In recent times when all has gone pretty badly we have had the press and our supporters shouting for Jol to go. He has now done so, whether rightly or wrongly, but we now need 12 on the pitch. The 12th man is our support! Our team is at an very low ebb and on Wednesday and for the foreseeable future they need our encouragement, no matter what is happening on the pitch. If we can give them that we will get better and we will survive, but we must Believe again, come what may. As others have said on another post it will be a bumpy ride, we have to accept we will lose games, we will start poorly and we will run out of gas, but our support does not have too. Lets get the Cottage rocking and a place the opposition don't want to visit again. If we can accept that the manager knows what he is doing, better than us amateurs, and not call him incompetent or any of the bitter names given to Jol recently, surely this will help and grow the confidence our players and management need right now. Yes they are well paid professionals but they are human too. Perhaps if we had done this before we would at be mid table and a lot happier with our lot. COYW!
Quite right. Getting behind the team is essential. Not sure that we would be mid table if the crowd were more encouraging. You can't push a rope after all.
I think Murphy's point that a number of players are just walking has rubbed off to the fans. Have no will to shout or get behind the team. I for once was deflated. Going with a different attitude on Wed. Hopefully Rene who has been around big names has the guts to show authority. I believe the players probably have realised that Khan will take all the steps required!
You're right Madness, it was hard to be enthusiastic with the lethargic displays on show. The fact that they persisted so long then brought out the frustration on the terraces. I can't accept however that the fact that we are in the relegation zone is even in part down to the fans. It's our Club and we were not being unreasonable to expect better. And, if there had been no show of displeasure would Shad Khan have reacted? Agree though, that now is the time to get behind the team, and as I said before "let's move on". I'm not going to the game on Wednesday expecting a revolution overnight but I'm sure as hell going to support my Club.
Quite right C58. We may not win, in fact, I doubt if we will - Spurs are a quality side (usually) - but that doesn't matter. What will matter is the attitude of the players. As the BBC commentator said in commentary on Saturdays match "Let's hope Jol has some friends in the boardroom because, God knows he's not got many on the pitch." which just about sums things up. There was no will to play for him. Bent was walking about the pitch slower than people who aren't actually taking part in a football match normally walk. So I am expecting at least some effort from the team. Maybe a shot on goal would be nice. Let's just try and win and if we can't then there's always Villa.
Most of the teams that are at the wrong side of the table this time of the year show some passion. Our players have failed to show that. We are not a team any more and this was Jol's fault. There is no more huggling and buddying before the game. Jol sacrificied the team spirit for 2 players (Berba and Ruiz) while all the others were treated as second class. I don't blame Bent when Jol comes out and says Berba will be starting no matter what. I don't blame Kaca when Ruiz is picked week in and week out without offering anything. This has rubbed off and Rene has the chance to stop it...