Brandon Williams - Fozcast

[shabba]

Can’t find the full podcast on YouTube in order to post a link but it’s on the usual podcast apps - there is a recent Episode of the Fozcast (Ben Fosters podcast) which feature a full interview with Brandon Williams.

I know he has been a bit of an idiot - and he is open about that in the podcast. It must be hard when you’re raised on a council estate and suddenly have a huge amount of fame and money, especially if you don’t have the right people around you.

He said he had to have a break from the game, get his head right and get away from the wrong people - now he has been training for a long time but turned clubs down in as he wants to get 100 percent and ready for a pre season.

Interestingly he said Ipswich was great and what stood out beyond anything he’d seen before was the training here - everyone was bang on it and you’d get called out if not giving your absolute maximum. I think this goes a little under the radar - but when you look how every player that comes into the team seems to be upto speed and ready then clearly there is good work being done.

Especially last season I’d recall players not having played for ages coming in and being bang at it.

I wouldn’t expect to see him back and the club but it wouldn’t totally surprise me if he did, say if a few had moved on etc. he said he is very found of Kieran as he’d known him a long time and he’d managed him really well whilst he was at town.

[ashfordblue]

Well, I thought Brandon was a quality LB for us, and I'm pleased he has sorted his life out now. If Davis moves on, I would have Brandon back in a heartbeat. Also, Townsend has not let the team down with some prolific games when coming in for Davis when injured.

[ITFC2024]

If he’s straightened his life out and matured, I wouldn’t be against him coming back. He’d certainly be a credible WB for KM’s system. I’m always open to give players (people) another chance. We all make mistakes.

[The Odious Mr Rossi]

I know he has been a bit of an idiot - and he is open about that in the podcast. It must be hard when you’re raised on a council estate and suddenly have a huge amount of fame and money, especially if you don’t have the right people around you.

He said he had to have a break from the game, get his head right and get away from the wrong people - now he has been

I'm struggling to see what being raised on a council estate has to do with anything - seems to be a very snobbish and condescending statement to me. Some of the most level-headed and decent people I know were raised on the slum council estates of Plaistow and Poplar and Limehouse and Wapping and Clerkenwell.

If he's been an idiot in the past, and has now sorted his head out, then he deserves a second chance.

[Bluemike]

Don't think another RB is what we need first and foremost

[shabba]

I know he has been a bit of an idiot - and he is open about that in the podcast. It must be hard when you’re raised on a council estate and suddenly have a huge amount of fame and money, especially if you don’t have the right people around you.

He said he had to have a break from the game, get his head right and get away from the wrong people - now he has been

I'm struggling to see what being raised on a council estate has to do with anything - seems to be a very snobbish and condescending statement to me. Some of the most level-headed and decent people I know were raised on the slum council estates of Plaistow and Poplar and Limehouse and Wapping and Clerkenwell.

If he's been an idiot in the past, and has now sorted his head out, then he deserves a second chance.

It’s factual that these notorious estates have high crime rates, low education etc. It’s statically more likely you’ll be in prison etc if brought up on one.

Of course it often gives people the drive to go the other way and want to be successfull, hence a lot of successful
People come from those backgrounds but the majority will
Be a product of their environment.

It’s just facts nothing snobbish about that.

[The Odious Mr Rossi]

I know he has been a bit of an idiot - and he is open about that in the podcast. It must be hard when you’re raised on a council estate and suddenly have a huge amount of fame and money, especially if you don’t have the right people around you.

He said he had to have a break from the game, get his head right and get away from the wrong people - now he has been

I'm struggling to see what being raised on a council estate has to do with anything - seems to be a very snobbish and condescending statement to me. Some of the most level-headed and decent people I know were raised on the slum council estates of Plaistow and Poplar and Limehouse and Wapping and Clerkenwell.

If he's been an idiot in the past, and has now sorted his head out, then he deserves a second chance.

It’s factual that these notorious estates have high crime rates, low education etc. It’s statically more likely you’ll be in prison etc if brought up on one.

Of course it often gives people the drive to go the other way and want to be successfull, hence a lot of successful
People come from those backgrounds but the majority will
Be a product of their environment.

It’s just facts nothing snobbish about that.

I beg to differ - it's not facts, merely assumption usually made by people who have no idea of what being brought up on a council estate is like.

[shabba]

Some facts for you.

1. Social Deprivation and Crime Rates
ONS data (England and Wales) consistently shows that areas with high deprivation (often including council estates) have higher crime rates, especially for violent crime and theft.

The Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) combines income, education, employment, and housing data. The most deprived 10% of neighbourhoods report crime rates more than twice the national average.

2. Prison Population Backgrounds
A Ministry of Justice report (2016) found that prisoners are disproportionately from low-income, deprived backgrounds, many having lived in social housing.

Nearly 50% of young offenders in custody were previously in care or known to social services, and a significant proportion came from council estates.

3. Education and Long-Term Outcomes
Children in deprived areas are less likely to attain GCSEs, which correlates strongly with future unemployment and criminal behaviour.

The Social Mobility Commission has found that children growing up in deprived council housing face far lower chances of upward mobility.

4. Youth Justice Statistics
Youths from the most deprived areas are four times more likely to come into contact with the youth justice system than those from the least deprived areas (Youth Justice Board, 2022).

[hallamblue]

Don't think another RB is what we need first and foremost

If we can keep hold of Axel , Id agree.

BTW I can seen Burns being converted to a RT wing back . I think he was heading that way playing in some games , just before he got his ACL injury . I think he'd be good at it tbh .

IF Williams could ever sort his issues out he'd also be a good shout tbh ... Clarke isnt in my view, good enough ...but hey ho .. we'll see.

[Ricco]

If he's been an idiot in the past, and has now sorted his head out, then he deserves a second chance.

I think he's on at least his 5th or 6th chance by now.

I hope he has found a way to sort himself out, it's not an easy life, despite the money and what not, that's for sure... but... I don't want him anywhere near Town, we gave him an excellent opportunity and he blew it, it's another club's turn to take that risk.

It's all very well and good talking maturely and saying you've changed, but words are cheap and he's not going to sit there and say there's a very high chance of some kind of behavioural relapse.

It takes people years of hard work and help to change even small aspects of themselves, decades perhaps, and many never manage it in a lifetime. So best of luck Brandon, we got promoted despite your best attempts at disrupting the club, but go try out your new found mentality elsewhere.

[Bluemike]

I agree Ricco, and tbh I believe Brandon Williams is one that will never change.

[arana peligrosa]

Couldn't recall what the jackass got up to i.e. wrongdoings and all but once again (through research) it were a motoring offense. Put himself and others in the line of danger although seems there was no intoxication prevalent. Had there been I'd be inclined to hang Williams out in the wind to twist as can't abide inebriated fools 'in charge' of a vehicle although it's easy to castigate as a non-drinker.

Depends how much leniency the club can provide any one player. If he's endured multiple warning or reprimand but continues to misbehave then by all means force him through the exit. On the field he may have been a useful addition to the squad when involved, some would insist it open to debate, but truth is we've done well enough without it's involvement. It's up to the club hierarchy to decide if the player should feature again, not everyone has the same level of tolerance, but you got to ask the question, would it really hurt the team (that much) from here on if (player) was no longer involved in our club set-up. Is it essential to our future (now forced to feature once more at lower level) that he's a part of it.

[marko69]

Hang out in the wind to twist? Jeezo H. That's dark thinking and description.

[The Odious Mr Rossi]

Some facts for you.

1. Social Deprivation and Crime Rates
ONS data (England and Wales) consistently shows that areas with high deprivation (often including council estates) have higher crime rates, especially for violent crime and theft.

The Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) combines income, education, employment, and housing data. The most deprived 10% of neighbourhoods report crime rates more than twice the national average.

2. Prison Population Backgrounds
A Ministry of Justice report (2016) found that prisoners are disproportionately from low-income, deprived backgrounds, many having lived in social housing.

Nearly 50% of young offenders in custody were previously in care or known to social services, and a significant proportion came from council estates.

3. Education and Long-Term Outcomes
Children in deprived areas are less likely to attain GCSEs, which correlates strongly with future unemployment and criminal behaviour.

The Social Mobility Commission has found that children growing up in deprived council housing face far lower chances of upward mobility.

4. Youth Justice Statistics
Youths from the most deprived areas are four times more likely to come into contact with the youth justice system than those from the least deprived areas (Youth Justice Board, 2022).

They're statistics, not facts - there's a difference.
I spent the first 5 years of my life on a council estate in one of the most deprived areas of East London. I left school at 15 with no qualifications. I have no criminal record, I have never claimed any sort of social payment, I earned a 6 figure salary before I retired, I own several properties. Despite all of this, I never ever forget where I came from. I detest snobbery of any kind - all human beings are equal.

[Bluemike]

Except for Muric

[shabba]

Statistics are a method to represent facts.

You’re really mis reading me here. What im saying is if your on a council estate there is a much higher chance of being involved in crime or such, that cannot be disputed given the body of evidence around it. What I’m NOT saying which you think I am is that everyone raised on a council estate is involved in crime or some sort of lower level person.

Some of the most successfull people came from
Such estates, they have the drive to succeed beyond others due to the struggles they’ve had, it’s actually why alot of footballers come from these backgrounds as it’s their only way out for some.

I’m not being a snob at all, I’m also not boasting about monetary related things of trying to come across better than others.

Let’s just try and agree to not waste each others time replying to each posts. I think if I was in a pub chatting I’d just walk off and spend my time elsewhere.
Not that I’ve been to a pub for a long time

I

[Ricco]

I spent the first 5 years of my life on a council estate in one of the most deprived areas of East London. I left school at 15 with no qualifications. I have no criminal record, I have never claimed any sort of social payment, I earned a 6 figure salary before I retired, I own several properties. Despite all of this, I never ever forget where I came from. I detest snobbery of any kind - all human beings are equal.

Rossi, that is a sample size of one, you have to understand averages better than that? It's the same as someone saying my nan smoked 40 a day and lived to 100, therefore smoking isn't at all harmful to anyone, anywhere, ever.

What Shabba is obviously saying, is that it is tougher for people from disadvantaged areas to succeed, not that they cannot succeed. Even if it is just 2% harder, it is still harder. He's obviously also not saying it's those people's fault, so don't take it as a personal attack.

Areas that have fewer opportunities and worse schools do worse, statistically, factually, however you want to cut it, present it, ON AVERAGE, it IS harder and there IS more crime for the same sorts of reasons. It's like saying the Earth is round (ish), this shouldn't even need to be discussed.

[shabba]

Thanks Rico, that was well summed up and exactly my sentiment.

It was stating to feel like that Monty python argument sketch.

[marko69]

It was stating to feel like that Monty python argument sketch.

No it wasn’t.

[The Odious Mr Rossi]

I spent the first 5 years of my life on a council estate in one of the most deprived areas of East London. I left school at 15 with no qualifications. I have no criminal record, I have never claimed any sort of social payment, I earned a 6 figure salary before I retired, I own several properties. Despite all of this, I never ever forget where I came from. I detest snobbery of any kind - all human beings are equal.

Rossi, that is a sample size of one, you have to understand averages better than that? It's the same as someone saying my nan smoked 40 a day and lived to 100, therefore smoking isn't at all harmful to anyone, anywhere, ever.

What Shabba is obviously saying, is that it is tougher for people from disadvantaged areas to succeed, not that they cannot succeed. Even if it is just 2% harder, it is still harder. He's obviously also not saying it's those people's fault, so don't take it as a personal attack.

Areas that have fewer opportunities and worse schools do worse, statistically, factually, however you want to cut it, present it, ON AVERAGE, it IS harder and there IS more crime for the same sorts of reasons. It's like saying the Earth is round (ish), this shouldn't even need to be discussed.

I don't dispute any of that. What I did dislike was the notion that it must be hard being raised on a council estate and suddenly coming in to money.

I know plenty of people who were raised on a council estate (myself included) that have gone on to make something of themselves through bloody hard work and now live very comfortably. I also know plenty of people who were born with a silver spoon in their mouths. In my experience, the former is almost always more humble than the latter. Just saying.

[hallamblue]

It was stating to feel like that Monty python argument sketch.

No it wasn’t.

[shabba]

Give it a rest Rossi

Your personal wealth wasn't over a short period though was it. I think its fair to say if someone went from having nothing then a year or 2 later being on huge money (200k a month), and at such a young age it could easily go a bit west, especially without anyone to guide you on what its like to have money.

[Ricco]

It was stating to feel like that Monty python argument sketch.

No it wasn’t.

I'm sorry, this is the ITFC forum, the argument forum is next door.

What I did dislike was the notion that it must be hard being raised on a council estate and suddenly coming in to money.

I guess the argument could be made that growing up where money is tight, you might have a better handle on it, vs someone who grows up where it's abundant and they are constantly saved by the bank of mum and dad. I don't know, at the end of the day, I guess it comes down to the individual, their friends and the parents... the quality of which isn't particularly dictated by where you grow up.

[The Odious Mr Rossi]

Give it a rest Rossi

Your personal wealth wasn't over a short period though was it. I think its fair to say if someone went from having nothing then a year or 2 later being on huge money (200k a month), and at such a young age it could easily go a bit west, especially without anyone to guide you on what its like to have money.

Give it a rest yourself.

You have no idea on when I made my money, or for how long it took me to get it, or what I did to get it - but the truth is I made most of what I have in the music industry between the ages of 17 and 20, and invested wisely ever since. Never went to my head though