Granit Jacka

[Ash]

Anyway, it's the other way about. It's because they're professionals that you don't need to motivate them, you just have to pay them. Football is a self-motivating activity; either you want to play or you don't. That's the rule.

Perhaps it's true, we're just not good enough and this is *how* we're not good enough and you just have to accept it?

So which is it? You first said they are not robots, and that they have feelings, which is why they're allowed a day off to go and cry about their international failure. Then you are basically saying that they are robots, and all you have to do is switch them on and feed them money and they go and play, and motivation doesn't come into it.

Second point is bang on though. We're not good enough because we are weak. Not every week, but too many weaks on too many weeks.

[redgunamo]

So which is it? You first said they are not robots, and that they have feelings, which is why they're allowed a day off to go and cry about their international failure. Then you are basically saying that they are robots, and all you have to do is switch them on and feed them money and they go and play, and motivation doesn't come into it.

Second point is bang on though. We're not good enough because we are weak. Not every week, but too many weaks on too many weeks.

Basically, you cannot treat them like robots even though the demands of professionalism insist that you do and despite the fact that you know you shouldn't, in any case. So long as they get rewarded well enough, this is not a problem, except, as you say, to those who don't. The supporters who want to win the league, for instance.

I wasn't trying to say we're weak, more that nowadays we want to have different strengths. The Keown/Deeney exchange post-match touched on this; TD boasting that he came on to try to rough us up and Keown replying sadly that, once upon a time, he would have out there waiting for him. And adding that he didn't think this Arsenal team and these Arsenal players had that attitude anymore.

Well, duh ..

[Ash]

Basically, you cannot treat them like robots even though the demands of professionalism insist that you do and despite the fact that you know you shouldn't, in any case. So long as they get rewarded well enough, this is not a problem, except, as you say, to those who don't. The supporters who want to win the league, for instance.

Sorry, no matter how many times I read that I'm still baffled.

[Monty92]

Sorry, no matter how many times I read that I'm still baffled.

It's strange as he normally presents ideas with such clarity

[redgunamo]

Sorry, no matter how many times I read that I'm still baffled.

I can't say I'm surprised; reading it again, I'm struggling with it too

Basically, we're doing alright even though it may not seem like it.