Where The Wilder Things Are

Upsetting to hear Chris Wilder on Radio Oxford post-match Saturday so annoyed with certain sections of the fan base.

The man was clearly apoplectic.

Such a shame after what was, let's be honest, a very convincing display. Yes, we didn't put them to bed early enough - after 2-0 I think we were all expecting it to be a rout - but I think sometimes people forget the standard we are playing at. We are, after all, in The Conference.

I agree with Wilder in many respects - certainly that we have been spoilt this season and now seem to expect 100% performances every game. But i also have to agree with a later caller to Radio Oxford who said this just shows how far we have come - two seasons ago we'd have been cock-a-hoop with any victory, now some fans are moaning that we aren't scoring 5 without reply.

It's good that our expectations are so high though. This is something Wilder himself has spoken of time and time again, that we need to get over this losing mentality that has beset the club & the fan base for a decade, and with it throw out these expectations that we will probably throw it all away anyway.

Fans being disgruntled with players for holding the ball in the corner when we've got a two goal lead is to my mind an embodiment of that very mindset. I can't condone booing, but why fuck about like that when we could clearly have got another? Wilder himself was noted as having berated the players for this decision late on and acknowledged it was the wrong decision on their part.

I think therefore, the booing/disgruntlement of the short corner isn't what Wilder was annoyed about -he mentioned someone was berating the Captain personally, telling Wilder he should take him off- and I think this is the nub of the issue he had.

As such, it was probably, what? One person? Two people? There is also an idiot near me in the East Stand who berates Murray consistently (even when he's having a great game) every game. Frankly this is just the odd person in 6,000, so Wilder was wrong to imply it was even "some sections" of the fans - it was more likely "some individuals".

That said, he did realise he'd slightly over-reacted from his more subdued tone in the post-match interview on the official site, so i don't think he's going to take the issue to heart.

So neither should the fans. It's good to have a manager this passionate, this good at his job, this determined to succeed. Forgive him the odd outburst, but also some fans need to forgive his team their short-comings from time-to-time.

As i said above, they aren't perfect. But they are doing a damn good job of getting there this season.