What is a hungry player?

[Bethnal Yellow and Green 2,424]

When the many transfer rumours have been springing up on this board they are often dismissed or promoted with the phrase “he is/isn’t a hungry player”. This has lead me to wonder “what is a hungry player”, I guess we don’t mean someone like John Parkin who certainly always looks hungry.

 

I understand about the idea of players like Andrew Crofts who was at a top club to start with and slowly fell down the leagues before bouncing back up with Brighton and ourselves – he is hungry to prove his quality.

 

There also seems a lot of bias against Premier League players – they are accused of being lazy, prima-donnas, over paid or uncommitted. Is this just due to the low opinion people have of footballers in general and especially those in the Premier League? I felt the accusations made that Defoe had a bad attitude amazing, considering how he has done well for every club he has played for and worked his way up through the leagues.

 

So what does everyone think defines a hungry player? And is hunger more important than ability? Does being paid a lot of money stop a player being hungry?

 

My fear is a team full of players bought in the Championship and League One will lead us on a similar path as Blackpool, especially when you consider we don’t have anyone of the ability of Charlie Adam in our team.

[Paul 0]

Someone that missed lunch?

[The Fish Seller 0]

Players that say and mean things like this."As soon as I knew Norwich were in for me I told XXXXXX to discard

any interest from other clubs and I came here straight away,"

[Mr.Carrow 394]

Well personally i would much rather have a James Vaughan here than a Michael Owen (who would be more interested in his racehorses than giving his all for City), assuming that our backroom staff have done their usual thorough job and ascertained that he isn`t a "wrong`un".

I think you may find many Blackpool fans who`ll say that having one stand-out star was more of a hindrance than a help, especially as Adam appeared to go missing after January which their manager alluded to. Also he may be very creative going forward but the porky fella certainly didn`t look too sharp defensively.

How many of the current Blackpool team would walk into our current first team? I`d say Adam and Vaughan, that`s it. I think we are already in a better position than them and we haven`t even signed anyone yet!

[jeagle 0]

I think lambert likes young ish players (in their early/mid 20s) who have been given a good upbringing in the game but then dropped down the leagues. He seems to favour players who

a) have graduated from big team acadamies (Fox - Man Utd, Crofts - Chelsea, Ruddy - Everton) and lost their way or dropped down a level to prove their worth.

or

b) have worked their way up through the leagues and have the talent and desire to play at a higher level (i.e. Russell Martin, Simeon Jackson)

In my opinion, he wants players who are looking to prove a point and want to play for Norwich. Given that its a bit out of the way and hasn''t got the birght lights of most big cities I think he''s looking for players who are quite settled, often married with children, and want to further their career.

I hope he can find the winners he is looking for!

[Evil Monkey 52]

John Hartson?

[Reykjavik Canary 0]

Probably a African player.

[Joanna Grey 0]

[quote user="NauruDude"]Probably a African player.
[/quote]

Starvin'' Marvin spotted in ASDA.

[Bill 1,788]

Ferenc Puskas ?

[Salopian 1]

Hunger means commitment and ambition. This means players who will not stop trying (-that leads to late goals, when all are committed,) and who feel that they want to prove themselves at the highest level.

They must have skills which can be improved, but essentially it is surely about attitude. So PL will not really consider older players who may feel that they have little to prove and merely want a good income as they coast to retirement.

It means that PL and his staff are looking for skills which others have missed and which could be developed at CR.

[Howson is now! 0]

Age has nothing to do with it. I get fed up of people saying that because they''re older they don''t want to try anymore and just want to coast along. Try saying that to Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Kevin Phillips, Robbie Savage, David Beckham and players of that nature!

For players like thos above the desire to succeed and be the best (Savage wasn''t but he certainly tried to be) has never wavered. This has nothing to do with how old they are, it is their attitudes. It is in their nature to be like this, most likey in all walks of life and at all times.

While they may not be as fast as they once were, or can train as often as they used to, older players that have the right attitude can add class, experience, direction, discipline, and quality. It has nothing to do with how old they are, where they come from, or who they''ve played for, for some players, the desire to win is more than enough.

[. 0]

[quote user="NauruDude"]Probably a African player.[/quote][:D]Glad I didn''t say it though.

[Well I Never 0]

Getting back to what the OP is really alluding to:-

Is hunger enough? Or is it more important to focus on ability first.

I seriously think hunger and ambition are great but won''t count for much without talent. Especially in the Premiership.

[Webbo118 0]

You need the lot.

[Well I Never 0]

I''m getting that warm fuzzy feeling called friendship.

[ZLF 334]

[quote user="kiwigreenandgold"]

Getting back to what the OP is really alluding to:-

Is hunger enough? Or is it more important to focus on ability first.

I seriously think hunger and ambition are great but won''t count for much without talent. Especially in the Premiership.

[/quote]

Most pro players have talent - what they do with it is all down to attitude and drive - in other words hunger.

Beckham is a classic example - not got great talent (one footed, weak in the tackle, no pace) but a good footballer who performed at a level higher than his core skill because he was determined to be the best he could - his passion, hunger, determination, desire to succeed. Pay is a secondary driver for him.

The opposite would be a winston bogarde - a supremely talented footballer who all but gave up any concern for working for his money once he signed for Chelsea. His hunger appears to have been for financial security for the rest of his life. He got that at stamford bridge and as a driving principle of life there is nothing wrong with that psychology. However as a club, manager or fan the salary has to be earnt on the pitch too.

All the ability in the world is meaningless if the determination to make it work is not there. That is why players outperform their ability, and that applies to teams too - as well as NCFC last season USA & south korea in recent world cups and Denmark as Euro champs demonstrate how powerful hunger is.

It is not an age thing as someone points out. In music how many bands have an excellent debut album or two and then musically deteriorate? Oasis stand out for me - the raw power of tehir initial 2 albums was lost once they became financially stable - their anger at the injustices of society unsustainable once they had the very financial security that removed that sense of anger - their musical & lyrical power waned from that moment.

Hunger without ability is fruitless - otherwise I would be an NCFC hall of famer - but ability without hunger is just a waste.

And that is why having hungry players is key - we are a better side having that within the squad.

[barclaystand 0]

What is a hungry player? Well it''s certainly not Jason ''fatty'' Scotland!