Quote Originally Posted by AucklandRover View Post
I think a lot depends on how you define the word "struggle". I simply mean every match is going to be a tough battle. We look at the opposition in advance to try and assess the threat, but - as we found last season - it isn't always the "best" teams who give you the most problems.
The issues you've outlined about Dack on the other thread are a particular worry, but I'm reasonably hopeful that TM will keep him on the straight and narrow, in terms of the football itself. He has never shown any signs of his "lifestyle" in games so far, but you seem to have some knowledge that more has gone wrong than has been made public.
The simple fact is - and I suspect Despair will support this - if you're going to follow football and your club, you have to make an embarrassing agreement with yourself to turn a blind eye to the fact that many footballers are arrogant pillocks with no sense of the real world. I try to avoid reading about the private lives of sports-people, anyway, because a) I detest this whole "celebrity" thing, and b) I'm not in the least bit interested in what they do off the pitch.
Unfortunately, in the "Age of Twitter", I am in a dwindling minority - mainly composed of grumpy old men.
I get equally brassed off when I read that so-and-so couldn't play because "his head wasn't in the right place". Fine - put him in a factory on a 50-hour week to see if that clears his thoughts!

That's the thing Auks. I run around, spend money I don't have, go without to support the lads. In particular Dack!!! Who has entertained me no end on the pitch, and for that I am grateful. I have had some brilliant days/nights out down to him. I struggle so much, most of the year financially. All I want is the players who represent Rovers just give it their all, every game. I'm not sitting here saying I am perfect, and denouncing anyone making a mistake. But I am really struggling to keep my mouth shut on this latest disdemeanor.
He was very close to be taken to jail the other day. Imagine that press conference and the embarrassment caused by that. And again I reiterate, he has not been injured. No matter how decent he is, he needs to playing. I will accept a knock but not this. This is letting everybody down. Totally get the fact we sign up for this as fans, and its nonesenical.
I don't follow this lad on twitter, or any other type of social media. I don't care what he does, just as long as he can play well for us on a Sat. If he cant, and its non football related, and down to being a play-boy then I think we should have cut our losses last week.
I also have no doubt TM will get the best out of him, and keep him on the straight and narrow as much as he can. But the guy cant keep him under wraps 24/7 ....Dack has to be professional.