Morning gents.
First time I've spoken on the subject of Fabrice and it's following the quotes coming out this morning from Coyle's prematch press conference.
The talk is not of how we are going to fight and win it for Fab, it's not of saying we need to forget about the past week for now and concentrate on the game. It is instead full of dwelling about how horrendous the week has been, and about how it will be hard to forget "but we will do our best". Now don't get me wrong I'm not saying there is anything wrong with having these feelings and I can't imagine what the players have been going through, but this is probably the most important game of our run in, especially now considering what QPR did last night. We need to win this game and therefore can't afford to go into it half-hearted.
No disrepect to Fab's family but it isn't up to them if we play or not. If the players aren't in the right frame of mind then we shouldn't be playing. Simple as. I do want the game to be played and am coming down from Scotland to watch it but there will be literally no point if we aren't able to compete.
I hope, come Saturday, that this article can be rendered silly and wrong and the players are in fact ready to put in a huge performance or Fab but I'm afraid that press conference has filled me with nothing but doubt.
Why are we playing?
posted on 22/3/12
I haven't seen the press conference Mr T, but to be honest, once it was clear on Tuesday that Fab was out of any immediate danger, there's really no reason not to play.
The players have had a shock but they need to man up at some point. If I witness a friend have a cardiac arrest and my employer gives me a few days off, as the players have had, I think that's fair enough.
posted on 22/3/12
You would think it would be motivation to go out and win one for Fab......that's what most teams do under adversity. But not us apparently.
And just back on the football front we dropped into the bottom 3 after last nights results. We have to win on Saturday....no excuses.
posted on 22/3/12
Most employees wouldn't even get a day off if a colleague had actually died. I know there are some differences (the public nature of it, the closeness of the team etc), but enough now already.
Suggesting the players shouldn't play is laughable, frankly. I'd expect them to man up enough (as largehat rightly puts it) to play by then, yes it was shocking but nobody died, time to move on.
Harsh as this may sound, but sometimes we're in danger of becoming incredibly soft as a society, crying in public at every opportunity? I'm not saying we should repress our emotions but we seem to have gone too far.
We'd last five minutes if we had another major war.
posted on 22/3/12
Zkat, spot on.
Madnot, it seems as though you haven't bothered to read the article. I've said I want them to play and am travelling quite far just to watch it. But if the players aren't going to turn up then we are only doing severe damage to our survival chances.
It wasn't part of the article but you've decided to take it this way so if it were me, then yes I would play as well. But you can't decide how the players feel and I am only going off the awful press conference earlier but the sounds coming out of the club aren't those that I expected and wanted
posted on 22/3/12
I did read it, Mr T. I didn't mean you had suggested not playing, I meant anyone who does so.
And I'd state again, time for the players to get on with it.
It was truly awful, and it's truly amazing recovery and I am as thrilled as anyone, but I think we've had enough of the public expressions of sadness and sympathy now, can we just get on with the football?
posted on 22/3/12
The players are paid to play and should do so. Fab has made a remarkable recovery so morale should be sky high not down in the dumps. The atmosphere on saturday should be awesome and spur the players on..
posted on 22/3/12
I hope Coyle hasn't been putting them all on a massive downer with the god & prayer tripe.
Religion depresses me and when Ieave church I think of reaching for the pills.
It's time to snap out of it and start winning some points.
posted on 22/3/12
I know it was a shocking thing to happen. But shouldn't the players actually be happy right now? I mean, this time on Sunday, we thought the poor lad could be dead. Now the doctors are saying that a normal life is within the spectrum of possibility.
Our team aren't victims. Fabrice Muamba is. And I can bet he wouldn't let something like this affect him, if it happened to someone else. He'd go out there and give 100%.
posted on 22/3/12
Why are we playing?
---—-----------
Isn't that what football clubs do?
posted on 22/3/12
I heard the comments & thought that they were pat of the mind game tacticts, i feel that every player will want to go out there and give 110% with something to prove under the circumstances. I feel that the team selection will reflect that & no one will cry off.