Had a feeling the injury was milked hence why Bowyers comments never bothered me. Good riddance it is then, I hope the people who were genuinely backing Maddison over Bowyer have some humble pie for breakfast
It's best he goes. Not only did a large number of fans not give him a chance , neither did the manager.
The very few times we saw him i though he had that X Factor and was capable of doing something special.
Bowyers just wan't players that do what he did when he played. That won't get us promoted out of this poxy league.
I'm sad to see him go.
Everyone wanted it to work out, those who weren’t sure wanted to be proven wrong. He didn’t fail because some fans questioned his attitude. Fans haven’t even been at most of the games.
You’d expect any player however talented to have to earn their place in the team through their performances in training. If Maddison hasn’t done that why should he start games? What would that say to the rest of the squad?
Bowyer’s said himself some players tackle harder than others. He doesn’t expect wingers to throw themselves in to tackles like Pratley does but he does expect every player to work hard. Isn’t that what fans demand too? You often see fans blaming players for lacking passion or commitment after a poor result.
He had an excellent record at Posh, he regularly started games, scored goals and got assists - but he’s not so good that we should make exceptions just for him. In Millar and Jaiyesimi we have two wingers who are very capable at this level and appear to have the hunger to improve. We’re also one of the top scorers in the league, we’ve shown we can create and score without Maddison on the pitch.
We’ve improved in recent weeks and I can see that continuing. Maddison on the other hand will probably have yet another new club in the summer. I think his spell at Posh will turn out to be his peak and he needs to impress at Bolton if he doesn’t want to carry on his decline.
I've no idea what changed in Maddison's life over the past few years, but whatever it was has left him as seriously damaged goods and his mental health clearly isn't right.
I would question whether he had found a peer group outside of football that weren't good for either his career or his mental health either way they probably dropped him when he started to act a bit weird.
Shame because the Marcus Maddison of two years ago could have and should have been a Championship player.
The argument that he's good enough/makes enough difference that Bowyer should have persevered or cut him more slack is one I can sort of understand but disagree with.
For one thing it sends completely the wrong message to younger or fringe players who will think the Billy Big-Bollocks approach is okay if you're good enough. It's not.
For another it sets a slippery slope for any manager, especially one like Bowyer who demands a certain level of effort and physicality as the bare minimum. Where do you draw the line between "talent" and "graft"? If you let Maddison "get away with" less physical effort, what about the likes of Williams? Or even Schwartz?
There's a place for creative players, attacking players. Miller is an example. But you have to show some physicality too. Right or wrong that is a consistent through line in Bowyer's management and it can hardly surprise anyone by now.
I've no idea what changed in Maddison's life over the past few years, but whatever it was has left him as seriously damaged goods and his mental health clearly isn't right.
I would question whether he had found a peer group outside of football that weren't good for either his career or his mental health either way they probably dropped him when he started to act a bit weird.
Shame because the Marcus Maddison of two years ago could have and should have been a Championship player.
I don't think you end up like Marcus unless you have suffered some very serious childhood trauma, unfortunately. I don't think the bloke can help himself.
It wouldn't surprise me if he came in, spent time with the squad then tells them after he has been in close contact with somebody who has had covid and yet to have his own test.
Complete guess but it seems the kinda thing MM 'does'.
LB gave the game away when he said
“Then, someone he knew had Covid. And obviously he had that ankle injury, didn’t he. So, Marcus Maddison is not training.
“I’ve not seen him for a few days. I think I saw him yesterday from a distance with the fitness people, ticking boxes."
He didn't say that Maddison had been in "contact" with someone with covid which is what people would normally do. "That ankle injury" and "didn't he" both cast doubt upon the validity of the injury, the fact that a Manager hasn't seen him for a few days suggests he has no real interest in him and that he thinks he was "ticking boxes" infers that Maddison was doing something that was actually only being done for the sake of doing so.
I've already said that we should move on but bizarrely find myself not able to do so. I used the phrase "dodged a bullet" when we missed out on him and he went to Hull simply because everything I heard about him told me that he had he thought he was a much better footballer than he actually was - one that was capable of brilliance but also lazy and a liability when not in the mood.
Then when we eventually signed him I questioned why it took 'til October for someone to sign such a gifted footballer - a player that can be trouble isn't a secret in football. Then, when he signed, we had the social media postings about what he was eating and how he was going to have to train by himself - the sort of things people that are desperate for attention.
Maddison really needs to sort himself out and I hope that moving nearer to home will help him do that. There is one thing in life (and this isn't the first time I've said this on here) is wasted talent. There is nothing wrong with admitting that professional sport isn't for you if that is the case. What is wrong is pretending to everyone else but, more importantly, yourself, that it is because unless you train hard you can't play hard. In modern sport that is even more so.
All that I have said does not excuse LB in this affair and the way that he has handled players at times. I was called to task by one eminent poster on here for questioning why he so publicly lambasted Bonne for missing a chance - it served no purpose whatsoever to do so. He carried on doing that with others.
That said, it's a clean sheet now and LB has learnt from that. He cannot, however, argue that he doesn't have the squad that he wants and presumably one that he thinks he can now unite. It's up to him to get the best out of them and that we really should be making the play offs. I doubt that the squads of Accrington, Doncaster and others have the quality or depth that we enjoy now.
He’s going to end up like Ravel Morrison and disappear in to obscurity. Wanted talent - drives me mad.
Exactly the comparison that went through my mind. I'm aware that Morrison has had some pretty difficult struggles in his life that have affected him, but he's one of those 'this time' players. Sir Alex Ferguson, probably the greatest man manager in the history of the game gave up on him, but there was a feeling that getting away from bad influences in Manchester and the tutelage of Sam Allardyce at West Ham would help him. A loan to Birmingham was nearly cut short because he couldn't behave, he was sent on loan to QPR because his attitude wasn't right for West Ham, then to Cardiff and a point where neither Cardiff or West Ham wanted him anymore. Then Lazio, QPR again, Atlas, Ostersund, Sheff Utd, Middlesbrough and Den Haag. Never for more than a year, he hasn't played more than 20 games since 12/13 and he's currently without a club aged 28. For a while every move was 'if Ravel can sort his attitude out, if this manager can fix him, if this change of scenery' but he always remained the same person. Maddison needs to ensure he doesn't follow this path, because once a downward spiral like this starts it can be very hard to get out of it. He was without a club for the whole summer and we were his chance to rebuild himself, and he seems to have thrown that away at lightspeed. Now he's in L2, but if he doesn't perform for Bolton over the next few months then you'll be wondering which L2 team will touch him. He might end up looking even lower. I hope he sorts his head out for his own sake
Just so annoying,thousands of kids would love the chance to play pro football,but dont have the talent,this guy has talent and skill to burn and is pissing it up the wall.So frustrating ,but I do feel for him as I think he is going to have some sort of mental issues in later life hope he gets sorted before it is too late.
Judging by comments on the transfer thread, he has been spending quite a lot of time knobbing his way around SE London - how does that work in terms of lockdown / stay at home / the player ‘bubble’ !!!
Judging by comments on the transfer thread, he has been spending quite a lot of time knobbing his way around SE London - how does that work in terms of lockdown / stay at home / the player ‘bubble’ !!!
I've no idea what changed in Maddison's life over the past few years, but whatever it was has left him as seriously damaged goods and his mental health clearly isn't right.
I would question whether he had found a peer group outside of football that weren't good for either his career or his mental health either way they probably dropped him when he started to act a bit weird.
Shame because the Marcus Maddison of two years ago could have and should have been a Championship player.
Sorry for your loss Dazz, I know you thought a lot of him and his tatts.
Judging by comments on the transfer thread, he has been spending quite a lot of time knobbing his way around SE London - how does that work in terms of lockdown / stay at home / the player ‘bubble’ !!!
I've no idea what changed in Maddison's life over the past few years, but whatever it was has left him as seriously damaged goods and his mental health clearly isn't right.
I would question whether he had found a peer group outside of football that weren't good for either his career or his mental health either way they probably dropped him when he started to act a bit weird.
Shame because the Marcus Maddison of two years ago could have and should have been a Championship player.
I don't think you end up like Marcus unless you have suffered some very serious childhood trauma, unfortunately. I don't think the bloke can help himself.
I think you’re both over thinking it.
Some people are just pricks, turns out MM is one of them.
I've no idea what changed in Maddison's life over the past few years, but whatever it was has left him as seriously damaged goods and his mental health clearly isn't right.
I would question whether he had found a peer group outside of football that weren't good for either his career or his mental health either way they probably dropped him when he started to act a bit weird.
Shame because the Marcus Maddison of two years ago could have and should have been a Championship player.
That’s the real difficulty of going in to football as your career. At no point can you deviate from being top of your game, as with age it’s over too soon.
Think back to when I had mental health problems and other addictions, lost my way in work for a couple of years, and had to start all over again in my 30s. Not possible to do that in football as you’re then right down the pecking order trying to rebuild your career at that age.
Hope he finds a good group at Bolton and gets back on his feet. Clearly talented and on that alone should be no where near a relegation fight in league 2. The fact it’s not worked out for him at 3 different clubs in a year means somethings not right with his behaviour. But again, hopefully things will click back in to place for him at Bolton.
I've no idea what changed in Maddison's life over the past few years, but whatever it was has left him as seriously damaged goods and his mental health clearly isn't right.
I have no idea about his personal life but it seems he has a child & is not in a relationship with its mother. If he is now living in London & not seeing much of his kid I would imagine that could have a big impact on his mental health.
I've no idea what changed in Maddison's life over the past few years, but whatever it was has left him as seriously damaged goods and his mental health clearly isn't right.
I would question whether he had found a peer group outside of football that weren't good for either his career or his mental health either way they probably dropped him when he started to act a bit weird.
Shame because the Marcus Maddison of two years ago could have and should have been a Championship player.
Sorry for your loss Dazz, I know you thought a lot of him and his tatts.
#prayfordazzler
Thank you for your kind comments, with the help of my forum mates I will be able to learn to cope with it.
Genuinely though he was one of the most talented players we've signed since the premier league days, sadly he never lived up to his talent and it appears he has chosen to throw his career away with his ego/attitude coupled with his current mental health state.
Marcus is a very strange character. Feel like he's had no real guidance in life. I know him vaguely and am friends with his ex girlfriend who he has a child with. Some of the rumours about him in Peterborough are despicable and if the same went on at Charlton it's for the best that he moves on. Genuinely think the bloke could benefit from some sort of psychological treatment, although I think it's a bit late to salvage his career.
If everything everyone is saying about Maddison is true then surely Bowyer should come out at the end of the season when his contract is up and let everyone know what type of character he is. If he has nicked a years salary from us than let everyone else know what his like so no one touches him so he loses out on future lucrative contracts.
If everything everyone is saying about Maddison is true then surely Bowyer should come out at the end of the season when his contract is up and let everyone know what type of character he is. If he has nicked a years salary from us than let everyone else know what his like so no one touches him so he loses out on future lucrative contracts.
Comments
You’d expect any player however talented to have to earn their place in the team through their performances in training. If Maddison hasn’t done that why should he start games? What would that say to the rest of the squad?
Bowyer’s said himself some players tackle harder than others. He doesn’t expect wingers to throw themselves in to tackles like Pratley does but he does expect every player to work hard. Isn’t that what fans demand too? You often see fans blaming players for lacking passion or commitment after a poor result.
He had an excellent record at Posh, he regularly started games, scored goals and got assists - but he’s not so good that we should make exceptions just for him. In Millar and Jaiyesimi we have two wingers who are very capable at this level and appear to have the hunger to improve. We’re also one of the top scorers in the league, we’ve shown we can create and score without Maddison on the pitch.
We’ve improved in recent weeks and I can see that continuing. Maddison on the other hand will probably have yet another new club in the summer. I think his spell at Posh will turn out to be his peak and he needs to impress at Bolton if he doesn’t want to carry on his decline.
I would question whether he had found a peer group outside of football that weren't good for either his career or his mental health either way they probably dropped him when he started to act a bit weird.
Shame because the Marcus Maddison of two years ago could have and should have been a Championship player.
For one thing it sends completely the wrong message to younger or fringe players who will think the Billy Big-Bollocks approach is okay if you're good enough. It's not.
For another it sets a slippery slope for any manager, especially one like Bowyer who demands a certain level of effort and physicality as the bare minimum. Where do you draw the line between "talent" and "graft"? If you let Maddison "get away with" less physical effort, what about the likes of Williams? Or even Schwartz?
There's a place for creative players, attacking players. Miller is an example. But you have to show some physicality too. Right or wrong that is a consistent through line in Bowyer's management and it can hardly surprise anyone by now.
“Then, someone he knew had Covid. And obviously he had that ankle injury, didn’t he. So, Marcus Maddison is not training.
“I’ve not seen him for a few days. I think I saw him yesterday from a distance with the fitness people, ticking boxes."
He didn't say that Maddison had been in "contact" with someone with covid which is what people would normally do. "That ankle injury" and "didn't he" both cast doubt upon the validity of the injury, the fact that a Manager hasn't seen him for a few days suggests he has no real interest in him and that he thinks he was "ticking boxes" infers that Maddison was doing something that was actually only being done for the sake of doing so.
I've already said that we should move on but bizarrely find myself not able to do so. I used the phrase "dodged a bullet" when we missed out on him and he went to Hull simply because everything I heard about him told me that he had he thought he was a much better footballer than he actually was - one that was capable of brilliance but also lazy and a liability when not in the mood.
Then when we eventually signed him I questioned why it took 'til October for someone to sign such a gifted footballer - a player that can be trouble isn't a secret in football. Then, when he signed, we had the social media postings about what he was eating and how he was going to have to train by himself - the sort of things people that are desperate for attention.
Maddison really needs to sort himself out and I hope that moving nearer to home will help him do that. There is one thing in life (and this isn't the first time I've said this on here) is wasted talent. There is nothing wrong with admitting that professional sport isn't for you if that is the case. What is wrong is pretending to everyone else but, more importantly, yourself, that it is because unless you train hard you can't play hard. In modern sport that is even more so.
All that I have said does not excuse LB in this affair and the way that he has handled players at times. I was called to task by one eminent poster on here for questioning why he so publicly lambasted Bonne for missing a chance - it served no purpose whatsoever to do so. He carried on doing that with others.
That said, it's a clean sheet now and LB has learnt from that. He cannot, however, argue that he doesn't have the squad that he wants and presumably one that he thinks he can now unite. It's up to him to get the best out of them and that we really should be making the play offs. I doubt that the squads of Accrington, Doncaster and others have the quality or depth that we enjoy now.
#prayfordazzler
Some people are just pricks, turns out MM is one of them.
Easy to say now, but I bet they weren't saying it when he was scoring all those goals (62) for them and setting up loads of chances for their strikers
Thank you for your kind comments, with the help of my forum mates I will be able to learn to cope with it.
Genuinely though he was one of the most talented players we've signed since the premier league days, sadly he never lived up to his talent and it appears he has chosen to throw his career away with his ego/attitude coupled with his current mental health state.
Law of averages innit.
We all concluded because he was far away. Seems we've done the typical footie fan thing and overlooked what has been obvious in front of our eyes.