I’m at a loss for words with Kyle Bartley explaining to West Brom fans what their ‘responsibility’ is as his ex-teammates continue to sleepwalk their way towards relegation from the Championship, but I’ll give it a go.
Since retiring as West Brom captain last season, Bartley has been a regular guest on BBC WM as part of their football coverage. By and large, he’s been a good addition, giving fresh insight on the infamous football phone-ins, which, with no offence to the likes of Richard Sneekes and Garry Thompson, offers a more current view into the goings on inside a modern football club.
Kyle Bartley calls on fans to get behind West Brom
However, his latest comments show how far removed modern footballers are from reality.
Speaking on the football phone-in this week, he said: “I’m urging the fans now – I think it’s their responsibility to stay for the whole game. Nobody in the building at West Brom wants us to get relegated. Nobody wants to lose a game.
“As a former player, I’m telling the fans: you can have an affect on Saturday’s performance…Staying and being a voice can help motivate those players.”
At what point are these professional footballers expected to take responsibility for their own performances? Albion’s away support is some of the best in the league; we sell out almost every away game, the team hasn’t won on the road since October.
No one is disputing the impact the fans can have to motivate players, but what about the player’s responsibility to motivate fans?
Bartley can’t be criticised for where the club finds itself since his retirement, but he definitely played a part in what has led to this moment.
How many times did we have to watch him misplace a pass, then throw his hands up in the air and look for someone else to blame? What message does that give fans?
We have seen players ultimately down tools for managers repeatedly in his 200+ appearances, and we’ve seen it again since.
It’s no secret a number of players started to turn on Carlos Corberan, Jake Livermore the latest to criticise the Spaniard for being “too intense”. But look at the difference he made, 23rd when he took charge, 5th under him and now 21st flirting with relegation after him.
For fans watching from the outside in, it seems you give an inch and these players take a mile, it’s very difficult to support that.
The Hawthorns atmosphere has long been a talking point at B71, the club asked Jayson Molumby for his thoughts in the matchday programme against Hull City last season – before fans were let down once more as West Brom limped out of the play-off race.
He said: “Frustrated groans and nervousness can affect us on the pitch, but when the noises around the ground are loud and positive, The Hawthorns is as tough a place as any in this league to come to. So, we absolutely need the home fans on our side for the remainder of the matches this season.”
Why fans won’t like Kyle Bartley comments
West Bromwich is a working class town, fans work all week and spend the limited disposable income they have coming to support players who haven’t even looked like they’re trying for large parts of this season.
They battle constant schedule changes due to TV deals, they pay over the odds for tickets, food and drink, they write off half of their weekend navigating traffic and transport issues around The Hawthorns.
Then they struggle to hear the starting XI over the muffled stadium tannoy before watching players paid thousands each week lose every second ball, not follow their man, duck out of challenges and mope about the pitch like a hungover Sunday league player.
I’m sick of this club constantly asking for more from the fans when we are constantly being let down. It works both ways.
This situation is not on the fans. Those running the club have repeatedly made bad decisions; supporters have backed the team with little in return for years leading up to this point.
The fans are not an excuse for not doing the bare minimum. Show us you care and the support will come, but if fans can’t see the effort on the pitch, it’s their “responsibility” to let that be known.
The players have just as much responsibility to perform, if not more, to paraphrase Roy Keane: “It’s their job”.