Re: Rumours and signings 2010 v1 : Sun Jan 10, 2010 4:33 pm  

End of the day, its down to the club ie. Ian Lenagan and Micheal Maguire.

If whats best for the club is to bring Hock back, then I'll back them.

If whats best for the club is to not sign up Hock again, then I'll back them.

My personal preference would be too bring him back, IF and only IF he has proven he has changed his ways and is even more dedicated than he was before his discretion.

But it's not up to me, or any of you arguing needlessly about it right now. The club shall decide the best and appropiate course of action - and I'll back whichever it is.

Re: Rumours and signings 2010 v1 : Sun Jan 10, 2010 5:02 pm  

100% Warrior wrote:

End of the day, its down to the club ie. Ian Lenagan and Micheal Maguire.

If whats best for the club is to bring Hock back, then I'll back them.

If whats best for the club is to not sign up Hock again, then I'll back them.

My personal preference would be too bring him back, IF and only IF he has proven he has changed his ways and is even more dedicated than he was before his discretion.

But it's not up to me, or any of you arguing needlessly about it right now. The club shall decide the best and appropiate course of action - and I'll back whichever it is.

Agreed.

I'm sure this forum gets more and more like a Christmas Day episode of Eastenders every time we have a new thread......................

Re: Rumours and signings 2010 v1 : Sun Jan 10, 2010 10:30 pm  

pk wrote:

2 things to reply to...

.

Without turning this into an argument, as everyone is entitled to their opinion, where exactly do you draw the line? Have you, for example, ever gone over the speed limit without being caught? That's wrong you know and also cost lives. Given that your world is black and white, does that make you a criminal? Should you (or anyone else who's guilty of speeding) be allowed to play for Wigan? What about drink driving? We've had several well known alcoholics play for us (some of our best players I might add!) I've little doubt some of those may have driven under the influence. Should they be allowed to play? What about violence? Feka for example would fall foul of this. Where exactly do you draw the line and, more importantly, who does it fall to to make the decision on which offences are alright and which should preclude someone playing for the club?

The fact is, Hock has not been found guilty of any offence under the laws of the land. He has been repremanded by his sporting body. That is all. He isn't a criminal. Once his ban has been served, how many times would you like to repeat his punishment? Twice? Three times? Forever? Should he never be allowed to earn a living ever again? It's easy to sit in judgement on others from your lofty tower but, without sticking my neck out too much here, I'm betting you have broken the law on occassion, even if it's only the aforementioned speeding. Few of us haven't. Now I'm not comparing the two 'offences' but each would carry a penalty in law, after which you are taken to have paid your debt to society and are free to carry on with a clean slate. After his ban, Hock will have done this.

Recreational drugs are a fact of life and, without condoning them, should be treated like any other offence. Whatever penalty is applied should be the end of it. If we decide a lifetime ban is the right line to take,then fair enough. However, both as a society and a sport, we have decided there should be a limited penalty. Two years in Hock's case. Once that is served it shouldn't fall to us to deprive someone of their livelihood.

One more thing. You're putting words in my (and other's) mouths when you say our view is coloured by Hock being a good player. I can assure you it's not! I do, however, believe that it's wrong to punish people indefinitely. That's all.

Re: Rumours and signings 2010 v1 : Sun Jan 10, 2010 11:24 pm  

Phuzzy wrote:

Without turning this into an argument, as everyone is entitled to their opinion, where exactly do you draw the line? .

Snipped

Spot on... Its not a perfect situation, but we don't live in a perfect world. If we are truely "The" greatest club, we should also stand by people when they make a balls up. He has only brought disrepute on himself in my eyes, not on the club.

Re: Rumours and signings 2010 v1 : Tue Jan 12, 2010 2:08 pm  

I agree that Gaz has done the 'crime' and now must do the time. He knew he shouldn't do it, it is illegal and comes with a 2 year ban. he got caught, he must now serve his ban. When his band is up, as far as i'm concerned, the slate is wiped clean.

Re: Rumours and signings 2010 v1 : Fri Jan 15, 2010 10:36 am  

Some people on the Leeds board seem to think that Lee Smith is not doing all that great in Union and is on his way back out. Hull KR and Wigan are mentioned. I have no idea if there is anything in this but I just hope that at any point this season if we have room for another player, we bring in a forward.

Re: Rumours and signings 2010 v1 : Fri Jan 15, 2010 10:54 am  

Smith's a good player and he'd be a player i'd be interested in for 2011 dependant on who leaves but we simply couldn't fit him in for 2010.

Re: Rumours and signings 2010 v1 : Fri Jan 15, 2010 11:03 am  

Odemwingie wrote:

Some people on the Leeds board seem to think that Lee Smith is not doing all that great in Union and is on his way back out. Hull KR and Wigan are mentioned. I have no idea if there is anything in this but I just hope that at any point this season if we have room for another player, we bring in a forward.

Can't see this being true he has not been there 2 minutes.

Re: Rumours and signings 2010 v1 : Fri Jan 15, 2010 11:53 am  

jonh wrote:

Can't see this being true he has not been there 2 minutes.

Looking at the Leeds board there doesn't look to be anything in it tbh. It was simply a question of how he's going on in union and people replying he'll more then likely end up like a Pryce or Walker at Wigan or HKR.

I'd guess he'll just be learning the game and that could take ages.

Re: Rumours and signings 2010 v1 : Fri Jan 15, 2010 11:55 am  

The only possible way I could see this being true with Lee Smith is if he's done what Rads supposedly did when he was being tempted by Union.

Allegedly, Rads went to check out a few games and, having watched a load of fatties rolling around in the mud, thought: "Good grief, why the hell would I want to give up my career for that?" The cash Club Britain offered him helped, of course, but apparently he wasn't impressed by any of the Union action he saw.

Maybe Lee Smith is now thinking the same thing? Though I'd be very surprised if Wigan went for him. He's a good player, and IL is supposedly a fan, but where in the backs would be play him? We've got good, healthy competition for all places now. As someone else said, I'd sooner we got a crumping front-rower