Re: Despite 14 in, and 15 out...
The transfer window has closed now, Gleeson and Grounds and the others are part of the BCFC squad that we all want to achieve promotion this season. They all have a role to play as part of the squad. Like all of us humans, if those around us and on the same side build us up we are more likely to do well than if those around us and on the same side pointlessly tear us down and focus on our weaknesses, point the finger and laugh at us.
It doesn't matter whether you're a bit spiritual and believe that what people think about you can have an effect on your performance, or maybe you don't believe in that kind of thing at all but might instead believe that occasionally players (or their wives and friends) google their names and see what's being said about them. It's likely that the opinions of die-hard Blues fans are more important to them than the opinions of Joe Bloggs or vile fans. We are their paying customers.
My point is that as fans we are part of the team in a sense and our opinions may matter. I'm sure that most of us want the team to do as well as possible and ideally gain promotion. It's one thing to offer constructive criticism when someone is letting the side down by not putting in the effort in, but it's something else when these players may be the least skillful of the group but when it really mattered these players busted a gut for the team and achieved a position that many considered an over-achievement - yet people are just ripping into them as if they have never even tried.
When others believe in you, that is the best possible thing that can happen which can help you to believe in yourself. If most of us are convinced that these players are not good enough and will definitely fail, if we keep voicing that opinion, maybe that's what will happen. Is that what we want? There's every possibility that these players will improve thanks to the improvement of the squad as a whole with new, fresh, hungry, skillful additions being added and the owners putting their money where their mouth is to hopefully get us promoted.
I thought it was the vile fans who have such high expectations that they tear down their own players for the slightest error and consequently make things worse for themselves? Is there anything positive about a forum thread of this nature? If so, what? These players have struggled recently. I'm sure they realise that. We have a choice now the window is closed - encourage them or boo them. Either way, they're probably going to continue to be a part of our squad which we all want to gain promotion as soon as possible.
Sorry for the rant but the window is closed now, these players are part of the squad, they have done us proud in the past when the chips were down and most of this thread stinks of vile :X