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

[Guinness Boy]

Like this is actually a brand new thing that anyone over 40 wouldn't understand.....

 

[Insel affe]

It’s not the boss you’re lucky to have but the company. Not many reputable companies are happy about seeing their employees engaging in ‘questionable’ activities being made public.

Possibly.

I wonder who defines this as questionable ?

If they were seen doing drugs, stealing a taxi, racist, homophobic, sexist behavior then yes you have a point.

But they are on a break, enjoying a drink and a bit of a laugh....

They are not monks you know, they don't have to have a chastity belt, alcohol is not forbidden, they are young men.
This is not making us look bad, just normal.

 

[Knocky's Nose]

With 10 days until their next game?

Can I ask, If you Got pissed tonight, do you reckon you will be recovered by the 22nd Feb?

Imagine how some absolute loons on here would react if they found out a lot of players are out on Saturday nights in town?

Elite athletes in the most physically demanding football league in the world. When you get to this level it's the finest of margins which make all the difference...

If this is their mindset, they belong in the lower leagues.

 

[LamieRobertson]

Yawn

 

[PHCgull]

What do all our new Iranian friends think of their poster boy banging away on the (albeit very mild) narcotics?

 

[TWOCHOICEStom]

Whilst I couldn't give a shit if the actually do it or not. Getting filmed doing it is idiotic. It WILL affect them now. They have to face the media shit storm, the pressure and if things go south, things like this have a big impact on everyone at the club.

That's why you don't do it. Not because you're gonna drop dead or because you won't be able to make your 20th sprint against Sheffield United. It's just because you're a professional, don't be a dick head. It's that simple.

 

[Seasidesage]

Should they be doing it? Up to them really. What is stupid though is allowing themselves to be filmed doing it. Everytime we lose or heaven forbid are relegated these pictures will be used to blame them and suggest they are unprofessional and to blame. I'm sure the club do media training so why collectively did they allow someone even one of their own to film it? Asking for grief and Potter will also be blamed for allowing it if things go wrong even though he probably had no hand in it whatsoever.

 

[schmunk]

BDB's joining in.

 

[Creaky]

Possibly.

I wonder who defines this as questionable ?

If they were seen doing drugs, stealing a taxi, racist, homophobic, sexist behavior then yes you have a point.

But they are on a break, enjoying a drink and a bit of a laugh....

They are not monks you know, they don't have to have a chastity belt, alcohol is not forbidden, they are young men.
This is not making us look bad, just normal.

I think you are missing the point - it’s the link with our club that’s the problem.

I can’t imagine, for example, Easyjet would be happy if a video of a group of their pilots drinking heavily was made public in national newspapers - not because doing so would affect their performance as pilots days later but because of the image being presented to their customers and the potential to give their competitors an advantage.

It is the customer who defines what is ‘questionable’.

 

[Bra]

Not great at all.
They are supposedly professional athletes performing in the highest profile league in the world, where small margins can and do make all the difference. They are on a training trip fully paid for by the club and therefore indirectly by Tony Bloom and yet on a night out they cant manage to not behave like dicks and draw the attention of the wider public on to them. Says everything about the maturity or lack of it. If I was Tony Bloom I would be mightily naffed off right now.

 

[Insel affe]

I think you are missing the point - it’s the link with our club that’s the problem.

I can’t imagine, for example, Easyjet would be happy if a video of a group of their pilots drinking heavily was made public in national newspapers - not because doing so would affect their performance as pilots days later but because of the image being presented to their customers and the potential to give their competitors an advantage.

It is the customer who defines what is ‘questionable’.

I get that, but my question and problem is who is the customer to judge, they often get involved in far more dubious affairs.

The hypocrisy of some people amazes me sometimes, we could all get in trouble for stuff we have done in the past, it seems to me that we are far to precious sometimes. The fear of getting caught having a laugh is killing humanity and human nature.

Or maybe I am wrong.

 

[Munkfish]

Whilst I couldn't give a shit if the actually do it or not. Getting filmed doing it is idiotic. It WILL affect them now. They have to face the media shit storm, the pressure and if things go south, things like this have a big impact on everyone at the club.

That's why you don't do it. Not because you're gonna drop dead or because you won't be able to make your 20th sprint against Sheffield United. It's just because you're a professional, don't be a dick head. It's that simple.

Couldnt agree more, people stating it will impact their performance on the pitch, it wont. However everything around being caught might run the risk of further issues, which may then lead to negative output from players and the team.

 

[Creaky]

I get that, but my question and problem is who is the customer to judge, they often get involved in far more dubious affairs.

The hypocrisy of some people amazes me sometimes, we could all get in trouble for stuff we have done in the past, it seems to me that we are far to precious sometimes. The fear of getting caught having a laugh is killing humanity and human nature.

Or maybe I am wrong.

Whether or not ‘customers’ have the right to judge and whether or not they are being hypocritical in doing so is irrelevant - the simple fact is they do. If they didn’t we wouldn’t be having this discussion.

The players are employees of the club and if their behaviour, especially on a club funded break, damages the club’s image then they should expect to be censured.

 

[Mr Banana]

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.

Aye. Much worse than this goes on at the Albion and every other club. Pretty much everything you can imagine. The aggravating factor is the attitude shown in the final three games of the last promotion season and the second half of last season. But these things will never stop going on behind the scenes and are probably less frequent than they have been over the decades, when there were fewer cameras to record everything.

The comparison to Djok isn't really relevant. I'm sure Ronaldo wouldn't be getting pissed in Molly's on the regular, but there again he doesn't have the option to go out and he'd be in prison if he wasn't who he is, so the role model argument dun't really work there.

 

[drew]

Not bothered to read the thread but really, we're all entitled to a private life outside our work lives, so why not the players ? Let them get on with it if they wish just as long as it's legal.

EDIT - and I'd be surprised if those that have commented in a negative way have NEVER done anything their employer might find questionable.

It's not their private life though is it. They are on a club trip and if it was private it wouldn't now be on social media.

The double standards of some of the those thinking nothing wrong when had it been players from other clubs they would be condemning them.

 

[Insel affe]

Whether or not ‘customers’ have the right to judge and whether or not they are being hypocritical in doing so is irrelevant - the simple fact is they do. If they didn’t we wouldn’t be having this discussion.

The players are employees of the club and if their behaviour, especially on a club funded break, damages the club’s image then they should expect to be censured.

I do not wish to fall out with you, and I agree with what your saying, I feel it is a shame society feels the need to do this to people just enjoying themselves on a "break", just seems sad that we get to be a judge and jury when we are no better, I guess that is the price we pay for media driven life styles now a days.

Shame really, have a good evening Creaky.

Life goes on

 

[Billy the Fish]

I put unsure.

Personally I don't care and think the "small margins" mantra being trotted out is utter bollocks!! - They'll be affected more by having a bad night sleep at any point between now and the next game than by doing a couple of balloons.

However, most people and the media piss their pants about this kind of thing so really what's the point of risking all the drama it for the sake of 30 seconds of feeling a bit tingly.

 

[Westdene Seagull]

It's not their private life though is it. They are on a club trip and if it was private it wouldn't now be on social media.

The double standards of some of the those thinking nothing wrong when had it been players from other clubs they would be condemning them.

No double standards from me ..... I don't think it wrong whichever club the players come from. Some people need to stop being so hyper-sensitive and let others ( including players ) get on with their own lives. I can only think those with an issue with it don't have very interesting lives themselves.

 

[Justice]

Pascal loves it couldn’t get enough

 

[darkwolf666]

It's not their private life though is it. They are on a club trip and if it was private it wouldn't now be on social media.

The double standards of some of the those thinking nothing wrong when had it been players from other clubs they would be condemning them.

I'll salute that!