Bloggers, Twitterers, arm-chair pundits of all kind get a seriously bad rap. In the internet age, everybody is allowed an opinion and a platform on which to promote it, yet the predominant feeling amongst those in the mainstream media (and beyond) suggests that most people should keep their bloomin’ opinions to themselves. The portrait of bloggers as lazy, unguided and immature smacks of intellectual snobbism.
But then again I would say that.
In Steven Soderbergh’s 2011 film, Contagion, we were gifted with the following memorable quote: “Blogging is not writing. It’s just graffiti with punctuation”. Reductive but punchy.
In the footballing world, this issue translates into the issue of who’s allowed to voice their opinion and when’s the right time to do it.
Are fans right to boo players at their own stadiums? Are fans right to criticise players who are many, many times more gifted (footbally speaking) than they are? It’s a contentious issue without any easy answers.
Turn on Twitter during match-time and your time-line is sure to be filled with a barrage of opinions, some well thought out, others more based on anger, frustration and other emotional responses. Some people spend time constructing their thoughts, whilst others let out unfiltered, unadulterated bolts of rage.
This brings me to Jonjo Shelvey’s recent comments regarding his own fan’s criticism. The outspoken Liverpool youngster has never been one to bite his tongue and he certainly didn’t in this case: “Love people giving me stick .. When half of people on here haven’t got a clue what they’re on about. #welldone #keyboardwarriors” (Source: Twitter).
Well, what about the other half Jonjo? Liverpool’s overall performance against West Brom (a 2-0 defeat) wasn’t good enough and Shelvey was one of the worst offenders. Positioned to link the midfield with the attack, Jonjo failed to impact on the game in any meaningful way whatsoever, giving the ball away and making bad decisions.
I’m not surprised he was given a bit of stick. An older, wiser and more experience player would have sucked it up and channeled the energy into better performances (like Daniel Agger has done – he apologised for his performance on Twitter). Instead, Shelvey through his toys out of the pram and damaged his already damaged reputation. He’s been in the doghouse since a disappointing Boxing Day performance against Stoke City and made be on his way back their after this latest debacle.
The fans are bankrolling his career and deserve to have their say, even if it just amounts to something as simple as a ‘boo’. If he’s serious about his career, it’s time to start taking this criticism on board.
Please follow @ThePerfectPass for more football related action!
Introducing the neat little app that’ll pay you to view content tailored to your interests:
ThisisFutbol.com are seeking new writers to join the team! If you’re passionate about football, drop us a line at “thisisfutbol.com@snack-media.com” to learn more.
Yes he has every right to have a go. For every fan giving a well thought out complaint of a bad performance or even their displeasure there are 10 that spew absolute filth. Shelvey had thing written about his mother on his twitter because he had a bad game.
So yeah bloggers get a bad rap because a majority of them deserve the bad rap
Anyone who uses foul and abusive language and derogatory remarks on twitter etc should be banned, no ifs, buts or excuses, outright ban, end of. There are too many vile people out there who like to vent their spleen on social media and they should be ostracized.
I understand that it’s wrong to be aggressive, abusive, cruel, crude etc to anyone, regardless of who they are but they have to acknowledge that the fans are entitled to an opinion as much as he is, maybe more. He hasn’t been playing well and deserves the stick he has got, not vile abusive personal abuse though.
He needs to stop blaming others though, grow up and start taking responsibility.
He soon forgets that ‘half of people on here haven’t got a clue’ when retweeting praise from fans