The Times - McCammongate

[Yorkie]

A Final thought is that we need to differentiate between the player McCammon and the person McCammon and we need to remember that he and the other players have family. Whilst the players might have thick skin, their family most probably don't. Think about it, you're a player who's getting grief from the fans on NSC, you live in the area, your children go to a local school, kids in the school read NSC and ........

Which is what happened to Guy's kids when that story was put in the Sun.
We might like to kid ourselves that our opinions are just between fans in a small area but a lot more people read Nsc than is given credit.

 

[sneakychef]

“All I hear on the radio is criticism, criticism, criticism and I’m fed up with it,” he criticised.

That's the most I've laughed in a week!

 

[ben andrews' girlfriend]

I hope he proves us all wrong. That phone call was the first obvious sign of passion he's shown since arriving at the club.

Personally i havent had any problem with the passion he shows - he's just not good enough to play in a team who need 11 players that are good enough to keep us up. If we were mid-table, im sure that we wouldnt say half as much about McCammon, because there would be no threat of going down.

As to the Watford "trial" - i have a watford fan in my halls, and their manager said that none of the people that he had on trial were good enough. Maybe McGhee heard this, and brought him back??

I know our fans moan a lot - however, if a player knows that there is a lot of whingers on the phone in / on NSC - why listen / read what is being said? Maybe there's some part of him that wants to increase his ego, and wants a fan to phone in saying he is the new Zamora - and face it Mark ( I know you read this) - it isnt going to happen.

 

[Deportivo Seagull]

I know our fans moan a lot - however, if a player knows that there is a lot of whingers on the phone in / on NSC - why listen / read what is being said? Maybe there's some part of him that wants to increase his ego, and wants a fan to phone in saying he is the new Zamora - and face it Mark ( I know you read this) - it isnt going to happen.

He might not listen but people who know his family may well, it appears that when Tank was put on e-bay, his kids suffered at school. Now I don't think Mccammon has kids but that's not the point, people would still give him a slagging (and in somecases it's been very vitriolic) even if he had kids.
Also the NSC is read by members of the media and if they start picking up on things then it going to get around.

 

[ben andrews' girlfriend]

He might not listen but people who know his family may well, it appears that when Tank was put on e-bay, his kids suffered at school. Now I don't think Mccammon has kids but that's not the point, people would still give him a slagging (and in somecases it's been very vitriolic) even if he had kids.
Also the NSC is read by members of the media and if they start picking up on things then it going to get around.

Fair enough - you have a point.

I think it's just a bit annoying how he's had a go at the fans when we're the ones who have stuck with him for quite a long time now, and he hasnt got any better - and McCammon saying that all the fans do is moan has pissed me off a bit. With anonymous boards like this, you are going to have the people that support through thick and thin, and the people that like to have a go at players. Boards like this should be taken with more than a pinch of salt, as should the phone in.

I suppose it's the problem of the board's success, is that now there may be people who dont want to say what they really think because it now looks like we are being watched by players and the press. Hopefully it wont mean that this will happen, because i think that the board could suffer as a result.

 

[Yorkie]

Most of his moan was about the support at Withdean which is far too quiet.
With your Dad saving his voice, Krispies on duty until half time it was left to Ned, Dover and even me to try and get some chants going.

 

[Kent Seagull]

Most of his moan was about the support at Withdean which is far too quiet.
With your Dad saving his voice, Krispies on duty until half time it was left to Ned, Dover and even me to try and get some chants going.

DTG was saving his voice? He was about all I could hear for most of the game! Come on Leon!

 

[Uncle Spielberg]

My quote of the spat being more interesting than the game has been quoted. Where's my fee

 

[BUTTERBALL]

My "amazing and insightful call" comment got a mention in the Times!!

 

[jonny.rainbow]

A welcome sign of good management at the Albion. Half of NSC were convinced he'd be SACKED.

I'd make that half of NSC were HOPING he'd be SACKED

 

[*Gullsworth*]

I'd make that half of NSC were HOPING he'd be SACKED

Well done Mac, its your right to reply............ I still think you could do a job...........i thought we looked more of a threat up front with him on! He may be unfit, lack of confidence and frustrated...but i would have him on the bench anyday..........then what do i know i never played pro football

 

[Stumpy Tim]

"The bad news for McCammon is that the top story on the club’s official website yesterday involved the continuing search for a new striker."

 

[Bluejuice]

Good article, and I'm delighted to receive national media attention, even if it is only a jovial piece about a sticky situation.

To be honest I'm still undecided about the whole incident. On the one hand I've gained respect for big Mac for coming on to defend himself, and he made his point fairly well for a footballer. He was certainly within his rights to question Harty and us fans on our whingeing. However on the other hand I do wonder whether it was the most professional course of action to take, and I think no matter how you look at it, the team ARE going to take his accusations of failing to create chances personally. It may not be direct criticism of individual players, but it is criticism of our team and I doubt his outburst would have done much for dressing room confidence.

But what I'm most shocked about is the lack of disciplinary action. If a player openly criticises his team and his manager in the media then you've got to expect retribution. Otherwise how can anyone have respect for McGhee and the coaching staff?

 

[Biscuit]

Slagging of the fans is odd. A large percentage of those who go to away games are also season ticket holders. The atmosphere isn't helped in a dull game especially when you take into account the athletics track we play in! The noise, if any, goes up! A Brighton fan has been voted fan of the year and our support is the reason we are still a football league club today. Standing on the crossbars anyone?

MacCammon on the otherhand blames injuries and bad service from the midfield.

Oh come on.

Big Mac couldn't score if he were upfront for Madrid with Zidane knocking balls into him all day long!

Great article though.

 

[Yorkie]

But what I'm most shocked about is the lack of disciplinary action. If a player openly criticises his team and his manager in the media then you've got to expect retribution. Otherwise how can anyone have respect for McGhee and the coaching staff?

There is a post elsewhere from someone who reckons he was sent home this morning and talk of a weeks wages being fined.

 

[London Irish]

A welcome sign of good management at the Albion. Half of NSC were convinced he'd be SACKED.

I too was incredibly relieved when I read that. I am happy with the current Carole-OGH-CKR priority for the 2 places up front but would like to see Big Mac as an option on the bench while we retain his services.

 

[London Irish]

I think it's just a bit annoying how he's had a go at the fans when we're the ones who have stuck with him for quite a long time now

You are probably right that a lot of fans have stuck with Big Mac and have kept an open mind on him. The problem is, very few of those have spoken up against the appalling witch-hunt that has taken place against him on here over the last year, so it just seems to the players who read a forum like this that the obsessive, immature, witch-hunting loudmouths represent the majority opinion.

The fact is, the witch-hunting has spilled on to the grounds we play at - he was booed twice by the away support when his name was read out over the tannoy at Hull earlier this season, and even last week at Sheffield, there was a group of morons chanting anti-Big Mac songs even though he wasn't even in the 16!

 

[Dawsey]

I will scan the little cartoon in tonight if anyone wants to see it.

Please do

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Slagging of the fans is odd.

I grant you that it doesn't happen very often and it's rare on the radio. But I know for a fact that Albion players have long felt dispirited by the moaners at Withdean. Individual comments shouted out from the South Stand do get heard clearly on the pitch and it's not the easiest thing for a young player to ignore.

Dan Harding used to find that it seriously affected his concentration.

How do I know? He told me so.

 

[the full harris]

Um, does the Times do a different edition in the Midlands? The article is in it, with a lovely big picture of him and even a funny artoon but no mention of this place in it?