It upsets and worries me to hear fans booing players off at half-time and full-time at such an early stage in the season.
It’s a concerning trend that no doubt has some of it’s roots in the disappointment of last year. However reading Sullivan’s comments (again) in the News of the World, it made me realise that it’s no suprise in the slightest that some fans in the ground feel that booing at half-time is an acceptable way rally the troops and build morale for the second half.
His comments are nothing but a ‘public booing’ of certain individuals – Valon Behrami – but worryingly, they’re players who are still at the club and still in with a chance of first team action. If we (and other new fans) learn from example set by the individuals at the top, then it will seem to some that they’ve essentially given us a license to boo, to jeer, to single individuals out and ultimately criticise the players before they’ve even stepped onto the pitch.
We need the best from Valon Behrami until January, we will not get that now if when he pulls on the shirt he immediately feels the condemnation of 35,000 fans; whether or not it actually exists, I’m sure he’s more that likely to think it will because of what Sullivan said.
To add, I’m not saying that what Sullivan was thinking was necessarily wrong – it was clear to all of us that maybe there were some players not pulling their weight last season. I just feel that publicly expressing those views will be nothing but damaging to a team that clearly needs and injection of confidence. And worryingly it will only fuel a culture at Upton Park where amongst some booing and vitriol towards our own is becoming trendy. A trend that needs to be stopped.
What do you think? Do his comments galvanise the side – or are his informed critiques a cancer to the team?
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Sam
I compiled a list at Salut! Sunderland of players etc who deserved to be booed this season in the Premier. I invited suggestions of other candidates but specifically warned against nominating players of our own club.
It doesn’t matter to me how incompetent or apparently lazy a player is, booing him during the match is not going to have any positive effect.
Fans are fully entitled to express their dissatisfaction, having spent small fortunes to attend, and I wouldn’t criticse them for booing at the end. But to get on their teams’ backs, or worse to target individual players, at the first misplaced pass or whatever is just counter-productive. But in the heat of the moment, completely understandable!
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Totally agreed Colin. Sometimes, it’s actually important to let the players (as a whole) know how we feel – but I can count on one hand how many times that’s actually appropriate
Frustrating
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Personally I don’t boo our own players but agree that if it is an expression of how you feel at the end of a game fair enough. If a player gets booed by his own fans everytime he gets the ball during a game you will quickly see that player become anonymous and then you are effectively a man down. Luis Boa Morte went through this but came out the other side and is now a popular player amongst fans. If I am dissatisfied with the team’s performance I simply don’t clap them off or if it is really bad I leave before the end. As for Sullivan, everytime he opens his mouth something stupid comes out.
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I can’t stand when people boo their players,isn’t being a football supporter about supporting your players through thick and thin? I understand that nowadays people spend alot of money going to a game and want value for money but it really doesn’t help the team if they feel the crowd is on their backs.It proved at the Bolton game when Zac Knight (I think) came out and said “If we can get an early goal,then the west ham fans will turn on their team and make it easier for us” Other teams are coming to Upton Park and using the fans as their main weapon against us and the majority of the crowd play right into their hands.Get behind the boys for 90 minutes no matter what the result! Reading away a few seasons back we was 6-0 down yet were singing for 90 minutes! We need that sort of support at home!
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I applaud the statements made by Lee at 4:15,spot on mate!
There was a day when booing at the Boleyn would at the very least get you a trip to the dentist,no matter whos colours you where wearing. As neanderthal as it was back in those dark days at Upton Park it was a place no one wanted to play at because of the effect of the crowd on the boys in Claret and Blue.
If Booing is about not getting value for money for your hard earned cash, then I plead with all you pathetic little Boo boys to bugger off and go watch Southend for a couple of years.
See you when you return to your senses!
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