[Closed] Give us some love...

An England footballer has asked the team’s ‘support’ to be more positive and encouraging, saying that he sometimes feels too much negativity from the crowd

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43547567

please also read the comments at the bottom.

I’m right behind him. When I started going to games in the 80s, when we all stood (well, I didn’t because I was a kid, so I sat in the barrier) and the crowd felt like a crowd rather than a mass of people expecting entertainment. I don’t remember boos. I also think that the supporters were more knowledgeable, less critical. Now everyone is an expert because they’ve watched dozens of games on TV, commentated and dissected on every point. I actually dislike going to games now as the atmosphere is generally heavy with expectation, seemingly for 90 minutes of world class entertainment and end-to-end thrills, every game.

I know that attendees pay handsomely for games - tickets, travel, food and accommodation; but the players aren’t responsible for that, nor are they responsible for the amount of money generally in the game; the exorbitant transfer fees; the offensive wages. If we look at them simply as people - often very young people - trying to do an extremely demanding and pressured job, then is it fair to expect them to perform regardless, indeed in spite of, the negativity from the people who are supposed to help drive you on.

It must have taken a lot for Raheem Sterling to speak out. As soon as I saw the headline, I also preempted the comments; no doubt he’ll take stick at games, too. But will we hear more rousing encouragement from the ‘fans’ on Tuesday?