[Albion] What's happened to Adam Webster.

[Commander]

I never get this argument tbh, you choose to to keep spending the money, if you don’t like what’s being played you don’t have to keep spending it.

You spend money buying tickets to go on the bus or the train, if it runs late or breaks down do you feel entitled to go shout at the driver and call him a ****? Or even worse names? Booing and heckling a player if you decide he’s not good enough?

Obviously people expect it to a point, but sometimes it goes way other the top, especially when specific players get targeted. It’s this “I pay my ticket” mentality that causes that entitlement.

I've often thought it must be absolutely bizarre to grow up being the best player in your friendship group, then your club, then your school, and to be so vastly superior at something to everyone around you that you get picked up and paid incredible, life-changing money to do it for a living, but part of the deal is you have to accept a load of people who are absolutely shit at it tell you how shit you are at it from the sidelines.

Imagine trying to explain that concept to an alien.

 

[rippleman]

Embracing the "fan as customer" mentality which has taken hold among PL clubs.

I remember Barber in his first week in the job refering to us as "customers" as opposed to "fans" or "supporters". I'm not convinced that the "fan as customer" was fan led!

A "customer" is somebody who has a choice. I can be a "customer" of any supermarket. I can, and do, switch between supermarkets on a regular basis. It just doesn't work with a football club. I have been a supporter of BHAFC for decades. There is no option or choice for me and most other fans. Yes, there is a growing number of fans who follow a player rather than a club and can switch their club allegiance at a drop of a hat but they remain a tiny minority thankfully.

 

[pigmanovich]

I remember Barber in his first week in the job refering to us as "customers" as opposed to "fans" or "supporters". I'm not convinced that the "fan as customer" was fan led!

A "customer" is somebody who has a choice. I can be a "customer" of any supermarket. I can, and do, switch between supermarkets on a regular basis. It just doesn't work with a football club. I have been a supporter of BHAFC for decades. There is no option or choice for me and most other fans. Yes, there is a growing number of fans who follow a player rather than a club and can switch their club allegiance at a drop of a hat but they remain a tiny minority thankfully.

I didn't mean it was fan led; I was talking about the clubs' suits.

 

[papachris]

I'm sure for any football player having a dip in form it's very difficult to get it back when people are criticising every little mistake. Must really affect self confidence. How many of us have 30k people watching our every move in our workplace?
Mental toughness and self belief must be essential

 

[Lurker]

Poor guy. He hasn’t been great recently but ffs that is shite.

Well done.
An instant prime example of exactly the type of ‘fan’ that you yourself are purporting to condemn.

Why say “he hasn’t been great recently”?
Not necessary was it.

 

[Guinness Boy]

Well done.
An instant prime example of exactly the type of ‘fan’ that you yourself are purporting to condemn.

Why say “he hasn’t been great recently”?
Not necessary was it.

I think different things are acceptable in different situations, and some are just unacceptable full stop.

NSC exists for Brighton fans as a community and we're absolutely bound to discuss players and their relative abilities and fit into tactics, and to have the odd rant on a match day thread when someone cocks up. Adam, or any other Brighton player doesn't have to read NSC.

When he does something fun for our socials and gets trolled when it's obvious he'll be reading then that is a line crossed. That's never acceptable. It's bullying really.

In the ground I'd personally rather we got behind the team and every player because I like it when we win, and our chances are better if we provide a loud and supportive atmosphere. But people are going to get frustrated if things don't go well in the ground. Some will keep it in or stick to the positivity, Others won't.

So, taking the rationale of my second paragraph, there's nothing really wrong with saying he hasn't been great if you do it on NSC, if you can back that up in a sensible debate. Equally, I'd expect others to challenge that opinion. But I wouldn't silence it.

 

[Mellotron]

I can understand frustration, we've all been there, but this idea that some shout abuse at our players with an aim to improve their performance is utter bollocks.

If you're struggling and you hear "You're shit, get off the pitch, not fit to wear the shirt" etc, I think there's very few who see that as motivating. For most, it would cause their confidence to drop further, possibly even questioning themselves as to whether they're up to it.

Again, I understand the odd comment, the odd moan - the vast majority of us have done it. But it's disingenuous to suggest it's done in any way to support.

 

[NorthstandRacoon]

Well done.
An instant prime example of exactly the type of ‘fan’ that you yourself are purporting to condemn.

Why say “he hasn’t been great recently”?
Not necessary was it.

Jesus, you're a sensitive boy aren't you Tommy?!

 

[NorthstandRacoon]

I never get this argument tbh, you choose to to keep spending the money, if you don’t like what’s being played you don’t have to keep spending it.

You spend money buying tickets to go on the bus or the train, if it runs late or breaks down do you feel entitled to go shout at the driver and call him a ****? Or even worse names? Booing and heckling a player if you decide he’s not good enough?

Obviously people expect it to a point, but sometimes it goes way other the top, especially when specific players get targeted. It’s this “I pay my ticket” mentality that causes that entitlement.

I am not a customer here, but a fan a supporter. It is in my blood. It hurts me personally when we lose or when someone isn’t performing.

 

[OzMike]

He has turned to shit.
Bad fan ?

 

[Justice]

I remember Barber in his first week in the job refering to us as "customers" as opposed to "fans" or "supporters". I'm not convinced that the "fan as customer" was fan led!

A "customer" is somebody who has a choice. I can be a "customer" of any supermarket. I can, and do, switch between supermarkets on a regular basis. It just doesn't work with a football club. I have been a supporter of BHAFC for decades. There is no option or choice for me and most other fans. Yes, there is a growing number of fans who follow a player rather than a club and can switch their club allegiance at a drop of a hat but they remain a tiny minority thankfully.

I think Barber may of had a ticking off he’s never mentioned it again and now praises our great fans and how they saved the club in the dark days.
Saying that he can’t wait to ban a fan knowing another will step in and keep paying the bills.

 

[Balders]

Pleased for Adam - we looked solid at the back........for a change ;-)

 

[Normandy seagull]

Posted this on match thread. I’m one of his biggest critics but to be fair to him he was MOTM with Adingra. Wonder if he had it in his head to impress- almost playing for his future like. Needs to consistently do this though now to keep

 

[sagaman]

Thought Adam was fantastic today. Could easily have been MOT!.

The way he hounded Watkins was most impressive and our defence looked more solid.

Also liked the way we sometimes hoofed it up the park rather than courting danger!

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

Its perhaps easy to forget Adam Webster made 27 premier league appearances last season, in our most successful season ever. Van Hecke has been great this season, no doubt at all, but i have sometimes wondered if we have been missing what Webster beings to the table in terms of leadership, experience, strength and so on. Very good today.

 

[portslade seagull]

Webster shackled Watkins fantastically today, never gave him a touch. This is the Webster I like

 

[Silverhatch]

Thought Adam was fantastic today. Could easily have been MOT!.

The way he hounded Watkins was most impressive and our defence looked more solid.

Also liked the way we sometimes hoofed it up the park rather than courting danger!

He was great and both him and Dunk actually whacked the ball in the stands a couple of times.

 

[Rogero]

He had a good game . They all did

 

[Farehamseagull]

What a performance! So pleased for him.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

I thought Webby did well.

On that form a genuine contender for that starting berth next to Dunky