Pritchard

[Sour Patch]

And was Huddersfield a healthy club? It was a basket case at the time.

I know it's easier to think it's all Pritchard, because some can't cope with the idea the club are anything less than perfect (look at the nothing to see here reaction to the BCB fiasco), but players generally don't go on strike when the relationship with the club is good. It's not like Man City have come in for him is it.

He didn't get in our best team last season. Our best attacking performances this season have came without him in the team. He asked to leave in the summer, couldn't find a club. We offer him an extension, he wants more which is fair enough but I wouldn't be offering him a pay rise or a contract more than an extra year. I do not see how we have ****ed him around. He doesn't want to be here? Fine. He refuses to play? He can **** off.

 

[Scout73]

And was Huddersfield a healthy club? It was a basket case at the time.

I know it's easier to think it's all Pritchard, because some can't cope with the idea the club are anything less than perfect (look at the nothing to see here reaction to the BCB fiasco), but players generally don't go on strike when the relationship with the club is good. It's not like Man City have come in for him is it.

I know theres stuff wrong with the club and yes the bcb was a fiasco but you are actually sticking up for someone who is refusing to play for us!

I might side with the club on a lot of things but id rather be like that than always be against the club n blame them for everything

Pritchard was called unprofessional at Huddersfield and hes done the same here. Its not like any of our other players have refused to play so its down to Pritchard not wanting to wear our shirt, thats a disgrace for me

 

[Nads]

He **** on every one of us refusing to play for our club.

It is utterly indefensible.

He has the stamina of a pigeon and has never been a starter. His corners and dead balls hit the first man 90% of time.

Some great vision and a good dig in him for sure and when he is good he does have a bit of magic, but it’s never been close to consistent.

He can **** clean off. That’s my last word on it.

 

[Dave_39]

Pritchard refusing to play is indefensible simple as that

 

[FellTop]

We will have all been part of a team at some point. Imagine hearing one of your teammates has said he isnt playing. He could as he is fit, he has been in the team recently and playing well, but he has decided it is in his best interest to not turn up. Imagine what you would do as a so called teammate. He has let down his teammates big time. He has shown a distinct lack of team ethic, team awareness and any sort of leadership qualities I thought he had. If I had a teammate like that I would be waiting for him in the car park before the next training session and he wouldnt get in. I wouldnt want him anywhere near the young lads in the squad anymore. Hopefully the club do the right thing and empty his locker for him and tell security he is not allowed in the club at all. Hopefully for all concerned he gets his move done ASAP.

 

[Iain]

No reason to disbelieve what people hear about the situation behind the scenes but he is playing (or should be) under the terms of his current contract which he was happy to sign. By all means tell the club you aren’t happy with their stance and by all means see your contract out and leave for nothing as that’s the terms of your contract. To refuse to play doesn’t really affect the club overall, it moves on regardless. What he has done is let his teammates down and let the fans down. For that he should be fined for every week he refuses to play and should be made to rot in the reserves til the summer.

There's no doubting Pritchard is a far better player than Ba, however I personally think Ba gives us more balance as a team than Pritchard would. If jobe is going to play then I don't think Pritchard should.
I know Beale had changed things tactically yesterday, we were more direct, more attacking, would we have been the same team with Pritchard instead of Ba , I don't think so.
We don't know exactly what has gone on behind the scenes, I like Pritchard as a player, but we do have others players that play his position, is Pritchard going to get game time next season with a fully fit squad, I don't think so, so I can't see the clamour for offering longer than a year contract. The club told him he could leave in the summer and wouldn't be offering him a contract, they changed their mind and offered a years extension. I do think that was probably as a squad player as extra cover, I don't think he would start many games

 

[Teessidemackem]

If any normal person in any working industry refused to turn up theyd lose wages and probably be sacked.

He should have his pay frozen and given a hefty fine.

 

[Blond Bombshell]

O9 at fault again eh!

Tidied

 

[polyphemus]

mate honestly hes refused to put the shirt on, the shirt that you and every single fan would kill to put on
the shirt that means everything to the fans
all because he wants a 2 year deal **** that man

it's not like we have refuse to pay him

he's signed the contract honour it

man up play that last game for the fans and club who pulled him out of the ****
and then **** off if your not happy

It would be nice if all of Football sudenly decided to honour their contracts.

For example Tony Mowbray might still be our Manager, as I believe that he was on a yearly contract to the end of the sreason.
Of course he MAY hae been given the choice to leave now with a compensation package or continue till the end of the season.
Then again it might just hae been marching orders.

My point is that a Club that seems to break a contract when it is convenient, is hardly in a position to cry foul when an employee does the same.

 

[OldNewtown]

Can I add a comment, just for balance.

I'd like to thank Pritch for downing tools yesterday.
It allowed a more balanced and effective team to play.
Thank you.

Every cloud has a silver lining
Or is it every silver lining has a cloud
Depends on your outlook I suppose

 

[Young Ted]

Players refusing to play is not the sign of a healthy club.

It’s the sign of an unhealthy player to me you’ve took every opportunity to knock the club all this week, what I heard was he took alls his and walked out the club Friday that was his choice but I found it strange that the whole team played so much better with Pritchard out the equation- coincidence maybe or they were pleased he was away just a thought

 

[The Exile II]

I know theres stuff wrong with the club and yes the bcb was a fiasco but you are actually sticking up for someone who is refusing to play for us!

I might side with the club on a lot of things but id rather be like that than always be against the club n blame them for everything

Pritchard was called unprofessional at Huddersfield and hes done the same here. Its not like any of our other players have refused to play so its down to Pritchard not wanting to wear our shirt, thats a disgrace for me

I'm saying the reasoning isn't clear. We have to go on what we know has happened in the past and the situation he's currently in.

If he's gone in the huff out of nowhere it's on him. If he's at the end of his tether due to the way he's been treated, and there's at least very strong rumours about how he's been treated, it's on the club.

I'm sure we'll find out when he goes. Unless the club insist on an NDA, but why would they do that?

 

[Magnus]

It would be nice if all of Football sudenly decided to honour their contracts.

For example Tony Mowbray might still be our Manager, as I believe that he was on a yearly contract to the end of the sreason.
Of course he MAY hae been given the choice to leave now with a compensation package or continue till the end of the season.
Then again it might just hae been marching orders.

My point is that a Club that seems to break a contract when it is convenient, is hardly in a position to cry foul when an employee does the same.

aye a club selling a player or sacking a manager, is the same as player refusing to play, give over man

the hatred for the club has proper blinded some fans

is every thing great no

is everything bad no

but bloody hell a player has refused to play and it's clubs fault

it's alex pritchard man we've had bigger players then him and we'll have bigger players then him again
who would of all showed the fans more respect


the same fans crying over the way the getting delt with off the club, but a player refused to play and it all poor pritchard

i get and understand opinions in football, but any football fan sticking up for a player for refusing to play for the club because he hasn't got the length of contract he wanted **** that

 

[rooch 3]

It would be nice if all of Football sudenly decided to honour their contracts.

For example Tony Mowbray might still be our Manager, as I believe that he was on a yearly contract to the end of the sreason.
Of course he MAY hae been given the choice to leave now with a compensation package or continue till the end of the season.
Then again it might just hae been marching orders.

My point is that a Club that seems to break a contract when it is convenient, is hardly in a position to cry foul when an employee does the same.

Have we broke a contract, I’m guessing TM will have been payed his money upto the end of his contract. Are you expecting Prichard to pay the club the remainder of his contract now? Or is that not how it works?

 

[Robref62]

It doesn't matter that Pritchard is one of our better players. It doesn't matter that he was a favourite of mine. It doesn't matter if he hasn't been given a better contract offer. What does matter is him being under contract and refusing to turn out for the club and fans who pay his wages. Don't let the door hit you on the way out!

 

[Scout73]

I'm saying the reasoning isn't clear. We have to go on what we know has happened in the past and the situation he's currently in.

If he's gone in the huff out of nowhere it's on him. If he's at the end of his tether due to the way he's been treated, and there's at least very strong rumours about how he's been treated, it's on the club.

I'm sure we'll find out when he goes. Unless the club insist on an NDA, but why would they do that?

I cba with the back n forward, if you think its acceptable for a player to refuse to play for us then thats your opinion

I will never be ok with a player refusing to play for us. It should be an honour wearing our shirt n representing us fans every game n when a player decides against that then they lose my support

 

[Scout73]

aye a club selling a player or sacking a manager, is the same as player refusing to play, give over man

the hatred for the club has proper blinded some fans

is every thing great no

is everything bad no

but bloody hell a player has refused to play and it's clubs fault

it's alex pritchard man we've had bigger players then him and we'll have bigger players then him again
who would of all showed the fans more respect


the same fans crying over the way the getting delt with off the club, but a player refused to play and it all poor pritchard

i get and understand opinions in football, but any football fan sticking up for a player for refusing to play for the club because he hasn't got the length of contract he wanted **** that

Spot on mate

Folk slagging the club for weeks due to off the field stuff yet support a player who refuses to play. If we were on a good run and this happened more would be raging with him. If they didnt hate speakman theyd be raging about it. If they didnt hate beale theyd be raging about it.

I love our club, i love the city of Sunderland, i love the people of the city, i love the history of our great club n when a player refuses to play n fight for us im raging

Ill back the people looking after the club in these situations than a player looking after his own needs(nothing wrong with pritch wanting to accept a longer contract elsewhere but you do not refuse to play,)

Think ive said enough on it now so will let others debate it

 

[David Moyes' Stupid Face]

If only it was so simple.

Look at the situation. The club wanted him gone in the summer - he could have taken the huff then but didn't - he hardly played - no complaints - but he's suddenly a fixture when there's a crisis. They're ****ing him about with his contract at the same time (we don't need to know specifics to know that) and he's got the chance to go elsewhere.

At some point you have to look after yourself if nobody else is looking after you.

It literally is that simple, imo. There's a LOT of guesswork in your post but, let's assume it's all correct. The club want him gone, they've messed around with his contract, another club wants him, etc... That STILL doesn't give him the right to just ignore the contract he has in place. It's ridiculous what some people think it's okay for footballers to get away with.

I don't know what you do for a job, but let's say your department is snowed under and one of your colleagues wanted a raise but the company didn't think he was worth it. He wants to go to a new company but has 3 months notice built into his contract. He decides "**** my contract" and just doesn't show up at work, your department misses their deadlines and your whole team gets in a load of **** from customers and management. Would you think "ah fair enough pal, you didn't get the pay you wanted so **** the rest of us, no bother"??? Would you ****.

 

[Magnus]

Spot on mate

Folk slagging the club for weeks due to off the field stuff yet support a player who refuses to play. If we were on a good run and this happened more would be raging with him. If they didnt hate speakman theyd be raging about it. If they didnt hate beale theyd be raging about it.

I love our club, i love the city of Sunderland, i love the people of the city, i love the history of our great club n when a player refuses to play n fight for us im raging

Ill back the people looking after the club in these situations than a player looking after his own needs(nothing wrong with pritch wanting to accept a longer contract elsewhere but you do not refuse to play,)

Think ive said enough on it now so will let others debate it

100 % mate fans keep saying we are sunderland football club, we need to remember we are sunderland football club **** any play who ever it is who refuses to put the shirt on for this club

 

[The Exile II]

It literally is that simple, imo. There's a LOT of guesswork in your post but, let's assume it's all correct. The club want him gone, they've messed around with his contract, another club wants him, etc... That STILL doesn't give him the right to just ignore the contract he has in place. It's ridiculous what some people think it's okay for footballers to get away with.

I don't know what you do for a job, but let's say your department is snowed under and one of your colleagues wanted a raise but the company didn't think he was worth it. He wants to go to a new company but has 3 months notice built into his contract. He decides "**** my contract" and just doesn't show up at work, your department misses their deadlines and your whole team gets in a load of **** from customers and management. Would you think "ah fair enough pal, you didn't get the pay you wanted so **** the rest of us, no bother"??? Would you ****.

That's not the situation as far as we know it though. It's different if the company is actively trying to manage that person out of the door and you know they'll ditch you as soon as it's convenient to them, contract or not.

Would you say that there's no doubt at all that the club are completely blameless in this? After the last six weeks?