when we are with our families, enjoying time away from work, recharging after a long year, what of our boss, what of Bielsa?
He won't be going home, he will be here in a foreign country, either in hotel or rented home, without family and friends.
One hopes that the players and the club realise this and try their best to ensure he is amongst people who care and made to feel special.
Maybe his wife and daughters will come to visit him, but I hope he is supported and enjoys his time here, that he feels how much the city cares for him.
On this day
posted on 25/12/18
comment by Jonty (U4614)
posted 6 minutes ago
Once he's left his training with his players, he's on his own, when everyone and their dog is going on about being with their families.
It's a big sacrifice to move abroad for work, even more so when you're leaving family and friends, just look at Saiz as an example of what happens sometimes.
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how do you know?
posted on 25/12/18
See Jonty, some people have it worse than Bielsa, morespurs bless him is so desperate for company he's come to our board looking for someone to talk to.
If you want to pity anyone, pity that poor sod.
posted on 25/12/18
I think you are making a few assumptions here, Jonty, about Bielsa, his family and his feelings. The fact is that he chose to live and work in the UK. He gets paid well and I imagine his lifestyle is a comfortable.
However, he never gives the impression that he is driven by family or materialistic goals, but rather, by an idealism about football and how it should be played, and how, as a coach, he should inspire and guide his players.
Everything he says and does is about the game, his players and his football philosophy. That's as it should be. As an emigrant, you build resilience at personal and professional levels and to be successful, you embrace the culture and values of the place you live in. You still hold true to your own identity, but you won't last long if you are harbouring the desire to be somewhere else, among the people you feel more comfortable with. Perhaps JLA and Germany and others would like to add to this, but I look at foreign managers and coaches in the UK as an adaptable, focused and resilient bunch. Their jobs demand that they work throughout the festive season and they are well rewarded for what they do. It is pretty difficult to work your way into football management and each of them has had to forge a pathway, overcome challenges and beat off the competition.
We can feel for Marcelo at this time but honestly, I do not think he would be feeling sorry for himself or at an emotional loss. He's been in the business a long time, his family have been with him a long time, they all know the score.
If you get the chance over the holidays and want to get an insight into the life of a great coach, who spent many years abroad, have a look at the film about Bobby Robson on Netflix. I think this gives the viewer a good perspective on the life of a coach at that level, and the kind of character you need to be, to be successful.
posted on 25/12/18
I’ve got a lot of insight into immigrants here, have loads of east Europeans as customers, every holiday they leave the uk, mostly going back home.
I have others where Dad is back in China, every holiday they reunite etc etc.
Just because someone is paid well doesn’t mean their family aren’t the most important thing to them and they miss them when away.
All I’m saying is that I hope people appreciate this and make it as easy as possible, it’s more than just inviting a foreign work colleague for dinner one night.
posted on 25/12/18
That's human nature Jonty to want to spend time with family and friends and in familiar places. Dolce Donum as described very well by Kenneth Grahame.
A call to be home doesn't mean he feels that all the time.
Footballers often say that they have to put normal lives on hold throughout their careers and that they are unable to celebrate like normal people.
In football you have to make sacrifices but the rewards for players and managers alike, mostly, more than make up for it.
posted on 25/12/18
Christmas is NOT a holiday for UK footballers or those in UK football. It is the busiest football time of the year. None of them have any time to take a holiday. They chose this awesome life, which like everyone, sometimes requires sacrifices.
Get over yourselves, they ain't cooking turkey, playing charades, watching Strictly and getting pi55ed.
posted on 25/12/18
comment by Long Short Tall (U19233)
posted 1 hour, 52 minutes ago
Christmas is NOT a holiday for UK footballers or those in UK football. It is the busiest football time of the year. None of them have any time to take a holiday. They chose this awesome life, which like everyone, sometimes requires sacrifices.
Get over yourselves, they ain't cooking turkey, playing charades, watching Strictly and getting pi55ed.
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Tell that to Gazza, LST
posted on 26/12/18
Jonty, I came over here with the British Military, I met a German lass and married, I have two step Sons one off which lives in London and will say stuff Germany, and I have "My" Daughter who with my wife is my only true blood, but is the only reason I'm still here!..
I spent yesterday with my Wife's Family and today with our friends!..
Had a great time but intend to go out later, or for you tomorrow and get blitzed because I'm fecked off with not being around "My family"!..
I wish I had 5% of what our Chief has, well, truth be said, what I have even less would do!..
posted on 26/12/18
Think Phil hay said he was seeing his family
posted on 28/12/18
"@LucasRadebe
It’s that time of the year when the boys are working overtime away from their families. We come together to support them and see them through the festive season so they can bring the league home! MOT"