Supporting the Team

[Pigman]

Football is all about opinions and I think it's great that people are so passionate about the club - but that passion sometimes boils over and for abuse to be hurled at any individual player of ours is wrong in my opinion and that of many fans, if not the majority.

What we should be doing is getting behind the guy and trying to build his confidence up - if a decision is to be made on any player's future then Peasky will make it.

I just think it detracts from the great support offered to the team when this kind of thing happens and the focus of the supporters becomes a negative thing, rather than a positive. All players who pull the shirt on should get our support, and as someone else has said, why not quietly, calmly and politely ask Peasksy after a game what he thinks a player brings to the side - you're unlikely to get an answer by having abused said player for 90 minutes though !!

Next weekend we have a massive challenge ahead of us. The 11 players who run out on the pitch against Hendon next week need our unreserved 100% support, any less to any of them is like shooting ourselves in the foot frankly !!

[Formic]

There are many players who have had to endure the "boo boys" amongst their own supporters and come through the experience, probably finding those same people cheering them - Crouch, Beckham, Lampard for England spring to mind. At a club level I remember "back in the day" the reception that John Pratt used to get from the Spurs fans, yet he played for them for a decade.

[James Beil]

I don't understand why people would start booing their own players at any level - even if they have an absolute shocker, they're still playing for your team and, by extension, for you. If you think the player is pants then save it for after the game As soft as it might sound, the players are real people with feelings, families etc. They could easily pack the game in and spend their Saturdays doing something else, but they're mad enough to voluntarily run around a park for ninety minutes chasing a football. As a general rule, if you wouldn't say it at your son's football match on a saturday morning, you shouldn't be saying it in the afternoon either.

[Pigman]

I suppose one of the differences between some of the players mentioned above, even those of the old Diamonds club, is the level we're playing at and the level of personal contact fans have with players.

As full professionals at the "higher end" of the game you're detached from the fans, never really meeting up with them if you don't choose to - you're protected. As a semi pro for a club like ours you're not - it's all very personal and "in your face" !! That makes it harder to deal with for the player and potentially can have even more of an adverse affect on the whole squad.

Personally, sitting on 5 wins out of 6 and 1 draw I think Peaksy knows what he's doing and I'll leave the team decisions to him !!

[SouthRushdenJFC]

I think Dowlo's point is that they are not running round the pitch voluntarily, they are paid and he perceives that one player is not deserving of his support. That's his choice and the only thing I would question is the way he is communicating his lack of support.

In cases such as these I would advocate the old adage of keeping your mouth shut and having people think you are an idiot rather than opening it and removing all doubt.

[rudolph_hucker]

In other words Dowlo, don't express an opinion that differs to anybody else's.


So glad you're here Dowlo!!!!

[Diamond_ Wolf]

In other words Dowlo, don't express an opinion that differs to anybody else's.


So glad you're here Dowlo!!!!

There is having an opinion Lee and then there is being far too OTT with that opinion. I'm pretty sure that everyone is bemused that the player in question still appears on the team sheet however personal abuse towards that player is unwarranted IMO. Like others have said, it is not helpful to shatter a player who already has next to no confidence and I also believe it will have an adverse effect on other players in the team. If I was Ling I probably would have twatted a few of our fans in all fairness.

[corby diamond]

Although I'm not a massive fan of lingy, with both fazel and Elliot lamb missing what choice did peaksy have? He seemed to be backed into a corner with availability Saturday..

I ain't keen on the way ling plays, I think he's even massively hyped up with long buckby, but there is a line which is being crossed imo. Peaksy could have the same problems Saturday, and the lads need 110% support. If we want to be promoted this season the confidence needs to stay there. Come on guys, let's look forward to a magic fa cup day... He may even score?? :lol:

Hope betway release odds for the game and they are decent, I'm putting a punt on the lads winning, I'm confident... ;)

[rudolph_hucker]

In other words Dowlo, don't express an opinion that differs to anybody else's.


So glad you're here Dowlo!!!!

There is having an opinion Lee and then there is being far too OTT with that opinion. I'm pretty sure that everyone is bemused that the player in question still appears on the team sheet however personal abuse towards that player is unwarranted IMO. Like others have said, it is not helpful to shatter a player who already has next to no confidence and I also believe it will have an adverse effect on other players in the team. If I was Ling I probably would have twatted a few of our fans in all fairness.

I haven't been to a game this season so I wasn't aware of any incident at any game, in my defence. Therefore I can't comment on what went on at a game.
I was just generally making a comment about what is or isn't said on this forum. It seems unless you are sheeplike you are castigated. Trust me I know.

[Oundle Diamond #2]

Has anyone actually seen Greg Ling have a good game? Or ever put in any decent levels of effort?

Under normal circumstances I'd say booing players is too far, but this appears to be an exceptional case of an exceptional lack of talent and an exceptional lack of effort. Fans deserve their say, especially at this level when there's no transfer windows, no end of players out there, and no solid commitments to the player in question. We're not going to make it to the top by giving endless chances to a player.

Two options. Ling starts performing, or Peaks gets rid of him, then we can all get back to cheering on players who deserve to wear the shirt.