Lack of Loyalty

[ebby]

Just reading about another one of our so called loyal ex players - the Welsh Goalkeeper - who has just ditched us for Forrest.
To me, loyalty is a two way street but with the players of today, very few subscribe to that ethos.

In the olden days, when players who I used to watch such as Lockhead, Irvine, Taffy, Kindon, O’Neil, Latcham etc they all used to live and socialise in the area. They were a part of our local community. Often you would see them in one of the local pubs on a Saturday night.

Now, they are just mercenaries, happy to drive in from Cheshire or so for a few hours, do their stuff and get back to the stockbroker belt.

It peeves me that we put these jokers on a pedestal, yet they just give us lip service, especially when they say on their Twitter account, how they will miss the Club and its supporters, yet in the next breath they are excelling what a great club they have just joined with its long history and traditions and cannot wait to get started.

Unfortunately, in todays age of the professional footballer, there is very little loyalty around.

[dandeclaret]

And fans loyalty to Dale Stephen’s et Al? It’s regularly a one way street on all sides….

[Ric_C]

Wasn't Dale Stephens on a fairly hefty wage and hardly played for us in two years? Not really sure what loyalty we owe him?

[dandeclaret]

Wasn't Dale Stephens on a fairly hefty wage and hardly played for us in two years? Not really sure what loyalty we owe him?

Didn’t the club not play Wayne Hennessy for 2 years? Not really sure what loyalty he owes us……

[pushpinpussy]

no loyalty these days. The days of Giggs, Scholes and Matt Le Tiss are gone.

[Ric_C]

Didn’t the club not play Wayne Hennessy for 2 years? Not really sure what loyalty he owes us……

yeah I agree with you on that one

[ebby]

Fair point, however, I presume they would have been paid whilst at Burnley, even in Dales case just collecting a wage whilst having treatment.

My statement could also be used regarding Erikson. On the scrap heap after his health issue. Brentford gave him a lifeline and he now does the dirty on them and signs a 3 year with UTD.

Another ‘Loyal Servant’

[evensteadiereddie]

You'd think, just for loyalty's sake, a fan might be able to spell Andy Lochhead's surname correctly....

[Hipper]

In the days of Lochhead etc. there was apparent loyalty in most lines of work - people kept the same job for years on end if not their whole life. Footballers also earned a lot less money and there wasn't so much financial variation. For footballers, when they retired, they went and got another job - Gordon Harris went back to working at Nottingham coal mine!

Today, we are generally more mobile - I had some ten jobs in my working life and I left when it suited me. Professional footballers are the same and will try and get the best deal they can in their short career.

All the quotes you hear from departing or arriving players are just spin, probably given to them by the various media departments. What else are they going to say - 'I'm glad to be away from Turf Moor - it's a dump'. They know they'll get abuse if they are honest - look what some on here said about Weghorst after he was honest enough to say that he didn't want to play in The Championship.

Take no notice of all the spin and just enjoy their contributions to our cause whilst they are here.

[Cirrus_Minor]

I can't really blame him, probably hoping for some fist team appearances in the Premier league to enhance his Welsh team selection in the world cup. On the bright side I suppose it is another high earner off the books.

[randomclaret2]

All of those players left us for other clubs, a couple of them more than once.

[Burnley1989]

Makes me laugh the thought that anybody on here is kidding themselves they’d be loyal in his situation!

It’s business, not family

[jojomk1]

no loyalty these days. The days of Giggs, Scholes and Matt Le Tiss are gone.

Is that the same Giggs guy who was so loyal to his country that he always seemed to get injured or unavailable for international matches when picked

But when offered the managership was there in a flash

Just saying

[Bosscat]

I can't really blame him, probably hoping for some fist team appearances in the Premier league to enhance his Welsh team selection in the world cup. On the bright side I suppose it is another high earner off the books.

He is a goalkeeper so using his fist for the team is part of his job

[expoultryboy]

Does the club show loyalty to Ben , Pieters etc ? It's always a two way thing .

[warksclaret]

There are a few very loyal players-very much in the minority these days-Noble of West Ham and John Terry come to mind. Hennessy always knew he was No 2 to Pope when he joined, and seems he made his mind up even before meeting VK.As long as we can replace with another quality keeper he will be soon forgotton

[boatshed bill]

Does the club show loyalty to Ben , Pieters etc ? It's always a two way thing .

I think the club has been more than fair to Ben Mee.
I don't really do the loyalty thing, I get it that they all want the best they can.
I really believe that a number of SD's squad let him down, got too comfortable. Did he treat them too well?

[JohnMac]

I get the impression Hennesey wasn't part of VK's vision.

[boatshed bill]

I get the impression Hennesey wasn't part of VK's vision.

I get the impression Hennessey would rather draw a PL wage and concentrate on playing for Wales.

[Cirrus_Minor]

He is a goalkeeper so using his fist for the team is part of his job

Haha. I'll let you have that

[JohnMac]

I get the impression Hennessey would rather draw a PL wage and concentrate on playing for Wales.

Don't disagree

[Woodleyclaret]

Too many of last years team let us down
The fans and Sean were owed a performance for every game given the hugh wages they received .Too many gave half arsed performances especially in the last few games

[Paul Waine]

In the days of Lochhead etc. there was apparent loyalty in most lines of work - people kept the same job for years on end if not their whole life. Footballers also earned a lot less money and there wasn't so much financial variation. For footballers, when they retired, they went and got another job - Gordon Harris went back to working at Nottingham coal mine!

Today, we are generally more mobile - I had some ten jobs in my working life and I left when it suited me. Professional footballers are the same and will try and get the best deal they can in their short career.

All the quotes you hear from departing or arriving players are just spin, probably given to them by the various media departments. What else are they going to say - 'I'm glad to be away from Turf Moor - it's a dump'. They know they'll get abuse if they are honest - look what some on here said about Weghorst after he was honest enough to say that he didn't want to play in The Championship.

Take no notice of all the spin and just enjoy their contributions to our cause whilst they are here.

Good post, Hipper. I can match you with 10 employers in my 45 years as a professional. It's a job, whether it's as a footballer or whatever career each of us have chosen to follow. I decided early on that loyalty between employer and employee continued as long as the former was paying the wages and both were happy to continue. I appreciate the footballers who "put the effort in" for the club. It doesn't matter whether they go on to play for another club, that's just something that is between them and Burnley as their existing employer and whoever their new employer is.

UTC

[Milltown1882]

Why would they be loyal? It’s a short career make as much money as you can out of it.

[ChrisG]

It's a job at the end of the day. I've job hopped reasonably regularly to better conditions for myself.

We are the ones invested in the club emotionally as fans, and it is hard to see players move on. But to use Hennessey, what connection does he have to either area or club really? Your Giggs etc came through the youth set up so not really comparable

[Rileybobs]

If Hennessey knew that Kompany was looking to bring in a new number one then it’s even more understandable.

[Dingo]

It depends what is meant by loyalty. As far as I can see, he did everything the club asked of him whilst he was with us. He trained well, supported Pope as no.2, player well when selected, and seemingly enjoyed his time here. The club was happy to move him on so good luck to him. It’s not contradictory to both have had a good experience with us and in turn will miss the place, but also be looking forward to playing for another good club. If we’re expecting some kind of emotional connection to the club for eternity, then it’s only rarely you see that. But as someone else has pointed out, a comparison to years gone by isn’t meaningful as social and working conditions has changed so significantly. Let’s just wish him luck and hope the next keeper we get in similarly plays the role we ask of them.

[sleeperclaret]

I wonder if suggesting a lack of loyalty in this case is the same as retaining older players at the end of their careers? And where is the tipping point? Should we keep a 40 year old for another year or two because he wants to carry on playing? At what point should business and being competitive outweigh moral obligation?

[GodIsADeeJay81]

First and foremost it's just a job to them.

[paulatky]

I would think in Hennessey’s case VK made it clear to him he wasn’t going to be No1 and so Burnley encouraged him to move on

[claptrappers_union]

It’s business, that’s it

[Sgt. Pepper]

no loyalty these days. The days of Giggs, Scholes and Matt Le Tiss are gone.

Giggs....loyalty
Ask his brother.

[AlargeClaret]

Hennessy owes us NOTHING . Looked a good pro and he’s a bloody good keeper too. He’s 35 next season and is bound to want prem with Wales also riding high . Good luck to him

[Billy Balfour]

I don't expect professional footballers to be loyal - after all, they are paid employees. Fans though, that's a different matter, but even there you find a lot of fair-weather 'friends'.