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Post by a more piratey game on Dec 19, 2023 23:51:28 GMT
scroll forward to about 23 minutes for the Gas bit, til about 29.30...
Rovers is now 'his club' and 'his home now'. But when he arrived the club, training ground, playing squad, were all 'a shambles'. First team standards weren't acceptable. Standard from some of the pros was 'embarrassing'
But a brilliant club now - relegation out of the Football League was the best thing that happened to the club. Allowed them to 'get rid of a lot of the dead wood'
Selling The Snake killed the promotion hope, so he had to leave to get to the next level. But he still 'loves the club'
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Post by a more piratey game on Dec 19, 2023 23:54:34 GMT
'half the first team were going out on a Thursday night and getting stinking, and smelling of booze on a Friday morning' 36.30
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Post by rideintothesun on Dec 20, 2023 6:56:51 GMT
'half the first team were going out on a Thursday night and getting stinking, and smelling of booze on a Friday morning' 36.30 I have all the respect in the world for Lockyer, and wish him well in his recovery, but this is an over-simplification. You could have said much the same of most of the leading footballers of the 1970s. You may also be surprised to learn how many leading footballers actually smoke. O-Toole got a lot of stick, but still managed to get into the league two team of the season and score 14 goals, no mean feat in a relegated team. He was also completely repentant after the infamous interview in which he claimed that his talents were insufficiently realised in the team. He also showed restraint after being attacked by one of our fans after the Mansfield and never slagged the club off after leaving, despite being repeatedly insulted by our fans. There were also a number of ongoing issues. Ward was dealing with deeply challenging personal circumstances; long-term decline had persisted over several seasons; and the club resorted to making panic signings to fill gaps in the squad. The team also probably would have finished lower mid-table if we had not swapped Eliot Richards for Alan Gow, who subsequently got injured. The team was also relegated with one of the best defensive records in the whole division. |
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oldie
Joined: September 2021
Posts: 7,531
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Post by oldie on Dec 20, 2023 7:06:11 GMT
'half the first team were going out on a Thursday night and getting stinking, and smelling of booze on a Friday morning' 36.30 I have all the respect in the world for Lockyer, and wish him well in his recovery, but this is an over-simplification. You could have said much the same of most of the leading footballers of the 1970s. You may also be surprised to learn how many leading footballers actually smoke. O-Toole got a lot of stick, but still managed to get into the league two team of the season and score 14 goals, no mean feat in a relegated team. He was also completely repentant after the infamous interview in which he claimed that his talents were insufficiently realised in the team. He also showed restraint after being attacked by one of our fans after the Mansfield and never slagged the club off after leaving, despite being repeatedly insulted by our fans. There were also a number of ongoing issues. Ward was dealing with deeply challenging personal circumstances; long-term decline had persisted over several seasons; and the club resorted to making panic signings to fill gaps in the squad. The team also probably would have finished lower mid-table if we had not swapped Eliot Richards for Alan Gow, who subsequently got injured. The team was also relegated with one of the best defensive records in the whole division. Ahhh Opinion as opposed to the lived experience of a professional in the squad. Who to believe.... |
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Post by rideintothesun on Dec 20, 2023 9:39:06 GMT
O'Toole scoring 14 goals and being named in the L2 team of the season are established facts.
O'Toole apologising unreservedly after 'that' interview is an established fact.
O'Toole not reacting after he was physically assaulted by a so-called 'fan' is an established fact.
O'Toole not slagging off the club after leaving, despite repeated provocations, is an established fact.
Ward having to deal with deeply challenging personal circumstances while being manager is an established fact.
The team being not near the relegation places before the departure of Richards is an established fact.
The team having one of the best defensive records in the league is also established fact.
Incidentally, City had an established and widely-recognised drinking culture under Danny Wilson, when they were challenging for promotion from L1.
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warehamgas
Predictions League
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,590 
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Post by warehamgas on Dec 20, 2023 10:41:39 GMT
In the end you’re both right. What rits said was true can’t disagree.(You could also add Michael Smith making the League 2 TOTY as well) As for TLs view, it is a view from the dressing room which, again, can’t be argued with. I’m sure there was a drinking culture like at many clubs but which looks worse insofar as we finished 91st and lost our league place. All the players will have their own stories and Toms must be one of the most accurate esp given his experience since. As a teenager at the time (?) TL a wouldn’t have been that influential but I bet it helped his development and his progress to what is a good culture etc.
Given the factual stuff by rits we should never have gone down but we did, probably because of the failure to sign a decent striker and the stuff TL said. As ever, no simple answer.
UTG!
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harrybuckle
Always look on the bright side
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 5,567
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Post by harrybuckle on Dec 21, 2023 12:26:13 GMT
Breaking news
Luton Town and Rovers legend Tom Lockyer has this morning been released from hospital after his cardiac arrest.
A great bit of need for everyone particularly Tom and his family.
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bluetornados
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 15,747
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Post by bluetornados on Jan 29, 2024 18:08:20 GMT
Luton captain Tom Lockyer makes emotional training ground return after cardiac arrest on pitch..by Andy Sims.
i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/29/15/80590265-0-image-a-131_1706541830531.jpg
Tom Lockyer had an emotional reunion with his team-mates at Luton's training ground on MondayLuton captain Tom Lockyer had an emotional reunion with his teammates at the club's training ground on Monday. The 29-year-old made his first visit to the Hatters' Brache HQ since suffering a cardiac arrest during the Premier League match at Bournemouth in December. "It was amazing to see him back," manager Rob Edwards told the club website. "We had a really good morning seeing him around the place. We handed out the debut Premier League balls with (former managers) John Still and Mick Harford. "It was a nice presentation; it was a special moment and great to see. I managed to hold it together but it was emotional. It's been a really difficult time for his family first and foremost, but for us it was great to see him. "He's an unbelievably brave man and someone who has an unbelievable handle over all of it. I wouldn't be how he is. "He's such an impressive and focused person. There's a rehabilitation process but he's taking it slowly, he's got a baby on the way and that's his main focus." Wales defender Lockyer collapsed on the pitch at the Vitality Stadium and was tended to by medics. The match was subsequently abandoned. Lockyer later praised the "heroic" actions of the players, staff and medics who helped save his life. i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/29/15/80590301-0-image-a-136_1706541901339.jpg
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kingswood Polak
Without music life would be a mistake
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 10,361
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Post by kingswood Polak on Jan 30, 2024 14:12:54 GMT
scroll forward to about 23 minutes for the Gas bit, til about 29.30... Rovers is now 'his club' and 'his home now'. But when he arrived the club, training ground, playing squad, were all 'a shambles'. First team standards weren't acceptable. Standard from some of the pros was 'embarrassing' But a brilliant club now - relegation out of the Football League was the best thing that happened to the club. Allowed them to 'get rid of a lot of the dead wood' Selling The Snake killed the promotion hope, so he had to leave to get to the next level. But he still 'loves the club' Very late in seeing this but thank you, very interesting to hear it from the player. We all know things were not and are not as they could be but I did not think it was he says. Great to hear him say his is ours, even apologised to Cardiff. I wish him all the very best. I see he was back at Luton’s training facility, yesterday. I hope he is still able to play but safely. |
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kingswood Polak
Without music life would be a mistake
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 10,361
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Post by kingswood Polak on Jan 30, 2024 14:17:04 GMT
'half the first team were going out on a Thursday night and getting stinking, and smelling of booze on a Friday morning' 36.30 I have all the respect in the world for Lockyer, and wish him well in his recovery, but this is an over-simplification. You could have said much the same of most of the leading footballers of the 1970s. You may also be surprised to learn how many leading footballers actually smoke. O-Toole got a lot of stick, but still managed to get into the league two team of the season and score 14 goals, no mean feat in a relegated team. He was also completely repentant after the infamous interview in which he claimed that his talents were insufficiently realised in the team. He also showed restraint after being attacked by one of our fans after the Mansfield and never slagged the club off after leaving, despite being repeatedly insulted by our fans. There were also a number of ongoing issues. Ward was dealing with deeply challenging personal circumstances; long-term decline had persisted over several seasons; and the club resorted to making panic signings to fill gaps in the squad. The team also probably would have finished lower mid-table if we had not swapped Eliot Richards for Alan Gow, who subsequently got injured. The team was also relegated with one of the best defensive records in the whole division. I was told that the Gow signing was ALL Herr Higgs plan. Much has been debated over whose fault it was, that we got relegated. Most have been saying Ward or DC but I put it squarely with NH. A competent chair would have saw it coming long before he did. I felt bad for both managers tbh |
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kingswood Polak
Without music life would be a mistake
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 10,361
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Post by kingswood Polak on Jan 30, 2024 14:25:32 GMT
In the end you’re both right. What rits said was true can’t disagree.(You could also add Michael Smith making the League 2 TOTY as well) As for TLs view, it is a view from the dressing room which, again, can’t be argued with. I’m sure there was a drinking culture like at many clubs but which looks worse insofar as we finished 91st and lost our league place. All the players will have their own stories and Toms must be one of the most accurate esp given his experience since. As a teenager at the time (?) TL a wouldn’t have been that influential but I bet it helped his development and his progress to what is a good culture etc. Given the factual stuff by rits we should never have gone down but we did, probably because of the failure to sign a decent striker and the stuff TL said. As ever, no simple answer. UTG! Personally I’d have had a few more like O’Toole but what’s done is done. Sorry to bring up B***** but we got relegated by a record number of points after his arrival. To think we had the same as Wycombe was hard to take. That was a season I will never forget as the club closed the official forum when somethings surfaced that TL never addressed. That season had some extraordinary things go on, on and off of the field |
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kingswood Polak
Without music life would be a mistake
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 10,361
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Post by kingswood Polak on Jan 30, 2024 14:28:20 GMT
Luton captain Tom Lockyer makes emotional training ground return after cardiac arrest on pitch..by Andy Sims.
i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/29/15/80590265-0-image-a-131_1706541830531.jpg
Tom Lockyer had an emotional reunion with his team-mates at Luton's training ground on MondayLuton captain Tom Lockyer had an emotional reunion with his teammates at the club's training ground on Monday. The 29-year-old made his first visit to the Hatters' Brache HQ since suffering a cardiac arrest during the Premier League match at Bournemouth in December. "It was amazing to see him back," manager Rob Edwards told the club website. "We had a really good morning seeing him around the place. We handed out the debut Premier League balls with (former managers) John Still and Mick Harford. "It was a nice presentation; it was a special moment and great to see. I managed to hold it together but it was emotional. It's been a really difficult time for his family first and foremost, but for us it was great to see him. "He's an unbelievably brave man and someone who has an unbelievable handle over all of it. I wouldn't be how he is. "He's such an impressive and focused person. There's a rehabilitation process but he's taking it slowly, he's got a baby on the way and that's his main focus." Wales defender Lockyer collapsed on the pitch at the Vitality Stadium and was tended to by medics. The match was subsequently abandoned. Lockyer later praised the "heroic" actions of the players, staff and medics who helped save his life. i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/29/15/80590301-0-image-a-136_1706541901339.jpg I saw a similar but longer video of this, seems he is well loved by the players and club |
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warehamgas
Predictions League
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,590
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Post by warehamgas on Jan 30, 2024 15:42:06 GMT
In the end you’re both right. What rits said was true can’t disagree.(You could also add Michael Smith making the League 2 TOTY as well) As for TLs view, it is a view from the dressing room which, again, can’t be argued with. I’m sure there was a drinking culture like at many clubs but which looks worse insofar as we finished 91st and lost our league place. All the players will have their own stories and Toms must be one of the most accurate esp given his experience since. As a teenager at the time (?) TL a wouldn’t have been that influential but I bet it helped his development and his progress to what is a good culture etc. Given the factual stuff by rits we should never have gone down but we did, probably because of the failure to sign a decent striker and the stuff TL said. As ever, no simple answer. UTG! Personally I’d have had a few more like O’Toole but what’s done is done. Sorry to bring up B***** but we got relegated by a record number of points after his arrival. To think we had the same as Wycombe was hard to take. That was a season I will never forget as the club closed the official forum when somethings surfaced that TL never addressed. That season had some extraordinary things go on, on and off of the field I’m sure you know a lot more than me KP. I only joined after the other one closed down and defo know nothing about the internal politics. Fortunately perhaps. 👍👍👍 UTG! |
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kingswood Polak
Without music life would be a mistake
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 10,361
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Post by kingswood Polak on Jan 31, 2024 8:35:23 GMT
Personally I’d have had a few more like O’Toole but what’s done is done. Sorry to bring up B***** but we got relegated by a record number of points after his arrival. To think we had the same as Wycombe was hard to take. That was a season I will never forget as the club closed the official forum when somethings surfaced that TL never addressed. That season had some extraordinary things go on, on and off of the field I’m sure you know a lot more than me KP. I only joined after the other one closed down and defo know nothing about the internal politics. Fortunately perhaps. 👍👍👍 UTG! I think it best I say no more as the main and biggest incident involved Norburn and I know he was sending legal letters to some. Thing is NH opened the whole can of worms by discussing it with the then Coventry chairman. |
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Post by irenestoyboy on Jan 31, 2024 8:52:18 GMT
Glad this thread gor revived. I listened to that Podcast yesterday, it was excellent.
Glad TL is on the road to recovery.
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Post by irenestoyboy on Jan 31, 2024 9:05:52 GMT
I have all the respect in the world for Lockyer, and wish him well in his recovery, but this is an over-simplification. You could have said much the same of most of the leading footballers of the 1970s. You may also be surprised to learn how many leading footballers actually smoke. O-Toole got a lot of stick, but still managed to get into the league two team of the season and score 14 goals, no mean feat in a relegated team. He was also completely repentant after the infamous interview in which he claimed that his talents were insufficiently realised in the team. He also showed restraint after being attacked by one of our fans after the Mansfield and never slagged the club off after leaving, despite being repeatedly insulted by our fans. There were also a number of ongoing issues. Ward was dealing with deeply challenging personal circumstances; long-term decline had persisted over several seasons; and the club resorted to making panic signings to fill gaps in the squad. The team also probably would have finished lower mid-table if we had not swapped Eliot Richards for Alan Gow, who subsequently got injured. The team was also relegated with one of the best defensive records in the whole division. I was told that the Gow signing was ALL Herr Higgs plan. Much has been debated over whose fault it was, that we got relegated. Most have been saying Ward or DC but I put it squarely with NH. A competent chair would have saw it coming long before he did. I felt bad for both managers tbh It was actually down to Ward as that happened after the famous incident on facebook or Bebo (remember that...!!) arose of Elliott half cut eating a chinese out of a frying pan on a thursday night. |
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Angas
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,069
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Post by Angas on Feb 21, 2024 0:21:56 GMT
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bluetornados
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 15,747
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Post by bluetornados on Mar 14, 2024 9:14:34 GMT
Tom Lockyer: Luton Town captain thanks 'hero' medics who saved his life at Bournemouth..
ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/0EC4/production/_132908730_hi092998422.jpg
Tom Lockyer (right) shook hands with the medics at Bournemouth before Luton played the Cherries
Luton Town captain Tom Lockyer called the medics who saved his life "heroes" as he returned to Bournemouth to thank them. The 29-year-old collapsed on the Vitality Stadium pitch after suffering cardiac arrest when the clubs met on 16 December. That match was abandoned, and Lockyer attended Wednesday's rearranged fixture and met the medics before the game. "I got a little bit emotional," Lockyer told BBC Radio 5 Live. "I am quite numb to the whole thing but being back here, I came into the tunnel area and saw the paramedics that saved my life. "I recognised them straight away. What do you say in that situation other than 'thank you'? They are heroes and they saved my life." Lockyer shook the hands of the medics when he came on to the pitch before Wednesday's Premier League match and received a standing ovation from both sets of fans who chanted his name. Supporters also applauded in the 59th minute, which was when the defender collapsed in the original fixture. "I hope that is for the paramedics and not myself," said Lockyer prior to the game. "It is going to be emotional. When it happened it was important for people to see me doing well. "A lot of that crowd that were there that day are here tonight so for them to see me walking around and doing well is important." Lockyer has not played since his cardiac arrest, and has previously said he was "technically dead" for nearly three minutes. He was hospitalised for five days and was subsequently fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator. Bournemouth fans raised more than £2,000 to put on four coaches for Luton fans to make the 240-mile round trip from Bedfordshire to the south coast for the rearranged game. ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/7A94/production/_132908313_gettyimages-2081573617.jpg
Bournemouth put a picture of Tom Lockyer on the front of the programme for the game against Luton Town
ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/25D0/production/_132908690_hi092998441.jpg
Luton Town fans displayed a banner of Tom Lockyer before the game at Bournemouth
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