Stefan Payne

Quoted from Rick12

I think it's a mindset thing though. Had ability but drinking habits and the like let them down. Rio Ferdinand said it in his book as well. There were players growing up who were better than him but they got into drink, partys and girls which led them astray.

Rio was led astray too.

Rio managed to get banned for drink driving, banned for speeding, somehow skipped a drugs test causing him to miss Euro 2004, cheated on his late wife on multiple occasions and racially abused a fellow professional.

He seems to have grown up now though.

Quoted from Knut Anders Fosters Voles

Rio was led astray too.

Rio managed to get banned for drink driving, banned for speeding, somehow skipped a drugs test causing him to miss Euro 2004, cheated on his late wife on multiple occasions and racially abused a fellow professional.

He seems to have grown up now though.

True Knut's but as a youngster he was travelling to training 3 times a week to West Ham over a 3 hour round trip on public transport on his own over a fair few years whilst some of his friends couldn't be bothered and took the easy route eg females  and party's. He sacrificed a lot in them early years for the love of the game which is something I deeply admire.

Quoted from moosey_club

Signing twice for them, Chesterfield must be trying to pull some scam over wages or squad size.

The first Stefan Payne they signed has probably been furloughed.

Quoted from Rick12

I think it's a mindset thing though. Had ability but drinking habits and the like let them down. Rio Ferdinand said it in his book as well. There were players growing up who were better than him but they got into drink, partys and girls which led them astray.

Mindset is crucial. I was at school with and played in the same team as Paul Wilkinson. He was a very good player but we had at least one kid who was a more gifted footballer. Paul was focused like a laser beam and as the rest of us discovered girls and then booze and then parties Paul just didn't get involved (or to a significantly lesser extent). The more gifted player threw himself at the girls/booze/parties. At 13 years old if you had asked me which one of them will make it as a footballer I would not have said Paul.

Quoted from BobbyCummingsTackle

Mindset is crucial. I was at school with and played in the same team as Paul Wilkinson. He was a very good player but we had at least one kid who was a more gifted footballer. Paul was focused like a laser beam and as the rest of us discovered girls and then booze and then parties Paul just didn't get involved (or to a significantly lesser extent). The more gifted player threw himself at the girls/booze/parties. At 13 years old if you had asked me which one of them will make it as a footballer I would not have said Paul.

Its why I admire the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo. Has ability but also the mental resolve to sacrifice things for the greater good eg always looking for ways to improve. Likewise his drinking is kept to a minimum eg 1 or 2 glasses of wine on his off days as opposed to 6-8 bottles of beer and even more  at the weekend which some players do .

Quoted from Rick12

True Knut's but as a youngster he was travelling to training 3 times a week to West Ham over a 3 hour round trip on public transport on his own over a fair few years whilst some of his friends couldn't be bothered and took the easy route eg females  and party's. He sacrificed a lot in them early years for the love of the game which is something I deeply admire.

Disgusting!

Surprised Amnesty didn't get on the case. Clear breach of his human rights, travelling to work on a train, or worse still, a bus.

Quoted from Rick12

Its why I admire the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo. Has ability but also the mental resolve to sacrifice things for the greater good eg always looking for ways to improve. Likewise his drinking is kept to a minimum eg 1 or 2 glasses of wine on his off days as opposed to 6-8 bottles of beer and even more  at the weekend which some players do .

And still phenomenally fit at 36 (37?).

Quoted from ginnywings

Disgusting!

Surprised Amnesty didn't get on the case. Clear breach of his human rights, travelling to work on a train, or worse still, a bus.

Its all about the mental discipline. If youve ever played the game Ginny at a competent level eg youth team or at professional academy  you will know  the pitfalls and the dog eat dog culture which exists . Likewise as a youngster which Rio Ferdinand was at the time eg 14 years old or there abouts his brain is still developing and the chances to slip away or be influenced by other distractions are plentiful.Likewise he didnt come from a affluent background but a council estate where the opportunity to slip up was possibly greater eg more drugs/crime for one. I for one have met youth team players who have slipped up and couldn't be bothered with all the pressures and subsequently released as their attitude wasn't right . Easier to go with your friends and drink a bit and chat up to the females and go parting than it is to go a long way into London on your own. I wouldnt knock Rio Ferdinand unless you was in his shoes. Easy to be sarcastic to something when your not experiencing football yourself in all its pain and glory as a football player especially in the professional realms.

Quoted from Rick12

True Knut's but as a youngster he was travelling to training 3 times a week to West Ham over a 3 hour round trip on public transport on his own over a fair few years whilst some of his friends couldn't be bothered and took the easy route eg females  and party's. He sacrificed a lot in them early years for the love of the game which is something I deeply admire.

This is a strange example to give. I've not read Rio's book/whatever you've got this from, but I thought Rio was a Londoner, so how is it any sort of sacrifice to travel around London to get to training for a top tier London club?

Off the top of my head; Alan Shearer moved away from Newcastle to join Southampton at the other end of the country as a teen.  David Beckham went to Man United from London too, surely there are many other better examples of sacrifice than Rio's?.  

When I think of talent but a waster that had ego over desire I think locally…Freddie Cass and Jack Barlow spring to mind.

Could’ve had it, never actually made it…apart from in their heads