Phil Bardsley may be edging nearer to worming his way back into the Sunderland first team picture. Where do we stand in this nice little minefield, then? I think that the whole Phil Bardsley situation has now officially entered 'debacle' territory. The latest line from the local press, specifically The Journal's Mark Douglas, is that the right back is firmly back in the first team fold and available for the trip to Swansea. What a mess. Before we get into a little reaction, let's first endure a bit of a recap. It all started, publicly at least, the night that Arsenal beat Wigan to secure Sunderland's Premier League status last season. The players had been out watching the game, and Bardsley had decided to break a club curfew by heading out to a casino afterwards. There, he gambled the night away - rather well by the looks of it, in fairness to him - before lying on the floor surrounded by cash in the early hours of the morning. Naturally, it was snapped by a casino patron and splashed all over the internet and press. please log in to view this image The following morning, Bardsley unsurprisingly turned up for training in a bit of a state and Paolo Di Canio later revealed he was almost glassy-eyed and unable to really mentally switch on and take instruction. No apology came, but his girlfriend took to Twitter to plead his innocence whilst he himself was apparently complaining to the PFA about being disciplined. Di Canio, of course, did what Di Canio does - he overreacted. Bardsley was publicly savaged to the press, bannished to the Under-21s, and told to find himself a new club. Then Bardsley did what Bardsley does - make a balls up of the simplest of things. He broke his foot in a second string friendly and a possible move away which would have brought it to a nice and neat conclusion was scuppered. Ah well... get your head down, graft hard, leverage your decent standing amongst the support, and earn a reprieve eh Bards? That sounds like the sensible professional thing to do. Alas, no. Instead, he took to Instagram to mock Sunderland's opening-day defeat. The 'smother the flame by dousing it in lighter fluid' approach. please log in to view this image Immediate disciplinary actions followed, including the most pathetic half-hearted "well, I'm sorry you lot got upset but it's not my fault you're wrong" 'apology' you're ever likely to hear, and people returned to enjoying forgetting he existed. I think that pretty much brings us up to speed. It would be fair to say that the latest development has produced an emotive response from the fanbase. I'm including myself in that and make no apologies for the way in which the tale was recounted here. That was simply how I interpreted events and my disdain for Bardsley's catalogue of misdemeanors will be reflected above. We took to Twitter to canvas further opinion, however, and it did show that there are those prepared to offer him a fresh start. Though, it must be stressed, those voices are very much the minority at the moment. In fact, if not for the rather colourful language this whole mess has provoked in people, the sample of 'nays' below would be considerably stronger. please log in to view this image My own opinion on the matter is a little mixed. I'm not a fan of Bardsley the player and that clouds my view to an undeniable degree. That said, whenever a new manager arrives my mind is always cast back to when Peter Reid arrived. Michael Gray had fallen from the first team picture without anyone really being bothered, and that was a fresh start we all benefited from. But I just can't see me ever trusting Bardsley again with my beloved red and white. There are simply too many uncomfortable questions to which I don't have, and never will have, the answers. Is he on our side or will he just look after himself instead? If Di Canio's opinion of him affected him to the point of reveling in a Sunderland defeat, could some terrace criticism have the same effect? Will he simply decide it would be funnier to see the fans who barrack him suffer? Why was there no apology for the casino? Why didn't he have the professionalism to just knuckle down like Lee Cattermole did and patiently work his way back into contention? Why was his empathy with the fans for seeing their team lose trumped by his pleasure at seeing Di Canio fail? I get that he fell out with the manager, I really do. We've all suffered personality clashes at some point or another. But surely on match days we suffer together OR enjoy it together because we are all inextricably intertwined with the club itself? Well, we should be. Clearly, he is not part of it, and that worries me. That or he is when he wants to be and callously disconnected when he fancies it. That really worries me. If he did play I wouldn't boo, mainly because I'm not a 4-year-old at a Christmas pantomime. The shirt is what counts. But I'd be uncomfortable with him out there representing me and my club. It would leave me feeling oddly disconnected. Anyway, it's certainly an emotive debate, so please get involved. We'd love to hear your views in the comments section below, and be sure to vote in the pole. Would you welcome Phil Bardsley back into the fold or, like me, do you feel a line has been crossed and what is done can never be forgiven? You can vote if you want him or not here http://rokerreport.sbnation.com/201...ey-debacles-latest-twist-in-tweets-sunderland
This is exactly my point. The decision to play him is a contentious one and will split the crowd. I wouldn't boo him as I would be booing my team, but there are plenty that will. Right now, we need the crowd behind the team, so it's the wrong decision, despite if he is good or not.
Well I'm not getting ahead of myself on the account of a Journal article. We don't know if he will play any part. But the poll on that site doesn't suggest much of a split. Over 75% don't want him anywhere near the first team to a tiny 15 who do. Deffo majority for the Bardo Piss Off crew. Rather than Boo him, he needs a chant to put him in the picture but not bring the team down
That`s a good article and pretty much sums it up for me. I`m with the 75% on this one, don`t want him anywhere near. There`s plenty of talk about how much effect the crowd has on the team. Bringing him back would ellicit a negative response and all that goes with it. This, when support and encouragement is most needed? Not a good idea imo. He`s not exactly an awesome footballer, an integral part of the team, or likely to get us a dozen points. I think he`s more bother than he`s worth and likely to bring more problems than plusses.
An informative pre-game warm up chant is the most we could do without have a detrimental effect on the team. Safer if he's nowhere near. Hope he pulls up in training and stays sidelined till 1st January to be safe. The Casino incident is all but forgotten for me but it's the second incident that's branded in my mind. The piece of ****e! Can't wait till he moves on.
That`s the one that did the real damage. Going out, getting pissed and making an arse of himself? OK, we`ve all done daft things. Took his bollicking, paid his fine, over and done with. The second one, the laughter, the mockery was sheer insult. That rankles with me and will remain so.
I thought he didn't get a squad number? Which I thought meant he couldn't be added to the squad nut January? Not 100% like but thought this was the rule
Don't care what you say, he's still the best right back we've got, name me a better one somebody and I may change my opinion. I can't believe anyone would seriously consider booing a player in such important matches as these next two, it would be suicidal.
All of these. For me, I have never understood this Casinogate. I have tried to understand some fans (way over the top) reaction, but have failed miserably. He is not just a Sunderland player but also a human being, who can do what the hell he likes in his own time. With regards to his comments about the opening day defeat, I honestly believe this was solely aimed at Di Canio out of frustration and anger at the way he had been singled out and treated by the then boss, PDC. New manager in, for his years of loyal service, player of the year award and being the one player who would always sweat and bleed on the pitch for our top...... I feel he deserves another chance.
Misconception there mate. Squad registration and Squad Number Registration are different things. You have to be registered to the squad by a certain date to be able to play. A Number can be issued at anytime. If all senior rbs were injured and we had to play say Liam Marrs, his registration is in order already (U21) but he has no squad number. So he'd simply be issued a number and the relevant paperwork would be submitted. The press make a big fuss about squad numbers because they can latch on to the obvious that they're not in the manager's plans (the work shy jobsworths). Don't know if he was registered to play though.
How was he singled out? Kilgallon was find exited the club first opportunity. Bramble went awol, fined and never played again. Sess will have been fined and he never pulled the shirt again. That's not singling out imo fella, that's consistency. If he came back the only singling out I would see is Bardo's special treatment. The world doesn't work like that mate. Spiting our own club to get at a manager? Just as unforgivable imo. I don't give **** about casino gate but when he uses our beloved club as a pawn in his childish pathetic little point scoring war, then he can get ****ed. I'm astonished anybody thinks it's forgivable. He can never expect to pull on the shirt again, he's supposed to be our most senior, longest serving player. Bravo Bardo! What a classy example you set you ****ing prick!
Exactly. He only had 1 week to go then he could have done what he likes. He was apparantly in no fit state to train the next day apparantly and we were in the middle of a relegation fight. The blokes an absolute w@nker in my eyes and I never want to see him anywhere near our club again. Im gutted we're still paying the tosspot 35k a week!
