Look, I want to be straight with folk: I’ve been guilty of jumping too quickly to conclusions about players. I said as much back in November, and I meant it. Seeing Skog Olsen get slated has rattled me, not because I’m losing the plot, but because I don’t want to be that kind of supporter anymore.

Why a change of heart?

Football’s a noisy business. The mood swings overnight. One poor pass, one misplaced tackle, and the chorus starts. I fell into that trap — judging character from a handful of moments. That wasn’t fair, and it wasn’t helpful. Players are humans. They need time to settle, learn a manager’s shape, and find their place in the press and the team’s tempo.

Backing players, not headlines

To be fair, that doesn’t mean every player deserves a free pass. There are standards at this club and rightly so. But calling someone’s character into question based on a short spell? That’s different from holding them to account. I want to be the kind of fan who points out weaknesses in a way that’s constructive, not corrosive. We can shout about poor positioning or lazy off-the-ball work without tearing someone down as a person.

What I’m trying to do now

It’s not just about players. I’ve had stuff going on in my life and, to be honest, I let it affect how I came across on here. I’ve been defensive, and that made me write things I shouldn’t have. I own those mistakes. My vow is simple: judge less on hot takes, more on patterns. When you give young lads time to adapt — to understand transitions and tactics — you often get the best out of them. That’s the approach I’ll try to stick to on the forum from now on.

So if you saw me kicking off earlier, sorry. I’m learning. We all want what’s best for the club. Backing players properly, while still expecting standards, feels like the right balance to me.

Written by Aphelion: 11 May 2026

Tags: tactics