Criticism part of the game but booing can be step too far – Talk Chelsea

I think sometimes with different circumstances it’s hard to form opinions on some situations, but I do think the booing of Raheem Sterling lately is a bit too much and uncalled for. I don’t agree with it, generally.

Of course, there are some extreme circumstances where perhaps it’s necessary to boo a player, or manager. But generally, I don’t think booing a player is something I can ever really get behind. I think booing a team collectively after a very poor performance though, is completely different and I don’t always disagree with that.

But on the other side of this, modern day players in general I do think sometimes need to grasp a handle on reality somewhat and try to be less sensitive about what is written and said about them.

Right now at Chelsea, it’s very much feeling like an us and them situation between the manager/players, and the fans, and that’s never a situation that you should want to be in.

As always, many fans go over the top, some abuse players/managers, which is always going to be out of order. But players and managers need to accept that fans have a right to criticise them, and they will very much do that, even if booing is perhaps too far, most of the time.

Chelsea’s players and manager in recent interviews and social media posts have seemed a bit snappy and offended with some of the criticisms they are facing. Whether they are too harsh or not, it is always best to do the talking on the pitch and keep your heads down and just work hard.

The team spirit is amazing, I’m not talking about that, I think that’s been so refreshing to see this season. Having each others backs, that’s great, I love to see it.

But criticism is going to be part and parcel of the game and as much as it can sometimes be hard to swallow, players need to find ways of mentally dealing with it and rising above it. If they think the criticism is unfair, then prove the people saying it otherwise. I always say that when I am proven wrong about a player not being good enough, which will of course always happen in this game, then I am sat there with a smile on my face and in a great mood, because it means said player is playing well, and that is only ever a good thing for my club!

With Sterling, fans have just grown tired of his antics. Taking penalties off the taker, not making an easy pass when it is on and instead hitting the shot, not tracking back enough, and doing all of this whilst being one of the most experienced players on the pitch and earning the highest wages, you’re always going to be under the radar of fan backlash.

Raheem Sterling

Personally, I just don’t rate Sterling. Whilst he can be good, his inconsistencies outweigh that for me and have done for a long time. He shouldn’t even be starting in this team anymore and should without a doubt be sold in the summer. But I can deliver all of that criticism as respectfully as possible.

He’s a massive cause of frustration and I completely understand why fans have completely lost patience with him and some really now dislike the guy. I can see that.

When you come and join a club like Chelsea and you are sat in 11th place in the league at the end of March, you unfortunately just need to accept and take criticisms from fans on the chin, regardless of any circumstances. Nobody wants to hear excuses. At Chelsea there will ALWAYS be high pressure, you knew that when you signed up and it’s not like you’re just being paid packets of smarties to put up with it!

At the end of the season, if you’ve climbed the league or won the FA Cup, THEN you can enjoy that moment and watch your haters turn into your fans. Soak that up and treat that as a big win, have a side smile to the fans or make a sarcastic celebratory post, I’m all for it!

Football is in the moment. But fans pay a lot of money to support their club, they travel many miles, they lose sleep, and they literally get consumed by everything that happens. Chelsea sets moods, and if a performance from a player, players, or manager annoys us that much, we will do, and have a right to, vent. It’s completely normal and natural in this game and has been happening for MANY years since day one.

It’s amplified now because of social media, and also it doesn’t help because the players are constantly on their phones scrolling. The best thing to do with hate is let it fuel you to prove them wrong, that’s it.

Perhaps the most important thing we as fans can do in these situations though is just to be as quick to praise as we are to criticise. I will always give credit where it is due, even if it is to a player I do not rate. I think that’s also important for us fans to do.

But this whole us and them thing we are seeing right now needs to stop, it really does. Not so much from the players to be honest, but certainly from the manager. You just have to keep fighting to get the fans on your side, and of course, winning games goes a LONG way in doing that.