Commotion in the South Upper

[Swiss Tony]

Yes, because we only want people who can spell correctly on the Zone.

Two rite......

 

[OldBlueLady]

By the time the four security men and two stewards in white coats turned up, it had pretty much calmed down and the man in the red jacket had wisely returned to his seat.

Storm in a teacup at the end of the day.

I did notice one of the white coated guys sitting talking to one chap for a long, long time. I think they seemed to handle it all very well, no violent or aggressive movements at all.

 

[prawntobewild]

If this hadn't been his first game I don' think there would have been anything as like as much furore as there was. Sadly it did overshadow the game.

 

[Wise Head]

I did notice one of the white coated guys sitting talking to one chap for a long, long time. I think they seemed to handle it all very well, no violent or aggressive movements at all.

I also feel it was handled well in the end. All the people arguing we're either season card holders or very regular attenders and just got carried away on an emotive subject which won't raise it's head again for hopefully a long time if ever. In refereeing terms I would have handed out five yellows, but no reds. I think the security guys realised this when they arrived and finally got the go ahead to just talk to everyone involved without ejecting anyone and make sure there would be no further repetitions.

 

[prawntobewild]

I believe that Oxford also fielded Adam Chapman (No 7) - he was also involved in a fatal car accident.

 

[Silencer]

Thought the atmosphere was flat and poor yesterday from Southend, just a shame most of our singing was pointless chants at McCormick as opposed to getting behind our players.

 

[OldBlueLady]

Thought the atmosphere was flat and poor yesterday from Southend, just a shame most of our singing was pointless chants at McCormick as opposed to getting behind our players.

Which was exactly what Alex feared in his original thread.

 

[McNasty]

Did we lose yesterday ?

 

[Beardoblue]

Think McCormick got off very lightly. Not condoning any chanting to him but come on first league game it was always going to happen and if he had been playing somewhere with a more hostile crowd he would and will get far worse. Man up.

 

[jimmyshrimp]

Thought the atmosphere was flat and poor yesterday from Southend, just a shame most of our singing was pointless chants at McCormick as opposed to getting behind our players.

I think the atmosphere is always flat in the south upper. I was in the North bank and thought they were in good voice! It's a shame the rest of the ground don't join in. Out of interest were do you sit?

 

[stickyboy]

apart from the anti-keeper songs , was very quiet not helped by the fact we pretty much hardly had a shot all game and never really looked like scoring. At least no-one can say their keeper had a blinder because we fired him up as didnt need to do nothing.

 

[dan_mays]

Disgusting why would we defend him

1. He is not our player
2. He killed 2 young children due to his recklessness
3. Although he has served his time Oxford should be ashamed for employing him

Any abuse is warranted and I am sure he will get far worse over the course of the season, now roll on for the Lee Hughes abuse next I think

 

[Norwichshrimper]

Disgusting why would we defend him

1. He is not our player
2. He killed 2 young children due to his recklessness
3. Although he has served his time Oxford should be ashamed for employing him

Any abuse is warranted and I am sure he will get far worse over the course of the season, now roll on for the Lee Hughes abuse next I think

Apologies if I've missed it - but I don't think anyone is defending what he did

 

[Jam_Man]

Apologies if I've missed it - but I don't think anyone is defending what he did

N one is saying that, think he means defending him from abuse.

I personally have no issue with him being abused, but there is a line where the abuse actually upsets the home fans. At that point its an issue.

We had one guy in the family enclosure singing "murderer" most of the second half, it had no effect on my kids so had no issue whatsoever with it, if he was sitting next to my 5 year old screaming in a hateful way that would be different. All depends on how its done.

I dont know what was done in the South Upper as only noticed the after effects.

 

[Winkle]

I listened to BBC essex during the game and one of the commentators said that if he had served his time and gone back to being a painter or decorator e.t.c that know one would be bothered and I agree with him. However, he has decided to ply his trade again within the football world so must accept that he will subject to abuse whenever he enters any football ground. It not for me to question wether or not the abuse is acceptable thats for the stewards and staff to decide. What is sad is that no amount of abuse will ever bring them poor children back and as a club Oxford have handled the decision to sign and play him badly with repect to the families involved.

 

[EastStandBlue]

Disgusting why would we defend him

1. He is not our player
2. He killed 2 young children due to his recklessness
3. Although he has served his time Oxford should be ashamed for employing him

Any abuse is warranted and I am sure he will get far worse over the course of the season, now roll on for the Lee Hughes abuse next I think

Really? Why?

This is the one aspect of the argument I've never understood. Whilst I don't agree with the notion that one man should be prohibited from earning a living if our criminal justice system deems him to have been rehabilitated, I can understand people's discomfort with McCormick entering the media limelight once more. However, I've never understood why a company or organisation should be chastised for hiring someone with a criminal record. They're hardly profiting from this, and what would you rather happen? McCormick to sign on every fortnight when he could be earning his way and paying tax?

Swindon received similar negative press, but were very quick to point out that they were aiding with McCormick's rehabilitation by facilitating him running workshops in which he spoke to children about the perils of drink driving and I'd imagine he'll be doing the same at Oxford. If the media attention brought to McCormick's case dissuades just one person from getting behind the wheel whilst drunk, then some good has come out of this.

 

[londonblue]

I spoke to McCormick's agent last night. It was an interesting conversation.

Firstly, McCormick's come out of prison a much stronger person than he was before. (Thankfully I've never been in prison, but I can understand that it would make you grow up.)

Secondly, over the past few years he's spent time working with counsellors and sports psycologists. It's not been a lot, but he's spent some time with them to the point where 90 minutes of name calling and chanting isn't going to affect him. Moreover he (McCormick) was expecting the abuse to be a whole lot worse than it was.

Thirdly, Oxford were pleased with his performance, although he didn't have a lot to do. (Personally I thought his distribution was fantastic, especially given the conditions.)

So, taking those to into account, all we have succeeded in doing is boosting his confidence because he now knows full well he can deal with the abuse he's going to get, and it won't affect his performance. Well done us for helping out one of our playoff/promotion rivals. (Anyone who thinks the abuse will be worse at other matches also ought to think again. We had the 3rd highest gate in League 2 on Saturday, so that's pretty unlikely.)

IMO the worst thing we could have done is ignore him. Footballers want to hear the crowd. If they're getting cheered that's great. If they're getting abuse from the opposition fans they know they've got under their skin. If they hear nothing at all then they feel like a non-entity.

 

[Jam_Man]

I spoke to McCormick's agent last night. It was an interesting conversation.

Firstly, McCormick's come out of prison a much stronger person than he was before. (Thankfully I've never been in prison, but I can understand that it would make you grow up.)

Secondly, over the past few years he's spent time working with counsellors and sports psycologists. It's not been a lot, but he's spent some time with them to the point where 90 minutes of name calling and chanting isn't going to affect him. Moreover he (McCormick) was expecting the abuse to be a whole lot worse than it was.

Thirdly, Oxford were pleased with his performance, although he didn't have a lot to do. (Personally I thought his distribution was fantastic, especially given the conditions.)

So, taking those to into account, all we have succeeded in doing is boosting his confidence because he now knows full well he can deal with the abuse he's going to get, and it won't affect his performance. Well done us for helping out one of our playoff/promotion rivals. (Anyone who thinks the abuse will be worse at other matches also ought to think again. We had the 3rd highest gate in League 2 on Saturday, so that's pretty unlikely.)

IMO the worst thing we could have done is ignore him. Footballers want to hear the crowd. If they're getting cheered that's great. If they're getting abuse from the opposition fans they know they've got under their skin. If they hear nothing at all then they feel like a non-entity.

Well that only applies if its their performance thats riled the fans.

Theres a big difference to opposing fans not liking you for the player you are or the team you play for, its another one knowing everyone is looking at you thinking about the kids youve killed.

Id say many who abused him didnt do it to affect his performance, just to let him know what a douche bag he is, and they did that as will fans all season.

He may be mentally tough, but he still wont like it and thats something he has to live with, and if he isnt affected at all by that then there's something very wrong with him.

 

[Jai]

Well done us for helping out one of our playoff/promotion rivals.

Hmm. I think you might be over-stressing the emphasis of a bit of name calling in a game his team lost 1-0.

 

[Onion_Bag_Dave]

He drove drunk and killed 2 kids, it's a completely unforgivable thing.

He's going to get the abuse at every stadium he ever plays at.

He did his time, whether it was a long enough sentence or not that's another point.

I'm sure he isn't proud of what he did, I'm sure he's not laughing about. What's he meant to do? Kill himself? Like some of our fans were suggesting with a chant? If it was me, which it never would be because I would never be such a brainless human, but if it was me I'd want to get on with my life. There's nothing wrong with that is there?

It was a mistake. A stupid, awful moment. I felt uncomfortable looking at him playing football professionally, like I do when I see Lee Hughes. I don't think I could be in the public eye after something like that.

This article http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepag...ingdeath-crash-goalkeeper-Luke-McCormick.html is a joke.

Highlighting that he's had a drink, I DON'T GIVE A ****. We don't want to know what he's up to. I don't care about him.

Mental situation. And you have to question why Oxford signed him anyway? Unbelievable.