Spare a thought for Wes Brown, the forgotten man of Manchester United

Most of you will have little sympathy for footballers. They get paid handsomely, even when they play poorly or are injured, and live a lifestyle that most people can only dream about. Spare a thought, though, for Wes Brown, the Manchester United and England defender. He deserves your attention, your sympathy even.

Brown has spent 12 years Old Trafford, joining the club as a trainee, and has emerged in recent years as one of the most trusted and versatile players in Sir Alex Ferguson's squad. 'Got a problem? Call Wes'. Sir Alex has done it time and again and rarely has Brown let him down.

Last season, Brown was mostly a model of consistency - for club and country - and yet he needed to be told that, once Gary Neville had returned from a long-term injury, he would still have a place in the side. Or, at least, he would be in contention. There were plenty of would-be suitors for him out there; he needed to know.

If there were no 'assurances', it was simple. He would leave. After all, he turns 30 next year; he needs first-team football. The contract discussions dragged on but, in the end, Fergie clearly persuaded him to stay. Brown had, it would appear, a future at the club and the Scot - he who shall be obeyed - is nothing if not a canny negotiator.

And yet where is Brown now? Not only is Neville - a favourite son of Fergie and quite rightly so - fully fit again and back in favour but Rafael da Silva, 18, also seems to have drawn alongside Brown, if not overtaken him, for the right-back slot.

Da Silva, a typically adventurous Brazilian, earned rave reviews in United's 3-0 win over Aalborg in the Champions League in Denmark on Tuesday night, twice going close with long-range shots. "He's got something special, the lad," Sir Alex purred.

So exactly what Brown had feared has happened. Neville, the old-timer, is on the premises again and Da Silva, the South American tyro, is breathing down his neck. Brown's loyalty, his willingness to re-sign for the cause, has apparently been overlooked or conveniently brushed aside. He faces a season of frustration at Old Trafford, not to mention what it might do to his England chances.

It's a real kick in the teeth for Brown. Critics go on about disloyal, money-grabbing and utterly self-centred footballers - and, often, they are not wrong - but, in this case, Brown seems to have been extremely hard done by. Football is a ruthless business, it's about getting what you can when you can, and his decision to stay may have backfired.

If I were Brown, I'd be knocking on the door of the manager's office and demand to know what is going on? 'Why am I not playing? Why am I on the substitutes' bench and, sometimes, not even there, either?'

Were I still playing, I would do it. But then, I'm not. And it's probably not Sir Alex who I would have to front up once I'd knocked on the door and, nervously, walked through. If Brown does - and I would hope he would - he will be a brave lad. I wish him well and you should, too. He deserves it.

Comments

[Prakash.K]

Hindsight makes everybody wise! Ask Wes Brown after yesterday's match with Blackburn, what will be his choice now, Newcastle first team or Manutd rotation?

Not just the goal he scored, Wes played well yesterday and I am sure that he is confident of his chances at the club. I don't think he will be bothered by the Rafael adventure at all.

[ricki]

wes aint forgotten, he was being talked about on MUTV the other week when neville came back. Wes is consistent, a good tackler, can cross the ball. is better now than neville is. dont forget he was part of the defence that won the prem and champs league. if he dont like fighting for his place then he has no place at united and should ask to join someone else. Wes is a fighter though, and ireckon come the end of the season it shall be he who has played right back for united more than da silva and neville

[Benn]

Reading this article, and the resulting comments, am I one of the only people who think Neville is completely past it? I have complete sympathy for Brown, and Ferdinand as potential captain. Neville should be a squad player and nothing else.

[Tonka Norris]

It seems to me a smart move to have Wes on the bench last week. Neville, while fit, isn't as robust as he could be and Brown will be needed there in time; plus the 2 center backs have been less bankable of late. Saving Brown as a cover for these 3, getting de Silva some game time against weak opposition, looks like good management. Maybe some rotation at the back too?

[Peter Coates]

Never a first string player. He is forgotten for good reason.

[Rezwan]

Wes is a fine player but he isn't the best right back or centre half at United. That is a fact and i'm sure he knows it too. No one at United is guaranteed a first team place and I cannot believe that Fergie promised him one. Wes had drawn-out contract negotiations because he wanted more money. Simple as that. Should he feel sorry for himself now that he is back on the bench? Not at all. Just look at Tevez and Rooney, either of them will probably be on the bench for most games. I would be honored to be on the bench with players of such ability. It's nothing to be ashamed of.

[Tom]

Keith, did you see the game at Anfield? If so, how did Brown "have a shocker" in that game? His own goal was not remotely his fault and was all down to Van Der Sar. And the second goal had nothing to do with him. The only thing I can think of him doing really poorly in that game was when Ryan Babel maked him look like a mug down by the corner flag at the Kop end.

The team as a whole played poorly that day at Anfield, to single Brown out as "having a shocker" is a bit of a joke.

[Bill]

Rubbish. Brown was poorly advised that if he held out and dangled the threat of a Bosman he would be in for bumper pay rise. SAF told him in no uncertain terms (I remember the press conference well) that the contract on offer was as good as it was going to get and if he didn't want to sign it he was free to leave. As soon as Brown realised SAF was telling the truth rather than bargaining he signed. He did so knowing that he would remain one of United's second string earners; and second string earners are second string players. He knew the score!

[Nicholas]

I think Wes Brown has been made the scapegoat for the calamitous defensive performance at Anfield, or so it would appear.
He may also have said something out of turn to SAF who is now making him pay.
I for one want to see him back at right back straight away.
Im sure i wasnt the only United fan who paniced everytime Chelsea broke down their left. Neville could always be relied upon for a bit of pace but he looks at least two yards short at the moment and only Ballack's (of all people) hurdling ability prevented Nev from a red card at the bridge.

I would personally let Nev regain full fitness in the Res's and reinstate Brown.

As for Rafael, he may yet develop into a wide midfielder as oppose to a full back as the weak point in his game seems to be his defensive awareness.

[KEITH]

I am a lifelong man utd fan and while i empathise with wes and believe he has been a great servant to the club i dont feel sorry for him. The fact of the matter is he had an absolute shocker at anfield and this is fergusons way of giving him a kick up the backside,just because he had a great season last year doesnt mean he deserves to start every game this season. I fully expect him to be back in the side soon and when he is i doubt you will see a performance like he put in against liverpool he knew he would face competition this year that is the nature of the beast when you want to win things you can't have players resting on their laurels,fergie rotates players but if you come in and do well you will probably stay there its the fairest way. Also would he be a regular player for one of the big teams i think not,i would rather be a squad player challenging for honours than a regular at newcastle or spurs.

[David Russell]

One point that you did not raise in your article was the name of the main suitor for his services during the transfer window: one Newcastle United. Given the shambles that has ensued at St James Park since the start of the season, I suspect that rather than Mr Brownn feeling sorry for himself, he is thanking his lucky stars he is in Manchester and not Tyneside.

[Prakash.K]

Manchester United is a big football club and therefore it brings with it so many associated facets, some of them appearing to be imperfect to a specific individual. Wes Brown is a very good player, had a fantastic season last year and more than compensated for Gary Neville's absence. He is there this season also. Just because he was not in the startig eleven for one or two matches, the road doesn't end for him here.

It is the depth of the squad which is going to be the defining factor between success and failure for teams competing in more than one front. Wes can play at right back or at the centre and hence he is going to play matches, certainly.

Shouldn't Gary Neveille be allowed to regain match fitness after his long lay off? Shouldn't Raael D'silva get introduced to first team football for the sake of future?

If injury crisis is not going to affect the team's performance now, it will be precisely because ofthe depth of squad. Between Rooney, Berbatov and Tevez ony two will play in most of the matches. Between Nani and Park, between Fletcher, Anderson, Scholes, Giggs and Hagreaves there will be selctions made based on the team Manutd are playing and based on the availability of the players.Such selection shouldn't be viewed as injustice to those on the bench.

Si Alex Fergusson has said this many times now, there will be rotation and some of the players will be on the bench. Just think how John Oshea is contributig to the team,when ever a slot is to be filled, full back, centre or midfield (he was even brought in as a striker in one of the matches), John Oshea is in. And he seems to be happy about it, to be a part of the great organisation that is Manutd.

Was Tevez disappointed to be on the bench in the match against Aalborg? Was Rooney disappointed in the previous match? Perhaps yes, but then that is part of the life at Manutd. Isn't Fletcher a very good midfield player? Is there any guarantee that he will be starting all games?

I am sure Wes Brown undertands and appreciates the situaton and will remain as faithful to his club as he had been all this while.

[Jon]

Tony - I am sure that Wes and his advisors were well aware of 1. Wes' age, 2. Gary Neville's position as club captain and his iminent reurn to fitness, 3. Rafael Da Silva's emergence as a talent. Wes will, I am sure have weighed this up and ought to have been advised that his current situation was a possible outcome. I think he has a pretty decent existence - I am sure he is paid well. He knows that Neville will play fewer and fewer games, he knows how SAF rotates new blood through the team but rarely does he allow them to become regulars too quickly. This leaves Wes with opportunities at right back and to a lesser extent as a full back during the season. This will be especially true from January onwards as fixtures, fatigue and injury pile up. This is why SAF is successful, he not only manages the team but also his resources, blooding players early, rotating to maintain freshness so that come April it is Man Utd who will all their games. Wes must know this too and when he gets home from training he will see his collection of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League medals and will trust in his boss to do right by him and the team.

[Man Utd Fan]

I believe it is very sad that Wes don't get first team football, he is a very talanted player who was really great last year, Rafael is a real talanent, but he ain't fit for a first team spot yet, and should be as best on the bench. As far as Neville go, i believe he is a player pf highest quality, Fergie have a hard choice in choosing one, but i believe it is time for a generation change, so Neville, Scholes and Giggs should be on the bench and come in on the games to add experience and let the younger lads like Nani and Anderson get a first team spot.