About ducks and fans

Towards the end of last year, I read an article that set out 3 reasons to quit social media in 2013. The author said:

• It's bad for your self-esteem
• It can cause high blood pressure
• Online is no substitute for Offline.

It's tempting to agree.

I started this blog as a way of expressing my opinion respectfully and openly about the game I love. I also joined Twitter as friends said it's a good way to stay connected to so many different people. I stayed on it, even when I was appointed as coach of Sydney FC, as I thought it would be good to interact with the club's fans from time-to-time.

But I have been pretty quiet lately. Partly that's because I'm one of those 'all-consuming' type of people who gets so wound-up in what I'm doing that it's hard to find the time for the little extras such as writing a blog or replying to people. (For those of you who write via this site, I do read what you send me but I seldom find time to respond - sorry). The other reason I've been quiet is thinking about what I call the the "new player in the game". I'm referring to social media, and especially Twitter.

As I've said many times before, I don't mind if people have a different opinion or question mine. Many people do.

But I do have a question for the small group of people - who mostly hide behind fake names or no name - who hurl mistruths, abuse and personal insults at me, some of the staff and the players. Are you really real football fans?

The campaign for #FarinaOut, the uninformed and inaccurate speculation about injuries, the constant hectoring about drinking - you need to know that they're water off a duck's back. 

A real football fan follows their team through thick and thin. A real football fan, when faced with 1 win & 3 losses for the start of the season, is asking what they can do to help get the team on track. A real football fan doesn't write an expletive laden message about not going to the game on the weekend, but realises this is the time more than ever that they're needed at home against their biggest traditional rival. 

I know this because I've done nothing else except work in football since I was 17. I've seen and met real football fans in Australia and all over the world.

A real football fan has their team's back. That's what makes a great club and, in the Australian context, that's what will be the next big step in the development of the game in our country. 

I can promise you that there's not one player and not one member of the coaching staff who isn't striving week-in, week-out.

Sydney till you die? 

Terrific. Prove it. 

The Big Blue in support of Beyond Blue is on this Saturday at Allianz Stadium against Melbourne Victory. Kick-off is at 7.45pm. See you there - in full sky blue-blooded support to prove that #SydneyIsSkyBlue.

Cheers
Frank