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Fry calls for unity after some ‘soul-destroying’ criticism
Peterborough United director of football Barry Fry has issued a statement calling for unity at London Road as the club battle to end a losing run in the Championship.
Fry called fan criticism of certain players at matches recently ‘soul destroying’ insisting the club’s management and players have over-achieved massively this sesason.
Fry said: ‘I have been amazed by the negative reaction from supporters on forums, in e-mails and in the media regarding our chairman Darragh MacAnthony, the manager Darren Ferguson and some of the players.
“Although supporters who pay the money to come and watch the team are quite entitled to their opinion, I think everyone should be careful what they wish for, and where we have come from.
“When I owned the club and long before that, nobody in and around Peterborough was going to come in and invest money.
“Since Darragh became owner four-and-a-half years ago, and since the partnership with our manager Darren was put together, we have had three promotions in four seasons, scored hundreds of goals and entertained everyone up and down the country with our exciting brand of football.
“I said that it was a miracle that Darragh and Darren performed, along with the players, in getting this club back into the Championship last year, but it would be another miraculous achievement if we retained our status at this level.
“If we finish fourth from bottom, that would be success for this football club. I think all true Posh fans, being realistic, would feel the same that I do because we have been punching above our weight for a number of years now.
“The fans are quite right in their disappointment of recent performances and their support has been quite magnificent both home and away since Darragh and Darren took this club forward.
“What they have done, not only for this club, but for the city of Peterborough is quite astonishing. Nobody hurts as much as those two gentleman when we lose.
“The chairman is supporting the manager as much as he can, but we have been very frustrated in the transfer market and we have to be realistic.
“We have come up against sides at this level who have one player on more wages than the rest of our starting line-up put together. That is because a large majority of teams at this level have been in the Premier League and it is difficult to compete financially.
“We all know we have hit a bad patch of late. Individuals set their own standards and many individuals have fallen below those standards. Indeed, collectively, we know that we have not performed as well as we can in recent weeks.
“There are many mitigating circumstances for this, injuries, suspensions, loss of form and everyone knows that we have the lowest average gate in the Championship and therefore cannot afford to pay what other clubs at this level can afford.
“The club policy from day one has been very clear. We go for young, hungry players that want to listen and learn. That is the chairman’s policy and Darren has brought endless players through and improved them. That is the way we run our football club.
“At times like these, we need to be united. We need the fans to get behind us like they have done in the past and encourage the chairman, the manager and all players.
“It is soul destroying, not just for the individuals that you criticise, but for the rest of the team. It has a big effect on everyone at the club.
“Let’s realise where we have come from. Let’s not have ridiculous expectations. Let’s all be together and united in helping each other in achieving another miracle by retaining our Championship status.”
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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Comments
There are 14 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
DonB
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 11:17 AMNo need for your words, Mr Fry....it is quite plain many do not know what they are talking about.
ForeverPosh
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 08:37 AMMr Fry - you don't need to tell us that we're lucky to be where we are. You don't need to tell us that Darragh's entry into Posh was the most positive move in decades. You don't have to tell us that DF has been one of the most successful managers the club has seen. You don't have to tell us we have one of the best young sides in the country. We know this. We appreciate it. We have enjoyed five great seasons. We care passionately about Peterborough United. We too put our money and our time behind them. We simply want to do as well as we can, and when we see something going wrong, we feel we should say it. If a lot of people say the same thing, then Maybe there's even some truth in it and the club should take note. Maybe the club should consider feeding back on our comments with real information, rather than just reminding us how lucky we are. This is a 'show me - tell me' world - not a 'trust me' world anymore...
henryjames
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 06:25 PMOmg if you believe lewis to be the best keeper we ever had you need locking up. Bennett barber tyler to name just three come to mind. Lewis wont even make top ten. Ajose gone to chesterfield on youth loan. Good luck. Another 300k down swanny
feduppete
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 05:37 PM#7Robpufc I apologise. Lewis is the best goalkeeper we've ever had. If he plays well at Burnley I will be one of the first to come on here and say so. I have praised him before on here when he saved a header and a penalty against Plymouth in quick succession and got us all three points last season. I am able to praise as well as criticise. Unfortunately, just lately it seems to be the latteras most of us are doing. I don't agree with booing Lewis either as it is a form of workplace bullying.
redwhiteblue
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 04:44 PMThat was meant to say 'can't remember when Tomlin had a good game'
redwhiteblue
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 04:41 PMI wasn't at the game on Saturday but I can't remember Tomlin had a good game. The lad is full of himself as spats on nights out shows! If fans who pay towards the wages of players don't like what they see then we do have the right to moan and critise Mr Fry.
poshalot
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 02:35 PMThe supporters jeered Tomlin as well.As for Sinclair 'the target man' he gets ironic jeers every time he used to head the ball and now your all moaning he isn't getting picked.What absolute rubbish Posh supporters are.You should have heard the fantastic support Pompey gave despite their poor away record.Shame on you all.
robpufc
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 02:28 PM@feduppete dont bother going then! all you do is repeat the same stuff every day we all know your opinion 100 times over! Fergies team selections have got us above the like of forest and ipswich. Things in football are kept in house for a reason and are at every club.
gilroy
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 02:20 PMAs at ALL clubs the truth is never forthcoming,Just be pleased we are financially in a good state thanks .to DM. What ever happens we will still have a club next season Be grateful for that and show your support
feduppete
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 02:01 PM#4. Why is that so? Don't you get fed up with Fergie's strange team selections. I, for one do.
ThePoshBiy
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 01:46 PMProbably the most sensible thing to come out of Barry's mouth for a long time!!! #1 - The club employ a manager to pick the team, why do supporters 'deserve' to be told why he picks them? That in itself is a ridiculous expectation.
feduppete
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 01:46 PMIf spiller Lewis plays at Burnley it proves we really have learnt nothing from Saturday's defeat.
Fenland Posh
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 01:32 PMSo why isn't Lewis learning from his mistakes? Is it that he doesn't listen, or that he is just hungry for a nice pay rise for getting a free transfer??? Answer on a postcard please Bazza.
feduppete
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 01:02 PMWe don't have ridiculous expectations Barry with a club as small as ours. What we have ,however, is a hope that we will stay at this level with a team selection to stand as much chance as doing so' Perhaps we can be told why despite Sinclair, a target man not playing on Saturday, is Ajose not playing either? Or are you admitting he was a waste of money and not good enough? We, as supporters deserve to be told.
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