Ben Strevens comments

[halifax08]

Ben got caught up in the mood today. After a poor first half, Eastleigh deservedly went 2-0 up. After the sending off, Weymouth began to build in confidence. Looked like Eastleigh had dropped two points. Great final goal. However, I'm disappointed in Ben's comments about fan support. I remember Richard Hill doing the same a few years ago. He wasn't in the job soon after. I get Ben wants Eastleigh to win; we all do. But we have to have something to cheer for. We did in the end. Referee was awful, and poor decisions can cost jobs. Ben, don't blame the fans.

[Bruce Forbes]

“However, I'm disappointed in Ben's comments about fan support. I remember Richard Hill doing the same a few years ago. He wasn't in the job soon after. I get Ben wants Eastleigh to win; we all do. But we have to have something to cheer for.“

Totally agree.

[callumefc]

Fair comments from Strevs and two previous posters.

Feel I could write an essay here but I'll keep it short.

As fans we all know how much vocal support can help a team, I reckon a good vocal support base is worth 5-10pts a season, just look at Leeds Utd this season, and the massive drop off with Sheff Utd and Liverpool last season with no fans. Support matters a huge amount.

I was at Ramsbottom on NYD , the 30 mainly drunken away fans had nothing to cheer about but they did anyway, non stop, and in a game between two mid table sides , their team came away with an easy win. I see it up and down the country each week.

Let face it , 50% of a crowd goes to games either with young people or just to get out the house for piece and quiet and a sit down.
The other half will consist of people who just want a social with some of them wanting to sing. It takes an odd mindset to stand out from the crowd and vocally shout or sing something.

I think the price of football at Eastleigh matters in regard to this subject. Do you really care, and I mean really care. What the result is if it costs you less than 2 beers for 90 mins entertainment. Can you really be invested for such little money?

The atmosphere is shocking but it will slowly build through time, you only have to look at the scenes at the Woking Aldershot games recently to see the real passion clubs fan bases have at this level.

We are a nice club, with nice facilities. Probably too nice, this leads to a comfortable feeling when going to games, that's good news for the club as whole in terms of growth, but it's not good news for the players and management.

[back4more]

A great interview. Everyone should watch it. Those "controversial" comments about needing more support might upset some but Ben Strevens tells it as he sees/hears it and I believe that is one of the reasons he has been an excellent manager.

It is a phenomenon at many levels that the away support is the noisiest. Those away fans are the supporters most invested in the club's success. Eastleigh home support has never been loud but we are starting to get some more noise coming from the back of the green stand. We know from the growth in attendances that a high proportion of the home crowd is relatively new to the club and hopefully we'll see a growth in the more vocal element as these new supporters become more attached to the club.

[goderz3]

A little dissapointed with Bens comment. From where I stand on the east side the atmosphere is pretty goodd. over the past few weeks the crowed has been steadily growing and the singing from the fans increaseing , we have now started to gather behind the goal in the second half which is an inprovment , just a shame about th acoustic .
As someone send Ben got cought up in the game and heard a few of the moaners, which you get at any game.

[bomber]

Recall a few seasons ago the stewards came down like a ton of bricks on anyone who dared blink. That lot never came back. Its been poor ever since.