Planet Swans ArchivesFour games, two points and the Swans promotion dream is not necessarily becoming more distant but it is going to take some working at if it is to be achieved. Working at from the management, the players, the board and just as importantly the fans.
They are disappointing games and it is frustrating that we have hit a bad run of form but the comments of our players shaking their heads at personal abuse coming from the crowd defies belief. Many a time I have heard the comment of “we pay their wages, we can say what we like” but does that really ring true? I do the weekly shop in Tescos and therefore contribute to the wages of the staff in there – can I abuse them because of that? I pay a hefty membership fee to Morriston Golf Club each year and spend my fair share in the clubhouse, can I abuse the staff in there? I always fill up at the same petrol station a mile away from my house. Tomorrow when I do it I think I may call the bloke that serves me a few choice names. I’m sure I’m entitled to after all I help pay their wages!
Let’s get a few things off my chest here. I was as disappointed with yesterday’s game as anyone that is reading this. I thought we lacked shape, passion, commitment and direction for the 90 minutes. I left the ground irritated that we let pass what should have been a home banker and have now found ourselves caught by one of the chasing pack. There were players that had very bad days yesterday and there were mistakes made. We all know that and the discussions on the message board in the past 24 hours have backed that up somewhat considerably. It is also clear from the comments that there are still differing views on some players performances and that again makes for healthy debate.
But one thing I will never agree with is taking pops at individuals when the game is on. Surely it has to be counter productive to a performance? Imagine yourself at work and you have made a real mistake with dealing with one of your clients/customers. The customer comes in and calls you a few choice names (none of them your first name) What do you do, walk away thinking to yourself that you must put that right or so you feel that the comments made were out of order and for a while they bug you? Now take the same scenario and imagine ten people abusing you instead of one, or 50 or even more and imagine what that does to your ability to concentrate on the job at hand.
I would imagine that many people believe that abuse as a professional footballer is part and parcel of the game? Maybe it is to a certain extent but you would expect it from the opposition fans surely you don’t expect it from your own? Surely you expect the fans of your own team to be behind you and try and get you going.
Sadly it has become the norm at the Vetch for people to be singled out for abuse. Not necessarily a scapegoat but someone that people love to hate. For yesterday it was without a doubt Andy Gurney – who had a very poor game by his own standards but some of that, like it or not, will not be helped by those that were personally abusing him. He is a professional at our club and yes we want to see top class performances but abusing him when he stands less than ten yards from you so he can hear is just pointless.
There were two incidents yesterday that made me wonder if it had affected him. The first was a free kick from distance. Before this season we have seen him take the run up and strike the dead ball. Yesterday he preferred to see the ball tapped to him to run onto by which time the ten yards to the defender had been closed to less than a handful. Was that due to a lack of confidence that he felt he could strike a better ball if it was in motion? Was he afraid of missing the target?
The other was when he elected not to shoot in the second half from the edge of the area. I saw the ball come to him and thought he’ll hit it, but he didn’t. Was that because his confidence was shot? It’s only guesswork of course but it could be a logical explanation?
Yes I cringed when he gave the ball away, yes I cringed when he made mistakes and I shouted but I would never resort to “You’re a f&%$^& t^%$ Gurney” or comments such as he had to hear.
It wasn’t just him, there were others that got the same treatment and when the “Jackett Sort It Out” comments came up my mind wandered back to a time when chants like that were few and far between. They used to arrive only when the crowd had lost patience with a manager. If that is the case now then I despair, I really do.
This is a time now when we need to group and get behind the team in every match. Forget the “It’s hard when they are not playing well” I don’t think it is to be honest. People go to football, many have had a beer (or six) and it can be quite easy. Atmosphere makes poor games pass quicker so look at it that way. We are there for fun so why not make some noise and see if being behind the team can get them going at times when it is a struggle. Put it this way there has to be more chance of it then rather then when people are handing out personal abuse.
And finally, if the lady that serves me in Tescos, or the man that takes my petrol money or anyone working at Morriston Golf Club is reading, don’t worry I won’t abuse you. Honestly!
