Thetownend.com

Once again I go out on a Saturday night and bump into a couple of the Swindon players, they were certainly drinking and one was seemingly completely out of his face at about half 11.

Now the question I'm asking, is should footballers go out drinking and clubbing? To me they have a talent and that talent will only ever get you so far and go that little bit extra you need the right attitude and look after yourself. Drinking is generally not very good for the body, let alone when you're body is very strongly related to your job.

Obviously I dont follow them around everywhere, but certainly I see at least one player out every time I go out no matter what day of the week.

Is this acceptable behaviour for professional footballers? or should Kingy go around pulling them all out of the night clubs...

I dont mind them going out for a drink or two after a saturday as a way to unwind or relax after a game, but a pro footballer going out and getting slaughtered literally hours after a game to me......well if I was blessed with the talent they have I wouldnt disrespect it by drinking heavily every weekend.

No wonder we under performed last season, no wonder our players didnt seem fit enough, no wonder they struggled to keep up (esp at the start of the season) and this season we've had even less pre-season friendlies and I doubt many first team players have played more than 90 minutes of football since May.

No doubt the season will start and all our players will be about 3 yards off the pace, but they wont care because they can get slaughtered in the evening....maybe they need to re-think about what they do in their spare time.....

I bet Reg will now tell some story about how our team was most successfull when we had a team full of Alcoholics :shock:

Name and shame!. :|

Wouldn't have happened under Macari!

Or it did for a while at the start of the 85-86 season then it was in the Adver when he critisised the team etc for it.

Usual suspects, which makes it even worse.....

I know he doesnt live local (I think).....but has anyone ever seen Migz out on the piss....he is generally our fitest player (in terms of energy levels)

There's nothing wrong with the players going out but do it at the end of the season. :)

Give them a break*

They're physically very fit, so will recover from a night out on the pop quicker the most, and it's 6 day's 'til the first competative game. I don't see there's a problem.

It was their last Saturday night out before the start of the season, and if I was in their position I'd want to make the most of it too.

*Obviously if it carrys on once the seasons started I'll send Whits and Sonic round to have 'a word'  :wink:

That was my thoughts, sadly I do believe it will continue into the season and I really hope it doesnt effect our performances because last season we were really slow off the starting blocks and looked so unfit

Andy Nicholas, complete pi55head.

I can think of stronger words to use after the word 'complete' i.e cunt. :wink:

I've heard he's an arrogant twat?

At the end of the day. We are all humans, it's not like they get paid thousands anyway. They got to have some fun.
Remember Gazza and that piss up in euro 96. Didn't affect them. A part from taking Penalties.
Players bonding is good for the team.

Who is the second fittest? In terms of:
Second in bleep tests.
Second in short sprint.
First in long sprint

How dare footballers have fun!

But Gazza is a legend. :beers:

If your refering to Nicholas, hes a natural athlete ind is obviosley very fit. How fit COULD he be if he  wasnt constantly out on the piss is another question.

The consensus seems to be that his pre-season form has been poor at best

nicholas is a cunt and despite being a good player we'd be better off getting shot

Roberts is probally less fit than Kingy now  :jaw1:

Depends on who you listen to.

Can't be his "fitness" though.

 My father tells me stories of the post war period, when it wasn't unusual for players to have a beer in the CGH before playing a game......this was a generation who''d seen the horror of war and the austerity that followed, the players didn't earn much more than fellas in the railway...and didn't get paid in the summer.

  We were also crap for a lot of these years.

  I would suggest the mid to late 70's was a golden age for STFC players and boozing.....up til then the town didn't have much in the way of clubs "happening " young persons pubs......but as the old 69 class of steady family men like John Trolope....Don Rogers Joe Butler Frank Burrows etc came to be replaced by the likes of Kammy, Kenny Stroud, Ray McHale, Mossy, Trevor Anderson etc it was a common sight to see them out on the pop in places like The Bell and Vadims in Old Town.

 Jimmy Allan being the exception.  The teams of that era had some talented players who didn't quite make it with us....coincidence or cause I've no idea.

He looked about ten times worse than any of the Aylesbury players when we played them, he was absolutely awful and wasn't listening to anything King or Reeves told him, in fact he was quite clearly ignoring them on purpose.

Didn't even get on the pitch against Crawley, although no doubt this is because of a conspiracy between the management not to play Nicholas.

Used to see duke out a lot- no wonder he was so shit!! soapy tit wank

I've told you a million times not to exaggerate - he was only 9 times worse.

At least 9 and a half.

Usual suspects are well known to be Nicho, Fallon, Pook... last season joined by Heywood and Duke.  Even young Ben Wells has been known to enjoy a drink and a B&H...

Do they smoke?!
That isn't acceptable for a pro footballer in this day and age, drinking socially is ok but not binge drinking and smoking like a train!

Sammy Igoe was on 40 a day was he not?!?

I doubt you'll find many footballers who don't drink and go clubbing to be honest.

Sammy Igoe smoked 40 a day?!  :shock:

Peter Eastoe never drank at all, according to a mate of his from Tamworth.  I remember seeing many of the Town team at the Brunel rooms, after a (unexpected) Tuesday night home win during the Div. II relegation season, this was just before, or at the beginning of, the Danny Williams second stint.  David Moss was rapidly draining a pint in each fist, while Eastoe was nursing a coke.  Moral of the story,...none really except Moss made a bigger impact in the old  first division.  The only reason he wasn't in the England squad was that Peter Taylor played for Spurs.  In my opinion Moss, playing for Luton, was a better player.

However, the game is lot faster now, with more emphasis on diet and physical fitness.  So, if the players want to be professional they should keep off the Arkells, unless constipated.

Didn't Denis Law use to light up a fag at half time?

Nicho and Heywood def the worse two.  Thought it would ease off a bit now Heywoods gone to city but lo and behold they were both out Sat, not saying where though and drinking.  

There is nothing wrong with footballers enjoying themselves however when fans are paying up to £23 a ticket, they don't want to watch hungover, under average footballers.  Not everything has to involve alcohol and also if thats the lifestyle they want then they're in the wrong job!

I didnt see Heywood out saturday.....

Have to say though, a certain player of ours has a perfectly shape rectangle for a head  :soapy tit wank:

From what I've read, which might not be all true, I fear that Nicholas's career might be going down the toilet.  I don't think he will even be on the bench against Barnsley.  I won't be surprised if King brings in a couple or more, to see him out on loan again, or transfer listed.  I felt that Heywood was no great loss, but Nicholas has a good pedigre and has potential, so sort it out Nicho.

Well I can assure you he was out, wearing the same pink t shirt as usual.  I was suprised myself as I didnt expect to see him back in swindon.  Fallon was out few weeks back in apartment but he seemed v sensible and it seems to have shown looking at his current form.  

They can still go and enjoy themselves just don't have to consume such large amouns of alcohol!

Young men going out and getting drunk on a Saturday :shock:

What ever next? :-))(

Especially in Swindon!, the Towns fucking crap for drinking.

unprotected sex, fast cars and ciggarettes  8)

Nicho and Pook were out in the Spot at 4 o clock, and that didn't look like it was there first port of call.  One of the fella's they were with was completely fucked by the time we left, at 6.  He was already dancing on his own and doing the obligatory footie chanting!

i once saw brian 'fatty' howard out in southampton! he was necking the beers!

Nothing wrong with it no yeovil, but if your a professional footballer, payed about £1500 a week to play football and be fit then binge drinking shouldn't be allowed.

Like someone else said, we pay £23 a game and expect pro footballers. Not hungover, unfit slobs like a sunday league match.

Nicho has drastically gone down in my estimation recently, for a young fella he doesn't seem to have much fight in him.

Apparantly he's allways trying to pull in town  :soapy tit wank:

have to dissagree there.
Nowt wrong with having a few beers in an evening. Even if you are a footballer.
as long as it's not a friday night before a game then there is no harm if you ask me.
footballers are human too and need to have a life.

No magic i mean the binge drinking that goes on, Nico is fucked every weekend, and people wonder why he has gone down hill!

Yes but drinking rules. 8)

Not if your payed alot of money to be physically fit.

If Nicho was playing well I'd be alright about it, but the fact that for about a year now he's been shit kinda erodes my support of our very own Merson wannabe.

Yes even then.

Drink Saturday,sleep Sunday  train Monday

tis easy.

I feel that as a fan, I've every right to be pissed off if our players are seen out on the lash during the week. As I contribute towards their wages, the least we can expect is that they take physical care of themselves.

That said, I've no real problem with them going out on a saturday night, especially after a win.

You've all seen how unfit our team is, why do you think that is then??? I wonder.

they all have aids?

Fucking Italian footballers have been smoking for years like paratroopers.

One heavy session a week with a recovery day shouldn't really effect younger players.  When it becomes more than a couple of times a week is where the problem really starts to develop.

I think a Saturday night is a given.  Other than that i think a degree of professionalism should be shown.

Smoking is certainly out of the question IMO if your a professional sportsman paid alot to entertain.

Because the training methods used at the club aren't focused on fitness enough but rather technique.

Not because a few of the players go out once a week and get hammered.

Well they should get fitter!

Sonic, you saw them at Aylesbury, bloody piss poor for a league side.

Aylesbury looked fitter!

It was a pre-season friendly  :? I wouldn't be arsed either.

Dont agree with the smoking if your a pro but Igoe was a smoker - and on his day (yes his day didnt come all 2 often and yes he was lazy - fags?!) he could be class

once a week :?:

You were the one who started this thread because you saw someone out on Saturday night - i.e. one day of the week.

Yeah but the player he is on about is always out - FACT

Shocking behaviour from O'Hanlon :wink:

Does Nicho's contract run out at the end of the season?  I fucking hope so, maybe Betty Ford can snap him up on a free next July.  Waster.

He saw two of them but named neither. Who do you presume he was on about - the one who was "seemingly out of his face at about half 11" or the other who presumably was guilty by association?

Saw 3

One has been mentioned alot in this thread.

Seems I wasnt the only one who saw one of their behavoiur!!!Note I said seemingly out of his face, he might have just been acting like an idiot for the sake of it

The other one has a perfect rectanlge head

From what I am reading one is Andy Nicolas, the other is ben wells

I heard that Ben Wells didnt want to have his name in FM5 as he said it was sad. :evil:

For fucks sake, name and shame.

WE PAY THEIR WAGES THEREFORE WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO ANONYMOUSLY SLAG THEM OFF ON THE INTERNET :evil:

Think the 'rectangle' must be Pook?

Walsh can't have been with them - no coneheads mentioned :wink:

Willie Carson  :soapy tit wank:

Maybe they play better after a session on the piss

eh? eh? eh?

You hadnt thought of that had you?

What you actually said was " ... a couple of  the Swindon players, they were certainly drinking and one was seemingly out of his face ...

Now you say that 'seemingly' you weren't implying that the "out of his face" was caused by the "certainly drinking".

How convenient ... and how understandable that the rest unwittingly presumed you did mean it.

But I bet it was NICHO, and I bet he was PISSED.

The two words in caps are the two people will be least surprised to find in this post.

How much can you afford to lose out of your pocket money?

Are you trying to tell us Nicho doesn't drink?

Are you trying to tell us the Pope isn't a Catholic SY?

for Fucks sake, it was Sean O'Hanlon.

Never!

Someone had to say it!

That would be naive - but you would know that.
I'm not assuming it was him or that he or any other was "pissed".

Oh dear. You've just "pissed" on the bonfire of all those who wanted it to be Nicho.

I've never seen any Town player anywhere but at various football stadia, therefore they must all be the very model of professionalism. :wink:

Does SeanO live locally then?

You should get out more :wink:

To be fair I dont think anyone wanted it to be Nicho, more like expected

What are the chances I'll see the usual suspects out for an apres win pint in MK on the 1st of October?

Semantics.

Same end result - an opportunity for a feeding frenzy of character assassination based on assumption fed by rumour.

Shame on you all for these objectionable, abusive and libellous posts.
Shame on you Forum Moderators and Administrators for allowing this thread to be used to perpetuate untruths.

How can it be rumour when players are often seen out trollied??  Seen with own eyes, not from a mate of a mate?

This is how it spirals:

See something
have an opinion
repeat that opinion
others repeat that opinion
becomes a rumour
others repeat that rumour often enough
becomes a "fact"
facts are true

Is Sean O'Hanlon a "Merson wannabe" too?

Not at all, as Saturday was the only time I have seen Sean out I wouldn't begrudge him a night out every now and then.

To be honest we're not gonna agree on this.  The Merson wannabe was a throw away comment, not to be taken seriously.

Do you take the word defamation seriously?

Don't be so stupid, I was merely meaning that Mr Nicholas should be pushed on from the back and paid in the hole behind the front two.  A la the New Merson.

Get a life pal.

Give it a rest. I know you'll defend Nicholas to the death but get some perspective please.

I'm so tempted to say something really untrue and offensive now after that comment. I'll leave it for now

As SY says get a grip and a sense of perspective. I maintain my viewpoint that as I help pay their wages I'm intitled to say pretty much what I like about our players, within reason.

But PM do you now admit your comments from the 00-01 season that you once saw Gary Elkins shag an elk in a Norweigian fjorde were unfounded and untrue?

If you continue with these allegations I will be contacting Gary Stanley's uncle immediately.

Feeble excuse M'Lud.
We all know what you meant by the Merson reference, given the reference to alcohol throughout this thread.

And Sonic Youth - do your job as moderator (see my last post) rather than ask people who have things in perspective to "get some persepective".

I don't see a problem if you see anyone out of their face why you can't mention it on a public forum.  It isn't a lie of any kind.

Do what exactly? For somebody who has just joined the forum you're making a lot of demands.

Mickey?

Mate this site is all about what the tag line says, within reason 25% football.....  This place is no different to walking in a pub and putting the world to rights.  

We are all Swindon fans and as such are paying customers of the club.  If employees of Swindon Town do not want their customers to comment on their shananigans (sp) why don't they follow the example of the "professionals" at the club like Stefani & Rhys.

No chance it's Mickey, probably Santini.

Shall we all share stories of our eye-witness accounts of STFC players' drunken mis-behavings?

It's got to be someone masquerading as a new poster.

You're not far wrong, posting from the same IP as jim - they're all related these Nicho Mafia lot, just like the Soprano's I tell thee!

Check this one out, in was in Po's once and was chatting with Rhys, seemed a nice bloke.  Anyway after a while I needed a drink offered Rhys one and he asked for a water.   Unbelievable eh?  What a shocker!

Oh, I see - because I have only just joined i don't have the right to express an oppinion or point out to the moderators that a thread has been allowed to perpetuate lies and defame named players??

Just how long do I have to be registered before I can do that?

At least two weeks, you also need to massage the ego's of various moderators...if you get my drift.

What Sonic means is that the vast majority of the forum have contributed in some way to this thread, and you move in and tell everyone not to discuss this matter because you don't think it's fair.

Have you never slagged off a politician, or members of another team?

If you don't like the thread then don't read it, when it comes to match day we'll all be behind them, much like we were every time Nicky Sumerbee put the shirt on.

God I hate those damned ploiticians?

Ive been out with Rhys in teh past (we have a mutual mate) he usually drives so to stop any temptation.  He normally has a glass of red wine then diet coke the rest of the time.  Onnly ever seem him drunk once at the end of the season and thats all.  A good lad who will step up to the championship one day.

As for nicho think my thoughts on his drinking are known, if I had that talent id use it.

Sean O'Hanlon looked out of it

Nicho was certainly drinking

Pook has a rectangle head


Happy now!!!

Couldn't agree more about the right to have an opinion and express it but the key phrase is "within reason".

Clearly, some people don't understand what it means and why it is needed. Some are young and/or naive and jump on the bandwagon, presuming rumour to be truth. Some have ulterior motives for seeing reputations damaged.

The bottom line is that this is a public forum and people cannot post just anything they like with impunity.