poor you....why do you even bother. I guess that is the burden of a super hero. (that will have to suffice as response to the immature emotional tone)
Sometimes the ends justifies the means and me responding goes beyond simply addressing you, and more towards addressing questions that others reading in silence may have. You refer to my response as 'pedantic'...which only intimates that you may need to better familiarize yourself with the actual meaning of the word. If in fact I am being pedantic in my methodology and you
still cannot uderstand what lies at issue, then that only indicts your own comprehension. Unfortunately I can't write my response in crayons, that seemingly being the only way to better simplify matters for you.
As for the points u raised that actually have substance:
Shaka is no god and while I respect his character I will not be so naive to rule out he may think football is better off without Warner or at the very least needs someone to put him in his place.
Don't try to adjust your earlier statements now. No one ever said that Shaka is some god or beyond reproach. It is painfully obvious that Shaka..LIKE MOST TNT SUPPORTERS, recognizes that the less influence/involvement Jack has in local affairs the better the situation would be. Let him focus on his actual responsibilities and leave the "Special Advisor" nonsense alone. So even if Shaka is guilty of desiring a separation between Jack and local football, it is quite a reach you make to then simplify his efforts on the parts of local footballers, as being more of a personal vendetta writ large.
You find it difficult to believe I don't understand FPATT's role in the dispute because I do in fact understand their role. In the context of how they deal with TTFF the dispute plays a big part in the hostile relationship.
If I am out of touch with reality imagine the rest of the T&T public. This could just be lack of information and we are supposed to assume stuff is going on....and that is taking into account I am aware of the workshops. Those are the things they need to do more of or at least have it on record if they want the public to know what they are doing. They can't control what press releases are carried but launching their website would help because when most of the time the stuff in the papers is about Shaka complaining about flight arrangements for foreign based to come back and overall mostly things concerning the national team or that stupidness about the concacaf check, forgive those of us who may be led to believe that is an indication of their focus.
I can only shake my head at the bolded statements.
You say that the dispute plays a big part in the hostile relationship with the TTFF...but who fomented that dispute? The fact that the dispute pre-dates...and actually served as the genesis for FPATT should tell you all you need to know. As for FPATT's other activities...how more active can they be without funding?? In addition to the local workshops they sent two representatives to Spain to participate in the recent FIFPro meetings...or do you not think that important enough? It's either Clayton Morris and Mr. Harrison paid out of pocket or FPATT undewrote the trip...neither scenario lends a positive indication as to FPATT's current financial status.
Quagmire mentioned union dues....from who? The much maligned WC 16? From the local based pros? How much can a local based player afford to contribute?
Enough with the soon part it can be as simple as just text or a page with links to press releases that are stored in a folder....it takes the same effort to write them up as to put them online. All their unpublished press releases can go there.
I agree TTFF has taken a hostile stance against FPATT but I also believe that FPATT taking an aggressive hostile position in response is naively playing right into their hands. It suits them just fine to slog it out in the papers and avoid having to deal with them. Sort of like if you are trying to convince someone of your opinion you wouldn't be condescending and obnoxious...ah mean that obviously won't work regardless of their attitude.
First off I can't be bothered with trying to convince anyone of my opinion...that neither fattens my pocket nor makes me sleep better at night. I engage in debate because I enjoy it, and in the case of issues as serious and worthwhile as this one it's for the edification of others. You can rest assured that were it just the two of us discussing this face to face I wouldn't even bother wasting my time. You are evidently dug in in your position, and quite frankly not worth the effort.
As for FPATT's reaction to the hostility of the TTFF, you are seemingly of the misguided position that FPATT has to beg favors of the TTFF. Management is seldom ever receptive to worker organization, to them that is a threat and no amount of humility or courtesy on the part of FPATT would have made any iota of difference to the TTFF. If you believe otherwise that somehow smiles and genuflection would bring them around then I posit that it is not FPATT that's being naive here.
The other thing is patience....you can focus on doing things like the workshops and other activities you do not need the TTFF for....do those well and earn the players respect and trust by making sure people know about it. After that you can push for more. Right now FPATT form yesterday and demanding everything all at once even when this $$ dispute makes that highly unlikely considering the linkage betw FPATT and the 16.
If you can't see the relevance of the two financial disputes to the local players then I don't know what to tell you. Apart from the obvious, that there are local based professionals entangled in both disputes, the latter dispute regarding the FIFA bonus has already brought fruit to local professionals. $40,000 US worth of fruit for that matter. The truth is often right before our eyes, it is on us if we choose to acknowledge it or not.
As for legitimacy...is not in TTFF eyes is in the players eyes. If the majority of the team not with FPATT how FPATT going to negotiate the contracts? Perception matters a whole lot for FPATT so if they want people and the players to see the "truth" about how they are focusing mostly on the T&T based players then their press releases and activities should reflect same. I believe they could do a better job on that front but it will ultimately be up to the players and also the general public what they think of FPATT. If the public sees them as just there to fight with Jack then TTFF will be able to continue shunning them...and don't expect any help from FIFA because they and FIFPro ain't always on good terms.
Whatever criticism they get here is for their own good and should be seen as such. Whatever they decide to do time will be the judge.
All this talk about "the public...the public"...FPATT's mandate isn't the public. I don't speak for them but I could certainly see a number of reasons why their focus shouldn't be on the public. That said, to say that they absolutely don't need public support itself would be false. I'd wager though that FPATT already enjoys the sentimental support of the footballing public because most of us have long grown tired of the corruption and mismanagement of local football. Others seemingly are either content with the status quo or haven't taken any reasonable appreciation of the exact cost that change will demand. Discussing the matter over tea and crumpets hasn't worked, nor has other behind the scenes attempts to engage the TTFF, more realistic measures are thus what's being employed.
I believe (based on the meeting with the Pro League) that local footballers have all the information they need for now as to exactly how FPATT can benefit them. The ball is now in their court to either continue to be paralyzed by fear and succumb to the TTFF's intimidation tactics, or be willing to sacrifice a little for a better end. Look at the history of player organizations around the world....success never comes easy and the toll exacted on the pioneers is always greatest.
Footballers all of us need to decide just how much
they we really want change...and how much
they we really want to pay for it.
Poll