Why any player would want to join a team with Chelsea’s spending power is beyond me. Players like Steven Sidwell (Chelsea) are selling their souls to earn a few extra quid.

People say, ‘You’d do the same.’ Really? You’d rather sit on the bench and earn twice the money than play every Saturday? Not me. I could have told Sidwell he wouldn’t get much of a game at Stamford Bridge. The Blues’ midfield already boasted Michael Essien, Claude Makalele and Frank Lamapard. And then they signed some lad called Michael Ballack.

Sure, Sidwell and Wright Phillips have earned a few quid, but surely they could afford to get by on what Reading and Manchester City were already paying them. They might have to watch the old shopping bill, or cut down on the lunchtime pints, though.

Sidwell would have been better off staying in Berkshire for another year and joining Everton or Newcastle. And had Wright Phillips stayed at Eastlands he could well be England’s regular right winger, or at worst a number one in the eyes of a former England manager, at least (as opposed to an option from the bench playing under a Baron Greenback look-a-like).

Greed. It never did anything for that bloke what got killed in the film Seven. One wonders if sitting out will have the same effect on some football careers this summer and beyond.