Often wondered if they do. Not just ours but others as well. I think if I was a player, I would be fascinated to know what people are saying about me but maybe if they are always in the news, they don't look at it like that. If they do read them, they must have their feelings hurt now and then.
As for managers if they lose two games in a row, they have lost the plot /no plan B / lost the dressing room / tactics all wrong etc etc
Well paid for it though I suppose and sticks and stones.
I remember Stockdale tweeting something about FoF when he played for us so I think some would definitely.
I'd steer well clear if I was a player though!
I hope not. They would all leave!
I'm sure there's a temptation but they should all give forums a wide birth. Psychological preparation in sport is so important and the last thing you want is ill informed, if sincere, comments affecting you (whether swelling heads or pricking hard won confidence).
Are their social media dealings not done by an employee.
I would suspect they occasionally read social media comments but not this forum
I've often thought that I hope they don't, some of the things that are said about them.
I think GJ does, though as I've heard him reference the drinking game: "goalkeeper's kit, not getting replays, get up yer ponce etc."
I reckon players might have an ambivalent attitude towards all social media - given their ages, so being brought up with it.
I would advise anyone in the public eye to avoid reading it, or posting on it, but players obviously do, since they often report incidents of abuse.
Though Twitter and Tik Tok are probably the main social media outlets players look at, you would think some might be tempted to look in in fan forums, just see what fans are saying.
If they look in on FoF, I doubt many would return! Though I doubt FoF is any worse than any other fan forum, and as for radio phone-ins on 5 Live or discussions on Talk Sport......
Maybe a player is likely to look in, or listen to stuff if their team has won, and is doing well, but if the opposite, I think you would soon learn to stay away.
Some do, some don't. Know a former PL player who used to post on fan forums. The comments posted wouldn't bother them in the slightest. Tame compared to the stuff they'd hear at games.
Quote from: St Eve on September 12, 2022, 09:47:38 PM
I hope not. They would all leave!
I surely hope they don't, they should know much better. That said, whether they view a forum or the daily papers, professional athletes need to have thick skin and not let public opinion impact their performances or their psyche.