Players Smoking - Your Thoughts?

the recent pictures of Wilshere smoking has raised some sort of debate.

do you think it is acceptable for a player to have the odd ciggy who is at the very top end of his game who is paid millions of ££££ to train to be at the very peak condition as possible

what would you think if you saw one of our players today having a ciggy on a night out in Southampton? Would you not care? would you be disappointed?

personally, I think Jack (and any professional player) should stay well away. Smoking does not give you anything really and for the sums of money they get, its almost a no brainer not to smoke.

also, Wilshere tweeting images of Zidane smoking was a tad odd. When Jack becomes one of the greatest of all time, then he may compare

Remember Hassan Kashloul saying when he first came to England that he was shocked of the way certain footballeurs here went about their Life here. Also said that certain saints Players at the Time were smoking too.

Personally think footballeurs should well stay away from it because it affects endurance.

They can smoke all they want after their carreer.

How can they play to their full potential with crap reducing their lung capacity ?

also, Wilshere tweeting images of Zidane smoking was a tad odd. When Jack becomes one of the greatest of all time, then he may compare

but he became one of the greatest of all even with smoking...so does it matter that much?

Personally I don't care if our player smoke, drink, eat ****...as long as they perform to their abilities.

Is it any different from players that go drinking on a night out during a football season? Shouldn't really do either in my opinion.

It is not unusual for Italian players to smoke when not on a match day,part of the culture of the 2nd largest smoking country in Europe.

They think it far worse that our players drink beer on non training days,or in the evening after weekend matches.

So I think it is more about how you grow up and the culture of that country.

but he became one of the greatest of all even with smoking...so does it matter that much?

 

Personally I don't care if our player smoke, drink, eat ****...as long as they perform to their abilities.

Wilshere is no Zidane, and never will be. I think he should listen to his manager and not start trying to defend himself. He gets paid that much a week to work hard on the training ground and give his best in matches. He needs to be in the best shape possible and that includes not smoking or abusing your body/health in any other way. Many people would happily swap positions with him.

Well you wouldn't say Wilshire has performed to his potential this season would you?

Didn't think he was playing too badly.

And people are confusing the thread - no one is saying Wilshire is as good or has the potential to be as good as Zidane lol

I'd have thought not smoking would be an obvious basic rule of being a professional athlete.

I'd have thought not smoking would be an obvious basic rule of being a professional athlete.

Don't forget that footballers are basically thick.

Saw Claus smoking in Jaks plenty of times

The other prime example of a top player smoking was Socrates, the Brazilian captain from the late 70's/early 80's, who smoked anywhere between 40 & 60 a day depending on who reports it. That said, he came from a game which in general is not as fast as the game in this country is now.

As an athlete, players should be trying to maximise their potential in what is a relatively short playing career. Sadly, footballers seem to be happy taking the multi-million pound contracts without making the sacrifices they should do. Smoking is one of those sacrifices (as should drinking).

The other prime example of a top player smoking was Socrates, the Brazilian captain from the late 70's/early 80's, who smoked anywhere between 40 & 60 a day depending on who reports it. That said, he came from a game which in general is not as fast as the game in this country is now.

 

As an athlete, players should be trying to maximise their potential in what is a relatively short playing career. Sadly, footballers seem to be happy taking the multi-million pound contracts without making the sacrifices they should do. Smoking is one of those sacrifices (as should drinking).

Great player but might he have been even better without the fag?

In the end the booze finished him off at 57 before the weed could.

I'd have thought not smoking would be an obvious basic rule of being an intelligent human being

Corrected it for you

Saw Claus smoking in Jaks plenty of times

Which just goes to prove that smoking inhibits a player from fulfilling his potential. I know there is a lot of love for Claus, but he really wasn't that good when Killer wasn't there to look after him.

Their business in my opinion. Smoking won't effect their performance in their younger years, it will catch up with them later in life though though. Socrates (Brazil) & Cruyff (Holland) two great footballing smokers.

I'm a bit surprised Boruc's name hasn't been mentioned yet, the chainsmoking keeper.

Maybe that's changed since he came to the club but standards weren't so high north of the border...

Joe Hart just given up , he was dropping too many!

the recent pictures of Wilshere smoking has raised some sort of debate.

do you think it is acceptable for a player to have the odd ciggy who is at the very top end of his game who is paid millions of ££££ to train to be at the very peak condition as possible

 

 

what would you think if you saw one of our players today having a ciggy on a night out in Southampton? Would you not care? would you be disappointed?

 

personally, I think Jack (and any professional player) should stay well away. Smoking does not give you anything really and for the sums of money they get, its almost a no brainer not to smoke.

 

also, Wilshere tweeting images of Zidane smoking was a tad odd. When Jack becomes one of the greatest of all time, then he may compare

For me it's more about the message he is sending. He has been blessed with this amazing talent and imo he should do everything possible to be the best he can be. Smoking just sort of gives out a message that he does t really care which is depressing.

I had to do a medical to play competitive footie, and one of the tests was lung capacity: "I can see you don't smoke" said the doctor, looking at the results. I might not last 90 minutes (although I had to last season) but I wouldn't be playing at all if I'd ever smoked.

Probably drink a bit too much though, but then I pay to play!

but he became one of the greatest of all even with smoking...so does it matter that much?

 

Personally I don't care if our player smoke, drink, eat ****...as long as they perform to their abilities.

They won't if they do this. Anyone who knows anything about nutrition and fitness will tell you diet is key to everything. Footballers get paid a fortune these days and they'll always counter that by saying its a short career, well in that case they've got plenty of time to smoke, drink and eat mcdonalds when its over.

You'd have to question the dedication of any professional athlete who smokes. There's a strong suggestion there of not really caring about keeping in prime condition. To me it says their heart's not really in it and that they lack a certain strength of character.

Going on about Zidane reminds me of people going on about Sheringham every time playing until you're in your late thirties is discussed. We mention these people because they stand out as unusual and don't represent how you should expect things to be.

I think players smoking is pretty cool actually, makes me wana do it

I once saw Matt Oakley smoking in O'Neill's (now the White Star) in Oxford Street. I guess the likes of him and Claus were from the last generation of players where smoking was deemed to be in any way tolerable.

For me it's more about the message he is sending. He has been blessed with this amazing talent and imo he should do everything possible to be the best he can be. Smoking just sort of gives out a message that he does t really care which is depressing.

Agreed. I eat absolute sh*t, but if I had half of his talent I would do everything in my power to get in top condition.

Remember watching a Saints game on the telly in my local and an injured team captain Jason Dodd coming in to watch. He smoked the whole way through the game.

I had to do a medical to play competitive footie, and one of the tests was lung capacity: "I can see you don't smoke" said the doctor, looking at the results. I might not last 90 minutes (although I had to last season) but I wouldn't be playing at all if I'd ever smoked.

 

Probably drink a bit too much though, but then I pay to play!

This is an excellent comparison and very relevant.

Ye boruc smokes and always has. It's why he is always chewing gum when on club duty

We've become totally hysterical about smoking in Britain.

Sure, it's bad for you. But you'd think it's the health equivalent of eating weapons grade plutonium for the paranoia it generates.

Smoking an occasional cigarette is no more of a health risk than walking along a busy road and inhaling the fumes.

A regular habit isn't smart for an athlete - or anyone else - but if Wilshere smokes, say, 2 or 3 cigarettes a week, it's a matter of total trivia.

Boruc and Osvaldo both like a puff, allegedly.

Boruc and Osvaldo both like a puff, allegedly.

They are not the only ones.

Best left back in the world?

Wasn't Lundekvam a smoker?

he's having a fag to keep on chatting that bird up. sometimes you have to have a fag with them to carry on the chirpse.

They are not the only ones.

Is Poch on the meth?

I doubt the odd cigarette would do any harm, I doubt he's on 20 a day.

I think they should smoke a pipe....whilst playing, like in the old days.

I remeber during the twenties when you could avoid a yellow card if you offered the fouled player one of your woodbines.

And at half time players going into the opponents dressing room and having discussions on kierkegaard and wittgenstein over a brandy and a choice cigar.

'If people never did silly things nothing intelligent would ever get done.'

How times change!

I have a 1918 programme for a matinee concert to raise money for 'The Patients' Cigarette Fund' and 'Easy Chairs for the YMCA Hut at Eastleigh'.

As long as they aren't busting pre-match bongs and I don't care.

They get paid according to their ability. If smoking lessens their ability then they will not be worth as much. It's their pay and their decision.

In other words, I don't care unless they are taking performance ENHANCING drugs rather than the opposite.

Is Poch on the meth?

Couldn't give a sh1t. Their life, their choice. More depressing to read a load of old sanctimonious bollok's in these posts than it is to see any pictures of a lad having a quick snout when out on the toot.

 

Best left back in the world?

 

Wasn't Lundekvam a smoker?

Post-sex fag after car sex with Keith Lemmon

Literally couldn't give a stuff.

Also people getting wound up about footballers having a night out after games - I always have a few beers after work on a Friday, much the same with them, who really cares.

I've always taken the view that I don't mind. If they pass the fitness tests, which to be fair, are pretty stringent - I am really not too bothered.

It's their life, their body and their choice. If that coincides with earning a great living whilst enjoying their career and habits, good on them.