I've thought long and hard about this. I too have a season ticket, so it wouldn't make any financial difference either way. My initial reaction was to stay away as a protest, but I LOVE the people around me in the ground (Ponty) and I'd miss them if I stayed at home. I also think the young lads on the pitch, who are trying their b0llocks off, deserve my support. So I've decided to go. The owners can't make me suffer any more than I already have.
I share the same reasons for going, opportunity to see my mates and I know the lads are trying, but I know I won’t enjoy the game nor the atmosphere feeling as I do. Not saying I won’t be back just think I’ll stay away this weekend, been a reds fan all my adult life and rarely felt as thoroughly pigged off with it as I have this last two weeks.
I think rightly or wrongly the atmosphere will be toxic at Oakwell this saturday due to the events that have occurred this past week.
I think that's spot on, and justified too, in my opinion. I just hope it doesn't extend to the lads on the pitch.
To be fair it's not fifa he cant control them the derby one was anderson x 2 failing to clear a simple ball. Stendel isnt sat in the dugout with a remote.
I think it's quite significant that the normally easy going posters are now critical. I count myself amongst them. I think that suggests people aren't being 'quick to judge'. People are genuinely concerned about the club going forward. Any negativity is fueled by the affect their business dealings have had on results and performances. Whichever way you try to dress it up and look for positives, we're in a hole and they seem oblivious to one of the most basic requirements of football and most walks of life. - the need for experience. If they can't grasp that it's the reason we're in this hole, and just keep pointing the finger at others, then we're destined for a very difficult time.
If this board doesn't make up in January for what it did over the summer, including apologies or amendments made for the crass 'best transfer window in history statement' followed by the even crasser none statement, then I fear a lot of people will move on. Their lives will move on to finding something else to do every Saturday that doesn't involve feeling thoroughly depressed, depleted and mislead when they part with their hard earned cash
Can’t argue with that. Im reserving judgment for when the club plays its hand with the regards to appointing the next head coach and who we sign in January.
Me too, I fear though that it will be another unknown from europe but I hope I’m wrong. A lot slate Patrick for not moving the club forward in his time but he gave me two fantastic days at wembley with goals that still put a smile on my face. Cant imagine this new lot will ever do the same, def win’t be renewing unless they change tack, fishing tackles calling from shed again.
It's taken me a week to even gather my thoughts on what has happened before putting anything in writing. I've seen previous dismissals that left me shaking my head in the context they were done, the other two that stand out for me were Gudjon Thordarsson and especially Bobby Collins. Primarily, based on what I see before me (without any speculation on what may or may not have gone off), the decision to dismiss Stendel is poor, compounded by the statement, which was crass judgement and arguably worse than the dismissal itself. Business or not, the failure to acknowledge his work and achievement last season alone is petty if nothing else. It was clear from 3 or 4 games in that the incoming players and those remaining were not good enough to compete at this level. That's not to say some won't be, in time, but for the majority of the games I've seen it has been very much men against boys, no lack of effort, and I don't think any of our players have hidden when things are going against them, it's down to a lack of quality compared to our opponents. Brentford, for example in my opinion, are light years ahead of us but as yet aren't a great distance in front in terms of points. I posted a few weeks ago that I hoped, rather than expected, we'd compete well at this level, my only conclusion to date is that we don't have the quality of player in sufficient number to do this. I would have liked to have seen us retain the core of the promoted team simply to see how they did and have the continuity, they may have struggled, and if that was the case we'd then have the January window to address it. My worry now is that January will be too late, and without a sense check on recruitment strategy, it will have no impact. I'd hoped we'd recruit fewer players of better quality, the Championship has no place to hide and develop players, you have to hit the ground running in my view. I'm not convinced we'd be a dead cert to come back up either. I usually class myself as a fairly positive supporter, not writing teams off too early or getting carried away when the going is good. Back in 2013, my son, myself and a couple of others from our group went to watch us away at Blackburn, early part of the season following the "great escape". Whilst we went down to 10 men after Mvoto was sent off after about half an hour, the capitulation afterwards was embarrassing, losing 5-2, a combination of lack of quality and lack of heart. I said at the final whistle that it was a relegation team, and it was. The current players have plenty of spirit, but hand on heart, I cannot see anything other than relegation even at this stage. Of course, I hope I'm completely wrong and survive, and I think the man that Stendel is would be happy if we stayed up too. Of course, I will separate the decision made from my match day support of the players, and whoever the incoming head coach is, the match is more than the football to me. The club is like a three legged dog. You know it's never been perfect, but it's loved unconditionally. However, recent events do raise questions of the board. Mine aren't financial as such, but they do need to ask themselves whether they have balanced the priorities between the football club as a business and as a sporting community properly. At the moment I think they've gone too far to the former. Stendel, without further knowledge of the events as it stands, has fallen on someone else's sword. It's a sad and frustrating feeling. If the outcome by the time we get to May is positive, I'll hold my hand up, but I genuinely cannot see anything other than League One football next season, and a club at present that has lost its sense of purpose and dignity.
You're right, I'd never heard of him, but to fair he had a very competitive squad to work with, and at a lower level. New bloke won't have that luxury, and will be expected just to get on with it.
I count myself as amongst them too fitzy. I really hope that there is a further statement this week and that it somehow expresses some regret for the statement announcing DS's departure, acknowledges how many fans are feeling and provides something that starts to rebuild trust and belief. For me (and I suspect others) this is key to moving on and forward. Done well I think people will start to forgive and focus on supporting the team. But if it doesn't happen this week I expect there will be protests on Saturday and I will join in. That's not to say I won't support the team - I will. But if the owners don't acknowledge my views then I want to make sure they have heard them.
Correct. I have never once called for the removal of any owner, Director, ceo, manager or head coach (other than Nigel spackman) I am always a glass half full kind of person and always try and see the best in everyone. I can see no good in these owners and can see nothing positive under their stewardship. My only positive is that their time at Nice was relatively short.
