I know this is a bit of old news, but I was speaking to my sister in law and brother on Skype last night, both of which have been season ticket holders since 2004 up until our recent relegation. My sister in law teaches at Stoke Lodge Primary and was talking to me about Bristol City visiting 2 weeks ago, and how she thought based on the character of the players, she is 100% certain they did the right thing saving themselves the cost of their season tickets. When someones family has been affected by Cancer, it's probably one of the lowest points in your life. So to see a primary school aged girl stand up and make a difference makes you see what's actually right in this world. However, it's a shame footballers cannot show the same sort of respect, dignity, and desire. According to her, she was disgusted by how many players looked liked they had been dragged there like infants and showed a complete lack of respect. When several people got up to speak, there were players playing on their iPhones, and pretty much all of them chewing gum like mindless gibbons! Now maybe I was brought up with a bit more class, and from very humble background taught basic manners meant something. So when someone is speaking about something as devastating as Cancer, you want their full attention. I slept on this as it made me incredibly angry and I sat in this crappy studio apartment stewing over it, and thought I'd mention it before I commute over the Brooklyn bridge at 6am on a stinking wet cold day! Is it any wonder our club is sat where it is sat with players like this turning out for us. Her only positive was that this was not all players, and a few, she named JET specifically actually acted with any class on the day that was noticeable!
As an old fogey, I would guess that sort of disrespect may not be limited to a group of young footballers. Probably true of a significant proportion of any collection of under 30's.
I am only 28, and I wouldn't dream of doing that... I take your point though. However these aren't men hoiked out of Burger King, they are supposed to be professional representatives of a supposed "community" club. Act accordingly. It is just more evidence and proof that this five pillars garbage is utter nonsense. If your general community have a poor opinion of your employees, how is it a pillar worth mentioning?
No matter what club or what league, I am of the opinion that a large percentage of "professional" football players are over-paid and over-rated premadonas. Even our own team by the sound of it..........
Appalling behaviour I hoped that when Del was appointed he would be a bit of a disciplinarian but I didn't see a lot of evidence of it. GJ probably was but come the end, in a completely over the top way. I can't ever imagine that SOD was a shouter, or tea cup thrower but these young players need to have discipline installed into them as they obviously didn't get a lot at home when they were growing up by the sound of it. Let's hope Steve Cotterill is true to his word and makes them toe the line. It's long overdue at the club.
Doesn't matter who you are, there is no need for disrespect- I always worked on the theory that if you went for a job as a Dustman, you still went to the interview in a suit.(and tie of course). I feel quite embarrassed reading that to be honest. Credit however, that our best player, JET,did act with the dignity expected, so if he can, what gave the others any right to think that they were above something?
All this makes sense, and reinforces a decision our erstwhile board of so called directors have made in employing Cotterill, a disciple of discipline and regimentation. If anyone can whip em into shape its him, and could be the making of them
I have mentioned on this site many times about something I witnessed behind the Atyeo Stand prior to a match. I was at the game early to witness the pre-game happenings when the players started to arrive in their over priced vehicles and entered the dressing room area wearing the obligatory ear buds and ignoring the pleas of young supporters to sign autographs. Total ignorance on the part of every player and then after the match they have the nerve to say they are so committed to Bristol City despite failing to give us any points from the game. Regrettably it is now the normal behaviour for most footballers and will not change because it has become accepted for all the wrong reasons. Isn't one of our 5 pillars supposedly all about community involvement, but obviously that doesn't apply to these overpaid idiots? Manners maketh man is the well known motto a well known private school but none of these mercenaries can ever have a brain.
I suppose this isn't just our players, and maybe I am wrong to expect something more, not just from a footballer but any human being... They are a law unto themselves though these days. Just waiting for our board to top off their week by announcing we are trying to sign Marlon King next.
