Shut the Unofficial sites...

[Thracian]

I see Mick Dennis of the Express has asked whether unofficial football websites should be shut down because they're "vile places where insult is the common denominator".

Truthfully I can see his point if he's been on here this morning but Mick Dennis, of course, has his platform.

And why does he think the unofficial sites developed and, more importantly, have flourished?

Because, wade through all insult and abuse he complains about, and the nonsensical speculation, and you actually get a far better real picture of what's going on in a club, or at least our club than we get from the so-called independent media who hardly mention us at all these days, apart from the locals.

Unofficial sites have flourished because the alternative is to rely on arseholes telling us that Mandaric has spent £20+ million on Leicester City when we all know he hasn't.

They've flourished because the alternative is to read match analysis and player ratings that bear no relation to the game we've just watched. Or no analysis and ratings at all, in the case of the OS.

They've flourished because we get an honest consensus of peoples opinions and the performances or our players. Okay there are questionable extremes of opinionbut in the end the sheer volume paints a pretty accurate picture.

Even periphery things like the Reserves matches get fuller attention. True the OS are often faster with their reports now cos they know that other reports will be posted but when did the OS ever analyse games or individual performances or get a dozen alternative opinions? Sometimes the reports are really late and, if we lose, really thin.

Truth is our local media are lakeys to the club. They almost act as ticket agents on occasions and simply filter out what they're told. The OS is a vehicle of the club and is never going to be objectively analytical. The Nationals often lift leads off each other whether they have a grain of truth or not and do well if they spell the names right let alone tell us anything that's not known.

Dennis says we all hide behind pseudonyms. What nonsense. We're all traceable and many of us are personally known to each other. I actually agree with him about the personal abuse and would like it stopped. Our own site tries pretty hard in this respect.

But why Dennis believes his view is right and others should be silenced I cannot understand. Some voice for freedom of speech and expression he is.

[OriginalRobboFOX]

I see Mick Dennis of the Express has asked whether unofficial football websites should be shut down because they're "vile places where insult is the common denominator".

Truthfully I can see his point if he's been on here this morning but Mick Dennis, of course, has his platform.

Pot, Kettle, Black....

[Number 6]

Agree. Its fine to get a media opinion but then why not have the chance to read fans' views and have the chance to debate about them.

[Father Ted]

I see Mick dennis is the Express has asked whether unofficial football websites should be shut down because they're "vile places where insult is the common denominator".

That's all I could be bothered to read but to be honest, the football club is very much the fans and message boards are just another way to get opinions across, just like you would at a match, it's also good for banter and for meeting people. There are always two sides of the story. And if he is suggesting that OS's are better, then just look at ours. Yes, there are insults, but that's life and you need to learn to deal with them.

[Guest]

I see Mick Dennis of the Express has asked whether unofficial football websites should be shut down because they're "vile places where insult is the common denominator".

Of course he would write that; he works for the Express.

[Bellend Sebastian]

The internet generally provides a voice to people that otherwise wouldn't have their views aired. You only have to look at 'Have Your Say' on the BBC News site to see the seething mass of self righteous nonsense that would probably cause people's heads to explode if they didn't have somewhere to vent it, so it stands to reason that a big chunk of what gets posted on any website is going to contain a lot of guff.

Amongst the guff though is a lot of intelligent comment and views that should be shared, so the suggestion that sites of this ilk should be shut down is more than a little unreasonable. Like television, if you don't like what's there (within reason), don't look at it.

That said, I don't think sites like these provide much insight into what's going on at the club, even if it does give an insight into the thinking of a section of the supporters (which may or may not be representative of the fanbase as a whole). You only get that from the club itself, and as we all know, it tends to keep its cards close to its chest. When I get to hear odd snippets of stuff from reliable sources in the know it as often as not has no resemblance to what's being circulated publicly

[Thracian]

Of course he would write that; he works for the Express.

Which newspaper can I rely on for wise and independent opinion?

[MikeyT]

Without a site like this, I personally wouldnt have alot of info on my beloved club or other clubs for that matter as well as obviously the stuff discussed in general chat!

Viva FoxesTalk!!

[Phube]

Without a site like this, I personally wouldnt have alot of info on my beloved club or other clubs for that matter as well as obviously the stuff discussed in general chat!

Viva FoxesTalk!!

Ditto...

Long Live FoxesTalk!

[Jay]

Without a site like this, I personally wouldnt have alot of info on my beloved club or other clubs for that matter as well as obviously the stuff discussed in general chat!

Viva FoxesTalk!!

I am old enough to remember the dark days when you never had any internet and as a foxile I couldn't buy the Mercury locally and I pretty much had no contact with the club and what was going on except for teletext and clubcall.

The Internet and unofficial fansites have changed all this you know feel more a part of the club than ever before in my opinion, you get rumours, scoops, news and any other info like tickets etc as it happens you feel part of the community in general.

[purpleronnie]

Whatever happend to freedom of expression in england?

[davieG]

Whatever happend to freedom of expression in england?

Anymore of that talk and you're banned - for life!

[Daggers]

...you get rumours, scoops, news and any other info like tickets etc as it happens you feel part of the community in general.

I was released into the community once.

[TrickyTrev]

Which newspaper can I rely on for wise and independent opinion?

None. But there are plenty which aren't quite so hateful.

PS The guys an elitist twat.

[MikeyT]

I am old enough to remember the dark days when you never had any internet and as a foxile I couldn't buy the Mercury locally and I pretty much had no contact with the club and what was going on except for teletext and clubcall.

The Internet and unofficial fansites have changed all this you know feel more a part of the club than ever before in my opinion, you get rumours, scoops, news and any other info like tickets etc as it happens you feel part of the community in general.

Same here, the wonderous internet is a joy to behold!

[wurmer]

I see Mick Dennis of the Express has asked whether unofficial football websites should be shut down because they're "vile places where insult is the common denominator".

snip.....

But why Dennis believes his view is right and others should be silenced I cannot understand. Some voice for freedom of speech and expression he is.

What a cock....

PS. See what I did there

[MC Prussian]

Haha, welcome to Censorship Wonderland.

Is Mick Dennis a follower of Nazism and Communism alike?

Some people never learn from history.

[Guest]

Which newspaper can I rely on for wise and independent opinion?

None of them; even the Birstall Post can be radical in it's views.

[Daggers]

I actually agree with him about the personal abuse and would like it stopped. Our own site tries pretty hard in this respect.

I don't think the abuse on here is bad at all, most of it just good natured banter as you'd find in a pub - but go back over the last 24 hours Tony and see how many times you've contributed to the very thing you are arguing should stop. A journey starts with the first step.

[sdb]

Which newspaper can I rely on for wise and independent opinion?

well if you want a balanced view point then you can't really get any worse than The Express. Disgusting paper.

[MC Prussian]

Anymore of that talk and you're banned - for life!

I heard Siberia's pretty nice in winter. Goulash 'N' Gulag - all inclusive!

[Corky]

I see Mick Dennis of the Express has asked whether unofficial football websites should be shut down because they're "vile places where insult is the common denominator".

But that will mean Mick doesn't get to post his blog on an unofficial Norwich site on a weekly basis like he normally does.

Did he mention that in his rant?