Club Statement

[juanillo]

I can't comment specifically on the events of Saturday as I wasn't present.

The club statement hasn't been very well-constructed or well-written. It seems as though someone has just written down thoughts without much reflection.

However, I do agree that it isn't acceptable for fans to shout abuse at players whether at games or online. Having been to very many games at both professional and non-league level, I know this has gone on for years and still does, but it doesn't make it right. People shout and write things they would never say to a player's face if they met them. Players don't ordinarily have a go back unless they feel provoked in some way.

Two wrongs don't make a right, and just because the players are not fully professional, the club should be ensuring that they train and coach the staff to exercise restraint and be circumspect at all times.

I don't think we should be tolerant of personal abuse of players, whether they be our own or the opposition (who'd be a goalkeeper for example!) , or the match officials. The club should also be making a point of stamping out the players' abuse of the officials which goes on unabated. Moreover, in recent seasons I have heard one or two club officials (apart from the management team) abusing the referee which certainly sets no example at all.

[Dazzie76]

Well this will be Halesowen news headline story again.

[TractionJackson]

Tbf we're always moaning about the lack of coverage

[lutleyyeltz]

It's not so much the club statement that bothers me.
It's the way that what should be a great way to spend an afternoon is reduced to anger, personal abuse (from both fans and players) which is not what it should be about.
In sport there are winners and losers and that seems to have escaped the mindset of supporters at all levels of the game. Life isn't fair sometimes and that's a fact that has to be dealt with and accepted.
Over the last 2 and a half years there has been anger and frustration building up in the general public. Unfortunately the pressure is now let loose at events such as football matches.
As an 83 year old git, who has seen a bit of life, I am bitterly disappointed that it has come to this.
It a sad reflection on society as a whole if this is what watching footie is reduced to.
"Calm down, it's only a game!"

[drummyb]

Ah. Unsocial media. Not on it, never will be. I see nothing but problems.
That said I was as angry as anyone on Saturday. Age has taught me however, not to gob off at players. It aint worth it.
Theyre right that no-one sets out to play badly, but there has to be an acceptance of some criticism when they dont play well.

Ive said before, Im wholly uncomfortable with being besties with players. There has to be a line drawn.
Sad that the club has needed to do this. But the fault is on both sides Im afraid.

[TractionJackson]

Noone likes it when the whole class gets told off because a couple of kids at the front fired spitballs at the teachers back but I think it maybe needed to be done.

On the other hand, the statement was emotionally charged and not written how you'd expect an official statement from an organisation to read - it's obviously a sore subject on both sides so yeah, everyone needs to just cool off.

Players/Staff shouldnt be DM'ing people with veiled threats and insults and grown men shouldn't be shedding online tears because only a handful of players applauded them at the end of a bad match.

I wasn't there (lost count how many times I've read that today) but was there booing at halftime/full-time? In such a tiny crowd I'm guessing every insult shouted can be heard by everyone on the pitch. Bad day at the office and not the end of the world of people want to keep their head down and regroup rather than thank 150 fans who have travelled the mighty distance of 12 miles to jeer them on.

[drummyb]

Well, I cant speak about the end of the match, but I certainly didnt hear anyone gobbing off for the 75 minutes I was there. People were pissed off, but no-one gobbed off at players. The officials got some stick constantly (which Im uncomfortable with).
Someone ( who stays nameless), raised the point they werent playing like they gave a shit quite vociferously, and quite rightly, but it wasnt abusive in anyway shape or form.
This whole thing has come as a surprise tbh.

[TractionJackson]

Ive said before, Im wholly uncomfortable with being besties with players. There has to be a line drawn.
Sad that the club has needed to do this. But the fault is on both sides Im afraid.

Btw 100% agree with this. Being mates with the players just leads to negativity and feelings of betrayal when they inevitably move on.

[lutleyyeltz]

The players probably knew that their performance was poor.
I can understand anyone who wanted to get away from something that didn't turn turn out well - they weren't going to get complimented were they?

[fairweatherfan]

There is a bit more to all this - Karen has been very open to explaining her reasoning if people want to contact her. I still feel the statement is heavy handed and advising players not to indulge in social media at all a bit unnecessary, but they're not professionals and I can understand them having a pop back if certain characters seem to be consistently negative.