portly
10 Sep 2002, 00:49
Probably being a little melodramatic here, but I know that many supporters have been upset by the Collingwood game, and I understand that some of the players themselves have taken it hard.
Along with other Port supporters I have been through the whole range of emotions during and since Friday night: - disbelief, anger, frustration, fatalism, embarrassment, humility, and sympathy for the coach and the players after such a great home and away season. Though I fully accept that Collingwood played better and more positively than us on the night, I also believe that we underachieved. I am not even saying that Collingwood cannot play better either, particularly after this success and the week's break.
Mentally I have written a number of letters to Chocko offering my ideas of how the situation could be remedied in the short term and in the long term. I ended up not doing so because I saw many of my ideas being repeated by Mark and players and the media and on this site. Time to back off.
I also accept any changes must come from within the coach and players themselves, especially their personal desire for credibility and respect, so that anything I throw at them is probably only going to add to the weight of pressure. So I figure that what I should be doing at this moment is offering my support and reassurance that whatever happens is not going to stop me barracking for my team, coach, and administration just as strongly as I have up to now. Not blindly, because reality checks are a requirement, and I can't stop myself offering what I see as helpful criticism when the time is right anyway.
Though the ticket prices are knocking me around, even if I can afford them more easily than many, I will be there, shouting just as loudly to urge my team on this Friday night. Furthermore, I resolve to not scream out, even once, "you idiot", "noooooooooooooooo", "don't kick it there", "run you bugas run", "back 'im up", "stop falling down", "lead someone lead", etc.
One very positive thing about the Collingwood match was the constant supporter noise, even when clangers were most frequent. Even then everyone started up with the usual "Power clap clap clap chant Power" chant. Was great to see our supporters making a noise, and not just after we had scored a goal. Must continue Friday.
So I thought i might be positive and simply say to the boys "You CAN do it, because you already have many times this year."
Go Power!!
Along with other Port supporters I have been through the whole range of emotions during and since Friday night: - disbelief, anger, frustration, fatalism, embarrassment, humility, and sympathy for the coach and the players after such a great home and away season. Though I fully accept that Collingwood played better and more positively than us on the night, I also believe that we underachieved. I am not even saying that Collingwood cannot play better either, particularly after this success and the week's break.
Mentally I have written a number of letters to Chocko offering my ideas of how the situation could be remedied in the short term and in the long term. I ended up not doing so because I saw many of my ideas being repeated by Mark and players and the media and on this site. Time to back off.
I also accept any changes must come from within the coach and players themselves, especially their personal desire for credibility and respect, so that anything I throw at them is probably only going to add to the weight of pressure. So I figure that what I should be doing at this moment is offering my support and reassurance that whatever happens is not going to stop me barracking for my team, coach, and administration just as strongly as I have up to now. Not blindly, because reality checks are a requirement, and I can't stop myself offering what I see as helpful criticism when the time is right anyway.
Though the ticket prices are knocking me around, even if I can afford them more easily than many, I will be there, shouting just as loudly to urge my team on this Friday night. Furthermore, I resolve to not scream out, even once, "you idiot", "noooooooooooooooo", "don't kick it there", "run you bugas run", "back 'im up", "stop falling down", "lead someone lead", etc.
One very positive thing about the Collingwood match was the constant supporter noise, even when clangers were most frequent. Even then everyone started up with the usual "Power clap clap clap chant Power" chant. Was great to see our supporters making a noise, and not just after we had scored a goal. Must continue Friday.
So I thought i might be positive and simply say to the boys "You CAN do it, because you already have many times this year."
Go Power!!