Western Sydney Wanderers vs Perth Glory 24/02/2019 7:00PM

1 hour ago, DamnedUnited said:

The RBB is not beholden to anyone and answerable to it's various sub groups so the accusation of self interest isn't new but nonetheless misplaced. The club attempts at creating neutered performing puppets as a marketing tool are well documented. If the club is left with mediocrity on the pitch and silence in the stands then it may want to reconsider the "match day experience" it delivers at Fortress Parramatta. This is the other side of the Zero Tolerance stick. Let's see how the dark side of the moon looks. In the meantime Gosford and Newcastle away will be a treat. 

I've got a few things to say to your post - but first of all...

Your posts are often very colourful and hard hitting, DU - although sometimes they are so colourful, and metaphorical, that I feel I miss the point.

With this post, the language is colourful and metaphorical,  but the message is crystal clear - and it's perfectly fair enough. 

At two soul-stiflingly awful venues, with a team that hasn't lived up to supporter's expectations, the SOP experience has been dreadful, and numbers in attendance at games have dropped away dramatically.  But it hasn't only been about being at SOP. And heading off next season to a new stadium is what most of us hope will stem the rot...but it might not, if other aspects of the running of this club remain sub par.

I've had issues with only one aspect of what has sometimes happened in the RBB  since season 1, but I've never been in any doubt that the RBB, and it's leadership of the phenomenal stadium wide support we used to enjoy, has been the best feature of the "match day experience" for most supporters.

To have watched them steadily shrink and now choose to be silent for the rest of the season speaks volumes for the general frustration and dissatisfaction within the membership ranks.

Since season 1, to support the team, my family has travelled to every A League venue in the competition except for Perth. But one membership has been dropped this year, and 2 other members have refused to attend games for the rest of the season since the second last ANZ game. I won't be going back on my own.

I basically have considered that our four memberships for the last 2 years , and this season our three memberships have constituted a $1000+ a year donation to the club, in the hope that something worthwhile will be waiting for us next season.

I am absolutely NOT someone who is only happy when we win, but we didn't get much value for money in any of those 3 years tbh. Starting with the carelessly selected (and dreadful) seats allocated at  Soulless in the first season there, to the deep frustrations over under-strength teams, to the observably unfair treatment dished up to the  RBB (apparently condoned by the club), no one has had much joy for three seasons. 

To see some of the stalwarts from these forums (people who used to drive to Parra from Coonbarabran!!! and Canberra etc) lose faith in the club/question the values of the club is very disheartening.

I admire those many of you who have stuck it out through thick and thin at SOP...I really do.

But I don't think it's a bad idea for the club management to contemplate "how the dark side of the moon" looks … and to contemplate it very seriously. Because most of us probably know people who have moved on from WSW, and who won't be returning because of a new stadium.

Club management need to get prepared to do better than they've done in the past at a number of levels, to build and retain more than a semblance of what we once had at Parra.

Quote

In the meantime Gosford and Newcastle away will be a treat. 

PS Newcastle and Gosford have (almost) always been a treat. 

2 hours ago, Bellby said:

I respect the RBB & appreciate what they’ve done for the Club but it seems a little self indulgent IMO. 

In the past, I probably would have thought this way - but not now.

2 hours ago, btron3000 said:

I assume one of the things you appreciate is the culture they created that had us as undeniably one of the top 2 clubs in terms of atmosphere and supporters?

The reasons they give on their Facebooo page are not fabricated. Any attempt to create that atmosphere ends in ridiculous bans, and also in us looking like the bloody Melburnians, or whatever they call themselves now.

I’ve stood there over the last couple of years, trying to sing, feeling like an idiot because you know we’re coming across like the other lame “active” groups. 

Better to protest the **** attitude towards the RBB than have us continue to fall into the mediocrity of the rest of the A-League.

This.

The move away from Parra has been a pretty sad episode for the fans of the club and with the RBB deciding to be non active it has gotten a little sadder.I am not having a go at the RBB when I ask this but more along the lines of other Wanderers fans support for them......

How many of the non active fans give a f*** about the RBB.? Supporters from the get go do....but the others...?

The only effective thing the club or the FFA will take any notice of is a stadium wide boycott of SOP or a severe decline in membership numbers for Parramatta.. ......would other non RBB fans want to do it.?

Or will the club go down the " we'll form our own active group" path as they have previously tried.?

I have the feeling a move back to Parra isn't going to heal the wounds quickly...... if ever.

Very Sad and totally within the control of the club and FFA to repair the damage but I doubt they will try very hard to do so.

1 hour ago, DamnedUnited said:

Let's see how the dark side of the moon looks.

It’s the same, we just can’t see it.

The above post is not a metaphor:

https://science.howstuffworks.com/dark-side-of-moon1.htm

1 hour ago, DamnedUnited said:

The club attempts at creating neutered performing puppets as a marketing tool are well documented. If the club is left with mediocrity on the pitch and silence in the stands then it may want to reconsider the "match day experience" it delivers at Fortress Parramatta. This is the other side of the Zero Tolerance stick. Let's see how the dark side of the moon looks. In the meantime Gosford and Newcastle away will be a treat. 

There's more than one metaphor in DU's post. 

Stop nitpicking! 

13 minutes ago, wendybr said:

I basically have considered that our four memberships for the last 2 years , and this season our three memberships have constituted a $1000+ a year donation to the club, in the hope that something worthwhile will be waiting for us next season.

 

I agree with your sentiments wendybr.  I think there may be a number of current members who are looking forward to and are prepared to  renew their memberships again next season , perhaps even having to cough up a few more $$ for memberships at the new stadium based on the the lure of the shiny new stadium, safe standing etc   certainly after the absolute Sh@te we have had to endure on and off the pitch for the last 3 seasons.   However as many others have voiced already on this forum , if the club  are naive, arrogant, stupid or just don't care by thinking that moving to the new stadium  alone will be sufficient to fix all of the issues they need to think again.  I will see how it goes next season on and off the pitch , but by no means is if a foregone conclusion that I will continue blindly to renew every year . Perhaps  the best stadium in the A league with ...7-8 k  fans every home game, watching mediocre football, with tumbleweed blowing through the safe standing section in lei of active support.  is this what they really aspire to ??????  

8 minutes ago, wendybr said:

There's more than one metaphor in DU's post. 

Stop nitpicking! 

 

Me? I wasn't. Was just pointing out that my post was not a metaphor. I wish I could have answered his brilliant one with another. I love his posts (when I understand them)!

3 minutes ago, jockman said:

 However as many others have voiced already on this forum , if the club  are naive, arrogant, stupid or just don't care by thinking that moving to the new stadium  alone will be sufficient to fix all of the issues they need to think again.  I will see how it goes next season on and off the pitch , but by no means is if a foregone conclusion that I will continue blindly to renew every year . Perhaps  the best stadium in the A league with ...7-8 k  fans every home game, watching mediocre football, with tumbleweed blowing through the safe standing section in lei of active support.  is this what they really aspire to ??????  

Well said Jockman.

I think it's a danger if the club management is taking for granted the automatic return of support.

9 minutes ago, btron3000 said:

Me? I wasn't. Was just pointing out that my post was not a metaphor. I wish I could have answered his brilliant one with another. I love his posts (when I understand them)!

Ohhhh OK! 

I misunderstood you - sorry btron! 

I was only kidding tbh.

But yes - DU's posts are always dramatic in their expression... and often enigmatic and intriguing.

Like an oracle...

He's the oracle of WSF!  

Club has zero input in how police and security are going about things at SOP. Zilch. Whatever they are suggesting is brushed aside. We are football hooligans, remember? Security searching the journo area at spotless for flares in our S5 - that's how crazy things are there, and don't we all know it.

Club believes that they have established a productive dialogue with police in parra. No doubt this will be put to the test in July when we play Leeds. We'll know then if we have been victims of SOP attitude, or the club, or both. 

In the meantime - Gosford and Newie it is. Looking forward to an appropriate farewell banner for spotless today. I didn't think I could become so cynical towards brick and mortar, but SOP made it possible. I hate going to that ground. 

I am wondering how we can actually communicate the deep concern, frustration etc to the club.  What many are saying is that the whole experience so far over these last 3 years has been pretty dreadful - SOP has seemed to drain the life out of everything and then add the FFA's ignorant, naive and pathetic responses to real and passionate fans, the Club's struggle to walk a middle line, which has meant being ignorant of the fan's very real lack of positive experience, the unjust ways RBB are treated...  I do understand that SOP are a law unto themselves and there is little that can be done but surely FFA and Club should give an ultimatum and not use these pathetic grounds ever again!!

Can FFA not understand that the writing is on the wall and crowds etc are declining?  They actually need the RBB at full voice!  They need WSW in a good ground with electric atmosphere.  They need what RBB in full flight offers and they need to get into the heads of authorities that this is so.  When the RBB are at their best, they bring all of us into the game, the experience and the team actually lifts.  Even if the mindless ignoramuses in FFA Central can't get it, the CLUB must!! Surely the Board understand that they need RBB more than RBB needs them!!?? 

So, the question, how can we, in larger numbers communicate that we are in deep support of RBB and fans in general.  We don't want second rate AFL/NRL level - they are truly laughable (went to AFL a couple of years ago and landed in the 'support section'.  One guy held the flag, then hit a tambourine with a stick and got 'everyone' cheering for the Swans.  It was sad and funny and most of the time was silence.  That isn't football and it is time that we got back to what we are meant to be and that requires everyone on board supporting our most passionate supporters who work hard, give everything and lift the rest of us - the RBB!!!!!   What can we positively do (and I don't really want to hear what won't work...)?  

In 

I’ve planted 6000 drums of jet fuel ⛽️ around the staduim once I know every soul is safe I’m torching the farker in the ultimate pyro display ever 

**** off soulless you will not be missed!

7 minutes ago, BoyFromTheWest said:

I am wondering how we can actually communicate the deep concern, frustration etc to the club.  

So, the question, how can we, in larger numbers communicate that we are in deep support of RBB and fans in general.  

What can we positively do (and I don't really want to hear what won't work...)?  

Email Mark Bosnich en masse.

Well said wendy. the problem we have I think is some of the fans that we have shed won't come back even in the new stadium.

I'll give my daughter as an example. She is a huge football person - plays at a pretty good level, refs, coaches an under 8's team, goes to matilda's games etc etc - she is the type of person that the ffa/club should want to get and keep as a member.

she was a wsw member until last season. her words after a season at SOP 'it is horrible. they don't want us here' and she refuses to go to games any more. it got so bad at spotless/anz that I was having to bring her high school library card to show the grub security guards so they wouldn't try to pat her down. she is lost forever to the club now - she won't be back.

5 minutes ago, FCB said:

Club has zero input in how police and security are going about things at SOP. Zilch. Whatever they are suggesting is brushed aside. We are football hooligans, remember? Security searching the journo area at spotless for flares in our S5 - that's how crazy things are there, and don't we all know it.

can understand with the police but security? the club is the client at SOP - surely these things would have been discussed as part of the process of signing a contract to be there for 3 years. even aside from that the club (and ffa) fuel this stuff with their 'zero tolerance' rhetoric, shutting active etc. I don't for a second believe that the club can pass the buck on this - I know this is what members have been told (me included) by JT and co but I don't believe it.

3 minutes ago, Wanderboy said:

Email Mark Bosnich en masse.

I was thinking the same thing..... anyone knows his email address as well as Simon Hill?

6 minutes ago, GunnerWanderer said:

In 

I’ve planted 6000 drums of jet fuel ⛽️ around the staduim once I know every soul is safe I’m torching the farker in the ultimate pyro display ever 

**** off soulless you will not be missed!

....somthing like this perhaps..........https://twitter.com/FintanC84/status/1098679732714029057

3 minutes ago, lloydy136 said:

can understand with the police but security? the club is the client at SOP - surely these things would have been discussed as part of the process of signing a contract to be there for 3 years. even aside from that the club (and ffa) fuel this stuff with their 'zero tolerance' rhetoric, shutting active etc. I don't for a second believe that the club can pass the buck on this - I know this is what members have been told (me included) by JT and co but I don't believe it.

Yep, I find it really difficult to believe also.

Either they gave them carte blanche at the beginning when they signed the deal, in which case, how bloody stupid is that, given all the stuff that's gone before.

Or, they are unwilling to do anything about it.

And it's not like they can just go, "it's alright, we'll start fresh with the new place", because, from what  i understand, the same clowns are going to be looking after that as well.

In terms of what can be done.

Email the club, every week. EVERY game you DON'T attend, tell them why. Copy in events nsw or whoever it is that's been running this **** show, and tell them you won't be going to the new place if it doesn't improve either. Copy in the club sponsors.

If you're on the socials, do the same thing there, and get everyone you know who feels the same way to be doing it. EVERY time.

2 hours ago, Cynth said:

Yeah I kinda agree. 

I don’t see what this will achieve except more negativity leading into our next season which will be a disappointing way to start in our new stadium.  I thought there was good momentum building up to this game and now the bubble is burst. 

On the other hand, the RBB can do whatever they like, that’s their perogative. 

I know that even club officials in suits are not save from being eye balled by police at spotless. It's toxic in the active area, it doesn't take much being in trouble with the fun police there. Non active supporters tend to live in a bubble. 

It's not just the police/security issue that has been a problem at SOP although this has been the major issue, not just for the RBB but most fans in general all around both stadiums there.

What about some of the disgracefully prepared pitch surfaces that we have had to play on? Particularly the one this season where screws were found on the pitch before the game against Newcastle after the rave party held there the week before. What did we hear from the club re this? Nothing that I am aware of. At least ESFC have told Brookvale Oval to get ****ed and have now changed their mind on taking 1 game there due to the condition of the pitch.

I understand that contracts would have been signed by the club to play at the precinct. Surely the club are aware of fans discontent with so much that has happened there, yet, we have heard nothing. I actually attended a think tank at Spotless (by invitation of the club) half way through our first season there. 

As far as I'm aware, none of the issues that were raised that day have been enacted upon. In fact, things have gradually become worse in the following seasons.

@lloydy

SOP have no interest in accommodating WSW if it would mean rescheduling other events. We are a third class tenant, and the state of the pitch in the first jets home game suggests that they are treating us with disrespect at best, but "contempt" comes to mind.

When WSW steps outside of the west of Sydney it heads into enemy territory where NRL mindsets and the nanny state rules. It doesn't help when to governing body of the game is at war with the game itself. 

I am hoping that the club will feel free to speak more openly about some of these matters once we are out of SOP, and once HAL has wrestled itself free from FFA. 

Far be it from me to defend the club. But the security and cops situation at SOP isn’t something they can control. 

However the pathetic on field performance and sub standards squad from the first season at sop is.

The mariners style (Borda, Jumpei, random South American that I can’t even remember his name) season set the tone 

29 minutes ago, tardotz said:

I was thinking the same thing..... anyone knows his email address as well as Simon Hill?

He's already been 'engaged' on Twitter this afternoon

28 minutes ago, tardotz said:

I was thinking the same thing..... anyone knows his email address as well as Simon Hill?

The man of the moment Craig Foster, how the hell is Gallop in charge, Fozzie speaks so much sense when he talks on any aspect of Australian football.

25 minutes ago, FCB said:

I know that even club officials in suits are not save from being eye balled by police at spotless. It's toxic in the active area, it doesn't take much being in trouble with the fun police there. Non active supporters tend to live in a bubble. 

You know I don’t doubt the problems with security and police and I know it’s a lot worse for active. I was just pointing out that I don’t see what is going to be achieved. But I’ll just go back to my bubble. 

3 minutes ago, Cynth said:

You know I don’t doubt the problems with security and police and I know it’s a lot worse for active. I was just pointing out that I don’t see what is going to be achieved. But I’ll just go back to my bubble. 

Just now, Cynth said:

You know I don’t doubt the problems with security and police and I know it’s a lot worse for active. I was just pointing out that I don’t see what is going to be achieved. But I’ll just go back to my bubble. 

Haha :-)   Self preservation comes to mind. It's too easy to cop a ban. Remember your experience on the train platform in Adelaide in S5? That's what live is like in the active bays at spotless all the time. 

12 minutes ago, Cynth said:

 I was just pointing out that I don’t see what is going to be achieved. 

6 minutes ago, FCB said:

Haha :-)   Self preservation comes to mind. 

Yes.

With the last three games of the season as dead in terms of the customary "atmosphere" as the last one, the club, the FFA and FoxSports and their commentators  should be alarmed.