An interesting post. Find myself a little conflicted with it I must admit.
Firstly, I’ve not posted much myself this season. Largely because much of what Clive says resonates with me. Personally do think there has been too much negativity in some quarters and feel some supports have been overly entitled. Not just on social media, at the ground it’s felt a little too gloomy at times and the Co-op has not been rocking as much as it was pre lockdown.
Feel a need to stress I am big believer in the model and think most supporters are. Personally find it frustrating when some fans question it. To me it is clearly best model for us to have long term and sustainable success. The intent is the right one. If I am bring incredibly cynical I think part of the frustration at the moment is that actually the model just wasn’t implemented all that well this summer in terms of signings.
But… Most are clearly still well behind the club. 8,328 in attendance on Boxing Day despite some no doubt having to be with family and COVID uncertainty. I think 100% supporters are right behind you Clive as chairman, 99% behind the model and 95% still well behind the team with just a fickle minority. What I do think everyone needs at the minute though is something to latch on to. The one thing I think we do really miss since Danny and Nicky is the ‘rallying call’, they were experts at creating a bond with the fans and getting the supporters behind the players. Should it be needed? No, not really. But sometimes people just need that call to arms, to be needed or told they are helping. I look at current situation with COVID. People fed up of government telling them what they can’t do and of the uncertainty. But go to a vaccine centre and the atmosphere is superb where people feel they are doing their bit and making a difference, the response to being asked to help has been brilliant. Truly behind Appleton, think he’s a cracking manager and hope he’s in charge for years to come and I get that this isn’t necessarily in his character. But we have a club run by the most astute and intelligent bunch I can remember in my time as a supporter, surely aware we’ve not had this since Danny and Nicky? It doesn’t have to be Appleton, do believe should play people to strengths, but surely someone else within the club could rally the fans? Gee up the 617 before kick off? Etc.? And I guess, could this have been approached a little more that way? Nothing wrong with saying that it is upsetting to hear some fans saying they don’t want to attend at the minute… But perhaps then it needs to be said ‘we need you now more than ever’? Again, shouldn’t need to be said, but might just help rally fans against Oxford Saturday. This said, agree it is a two way street, and maybe it needs to go the other way on this occasion and fans rally and get rocking Saturday to get things going right way. Hopefully this post from Clive and the interviews this week will see fans do that Saturday without need for a more blatant 'propaganda' type rallying call, perhaps I'm not giving us supports enough credit and labelling us a little simple!
To be fair, having now listened to the podcast I do think that was a bit more this way so this may all just be a moot point! The problem with reading stuff online!!