Source: Daily_Mail
THE MIDLANDER: Ultimate pro - and gent - Martin Laursen, the new old McGrath, deserves a fond Villa
Four years ago, I traipsed tiredly off the training pitch at Belvoir Drive, Leicester City's training ground.
After asking to go pre-season training, I spoke with Micky Adams, then the manager, about his relationships with his colleagues.
'I can't afford to have too many close ones,' he said, 'it's war when we are out there.'
Even after a decade on the periphery, the stark nature of the comment surprised me.
Of course, we all share this romanticised notion of the game.
But the fact is, at the sharp end, it's brutal.
Results, results and results alone earn cash. Winning football matches leads to increased television revenue, more spectators, greater commercial income, bigger transfer budgets, better players and so on.
Losing football means the opposite.
A lot has been spoken about the lack of morality in the game.
With such high stakes - what does anyone expect?
Take a look at the news pages. Why should football be up on a pedestal? Those are the harsh parameters in which those employed in the game exist.
But every now and again something happens to restore your faith. That just reminds you there is room for the good one or two.
I'm talking about Martin Laursen and his criminally-early retirement from football.
Three years ago, the Dane was in conversation with manager Martin O'Neill after his first 45 minutes back in action, deep in the bowls of NEC Nijmegen's main stand.
Villa's boss wore a big smile on his face afterwards, probably because he'd been told that the centre-half had come through with flying colours.
Just to put this in some kind of context, Laursen had spent 12 months in Bologna trying to recover from a knee injury that had threatened his career.
Oh ah, McGrath: Villa hero Paul
That's a long time. A lot of work.
Since that day in Holland, Laursen has, with O'Neill's understanding, been the outstanding performer in Villa colours.
Gareth Barry has been consistently excellent, but even he has been overshadowed by the manner in which the centre-half has taken to the job in hand.
O'Neill deserves a pat on the back too. His reasoning was that if Laursen was mature enough to regain his fitness after a year on the sidelines then he probably understands the requirements of his own body.
And I defy anyone to suggest that Laursen - apart from his swansong against the Baggies when he didn't look totally at ease - was not fit for purpose.
But what the punters do not see is the man.
Laursen, who was an ambassador for the Acorns' children's charity, Laursen who would stop and speak to the press, whatever the circumstance.
It takes a lot to impress hacks. We see players come and go. We see managers come and go.
