[Archived] Who are the players playing for?

[DeadlyDirk]

I've been thinking quite a lot lately about the performances of the players, particularly the last two performances which on the whole have been a marked improvement and it would certainly be hard to suggest that they aren't trying or are not giving their all, again this has been especially noticeable against Newcastle in the cup midweek and Spuds previously.

Kean has often talked about the great spirit of the team and how they are all working together to improve results on the pitch, he often stresses that the lads are all behind him. I know there has been some conflicting reports that a few board members know for a fact that certain members of the team want Kean out. (Don't quote me on that but I'm sure I've seen a few well respected members mention that not all of the players are behind him.)

So basically my question is who are the players playing for?

1. Playing for Kean?

2. Playing for the fans regardless of the managaer

3. Playing for their own sense of pride

4. A combination of the above

5. What are you talking about I haven't noticed any decent performances

[chocky]

They play football for the wages, they love plaing football but don't tell me they love the club. Probably only Pedersen and Dunny actually love the club..

[roverandout]

for themselves. they couldnt give a ###### about the club or the supporters as long as they get paid every week!!!

[ABBEY]

Spot on . Themselves , they don't give a crap about us or the club.££££££££££££££££££

[Amo]

for themselves. they couldnt give a ###### about the club or the supporters as long as they get paid every week!!!

But they're paid regardless of how they perform.

[roverandout]

exactly topman, they dont have to give a damn about giving %100 or playing well because they still get paid for it.

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

Players will play for their paymasters despite what they say,never mind patting the badge on their shirt

Comments made by some of our players this season have only further cemented my view.

[ABBEY]

1 word.... Tevez

[Eddie]

They're playing for themselves.

[G Somerset Rover]

That's why I love watching Olsson and Lowe at the moment. You can tell that the shirt means something to them.

[Kelbo]

I have been fortunate to play at various levels of football, in teams where I hated some of my team mates, yet on the park, we were together and I for one always gave my all, thats not playing for a manager, thats a mentality and most professional footballers have a greater mentality than many who have never played at that level, thats what sets them apart, some have a greater mentality than others, but for me and almost all the teams I have played for, a dressing room after a defeat is a horrible

place to be and after a victory its buzzing.

So, the answer to the question is no, they are not neccessarily playing for Kean, if fact my information is that there is a a split between Pro and against Kean amongst the players!!

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

It will be very interesting when Kean eventually leaves the club. What I have always found surprising - during the Ince era there was numerous leaks against him - during the Kean era (with the exception of Diouf, who has an obvious axe to grind - not prejudging whether he is correct by saying that) it has been remarkable quiet. I did wonder whether Jones would say anything after he left.

He has on the whole protected the players - and always, in the press at least, talked about the positives of the players performances.

The only worry - very few of the players have actually supported Kean - many have just talked about supporting the team or the club - only a few have mentioned doing it for the manager.

Whether you like it or not - Kean's overly optimistic slant on everything must take some of the pressure off the players - but in the end, if results dont improve, the pressure will tell any way.

[Hasta]

That's why I love watching Olsson and Lowe at the moment. You can tell that the shirt means something to them.

The shirt means something to them because if they get in the first team and play well they will get more money or a more lucrative move to a 'better' club. Nothing to do with Rovers.

It's not their fault. That's the job of being a modern footballer.

[Emge]

Its not like Kean has asked the players: "Are you behind me?"

He probably makes a good atmosphere at the training ground I would imagine and they're having lots of fun (and no serious work business), and maybe he thinks the players are behind him? Or maybe he just lies and lies and lies about having the support of the players so much that he believes it himself?

Anyway, the most important thing for him is that Mrs D (BTW can we please find another nickname on that **** ????? Mrs D almost sounds cool, so undeserved! Its driving me CRAZY! ) thinks he's got the players support, and so far it seems like he's very succesful in doing so!

But in the end, the players obviously know that they cant do anything about Kean being the manager, so its not like they can express their unhappiness about having him as the manager. The ONLY way they can express this is by their preformances - and judging from what we've seen so far, they dont seem to happy with their manager if you ask me!

[USABlue]

PLaying to get noticed and get teh hell out of the chicken factory that is sinking.

[perthblue02]

Agree the players are playing for themselves, looking towards next season and an offer from a premiership club because doubt many of them don't fancy a few seasons in the Championship. Most of them all they know is football so it's in their interest to look half decent and maintain their wages next season wherever that might be. Could also explain the empty quotes of we support the manager, back the team, looks good for any prospective club that the player is positive. Time will tell and will be interesting to see which players hang around ewood and "back the manager" next season or even after February when the championship is looking a certainty.

[T4E]

That's why I love watching Olsson and Lowe at the moment. You can tell that the shirt means something to them.

######. Why do football fans do this to themselves? Footballers don't care about you, me, the shirt, the fans or the team they play for. They care about getting paid, supporting their families and all the usual things a human being cares about. Just because they're playing football for a living doesn't make them any different to the rest of us. The sooner football fans realise that the sooner they'll stop being so cut up when people like Phil Jones leave us for bigger teams and more money. I honestly don't think I've cared about a player leaving since Shearer left. What's the point?

[Beta Ray Bill]

######. Why do football fans do this to themselves? Footballers don't care about you, me, the shirt, the fans or the team they play for. They care about getting paid, supporting their families and all the usual things a human being cares about. Just because they're playing football for a living doesn't make them any different to the rest of us. The sooner football fans realise that the sooner they'll stop being so cut up when people like Phil Jones leave us for bigger teams and more money. I honestly don't think I've cared about a player leaving since Shearer left. What's the point?

He received a lot of stick but I think this interview with Assou-Ekkoto (sp?) is actually very refreshing and honest.

http://m.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/may/01/benoit-assou-ekotto-tottenham-hotspur?cat=football&type=article

We're well past the era of the majority of players having a deep never dying love for a club. There are a (very) few exceptions around but most player-club relationships are not based on the same level of emotional attachment that a supporter has. (Only Dunn is in this category for Rovers I would suggest.)

As long as they give their all when on the pitch, I don't really care what their motivation is.

[BuckyRover]

They play football for the wages, they love plaing football but don't tell me they love the club. Probably only Pedersen and Dunny actually love the club..

We don't like them either !

[G Somerset Rover]

######. Why do football fans do this to themselves? Footballers don't care about you, me, the shirt, the fans or the team they play for. They care about getting paid, supporting their families and all the usual things a human being cares about. Just because they're playing football for a living doesn't make them any different to the rest of us. The sooner football fans realise that the sooner they'll stop being so cut up when people like Phil Jones leave us for bigger teams and more money. I honestly don't think I've cared about a player leaving since Shearer left. What's the point?

Calm down T4E. I know only too well what footballers I like. I'm not naive. Perhaps I should have worded it differently, in that it's refreshing to see two youngsters giving their all for the club. None of this ponsing out of challenges rubbish, these two lads care and it's great to see them playing the game at 100 mph.

That's obviously not to say that if a bigger club came in for them that they wanted to leave - of course they would. I just think in these dark times that it's good to see two young lads giving it their all for Rovers when many of the older heads in the team have gone missing.

[T4E]

Calm down T4E. I know only too well what footballers I like. I'm not naive. Perhaps I should have worded it differently, in that it's refreshing to see two youngsters giving their all for the club.

They aren't giving their all for the club. They are giving their all for themselves, and their careers. At the moment, we benefit, soon enough someone else will. The club doesn't mean anything to them.

[RovertheHill]

An interesting question. I'm trying to think back through a list of recent players who I thought "felt something" for the club

- Friedel

- Pedersen

- Emerton

- Tugay

- Dunn

- Flitcroft

- Gallacher

Any others?

[DeadlyDirk]

An interesting question. I'm trying to think back through a list of recent players who I thought "felt something" for the club

- Friedel

- Pedersen

- Emerton

- Tugay

- Dunn

- Flitcroft

- Gallacher

Any others?

Nelsen?

Maybe Todd and Savage.