Saints Stuff

Congrats mate!

I recently had my first too, a daughter in March. Parenthood is the most amazing thing.

The best way I can describe it is it’s like going from Level 1 in a video game to Level 2. Difficult but miraculous & incredible.

 

Congrats to you too mate!

 

Congrats Os!

 

In a way the pile on is partially a good thing as it at least partially dispels a myth about how certain young players are treated compared to others

 

I have been told that the likes of Ronaldo and Zlatan have personal strength and conditioning coaches as those at clubs are woefully behind the times. It it notable that their longevity in a physically demanding position on the pitch it far longer than others

Your comment seemed to kind of dismiss them as outliers - not a criticism because they are. But imagine if Rooney had half of the strength and conditioning effort of Ronaldo

 

Congrats to you too!!

Still early-ish into the whole pregnancy so mainly I’m just anxious for the babe to be fully healthy and whatnot. But yeah, can’t flipping wait!!

 

Thanks mate! I’ll make sure to ask the midwife if her partner’s dad is a Not606er!

 

Get as much sleep as you can NOW.

 

Absolutely, if all players lived a life as dedicated as the likes of Ronaldo they would certainly be better football players. But if they are already succeeding and winning trophies... why should they?

I just find it really weird that people get annoyed when they don't. What concern is it if a player has a beer or a health shake? Besides, you could always argue someone could be healthier or train harder. Ronaldo is brilliant, but what if he did an extra 30 minutes training everyday... would he be even better?

Grealish and Rooney are incredible talents that are winning/won trophies at the very highest level, they're clearly doing something right alongside the odd beer in the summer.

 

The Grealish thing is that he was considered underwhelming for such a massive fee. He wasn’t a guaranteed starter. Sure he can enjoy himself but some might question why he isn’t doing all he can to make that starting place (for England and City)

I acknowledge your point - he doesn’t “need” to. He has an enormous contract for a long period of time and can seemingly get away with anything.

Perhaps some think if he pushed on then it would help England as well? But I think that is charitable

 

There has been a trend of targeting certain players for extra attention in the media. Beckham, Rooney, Sterling and now Grealish have all come in for some pretty unfair and sometimes downright nasty coverage.
Beckham and Posh always seemed to court publicity, but even so he used to get some foul abuse at matches and regular pieces about them in the press. Rooney also but to a lesser degree (maybe if he didn't have a fondness for mature ladies it might have helped). Sterling got away with it quite lightly but some of the rags had it in for him for a while. There was a suggestion that colour had some bearing on the articles but personally I think it was just following the standard practices from previous articles. And he left Liverpool for City, not a popular move amongst the English media. Now it's Grealish's turn.
They all have some things in common, they're all English, play or played for the top teams and are big names in the national team. I think that Gregg1988 is correct in that the media see themselves as having some sort of duty to keep these players in line for the benefit of all England supporters. They also know that those same supporters will expect perfect behaviour away from football especially if the team aren't performing all that well.

 

I agree with every thing you said apart from the bold. Surely you don't genuinely believe that is why papers write these stories and have these agendas against certain players?

The likes of The Sun and Mail feeling a duty towards anything but their own pockets and influence is laughable!

 

It’s the cover for the behaviour though. It is how they would “justify” it. I suggest you are right that it isn’t the real reason. I was meant to put that across in my initial musing but it might not have been clear enough

 

Congratulations Os.

 

Congratulation Os

 

My main point about Grealish is that top athletes should avoid alcohol full stop. Drinking till you are drunk will affect your performance and your body - you would be surprised how long it takes to completely recover from alcohol. A couple of benders will take you mentally 1-2 weeks to stop the effect on the brain and about 3-4 weeks physically. To most people that doesn’t matter as a 1% drop in my athletic performance won’t affect my job. It will an athlete. It will also affect recovery etc.

Someone said oh well they have high pressure jobs and don’t get a Lot of chances to let their hair down. True, but they are not unique. How would you feel being operated on by a surgeon who had come back from a holiday where he got wasted every night for a week?

I know I sound like someone who has just given up alcohol (lol I have - nearly 9 months since I did sober for October), but I can tell you my mental and physical wellbeing is so much better since I did. And for the record no one told me I had a drinking problem and was probably drinking only as much as the average footballer would. Admittedly I am 25 years older than Jack, but if a non athlete can feel it surely he would.

I’ll get of my soap box now before this descends into a sermon and a goes totally off topic where we all argue about the pros of drinking (there aren’t any to your body)

Just my opinion on how a professional athlete should behave.

 

Having re-read what I posted, I can see it's not a clear account of what I meant. It's how they portray themselves but not how it is. I don't believe for one minute they have the England team's or the actual player's interests at heart, quite the opposite. If a juicy story were to come along just before a major tournament, I have no doubt they would have it published in record time regardless of the problems it might cause.

 

I understand the point you're making I just don't think that its yours/mine/societies place to make that decision/judgement for people.

Ultimately what someone wants to do in their free time is completely up to them as long as its within the bounds of the law and doesn't put others in harm's way. Their life, their body and all that jazz.

Of course employers can specify stuff in contracts if they wish (and think some clubs do for during season periods) but if they're obviously happy for the person in question to do that whilr not competing then I just don't see how it's anyone else's business.

I personally don't believe that it's as simple as a 1-2 week recovery mentally from a bender as everyone's different ultimately. Could also argue a bender is different depending on the person too.

For your surgeon example I'd be fine with it if the last drink was more than 24/36 hours before. Don't think that's the same at all as an athlete losing a percent or two which I absolutely agree with (though I'm dubious that it'd be noticeable after 6/7 weeks such as in this case).

I agree you sound like someone who has recently stopped drinking (great effort that btw - the clear head is amazing isn't it!) . I'm the same when taking about smoking these days

 

S**t, I have just come back from 4 days solid at the IOW Festival and I am running in a race tonight. Doesn't bode well for my chances does it

 

I did try to not come across as too 'preachy' as I know there is nothing worse than someone telling you about the perils (in their opinion) of something after they have given it up. Nine months later I am almost anti drink now as I can see there is actually no benefit to it and I can enjoy myself as much if not more without the fuzzy head, lapses of judgement etc that drink gave me. I do remember you doing 'no beer for a year' and thought you were a looney lol, but now have seen the light. It is just a habit and society that tells you it is great.

Anyway, once again I'll get off my soap box, but my point I was trying to make badly was that certain jobs require certain ways of living. For an athlete alcohol isn't one of them IMO.

PS: Yes, the clear head is amazing as is the weight loss, the lack of dehydration and the condition of my skin, hair etc lol.