Eric Black

[Witton Warrior]

I think the away fans have been great.  The home?  Not so much.
Edit -

And I assume you include yourself in that comment?

[sickbeggar]

I don't think calling the atmosphere 'absolutely fucking poisonous' should provoke the reaction it has. Yes, in the last couple of games that has changed to more gallows humour but with a sinister undertone for me. We'll laugh at ourselves unless certain people touch the ball or make a mistake.

Also, as has been mentioned the word 'toxic' has been used by both Black and press alike, and whether you agree with that or not that filters through to the players and what they expect from the crowd. As I said, things have improved but teh damage has been done. I think it's worth remembering that this was posted by amfy just at the end of April:

"I am not blaming the fans, I am saying that I find the booing unpleasant & uncomfortable and would like it to stop, and I am as entitled to an opinion as to how best to support the team as someone who wants to boo them is".

Clearly the atmosphere did effect some so to try and split hairs really is neither here nor there. the atmosphere was bad, some say absolutely fucking poisonous, some say  it was toxic, some found the atmosphere uncomfortable and unpleasant, some thought the players should grow a pair, some chose to point out the other fans applauded us when we got going (singing), and some said certain people's reactions tot he atmosphere was not hoe they read it.

Whatever it is one thing for certain is that it's not right. Gallows singing is singing with a dark underbelly and teeth can be bared at any second. And with that in mind I can understand, and support, why Eric Black has decided to protect the younger players from that.

yep. There's no doubt that some of the players have bought it on themselves with their on and off field performances and you can make a good arguement that they deserve the current atmosphere. However any mistake is pounced on now with the result that the players don't want to try anything. Black's defensive line-ups i read as a means of getting at least something out the game to gain confidence. It's really got to the stage now where a clean sheet is a pretty big milestone for some of these players. Frankly sticking in a mixture of youth players and saying" go for it" doesn't cut it because if we're 2 nil down by halftime the crowd will turn, if not on the players, but Black himself who is everyone's favourite punch bag at the moment. If he played the youth team and the likes of Traore would he get any credit on here if we got well beat? Of course not, he'd be pummelled for playing them "wrong". I've read a lot on here criticising Black for negative comments in the press, but  he's like a man overdosing on Prozac compared to many of our fans. Telling a team to entertain and be positive while waiting to pounce on any fuck-up just doesn't work in any motivational handbook i've come across.

[mike]

The harsh commercial reality is also that we have to sell a lot of these players. Demoting them and replacing them with an academy product won't increase their value. Yes, I know that you could argue that nor does them being seen playing (shit) every week, but the former does more damage. I suspect he's been told this. He is so effusively complimentary about the fans, I actually think he doesn't like doing it himself.

[chrisw1]

I think the away fans have been great.  The home?  Not so much.
Edit -

And I assume you include yourself in that comment?

What do you mean and why did you cut my edit out?
I don't go away but yes, include myself in the home fan category

[ChicagoLion]

Bye Bye Black,   Sheep!

[pbavfckuwait]

I believe the support given not just this year, but over the last few years has been nothing short of amazing. We may not be going down with a record low points total, but the players signed this summer and through that the money spent, yes not all of them have been poor but I have never seen a team over a 38 game season put in as little effort as these wankers.

As supporters the main ones who have got the pelters and deserve so much more, are all players that have not only, not turned up on the pitch, but made the whole sorry saga worse by some of their off field antics and then there poor excuses for those actions. Scared to try things , but Baccuna still tries to spend 90 minutes with a inane grin on his ugly mug, Gabby has gone into hiding because he knows exactly what he would get if he ventured onto the pitch, Richards what a oxygen thief, Lescott has the same ability to send chewing gum as far as he can control a ball and I believe that time at Wycombe, has been the only time this season that he was actually in the position he was told to be in before the game, yes the bench.
Hutton has not been given pelters, Rudy as useless as he is has not been the major target, Ayew who at best has been average has been treated like a god.
The support turned at the end of January when for all concerned who could do something, decided we were not worth trying to do something, the players with their subsequent actions just made matters worse and Eric Black is a full valid reflection of Aston Villa season 2015-2016, not up to premier standard.

[Stu]

I actually think the support has been quite special recently. Yes, there has been the targeted booing - if Mr Black wants to keep picking the wastrals, what do you expect? - but the general level of support for the club has been exceptional; and commented upon by oppo fans.

And a Coventry blogger who attended the Watford game, intending to gloat but leaving impressed

Did they write an article on this, Pat?

[VillaAlways]

I actually think the support has been quite special recently. Yes, there has been the targeted booing - if Mr Black wants to keep picking the wastrals, what do you expect? - but the general level of support for the club has been exceptional; and commented upon by oppo fans.

And a Coventry blogger who attended the Watford game, intending to gloat but leaving impressed

Did they write an article on this, Pat?

http://thelonelyseason.club/match-reports/same-same-but-different

[Stu]

I actually think the support has been quite special recently. Yes, there has been the targeted booing - if Mr Black wants to keep picking the wastrals, what do you expect? - but the general level of support for the club has been exceptional; and commented upon by oppo fans.

And a Coventry blogger who attended the Watford game, intending to gloat but leaving impressed

Did they write an article on this, Pat?

http://thelonelyseason.club/match-reports/same-same-but-different

Thanks

[Fin Feds Dad]

I think our support has been absolutely brilliant. Any poison began in the dressing and board rooms and spread onto the pitch. What was chucked back at them from the stands was mild compared to what the arseholes have heaped upon us.

I think the away fans have been great.  The home?  Not so much.

Edit - actually I'll clarify this - I agree for most of the season the home fans were very good and very patient.  My personal opinion though was that the negativity towards the end went a bit too far and I genuinely felt it did effect the players.

Can you try and defend the starting line up the moron picked today ?

[Jon Crofts]

About the only thing that will cheer me up about this whole wretched season is reading tonight that he's been fired.  COTHO

[mr underhill]

totally. A tool. Goodbye.

[Chris Jameson]

As I said on the match thread he's obviously not all that bothered about protecting the youngsters. He hasn't called on Richards to play against Cazorla, Ozil, Sanchez, Wiltshire, Giroud etc.

[aj2k77]

Useless prick, no made up excuses wash with me.

[Pete3206]

I pity the next club, desperate enough to employ him.