Couple of older blokes got pretty wound up by the songs aimed at Francis. I didn't really see a problem in the songs, all harmless. Especially didn't think it warranted these 2 gentlemen turning around and telling fellow fans that they are the wankers...
Couple of older blokes got pretty wound up by the songs aimed at Francis. I didn't really see a problem in the songs, all harmless. Especially didn't think it warranted these 2 gentlemen turning around and telling fellow fans that they are the wankers...
Poor show booing the lad. Hardly his fault we are now blessed with two excellent full-backs that in hindsight make him appear as ordinary to some.Big Brother,Heat magazine,Chicken-nugget mentality.
Poor show booing the lad. Hardly his fault we are now blessed with two excellent full-backs that in hindsight make him appear as ordinary to some.Big Brother,Heat magazine,Chicken-nugget mentality.
i suggest a hands up vote for any action wished to be taken by the supporters during the game. the vote will be counted and sent to a independent judicator who will then send the results via post in time for the next game for which the subsequent vote becomes obsolete.
It was hardly vitriolic. I agree that Francis's only crime was being a bit disappointing, but I can't see any issue with a passionate support dishing it out a bit on an opposition player, for whatever reason. No grounds of taste were crossed, let's not sanitize football any more.
So It's OK for Bournemouth fans to boo Wiggins for being excellent for them, but we cannot give Francis stick for being shite for us...truly laughable. Francis was crap for us, he got off lightly in my opinion.
it's in the unwritten rule book that fans have a pop at ex players. it's just to throw them off there game, and a long as it isn't vile chanting or completely obscene I do it. it's football, it's what we do.
So It's OK for Bournemouth fans to boo Wiggins for being excellent for them, but we cannot give Francis stick for being shite for us...truly laughable. Francis was crap for us, he got off lightly in my opinion.
The stick that Francis got may not have been especially charitable, and I can see why many feel it's not especially deserved (vs. Defoe for example). But the 'ain't got a clue' song is not offensive & shows a bit of humour - he has to take it on the chin. I'm less keen on the "..is a w**ker" song, not especially clever or original, but (sigh) boys will be boys...
But as others have mentioned, Francis did try his best, and also I don't feel ever pranced around believing he was anything more than a lower-level pro doing a job (his comments in Sat's programme seem to suggest that.
So, not good enough for us, a symbol of a low point for CAFC and we've made our point. Hereafter, not someone to curse and get worked up about now he's moved on. Should he ever re-appear at The Valley (cup match), I'm prepared to offer a few 'bygones-be bygones' claps. (Note to A McCormack - don't expect the same).
Comparison with Wiggins not fair - B'mouth's equivalent of Scott Parker for wanting to cash-in & move. CAFC can be on both ends of those moves, you know.
As for offensive songs, shame we continue to continue with the 'South London is wonderful' tripe, especially on trains with little kids (not match-going).
I can't really see the point in coating off ALL of our ex-players, unless it's a special case, like Defoe.
Defoe never played for us....
I think as supporters we should do as much as we can to shake up the opposition, we know how mentally fragile Francis can be so by singing 'He aint got a clue, He aint got a clue, Simon Francis He aint got a clue' it may unsettle him so he makes more mistakes. As it happened he played well. As long as the songs are not insulting a players family and are not racist then if by singing a song at an oppo player it screws up their game then its alright in my book, see D Murphy Fulham away! He refused to take the corners after the pelters he got from us.
The stick that Francis got may not have been especially charitable, and I can see why many feel it's not especially deserved (vs. Defoe for example). But the 'ain't got a clue' song is not offensive & shows a bit of humour - he has to take it on the chin. I'm less keen on the "..is a w**ker" song, not especially clever or original, but (sigh) boys will be boys...
But as others have mentioned, Francis did try his best, and also I don't feel ever pranced around believing he was anything more than a lower-level pro doing a job (his comments in Sat's programme seem to suggest that.
So, not good enough for us, a symbol of a low point for CAFC and we've made our point. Hereafter, not someone to curse and get worked up about now he's moved on. Should he ever re-appear at The Valley (cup match), I'm prepared to offer a few 'bygones-be bygones' claps. (Note to A McCormack - don't expect the same).
Comparison with Wiggins not fair - B'mouth's equivalent of Scott Parker for wanting to cash-in & move. CAFC can be on both ends of those moves, you know.
As for offensive songs, shame we continue to continue with the 'South London is wonderful' tripe, especially on trains with little kids (not match-going).
I'd say Wiggins did more than just cash in to be fair. Yes, he moved to a bigger club and got more money, but that club is one of the biggest teams in the league and he's played uninterrupted first team football for us. We're also run away leaders in a team that any player in this division would like to be part of. It's hardly like Parker's move where he joined a team that can splash £50 million on one player if they feel like it so he was always going to be a benchwarmer. We were also 4th in the Prem at the time, but after Howe left and it looked like financial troubles were coming, this season looked fairly bleak for Bournemouth. I can see the B'mouth fans being disappointed but I doubt it was as brutal a feeling as Parker's move
To add to Garrymanilow's post Wiggins didn't jump ship in mid-season either. Like a lot of us he went to work for one employer and then left for a better paid job and one with better promotion prospects.
I think he had his faults but was badly treated and not as bad as people make out. Clearly we have moved on, but no reason to to be harsh on a player who did his best for us IMO.
top of the league by 13 points that means cant really have a go at the players or manager so what do we do? i know lets have a go at the fans who spent time and money to go and watch them for chanting the most forgetable of chants. i'm sure francis wasn't bothered at all and if he was he shouldn't be a professional footballer.
To add to Garrymanilow's post Wiggins didn't jump ship in mid-season either. Like a lot of us he went to work for one employer and then left for a better paid job and one with better promotion prospects.
Fair point, BFR & Garry, that Wiggins did not come to us purely to be a benchwarmer, a la Scotty. But B'mouth do gripe that Wiggins had a mystery injury which they suspect was a bit 'convenient' & aren't happy about how he agitated for a move away. I'm not saying that I agree with them (in the same way, opinions on whether to boo Scotty are somewhat divided). But it explains why he gets the booing. They don't begrudge Danny Hollands' move at all, so you've got to assume there is something that has irked them a bit.
it's in the unwritten rule book that fans have a pop at ex players. it's just to throw them off there game, and a long as it isn't vile chanting or completely obscene I do it. it's football, it's what we do.
Just as well Mendonca never played against us then!
Ultimately a player of Wiggins ability was never going to stay for long at Bournemouth, and both got something out of the relationship. Bournemouth gained the services of a good player and a transfer fee when he left and Wiggins got some first team experience on his CV. And unless we offer him an improved contract or look like competing for promotion again next season I doubt he'll be an Addick in two/three seasons.
Haven't got an issue with chanting and songs and banter but do think the couple of people on here questioning his ability to even play professional football are tools. None of us could lace his boots, bar Bexley Dan of course!
it's in the unwritten rule book that fans have a pop at ex players. it's just to throw them off there game, and a long as it isn't vile chanting or completely obscene I do it. it's football, it's what we do.
Just as well Mendonca never played against us then!
unless there a club legend!! Deano was warmly received on his return an rightly too.
Comments
But as others have mentioned, Francis did try his best, and also I don't feel ever pranced around believing he was anything more than a lower-level pro doing a job (his comments in Sat's programme seem to suggest that.
So, not good enough for us, a symbol of a low point for CAFC and we've made our point. Hereafter, not someone to curse and get worked up about now he's moved on. Should he ever re-appear at The Valley (cup match), I'm prepared to offer a few 'bygones-be bygones' claps. (Note to A McCormack - don't expect the same).
Comparison with Wiggins not fair - B'mouth's equivalent of Scott Parker for wanting to cash-in & move. CAFC can be on both ends of those moves, you know.
As for offensive songs, shame we continue to continue with the 'South London is wonderful' tripe, especially on trains with little kids (not match-going).
See you at Huddersfield..................maybe not! :-)