Bradford City: Internet critics can blog off, says Branston (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Bradford City: Internet critics can blog off, says Branston
7:00am Monday 10th October 2011 in Bantams
By Simon Parker, Bradford City Reporter
Guy Branston showed in a man-of-the-match display against Torquay that there is life in the old dog yet
Guy Branston today hit out at those who are already consigning him to the City scrap-heap.
The former skipper delivered a sterling display as a sub against Torquay after Andrew Davies was sent off.
Branston played a key role as the ten men beat his previous club 1-0 to give Phil Parkinson a first league success at the seventh attempt.
And then the defender rounded on the doubters that have questioned his Valley Parade future since being dropped.
Branston said: “People can’t wait to write players off here. I’ve never seen that before at any football club. You read the blogs and they can be quite harsh, saying things like ‘that’s him right out the window.’
“I’ve never had to deal with that. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been written off loads of times because I’m a professional footballer but I’ve never come to a club and six weeks in people are writing you off. It amazes me why they’d even think of doing that.
People can’t wait to write players off here. I’ve never seen that before at any football club
Guy Branston
“If weak-minded players lose that mentality and start to agree with what’s being said then how can you get better?.”
Full story in today's Telegraph & Argus, including Branston on his frustration at failing to win back a starting spot against Torquay
Comments(27)
Wakeywakey
says...
7:11am Mon 10 Oct 11
macca1969
says...
7:59am Mon 10 Oct 11
silverbantam wrote:Don't think he is necessarily talking about just himself. He isn't weak minded and has proved his critics wrong. What he is saying is that the more sensitive or confidence built players ie Michael boldingor Evans for example can be damaged by that sort of abuse and to be honest he is correct as the usual bile that is poured onto the players From the terraces only helps the opposition. I myself have been guilty of posting negative views about players on here although i try to be constructive with it. After being taken to task by a certain other poster and because i have started to follow the players on twitter, i have started to think about what i post and the way i post it. We should all learn to do the same, these guys are human and positive interaction is the way forward as we saw on Saturday with the crowd behind the team as one
Players shouldn't read what people write about them on the Internet. Especially if they're as sensitive as Guy seems to be. I thought he was a hard man?
gspot01
says...
8:30am Mon 10 Oct 11
macca1969 wrote:Fully agree with Branston, he's not complaining about it either. The fans have certainly destroyed players at VP and having seen the abuse Guy gets on twitter I was over the moon for the guy after his perofrmance on Saturday - Oliver is another one who has ignored the fans and improved.
silverbantam wrote: Players shouldn't read what people write about them on the Internet. Especially if they're as sensitive as Guy seems to be. I thought he was a hard man?Don't think he is necessarily talking about just himself. He isn't weak minded and has proved his critics wrong. What he is saying is that the more sensitive or confidence built players ie Michael boldingor Evans for example can be damaged by that sort of abuse and to be honest he is correct as the usual bile that is poured onto the players From the terraces only helps the opposition. I myself have been guilty of posting negative views about players on here although i try to be constructive with it. After being taken to task by a certain other poster and because i have started to follow the players on twitter, i have started to think about what i post and the way i post it. We should all learn to do the same, these guys are human and positive interaction is the way forward as we saw on Saturday with the crowd behind the team as one
.
Anyway, a good performance on Saturday and lets hope this is now a platform to go on a winning run and climb that league.
shaun from richmond
says...
8:35am Mon 10 Oct 11
If you dont like it at Valley Parade...LEAVE!! Trust me YOU WONT BE MISSED!!
That goes for any other of the poor dears worrying what fans may say about them!!
PLAY like you did Saturday.....YOU WONT GET STICK.......FACT!!!
UAE_Bantam
says...
8:47am Mon 10 Oct 11
shaun from richmond wrote:Well this is a quality example of a grown up attitude!! lol
For goodness sake "Branston" GROW UP!! If you dont like it at Valley Parade...LEAVE!! Trust me YOU WONT BE MISSED!! That goes for any other of the poor dears worrying what fans may say about them!! PLAY like you did Saturday.....YOU WONT GET STICK.......FACT!!!
Keighley Bantam
says...
9:26am Mon 10 Oct 11
If I'm not mistaken, Branston was irked by a seemingly innocuous statement on a well known BCFC blog which suggested (with good reason) that he had fallen down the defensive pecking order at Valley Parade. I think the fact he has been left out for 3 league games running shows that this statement was not without foundation.
Branston then used Twitter to confront the writer of this article and suggested they meet 'face to face'. When the writer agreed to this request and politely asked Branston where he would like to meet he continued his tirade and made himself look a bit silly. I don't think a meeting was arranged.
I may be totally wrong (and would be happy to be proved so) but as somebody who reads various City related blogs, forums and twitter accounts with interest it seems Branston has made a mountain out of a molehill here. I like the guy a lot and I love his attitude but before Saturday I don't think he could have too many complaints at being dropped to the bench. After his heroic performance on Saturday he deserves to regain a starting berth and I expect him to do so at Hereford.
He has faced a lot of idiotic comments on Twitter over the last few months but dealt with them well and I think he knows that a huge majority of City fans on there are behind him. It would be a shame to let this one incident bring further negativity to the club and cause arguments amongst supporters at a time when things just may be looking up!
clarkybantam
says...
9:46am Mon 10 Oct 11
shaun from richmond wrote:Oh look, he's just been proved correct!
For goodness sake "Branston" GROW UP!!
If you dont like it at Valley Parade...LEAVE!! Trust me YOU WONT BE MISSED!!
That goes for any other of the poor dears worrying what fans may say about them!!
PLAY like you did Saturday.....YOU WONT GET STICK.......FACT!!!
LaCe78
says...
10:14am Mon 10 Oct 11
moanmoanwhingewhinge
says...
10:35am Mon 10 Oct 11
shaun from richmond wrote:Well done for proving him 100% correct, moron. There can't be any other club in the league as hell bent on destroying it's own players and, in Shaun the Sheeps case, destroying the manager within days of arriving. Wish I could go back to the days when we had actual supporters rather than hate-filled critics looking to rip the club & it's players to shreds. Oh well.
For goodness sake "Branston" GROW UP!! If you dont like it at Valley Parade...LEAVE!! Trust me YOU WONT BE MISSED!! That goes for any other of the poor dears worrying what fans may say about them!! PLAY like you did Saturday.....YOU WONT GET STICK.......FACT!!!
cougarman1
says...
10:41am Mon 10 Oct 11
tyker2
says...
10:56am Mon 10 Oct 11
ricky76
says...
11:02am Mon 10 Oct 11
bigang02
says...
11:13am Mon 10 Oct 11
nowt fresh
says...
11:20am Mon 10 Oct 11
moanmoanwhingewhinge wrote:Although I dont agree with shaun from richmonds wording I do believe that if I did my job as poorly as some Bradford City players have done so far this season I don't think I would have been dropped to the bench more like given my P45 let's hope Saturdays win and performace are just the start of a new surge up the league.
shaun from richmond wrote: For goodness sake "Branston" GROW UP!! If you dont like it at Valley Parade...LEAVE!! Trust me YOU WONT BE MISSED!! That goes for any other of the poor dears worrying what fans may say about them!! PLAY like you did Saturday.....YOU WONT GET STICK.......FACT!!!Well done for proving him 100% correct, moron. There can't be any other club in the league as hell bent on destroying it's own players and, in Shaun the Sheeps case, destroying the manager within days of arriving. Wish I could go back to the days when we had actual supporters rather than hate-filled critics looking to rip the club & it's players to shreds. Oh well.
Ludylu
says...
12:22pm Mon 10 Oct 11
eebygum
says...
12:49pm Mon 10 Oct 11
Farsley Bantam
says...
12:51pm Mon 10 Oct 11
Fans have a right to criticise bad performances and I don't think this club is any better or worse for it than most clubs.
We are at the wrong end of the table for a reason and certain players have deserved the criticism that they have got.
rugger-tyke
says...
1:01pm Mon 10 Oct 11
http://www.dailymail
.co.uk/sport/footbal
l/article-2047171/Br
adford-City-hope-way
-On-road-Michael-Wal
ker.html?ito=feeds-n
ewsxml
Waynus71
says...
1:49pm Mon 10 Oct 11
Keighley Bantam wrote:I totally agree with this post. It isn't nice reading some of the comments that are directed towards OUR players and some of it is just bang out of order. However, as pointed out already, this has been blown out of all proportion by Branston himself.
Well after one of the most positive weekends for City fans in months it appears normal service has been resumed! To me, this whole incident seems to have been blown out of proportion, not least by Branston himself. If I'm not mistaken, Branston was irked by a seemingly innocuous statement on a well known BCFC blog which suggested (with good reason) that he had fallen down the defensive pecking order at Valley Parade. I think the fact he has been left out for 3 league games running shows that this statement was not without foundation. Branston then used Twitter to confront the writer of this article and suggested they meet 'face to face'. When the writer agreed to this request and politely asked Branston where he would like to meet he continued his tirade and made himself look a bit silly. I don't think a meeting was arranged. I may be totally wrong (and would be happy to be proved so) but as somebody who reads various City related blogs, forums and twitter accounts with interest it seems Branston has made a mountain out of a molehill here. I like the guy a lot and I love his attitude but before Saturday I don't think he could have too many complaints at being dropped to the bench. After his heroic performance on Saturday he deserves to regain a starting berth and I expect him to do so at Hereford. He has faced a lot of idiotic comments on Twitter over the last few months but dealt with them well and I think he knows that a huge majority of City fans on there are behind him. It would be a shame to let this one incident bring further negativity to the club and cause arguments amongst supporters at a time when things just may be looking up!
.
The BfB website simply posted an article suggesting that with Branston being dropped from first team duties and with Seip also joining us, this in turn pushes Branston further away from a recall to the first team. Nothing wrong in that?
.
Branston had obviously read this story and proceeded to attack the author for suggesting such things and as claimed above, offered to "meet up and sort things out". I believe both the author and Branston 'Direct Mailed' each other and had a more amicable chat, but it has clearly left a nasty taste. But why?? Was the story wrong? Was it slagging Branston off? No it wasn't.
.
I have 'tweeted' Branston myself in the past and suggested he ignore the vicious, ignorant comments and instead focus on his own game. We all know that Branston at the top of his game (as seen on Saturday) is as good as anything else in this division.
.
I just hope he enjoyed his 'night out in Leeds' on Saturday night and didn't sink too many of his favourite. LOL
jb bantam
says...
2:17pm Mon 10 Oct 11
Branston like many other city players in my opinion dont help themselves having Facebook & Twitter accounts and sending each other idiotic messages about performances and behavior which would only happen between children in the playground , if Branston is critical of other fellow people on twitter having a go he doesnt help himself having an absolute mare of a game then declaring he is off out on the lash with his mates to get steaming drunk.
The fact is Branston you are playing for the biggest football club in this division who have a huge fan base and fans will not accept second rate football , they pay there money and have a right to there opinion , all the other clubs you have played for have low expectations and 1/4 of the fans we have which is maybe why they havent grumbled , also the Facebook & Twitter accounts have only been live for a short while and certain media / social networking sites wont have exsisted for a large part of your playing career.
Maybe Brano take a look in the mirror before you jump on the fans , the facts were there for many a game you werent good enough , the fans spoke of there displeasure and it was only due to the sending off you got a sniff Saturday otherwise it would have been more bench warming for you for sometime to come.
With Steve Williams now fit I think Brano will either sink or swim , actions speak louder than words Brano , show us what you can do instead of acting like a child !
Halifax Bantam
says...
2:26pm Mon 10 Oct 11
northyorksbantam
says...
2:57pm Mon 10 Oct 11
I'm sure Guy also knows that his early season performaces havent merited a place in the 1st team, he is well capable of talking a good game but his performaces didnt quite match the hot air. Dont get me wrong I love the fact that we have a bloke who can motivate others around him and cares enough to give 100% dedictation to the cause every game,it is what we have needed, and he is certainly one I would rather have in our team than playing against us...but I would expect him to say he will take the criticism on the chin and get his head down and work on his game rather than have a bit of a pop back, as it is only a small minority after all. I get the feeling he maybe felt he was undroppable being captain etc and this has hit him pretty hard.
Maybe he has had a look at his game as he played a blinder on Saturday and fully expect him to keep his place in the team, and I really hope he can keep up that kind of form as it will be good for him and the team.
Mark Lawn mentioned at the end of last season that some players were scared of playing in front of a crowd and they wanted to get players in who could handle this including the criticism, which can be pretty fierce at times and probably a bit unnecessary from certain individuals but everyone has a voice these days like it or not,but I dont think City fans are particularly worse than others (have you read the Hudds boards criticism of Clarke despite there unbeaten run) or listened to the 606 phone ins..maybe Guy is used to smaller fan bases with little expectation (ie Torquay) But the fact is we are 3rd bottom of the football league and expect better, and until we start climbing the table putting in consistant performances it wont go away. So come on Guy chin up and lets be having more performances like Saturday
Steve30d
says...
6:25pm Mon 10 Oct 11
Suppose any publicity is good publicity.
dannbradfc
says...
7:00pm Mon 10 Oct 11
rugger-tyke wrote:Yeh this actually indirectly praises the city fans calling them "resilient" and hints at our loyalty.
Here's a great article about City, from the Daily Mail, no less.
http://www.dailymail
.co.uk/sport/footbal
l/article-2047171/Br
adford-City-hope-way
-On-road-Michael-Wal
ker.html?ito=feeds-n
ewsxml
We are no different to other clubs and better than some. listen to Arsenal fans on the radio and you'd think they'd had fifty years of 4th tier football and bad luck.
We do have people who can be classed as moaners however in the main they have a right to. most of the ridiculous comments are made by the young who a week later are calling the same player 'awesome' and the like.
This was the case with Branston when in reality his early performances were very under par and he was directly to blame for some of the goals conceded. he should has he states be afforded more time which he was, albeit only 10 games approx. EVERY player who is not playing well should be considered for dropping and those who come in earn the shirt. This is what Branston needs to focus his attention on.
He responded the right way Saturday and long may that continue. If he does his talking on the pitch even the 'kids' who call them names may be asking for his autograph.
Look at Oliver as a prime example of someone who got underserved 'stick' imo, but has silenced even some of his doubters/critics.
Sadly there are unconstructive critics at every club. I questioned Branston when others were calling him "immense" and "awesome" as it was not what i was seeing. Hopefully though he can actually fulfil these descriptions and i for one would love to be able to give him the same credentials in the future.
basil fawlty
says...
9:38pm Mon 10 Oct 11
Prisoner Cell Block A
says...
4:35pm Tue 11 Oct 11
Did he just play an hour in our first shutout in nearly 20 matches? Yes.
Do we have other CHs who are on form or as good as him. Yes.
This all boils down to PP and who he fancies at CH for the match in front of him.
With Williams coming through 90mins with the ressies, Oliver having nearly converted the whole of the fanbase with his recent performances, Davies brought in, Seip brought in and Branston being part of a heroic back four performance PP has some tough decisions to make regarding the centre back places, Davies being unavailable makes this a little easier and is possibly a reason we haven't bothered appealing.
I speak to Guy a fair bit via twitter and he gets some dogs abuse on there, sometimes he handles it perfectly othertimes he leaves me thinking 'ooh, maybe you could have worded that differently' but never resorts to the responses I would if I were getting stick in any situation via any media and so bear in mind he is human and will respond negatively sometimes to negative criticism.
I still don't understand how or why some fans think their 'right to reply' can be directed at individuals or even the club when they are basically moronic rants with little fibre, structure or basis in sense.
"The fact is Branston you are playing for the biggest football club in this division who have a huge fan base "
I wouldn't worry though Guy, most of them don't know their Neil Harris from their Idris Elba.
And I still blame Hanson for my half time pie at Burton being cold. As the majority of our 'large fanbase in this division' also do.
silverbantam says...
7:08am Mon 10 Oct 11