The current state of the Premier League proves that the much feted ingredients of team spirit and camaraderie are no longer prerequisites for success at the highest levels of sport.
Different motivations
Former England cricketer Mark Butcher agreed whole heartedly with his fellow guests that the idea of team spirit is misleading, and cited Kevin Pietersen's reintegration into the England team as an example.
"Team spirit is not something that makes a good team," he said. "Players getting along with each other inside or outside of the dressing room, and all being matey, does not make a good team.
"Over the course of the season people would inevitably argue and fall out, there would be disagreements and factions within that dressing room. But when it came down to it, it is the goal. The goal you have when you are playing was exactly the same and whatever your motivation.
"Some players would be motivated by money, others by their own personal stats and average, and others by making sure they had enough money to get their kids through school. It doesn't matter what your motivation is as long as the goal is the same.
"Kevin Pietersen would probably be the biggest example. One thing that Alastair Cook did as a captain that was very, very smart, was that he wanted Kevin Pietersen back in that side. They were going to India - the toughest place there is to tour - and England had not won there in many, many years.
"He played a stunning innings in Bombay, England won a Test match to go 2-1 up, having been 1-0 down and they won a series. You can't tell me that when they were all raking in their win bonuses and are being lauded all over the place that it was not worth it."
Special
However, for 400m runner Nicola Sanders the thrill of being part of a relay team is a rare treat for an athlete who is otherwise isolated in her own me-against-the-world competition.
"I often enjoy it more," she said. "Sometimes I feel the pressure more because you are part of a team but actually I enjoy it more because you are part of a team. Not everyone feels the same and some do it because they have to.
"In Osaka (2007 World Championships) I got a silver medal in the individual but I was so much more excited when we got a bronze (in the relay). It was lower down but I felt the team spirit more. Because we don't do it very often, when you do come together as a team it is special in a way."
