The Elephant in the Rookery

'Composed of' or 'comprises', but never 'comprised of'.

 

Surely 'comprising'? "Comprising mainly pi55ed middle aged blokes..."

 

As long as it doesn't upset you, eh?
Is there any possibility you may be wrong and they may be right?

 

Remember a couple of years ago you shared your frustrations in your pursuit of the fairer sex ? I get the impression you might still be struggling....?

 

I was a bit miffed when we had to move further from the centre spot when they put in new hospitality seats, but in retrospect we escaped Statler, Waldorf and Mr Moany so it was a blessing.

 

Yes, that also works. You have to drop one or two words and jiggle it around a bit in each case. I didn't think the complete exegesis was necessary.

 

‘Gary’, ‘Chris’ and ‘That mouthy tw*t who still moans about Jordan Stewart every week’ are the names of the people who sit near me.

 

Not that it's any of your business, but I've just bought a house with my girlfriend of the past two years. Funnily enough, my persona on an internet football forum doesn't actually define me as a person.

Plus I'm gorgeous, but thank you for your concern anyway.

 

I give it 3 months max.

 

Statler and Waldorf were/are two old gits resembling said Muppets who used to sit behind us constantly grumbling how terrible all the players were. Mr Moany was similar but much more annoying as much louder. He also had the very annoying habit of moaning at players using their first names, and moaning at the referee using his name every time (yes, we know you know his name, now shut the **** up.) Mr Moany was shut down by a bloke a couple of rows forward who threatened to lamp him if he didn't shut up. "No trouble mate" came the squeaked response...

 

Optimistic.

 

Try to steer away from any performance rating

 

Wow. That's really cheap.

 

Really hoping we get a result at Goodison, for everyone involved.

 

Apart from that time you said it was an open secret that Villa couldn’t sign anyone and then they spent £150 million on 12 players a week later

 

Have to admit I'd forgotten about this point. However, during matchday it is accessible to walk from the vic rd end to the upper rous and rookery for a drink at half time.

 

Congrats Nath

 

Dare I point to what you actually said?

‘Villa a struggling to sign a dogs arse currently. No one is interested in a team that’s going down. Again I have on authority they are trying but can’t attract.’

Nothing in there about not being able to sign who they wanted?!

 

I should hope so. Hyperbole is one of the most heinous of crimes

 

Poor fellow has dug his hole so deep he has slipped out of view completely!

 

Haha, I'm only kidding anyway - and don't really have nay view in particular about Villa.

But I don't think Villa will go down and as its for charity, I'm game regardless!

 

I know.. poetic licence.

 

I sit in one of those central Rookery seats. Had the same seat since designated seats were made compulsory for the 1999-2000 season. I used to be very much one of the singing leaders. Have been since mid-80s standing in the Old Rookery. I start fewer songs nowadays of course but I am not alone in the group around me in that we join in. As I have said on several similar threads before.....if a 'sing off' is required to find the 500 loudest most supportive voices to occupy the seats in the middle then my mates and I will surely be some of the first on the list. One doesn't have to be in the 1881 to be a vocal supporter of Watford FC. Nor do you have to stand. And I don't need a drummer to tell me when to sing; the Rookery is not Wembley (where the 1881 were important and excellent), I've had the whole stand singing with a simple well timed uplifting chant on many occasions.

However times move on and thus I was happy to stay and welcome the 1881 movers to our area for this season. Happy to stand all game if this was to improve the atmosphere. Happy to follow. I applaud the majority of what the group has done.

Sadly I believe four things transpired against the success of the move.

Firstly the 1881 was split. And indeed the old regulars were split with some staying and some moving, people who had the same neighbours for the past 20 years. This was always going to be difficult start when natural groups are split. This was not organic change it was an enforced change with poor execution. One works far more effectively than the other.

Secondly the club only consulted before making the decision with one of the two parties involved, the 1881. 'Telling' people of the change rather than consulting first caused ill feeling in many. This may not be how the Club intended, but it is how many people feel. That feeling was obvious with some on Saturday.

Thirdly many of the 1881 who did move to the middle did not seem to adjust their routine to be inclusive of the fellow fans around them. An example: having started an older favourite chant on Saturday no sooner was the chant growing that it got 'drummed out' from behind me with something, in my opinion, far less uplifting. Thus both attempts failed. That is no way to build a bond nor an atmosphere. Nor is the near constant use of the c-word and aggressive behaviour. From anyone.

Finally the game was poor. Not many in the ground are going to bounce for 90 minutes with that display.

Time to go again for West Ham. But it will need a lot more respect from everyone, and an uplifting team performance, to get the move to work.

 

Happy I took the time to write what I perceived was a considered response then looked on twitter for the first time this week and saw the move is off.

 

I would go for the latter (in polite circles).

 

Our ‘move from Upton Park’ moment.