Dark side of the Mersey

When I read the transcript of Andy Ver Der Meyde's phone call to Royston Drenthe advising his compatriot not to come to Everton because of the many temptations that life on Merseyside presents, my initial reactions was to laugh.

Van Der Meyde's words of warning included this:

'Liverpool has too many temptations for guys like us. Before you know you will be dragged into the nightclubs.

'There the Barcadi flows and you can ski on cocaine; and the women, Royston. Oh man, oh man, oh man. Those British women and their short skirts...'

Of course, Drenthe completed his move to Everton from Real Madrid two days later. And why not? Van Der Meyde has made it sound like a dream for a young man with lots of spare cash to burn.

Van Der Meyde was being completely serious, though, as he was unable to keep his own personal life under control and his four seasons at Everton were a disaster, making only 20 appearances and scoring no goals.

He retired at the age of 31, his career ruined due to a lack of control over his off field antics and numerous injuries on it.

The Dutchman's candid admittance of his problems in an interview with BBC Radio Five Live (quotes here) highlight how easy it can be for a footballer to descend into a world of excess where anything you want is readily available.

This past week we have been given a stark reminder of this as Paul Gascoigne continues his long fight against alcoholism, something which Van Der Meyde struggled with too.

David Moyes appears to be a strict manager and it is impossible for managers to physically stop their players from going out on the town or buying drugs. There should be punishments, however, for players who overstep the mark. A week's wages is simply not good enough and clubs should review their disciplinary policy on such matters.

People are too easy to dismiss footballers because of their reputations; paid too much money and behave badly. It is clear, however, from this recent case of Van Der Meyde and the more high profile stories of Gascoigne and, tragically, George Best that if players are unable to control their excesses than it can ruin careers and lives.

Follow @JerryvanWav

Comments

[graham lloyd]

all he s saying in a roundabout way is liverpool is a great city where we know how to enjjoy ourselves and the women are bautiful simples...

[Jonesy]

Not too sure the 'skiing on cocaine' is going to be something the Liverpool Tourist Board is going to love to see, with all genuine respect...especially from a Dutchman, but the Bacardi does flow and the girls do wear short skirts even in 2ft of snow (the real skiing kind!). Liverpool is a party town as the diverse student community will attest to.

Perhaps a point to be made is that there are two premier league squads in the city for a total in the dozens of physically fit, naturally competitive and extremely affluent young blokes. Some do liook like Phil Neville and Luis Suarez and so have limited options when it comes to the short skirt choice obviously, but, theres still a lot of guys who seem to be able to cope perfectly well with Liverpools charms despite being in a position to abuse them in thorough fashion..

Perhaps 'Shandy Andy's" warning, however well meant, may have been delivered more succinctly to something like "if you want to act like an uncontrollable child go for it in Liverpool'....you cant help thinking, with hindsight, that Drenthe wouldve found that quite so disagreeable either though!.