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[Santa]

Tom Hopper being mentioned last week and again today on Twitter.

Wasn't he one of them Leicester lads who enjoyed themselves in Thailand?

[CambridgeDon]

Tom Hopper being mentioned last week and again today on Twitter.

 

Is this the guy whose contract was terminated for gross misconduct with two of his mates after a trip to Thailand? Looked it up on wiki (see section on Personal Life) - however good a stiker he is, think it would be a controversial appointment. Hope I’ve got this wrong!

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Hopper_(footballer)

[Fosse69]

Based on his return in League One if played 46 games he would get around 10 goals so not bad...

Interesting, will he drop down to L2? Would appear to be a bit of a character as mentioned. Coincidence that his boss at the time mentioned for the vacancy down the road?

[butt lane vale fan]

Is this the guy whose contract was terminated for gross misconduct with two of his mates after a trip to Thailand? Looked it up on wiki (see section on Personal Life) - however good a stiker he is, think it would be a controversial appointment. Hope I’ve got this wrong!

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Hopper_(footballer)

Yeah that's him. Scunthorpe realeased him. Although both Lincoln and Mansfield were reported to be in for him in Jan. Let's face it Vale with their gates can't compete with the massive Mansfield and their thousands. Lol

[SourceOfTheTrent]

Idiot lads trick in Thailand but let's be honest who doesn't know lads who do those sort of tricks but grow out of it? I don't see it as anything worse than immature pond life lad behaviour and he may well look back at it with serious regret and embarrassment, or at least he should do. I don't see his misdemeanors as on a par with those of, say, Nile Ranger.

If - IF - Vale were thinking of signing him his personal behaviour since that incident needs to be investigated thoroughly to make sure it is firmly in the past. If that were the case and he is of good enough quality, which you would think he was having played quite a few high level L1 games, I would have no problem with him playing for the Vale. However, I really would be cautious because I wouldn't want another Dan Jones type in the dressing room.

[PV1973]

On the other side of the coin he has just failed to get into the worse side in the football league.

 

Anyway this obsessive Dodds talk is getting really boring. The bottom line is we won’t be signing him so can’t all this nonsense be moved to it’s own thread in “other football matters”?

I think the Dodds discussion naturally leads on to what players are available who can bridge the gap between attack and defence? We've lost Whitfield and Harness and we know we need someone to play number 10, it must be an area Aspin is looking at.

[butt lane vale fan]

Idiot lads trick in Thailand but let's be honest who doesn't know lads who do those sort of tricks but grow out of it? I don't see it as anything worse than immature pond life lad behaviour and he may well look back at it with serious regret and embarrassment, or at least he should do. I don't see his misdemeanors as on a par with those of, say, Nile Ranger.

If - IF - Vale were thinking of signing him his personal behaviour since that incident needs to be investigated thoroughly to make sure it is firmly in the past. If that were the case and he is of good enough quality, which you would think he was having played quite a few high level L1 games, I would have no problem with him playing for the Vale. However, I really would be cautious because I wouldn't want another Dan Jones type in the dressing room.

What did Dan Jones do wrong? If it's the Loft situation, he should of hit him harder, unless he caused any other grief?

[JRC]

I think the Dodds discussion naturally leads on to what players are available who can bridge the gap between attack and defence? We've lost Whitfield and Harness and we know we need someone to play number 10, it must be an area Aspin is looking at.

 

For me ideally someone with a little more pace than Dodds. Looking down the list of alternatives there aren't many stand out options on a free. I'm not his biggest fan, or biggest critic so I'm pretty neutral on whether we sign him. The only local alternative would be A J Leich Smith who will be released by Shrewsbury. We've got a couple of players in the squad already who can play 10 so it's possible we may just sign two new wingers. The way football has changed decent 10s have become key players.

[JRC]

What did Dan Jones do wrong? If it's the Loft situation, he should of hit him harder, unless he caused any other grief?

 

Jones copped the flack but by all accounts the Loft tackle leading up to it was and ugly leg breaker, two footed and out of control.

[Valiant in Brum]

Tbh the Dodds conversation has annoyed me a little but if we sign him so be it.

[Mattholl]

Idiot lads trick in Thailand but let's be honest who doesn't know lads who do those sort of tricks but grow out of it? I don't see it as anything worse than immature pond life lad behaviour and he may well look back at it with serious regret and embarrassment, or at least he should do. I don't see his misdemeanors as on a par with those of, say, Nile Ranger.

If - IF - Vale were thinking of signing him his personal behaviour since that incident needs to be investigated thoroughly to make sure it is firmly in the past. If that were the case and he is of good enough quality, which you would think he was having played quite a few high level L1 games, I would have no problem with him playing for the Vale. However, I really would be cautious because I wouldn't want another Dan Jones type in the dressing room.

 

lets be honest young lads in Thailand messing about and media storm blew it out of all proportion. Stupid and direspectful but never meant for anyones eyes other than a couple of mates. Poor judgement from the players but lads will be doing it all over the world and it wont be in the paper. Easy, lazy news and something personally I wouldnt hold against a player with a decent attitude and an understanding of the not making the same mistake twice. Imagine Gazza at his prime, Best etc.. in todays media world. Both would have been fired from multiple clubs for misconduct by the age of 24 and left on the scrap heap.

[Valist]

Jones copped the flack but by all accounts the Loft tackle leading up to it was and ugly leg breaker, two footed and out of control.

 

It was not so much the tackle from Loft on Jones in training that was the problem, rather where Loft was putting his 'tackle' outside of training!

[JRC]

It was not so much the tackle from Loft on Jones in training that was the problem, rather where Loft was putting his 'tackle' outside of training!

 

Didn't really help the situation 😉

[Shropshire_Valiant]

Hopper's record isn't bad. 18 in 91 league games at Scunny in 3 seasons, 28 in 145 all told with cup apps and loans before. I'd guess a number will be sub appearances too as he came on in the playoff games off the bench last week. Ought to be worth a go in League Two?

 

As regards his previous misdemeanours we've had players before and lets be honest very few footballers are angels and a percentage aren't the brighest but as long as they don't make a career out of being a **** like Nile Ranger I can't see a problem. He made a mistake while at Leicester and lost his contract because of it, hopefully he's learnt his lesson since!

[Fosse69]

lets be honest young lads in Thailand messing about and media storm blew it out of all proportion. Stupid and direspectful but never meant for anyones eyes other than a couple of mates. Poor judgement from the players but lads will be doing it all over the world and it wont be in the paper. Easy, lazy news and something personally I wouldnt hold against a player with a decent attitude and an understanding of the not making the same mistake twice. Imagine Gazza at his prime, Best etc.. in todays media world. Both would have been fired from multiple clubs for misconduct by the age of 24 and left on the scrap heap.

Depends on your viewpoint, if you are the billionaire owner of a football club and you invite all your players to celebrate a successful relegation battle to your own country, you expect a bit of respect. Thus punishment becomes severe, the manager also lost his job as a side issue. Ranieri was brought in and history was made. I would expect Aspin to be careful if Hooper is in the running.