Fine Him, Slap Him, Sack Him!

Well at least Upson has the balls to put his mouth where his agent has been and confirm the atrocious press reports from Neville have come from him and that it’s all about money!

Fresh off the verbal agreement nonsense from Upson’s agent the other day he is today quoted directly in the Birmingham Post of accusing Blues of moving the goalposts and a whole load of other nonsense.

He thinks that Birmingham are asking for silly money for him considering the length of his contract and he’s said that he won’t stay even if Blues regain their Premiership status.

‘I will see how it goes over the next three or four days, if Birmingham go up, I would not think of staying.’

But he was happy to stay picking up his wages for months whilst injured.

‘Will I still be here on February 1? I can’t answer that. It is that type of situation. I don’t know if another bid is going to be made. I don’t know if they are going to make a U-turn. I don’t know.’

Would this U-turn be the same sort of u-turn as signing a 5 1/2 year contract then doing your best to get out of it before it’s completed?

‘It is a bit disappointing in that I feel the goalposts are being moved every week, if you like. I know he [Steve Bruce] has labelled the month a bit of a silly season but I think they [West Ham] have had a pretty good offer for me and they have decided to decline it.

‘I can only control things within my power and they are decisions I can’t control, so I have to get on with it. I have enjoyed this game and given 100 per cent.’

And getting on with it is instructing your agent to launch a petty PR campaign against the club that pays your wages and gave you a career?

‘Is £8mn to £10m silly money? Yes, I think it is, given that I’ve only got 17 months left on my contract and I’ve declined any offers of a new contract. They are desperate to get back into the Premier League and it is their decision to call.

‘It can be difficult but, at the same time, I am paid to train and play and I am enjoying it, whatever happens, will happen.

‘I think West Ham is an attractive possibility to me, with the injection of money they’ve had, in the next couple of years they could really build. They’ve bought some good players in which is giving them every chance of survival, which I think they will do.’

With the injection of money they’ve had – hmmm so a relegation threatened team who can pay you more per week is more attractive than a club who will be swopping places with them. It’s all about the bank balance isn’t it, what’s to bet a contract with Wet Spam for Upson would include a relegation release clause eh!

‘It could be a good club for the next two or three years to go to and watch it build. If I can’t go, I’ll give 100 per cent. I am paid to play football and I have my own reputation and I want to play well. I have a lot of respect for my team-mates for the fans and myself.’

Your reputation is probably one that you don’t want Matthew.

‘Whatever disagreement I have with the club, I have my team-mates and a stadium full of fans that I have to turn up and do my job for.

‘I think the fee that has been offered is realistic, a good sum of money ? £6m plus bits and pieces ? but we have a difference of opinion. They [Birmingham] have different beliefs and motivation in what they want to do and I can’t control that.’

Upson ‘surprisingly’ still won’t enter a written transfer request, I’m know I’m cynical but has that anything to do with the money he would receive when sold. Players who request a transfer forgo certain payments but is that surprising when it’s obvious it’s all about his bank balance.

Matthew Upson you are a disgrace. Blues have given you a career, made you a household name, given you the chance to call yourself an England international (ha!) and stuck by you through injury. This is how you repay the club, the fans and uphold your reputation.

I said in the article about his agent it would come from Upson and he should be disciplined. Now it should be a forgone conclusion that he gets the maximum fine allowable. I would even go so far as to say sack him and hold onto his registration and give him the choice of languishing in the reserves or getting a shelf stacking job at a supermarket.

We don’t live in an ideal world, so I know that won’t happen so but it should.