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Post by buckrippers on Jul 29, 2014 7:50:29 GMT
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Post by Henbury Gas on Jul 29, 2014 8:05:33 GMT
Another Quality Read, you nearly had me in tears....
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Post by Congas on Jul 29, 2014 8:08:03 GMT
Either threaten 'em with this or promise 'em plenty of lolly if we bounce straight back up. Simples.
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Post by stigofthegas on Jul 29, 2014 8:29:12 GMT
A tear in my eye at the end - powerful stuff.
Well done !!!!!
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Post by Rovers 12th Man on Jul 29, 2014 9:05:58 GMT
This should be printed off and put in the dressing room for the players to read before every match.
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Post by Hugo Admin on Jul 29, 2014 9:12:58 GMT
Real nice piece there mate
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Post by Gashead73 on Jul 29, 2014 13:52:36 GMT
This needs to be forwarded to the team and pinned on the dressing room door.
Inspirational stuff, I love it!!!
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Post by ThisCharmingMan on Jul 29, 2014 14:38:26 GMT
Great read again Nick. I notice that someone has been tweeting this to the players as I saw that Tom 'The Diet' Parkes had retweeted it.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2014 14:45:08 GMT
i do honestly believe that darrell clarke is placing a high importance on getting the right type of players to the club in terms of attitude and commitment.
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Post by Congas on Jul 29, 2014 15:11:20 GMT
No more attitudes, please!
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Post by lincolnfan on Jul 30, 2014 1:07:42 GMT
It is certainly a well written and emotional "call to arms" but, sadly and in my opinion only, is also romantic tosh from start to finish.
Playing football for a living is a JOB. What is unique about it is that it is the only business I can think of where your "customers" are envious of the employees - for most fans of any club the players are actually being paid to do something that supporters would dearly love to do but cannot, either through lack of opportunity or lack of ability. They invest part of themselves in these players I would say.
Supporters bleed (insert colours of club concerned) "till I die" but footballers don't do that and neither should they in my view. They are hired hacks with no stability of employment at all. A short playing career - 15 years at most - which can be cut short in the third league game of the season with a double tibia fracture. Even if that doesn't happen they can lose their job because of either promotion or relegation or simply a change of Manager.
This romantic stuff doesn't make any sense at all if you transfer it away from the world of football supporters into real life and the jobs all of you actually do for a living. When supporters moan about a player leaving I often wonder what their response would be in their day job if they were head hunted by another employer, offering perhaps double or triple the money to do the same job. Would most pledge loyalty to your current employer and refuse the offer? A few exceptions might but the vast majority not I would say.
Of course you and all other supporters envy being paid to "kick a ball about for 90 minutes" for a living but if you look at the reality of it - my opinion only - these emotional calls are simply romantic tosh. It is reasonable for us all to expect "our" players to do their best but to expect some sort of emotional link aside from the monthly BAC is really walking through the wardrobe into Narnia I would say.
In five years time most if not all of your current players will not be with Bristol Rovers. Some will be elsewhere, up or down, or out of the playing side completely.
As has been stated Directors come and go, players come and go. Only the supporters remain but try as we might I think we all delude ourselves if we think we have any right to demand the same "till I die" committment to those who are, frankly, just passing through in a very hard nosed, tough and totally financial driven business.
The other problem we all have is that if any of them, Managers and players alike, were really "that good" they wouldn't be down here would they? Usual rules of life.
Clubs ditch players as soon as look at them (despite the press conference when they were signed) and so I really think it is a fantasy world to expect or appeal to them to bleed something for a club of which, at best, they will be a very temporary part. It is reasonable to expect them to be as competent as they can but to expect some sort of special relationship with them taking in part of a club history is about as realistic as the make believe world of Football Manager and FIFA computer games I would suggest.
Yours, Lincoln's, Alfreton's et al are also down here because they can't get anything better.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2014 1:47:18 GMT
i think were all guilty sometimes of thinking professional football is a walk in the park but i dont think that,,,in pro football every player you play against is good every game is hard,every contract earned is a minor miracle,,,,in my job some people are so crap or lazy that i look pretty good but i watched league 2 football last year and i thought it was very hard and every game tight,,,i still believe that modern players want to connect and relate to supporters and i even think darrell clarke is looking for those honest characters we all love. call me a romantic if you want
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2014 2:28:44 GMT
It is certainly a well written and emotional "call to arms" but, sadly and in my opinion only, is also romantic tosh from start to finish. Playing football for a living is a JOB. What is unique about it is that it is the only business I can think of where your "customers" are envious of the employees - for most fans of any club the players are actually being paid to do something that supporters would dearly love to do but cannot, either through lack of opportunity or lack of ability. They invest part of themselves in these players I would say. Supporters bleed (insert colours of club concerned) "till I die" but footballers don't do that and neither should they in my view. They are hired hacks with no stability of employment at all. A short playing career - 15 years at most - which can be cut short in the third league game of the season with a double tibia fracture. Even if that doesn't happen they can lose their job because of either promotion or relegation or simply a change of Manager. This romantic stuff doesn't make any sense at all if you transfer it away from the world of football supporters into real life and the jobs all of you actually do for a living. When supporters moan about a player leaving I often wonder what their response would be in their day job if they were head hunted by another employer, offering perhaps double or triple the money to do the same job. Would most pledge loyalty to your current employer and refuse the offer? A few exceptions might but the vast majority not I would say. Of course you and all other supporters envy being paid to "kick a ball about for 90 minutes" for a living but if you look at the reality of it - my opinion only - these emotional calls are simply romantic tosh. It is reasonable for us all to expect "our" players to do their best but to expect some sort of emotional link aside from the monthly BAC is really walking through the wardrobe into Narnia I would say. In five years time most if not all of your current players will not be with Bristol Rovers. Some will be elsewhere, up or down, or out of the playing side completely. As has been stated Directors come and go, players come and go. Only the supporters remain but try as we might I think we all delude ourselves if we think we have any right to demand the same "till I die" committment to those who are, frankly, just passing through in a very hard nosed, tough and totally financial driven business. The other problem we all have is that if any of them, Managers and players alike, were really "that good" they wouldn't be down here would they? Usual rules of life. Clubs ditch players as soon as look at them (despite the press conference when they were signed) and so I really think it is a fantasy world to expect or appeal to them to bleed something for a club of which, at best, they will be a very temporary part. It is reasonable to expect them to be as competent as they can but to expect some sort of special relationship with them taking in part of a club history is about as realistic as the make believe world of Football Manager and FIFA computer games I would suggest. Yours, Lincoln's, Alfreton's et al are also down here because they can't get anything better. Well said, couldn't have put it better. It does make me cringe when people tell players they 'should have pride wearing the famous blue and white quarters'. why on earth would they if they didnt grow up on the tote. However; I like the following quote from the article "This is going to be my season. I will be the best I can be. I will play without fear and however tough it gets I will enjoy myself, just like I did when I was a young boy with dreams of getting to the very top." All about players having pride in THEMSELVES. This is a realistic request.. Leave the quarters out of it for now, its not the 60s.
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Post by blackthorngas on Jul 30, 2014 6:07:23 GMT
It is certainly a well written and emotional "call to arms" but, sadly and in my opinion only, is also romantic tosh from start to finish. Playing football for a living is a JOB. What is unique about it is that it is the only business I can think of where your "customers" are envious of the employees - for most fans of any club the players are actually being paid to do something that supporters would dearly love to do but cannot, either through lack of opportunity or lack of ability. They invest part of themselves in these players I would say. Supporters bleed (insert colours of club concerned) "till I die" but footballers don't do that and neither should they in my view. They are hired hacks with no stability of employment at all. A short playing career - 15 years at most - which can be cut short in the third league game of the season with a double tibia fracture. Even if that doesn't happen they can lose their job because of either promotion or relegation or simply a change of Manager. This romantic stuff doesn't make any sense at all if you transfer it away from the world of football supporters into real life and the jobs all of you actually do for a living. When supporters moan about a player leaving I often wonder what their response would be in their day job if they were head hunted by another employer, offering perhaps double or triple the money to do the same job. Would most pledge loyalty to your current employer and refuse the offer? A few exceptions might but the vast majority not I would say. Of course you and all other supporters envy being paid to "kick a ball about for 90 minutes" for a living but if you look at the reality of it - my opinion only - these emotional calls are simply romantic tosh. It is reasonable for us all to expect "our" players to do their best but to expect some sort of emotional link aside from the monthly BAC is really walking through the wardrobe into Narnia I would say. In five years time most if not all of your current players will not be with Bristol Rovers. Some will be elsewhere, up or down, or out of the playing side completely. As has been stated Directors come and go, players come and go. Only the supporters remain but try as we might I think we all delude ourselves if we think we have any right to demand the same "till I die" committment to those who are, frankly, just passing through in a very hard nosed, tough and totally financial driven business. The other problem we all have is that if any of them, Managers and players alike, were really "that good" they wouldn't be down here would they? Usual rules of life. Clubs ditch players as soon as look at them (despite the press conference when they were signed) and so I really think it is a fantasy world to expect or appeal to them to bleed something for a club of which, at best, they will be a very temporary part. It is reasonable to expect them to be as competent as they can but to expect some sort of special relationship with them taking in part of a club history is about as realistic as the make believe world of Football Manager and FIFA computer games I would suggest. Yours, Lincoln's, Alfreton's et al are also down here because they can't get anything better. Well said, couldn't have put it better. It does make me cringe when people tell players they 'should have pride wearing the famous blue and white quarters'. why on earth would they if they didnt grow up on the tote. However; I like the following quote from the article "This is going to be my season. I will be the best I can be. I will play without fear and however tough it gets I will enjoy myself, just like I did when I was a young boy with dreams of getting to the very top." All about players having pride in THEMSELVES. This is a realistic request.. Leave the quarters out of it for now, its not the 60s.
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Post by blackthorngas on Jul 30, 2014 6:15:11 GMT
You only have to look at some of the results from Scottish competitors at the commonwealth games to see that pride and passion can have a huge impact on performance. Agree that the article should be up on the changing room wall. I'm passionate about the club and would expect every player to be too.
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Post by buckrippers on Jul 30, 2014 15:08:14 GMT
Makes me laugh when people like Lincoln say its a call of pride and loyalty in the shirt. I have steered clear of that romantic twaddle which, incidentally, I get fed up with too. Why don't people read what it says. All I've asked is that these players show pride in themselves and don't forget that at one stage someone deemed them good enough to offer them a contract. If they haven't quite realised their potential, or if things have gone wrong, it is NOT TOO LATE ie the Stuart Pearce example. He never wore blue and white quarters. Players should be playing for themselves and for personal pride as much as their team mates and the club. If they do that and give everything, and something great comes of it... like getting our club back into the Football League, they will become Bristol Rovers heroes... end of.
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Post by stigofthegas on Jul 30, 2014 16:36:10 GMT
Makes me laugh when people like Lincoln say its a call of pride and loyalty in the shirt. I have steered clear of that romantic twaddle which, incidentally, I get fed up with too. Why don't people read what it says. All I've asked is that these players show pride in themselves and don't forget that at one stage someone deemed them good enough to offer them a contract. If they haven't quite realised their potential, or if things have gone wrong, it is NOT TOO LATE ie the Stuart Pearce example. He never wore blue and white quarters. Players should be playing for themselves and for personal pride as much as their team mates and the club. If they do that and give everything, and something great comes of it... like getting our club back into the Football League, they will become Bristol Rovers heroes... end of. I think you nailed it Buckrippers . Football IS about passion, belief and and a will to win. Those with it will find a way when others don't. Do you really think it's all about money for the likes of Tom Lockyer, Ollie Clarke, Sinclair etc . I think these guys would play for the love of the game if the business of football wasn't so lucrative. Obviously they will take the money but playing and winning is what drives them. We have suffered because we have had a few too many without that desire and determination. One of the things I like about DC is he is trying to put that back into the squad. Let's do this - believe everyone
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Post by stigofthegas on Jul 30, 2014 16:37:39 GMT
Sorry - iPhone troubles !!!
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Post by lincolnfan on Jul 30, 2014 23:56:38 GMT
Makes me laugh when people like Lincoln say its a call of pride and loyalty in the shirt. I have steered clear of that romantic twaddle which, incidentally, I get fed up with too. Why don't people read what it says. All I've asked is that these players show pride in themselves and don't forget that at one stage someone deemed them good enough to offer them a contract. If they haven't quite realised their potential, or if things have gone wrong, it is NOT TOO LATE ie the Stuart Pearce example. He never wore blue and white quarters. Players should be playing for themselves and for personal pride as much as their team mates and the club. If they do that and give everything, and something great comes of it... like getting our club back into the Football League, they will become Bristol Rovers heroes... end of. Fair comment but I really think you are way adrift on this in 2014. I have been part of lower league football for 62 years this year and during that time I have been consistently lied to by players, by managers, by directors and I no longer believe a word any of them say. About anything. I sit and wait to see what happens which is usually not what anyone of them said would happen. But it is still unrealistic romantic tosh in my opinion. Your team - and every other one - might take on board your call to arms re pride in themselves but you seem to have left out, or assumed some natural understanding, of the effects of "if things have gone wrong." Let me attempt to remind you of what happens "if things have gone wrong". I cannot say about what happens at Bristol Rovers but what happens in 2014 at other clubs at this and higher levels if things go wrong is that the players deemed variously responsible will be monstered on all available message boards and, in some cases, will be personally pursued and abused in 2014 on Twitter and on Facebook notwithstanding what they may be called personally from the stands. If your plea is to have any affect at all could I suggest that in a forthcoming article you issue a similar clarion call to your supporters re abuse of players reminding them also what to say about your players if....errr...."something great (doesn't) comes of it." Perhaps you would like to address what you believe should be the approach of "The Gas" should some of them turn out not to be heroes. You turned on Ward quick enough after he kept you out of the Conference for 12 months when all seemed fairly lost to most outside your club and, while reading your missive on the dressing room wall, I will predict that you will all turn on Clarke and your players should things not quite turn out as you wish. How about a column addressed to the supporters just in case you don't storm the league? Over to you. As written it is one way traffic I think. Perhaps you are too close to it? You ended up abusing the Manager who a mere 12 months previously had persuaded your Polak chap to believe he was leading him beside "still waters" in a parody of Psalm 123. This abuse has now been conjoined with more or less club approval and more or less the all new singing/dancing new Manager. Is eight games enough? Who can say but for whatever reason it was not enough. So how about a clarion call to your supporters or would you be wasting your time if something great doesn't come of it? We will have to beg to differ. Still think it was well written meaningless tripe. You do not seem to have dealt with Smith and Mildenhall (or their agents) bombarding League One and Two clubs with "show reels". For some unaccountable reason this end they were advised to get out of the Conference if at all possible. Can't say about "Mildy" but Smith's bloke managed it and despite, apparently, his young lady being born and bred Bristol Rovers he's f**ked off to the fens. I wonder why? Everyone playing in the Conference Premier is simply here because they haven't had a better offer from higher up. Perhaps that is something you could also deal with in a forthcoming column? I look forward to it. [/quote]
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Post by lincolnfan on Jul 31, 2014 0:01:07 GMT
PS: Stuart Pearce, whatever his other qualities, was sacked from his U21 England role after consistent complaints of personal abuse to players. I am assuming you know that.
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