bluechip

It's all just a storm in dog bowl!

Fair point - I haven't heard him speak much before - he does slur and stumble his words a bit in the interview compared to the other guys but it sounds like this is just how he talks normally. Either way as I said it was nothing embarrasing anyway.

Just watched the Channel M coverage of the start of the Latics dogs night out. At the start of the evening it all looked relaxed enough - just a group of excited young lads on a works night out to the dogs - all saying how important it was for 'team bonding'. Given the glut of games, the great Millwall result and then the tough Leeds draw I think you could probably justify giving the team a night off (even with a few drinks), given that they were not due to play for another 3 days. They are adults after all. Sheridan seems happy and relaxed on camera and is keen to point out that this is a great chance for the lads to reflect on the ups and downs of recent weeks with a view to all pulling together for the rest of the season. (Sounds like a good idea to me, maybve they could finally sort out why they keep losing to poor teams.) Clearly the board approved of the night out as the club itself organised it (they probably told the squad they HAD to attend to meet the fans). I think Simon Corney is seen presenting a trophy to a winning owner at the end of the film with Hughes and Taylor. At this point it all looked innocent enough and everyone just seemed to be having a good time. Hughes is the only one that comes across as worse for wear, (unless he always slurs when he speaks) but again it's nothing too embarassing. I think this is simply a case of a load of young lads getting too drunk on a works do and then squabbling amongst themselves. Not the first time this has happened in the world is it? The job will therefore be to find out exactly who did / who said what to who and then decide appropriate punishments for all the individuals concerned if their behaviour was unacceptable. Physical violence, insulting behaviour to staff, arguing / becoming physical with the management, excessive drinking, etc... The club clearly has a lot to consider and will probably use their own disciplinary guidelines in the player's contracts to decide the actions. I suspect that the management and the board will all be furious that these so called adults cannot be trusted to behave themselves under public gaze. In my opinion I hope they throw the book at anyone they can prove has made the club look bad, regardless of the impact on our 'promotion push' (you have to have standards!) All the hysterics aside, this looks to me like a well intentioned social event that back fired. Instead of being a bonding exercise, it has created a host of internal issues and conflict (some of it physical). The only question now should be how we put this all behind us and repair the damage because another performance like Saturday is clearly unacceptable. The biggest issue I think Shez has to face is why wasn't all the fallout from this event sorted out before the team took to the field at the weekend? The board will also want to know more about the clear divisions and conflicts within the team that have now raised their head. How has this all happended, how serious is it and what will be done now to sort it all out? Call me an optimist but this COULD be a good thing!