Samwiggs reply to

By Samwigg
November 22 2006

I know lets get a big banner saying 'Sack The Board' or even 'Sack the Players' - lets really go for it! That should really motivate the players, or even as some have suggested lets boycott games and watch Bedford, lets really show the players what support really is!

And then we maybe all the corporate boxes closed and replaced by good local traditional businesses such as cobblers, the local butcher, oh and while we are it lets bring in some corrogated iron with holes in it to get that traditional club feel back!

Maybe its just me fighting a lonely corner in the 'B' but is it all really that in terms of doom and gloom. We all accept that recruitment has been poor and lets be honest its been like that since we won the H Cup - we had a chance then to move on and recruit but we didn't and since then we have been treading water competing against teams across Europe. But its now been acknowledged that this is an area of improvement so has been addressed - see programme and job adverts.

And then there's the academy which yet again we recognise as failing but yet again (see prog) its accepted that we are two years behind everyone else but looking at the Junior Academy and the youngsters we have tried in the first team (Harries looked quick and elusive and Myler even after 6 games showed he can offload and run an angle) there seems to be some small shoots of progress - yet again its been recognised as an issue and is being addressed

And then there's the traditional feel that people feel let down by, lets be honest that went when the old rickety below Health and Safety stands went, personally I now have a better view than the old terrace, I'm not worried about the clock falling on my head when sitting in the main stand! I can't recall too many players coming into the bar afterwards to drink with supporters as most went upstairs for meals in the 'old' days, I can't recall the choice of food, beverages, things for the kids that we now have in the traditional old days. I can't recall the events that we now put on for all, I can't recall the open days - so maybe tradition isn't soooo great! We are now a team of 13,500 people which wouldn't be the case if we had stuck with tradition! Some seem to be quite quick to pick on Mr PS as the evil tradition ender especially with regards to the bars, pre Tetleys stand we had a smokey tiny bar in the pavilion which was only open to members, a bar which was for ex-players and that was it - so yet again isn't tradition great!

And another thing my pet hate is commitment or the so-called lack of it from players that people bleat on about! I couldn't fault the commitment on Saturday, we were outplayed by a bigger and more street wise team to prevent this comes down to recruitment! Someone show me a game with no commitment, I watched the Quins game and yet again I couldn't fault the commitment and desire contrary to Mr G. Someone mentioned about ex-players showing more commitment when they played, I think Rodber was cited as an example of commitment now I'm sorry to burst bubbles but thats rubbish anyone remember the season we went down, we were rubbish and had a bunch of internationals who lets be fair could not be bothered until it was too late! This current bunch do show commitment its application and execution we lack and with the umpteenth backline chosen what do you all expect!?!?!

And my last point is about 'our' support - where's that!! - not even an early try on Sat could wake us from our slumber - we were winning but you wouldn't think it for the first ten minutes - seemed like we were in a library! Go on someone quote the its a 'two way thing' rubbish, you support even when the chips are down, when the teams heads go down then we support and get them up not currently mutter under our breaths and go home early! When the team is on a high then we shout and push them further! No matter whether we agree or disagree with some of the clubs policies on the price of beer, pasties, not being allowed on the bouncy castle for being 20 years too old we still shout for the BGG! The lack of support (I don't mean people turning up I mean volume) at home games has been evident for the last two/three years and to get any real Saints noise you have to go to away games i.e. Biarritz. I know there's a whole load of 'new' fans who've never probably witnessed roof being raised off the Gordon Road Terrace through noise or seen the atmosphere when we beat Wasps at home in the Euro Quarter final and probably think this is the norm and it probably now is. We need to get back to our core values of Saints supporters which is to shout unconditional suuport for the team. We now have a reputation for being a 'Sing when your Winning' set of supporters who are quite happy to jump on our own players backs when we knock on, lets try and cut this out, the players are at a low and I'm sure there confidence has been knocked through a combination of losing and injuries mounting up, what we need to do is back them to the hilt give them that extra shot in the arm, show them what it means to us to be a Saint. Personally I'm as responsible for this morose attitude at the ground as the person next to me, I was shocked with how much of a mutterer/complainer I've become, so I've decided that come win, lose or get a hammering I am going to shout and holler for my boys!

As for my shirt I will wear it with pride no matter the occasion, game or result, I am a Saintsman and my colours mean a hell of a lot to me to just disregard them.

Rant over