footballers are worth their ridiculous salaries because 'fans are crucial but without the player, you have nothing'.[LNB]Have you ever heard such utter garbage, even from Neville's pug-ugly little mouth? Let me explain the reality, Gary, you insensitive twerp: without the fans parting with their hard-earned cash every week to watch you kick a small leather ball around, you lot wouldn't get a PENNY.[LNB]So just shut up and do what you do best - be annoying (even when silent).[LNB]  [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] NOW HAVE YOUR SAY[LNB]When I read your piece on Emmanuel Adebayor baiting the Arsenal supporters at the weekend I was reminded of an occasion on November 16, 2002, when Thierry Henry did exactly the same thing to the visiting Spurs supporters at Highbury, without inciting the 'mock riot' effected by the Gooners on Saturday. People in glass houses ...GARY HOBBS[LNB]Piers says: 'I was there and it was awful, I agree. Thierry should have dropped his trousers and moonied them, too.'[LNB]If Adebayor is such a moany, gangly towrag then why are all you self-righteous, whiny arrogant Arsenal fans getting soooo upset? You didn't want him anyway, get over it.STEVE ROSSENDALE[LNB]Piers says:'Fair point, well made.'[LNB]I agree totally about the ridiculous fine laid on Mutu by FIFA. If the use of cocaine is considered such a high-profile offence, why don't they use the same rationale and ban Maradona from coaching Argentina? This would also have a side benefit of helping Argentina qualify for the World Cup.SKYBLUE 36[LNB]Piers says: 'The way he's managing that team, I fear Diego's on something a little stronger these days.'[LNB]Did you feel City were cheated out of a draw in the Manchester derby?LEWIS[LNB]Piers says: 'Probably, but who cares? It's like asking me if I'd rather sleep with Heather Mills or Cherie Blair - neither's going to bring me any pleasure, is it?'[LNB]E-mail your comments to me at: piers.morgan@mailonsunday.co.uk[LNB] Explore more:People:Gary Neville, Kerry Katona, Piers Morgan, CRAIG BELLAMY, Heather Mills, Sven Goran Eriksson, David Beckham, Jeremy Clarkson, Thierry Henry, David Cameron, Cherie BlairPlaces:London, Manchester, Argentina, United Kingdom

Source: Daily_Mail