Sorry for the long cut and paste but I thought it was a really interesting point. Taken from an interview with the Lion of Vienna Suite.
LVS: There's been a long debate about fans expressing their displeasure in the form of booing. Something that we never get to see or hear about is just how or if it affects the players on the pitch. Is that something you could discuss?
KD: It has been over 20 years since I was a fan of Sheffield United. I used to love walking down to Bramall Lane with my older brother, Andrew, standing on my tip toes, watching my idols, and singing all the songs. The buzz of the local derbies against Sheffield Wednesday, pulling on the red and white stripes. I still have many of the strips I wore as a young lad.I can't ever remember booing or shouting insults at my team or opposing teams' players. Obviously, I was very young and naive but I just wanted to watch the heroes of mine play football.Booing is an interesting topic. Does it help the team? No. Are supporters entitled to boo? Yes.Does it affect the players? When I went on loan a few years ago, the home players, including myself, took some unbelievable abuse. For the players at that time it was a relief to go and play an away game.There have been grumblings at The Reebok over the last couple of years and there is nothing wrong with that. I can understand the frustration and have been with the club during the so-called "Good Times."What we have at Bolton is a great set of lads who train extremely hard. I have never felt let down by a teammate in terms of them preparing for a game and giving 100%. You simply can't get away with it with the demands put on you, particularly in this league.The recent Olympics rightly inspired us all, and rightly so. We cheered on the Olympians who didn't win medals as much as we did the ones that did. Were the Olympians who returned home without a medal deemed failures and get booed off the track or out of the pool? I'm sure the "failures'" families were very proud of them.The reason why, because they will have seen first hand the dedication, commitment and sacrifices it takes to just get there. More often than not for themselves, their families and of course their country, but in some cases for a teammate too.Look at the cyclists who went through hell to try and get Mark Cavendish a gold medal. On the day, the team did not quite get it right and just missed out. It certainly wasn't down to a lack of effort or not wanting it as much as the others.Is a professional footballer any different? I know first hand the amount of dedication it takes. Firstly, to make it in the game and secondly, to stay there. The statistics relating to signed players that fall out of the game before they get to age 23 are unbelievable. It's over 70%.The game and level of professionalism has certainly changed since I started my career. Back then, there was no pre-hab, yoga, ice baths, urine tests, strength sessions, body fat testing, et cetera, which players now have to go through. The players are far more professional now and have to be extremely dedicated to do what they do to forge any sort of career out of the game.If you're not, then you need to be an extremely gifted player to stay in the game. Players playing into their forties at the top level is testament of how professional players are in this day and age.Fans are entitled to voice an opinion and question a player's commitment."You're not fit to wear the shirt" and "we pay your wages" are common expressions we have all heard during a football match. I think as a team we expect to be booed off if we are under performing as a team. It is when it becomes directed at an individual that the real damage is done, particularly if everyone knows it is a talented player who is just lacking in confidence. A player can become low in confidence due to lack of form.When you are confident you do everything naturally and can't get enough of the ball. When your not you start worrying and thinking, particularly about your first touch. You can then can start hiding a little or in most cases start trying too hard.You can physically see that happening on the pitch and I'm sure most of you fans can too.A player will often put on a brave front and pretend not to be bothered or read the papers. When a player is targeted, he will normally start to disengage from the club and its fans and get his agent to seek a new employer. In some cases, he may win over the fans when given a good run in the team and puts in a string of good performances.If you are one of those fans who likes to have a moan or, putting it politely, "voice your opinion," that is fine, but just think about what that player has been through and how it may affect him and, ultimately, your team.For me, footballers get booed because of the salaries they earn.We all have a choice in life and we choose our own careers. Circumstances, of course, can play a huge part in whether or not we go on to achieve our dreams. I am a normal lad raised on a council estate in Sheffield, fortunate to have played professional football for 20 years and achieved my dream of playing for England at Wembley. But nothing was ever handed to me apart from my brothers old oversized smelly football boots!I have worked hard to achieve my dreams. The reason I referred to The Olympics earlier was that I heard quite a few discussions comparing Olympians and Footballers last summer. I think it is unfair to compare the two on a financial basis.Growing up, my dream was to be a professional footballer not because of the financial rewards but because I lived and breathed it every single day and night. All those Olympians last summer achieved their dreams by representing Great Britain in the Olympics and some now own a Gold medal to show their grandchildren. I was as proud and envious as the next person.Is there a difference?
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Sorry for the long cut and paste but I thought it was a really interesting point. Taken from an interview with the Lion of Vienna Suite.
LVS: There's been a long debate about fans expressing their displeasure in the form of booing. Something that we never get to see or hear about is just how or if it affects the players on the pitch. Is that something you could discuss?
KD: It has been over 20 years since I was a fan of Sheffield United. I used to love walking down to Bramall Lane with my older brother, Andrew, standing on my tip toes, watching my idols, and singing all the songs. The buzz of the local derbies against Sheffield Wednesday, pulling on the red and white stripes. I still have many of the strips I wore as a young lad.I can't ever remember booing or shouting insults at my team or opposing teams' players. Obviously, I was very young and naive but I just wanted to watch the heroes of mine play football.Booing is an interesting topic. Does it help the team? No. Are supporters entitled to boo? Yes.Does it affect the players? When I went on loan a few years ago, the home players, including myself, took some unbelievable abuse. For the players at that time it was a relief to go and play an away game.There have been grumblings at The Reebok over the last couple of years and there is nothing wrong with that. I can understand the frustration and have been with the club during the so-called "Good Times."What we have at Bolton is a great set of lads who train extremely hard. I have never felt let down by a teammate in terms of them preparing for a game and giving 100%. You simply can't get away with it with the demands put on you, particularly in this league.The recent Olympics rightly inspired us all, and rightly so. We cheered on the Olympians who didn't win medals as much as we did the ones that did. Were the Olympians who returned home without a medal deemed failures and get booed off the track or out of the pool? I'm sure the "failures'" families were very proud of them.The reason why, because they will have seen first hand the dedication, commitment and sacrifices it takes to just get there. More often than not for themselves, their families and of course their country, but in some cases for a teammate too.Look at the cyclists who went through hell to try and get Mark Cavendish a gold medal. On the day, the team did not quite get it right and just missed out. It certainly wasn't down to a lack of effort or not wanting it as much as the others.Is a professional footballer any different? I know first hand the amount of dedication it takes. Firstly, to make it in the game and secondly, to stay there. The statistics relating to signed players that fall out of the game before they get to age 23 are unbelievable. It's over 70%.The game and level of professionalism has certainly changed since I started my career. Back then, there was no pre-hab, yoga, ice baths, urine tests, strength sessions, body fat testing, et cetera, which players now have to go through. The players are far more professional now and have to be extremely dedicated to do what they do to forge any sort of career out of the game.If you're not, then you need to be an extremely gifted player to stay in the game. Players playing into their forties at the top level is testament of how professional players are in this day and age.Fans are entitled to voice an opinion and question a player's commitment."You're not fit to wear the shirt" and "we pay your wages" are common expressions we have all heard during a football match. I think as a team we expect to be booed off if we are under performing as a team. It is when it becomes directed at an individual that the real damage is done, particularly if everyone knows it is a talented player who is just lacking in confidence. A player can become low in confidence due to lack of form.When you are confident you do everything naturally and can't get enough of the ball. When your not you start worrying and thinking, particularly about your first touch. You can then can start hiding a little or in most cases start trying too hard.You can physically see that happening on the pitch and I'm sure most of you fans can too.A player will often put on a brave front and pretend not to be bothered or read the papers. When a player is targeted, he will normally start to disengage from the club and its fans and get his agent to seek a new employer. In some cases, he may win over the fans when given a good run in the team and puts in a string of good performances.If you are one of those fans who likes to have a moan or, putting it politely, "voice your opinion," that is fine, but just think about what that player has been through and how it may affect him and, ultimately, your team.For me, footballers get booed because of the salaries they earn.We all have a choice in life and we choose our own careers. Circumstances, of course, can play a huge part in whether or not we go on to achieve our dreams. I am a normal lad raised on a council estate in Sheffield, fortunate to have played professional football for 20 years and achieved my dream of playing for England at Wembley. But nothing was ever handed to me apart from my brothers old oversized smelly football boots!I have worked hard to achieve my dreams. The reason I referred to The Olympics earlier was that I heard quite a few discussions comparing Olympians and Footballers last summer. I think it is unfair to compare the two on a financial basis.Growing up, my dream was to be a professional footballer not because of the financial rewards but because I lived and breathed it every single day and night. All those Olympians last summer achieved their dreams by representing Great Britain in the Olympics and some now own a Gold medal to show their grandchildren. I was as proud and envious as the next person.Is there a difference?