Fan reaction to impending Relegation.

[amfy]

imagine landing a really good job, but then finding that you were struggling to get to grips with it.

Things that would help:
Coaching and guidance
Encouragement and support

Things that would not help:
Being shouted at verbally abused
Being continually told you are useless
Being paid a lot of money

The last point is there because there seems to be an idea that earning thousands of pounds means that they should somehow be able to rise above the abuse and still perform, but most human beings just aren't made like that. The levels of abuse being aimed at the team now simply are not helping. Not only because I imagine that many of them are playing on shredded nerves, but because being on the receiving end of that kind of abuse simply sends most people to their 'Fuck It' line.

[Olof's Beard]

imagine landing a really good job, but then finding that you were struggling to get to grips with it.

Things that would help:
Coaching and guidance
Encouragement and support

Things that would not help:
Being shouted at verbally abused
Being continually told you are useless
Being paid a lot of money

The last point is there because there seems to be an idea that earning thousands of pounds means that they should somehow be able to rise above the abuse and still perform, but most human beings just aren't made like that. The levels of abuse being aimed at the team now simply are not helping. Not only because I imagine that many of them are playing on shredded nerves, but because being on the receiving end of that kind of abuse simply sends most people to their 'Fuck It' line.

This is exactly what I think too, especially the last line. A lot of these players are new to the club and new to the country. It might well be justified abuse, but it's certainly not helpful or constructive. Unfortunately I think most of us saw Sunderland as last chance saloon and now most people have given up and think that no amount of 'sticking with the side' is going to keep us up even if performances and results improve at some point. That's let the abuse of the leash. It's now how I behave, but different fans have different personalities. It's definitely not going to help the situation though.

[OzVilla]

I think the "let's give some consideration to the players" ship has well and truly sailed for better or for worse.

This will now get quite ugly and things will get worse before they get better.  It might even prove to be the meltdown we had to have.

[Pete3206]

Good post Madferret. Whilst I agree with most of those sentiments, I fear yesterday's outbursts are a mild precursor to what's coming on Tuesday evening.

[ChicagoLion]

It seems inevitable now that this abuse will continue. A lot of football fans are not Guardian Readers and will act accordingly.
The Geni is out of the bottle now and unless there is some major effort by the Club to arrest the situation it will continue. (Unlikely)
Sad days indeed.

[amfy]

I think the "let's give some consideration to the players" ship has well and truly sailed for better or for worse.

This will now get quite ugly and things will get worse before they get better.  It might even prove to be the meltdown we had to have.

I'm not talking about giving consideration to the players, I'm talking about how we as fans can either try to play a part in turning it round, or make it worse. I don't even mind the idea of a protest although it's not really for me this time around, I just think the abuse the team are getting (and some of the poor support - e.g. adding 'We're fucking shit' to our limited repertoire of songs) isn't helping VILLA.

I was next to a fan at Everton who was actually trying to get 'We're fucking shit' going when we were singing the Villa Boys song relentlessly. When I asked how that was helping, he said that the 'making all the noise' song is an Albion song. I told him that lots of teams, not just Albion sing that song, but singing that Villa are fucking shit is very definitely an Albion song.

[LeeB]

I agree that it's not going to help, but I'm certainly not going to tell anyone that spends their hard earned on watching that shite what they should or shouldn't say.

[Clampy]

That video is just horrendous and it's not going to help in the slightest.

[Ajdainty89]

Having watched the reaction of a few individuals to the players boarding the coach yesterday I'd likemto say one thing. GO AWAY.  When wil fans realise that amount of money earned bears now relationship with performance. The oft trotted out line "I pay my ticket so I can say what Inwant simply doesn't wash. Do you really  think that calling Micha Richards a c*** helps, do,you really believe telling Bacuna he's useless motivates him?
Look very carefully at your ticket, no where does it saya win iis guaranteed or that entertaining football,is a given. Losing is part of the game, relegation happens. Those pitiful few hurling abuse yesterday need to get a grip.

If you want t to be angry be angry with Sky and the Premier league swindlers who have stolen our game, who are taking it out of the reach of ordinary workingclass fans. Be angry, but abusing our own players is downright silly, please stop it it, itbreally, reallly isn't helping.

Totally agree! I understand all the anger.
But yesterday I felt ashamed to be a fan (not because of the team either this time.)

The abuse the players got were beyond a joke, I no beer may have been involved and mixed with the anger.
But having took my little nephew, who it's hard enough to get to support Villa when he never gets to win.

And then seeing his terrified face because of a fair few people (not saying all) being way too abusive, just ruined the experience.
As much as I agree that these people are paid way too much and give far too little.
For the niece who just wanted to go see the players who he pretends to be when he plays was just too much.
The "not fit to wear the shirt" is one thing, being so worked up and abusive to the point of scaring the younger villians is a whole 'nother level.

[NeilH]

Any ounce of sympathy from the average football fan to our plight will evaporate when they see idiots abusing their own team as they try to get onto a coach. We all know that Gestede is not Prem quality and I sure his confidence is at rock bottom, so what does one of our family do; they decide to make it worse.

[passport1]

When you have ex pros calling your players 'cheats' and ex Villa greats like McNaught saying they are 'embarrassing', it is hardly a surprise that supporters who spend their time and money supporting them act as they did yesterday.

[mrfuse]

Not sure if this has already been posted, but here is a link to a the Micah Richards discussion with the fans where you can hear the what he is saying a little more clearly.

vimeo.com/151261528

[ChicagoLion]

I give Richards credit for that and also the fans were being reasonable.
You could just get that they were upset as they saw some players messing about.

[Ad@m]

Not sure if this has already been posted, but here is a link to a the Micah Richards discussion with the fans where you can hear the what he is saying a little more clearly.

vimeo.com/151261528

I saw that fella with his mobile phone so I expected the video to turn up pretty quickly.  Richards obviously took exception to the banging on the dugout but he dealt with it in the right way.  If only they could all start playing like top flight footballers now.  On yesterday's performance we'll be bottom half of the Championship next season at best.

[auntiesledd]

I give Richards credit for that and also the fans were being reasonable.
You could just get that they were upset as they saw some players messing about.

I concur, CL. It was heartening to see that finally one highly paid Aston Villa employee had the decency to talk to a few supporters - rather than hiding. Fair play to the guy.