Gabby - 'Fans negativity affects players'

[Rip Van We Go Again]

bbc.co.uk/football

Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor says fans' hostility towards manager Alex McLeish is affecting the players.

Agbonlahor said that supporters needed to get behind McLeish who moved to Villa Park from rivals Birmingham City in the summer.

"It does have an impact on the players and does affect them when fans are not backing the manager and not turning up in games," said Agbonlahor.


Agbonlahor added: "The fans are entitled to their opinions, but the chairman [Randy Lerner] has made a choice in bringing the manager here and everyone has got to get behind him.

"I think it affects the players otherwise. You only have to look at the situation at Blackburn where Steve Kean has been getting a lot of abuse.

"In previous years the fans have got behind the team no matter what and that helps the players.

"If they really get behind the team and the players, it gives everyone a lift."

McLeish said he had the experience to handle supporters' criticism after his men were booed off the pitch following a 0-0 draw at Wigan on 25 February.

It was the among a series of hostile incidents from fans since he took over at the club at the start of the season.

Villa have drawn or lost their previous five Premier League matches, leaving them with 30 points after 27 games.

Protests against McLeish began even before his appointment as Villa manager.

[Trinitymiddle]

Didn't he say last week that he didn't notice the fans?

Getting sick of all these excuses.

[TopDeck113]

Whereas he was telling it how it really is the title of this thread would read:
"Gabby - Manager's negativity affects players and fans"

[villanic]

I just get the feeling that this is a line from the club trying to use Gabby to encourage fans to get behind the team ahead of Saturday’s game. He did say that he didn’t hear the fans during and after the Wigan game.

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

I think they just got his quote the wrong way round. What it should have said was:

'Players negativity affects fans'

[jembob]

It would all be so much better if McLeish just f*cked off.

[supertommykN'iba]

Statement seems very much as if Gabby is in the same boat as the majority of fans. A quote like...

 "The fans are entitled to their opinions, but the chairman [Randy Lerner] has made a choice in bringing the manager here and everyone has got to get behind him."

...seems very much like he also wasn't happy with the appointment. There aren't really any quotes backing McLeish. I think he has said words of support to him before and even then, they looked very forced.

[Rob92]

"It does have an impact on the players and does affect them when fans are not backing the manager and not turning up in games,"

Why don't the players try turning up every now and again?

[pauliewalnuts]

Walnuts - 'Players' negativity affects fans'

[Phil from the upper holte]

Maybe they should win a few bloody games, Maybe Gabby should keep off the smack he can't remember what he's saying from one week to the next.

Maybe they should all fuck off

[MarkM]

Gabby and the rest should concentrate on doing there jobs instead of moaning about us moaning about the manager.

I think that with all things considered McL has had it pretty easy.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

I think that with all things considered McL has had it pretty easy.

I agree.
The media bang on as if he gets crucified every game.

Most people I know stepped back and were willing to give him a chance.

[Vanilla]

Gabby and the rest should concentrate on doing there jobs instead of moaning about us moaning about the manager.

If a representative  from any other industry told their paying customers, which is essentially what fans are at the end of the day, to stop complaining . . . well . . . British Gas, BT etc etc would be happy as they could close their call centres down. 

[PaulWinch again]

Walnuts - 'Players' negativity affects fans'

Club negativity killing all optimism and hope.

[pauliewalnuts]

I think that with all things considered McL has had it pretty easy.

I agree.
The media bang on as if he gets crucified every game.

Most people I know stepped back and were willing to give him a chance.

I think he's hard a pretty easy ride of it, certainly at home games.

I'm sure Houllier was getting the banners waved at him well before the crowd started giving McLeish grief at home.