The Player Power Fallout: 'despicable' Stars Or 'hypocritical' Clubs?

It's been nan model of nan striking strikers.

Alexander Isak and Yoane Wissa some refused to train this summertime and some penned statements demanding moves elsewhere.

Former Blackburn and Aston Villa striker Chris Sutton called nan pair's behaviour "despicable", "disgraceful" and "disrespectful".

But, successful a heated statement connected BBC Radio 5 Live, Joe Hart said clubs "have stomped each complete players" successful nan past.

In nan end, immoderate your opinion, it worked. On deadline time Isak secured a grounds £125m move to Liverpool from Newcastle who besides signed Wissa from Brentford for £55m.

In stark contrast, England defender Marc Guehi, who had kept training and playing for Crystal Palace, saw his dream move to Liverpool illness having been wide praised for his professionalism.

So, is this nan measurement shot is heading? Will we person an summation successful players actively trying to unit a move? And is it ever defensible?

Is this nan future?

This period Isak released a connection saying promises had been "broken" by Newcastle and that their "relationship couldn't continue".

Two days earlier nan extremity of nan transportation window, Wissa besides released a statement connected societal media calling connected Brentford to "keep their word" and fto him leave.

Sutton doesn't judge a shape has been set, telling BBC Sport: "These are 2 examples of players downing devices and getting a move, but I tin besides constituent to Eberechi Eze who didn't and still sewage his move [to Arsenal this summer]."

Similarly, Troy Deeney stressed to BBC Sport nary of this is caller arsenic players person "always done what they needed to do to get their move" and person been releasing nationalist statements and refusing to train "since nan extremity of time".

On BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, The Observer's Football Correspondent Rory Smith said: "Does it group a precedent that Isak behaves not brilliantly and gets a move, that Wissa behaves not brilliantly, gets a move, but, Guehi is really nice, and doesn't get his move?

"It's not great, is it?"

Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart added: "I cognize it is not bully really Alexander Isak has conducted himself, but spot maine if Newcastle wanted it to spell nan different measurement they would person stomped each complete him.

"I person seen it truthful galore times successful football."

Whatever your view, it worked.

Before this summertime Isak was "fast becoming a Newcastle legend" according to erstwhile Blackburn and Aston Villa striker Sutton.

The Sweden striker, who had 3 years near connected his contract, had scored 27 goals since joining nan nine successful 2022, helping Newcastle triumph nan Carabao Cup successful March, nan club's first trophy successful 56 years.

But, aft his British transportation grounds move to Liverpool, his estimation successful nan North East is now successful tatters.

On nan different hand, Newcastle ended up benefiting from Wissa "downing tools" astatine Brentford. The DR Congo striker missed each 4 of his side's games successful August earlier nan Newcastle's bid connected deadline time was accepted.

Although some sewage their moves, Sutton believes nan 2 players' behaviour was successful nan wrong.

"Players motion contracts, group successful their mundane lives motion contracts and you adhere to those contracts," he told BBC 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

"It is perfectly bad what they [Alexander Isak and Yoane Wissa] person done. They whitethorn good beryllium happy tonight, but it is simply a disgraceful, disrespectful measurement to behave."

Likewise, back successful August, Alan Shearer told BBC 5 Live: "I get clubs and shot players, location is nary loyalty, clubs look aft themselves and players look aft themselves, but there's a measurement of doing things .

"The measurement that Alex [Isak] has done things is not nan correct way."

There are 2 sides to this debate.

If Guehi had pushed much for a move to Liverpool, would he person near Selhurst Park?

Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney said connected BBC Match of nan Day connected Saturday: "He deserves a batch of in installments because we person seen definite players garbage to play. He deserves awesome in installments for doing nan correct thing."

Ultimately though, exemplary master aliases not, Guehi will return to Palace's training crushed aft nan world break.

Former Premier League striker Troy Deeney added to BBC Sport it was "hypocritical" for clubs to criticise Isak and Wissa's behaviour.

"People opportunity location is nary loyalty successful football, but nary 1 complains erstwhile a squad gets free of a player, do they?" said nan ex-Watford captain.

"No 1 says location is nary loyalty erstwhile clubs get free of a manager. But they expect nan players to beryllium loyal to nan squad because nan fans emotion nan player.

"From a player's constituent of view, Isak and Wissa won't attraction because they person their moves."