I haven't read too much of this thread but I want to say something about this.
Fitzy has admitted that Tim is an alcoholic. So if thats the case, how f**ken ridiculous was the punishment they handed down a week ago. The kid has an illness, a disease and to say "you can't drink for 12 months" is pointless and downright idiotic.
He cant stop folks. He cant. Doesn't know how, his mind wont let him. Why don't some of you understand that. HE CAN NOT STOP !!! Doesn't matter what threats you make about tearing up contracts, killing his firstborn, whatever- HE CAN'T STOP!!
That is what addiction is. He needs help and it appears he's getting it. It will take a long time to heal. Some never do !!!
Tearing up his contract will not cure his illness. Do you think when Mick Vella had cancer, that it would have gone away if we threatened to sack him? It may sound like a long bow but its not - they are both illnesses that need curing.
Will Tim drink again? Yes - of course he f**ken will. And again. And again too. Get used to it. Until he's cured completely (if he can be) then it wont stop.
Maybe we should all be a bit more understanding of the situation. He can't help it. His mind is making him do it and he can't stop. I hope the club do the right thing by him - sacking him will achieve nothing !!!!!
Sacking won't achieve anything in itself.
But will
retaining him achieve anything? Did the last few disciplinary procedures achieve anything?
Maybe a "professional" football career is, as it was for Julian O'Neill, the worst thing for this kid?
It gives him an inflated sense of self worth, over pays him, leaves him with huge amounts of free time, the lure of fame and free drinks, the capacity and time to drink more, plus offers all of the additional pressures which possibly increase his urge to drink. Plus puts him in an environment with other young famous well paid blokes who seem to take every opportunity to get plastered themselves.
I put "professional" in inverted commas because for all our club likes to think they have an incredibly professional approach to training and facilities, several of his teammates have spent the offseason drinking heavily and in the public eye. Tim himself is meant to be recovering from injury.
What would be the worst thing for an alcoholic recovering from injury attempting to get back on the professional football field?
Could it, possibly, be getting on the turps? When he does just that, what steps do the club put in place to monitor it and prevent it? None. What attitude do his senior teammates convey?
We are just coming across as a joint where you get paid real well to get on the turps and underachieve year in year out.
