Thetownend.com

Tweet from Ben Wills after team takes to the pitch for warm-up:

Appears to be a second, towering centre back on trial at the club. Can't tell if it's Cece Pepe or someone different from my distance #STFC

They're thinking it's Nathan Cameron.

...or is it?

https://twitter.com/Matt_r_Edwards/status/887006398034432000

Swindon Town XI: Henry, Purkiss, Tom Smith, DMAC, Chris Robertson, Conroy, Mullin, Dunne, Linganzi, Harry Smith, Brophy #STFC

Teamsheets:

https://twitter.com/Matt_r_Edwards/status/887007636440436736

Two penalty misses so this this pre-season.

As long as we're better at it from August, chaps...

Smith makes up for his earlier penalty miss!   1-0

Like the sound of this Visporoux fella, anyone know if he's any cop?

A. Trialist isn't Cameron according to several Bury fans.

Both trialists starting second half.  Pic here:

https://twitter.com/Matt_r_Edwards/status/887024257489924098


Is the right winger Zavon Hines?

So a RB and a right winger. Wonder what happened to Hines?

Trialist update: Believe Flitcroft has named the winger as 'Anthony'. As far as that goes so far #STFC (Wills, Twitter)

McNamee?

Anthony Grant. Ex Vale, now at Posh

Anthony Jeffery also guessed at

1-1. Flitcroft out!

we drew and were crap in the second half apparently.

phew, I was getting optimistic :)

Not Aaron pierre from wycombe by any chance.

Andre Wright was the forward triallist.

Haven't we been linked with him before? Last season?

He is out of contract at Wycombe and played in a trial for Bristol city a few days ago

A L2 side wouldn't trial Aaron Pierre, they'd offer terms straight away.

We nearly bought him last season, but the deal fell through at the last minute because Wycombe didn't get a player they wanted as a replacement.

We were poor  second half. But in fairness Salisbury didn't look bad.

DF confirmed we couldnt agree terms with Hines and we won't be signing Bainbridge.

Still looking for more players.

Was an un-named right back and a winger, Dre Wright.

Couldn't agree a deal with Zavon Hines so he's gone. Be interested to know what happened there. Hopefully just length of contract and not that we are offering peanuts. Not that Hines is a player I'm worried about not getting.

Recent rialists seem to suggest we are after a RB, CB, RM at least.

Where was Vigs tonight?

I know for a fact Flitcroft won't pay silly money for a player he feels doesn't deserve it, for example.... a player was offered to DF a couple of weeks ago who he was keen on, and wanted £800 a week (yes, £800) DF told him he can have £400 and if we plays a certain amount of games, he will up it to £600, the player said no so DF told him to do one.
He is trying to drum into his signing's playing for Swindon is a big deal and he doesn't want anyone here chasing money whether it's £100 a week or £1000. Something I think most fans will love to hear.

On the bench.

Ah good. I thought he was off negotiating a deal somewhere!!

Who was the player Quag?

Not sure on the player, other than someone from the lower leagues, who DF felt hadn't done enough to warrant asking for that a week.

Whilst as a swindon fan its a big deal but if those are the wages on the table I can see why some players don't give a shit when they are playing.

Don't give a shit for 40K+?

Granted, better players could get more (A lot more), but if they're being touted to a L2 team then they probably ain't all that. I'm sure we're paying a fuck-ton more than most others in this division as well.

Smith H could hardly miss his header, but at least he offered some sort of threat. Which pretty much entirely disappeared when Norris lumbered on. Those thinking he may come good in League 2 are in for a disappointment I fear on this display. Much rather have Salisbury's number 9 than ours on that evidence. Shame about Hines as definitely missed his creativity. Thank goodness for decent display by Will Henry in goal. Bit worrying that Vigs only player present who didn't get any game time. Not risking injury before the big move?

Could you imagine as a kid being to that you could play football and make 40k+ a year for it, and that kid saying "Fuck that, couldn't give a shit. I'm gonna go and work for Nationwide instead".

My take on tonight FWIW, first friendly I've made.

Thought Linganze controlled the first half. Robertson and Conroy were building an uncompromising cb pairing. McDermott looks bang up for it and will cause problems. Held onto the ball a little too long though. Smith from Millwall is a big lad. Will get goals if the crosses are decent. Purkiss was steady enough. Did a foul throw though. Will Henry had a decent game with a little too umuch to do. Mullin was steady willing running into the corners chased everything. Norris looked strong and was the target man second half. Did ok. But still doesnt look like threatening the net.

We played a fair bit more out from the back than I would have expected. But was nice to have the option of Smith or Mullin first and Norris second.

Was great to see and hear a LOT of shouting from the DF and PF in the dugout and a fair few bollockings dished out. Also the boys on the pitch seemed to be more vocal especially the more experienced new lads.

felt the same at Melksham to be honest, his touch was awful. mind you so were the conditions.

meh, maybe he's just a very slow starter!

£800 doesn't sound much to me unless we are talking a young un.

I thought it was an atrocious showing from Norris, an incredibly limited footballer but then of course we all knew that from last season and anyone who expects something from him this season is delusional quite frankly.

Vigs played the full game against Oldham so they are just alternating it. No need to worry!

Your job is your job whether you are on £500 a week or £50,000. It allows you to pay your mortgage, pay your bills and to generally live (obviously to varying degrees of comfort and security). There is no excuse for anyone to do their job half-arsed, whatever their line of work.

Similarly, if you have the ability football is one of the very rare jobs where, if you do do your job well it can take you from £500 to £50,000 a week at the drop of a hat. Equally, if you don't have that ability and are stupid enough to not give a shit you can go from £500 a week to £0 equally quickly.

Footballers (or indeed any sportsmen) are privileged to get paid for what they do and any of them who don't appreciate that generally end up getting what they deserve and you would imagine, regret it for the rest of their lives.

My take on last night - Henry showed how good he is, some great reaction saves and did everything well barring one atrocious goal kick. Management seemed pleased. My first impressions of the new management team was good. Plenty of bollocking going on when there were mistakes, which is a good sign compared to last season. DF was quiet for most of the first half and left it to potato man (whose name I have forgotten, but a child in front of me called him that and I quite like it). Tom Smith is very ginger. Twine (who looks about 15) came on, immediately had a chance, missed and got really fucked off, which was good to see.

We played a bit shit overall, Salisbury walked through our defence a few times, we took too long with the ball and lost momentum going forwards a lot, but took a good goal in the first when we didn't look to deserve one. Salisbury scored an excellent free kick and looked impressive.

I'm not sure on your sums but I was obviously referring to the lower amount stated. £400 per week being £1600 a month before tax.

Of course it's a privileged career if your paid well. But for just the example of the above in a short career it's not the glitz and expectation a lot of fans put on players.

If they don't give a shit then they're in the wrong job. I did take the higher figure, but 400/week is still 20k+ which is not bad for somebody that is, presumably, unskilled in other jobs. If they are good enough at football then they'd be able to command a higher wage. If not, then tough shit. If they want to make more in another job then they are free to do so. Nothing's stopping them, except the likely lack of skills to do so. They can go and 'not give a shit' in a warehouse or building site, except they won't be allowed to do that there either.

In the meantime, DF and other managers are right to filter out those that are just in it for the money. We will be among the highest payers in the league. If we're paying 400-600 week then you can be sure the majority of players in this league will be on less then that. Do you think all of those don't give a shit? Or that maybe most have the right attitude and will play to the best of their ability? Do you think that STFC this season will be a team of players that 'don't give a shit'?

I think attitude counts for a lot in any job. I know that at times I've put in the minimum effort to hold onto a job, rather than bust a gut for a boss I didn't respect, when I know i could get another job on the same money easily enough. Football is a bit different as you can lose it all but we are taking about a footballers here, who can be both arrogant and naive. I'm sure we've had plenty that fell into this category...

It's a privileged career full stop. Anyone who fails to make the most of it i.e. doesn't give a shit, is stupid. £1600 a month (or far more likely, less than that) for working in a factory 5 days a week or £1600 a month for playing football...it's a no brainer...

average wage was 40 just a couple of years ago.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3456453/Mind-gap-Premier-League-wages-soar-average-salaries-2014-15-season-1-7million-rest-creep-along.html

sticking by my 'depends if it was a youngster comment'.

but obviously it depends if they could get more elsewhere.

DF didn't feel he was worth £800 pw at the time of speaking to him but made it clear he could be earning that by the end of the season if he pulled his finger out.
The player ended up staying where he was because he felt they would offer him a new contract at he money he wanted quicker than he would earn it at Swindon.

Quite. I know it's not the megabucks that some players can command but it's a decent wage for a lad in his 20s. It's not like a lot of these lads are turning down £100k+ jobs in international finance to come and play football.

I assume you think he is going to have a fantastic season then?  :hmmm:

I think Brophy was very good in our games vs Supermarine and Melksham but a very poor showing last night, maybe one of the reasons he was subbed off.

He spent a large amount of the game on the floor, great speed and skill but seemed flimsy today.

People saying £800 doesn't sound like much... take last seasons's wage budget of (rumoured) £1.2 million and divide it by 22 players and it comes out as £1000 a week average wage.

Opinions are opinions. In my eyes £400 pw is low for any player in his 20s who are more than likely be out of a job and having to re-train in another 10+ years. Obviously some people think that's a priveledged situation and vice versa.

Anyway back to the Salisbury game...

But that's not even close to what you said originally.

400 p/w isn't far off what a new player to L2 will earn, it doesn't sound a lot but they are unknown. Austin wouldn't have been on much more than that when he signed from Poole originally but with determination and skill, he is now earning in excess of £1m a year. Everyone has to start from the bottom in any job and £400 p/w is an ok wage for a job which can be dramatically improved year on year. It doesn't take a lot to go from £400 p/w to £10,000 p/w.

People like Hussey, Robertson and Mcdermott will be on probably more than double the £400 p/w (putting them on an average 40k) but they have earnt that with their experience, players like Bainbridge haven't as they have come right out of an under 23 team, they have to earn their place.

I am glad DF is doing this as it's teaching these "kids" coming from the premier league teams that they won't be on £5k a week, they have to start from the bottom and work themselves up, very few "kids" from the prem teams make it in the prem league.

I stand by my original point. People started saying how it was privileged and i responded saying in monetary terms at that weekly income i don't think it is. I related low pay to low performance in my first post

Im quite sure it does. You could be a league 2 ability player and no matter how much determination and hard work you put in go nowhere at all.

This was also a comment about Zavon Hines, a 28 yr old. who wanted to earn more regardless of performance related pay. If he got injured a doubt the extra money would be paid and i think he's entitled to look elsewhere if he feels he can get it.


and I also agree 100% with this.

If I'd interviewed for a job and was offered half my current salary, I'd not be accepting or pursuing that 'opportunity' any further, in fact I'd find it rather insulting.
I'd also question whether that potential employer was ever serious about wanting to employ me, or if for whatever reason they felt they could chance their luck and grab someone on the cheap.

I know the professional sports labour market doesn't reflect any other, but everything is relative. I bet a lot of TEF members wouldn't drop their job for the £400 p/w privilege of playing for a league 2 club. Others would be more than happy.

I have been there, got offered a job a few years ago for "a good opportunity", it was less than half what I was earning at the time so I politely declined their offer BUT if it was for a company I would want to work for, I would consider it as money isn't the be all, I would work for less if I was happier.

In this case, if it was a player being offered less than their current wage then fair play for declining but it sounds like they are on less than the wage at the moment but feel like their current club will offer them a new contract with the wages they want, where as Swindon want to see they perform before they offer them what they want. It comes down to if you feel like you have more opportunity to grow with that company e.g.

Company A offer you £2000 p/m but you can't get promoted to a new job
Company B offer you £1500 p/m but you have potential to get promoted to different levels within the business.

Do you take the £2k and then look for another job in 2 years when you want to earn more or do you take offer B, take a lower wage initially but progress to a more senior level in that business.

If you play for Accrington, you are unlikely to see a promotion with them but you are with someone like Swindon or Coventry, with promotion you can build in wage rises and it also puts you on the radar of other clubs who will offer you more money to join them.

It's not so much about whether or not somebody should accept the salary, but rather their attitude once it has been accepted. If somebody doesn't give a shit because they think they are not being paid enough then they should not have accepted the job in the first place. It's the comment about them not giving a shit that started all this.

Unfortunately money is an incentive in most peoples careers not that hard to understand. Fans always bring up the money side of things when they aren't perceived to be putting a shift. Wayne Rooney- waste of space £300k a week, £400 a week and he doesn't look too bad.

I don't think what I put is as outrageous as a lot of you are making out. As swindon fans we all want the players to be working for our team as hard as they can push. The reality is they aren't fans of swindon and without a money carrot in front of them they may not work as hard as wrong as it is.

Don't tell Reg  :wink: