Fans

[londondude]

These loyal fans are people like me who support the club through thick and thin. Ok tonight was the worse game i have ever seen us play. What i don't like is people who say i am not going on saturday or these muppetts who leave at half time.

Do we really want/need supporters like this? This is why atmosphere at away games is so much better as the supporters there are there because they want to be.

I will probably be moaned at because of this but it just my opinion

 

[Houghton Bee]

we need every fan we can get, moaning or not, to stay afloat.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

Just look how fragile it is though. We go from 5000+ on a good run to 3000+ on a bad one. You do sometimes think that one more bad season could kill this club - I shudder to think how we'd end up if we remained in this division too long.

 

[brickie]

These loyal fans are people like me who support the club through thick and thin. Ok tonight was the worse game i have ever seen us play. What i don't like is people who say i am not going on saturday or these muppetts who leave at half time.

Do we really want/need supporters like this? This is why atmosphere at away games is so much better as the supporters there are there because they want to be.

I will probably be moaned at because of this but it just my opinion

MUPPETS ....yeah?

 

[big neil]

This is why atmosphere at away games is so much better as the supporters there are there because they want to be.

Does that mean we're forced into GP for home games with a cattle prod?

 

[Markybee]

Just look how fragile it is though. We go from 5000+ on a good run to 3000+ on a bad one. You do sometimes think that one more bad season could kill this club - I shudder to think how we'd end up if we remained in this division too long.

 

[sonofabee]

Just look how fragile it is though. We go from 5000+ on a good run to 3000+ on a bad one. You do sometimes think that one more bad season could kill this club - I shudder to think how we'd end up if we remained in this division too long.

The problem is Les that too a neutral, what's the point of leaving the warm of the house and Champions league football to watch 4th division football vs Bury.

I only go sometimes out of loyalty as if I'm honest the thought of watching Accy Stanley, Macclesfield, Morecambe, Shrewsbury, Mansfield, Rochdale, D+R, etc is painful, so how can we really expect to get new fanbase on board.

However, if we can start next season well and maintain good results playing stylish brand of football that gets favourable coverage on Radio London and Talksport we'll build on the 3000diehards. If we get up and keep playing the same way getting results people will start returning. There's a lot more southern sides, local and interesting fixtures, meaning bigger away support, much better atmosphere at games and hopefully more chance of people returning.

 

[ladbroke]

Im not going this Saturday, but that is because im in France.

Back next Tuesday. Stayed until the end tonight, and will do after every game I attend, whatever the scoreline.

My blood flows Brentford throughout!

 

[Owlsmoor_Bee]

What I find odd is the relatively poor home following is coupled with a very impressive away one. Take the postponed Accy game for example, who else in our league would've taken 900 - 1000 fans all that way ? It was astonishing imho.

 

[LingfieldBee]

I will always make 100% effort to make every game, cant obv make em all as im still student and the cost is just too much, problem with fan base results from the clubs spiral after promtion miss after the next. Another big problem is the bigger clubs around us, people dont want to watch league two football if they can watch Chapionship Prem football instead, only way to bring back attendances is performances on the pitch!

 

[Owlsmoor_Bee]

Oh, and as for the original question, yes we need every fan we can get, albeit it pains me to say it. Sitting in D Block I have to endure so of the most negative tossers I've ever heard and certainly I'd struggle to be disappointed if the whinging **** a couple of rows in front of me who booed after 10 minutes chose never to darken GP again.

 

[beeeehive]

The problem is Les that too a neutral, what's the point of leaving the warm of the house and Champions league football to watch 4th division football vs Bury.

Yep, that about sums it up for me and I had the pleasure of watching one of the finest quality performances of football by Arsenal I've ever seen tonight, truely awesome display of football.

It's very hard to stay loyal when you feel like you are getting ripped off, especially after the last 2 seasons. At times the football is no better then sunday league stuff to be honest. The cost is probably the biggest factor on fans vanishing. Loyalty works both ways :shrug:

 

[Jimbee]

I love this 'worst game ever' thing that comes up after every wretched home defeat which must number double figures in the last two seasons alone.

 

[loyalbee]

Im not going this Saturday, but that is because im in France.

Back next Tuesday. Stayed until the end tonight, and will do after every game I attend, whatever the scoreline.

My blood flows Brentford throughout!

top post, ealing road was certainly better second half once the idoits had ****ed off back to the pub

 

[robBEEh]

And so the question is posed again "what amounts to loyal?"

I think we all probably have our own achilles heel of what rubs us up the wrong way and for me our own players being slagged off during the game is just madness as it's obviously counter-productive.

But i did say i wouldnt go on Saturday and it remains to be seen whether the passage of time between now and the weekend neutralises the feeling of disappointment, frustration and just a little anger after watching that bo**ox following on from Chesterfield, Accy and Darlo. I like a number of others deserved more than that.

 

[brickie]

The fact of the matter is,as been posted by LES BEEAVINU is if we dont get a side that can keep up performances week in week out then the crowds will natually drop.It's great that we have new plans for a new stadium ..etc,but fans wont want to see the cr$p that was put out at tonights game...next saturday...or next tuesday on the cost of parting with £20 agame.There are posts tonight of seeing the worst 45 mins of football thev'e seen for donkey's year's!..i have to agree,giving i've been going since 1977.Over thirty years i'm struggling to think of a worse 45 mins.So thats the reason some of us left at half time like so called MUPPETTS,is because we didn't feel like getting all wound up over another 45mins!...and from what i've heard it wasn't much f£cking better!So unless we get the consistancy on the field first! some fans might stay the full 90 mins!

loyalty or not fans were entitled to p$ss off after that dire display!

 

[Owlsmoor_Bee]

And so the question is posed again "what amounts to loyal?"

I think we all probably have our own achilles heel of what rubs us up the wrong way and for me our own players being slagged off during the game is just madness as it's obviously counter-productive.

But i did say i wouldnt go on Saturday and it remains to be seen whether the passage of time between now and the weekend neutralises the feeling of disappointment, frustration and just a little anger after watching that bo**ox following on from Chesterfield, Accy and Darlo. I like a number of others deserved more than that.

This I totally agree with. I've noticed this has become far more of a feature amongst some of the fans around me. I understand the dreadful performances last year and during the 1st half of this season have taken their toll but some of the comments aimed at the players tonight were nothing short of disgraceful - especially seeing as many of the players are not much more than kids.:sad:

 

[readingbee]

This I totally agree with. I've noticed this has become far more of a feature amongst some of the fans around me. I understand the dreadful performances last year and during the 1st half of this season have taken their toll but some of the comments aimed at the players tonight were nothing short of disgraceful - especially seeing as many of the players are not much more than kids.:sad:

Good post, I would never and have ever slagged the players off, I cannot understand people who do.
However after 30 years of supporting the Bees home and away, my ability to endure this crap is waring thin. I understand some of the feelings about loyalty however some of the posters have only been supporting a short amount of time. Some like myself have have had to endure this for decades. Financially I have to pick and chose what to watch and balance this up with what else I want to do. I can't play golf every week and watch the Bees at present, up to tonight the Bees were winning. However a nice round of golf looks very appealing.
People have the right to spend their money how they see fit and at present Brentford is not worth the £19. I think the club IS going in the right direction and was more than happy when I read that BeeH and ABee were back on board and I do feel that AS will do good things, will I be here in a couple of years .........I hope so, but not sure at this time. Sorry for the rambling all the best RB.

 

[robBEEh]

The people that attend games regularly have more ammunition to form their own opinions and we are all closet managers when we watch games with our own opinions of what would improve what's happening on the pitch.

But i just don't get the mentality of own our 'supporters' abusing our own players .What do they expect to achieve? I understand frustration but there aren't many players who will think 'i'll f**kin show you' when it comes from one of your own. Just look at the body language of Thorpe towards the end of his time here and he's someone who's been around the block a few times. If it does that to him then what will it do to the younger ones.

If the 'shouter' gets a sense of satisfaction from their prey leaving the pitch or even, in extremis, the club then 'job done' but that will not necessarily be to the benefit of the club. Shame a few are a bit too blinkered to see that. This is when you have to trust the man in charge to do the right thing to take the team forward and if he doesn't then in this day and age he knows what is likely to happen.

I get frustrated too but, i'm sorry, telling one of our own to (metaphorically?) f**k off achieves nothing positive. Leave it to those with the power to mean it to say it.

 

[JBN]

What is it with all this b***ocks about I'm more loyal than the next men, I've been supporting BFC through thick and thin since I was an embryo.

Christ alive, if the performances are sh*te, then fans are going to stay away, there will be a hardcore who go regardless, but that doesn't make those that stay away any less loyal.

I haven't been to GP at all this season, I got the hump over being kicked out of my seat in Brook Road after not being consulted and that was that. All the time I don't go, I find other things to do on a Saturday afternoon, like take my boys out (one is too young for the footy and the other isn't hugely interested at the moment but I'm trying to beat it into him). The longer I stay away, the harder it is to get back.

I may pop in later in the season and grace Ealing Road with my presence and spend 90 minutes looking longly towards the other end of the ground at my old seat, whilst wearing sunglasses and a baseball hat to keep the sun out my eyes.

 

[Brain-dead Bee]

We arguably can do without those who yell abuse at young players and possibly make things even worse, but to want to lose anyone who isn't 100% committed and willing to attend every possible game is lunacy.

As a S/T holder, this doesn't affect me, but for those on a tight income 3 games in a week may be a drain on cash-flow, and last night's performance wouldn't tempt that sort of person to come to the next 2.

Our hard-core seems to be shrinking: in previous seasins it seemed to be around 4,000; now 3,000 seems nearer the mark. At 19.35 last night GP was a depressing sight with virtually no-one in; it picked up as the rest of the crowd came in, until the match restored the gloom

 

[Luton Bee]

I shudder to think how we'd end up if we remained in this division too long.

You clearly haven't seen the latest proposals from the "cut it to the bone" people then?

 

[hayes bee]

The fact of the matter is,as been posted by LES BEEAVINU is if we dont get a side that can keep up performances week in week out then the crowds will natually drop.It's great that we have new plans for a new stadium ..etc,but fans wont want to see the cr$p that was put out at tonights game...next saturday...or next tuesday on the cost of parting with £20 agame.There are posts tonight of seeing the worst 45 mins of football thev'e seen for donkey's year's!..i have to agree,giving i've been going since 1977.Over thirty years i'm struggling to think of a worse 45 mins.So thats the reason some of us left at half time like so called MUPPETTS,is because we didn't feel like getting all wound up over another 45mins!...and from what i've heard it wasn't much f£cking better!So unless we get the consistancy on the field first! some fans might stay the full 90 mins!

loyalty or not fans were entitled to p$ss off after that dire display!

spot on mate

 

[BuzzBeeSi]

Just look how fragile it is though. We go from 5000+ on a good run to 3000+ on a bad one. You do sometimes think that one more bad season could kill this club - I shudder to think how we'd end up if we remained in this division too long.

Fear not - Lionel Road is coming !

 

[rebus]

Just look how fragile it is though. We go from 5000+ on a good run to 3000+ on a bad one. You do sometimes think that one more bad season could kill this club - I shudder to think how we'd end up if we remained in this division too long.

Hysterical over reaction. We would have gone bust in the seventies or eighties with that attitude. Have we also mentioned this frigging word "loyal" again.

 

[SmiffyBee]

How do we judge who is loyal ?

I will work on a formula later, so we can be tested as we enter the Braemar gates, and if we are proved un-loyal, we will be ejected.....wobetied any fan trying to get into Ealing Road, that hasnt been loyal...

Once you are proved un-loyal, how long till you can be loyal again...these questions will be answered later today uppy:

 

[PrincessBee]

want - maybe, maybe not.
need - definitely yes.

 

[TW3Bee]

This old chestnut again.

I think I've taken and passed my loyalty exams, I don't go regularly now but that's because of family reasons.

In the past I've been to places like Carlisle, Darlington, Hartlepool and every other far flung corner of the country all for midweek games.

I even remember going to Plymouth for a midweek league game getting back to Brentford at 6.00am having caught the Cornish Riveria night train home. I then went down there again a couple of midweeks later for a Mickey Mouse Cup game along with about 50 or so others and if we had won that game we would have gone back down there again the following midweek, and I would have been there again.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

Hysterical over reaction. We would have gone bust in the seventies or eighties with that attitude. Have we also mentioned this frigging word "loyal" again.

Brentford as a lower Div 4 side would not get anymore than 3000 through the gate - you've got all the answers, you tell me how that's sustainable because I can't see it.

 

[rebus]

Brentford as a lower Div 4 side would not get anymore than 3000 through the gate - you've got all the answers, you tell me how that's sustainable because I can't see it.

You are suggesting that BFC will go bust, that is not going to happen and I will place a bet with you on that on any terms you choose.

Take those "Barcelona" glasses off. How to Rochdale et all survive? I bet Barnet and Dagenham don't have the same worries, they would love to average 3000 for games.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

You are suggesting that BFC will go bust, that is not going to happen and I will place a bet on any terms you choose.

Take those "Barcelona" glasses off. How to Rochdale et all survive? I bet Barnet and Dagenham don't have the same worries, they would love to average 3000 for games.

I've got Brentford glasses on thanks - the one's that have seen us a good Div 1 side for 20+ years averaging 5000 people who is not ever going to accept us a Div 4 side in front of 3000 people. The very fact that you compare us to Rochdale, Barnet and Dagenham is not acceptable to me and I hope not to anyone else, including those who are in a position to influence how the club is run.

 

[philip turner]

the gentleman in front of me last night was apparently at his first bfc game for twenty five years....and he stayed to the very end and celebrated our single goal enthusiastically. he didnt tell me what the score was at his previous game though...

 

[beeeehive]

Anyone who still bothers turning up from time to time after the last 2 season of pure sh*te is pretty loyal in my book.

Loyalty works both ways, just say you bumped up the prices by another 10 pounds on match days then more and more loyal fans would say forget it as they feel like their loyalty is being taken advantage of.

In any 'relationship' loyalty has to work both ways and the minute the loyalty isn't there from one side that relationship will break.

If we were all that loyal to the almighty Brentford then wouldn't we be prepared to pay as much as we could afford for the benefit of the club on match days or for a season ticket? Not really as it's not a cult where we've been brainwashed, it's a 2 way relationships where the fans have to feel like they are being treated with the loyalty they've shown to the club.

I've read many people say on here that the prices are not high but in reality every person has their price and only about 3000 or so are prepared to pay for a season ticket or to go to every game paying 18-20 quid for division 4 football. Probably half the loyal Brentford support only turn up to a few select games a season or when we're on a good run playing a high placed team in the league.

Anyone who thinks price is not an issue for the stay away fans is kididng themselves, I'm not saying lowering the price is the answer but every person has their limit. I get laughed at when I tell mates how much it will cost them to come and watch Brentford, even as a one off.

 

[beeeehive]

The very fact that you compare us to Rochdale, Barnet and Dagenham is not acceptable to me and I hope not to anyone else, including those who are in a position to influence how the club is run.

It's reality this season, some people still think we're bigger then yeovil etc.

 

[rebus]

The very fact that you compare us to Rochdale, Barnet and Dagenham is not acceptable to me

Andy, I hope I'm not the first to point this out to you but we play in the same League as these teams. I don't like it as much as you do but until this arrogant attitude is purged from Brentford supporters we are going nowhere fast.

Ask Nottingham Forest fans.

 

[Mad Bee]

I've got Brentford glasses on thanks - the one's that have seen us a good Div 1 side for 20+ years averaging 5000 people who is not ever going to accept us a Div 4 side in front of 3000 people. The very fact that you compare us to Rochdale, Barnet and Dagenham is not acceptable to me and I hope not to anyone else, including those who are in a position to influence how the club is run.

We're in the same league as these teams so it's all we can be compared too at the moment.

I don't like the fact that Reading and Wigan are in the Premiership. That Blackpool, Colchester, S****horpe or Hull are in the Championship. Or that Cheltenham or Yeovil are in the league above us.

Bury fans could talk to us about winning FA Cups and Leauge titles but it doesn't change the fact that they are currently a Fourth Division team fighting to stay in the League.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

Andy, I hope I'm not the first to point this out to you but we play in the same League as these teams. I don't like it as much as you do but until this arrogant attitude is purged from Brentford supporters we are going nowhere fast.

Ask Nottingham Forest fans.

We are going nowehere fast and that is nothing to do with the attitude of the the fans - that is all to do with mis-management of a football club - so I'd rather keep an attitude that always insists on better. I can't see how accepting our current status moves us forward in any way whatsoever tbh.

 

[brooks]

What does the question mean? For a lot of people loyalty has nothing to do with it. If the football on offer is poor they won't turn up. It's a business after all.

 

[Holysmit]

I think there is a thin line between loyalty and stupidty in all honesty. I for one felt like I was being treated like a mug last night by a bunch of players who didn't give a sh*t for the shirt. The attitude of Poole, Milsom, Brown in partiuclar was a disgrace so I walked out when the fourth goal went in. They didn't deserve my support last night because they put NO effort in. If they had been beaten by a decent side 4-1 I would have said fair enough and stayed to the end.

What pisses me off is the sheer lack of effort, and I find it hard to give my support to a bunch of people who don't give a sh*t. The players last night were very guilty of this. The problem with the current climate of football is that because there is so much movement between clubs very few players feel any sort of loyalty and quite correctly see the team as merely there employees. A lot of them won't give a sh*t about the fans, I mean just look at what John Salako wrote a while back, most footballers think football fans are sad.

I don't see why or others should give my support to a bunch of people who haven't earnt my respect and I feel sorry for anyone who feels that they can accept and support those individuals who treat them so poorly.

 

[rebus]

I'd rather keep an attitude that always insists on better.

I have that attitude but with a dose of realism.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

We're in the same league as these teams so it's all we can be compared too at the moment.

I don't like the fact that Reading and Wigan are in the Premiership. That Blackpool, Colchester, S****horpe or Hull are in the Championship. Or that Cheltenham or Yeovil are in the league above us.

Bury fans could talk to us about winning FA Cups and Leauge titles but it doesn't change the fact that they are currently a Fourth Division team fighting to stay in the League.

I know all this but I don't think we should be accepting it as the norm.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

I have that attitude but with a dose of realism.

ergo, you don't think I'm being realistic. You'll probably be suggesting I support the Noades model soon - that's usually the way it goes isn't it? Sorry but promotion from the bottom tier is not an unrealistic ambition.

 

[Simon C]

We are treading water until Lionel Road Les, we aren't going to permanently grow our fanbase without Championship football and the money to get us there would be suicide.

 

[SmiffyBee]

How do we judge who is loyal ?

I will work on a formula later, so we can be tested as we enter the Braemar gates, and if we are proved un-loyal, we will be ejected.....wobetied any fan trying to get into Ealing Road, that hasnt been loyal...

Once you are proved un-loyal, how long till you can be loyal again...these questions will be answered later today uppy:

take S x A divided by D +1 and then multiply this by the product of B x Y x E +1

then divide the whole sum by the BFC expected deficit, each year for the past 6 years (£500,000)


Where
B = Number of Turgid Northern away days experienced in the past decade

Y = Purchases from the club shop

E = Level of hatred towards Fulham / QPR on a scale of 1-10, where 10 = hanging the scum on lamposts is acceptable and 1 = wouldnt move house if one lived next door, but would take my bin inside my door

A = Pints sunk in the PR, when it was owned by BFC

S = Number of Games Attended this season at GP

D = Hampton Games seen, when BFC were playing at the same time

For me, it works out at 84% loyal, so I am in...

Anything less that 50% loyal, you're in the away end scummers

 

[beeeehive]

A = Pints sunk in the PR, when it was owned by BFC

If you can remember the number of pints then you can't be that loyal

 

[rebus]

ergo, you don't think I'm being realistic. You'll probably be suggesting I support the Noades model soon - that's usually the way it goes isn't it? Sorry but promotion from the bottom tier is not an unrealistic ambition.

You are not being realistic. You are saying 3000 crowds in this League is unsustainable and will lead to BFC going bust. That is total crap. I say look at the other clubs in this league.

I'm afraid there is no doubt you are in the camp of "spend first, worry later", which tends to suggest you have more sympathy with Noades than I do.

I want to get out of this League as quickly as possible - do you really think what has gone on pitchwise in the last two years is anyway acceptable to me? Of course not.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

I'm afraid there is no doubt you are in the camp of "spend first, worry later", which tends to suggest you have more sympathy with Noades than I do.

That's bullshit and I'm sick of telling you that.

 

[rebus]

See GPG passim...

 

[Les Beeavinu]

See GPG passim...

Take a look and come back here and aplogise when you don't find anything.

 

[nick logan]

It's reality this season, some people still think we're bigger then yeovil etc.

Are you seriously suggesting that Brentford are not a bigger club than Yeovil lol