Of part-time players and "Cup Finals"
Aug 20, 2014 1:59:03 GMT
CabbagePatchBlues, PessimistGas, and 2 more like this
Post by lincolnfan on Aug 20, 2014 1:59:03 GMT
Some general comments if allowed. I understand the anguish (shared by many former Football League clubs in this division) of losing to "part time players" but some of the comments are going well off the rails of reality in my opinion.
Some of the part time clubs have very good players who could, if they wished, probably hold down a full time job playing professional football. Indeed in past seasons the best among them have sometimes been approached by full time clubs or Football League clubs and some have seized the opportunity but some have turned it down for several reasons and, indeed, some League 2 Managers have spoken of their frustration at being turned down by a "part-time player".
Why so? Well at least some of them don't want to do football for a full time living. There are many and multifarious reasons why but perhaps not entirely understandable to fans who would like nothing better than to pull on the shirt for their particular club.
Let's take a look around the part time players of last season. We have three solicitors at least (one of whom owns his own firm), five chartered accountants (a pair of whom run a tax advice system for footballers), a Judge's clerk in the High Court on £75,000 a year plus £400 a week for playing football. Five of those last season were "watched" by FL clubs and made an offer to go full time. All five turned it down because the League Two club could get nowhere their collective earning - one of them was made an offer by a League One club who couldn't get anywhere near the collective earning either. At least two - to my personal knowledge - turned down the chance of full time pro football because football is their fun bit but the full time job is the future/career/retirement pension.
They were considered decent enough to be watched and to have an offer which they turned down. Those are just a few I know of but my point is that not all "part time players" are necessarily inferior to full time players because they happen to play part-time as their football choice.
You can all debate about fitness levels but, I suggest, that is very much down to the player whether full time or part time. One of the aforementioned solicitors only does club training with a football on Monday and Thursday night but (last season) did a four mile run to the office each morning before changing into his solicitorial strip. He claims it helps his stamina. Who knows? Each to their own I guess.
I cannot comment on the reported comments of your player who apparently suggests that all you had to do at Alty was turn up except to ask where that attitude came from. I'd like to think he was misquoted but hopefully if not that attitude will be corrected.
However - and if also correctly quoted - I would like to take issue with your Manager's comments in the Bristol newspaper that the result at Alty had provoked an Incident on the Road to Damascus - and that he has now instilled into them that from henceforth the chosen squad must appreciate that every opponent will regard the fixture as a "Cup Final." No offence to the loyal Gas supporters but this is seriously insulting nonsense - or media bite as I prefer to say - to every club in the hapless Tinpot League.
It is also delusional I would suggest and while held by supporters of various clubs (insert colours they bleed for as appropriate) is not usually held by managers in my opinion. Most are extremely cautious in my experience and I am surprised that away to Altrincham has triggered a wake up call because I think that should have been present before you went away to Alty.
I presume but do not know that you are doing research on your opponents (best/hopeless/strengths/weakness et al) so you have at least a rough idea of what you will be up against? However, generically you will be up against a promoted side (not brilliant but hard working perhaps?) anxious to make a good impression before their small but enthusiastic followers before they go back to the day job. Yes, there are journeymen everywhere in this League but also lots of part time lads who just love playing and will give it a go, well knowing that their professional career does not depend upon their defending/goalscoring.
This might be confused with "Cup Finals" as, if also correctly reported, your Manager has suggested your opponents will regard your visits to their ground. I doubt, but do not know, that Allen and Barnet regarded you as an early Cup Final. From the little I have seen/read they hoofed the ball up to Akinde and left him, if possible, to bully his way through defenders.
They'd beaten Chester and you. Did we get wound up about that? I think not. Akinde can be a Monster if left to roam unchallenged - not brilliant but a bully is my view - and so our Beasts were told to shut it down.
You may yet storm the league - we aren't out of August yet - and you will be treated with respect (I hope) and research by your opponents but could one of you ask your Manager to stop with the "Cup Final" stuff if at all possible?
Nothing at all to do with your results so far. Perhaps he needs to tell your team that it is THEIR cup final not that of their opponents, part time or full time?
None of us want to be down here but should anyone think that you have just got to turn up - and the Biblical Waters part - I think that policy might need a rethink.
Or as the late Brian Clough once memorably remarked: "If he isn't trying to be first to every ******* ball he can **** off.
I respect your club and even more your fans and sympathise with your current predicament but I have to say I find the "Cup Final" stuff (if correct) vaguely insulting.
I've seen a bit of Barnet's "Cup Final" v you. That did not look like a Cup Final to me - some of it (first half) looked like players backing away from tackling Akinde and basically backing off him. That's dangerous stuff in the Vanarama whatever.
I wish your club the very best but it is seriously annoying to see quotes suggesting it is a Cup Final for the teams you will play before you head back to the Football League. There are teams - including part time - who would at least give a decent game to some League Two clubs I would suggest.
Some of the part time clubs have very good players who could, if they wished, probably hold down a full time job playing professional football. Indeed in past seasons the best among them have sometimes been approached by full time clubs or Football League clubs and some have seized the opportunity but some have turned it down for several reasons and, indeed, some League 2 Managers have spoken of their frustration at being turned down by a "part-time player".
Why so? Well at least some of them don't want to do football for a full time living. There are many and multifarious reasons why but perhaps not entirely understandable to fans who would like nothing better than to pull on the shirt for their particular club.
Let's take a look around the part time players of last season. We have three solicitors at least (one of whom owns his own firm), five chartered accountants (a pair of whom run a tax advice system for footballers), a Judge's clerk in the High Court on £75,000 a year plus £400 a week for playing football. Five of those last season were "watched" by FL clubs and made an offer to go full time. All five turned it down because the League Two club could get nowhere their collective earning - one of them was made an offer by a League One club who couldn't get anywhere near the collective earning either. At least two - to my personal knowledge - turned down the chance of full time pro football because football is their fun bit but the full time job is the future/career/retirement pension.
They were considered decent enough to be watched and to have an offer which they turned down. Those are just a few I know of but my point is that not all "part time players" are necessarily inferior to full time players because they happen to play part-time as their football choice.
You can all debate about fitness levels but, I suggest, that is very much down to the player whether full time or part time. One of the aforementioned solicitors only does club training with a football on Monday and Thursday night but (last season) did a four mile run to the office each morning before changing into his solicitorial strip. He claims it helps his stamina. Who knows? Each to their own I guess.
I cannot comment on the reported comments of your player who apparently suggests that all you had to do at Alty was turn up except to ask where that attitude came from. I'd like to think he was misquoted but hopefully if not that attitude will be corrected.
However - and if also correctly quoted - I would like to take issue with your Manager's comments in the Bristol newspaper that the result at Alty had provoked an Incident on the Road to Damascus - and that he has now instilled into them that from henceforth the chosen squad must appreciate that every opponent will regard the fixture as a "Cup Final." No offence to the loyal Gas supporters but this is seriously insulting nonsense - or media bite as I prefer to say - to every club in the hapless Tinpot League.
It is also delusional I would suggest and while held by supporters of various clubs (insert colours they bleed for as appropriate) is not usually held by managers in my opinion. Most are extremely cautious in my experience and I am surprised that away to Altrincham has triggered a wake up call because I think that should have been present before you went away to Alty.
I presume but do not know that you are doing research on your opponents (best/hopeless/strengths/weakness et al) so you have at least a rough idea of what you will be up against? However, generically you will be up against a promoted side (not brilliant but hard working perhaps?) anxious to make a good impression before their small but enthusiastic followers before they go back to the day job. Yes, there are journeymen everywhere in this League but also lots of part time lads who just love playing and will give it a go, well knowing that their professional career does not depend upon their defending/goalscoring.
This might be confused with "Cup Finals" as, if also correctly reported, your Manager has suggested your opponents will regard your visits to their ground. I doubt, but do not know, that Allen and Barnet regarded you as an early Cup Final. From the little I have seen/read they hoofed the ball up to Akinde and left him, if possible, to bully his way through defenders.
They'd beaten Chester and you. Did we get wound up about that? I think not. Akinde can be a Monster if left to roam unchallenged - not brilliant but a bully is my view - and so our Beasts were told to shut it down.
You may yet storm the league - we aren't out of August yet - and you will be treated with respect (I hope) and research by your opponents but could one of you ask your Manager to stop with the "Cup Final" stuff if at all possible?
Nothing at all to do with your results so far. Perhaps he needs to tell your team that it is THEIR cup final not that of their opponents, part time or full time?
None of us want to be down here but should anyone think that you have just got to turn up - and the Biblical Waters part - I think that policy might need a rethink.
Or as the late Brian Clough once memorably remarked: "If he isn't trying to be first to every ******* ball he can **** off.
I respect your club and even more your fans and sympathise with your current predicament but I have to say I find the "Cup Final" stuff (if correct) vaguely insulting.
I've seen a bit of Barnet's "Cup Final" v you. That did not look like a Cup Final to me - some of it (first half) looked like players backing away from tackling Akinde and basically backing off him. That's dangerous stuff in the Vanarama whatever.
I wish your club the very best but it is seriously annoying to see quotes suggesting it is a Cup Final for the teams you will play before you head back to the Football League. There are teams - including part time - who would at least give a decent game to some League Two clubs I would suggest.
