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Does anything more clearly highlight the amount of idiots we have in our support-base, than the captains comments on the BBC website today. Check out the comment at 1.20pm...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/24768698

Shameful state of affairs. There are plenty moaning about failing to meet expectations. It seems our 'support' is failing to meet expectations too. Is this supposed to help the players?

I joined Twitter basically just to use it as a news feed, I think social media is by and large stupid. But in my very limited interaction with other humans on the Twitter I'm a really nice person, I would never do the sort of thing Manse is going on about here. Anyone who does do such a thing is an idiot. But honestly if you're a person of any renown whatsoever you're going to get that sort of thing, that's the way the world is nowadays. I'm sure the vast majority of Torquay supporters who happen to use the Twitter are fine, upstanding citizens. But there are always going to be a few crackpots in every bunch. Getting abuse from a couple of idiots is unfortunately going to be part of the deal for someone like Manse if he's out there in social media world. If he thinks he's got it bad he should go have a look at Ashley Young's Twitter some day.

The people that abuse the players at Plainmoor or on Twatter (I won't call them fans) need a good smacking about. They are a disgrace and should be banned from Plainmoor for life. I imagine that they are all Jeremy Kyle fodder, and the "men" (??) that do this are bound to have tiny todgers.

There are a few things that get my goat. One of them is pampered, well paid sportsmen whining about how tough it is for them. For Mr Mansell to be making these views public is completely unprofessional and he should be removed as Captain forthwith. Mr mansell if you want to really experience a hard life, I suggest you pop along to the streets of Kolkatta for a quick look around. There you will find millions of people who will gladly trade places with you. How about a visit to a sweatshop in Pakistan or a Brothel in Bangkok? A few ignorant comments from a couple of "idiots" is nothing. It would also be no bad thing if you refrained from swearing at "fans" as you leave the pitch in future as well. Man up Mr Mansell and stop being a pathetic whiner.

DTG wrote:There are a few things that get my goat. One of them is pampered, well paid sportsmen whining about how tough it is for them. For Mr Mansell to be making these views public is completely unprofessional and he should be removed as Captain forthwith. Mr mansell if you want to really experience a hard life, I suggest you pop along to the streets of Kolkatta for a quick look around. There you will find millions of people who will gladly trade places with you. How about a visit to a sweatshop in Pakistan or a Brothel in Bangkok? A few ignorant comments from a couple of "idiots" is nothing. It would also be no bad thing if you refrained from swearing at "fans" as you leave the pitch in future as well. Man up Mr Mansell and stop being a pathetic whiner.

I think we have found one of the pricks!

DTG wrote:There are a few things that get my goat. One of them is pampered, well paid sportsmen whining about how tough it is for them. For Mr Mansell to be making these views public is completely unprofessional and he should be removed as Captain forthwith. Mr mansell if you want to really experience a hard life, I suggest you pop along to the streets of Kolkatta for a quick look around. There you will find millions of people who will gladly trade places with you. How about a visit to a sweatshop in Pakistan or a Brothel in Bangkok? A few ignorant comments from a couple of "idiots" is nothing. It would also be no bad thing if you refrained from swearing at "fans" as you leave the pitch in future as well. Man up Mr Mansell and stop being a pathetic whiner.

So you think it is OK to abuse the players on Twitter then, is that what professional footballers should expect? Do you know somebody who did this? Name and address please!

Manse is hardly "pampered and well paid" as a Torquay player, what a daft thing to say, and comparing his life to somebody in Pakistan or a brothel in Bangkok is bizarre.

Manse isn't "whining about how tough his life is" either, he is just saying that abuse is not acceptable and that it doesn't help to motivate the players. I agree with him, but it is a sad part of life now. Sad losers think it is OK to abuse others on forums these days, it happens on this forum frequently. I comfort myself in the safe knowledge that those people who do this are pathetic excuses for human beings, imbeciles who should think before they write.

gullintwoplaces wrote: So you think it is OK to abuse the players on Twitter then, is that what professional footballers should expect? Do you know somebody who did this? Name and address please!

Manse is hardly "pampered and well paid" as a Torquay player, what a daft thing to say, and comparing his life to somebody in Pakistan or a brothel in Bangkok is bizarre.

Manse isn't "whining about how tough his life is" either, he is just saying that abuse is not acceptable and that it doesn't help to motivate the players. I agree with him, but it is a sad part of life now. Sad losers think it is OK to abuse others on forums these days, it happens on this forum frequently. I comfort myself in the safe knowledge that those people who do this are pathetic excuses for human beings, imbeciles who should think before they write.

Sadly this is all to typical of this site now. Where have I said it is OK to abuse players? As for Richins, really son grow up. As for Manse whining about abusing players, he's right, of course. But in the great scheme of things in his choice of occupation it goes with the job. My post (BTW Richins I'm not on twitter) is not abusive but simply pointing out that a Captains job is to rise above the critcism in whatever form and be professional. Police officers, Nurses, Traffic Wardens, Politicians, Travelling salesmen et al get abuse from time to time. The successful ones do not let it get to them. For example. love him or hate him, David Beckham showed his character after the reaction to his sending off against Argentina. He didn't whinge about it, he got on with his job. If Mansell is incapable of setting a prfessional example then maybe he's not the right choice for Captain. The histrionic responses above are pretty much what I expected from the Jeremy Kyle(is he that jerry springer clone?) generation.

Interesting views here and whilst not wishing to side with anyone I do feel that Mansell "going to press" is fairly poor really. Smacks of him being slightly "up himself" and wanting to bleat about poor me !!!

His form has been poor this season and so why not prove these people wrong by given 110% for the team and being a proper captain ??? Talking of Beckham you all must recall how he singlehandedly got England to a World Cup via his performance against Greece.

Wot our captain needs to appreciate is that the average fan works all week, and uses his money to watch the team he supports and perhaps just once in a while when the team hasn't performed then an apology should be issued to the long suffering fans ?? When did you ever here of a footballer not drawing his wages cos he thought they weren't deserved.

May I suggest that people "grow some" and act their age ???

One thing is for sure - it's not me. I don't use twitter and would be embarrassed if I ever had to. Pointless b*llocks.


Fans have every right to criticise his form. He's a footballer and if he isn't producing then he will get criticism.

Fans don't have a right to abuse players though. I think saying someone is a clown or a numpty or thick or sh*t is ok to be fair but anything more aggressive or personal then no. Also derogatory comments about family members are totally unacceptable I think everyone would agree.

I think the moral of the story is that everyone was far happier when we didn't have social media obsessed fans and footballers like we do nowadays. It's horses for courses.

I shall be cheering Mansell to the hilt from the terraces tomorrow right through to the 90 but rest assured should he have a crap game I will be on here afterwards saying so but without hopefully resorting to personal abuse. If he can't handle my approach which I think Is a fair one then he is in the wrong job.

Knill IS an idiot though.

COME ON MANSE TOMORROW LAD!!! WE'RE ALL BEHIND YOU AT GIGG LANE!!!! COYY!!

May I just add also that if he has a GOOD game I shall also be coming on here and telling everyone about it.

One of the great things about being 71 (and believe me, there are quite a few) is that one does not get involved in such esoterica as Facebook, twitter etc. What's more I have never used a mobile phone - no, not once! I don't even know how to do it. The point is, if you're anti-social, like me, using these 'social media' are the last things we want to do. Who wants to ring other humans? Who wants to 'chat' with them? (this last is slightly contradictory as I'm doing it now). And as for putting your personal information on a site for all to see....it strikes me as nonsense. I suppose reading Orwell in my youth has warned me against that sort of thing.
Are you asking for trouble if you publicise yourself on these websites? (I was going to use the adjective 'dodgy'). I think it's rather a poor show to abuse people you don't know through these media; it's cowardly, as well. So I support Mansell here. O.k., he's not having a particularly good season, but why abuse the poor chap?

Richinns wrote: I think we have found one of the pricks!

I actually think he's got a very valid point, Rich.

I read the comment that Shane referred to and while I won't defend anyone guilty of doing that kind of thing my first thought was that as captain he really shouldn't be slagging off any of our fans. Instead he should get on and lead his team by example and get us out of the mess we're currently in. If ever a club needed to unite it's us and NOW.

Few people (deliberately?) missing the point as usual. I don't recall Manse comparing the difficulty of his life with anyone else's in his comments. He's merely suggesting that he shouldn't have to read abusive comments about him AND HIS FAMILY after a game of football. I'm willing to bet that the idiots doing this, wouldn't be prepared to make the same comments to his face after the game. Social media is great, but it does unfortunately provide a platform for cowards to spout whatever they want, without fear of retribution. What we want and need is for Manse to go out on that pitch and give his all for the club. Is it any wonder he's struggling to do that? I'm sure some will suggest his 'professionalism' should enable him to do so. But I imagine his subconscious is questioning why he should go the extra mile for cretins like these.

Another thing that grates me is when people throw in an insult that slates the forum. We all contribute and if something bothers you that much then state your case and defend it. You can hardly blame "the forum", it's what we all make it, surely?