Gordon Taylor...grrrr

[Tooting Gull]

I see Gordon Taylor has been at it again, saying in the wake of the Lee Hughes sentence that footballers need 'special driving lessons', over and above what everyone else does, because of their fast cars and exposure to drink, drugs and late nights.

What they actually need to do, Gordon, is just behave like the rest of the population, not think they can get away with it with an expensive lawyer, and not get pissed before driving. Like everyone else has to. The bloke has got some front continually defending the indefensible.

 

[JJ McClure]

Don't get me started on the twaty overpaid tosspot

 

[Soton Seagull]

He is a grade 1 prick. At times you just have to take responsibility for your own actions.

I suppose he'll whinge about West Brom sacking Hughes next!

 

[Meade's Ball]

What footballers need is to stay in school a little longer alongside their football education.

 

[Deano's Right Foot]

Mayne he has a point, but not just footballers. Perhaps young, or new, drivers should have to go through some kind of advanced driving course before they can drive a very high powered car. I think that quite a few accidents are caused by inexperienced drivers driving very high performance cars.

 

[The Large One]

Picture the scenario.

Young male, not particularly bright, or possibly not well-educated. Starts earning £10-15k a week (that's £500,000 - £750,000 annual salary basic). World at your feet, entire communities adoring everything you do. You can do no wrong. You are the King of your domain and there is no-one to say 'nay' to you.

With this power comes responsibility, but a sense of responsibility you have never previously had to manage, and suddenly everything has gone to your head. Pull the birds, drive a flash car, new house for mum and dad.

The combination of power, money, youth and lack of responsibility is extremely dangerous. Lee Hughes is a complete wanker for doing what he did, but where was the support network to stop accidents / incidents BEFORE they happen? True, a most young footballers are sensible, but others are not (Hughes definitely falls into the latter category), so this is where extra help should come in.

Viewing Hughes actions and reactions to this tragedy (behaving like an irresponsible arsehole), you get a sense that with this character, something stupid was bound to happen. Think of what could have happened with Lee Steele or Adam Hinshelwood...

Taylor's point was that, obviously, no-one wants this to happen again, and education is one way forward. Footballers ought to be grateful for this support network.

Bit late for Hughes' victim though.

 

[Barnet Seagull]

Maybe footballers should be contractually obliged to drive cars with engines under 1.8 litres.

That'll learn 'em

 

[Lammy]

It wouldn't hurt for the big clubs to offer some form of councilling and advise to their young starlets before they piss it all up the wall! Probably make them more reliable on the pitch too!