Players v Club

[deep blue]

Contributers on here have differing views on the current predicament, blaming the club hierarchy or the manager, but most lay much of the blame at the door of the players and hold them in disrespect (I have done too).

 

But, in defence of the players, take a step back and consider the following issues:

- The apparently inadequate fitness regime

- Poor personal development of players

- The occasional careless handling of injuries during the game

- Amateurish team selection

- Team formation and style that doesn't suit the squad

- Poor substitution decisions

- Poor transfer dealings which weaken the squad

I'm sure I've missed some out.

 

With the odd exception, these have been a constant of our management team over the last 5 years.  Add in the understandable negativity of the crowd during matches and the poisonous backdrop of the apparent lack of interest and incompetence of Top and his minions.

 

If you were a player who started off by putting everything into your performance on the pitch but you felt your efforts were being undermined match after match by the above failings, it's understandable that you would start to get disenchanted and disinterested, that your performance would begin to drop, that the squad togetherness would start to erode, and there would be fallings-out with the manager.

 

Could that explain our current demise on the pitch, and does that not to some extent  excuse the players? It could certainly explain why some players look to be "bad eggs". Maybe they tend to be the more experienced one who are more aware of the failings compared to previous clubs they've represented.

[ALC Fox]

To an extent, yes.

 

But it's got to a point now where the players are just as toxic as the ownership and the board.

 

All of them need to go (with the exception of the youth players and perhaps one or two others).

 

We need a Pearson-style reboot where personality is prized as highly as ability.

[markko]

13 minutes ago, deep blue said:

Contributers on here have differing views on the current predicament, blaming the club hierarchy or the manager, but most lay much of the blame at the door of the players and hold them in disrespect (I have done too).

 

But, in defence of the players, take a step back and consider the following issues:

- The apparently inadequate fitness regime

- Poor personal development of players

- The occasional careless handling of injuries during the game

- Amateurish team selection

- Team formation and style that doesn't suit the squad

- Poor substitution decisions

- Poor transfer dealings which weaken the squad

I'm sure I've missed some out.

 

With the odd exception, these have been a constant of our management team over the last 5 years.  Add in the understandable negativity of the crowd during matches and the poisonous backdrop of the apparent lack of interest and incompetence of Top and his minions.

 

If you were a player who started off by putting everything into your performance on the pitch but you felt your efforts were being undermined match after match by the above failings, it's understandable that you would start to get disenchanted and disinterested, that your performance would begin to drop, that the squad togetherness would start to erode, and there would be fallings-out with the manager.

 

Could that explain our current demise on the pitch, and does that not to some extent  excuse the players? It could certainly explain why some players look to be "bad eggs". Maybe they tend to be the more experienced one who are more aware of the failings compared to previous clubs they've represented.

The obscene salaries, pride, professionalism sadly don't seem to come into it.

[nnfox]

These are valid points to be fair.  Tactics and over-arching strategic structure of the club should be better - do everything you can to get the best out of the players and then everything else takes care of itself.

 

BUT these are highly paid, elite athletes who have a job that many people would give anything to do, part of their job is to take their career super-seriously and do everything they can to be in peak condition.  They don't get get a pass here.  If their fitness isn't up to scratch, they can and should do something about it.  And all of the tactics and structure in the world doesn't excuse individual errors.  There's only so much coaching that can go into telling a defender to get goal side of an opposition attacker, or a midfielder not to play mess up a simple 15 yard pass and give it straight to the opposition, or a striker not to turn away from goal when they should be trying to force the opposition defender to do something that may invoke a missed tackle or a free kick.

 

So yeah, it's not all on the players.  There could be a better set up around the situation, but they could and should be doing little things on a personal level to make them better individually.  The mentality of the team is poor and the players themselves can improve that.

[davieG]

18 minutes ago, deep blue said:

Contributers on here have differing views on the current predicament, blaming the club hierarchy or the manager, but most lay much of the blame at the door of the players and hold them in disrespect (I have done too).

 

But, in defence of the players, take a step back and consider the following issues:

- The apparently inadequate fitness regime

- Poor personal development of players

- The occasional careless handling of injuries during the game

- Amateurish team selection

- Team formation and style that doesn't suit the squad

- Poor substitution decisions

- Poor transfer dealings which weaken the squad

I'm sure I've missed some out.

 

With the odd exception, these have been a constant of our management team over the last 5 years.  Add in the understandable negativity of the crowd during matches and the poisonous backdrop of the apparent lack of interest and incompetence of Top and his minions.

 

If you were a player who started off by putting everything into your performance on the pitch but you felt your efforts were being undermined match after match by the above failings, it's understandable that you would start to get disenchanted and disinterested, that your performance would begin to drop, that the squad togetherness would start to erode, and there would be fallings-out with the manager.

 

Could that explain our current demise on the pitch, and does that not to some extent  excuse the players? It could certainly explain why some players look to be "bad eggs". Maybe they tend to be the more experienced one who are more aware of the failings compared to previous clubs they've represented.

Doesn't really explain the difference between the two halves of the Southampton game.

 

A bit like this guy

 

[Globalfox]

26 minutes ago, deep blue said:

Contributers on here have differing views on the current predicament, blaming the club hierarchy or the manager, but most lay much of the blame at the door of the players and hold them in disrespect (I have done too).

 

But, in defence of the players, take a step back and consider the following issues:

- The apparently inadequate fitness regime

- Poor personal development of players

- The occasional careless handling of injuries during the game

- Amateurish team selection

- Team formation and style that doesn't suit the squad

- Poor substitution decisions

- Poor transfer dealings which weaken the squad

I'm sure I've missed some out.

 

With the odd exception, these have been a constant of our management team over the last 5 years.  Add in the understandable negativity of the crowd during matches and the poisonous backdrop of the apparent lack of interest and incompetence of Top and his minions.

 

If you were a player who started off by putting everything into your performance on the pitch but you felt your efforts were being undermined match after match by the above failings, it's understandable that you would start to get disenchanted and disinterested, that your performance would begin to drop, that the squad togetherness would start to erode, and there would be fallings-out with the manager.

 

Could that explain our current demise on the pitch, and does that not to some extent  excuse the players? It could certainly explain why some players look to be "bad eggs". Maybe they tend to be the more experienced one who are more aware of the failings compared to previous clubs they've represented.

Sorry not having this. The players and their agents have benefitted more than anyone. This group has endless dramas, winks sulking, Vestergaard dog, Covid parties, DUI’s, slagging fans off on social media. The list goes on lazy, lack of application. Pampered. Sure there are other elements but this lot have let us down and for too long. Players get too much of a pass from supporters.

[Sly]

To a player, football is just a job.

 

Consider this.

 

You are an admin assistant at your current place of work. You are paid £400,000k per year to file paperwork and type emails on your state of the art MacBook. 
 

Your boss is toxic. 
The owners are toxic.

The entire workplace is toxic.

 

You can’t leave as you have a lifestyle, family and commitments that rely on your wage. 
 

Everyone will have a different answer

 

However some will make cuts and leave.

 

Others will stay as they know they won’t get it better elsewhere. 

 

Others will ride though it with gritted teeth.

Others will challenge for improvement. 

 

Others will outwardly show frustration. 

 

Others will silently quit and just go through the motions. 

[DLH]

A fish rots from the head down.

 

Players don’t get a free pass, but our problems stem from the lack of leadership at the very top of the club.