| Persistant negativity and derision 10:00 - Feb 4 with 4655 views | tonybied |
I understand this season has not gone as well as some were expecting, I was hopeful that we would be making a slightly better fist of it than we have but I didn't have unrealistic expectations. I would have been ecstatic with scraping 17th and I still will.
I also understand that the mood has significantly changed since the Brighton game as we have hit a poor run of form and the outlook has changed from being out of the relegation zone to being plonked right back in the mire.
What I don't understand, though, is how long the negativity is starting to linger and how much attention is being given to individual players or the management team. Some of the stick certain players are still getting is horrendous and similar noises are starting to bubble-under for management too. This kind of negativity helps no one, why do people let this level of hatred/disdain take over their thoughts? If you received this kind of treatment in your workplace do you think it would make you better at your job? It's hardly like the players are failing due to lack of effort either.
Presumably, this train of thought does no good to the mental health of the person speaking this way either? Spotlighting a player/manager/coach and picking on every failing only seems to mean that every single decision is second-guessed as to whether a better decision could have been achieved, each small mistake made is then accentuated, causing more disappointment/anger to the commentator, it's a vicious circle.
We know that this place has voyeurs from the club or family of people involved so there is feedback that seemingly makes its way to club staff. It causes division here and as stated above most likely does no good for the person giving it out.
So taking all of the above into consideration, why do people feel the need to do it? It's an honest question and I don't want to create more division. I just want to understand what people think it will achieve. Is it just a release of a vent, in a place where you are anonymous or are you commentating the same way IRL too?
BTW, I can get sucked into negativity during a match and perhaps that can bubble over into the next 24hrs if it was a particularly bad result or poor round of results. Emotions run high in the moment and I think that is forgivable. I still don't feel the need to abuse though and don't see any reason for that on here unless a total wrong 'un is being discussed. |  | | |  |
| Persistant negativity and derision on 10:14 - Feb 4 with 3487 views | The_Flashing_Smile |
This is an excellent post, Tony, but I feel it will mostly fall on deaf ears because the people who need to take heed of it simply won't. Some just need a way to lash out/vent/someone to blame when life isn't perfect (you can include politics and most of life in this, not just football). You're right, it doesn't achieve anything, and it mostly harms the person themselves rather than their target, if anything. |  |
| Trust the process. Trust Phil. |
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| Persistant negativity and derision on 10:18 - Feb 4 with 3467 views | Steve_M |
There's a weird mix of enormously over the top negativity and enormously over the top positivity on this board at the moment. I'm not suggesting this post is an example of it, as I broadly agree.
Context is important, we've risen a long way quickly and this season was always going to be a struggle to stay up. That's fine, it would still put us better off next season in the Championship than not getting promoted. It doesn't make any sense to keep referencing that back against being in the third division though, we'll still have failed on our own terms for this season. |  |
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| Personally, I think that…. on 10:23 - Feb 4 with 3449 views | Bloots |
….the main overreaction I see, is to the fans that are discussing areas where we could and probably should improve.
Apart from the over the top stick being given to the Kosovon cat, I haven’t really seen anything bad.
It’s perfectly justifiable to talk about our deficiencies, that’s part of football. It’s not negativity as such, it’s just a relevant talking point.
We’ve had an amazing couple of years, nothing can detract from that, but the ability to discuss our current position, management and team in isolation shouldn’t be frowned upon. |  |
| "He's been a really positive influence on my life, I think he's a great man" - TWTD User (May 2025) |
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| Persistant negativity and derision on 10:23 - Feb 4 with 3429 views | billlm |
Good post fella,
I can get a bit wtf,
And the next day isn't pleasurable for me and others,
Then coyb back on it we can do this,
So today I'm up for the challenge gauntlet down wolves and Leicester, |  | | |
| Persistant negativity and derision on 10:29 - Feb 4 with 3392 views | tonybied |
| Persistant negativity and derision on 10:18 - Feb 4 by Steve_M |
There's a weird mix of enormously over the top negativity and enormously over the top positivity on this board at the moment. I'm not suggesting this post is an example of it, as I broadly agree.
Context is important, we've risen a long way quickly and this season was always going to be a struggle to stay up. That's fine, it would still put us better off next season in the Championship than not getting promoted. It doesn't make any sense to keep referencing that back against being in the third division though, we'll still have failed on our own terms for this season. |
Indeed, I understand criticism of the club can be valid but to dwell on that and point fingers is different, doesn't seem to serve anyone and is unwarranted in my eyes at least.
It wasn't meant to be a post to state we should all live in a world of rainbows and pink elephants.
We are all different, and cope with adversity differently. I suspect this is the answer most people will fall on. I just struggle to understand how this place seems to have turned so much so quickly and what people think the end goal of some of their posts will be. | | | |
| Persistant negativity and derision on 10:40 - Feb 4 with 3310 views | SuffolkPunchFC |
Both the OP and the first reply are well made, and everyone should read these and take a look at themselves.
The only thing I'm not convinced by though is the comment that it only hurts the person handing out the negativity. The comments will sometimes get back to the players - KmK has alluded to this, and therefore the comments may have a negative impact on individual and team performance.
Some of these extreme comments may in fact contribute to edgy, poor performance on the pitch. At that point the supporters being overly critical of, and sometimes personal about, players and the team are contributing to on-field woes.
Reasonably, objective, non-personal criticism is fine. Constructive criticism can have a positive impact. Criticism should not be about you, or making you feel better, but an attempt for improvement in what you are criticising. So maybe take a minute before posting some of ultra critical, at time vitriolic, comments - ask yourself, "if that was directed at me, how would I feel?" |  | | |
| Persistant negativity and derision on 10:40 - Feb 4 with 3306 views | baxterbasics |
Recent results have been disappointing but I think some of us underestimated just how big an ask of the team it is to pick up points in the circumstances. We had slim hope of picking up experienced PL players that would bring the quality needed without breaking the bank, and loading up on Championship stars (Szmods, Clarke, Philogene, Greaves, O'Shea) was always going to be an uncertainty. So to me even the "but we've spent £120 million and the team has gone backwards" criticism isn't really fair. It's not comparing apples with apples. Those that think it should have been enough seem to be the ones throwing mud. It's all compounded by the fact that we *did* appear to be making a good fist of it in the 1st half of the season, but other teams around us seem to have found another gear.
I see no fairness or utility in singling anyone out, manager or players. |  |
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| Persistant negativity and derision on 10:46 - Feb 4 with 3245 views | solemio |
It's only football; it's not anything important; it's only a game. | | | |
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| Persistant negativity and derision on 10:53 - Feb 4 with 3215 views | tonybied |
| Persistant negativity and derision on 10:46 - Feb 4 by solemio |
It's only football; it's not anything important; it's only a game. |
That comment can land for either side of this discussion. | | | |
| Persistant negativity and derision on 19:16 - Feb 4 with 2899 views | Vic |
Here here!
FWIW, I went into the Brighton game saying that if we win this I think we’ll stay up. That was based on the improved results and form. But we lost - badly, and my heart sank and nothing has happened since to pick it up. Our performance seem to have really dropped off; as others have said the energy and confidence seem to have drained away and I can’t see where they can get either back.
But there’s absolutely no point moaning is there! We all kind of knew it might be like this, even if we hoped upon hope that it might be different.
These are our players, we are thier supporters. It’s clear they are struggling and need every bit of encouragement we can give them. Anything less will only make it worse. |  |
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| Persistant negativity and derision on 19:21 - Feb 4 with 2882 views | Swansea_Blue |
I don’t recognise much of that. There are a few nutters who crop up on match day, but from the regulars there’s very little negativity and finger pointing (although Muric has obviously been getting some stick). |  |
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| Persistant negativity and derision on 23:28 - Feb 4 with 2637 views | Whos_blue |
| Persistant negativity and derision on 19:21 - Feb 4 by Swansea_Blue |
I don’t recognise much of that. There are a few nutters who crop up on match day, but from the regulars there’s very little negativity and finger pointing (although Muric has obviously been getting some stick). |
The problem is though Swanners that those match day nutters are getting a taste of the place and are lingering for much longer.
There are a couple of doozies who are posting some serious bobbins far too regularly now. |  |
| Distortion becomes somehow pure in its wildness. |
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| Persistant negativity and derision on 01:09 - Feb 5 with 2560 views | Olcol |
| Persistant negativity and derision on 10:46 - Feb 4 by solemio |
It's only football; it's not anything important; it's only a game. |
It's football, the only game,
. | | | |
| Persistant negativity and derision on 02:46 - Feb 5 with 2532 views | PioneerBlue |
| Persistant negativity and derision on 01:09 - Feb 5 by Olcol |
It's football, the only game,
. |
It’s not helped by the way social media works and how it’s adopted. How many separate threads do we need on any one specific topic. Each thread starts practically as the same thing ie the relevant matter but people are self important and rather than read through threads and add to a conversation they will start their own thread, the conversational pieces it’s really practiced in the shouting matches played out in X and message boards.
In reality there are only a few topics at hand here but hundreds of separate threads, broadly speaking
Going into the window, a player signing, a player linked
Specific game, pre and post
The season so far, defence, attack, midfield, coaching
Light versus dark season prognosis
There should be about 10 active threads! This would be an improvement for TWTD further sub categories of topics! Then allow people rather than uppy downy, to cast light or shade, then you can choose to filter out the shade in your life if need be!
Folks are also drawn to the social media doom cycle of constantly wallowing and contributing to the same gloom. PS happy clapper supporter of team and players. | |
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| Persistant negativity and derision on 08:16 - Feb 5 with 2379 views | SaleAway |
One of the biggest problems is how little football we're playing.... compared to previous seasons of the EFL grind, plus cup games, when it felt like whenever there was a setback, we had another game to distract us 3 days later. Now we're mulling over the same issues for weeks sometimes.... | |
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| Persistant negativity and derision on 09:12 - Feb 5 with 2288 views | tonybied |
| Persistant negativity and derision on 08:16 - Feb 5 by SaleAway |
One of the biggest problems is how little football we're playing.... compared to previous seasons of the EFL grind, plus cup games, when it felt like whenever there was a setback, we had another game to distract us 3 days later. Now we're mulling over the same issues for weeks sometimes.... |
That's a good point there is definitely a lot more time to wallow in our misery, this probably doesn't help when things aren't going too well. This still doesn't explain the change in mood more recently though, this has been the way all season and we haven't really spent any significant time out of the relegation zone in all that time. | | | |
| Persistant negativity and derision on 11:11 - Feb 5 with 2169 views | SaleAway |
| Persistant negativity and derision on 09:12 - Feb 5 by tonybied |
That's a good point there is definitely a lot more time to wallow in our misery, this probably doesn't help when things aren't going too well. This still doesn't explain the change in mood more recently though, this has been the way all season and we haven't really spent any significant time out of the relegation zone in all that time. |
Well... I'd say that for August/September, we were sustained by new promotion optimism, and the feeling that after a tough start, things would improve.... october , people were pretty miserable after west ham, everton, and brentford.... then November/December saw improved performances, and obviously a couple of wins and it gave a confirmation that we were on the upward trajectory..... January has just been disappointing.... obviously we had tough games, but then the Southampton game should have been an opportunity to get back on track, but instead felt like the straw that broke the camels back for some.... | |
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| Persistant negativity and derision on 12:20 - Feb 5 with 2073 views | ITFCSG |
I would say the mood both in the ground and online only took a turn for the worse after the Saints defeat when most people would expect the team to emerge victorious after two free hits v Man City and Liverpool. A Saints team which we beat twice last season, conceded 57 to date and only won one game all season and we lost. Even the manner of defeat was appalling - if we lost a la the 3-4 defeat to Leeds at home last season I don’t think many would complain but the lack of attacking play at home and apparent lack of fight from the players on the pitch made matters worse.
To compound it we failed to sign a striker and strengthen the midfield in the transfer window.
And Wolves won.
Of course the negativity and mood has plummeted to new depths  | | | |
| Persistant negativity and derision on 12:32 - Feb 5 with 2037 views | dirtyboy |
| Persistant negativity and derision on 12:20 - Feb 5 by ITFCSG |
I would say the mood both in the ground and online only took a turn for the worse after the Saints defeat when most people would expect the team to emerge victorious after two free hits v Man City and Liverpool. A Saints team which we beat twice last season, conceded 57 to date and only won one game all season and we lost. Even the manner of defeat was appalling - if we lost a la the 3-4 defeat to Leeds at home last season I don’t think many would complain but the lack of attacking play at home and apparent lack of fight from the players on the pitch made matters worse.
To compound it we failed to sign a striker and strengthen the midfield in the transfer window.
And Wolves won.
Of course the negativity and mood has plummeted to new depths |
We did need them to have 10 men to beat them in one of those games and in all honesty, they absolutely dominated us and you could argue we were lucky....this is just a reversal..
Looking for a positive, they had 65% of the ball at our place last time, that was at least removed showing we have improved more than them.
Funny old game football
Maidenhead
Lincoln
Games like that stick in the mind as reminders that it never goes how you expect. |  | | |
| Persistant negativity and derision on 12:58 - Feb 5 with 1987 views | Ryorry |
| Persistant negativity and derision on 10:40 - Feb 4 by SuffolkPunchFC |
Both the OP and the first reply are well made, and everyone should read these and take a look at themselves.
The only thing I'm not convinced by though is the comment that it only hurts the person handing out the negativity. The comments will sometimes get back to the players - KmK has alluded to this, and therefore the comments may have a negative impact on individual and team performance.
Some of these extreme comments may in fact contribute to edgy, poor performance on the pitch. At that point the supporters being overly critical of, and sometimes personal about, players and the team are contributing to on-field woes.
Reasonably, objective, non-personal criticism is fine. Constructive criticism can have a positive impact. Criticism should not be about you, or making you feel better, but an attempt for improvement in what you are criticising. So maybe take a minute before posting some of ultra critical, at time vitriolic, comments - ask yourself, "if that was directed at me, how would I feel?" |
‘Treat others as you would wish to be treated yourself’ has always been a good maxim :) |  |
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| Persistant negativity and derision on 13:11 - Feb 5 with 1937 views | LankHenners |
| Persistant negativity and derision on 10:18 - Feb 4 by Steve_M |
There's a weird mix of enormously over the top negativity and enormously over the top positivity on this board at the moment. I'm not suggesting this post is an example of it, as I broadly agree.
Context is important, we've risen a long way quickly and this season was always going to be a struggle to stay up. That's fine, it would still put us better off next season in the Championship than not getting promoted. It doesn't make any sense to keep referencing that back against being in the third division though, we'll still have failed on our own terms for this season. |
Yes, some of the ultra-positivity has been quite grating and a bit patronising to be honest.
If you strip it right down to basics, you can accept the context of our situation but even so it's not been much fun as a fan to watch your team lose almost every week whilst not seeing them score many goals. A season ticket holder has seen 1 win in 13 games, 9 goals scored, with only 2 matches where we've score more than once. Don't see any reason why 'but we were playing Forest Green two years ago' is a valid pacifier to be honest.
Of course, seeing as it's been so long we should try and enjoy the good moments when they come as it's a bit pointless looking for negatives all the time imo. |  |
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| Persistant negativity and derision on 13:33 - Feb 5 with 1882 views | SuffolkPunchFC |
| Persistant negativity and derision on 13:11 - Feb 5 by LankHenners |
Yes, some of the ultra-positivity has been quite grating and a bit patronising to be honest.
If you strip it right down to basics, you can accept the context of our situation but even so it's not been much fun as a fan to watch your team lose almost every week whilst not seeing them score many goals. A season ticket holder has seen 1 win in 13 games, 9 goals scored, with only 2 matches where we've score more than once. Don't see any reason why 'but we were playing Forest Green two years ago' is a valid pacifier to be honest.
Of course, seeing as it's been so long we should try and enjoy the good moments when they come as it's a bit pointless looking for negatives all the time imo. |
Surely it comes down to fans' expectations at the start of the season? Many on here claimed that they expected we'd struggle, but hoped we'd avoid relegation. Would this be true, then the expectation should also have been to win rarely, and goals wouldn't flow in our favour.
We've had huge disappointments - the Southampton loss, reversals late in games, the odd very poor performance, etc. We've also had unexpected positives - matched the best at times (Liverpool on the opening day, victories over Chelsea & Spurs, and more.
We still have the chance of unexpected positives between now and the end of the season - and of course disappointments.
Have some people maybe forgotten what they realistically expected before the season opened, because we have (at times) done better than expected? And then a poor loss happens, and their hopes are dashed - but only because they had reset there expectations to a higher level than at the start of the season. | | | |
| Persistant negativity and derision on 13:39 - Feb 5 with 1845 views | Swansea_Blue |
| Persistant negativity and derision on 23:28 - Feb 4 by Whos_blue |
The problem is though Swanners that those match day nutters are getting a taste of the place and are lingering for much longer.
There are a couple of doozies who are posting some serious bobbins far too regularly now. |
Ah right. I’ve not been on as much as usual lately, so may not be aware of a lot of it. Not being on Twitter/Facebook etc also helps.
I compare to the mood over here (toxic at the swans would be putting it mildly) and we don’t seem to be too bad on here at least. | |
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| Persistant negativity and derision on 13:54 - Feb 5 with 1801 views | LankHenners |
| Persistant negativity and derision on 13:33 - Feb 5 by SuffolkPunchFC |
Surely it comes down to fans' expectations at the start of the season? Many on here claimed that they expected we'd struggle, but hoped we'd avoid relegation. Would this be true, then the expectation should also have been to win rarely, and goals wouldn't flow in our favour.
We've had huge disappointments - the Southampton loss, reversals late in games, the odd very poor performance, etc. We've also had unexpected positives - matched the best at times (Liverpool on the opening day, victories over Chelsea & Spurs, and more.
We still have the chance of unexpected positives between now and the end of the season - and of course disappointments.
Have some people maybe forgotten what they realistically expected before the season opened, because we have (at times) done better than expected? And then a poor loss happens, and their hopes are dashed - but only because they had reset there expectations to a higher level than at the start of the season. |
"If you strip it right down to basics, you can accept the context of our situation but even so it's not been much fun as a fan to watch your team lose almost every week whilst not seeing them score many goals." | |
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| Persistant negativity and derision on 14:03 - Feb 5 with 1771 views | SuffolkPunchFC |
| Persistant negativity and derision on 13:54 - Feb 5 by LankHenners |
"If you strip it right down to basics, you can accept the context of our situation but even so it's not been much fun as a fan to watch your team lose almost every week whilst not seeing them score many goals." |
As you say, it's about context - and in this context, it counters "Don't see any reason why 'but we were playing Forest Green two years ago' is a valid pacifier to be honest.".
Development wise we are years behind every other club in the PL, because we were in Div 1 playing the likes of Forest Green only 2 years ago | | | |
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