The_Dark_Knight Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 (edited) Back when Walter Smith was manager (And McLeish carried in on, in his first spell as manager) he regularly got the squad together for bonding sessions like dining out at restaurants and go-karting, etc. If I remember correctly they always met up somewhere not too far for the players to travel, usually midway between England and Scotland. I'm not saying that that's going to be a magic spell to turn our fortunate around, but it couldn't hurt. It wouldn't hurt for the players to socialize every couple of weeks or so. Certainly wouldn't hurt. Edited October 13, 2019 by The_Dark_Knight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 I've invited the squad for a bevvy in my house. BYOB. No reply back. Hen pecked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzo Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 Absolute bawz did we have bonding sessions in 74, 78,82 etc wind and pish In my eyes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Beem Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 2 minutes ago, bonzo said: Absolute bawz did we have bonding sessions in 74, 78,82 etc wind and pish In my eyes. Rowing ? 🤔 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aaid Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 Actually not a bad idea. IIRC, Smith wasn't a huge fan of friendlies - probably influenced by Vogts having such a poor record I'm friendlies which ultimately did him in - and so used some of the free international dates to have training camps, get the players together, do some training without the pressure of having a game at the end of it. However, you can only do this when there are international dates and the problem now is that with the way UEFA have organised the Nations League along with mandatory friendlies, there really aren't any dates in the calendar when you can do this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Beem Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 Imagine going paint balling with Charlie Mulgrew ☹️ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 Training sessions instead of a crap friendly do make sense but as @aaid says UEFA is jamming up those dates and even trying to increase number of Nations League dates. (Guys it worked. We were all surprised. Don't push it). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Dark_Knight Posted October 13, 2019 Author Share Posted October 13, 2019 1 minute ago, aaid said: Actually not a bad idea. IIRC, Smith wasn't a huge fan of friendlies - probably influenced by Vogts having such a poor record I'm friendlies which ultimately did him in - and so used some of the free international dates to have training camps, get the players together, do some training without the pressure of having a game at the end of it. However, you can only do this when there are international dates and the problem now is that with the way UEFA have organised the Nations League along with mandatory friendlies, there really aren't any dates in the calendar when you can do this. Yeah. Good memory, that's exactly what Walter Smith done. In lieu of friendlies Walter Smith pretty much told the SFA to forget about arranging friendly matches and instead arranged bonding sessions. It's similar to what he did at Rangers in the "The team that drinks together, wins together era. (However, I think the drinking culture during that era was a bit of a myth) I think dates are the only fly in the ointment, to be fair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farcity Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 I was thinking of arranging a coffee morning to raise funds for Christmas decoration for the local village hall, could incorporate a squad gathering to kill two birds with one stone. Perhaps a whist drive. Do you think they might be keen? I wouldn't ask Johnny Russell to fly over of course, the sandwiches might be a bit crusty at the edges by then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exile Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 Well, we're running out of ideas on other fronts, so why not? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PASTA Mick Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 There aren't really any free dates for friendlies. I think March is about the only time and that's only if you aren't in the play-offs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aaid Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 1 minute ago, The_Dark_Knight said: Yeah. Good memory, that's exactly what Walter Smith done. In lieu of friendlies Walter Smith pretty much told the SFA to forget about arranging friendly matches and instead arranged bonding sessions. It's similar to what he did at Rangers in the "The team that drinks together, wins together era. (However, I think the drinking culture during that era was a bit of a myth) I think dates are the only fly in the ointment, to be fair. International friendlies are something of a double edged sword. In theory, it gives you the opportunity to try out players and/or systems in games which mean nothing in terms of qualification. That was Vogts's view but there was a big cultural problem he missed which is however unrealistic it might seem, the Scottish public and in particular the media expects Scotland to beat everyone, especially teams that are "beneath" us, which basically means everyone bar Brazil, Germany, Argentina, Spain and France. So if you start to lose friendlies it affects confidence in both the public and the players. Vogts took friendlies to one extreme, playing as many as he could and trying out as many players as possible. That said, it did look in hindsight like a scattergun approach. Smith went to the other extreme. Somewhere in the middle would probably be the best but as I said before, it's moot as there's little flexibility in the calendar now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morrie21 Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 Should be meeting regularly for a "Monday session" 🍻 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TDYER63 Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 13 hours ago, Jim Beem said: Rowing ? 🤔 😂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TDYER63 Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 All ideas are welcome but do people actually enjoy team bonding sessions ? Is there anyone out there that thinks ‘I cannot wait to go for a team bonding session they are so worthwhile?’ Most folk I know run for the hills whenever there is a sniff of a get together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orraloon Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 20 hours ago, Alan said: I've invited the squad for a bevvy in my house. BYOB. No reply back. Hen pecked. Did you promise that you wouldn't hurt them? Wouldn't hurt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orraloon Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 6 hours ago, TDYER63 said: All ideas are welcome but do people actually enjoy team bonding sessions ? Is there anyone out there that thinks ‘I cannot wait to go for a team bonding session they are so worthwhile?’ Most folk I know run for the hills whenever there is a sniff of a get together. Is this from personal experience? They might be trying to tell you something? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TDYER63 Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 56 minutes ago, Orraloon said: Is this from personal experience? They might be trying to tell you something? 😁 you may be right but if they are the feeling is mutual, and I actually like my colleagues. I find team building activities a load of absolute pish, though I admit I may just be an old cynic. When was the last positive team bonding experience you had? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orraloon Posted October 15, 2019 Share Posted October 15, 2019 20 hours ago, TDYER63 said: 😁 you may be right but if they are the feeling is mutual, and I actually like my colleagues. I find team building activities a load of absolute pish, though I admit I may just be an old cynic. When was the last positive team bonding experience you had? Fuk team building, it's every man for himself in my book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonny78 Posted October 15, 2019 Share Posted October 15, 2019 Just get them to read the TA board.. We are one big family here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Dark_Knight Posted October 15, 2019 Author Share Posted October 15, 2019 6 minutes ago, bonny78 said: Just get them to read the TA board.. We are one big family here. Yes, the McAddams Family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McDange Posted October 16, 2019 Share Posted October 16, 2019 On 10/13/2019 at 8:44 PM, Alan said: Training sessions instead of a crap friendly do make sense but as @aaid says UEFA is jamming up those dates and even trying to increase number of Nations League dates. (Guys it worked. We were all surprised. Don't push it). UEFA don't make money from training sessions which is their focus unfortuantely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonny78 Posted October 16, 2019 Share Posted October 16, 2019 Blackpool would be good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PASTA Mick Posted October 16, 2019 Share Posted October 16, 2019 6 hours ago, bonny78 said: Blackpool would be good. That gets my vote. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonny78 Posted October 18, 2019 Share Posted October 18, 2019 Think this team actually need to have an out of control party. As much drink as they can handle and do many lines off a hookers stomach. Smoke some joints etc or take pooder. Be amazed how much better they'd feel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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