by Vision »
06 Feb 2018 08:54
Forty Basildon Those who were booing when Blackett had the ball are an absolute disgrace. Granted he's been pretty poor for us on the whole but I don't think you can really single him out this season, the whole team has been shit.
I'll defend the booing, and I'll stand up and stay I jeered him. More damage done by Stam taking him off than my jaunts. Stam's clueless; BBC Berks say he's a decent bloke, and I've not met him, but he's very clearly managed to get nothing out of this squad - his squad. The whole team has been pretty shit, as you say, and Barrow, who everyone's getting overexcited about had a soft pansy first half.
This lot are not fighting for results. They're not fighting for each other, certainly not the club / badge or anything like that. It just matters more to us than it clearly does to them. We get platitudes and all the right words from some of the players, but nothing when it counts.
The owners - I think they have a share in the new development in the car park (can anyone confirm) - the profits in that mean the football club is entirely incidental.
A couple of things here.
First. You clearly admit you jeered and booed an individual player . Presumably this was because you didn't want him on the pitch. So its a little odd that you'd then lambast Stam for taking him off because his confidence is shot, giving you exactly what you want. The fact that he was a substitute for a player who was taken off injured then pretty much limited Stam to one change left. Don't get me wrong personally I dont particularly want players that are so fragile that a little stick from the crowd affects their game but even so it's not something that's helping us as a team is it.
Second. That word "Passion" again. I'm loathe to criticise fans as we're the only buggers who pay to be in the ground. Everyone else is getting some recompense for being there but what do we hope to achieve with the negativity? The manager out? Fine but contrary to what many seem to think, the owners have clearly indicated they have a long term plan for the football side of things. In my opinion they just don't have the right people in place ( Stam and Tevrenden) to move it forward as they wish. But if fans believe if we got rid of those two that the intended style of play and set up will change then I fear they will be sadly disappointed.
In terms of the players fighting for each other and passion on the pitch, it was clearly in evidence at Burton on Tuesday night. So what was the difference between the two games? Perhaps because one was played in front of an atmosphere of encouragement and support whilst the other absolutely wasn't. Again these are very well paid professionals who should be strong enough mentally to cope but I'll ask again what do we think we're hoping to achieve by creating such a toxic atmosphere at our home grounds. Or heaven forbid by waving pants around at a game? Having a laugh and entertaining ourselves as we've not had that on the pitch for some time.? Fair enough that's our right as paying customers but do we really think it's helping.
The simple truth is that from the moment Stam came in there is a section of the fan base that were dead set against his playing style from the off and haven't let up. There was a significant sense of people "tolerating" last season's 3rd place and play off final rather than truly embracing it as a very good season. I'm not suggesting we should al be grateful we're not playing in front of 2000 in Division 4 as little old Reading but tolerating finishing 3rd and being a penalty kick away from the Premiership? Especially after the previous season's of decline.
Apologies for singling you out btw, I'm not really directing this at you personally but these are just my thoughts and yours seemed a reasonable enough post to address them on.