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Wanderers Ways. Neil Thompson 1961-2021

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Posted

So Gartside's in no mood to build any bridges with the fans going off that aticle in BN today. Unless other comments have been left out to be shown in full in the print version, I'm astounded he's cited fans' treament of Freedman as the reason he sacked him rather than the fact we're bottom and shit.

Posted

I got the impression that Gartside was talking about himself in that article. The part where he said you don't find many other professions where you get treated that way, well I'd say politicians for a start.

Posted

To be fair even if he came out and was positive about everything and complimented the fans he would still get the same stick so why bother? 

Posted

To be fair even if he came out and was positive about everything and complimented the fans he would still get the same stick so why bother?

Because the gulf between the fans and the club has never been bigger and he could do with getting them onside pretty sharpish seeing as we are bottom of the championship with no manager and attendances at our lowest in over a decade?

Posted (edited)

The article in the Bolton News today is a small part of a larger interview with Gartside. I rather hope that the snippet today is not reflective of the whole piece. He could definitely do with sounding more concillatory and less like it is a hassle for him to have to do this.

 

I don't think as a manager Freedman particularly got a terrible deal. He had some not-rights screaming at him but that goes with the territory surely? Absolutely the getting on the pitch to throw things at him isn't right at all, but it happened once. That does not make it right but football managers have had a lot worse and been paid a lot less to take it. To say nobody should be subjected to that is interesting.

 

I don't think anyone should be abused or threatened or have angry people running at them. But the vast majority of fans at most, shouted "Freedman out". I don't see that as an ordeal that is out of proportion to the pressure and size of the job or the money he is earning. It wasn't even a particularly long running thing. Happened for a week or two, prior to that it was just grumbles.

 

Now if PG had said "I don't agree with people running on the pitch or being abusive but I do accept the fans' view that we needed a change" then it would be fine. But to make a statement that Freedman was treated unfairly and nobody should be subjected to that in any shape or form, seems somewhat over-egging the situation. I mean you also have to see the context. It is football, Freedman was not subjected to anything that was massively out of the ordinary. To say that there are not many professions where you get that is at best missing the point at worst, deliberately trying to cloud the issue. Yes there are not many professions where people shout at you, but equally I'd bet that there aren't many businesses who can offer a sub-standard product to their customers at massively inflated prices and never have to offer refunds or deal with huge volumes of complaints. I'd also argue that a manager or the like in Tesco probably faces more abuse on a more personal and individual level from customers than a football manager ever does. And actually has to deal with the situation and defuse the issue rather than being able to hide away. So there are swings and roundabouts. Football is different to other walks of life. But it is certainly well paid, and well protected than other professions.

 

And even if Gartside thinks the fans were wrong, he could have used some PR sense. When your club is bottom of the league and 5 points adrift you'd think a bit of sensible PR, to bring everyone back on side would be the order of the day. Even if you disagree with your customers views. You still play the game surely?

Edited by bwfcfan5
Posted

Because the gulf between the fans and the club has never been bigger and he could do with getting them onside pretty sharpish seeing as we are bottom of the championship with no manager and attendances at our lowest in over a decade?

But the fans who don't support him and his decisions never will going off what I have read.

 

I look forward to seeing the full article.

Posted

But the fans who don't support him and his decisions never will going off what I have read.

 

I look forward to seeing the full article.

And by the same token, some fans support him and always will irrespective of what he does

 

Sound familiar E?

Posted

And by the same token, some fans support him and always will irrespective of what he does

 

Sound familiar E?

Ooh i think it's critical.

 

In fact im sure it is.

Posted

And by the same token, some fans support him and always will irrespective of what he does

 

Sound familiar E?

 

I am not denying i support PG. For me he has been good for the club. I don't understand the hatred from a lot of people. However i do understand some have personal reasons to feel aggrieved. 

 

Sadly people don't think it is because i am a fan. they see it being another reason. 

Posted

I am not denying i support PG. For me he has been good for the club. I don't understand the hatred from a lot of people. However i do understand some have personal reasons to feel aggrieved. 

 

Sadly people don't think it is because i am a fan. they see it being another reason.

 

He has become a focal point for all that's wrong with the club. No matter what he says, will make no difference. He could break down in tears, apologise and say he loves each and every one of you. Particularly his nemesis anewman. But it would make no difference in the slightest.

 

So why do folk care what he says?

Posted (edited)

I am not denying i support PG. For me he has been good for the club. I don't understand the hatred from a lot of people. However i do understand some have personal reasons to feel aggrieved. 

 

Sadly people don't think it is because i am a fan. they see it being another reason. 

 

I think he's been good for the club too. Not even just good, great. I don't hate him at all. I have a lot of time for him.

 

But he's done himself no favours recently and the sentiments in that interview if reflective of the whole tone are another example of that. We're bottom of the league after a disastrous start. Of course fans are going to be seriously unhappy. And when you add in to that it follows 7 seasons of gradual moving to quicker and more terminal decline it is rather churlish to not acknowledge that really, fans are by nature bound to be upset and angry.

 

He should have used this interview to look forward and to ask for togetherness and to try and build a bridge or two. The club needs pulling together. However you slice it those words look very misjudged in the current predicament.

Edited by bwfcfan5
Posted

I am not denying i support PG. For me he has been good for the club. I don't understand the hatred from a lot of people. However i do understand some have personal reasons to feel aggrieved.

 

Sadly people don't think it is because i am a fan. they see it being another reason.

He's done some good things and done some bad and made mistakes like everyone else. The point is we are now bottom of the league and the club need to pull together to get us out of this mess. The figurehead of the club blaming the fans is not going to help. Whatever he thinks privately he should be on a charm offensive now.

Posted

He has become a focal point for all that's wrong with the club. No matter what he says, will make no difference. He could break down in tears, apologise and say he loves each and every one of you. Particularly his nemesis anewman. But it would make no difference in the slightest.

 

So why do folk care what he says?

Because people do care what those running companies say and think

 

It illustrates an ethos, mentality and thinking that is often mirrored throughout the organisation

 

Or in other words; ask Gerald Ratner

Posted

 It wasn't even a particularly long running thing. Happened for a week or two, prior to that it was just grumbles.

 

 

agree with your post for the most part, but for some balance, there was the fans giving him shit outside the coach at brighton

 

aye, it was embarrassing and there was only a handful of them, but folk have been vocally on his back for some time, not just in the last couple of weeks

Posted

agree with your post for the most part, but for some balance, there was the fans giving him shit outside the coach at brighton

 

aye, it was embarrassing and there was only a handful of them, but folk have been vocally on his back for some time, not just in the last couple of weeks

 

Yes fair enough. But mainly on the internet or the odd lone voice at the match. I didn't know about the Brighton thing. Out of order really.

 

But I sitll think context is important. It is nothing compared to what Pardew is getting. And they aren't bottom of the championship! Not saying abuse is right but Gartside seems to be lumping all fans in as idiots. Which possibly is what he thinks but should be more careful how he phrases things.

Posted

as a fan of freedman and not arsed either way about garty, maybe the chairman could take a look at his part in the demise of freedman

 

a bit more explanation of the constraints he was having to work under and a public statement of what we felt was acceptable this season

 

if folk didn't like that, then thats up to them but still nobody has a clue what our aims were/are

Posted

 

 

a bit more explanation of the constraints he was having to work under and a public statement of what we felt was acceptable this season

 

if folk didn't like that, then thats up to them but still nobody has a clue what our aims were/are

Thats the only issue I have, just tell the fans what the the aims are, I'm sure a lot of people will not like them but at least people will know

Posted

Because people do care what those running companies say and think

 

It illustrates an ethos, mentality and thinking that is often mirrored throughout the organisation

 

Or in other words; ask Gerald Ratner

Bollocks. Most people will still criticise regardless of what he says.

 

Moreover, I don't think supporters will go and support someone else because Garty didn't say nice things about them in the BEN.

Posted

Never been a Gartside hater but I think the club need fresh impetus and for me it's time we thanked PG for his hard work and moved him on.

I'll agree with that if you can give me a list of specifics about his job and what his role is as outlined by the owner. Facts, not guesswork.

 

If not, I'll treat it as the usual ill informed nonsense.

Posted

the ones that get me are the wonderful cliches

 

fractured club

 

disaffected fans

 

supporters disenfranchised

 

 

fcuking hell, theres nowt wrong that half a dozen wins doesn't put right

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