Let’s make this simple: You criticize people-1 for criticizing other people; let’s call them people-2. Now we know that there were about 8,000 – 10,000 regular (ish) supporters NOT at the FA Cup match. We know none of them could be termed ‘Plastics’ (people-2), as we are not in the PL. We don’t know how many of people-1 stayed away because of a second-string team. We don’t know how many of the unknown people-1 (who stayed away because of the 2nd string team) actually makes a habit of criticising people-2 (the Plastics). But, apparently these unknown people-1 criticisers of people-2 are a problem as they are disloyal! Still with me? What do we know? This thread has had the largest number of posts for a long time – 124 and counting (non-sticky that is) – so well done for that! I can only claim 6 or 7 of them. Having read them all in passing, I would have to conclude that most are from folk who turned away from the game for financial or other, non-team reasons. Perhaps the Plastics (people-2) are too embarrassed to say anything. The Point. Is there one? See, I said it was simple!
Totally agree with both of you; the only point I would make (and I think you touch on it busdriver) is that it is up to the club to measure and reward loyalty - I'm all for that!
Thanks for a sensible response eventually, but you're still not getting me quite right. Obviously we don't know how many people actually criticise others as an activity and how many of them are the people who didn't go the cup game solely because the standard wasn't good enough for them. The point (and this is going to have to be my last attempt) is this: It is a recognised activity, sometimes on these boards but more often away from the boards, to slate supporters who don't come when the team aren't doing as well. This is more common at our club than most others because of our sudden rise to glory in 2008 and the lack of recognition for loyalty by those in charge of the club at the time which led to many disillusioned fans. However, it also seems to be* accepted by a majority of fans that since cup games are often a second string, it isn't worth going to them (for that reason alone. Some people will of course have other reasons but I've heard plenty of people say over the weekend that the team wasn't good enough and they wouldn't have gone if they'd known, or chose not to go because they expected it to be weak. I'd like to once again confirm at this stage that people might well have other reasons for not going and that's fine, it's not them I'm talking about) So why is it these two widely recognised and accepted viewpoints which so obviously clash with one another are both prevalent? *I have not conducted a full survey or research exercise to confirm this, it is merely an opinion.
'So why is it these two widely recognised and accepted viewpoints which so obviously clash with one another are both prevalent?' Will we ever know for certain? Perhaps, though, it's because they are quite seperate. Having unearthed this alarming anomaly, it is now your sole task in life to ask the people of Hull why they are so ****ing fickle!
Was it honestly you or are you claiming to this? Because if it was you, thank you for making what was one of the worst City games I've seen this Season a tad more enjoyable
Seriously, It was me and my mates. We dont normally sit there, My seat is a couple of blocks further left.
I was in the Orient end - Orient being my schoolboy team of choice (I was always hooked on glory) - with my brother - we had a flag, "Hull Os on Tour" and spent most of the game gesticulating to my sons and mates in E3 - it made the time pass more quickly.
Brilliant, thanks for the laugh then. I normally sit regrettably close to the Ultras. So I moved a slight bit further away so I'd actually be able to hear myself think. It must have been a more enjoyable game for Orient fans surely? They made our 2nd team look utter ****e. I'll have you know though, if we had Aluko, Quinn, Koren, Chester, Hobbs etc, it'd been a different story my friend
#Championship, you're 'avin' a laf...# Well, yeah, but that wasn't our team you see, you southern dimwits. I did feel sorry for them when we equalised as they were really quite chuffed to be beating us, but really, I thought they didn't deserve any more out of the game than us. They were dire.
I had a conversation with a bunch of L'Orient fans after the game, and they claimed that the side we played was our strongest... I explained to them that only really McShane, Bruce and Simpson had a shout of starting in the first team, and even they'd fallen out of favour, but they weren't having it. Then again, they were predicting that they'll finish the Season in the League 1 playoffs and will beat us 3-1 in the replay...
It's only partly about 'loyalty' - where your points are worth cash; for the big chains it's very useful for market research - they can profile you/your local shopping catchment area/your city or region.
Interesting debate this, I've been going for a fair few years and every now and again I run into somebody who feels the need to show me how much of a fan they are. I don't ask them to, nor do I respond in their kind, I just say "Oh, good for you mate." And not even in a ****ty kind of way. You go for your own reasons. The infamous annoying kid that sits next to me asks why I don't sing and I respond "because I don't want to pal." He always gives me the same "pffft not a fan look", which is bollocks. You pay your money you take your choice. What Hull City or indeed, football in general might not mean to you what it means to me, but it doesn't mean we can't all enjoy it. I suppose it's akin to the posters who come on and start threads like "Let's be positive and get behind the team", "No room for moaners" etc. If the team have been **** (and on the occasion they do play ****, they know they've been ****), then I'm not going to pretend I didn't see it. There's blind faith and then there's common sense. If it's 1-1 against Peterborough at half time, I probably wouldn't clap at the whistle, not because I'm not a fan, but because I didn't think the performance warranted applause (not on my high horse or anything ). Clearly others disagree because they did, which is fine as long as they don't take their own support as gospel. As for paying prices, it's perfectly justified not to want to go to a game if a) You KNOW the team will be a second string and b) You can't afford prices for whatever reason. Both are valid reasons. Although I'll say this; the team we put out on Saturday was very akin to the side we played in the last two Championship seasons - Proschwitz aside of course - in which both seasons Leyton Orient were languishing near the bottom of League 1. Just goes to show how much the players like cup games because we've seen some of those lads come on in league matches this season and perform much better. Anyway, I always think being a football fan is like playing pool in a pub. Some people do it because they like to win, some do it because they just like to play, some like it because it makes a nice break between beers, some people do it because it's there in front of them and they have nothing better to do; but nobody ever does it to impress the ladies...
