tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515487421116248991.post4597564230863340440..comments2024-03-09T07:52:00.188+00:00Comments on A UNITED VIEW ON FOOTBALL: Something we will never be united onIanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18280910572977143351noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515487421116248991.post-9490797659720001342014-10-25T14:45:35.428+01:002014-10-25T14:45:35.428+01:00No winners in this situation, very well written po...No winners in this situation, very well written post thanksFootballer Directhttp://www.footballersdirect.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515487421116248991.post-23774706982195720382014-10-15T10:00:44.052+01:002014-10-15T10:00:44.052+01:00I have no problem with Evans being able to resume ...I have no problem with Evans being able to resume a football career, given that our judicial process is about rehabilitation and not retribution. That he is in a high profile profession is irrelevant in my view. He has been punished for the crime for which he has been convicted, and given that the state believes him no longer a threat to society should be free to resume his life as a free man, albeit under license for the next 30 months. His high profile has shown that conduct such as this is wrong and no matter who you are the punishment is severe, his profile serving to increase his notoriety for now and ever more. <br /><br />My issue is with whether he should be allowed to resume his career back at Sheffield United, and as a Blade, I say no. Not because of the inevitable negative publicity this would create for the club insofar as to be employing a convicted rapist for the reason I stated initially. But my problem with Evans stems from the fact that conviction or not, his behaviour while employed by Sheffield United was at very best gross misconduct and let the club down terribly. It is part of the reason we are still in the division we are in 2 ½ years later. <br /><br />In what other career would someone who has had to leave their employment due to said gross misconduct be welcomed back a couple of years later? <br /><br />That he scored 35 goals in 2011/12 and we need goals is the sole reason I believe that many Blades do want him back, and while I understand that I don’t agree with it. There are no guarantees that Evans would be anything like the player of 2011/12, he could be back to the rank average striker that helped us into League 1 in the first place. As an example of how this could go wrong, I remember the fans clamour for the return of James Beattie, and that was a disaster with two more red cards than goals in that second spell. Never go back…<br /><br />Now on the flipside, Evans may be an exception. After all, he scored all these goals with a possible jail term hanging over him. I personally would have had problems eating and sleeping with such a thing hanging over me, never mind play football, but not this bloke.<br /><br />As a club, I feel we have to move on and take a stand. While accepting Evans is to be a free man and able to resume his life and career, both club and player need a fresh start. We as a club owe him nothing. Let’s be honest about this, had Evans been found not guilty and we had not secured promotion, he would have left Bramall Lane without a backwards glance. <br /><br />Now if this means he signs for a division rival and resumes as he left off, then I can accept that. Players leave Sheffield United and do well quite often after all.<br /><br />I’m concerned that this issue could be left to fester and negatively impact Nigel Clough and the capable squad we have, that may have had a shaky start but have shown signs of improvement that I think will stand us in good stead for the rest of the season. We as a club require unity, and signing Evans will ensure that this club will not be United now, or for some considerable time. And he is simply not worth that risk.<br />Coilynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515487421116248991.post-43819618762937465912014-10-15T00:09:10.618+01:002014-10-15T00:09:10.618+01:00u are not a fan then he didnt do nothing wrong us ...u are not a fan then he didnt do nothing wrong us sheffield united fans should stick together fuck the rest whos saying we shouldnt have him bk if we carnt have him bk know one else should have him Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515487421116248991.post-15670580825846985552014-10-14T22:27:55.268+01:002014-10-14T22:27:55.268+01:00Excellent article its just not right to resign the...Excellent article its just not right to resign the messages it sends to the youngsters its OK to behave disgustingly and still live the dream he has done himself no favours with his arrogance<br />I remember the police interview comments of along the lines we are footballers that's what we do ! I maybe one fan but I will be looking for something else to do on a Saturday afternoon after 40 years<br />Phill neale utbAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515487421116248991.post-17170033915772090232014-10-14T20:15:52.247+01:002014-10-14T20:15:52.247+01:00Excellent article. Many things concern me around t...Excellent article. Many things concern me around this.<br />The seemingly trivialising of the incident by some (including media) into some rapes are worse than others. Do we say to our kids 'Don't worry, rape is only bad if....'?<br />When we discussed this at home earlier in the week we had the 'I don't want my kids singing the name of a rapist, especially one who shows no guilt or is sorry for what happened'.<br />As someone who works in education I am concerned that someone who in any other job wouldn't be allowed to work without a DBS check (replacement of CRB) would be allowed to work with young people.<br />Football is morally at fault, it is about time Clubs started to behave responsibly when such things like this happen. <br />One thing I would have liked to have seen was a more robust questioning of the PFA Chairman as he was obviously speaking to protect the interests of a (former?) member, but shouldn't he be taking the moral high ground to make the case for footballers to truly take responsibility for their actions when they have done wrong and not expect to pick up where they left off.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07182727620983564316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515487421116248991.post-50869471028306018692014-10-14T17:38:39.328+01:002014-10-14T17:38:39.328+01:00An excellent and well written article fully explor...An excellent and well written article fully exploring the dilemma. As a Leeds fan, I had similar anxieties over the Bowyer/Woodgate affair. Although this did nit involve rape, it was still a very nasty case involving a racist assault, and they were both high orofile Premiership players at the time. Leeds fans were split over whether they should ever play for the club again. Of course, they did not get custodial sentences, and football is littered with players with serious convictions who seem to find no trouble in finding employment whereas, as rightly pointed out by Ian, most of us would struggle to regain employment in our orevious field.<br /><br />And that us what defines this debate. Leeds were never going to sack Bowyer because he was a valuable asset that was worth milions in the transfer market. Had they sacked him, they would have got nothing AND he would then have signed for someone else. Until football clubs agree across the board not to employ players with serious convictions such as rape, racist assaults, murder(?), then us the fans will face this moral dilemma.<br /><br />I make no judgement on the Evans case as an outsider, only to agree with Ian that it seems your prime need is for a 20+ goal striker (whose isn't!) and that that person does not have to be Ched Evans. Whatever the outcome I wish you well, and hope to see you back in the Championship ere long.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515487421116248991.post-23245064507518013942014-10-14T15:16:44.270+01:002014-10-14T15:16:44.270+01:00I think the previous writer is totally correct if ...I think the previous writer is totally correct if Ched apologises for his behavior even though he thought and believes it was concencual sex it will go a long way to helping his case to resume his career. I would like the management after all things considered including the feelings of the other players to give Ched a chance.<br />BHAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515487421116248991.post-78225309196155437872014-10-14T12:51:01.669+01:002014-10-14T12:51:01.669+01:00Excellent article and I agree with virtually all o...Excellent article and I agree with virtually all of it. One aspect which could effect the media hype is Evans himself. I understand if he wants to try and clear his name it becomes difficult to show remorse. However if he had a brain (or any of his advisors had access to one) then they should advise him to make a very clear statement which admitted he acted terribly and without any responsibility on the night, that he is ashamed of his actions and how he let everyone involved down but it was definitely NOT his intention to commit a crime (which he doesnt think he has) but he stands firmly against any form of rape and is prepared to donate x% of his salary to a suitable charity. After that he should conclude that he is not prepared to make any further comment lest it perjures his upcoming appeal. That at least would answer some of the criticism he is deservedly getting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515487421116248991.post-81427713793607490542014-10-13T22:35:38.289+01:002014-10-13T22:35:38.289+01:00Good piece though Ian. Difficuly to write. The mor...Good piece though Ian. Difficuly to write. The moral argument is the hardest. I think he has done his time and whether what Ched believes happened is true or not, I seriously doubt he would put himself in that same scenario again and in my opinion I doubt he is a danger to women or society. He should be given a chance now he has served his time as the law of the land dictates.<br /><br />All that said - when I see comments by some of our less educated fans about the case it makes me wonder. They include it 'not been a bad rape' (seriously), 'she only wanted a payday' ('she' didn't even bring the initial case to the courts), 'loads of lads go back to hotels with drunk women, they must all be rapists' (as did MacDonald, which is why he is innocent and all these ypung lads who go back with a girl would not either in a similar scenario) and my favourite (or least) so far, 'I sometimes perform sex acts on my wife before she wakes up, so am I a rapist?' - yes you absolute horrible human you are.<br /><br />Do we really need these views churned up again and again, while they all self congratulate each other on social media about how correct their stupid warped view on the world is? Probably not, but these views exist in society whether we like it or not, and it is not going to change if we sign him or.not.<br /><br />So I would give him a modest contract to January or June with an option. Yes it will divide the fans, but I suspect the overall attendance wont waver too much if at all. As we saw with Hughes the media storm will soon pass onto the next story, league one football will not be the centrepiece of the entire media for much after the last of the leaves have fallen from all the trees. If a club wants to offer him more and he wants to take it, don't chase him. And whatever happens, five or so years down the line it will be ancient history and this club will still be going, still be the one I love.<br /><br />Utb.Paul Kempnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515487421116248991.post-90811921978901538212014-10-13T22:06:30.844+01:002014-10-13T22:06:30.844+01:00But there are other strikers, Ched isn't the b...But there are other strikers, Ched isn't the be all and end all. What's to say we won't bring in a quality striker in Jan? Not signing doesn't show a lack of ambition, it just shows that they didn't want the attention and drama signing him.would bring. It's a lose lose situation for the board really, I don't envy them. Either way UTB!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515487421116248991.post-53360903231200980942014-10-13T22:05:16.866+01:002014-10-13T22:05:16.866+01:00Don't be silly, not sogning Ched will hardly b...Don't be silly, not sogning Ched will hardly be a sign of lack of ambition.<br />Selling your best players in January is one thing. Not signing a player who hasn't played for three years is not a lack of ambition.<br /><br />Personally I would offer him a contract until the end of January to see how he goes, if another club want to gamble and a longer, more lucrative contract then good luck to both parties. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515487421116248991.post-83460340176377102232014-10-13T19:44:44.868+01:002014-10-13T19:44:44.868+01:00if we don't sighn ched many more fans will sto...if we don't sighn ched many more fans will stop going due to lack of ambition from the boardAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com