fans entitled to there opinion

[Mr Blunt]

We are talking about footballers and a manger, I'm sure they know when they've had a bad game and therefore can come to the conclusion that the fans won't be happy. I don't always clap them off, when the game finishes I sometimes just stand up and leave my seat, I don't see the logic in booing, especially when people do it on a whim or too easily, for example at half time.

With regards to the management, I can have an opinion on whether he is right or not but it isn't up to me whether he should be in charge, that's Knight's decision, just like your boss at work, you wouldn't go and tell him he wasn't up to it, would you?

Every player will know when they have had a bad game they don't need telling. I bet Hawkins was devastated about scoring an own goal last week he didn't need people abusing him off the field.

 

[Elder for England]

Every player will know when they have had a bad game they don't need telling. I bet Hawkins was devastated about scoring an own goal last week he didn't need people abusing him off the field.

Exactly. My thought is that if they know they've had a bad game why boo, ok you don't have to cheer and aplaud if they've played badly, if anything booing seperates the fans and players. Just be disapointed and get behind them for the next game.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

We are talking about footballers and a manger, I'm sure they know when they've had a bad game and therefore can come to the conclusion that the fans won't be happy. I don't always clap them off, when the game finishes I sometimes just stand up and leave my seat, I don't see the logic in booing, especially when people do it on a whim or too easily, for example at half time. If I go to cinema and don't like the film, I wouldn't sit and mindlessly boo, what would that do?? I would speak to the person I've gone with about my thoughts on the film.

Football is an emotive past time. I am quite convinced that they know they have had a bad game and let themselves/the club/fans etc down, but I don't see why the fans should be chastised for booing. I would rather they showed that sort of reaction than simply not bother going to games anymore, like many thousands across Sussex.

With regards to the management, I can have an opinion on whether he is right or not but it isn't up to me whether he should be in charge, that's Knight's decision, just like your boss at work, you wouldn't go and tell him he wasn't up to it, would you?

I would probably leave if I was not happy with my boss. Although I do not see how that is relevant as your analogy would mean Adams telling Knight he is not up to it...

A customer is entitled to complain if they are not happy with the service or they have lost faith in the product and the production team. What should one do instead of booing? Write a letter to Richard Knight Esq?

Personally, I very rarely boo The Albion, and have only done so on a handful of occasions from memory, but the booing fans should not be chastised for their actions. It is not as if they left for the game, planning to boo the team. When my school team lost (we normally had a crowd of about 100), we used to break out into song and sing "Always look on the Bright Side of Life" with whistling included. Perhaps we should all give that a try. Certainly lifted the spirits a bit.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

However, I do not think individual players should be booed.

 

[Elder for England]

Football is an emotive past time. I am quite convinced that they know they have had a bad game and let themselves/the club/fans etc down, but I don't see why the fans should be chastised for booing. I would rather they showed that sort of reaction than simply not bother going to games anymore, like many thousands across Sussex.



I would probably leave if I was not happy with my boss. Although I do not see how that is relevant as your analogy would mean Adams telling Knight he is not up to it...

A customer is entitled to complain if they are not happy with the service or they have lost faith in the product and the production team. What should one do instead of booing? Write a letter to Richard Knight Esq?

Personally, I very rarely boo The Albion, and have only done so on a handful of occasions from memory, but the booing fans should not be chastised for their actions. It is not as if they left for the game, planning to boo the team. When my school team lost (we normally had a crowd of about 100), we used to break out into song and sing "Always look on the Bright Side of Life" with whistling included. Perhaps we should all give that a try. Certainly lifted the spirits a bit.

I meant employees with the manager, us and Adams. Obviously it's different, as is the comparison to a shop. Perhaps it's because I do not look at us as 'customers' but as supporters for the club we have a tie with, sometimes there's good games sometimes there's bad. I will watch the Albion in whatever weather, however well they play or don't, as the majority do. To a shop, I have no loyalty and I'm purely buying something because I like it, Brighton is different.

I think we'll agree to disagree.

 

[Nibble]

I'm sure the team deliberately played like shit to disappoint you on purpose.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

I agree that it is an entirely different concept, as we have an emotional tie to the club, but people show that they care in different ways. At the end of the day, everyone wants the Albion to be the best club in the world and play the opposition off the park. I would rather the booers continue to turn up as we have already lost legions of supporters for a variety of reasons.

 

[Withdean Wanderer]

The absolute tool who told you to "f*** off and support Palace" does post on here.

Obviously, there's a divide between fans who will only be positive in their attempts to encourage the team, and those who will vent frustration, but rowing about it at the game was f***ing pathetic.

Anyway, I was firmly in the "what a load of rubbish" camp, and I feel that after a whole day and a great chunk of money waste on a half-arsed performance, it was rightly deserved. If people are so obsessed with 'supporting' that they have to clap the team off then fair enough, but that sort of attitude really isn't for me.

 

[Questions]

I have always found the best way of showing your displeasure at the performances is just not to go. So at the moment I am having a rest from watching all the games but I would like to get my enthusiam back for it all. I found myself moaning too much at games and that is the time to take a step back for a while methinks when that happens.

 

[reigate]

Yesterday was one of the most gutless Albion performances I have seen in years. For 20 minutes Carlisle looked to be the worse team we have played this season and were there for the taking. An hour later and we were making them look world beaters.

El Add was shocking but was not alone. Most players were an absolute joke. Fleetwood made Jamie Moralee look a 100%er and the happiest man in the ground must have been Hawkins, although Loft, Robinson and Sullivan seemed to find it all very amusing at half time.

I don't think I have ever booed during a game in 20 years of watching the Albion but they deserved every boo and insult they got yesterday. The were a f***ing disgrace and I hope they are disgusted at their performance.

Almost as much of a disgrace were the muppets telling fans who had just had made an 8 our journey to f*** off back to the station and to f*** off and support palace. I was quite suprised the one of them could string such a long sentence together as he he makes normally sounds llke Michael Watson after he went 12 rounds with Chris Eubank.

Very big of them to slag off Albion fans for having an opinion and then having to hide behind their mates when they get confronted. All very ironic as the very same people boo at Withdean every time we do not win, and were chanting Wilkins out last season (until we went on a good run and they were singing Wilkins name)

Absolute f*** wits the lot of them

 

[Robert Codners Nostrils]

The absolute tool who told you to "f*** off and support Palace" does post on here.

Obviously, there's a divide between fans who will only be positive in their attempts to encourage the team, and those who will vent frustration, but rowing about it at the game was f***ing pathetic.

Anyway, I was firmly in the "what a load of rubbish" camp, and I feel that after a whole day and a great chunk of money waste on a half-arsed performance, it was rightly deserved. If people are so obsessed with 'supporting' that they have to clap the team off then fair enough, but that sort of attitude really isn't for me.

I really need to clear a few things up here. Firstly, I am the absolute tool who came out with the palace comment. It was not due to the booing, it was not down to the chanting of what a waste of money etc. It was down to the "WE WANT 4!" chant. That is what annoyed me. However, on reflection, I guess it was meant to be a funny chant and perhaps I should have kept my mouth shut. At the time though, it annoyed me because booing your own team is one thing. Every fan is entitled to express their disatisfaction. However, cheering on the opposition takes it to another level. I understand that it was probably meant to be in jest and I am sorry I said what I did. I was just upset after the third goal had gone in, and I didn't react in the correct manner. I do not know the person who I said it to, but I do know that he attends a lot of away games and therefore is Brighton through and through. I will appologise to him and hopefully that will be the end of it. Having cross words with your own fans is never a nice thing and I hope I do not find myself in this situation again.

 

[fatboy]

I really need to clear a few things up here. Firstly, I am the absolute tool who came out with the palace comment. It was not due to the booing, it was not down to the chanting of what a waste of money etc. It was down to the "WE WANT 4!" chant. That is what annoyed me. However, on reflection, I guess it was meant to be a funny chant and perhaps I should have kept my mouth shut. At the time though, it annoyed me because booing your own team is one thing. Every fan is entitled to express their disatisfaction. However, cheering on the opposition takes it to another level. I understand that it was probably meant to be in jest and I am sorry I said what I did. I was just upset after the third goal had gone in, and I didn't react in the correct manner. I do not know the person who I said it to, but I do know that he attends a lot of away games and therefore is Brighton through and through. I will appologise to him and hopefully that will be the end of it. Having cross words with your own fans is never a nice thing and I hope I do not find myself in this situation again.

Takes a big man to apologise.

 

[Withdean Wanderer]

I really need to clear a few things up here. Firstly, I am the absolute tool who came out with the palace comment. It was not due to the booing, it was not down to the chanting of what a waste of money etc. It was down to the "WE WANT 4!" chant. That is what annoyed me. However, on reflection, I guess it was meant to be a funny chant and perhaps I should have kept my mouth shut. At the time though, it annoyed me because booing your own team is one thing. Every fan is entitled to express their disatisfaction. However, cheering on the opposition takes it to another level. I understand that it was probably meant to be in jest and I am sorry I said what I did. I was just upset after the third goal had gone in, and I didn't react in the correct manner. I do not know the person who I said it to, but I do know that he attends a lot of away games and therefore is Brighton through and through. I will appologise to him and hopefully that will be the end of it. Having cross words with your own fans is never a nice thing and I hope I do not find myself in this situation again.

Fair play. I have no idea who you are and I didn't think it was you, but obviously i'm mistaken.

All got a bit silly to be honest, but was obviously a sarcasm-bypass moment.

 

[reigate]

I really need to clear a few things up here. Firstly, I am the absolute tool who came out with the palace comment. It was not due to the booing, it was not down to the chanting of what a waste of money etc. It was down to the "WE WANT 4!" chant. That is what annoyed me. However, on reflection, I guess it was meant to be a funny chant and perhaps I should have kept my mouth shut. At the time though, it annoyed me because booing your own team is one thing. Every fan is entitled to express their disatisfaction. However, cheering on the opposition takes it to another level. I understand that it was probably meant to be in jest and I am sorry I said what I did. I was just upset after the third goal had gone in, and I didn't react in the correct manner. I do not know the person who I said it to, but I do know that he attends a lot of away games and therefore is Brighton through and through. I will appologise to him and hopefully that will be the end of it. Having cross words with your own fans is never a nice thing and I hope I do not find myself in this situation again.

I was quite heavily involved in the whole thing, but defintely did not chant "we want 4" or anything like that. I chanted "what a load of rubbish" and "you're not fit to wear the shirt" and feel that was perfectly justifiable.

I would hope you were as disgusted at the team performance as I was. It was not an enjoyable afternoon (and got a lot worse later that night!!!) but agree we should put it down to frustration at the performance and move on.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I don't see the logic in booing, especially when people do it on a whim or too easily, for example at half time. If I go to cinema and don't like the film, I wouldn't sit and mindlessly boo,

Do you cheer and clap a film you do like?

 

[Robert Codners Nostrils]

I was quite heavily involved in the whole thing, but defintely did not chant "we want 4" or anything like that. I chanted "what a load of rubbish" and "you're not fit to wear the shirt" and feel that was perfectly justifiable.

I would hope you were as disgusted at the team performance as I was. It was not an enjoyable afternoon (and got a lot worse later that night!!!) but agree we should put it down to frustration at the performance and move on.

Indeed. As I said, I shouldn't have shouted out like I did. Long journeys, immense frustration and a lot of alcohol are sometimes not a good mix. And yes, I was thoroughly disgusted with the teams performance and hope they start showing a little more desire and passion, otherwise its going to be a long season! Can't wait for Oldham!

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Only just found Gavin Strachans blog, but it does seem to be topical at the moment.

BBC SPORT | Gavin Strachan blog

Hi, hope you are all well.

As a player, when you get to a certain age you begin to look back on your career and identify key junctions where things could have gone one way or another. In my case there have been about three or four, but one in particular springs to mind.

I was in my second season at Hartlepool United and it was a wet midweek game against a then high-flying Luton Town side destined for the Championship. Unfortunately, that night I had one of those games that all players dread but that we all experience, some more often than others.


I was awful and midway through the second half, I was unsurprisingly substituted to a chorus of boos and ironic cheers. It was at that moment that I fully appreciated one of the negative aspects of playing at a lower level before comparatively small crowds - you can hear the individual comments directed at you and it's fair to say most of the comments about me that night were not complimentary!

I got home about midnight and, as is my usual routine after a game, started replaying it in my head, but this time I was embarrassed by the things I was remembering.

Just then the phone rang and it was assistant manager Martin Scott (who later went on to become Hartlepool manager). If ever I needed a pick me up, this was the time and he told me to keep believing in myself, that the manager had faith in me and I would be starting the next game.

People go on about man management, and for me this is the perfect example of how it should be done. The lift he gave me meant a great deal to me. The next match we were away at Port Vale, we won 1-0 and I was named man of the match.

Following the crowd's reaction to me in the Luton match, I really did fear that my time at the club was up. Usually when a set of fans single out a certain player in that way, they carry on doing so.

Fortunately for me this did not happen and I think there are two reasons for that. One is that it acted as a wake-up call for me and in my mind I was not going to let it happen again, I was going to make sure I came back stronger from the experience.

The second reason was quite simply that the people of Hartlepool are a forgiving bunch and the penny dropped with me that if you give absolutely everything for them, they will accept you and I think, on the whole, that is true for most fans.

At this point I would like to make it clear that I am not advocating fans should "boo" players if they want a positive reaction from them. Everyone is different, some guys come back stronger, others can crumble - let me know if you can think of any examples of either.

The reason I look at this episode as a turning point is that it helped me become a lot tougher mentally. I tend to think if I could deal with a few thousand people booing me and come back from it, I can deal with most things.

As any regular readers of this blog will know, I help out with my little boy's under 8's team. Last weekend we had a new boy playing his first game for us and the manager told him that although initially he would be on the bench, he would get on at some point. Two minutes later the little lad came over to me and said that he had been over to where the manager pointed but there was no bench!

For the rest of the match, I made a point of noting the various football clichés that were being shouted from the sidelines and the reactions of the boys. It was obvious that they had no idea what the adults were on about.

It was particularly amusing when one dad shouted to his son to "get the second ball", you could actually see the little lad looking for it!

 

[Kenhead]

I meant employees with the manager, us and Adams. Obviously it's different, as is the comparison to a shop. Perhaps it's because I do not look at us as 'customers' but as supporters for the club we have a tie with, sometimes there's good games sometimes there's bad. I will watch the Albion in whatever weather, however well they play or don't, as the majority do. To a shop, I have no loyalty and I'm purely buying something because I like it, Brighton is different.

I think we'll agree to disagree.

I suppose it depends on the individual on what people want to get out of supporting Brighton. Obviously we are never going to be world beaters but if people are going to come away from games week in week out feed up then i can see why they would want to moan.
Most people work Monday to Fridays and the Saturday is taken up watching the Albion, so then it can feel abit of a wasted week after a gutless Albion performance.

We've played about 22 games this season i think, how many can you honestly say you have enjoyed?

It can seem like abit of an effort to get to away games when we are playing poorly and I'm not enjoying it as much. If it wasn't for the fact that we have got London games and a few grounds i haven't been to yet in the second half of the season that i haven't fully written this season off completely.
Am glad i dropped out of Carlisle but am doing Stockport *Must be mad*
Will still be doing Shrewsbury, Hereford, Mk Dons, Colchester and Walsall i will be ticking off this season.
Will always go to all the home games off course as that is supporting the club financially and can still do things in the evening.

 

[SICKASAGULL]

There are two options when your team is going through a bad spell, particularly if it continues for two seasons,either as I and several hundred one time regular supporters have done ,stay away until such time as results and entertainment improves or attend and make clear to management of your displeasure,but do not clap them off the field,I do not support booing.
The fans who go and object to criticism are responsible for enabling the present board to continue in office, no doubt when a restaurant they use regularly serves up poor food and service they continue to use it,or do they?

 

[Uncle Buck]

I really need to clear a few things up here. Firstly, I am the absolute tool who came out with the palace comment. It was not due to the booing, it was not down to the chanting of what a waste of money etc. It was down to the "WE WANT 4!" chant. That is what annoyed me. However, on reflection, I guess it was meant to be a funny chant and perhaps I should have kept my mouth shut. At the time though, it annoyed me because booing your own team is one thing. Every fan is entitled to express their disatisfaction. However, cheering on the opposition takes it to another level. I understand that it was probably meant to be in jest and I am sorry I said what I did. I was just upset after the third goal had gone in, and I didn't react in the correct manner. I do not know the person who I said it to, but I do know that he attends a lot of away games and therefore is Brighton through and through. I will appologise to him and hopefully that will be the end of it. Having cross words with your own fans is never a nice thing and I hope I do not find myself in this situation again.

Fair enough.

Case closed and all that.