B. Re: Chedwyn. Aren't you underestimating football's ability to rally

[redgunamo]

around one of its own? Especially when under attack from those who don't particularly care for the game?

[Berni]

don't think. The negative implications for the club in question are too great for that.

[Ben.]

would defend a serial killer if he was a fully paid up member of the PFA.
Lee Hughes is still making a living from the game.

[Monty91]

between crimes in terms of their severity and make your judgement on someone's employability based on this (i.e. you would consider employing a convicted shoplifter but not a convicted rapist).

But why are you not willing to differentiate between types of rape and the unavoidable fact that Evans' rape was about as acceptable as a rape can be? (in the sense that other men who have done exactly the same are happily tolerated throughout society)

[redgunamo]

chap anointed Player of the Year.

It's not just about one club, but any of them that wants a decent player on the cheap, which is all of them. If the Blades don't sign him up then one of their rivals will and I cannot think of a single player who has been effectively banished from football, regardless of what he's done.

[Monty91]

You must have been pleased when we signed him.

[redgunamo]

The whole thing was instructive though and reassuring. Namely, just because a dog is of a hunting breed, it doesn't mean that it is a hunting dog. Or, to put it another way, "striker" is much more than merely a position on the pitch or even a number.

[Berni]

motive to get a good player on the cheap would be enormous. On the other, however, you have much greater scrutiny at a big club. Equally, you have far more points of weakness. Think of all the endorsements, sponsorships and financial tie-ups that would be put under pressure by such a move.

[Classic Jorge]

But now I see he's been offered a club on day release.

DAY RELEASE!!

[Berni]

pretty big **** sandwich to swallow. He constantly reinforces the idea that footballers are not subject to the same codes of decency as normal human beings and I would have him strung up by the thumbs.

[redgunamo]

How many people would boycott the club, the stadium, any of our commercial partners and their products? Practically no-one, I reckon. The Bottom Line would remain unaffected.

And let's face it, we're only picking on Sheffield United because their PR people aren't as powerful as Manchester United's.

[Berni]

Also, a lot would depend on how savvy and well-organised the anti-campaign was. If I were them I'd go straight for the sponsors. Sponsors don't sponsor to get associated with rapists and they will and do bring enormous pressure to bear.

[Ben.]

but same as Blatter these people appear to have nobody to answer to.

[redgunamo]

And don't forget, sponsors are in the same boat as rival clubs; if we don't somebody else will.

[Monty91]

we tried to sign http://www.awimb.com/images/smiley_icons/ohwell.gif

[redgunamo]

[Berni]

And since the Second-hand Car Dealership who sponsor Sheffield United's shirts are already saying they may walk if he's re-employed, we shall see what happens. Fair to say that if a second-hand car dealer is questioning your integrity, then you should probably take a long, hard look at yourself.

As to PR, a really good PR man would have told Evans to drop all this 'I'm innocent' **** and just go into full 'mea culpa' mode. A few visits to rape crisis centres, some photographs of him crying and regular appearances saying 'Don't rape people, kids!' and he'd be golden.

He's been very poorly advised.

[Berni]

[Monty91]

[The Level Headed Dossa (The Wilderness Years)]

:wave: :thumbup:

[Berni]

[redgunamo]

may vary depending on whether one has actually been convicted of it or not.

And he could still be a PR asset to the game from his current position, couldn't he. As could everyone else. Presumably Sheffield United haven't sent him to Siberia to train?

[Monty91]

I mean, all Evans has to do to show he's 'learned a hard lesson' is not rape anyone else.

Seems unfair that your common-or-garden c**t finds it harder to shake off their reputation than a rapist.

[redgunamo]

wife-beating, drink-driving et al. After all, if moral outrage is going to be all about headlines then it will dissipate and disappear, just as the headlines do. We all know this by now.

[redgunamo]

Starting with his family and friends and teammates, I don't think anybody believes young Chad behaves like that every week.

[Berni]

[redgunamo]

For instance, every father's views on wild sons and drunk daughters will be represented by the fathers in that group. Their wives will speak of women's views on the matter. And so on.

[Peter]

They are more concerned with looking after **** players arent they? The big earners would never dream of allowing an actual issue to be left in the hands of those bungling oafs. Agents, lawyers, multi national sponsors etc etc.....