1.) 04 Oct 2018
04 Oct 2018 07:57:34
Thanks Ed. Bellerin is just a bellend. Think that’s it. Thanks. Hope Nabys ok.

{Ed001's Note - why is he a bell? He is right, footballers should stand up and do more for the causes they believe in. He is right that footballers should not have to hide their problems with addiction or depression or any other problems. I am with Bellerin on this, footballers should do more, should show more social responsibility instead of dicking about with dance videos or sponsored crap.}


2.) 04 Oct 2018
04 Oct 2018 08:00:33
Cheers Ed001, Hope Keita is okay. Certainly seemed to be in a lot of discomfort when he went down.


3.) 04 Oct 2018
04 Oct 2018 08:29:18
I agree with his message, all I’ve ever seen from Bellerin on social media is self promotion and philosophical nonsense Perhaps I’ve misunderstood his message. Fair play.

{Ed001's Note - that's his point, he is saying that footballers as a whole, including him, should be doing more with it, rather than just self promotion. Hence why he was praising Danny Rose for talking about his depression.}


4.) 04 Oct 2018
04 Oct 2018 08:42:09
Manchester United were late Ed? I was told they didn’t turn up for the Valencia match at all?

{Ed001's Note - it did seem like they were still at the hotel.}


5.) 04 Oct 2018
04 Oct 2018 09:00:09
Saying that, after last nights performance, I don’t think we can say much!


6.) 04 Oct 2018
04 Oct 2018 11:06:42
Ed001, apologize for this being late I didn't have a chance yo post this when you said it. I am wondering if you can provide me with somewhere to look into Pep's recovery methods or the fellow you mentioned from Barcelona and insinuated he came up with these methods. I am not sure if you want to get into it on here but is there somewhere to look into this? Or a point in the right direction as I couldn't find much through random google searches.
Cheers mate hope all is well!

{Ed001's Note - the best way to start would be via Lance Armstrong and the doctor who helped him cheat to all those Tour de France victories, as he was also working with Barcelona, Real Madrid, the Spanish national team (just at the period they were dominating), numerous other teams and individuals as well. There is a lot but that doctor, Fuentes, was not alone in being 'unorthodox' shall we say. However he is a good place to start.}


7.) 04 Oct 2018
04 Oct 2018 11:16:06
Thank you ed. I think that is a good move by arsenal, personally. If they feel their player could be in danger I agree with them keeping him back. There are too many crazy people who cannot separate politics from football. Have a great day everyone. Hope and pray Keita is ok.

{Ed001's Note - it is a worrying sign that a player has to be left behind due to politics possibly endangering his life though.}


8.) 04 Oct 2018
04 Oct 2018 11:46:28
100% agree. That’s why I think Arsenal are doing the right thing. It is a very sad commentary on where we are as a society although it’s always been that way. Very sad.

{Ed001's Note - to be honest I don't rate the lad as a player anyway, so I think they will be better off leaving him behind either way.}


9.) 04 Oct 2018
04 Oct 2018 11:58:14
Hi Ed001

I think I speak for a lot when I saw that the doctor topic and his "unorthodox" methods would make for a cracking article by you.

I would love for you to add that to the list of articles to do if you have the time?

Thanks
Red Sandman.

{Ed001's Note - I have added it to the list mate. How are you getting on in Dubai by the way? Joined the Dubai Reds yet?}


10.) 04 Oct 2018
04 Oct 2018 12:18:00
The way Naby went down after no sign of injury in the previous 20 minutes is really worrying. The first thing I thought was his heart, but sometimes you just think the worst in those situations. It was only the holding of his back that confused it. However, I’ve been to hospital twice with acute indigestion (I know it sounds ridiculous), the intercostal muscles can’t function properly and it renders me unable to breathe in. It’s something akin to an extended laughing fit without anything being funny. Anyway, my point it is, the tension can really make your back ache without anything being wrong with the back. I hope he’s ok.

On the Bellerin thing, based on the first part of his quotes, I think he’s just miffed at having to be a brainless mute, in general. Imagine having views, opinons, hopes, fears, joy etc, you know, all that usual human stuff and never being able to express any of it other than to talk about your job and that’s it. Like he said, they have very public personas with access to millions of people and all they can say is “good game” or “look at my shoes”. No wonder it perpetuates the stupid footballer stereotypes.

The media is so quick to jump on them if they do anything outside of football while basically forgetting that football is a part time job and that they have lives outside of it, so let them express themselves off the pitch and maybe they may feel a little more secure on it as well.

{Ed001's Note - you only have to look at what is going on with the sportsmen in the US kneeling during the anthem to see how much offence people take when sports stars take a stand (probably should have thought of a better way to word that!) on something they believe in.}


11.) 04 Oct 2018
04 Oct 2018 12:56:28
Cheers end that'll be my weekend morning reading sorted, appreciate it!

{Ed001's Note - there is certainly enough to look at mate.}


12.) 04 Oct 2018
04 Oct 2018 13:10:44
The problem with footballers speaking out about issues more is that they are usually incredibly thick, young, naive, and completely detached from reality, especially English players.
It’s a shame because they are hero’s and role models for kids and are in a position to have a real positive impact.
I’m all for footballers giving it a go though if they feel like it.


13.) 04 Oct 2018
04 Oct 2018 14:53:01
Although it’s a bit of a generalisation the point you make is still a reasonable one mikey. They do have a lot of reach and influence and so it would be important that they speak out in an informed manner.


14.) 04 Oct 2018
04 Oct 2018 17:26:18
Trouble is we all get the idea that they are stupid because none of them are allowed to show or tell people that they have more than two brain cells to rub together.

There are always going to be a certain bunch of people that are either to stupid, too lazy or too cock sure to look past football as their only form of ‘neccessary’ education, but in general, as you say Mikey, it tends to be English or British players rather than the foreigners. I think that is more of a reflection on this country and its societal norms than on football, however.

I know it’s hardly a perfect yardstick, but you only have to look at the amount of confident guys conducting interviews in a second language on MOTD, having spent only a month or two living in the country to realise they’re certainly not all stupid.

As for causing offence, there are 7 billion or so on the planet and you will never keep them all happy so why not let some be offended? Often the most vocal people who are offended by something are not the ones who have any direct link to the subject or are people that get offended because they are too stupid to understand that someone may have a different view and that there is nothing wrong with it. Let those people be offended. It might do them some good to realise they won’t explode with all the offence caused.

The point is I don’t care if a player is black, white, straight, gay, is left footed or right, likes labour or torys, thinks Trump is a plank, or Theresa May is a bumbling fool, or that he cares about something that I don’t, that is fine. As long as he plays well, and doesn’t want to eat babies or is abusive, or whatever, let them say what they want to.

It’s unlikely to be profoundly damaging and sometimes, you never know, it may just make a cultural shift for the better.


15.) 04 Oct 2018
04 Oct 2018 19:27:55
Ed01, I fully agree with you on the Bellerin tip. As a someone who lived in the States for 15 years and followed sports esp. the NFL (I still do tho I support the Kapernick protest fully), I have seen what depression can do to players who do NOT seek help. In fact, Brian Dawkins (former Philly Eagles player) said during his Pro football Hall Of Fame Enshrinement speech this year, spoke of how depression almost led him to suicide. In fact, he thought of suicide not just cos he could not deal with his issues. He wanted to kill himself as well cos he wanted his wife to get the life insurance money he had put in during his long career. He survived it and is now trying to help others who suffer with depression and addiction. These are serious issues that athletes need to speak out about and seek help.

{Ed001's Note - it must be especially difficult for a professional sportsperson who spends long hours outside in sunlight to be out injured for an extended period of time, as they will not just have the injury to deal with but the loss of the sunlight. Sunlight can genuinely lift a mood and make someone feel happier. I know they often earn large sums, but money is no use if you are suddenly robbed of being able to do the thing you love the most. The reason money is of use is to allow you to do the things you want to do, so having loads of it helps them not at all when they are out injured.}


16.) 05 Oct 2018
04 Oct 2018 22:07:48
Ed01, are your response was for my last post regarding depression and Brian Dawkins? Cos I do not see the relationship. Cheers, man.

{Ed001's Note - an increase in sunlight (well the vitamins etc we get from being in the sun) can make a huge difference in regard to mental wellbeing. I was just thinking, when a player is injured, they lose endorphins from the exercise, which flood the body with, in effect, happy pills, and they will not be outside as much, so not getting the mood enhancement from the sunlight, so it must be a lot more difficult to deal with life, on top of not being able to do what you love. I don't know anything about Dawkins, as I know very little about the NFL, I was just thinking out loud, so to speak, really.}