OK, so this is me – 50 years old, living in Poole, Dorset and only getting to three games this season (hey, that’s 50% on last year!). Do I have a right to join in the discussions here, or should I keep quiet and listen to the experts?

This website is great for me, keeping me up to date with the club I wish I lived nearer, and sometimes I even log in to join a debat … my high point was getting no less than 40 up votes for one comment! Boy was that a happy day?!

But one thing I wonder at is this: what on earth is a forum for? The reason for my question is simply that on the comments there are often plus or minus points to show the net vote cast (even though I wish it could show both the total up and total down side by side). This is great – you get to know if people broadly agree or not… just the job!

Even better still when someone answers the points you have made so you know which bit they agree with or violently oppose! It is far better to talk about responses rather than just look for the high numbers – preferably positive ones!

The thing that confuses me the most though, is when fans come on the forum and get a little personal about the views. Saying things like “you cannot be a Town fan if you think that” (don’t look back for the exact quote – it will not be there!).

Surely, a forum is the very place for fans who think differently on things, to talk and get to understand each other. Chances are we are stood shoulder to shoulder cheering the team on each match day (or shouting at the internet radio in my case, much to my family’s annoyance). Surely we can all be supporters in our own way, with our own opinions of what it would be like if we were the owner, and the manager, and the captain

But here is a question – is the forum actually the place to support the team? I don’t think that it is – Isn’t it more the place to get to know about the team and share thoughts about the team so that we can know a little more about the team we DO support?

So, before you call me a Budgie – let me say this: I don’t even eat sweetcorn and peas mixed and struggle to like daffodils when in bloom! So, please disagree with me if you like – I’m sure MM and TC disagree on some things too – but please don’t let me think I cannot have a voice or an opinion nor ask my questions just because I’m apparently not as enlightened as you are in all things Town, nor am I currently able to get to anywhere near as many games as I’d like.

afrodids added 17:53 - Feb 6 spot on Raymond after all life is based on opinion, Fashion,arts,media, who runs the country etc without our own opinions life would be pretty boring!
8

Letchworth_Blue added 18:23 - Feb 6 Well done Ray. Too many people on here think their opinion is the only one that counts! We are all town fans, that's why we bother to take an interest in this site, and get involved with the debates. COYB!
5

JWM added 18:39 - Feb 6 Pah! Call yourself a Town fan <sarcasticsmileyemoticon>
3

IamSpartacus added 16:46 - Feb 7 Agreed, Raymond. I also get annoyed with the self righteous that feel their opinion is the only one of relevance- I only get to around 4-5 games a season (for financial reasons) but read the websites, listen to the games on the radio and also subscribe to club-player to get extended highlights of all games (recommended), so those that feel they have the monopoly on opinions because they are fortunate enough to get to all games are also misguided. We won't all agree on most things, but hopefully we all just want Ipswich to be secure and successful.

5

JCBLUE added 22:00 - Feb 7 You have a voice ..... keep using it!!
2

Ole_Pablo_Ole added 10:25 - Feb 10 I think going to all the games doesn't always mean you have the strongest opinion. Some fans say the same things every game regardless of what is happening. They basically formed their views years ago and repeat them each week, such as "Watford always play unattractive football", "long ball isn't ever exiting", "that player is useless". Of course all of those statements might be true but you need to back them up with something. I don't go to many games so I often only see statistics or quotes and I use them to compliment what I say.

0

RaymondovicBlue added 16:58 - Feb 10 Thanks guys - I needed to get that off my chest. Glad it hasn't seemingly offended anyone ! Don't get me wrong - if I disagree with someone I will say so .... but that doesn't mean they have no right to their opinion... and they might be right! And how come we have scored so many goals this year if we play such dull defensive football?
1

deano85 added 20:21 - Feb 10 hi guys! In the grand scale of things, I only live down the road (Harwich area) they has been a couple of times I have read comments from people slating those who don't go to matches, stating how cheep it is and that there is no excuse... "you are not a real fan if you don't go!" well im a little fed up of it! I very rarely post anything on here and have NEVER used your forum, but can honestly say I have checked this site everyday, several times a day... for years! I think this site is great for news... but im not a proper fan so best not leave a comment... the fact is, do these people have an endless supply of cash? live with there parents? I don't know, maybe... I know there is also people who work bloomin hard and DO have the cash to go regularly! I used to go a lot, in the promotion season of 2000 I went to EVERY game without a season ticket, being only 16 and a student, I got priced out of the premier league games, but got to see a couple the following season... then of cause comes life... full time jobs, which includes weekends, mortgages, wife, cars, having a social life, family life, and to be honest on a weekend off I have jobs around the house to do... and a wife to please ;-D but, 1 thing will be certain, I will be checking this site daily and I will be listening to radio Suffolk by 3:00pm but hey ,im not a proper supporter anymore... sorry for the rant guys, and keep up the good work TWTD team! Dean

1

Michael11 added 10:07 - Feb 11 Well done Ray! I live up in Grimsby so I know how hard it is getting to games. I go to the more local fixtures in Yorkshire and the north but even that's hard enough seeing as I work every Saturday. Not being able to get to games doesn't make you any less of a supporter and you have every right to voice your opinion. As you come on here daily, you probably know as much about the club as the season ticket holders do. This site is brilliant for keeping up to date with anything ITFC. I've seen season ticket holders on here who speak absolute garbage. Just because they can afford a ticket and have the time to go doesn't make them anymore knowledgeable about the game. Keep cheering on the blues wherever you are!

0

Walk_the_Wark added 22:43 - Feb 12 Absoluetly!! I don't rate MM- think he's the least positive manger we've had in ages. And I live up north. But I still spend my hard earned cash following Town. We are bigger and better than McCarthy and will be better when he goes.. COYB
-5

RaymondovicBlue added 11:30 - Feb 13 Wark - I think you put words into my mouth about wanting MM out ... but you are entitled to your opinion also ! :)
0

bohslegend added 11:21 - Mar 5 Overall I agree with the sentiment of your article Raymonovicblue. There thats the positive bit. In principle I agree that everyone is entitled to share their opinons on the good and the bad parts of the club/team. I would consider myself an optimist by nature but that doesn't mean I think 100% of everything is great - I think the manager should be given some cash to allow the team to really compete for promotion and without that it's like pushing treacle up a hill (to use a phrase). But (and here's my issue) there are so many on this website who are 100% negative about everything. That can't be right, can it? If Taylor doesnt play - the manager gets it in the neck, if he does - the manager gets it in the neck. I have a problem with the usual people saying the usual things - it seems to be more about personality than the well-being of Ipswich Town Football Club. I can only set my gauge against the previous couple of seasons, and particularly the position the club was in when MM took over. And then look at where we are now. Is that being naive? Or is that being fair? All I can se is progress. Slow? Yes. But progress nonetheless.

0

Bluetone added 17:20 - Mar 11 As a regular holidaymaker on Brownsea Island as journeys go it is a bloody nightmare. Respect for getting to three games.
0

Blogs 295 bloggers