[Albion] Is it acceptable for Albion players to do ‘balloons’ on a team night out?

[Washie]

As long as they're not drinking alcohol, then it's fine.

 

[Machiavelli]

The most revealing thing about this poll is it illustrates that (so far at least) most NSCers are over 40 (or, more precisely, most NSCers that give a toss about this are over 40).

 

[Ⓩ-Ⓐ-Ⓜ-Ⓞ-Ⓡ-Ⓐ]

I am well under 40 and voted IT'S NOT GOOD!

 

[Waynflete]

We are at a level now, where I think we can expect a better level of professionalism from our players than to see such antics and dismiss it as "young lads letting off steam."

These guys are being paid eye-watering sums of money, for their physical abilities, and as such they should be treating their bodies with more respect and looking at top sportsmen, top athletes and seeing what they do to perform at that level. the game is not played by "lads" at the top level, with a Tuesday Night Drinking Club, they should be setting their sights higher than that.

It's worth reading about the lifestyles of those who get to the top of their sport and stay there. Read about how Federer, Djokovic, CR7, and others prepare. I think I read somewhere about Djokovic winning whatever grand slam it was that meant he joined the elusive club of players who have won them all. He celebrated with a square of dark chocolate. Yes, it's a massive sacrifice to get to the top and stay there, but it's a long way back from that if you are "doing balloons" on a night out, like some chavvy teenager who used to frequent the dodgy nightclub down the road from where I worked in Greenwich.

Grow up, and be more professional.

I'm sympathetic to the thrust of your post, but as far as I know there's no evidence that nitrous oxide has any lasting effect on a sportsperson's physiology; or at least probably less than a glass of beer.

Your argument suggests it should also be unacceptable for them to have a quiet beer, a bar of chocolate or a burger, or basically anything that doesn't fit within the strictest lifestyle regime. That's fine if that's your argument, but personally I think it's unrealistic for most people, even high level professionals like Albion players.

 

[schmunk]

I thought this too. The younguns have somewhere else to argue pointlessly with people they have never met, I guess.

Indeed - forums are for old(er) people.

Try this survey again on NorthStandTikTok.

(sksksk and i oop)

 

[WhingForPresident]

Not massively bothered by them doing it, but the fact they did it so openly is a bit disappointing. I thought some of those involved were more sensible than to put themselves in a position where it was obvious they would have their names and subsequently the club's name dragged through the mud by the gutter press...

 

[Nathan]

The video clip I watched only showed them doing 1 balloon. How many are they supposed to have done?

 

[Easy 10]

We are at a level now, where I think we can expect a better level of professionalism from our players than to see such antics and dismiss it as "young lads letting off steam."

These guys are being paid eye-watering sums of money, for their physical abilities, and as such they should be treating their bodies with more respect and looking at top sportsmen, top athletes and seeing what they do to perform at that level. the game is not played by "lads" at the top level, with a Tuesday Night Drinking Club, they should be setting their sights higher than that.

It's worth reading about the lifestyles of those who get to the top of their sport and stay there. Read about how Federer, Djokovic, CR7, and others prepare. I think I read somewhere about Djokovic winning whatever grand slam it was that meant he joined the elusive club of players who have won them all. He celebrated with a square of dark chocolate. Yes, it's a massive sacrifice to get to the top and stay there, but it's a long way back from that if you are "doing balloons" on a night out, like some chavvy teenager who used to frequent the dodgy nightclub down the road from where I worked in Greenwich.

Grow up, and be more professional.

This.

We're told that at the elite level, its all about the small margins. Its about the individuals levels of personal professionalism and dedication to be the absolute best you can be, to be in peak physical condition for the season.

Is this single particular incident a big deal ? No, not really. But it makes you wonder what else some of them are getting up to during this mid-season jolly. We've seen that they're happy to let their standards slip to this extent - which I'll say in the great scheme of things isn't a lot. But we'll just have to hope that this isn't the tip of the iceberg of them "cutting loose". Last time they donned the flipflops, they somehow managed to bin off a Championship title when it was there for the taking. This time the challenge ahead is considerably more difficult.

I'm certainly not shocked or angered by this, as its not THAT big a deal. But I'd be lying if I said it hasn't sowed seeds of concern with me.

 

[Bold Seagull]

We are at a level now, where I think we can expect a better level of professionalism from our players than to see such antics and dismiss it as "young lads letting off steam."

These guys are being paid eye-watering sums of money, for their physical abilities, and as such they should be treating their bodies with more respect and looking at top sportsmen, top athletes and seeing what they do to perform at that level. the game is not played by "lads" at the top level, with a Tuesday Night Drinking Club, they should be setting their sights higher than that.

It's worth reading about the lifestyles of those who get to the top of their sport and stay there. Read about how Federer, Djokovic, CR7, and others prepare. I think I read somewhere about Djokovic winning whatever grand slam it was that meant he joined the elusive club of players who have won them all. He celebrated with a square of dark chocolate. Yes, it's a massive sacrifice to get to the top and stay there, but it's a long way back from that if you are "doing balloons" on a night out, like some chavvy teenager who used to frequent the dodgy nightclub down the road from where I worked in Greenwich.

Grow up, and be more professional.

They don't even have to look very far, Bruno was making PL appearances at 39 because of the lifestyle he led and the sacrifices he made to prolong his career. These are the type of players that go out on a team building night, enjoy a few beers, then having enjoyed a bit of bonding are back in the hotel and tucked up in bed by 11pm. Boring yes, unprofessional no.

Don't expect them to be reclusive robots, but many a night out can be enjoyed over 2 or 3 pints, or a few glasses of wine then off to bed. You don't need to get smashed and start looking for euphoric highs as a serious professional footballer.

 

[Gritt23]

I'm sympathetic to the thrust of your post, but as far as I know there's no evidence that nitrous oxide has any lasting effect on a sportsperson's physiology; or at least probably less than a glass of beer.

Your argument suggests it should also be unacceptable for them to have a quiet beer, a bar of chocolate or a burger, or basically anything that doesn't fit within the strictest lifestyle regime. That's fine if that's your argument, but personally I think it's unrealistic for most people, even high level professionals like Albion players.

Not "unacceptable", merely that we expect them to put the preparation of their bodies and minds at the forefront of how they live their life.

It's not black and white, where you either follow the strictest of lifestyles of you don't and that means you eat burgers, chocolate and drink beer. But I do think that should be the aim, that should be the target, and top professional athletes should be seeing how close they can get to what we all KNOW the very top athletes are doing. After the Tour de France, a Geraint Thomas said in the interview in Paris that he;s looking forward to having a burger. End of his season effectively, and he'll work that off in no time. He knows it's not ideal for his body, but he's earned a treat. It's human nature. But you must aim for the best, and keep the damaging stuff to a minimum.

To be teetotal is not as rare these days as it used to be. But strangely, it seems to be something that is growing in people later in life, people in the 40s who try it for a while, maybe dry January, lose weight, feel better, and just don't return to it. Yet, it's still deemed to be too much of an ask to expect it of highly paid athletes.

As for the rights and wrongs of balloons themselves, I don't know the science behind it, or studies, but it's doesn't scream "highly tuned professional athlete" to me. If I paid someone £50k a week, every week, to be the best professional athlete they can be, I wouldn't be too impressed.

 

[dingodan]

In order to establish whether this is acceptable, I ask myself, "Would Bruno do that?".

No.

So no.

 

[schmunk]

Ask yourself: What Would Bruno Do...?

 

[stewart12]

Which bright spark had the good idea to take Duffy and Stephens to Tenerife for a rest?

I'm sure the local ladies had a lovely time

 

[Whitechapel]

This.

We're told that at the elite level, its all about the small margins. Its about the individuals levels of personal professionalism and dedication to be the absolute best you can be, to be in peak physical condition for the season.

Is this single particular incident a big deal ? No, not really. But it makes you wonder what else some of them are getting up to during this mid-season jolly. We've seen that they're happy to let their standards slip to this extent - which I'll say in the great scheme of things isn't a lot. But we'll just have to hope that this isn't the tip of the iceberg of them "cutting loose". Last time they donned the flipflops, they somehow managed to bin off a Championship title when it was there for the taking. This time the challenge ahead is considerably more difficult.

I'm certainly not shocked or angered by this, as its not THAT big a deal. But I'd be lying if I said it hasn't sowed seeds of concern with me.

Would your reaction be the same if they’d been videoed having one beer with a meal?

 

[BNthree]

The aging demographic of ̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶f̶o̶o̶t̶b̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶c̶r̶o̶w̶d̶s̶ NSC.

Fixed for you.

 

[Tim Over Whelmed]

I've only voted NO because the question is too tight, on a night out? In Brighton? In view of young fans? Nos isn't a problem at all but you have a responsibility as a player to your profession, your club, the fans, the sponsors etc etc

 

[Easy 10]

Would your reaction be the same if they’d been videoed having one beer with a meal?

No. Because having a beer with a meal is an entirely different set of circumstances to being seen getting high on hippy crack in a nightclub.

 

[Wozza]

The most revealing thing about this poll is it illustrates that (so far at least) most NSCers are over 40 (or, more precisely, most NSCers that give a toss about this are over 40).

... during the daytime.

 

[blue-shifted]

Acceptable is a stupid word really only used by the shrieking entitled so I won't answer the poll.

All i'll say is the players are looked after well by the club and paid well by the club and they are fully aware of the importance of how the club is perceived in attracting big sponsorship deals like with Amex which go towards their wage. So I can't understand why, and wish they hadn't done something which attracts this sort of negative publicity.

 

[Munkfish]

No its not a good look and it is stupid getting caught.

Do I have a problem with it and it not being recorded, no. Crack on, they literally do more damage to thier bodies taking painkiller injections to get through crucial games and its a bit of fun.

Its not like they are off their nut on coke drink driving like certain championship players have done this season.