Bob's Board: CruisingBlues - Viewing Profile - Bob's Board

I have never written about our fans before, but after this weekend, I feel like I have to. I am no expert, just a regular fan frustrated by some of the negativity in our fanbase.

The constant moaning about the team needs to stop. If you only care when we are winning, do not bother coming at all, go support Liverpool. We have suffered through the Saunders and Caldwell years, and I would take yesterday?s game over anything from that miserable era.

Sure, we are not in great form right now, but lets not ignore context: we have been hit hard by injuries and lost two of our best attacking players. That is not exactly shocking, but it is tough.

On the positives:
- Fadz was excellent, clever, composed, and showing why he has played at a higher level.
- Sparkes was promising (17 crosses!) and unlucky due to a resilient vale defence. Grigg would have thrived on those deliveries.
- Pepple is already being written off unfairly. His hold-up play and work rate are impressive, and his goals will come.
- Donacien was a surprise starter but solid at RB, his positioning saving us from a couple of scares before his departure.

Overall I thought the defensive signings gave us the solidity we have been craving, we were top heavy at the start of the season and now we are building from the back. It was a silly goal we conceded but giving the BOD due to early debut nerves.

At the start of the season, our realistic goal was to solidify our place in the EFL, with anything else a bonus. All it takes is a good run and we?re still on track for play-offs (look at Donny last season), and even if it does not happen this season, we will be set up for a strong play-off push next year.

Cook does not get everything right, who does?, but he has had us playing the best football I have seen at this club and is not done yet. We are currently watching a team led by a man that will be celebrated as a club legend in many years to come, enjoy the moment.

Finally, I know it is a touchy subject, but our home support needs to step up. Last season, our atmosphere was electric at times - Barnet springs to mind, and we sucked the ball into the net when we needed it. Yesterday, Vale were there for the taking, but the lads got no lift from the stands. Even Dobras kiss of the badge barely got a reaction, I think we would have got more than a draw in games earlier on in the season (bar Walsall) if the fans got behind the team as much as they did against Grimsby when we had 10. Basically, poor home support has cost us points this season. We are as much to blame as the players at times, it is a collective effort.

This is not meant to start arguments, just a plea: stop the negativity and get behind the lads. We are a fantastic club with so much potential - enjoy the ride as this is just the start!