Ok, this might be seen as controversial, it isn't supposed to be, but it is a matter that has been playing on my mind. I was talking to a non-palace supporting mate today who watched the game against Liverpool. He stated that we played well, looked organised, deserved to not lose and had it not been for a silly error, he thinks we would have got a point. Meanwhile some of our own fans have labelled it a poor performance. We then got onto discussing other matters and when it came to our home form, he questioned whether our home struggles are because the team feel the pressure from us. This got me thinking, are we perhaps to blame?
Now don't get me wrong, there are lots of factors that have led to our problems, lack of depth, delayed transfers, bad decisions and such. But i think if we are honest with ourselves, we as fans have changed in recent times. The first couple of seasons we were just so damn happy to be in the prem we were rocking home and away no matter what because all that mattered was backing the team. But under Pardew, that has changed. Maybe it is because a third season and then a cup final has brought in other fans with less patience. Maybe it is because that first year under pardew, getting to 5th at xmas, we got a taste of being better and became poisoned by it. Perhaps a bit of both I imagine. Also add into that the fact that the last sixteen months bar a few performances under Sam, we have been severely scarred by a huge decline on the pitch. We went from feeling like we could beat anyone, to feeling like a pub team would turn us over.
But while all these factors exist, i do feel that as fans we have played a role in the decline. There have been several acts over recent times that have disappointed me, many of which have been discussed and argued about on here. But just look at us currently. FDB was written off by some the day he was appointed. After one half of football last week, some people booed the team off at half time. More boos followed after full time. ONE GAME! Yes, it was a shocker, but hands up who here hasn't seen hundreds of shockers from Palace over the years? To boo after the first game of a new season, with a new manager trying to make changes without being given the players to do so, it is simply ludicrous. FDB posted on Twitter on monday that it was a disappointing result we needed to learn from, but thanked the fans. The comments underneath were people ripping into him and calling him a c**t. What the hell? There are people saying that if we lose next week they will be calling for his head. On the Hol Podcast last week they had to highlight issues of fans directly tweeting players to slag them off. What have we become? Away fans mock us with the 'where's your famous atmosphere' chant and they are right. That atmosphere has faded. Yes performances have been poor far too often, but a few years ago that didn't stop us from singing our hearts out. Now though, Selhurst is a ticking time bomb just ready to explode when things start going wrong. We must make players nervous at Selhurst, when so many are shouting out negativity when certain players have the ball. Especially if they read social media.
We have been praised a few times this week by staff/players at the club and quite frankly, i don't think we earned it. Joel Ward praised fans for the open training session, while others were on here slating the club for doing it! The results have been tough, some decision frustrating and yes, our transfer policy boggles my mind at times. But some of the things I see and hear these days from fans, it just kills this club. Look back a few months, when we all rallied together at the Boro game and for the first time in a long time, the club felt as one when it had been such a powder keg prior that blew against Sunderland. I fear that next week could be the same. I fear that the moment a few passes are made between keeper and defender, people will start to moan loudly and our players will get nervous. I fear that if we fall behind the groans and boos will come out and if we lose, i fear that we will return to the horrendous soul sucking atmosphere that was last season under Pardew.
I hope it doesn't happen, I hope we win and start to build from there. But i fear the opposite and i have to say, if it happens, blame will lie at our door.
Sorry for this long ramble, just a bit fed up with so much negativity. I miss the days where no matter how shite we were, we just got behind the team no matter what.
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