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Xhaka not happy with the early leavers


Its a real shame the connection and momentum we had built up in the first half of the season has disappeared.

Up until the Liverpool defeat no team in the league fancied coming to the SOL but we are in real danger of it completely turning on its head and becoming a soft touch in what was a fortress.

Negative football creating next to nothing, lack of squad depth after injuries, having a young inexperienced team are all combining to create the perfect storm and dip in form.

Thousands of supporters streaming out for a mass exodus is just the cherry on the top to add to the difficulties.

We have gone from top of the world to the stadium being half empty when the going gets tough I'm very downbeat about it.
 
It’s just who we are as a club now tbh. We always have class support when it’s going well and pretty mediocre to part time when it’s not going well. Ever been thus.
 
RedandWhiteRebel said:
Its a real shame the connection and momentum we had built up in the first half of the season has disappeared.

Up until the Liverpool defeat no team in the league fancied coming to the SOL but we are in real danger of it completely turning on its head and becoming a soft touch in what was a fortress.

Negative football creating next to nothing, lack of squad depth after injuries, having a young inexperienced team are all combining to create the perfect storm and dip in form.

Thousands of supporters streaming out for a mass exodus is just the cherry on the top to add to the difficulties.

We have gone from top of the world to the stadium being half empty when the going gets tough I'm very downbeat about it.
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Same.
 
It's been said a million times but we really don't have any excuses. Leeds city centre is gridlocked for 2 hours after a game and their ground is full until full time. It's over a 30 minute walk back to the city centre also, whereas we've got about 5 minutes. People will still defend it saying people can do as they please.
 
DonaldDownTheWing said:
Seems you can’t read then.


Ironic
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It has occurred to me reading your views on this subject they appear a bit enigmatic.

We have gone from corralling fans to get them their early to support flag displays with the intent of building atmosphere, to then at the other end of scale supporting fans who walk off early and leave the stadium devoid of atmosphere.

One thing for sure is you have always cared about atmosphere and support of the team, its a bit confusing
 
DonaldDownTheWing said:
I’m not happy with us losing 3 home games on the spin or scoring 1 goal in 8 games from open play.

They get backed to the hilt when they’re doing their job, he needs to have a word with his millionaire teammates before having a pop at the fans.
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So they don’t get backed to the hilt when they’re playing shit? So fickle then?
 
Chewit said:
It has occurred to me reading your views on this subject they appear a bit enigmatic.

We have gone from corralling fans to get them their early to support flag displays with the intent of building atmosphere, to then at the other end of scale supporting fans who walk off early and leave the stadium devoid of atmosphere.

One thing for sure is you have always cared about atmosphere and support of the team, its a bit confusing
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I stay til the end every week, start & join in with chants etc. I’m not supporting fans who leave.

They’re the same fans who didn’t bother coming in league 1 or the championship. They’re only bothered about us when we’re doing well. I’d love us to have 47k who would turn up and support the team regardless, but in reality we only have at 30k of them.

I don’t agree with it, but it doesn’t surprise me. Players having a pop at fans never sits well with me. The players were far more culpable on Saturday than the fans were. One of them decided to have a lie down in the 6 yard box whilst Brighton scored ffs.
Doeboy said:
Think I’m just a hardcore mate and my support doesn’t have performing well as a prerequisite. I do understand that for the part timer fans though if it’s not going well it’s hard to be supportive.
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I am in the same boat. As I’ve said in my reply to Chewit, only around 2/3rds of the stadium are like that though, so it shouldn’t be a surprise to anyway.
Safc98 said:
So they don’t get backed to the hilt when they’re playing shit? So fickle then?
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They do if they’re still giving it their all. Lying down in the box whilst the opposition score isn’t giving it your all.
 
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DonaldDownTheWing said:
I stay til the end every week, start & join in with chants etc. I’m not supporting fans who leave.

They’re the same fans who didn’t bother coming in league 1 or the championship. They’re only bothered about us when we’re doing well. I’d love us to have 47k who would turn up and support the team regardless, but in reality we only have at 30k of them.

I don’t agree with it, but it doesn’t surprise me. Players having a pop at fans never sits well with me. The players were far more culpable on Saturday than the fans were. One of them decided to have a lie down in the 6 yard box whilst Brighton scored ffs.


I am in the same boat. As I’ve said in my reply to Chewit, only around 2/3rds of the stadium are like that though, so it shouldn’t be a surprise to anyway.


They do if they’re still giving it their all. Lying down in the box whilst the opposition score isn’t giving it your all.
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Interesting perspective. I don't disagree, but in essence we are saying give the fair weather fans a free pass.

I’ve put a lot of faith in Xhaka and have had it back in bucketfuls this season from him. If he’s saying the team need us at this time i believe him and will support him, he’s earned it.

The fans are not performing seals, but we are important to this team this league at this time. The true depth of our support is not numbers but if we back them when they are not very good. ( back to your 30k)

We can’t let our anger at one players attitude be an excuse for not supporting the team as a whole, he’s a 22 year old from another continent where he's probably fettered like David Beckham. He doesn’t get it and shouldn’t be in the team till he does… but guess what we don’t have the squad.

We are where we are because both the players and the fans gave more earlier in the season than other teams. They feed off each other… but you know that.

Xhaka and Regis warned we would hit a sticky patch, it was inevitable. Are we fickle fans or are we all weather fans.? You will be right there probably are 30k of the latter. But that does not mean we should not call out the latter for letting the side down. (Ditto goes for any player not pulling his weight)
 
There seemed to be a lot of people pissed off they turned the TVs off in the concourse like so clearly many of the early leavers thought they could watch it there

Maybe this will make them stay seated ne t game
 
Chewit said:
Interesting perspective. I don't disagree, but in essence we are saying give the fair weather fans a free pass.

I’ve put a lot of faith in Xhaka and have had it back in bucketfuls this season from him. If he’s saying the team need us at this time i believe him and will support him, he’s earned it.

The fans are not performing seals, but we are important to this team this league at this time. The true depth of our support is not numbers but if we back them when they are not very good. ( back to your 30k)

We can’t let our anger at one players attitude be an excuse for not supporting the team as a whole, he’s a 22 year old from another continent where he's probably fettered like David Beckham. He doesn’t get it and shouldn’t be in the team till he does… but guess what we don’t have the squad.

We are where we are because both the players and the fans gave more earlier in the season than other teams. They feed off each other… but you know that.

Xhaka and Regis warned we would hit a sticky patch, it was inevitable. Are we fickle fans or are we all weather fans.? You will be right there probably are 30k of the latter. But that does not mean we should not call out the latter for letting the side down. (Ditto goes for any player not pulling his weight)
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I agree.

The player-fan relationship is a two way street. There have been occasions, especially away from home, where the fans have dragged the players through. This is likely because away ends are full of diehards.

There have been times where the ground was quiet and the players started a press or put in a crunching tackle, and that kicked the fans into life. The 2 feed off each other.

We’ve lost the last 3 at home, scoring only once, and the performances have been pretty poor. The players have to accept that they have to give the fans something to get behind, and then it’s on the fans to react.

Calling it out is all well and good, but I’m not sure it’ll have any effect. They’ve been getting called out for years and it still happens.

A potential solution - keep the big exit gates closed until the final whistle, exiting is possible but only by scanning your ticket on a turnstile. That way the club can monitor who leaves and if it’s clear they’re doing it every week, they can contact them?
 
SonnyK said:
There seemed to be a lot of people pissed off they turned the TVs off in the concourse like so clearly many of the early leavers thought they could watch it there

Maybe this will make them stay seated ne t game
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Aye one of the dudes who sits near us left early with his sons, soon as he realised the TVs werent on they tried watch it over the barrier at the tunnel entrance but the stewards weren't having it as they were blocking the view of those still sitting so they went off in a huff.

I agree maybe a good idea is leaving the gates closed until the 90th minute. In theory even if you are on a top tier seat it only takes 10 for the steps to clear. Is being delayed 10 minutes really worth that much to some?
 
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