Fan's View FAN’S VIEW: 24/25 – No.19 MIDDLESBROUGH AT HOME

[NottsYellow]

Thanks Paul, great summary as usual.
Yep, Elland Road, Saturday before Christmas. Just got our tickets. I have a sneaking feeling we may just get our first away win of the season there. A bit like back in 1985/86, our first season in the old Division One, it got to January and we simply couldn't get an away win then we were faced with a trip to Stamford Bridge, Chelsea were ready to go top with an "easy" win. But with a fine display we came out winners 4-1.

 

[TheDukeOfBanburyshire]

I can understand people leaving early, especially when we are 4 goals to the bad. As I said before though, I *cannot* understand people buggering off at half time when we are 2 down.

I agree in the main, but thought also needs to given for the people who are being asked to leave by others, rather than them simply deciding enough is enough themselves.

By choice, I would never leave an Oxford game early, but my matchday experience has changed significantly this season as it's the first year my sons have joined me.

My youngest is autistic and, while he really enjoys being at a game, does not have the emotional toolkit required to accept and rationalise the highs and the lows of the personal investment, particularly during a loss. The West Brom game was difficult enough for us (until injury time!) but Saturday was simply too much for him.

He asked to leave before half time. While I'm a committed Oxford fan, I'm a father first and foremost, and the wellbeing of my son naturally takes precedence.

Just a thought.

 

[Oxford57]

Due to illness I stayed at home for this game,at some stage this season I thought we would get a bit of a mauling from someone, hopefully that was the game, the injury list has not helped over the last month either in team selection, with bodies back things should improve I hope,only time will tell, with goals being hard to come by its a bit of a nervy time

 

[TheDukeOfBanburyshire]

Due to illness I stayed at home for this game,at some stage this season I thought we would get a bit of a mauling from someone, hopefully that was the game, the injury list has not helped over the last month either in team selection, with bodies back things should improve I hope,only time will tell, with goals being hard to come by its a bit of a nervy time

My concern is heads may drop if we are on the receiving end of another hammering tomorrow night, which is entirely possible.

Low morale may well counteract any positives that would otherwise have improved the squad by players returning.

I'm pretty concerned at the moment. If confidence does evaporate after tomorrow, then we're unlikely to capitalise on the easier run of fixtures coming up.

This could well be a season-defining period.

 

[ZeroTheHero]

I agree in the main, but thought also needs to given for the people who are being asked to leave by others, rather than them simply deciding enough is enough themselves.

By choice, I would never leave an Oxford game early, but my matchday experience has changed significantly this season as it's the first year my sons have joined me.

My youngest is autistic and, while he really enjoys being at a game, does not have the emotional toolkit required to accept and rationalise the highs and the lows of the personal investment, particularly during a loss. The West Brom game was difficult enough for us (until injury time!) but Saturday was simply too much for him.

He asked to leave before half time. While I'm a committed Oxford fan, I'm a father first and foremost, and the wellbeing of my son naturally takes precedence.

Just a thought.

Yes, of course there are always exceptions and I were with someone in the same situation I would of course go as well. But looking to the right out of the East Stand at half time there was a steady stream of people wandering off - call me cynical, but I suspect not all of them had a sudden pressing appointment elsewhere or a family member who needed to leave.

Nobody is perfect of course - I have left matches a few minutes early (whatever the score) if I am playing a gig that night and have to get home in good time, and once managed to get to cup match at Brentford very late and managed to miss us scoring three goals!!!

 

[werthersoriginal]

Yes, of course there are always exceptions and I were with someone in the same situation I would of course go as well. But looking to the right out of the East Stand at half time there was a steady stream of people wandering off - call me cynical, but I suspect not all of them had a sudden pressing appointment elsewhere or a family member who needed to leave.

Nobody is perfect of course - I have left matches a few minutes early (whatever the score) if I am playing a gig that night and have to get home in good time, and once managed to get to cup match at Brentford very late and managed to miss us scoring three goals!!!

And if half our home end lives in Hampshire or wherever that’s an issue in itself

 

[holdsteady]

And if half our home end lives in Hampshire or wherever that’s an issue in itself

I live in Hampshire (just about) and I stayed till the end, my cousin lives in greater leys and he didn’t

 

[QR]

Thing is, it’s not the cinema, it’s not just for ‘entertainment’, you’re meant to be a supporter, and the protagonists can see if you’ve sloped off. Fair enough that people have stuff going on and car issues etc, and letting in six is a special case, but I bet fans in hotbeds like Newcastle and Sunderland don’t all leave if they’re losing. I can walk home and i always want to see what happens, I’m not claiming any personal moral superiority.

My brother left early (not sat near me) but I didn't. Strange seeing as we were travelling in the same car!

 

[Paul B]

I agree in the main, but thought also needs to given for the people who are being asked to leave by others, rather than them simply deciding enough is enough themselves.

By choice, I would never leave an Oxford game early, but my matchday experience has changed significantly this season as it's the first year my sons have joined me.

My youngest is autistic and, while he really enjoys being at a game, does not have the emotional toolkit required to accept and rationalise the highs and the lows of the personal investment, particularly during a loss. The West Brom game was difficult enough for us (until injury time!) but Saturday was simply too much for him.

He asked to leave before half time. While I'm a committed Oxford fan, I'm a father first and foremost, and the wellbeing of my son naturally takes precedence.

Just a thought.

As I’ve said many a time I fully understand why some people have to leave early (or arrive late) – that for me demonstrates loyalty by turning up at all. Got to play a gig or be at a wedding or whatever but can watch about an hour without getting into trouble. Why not.

Absolutely admire family members who take children with autism, ADHD etc. Sometimes I’ve been amazed how long they’ve lasted without heading for the exit tbh.

 

[SSO]

I left as soon as the 5th went in. We just were not at the races and they punished some errors clinically. Last time I left early was when Reading beat us 5-1 in the League Cup at the Manor on a Saturday afternoon.

For me I got home that little bit earlier without the aggravation of being stuck in traffic. The rain had abated somewhat and as I managed to park up and walk 12 mins to and from the ground without getting wet my disappointment in the result soon disappeared.

It was just one of those games where everything the opponents do turns in their favour and the marginal decisions went their way too. Yes it was a pen. Silly challenge as I don't think they would have scored there. The offside I was unhappy with but was a bit unsure and much of the South Stand were the same. I have seen it on TV and the freeze frame they put on it during the highlights reel was inconclusive as it was a few frames out.

I absolutely detest VAR and with it we may have had a case even if it would be totally against my wishes. Having said that once you realise that the goal is going to stand all you are left with is berating the lino which is always entertaining in itself.

 

[TheDukeOfBanburyshire]

Yes, of course there are always exceptions and I were with someone in the same situation I would of course go as well. But looking to the right out of the East Stand at half time there was a steady stream of people wandering off - call me cynical, but I suspect not all of them had a sudden pressing appointment elsewhere or a family member who needed to leave.

Nobody is perfect of course - I have left matches a few minutes early (whatever the score) if I am playing a gig that night and have to get home in good time, and once managed to get to cup match at Brentford very late and managed to miss us scoring three goals!!!

Yep totally agree. The optics aren't good.

I've said this before and have been chastised for doing so, but other than a few thousand extremely loyal fans I think our general fan base isn't very 'sticky', hence why attendances have fluctuated significantly over the years.

It's frustrating when we can attract 35,000 plus to Wembley trips, yet (other than this season) have had pretty poor average gates, truth be told, otherwise.

We've all seen the new faces on a match day, and the new day trippers do seem fairly obvious.
I really hope they become loyal fans, but I have my reservations.

 

[holdsteady]

Yep totally agree. The optics aren't good.

I've said this before and have been chastised for doing so, but other than a few thousand extremely loyal fans I think our general fan base isn't very 'sticky', hence why attendances have fluctuated significantly over the years.

It's frustrating when we can attract 35,000 plus to Wembley trips, yet (other than this season) have had pretty poor average gates, truth be told, otherwise.

We've all seen the new faces on a match day, and the new day trippers do seem fairly obvious.
I really hope they become loyal fans, but I have my reservations.

Have our crowds been poor for a side that went twenty five years without playing in the top two divisions? Hasn’t played top flight football for 37 years (and then only for 3 years), that played in non league football up until the 60s and had a spell back there as recently as the late noughts?

Clubs always take more to Wembley, clubs always have bigger crowds when they are doing well, no exceptions, clubs always have fans leave early when they are getting smashed, again no exceptions.

I know we lost 6-2 at the weekend, everyone gets turned over occasionally, but the doom spiral on here can get a bit much.

 

[TheDukeOfBanburyshire]

Have our crowds been poor for a side that went twenty five years without playing in the top two divisions? Hasn’t played top flight football for 37 years (and then only for 3 years), that played in non league football up until the 60s and had a spell back there as recently as the late noughts?

Clubs always take more to Wembley, clubs always have bigger crowds when they are doing well, no exceptions, clubs always have fans leave early when they are getting smashed, again no exceptions.

I know we lost 6-2 at the weekend, everyone gets turned over occasionally, but the doom spiral on here can get a bit much.

No doom spiral from me. One loss doesn't change my overall view. Why do you read my post as being negative?

I'm very pleased we are attracting more fans at the moment. I'm just pointing out what I see is us having a significant proportion of casual fans.

 

[holdsteady]

No doom spiral from me. One loss doesn't change my overall view. Why do you read my post as being negative?

I'm very pleased we are attracting more fans at the moment. I'm just pointing out what I see is us having a significant proportion of casual fans.

Its not exactly positive, although its not just you so it was more of a reaction to the overall (fairly understandable reaction) in the last few days.

In what way are we different than any other club in the attendance respect? Especially one that has been through a similar situation? What were Wrexhams crowds up until very recently? What were Readings pre new ground and what has happened since they slipped? Even Leeds and Sunderland, bigger clubs with far more history saw big drop offs. Loads more examples.

We are no different than any other club.

 

[Colin B]

Yep totally agree. The optics aren't good.

I've said this before and have been chastised for doing so, but other than a few thousand extremely loyal fans I think our general fan base isn't very 'sticky', hence why attendances have fluctuated significantly over the years.

It's frustrating when we can attract 35,000 plus to Wembley trips, yet (other than this season) have had pretty poor average gates, truth be told, otherwise.

We've all seen the new faces on a match day, and the new day trippers do seem fairly obvious.
I really hope they become loyal fans, but I have my reservations.

I'm sorry, but you're wrong here.

The statistics show that our crowds, when we have been doing poorly, have held up remarkably well compared to almost all other clubs. Our lowest ever average, is higher than many supposedly "bigger" clubs, when they were at their lowest ebb, and this has always been a factor at Oxford United.

I think your comments are pretty insulting actually, and one thing Oxford United fans are not is flaky. You may want to re-think your comments.

 

[SirAndyOfCrosby]

We've all seen the new faces on a match day, and the new day trippers do seem fairly obvious.

Do they?

What I've actually seen is plenty of old faces attending with more regularity (I've personally bumped into multiple old heads that I hadn't previously seen for  years).

These are not day trippers. These are people who went to Droylsden, Farsley and Barrow. They stood on the LR. They were on the pitch at full time in the Rushden 2nd leg.

It's odd. There are some folk at OUFC who seem to regard any face that hasn't been sat next to them every game for the last 25 years as a 'day tripper'.

Up in the SSU there are plenty of faces around me that are long term ST holders, but, if we hadn't moved over to the SSU a few years ago I wouldn't have recognised (they don't do away games, don't drink in pubs pre-game etc). Ironically these can be deemend 'day trippers' - they turn up, sit on their hands and go home again without making a peep?

Whereas plenty of the lads I've seen are passionate supporters who have been off having a family or moved away etc etc.

Just because you don't personally recognise someone doesn't mean they are a day tripper.

 

[TheDukeOfBanburyshire]

I'm sorry, but you're wrong here.

The statistics show that our crowds, when we have been doing poorly, have held up remarkably well compared to almost all other clubs. Our lowest ever average, is higher than many supposedly "bigger" clubs, when they were at their lowest ebb, and this has always been a factor at Oxford United.

I think your comments are pretty insulting actually, and one thing Oxford United fans are not is flaky. You may want to re-think your comments.

'Insulting' is a little strong, Colin. We're discussing the fact that a lot of people can't understand why so many fans leave early, after all.

'Flaky', as you put it, isn't that strong an accusation, considering the context, surely?

 

[Kernow Yellow]

Do they?

What I've actually seen is plenty of old faces attending with more regularity (I've personally bumped into multiple old heads that I hadn't previously seen for  years).

These are not day trippers. These are people who went to Droylsden, Farsley and Barrow. They stood on the LR. They were on the pitch at full time in the Rushden 2nd leg.

It's odd. There are some folk at OUFC who seem to regard any face that hasn't been sat next to them every game for the last 25 years as a 'day tripper'.

Up in the SSU there are plenty of faces around me that are long term ST holders, but, if we hadn't moved over to the SSU a few years ago I wouldn't have recognised (they don't do away games, don't drink in pubs pre-game etc). Ironically these can be deemend 'day trippers' - they turn up, sit on their hands and go home again without making a peep?

Whereas plenty of the lads I've seen are passionate supporters who have been off having a family or moved away etc etc.

Just because you don't personally recognise someone doesn't mean they are a day tripper.

Exactly this. We have a large pool of fans, as is proved whenever we get to Wembley (and indeed by ST sales this year). Many of us have have been fans for years, but life circumstances dictate that we can't attend regularly - I now have a 450 mile round trip to Oxford, 3 kids and a full-time job. I've only been to one home game so far this season and a couple of aways. But I would feel very insulted if anyone thought of me as a 'casual fan' or 'day tripper'. There are thousands like me. And I sing up, and don't leave early!

The idea that we have a hardcore of a few thousand super loyal fans and the rest of us are somehow 'lesser' is insulting. Why is this hardcore not selling out all our away games? Everyone makes life choices. But we're all fans, and doing what we can.

 

[Colin B]

'Insulting' is a little strong, Colin. We're discussing the fact that a lot of people can't understand why so many fans leave early, after all.

'Flaky', as you put it, isn't that strong an accusation, considering the context, surely?

I was responding to the bit I highlighted from your post, where you said specifically that our attendances "have fluctuated significantly over the years" and were "pretty poor".

My post is nothing to do with leaving early, that is a separate issue.

I feel offended by those comments, so yes, insulting fits the bill. We don't have the highest attendances in the league, but we do have a very loyal fanbase, who have stuck with the club through thick and (mostly) thin. We have had attendances to be proud of during these times, not to be criticised as poor by someone who hasn't really thought it through.

 

[holdsteady]

Do they?

What I've actually seen is plenty of old faces attending with more regularity (I've personally bumped into multiple old heads that I hadn't previously seen for  years).

These are not day trippers. These are people who went to Droylsden, Farsley and Barrow. They stood on the LR. They were on the pitch at full time in the Rushden 2nd leg.

It's odd. There are some folk at OUFC who seem to regard any face that hasn't been sat next to them every game for the last 25 years as a 'day tripper'.

Up in the SSU there are plenty of faces around me that are long term ST holders, but, if we hadn't moved over to the SSU a few years ago I wouldn't have recognised (they don't do away games, don't drink in pubs pre-game etc). Ironically these can be deemend 'day trippers' - they turn up, sit on their hands and go home again without making a peep?

Whereas plenty of the lads I've seen are passionate supporters who have been off having a family or moved away etc etc.

Just because you don't personally recognise someone doesn't mean they are a day tripper.

Maybe regular away game goers can recognise a decent amount of those that go away, although as those numbers have grown that must be getting harder but no one can tell if a person has been going years or not amongst our home crowds, far to many people and you are there to infrequently, for to short a time and are to spread out.

Always find the claim that people know who is a regular and who is a day tripper (as if there are not a lot grades in between that) just by looking at them as a bit deluded and fantastical, that they know every true Oxford fan somehow personally. I have worked at the same place as someone for nearly a year before we realised we both had season tickets in the east stand before, wouldn't even have known he was an Oxford fan before that.