There’s a maddening inconsistency among supporters when it comes to who gets slated after a poor result. One mistake and a player is label‑stamped across the forum, while others make similar errors and barely raise an eyebrow. It’s worth saying up front: we win together and we lose together — that should shape how we talk about the squad.

Stop scapegoating the obvious names

To be fair, some lads have had rough patches and they deserve criticism when it’s earned. But look at how the finger-pointing lands. Souttar gets pilloried for an isolated one‑on‑one, yet when Djiga is described as having a poor day the reaction is oddly muted. You can see why certain players draw heat — familiarity breeds scrutiny — but truth is, looking for a lone culprit rarely tells the full story.

Errors come from all over the pitch

Defensive mistakes, midfield turnovers, failure to track runners — they don’t all come from the same name on the team sheet. Chukwuani’s lack of tracking back has been mentioned by many, and Sterling’s positioning has been questioned too. Yet the volume of criticism varies wildly. Barron’s poor ball control draws a chorus, while similar shortfalls from others get a shrug. It’s inconsistent and it muddies sensible discussion.

What we should do instead

Fans are allowed to be passionate and annoyed. That’s part of being a supporter. But we’d be better served by clearer-headed calls for accountability: point out the weaknesses, suggest how they’re fixed, and don’t invent exaggerated nonsense just to win an argument on a thread. Tactical context matters — who was pressed, who lost shape, how transitions were handled. Those details make criticism useful instead of tribal.

Leagues aren’t decided by one match or one error. The squad must shoulder responsibility and so must we as fans. A bit more balance and a bit less shouty scapegoating would do everyone good.

Written by EHL2020: 21 June 2026

Tags: tactics