Quantcast

  1. Welcome to Bantam Talk

    Why not register for an account?

    Not only can you then get fully involved in the community but you also get fewer ads

  2. Premium Membership now Available


    Please see this thread for more details

    Dismiss Notice
Welcome to Bantam Talk Premium Membership now Available

O'Connor lets rip

Discussion in 'City Talk' started by jonnyp, Aug 28, 2018.

Most Liked Posts
Page 1 of 5
  1. jonnyp

    jonnyp Breakthrough Prospect

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2018
    Messages:
    15
    Likes Received:
    26
    From the T&A

    The vice-captain has delivered a hard-hitting verdict in the wake of Saturday’s awful home defeat against Wycombe.

    That followed a week on from a similarly rotten display at Southend and O’Connor believes it is time to stop pulling punches.

    He said: “I’ve got to call a spade a spade. We’re a poor team at the minute.

    “We’ve got good players but we’re playing like we don’t know each other. We’re playing like a bunch of individuals.

    “We’re not going out there fighting for the badge. People are not showing enough pride in their own performance.”

    Fans vented their frustration at Valley Parade at the weekend following City’s third loss in the opening five games. O’Connor has no sympathy for those in the team currently struggling to live up to their surroundings.

    “It’s different to other clubs in the league. If you play at places that only get 3,000-4,000 you could probably get away with some of the stuff that we can’t.

    “Some players can fold under the pressure of a big crowd. But if you’re going to do that, then you might as well not be here.

    “Go into the manager now, hand in your bags and say ‘I don’t fancy being at this club because I can’t handle it.’

    “If that’s the way you feel then just go. All the best to you and good luck at your next club.

    “Don’t be at this football club if you’re not up for the fight.”

    The centre half has been the most consistent of the influx of summer signings but admits there are not enough doing themselves justice.

    “Sometimes it just comes down to personal pride in your performance,” he added.

    “I go onto the pitch thinking that not only am I going to do my best for my team-mates but I want to prove I’m the best defender out there.

    “Some people aren’t going out doing that. They’re just going through the motions.

    “You have to take pride in your performance. If you play well, it rubs off on the rest of the team.

    “We’re only five games into the season but the fans are probably sick of hearing players apologising already. If you’re more talk than action, then you’re just wasting your time.

    “There are good players here on paper but that means nothing in this league. Nobody’s going to look at the names and think ‘they’re going to walk all over us’.

    “You don’t get any respect and that’s what happened against Wycombe on Saturday. It was the same at Southend.

    “As soon as things weren’t going our way, it was as if some people just threw the towel in and didn’t fancy it.

    “Something’s got to change and something’s got to be said – I don’t care if it’s got to come from me, from the manager or some of the older ones at the club.

    “We’re just not performing and it’s not good enough, especially if you want to play for this football club.”

    And O’Connor insists that head coach Michael Collins should not be taking the flak for his team’s current shortcomings.

    He said: “We’re letting him down, make no bones about it. The manager cannot come on the pitch and run around for you.

    “He puts everything into it during the week, sets us up how he wants us to play – and then we give him that at the weekend.

    “The way football is, the manager gets the backlash. It’s not fair.

    “He’s a workhorse on the training ground and I really want him to do well. But undoubtedly we have to do well for him and something has got to change.”
     
    #1 jonnyp, Aug 28, 2018
    Leeds Bantam, Stevay_b, bantamdave41 and 8 others like this.
  2. Tennesseebantam

    Tennesseebantam Important Player
    P.L.22/23 Entrant P.L.23/24 Entrant Supporter Euro 2020

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2018
    Messages:
    3,533
    Likes Received:
    4,372
    hmm, food for thought there, wonder how that will go down in the dressing room, is it a not so subtle hint to Collins that he fancies the captaincy? Whatever it is, I bet he's ruffled some feathers that needed ruffling.
     
    #2 Tennesseebantam, Aug 28, 2018
    Ollylondonbantam, Stevay_b, Utters0 and 3 others like this.
  3. Halafihi

    Halafihi Breakthrough Prospect

    Joined:
    Jun 4, 2018
    Messages:
    114
    Likes Received:
    160
    Jesus, very surprised at reading that, a true professional that i am very happy we have at our club, isn't scared to say it how it is and should be captain imo, this sounds like something Gary Jones would say.
     
    #3 Halafihi, Aug 28, 2018
    RCarol, Bronco, Stevay_b and 8 others like this.
  4. RonnieBrown

    RonnieBrown Emergency Backup

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2018
    Messages:
    4,304
    Likes Received:
    4,084
    We read similar every week ........... Talk is cheap.

    Sorry, but Collins should take the flak - He's doing sod all on the sidelines, so the players do sod all on the pitch. All are hiding equally.
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
    #4 RonnieBrown, Aug 28, 2018
    Leeds Bantam, PlatinumChaosX, Bronco and 9 others like this.
  5. River_City_Bantam

    River_City_Bantam Squad Player
    P.L.22/23 Entrant P.L.23/24 Entrant P.L. 20/21 Top 10

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2018
    Messages:
    2,201
    Likes Received:
    2,369
    True to a fair extent, but of the players he is in the (small) group who are the least to blame for our woes, and so his words have a bit more weight behind them. Also, he can't really blast Collins and not expect to join Kilgallon amongst the "disappeared!" We though can damn them all until performances improve! Rather disheartening to think that, as one poster put it, we seem to have peaked at Shrewsbury.

    RCB
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
    #5 River_City_Bantam, Aug 28, 2018
    bcfcbigun, Nick_W_, RonnieBrown and 1 other person like this.
  6. Idlebantam

    Idlebantam Squad Player
    P.L.22/23 Entrant P.L.23/24 Entrant P.L. 20/21 Top 10

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2018
    Messages:
    9,716
    Likes Received:
    21,395
    Shame he didn't vent his anger at his team mates on the pitch on Saturday.
    It would be interesting to know who he thinks the shirkers are.
    Could be an interesting training session when the players meet up again.
     
    #6 Idlebantam, Aug 28, 2018
    Manningham bantam, RonnieBrown and Fordy117 like this.
  7. Fordy117

    Fordy117 Just call me Mr Flip-Flop!
    Bubbles car wash

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2018
    Messages:
    17,452
    Likes Received:
    14,487
    He went missing on Saturday.

    Now he voices up to try cover for his manager.

    He has made the situation worse for Collins by highlighting that the players clearly can't follow his instructions.
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
    #7 Fordy117, Aug 28, 2018
    Manningham bantam and RonnieBrown like this.
  8. RowZ

    RowZ Emergency Backup

    Joined:
    May 9, 2018
    Messages:
    231
    Likes Received:
    757
    Questions have to be asked, why are some players 'going through the motions' 5 games into the season? What happened to only signing a player if he understood the expectations of the club. If we've ended up with a bunch of lazy underperformers then something's gone very wrong with this recruitment process we keep hearing about.
     
    #8 RowZ, Aug 28, 2018
    Craven Koppite, Onside, Bronco and 4 others like this.
  9. Bumblebee_Tuna

    Bumblebee_Tuna Squad Player
    P.L.23/24 Entrant

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2018
    Messages:
    1,043
    Likes Received:
    1,601
    Can't agree that 'we read similar every week'. I cant remember a player ever calling out his team mates so bluntly. That takes bottle.
     
    #9 Bumblebee_Tuna, Aug 28, 2018
    broadsword, meelin, Mickey bantam and 2 others like this.
  10. LS Bantam

    LS Bantam Fringe Player
    P.L. 20/21 Entrant

    Joined:
    Apr 16, 2018
    Messages:
    370
    Likes Received:
    703
    Made worse when one of the main culprits is your captain.
     
    #10 LS Bantam, Aug 28, 2018
    How, JudgeMental, Bronco and 10 others like this.
  11. RonnieBrown

    RonnieBrown Emergency Backup

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2018
    Messages:
    4,304
    Likes Received:
    4,084
    Yes - He may well have been blunt ........... But as @Idlebantam@Idlebantam said , A big shame he didn't do just that on Saturday, when it actually needed saying.
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
    #11 RonnieBrown, Aug 28, 2018
    Manningham bantam likes this.
  12. Goose

    Goose Impact Sub

    Joined:
    Apr 26, 2018
    Messages:
    953
    Likes Received:
    1,921
    Omg !!!!! He called a spade a spade, SNOWFLAKES ASSSSSSEEEEEMMMMMBBBBBLLLLLEEEE
     
    #12 Goose, Aug 28, 2018
    Faithful Bantam and Tony Wilkinson like this.
  13. Here's Johnny

    Here's Johnny Fringe Player

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2018
    Messages:
    123
    Likes Received:
    247
    Can't disagree with O'Conner's sentiments, good that they are coming from someone who has looked decent and can't be accused of lack of effort. Unfortunately it's too late in the day to ship players who don't fancy it out, and what would that say about our recruitment?

    We need decent loans in and have to hope the players O'Conner is referring to man up. O'Conner breaking ranks so early in the season speaks volumes about the current state of our club, no mention of we're all in it together!

    Cullen still hasn't pitched up at Charlton, if he is genuinely available for loan we should be doing all we can to get him. We know he has the ability, the right attitude plus he improves players around him at this level and get Killa back in the fold before he naffs off to Scunny.
     
    #13 Here's Johnny, Aug 28, 2018
    Last edited: Aug 28, 2018
    Onside, Morley Bantam, Bronco and 4 others like this.
  14. Briggus

    Briggus Impact Sub

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2018
    Messages:
    990
    Likes Received:
    1,166
    True according to Mr Rahic - MC helped in the identifying and recruitment of the players we have signed - one of the reasons he considered MC for the coaching post - so he is culpable.
     
    #14 Briggus, Aug 28, 2018
    Last edited: Aug 28, 2018
    Onside, Bronco, Utters0 and 2 others like this.
  15. Futchers tache

    Futchers tache Breakthrough Prospect

    Joined:
    Apr 17, 2018
    Messages:
    152
    Likes Received:
    164
    Words are cheap, maybe it's the players that are not good enough.
     
    #15 Futchers tache, Aug 28, 2018
    Manningham bantam likes this.
  16. Bantamsteve

    Bantamsteve Impact Sub

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2018
    Messages:
    7,723
    Likes Received:
    9,819
    OH my god
    Have just had a Yeovil like flashback
     
    #16 Bantamsteve, Aug 28, 2018
  17. Captain Black Adder

    Captain Black Adder Fringe Player

    Joined:
    Apr 17, 2018
    Messages:
    822
    Likes Received:
    1,329
    So basically confirming they are all bottlers. Nice work vice captain.
     
    #17 Captain Black Adder, Aug 28, 2018
  18. Faithful Bantam

    Faithful Bantam Squad Player

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2018
    Messages:
    11,188
    Likes Received:
    28,832
    I understand his point and we do need more leadership of this nature. It’s also commendable that he’s taking some responsibility on behalf of the players and looking to protect his rookie boss.

    But when the manner of performance is repeated, it’s a systemic reflection of the club and the buck stops with the manager and ultimately the owners.

    I’m becoming tired of these articles. They’re happening too often and it’s a major symptom of a broken club. Which is what Grayson thought we were.
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
    #18 Faithful Bantam, Aug 28, 2018
    Onside, Briggus, Bronco and 1 other person like this.
  19. Bumblebee_Tuna

    Bumblebee_Tuna Squad Player
    P.L.23/24 Entrant

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2018
    Messages:
    1,043
    Likes Received:
    1,601
    Seen many predictable media post mortems before with the usual cliches but this is on another level. It takes some charater to call out so many other team mates in the dressing room.
     
    #19 Bumblebee_Tuna, Aug 28, 2018
    Nottsy, punk bantam, Bronco and 1 other person like this.
  20. Bantamsteve

    Bantamsteve Impact Sub

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2018
    Messages:
    7,723
    Likes Received:
    9,819
    Must have done it with "club" approval
     
    #20 Bantamsteve, Aug 28, 2018
    Bronco likes this.
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Page 1 of 5

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Accept Learn More...
    Dismiss Notice