Can't be arsed is fine by me troff. Some of the stuff that has been posted is quite pathetic. It's as though they've discovered another life that was there in the first place. Going to most of the games doesn't make me a better fan but it's what I choose to do. Cos I can go to all games if wished Does not make me a better fan. Something I've always said. People have other things to do. can't afford it. Work commitments etc. I don't have to try and go ott if I don't want to go. My brother cousins etc don't go to away games. But have been watching em longer than I have. I Would never claim to be the better fan. I also am not in full agreement as to which way we are being run. I will be attending the fans forum as a representative of one of the supporters groups and will ask the questions we all desire given the chance.
These young lads do not deserve the situation they have been thrown into, I genuinely feel sorry for them. I think 99% of the fans feel that way, I certainly don't think anyone has lost interest due to the players, it's the shithousery from up stairs which has pushed the fans out. I wish these young lads all the success in the world, but it won't be at BFC.... Well, until next season when we're flying in league one. Then to be sold to someone like QPR for an undisclosed fee with a 10% sell on clause if they turn out to be half decent.
I think some of this is a bit unfair Hooky Feller. Its not a pathetic situation to have alternative things to do. Its actually worrying to see people reprioritising. Im one and have many alternatives to watching the team. I have put the fixture list first for many tears as it reads also many others the same. But after rearranging flights for business trips,, driving to from Manchester to pick lad up every game, planning holidays around fixtures, etc etc then a time comes when you ask is it worth it. Ill still support and be a fan. Ill still go to games but when it fits. I have a season ticket but will reassess at season end. I feel rather than many years of getting one in Hope in advance i think i need to see a signal from the club of intent first. My badge of honour reads ‘once a loyal fan who’s had the faith, belief, commitment and rest of the sh** kicked out of me by our own ambition’
My disillusion isn't purely with the club, it's with football in general. Other clubs willingness to chuck money at it has left us behind, and our owners seem to think their crazy plan is somehow going to bridge the gap.
Yeah my dissolution is also football in general and if it weren’t for watching Tarn I’d be a partial tv viewer . But as far as the plan is concerned it’s the right way forward , needs a few amendments and the odd tweak here and there but all in all it’s our only way forward , Championship wise anyway. If we don’t fo something outside the box ie develop and sell players then the lower leagues is gonna be our home more seasons than not . The plan as it stands is killing us And making championship football unenjoyable imo , however I do realise we have to do something in this area to bring and compete in the championship . If the owners continue with this they’ll have a dead duck on their hands hopefully no land sale to fall back on . They need to alter , tweak , amend or whatever they need to do to appease the fans and give their investment room to thrive .
Further to my post, they don’t have to spend any money the club doesn’t generate. It doesn’t have to cost them a penny. In fact I don’t really mind if they bleed the odd dividend out for themselves if they must so long as they’re up front about it. But stop solely signing kids. It can’t work. Focus on younger players yes - that’s fine - but they need at least a little bit of support, older heads, some experience at the level or maybe even more game time at a lower level. Even if it’s only on loan.
This is, or should be the biggest issue we all have with them at the moment. No one expects to play brilliantly and win every week, or to have a god given right to be mid table championship. It's totally unrealistic given the quality we're up against. Would be nice though to see the odd win here and there to lift the gloom and give us a bit of hope, but we're limited to playing as well as we can, but continually falling short.
These owners are causing their own problems and generating a split within the supporters. They claim to be building for the future but what about the here and now. We will definitely be behind the 8 ball next season whatever division we end up in.
Maybe I haven’t put my point over right icer. For that I apologise if I offend anybody. it’s about using the family as a priority over watching tarn. Then saying there are more important things in life. As if they’ve just discovered that. When in fact it should be a given. I fully understand the issues at the moment and the disillusionment. It’s in everyone’s right to chose what they want to do or show their feelings in protest. But also I take exception to some on here claiming people that respond in a different way are fully supportive of the board. I Will be at the fan engagement and will be questioning vehemently as to what we all want answers to. I too am also aware that whatever responses we may or may not get, will ever satisfy everyone. If they choose to apologise for instance in the way they handled the statement put out over D S for some it’s too little too late. and will not forgive. another trait I understand. Hope I’ve got my point over better. But what we write may seem understandable in our own heads but not to those reading. A thing we are all guilty of.
No worries HF. I think the issue is people who are disillusioned and frustrated by going through very same scenarios are now questioning where their valuable time and money should really sit and what to prioritise. For me it’s simple case of if im home and time permits I’ll go watch, but I won’t make the changes as I have in the past, arranged work flights and meetings, holidays, turned down events to put the fixture list first. Here’s were our fan base gets divided. The ones who see loyalty and attendance and nothing more then see these people as disloyal, letting players down and trying to be martyrs for their cause. While on the other hand some fans see the loyal ‘happy clappers’ as delusional and having the wool pulled over their eyes. Neither are right nor wrong, just the usual opinions but the divide widens when we struggle and people have evidence to wave of their particular position. I think we will get the politically correct answers at the Q&A and I’m glad people will go and show they care. I also hope the right questions are tabled and definitions clear. For example the boards definition of experience is quite different to that of many fans. We know they will say Moore wanted to go but it makes more sense to have three goal scoring options than 1 so if nothing else why didn’t we fill that appropriately. Lots to hear and especially around the wall of silence, which I think will be fobbed off due to contractual discussions. So hopefully we can learn something but I don’t hold hope. And that’s the root of my situation, my trust, hope and belief if diminishing. As fans we generally give first and take the potential joy later and after 40 years I know the joy can be short lived or occasionally fantastic. Unusually and a rare position that the trend now for the owners to prove first isn’t something that’s great for our club but a sad fact of where we are. Although 180 degree position from my past years, I need something to convince me right now.
I don't think a regular supporter giving up is something to be taken as a flounce or seeking attention. It would be a big decision for me to just give up, or even pick my games. What about my visually impaired mate that relies on me as his helper? What about all the people that sit around us at Oakwell, the mates I've met off here and Facebook over the years, especially the one that I travel with to 90% of away games? I'd be staying away from more than football. What about the people in my locality that associate me with my football team? They would never believe I'd stopped going. It's far more that just not going to Oakwell, and doing something else. Yet I've still genuinely considered making this my last season, and by the sounds of it I'm not on my own.