Let's not bring the blessed Bodie and Doyle into this, r.
But seriously, that isn't the point. The point is that fans who claim to love the club regularly seek to undermine the morale of the players and manager and then wash their hands of it and say 'nothing to do with me, guv' when called on it.
Ah, I remember now; it was Richie Richardson, when it was once put to him that it seemed the forecasted conditions for a particular test match would not help his bowlers.
Anyway, it is precisely the point; the fans, and indeed, the players' morale, would be fine if we were five points clear. Blaming the supporters for our performances is merely a crude McGuffin.
"A football team is a number 9 and ten other players." - redgunamo.
And none of us are paid millions and millions of pounds a year to do our job. And when we do our job properly we don't have 50,000 people cheering and whooping and singing our name and adoring us.
And 50,000 people aren't holding up banners. About three or four people are. And groaning is a natural response. If you don't want groaning then play behind closed doors. Atletico fans were groaning at mis-placed passes, at three points from the top of the table. Newcastle fans were groaning at their team who played pretty well to get a point against City last night.
If as a player you can't cope with some flak when you fail to do your job properly then get another job. One which doesn't have the riches and the responsibilities.
"A football team is a number 9 and ten other players." - redgunamo.