I decided to start this thread because, for a long time, I've felt that fans of football clubs, including my own club are being very badly treated by players' agents.
We need to be clear about one thing : the objectives of each of those two groups of people are diametrically opposed to each other. However, it scarcely gets mentioned.
Whereas in the past, players would bring there own common sense in to play when listening to the recommendations of agents, it's possible that this can no longer be relied upon. At the suggestion of agents, players may decide they do not need to be professional all of the time.
Earlier in the year we had game after game where the players performed below par. I challenged the forum to check the player ratings for January.
I make the case that, with a few exceptions, it is the players' performances that should be used as the yardstick. This is particularly the case when the team player like a roller-coaster team. You already know what they are capable of.
I maintain that the roller-coaster factor was a big part of what caused Alex Neil to end his reign at North End. That was a dark day for me. He was good enough to get us promoted.
I will be saying more about this, which is why I started a thread. It's a forum and people will add their own views. They may not agree. The next post is about events from fairly recent history, at another club. It's a cautionary tale.
I will just add, I really got a lot from this article and I thank the author :
https://www.lancs.live/sport/football/football-news/preston-north-end-peter-ridsdale-22098153
It discusses fatigue in some players at the Forest game and I think that's where an exception comes fairly in to play. Wing-back, for example, is a demanding role. The article also hints at the roller-coaster factor but it doesn't make the suggestion that I'm making. Thanks Adam for as far as you went.
We need to be clear about one thing : the objectives of each of those two groups of people are diametrically opposed to each other. However, it scarcely gets mentioned.
Whereas in the past, players would bring there own common sense in to play when listening to the recommendations of agents, it's possible that this can no longer be relied upon. At the suggestion of agents, players may decide they do not need to be professional all of the time.
Earlier in the year we had game after game where the players performed below par. I challenged the forum to check the player ratings for January.
I make the case that, with a few exceptions, it is the players' performances that should be used as the yardstick. This is particularly the case when the team player like a roller-coaster team. You already know what they are capable of.
I maintain that the roller-coaster factor was a big part of what caused Alex Neil to end his reign at North End. That was a dark day for me. He was good enough to get us promoted.
I will be saying more about this, which is why I started a thread. It's a forum and people will add their own views. They may not agree. The next post is about events from fairly recent history, at another club. It's a cautionary tale.
I will just add, I really got a lot from this article and I thank the author :
https://www.lancs.live/sport/football/football-news/preston-north-end-peter-ridsdale-22098153
It discusses fatigue in some players at the Forest game and I think that's where an exception comes fairly in to play. Wing-back, for example, is a demanding role. The article also hints at the roller-coaster factor but it doesn't make the suggestion that I'm making. Thanks Adam for as far as you went.