Booing your own team

[Babylon]

Yes, but my lovely piece of crud, and wouldn't change you for the world Babs!!!

If you were cream, then you wouldn't twice at me!!!

x

[Bellend Sebastian]

I don't think booing goes far enough.

We should be cutting the players' heads off with a rusty scythe and shitting down their neck holes. I cannot see any other way of motivating them

[Simo86]

Sadly it seems to be rife within our fans

You'll never catch me booing my team, totally counterproductive. I may well not clap them as I didn't last night, but booing is not the way forward.

Spot on, exactly how i see it. I didn't clap them, but i would never boo

[The Doctor]

i've got an idea ,

why don't we all dress up in the opponents colours and boo the opposition ?

it'll ruin their confidence and we should reap the rewards , simples

genius!

[Alf Bentley]

Any point you had was rendered ridiculous when you posted the bits in bold. Stoke do not have loyal support. Stoke have shit support in a shit stadium in a shit location in a shit town in England. They are a joke of the highest order. They averaged somewhere between 13 and 15,000 at home in their promotion season, yet found 10,000+ hangers on for our game on the final day onwards? Yeah, supreme loyalty, that. Fucking wankers. I hate Stoke. Cunts.

Stoke's average attendance in their promotion season was 16,823, according to the Football League site. That is indeed poor (about 3000 less than us in League 1) so you have a point.

However, even if many of their fans have only started turning up when they are in the Premier League, they do get behind their team and make a lot of noise...and Stoke's home record has been excellent since they went up. I still think there's a lesson there. Of course, people are entitled to boo if they want to, but I reckon it will only serve a useful purpose in very limited circumstances.

Got to agree, though, that Stoke are an ugly team and the city is the deadest big city I've ever had the misfortune to spend a night in. A Sunday night in Holyhead, when my ferry had been cancelled runs it close for tedium, but that's just a village...

[leicesterseddon]

Stoke's average attendance in their promotion season was 16,823, according to the Football League site. That is indeed poor (about 3000 less than us in League 1) so you have a point.

However, even if many of their fans have only started turning up when they are in the Premier League, they do get behind their team and make a lot of noise...and Stoke's home record has been excellent since they went up. I still think there's a lesson there. Of course, people are entitled to boo if they want to, but I reckon it will only serve a useful purpose in very limited circumstances.

Got to agree, though, that Stoke are an ugly team and the city is the deadest big city I've ever had the misfortune to spend a night in. A Sunday night in Holyhead, when my ferry had been cancelled runs it close for tedium, but that's just a village...

And how do you know that?

Oh yeah, because you heard some ill-informed ****wit in the pay of the BBC or Sky Sports say so.

Anyway, booing your own team is a different (albeit related) issue from that of vocal support. There's no negative correlation between the inclination of supporters to boo and the extent to which they vocally support their team. Often supporters that boo the most are the most passionnate too. I would have booed last night after that performance but I don't think it's right to get on the players' backs after two bad (alright, shocking) performances.

[leicesterfox86]

Ok, I am not a big fan of booing the side off because Nigel is a legend and has done a wonderful job here.

But when you add up all the money you spend:

. Season ticket or away ticket

. Petrol or money to get to and on the bus

. Car park

. Food

. Drink

. Matchday programme

You are looking at a load of money and when you have paid it, surely, you have the right to boo the team off if you want too?

Agreed. We are entitiled to expressing our opinions.

[davieG]

I paid a rare visit, this season to the top left of the kop and as I've found out previously it seems to me the booing is coming from the same group of fans who spend most of the game singing.

As i've mentioned before I've seen instances of potential violence from 'singing' fans against those not singing but it was those same 'singing' fans who booed the team at half-time and full-time.

[maddog]

I hate these fooking threads about booing

Every fan has the right to boo if they want or not to boo, there is nothing wrong with it, and after last nights show the players deserved to be booed.

The booing is never serious malicious booing, it's just a way of fans to release their frustration, they are angry in the heat of the moment after the game so boo.

And the booing only lasts for a few seconds, it's nothing, unless the players are total pussies they should be fine with it and take it.

Obviously telling the players their shit, and booing them isn't going to make them stop playing shit, so in some ways it's pointless, but if a fan wants to they can it's fine by me.

On reflection we are still only 2 points off third and we are not the only team with freak results recently, QPR were hot promotion favourites when we beat them, they are on an even worser run now and their manager has been suspended.

West Brom lost 2-0 at home last night and M'Boro won 5-1 at the weekend then lost 3-0 at home to Blackpool last night whom we beat at home.

Lets just hope we win Saturday now.

Theres nothing wrong with booing and i do it sometimes, whats worse than a couple of seconds of booing is a select group of fans who think they are above everyone else chanting 'loyal supporters' thus implying that the rest of the paying fans watching that shit on a Tuesday night aren't loyal, and not real fans just because they weren't signing.

[Alf Bentley]

And how do you know that?

Oh yeah, because you heard some ill-informed ****wit in the pay of the BBC or Sky Sports say so.

Anyway, booing your own team is a different (albeit related) issue from that of vocal support. There's no negative correlation between the inclination of supporters to boo and the extent to which they vocally support their team. Often supporters that boo the most are the most passionnate too. I would have booed last night after that performance but I don't think it's right to get on the players' backs after two bad (alright, shocking) performances.

The BBC ****wit in question was reporting the findings of some research where equipment had been used to measure noise levels in decibels at each Premier League ground and Stoke's was the loudest. Of course, they might all have been booing passionately...

I didn't question the passion of people who boo, only whether it had a productive effect on team morale and performance.

[davieG]

I hate these fooking threads about booing

Every fan has the right to boo if they want or not to boo, there is nothing wrong with it, and after last nights show the players deserved to be booed.

The booing is never serious malicious booing, it's just a way of fans to release their frustration, they are angry in the heat of the moment after the game so boo.

And the booing only lasts for a few seconds, it's nothing, unless the players are total pussies they should be fine with it and take it.

Obviously telling the players their shit, and booing them isn't going to make them stop playing shit, so in some ways it's pointless, but if a fan wants to they can it's fine by me.

On reflection we are still only 2 points off third and we are not the only team with freak results recently, QPR were hot promotion favourites when we beat them, they are on an even worser run now and their manager has been suspended.

West Brom lost 2-0 at home last night and M'Boro won 5-1 at the weekend then lost 3-0 at home to Blackpool last night whom we beat at home.

Lets just hope we win Saturday now.

Theres nothing wrong with booing and i do it sometimes, whats worse than a couple of seconds of booing is a select group of fans who think they are above everyone else chanting 'loyal supporters' thus implying that the rest of the paying fans watching that shit on a Tuesday night aren't loyal, and not real fans just because they weren't signing.

It's a free choice but pointless nonetheless and you're right about those fans chanting 'loyal supporters' because like I said in the previous post many of them were booing a couple of minutes later.

Mind you if any of them were older than 15 I didn't see them.

[Bellend Sebastian]

Next time I see some soldiers who have just come back from Afghanistan I'm going to boo them. It's bound to help them achieve a swift and decisive victory. They're supposed to be the most professional armed services in the world, so they're clearly not trying. Those people who applaud them are simply encouraging failure. I've paid my taxes - IT'S MY RIGHT

[z-layrex]

Next time I see some soldiers who have just come back from Afghanistan I'm going to boo them. It's bound to help them achieve a swift and decisive victory. They're supposed to be the most professional armed services in the world, so they're clearly not trying. Those people who applaud them are simply encouraging failure. I've paid my taxes - IT'S MY RIGHT

I wouldnt really compare those lads dying out there to a stupid game of football, even jokingly.

[Dr The Singh]

Next time I see some soldiers who have just come back from Afghanistan I'm going to boo them. It's bound to help them achieve a swift and decisive victory. They're supposed to be the most professional armed services in the world, so they're clearly not trying. Those people who applaud them are simply encouraging failure. I've paid my taxes - IT'S MY RIGHT

SO your saying the armed forces performances are well below par???

[Maybes]

Generally my thoughts on the matter too, except the part about Stoke. Their fans are not loyal, they are cunts.

Agreed. All the usual suspects will come on and argue they've paid 20 quid so can act like a willy puller if they want to, but surely even they can see it's counterproductive. We're in amongst it because a team that on paper should be down the other end was playing as a unit and with great confidence. We need that confidence back. What the fvck good is booing going to do?!

If I was a player, I'd wonder why I bothered playing my socks off for a season and a half if cretins with a brain the size of a eunuch's bollocks are going to boo at the first slip-up. There were cvnts at Forest who didn't make a sound all game apart from to boo the team off at half-time, it was the first time in quite a long while that I'd felt ashamed to be a Leicester fan.

Pretty much nailed it boys.

[foxaholic]

Agreed. We are entitiled to expressing our opinions.

I agree provided the people who boo cheer ettc when play well not sit like muppets

[Bellend Sebastian]

SO your saying the armed forces performances are well below par???

I'm saying nothing about our armed forces whatsoever.

I'm just using an extreme example to underline what I think is the absurdity of what's being debated.

Our armed forces are of course doing a great job in circumstances beyond our comprehension. I don't think I really need to point that out, but I have done anyway

[DANGEROUS TIGER]

I might be highly critical of Leicester at the moment, and rightly so, but I would never boo them. It is purile, and pointless.

[Corky]

Booing- don't agree with it, I don't say anything if I feel we have a bad performance. However, I can see, sort of, why people do boo.

Unfortunately, some people take it too far. For instance, booing after a couple of misplaced passes, or complaining when something different was tried but didn't come off, yet also moaning when things are predictable.

[Ultra]

I wouldnt really compare those lads dying out there to a stupid game of football, even jokingly.

This x 10.

The squaddies on the front line have slightly more to worry about than the boos of a few onlookers...

[Dr The Singh]

I'm saying nothing about our armed forces whatsoever.

I'm just using an extreme example to underline what I think is the absurdity of what's being debated.

Our armed forces are of course doing a great job in circumstances beyond our comprehension. I don't think I really need to point that out, but I have done anyway

There's nothing absurd, people are entitled to voice there disapointment, some booo, some are more vocal!! Although, I don't boo or don't think it's particularly helpful or neccessary, I have no entiltlement to say whether someone else should or will!! I just don't buy this 'hurt' or 'putting extra pressure' on players crap, they get the kudos when they win and when they perform well below par they can expect fans to let thm know!!

[colbo68]

After hearing a few boos tonight, I just wondered what people reckon as to when it is acceptable to boo your own team and when it is not...

My view:

In almost all circumstances, it is inappropriate and completely counter-productive. I mean, whatever you do in life, be it paid work, caring for children, studying, whatever...would it really encourage you to perform better if you heard the people you were working for booing you?! Would it make you feel motivated to do your best for them? Would it make you feel a stronger connection to them? If you'd been making mistakes and under-performing for whatever reason, would open hostility make you feel more self-confident about overcoming your failings?!?!

GENERALLY, IT'S A NO-BRAINER (SORRY TO SHOUT): YOU DON'T BOO YOUR OWN TEAM, YOU ENCOURAGE THEM. I DON'T PARTICULARLY LIKE STOKE, BUT I'M SURE THEIR LOYAL SUPPORT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THEM STAYING IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE.

Exceptions to the general rule:

- Managers are fair game if they consistently mismanage their players or play a deeply unpleasant type of football.

- Likewise, Directors if they fail to invest appropriately

- Players who clearly don't care, as opposed to being hesitant/lacking confidence - big difference that is usually clear-cut; if in doubt, don't boo!

- Players who commit a serious abomination (abusing fans, abusing teammates, racism etc.)

SORRY, I'M GOING TO SHOUT AGAIN, BUT I FEEL LIKE SHOUTING!:

PLAYERS AND TEAMS THAT ARE HAVING A BAD GAME, BECAUSE THEY'VE LOST CONFIDENCE OR BECAUSE THE OPPOSITION IS BETTER OR BECAUSE THAT'S LIFE, WILL GENERALLY PERFORM BETTER WITH VOCAL SUPPORT, NOT BOOING. INDEED, I BET SUPPORT IN DIFFICULT TIMES WILL MEAN A LOT MORE TO THEM THAN SUPPORT WHEN THINGS ARE GOING WELL.

If you were booing tonight, please don't do it again; if your mates were doing it, please ask them to stop.

For me, people's views about 'booing' are misplaced. What a 'boo' really says is that people, as a group, or a crowd, are unhappy about something...in this case rank performance on the football pitch. How else can so many people, in a crowd, vent their displeasure other than to shout and ultimately 'boo' to tell the players and the manager that they are unhappy at what they have just seen. In football, of course, the strength of feeling is massively heightened because we are all aware of the crazy salaries that, lets face it, some very average players are paid these days, and the commensurate increases in gate prices that we all pay to cover these.

Therefore, I guess that the 'boo' is a socially acceptable reaction to something that people feel is unacceptable and not value for money. For me, the key is to do this at the END of a game, rather than during it, because to do so whilst the game is progressing will probably make an already poor performance even worse.

[davieG]

For me, people's views about 'booing' are misplaced. What a 'boo' really says is that people, as a group, or a crowd, are unhappy about something...in this case rank performance on the football pitch. How else can so many people, in a crowd, vent their displeasure other than to shout and ultimately 'boo' to tell the players and the manager that they are unhappy at what they have just seen. In football, of course, the strength of feeling is massively heightened because we are all aware of the crazy salaries that, lets face it, some very average players are paid these days, and the commensurate increases in gate prices that we all pay to cover these.

Therefore, I guess that the 'boo' is a socially acceptable reaction to something that people feel is unacceptable and not value for money. For me, the key is to do this at the END of a game, rather than during it, because to do so whilst the game is progressing will probably make an already poor performance even worse.

By the same token booing at the end of a game will surely further undermine an already demoralised team in adavance of the next game.

It's easy to sit back and say, not necessarily you but others oh well they're professional footballers on high wages if they can't take a bit of booing then tough shit forgetting they are humans with human weaknesses and frailties. The bottom line is it's totally counter-productive and provides nothing but self gratification for those booing.

But it's a free choice and people will continue to do it and like the booing itself it's pretty pointless in keep raising it as an issue - it's not going away any time soon.

[Guest Mee-9]

Booing - Don't agree with it. Must destroy the teams confidence, It's like throwing tomatoes at an actor.

I can see why people boo, They have paid their hard earned money, in these tough economic times to come and see their team. And to lose 1-3 to Bristol must have evoked some anger in us.

It seemed last night that the vast majority of fans that were not season ticket holders, just came to slate the players. Some muppet behind us, was shouting even before kick off things like, "Sort it out" and "We'll never do any good in this league, why the fook are we here?" These are people that were NOT at the good parts of the season,. they were not at the QPR game/Swansea/Barnsley/Middlesboro. These armchair fans come out to show off how much 'Knowledge' they have about football. There tits.

Booing is not good.

[Daggers]

You have the right to boo.

You have the right to vote.

You have the right to nail your cock to a table and stuff tangerines up your arse.

Exercising certain "rights" is a normal part of living in a society - exercising others just colours you an utter twat.