With the recent story of big-hearted Swede Olof Mellberg distributing 3,200 signed shirts amongst Villa away fans (leaving him 40k out of pocket and presumably with a very sore wrist) – not to mention Birmingham’s French midfielder Oliver Kapo stunning one of the club’s youth players by giving him a car as a thank you for polishing his boots, football seems to have become the sport of generous giving?

One can only hope so, and with the worlds elite descending upon Switzerland and Austria, here’s hoping that plenty more players will make the local community smile, and hand over some serious presents. After all, although one could criticise philanthropic millionaire football players handing out a motor here, or a few shirts there, I would consider them particularly cynical!

But what I’d really like to know, further to the psychological post we stuck up the other day, is whether – in Mellberg’s case at least – finishing the season in such a kindly manner will help him at all in Euro 2008? Now don’t get me wrong – I’m not suggesting that merely by giving a few bits and bobs away, a player will automatically feel ten times better for the big tournament… But with generosity comes positive feeling and psychologists agree that positive feeling promotes positive playing.

So our advice to those millionaire players out there who need a boost before the Euros; start giving away your stuff! And if you need someone to give to, look no further than your truly…