Sellers, Wilson, Clarke, Talbot - 4 man power trip

[AB@Juventus]

In recent months, FFO saw the closure of its discord channel due to a number of issues ranging from arguments, to agendas being pushed by certain groups and even as far as disgusting accusations.


In the wake of this, some FFO managers decided that they needed to plug the discord sized hole in their lives with another channel and thus, the esms hub was born.


A creation of Gary Wilson & Steven Talbot seems to have taken on new members in their hunt for control of FFO.


Adding to the Wilson & Talbot duo is PSG manager Simon Clarke, more commonly known as ‘Ed’, and former Marseille manager Dan Sellers.

Sellers left FFO in a huff after failing to push his own agendas and after failing to be successful in the game.


Earlier this week, Simon Clarke was issued an official warning for his accusations regarding the FFO FA & AS Roma manager Derek Hughes and it now seems like the 4 man power trip have their revenge.


While many FFO managers have joined this new discord channel, some have resisted. Juventus manager Andy Banks being one of those until recently, however late last night Banks signed up to the hub under a false name.


Robert Sorby sat back and waited to see what would unfold after being told over the last 2 months the horror stories of this new discord channel.


Within 12 hours, Banks had been rumbled and thus issued an official warning of his own, for apparent ‘trolling’

Banks challenged this ruling, asking what he’d done wrong but the foursome hid behind a ‘because we say so’ stance and hoped that Banks would take it laying down.


This didn’t happen and just hours after his first warning, Steven Talbot came to deliver the news of a 2nd official warning, this time for disrupting behaviour. Banks is now banned from the hub for 24 hours and on his last warning before a permanent ban but what does the Juventus manager have to say on the matter?



‘The whole thing is a joke. 4 managers who want to take over FFO and run things their own way.


Talbot and Clarke to tighten their grip at the top of the game, Sellers so he can actually claim to be good in FFO and Gary Wilson so that he can try to be more relevant than his current role of ‘I beat Derek once in 8 games,


They’re the reason that the old discord channel was both toxic and ended and now they’ve created a new one which they can control and sensor what is said and it’s started already.


This is exactly why I joined under a false name and now I’ve been punished for this. Well, I don’t understand why this isn’t acceptable for me to do but Simon Clarke who uses the name ‘Ed’ across FFO and the discord channel.


This is clearly a case of it’s one set of rules for the man whose brother gave a warning to one of the four in charge and another set for the likes of Clarke & co.


As for the ‘trolling’ accusation, Gary Wilson’s entire personality is based around trolling and winding people up yet once again this is okay.


So I get a warning and today I ask why I was given that and because they didn’t like those questions, another warning and a 24 hour ban lands at my door. This time for disruptive behaviour.


What can I say about this, ask questions and you’re branded as being disruptive. It’s clear that those 4 want to rule to roost and be questioned by no one otherwise they’ll ban you.


My comments of ‘Nazi Germany’ have also been called into question by Talbot yet just 24 hours before, Gary Wilson made the same claims towards the FFO FA but apparently his record was wiped clean today and can now act whiter than white.


It’s unclear weather or not I’ll return to the discord channel as it seems very biased by 4 managers desperate to be in control and I’m sure they’ll find any way possible to further discriminate against me.


Their actions have been both pathetic and petty which is why managers are leaving the channel left and right.


I’m sure within 24 hours of this article being published I’ll receive another warning for ‘excessive exposing media’

[Steve@Chelsea]

Not sure how an attack on the ESMS Hub, that's www.esmshub.com - an outside platform to FFO - is seen as "media" if all you need to do is insert your team name before it?

But I will respond in media fashion, just incase.

Madrid manager REACTS to 'predictable' verbal media diarrhea from Bob Banks

Hey FFO Community!

So, we heard there's been a bit of a fuss lately about us, and we thought, why not set the record straight? Our legal eagles got wind of some drama stirred up by a certain "Robert", who also goes by Andy, but we can call him Bob Banks.

Let's dive in!

First off, Bob had a few things to say about the ESMS Hub in his media piece. Let's be honest, there was a lot of verbal diarrhea in that very predictable, and very boring media. Now, we're not here to play the blame game, but let's just say Bob might not be getting any gold stars for his recent media piece, or his recent behaviour. Not that his behaviour has ever been anything to write home about.

There was a trolling incident – fake accounts, coordinated attacks, the whole shebang. And guess who got caught up in it? Yep, our friend Bob from Sheffield. Science and tech saved the day! He wasn't alone, though; someone else got busted too.

We're no dummies here; we know what's what. We've even had a little private chat with the troublemakers.

Now, let's get serious for a sec.

Today, we drew a line in the sand, wiped the slate clean, and hit refresh for everybody. ESMS Hub is all about fresh starts. A place for managers worldwide and in multiple leagues to connect, minus the drama.

It seems some people didn't understand that, or wasn't ready to understand that.

We hope they will soon.

As for Bob/Andy's claim that managers are fleeing left and right – not quite. Only two have left, and guess what? We're GROWING with 58 and counting, we actually went up in numbers. Watch out for more soon too, the hub is working on something big.

So, we're adults here (mostly, or most try), aiming to build a friendly community. If you want to talk politics or religion, we're cool with that – we can even set up a private room for it. And if trolling makes you happy, well, I'm sorry that we can't get your nipples hard with that. Maybe the ESMS Hub is not for you.

To our admins, we've had a little chat with ourselves. We're human, we make mistakes, being an admin is a tough gig, but we're moving forward together.

To everyone else. No more games, no more fake profiles, just good vibes.

Check out our "rules," or more like our "just be a good human" guide. We're sticking to it and will admin as we see fit. Let's all play nice and keep the ESMS Hub a friendly place.

Cheers to a drama-free future if you will allow it to be so.

Keep calm and Hala Madrid!

Steven K. of REAL MADRID - spokesperson of The ESMS Hub Team

(519 words)

[AB@Juventus]

'Their abuse of power is clear to see'

In response to an article produced by the Juventus manager regarding the foursome of Talbot, Clarke, Wilson & Sellers, head spokesman and warning giver Steven Talbot responded in a media article of his own which mainly consisted of patting himself on his back and promoting the new discord channel.

Talbot made claims of trolling, fake accounts, coordinated attacks etc, however he fails to reveal who these apparent attacks were against and who they were coordinated with as Banks worked alone and virtually minded his own business for once.

He then went on to say that despite the moderators breaking their own sacred rules in the past, they'd drawn a line in the sand the second they realised who Robert Sorby was, how convenient….

Banks had the following to say:

'I'm still unsure what it is that I did wrong, I'm accused of trolling when all I did was try to be part of the channel and I've been singled out and punished for it. It's quite pathetic if I'm honest.

Then I'm accused of coordinated attacks and planned assaults yet who did I offend? I asked a couple of innocent questions and because they saw an opportunity to get back at the FFO FA, they took it and when I dared to ask why I'd been punished on a public forum, I was again punished and banned.

Mr Talbot's response is as much of a joke as the channel and their dictatorship rules. It's a case of do as we say, don't question us or else.

Their abuse of power is clear to see.

I'll take time away from the discord channel now as anything I say will be turned against me all while they claim to welcome me with false statements.'

[Hoa@Forest]

OK - as a complete outsider who's only recently come back in the past couple months, I've watched stuff unfold with a growing sense of frustration. I really feel like those involved in all of this need a serious reality check. FFO is an amazing game in a very small niche and yet it is being constantly overshadowed by a farcical display of drama and infighting. Frankly, it's one of the most embarrassing things I have ever seen.

I'm not sure who is responsible for the achievement of bringing together 72 managers (possibly JB?) but it is genuinely remarkable. That should be celebrated. But instead, what do we find basically every week? A soap opera replete with accusations of favouritism, cheating, and power plays. This is not just counterproductive; it's utterly insane when this community has been fighting for survival since I remember joining years ago.

To everyone embroiled in this mess, seriously please get a grip. The allegations flying around, the cloak-and-dagger antics, the power struggles – it's all looking like a joke, and not a particularly funny one.

All of this is doing nothing but harm. Why does it seem like I, along with a bunch of other new/old faces, have just walked into a hotbed of suspicion and bitterness? Whether these accusations have any merit or not isn't even the point anymore. The fact that such toxicity is able to fester in the open is the real issue.

I felt the need to call out the absurdity of this situation. We're here to enjoy a game, to immerse ourselves in a world of football management. To those who are fanning the flames: enough is enough. Your actions are not only tarnishing your reputation but are also poisoning FFO in its entirety. In continuing these stupid fights it WILL drive people away. And again, I have no horse in any of this - I have no involvement in any Discord channel, nor do I intend to be involved in one. I just want to see FFO do well. Because it is really at an amazing high water mark right now.

So, we can continue down this path of self-destruction, letting accusations tear everything apart. I just won't be there to witness it. Or we can refocus on what brought us here in the first place – a shared passion for ESMS.

So once more I implore those involved to drop the drama and get back to it. Let's have the rivalries on the pitch and not make this forum another flame war. Leave the theatrics out and focus on the game.

[Steve@Chelsea]

100% agree HD.

We (esmshub) drew a line in the stand on the discord on all sides, and hoped all would behave going forward.

One or two still stepped out of line with the code of conduct though, so had to be managed.

But still this media. Not sure such things should be allowed as media to be honest, hence my tongue in cheek reply.

This is the end of the matter though. All seems good at the moment, long may it continue, as after all we just want a community for the good of esms.

[JB@Norwich]

Yep, lets stick to war of words about the actual football from now on. I dont mind you all slagging each other off in terms of "he said we would do this deal and backed out" or "he sent his team out to kick us and now we have 3 players out" type thing but lets just draw a line under this all now.

Eds warning is removed for his public apology and I will firm up the CoC in the next week

Cheers all

[AB@Juventus]

Will the hub be more consistent in it’s warnings moving forwards then?

As I’ve personally seen other members say worse than anything I’ve done on there an receive no warnings.

Screams of discrimination and no real clue what the rules are, just depends on who you are and how well you’re liked.