Jump to content

Risky Strategy


Broonerz

Recommended Posts

So Yogi questioning a player/players desire to play through injury.

He obviously knows who he is targeting, but I can't help feeling it's a dangerous route to go down.

Given our players are a close bunch I can't see what good this kind of thing is going to do.

The reaction Yogi is looking for may work in the opposite way.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 minutes ago, Broonerz said:

So Yogi questioning a player/players desire to play through injury.

He obviously knows who he is targeting, but I can't help feeling it's a dangerous route to go down.

Given our players are a close bunch I can't see what good this kind of thing is going to do.

The reaction Yogi is looking for may work in the opposite way.

Not Garry Warren that's for certain Captain courageous! 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm in two minds over the words from Yogi in today's paper. First and foremost, I think that unless a player medically clear to feature in a game they shouldn't be risked. On the other side of the coin, Yogi is a very honest guy and tells it as it is, he may be feels that there might be a couple players that could play but unwilling due to the opposition, but would if it was the Scottish Cup final. That problem unfortunately isn't just us but football as a whole. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

13 minutes ago, Yngwie said:

Oh dear. This is not what we need.  :sad:

Agreed. For all that honesty is a great virtue, it can also land you in hot water. There is absolutely no need for this to have been put in the public domain. As for the issue itself - decisions about fitness to play are made with medical/physio input. In the end, though, only the player himself knows whether he is willing to risk playing with a niggle - it isn't always the wisest thing to do. Draper playing on at Killie in October probably cost him a few weeks on the treatment table, so this is a double-edged sword Yogi!

  • Agree 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I just wonder if what is printed is what Hughes actually said or meant. Did he actually have a go at his players or was the conversation along the lines of 'Players get a bit of a knock nowadays and are out for a few games whereas in my day we had balls and worked through the pain' etc etc. Modern journalists seem to be trained in twisting and spinning any quote.

  • Agree 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm with Kingsmills on this.  I note what Alex says but I would have thought that had Yogi been quoted out of context he would have very quickly put the players right on what he said. 

It is, of course, important that players are honest with the club about how they feel injuries are progressing.  If the player thinks they are fit enough to play, the manager can then decide whether or not he feels it is in the interests of the team to take whatever risks he perceives exists. From the player's point of view, they will know that coming back too soon can risk worsening their injury and they will be taking professional medical and physio advice on just what they can or cannot do.  In most cases, players will not want to risk their long term health by coming back too soon.  However, if they had possibly a one off chance of playing in a cup final, they would be prepared to take a greater risk provided the manager also felt it was in the team's interest to take the risk. I therefore see absolutely nothing wrong with a player saying they are not fit to play in a 4th rd replay against Stirling when they might have said something different if it was the final.

If any player is not being honest about how his recovery is going, then that would be a different matter, but it is really poor if the manager is putting pressure on players if professional advice is that they are not fully fit to play in a match.  Lets face it, these lads will be looking for an offer to renew their contract or to attract offers from other clubs.  They need to be on the park demonstrating their skills, playing the game they love.  What they will not want is a team mate coming into the side, doing very well and preventing them getting back in the side when they are fully fit.  I really find it pretty hard to believe that if a player had recovered enough to feel fit enough to play, he would not be knocking on Yogi's door to tell him so.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

20 minutes ago, Alex MacLeod said:

I just wonder if what is printed is what Hughes actually said or meant. Did he actually have a go at his players or was the conversation along the lines of 'Players get a bit of a knock nowadays and are out for a few games whereas in my day we had balls and worked through the pain' etc etc. Modern journalists seem to be trained in twisting and spinning any quote.

Totally agree with this.  I just wonder how much of this article is actually what Hughes said, and how much is journalistic spin.  I certainly hope there will be no fall out between Hughes and the players over it.  I'm sure Hughes is experienced enough to avoid the article creating a problem.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Might be a storm in a teacup, but if the Meekings tweet is a response to the reports of what Hughes said, then it's.not a very healthy sign. A player publishing something implicitly critical or even mocking of his manager suggests a serious lack of respect, and I can't imagine Hughes is the sort of guy who would let that go easily. Hopefully I'm wrong though: the last thing we need at the moment is a situation where Meekings ends up out of the team eve when he is fit again.

FWIW, I assumed Hughes' comments referred to Doran when I read them: after all, he took a gamble playing Doran ahead of Williams in the Scottish Cup final when Williams had been doing a fine job in most of the preceding matches, and since than we haven't seen or heard anything of Doran. I thought Hughes' reference to the cup final seemed quite pointed when I read it.      

Edited by alternative maryhill
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Even Fergie questioned players out injured a lot with no obvious injury. Vidic his captain and Hargreaves being 2 off the top off my head. 

If the player is genuinely injured then fine, but it's the line between carrying a niggle and being able to play or opting out. It's rare that a player is going to be 100%. They all carry knocks and strains, aches and pains. Sometimes it's about the mental barrier as much as anything. 

When a team is winning and doing well no one wants to miss out as a week out because they might not get back in the side. Yet if it's a bit of a tricky year it's easier to hide behind a niggle. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't have Twitter so I don't know what else has been said on his page!! But if anyone can guarantee that Meekings is referring to yogis comments then I'll get worried...but until then I'll ignore the fact he ever said anything! 

Yogis comments though are very risky. After what the majority of these players have done for us and him in the last 2 years, there's no way should be questioning them! But again, like said before, it could all be real quotes, maybe just parts have been missed out! I'm sure Hughes is smart enough to know that he, if not anyone else, needs his players onside and supporting him. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 hours ago, DEANO96 said:

I don't have Twitter so I don't know what else has been said on his page!! But if anyone can guarantee that Meekings is referring to yogis comments then I'll get worried...but until then I'll ignore the fact he ever said anything! 

Yogis comments though are very risky. After what the majority of these players have done for us and him in the last 2 years, there's no way should be questioning them! But again, like said before, it could all be real quotes, maybe just parts have been missed out! I'm sure Hughes is smart enough to know that he, if not anyone else, needs his players onside and supporting him. 

I thought he was referring to this forum.

  • Agree 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On ‎19‎/‎01‎/‎2016 at 5:09 PM, alternative maryhill said:

Might be a storm in a teacup, but if the Meekings tweet is a response to the reports of what Hughes said, then it's.not a very healthy sign. A player publishing something implicitly critical or even mocking of his manager suggests a serious lack of respect, and I can't imagine Hughes is the sort of guy who would let that go easily. Hopefully I'm wrong though: the last thing we need at the moment is a situation where Meekings ends up out of the team eve when he is fit again.

FWIW, I assumed Hughes' comments referred to Doran when I read them: after all, he took a gamble playing Doran ahead of Williams in the Scottish Cup final when Williams had been doing a fine job in most of the preceding matches, and since than we haven't seen or heard anything of Doran. I thought Hughes' reference to the cup final seemed quite pointed when I read it.      

Perhaps because Doran is out injured??. Still think we are a better team with Doran is playing and these comments do not directly relate to Doran at all in my opinion.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My guess is - and it is only a guess - that the comments were aimed at neither Doran nor Meekings (both of whom have had quite serious knee injuries (very serious in Doran's case) - perhaps more aimed at the likes of Tremarco and Vincent who seem to nip and out of the squad with niggles? :shrug:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. : Terms of Use : Guidelines : Privacy Policy