18 Dec 2003(Thu)

I have to admit I was very surprised, and even more disappointed, when I learned that Emerson would be named J.League MVP for 2003.

I thought the MVP had to come fromYokohama F Marinos, who had won both stages of the J.League, and in my opinion there were three candidates: Yuji Nakazawa, Daisuke Oku and Tatsuhiko Kubo.

My own choice was the defender Nakazawa, who, in the words of manager Takeshi Okada, had emerged as the mood-maker of the team on and off the pitch.

I thought a Marinos player deserved the award, but I don't think Emerson did.

But calm down Reds fans!

I am not saying for a minute that he is not a good player.

Of course he is, as his pace and his finishing power make him a proven match-winner. On pure natural ability, Emerson is probably the best player in the league.

I would go as far as to say he is too good for the J.League, and that he would be a success in a major league in Europe. Whether a European club would be willing to pay what Urawa pays him, though, is a different matter.

But with a high salary comes responsibility, to teammates, coaches, the club and to the fans. All the foreign players in Japan should feel this, as they are in a privileged position playing here.

This is where Emerson lets himself down.

Manager Hans Ooft told me toward the end of the season that Emerson had been fined a total of $60,000 during the year for turning up late at training.

But I am more concerned with Emerson's attitude on the pitch.

I don't like players who dive and roll around feigning serious injury to try and get opponents booked or even sent off.

I know Emerson gets fouled regularly because he is so dangerous and fast, but there are many occasions when he play-acts and tries to con the referee.

Take, for example, the home game against Verdy, who were top of J1 with just four games to go.

Reds were beating them comfortably 2-0 when, just before halftime, Emerson tried to win a penalty with a dive. He was shown the yellow card, resulting in a two-match suspension.

The two matches he missed were away to Shimizu and Nagoya. Reds needed their goal-scoring ace at this critical time of the season, but they lost both matches and were out of the title race.

I may be being too harsh on Emerson, but I believe he cost his team a chance of winning the second stage. As I said, as a well-paid foreign player he had a responsibility to the club and to the fans.

Is this an MVP?

As a player, yes, he is a match-winner, but I think fair play must come into the reckoning, too.

I think it was a bad choice by the J.League, as Emerson does not set the right example to Japanese players or to youngsters watching the game.

ends