Fans

[oggycompton]

I think it's hard to disagree with the comment from Mush, I'm in the Schofield out camp. But at the same time you have got to feel sorry for the bloke for what he went through yesterday.

He’s been in football long enough to know that it comes with the territory, I don’t feel sorry for him at all, he’s not flexible, the fans can see that and have a right to show their displeasure, if he can’t handle it that is another reason why he’s in the wrong job

What would you do if someone got in your taxi and shouted at you  how much of a shit driver you were all through the journey?

I'd kick them out or to put into football terms..quit. Many wish he would.

[tyke1962]

I think it's hard to disagree with the comment from Mush, I'm in the Schofield out camp. But at the same time you have got to feel sorry for the bloke for what he went through yesterday.

He’s been in football long enough to know that it comes with the territory, I don’t feel sorry for him at all, he’s not flexible, the fans can see that and have a right to show their displeasure, if he can’t handle it that is another reason why he’s in the wrong job

What would you do if someone got in your taxi and shouted at you  how much of a shit driver you were all through the journey?

If they paid me £3k for a 90 minute taxi ride every Saturday they could shout what they wanted at me for the duration of the journey .

[tyke1962]

Well I think you lads deserve better than you've had served up this season and last to be fair .

It's a culmination of the last two season's which probably contributed to yesterday's events .

Fans can be brutal but given what you've endured of late I find it perfectly understandable to be honest .

The fans care passionately about Rovers , you would have to care passionately about Rovers to even go to Harrogate yesterday given it was a dead game in an awful season  and they are frustrated , rightly so .

How on earth are fans meant to show their frustration ?

Of course it's not going to be pleasant , they are extremely pyssed off .

That show of frustration yesterday may well be the trigger that rids you of DS and points to a brighter future next season .

If DS is upset then tough , if he hasn't worked out the reality of football failure and how fans frustration can boil over maybe he's in the wrong job .

Plenty of the folk that attend games done care passionately about the club, they’re just there for the booze and the aggro.
Every manager we’ve had over the last 3 years have got similar abuse, they’re just idiots

that is absolutely nonsense

Plenty of people there yesterday who don’t care about the club, not even watching the game, singing for harrogate to win, booing before we’d even kicked off.

Well I'd be thankful they are angry and frustrated if I was you because it means they still care .

It's to be hoped what comes after anger doesn't materialise .

It's called apathy and that's way worse than anger .

[roversdude]

Also ironic was the fact the colours they had chosen for their (imo) petty protest were those that the home team played in

[Branton Red]

Given the horrendous, tedious, ineffective tripe Schofield has consistently served up over several months I'm amazed the fans have been so restrained - especially at home matches.

[elmsallrover]

It was always going to be difficult as soon as rumours where going round that he'd got the job and no one wanted him as manager after his efforts at Huddersfield

[Glyn_Wigley]

I think it's hard to disagree with the comment from Mush, I'm in the Schofield out camp. But at the same time you have got to feel sorry for the bloke for what he went through yesterday.

He’s been in football long enough to know that it comes with the territory, I don’t feel sorry for him at all, he’s not flexible, the fans can see that and have a right to show their displeasure, if he can’t handle it that is another reason why he’s in the wrong job

What would you do if someone got in your taxi and shouted at you  how much of a shit driver you were all through the journey?

I do a competent job, so your comments are not valid

But the passenger isn't thinking you're doing a competent job, so it is valid.

[Upton Rover]

You call them, but they are true fans that are upset with the stubbornness of some senior members of Club Doncaster, everyone is entitled to their opinions, they paid good money to go watch overpaid so called footballers. I wouldn’t waste my time and energy to watch this inapt coach,

[Lesonthewest]

In my opinion yesterday's events can't just be brushed off as some kind of society problem because there's genuine reasons for the behaviour of some fans yesterday .

Their club is in turmoil and I suspect because many have seen this before at Rovers they are seriously concerned by it and it's adding extra fat to the flames .

The rot has to stop , it really does because the bottom three next season in league two is in play here right now .

You don't need me to highlight the consequences of relegation to the National League and in my opinion it's way tougher today than it was over 20 years ago and you didn't get straight back to the EFL then .

This is one of the most important summer's in Rovers history in my opinion and you simply have to get it right  , you really do .

Tyke your 3 or 4 posts on this thread are absolutely spot on and extremely eloquently put. I'd recommend anyone goes back and reads them.

Perhaps your being able to view this malaise from afar and relatively dispassionately help in terms of you being able to sum up exactly what I, and I believe many Rovers fans are thinking right now, so very, very well.

I'd add by own thoughts, but they mirror yours exactly, and I'm so angry and upset right now with what's happening to my club that my missives will just be too emotive and incoherent in comparison.

Just to say that if DS is not removed from his post I am hugely concerned for this club and this city retaining football league status next season.

31 points from 28 matches under DS. 15 points from the last 18 matches (inc before the injuries kicked in - injuries that can easily happen next season again)

Totally agree with all comments above.

[scawsby steve]

I think it's hard to disagree with the comment from Mush, I'm in the Schofield out camp. But at the same time you have got to feel sorry for the bloke for what he went through yesterday.

He’s been in football long enough to know that it comes with the territory, I don’t feel sorry for him at all, he’s not flexible, the fans can see that and have a right to show their displeasure, if he can’t handle it that is another reason why he’s in the wrong job

What would you do if someone got in your taxi and shouted at you  how much of a shit driver you were all through the journey?

I do a competent job, so your comments are not valid

But the passenger isn't thinking you're doing a competent job, so it is valid.

Silly comparison. Filo is by all accounts an experienced and competent driver, so the passenger thinking otherwise is unjustified.

DS is neither experienced nor competent.

[Glyn_Wigley]

I think it's hard to disagree with the comment from Mush, I'm in the Schofield out camp. But at the same time you have got to feel sorry for the bloke for what he went through yesterday.

He’s been in football long enough to know that it comes with the territory, I don’t feel sorry for him at all, he’s not flexible, the fans can see that and have a right to show their displeasure, if he can’t handle it that is another reason why he’s in the wrong job

What would you do if someone got in your taxi and shouted at you  how much of a shit driver you were all through the journey?

I do a competent job, so your comments are not valid

But the passenger isn't thinking you're doing a competent job, so it is valid.

Silly comparison. Filo is by all accounts an experienced and competent driver, so the passenger thinking otherwise is unjustified.

DS is neither experienced nor competent.

And the abuse does NOT 'go with the territory'. Never has.

[Branton Red]

I think it's hard to disagree with the comment from Mush, I'm in the Schofield out camp. But at the same time you have got to feel sorry for the bloke for what he went through yesterday.

He’s been in football long enough to know that it comes with the territory, I don’t feel sorry for him at all, he’s not flexible, the fans can see that and have a right to show their displeasure, if he can’t handle it that is another reason why he’s in the wrong job

What would you do if someone got in your taxi and shouted at you  how much of a shit driver you were all through the journey?

I do a competent job, so your comments are not valid

But the passenger isn't thinking you're doing a competent job, so it is valid.

Silly comparison. Filo is by all accounts an experienced and competent driver, so the passenger thinking otherwise is unjustified.

DS is neither experienced nor competent.

And the abuse does NOT 'go with the territory'. Never has.

Have you ever been to a professional level football match in the UK and stood/sat amongst the passionate, largely male and often to some degree inebriated supporters?

Your last post suggests that you haven't.

[Reg of the Rovers]

It's a tough one, no one (as Glyn and others are saying) should be subject to relentless personal abuse, however I'm not sure what other form of protest is left for the fans. The vast majority of us are demanding a change, before it's too late, for our club. How else do we make clear to those in a position to make a decision that we must not start next year with this manager, that we will lose fans, and lose games and continue to lose the identity of the club we love. I don't think we're an unreasonable or cruel set of fans on the whole (by comparison to fans of other teams) but this is different, most of us have reached the end of our tether now and are trying to make those in power understand that.

The only other way I can think of is a total boycott, which would speak as loudly but cuts our nose off to spite our face in terms of no longer coming to be part of the club, at least in the short term.

[Glyn_Wigley]

I think it's hard to disagree with the comment from Mush, I'm in the Schofield out camp. But at the same time you have got to feel sorry for the bloke for what he went through yesterday.

He’s been in football long enough to know that it comes with the territory, I don’t feel sorry for him at all, he’s not flexible, the fans can see that and have a right to show their displeasure, if he can’t handle it that is another reason why he’s in the wrong job

What would you do if someone got in your taxi and shouted at you  how much of a shit driver you were all through the journey?

I do a competent job, so your comments are not valid

But the passenger isn't thinking you're doing a competent job, so it is valid.

Silly comparison. Filo is by all accounts an experienced and competent driver, so the passenger thinking otherwise is unjustified.

DS is neither experienced nor competent.

And the abuse does NOT 'go with the territory'. Never has.

Have you ever been to a professional level football match in the UK and stood/sat amongst the passionate, largely male and often to some degree inebriated supporters?

Your last post suggests that you haven't.

Just because t**ts act like that on a regular basis it doesn't mean it should be tolerated, let alone become accepted as 'going with the territory' as if it's written in someone's job description.

Racism and homophobia from football crowds used to 'go with the territory' too. One can only presume that you'd have just shrugged your shoulders at those too and nothing would have  changed in respect to those either.

[silent majority]

Well I think you lads deserve better than you've had served up this season and last to be fair .

It's a culmination of the last two season's which probably contributed to yesterday's events .

Fans can be brutal but given what you've endured of late I find it perfectly understandable to be honest .

The fans care passionately about Rovers , you would have to care passionately about Rovers to even go to Harrogate yesterday given it was a dead game in an awful season  and they are frustrated , rightly so .

How on earth are fans meant to show their frustration ?

Of course it's not going to be pleasant , they are extremely pyssed off .

That show of frustration yesterday may well be the trigger that rids you of DS and points to a brighter future next season .

If DS is upset then tough , if he hasn't worked out the reality of football failure and how fans frustration can boil over maybe he's in the wrong job .

Plenty of the folk that attend games done care passionately about the club, they’re just there for the booze and the aggro.
Every manager we’ve had over the last 3 years have got similar abuse, they’re just idiots

that is absolutely nonsense

Plenty of people there yesterday who don’t care about the club, not even watching the game, singing for harrogate to win, booing before we’d even kicked off.

Well I'd be thankful they are angry and frustrated if I was you because it means they still care .

It's to be hoped what comes after anger doesn't materialise .

It's called apathy and that's way worse than anger .

You can't normalise that level of abuse tyke, no matter what results are like.

In all the years of supporting this club I have never heard anything even approaching that level. No wonder the players couldn't perform as I'm convinced they were struggling with it as well.

There's a major movement afoot to ban 'tragedy chanting', i.e. Hillsborough, Munich air crash, etc and this, in my mind , falls into the same category.

[Reg of the Rovers]

With respect SM, it doesn't come close to the same category. Abusing other fans because 96 of their friends and family have died is beyond reproach.

The treatment of Schofield is born out of absolute frustration of a clearly incompetent manager, and the refusal of those in power to do anything about that. I've said earlier in the thread I'm not sure what form of protest is left for fans now, but the atmosphere at Harrogate was as clear a demonstration as is possible that decent, loyal fans are demanding change. And the club are not listening to the vast majority of their paying customers, and it will have a massively detrimental impact on the club if it is not resolved satisfactorily.

[silent majority]

With respect SM, it doesn't come close to the same category. Abusing other fans because 96 of their friends and family have died is beyond reproach.

The treatment of Schofield is born out of absolute frustration of a clearly incompetent manager, and the refusal of those in power to do anything about that. I've said earlier in the thread I'm not sure what form of protest is left for fans now, but the atmosphere at Harrogate was as clear a demonstration as is possible that decent, loyal fans are demanding change. And the club are not listening to the vast majority of their paying customers, and it will have a massively detrimental impact on the club if it is not resolved satisfactorily.

My point is that football supporters seem to be of the mind that anything goes when at a game of football, that can't be the case.

As we used to say in the FSF its about Passion not Poison.

[Reg of the Rovers]

With respect SM, it doesn't come close to the same category. Abusing other fans because 96 of their friends and family have died is beyond reproach.

The treatment of Schofield is born out of absolute frustration of a clearly incompetent manager, and the refusal of those in power to do anything about that. I've said earlier in the thread I'm not sure what form of protest is left for fans now, but the atmosphere at Harrogate was as clear a demonstration as is possible that decent, loyal fans are demanding change. And the club are not listening to the vast majority of their paying customers, and it will have a massively detrimental impact on the club if it is not resolved satisfactorily.

My point is that football supporters seem to be of the mind that anything goes when at a game of football, that can't be the case.

As we used to say in the FSF its about Passion not Poison.

I do agree, and that's really sensible and absolutely the right ethos. I think the pressure that's building is a symptom of the club not listening, and I can't seeing it getting any better until the fans are heard, so there is responsibility on both sides to resolve this.

[ctay]

This wasnt a group of 20 or 30, it was larger numbers and it will continue to grow in numbers. It wasnt the majority, but the numbers are growing, the fans base is frustrated and it does appear the club has its head in the sand.

A complete lack of trust of the board and probably more important any trust in them making the correct decisions. I cannot see any reason to be positive about the club. The frustrations around DS are understandable, his poorly thought out after match interviews should be banned. I am guessing he has never had media training.

None of this means I liked the abuse he took Saturday. He is just a completely lost sheep, out of his depth.

To compare this kind of chanting to disaster chanting is wrong.

[normal rules]

I wasn’t at Harrogate. Couldn’t get a ticket . I have been privvy to “your football is shit” chants etc.
whilst sustained chanting of this nature is probably quite uncomfortable for the recipient, and for some observers, I believe it would fall under what currently constitutes “peaceful protest” in the uk. It’s not violent. Uncomfortable yes, but not against the law.
No different to people protesting about politics or human rights or animal rights, even those protests targetted at specific individuals such as prime minsters, home secretaries etc.
providing it doesn’t break any of the obvious public order acts or hate crimes, I can never see a situation where this sort of abuse is outlawed.
How many times have we heard the “f**king useless” chant when someone has messed up on the pitch? Or “you’re getting sacked in the morning? “
Everything aimed at Schofield falls under this. It’s a little more intense as it’s focussed on just him. But He knows the risks of being the fall guy of a football team in demise.
As has been said, how else can supporters air their feelings and frustrations?
And with respect, to tag this under the same headline as tragedies where lives have been lost is a little off piste imo.
That said. After the sad loss of Caroline Flacks life I seem to recall there was a #bekind movement sprung up. DS would have to have a pretty thick skin to ignore or shrug off such abuse. It’s probably not too off piste to suggest it could be affecting his mental health. At which point this perhaps is an issue.
I’m usure how this sort of movement would fare in the professional football world given what goes on on pitches up and down the country every Saturday. Is this something we would want? I’m unsure.
One thing is for sure, as long as rovers woes continue on the pitch, then the board, JC and Ds’s woes will continue off it.

[normal rules]

Let’s consider at the last count on here over 90% want him gone . Before the next game . Now transpose  that to an average crowd and of those 90% some will be more than happy to air their views, how ever distasteful they may be to some .

[drfchound]

I agree that it must be hard for Schofield to hear those chants and it must be hard for him to have to take.
I said as much a couple of weeks ago when it first started.
It can’t be classed as a tragedy song though.
Sadly, it goes with the job when someone becomes a football player or manager.
I also reckon that if Copps didn’t have the legend background then he would be on the receiving end of some similar chants.
I remember a few years ago when Billy Sharp was playing for us at Bramall Lane.
One of my pals is a SUFC season ticket holder and sits near Billy’s family.
He told me that BS was getting some really bad abuse from the home fans and that his parents left the ground because of it.
Sadly it happens all the time in football.
Jonny Mitchell is getting a lot of stick from our fans too right now due to his recent mistakes.

[moses]

I was at Harrogate and did not like the personal nature of what was thrown at DS. Some of the crowd near me (in the standing area) seemed happy that it was impacting DS, and in their words, he looked like he was gonna cry. The away crowd being right next to the dug out made it worse.  Understand the fans frustration and have no answer as to how fans let their feelings known without it impacting on DS but felt it went too far on Saturday.

Agree DS is doing nothing currently, which would suggest he can turn this around. He is following the textbook definition of madness. But I hope he does turn it around and is successful at Donny both for us but also for him personally.

[tyke1962]

Well I think you lads deserve better than you've had served up this season and last to be fair .

It's a culmination of the last two season's which probably contributed to yesterday's events .

Fans can be brutal but given what you've endured of late I find it perfectly understandable to be honest .

The fans care passionately about Rovers , you would have to care passionately about Rovers to even go to Harrogate yesterday given it was a dead game in an awful season  and they are frustrated , rightly so .

How on earth are fans meant to show their frustration ?

Of course it's not going to be pleasant , they are extremely pyssed off .

That show of frustration yesterday may well be the trigger that rids you of DS and points to a brighter future next season .

If DS is upset then tough , if he hasn't worked out the reality of football failure and how fans frustration can boil over maybe he's in the wrong job .

Plenty of the folk that attend games done care passionately about the club, they’re just there for the booze and the aggro.
Every manager we’ve had over the last 3 years have got similar abuse, they’re just idiots

that is absolutely nonsense

Plenty of people there yesterday who don’t care about the club, not even watching the game, singing for harrogate to win, booing before we’d even kicked off.

Well I'd be thankful they are angry and frustrated if I was you because it means they still care .

It's to be hoped what comes after anger doesn't materialise .

It's called apathy and that's way worse than anger .

You can't normalise that level of abuse tyke, no matter what results are like.

In all the years of supporting this club I have never heard anything even approaching that level. No wonder the players couldn't perform as I'm convinced they were struggling with it as well.

There's a major movement afoot to ban 'tragedy chanting', i.e. Hillsborough, Munich air crash, etc and this, in my mind , falls into the same category.

I don't really have to normalise something that is in essence normal .

A club has a very disappointing couple of seasons of major under-achievment including a relegation to the lowest tier .

The football on display isn't working and you are losing games left , right and centre .

The manger doesn't seem capable of a change in tactics or formation .

Things have come to a head with the manager getting dogs abuse .

There really isn't anything in the slightest that's unusual about that other than I'm personally surprised it's taken this long .

To put it in the same box as Tragedy Chanting is pretty poor with all due respect to yourself .

It's an emotional game and that emotion can go two ways and right now it's going in a direction you clearly don't like .

Tell you what SM , how's about the critics stay away and starve the club of finance , would that be a better option for you ?

These fans pay their money and they are entitled to vent their anger , I draw the line at having a go at DS's family or his kids and stuff like that but if they are calling him out on his managerial record , his teams performance and so forth in no uncertain terms then that's reasonable .

As I say the next stage is apathy and staying away altogether .

Be thankful they care enough to still be angry .

[Glyn_Wigley]

Yet more incorrectly saying personal abuse 'it goes with the job'. No it doesn't and never has.

All we need now is for someone to excuse it away as 'banter' to complete the bingo card.

[drfchound]

Yes it has always been the case in football.
I’m not saying it is right but it is usual for it to be like is now for a failing manager.
No one is suggestion it is banter either.
How else can supporters make their feelings known to the club.

[silent majority]

Yes it has always been the case in football.
I’m not saying it is right but it is usual for it to be like is now for a failing manager.
No one is suggestion it is banter either.
How else can supporters make their feelings known to the club.

Do you not think the club already know how the fans feel?

Do you think people like me don't express our opinions when we talk to them? Or does it have to be shouted in an abusive manner?

So, what your saying is that it's not right and it's not banter, shouldn't it be called out for what it is then?

[Reg of the Rovers]

Yes it has always been the case in football.
I’m not saying it is right but it is usual for it to be like is now for a failing manager.
No one is suggestion it is banter either.
How else can supporters make their feelings known to the club.

Do you not think the club already know how the fans feel?

Do you think people like me don't express our opinions when we talk to them? Or does it have to be shouted in an abusive manner?

So, what your saying is that it's not right and it's not banter, shouldn't it be called out for what it is then?

In some ways that makes me feel worse though, because if the club know how the vast majority of our fans feel, then they are choosing to ignore us. Maybe the club don't rely on season ticket income as an important revenue stream, but it's a very very dangerous game for a business to ignore a massive section of its customers. So what are our options as fans now? The club have heard us but are ignoring us - where left is there to go?

[silent majority]

Well I think you lads deserve better than you've had served up this season and last to be fair .

It's a culmination of the last two season's which probably contributed to yesterday's events .

Fans can be brutal but given what you've endured of late I find it perfectly understandable to be honest .

The fans care passionately about Rovers , you would have to care passionately about Rovers to even go to Harrogate yesterday given it was a dead game in an awful season  and they are frustrated , rightly so .

How on earth are fans meant to show their frustration ?

Of course it's not going to be pleasant , they are extremely pyssed off .

That show of frustration yesterday may well be the trigger that rids you of DS and points to a brighter future next season .

If DS is upset then tough , if he hasn't worked out the reality of football failure and how fans frustration can boil over maybe he's in the wrong job .

Plenty of the folk that attend games done care passionately about the club, they’re just there for the booze and the aggro.
Every manager we’ve had over the last 3 years have got similar abuse, they’re just idiots

that is absolutely nonsense

Plenty of people there yesterday who don’t care about the club, not even watching the game, singing for harrogate to win, booing before we’d even kicked off.

Well I'd be thankful they are angry and frustrated if I was you because it means they still care .

It's to be hoped what comes after anger doesn't materialise .

It's called apathy and that's way worse than anger .

You can't normalise that level of abuse tyke, no matter what results are like.

In all the years of supporting this club I have never heard anything even approaching that level. No wonder the players couldn't perform as I'm convinced they were struggling with it as well.

There's a major movement afoot to ban 'tragedy chanting', i.e. Hillsborough, Munich air crash, etc and this, in my mind , falls into the same category.

I don't really have to normalise something that is in essence normal .

A club has a very disappointing couple of seasons of major under-achievment including a relegation to the lowest tier .

The football on display isn't working and you are losing games left , right and centre .

The manger doesn't seem capable of a change in tactics or formation .

Things have come to a head with the manager getting dogs abuse .

There really isn't anything in the slightest that's unusual about that other than I'm personally surprised it's taken this long .

To put it in the same box as Tragedy Chanting is pretty poor with all due respect to yourself .

It's an emotional game and that emotion can go two ways and right now it's going in a direction you clearly don't like .

Tell you what SM , how's about the critics stay away and starve the club of finance , would that be a better option for you ?

These fans pay their money and they are entitled to vent their anger , I draw the line at having a go at DS's family or his kids and stuff like that but if they are calling him out on his managerial record , his teams performance and so forth in no uncertain terms then that's reasonable .

As I say the next stage is apathy and staying away altogether .

Be thankful they care enough to still be angry .

I often wonder why those fans who shout abuse are always considered to be the loyal fans, the hard core. Aren't people like me hard core too, and loyal?

Be thankful they care enough to be angry? That's a nonsense too, assuming that only the angry ones care enough.

I've been involved in more football campaigns than I care to mention, but I can guarantee that you never make progress if this is how you rely on getting your point across. there are lines you don't cross, and for me those lines were crossed on Saturday. And I wasn't the only one, the people staying away in future will be people like me, those who care enough to be upset by the vilification of the staff at DRFC.

That's not support, not in the slightest.

[ForsolongaRover]

It is an unusual situation in football as the overwhelming majority of clubs would have sacked him some time ago. Thus you might expect that the abuse (which by its very nature is coarse) is reaching abnormal levels of intensity. Would it be correct to say that none of his recent predecessors have suffered as much? I would also venture to suggest that his blinkered reaction to criticism of the team's failures - as compared with his immediate predecessors will not have gone down well either. I remember Wellens apologising and neither McSheffery nor Butler being so dogged in their style when questioned.

I would guess that many of us would have recognised that we had no future at the club and resigned by now and that course is open to him. It won't stop unless there is a near-miraculous turn-around.

The solution is on his own hands.