It’s on here to a degree but more of a Twitter thing (and Facebook but I don’t go anywhere near that place any more, horrendous). Not all players are judged the same in the squad. Some players haven’t a chance and will be dismissed no matter what they do. While others are seemingly beyond constructive criticism, they are the Golden Boys after all. I’ll give you an example. Callum Brittain was woeful last night. He’s had more good games than bad for us and I like him, but he hasn’t got going this season. Poor crossing, hesitant on the ball, doesn’t look as fit as last season to me either. I pointed this out at the game and people thought I had lost my mind. George Miller played in the same position at Bolton. Ok, weaker opposition but he played well until he got injured. His crossing was inconsistent but far better than Brittain’s has been this season. He got up and down the pitch well, did a really good, if unspectacular job. All I saw on ‘the socials’ is how awful he is and how he shouldn’t be anywhere near the team. Maybe he shouldn’t be a championship player, but whatever he does our fan base will never give him any credit. Likewise, Callum is one of the untouchables (and I understand there is goodwill from last season which entirely deserved). If he contributes nothing for the next 10 games few eyelids will be batted. Now, I’m not saying drop Callum. And I’m not saying play George. What I am saying is I wish people would judge performance on what they actually see, rather than what they think they will see. Another example. I thought we carried a bit more threat when we chucked Victor on last night and went a little more direct. No, I’m not saying Victor is the answer, but again he won’t get any credit for that or anything else positive that he does. Yes it’s all about opinions so of course we all see a game differently. I just think some players are more equal than others within our fan base.
Thought the same about Miller / Brittain after the Bolton game. Lots of criticism of Miller, when the exact same performance by Brittain would've been described as solid.
I've only seen the home games but I totally agree with Brittain. Last night especially he was woeful. what has happened to the bloke that last season would run with the ball into the opposition's box? The first half last night every time he got the ball he turned back to play a pass backwards. Second half he got more chances to cross the ball in due to the change in formation and the amount of space he got but apart from the one that Cole nearly got on the end of, virtually all of them hit the first man. The passing it backwards has to be due to the tactics he is being told i.e tippy happy around our defence / middle of the park. The poor crossing, I can't explain as last season he would put more good balls in than bad.
I gave Vic some, he fetched a ball down and played it wide to Brittain, but didn`t see him get another touch. Yet let him not miss control one and the board is full of how crap he is.
I'm not saying he's crap but I tend to agree. I didn't get the hero worship last season either. Some of the key moments of the season he fluffed his lines. He hit a decent shot v Swansea though in January that would have been goal of the season.
Agree with Callum and his start to the season although he did get a decent cross in which Cole nearly got on the end of, plus it was pointless trying to put a high balls in with their defenders head and shoulders above our forwards. Thought Helik was done in the air last night as well and he didn`t have his best game.
I disagree about Callum. People needed to move for him more when he was doing the throw ins and the crosses. Not his best display last night but better than George 's against Bolton.
Opinions, but at least Miller played the ball into the box against Bolton. You can argue the quality wasn't very good, or that the strikers weren't where they needed to be, or that we don't have the right type of strikers to be lofting crosses over, but we got the ball into offensive areas. Last night we got to the edge of their final third and then more often than not ran into blind alleys or passed it back to Helik/Collins.
Completely agree on Brittain and Victor last night, plus Miller last Tuesday. Brittain has been great for us, but last night's performance was similar to Miller's last week. Victor looked better than Oduor last night - I'd rather he played there on Saturday.
Maybe it's because certain players have proven themselves to be able to perform at a high level in the past, therefore fans are slightly more forgiving with them. Players that have never really proven themselves or look out of their depth consistently will always attract criticism.
He wasn’t quite at his very best Brittain last night but he still put a few cracking balls in (admittedly a fair few wide of the mark too) and could’ve easily come away with an assist or a goal. Hopefully he’ll get that goal soon enough. And hopefully when our 2 Belgians ever get fit and ready, he’ll have something a bit more to aim at.
Some things will never change and its the same for every club in the country I reckon. Nothing more fickle than a football fan whoever we support.
Interesting post. Funny you pick out Victor because I thought the same when he came on. We had been underwhelming up to that point yet when he made one bad touch I had a sinking feeling that he is gonna get dogs abuse if we lose for that touch alone. People seem to remember (and maybe actively look out for) the bad in some players, the same players, whereas the golden boys/untouchables as you call them get a pass. I agree with everything you say about Brittain and he is another example. Another untouchable already is Josh Benson. Undoubtedly a very talented baller, and only three games as a Red (dont worry I'm not a savage!), but wayward passes on Tuesday will be forgotten in an instant. If it had been the less fashionable Herbie Kane I doubt the fanbase as a whole would be as forgiving. Similarly I'm not saying Brittain should be dropped per se, and Benson has only played 3 games so of course should be given an extended run and don't get me wrong looks very talented and reads the game well, but nobody should get a free pass in the team for whatever reason, and so-called fringe players should be actively involved and encouraged when the golden boys are having a rough patch. As others have said though, it's the same at every club no doubt.
I think people tend to make their minds up about players fairly early and once they have done they are loathe to change their views because it would be tantamount to admitting error and many people dont like to admit to being wrong. We see it all the time on various subjects on here.
I understand that but there's less chance of being wrong if people take a step back and say 'he looks good but let's wait and see' or 'well he looks a bit naff but let's give him a chance' etc. Personally I like being wrong on those players that don't make an immediate, good impression and then come good. But yes some people value being right too much over being more objective and showing patience, and that's where the golden boys / boys-destined-for-the-scrapheap comes in.
