I’ve only really just caught up with the post-Bournemouth game reaction; and some of it makes for some quite concerning reading. Most worrying are some of the comments that Smoulders has made to the press in the aftermath of the game:
“I had a sense before the game that some of our players thought they only had to turn up to win and you can not have that attitude.
“We were poor in possession and absolutely terrible out of possession, we did not play with any rhythm and deserved to be beaten.
“The only positive thing is this is a reminder that if we are not going to work hard and be positive we are going to get our bottoms smacked.”
If it’s true that were getting complacent then that needs nipping in the bud right now; couple that with the rumour posted on the LTLF Forum after the game by somebody purporting to have contact with David Johnson (I freely acknowledge that this is just mindless rumour peddling, but nonetheless, peddle I shall!):
“Just heard from Johno that some of the players went out and got pissed the night before the Salisbury game and then stayed South for the Bournemouth game and got pissed again! He also added that now we are top of the league alot of the players are being too laid back.”
Not exactly the most professional act in the world if Johnson has been discussing such matters with random fans he encounters, but there is at least a hint of the complacency that Smoulds talks of in his quote – and if there is any grain of truth in the comment that the players were drinking the night before the Salisbury game then this is something Smoulders needs to come down like a tonne of bricks on. Not acceptable.
With a bit of luck a series of disappointing results against sides we should really have the measure of will be enough of a kick up the proverbial for them, but if not then Colin needs to be on hand to get that passion and hunger back in the squad.
Filed under: Thoughts
Blimey. Lot of hits on this – worth clarifying, or reclarifying that it is a rumour and not a fact! And if indeed DJ did talk to this particular person along those lines, then it’s a poor show from him too.
Of course, it could all just be made up piffle.
What we really need is a striker who can score goals.
That would have done the trick.
hi mate,
firstly great site, always an interesting read.
Only post rarlely (once b4 I think!), however, I read this and felt I have to chip in; I have just been on holiday and whilst there I decided to while away my hours on the beach reading BC’s Walking on Water for the 2nd time. This is relevant because as anyone who has read either of his books wil know, our greatest ever team used to get pissed before games on a regular basis – sometimes against their wishes! This is all with the absolute blessing of the great man himself.
Whilst I am not condoning the behaviour all I will say is that situations like getting pissed occasionally can have a very positive effect on team spirit and other things.
So, in summary I guess what I’m saying is don’t behave holier than thou on this particular issue. A 46 game season is a long hard struggle so I’m sure we can excuse the lads a bit of time to ‘release the pressure’, can’t we?
Hello mate
Thanks for the comments!
You make a fair point about the Great Man; of course – although I don’t think many managers could get away with that kind of motivational tactic, and it’s worth considering that the state of the game is very different compared to now – much more fitness orientated.
I certainly wouldn’t begrudge the player some time off to let off steam, but I would if it were the night before a game – I don’t go out on the piss if I have a particularly important day in the office, let alone having to do physical activity!
That said, they might not have been out on the piss at all!