Camuldonum - Please Give Us A Report Card

[YankeeCanary 0]

Camuldonum, as you are in the business of sports journalism and, presumably go far and wide for your information, you must also be perusing a number of different football fan message boards. How about providing some candid  feedback on how we stack up to others based upon what we express on this forum. For example:

• Coming from this relatively remote part of the country do we tend to be less open-minded in both our viewpoints and willingness to adapt to others inputs than waht you see on forums for other clubs?
• How does the overall quality ( or lack thereof ) of our input measure up from a readability standpoint?
• What is our relative knowledge level and understanding of what it takes to run a football club?
• Are the fans of some clubs more appreciative than others for what their owners/boards contributions are and, if so, which clubs would these be and how do Norwich fans stack up on that scale?
• All fans want their football team to be as successful as possible. Given the money in the game today and the branding of the very top teams globally, if you were to rank Norwich City on a relative scale to the aspirations of other clubs, what position in the league would we average over the next 10 years if we were punching our weight? Your best estimate of course. 
• Now, a tricky little question. If fans of other clubs, as a mandate, were required to choose a second team to support then, what number would opt for the following teams ( expressing it as a percentage ); Sheffield United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Norwich City, Queens Park Rangers and why?

I realise you''re busy Camuldonum but, if you feel you could take a few minutes to offer your opinion on these questions ( some of which are a little vague ), I would appreciate it.

  

[newyorkcanary 14]

Yankee

You''re putting a member of our community in a bit of a pickle here.  These are all answers I''d like to hear, but we know that some on this board already resent those who don''t bleed yellow and green.  While Cam''s daughter might, we know he''s a Colchester/Lincoln fellow.  I think its great that he comes here and participates, but I fear that some on this board might not appreciate "candid feedback."  Has the Pinkun ever come across as a community that is open to criticism?  I feel we have a few great minds and posters and a whole lot of rabble....  Its still worth it for me to visit regularly, but it does have its price.  I hope that if Cam does answer you, the rest of the board doesn''t start acting all xenophobic again, when an "outsider" says things they don''t want to hear.

[YankeeCanary 0]

Thanks for the input NYC. I understood the risk when I asked the questions, however, I believe most posters understand the unbiased role that Cameldonum plays on here and it''s different when someone asks for your input rather than offering it unsolicited. Of course, he can always politely say he''d rather not.

[astrodyne 0]

Shouldn''t ''a few minutes'' read ''a few days''?[8-|]

[canary cherub 1]

Unbiased?  I don''t think that''s humanly possible.  Everyone has a bias of some sort.  Everyone looks at things from their own perspective.

In Camul''s case, he has a tendency to react to our problems by saying "but you should be a Colchester fan, you don''t know how lucky you are, ever been to the Conference?"  That''s not a criticism, just an observation.  It''s a perfectly valid point of view, but it means he''s not unbiased.

 

[YankeeCanary 0]

[quote user="Strawberry"]

Unbiased?  I don''t think that''s humanly possible.  Everyone has a bias of some sort.  Everyone looks at things from their own perspective.

In Camul''s case, he has a tendency to react to our problems by saying "but you should be a Colchester fan, you don''t know how lucky you are, ever been to the Conference?"  That''s not a criticism, just an observation.  It''s a perfectly valid point of view, but it means he''s not unbiased.

[/quote]

I''m not asking him for his opinion as a Colchester ( or Lincoln ) fan, but rather as a professional journalist. I''m sure he understands the difference Strawberry. If his beat as a professional journalist was to review National theatre groups I''m sure that his write up could provide insight without the article being overly influenced by the local repertory group in Colchester. 

[Camuldonum 0]

[:|][quote user="YankeeCanary"]

Camuldonum, as you are in the business of sports journalism and, presumably go far and wide for your information, you must also be perusing a number of different football fan message boards. How about providing some candid  feedback on how we stack up to others based upon what we express on this forum. For example:

• Coming from this relatively remote part of the country do we tend to be less open-minded in both our viewpoints and willingness to adapt to others inputs than waht you see on forums for other clubs?

• How does the overall quality ( or lack thereof ) of our input measure up from a readability standpoint?

• What is our relative knowledge level and understanding of what it takes to run a football club?

• Are the fans of some clubs more appreciative than others for what their owners/boards contributions are and, if so, which clubs would these be and how do Norwich fans stack up on that scale?

• All fans want their football team to be as successful as possible. Given the money in the game today and the branding of the very top teams globally, if you were to rank Norwich City on a relative scale to the aspirations of other clubs, what position in the league would we average over the next 10 years if we were punching our weight? Your best estimate of course. 

• Now, a tricky little question. If fans of other clubs, as a mandate, were required to choose a second team to support then, what number would opt for the following teams ( expressing it as a percentage ); Sheffield United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Norwich City, Queens Park Rangers and why?

I realise you''re busy Camuldonum but, if you feel you could take a few minutes to offer your opinion on these questions ( some of which are a little vague ), I would appreciate it.

  

[/quote]

[:|]

LOL! Basically we are in news journalism not sports journalism (a peripheral function of the Norwich fan: The Girl Upstairs when she isn''t annoying the hell out of the Home Office by asking questions which they don''t want to answer and who I believe was first on with the Turner question: "Don''t know, we''ll get back to you on that....haven''t looked at the message board yet."  They knew nothing about it).

Yes, we adore football. But firstly we are journalists and we would professionally stitch up the clubs we support (while still being supporters, personally, without a second thought).

I have only once broken this rule.  My brother is an undertaker (someone has to do it) and he had to do a very high profile funeral, the preliminary to which filled countless page after page after page after page.  I knew the details of where and when but for once sat on it - I wasn''t asked but I could have volunteered.  I didn''t because if I had it would have wrecked a very personal moment and anyway it''s quite distinct from being called a **** by the Duke of Edinburgh.

Firstly it is a very good message board, high traffic with some very good contributors but like all message boards is plagued by people either with a terminal spelling disease or who choose to use txt or one or both.  You also have a couple of trolls (fairly sophisticated as trolls go which isn''t saying a lot in that they purport to be partially in favour of your club but then pose questions devised to divide your club  quite deliberately - on other boards The Flying Plumber and Southern Imp  are their match).

(This leaves aside the Thicko Trolls from other clubs - whether it is Ipswich, Southend or Grimsby).

As an absolute aside and based on having to monitor Sado-Masochism groups for Her Majesty''s News of the World (currently a thing of the past) but anyone posting in CAPS is a DOM and anyone posting entirely in lower case is a subbie.  Top or bottom.  Those who can post either are a "switch".[8-|]

Let''s go on.  First two questions: no better, no worse than anyone else.  We are all fans whether it''s Norwich, Colchester and Lincoln and in general we are the last to know about anything.  I''ve got used to it over the years and I can''t change it so it doesn''t affect me.

Keyboard warriors are a recent development but, apart from enjoying themselves, they don''t change anything either although they wish.  Every one is a Football Manager - sadly I''m not good enough to be that.

Question Three: Everyone is a football manager/potential Director/Referee/Lino/Investor/Player/Keeper/Attacking Midfield but aren''t.

Four: Some of you want the Southend Manager in while some Shrimpers want the Manager out. If you don''t win, the short answer is probably the same.  I''m a wimp.  As long as we give them a decent game - make them work for their win - I''m okay.  I have never got personal about a player, never booed one on either side and neither could I. 

Five: based on your recent performances I''d be surprised if you are relegated but if you are that''s where you go or choose another club which isn''t relegated.

Six: Absolutely easy answer.  I''m a glory hunter by nature and therefore I chose Colchester United and Lincoln City or they were chosen by circumstances.  I do not regret that.

Last Saturday I punched the air when Frecklington (penalty) equalised against Grimsby Town - how saddo is that.

I also think that Mark Cousins should be in goal for Colchester instead of Gerken whom I don''t rate at all - first full start v Millwall....seen the video, excellent goalkeeping, some great cross keeping - terrific block against a sure fire equaliser. Not the Manager.

I did post on a board that I thought Cousins a better keeper than Gerken but I forgot to put my tin hat on and now I''m done for.[^o)]

   

 

 

[BlyBlyBabes 0]

[quote user="YankeeCanary"]Thanks for the input NYC. I understood the risk when I asked the questions, however, I believe most posters understand the unbiased role that Cameldonum plays on here and it''s different when someone asks for your input rather than offering it unsolicited. Of course, he can always politely say he''d rather not.[/quote]

Yankee, Harold forgot to tell you he put his bill in the mail yesterday.

Dollars please, our pound is fading away.

But there again Harold would say that a pound in your pocket is still a pound. So maybe either will do.

One love.

To the world!

OTBC

 

 

[YankeeCanary 0]

Thanks for the feedback Cameldonum. Not quite what I was looking for but it was my mistake in believing your focus was on sports journalism. Your contributions on the forum do provide some much needed balance however.

P.S: Bly, don''t worry about the pound. Like the fortunes of clubs the size of Norwich City, it will have its ups and down cycles. As long as you earn it yourself you can still have pride in its value. It''s when one makes demands with other people''s pounds that the greatest value seems to be lost.

 

[Nuff Said 5,965]

[quote user="Camuldonum"]

As an absolute aside and based on having to monitor Sado-Masochism groups for Her Majesty''s News of the World (currently a thing of the past) but anyone posting in CAPS is a DOM and anyone posting entirely in lower case is a subbie.  Top or bottom.  Those who can post either are a "switch".[8-|]

[/quote]Blimey, you clearly have hidden depths Cam!Sorry, that should read:BLIMEY, YOU CLEARLY HAVE HIDDEN DEPTHS CAM!