Negativity at Oakwell

Reds boss Keith Hill has asked for the Oakwell faithful to get behind the players and cannot understand why there is such negativity surrounding the club.

Hill feels the pessimistic views of the fans and unreal expectations put unnecessary pressure on the players particularly at home.

Performances have deteriorated in the main in the New Year. This has a lot to do with the loss of 3 key players in Butterfield, Vaz Te and Drinkwater.

Overall the season so far has been a success. With the resources that have been available and the players that have been lost, the current position of the reds is certainly an overachievement. To add to that the football that has been served up, particularly in the first half of the season has been easy on the eye especially in comparison to the previous two managers` way of playing.

Hill is clearly frustrated with boos that are directed at the players for one bad half of football and when players are picked out for boos individually.

Hill asks for patience and support and the fans should get behind the team and the players. Football fans can be a fickle bunch and attitudes can easily change from game to the next.

Many fans will argue that they pay a lot of money to watch their team and therefore can boo if they wish. However no good can really come of this and the players are only human and it will get to them.

The atmosphere this season at Oakwell has been the worst I have seen. There has been a steady decline over the last few seasons. I`m fairly sure that the problem this season has a lot to move with the ridiculous ticket prices that keep a lot of fans away.

I think Keith Hill is concerned for his players and how their performances will be affected and it is still possible we could be dragged in to the relegation battle if recent form continues.

I call upon all fans to get behind the team until the end of season and be the 12th man they need. I also call upon the club to have a good hard look at their pricing structure and reduce ticket prices for next season to get the fans back in to Oakwell.

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