BLOG UPDATED - FRANKLY SPEAKING - An interesting day out in Burnley

[Frankly speaking 0]

Here is the text of my latest blog for those who can''t be bothered to access the blogs page!As ever feedback welcome.

AN INTERESTING DAY OUT IN BURNLEY

 

I have seen

City play at Burnley nearly every time they have visited in the last ten years

and until today I have always enjoyed myself. Outstanding memories include the

wonderful 5-3 win in the promotion season when Matty Svensson scored a sublime

header after a brilliant Drury/Huckerby move down the left and a rudderless

City (with the hapless Jim Duffy in charge) parading John Hartson in what must

surely be the biggest football shirt ever made.

 

Today,

however, with the rain teeming down throughout, had an altogether different

feel to it. Burnley FC have always enjoyed a pretty good reputation. As a lad I

well remember the accolades the club enjoyed as something of a football

‘academy’. Great players like Jimmy Adamson, Andy Lochhead and Ray Pointer (the

latter two were both present today, incidentally) earned the club almost

universal respect in the sixties and last year’s sojourn into the Premier

League seemed almost like the rebirth of a once great football club. Burnley is

a small town and its football club has always been a ‘proper’ club – even

allowing perhaps for an ill-fated escapade involving Paul Gascoigne.

BUT TODAY THINGS WERE DIFFERENT.

Right from

the start the home fans displayed a hostility towards us which was born of ill

feeling. Whether this was something to do with ‘Burnleygate’ and the whole Paul

Lambert affair I don’t know, perhaps having tasted life with the mega-rich and

still enjoying the benefits of parachute payments, Burnley supporters have forgotten

their roots. From the first minute to the last they harangued our players,

accusing us of cheating, dirty play and conning the referee. When Adam Drury

received a yellow card for what was admittedly a rash challenge, albeit one to

which he committed early on a slippery surface, the uproar was ridiculous. The

henceforth constant booing of one of the most honest professionals in the game

was disgraceful and, to my ears at least, went beyond what we would regard as

the usual cat-calling of an opponent.

 

Simeon

Jackson, too, was singled out for some pretty terrible abuse. From my seat in

the main stand I reckon there might have been one or two occasions when he went

to ground easily but honestly no more than almost all forward players do these

days, including those of Burnley. Nonetheless he was labelled a cheat

(expletives deleted) by most of those around me despite the fact that he almost

never won a free kick, most crucially when he was clearly fouled as they won

possession before their first goal.

However, the

worst abuse was reserved for Holty. The Horse put in his usual shift – mixing

it physically with the opposition’s big central defenders, backing in (as any

forward must), standing his ground, making tackles, harrying and chasing. To

top it off, of course, he scored a superb equaliser. To hear him accused of

blatant thuggery moved me to take issue with one woman seated behind me. I

pointed out to her that on at least two occasions Burnley players who had gone

down and stayed down as if seriously injured were instantly up and running once

a free kick had been given when initially it looked as though they were certain

stretcher cases and that this was just as much cheating as anything any Norwich

player had done. Her abuse did her no credit and spoke of zero understanding of

the game.

 

The irony of

the whole situation came when the Burnley winner ensued from a free kick given

for a pretty innocuous Holt challenge which saw the Burnley player concerned

sprawl headlong as if he had been shot.

 

St. Paul and

his coaching team tried something different today, understandably perhaps

opting to play the first half with all three of his recently excellent

centre-backs in a back three with Adam and Cafu slightly more advanced than

usual in a midfield five. It didn’t really work as Burnley with the excellent

Eagles pulling the strings particularly exploited the space behind Drury to

deliver a number of dangerous balls. That said we went in only one down and

with Lambert changing things back to our favoured back four and diamond after

the break City were superb.

 

You win some

and you lose some (not many these days, though) and most of us accept that. Supporters

are notoriously partisan and we accept that. It grieved me today, though, that

followers of a once highly-respected and very English team should be so hostile

and abusive towards another.

It wasn’t

just the weather that was foul in Burnley today.

[Woman in the Stands (WITS) 0]

An interesting read, thanks. Sounds like quite a day. I''ve heard that prior to this fixture, Burnely has always been a good day out.Were you sitting with the home fans then? It comes across as if you were.

[Frankly speaking 0]

I was in the Bob Lord stand as a guest of a Burnley supporting friend.

[The gut 0]

"spoke of zero understanding of the game." well Frankly, I am sorry to say that I think your blog spoke the same. Try reading it and switching everything over as us the home team them the away team and all the scenarios, if you still feel the same I would be concerned about your reality issues.

   I had a great time up there, mixing with Burnley fans who were good company before and after the game, the only things that spoiled it for me was our poor attendance and the fact our team didn''t do the business, the rain was nothing compared to the result. With regards to ill feeling over the Lambert affair I think that only exists with our fans. Their fans never mentioned it and seemed genuinely surprised when asked about it, perhaps they have moved on a little quicker than our fans who were virtually crying about Lambert leaving as soon as the approach was mentioned. Our fans seemed more concerned about singing the clever little "he said no" song than anything else. Trouble is it meant eff all, losing it''s significance as we got beat.

[Frankly speaking 0]

I think it''s a bit harsh to say I have ''zero understanding of the game'' because I was offended by the Burnley fans'' reaction!

I honestly don''t think we give opponents quite the vitriolic treatment our players got last week. If you found them friendly then you must have met different ones from me!

The particular incident I referred to was when a woman seated behind me accused Holt of deliberately kicking Mears in the head in an attempt to put him out of the game.

Of course, it''s all about opinions and I''m glad your experience was better than mine.

[The gut 0]

[quote user="Frankly speaking"]I think it''s a bit harsh to say I have ''zero understanding of the game'' because I was offended by the Burnley fans'' reaction! I honestly don''t think we give opponents quite the vitriolic treatment our players got last week. If you found them friendly then you must have met different ones from me! The particular incident I referred to was when a woman seated behind me accused Holt of deliberately kicking Mears in the head in an attempt to put him out of the game. Of course, it''s all about opinions and I''m glad your experience was better than mine.[/quote]

Speaking frankly Frankly speaking can be harsh, it is often the nature of speaking frankly. I am sure the woman you referred to would also consider it harsh. I will call it little understanding if it helps, and these are my reasons why :-

1. Drury could easily got and possibly deserved a red, opposing fans usually try to influence the ref. I understand they exaggerate the incident, to upset the player, stir up the atmosphere etc that is very much part of the game. Additionally we might know that Drury is an honest player and wouldn''t hurt a fly but I don''t think you should ever expect other fans give your players the benefit of the doubt. I would be surprised if you do not understand this.

2. I was embarrassed when asked about Jackson because to be honest it was pi$$ing me off the amount of times he was going down easily. Opposing fans aren''t going to be thinking "aww poor little fella is trying his best, but is struggling to make the step up to this league." They will treat him like a cheat, they will be worried they concede a pen or free kick, of course they will show their anger and influence ref and player. I understand that to be part of the game, don''t you? The fact you mention that he hardly never won a free kick should tell you something - the ref didn''t believe it, of course they will see that as cheating.

3. Admittedly the player went down softly for the Holt challenge that led to their goal but I tell you I had a lovely view of that incident and thought "you tw@t Holt "as soon as he nudged him. That was one of the most stupid challenges to make, there was no real danger, it was going nowhere. Players make good and bad decisions, their player didn''t need to make a meal of it, the ref blew straight away, I understand you see those decisions for and against you every week don''t you.

4. Holt being accused of thuggery, come on, surely you can see their point. Holt has his way of playing, he knows what he is doing, we know what he is doing, so do they, they are not stupid. He attracts the attention he gets for good reason, I understand that other fans will hate this, they will accuse him of anything they can, he leaves himself open to that. We all furking love Grant Holt but his sh1t won''t smell of roses. Do you not think this is all part of the game.

5. Regardless of how right I think I am, if I am sitting with the opposing fans and decide to air my opinion with them during quite a tense match I understand I am going to get some foul abuse. Not only do I understand that, it is the very least I expect, I wouldn''t be surprised if I took a punch or two. I am extremely miffed that you would not understand that.

6. It seems to me that understandably you have written your blog after viewing through yella n green specs but I think you have failed to understand that Burnley fans watched it through claret and blue ones, I don''t expect fair treatment in football games when analysing with other fans I am surprised that you appear to.

It is a shame that you had such a poor day out, and probably a shame you didn''t take advantage of sitting in the many empty seats amongst our own fans. In fact here is something I don''t understand, how could you ever sit with their fans when there is room to be with your own? I still feel though that you would be feeling just as disappointed as the rest of us but that you would not have been picked on by a Burnley woman and having salt rubbed into your wounds. Sorry to be harsh but that is how I see it Frankly.    

[Frankly speaking 0]

Frankly..I can''t argue with much of that. Your points are well made.

I always sit with the travelling contingent except at Burnley where I am always a guest of an old friend.

She was very objectionable, though. And I still think I detected an unpleasantness that I have not felt before.

[The gut 0]

It is a shame Frankly but don''t dwell on it. In the words of the great Jimmy Greaves - "its a funny ol'' game". Great experiences at games can change at the drop of a hat. Feelings of joy can soon change to hate, atmospheres can be different from one year to the next. Sometimes just being in the wrong place at the wrong time with wrong person around you can make the difference of whether you enjoy the day or not, and that includes your own fans. To be honest we have some right tossers who I wouldn''t want to spend five minutes with let alone drink with them, you get idiots at every club. I travelled with a couple of Burnley mates and met their mates before and after in their drinking clubs, they had a ticket and I could have sat with them, but we split for the game and met afterwards, I think that is the best way.