There's been a lot of accusations thrown about recently that we have a team full of players here for the paycheck and nothing more. Personally, I think this is harsh (while containing elements of truth). We all do jobs and all think we should be paid more. This is always in relation to our current wage and that of the people around us (with little or no regard to national/industry averages unless it backs our claim for more). I never see any variation in this whether people earn hundreds per week or thousands. Can we expect footballers, who are uniformly classified as short of grey matter, any differently? Another consideration should be enjoyment of the job. If you're not motivated (for whatever reason) you tend to do the basic amount required without overdoing it or busting a gut. Factors that bring about this include wages, mismanagement, unclear roles, feeling unappreciated or simple lack of enjoyment. Once again, should we expect footballers to be any different? Applying this more specifically to our team this season, look at Bosingwa - labelled the worst of the worst for most of the season and then shows as much as anyone last weekend. Does that mean he's now not a mercenary or is motivation a consistent factor that could be working both ways? Does Granero or Faurlin storming off (allegedly) show that they don't care (even if they show it badly)? Definitely, the more successful people in life find their own drive and determination but all good managers know that this is a benefit and not a necessity of a good employee. Finally, is it a case that people in the latter stages of their careers are exclusively entitled to be mercenary and that youngsters are universally hungry and ambitious? Can this once again count in the world of football when the money thrown at youngsters is so inflated? No real point or conclusion but thought I'd offer a different perspective. Personally, I think motivation has been the biggest problem with a lot of the players but performances like Saturday's (albeit without cutting edge) show that it might just be motivation rather than a case of wage hungry mercenaries.
When you meet a human being I don't know about you lot but I can see a lie when i see them the QPR players I have met hold plenty of passion for our club. I read during my exile countless attacks on our players ... not acceptable in my book as Hughes has gone and yet the infected still continue to look for blood. José Bosingwa played a excellent controlled game Sat yet the infected now want him gone because he is European, chilled and composed and doesn't run around like a anglo saxon headless chicken. I watched SWP very closely Sat and he showed me exactly why he is still a class player IMO. I also thought two of the young Villa team were outstanding and will become very good players. I think its this simple they all enjoy their job and I have only seen nothing but effort ... as a team we lack confidence anyone on here tell me where you buy that?.... You can't. Confidence grows Team Spirit... another element you can't buy. Effort alone won't produce anything better than you have seen so far this season. I watched QPR play our best football against Spurs for 18 years yet we got nothing ... I don't buy into any of this Mercenaries nonsense as I know i am not infected
That's a fantastic OP. Well versed and insightful. I don't agree with a single word of it but that's neither here nor there. You could sell sand to the Arabs mate!
Good post Matt! I have only managed to get to 2 games so far this season, and though I have seen all the PL games on good to very to very good screens, not being pitch side leaves me not really able to judge very well how much effort or not players are putting in. So I haven't commented much on this. Your post has ALMOST got me to.
Welcome back DT. Agree on the Spurs observation, I thought we'd take Reading apart in the Cup match next up. How things changed!
That made me laugh!!! Can't help but think if I was called QPR Mack you'd have given me hell (with a few fast food references thrown in)!!!
You've been to one more than me and watched 2 more than me then Ozzy! Just thought I'd chuck some real world cod-psychology in to try to offer a different perspective...
