what will your reaction be ?

[NMWBloods]

Re: Re: what will your reaction be ?

Originally posted by The Undertaker
Look,regardless of how the team performs in the next 5-6 years,i will be as loyal as ever!!!!!

I think for most of us that really goes without saying. A few of these types of comments a bit earlier in the thread I found a bit annoying as they were sort of implying (as happens whenever anyone complains too) that if we were frustrated then we might stop following the team, which is really rather stupid.

[poundpuppy]

All I ask is that we finish the season with more wins than losses and not to be humiliated by being thrashed week after week. As an old South Melbourne supporter I used to be happy if we didn't end up with the wooden spoon so to be able to realistically expect to make the finals every year is like a dream come true. If we won a premiership I'd probably have a heart attack ... I think I came close to one at the final siren of the 96 Prelim!

[footyhead]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Damien
[B]As a serious answer to your question Footyhead- I think that if in 5 years we continued to be middle of the road (well "upper" middle of the road) and just being competitive, the Swans would then have to look at (and a very serious look at that) whether Roos is the man to win a premiership with us, and also if the staff (such as Barham etc) are the correct support staff to have at the club along with the standard player review.
..... "

Thank god for a concernd and serious reply.
In short I think we need togive somone we think Has a real shot- Carte Bklanche for 4-6 years.
We should then tell them ", Do what you will , if you win it, take the glory, but if you don't at least get us to the Granny, then bye bye,
Basically the footy needs to be put back into the Swans, and the buisiness needs to be taken out of the equation.
Or lets say the despreation needs to be put back in and the buisiness plan needs to take a hike.
Remember that if the Swans had not had the 96 seasone, no business plan would have got the crowds up to an average o 25000 per game in Sydney.
I say an attiutude of Premiership or bust is what we need to win a flag, cos god knowes thats what the Power have been thinking, and look where it got them.

[chammond]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
[B]I 'require' them to win and to play good football. I don't care about anything else to a large extent (eg: family days, Kokoda walks, etc). Professional sports are about winning and being entertaining - we've had very few years where we've managed both (less than half a dozen in the past few decades, and I exclude last year from that as it was boring to watch) and in no case have we managed the ultimate win.


My quality of life isn't even dependent on them playing good football - I have other things far far more important. However, as one of my interests I enjoy it when they win and play well and would enjoy it far more if they won a flag. As I say, it is the ultimate purpose of professional sports teams.

Ah, therein lies the rub . . . because entertainment is the only goal of professional sportspeople. It's what they get paid to do.

Winning games, winning flags might be perceived by some fans as a crucial component in successfully providing the entertainment. But making winning the ultimate goal is just confusing means and ends.

If a sporting entity is to succeed as a business in the long term, it needs to be very clear about what the real goal is.

As an historian, you would know that in the long run there is no difference between winning and losing. No matter how many gridiron coaches might say otherwise, winning is not necessarily the same as succeeding.

[NMWBloods]

Well, if the aim is to either win a flag or to entertain the spectators, the Swans failed dismally in 2004!!

[liz]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
Well, if the aim is to either win a flag or to entertain the spectators, the Swans failed dismally in 2004!!

Speak for yourself. I was entertained by pretty much every match I went to, even if I didn't always come away happy with the outcome.

[NMWBloods]

Let's be realistic - the Swans' brand of football is 2004 was probably one of the most boring I have seen in many years. I have never taped games and refused to watch them to the end when we win because I know it will be dull as anything. That's not to say there were not exciting phases at times, but generally the games overall were quite a boring spectacle.

[dread and might]

earlier in the season we were playing more exciting football, it wasn't necessarily yielding enough wins though.

would we be happier if the boys played a nice brand of footy to watch, but lost more games than they won, or won ugly?

[sharpie]

Originally posted by liz
Speak for yourself. I was entertained by pretty much every match I went to, even if I didn't always come away happy with the outcome.

you can hardly have been impressed by the type of football the swans played in some games, like against Adelaide.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by dread and might
would we be happier if the boys played a nice brand of footy to watch, but lost more games than they won, or won ugly?

Interesting question and the responses can be quite inconsistent.

From my perspective, I want to see us win games, in particular the big one, but I also want to see us play entertaining football. The only way I can put up with boring football (like we played this year) is for us to win the flag - to me that is the only acceptable return for playing boring football.

If we continue to play boring football that is painful to watch and we do not challenge for the flag, then I will continue to follow the club, however my interest in the game would wane as I don't see a lot to attract me to it in that case. After all it's about enjoyment, and I don't know what the enjoyment is in this!

Interestingly some people above have said that the flag is not the most important thing, but being entertained by good football. However, a lot of stuff served up by our team during the year was certainly not attractive football. However, I recall at the time a number of people took the view that a win is a win and we shouldn't be complaining about aesthetics. IIRC some of those people are also perhaps the same ones who simply want a few wins.

So, I'm rather confused as to what people really want from the side.

[chammond]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
Interestingly some people above have said that the flag is not the most important thing, but being entertained by good football. However, a lot of stuff served up by our team during the year was certainly not attractive football. However, I recall at the time a number of people took the view that a win is a win and we shouldn't be complaining about aesthetics. IIRC some of those people are also perhaps the same ones who simply want a few wins.

So, I'm rather confused as to what people really want from the side.

I'm rather confused by what you've said here?

But if you are saying that Swans fans are a diverse bunch with a whole host of differing expectations (which probably change from time to time), then I agree with you 100%.

[OldE]

I think this has interesting ramifications for the growth of Aussie Rules footy in NSW. Much as I love my team, I love the game more, and I think my first concern in football is for the growth of the game in Sydney, even above the success of the Swans (you can excommunicate me now, if you like). Granted, a flag would definitely help the cause, but I very sincerely doubt that many people will be converted to the game if we play boring football.

IMO, we have the greatest game. It's fast, exciting, free-flowing and the result is very often a surprise. By playing dull footy, we are depriving people who don't usually watch the game the chance to see the virtues of our game when it's played well.

I bought two season passes for 2004- one for me, and one for various friends I was hoping to convert. The friends who came to the Brisbane and St Kilda games now love footy. Those who came to Richmond and Adelaide have decided the game is terrible.

So I guess what's been said above is true: boring football is only acceptable if you make the grand final. In terms of reaching the population of Sydney with our sport, I think that is definitely true. I guess its all about risk calculation: do we play boring and make the final, or play pretty and have a higher chance of missing out? Which will bring us the most new fans? I really don't know

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by chammond
I'm rather confused by what you've said here?

But if you are saying that Swans fans are a diverse bunch with a whole host of differing expectations (which probably change from time to time), then I agree with you 100%.

No, I was saying that some people's views are inconsistent and what they 'require' is confusing and changes.

Of course, I'm sure you'll read this whatever way you choose...

[sharp9]

I'll be supporting the team...if we're playingell I'll be happy, if not, I won't

Footyhead seems to be implying that we should stop supporting the team if we don't win a premiership in 3 years. What the?

[anne]

As I said earlier I will continue to support them but I do wish they would play more interesting and exciting footy. Also it is embarassing to read what supporters of other teams say about Sydney. They all hate the way we play and continually state that the Swans are killing the game rather than promoting it.