Tevez shows his true colours. Again.

It's easy to see why so many people are becoming more and more disillusioned with the game of football, or rather its "stars". No longer are many players wanting to play for the love of the game, it seems, or even for the love of the club. Of course, we will always have the Steven Gerrards, John Terrys, Gary Nevilles, Ryan Giggses and Jamie Carraghers of the world, but all it takes is one to make the average football fan's heart sink.


Emmanuel Adebayor and Ashley Cole both left a club that seemed to have treated them quite well, to both fire a barrage of abuse back at it. Cole, when he left Arsenal, seemed to have forgotten that they had helped nurture him towards becoming one of the best full-backs in the word. Adebayor left the Emirates, and spent more time goading the Arsenal players and fans than winning over the Manchester City faithful.


It would be foolish to hope that all players are faithful servants to their club, and only move on for the right reasons, but isn't there some sort of etiquette any more? An etiquette that Luis Figo, Sol Campbell, Michael Owen or Kenny Miller (twice) could have had a lesson in? Is it just me, though, or did those players seem to do it with a bit of dignity, albeit the slightest bit of dignity?


And then there was Wayne Rooney, who seemed to take it to new levels. I don't want to go over all that again - I've already had my tuppence worth - but it was a wholly depressing scenario; Wayne Rooney holding one of the world's biggest football clubs to ransom. Manchester United have only Sir Alex Ferguson to thank for somehow managing to keep him at the club whilst completely belittling his approach to the transfer talks.


If you're not already aware of why I'm so frustrated and annoyed on this crisp (I think, I haven't been out to check), December, Sunday afternoon, check a paper, go to your favourite sports website, or just type 'Carlos Tevez' into Google. And your heart will sink - well, if you can put aside any allegiances you have and think of it as a purely football matter.


At Manchester United, Tevez felt as though he was bigger than the club - a la Rooney? - and he duly succumbed to the money on the table over at Eastlands. Tevez isn't in it for the money, obviously. Just ask West Ham! But off he went, leaving behind the fans who absolutely adored him ("Fergie, sign him up" etc.). And without a second thought, signed for their newly-loaded city rivals.


Manchester City didn't exactly cover themselves in glory either, acting like one of those snotty families who come into money, leave the council estate, and act as though they always belongs in the upper echelons. And the fickle finger of football was quickly pointed at City fans. But who can blame them, Tevez has scored almost 40 goals in 60 games for the club - a phenomenal return.


Although it's been his conduct which leaves a lot to be desired. Who can forget the taunting of United when he scored against his old team? Straight out of the Adebayor book of idiocy, it was another case of wondering why he didn't celebrate with his fans and his team-mates. Had he, like Adebayor, signed for City only to prove a point to his former employers? And if not, what better way to prove the sceptics wrong than to see out the five year contract you've signed?


Or just a year and a half of it.


There were signs of unrest only a week or so ago, when he was substituted against West Brom. This has clearly set a good example for players such as Mario Balotelli. And now poor Carlos is homesick and wants to leave. It really isn't surprising that there has been so much disharmony and petulance at City this season. Tevez is club captain!


It's a despicable transfer request. Regardless of whether he really is just homesick or not, it's an appalling lack of respect to Manchester City and their fans. And it serves to increase the worrying trend that players can now just pick and choose wherever they want to be, when they want to play, and when they fancy chucking the toys out.


City have rejected the request. But even with the billions in reserve, they cannot keep Tevez in Manchester if he doesn't want to be there. And perhaps that is the most worrying thing of all.

United on the Wayne?

'Once a blue, always a blue'.

A cheap shot for Kopites and a source of bitterness for the Goodison faithful. Yet, when Wayne Rooney made the short move up the M62, he became an instant legend. All of a sudden, the blue became a red. And was worshipped.

Don't get me wrong, this would have happened at whatever club Rooney joined, and probably will in whatever foreign clime he ends up in. Which of course leaves the mouthwatering prospect of him teaming up with his old team-mate Carlos Tevez at the Costa del Eastlands. That's probably the only thing that would further anger the fans that made him one of their [Scouse] own.

Rooney is a player of undoubted quality. 30-odd goals last season were a major step forward for him and for Manchester United. At times unplayable, he tortured defences nation and Europe-wide. The 'white Pele' was seemingly the man who would lead United back to title and European Cup success over the coming years. Then came that ankle injury against Bayern Munich, and whatever else besides. And then came that World Cup, and whatever else besides. So what went wrong? Where did communications break down? Step forward Sir Alex.

Sir Alex Ferguson is a master in his era - a genuine legend of the game. Part of me thinks that today's comments were simply another reason to be in awe of this man's many masterclasses. Rooney was well and truly pushed into the Old Trafford limelight without being in sight - go on Wayne, what say you?

Sir Alex has left Rooney with the most difficult of tasks in explaining the situation, and there is simply no easy way to explain why you are leaving the fans who love you and you claim to love. He has also claimed to have left the door open for Rooney, that the ball is in his court. Let's be clear here, Sir Alex rubber-stamped Rooney's exit today.

"The one thing I said to him was 'respect this club, I don't want any nonsense from you'," said Sir Alex. And therein is the one thing that seems to have been forgotten in this furore.

Wayne Rooney needs Manchester United more than Manchester United need Wayne Rooney.

Unless, of course, United are now a selling club. Unless the money paid for his transfer goes towards servicing debt rather than straight into the kitty. United might not need him, but they do need a world-class replacement.

Where else in the world would Rooney have received the guidance and support that he has done at Old Trafford? What other manager in the world would have shown the patience to allow the raw talent mature into a world-beater, even amongst the shows of petulance? Where else on this planet would Rooney have been learning from esteemed team-mates such as Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes? And where else would a manager have shielded him from the outside world in times of trouble as many times as Sir Alex?

Yes, he was superb last season. But let's not forget that until last season, he hadn't come close to scoring 20 league goals in a season. Manchester United have won three league titles and a European Cup with Wayne Rooney scoring no more than 23 goals in all competitions in a season. That can be replaced.

It would be unfair to blame all this on the allegations about his private life. We will all have our opinions, and mine is that Rooney has been so poor this season [and at the World Cup] that it must have had some effect - not only on his performances, but also on his reasons for wanting to leave United.

He may indeed still love the club, but the petulance still exists, as shown when Rooney completely undermined his manager last week. And the subsequent comments by Sir Alex may have just undermined Wayne Rooney's legendary status at Manchester United.

'Once a liar, always a liar?'