I've just read this properly and there is no doubt in my mind that this is well and truly designed as a bollocking for fans. Not for wanting Hughton out - Bennett himself says that we're entitled to our opinion - rather for not getting behind the team enough. I know it's difficult, but I have noticed at matches that lots of supporters are making a bad atmosphere and, for that, some of us "outers" are to blame. I was at the Fulham match and generally the support was fantastic (especially given the football...), but it was spoiled by a minority intent on making their feelings known (which I find odd, because I'm pretty sure the board, Hughton and the players are well aware that quite a few of us think Hughton's time is near!)
What annoys me about this us yes the fans give 100% ALL the time. Certainly no what was given during the Fulham gave by management or staff. If the banner made them feel they wanted to go out and prove the fans wrong, that did not work! Shut your mouth Ryan and do that well paid job you are supposed to do ( like Saturday) not backing of Suarez and Barry for starters.
Fulham let in four against Sunderland,Cardiff got done at home against Sam's deadbeats.Now The Baggies are getting the bum's rush from Bobby Brown Shoes and his Toffees.
What puzzles me even more it's the games that we play in which we loose, Chelsea and Manchester United for an example, if we played like that all season there is no reason why we can't be on the same points as the likes of Southampton even Newcastle.
I think it's purely a lack of confidence. That makes players less likely to be passionate or expressive with their football. A lot of the time they look like they don't want to pass the ball in case they lose it, so they diver, lose it and then have to defend. My real issue with our play is the lack of pace, not in the running, just in the way we pass it around the pitch. While watching the Swansea-Tottenham game, it must have been about 5 minutes from the end, Spurs put together about 20-30 passes ALL of which had no more than 3 touches in between. They controlled it, maybe took a touch and passed. That's what you want to see. I don't want to see Johnson taking 7 touches in the middle of the pitch then hopefully lifting it into the channels or passing it to a CB who is then immediately under pressure. I don't know whether they are like this because of CH or the lack of confidence but it is incredibly frustrating!
For the majority of this season we've looked too passive when we're not in possession we just sit back and barely press the opposition. Pace wise Colk when we break we're quick in the first couple of moves but certain players in team have the tendency to over play the ball.
Unfortunately the Premier League is making the bottom half play this way to do anything to nit get relegated. Caution until if is too late.
Sorry Canary Rob, whilst scrolling up and down I accidentally disliked your post and can't figure out a way of removing it. Can anyone help? I really didn't mind it all! Whereas Surgeryman's post had me looking for an 'I'm fuming' button... Thanks the post Munky. There's also a nice touch at the end of the tunnel cam video for the Hull match where Hughton waits to shake the hand of all the players as they come off the pitch http://youtu.be/z1iBbLYrBqk. We don't see that side of him enough.
Talking about buttons, is there a Broken Record button? I'd have used it a couple of times on this thread alone.
I think it's fair enough for fans to express their feelings, but I also feel that they should see the whole match before passing judgement. West Ham or Hull were examples of this, where booing or moaning could undermine confidence and thus performance. It is a confidence game, and if I was a player, I wouldn't want to see that banner when I got off the bus at an away match. We have great supporters, but we also have some who don't consider the effect they might be having on the team's performance. Presumably, we all want the team to win during the game.
Rick - Totally agree with you and I think fans should vent their feelings on here or on the 'pinkun' site, which most do. Certainly on Saturday, all I heard from my seat in the N&P was support for the team.
Swedish Dave: really enjoyed your link - brought me down to earth to get a view of behind the scenes. Good to see the great pro Dion Dublin a personal favourite. Does he live in the area? Would have been delighted to have seen Hucks, but it was not to be. Nice touch to have the senior supporters recognised.
There was a big push to get behind the lads before the match with the senior supporters and Dion having his say. They clearly felt the need that we had been discussing all week for the fans to really get behind the team. I for one felt the crowd was pretty quiet for a lot of the game, quite in contrast to what JR has been saying. Might have just been where I was sitting but it felt quite flat until the goal.
I was watching a stream so it was more difficult to judge, but the commentators mentioned 'groaning' from time to time and some boos at half-time. The tension must have been an influence though. McNally and Delia certainly looked relieved at the end.
Don't know if Dion lives locally, but I saw him at the Norwich Beer Festival last year. Fair comment Colk - I sit in the lower N&P and the crowd there were pretty noisy throughout, especially when we were attacking the Barclay end in the 2nd half and just prior to the goal.
My post was not designed to cause fuming ( you don't say why?). Just an opinion. Not keen on players criticising the fans. If they gave 100% all the time as we do we would be in a much better place. Actually makes me feel a little sorry for Hughton as he would benefit to.
