Question Away Support.

[The General]

I think the main thing about last night was that everyone was getting very frustrated - and very cold - and most felt we should have gone onto win the game. We had enough of the ball to score at least one goal and we should be good enough to beat Cheltenham - with or without our insjured "stars"!

Kev

 

[Maldon Blues]

I must say there never used to be this debate before messageboards. God knows what some people on here would make of some of the old 'You're not fit to wear those shirts', 'What a load of rubbish' chants!

I don't get on a players back for the sake of it and I encourage the team as much as I feel I want to, no matter what the performance.

If I don't think the team have performed as well as I think they should, I won't applaud them. Why should I?

If I think a player hasn't contributed his all, I'll tell him so. Why should I sit back, pay £20 plus, and just accept it?! That's not me.

I'll cheer, encourage and criticise. And I'll do each as I see fit thanks.

 

[OldBlueLady]

I fail to understand why certain people target players for a torrent of verbal abuse during the game , whilst purporting to be Blues fans. We all have opinions about certain players but telling Kevin Betsy he is a f...... waste of time (along with other expletives) which he can hear quite plainly has no other effect other than to undermine and totally ruin a players confidence. Betsy looked shocked by the comments and it may be no coincidence that it was he who missed the 1-on-1 with the 'keeper shortly afterwards.Betsy came in for the abuse after missing a header that seemed quite simple to score with.( In fact the last defender managed to just flick the ball before it reached Betsy).
Give the guys a chance and and at least cheer and support them during the game. Derogatory and vile abuse has no positive effect whatsoever on a players performance.

I agree completely with this, and Ricey's comments further on. Do we need to remind ourselves what a "supporter" is?

sup⋅port⋅er   /səˈpɔr

tər, -ˈpoʊr-/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [suh-pawr-ter, -pohr-] Show IPA Pronunciation

–noun 1.a person or thing that supports.2.an adherent, follower, backer, or advocate.


Of course we all get frustrated with the players and a bit of verbal goes with the territory, but it's the PERSONAL abuse which is completely unacceptable.

 

[Irate Ian]

I agree completely with this, and Ricey's comments further on. Do we need to remind ourselves what a "supporter" is?

sup⋅port⋅er   /səˈpɔr

tər, -ˈpoʊr-/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [suh-pawr-ter, -pohr-] Show IPA Pronunciation

–noun 1.a person or thing that supports.2.an adherent, follower, backer, or advocate.


Of course we all get frustrated with the players and a bit of verbal goes with the territory, but it's the PERSONAL abuse which is completely unacceptable.

QED Kay, completely agree. Those who verbally abuse any of the players is not a supporter in any sense of the word and should consider to not attend, or moderate their language.

We all have a moan or groan and occasional gripe, but there is a world of difference between that and use of vile or abusive terms, as it can & does have an adverse knock-on effect to the whole team.

 

[Benfleet Blue]

Well not really, once you have a family it will change things like that. I would love to be able to go to every game but I have a daughter, I have an expensive car to pay for and to be frank my job doesn't pay anywhere near enough. Not everyone is unattached to any major commitments. I work shifts so can't always have saturday's off. I have yet to miss a home game this season... But other people have their family and other commitments but surely the fact that they are there in spirit is enough. So for that reason it is a poor argument.

Logic says don't buy what you can't afford !

 

[Rayleigh boy]

i cannot understand why anyone would slag off their own players when you can help our team by keeping the officials under pressure and doing anything to undermine the opposition players confidence and morale is also good .....

 

[Reg Martin]

I've always argued against absuing our own players in the past but now I'm going to more games I've been won over by the argument that the more games you go to the more you are entitled to be abusive. I thought it be worth sharing my own guidelines as to games attended and who to abuse:

5 games - call betsy poo
10 games - call walker doo doo
20 games - call francis poopy poo
30 games - call revell ploppy pants
40 games - call tilly smelly pants
every game home and away - call ron martin's wife big bum

hope this helps.

 

[Irate Ian]

i cannot understand why anyone would slag off their own players when you can help our team by keeping the officials under pressure and doing anything to undermine the opposition players confidence and morale is also good .....

Exactly and well said. Channel all hatred to the opposition.

Simple but effective.

 

[bucket&spade.f.c]

Am glad every is happy to watch the poor side of southend atm,but don't worry as it be different once we have our forwards back.

The "support" we had at Donny away in play off,helpped the team didn't it,but aleast it made the players feel better after getting walked over

 

[Jaysta]

If even after reading Dave the Shrimper's excellent piece on what being targetted by the crowd does for a players morale you still feel that booing & abusing players is the way to improve their performance then god help us!

 

[ablegrandson]

I fail to understand why certain people target players for a torrent of verbal abuse during the game , whilst purporting to be Blues fans. We all have opinions about certain players but telling Kevin Betsy he is a f...... waste of time (along with other expletives) which he can hear quite plainly has no other effect other than to undermine and totally ruin a players confidence. Betsy looked shocked by the comments and it may be no coincidence that it was he who missed the 1-on-1 with the 'keeper shortly afterwards.Betsy came in for the abuse after missing a header that seemed quite simple to score with.( In fact the last defender managed to just flick the ball before it reached Betsy).
Give the guys a chance and and at least cheer and support them during the game. Derogatory and vile abuse has no positive effect whatsoever on a players performance.

totally agree with dancing brave. Would these young inbreds be so cavalier and valiant as to suggest that any Southend player was a f...... useless piece of dog .... you useless c... if they were actually in the same room as them. I think not.
I myself found the abuse that night embarrasing Tilly even came in for some towards the end.
Yes you obviously have the right to vent your feelings, but why does it have to be so personal, are you trying to astound us with your impressive knowledge of the English language. or were you just going for the shock factor in front of your teenage girl friends.
Give it a rest lads.

 

[i_luv_b&s_fc]

QED Kay, completely agree. Those who verbally abuse any of the players is not a supporter in any sense of the word and should consider to not attend, or moderate their language.

We all have a moan or groan and occasional gripe, but there is a world of difference between that and use of vile or abusive terms, as it can & does have an adverse knock-on effect to the whole team.

i find this very offencive as i do shout at the players when they are bad and have spent all my time, wages, petrol...infact life the past 7-8 years following southend from bottom of div 3 to today and for u to say i aint a supporter is utterly disgraceful!

 

[i_luv_b&s_fc]

Am glad every is happy to watch the poor side of southend atm,but don't worry as it be different once we have our forwards back.

The "support" we had at Donny away in play off,helpped the team didn't it,but aleast it made the players feel better after getting walked over

:clap::clap::clap::clap:

 

[Sussex Shrimper]

It always interests me how many of those quickest to turn on the team, or otherwise knock the club's efforts, are the same people who would identify themselves as right-wing politically. I guess the desire to point fingers and play the blame game isn't limited to the stands.

 

[i_luv_b&s_fc]

It always interests me how many of those quickest to turn on the team, or otherwise knock the club's efforts, are the same people who would identify themselves as right-wing politically. I guess the desire to point fingers and play the blame game isn't limited to the stands.

so right-wing now are we?

 

[Sussex Shrimper]

so right-wing now are we?

Some, by their own admission. I'm not accusing anybody else of anything.

 

[i_luv_b&s_fc]

Some, by their own admission. I'm not accusing anybody else of anything.

sounds that way! but as this is a forum then it may very well be your oppinion so i wont be carrying on (unlike others) and respect your opp!

 

[McNasty]

It's a good job we have the Blue Voice trying to get behind the team, I would hate to think if the only noise was abuse.

Could the abuse be alcohol linked ? I have witnessed people at away matches worse for wear on booze (at least it seemed booze was the reason) being over the top ---- perhaps they were just being dedicated and loyal, who knows ?

 

[Suffolk Blue]

We've had this debate time and time again and still there are some that fail to understand.

Following Southend all over the country does not in itself make you a supporter; you could claim to be a fan, bit in reality this makes you a follower.

Shouting abuse at your own players does not make you a supporter either; in my opinion it makes you stupid.

Getting behind whatever team takes to the field, getting disappointed when things don't work out or when a player isn't playing as well as you'd like; but then rallying behind them, urging them on, encouraging them all you can, criticising every decision given by the officials against your team, and doing anything you can to disturb and upset the opposition's players; that's what makes you a supporter no matter how many matches you watch, or how much money you spend.

But be warned; being a real supporter won't make you look clever in front of your friends; but it might impress the players.

 

[Irate Ian]

i find this very offencive as i do shout at the players when they are bad and have spent all my time, wages, petrol...infact life the past 7-8 years following southend from bottom of div 3 to today and for u to say i aint a supporter is utterly disgraceful!

Disgraceful is the right word. For you and any like you who verbally abuse our own players.

Consider to save your money and find something else to do and do us all a favour.