Robson Speaks

[Samantha]

on BladesWorld. I can't access the full video as I refuse to pay for it, but there is a small snippet here: http://www.sufc.premiumtv.co.uk/pag...k/page/sub/Features/0,,10418~1238421,00.html?

"It was a disappointment but I don't think the fans helped"

The feeling is mutual!!

 

[Robbie]

I don't think the fans helped?

That's last time I stick up for him.

 

[Samantha]

confirmed by the BBC that he hates us... http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_utd/7238885.stm

 

[matth]

What a complete prick. Has he no idea of diplomacy? How is that going to appease the fans who were baying for his blood before?

He's made his own bed, and I have no sympathy at all for him, regardless of whatever personal statements some fans may have made about him. I hope this is his last job in football.

 

[Samantha]

He says that the fans turned against him & the players - that is going to rub those fans up the wrong way who support him (to an extent). Not everyone booed him & the players, not everyone went to the car park. Idiot. Sooner he's gone the better.

Only thing I notice from that video is that it looks like it's been filmed at Shirecliffe in the daytime - so maybe he's not gone to Brussels?

 

[Robbie]

This part is factually incorrect.

"They were on my back and the players backs very early on in the game," said the former Middlesbrough boss.

If you call 40 mins early then it may be correct. Even at that point it wasn't bad, as there was NO atmosphere.

 

[matth]

Sadly, I could now see violent acts towards him. If some idiot who's had too much to drink sees him in the street, I could imagine him getting decked.

 

[Come from away]

Perhaps Robson should have taken the high road and ignored the fans but what he said is still true - when fans boo it can take the spirit out of the team. Man U fans booed and it didn't do them much good either. Hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel, feel like we are just digging a deeper hole.

 

[Samantha]

Perhaps Robson should have taken the high road and ignored the fans but what he said is still true - when fans boo it can take the spirit out of the team. Man U fans booed and it didn't do them much good either. Hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel, feel like we are just digging a deeper hole.

They started booing when they realised they were 2-0 down at home to their city rivals. They weren't booing before they went 2-0 down!

 

[matth]

Perhaps Robson should have taken the high road and ignored the fans but what he said is still true - when fans boo it can take the spirit out of the team. Man U fans booed and it didn't do them much good either. Hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel, feel like we are just digging a deeper hole.

So. On the one hand, the fans can be at fault for demotivating the team, but the manager can't for not motivating them in the first place?

How does that work?

 

[derrywan]

he's despicable.

 

[Foxy]

Whilst its not the thing that would be sensible to say at this time... nor is it an excuse or what he should say..... He's absolutely right in what he's saying.

 

[DazBlade88]

Way to stick a final nail in your coffin there. You can't slag the fans.

 

[happyhippy]

confirmed by the BBC that he hates us... http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_utd/7238885.stm

Clearly an excerpt from his new book "How To Win Friends And Influence People". What an absolute arsehole.

I can only hope that these words will be the last, spiteful, childish act of a desperate, and unemployed man.

 

[matth]

Whilst its not the thing that would be sensible to say at this time... nor is it an excuse or what he should say..... He's absolutely right in what he's saying.

Can I ask you the same question, then?

Why is it that the fans can demotivate the team, and yet the manager cannot manage to motivate them in the first place?

If, as it has been argued, the players shouldn't have to be motivated by the manager, why should being demotivated by the fans have such an effect?

 

[Foxy]

Can I ask you the same question, then?

Why is it that the fans can demotivate the team, and yet the manager cannot manage to motivate them in the first place?

If, as it has been argued, the players shouldn't have to be motivated by the manager, why should being demotivated by the fans have such an effect?

I have absolutely no idea what effect the management team have in trying to motivate them.

What I do know is the fans manage to clearly demotivate them very easily. This is something we as fans have control over and needn't do (in my opinion) during the game.

Whether or not players should motivate themselves is a completely different matter when speaking of the effect fans attitudes has on them. People will mention their wages.... But no matter what you are getting paid you shouldn't get the levels of personal abuse some of them get from certain sections.

 

[matth]

It's not.

It has previously been argued that the players have to take responsibility for motivating themselves if said motivation is not being provided by the team; indeed, several rather tenuous comparisons were drawn between forum members' own jobs and those of the footballers.

If these players are expected to ignore any lack of motivation from the manager, with said manager being exonerated of blame because it's the fault of the players, why then should they not ignore the attitudes of the fans? Why make excuses for one factor, and not another?

 

[Sheffield-Bl4de]

Absolutly Daz, the last thing Robbo needs is to piss us fans off even more than we are

 

[Foxy]

It's not.

It has previously been argued that the players have to take responsibility for motivating themselves if said motivation is not being provided by the team; indeed, several rather tenuous comparisons were drawn between forum members' own jobs and those of the footballers.

It was actually argued that everything wasn't down to one man only and that the players should also shoulder SOME of the responsibility.

If these players are expected to ignore any lack of motivation from the manager, with said manager being exonerated of blame because it's the fault of the players, why then should they not ignore the attitudes of the fans? Why make excuses for one factor, and not another?

Ignoring the fact for a second that you have no idea what sort of motivation is there in the first place... Nobody said the manager was exonerated of blame, merely that the players also had to take some responsibility.

I'm making no excuses for anyone... The simple fact is, I believe personal abuse and jeering to the degree that is served up by some factions is highly counter productive, I think that much is blatently obvious. Whether or not they should "ignore" it, is complete conjecture. If it wasn't there and they actually did get the support, then i'd be saying otherwise.

In my opinion Robson is completely 110% correct in saying that the attitude of some fans does not help the team. This doesn't mean I want him to remain in post or that I like the fact he's made such as statement.

 

[matth]

I didn't suggest that you did want him to remain in his post. I don't know your opinion on whether he should remain as our manager, nor does it make any difference.

I never suggested that it was said that players should take all the responsibility. However, I fail to see how anyone can agree with one source saying that the performance of the players is due to demotivation from one source, and disagree with another saying the same albeit with a different source.

 

[Foxy]

I never suggested that it was said that players should take all the responsibility. However, I fail to see how anyone can agree with one source saying that the performance of the players is due to demotivation from one source, and disagree with another saying the same albeit with a different source.

I really don't understand what your saying there in the slightest

I'm hazarding a guess that you are suggesting that people are absolving Robson blame in demotivating the players and agreeing that the fans demotivate them....

If thats the case... your correct on the second part, but I don't recall anyone suggesting Robson was blameless.

 

[matth]

Re-reading that, I can see that it wasn't very well written. I apologise for that!

You were right, yes. And I'm not necessarily saying that anyone suggested that Robson was blameless per se, but certain people seem to be at pains to defend Robson from the slings and arrows of the masses, whilst simultaneously - and sometimes quite supercilliously and indeed offensively - condemning some fans for exactly the same things that Robson is being condemned for.

It's interesting, I think, that a certain faction of people on this board are quite vehement in their condemnation of those who are more vocal in their anti-Robson sentiment - see Linz's description of 'rabble-rousing Chavs' - whereas most of the people who do protest and agree with the chants of 'Robson Out' and what have you generally couldn't care less whether other people do or not.

Other than one very notable exception, I can't recall anyone complaining about people not protesting, only the other way round.

 

[Robbie]

I see Matt's point to an extent.

People have been saying "If the players can't motivate themselves there is something wrong". As in a way to stick up for Robbo motivational "tactics".

Think what he is trying to say is, if they should be able to motivate themselves instead of Robbo doing this, surely they shouldn't be letting the fans get to them.

It's true that the fans get on their/Robbos back. But there are reasons for this.

 

[matth]

Thanks Robbie - that's what I'm trying to say in a nutshell!

 

[Foxy]

I don't think its a case of sticking up for Robson, more providing their own take on things.

It's very easily to let your dislike for one person tunnel your vision towards their faults and no others, therefore when people provide an alternative opinion it seems as if they are sticking up for someone/supporting them.

As i've stated a few times, I have absolutely no problems with people actively seeking the man to be removed... However the methods and personalisation in some circumstances I do have problems with.

The only time i've stuck up for any of them (players/Robson) as such is when they are getting personal insults/ridiculous (in my opinion) comments towards them (e.g. bloke next to me absolutely slating inch perfect passes before they've even made contact with the ball).

There are reasons for frustration Robbie, but I fail to see how anyone can see solid reasons to sarcasticly jeer successful passes, boo off substitutes, sing opposition managers names, hoping opposition win and personally insult players and their families etc etc

It does have a big effect on the way in which the players perform, whether it should or not, it does. I don't see myself how anyone wanting the blades to be successful and get out of the current situation could allow themselves to partake in such acts which clearly make matters worse on the pitch.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

First time I've been at BDTBL this season on Saturday. There was no passion from the team from the off, having said that, there was no atmosphere from the off either. Recent results and the current position may have accounted for the latter and you can argue and debate until you are blue in the face as to whether a lack of atmosphere contributes to a lack-lustre performance on the pitch.

I did, however, here lots of talk from many different quarters about the terrific atmosphere and support at BDTBL last season and what a difference that made to the players. If this is true, then so must the opposite scenary also be true, that fans can have a negative effect on team performance.

I have often heard former players speak of the motivational qualities of certain managers, Brain Clough springs immediately to mind, and how they felt as though they would 'run through brick walls' for him. If this is true then, again, the opposite scenary must also be true and managers can have a negative effect on peformance and motivation.

Strikes me that in this situation both the manager and the supporters are having a negative effect on the team and both are blaming the other. Ultimately though, the responsibility for on-the-field performance lies with the players and the one who picks them.

 

[Foxy]

Strikes me that in this situation both the manager and the supporters are having a negative effect on the team and both are blaming the other. Ultimately though, the responsibility for on-the-field performance lies with the players and the one who picks them.

Thats exactly what i've been trying to say all along... with the added part about the only one we have real control over is us! So why make things worse during the game?!

 

[bobyhules123]

does he want the fans to hate him he needs to go before we are trying to get premotion from leauge one get him out and soon

 

[happyhippy]

I have absolutely no idea what effect the management team have in trying to motivate them.

Not a great one clearly.

What I do know is the fans manage to clearly demotivate them very easily. This is something we as fans have control over and needn't do (in my opinion) during the game.

Do we? As a whole? It's a sizeable minority who boo during matches. The majority don't. Let's say it was 1 in 4 of the home fans who booed. That's 5,500 people or so. Now I agree that it doesn't help in any way, but when feelings are running as high as this, it's inevitable.

Anyone trying to stop it without changes within the club may as well chuck snowballs at tanks.

Whether or not players should motivate themselves is a completely different matter when speaking of the effect fans attitudes has on them. People will mention their wages.... But no matter what you are getting paid you shouldn't get the levels of personal abuse some of them get from certain sections.

Whether that's true or not is really irrelevant. As fans, we're not part of management set up, indeed we pay for the privilege of watching matches. It shouldn't be up to us to provide the encouragement and motivation; that should already be there.

Let's take a quick look at how previous set ups would have dealt with something similar.

"We want the fans behind us, because we all know the passion they have, and the players say it theirselves. They know that the crowd can be that extra man. They can be miserable buggers at times but they're the best in the world."

St Neil (paraphrased)

"The thing which kept us going was the noise from the crowd. Things weren't going well and got sticky, but they stayed with us, and they gave us the lift we needed. Yes, there were a few naughty noises, but we know most are behind us, and we could hear them."

St David of Bassett (paraphrased)

"The fans were on our backs and didn't help."

Barny Sornob.

If Sornob has lost the dressing room, and the players come out completely unmotivated, that's not our fault, and it's appalling that he should blame us.

 

[happyhippy]

I don't think its a case of sticking up for Robson, more providing their own take on things.

It's very easily to let your dislike for one person tunnel your vision towards their faults and no others, therefore when people provide an alternative opinion it seems as if they are sticking up for someone/supporting them.

As i've stated a few times, I have absolutely no problems with people actively seeking the man to be removed... However the methods and personalisation in some circumstances I do have problems with.

The only time i've stuck up for any of them (players/Robson) as such is when they are getting personal insults/ridiculous (in my opinion) comments towards them (e.g. bloke next to me absolutely slating inch perfect passes before they've even made contact with the ball).

There are reasons for frustration Robbie, but I fail to see how anyone can see solid reasons to sarcasticly jeer successful passes, boo off substitutes, sing opposition managers names, hoping opposition win and personally insult players and their families etc etc

It does have a big effect on the way in which the players perform, whether it should or not, it does. I don't see myself how anyone wanting the blades to be successful and get out of the current situation could allow themselves to partake in such acts which clearly make matters worse on the pitch.

I do actually agree with you, and some of the things I've heard have been nothing short of scandalous.

I suppose what has angered me most about Sornob's comments has been the implication that we, as paying customers are responsible for the malaise in the club, and therefore I take the inference that he absolves himself of any responsibility.

That simply is not on.