Players prepared to drop down levels to play

Maybe it’s just a question of becoming lazy
Hunger to earn money gone
Getting slagged off on social media death threats personal insults just cos your team didn’t win
Being told what to do by people when you don’t need the money
Having to be at a certain place at a certain time
They probably can’t be arsed with it
 
Is it partly a question of long term health?

If you're used to earning £100,000 p/w, or whatever amount, is it really worth taking what's left out of your body for a fraction of that, with the possible result that you're basically a cripple by the time you're 40?
 
Lost Seasider said:
Is it partly a question of long term health?

If you're used to earning £100,000 p/w, or whatever amount, is it really worth taking what's left out of your body for a fraction of that, with the possible result that you're basically a cripple by the time you're 40?
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Is it a 'job' or a passion?
 
Everyone is wired differently.

I know I would try and play on as long as possible.

Was funnily enough reading a piece on Alan Smith this morning who suffered a bad injury playing for United. He got back to fitness but knew he couldn’t play the way he did before the injury and played as a defensive midfielder when he returned. He continued playing for years in the lower leagues at Mk Dons and Notts County. He said he will probably suffer now as can barely walk but he doesn’t regret it.

Fair play to him. Now living in Florida coaching youngsters.
 
I suppose there’s a whole series of things that might come into play.

I can imagine the perceived loss of status being a big thing for certain individuals. It’s maybe too big a dent for their ego etc..

Personally speaking I’d just play at whatever level was in offer and back myself to rebuild my career…
 
PLayed footy since I was about 8 . Every Saturday and Sunday we would play for hours . When I got a job that had footy pitch facilities at my dinner times ,I played every week day for 30 years . When I retired I started playing vets football and walking football . I am 63 now and every morning I use my bedroom wall to straighten up for the day ahead .I have foot pain , back pain and arthratis . Yet I still play as much as possible and I will be gutted the day I can't carry on. If you ask me those players that still have ability are idiots not using it and may regret it when reaching my age.
 
Lost Seasider said:
Is it partly a question of long term health?

If you're used to earning £100,000 p/w, or whatever amount, is it really worth taking what's left out of your body for a fraction of that, with the possible result that you're basically a cripple by the time you're 40?
Click to expand...
A bit over the top
 
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WIZARD OF TANGERINE said:
PLayed footy since I was about 8 . Every Saturday and Sunday we would play for hours . When I got a job that had footy pitch facilities at my dinner times ,I played every week day for 30 years . When I retired I started playing vets football and walking football . I am 63 now and every morning I use my bedroom wall to straighten up for the day ahead .I have foot pain , back pain and arthratis . Yet I still play as much as possible and I will be gutted the day I can't carry on. If you ask me those players that still have ability are idiots not using it and may regret it when reaching my age.
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Sounds like a great job you had there !
 
FY4MIKEH said:
A bit over the top
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I remember a story going back quite a few years, Tommy Smith, ex-Liverpool, was persuaded to take a penalty before the 1996 FA Cup final, he was about 50 and living on disability benefits at the time, and needed walking sticks or a wheelchair to move around, but he managed to dose up on enough painkillers to kick the ball towards the goal, so the DSS stopped the benefits.

Were the last few years worth it for him?
 
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Have always liked Troy Deeney.

It’s an interesting area for discussion, isn’t it. Play for the love of it or stop playing because you’ve earned more than enough. But then what do you do?

Doesn’t matter how much money you have, we are built to need a purpose and it helps us to stay sane.
 
Surely the whole point is, if they are confident in their ability to get back to the top level, they would want to showcase it. Great piece by Troy.
 
Chunkylad said:
View attachment 16522

Unless you were genuinely bored of playing the game, then even playing in the Conference in front of 1000 fans has to be way more enjoyable than ligging about the house and the gym every day and retiring at 35.

Training with mates, the laughs on the coach, the camaraderie - all priceless.
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This is why clubs like pool are up against it because players are either snobs, too good for the club or not worth getting out of bed for the offer.
 
I bet there are a lot of footballers that don’t even enjoy what they do.Sounds mad to the likes of us but to some of them it could just be a job and they expect a certain wage.

League two football has a bad reputation aswell.Loads of players turn their noses up at playing in that league.It’s viewed as a standard way beneath them.
 
AngelBFC said:
Maybe it’s just a question of becoming lazy
Hunger to earn money gone
Getting slagged off on social media death threats personal insults just cos your team didn’t win
Being told what to do by people when you don’t need the money
Having to be at a certain place at a certain time
They probably can’t be arsed with it
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Yes, you have something there but I still go with the OP.
 
BFC_BFC_BFC said:
I suppose there’s a whole series of things that might come into play.

I can imagine the perceived loss of status being a big thing for certain individuals. It’s maybe too big a dent for their ego etc..

Personally speaking I’d just play at whatever level was in offer and back myself to rebuild my career…
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But then you may not have been mollycoddled all your young life.
 
Loosely related to this thread I've just noticed (looking at whether Apter got on) that Joe Murphy is still playing for Tranny at 42! On the bench in the league but started this season in cups.

Is he the oldest player currently active?
 
TonyParrsDodgyMic said:
I run every day and am way past the age of the players Deeney is talking about - don't get paid for it but find it's good for the soul and the body.
Only need to look at some of the fatties who retire and become podgers to see they are the ones wrecking their bodies!
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There's a balance to be struck, you presumably don't train through injuries, nor do you train to the level of a pro football player.
 
Poolfan2 said:
Wonder how much Rhodes has made during his career and how much he still needs this?
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…..and Richard Keogh comes to mind too…they clearly still love it. It is also a fact, hard to believe I know, a small percentage of pro footballers don’t actually like football, it really is just a job to them.
 
Players have a choice now with the money they earn in the top flight, when to choose to retire. A lot of players rely on pace,
and as soon as that goes then it becomes frustrating for them not to be as good. Also, the players who are retiring now will probably
have been through the academy system and have been training and being coached for 20 years. If you take someone like Theo Walcott
he said he simply got bored with football and in the past, they would have played on for another couple of seasons as Mike Summerbee did playing for us and Stockport, but with media work available and having earned big money on his career can afford not to.
 
Ormergod said:
I bet there are a lot of footballers that don’t even enjoy what they do.Sounds mad to the likes of us but to some of them it could just be a job and they expect a certain wage.

League two football has a bad reputation aswell.Loads of players turn their noses up at playing in that league.It’s viewed as a standard way beneath them.
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I think there is definitely something in this point. My mates kid is a cracking little player and obsessed with playing footy, and was invited to several academies at age 8 - finally went to Blackburn and didn't really enjoy it. Their coach said he's good enough but to bring him back in year or two because "most of these kids will quit football due to the pressure on them by 13". Sadly it's a business and I imagine it takes a certain type of character to really enjoy it on that environment.
 
What doesent help is clubs having inflated squads containing players who only play occasionally and earn a great deal of money for achieving very little.

Hard to swap from that ultimately when the time comes.It also prevents the homegrown prospects naturally progressing and having something tangible to aim for.
 
A few people are underestimating what it takes on your body to play league football, it’s not playing once a week, your body is taking a constant battering
 
Sorry do not agree with people who think the decision is down to physical or mental demands. If these players that Troy are referring to were offered another contract with a premiership club and the wage that goes with it, they would rip your arm off, so in essence as he is alluding too it’s all down to money and an attitude of thinking they are too good to be seen in the lower leagues. Sad and I suggest in time most will look back and regret this.
 
WIZARD OF TANGERINE said:
PLayed footy since I was about 8 . Every Saturday and Sunday we would play for hours . When I got a job that had footy pitch facilities at my dinner times ,I played every week day for 30 years . When I retired I started playing vets football and walking football . I am 63 now and every morning I use my bedroom wall to straighten up for the day ahead .I have foot pain , back pain and arthratis . Yet I still play as much as possible and I will be gutted the day I can't carry on. If you ask me those players that still have ability are idiots not using it and may regret it when reaching my age.
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Yes, I'm 64 and still play 5 a side every week. Why would you stop if you are still enjoying it?
 
I played at a reasonable local level until I was about 30, as as mentioned above, I noticed my special power 😂 speed!! had started to decline, so I stopped playing until the desire got the better of me, I started again at 40, playing on Stanley Park Astro pitches, but with lads half my age, which resulted in injuries & disappointment, so again had to stop. About 6 or 7 yrs ago, (Mid 50's) I started walking football!! what a revelation, I played Vets football too, (Over 50's 6/7 a side) with a great bunch of lads, some of whom, are regular AVFTTers. Sadly a lack of skill &more injuries caused by an overestimation of what was achievable, by my body, has led again to stopping with the Vets, but am still able to enjoy Walking Football, with some great like minded people, who just enjoy kicking a ball around. The point is, I love playing & have paid to play, as it is a passion, that I enjoy, I cant understand these players Troy Deeny eludes to, who just sit back, as they will never get their time again.. I will continue to play as long as my body allows me
 
I've read the majority of replies on this thread with most saying they should be playing for as long as possible.
That's the answer from someone who plays occasionally and doesn't have to put themselves through pre season, keep an eye on their diet and has to train 5/6 days a week.
If a professional footballer has been in the game since they were 10 years old then they've been doing all the above as soon as they break into the team.
By the time they hit their 30's they've been putting their bodies through it constantly for the best part of 20 years.
The money in the game now allows them to finish early if they wish, something they are perfectly entitled to do and if they wish, either retire or go into another profession.
My cousins ex who played for, amongst others, Birmingham, Walsall and Northampton (got megged on the line from the Ghosts backheel😉) now has a job in physiotherapy in a Midlands hospital but he didn't have to work.
Said it was no fun at Christmas, missed out on loads of stuff at his kids schools, plays, parents evenings etc.

As said earlier we look at it as something we love. They look at it, in the main, as a job🤷
 
It’s the same with weight and power lifting. Your testosterone starts to bugger off in your 30s. Once you hit 40 you’ve either got to inject juice to get it back or accept decline.

I’m still able to lift similar weights to 10 years ago but not in all disciplines- injuries and fatigue are taking their toll now. Everything seems to click and crunch and walking is a challenge for 48 hours after leg day now. 😳
 
When you look at what Kevin Phillips achieved later in his career that should be a motivation for any player.
As long as they are fit and healthy and not a tortoise I'd sooner have a 35 year old in the side over a 22 year old any day.
 
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