Do the players actually read this forum? : Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:02 pm  

I sincerely hope not!
I've pondered and deliberated and now reached the conclusion that Leigh supporters are the most negative set of fans in Rugby League. This observation is based on approximately 30 years of watching Leigh.
In this period i have watched outstanding teams, mediocre teams and downright poor teams. The majority of this squad are young, enthuiastic, and really do have potential. In my opinion we will see the benefit of this current crop in 2 years time, providing we can keep most of them.
So the question i ask is this? Why would a young prospect want to stay and develop his career when such negativity prevails?
Some of the posts on this forum, in my opinion, are the rantings of mad men, and serve only the purpose of venting anger from the individual concerned. They are effectively scathing attacks on certain players, players who despite what some think put there body on the line, week in week out. No team intends to play badly...It just happens, anyone who as ever played will associate with this.
Last Sunday as a loyal Leigh supporter i must confess i hung my head in shame as i listened to the booing of players at half time and full time. Grown men, women, and children booing a set of young players off the park!
Sunday 22nd March 09 will go down as a sad day in my book, the terrible tragedy of a young player collapsing and dieing on a rugby field is something which upset me immensely. Therefore i respect all sportsmen.
Doe's a player or a group of players deserve to be savagely criticised in light of this?
Leigh R.L.F.C is my life, my identity, but above all the identity of our town.
It's simple....If you support your team, you do exactly that, through good times and bad times.

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:10 pm  

i know at least one or two do

Re: Do the players actually read this forum? : Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:10 pm  

optimist wrote:

I sincerely hope not!
I've pondered and deliberated and now reached the conclusion that Leigh supporters are the most negative set of fans in Rugby League. This observation is based on approximately 30 years of watching Leigh.
In this period i have watched outstanding teams, mediocre teams and downright poor teams. The majority of this squad are young, enthuiastic, and really do have potential. In my opinion we will see the benefit of this current crop in 2 years time, providing we can keep most of them.
So the question i ask is this? Why would a young prospect want to stay and develop his career when such negativity prevails?
Some of the posts on this forum, in my opinion, are the rantings of mad men, and serve only the purpose of venting anger from the individual concerned. They are effectively scathing attacks on certain players, players who despite what some think put there body on the line, week in week out. No team intends to play badly...It just happens, anyone who as ever played will associate with this.
Last Sunday as a loyal Leigh supporter i must confess i hung my head in shame as i listened to the booing of players at half time and full time. Grown men, women, and children booing a set of young players off the park!
Sunday 22nd March 09 will go down as a sad day in my book, the terrible tragedy of a young player collapsing and dieing on a rugby field is something which upset me immensely. Therefore i respect all sportsmen.
Doe's a player or a group of players deserve to be savagely criticised in light of this?
Leigh R.L.F.C is my life, my identity, but above all the identity of our town.
It's simple....If you support your team, you do exactly that, through good times and bad times.

Times have moved on in your 30 years of support, the sport of RL has changed dramatically. To prosper we must change or if we wish to simply stay alive we must change also.
What we witnessed on Sunday will see LRLFC die, because not enough folk would pay to watch that crap, it isnt about respecting sportsmen or encouraging young players, its about people paying money to be entertained and that was not entertainment.
If anyone thought it was satisfactory then the crowd rightfully corrected that view, it wasnt acceptable and the passion shown by fans letting their feelings known was a positive response to the garbage on offer.

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:11 pm  

The Watcher did not boo the players of on Sunday but he will defend the right of any paying supporter to voice their disapproval in whatever way they want to verbally.A team that shows up just expecting to win deserves criticism.A player who through indiscipline possibly costs his team a win deserves criticism.I think your use of the tragic Leon Walker in this argument is unforgivable.

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:14 pm  

A good post very well put.

Our crop of youngsters should bare fruit eventually and although we're all frustrated by our lack of form the events of Sunday evening should make us all think.

I was one of the people who stood up against some drunken idiots at our home Super League fixture with Warrington when we were well beaten in a disappointing 2nd half performance. I applauded the team off the pitch that day and was berated for it.

Admittedly I've been upset enough with our performances in the past to have left early (very infrequently I may add) but I won't stand and boo the players off the pitch. It's not the done thing and doesn't help them in any way.

Everyone is entitled to their opinions if they pay there money but heaping criticism on the players during the game isn't really going to help.

I can't help thinking moving to the new stadium has been a stressful change for fans, players and officials alike and we haven't yet settled. The place doesn't feel like home yet and that is evident for all to see but I'm sure given time all will come good.

We have a top coach, good youngsters with some good experience in the mix and I'm sure it will all gel sooner rather than later.

COME ON YOU LEYTHERS!!!

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:17 pm  

The Kevster! wrote:

Everyone is entitled to their opinions if they pay there money but heaping criticism on the players during the game isn't really going to help.

another good point but i wonder how many of the moaners where actually at the game rather than listening on the radio or hearing it 2nd hand from someone who actually went to the game?

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:22 pm  

wbk666 wrote:

another good point but i wonder how many of the moaners where actually at the game rather than listening on the radio or hearing it 2nd hand from someone who actually went to the game?

I'll freely admit I didn't attend and was keeping a close eye on the score via my laptop so I've only been going off what I've heard and been told by friends who went.

People I've spoken to were less than pleased with the performance to say the least.

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:29 pm  

The Watcher wrote:

The Watcher did not boo the players of on Sunday but he will defend the right of any paying supporter to voice their disapproval in whatever way they want to verbally.A team that shows up just expecting to win deserves criticism.A player who through indiscipline possibly costs his team a win deserves criticism.I think your use of the tragic Leon Walker in this argument is unforgivable.

I rest my case.

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:34 pm  

Be interesting though if these people had the courage to say the same things to the players faces on an individual basis, or even put their correct names to their little gripes.
I also agree with a persons right to say what they wish but would they dare to face to face?

Re: Do the players actually read this forum? : Tue Mar 24, 2009 11:21 pm  

optimist wrote:

I sincerely hope not!
I've pondered and deliberated and now reached the conclusion that Leigh supporters are the most negative set of fans in Rugby League. This observation is based on approximately 30 years of watching Leigh.
In this period i have watched outstanding teams, mediocre teams and downright poor teams. The majority of this squad are young, enthuiastic, and really do have potential. In my opinion we will see the benefit of this current crop in 2 years time, providing we can keep most of them.
So the question i ask is this? Why would a young prospect want to stay and develop his career when such negativity prevails?
Some of the posts on this forum, in my opinion, are the rantings of mad men, and serve only the purpose of venting anger from the individual concerned. They are effectively scathing attacks on certain players, players who despite what some think put there body on the line, week in week out. No team intends to play badly...It just happens, anyone who as ever played will associate with this.
Last Sunday as a loyal Leigh supporter i must confess i hung my head in shame as i listened to the booing of players at half time and full time. Grown men, women, and children booing a set of young players off the park!
Sunday 22nd March 09 will go down as a sad day in my book, the terrible tragedy of a young player collapsing and dieing on a rugby field is something which upset me immensely. Therefore i respect all sportsmen.
Doe's a player or a group of players deserve to be savagely criticised in light of this?
Leigh R.L.F.C is my life, my identity, but above all the identity of our town.
It's simple....If you support your team, you do exactly that, through good times and bad times.

best post this week by a country mile