The Anti Slade Brigade

By: Bill Osborne
Date: 18/08/2005

IT'S a worry. Not that that some people cannot forget the past, but that they let the past over ride the present and allow it to get in the way of common sense.

We see that often in football with managers who refuse to use a player who they have crossed swords with in the past, even though that player has proven skills needed to influence the match result.

We also see it on the message boards. On the Fishy MB we have one group who support Russell Slade and one group that is calling for him to be sacked. Those calling for his head are using last season's results and performance as their measuring stick. They must be, as they have no cause based on the results so far this new season.

There are many who thought Russell Slade should have been sacked last season but have since changed their minds and decided to see what this season brings. A decision that I applaud.

I was certainly one of those who said enough is enough at the end of last season. But the board in its wisdom decided to give Slade another bite at the cherry.

Because of that decision that we fans had no part in, we now have Russell Slade for another season at least and we have to accept that. As supporters, surely we are duty bound to support him now he is here?

So why now are people still calling for his dismissal? There are no solid grounds for them to do so. Not so far this season. The results, few as they may be, speak for themselves.

Not for me to suggest that they want Slade to fail so they can say ' I told you so'. That surely cannot be the case. I thought we stopped playing those games when we left primary school.

Some take it even further by abusing both individual players and the manager during the matches. Town has one particular individual in either the lower or upper Smiths who is noted for his abuse of players and management team.

Is that what Town fans want to hear? Is that what GTFC are prepared to put up with?

Everyone has the right to express their views but there is a fine line between expressing views and actual abuse. But it is at BP and we get it on the message boards too.

I always thought that our role as supporters is to create an exciting environment at the games using our voices to create a hypothetical '12th man' on our side and, at the same time, trying to maintain appropriate levels of behaviour.

Maybe I am wrong again, on that score.

But the current attitude of some to our manager is disgusting. Sure there are still doubts and worries about him. Isn't that true of most managers? But we need to forget last season and its disappointments and frustrations. We stayed in this division didn't we? That was what most people were saying they would accept as being successful but now they seem to have short memories regarding that.

Slade does not yet deserve the stick he is getting from some quarters. The mouthy minority.

It is time we moved on. This is a new season. Why would we want to spoil it with the left overs of last season? We have had long enough during the closed season to get over all that.

It's time to grow up. I can remember Holme Hill Primary School without any help. I do not need to be reminded by the actions of those who think they are still there.

Besides, it is much easier to say 'Up The Mariners"

Try it. You might get to like the sound of it!

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