The fan's fault.

[Nade]

Mmmmmmmmm spoken like a player. Sure McCabe would echo the sentiments of playing to a small crowd of say 3/4,000 of loyal fans who cheer our players back to the center spot every time the opposition puts one in the net of our home L3 goal.

It's the fans fault.

Pathetic post

At least my post makes sense, with reasoning and things like that. What you offering here?

I'm saying the fans should stop pissing and moaning and just fucking stop going if you want to do something about it. If you're going and just booing and moaning at individual players then yeah, I would say you are absolutely contributing to it. If I was still playing at Bramall Lane and I got that shit from my own fans then it'd mess my right up. It's ruinous.

 

[Chali 2na]

Have a read of most comments made on this subject regarding "the fans are to blame" - they're direct pleas to "nasty" fans to behave more "nicely".

Fans boo and jeer when they're pissed off. Always happened, always will. Except at MK Dons.

This isn't a plea, more of an observation or comment to start discussion.

And yes, I understand that all groups of fans boo and jeer, but I'm wondering as to how many other teams ironically applaud their academy graduate keeper for catching a ball before he's even had chance to make a mistake.

 

[Rodley]

We are a joke off the pitch as well. How long it takes us to get deals done is embarrassing.

8 done already.

 

[Slim Man]

8 done already.

Yet how many more do we need? And we're 4 games in

 

[Rodley]

Yet how many more do we need? And we're 4 games in

Suspect "8 in" puts us in the top 15% of clubs in the country in terms of activity. Re: any commercial entity, transactions and deals are extremely difficult. I know from experience that with the best will in the world, things just don't always go your way. I think we're doing a decent job given it's mid August and we're got so many bodies in. I can't see 14 signings at this stage is realistic.

I'd go further to say the new bods in charge look to be doing good deals, under the radar in sensible terms. I've been impressed.

 

[Chali 2na]

Being as shit as we are for so long IS NOT THE FANS FAULT!!!!

I'm not saying it's solely the fans fault. In my eyes the blame falls first at the players, secondly at the board and management. I'm saying though that as fans, we can be part of the problem.
Would you disagree with that?

 

[Large Mendonca]

There's a large amount of naviety in the OP in assuming that Sheffield United fans are different to any other fans in the country.

100% this. Like we're different in attitude to any other football club punching below their weight ???

 

[Bartleby]

Suspect "8 in" puts us in the top 15% of clubs in the country in terms of activity. Re: any commercial entity, transactions and deals are extremely difficult. I know from experience that with the best will in the world, things just don't always go your way. I think we're doing a decent job given it's mid August and we're got so many bodies in. I can't see 14 signings at this stage is realistic.

I'd go further to say the new bods in charge look to be doing good deals, under the radar in sensible terms. I've been impressed.

I'd also add that a full squad rebuild needs time - we've still got some of the legacy of what can happen when you bring in a lot in a short time.

 

[Large Mendonca]

So we just have to find someone to buy the club and be willing to lose £10 Million a season.
You expecting a lot of applicants?

Fook me - if this club is actually losing £10m a season then that just completely proves what a bollocks McCabe et all are making of the job.

 

[Bladepicker]

I'm not saying it's solely the fans fault. In my eyes the blame falls first at the players, secondly at the board and management. I'm saying though that as fans, we can be part of the problem.
Would you disagree with that?

I think it's a sensible to say the blame is mainly with the players and then the board and management - but then I'd still say that those two factors are so great that it udermines any significance of any negative role that the fans have.

So there may be individual players or games where there is an influence but really, in the big picture, the reasons we are where we are has very very little to do with the fans and any perceived negativity. We will have to agree to disagree.

 

[JJBlade]

It doesn't matter whether it does or not
The fact remains that this club has destroyed any good feeling towards it from the fans

I feel sorry for Wilder and some of the new players, but it is what it is, the damage has been done

If you can't deal with it and rise above it then you cannot play for this club, and if the new players turn out to be just as weak minded well then there is a major recruitment problem

Bob Booker being the classic example of a man who wasn't doing it, went away, had a good long hard look at himself and roared back to become a hero.

We don't see too many of his type (mentally) at the club and that's a big problem

 

[spongebobblade]

Tricky one this. Could the players do more to energise the crowd? Absolutely. Could the crowd do more to energise the players? Yes as well. It wasn't too long ago that we turned around a three goal deficit against a team a damn sight better than Southend in a third of the time, but there seemed to be mutual belief we couldn't do it this time. I guess that's the difference home vs away makes, if you're going to Wigan away on a rainy Tuesday night you're probably more likely to fall into the supporting regardless camp rather than the sit and moan camp.

Seems to be a British thing in general though, crowds over here are universally terrible compared to our overseas counterparts

Good post
When we got one back against Wigan the fans who turned up on that awful night really urged the players on and surprisingly we had real belief that we could get back in it. Yes we had a moan and I remember a rendition of "Were fuckin shit" at 3-0 but we as fans didn't get the recognisition we deserved that now for our part in urging the players on and almost snatching a last gasp winner

 

[him behind you]

At least my post makes sense, with reasoning and things like that. What you offering here?

I'm saying the fans should stop pissing and moaning and just fucking stop going if you want to do something about it. If you're going and just booing and moaning at individual players then yeah, I would say you are absolutely contributing to it. If I was still playing at Bramall Lane and I got that shit from my own fans then it'd mess my right up. It's ruinous.

So which comes first, the chicken or the egg - is it up to the team to get the fans off their seats or the fans to get the team going? For me, the responsibility for the atmosphere lies with the players who are being paid very good money to do a part-time job which they love, to entertain people who pay to watch them. No-one goes into the ground wanting to moan (or at least not many do ) and the atmosphere is generally decent at the start of most games, if sometimes a little quiet. So far this season the crowd (apart from the odd few) have stayed with the team until, invariably, the team suck any positivity out of us with inept, gutless performances. What do they then expect??? Maybe they'd be happier playing in front of 3-4000 fans who have no expectations? If so, they should fuck off to Cheltenham / York / Barnet etc. etc. and earn their couple of hundred quid a week rather than a few grand.

 

[SoundBiteAdkins]

There's no such thing as a perfect fan.

Fans always have different opinions on players, management and the board.

I'll happily admit to being one that shouts abuse and lose my temper when players aren't doing the basics right. McEveley being 1 last season. If I don't do the basics at my job, I'd be sacked, not rewarded, which is why I get annoyed. Football is a simple game at this level, run and take on players, be aggressive, man mark shirt tight, get set pieces right, boot the ball out if unsure, close the ball down. E.g. Southend.

However if a player does the right thing I'll happily praise them and encourage them.

On Tuesday night I couldn't even be bothered to get angry and shout it's just sheer disappointment.

I think all we want is players to get stuck in, do the basics right and as long as we can see they are trying their best, fans will be happier and positive about the team.

Never criticised the effort when Warnock was in charge or Wilson 1st season.

I don't believe we are a big club and we need to stop with this BS, we are in league one for christ sake.

Instead of stating promotions the aim and then signing players from Bury and Oldham just state we are going to try our best to finish as high as possible.

My other major gripe is we never look further than the UK for players. So invest in scouts and send them to German 3rd division or Italy to see what there is out there.

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

This isn't a plea, more of an observation or comment to start discussion.

And yes, I understand that all groups of fans boo and jeer, but I'm wondering as to how many other teams ironically applaud their academy graduate keeper for catching a ball before he's even had chance to make a mistake.

Nowt personal meant against you, but it's worth pointing out in your original post you said: "So let's try (as hard as it is at times), to get behind the players. I'm not saying you can't boo, I'm just saying it doesn't help."

Fair enough, you've got your own opinion on whether booing, etc is right or helpful or not. But urging those amongst the fanbase who aren't as "tolerant" of the current situation to behave more like you do isn't going to make an iota of difference.

As regards your other point, a bit of "ironic applause" won't kill George. If he wants a long-term career in football, he needs to toughen up & cope with stuff going on in the stands. Hopefully he will.

 

[PeteBlade]

At least my post makes sense, with reasoning and things like that. What you offering here?

I'm saying the fans should stop pissing and moaning and just fucking stop going if you want to do something about it. If you're going and just booing and moaning at individual players then yeah, I would say you are absolutely contributing to it. If I was still playing at Bramall Lane and I got that shit from my own fans then it'd mess my right up. It's ruinous.

Be careful what you wish for.
We can barely afford to survive as we are.

With 4000 clapping seals, applauding the team off after a hard fought 0-3 defeat at home, our standard of player would need to get even worse to adapt to this.

Still, there'd be none of this nasty booing though, rendering players incapable of doing their jobs (apparently).

 

[Bartyblade]

100% this. Like we're different in attitude to any other football club punching below their weight ???

Maybe not, but much more experienced players and managers than ours all seem to agree that slagging your own teamoff during a game doesn't help, so why criticise our fans for suggesting the same thing.

 

[Blade56]

At least my post makes sense, with reasoning and things like that. What you offering here?

I'm saying the fans should stop pissing and moaning and just fucking stop going if you want to do something about it. If you're going and just booing and moaning at individual players then yeah, I would say you are absolutely contributing to it. If I was still playing at Bramall Lane and I got that shit from my own fans then it'd mess my right up. It's ruinous.

If you were Nade not just a fake you would know what it's like you were shit!
F'ing abuse at the fans in your post is hardly being constructive or rational reasoning

 

[Large Mendonca]

Maybe not, but much more experienced players and managers than ours all seem to agree that slagging your own teamoff during a game doesn't help, so why criticise our fans for suggesting the same thing.

Yeah I completely agree that it is pointless and counter-productive, but i bet we're exactly the same as many teams around the country who go through the same "pain".

Never done it myself, even at the final whistle - i reserve any booing that i have done for poor officials.

 

[Wooden House]

Totally disagree with the OP. Tuesday summed up perfectly why the atmosphere is quiet/poisonous at home games.

Despite utterly disgraceful performances in the two previous home games (Crewe & Rochdale), approx. 17,000 United fans decided to turn up regardless. The atmosphere was, if anything, nervous. I certainly didn't hear any booing before the first Southend goal - which was quickly followed by two more. Then there was abuse from some - a very few - fans behind the dugouts, which was directed at Wilder and was - given the tactics, display and general shittiness of the performances so far this season - understandable. This discontent didn't last long, in fact the subdued booing as the disastrous first half ended was remarkably tolerant given what had gone on before. The second half was played out in front of stunned disbelief, especially as this spineless team didn't even try to wrest the game back.

A caller on Radio Pig last night (he was definitely a Blade as he didn't feel the need to intersperse every other word with "Yeah?" as those denizens of Pitsmoor and Southey Green tend to) commented on the booing. I don't know where in the ground he was but, in the second half, Long was halfway into our half and looking to play another misplaced clearance forward. Some in the crowd sarcastically shouted "Shoot!" which may have been mistaken for boos (as in "Root!" in the cricket).

Some fans in the middle of the kop managed to get a "United" chant going which was amazing given that most people - including the team - had long given up on us.

The fans are the very last reason we are so bad.

I was sat in John Street and could hear boos and ironic cheering from the Kop every time GL touched the ball in the 1st half - how that helps anyone is beyond me. He may not be good enough, but treatment like that by your own "fans" has and will never help anyone

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

At least my post makes sense, with reasoning and things like that. What you offering here?

I'm saying the fans should stop pissing and moaning and just fucking stop going if you want to do something about it. If you're going and just booing and moaning at individual players then yeah, I would say you are absolutely contributing to it. If I was still playing at Bramall Lane and I got that shit from my own fans then it'd mess my right up. It's ruinous.

Maybe McCabe should have used that sort of approach with his pre-season ticket sales pitch? - "If you're gonna boo, then stay away - we don't want you here".

No-one, I mean no-one, goes to games to "just boo and moan". Folks react to what's in front of them. Which is a wholly good thing. Booing and cheering are two sides of the same coin with a passionate fanbase.

There was plenty of very positive reaction in the second half when the players on the pitch showed positive intent. And all this despite us being 3-0 down, at home, to a side who had lost their previous eight games.

 

[Sheffsteel]

No ones mentioned the counter argument that booing can actually help the team.

The number of times over the years I've seen us play the 1st half in 2nd gear then in the 2nd half again there's still no urgency. It's like watching a testimonial.

The crowd start booing and it's like a kick up the backside. Surprise surprise the players start showing more effort and aggression.

 

[Nade]

My fundamental point isn't that it should be McCabe's strategy, or that it's something that the club should aspire to. I'm just grounding my perspective in the concrete terms of the situation in which fans find themselves. We are all individual people, and I don't like this habit people have of grounding their ideas in terms of the overarching situation at the club. All we have is our own power to go to a match, or to not go. If you want it to change for the better then the only real power we have is to stop giving them money. Then we'll have less people moaning at matches themselves (less toxic atmosphere) but also many, many fewer fans which should make the powers that be further up the ranks shit themselves.

People moaning and groaning constantly but nevertheless paying good money constantly to see the same thing though? You're just a spanner, if you ask me. Go and take your missus to Scarborough instead.

 

[Dkc]

There would be no helm without him. We would have probably folded.

Not true. No big English club has folded. Gone into admin, yes.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

Fook me - if this club is actually losing £10m a season then that just completely proves what a bollocks McCabe et all are making of the job.

I think it's only £6M but I was factoring in that Blade58 would want some additional investment too.

 

[Large Mendonca]

I think it's only £6M but I was factoring in that Blade58 would want some additional investment too.

Thank god for that !

 

[Chali 2na]

I think it's a sensible to say the blame is mainly with the players and then the board and management - but then I'd still say that those two factors are so great that it udermines any significance of any negative role that the fans have.

So there may be individual players or games where there is an influence but really, in the big picture, the reasons we are where we are has very very little to do with the fans and any perceived negativity. We will have to agree to disagree.

Yeah, you're right in a sense that the part the fans play is minute in comparison to the board, players or management, but let's say it's worth a couple of points a year, wouldn't it be nice to have those points?

Nowt personal meant against you, but it's worth pointing out in your original post you said: "So let's try (as hard as it is at times), to get behind the players. I'm not saying you can't boo, I'm just saying it doesn't help."

Fair enough, you've got your own opinion on whether booing, etc is right or helpful or not. But urging those amongst the fanbase who aren't as "tolerant" of the current situation to behave more like you do isn't going to make an iota of difference.

As regards your other point, a bit of "ironic applause" won't kill George. If he wants a long-term career in football, he needs to toughen up & cope with stuff going on in the stands. Hopefully he will.

Fair point, it doesn't sound a bit like rallying call!

I'm under no illusions that what I say on a forum doesn't make a difference, don't worry. If we joined to "make a difference" then we're wasting our time.

As for George Long; yes he will need a thick skin to be a goalkeeper, but I'd imagine the abuse he would expect would be coming from the opposition, not his own "supporters".

We say we want to see young players develop and local lads come through, then the minute they make a mistake they're crucified.

 

[bladeinspaceandtime]

There are plenty of clubs that would be desperate to get the nearly 20k average attendance that SUFC have managed in the last couple of years (despite being marooned in Division 3). Given that the product on the pitch should be a lot better than it has been. If the team manage some positive performances the the supporters will respond.

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

If none of us turned up for the next home match and they still lost.

Who's fault would it be?

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

This isn't a plea, more of an observation or comment to start discussion.

And yes, I understand that all groups of fans boo and jeer, but I'm wondering as to how many other teams ironically applaud their academy graduate keeper for catching a ball before he's even had chance to make a mistake.

As love changes everything , perhaps a win would too.