Sports Fans

[Mich the Tester]

I guess you could relate this to some of the your posts about the bad managers you've encountered.

Why do you think you know more about managment than experienced managers who've been managing in quite lofty positions for many years?

Everyone's got an opinion, and as long as it's not hurting anyone, I'm fine with people expressing it whether I agree with it or not...

I have quite a bit of management experience too.

Anyway, I’m not saying people shouldn’t voice an opinion. It’s just that too often I read stuff about people who think ‘<insert name of footy manager> should be sacked’ or ‘<player name> should be dropped’ and wonder whether fans really have the knowledge to make these statements.

[snaw]

Fair point.

What's wrong with expressing an opinion on something you love?

I may not be a pro, but I've played Association Football my whole life, I read about it every day, watch it live fairly regularly and would spend most nights watching it if available and my wife let me ...

I reckon I've got more of a clue than some managers who've got into the position based on the fact they used to play ...

And if you look at the best managers, generally speaking they were average players at best - if they played at all (Mourihno??)

[Mich the Tester]

Fair point.

What's wrong with expressing an opinion on something you love?

I may not be a pro, but I've played Association Football my whole life, I read about it every day, watch it live fairly regularly and would spend most nights watching it if available and my wife let me ...

I reckon I've got more of a clue than some managers who've got into the position based on the fact they used to play ...

And if you look at the best managers, generally speaking they were average players at best - if they played at all (Mourihno??)

Trouble is, those managers have a set of players and a set of circumstances to deal with. In any team, there are all sorts of things going on that are never released to the press. Those two guys hate each others’ guts. One guy’s mum is ill. Another bloke’s suffering from a depression brought on by his own feelings of failure, and some other chap’s just quivering at the thought that he might some day have a bad game and let everyone down. All this happens in swings and roundabouts. One year, just avoiding relegation might be a hell of a success given the circumstances, and another year winning the championship might be nothing less than expected. Surely players and managers need to be judged on their longer term contribution?

There might also be a very competent player or coach who has simply stayed at one club for too long and needs to move on; that doesn’t make him a fool.

[snaw]

Trouble is, those managers have a set of players and a set of circumstances to deal with. In any team, there are all sorts of things going on that are never released to the press. Those two guys hate each others’ guts. One guy’s mum is ill. Another bloke’s suffering from a depression brought on by his own feelings of failure, and some other chap’s just quivering at the thought that he might some day have a bad game and let everyone down. All this happens in swings and roundabouts. One year, just avoiding relegation might be a hell of a success given the circumstances, and another year winning the championship might be nothing less than expected. Surely players and managers need to be judged on their longer term contribution?

There might also be a very competent player or coach who has simply stayed at one club for too long and needs to move on; that doesn’t make him a fool.

Totally appreciate that, but equally it doesn't make a knowledgeable fans opinion any less valid.

Some managers don't have a clue either. Many players can play, but know SFA about the game ...