I think the ironic cheers at the game for Richie Mathers did nothing to help his confidence and nothing to help the team. Some of the things put on here about Richie have been constructive whilst some of it has just been to bag him for the sake of it. Like others have said you will always (sadly) get your scapegoat and then you will always get players who can never do any wrong.

I don't like seeing fans getting on players backs at the ground but I have no problem with them calling players out on here as long as it is fair and not personal.

Thankfully the personal stuff on here stops a long way short of some of the disgusting stuff I have seen on my football teams (SWFC) forum, one particular peace of pondlife wished one of our players and his family would die in a car car crash!!!!

I wondered that as well.

I don't think that the abuse the players have got since Sunday is over the top. At the moment their is valid reason to criticise all aspects of the club (potentially with the exception of Mick Hogan who got us the Mecca deal). I don't think anyone has got overly personal, and if they did, that is surely what the moderation process is for.

Well said Memony.

I can't believe some people on here questioned Bailey's defence. The lad made 39 tackles.

It's not a lack of leadership as much as a lack of professionalism which certain/the majority of our players seem to struggle with and it's a disgrace for elite players. They have to take responsibility for it rather than hiding behind lack of leadership.

When was he skinned that led to Wakefield scoring? I can only remember him getting skinned once and that didn't lead to a try. He is put out there to make our awful right sided defence more solid imo and I don't think he does that bad of a job.

At the end of the day we all want the club to do well and enjoy the success. This is a fans forum so we have every right to slate players and vent our frustration, and frankly if the players don't like it they shouldn't read anything on this site. Also it is fun to have these types of discussion. I would defend that right absolutely.

However one thing I have noticed about the British culture, is that you are either a hero or you are absolutely zero. There appears to be no middle path, and that seems to apply to this forum. The treatment that has been given to some of the past players has been truly disgusting (e.g. Moran). On the other hand players like Edwards are seen as having done nothing wrong, ever. Surely, in the interest of the club we should find a middle path.

Personally I think as fans, we have a responsibility to moderate our opinions so that they support the club, not tear it down. In other words, I don't believe in criticising individual players, other than to say they are not good enough, and should be replaced (just my opinion). I will also aggressively criticise them if I don't think they are trying hard enough, or have a really poor attitude. After all we are paying fans. Other than that I will not have a go at them.

With respect to Mathers, I am asking myself if he will turn out to be good enough - right now I doubt it, but I still think he needs time. So I will go out there as a fan and support him publicly, because he plays for my team, and represents our interests. The only guy who should really be criticising him, is the coach, and that should be done in a private way.

I will however have a go at the coach - because he is in the firing line. He has to get the tactics, player selection, and discipline right. If that keeps going wrong then to me he deserves criticism. Right now I think the frustration is that we seem to be getting all three of these areas wrong. And although we have been one game off of the GF for the last two years, I do expect improvement, and Brian has had enough time to get it right. Still it is very early days, and I will reserve my criticism until later.

Because as a fan sometimes you just have to bite your tongue in order to support your club - even when they frustrate you.

Right lets start

Mathers at the start of last season i was looking forward to him coming playing here just come back from an injury give the lad a few games to settle in but the fact remains he had more red cards that tries last season (even if you count the playoffs),players went through him like a knife through butter and at times he didn't look like he wanted to be on the pitch

Bailey ok we all know he isn't a but when bailey wasn't on the pitch last season our defence went to pot he does a shed load of work in that area he just needs to inprove his attack

I remeber when noble first signed for us and my girlfriends dad said to me he was chatting with a guy at bradford and most of the fans seem annoyed at noble for some of the decisions he makes and i think thats creeping in here, you cant argue with his record but it's the same old boring rugby week in week out we need second phase in our game cause at the moment our play is so predictable

Jeez Dave, let it go. It's becoming an obsession.

What is you problem with what I posted? Some players seem beyond criticism (of which Lockers is one) while for others they cop more than they deserve and people leap on the bandwagon as its fashionable. That was the point I was making, which I am sure you and everybody else knew.

Dave

Good post memory.

No player goes out to play badly on purpose. And it certainly doesnt help with people booing at the first sign of the game not going our way, the way we as fans should react is to cheer our team on try to lift their game rather than pull them further down as is the case. I believe that if the crowd on sunday had "attempted" to lift the players then the result couldve been different. DOnt get me wrong they are professional and should play as best they can however we all know how verbal support can push you that extra mile!

Basically many fans seem very eaager to get on the players back at the first available option.

Mathers confidence is shot and who can blame him when you have 14,000 blaming you for almost everythig that is wrong with the team. The ironic clapping really doesnt help either.

Chances are he might loose his fullback spot now, if he doesnt how about we try a little supportive cheering rather than Bol$£cking the lad.

I have to agree with Memony. I was taken aback when I joined this forum re the negativity.

Class