The truth about Royston...

[Who Moved The Goalposts?]

Not often I totally agree with Ian, but he has the point nailed here. Screwing up one chance is forgivable, two chances careless but the rest? He's the common denominator in all his problems, and it seems he is either unable or unwilling to learn. Waste of talent for sure, but right now, more a huge waste of money.

[Extended-Phenotype]

Not often I totally agree with Ian, but he has the point nailed here. Screwing up one chance is forgivable, two chances careless but the rest? He's the common denominator in all his problems, and it seems he is either unable or unwilling to learn. Waste of talent for sure, but right now, more a huge waste of money.

On what evidence? Honestly, have I missed something or is all this "he's been a total arsetard" just conjecture?

[Who Moved The Goalposts?]

You want a sworn statement, perhaps?

I'm happy to settle for the prima facie evidence that he has had a few clubs now and has never settled or been frozen out. Being made to train with the academy is usually a good indicator that the manager is not happy with a player's atttitude, influence or application.

[Royal Lady]

You want a sworn statement, perhaps?

I'm happy to settle for the prima facie evidence that he has had a few clubs now and has never settled or been frozen out. Being made to train with the academy is usually a good indicator that the manager is not happy with a player's atttitude, influence or application.

Perhaps managers give up too easily on some players though. I'm not saying he's flipping Messi or anything, but I do believe that with the right nurturing from one of his previous managers, he may have realised his social life errors etc and knuckled down a bit - if he's left to fend for himself as he is now, he's clearly going to go further off the rails and I think it's a great shame, personally.

[sandman]

Thought we were told on here when Adkins came in that he was supposed to be able to handle big name players with an ego when his predecessor supposedly could not. Obviously we were misinformed.

[Brum Royal]

You want a sworn statement, perhaps?

I'm happy to settle for the prima facie evidence that he has had a few clubs now and has never settled or been frozen out. Being made to train with the academy is usually a good indicator that the manager is not happy with a player's atttitude, influence or application.

Perhaps managers give up too easily on some players though. I'm not saying he's flipping Messi or anything, but I do believe that with the right nurturing from one of his previous managers, he may have realised his social life errors etc and knuckled down a bit - if he's left to fend for himself as he is now, he's clearly going to go further off the rails and I think it's a great shame, personally.

So do you think if Brian had still been in charge then we would have seen a Kebe-like transformation in Royston?

[Royal Lady]

Not necessarily, no. But maybe one of his former managers might have been able to.

[Royal Biscuitman]

So Royston...... whose to blame?

The guy came from a Russian club, Alania Vladikavkaz so putting two and two together, I wouldn't be surprised if our former Russian majority stake holders had some involvement in this rather than the manager and the scouting network.

I also doubt Adkins originally had him in mind as a transfer target and was told he could have the player rather than being told here's £x to sign who you want and perhaps as a result the club failed to perform proper due diligence on the player to make sure he would be a good fit and/or the manager underestimated the task in hand and/or overestimated his abilities to get the best out of the player.

I remember Steve Coppell talking about the scouting network and how much time they spend checking out a players off the field lifestyle and their attitude to make sure they're a fit rather than just their on the field abilities (they presumably got it wrong with Greg Halford).

You can take a gamble on cheap players I guess.

[PieEater]

RL you're like a typical apologist for someone who's old enough to know the right things to do for himself. We know Pearce decked him in training so presumably that's why he's kept well away from the first team, he's too disruptive.

He's had chances to impress last season but never took them, but of course that's everyone else's fault and not his.

He needs to take responsibility for himself, sort out a new club even if it costs him and knuckle down in a new environment and prove everyone wrong. But of course he's already had 3 goes at that.

[Royal Lady]

RL you're like a typical apologist for someone who's old enough to know the right things to do for himself. We know Pearce decked him in training so presumably that's why he's kept well away from the first team, he's too disruptive.

He's had chances to impress last season but never took them, but of course that's everyone else's fault and not his.

He needs to take responsibility for himself, sort out a new club even if it costs him and knuckle down in a new environment and prove everyone wrong. But of course he's already had 3 goes at that.

I didn't know about Pearce decking him.....

Perhaps I am an apologist, but clearly he has a problem and unless that problem is sorted he will spiral out of control. Perhaps he needs counselling? I think he wants to be liked - he showed promise at first, but if he was brought in by AZ and Adkins didn't really want him here and, thus, didn't really take much notice of him, he was heading for a fall....perhaps that is what Adkins wanted as he wasn't "his" purchase - instead of utilising him, training him to be the player he wanted him to be and the player he could be again.

I just think it's sad.

[Davezk]

Does 'decking' constitute beating him up, a bit of pushing or did he take him out with a tackle?

[MmmMonsterMunch]

I suspect every manager who he's played for has tried various approaches to no avail. I find it hilarious that people are still making excuses for him & thinking we can 'help' him.

We ain't Battersea dogs' home we're a professional football club. Fcuk off please Royston - preferably before the end of August.

[Tilehurstsouthbank]

Not necessarily, no. But maybe one of his former managers might have been able to.

So even though he's played under some top managers in Europe, oxf*rd up, you think he's still redeemable despite still not settling down after being rescued from deepest darkest Russia? Maybe all he needs is a cuddle?

[Royal Lady]

Yeah, sorry for showing a bit of compassion, whether it is misguided or not.

[Ian Royal]

How did he fuck it up exactly? Not here to defend him but wasn't it the contract that kept him out of the side rather than attitude or form?

Is there anything concrete to suggest it was otherwise?

Yeah, his inability to perform when he did get on the pitch. Also plenty of suggestions around about his disruptive influence. No matter how costly a player is, you don't freeze him out completely solely because of that. You do it if he's disruptive.

He's a player who had a lot of talent, got signed by a massive club and then blew up. He's had three chances to sort it out since, he's screwed them all up. Stories of his shenanigans at Everton are numerous and confirmed. Who else is to blame here?

He's had at least two chances here too.

[Davezk]

Unless Anton has included a First Team Training Appearance Fee.

[Tilehurstsouthbank]

Yeah, sorry for showing a bit of compassion, whether it is misguided or not.

It's admirable that you have a soft spot for those more vulnerable souls in society luv, but he's a footballer getting paid obscene amounts of money. There are support networks in place for all sorts in light of Gary Speed's untimely passing.

Royston needs to man the oxf*rd up and start acting like a grown up.

[PistolPete]

I'm surprised a loan deal can't be done for him. We could even pay his wages. This way he gets fit, gets exposure and makes him more sellable...

Is there really NO-ONE who wants him on a free loan deal?!

[Ian Royal]

I'm surprised a loan deal can't be done for him. We could even pay his wages. This way he gets fit, gets exposure and makes him more sellable...

Is there really NO-ONE who wants him on a free loan deal?!

Only one person wanted him last time. He doesn't own a football club anymore.

[Geekins]

Any proof to the Pearce decking him claim? Surely Pearce should be the one punished if that's the case? Not defending either just sounds logical without knowing the story.