Arguments are good and show that players care

From The Times

January 24, 2008

Tony Cascarino: Analysis

On Ireland duty, I once went for a walk with Roy Keane. “When I walk into the dressing-room at Manchester United, sometimes I can’t remember who I’m talking to and who I’m not,” he said. I laughed - and so did he, which tells you a lot about how serious the on-pitch incident between Emmanuel Adebayor and Nicklas Bendtner on Tuesday really is.

Players argue all the time and it is not a problem unless they make it one. The chances are that Adebayor and Bendtner will forget about it rather than risk the anger of their manager and the mockery of their teammates: “Look, the girls still aren’t talking!”

The problem might have sprung from Bendtner’s own goal in the first half. Certainly William Gallas will be pleased that the row has deflected attention away from his own performance in the 5-1 defeat at White Hart Lane.

Although a talent, Bendtner can come across as big-headed and too sure of himself. He is only 20 but will stand his ground, whether you are a trainee or a senior professional. Clubs should not be afraid of players such as that because in any walk of life, fearless, outspoken people often turn out to be very successful. Rather than damage a team’s chances, a moment of conflict is a promising sign: it suggests that players care and are big enough to stand up for themselves. Teammates do not need to be mates to win matches.

It is the spats you do not see that are the serious ones. Players are less restrained in private. During my career I witnessed a couple of rows in matches and maybe half a dozen at training grounds, which were worse. At Marseilles, Fabien Barthez ripped off his goalkeeper’s gloves and went for Marc Libbra, a forward. It was a shocking flare-up but was quickly forgotten.

You cannot overlook savage incidents, such as John Hartson’s on Eyal Berkovic in their West Ham United days, that cause physical harm and affect the mood of the club. But Tuesday’s was not in that league, even if Bendtner was left with a cut on his nose.

Seeing the drama, the outside world will look for chinks in Arsenal’s armour and blow the incident out of proportion. It will not have a negative impact on the team and Arsène Wenger, the manager, will be more worried about the way some of his first-team regulars played at White Hart Lane than whether or not two of his strikers are friends.