What the hell does the phrase 'drinking culture' mean anyway? Stupid saying.

It's a metaphor for "lack of professionalism and dedication".

I would love to know if the players were allowed a mickeyup on the bus home. About 5 years ago under PC the players were allowed to drink heavily on the bus back from London, as Mr Briers will be able to testify to.

indeed, if people want to drink overly ripe yoghurt, that's their business.

You are Steve Anderson, I claim my £5...

Actually i see them not the older players but the likes of bridge,riley,penny,blythe,cooper,harrison

Nearly every time i venture to town

They did win that day, though, and quite well, too.

His personal plum peeler told him.

I think we are missing the point on this so called "drinking culture".
It doesn't matter who drank what in the 70's and 80's and if they drank more back then than the players do now.

The fact is Warrington Wolves do not compete with teams of the 80's.

Sports as a whole has changed a great deal in recent years.
Only last year I watched a documentary about South American football, and how players like Diego Maradona would not have made it as a professional in this day and age due to his size and build.
One of the greatest players of all time wouldn't be selected by scouts in this day and age because fitness, hight and build is more important now than skill and ability.

I sent a post about 2 years ago on thsi site regarding the drinking culture in rugny league and compared it to that of football.
My belief back then was that Rugby League would end up going the same way as football with players becoming more aware of their fitness and looking after their bodies more.

I'm not saying that the players drinking habits are the cause of this current run of form, but I have said in the past and I still stand by it, that if Warringtons coach could improve the lifestyles and fitness of the players, we will see that extra 10% we have been missing season after season.

As far as 'drinking culture' goes, Fergie had the same problem at United when players such as Robson, Whiteside and McGrath were in the team.

Indeed the solution he had to this problem was to release McGrath even though he was still one of the best defenders in the country, to try and put an end to it.

He was awesome at Villa, with no knees.

Exactly, and for the Rep of Ireland as well..

Apprently Ledley King has a similar regime now to what McGrath had - no training, just games. He's effectively a very well paid, very good, pub player.

Maybe we need to do the same with Carvell?

atkinson's magic touch, early 90's villa with the muller rice shirts were great.

.....and look what happened.

Sure McGrath carried on as a great defender, but what did he win?
United, without them players went on to dominate english football.

Athletes don't have a drinking culture, because their performances are measured and quantifiable. If they want to be the best in the world, they have to lead pretty squeeky clean lives (with the addition of some performance enhancing drugs maybe...) but there is no hiding place for them. Very few rugby plears have the desire to be the best in the world, so we end up with the likes of Sean Long who is a good player, but had the potential for so much more. The pics of Gleeson getting bladdered during the world cup summed up their attitude. If they can't go for a tour like that, which should have been the highlight for many players careers, without a skin full, then they have a major problem.