Media venom for John Terry confirms their bias against Chelsea captain

The media have shamelessly engineered a venomous deconstruction of John Terry over the last 24 hours, twisting his words in yesterday’s press conference to concoct stories of revenge and rebellion. In all likelihood, neither of those two words – more often found in Hollywood movie scripts than in football squads (aside from where the French are concerned, obviously) – can really apply to what’s gone on with England since the dismal showing against Algeria.

Admittedly, John Terry’s choice of words during the press conference yesterday morning occasionally hinted at more than a little insensitivity from the former England captain. He might have considered not repeating ‘sod it’ quite so many times for example, and after explaining how he still saw himself as a captain of sorts (for me he is the only one in the team who actually acts like a captain), he could have tacked “but Steven Gerrard is now doing a cracking job with the armband” on for good measure. Appearances are everything – especially when the media, desperate for a story for Monday’s papers, are circling like vultures over a rotting corpse.

But the core of what Terry said was in essence correct and sensible. Breaking the press conference down, he first expressed his and the team’s full backing for Capello, before re-stressing that Friday’s performance wasn’t good enough and that the team must do better.

Later, he talked of the need for the team to air their frustrations, and that if Capello – or anyone else in the team (a part of his quote the media have decided to omit) – doesn’t like it, they’ll have to deal with it. As at Chelsea, he was basically suggesting that it would be healthy for people to be able to get frustrations off their chests. It sounds sensible to me to create an adult culture in the squad that allows players to ask questions and contribute appropriately, while the manager maintains ultimate control. It also sounds sensible to have more frank conversations when things are going badly wrong.

Most importantly for me, what he very clearly wasn’t suggesting was that he or any other member of the team had a right to dictate to the manager how the team should play. Yes, he did say that Joe Cole could make a difference, either from the start or from the bench. Was he suggesting Joe Cole MUST play? No. Is what he said a crime? Of course not. And what was the alternative? To say that Cole couldn’t make a difference? Hardly sensible.

In the immediate aftermath of the interview, commentators on Sky Sports news were very positive about Terry’s conference, describing it as a rallying call and the kind of impassioned demand for improvement that was needed after so much fan dissatisfaction just 36 hours previous. That evening, after the Brazil-Ivory Coast game, BBC pundits Alan Shearer and Emmanuel Adebayor both joined Gary Lineker in universally praising John Terry, entirely backing his view that clear the air talks were needed. There was no suggestion that Terry was acting beyond his role or that he had spoken out of turn.

This morning however, journalists for pretty much all of the broadsheets and tabloids (who, unlike Shearer and Lineker, haven’t taken part in the pressure cooker of any international tournaments as far as I’m aware) painted a very different picture with their headlines. Words like ‘revenge’ against Capello (presumably for taking the captaincy away) were banded around, and despite some balance here and there it was pretty much universally agreed that Terry had launched some kind of coup against the manager, sowing disharmony as other ‘senior’ players distanced themselves from England’s number 6.

Other critics of Terry have reasoned that Terry somehow planned the whole thing by giving the interview, and then going off piste. Of course that theory forgets that all of these conferences, and all media interviews, are carefully marshalled by the FA’s press team. Terry would have been carefully selected above all the other players to deliver that specific press conference, and the press team will have surely rehearsed the majority of his answers. Furthermore, the press officer made no attempt to interrupt Terry at any point.

John Terry is no role model, and I very sincerely wish Chelsea had a captain with a cleaner image who it would be easier for me – or anyone - to respect. As it is however, it seems to me that it is the media who are sowing (or trying to sow) disharmony in the team, not Terry, working together to agree the angle they would pursue in this morning’s papers. After all, they had alternative ways of interpreting the press conference. After a strongly worded press interview, John Terry is being pilloried far more than Rooney was for insulting England’s long-suffering travelling support.

Some of Terry’s words were ill-advised, of course. But the punishment doesn’t match the crime: and it might only be England that suffer.

Comments

[Capleton]

When didn't the Press try to cause disharmony in the England camp? It surely isn't a co-incidence that every England manager since Ramsey has regarded them as pack of poisonous toads. Dan Jones in London's Evening Standard is at least supportive of JT: the heading of his piece is "Yes Terry's guilty, but only of telling the truth".

[bridgie]

John Terry has to be the most despicable person in the football world. There is nothing about him that any young footballer should aspire to. I hope he is banished from the EPL for ever. I detest the man and so should every decent human being. There is nothing respectable about him....and yes I am a blues fan....

[Jonah]

Agree about Dan Jones, liked a lot of his articles recently too.

Most journos in this country though - utter scum. And I say this from personal experience.

Leave JT alone!

[Ryan]

Most despicable person in the football world!!! You fool.

Rapist, women beaters, corruption.

Get some perspective.

[J Spencer]

bridgie, you do know that when the club cut our budget for the Women's team he stumped up the difference so they could compete at the same level? That doesn't get reported so much. Neither does Drogba ending a civil war or his building of Hospitals etc...

They don't make good stories.

[bridgeviews.co.uk]

Loving the 'bridgie' nickname!

I did in fact know about those - you're right, they're so rarely told or heard. The Drogba bit is most galling: the man has genuinely gone WELL out of his way to do something truly incredible for his country.

I've done my bit to try and raise awareness of both stories on this blog:

Drogba:
http://www.bridgeviews.co.uk/bridge_views/2009/07/didier-drogba-peacemaker-diplomat-and-not-all-that-bad.html

Terry:
http://www.bridgeviews.co.uk/bridge_views/2009/10/john-terry-rescues-chelsea-ladies-to-prove-wealthy-stars-have-a-heart.html

[Shep]

Where have you gone!!!!!???!!!?!?!??!?!?!?!