Think we'll have to beg to differ on this. No room for "abusing" town players in my book although you could argue some deserved it last season.
Smith doesn't seem to have given anything less than 100% in all the games i've seen. If your wife's view is that he's not good enough then that's fair enough but obviously differs from the manager's. Can undertand people get frustrated if a player isn't giving his all but from your post you simply implied that she doesn't like him so told him so.
It may = passionate but doesn't = supporting IMO.
Who said anything about abuse?
I said-
Jonathan Smiths treacle was sat a few seats away from us. She looked uncomfortable when SWMBO let him know exactly how low he is in her estimation.
I think her words were somehwere along the lines of "Come on Smith- that was Crap!" followed some time later by "Smith- CRAP AGAIN!"
Honesty- yes.
Abuse?
I think as a fan, she, I and everyone else has the right to express their opinion. If that opinion is negative, the player needs to know. Sometimes we spend too much time blowing sunshine up their arses in order that their feelings aren't hurt.
In the event that the team as a whole is going through a difficult period, she keeps her disdain under tight rein in order to not make the situation worse. She certainly didn't join in with the much deserved post match booing that we experienced last season.
In these circumstances, she feels Smith isn't cutting it in comparison with the rest of the team and lets him know.
Giving players stick if they are showing fuck all effort is one thing, giving players abuse because you don't think they're good enough is totally out of order. As long as they're trying their best, they should be encouraged, not slagged off.
From what I've seen of Smith this season no one can criticise his commitment or effort. Unfortunately a lot of our fans will get on players backs at the slightest opportunity and then stay on it regardless of whether the player improves.
It's not passion, it's fucking pointless and counter productive.
If Smithy improves in her mind, she will get right behind him.
Example- Early this season, her opinion of De Vita was that he was lightweight and not up to it. He is currently her favourite player.
As for giving someone stick for showing fuck all effort- who decides what the evidence of effort is? You may think someone is showing the requisite fuck all in the effort stakes and give the player the much deserved (in your view at that time) stick. Another fan (SWMBO perhaps) may have a completely different view of that players effort/ contribution and come to the conclusion that your stick is totally undeserved.
Example- Phil Smith gets loads of shit on a frequent basis. He got a right earful off some fans away at Shrewsbury for their equaliser when he parried Ainsworth's shot and Gornell headed in the rebound. Now, from where we sat, that shot was a fucking belter and was moving all over the place. To keep it out was a result. That Gornell got to it wasn't Smiths fault. Smith looked devastated at the goal and the reaction of some of the fans. SWMBO expressed her opinion that Smith was not deserving of the stick. It was however just that- her opion but she stuck up for him.
In conclusion, she gives praise where she thinks it due, defends where she thinks it is needed and advises those she thinks need it that they need to pull their finger out.
Tell me you don't- ever?
