Praise And Grumble

Listening to Praise & Grumble on Radio Stoke on Saturday evenings after a game can often be a chore.

From the “We are going for the top six” brigade after we win a game or two, to the “we are going to get relegated” mob (often the same people!) two weeks later after we have lost a couple, it is not just P&G, but all phone in’s, that don’t offer a particularly balanced view.

By their nature, of course, they are for immediate, and often emotional, reaction so perhaps shouldn’t be taken too seriously, but nonetheless there is a recent strand to the calls that has been really getting on my nerves.

There was one last week after we lost to WBA. A chap rang up and said: “the thing is, John [Acres] these people who are moaning, they want to remember where we were five years ago.”

Leaving aside the fact that just over five years ago we destroyed WBA at home (Ricardo Fullers hat-trick if you recall) that entire argument is a load of nonsense.

My first game was in 1985 as a nearly 10 year old boy. I have had a season ticket since 1987. Every decision I have ever made in my work or social life since has been to enable me to watch Stoke play.

I haven’t missed a league game since 2002 (in that time I have missed the Millwall cup game in 07, when I was so ill I couldn’t get out of bed) and four Europa cup games away this season for two reasons 1) My brother couldn’t get there I walk with sticks and going to these places on my own isn’t that easy and 2) I have a crippling fear of flying (as previously discussed on this blog). And for this reason I am not going to Valencia either.

I have missed family weddings, mates birthdays, you name it. All to watch Stoke City play.

I am not saying these things because I believe that I am a “better” fan than anyone who can’t for whatever reason go to this amount of games, but I am saying it because I am EXACTLY the sort of person who knows where we have been and who is proud of what have done as a club in the last six years.

But I was extremely annoyed by our display against Albion. Just as I have been in other games (Bolton, Sunderland, Swansea, QPR and Wigan to name but five) this season.

Have I not got the right to be? Or do we always have to praise them because of “where we were?”

The other thing that makes the “they forgot what we have achieved….” merchants wrong is that our current first XI only has two of the players we had then. And with those new – and extremely expensive players – comes higher expectation.

If we still had the same players as in 2007 then I could just about accept the argument, but we don’t so it’s a redundant point.

Similarly, if we criticise Tony Pulis that doesn’t mean we a) we want him out or b) that we don’t appreciate the job he has done for the club and therefore – by extension - for us as fans. It does however mean that we can justifiably criticise TP for playing Jonathan Woodgate in a right back spot he is not suited for, for playing Ryan Shotton on the wing when Pennant is sat on the bench, and for not changing his strikers round when one of them so obviously needs a rest.

So can I suggest that, just as much as the kneejerk reactions are stupid, then so is the suggestion not to moan at anyone. Ever. For anything.

Constructive criticism is our right, and moreover our duty as fans and never, ever, means we don’t know the history of our great club.

So praise by all means, but for God sake, let’s grumble too.