Perhaps not surprisingly ... I agree with you Barwell ... there are very few modern day footballers that I would hold up as paragon's of virtue ... Deeney committed a crime and has done the time ... that should be an end of it unless he does something similar, in which case he should have the book thrown at him ... I don't need to 'like' our players ... they are not 'my mates' ... just employees of the club and therefore they 'qualify' for my support whilst they are on the pitch ... I too think Deeney would add to our capabilities and would therefore be a worthwhile signing ... and for the record, I'd take Luis Suarez too
I don't believe he has "served his time" (not to the extent of someone who wasn't famous and wealthy would have done) but you do make some interesting points, particularly concerning not having to like our own players. I suppose we've been lucky in a way in recent years; the worst we've had have been arrogant arseholes like Beckford, DJ and Mills. If he makes the difference between us surviving and not, then we'd be foolish not to take him. I just hope we exhaust every other avenue first AND that we don't pay more than he's worth. This is another one in which I'll trust in Nige.
The difference is, part of being a professional footballer is to be a role model to young people. I don't think it's too much to ask of people who are privileged enough to be paid ridiculous amounts for kicking a ball around not to get drunk and gang attack defenseless young people. Most people manage it without the role model tag.
Some of them don't want to be role models, some of them do it because they love playing football and/or get a lot of money for it. They're humans like everyone else so I don't blame them if they don't want to be role models. What Deeney did was wrong, he's served his time though so I think he should be allowed to play football if he's good enough.
Tough ****, it's part of the job when you're a public figure, particularly one looked up to by children and young people. You can't crave the money and fame but not want the responsibility that comes with it - well you can, but you shouldn't get it.
It's good if they are role models, but I don't see why they should be forced into being one. Rock stars and pop singers are public figures, yet they get away with loads of s**t without coming under the same scrutiny.
The problem in the modern era is that the bigger football clubs especially are not really part of the local community ... they are instead global brands and therein lies part of the problem ... but the problem goes far deeper - the egos that play in the modern game, even in our lower leagues, have little real appetite for being role models .... that comes way down the list of priorities ... that is also the fault of society not just the individuals. Frankly I would not want my own kids to see footballers as role models in any way shape or form ... most footballers appear to know the price of everything but the value of nothing. Money is the new religion. Outside of watching footballers play, I would have little use for most of them. The modern footballer is the ultimate hedonist - too often they cast away normal values because ... they can. Girls are merely objects for gratification, bling is king - but ego rules overall - what no birthday cake? ... and shouldn't I get the biggest birthday cake because I'm the highest paid? A cynics view perhaps - and I find little pleasure in saying it.
This is sadly too true Filberto. And now we're part of the Premier League (where this behaviour is at it's worst), we're going to see it happen more at our own club. And as fans, we have allowed the clubs to charge us ridiculous amounts for tickets and replica shirts (which in turn goes to players that have more money than they know what to do with) and we're increasingly turning a blind eye to players' behaviour. We have to draw the line somewhere though - and while I know it's too much to ask that a player like Deeney gets a proper sentence rather than just serving a few week during the closed season, and it's too much to ask that he gets any kind of ban from football on top, I at least can hope that he's continues to earn obscene amounts elsewhere.
The sport has been corrupted and it's treated as a business more than anything else. It would be practically impossible to change this though as it's like asking all the countries around the world to swap their guns and bombs for swords and crossbows. Football is a very successful sport, we can't change that.
But it's getting worse. I'm amazed it hasn't yet got to the point when it starts to alienate the very people it was originally intended for - working class people. I do know some people that haven't been to see a live game since the prices went mental, but not many. I am slightly surprised there wasn't some kind of crash during the recession (people obviously managed better than the press would have you believe or people have a funny order of priorities). Eventually it will get to the point where people have to stay away and only corporate types can make it - and there aren't enough of those to keep it going.
I know, our owner is alienating us by 'branching out' in the Far East with this name change bollocks. Allam has neglected the working-class people that have supported the club for 104 years just so he can sell a few shirts in Asia. We're very grateful for Allam's investment, but going against the fan's wishes for a 'profit' just emphasises the sport's decline into corporate greed.
You have fans who have supported you for 104 years? I knew OLM was getting on a bit, but FFS. Surprised he can still cock a leg over his scooter.
Id welcome him in terms of i think he is a good striker but my problem is with the fact i dont think that we need a new striker...!
I think we have enough strikers already and we would probably be best doing what Hull did. Wait and see how Vardy, Nugent, Ulloa and Wood adapt and if they don't spend some money in January. Last thing we want is an expensive striker on the wage bill for no good reason
He's right - but we scored 2 past a very good Everton side with arguably our main striker injured. We have 4 good strikers and not sure the people we are looking at improves the squad much.
They only brought them because the strikers they had signed turned out to be ****. While they probably would have brought a striker they more then likely wouldn't have got 2
