Cowshed Power
 

It might be said that this post belongs on the Ian Craney thread, but I believe it has far wider repercussions and may, in the end, result in further decimation of what is already a wafer-thin squad.

There is a certain vociferous minority of “gentlemen” of a certain age who frequent the cowshed and who, I believe are, in the long run, doing no good for the club. Their latest exploits came at the Aldershot game, where strident cries of “B**ger off to Morecambe, Craney, you’re no bl**dy good” could have done nothing for Craney’s confidence, or, indeed for his inclination to stay and win promotion with Stanley.

This same group, last season, went a long way towards destroying Shaun Whalley, with the result that his home performances in no way matched some of his man-of the- match shows away from home. You aren’t going to perform with shouts of “Whalley, you’re not fit to play for a pub team!” ringing in your ears.

Okay, I haven’t always agreed with Coley’s tactics or team selection but, simple soul that I am, I feel that, as supporters, the very least we can do is get behind the guys in red on that field. I’ve even been known to shout words of encouragement to Branch on occasions – and that took some doing!

To link once again with today’s latest squad development, I feel that there are people who call themselves supporters, who need to look very closely at their actions, whether it be in the cowshed or here online, where match-winners are sometimes dubbed “Useless”.

If you want to drive away good players, so be it, but, for my part, I support Stanley, have done for many years, and will always try to give 100% support to the players who represent them.

Goodbye and good luck Ian Craney, make the Huddersfield fans proud of you. Good luck Shaun Whalley. Keep doing the business for Wrexham, even though it is at Blue Square level. I hope the supporters of those clubs deserve you more than ours do!!

Re: Cowshed Power
 

I won't claim that the hecklers don't go too far, but professional footballers in this day and age have to be thick skinned. If the heckles from the crowd did hack at Craney's or Whalley's confidence then they're not up to much as men. Any footballer worth their salt would react to such heckles by playing out of their skin and proving the doubters wrong. I thought Whalley had a future with us but Craney was a liability who only put the effort in for us once in a blue moon. Or when league one scouts were watching.

Re: Cowshed Power
 

well said Oldgobbin

when the player is on the pitch and wearing th eshirt then he should be exempted from the crticism.

Between games however I believe is a different matter. Then it becomes Coleys job to build them back up on matchday.

There are exceptions to the rule and unfortunately we have had many of them last season such as Rogers, Branch and Evil. It doesn't do them any favours whilst they are playing but those three seemed hell bent on destroying our team anyway - therefore I saw no problem with abusing them!

Re: Cowshed Power
 

... and further to that yes Shaun Whalley has been a revelation at Wrexham but that is, I believe more to do with him playing as a striker than a winger! Why persevere with someone on the wing when they blatantly can't cross? Gary Roberts did well an' all when he went up front for a spell.

Re: Cowshed Power
 

I haven't stood in the cowshed this season, as I've transferred to the Clayton End to see how it goes, but I've heard the same people 'heckling' the players. Although I agree that this can undermine a player's confidence, I don't think that any of it was really that bad.

As for Whalley leaving, then I'm sure there's more to that than most people assume they know. ;)

Whilst I don't agree with mindless criticism during the game, as Shaker says, players have got to be tougher than that.

Re: Cowshed Power
 

totally agree with you oldgobbin, thick skin or not! it does not help for your confidence knowing that you have people every home game saying get out your no good etc! craney aint a liability! he was a match winner, a good team player! we will miss him! i wish he would of stayed beucase i thought he was a great player! so good luck ian craney! you will do well a huddlesfield! most of the fans were behind you! cow shed wont be there any longer anway so they wil have to sit down! so we will be able to pick them out when they stand up and abuse our own players!

Re: Cowshed Power
 

A player who is not a liability puts effort in week in week out and repays the faith put in him by the benefactors and coaching staff at the club. Craney didn't.
A good team player doesn't shout down his team mates for his own mistakes. A good team player pulls his own weight. Craney didn't.

Re: Cowshed Power
 

I disagree with you there, Shaker, though I do agree Craney has not been at his best. Nobody WANTS to turn in below-par performances and I firmly believe that,in such circumstances ,it's our job to encourage, not abuse. It will be interesting to see who's the next Cowshed Target, for, believe me, there will certainly be one, cos I think that's one of the main reasons these guys come!

Re: Cowshed Power
 

proberly pick on bobby next time or procter or maybe even cav

Re: Cowshed Power
 

Well MCR_ADIM, all I would say to Bobby is "Be afraid. Be very afraid," The thing is, he's raw at the moment and is nowhere near the finished article, so he makes mistakes. What's more, he's young enough for them to abuse with impunity. How do we bring out his developing talent? I know which way I'd choose, but watch this space!

Re: Cowshed Power
 

i know thats what i mean he is young and still learning yet he is showing very good signs of skill and ability! we all know he wil make mistakes e.g. lose the ball! run to much with the ball! than the cowshed will be on his back! so any remarks he hears about him will knock his confidence but alot of people in the clayton end like him and sing his name whenever he plays and plays good football! well said Oldgobbin great first post

Re: Cowshed Power
 

I still maintain that if football players let such comments get to them and knock their confidence then they're in the wrong business. Football fans are fickle and some are cruel. It's simple enough to play out of your skin and prove the hecklers wrong.

Re: Cowshed Power
 

even when he does play out of his skin last two games you still dont have a good word to say about you! so when your doing something at work or whatever would you like it if people kept saying that rubbish etc than when you think you have done it well they still say rubbish etc

Re: Cowshed Power
 

Under other circumstances, in a large football stadium, I could agree with you Shaker, but these comments are often made at a range of less than 10 - 15 yards, from a sparsely populated area of the ground. All of a sudden, they become that much more personal - and difficult to ignore! Yet woe betide any player who responds to it - as Shaun Whalley did on occasions last year! Professional footballers they may be, but they are still young men who are out there trying to do their best for the club which these "vocal gentlemen" profess to support.

Re: Cowshed Power
 

Grant didn't play at Port Vale.

Re: Cowshed Power
 

i agree say at united where thier is 75,00+ every home game is you shout rooney your not a top flight football your just an over paid w****r than he aint going to hear you really is he! but at stanley were you are so close to the pitch and they can hear you it does effect the players so lets get behind them and cheer them on and support them becuase they do play for our team even if we like it or not

Re: Cowshed Power
 

He was awful against Aldershot - you don't mention that at all?
It's clear that he only stepped up his game against Wolves and Vale to secure a deal with Huddersfield. That is not putting effort in for the good of the team.
Put it this way - he's the exact opposite of Paul Mullin. Craney has talent that could knock on the door of the Premier league but an attitude and commitment level that drags him down to leagues one and two. Paul Mullin isn't a naturally gifted football player but works very hard at his game indeed, and even in dips of form is giving his all.
Put the rose tinted specs down and you shall see the light brother. :)

Re: Cowshed Power
 

I think he's picking up Shaker's remarks about Craney, TM.

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These aren't eight year old boys, Oldgobbin. Football players shouldn't be abused, no, but it happens and it isn't unique to the cow sheds at the Fraser Eagle Stadium. Targeted players should respond with their football and not be personally affected. As I've said earlier if they do get personally affected by such comments then they really are in the wrong walk of life.

Re: Cowshed Power
 

They get paid a hell of alot even at this level. Lets face it they are doing something they really enjoy and most people's jobs are the exact opposite

Re: Cowshed Power
 

why is it any different if you want to move onwards and upwards than your always going to try and give 100% some people enjoy thier jobs even if they dont get paid alot

Re: Cowshed Power
 

With the new form and effort of a certain John Miles - could he be the answer?

If he puts in a shift similar to Port vale, and shows he creativity and willingness to make runs - he will probably prove more effective through the middle. Its just his positional sense really - to often standing in no-mans land.

Im being serious, John Miles has always possessed the ability - the application has been none existent. If he sorts it out, who knows?

Re: Cowshed Power
 

:) John Miles good player in my book wasn,t given a real chance when he arrived from the Silkmen,or even J Ryan to step in to Ians shoes a good prospect:)

Re: Cowshed Power
 

If a player is having a stinker, then it is natural to groan and utter a despondent "come on" to whoever. But in my book to give personal abuse to a Stanley player - well you might just as well be sporting an opposition shirt ! - bet the opposition love these cowshedites reported on this thread.

Re: Cowshed Power
 

Cracking post, folk wonder why Accy are world beaters away from home.......:o

Re: Cowshed Power
 

Agree with most of what you're saying Oldgobbin, but particularly the above. One friend who I come with reckons it's mainly because they're under the cosh at home or work, or both.
There could well be something in that. ;)

What effect it has on the players I'm not sure, but encouraging players should be the way, especially the younger ones. Years ago, before Coley, someone tackled an incessant moaner (when they stood where the newest bit of stand is), and was told, " I've paid my money, I'll shout at them as much as I want".
Point of view I suppose, but not mine.

Last season at the Crown wore everybody down, and a couple of wins would help, but this continuous barracking of our own players wears me down more. (Especially during the 90 minute reprieve from Ricky Kirby)

Re: Cowshed Power
 

To put this thread into perspective, go on to the Port Vale thread for after the Stanley match and they say much the same about their team and management. According to some this is why they lost. Now that was a decent ground with 6,600 folks in of which 6.500 were Port Vale fans. So it seems the way to go is to play all the games away from home and not risk the local supporters abuse of certain players. I know it is never going to happen - so the answer is to get behind the players - even if they are having a stinker - that way, we should be able to romp away with this league.

On the other side of the coin, good luck to Ian Craney, I know not everyone thinks he was the bees knees of the club (and I am one of them) but all the best at Huddersfield.

Re: Cowshed Power
 

So what happens to this little bunch of saddos when the new stand is built? Presumably, they'll be standing on the Clayton End? Hope they're near me - I'll be giving 'em plenty of verbal!!

Re: Cowshed Power
 

Am glad Craney has gone , it might mean when we are chasing a game coleman might bring a striker on instead of pushing Ian up front . How many good games has Craney had since he came back ? Hope he does well at huddersfield though , but did stan ten buy him on advise from gary roberts ?

Re: Cowshed Power
 

To be honest, although the 'banter' can get a little out of hand, many of the comments from the cowshed are very much tongue-in-cheek and have people laughing.

Yes of course things may get personal, but that happens at every level.

Personally I never negatively abuse players while they are on the pitch, as I don't think it does them any good and I've yet to see an abused player suddenly start playing better.

Re: Cowshed Power
 

Yeah but they deserved it
I`m sure they were expecting to rip lowly Accrington apart but to be honest offered very little, Kenny had to make 1 save and catch another that came straight at him. They had the rub of the green with the ref most of the game and still came up with nothing. And I can visualise the posts on here if the Stanley defence went walkabout like vale did for Paul Mullin`s grand finale.
Whinge all you like on here but on match day if you want 100% from the Reds then be prepared to give 100% yourself. Up or Down, remember Rochdale 3 nil down, 20 minute non stop Red and White army chant , we got one back. Alright we lost anyway but at least for a while it felt like you WERE the 12th man.
Most of all go to football to have FUN.
LoL

Re: Cowshed Power
 

I might just venture into the cowshed on Saturday just to see what all the fuss is about, might have a bit of fun while I'm there.:)

Re: Cowshed Power
 

lol @ the puss on tour!


... it might get me out of hibernation!

Re: Cowshed Power
 

Never watched a game from the cowshed so why not give it till 1/2 time?

Re: Cowshed Power
 

Maybe a good time for me to try the Clayton End. ;)

Re: Cowshed Power
 

wear your shin pads it gets a bit nasty

Re: Cowshed Power
 

Oh oggy don't be like that, I promise to be quiet and just observe.:)

Re: Cowshed Power
 

I don't think you're ready for the cowshed yet Bagpuss. It's like being in the SAS. Everyone thinks they're tough enough, but it can make grown men cry. Just ask Oggy :D

Re: Cowshed Power
 

I tried it TM !.........................ONCE !!!!

Alfred.E. says (IT was Theodore Roosevelt really!)...
'YOU have no more backbone than a chocolate eclair.'
I prefer...'We cowards must stick together '.

Cowards or Heroes, if ever there was a time for all TRUE fans of 'the Reds' to get behind the Team, it is surely NOW !!..Starting Saturday.....
Forget the Griping,Sniping and Abuse !,all we need to say is :-

'ON STANLEY... ON !!!'

Re: Cowshed Power
 

hey if puss can do it, I might venture over too..... and just stand there quietly of course :D

Re: Cowshed Power
 

Nah you aint a cow.:eek:

Re: Cowshed Power
 

errr thanks.... I think :rolleyes::D