Crewe Alex: Loyalty

As you’ll have read, I’m sure, West Ham attacker Dimitri Payet has made no secret of his desire to leave West Ham United in recent days, causing havoc to my Fantasy Premier League team.

West Ham took a huge punt on Payet, spending a lot of money to sign him in the first place, while others wouldn’t. Payet delivered. West Ham were rewarded. Payet was then further rewarded. He then decides to turn his back on the people who helped him make his name in England, and the world for that matter.

Ben Garratt has been at Crewe since he was a kid. He’s learned a lot from our coaches and former players – most notably Steve Phillips, who I think deserves a huge mention for the work he’s done with Garratt. However, he could be on his way out.

Do I blame him? To be honest, if he pushed for it, he probably could have got himself a move to the Championship/a bigger League 1 club. Now, however, with Crewe looking like they could be headed towards semi-professional football, it may make a lot of sense for him to move on. Garratt’s not been his best recently, but given his age, he (and his agent/dad/representative) still have a compelling enough case to secure a move elsewhere. It might also make sense for him to move now because he won’t want his stock to fall any further, and cash in on the reputation he still has.

Similarly, defender Jon Guthrie was signed from non-league Pewsey Vale. His dad reads this website, by the way. Hi, Mr Guthrie.

Guthrie has endeared himself to fans, particularly in the last couple of seasons for his hard work and consequent improvements, making himself now one of the first names on the Alex teamsheet. He seems to have matured a lot as a footballer, and it may make a lot of sense for him to want to move – he could probably secure a League 1 move.

However, to both of these players, I say this. This club appreciates you, a lot. You deserve to be playing at a higher level than this. However, the best way to play at that level would be to keep at it, and get Crewe Alex to the level you want to play at, and play for Crewe in the upper leagues.

I will also say that the club needs to give these players the contracts they’ve earned and they deserve. Otherwise, it’s difficult to blame them for moving on.