Premier League - Parker: Money motivates

Eurosport - Wed, 24 Sep 21:44:00 2008

Former England defender Paul Parker understands why Arsene Wenger felt it necessary to compile a motivational paper for his players - and knows what really gets the modern day footballer going.

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"Arsene Wenger's leaked 'confidential' memo to his players has caused quite a stir.

The Arsenal manager is one of the game's great thinkers and someone who is not afraid to experiment with new coaching techniques in order to get the best out of his players.

For that I applaud him. As I do for his latest idea - a motivational handout, to be taken away by his players and digested before each game.

Wenger is no mug - he realises that modern day footballers occasionally need reminding of their responsibilities. Too often these days, players forget what a privileged position they occupy - a result of the overly-pampered lifestyle they are encouraged to lead.

These days, a player's motivation seems to come from achieving short-term objectives. And more often than not that means making money.

With obvious exceptions - including the likes of Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard at Liverpool and Gary Neville and Paul Scholes at Manchester United, all of whom would die for their hometown clubs - the only thing that will get a modern player going is the thought of earning more cash.

For an example look no further than Emmanuel Adebayor, someone at whom this memo could easily have been directed. With Barcelona and Milan sniffing round him last season, he raised his game in a bid to seal a lucrative move abroad.

Ultimately he failed in that bid, but where Adebayor succeeded was in securing a huge hike in pay at Arsenal. Job done. But the question remains, where will he find his motivation this season?

Wenger has recognised this as a problem and he has addressed it with typical astuteness.

In my day, when there was nowhere near the same amount of money sloshing around the game, finding motivation did not seem difficult - you got a kick out of representing your club, and that was it.

Once it did become a problem, you got out of the game. And that is exactly the reason why I finally hung up my boots - the desire was no longer there.

But with fewer and fewer old school professionals left in the game, it is up to the managers to think how best to motivate their players.

So hats off to Wenger. It's just a shame he has been forced into taking this course of action in the first place."

Eurosport

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  1. I'm pretty sure Adye is used as an example because­ the article is about Arsene's memos... who is the­ manager of ... wait for­ it.................................... ..........­ Arsenal..... thus using an example about an Arsenal­ player...

    From P, on Wed 24 Sep 4:59PM

  2. Paul Parker can get lost. He still owes us one for that­ deflected goal the Krauts scored off him in the semis­ of the 1990 World Cup.

    From joestone99uk, on Wed 24 Sep 4:47PM

  3. mr Parker i hope that you lose your job of writing­ these stupid articles....instead of justifying for­ adebayor, how did ya forget ronaldo i bet Manchester­ United has increased his wages exponentially to keep­ him.

    From Ajay, on Wed 24 Sep 4:35PM

  4. I AM A MANUTD FAN BUT I MOST SAY THAT ARSENE WENGER IS­ AN HONOURABLE MAN

    From Choko, on Wed 24 Sep 4:34PM

  5. I think the reason he's talking about Adebayor is­ because he negotiated his contract, Ronaldo did not.

    From nist, on Wed 24 Sep 4:13PM

  6. "For an example look no further than Emmanuel­ Adebayor, someone at whom this memo could easily have­ been directed. With Barcelona and Milan sniffing round­ him last season, he raised his game in a bid to seal a­ lucrative move abroad.

    Ultimately he failed in that­ bid, but where Adebayor succeeded was in securing a­ huge hike in pay at Arsenal. Job done. But the question­ remains, where will he find his motivation this­ season?"

    Hmm mention of Ade, but not ronaldo?­ hmmm, the word agenda suddenly pops into my mind. My­ real point though is this; its a bit hard for people­ like us, who have grown up in security and relative­ prosperity to judge someone so harshly who has truly­ known the meaning of grinding poverty? An interesting­ thought no? Generaly a good article though.

    From matthew, on Wed 24 Sep 3:55PM

  7. being a united fan i think wenger has to be the best­ for bringing youfull players up i mean beatin sheffield­ united 6-0 is unberleavable jus he dont no what he is­ doing after december in premierleage

    From SANDRA, on Wed 24 Sep 3:48PM

  8. what wenger did was quite encouraging,money is not­ everything and besides if you start motivating a­ player with money you are heading for trouble.To me­ Arsene is the best coach in the world,with his action­ the gunners will surprise the world WATCH OUT

    From ola, on Wed 24 Sep 3:40PM

  9. "New coaching techniques" Mr Parker, it is­ 2008, where have you been this last 20 years. The idea­ of a first-line boss "motivating" his troops­ is nothing new. The manner in which he chose to do it­ is also nothing new. Individual or team orientated­ notes have been used in many business areas for­ decades. Just because you haven't come across this­ motivational system before suggest one of two­ things:
    Your boss accessed your motivation level and­ deemed you were sufficiently hyped, or your boss was­ @#$%.

    From Andy, on Wed 24 Sep 3:23PM

  10. I prefer to ignore everything the Parker comes out­ with.

    From hodgerando, on Wed 24 Sep 3:21PM

  11. Haven't certain "influences" kept Gerrard­ at Liverpool ?

    From xtrouble, on Wed 24 Sep 3:16PM

  12. hairdryer, is one the reson i don't like him,­ nothing personal, but....
    Imagine you were player,­ would you like it?
    That's why I prefer Wenger, he­ gives me the kind-father-like figure.

    From Sam, on Wed 24 Sep 3:13PM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    i prefer the hairdryer

    From alan, on Wed 24 Sep 2:48PM
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