Ben Foster on Everton fan negativity influencing opposition tactics

[Cameron Manning]

What he's saying is true, but there's a fine line here between support and accepting rubbish being served up. The crowd get frustrated because the performance is not good and at times more patience should be shown. But equally we don't want to become a happy clap support who will tolerate any old rubbish. If you do that, and allow expectations to fall through the floor, then you will never improve.

In our current position, we need to be patient and supportive during the matches, because Goodison is the only thing we have going in our favour. If we do that, then the players have no excuses. But that doesn't mean we should not continue to hold the club to high standards. And if they serve up a woeful performance then let the players know your frustrations at full time by all means. The fans would never be on the players back if they showed more pride in their performances and stopped buckling under pressure.

A very sensible post in these very trying games for us Everton fans, we will all be going to give our utmost support tomorrow and hopefully keep it up throughout the game, if it goes the other way then try and keep it all in and get rId of your frustration at the end of the game as Toffee Tim says.

 

[chicoazul]

Time to call out these fat phoney angry heads, fellow toffees. If we want Everton to get better we can help by piping down the enemy within.

 

[peteblue]

Time to call out these fat phoney angry heads, fellow toffees. If we want Everton to get better we can help by piping down the enemy within.

It‘s time to name names…..

 

[chicoazul]

It‘s time to name names…..

SAY IT.

 

[coollino]

maybe make mask wearing compulsory so less sound is generated?

 

[Nymzee]

Everything he said is wrong.

In that particular game we led twice.

Twice.

So his tactic of quieting the crowd is shot down.

That capitulation in the last 15 minutes was bugger all to do with the people who paid their money to watch this miserable excuse for an Everton team.

That's one game, you're saying this never happens at Goodison? If you say no I struggle to believe you go.

 

[chicoazul]

You horrible sweaty self loathing freaks. You damage Everton more than kopites.

Swallow your medicine.

 

[Toffeeslam]

And when Everton show heart and fight the fans at Goodison back their team. Now more intimidating place (even more than Analfield) for opponents then a bouncing Goodison.

But no one in the media is ever gonna say that although I remember Wenger saying it and annoyed the RS media

 

[Furey1878]

I think we can all agree that by and large everything about this club is terrible atm

 

[Furey1878]

It's a classic Darth Maul's lightsaber of a situation

 

[Mrk]

He has a point in that the first 5 minutes usually defines how good or poor the atmosphere is at Goodison. But I'm not sure how valid the point is about it effecting the players - if the players weren't so consistently crap there'd be nothing to worry about.

 

[chrismpw]

He's absolutely bang on. The fans are the club's own worst enemy. This reputation will inhibit signings.

 

[Shibbywiggles]

Everything he said is wrong.

In that particular game we led twice.

Twice.

So his tactic of quieting the crowd is shot down.

That capitulation in the last 15 minutes was bugger all to do with the people who paid their money to watch this miserable excuse for an Everton team.

Yep, I was there that day, nine hours of driving for the pleasure, and when Richy came on and scored that header the place erupted! So much relief and happiness that he was back and we were winning, everyone was singing it was great.

Then with the fans the happiest they’d been in ages we let in four goals in 15 mins against Watford.

 

[Jamalio Danubio DiCanio]

It's an interesting reaction in here to Ben Foster's comments. A mixture of telling him where to go or that the players should respond to criticism in a different way.

Ben Foster wasn't saying that the fans are the reason that the club are under performing over years But he has pointed out (from any other ground or team he plays against) that the fans can be a factor. Here he's used it as a negative, or at least provided a negative example. Which it undoubtedly is at times. It can also be a positive when the opposite is true.

Everton's issues aren't down to the fans being negative. But it's contributory factor. How small or big? No-one knows. I'd suggest it's relatively small.

The important piece you need to ask yourself though, as a fan, is how you can influence what happens on the pitch. There's off the pitch stuff that any supporter can do, in a positive or negative manner. But the main interaction between players, manager, club and fans is at the game. You have an opposition player saying that his team (and likely others) know that you can use Everton fan's reaction against their own team.

If that doesn't get you thinking about how your actions at the match can influence things, even in the smallest manner, then nothing will. It should provide some self awareness and reflection from parts of the fanbase rather than completely dismissing it.

 

[Carloblues]

That's one game, you're saying this never happens at Goodison? If you say no I struggle to believe you go.

What happens? The fans get agitated? It happens at every ground in the world.

Foster is making out the fans just turn up and start giving the players crap from minute one every game.