I know this is getting a bit boring now but on the back of some very good threads on backing our great team and reading (in my opinion) a lot of negativity born out of frustration. It's been well documented what we expect from our team. After all we pay our hard earned money in a very difficult financial climate, so we are entitled to have expectations and lets face it on the whole we as a club, team and a set of supporters have been exceptional over the last couple of years but we are all now starting to see it getting tougher but then (again in my own opinion) no tougher than we thought it was going to be before the season started. So as the the season advances and things get ever more tricky and frustrating, I've gotten to thinking what exactly is our role. In which way are we the 12th man and what should our players expectations be of us? Well our role as supporters is obviously to support. Below is the dictionary definition of that word. Some of it is not applicable but I'm sure you'll get the picture. sup·port    [suh-pawrt, -pohrt] verb (used with object) 1. to bear or hold up (a load, mass, structure, part, etc.); serve as a foundation for. 2. to sustain or withstand (weight, pressure, strain, etc.) without giving way; serve as a prop for. 3. to undergo or endure, especially with patience or submission; tolerate. 4. to sustain (a person, the mind, spirits, courage, etc.) under trial or affliction: They supported him throughout his ordeal. 5. to maintain (a person, family, establishment, institution, etc.) by supplying with things necessary to existence; provide for: to support a family. EXPAND noun 10. the act or an instance of supporting. 11. the state of being supported. 12. something that serves as a foundation, prop, brace, or stay. 13. maintenance, as of a person or family, with necessaries, means, or funds: to pay for support of an orphan. 14. a person or thing that supports, as financially: The pension was his only support. Now I didn't do this to point fingers, I'm no perfect fan. I've uttered the odd swear word and felt let down and moaned "what's Guly doing" (7 goals / 8 assists - I actually love Guly but my god he can be frustrating). I don't particularly want to start a debate because it's all pretty much been said but what I did want to do is write something that will give some of us a reference point for when the chips are down and we are frustrated and emotional because the team we love so much isn't meeting our expectations. Let's just keep doing what we've been doing and what we are the best in the land at doing. I't's what Nigel, the team and Nicola should expect of us and it is what Markus kindly gave us the opportunity to continue doing... Lets just support. COYR
I have a right to moan when we play **** and I fork out alot of cash and travel alot of hours. Me moaning doesn't not make me anyless of a suporter. The thing I agree on is we should move on when the next game comes up.
That's alright. I'm sure joe can show you the ropes. Unless you can handle yourself in the this tough environment.
I agree with this.I would like to know out of interest how many of the supporters telling us not to say a single negative word about recent performances actually went to the last 2 away games.I went and when i came back i wrote about it and said it how i saw it and that was negatively,sorry but we should be able to give our honest opinions,obviously without getting stupid with it.I'm not doubting saints and i have every faith in Nigel to perk us up but it doesn't stop me worrying about our current performances away from home.
What good does moaning do? It's not as if by moaning your going to make the players play better, or impart wisdom upon Nigel to the effect that he changes our tactics and we magically improve, is it? The only reason I can come up with to account for it is that it lets you vent your frustration. But it doesn't make you a better supporter by moaning like a little bitch, does it?
There is a difference between moaning and telling it like it is.I'm glad you see everything so calmly,you are a perfect specimen of a human being.
It's just we all have different opinions, if we didn't this board would be boring as hell. It's nice to see some friendly banter between Saints fans.
I wasn't suggesting that you didn't have a right to moan, in fact I did mention the money thing and our right to have expectations. Again in my opinion, whilst on here moan all you like. This is the place for it, or with your mates down the pub or at your girlfriend / boyfriend when you have to explain "it's not not just a f***ing game". The thread itself was actually about the role we play when we are at the game. As I said we have had excellent support up to this point, however at the Hull game at half time, when I heard a small chorus of boo's I thought... really? after everything we've acomplished in the last couple of years. Fortunately the people doing it were so far and few between, I don't think the players heard it but believe me, if they get any louder they will and it will become a self-fulfilling prophecy. We are at our best when we play without fear. Start making the team scared of making a mistake and we will find ourselves with a hell of alot more to moan about. Also and once again, in my own opinion I really dont get this "Julius Ceasar - Entertain me" attitude that football fans in general seem to have nowadays. When you pay your money to go to the cinema you do it with the knowladge that you may not enjoy the film. The only way you do know you will enjoy it is if you already know the end but then if you already know that, then there really isn't much point in going is there.
What on earth do you mean by:- "I've gotten to thinking what exactly is our role." Are you a Yank or have you forgotten how to speak the Queen's English?
Are you a Yank or have you forgotten how to speak the Queen's English?[/QUOTE] It's not the Queen's. It's ours.
