I didn't hear any booing directly around me, but I certainly heard booing from other areas of the ground. I'm slightly surprised that some people didn't hear it. But it doesn't surprise me, sadly. Hell, I even had one guy around me spend the full 90 mins complaining about Puncheon and how rubbish he is, and how we should have got rid of him etc. When Puncheon scored, I just grinned at him. Some people just form an opinion, and blind themselves from everything that a player then subsquently does on the pitch.
I hope anyone who booed never ever returns to st marys. I mean anyone who can boo a player when there team are one nill up and he hasn't even kicked a ball yet is just soo sad. Not surprising though, this season I've seen lots of my mates come up with strong opinions about saint when a couple of years ago I dont think they even knew what league we were in. Anyway guly shut them up made a real difference coming on for the first time this season a few more performances and he will be cementing his case as one of the chief options from the bench.
Re the racism thing. I think a lot of people are more deeply racist than they would actually imagine. I don't think many people think 'He's black lets boo him' however I'm sure many have an irrational dislike of him which is rooted in his skin color and they may not even realise that's the case. Unfortuanatley although issues with racism have improved vastly recently I'm still shocked by the amount of racist things people say which they may not even realise is racist.
Some people are just morons. Puncheon has been playing out of his skin this season (my player of the season so far), and if these idiots can't see that then it's their problem.
Yep, I would go along with that to some extent. I don't consider myself racist, but I suspect I might be, if I'm totally honest, because I'm not quite in step with current thinking. That might seem an odd statement to make, but I'm illustrating the unthinking racism, xenophobia, minorities issues, etc... that haunt society, aside from the obvious, consciously thought variety. To my disappointment, I find that people are often sheeplike. They don't question, but just go along with the flow and join in. It's less effort and the personal risks are actually fewer. Besides, isn't that what football crowd behaviour is about..? So when certain people boo Guly Do Prado, they could just as well be shouting baa, baa. I don't think half of them believe they are doing anything wrong. And frankly, I begin to wonder whether they are capable of thinking about the subtleties within the subject in any case.
So if a black southampton fan shouts and moans about (lets say) Rodriguez every game is he accused of being racist?. I would very much doubt it, problem with people today is soon as a person who isn't white is seen to be booed at etc some jump to the racist crap.
Yes. Now he is playing well, the booing has stopped proving that it is the performances of the player that result in booing.
My poin isnt that racism doesnt exist in the modern game its that guly was not booed because he is black. Just becauae there are one or two people that did shout racist remarks, doesnt mean you can accuse everyone hat booed being racist.
I can understand though why people come up with racism idea (rightly or wrongly). The last three players of ours I can recall having very large numbers of us unfortunately vocally disliking them are Guly, Puncheon and Fuller. And maybe it is coincidence, but all three do have something in common. (Or at the very least, these are the last three players treated like this, who I just cannot understand why they would be based purely on what they do for us on the pitch)
Different kind of players, specially Quashie and Crouch. They worked hard and run about more the Fuller ever did, which made it easier for them to get accepted. Fuller just strolled about, hence some people saw this as he didn't care.
It's the same with Guly to some he seems to stroll around the pitch, were as Clyne and Puncheon chase and hassle. It's all about how some people see players that hassle and run about alot (even if they're ****), to some this makes the player good. Where as people such as Guly who look more laid back aren't.
I think Guly's languid style fools people into thinking he is lazy. I think there were stats last season that showed how much ground he covered during a match and it was impressive. I also remember on a couple of occasions last season when he cleared shots on goal (which supports Adkins use of him because of his height).
Even so, booing a player isn't going to encourage him to play better, in fact quite the reverse. However, if it is the opposition that is booing, the player he would do his best to make them regret it. By all means express your opinion on why you think a player isn't pulling his weight, but booing is out of order and counterproductive. RGMs criticism of Ramirez as being lazy may seem out of order to most of us that recognise class and skill, but that doesn't mean to say that his opinion is wrong, it is how he sees it.
I would only feel like booing a player if he disrespected the Saints or didn't even try...certainly doesn't apply to Guly. He is valued by Adkins if we are trying to see a game out which should be enough for us.
I'm not judging anyone mate. I made a joke, in a context which should have made it clear what my views are on race and nationality. Also, because I know how quick some people are to get on their high horses, I even pointed out that it was a joke, in case there was any misunderstanding. You didn't find it funny, fine. But don't start flinging baseless accusations at me based on your own prejudice.
