Louis Spence's Premier League Preview || To Boo Or Not Taboo

TO BOO OR NOT TABOO - 18-12-07
Louis Spence

I have never in my life booed a Boro player, nor will I ever. I have, as you may expect, shown vociferous disapproval for members of opposing teams. It does seem, however, that booing members of your own team has become more and more widespread.

I am not claiming the moral high ground on this one for one very good reason. I would DEFEND THE RIGHT of any fan to boo his own side's players if HE felt they were not 'putting in a full shift'. We live in a country of free speech and to me, that includes vocally disabusing your team's players who are not pulling their weight.

I performed for years in the pubs on Teesside. As one wag once put it: 'If they like you they don't applaud, they let you live'. On occasions I have felt the wrath of the crowd and it comes with the territory.

Nothing riles me more then, than footballers on stupendous salaries complaining because some of their own supporters have opted to boo them. As in, 'How dare they, don't they know who I am!' Only too well, Mister, walk a mile in MY shoes.

I have rarely seen a home player get booed if they are trying to do their best. The great majority of fans instinctively know the difference between someone who is having a real go, regardless of their shortcomings, and someone who is just 'swinging the lead'.

The cost of watching the game these days is not a cheap option. Why should fans have to put up with gutless performances from pampered divas, some of whom THEY would never have bought in the first place and who are now, it appears, sullying the beloved team shirt so proudly worn by past heroes?

And from here disillusionment turns to disgust.

It was only a couple of years ago that an exasperated Boro fan threw his season ticket at manager Steve McClaren in the full glare of TV cameras. I would never have done that but maybe that is conscience getting the credit that belongs to cold feet.

I had to admire this course of direct action. It was not daylight yobbery, more a cri-de-coeur from a loyal fan who had simply had enough of the pathetic fare he was paying handsomely to see, week in week out. He must have thought: If you can't be direct, why be?

It's attitudes not platitudes we want. If you pay a lot of money for a meal and it is awful you have every right (and some may say an obligation for future diners) to send it back. Similarly if you pay out a lump to see a much vaunted entertainer and he is very poor you would not go back to see him again. If a TV show is pathetic you switch over or off completely.

However all of these examples are just one-offs. Your expenditure is limited relatively.

And therein lies the difference.

Football is the only show in town where you are expected to renew your season ticket (or risk being called 'disloyal'), regardless of the previous season's diabolical displays. You are then meant to fully endorse any hare-brained decisions foisted upon you for the new season with wholehearted and unabated cheering (or risk being called apathetic). You couldn't make it up!!

Fans are then tied in to attend or lose their hard earned money regardless of the standard of football they may have to endure. Refund? Stop it!!

What recourse do fans have then if the team is playing in a dispirited and disinterested fashion? Walking away moaning gets you nowhere and walking out early deprives you of your money's worth.

I am fed up of the blame always being directed at supporters for not giving undying support to teams who are patently not giving their all. It's a two way deal this one, fellas.

At the Boro we have a manager who is attempting to introduce a new style of play. The fans understand that as a rookie, Gareth Southgate needs time and as such are, in the main, backing him. This is despite some poor early results.

The backing comes because fans know he is doing his best, as he ALWAYS did as a player. And you can do no better than that. The chairman is also rightly regarded as the best in the land because once again the fans know he has ALWAYS delivered and remains an ardent fan himself.

Booing always causes dissension and discussion but the fault does not lie the majority of the time with the braying public. It rests with players who are only too happy to accept the unbelievable rewards without earning the right to the crowd's approval. The fans have carried out their part of the deal - they have paid out handsomely to be entertained and more importantly THEY have paid the players. On you go then Buster, entertain ME.

If you disagree with this article, you are more than welcome to have a go at me. It's called freedom of speech which is incidentally where we came in.

Better still, post a reply on the message board - the best and funniest in the land.

Riverside Red, loyal and true Riverside Red, I wanna be like you

Singing your songs to follow your dream

And make my voice heard for my Middlesbrough team.

Have a great day y'all.

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