Time to move the protest inside... (5 Viewers)

[standupforcity]

Watching the game on TV yesterday it struck me how ineffectual the protest and presence on the hill is. I haven't been to Sixfields yet, believing it the right thing to do if we are to make our feelings felt. But I'm beginning to think the protest from the hill isn't working and it's time to move the protest inside the stadium. We all want to see the football, and I'd be prepared to go and watch a home game if I knew I would be part of a mass and prolonged noisy protest throughout the game, with as many eyecatching banners as possible. This laid back approach we're adopting at the moment and hoping for results is not working. Packing the stadium, causing real focus, stretching the police resourses to marshall us and being passionate in our demands, might be a better way. As they kept saying on Sky ''Coventry are too big a club....etc etc', and they're right. So I'm saying this 'big' club deserves big support, big protest worthy of our true status and history. The weather probably put a lot of people off yesterday, but if they'd known they were going to be under cover and part of someting that felt a lot more positive, Im sure they'd have gone....I would!!! So I believe it's time to stop pussyfooting around, get inside that stadium and show sisu we really do care about our club and mean business, and we're not going to go away. And frankly I don't care if it means putting a few bob in sisu's pocket .... money really isn't the most impotant thing here at the moment...getting back to the Ricoh is....first things first!

 

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[valiant15]

A bit like how the protests at the Ricoh worked?

 

[standupforcity]

A bit like how the protests at the Ricoh worked?

I can hear how passionate you are about your club...imagine if your attitude was turned around!!?!

 

[shmmeee]

You have to realise that absolutely nothing we do will change Seppala's plan, that's her whole schtick: the immovable object. It's genuinely better for her (personally) to liquidate the club to prove a point than to move back to the Ricoh as a tenant.

I'd say you have a choice to make: if you don't mind Sisu as our owners, get along and back the boys, make lots of noise, hang banners, let them know your feelings but don't expect change. If you would rather we hit the reset button than carried on with Sisu as our owners, stay away and try and force their hand that way.

 

[Swanny80]

Nothing we can do will change their masterplan, whatever that might be! Away games only for me. Cup and home games. . ,no chance!

 

[standupforcity]

You have to realise that absolutely nothing we do will change Seppala's plan, that's her whole schtick: the immovable object. It's genuinely better for her (personally) to liquidate the club to prove a point than to move back to the Ricoh as a tenant.

I'd say you have a choice to make: if you don't mind Sisu as our owners, get along and back the boys, make lots of noise, hang banners, let them know your feelings but don't expect change. If you would rather we hit the reset button than carried on with Sisu as our owners, stay away and try and force their hand that way.

I'm not willing to be a defeatist and simply accept things on sisu's terms, which is exactly what we do when we say sisu will never change!! We need to be a lot more 'in their face'....for our own respect regardless of sisu's reaction or feeling about it all.

 

[Swanny80]

The clear fact in all this is that being a football fan your emotions are left in the sadistic hands of businessmen/women who have no feelings or desire to care about the supporters. They are in it for themselves and we are left in despair

 

[pusbccfc]

Got to realise no one will join in with the protests.

Whatever you suggest it gets put down.

 

[_brian_]

Watching the game on TV yesterday it struck me how ineffectual the protest and presence on the hill is. I haven't been to Sixfields yet, believing it the right thing to do if we are to make our feelings felt. But I'm beginning to think the protest from the hill isn't working and it's time to move the protest inside the stadium. We all want to see the football, and I'd be prepared to go and watch a home game if I knew I would be part of a mass and prolonged noisy protest throughout the game, with as many eyecatching banners as possible. This laid back approach we're adopting at the moment and hoping for results is not working. Packing the stadium, causing real focus, stretching the police resourses to marshall us and being passionate in our demands, might be a better way. As they kept saying on Sky ''Coventry are too big a club....etc etc', and they're right. So I'm saying this 'big' club deserves big support, big protest worthy of our true status and history. The weather probably put a lot of people off yesterday, but if they'd known they were going to be under cover and part of someting that felt a lot more positive, Im sure they'd have gone....I would!!! So I believe it's time to stop pussyfooting around, get inside that stadium and show sisu we really do care about our club and mean business, and we're not going to go away. And frankly I don't care if it means putting a few bob in sisu's pocket .... money really isn't the most impotant thing here at the moment...getting back to the Ricoh is....first things first!

Nice try, Timmy Wimmy*!!! You come on here pretending to be a fan and trying to get the protest inside; then once the fans are in you'll take our banners off us, hand-cuff us to our seats and stick gaffer tape over our mouths! In the meantime, you're counting the money you've made from us and telling the press that more fans are starting to attend like you predicted!!!

(*If this isn't Tim Fisher, then I apologise to this genuine fan who is just suggesting an alternative approach for how the fans might protest against CCFC playing its games outside of Coventry.)

 

[KG7]

Pressley persistently reiterates he only focuses on what he can control and I would suggest that we, the fans, adopt a similar mantra.

I'm not one for protesting, the team is the absolute priority for me, but if you want to protest, protest away from the team and not inside the stadium please

 

[italiahorse]

The clear fact in all this is that being a football fan your emotions are left in the sadistic hands of businessmen/women who have no feelings or desire to care about the supporters. They are in it for themselves and we are left in despair

There plan relies on (as they said) us coming back.
In the long term Fisher has told us "build it and they will come".

Not sure how effectual being on the hill was yesterday but it felt good for me and I had a great time.
Sky cameras in our faces made me feel as if someone is interested in our plight.
I addition Sheffield United fans in the pub before the match and those on the hill made the day.

As a bonus I saw all 3 city goals. Downside was the second half when I saw the ball 3 times.

 

[MichaelCCFC]

Got to realise no one will join in with the protests.

Whatever you suggest it gets put down.

Big lesson from yesterday was that while we cannot get anything like total unity, those of us with a broadly similar view i.e. we agree we need to protest and aren't ever going inside sixfields, need to be united. There was no consensus about what to do yesterday and to a large extent it was about making the best of a bad job. But is having some people on the hill, some at The Old Shepherd, the Trust promoting Riley's (although 1 or 2 well known faces were spotted on sky!) really the best way to go?

 

[oscillatewildly]

That'll show em. Turn up at a football match, make some noise and all with the promise you'll be back again - as a paying customer! I can hear the foundations of their empire crumbling already.

 

[shmmeee]

I'm not willing to be a defeatist and simply accept things on sisu's terms, which is exactly what we do when we say sisu will never change!! We need to be a lot more 'in their face'....for our own respect regardless of sisu's reaction or feeling about it all.

I'm just saying, do what you like but don't expect an impact on Seppala. Three outcomes for me: Sisu get the Ricoh, Sisu liquidate, Sisu build new ground. Ultimately you've got to ask which ones you will accept.

But in the mean time, go crazy, I agree about the pride angle. My only question is how long do you maintain it?

 

[Matty_CCFC]

Watching the game on TV yesterday it struck me how ineffectual the protest and presence on the hill is. I haven't been to Sixfields yet, believing it the right thing to do if we are to make our feelings felt. But I'm beginning to think the protest from the hill isn't working and it's time to move the protest inside the stadium. We all want to see the football, and I'd be prepared to go and watch a home game if I knew I would be part of a mass and prolonged noisy protest throughout the game, with as many eyecatching banners as possible. This laid back approach we're adopting at the moment and hoping for results is not working. Packing the stadium, causing real focus, stretching the police resourses to marshall us and being passionate in our demands, might be a better way. As they kept saying on Sky ''Coventry are too big a club....etc etc', and they're right. So I'm saying this 'big' club deserves big support, big protest worthy of our true status and history. The weather probably put a lot of people off yesterday, but if they'd known they were going to be under cover and part of someting that felt a lot more positive, Im sure they'd have gone....I would!!! So I believe it's time to stop pussyfooting around, get inside that stadium and show sisu we really do care about our club and mean business, and we're not going to go away. And frankly I don't care if it means putting a few bob in sisu's pocket .... money really isn't the most impotant thing here at the moment...getting back to the Ricoh is....first things first!

Will never work, the fan base is all to divided.
Some are starting to enjoy Sixfields.

The only way would be for SISU/TF to turn up to an empty stadium one match day.

Think the the FL would then have to make a decision to change there views.

 

[torchomatic]

The only thing that will return us to the Ricoh is ACL and SISU, firstly talking to each other and secondly coming to an arrangement. All the protesting/boycotting in the world isn't going to make any difference. Might make us feel better and feel like we're doing something but it won't help. Only people can make it happen: Lucas and Seppala.

 

[SIR ERNIE]

Watching the game on TV yesterday it struck me how ineffectual the protest and presence on the hill is. I haven't been to Sixfields yet, believing it the right thing to do if we are to make our feelings felt. But I'm beginning to think the protest from the hill isn't working and it's time to move the protest inside the stadium. We all want to see the football, and I'd be prepared to go and watch a home game if I knew I would be part of a mass and prolonged noisy protest throughout the game, with as many eyecatching banners as possible. This laid back approach we're adopting at the moment and hoping for results is not working. Packing the stadium, causing real focus, stretching the police resourses to marshall us and being passionate in our demands, might be a better way. As they kept saying on Sky ''Coventry are too big a club....etc etc', and they're right. So I'm saying this 'big' club deserves big support, big protest worthy of our true status and history. The weather probably put a lot of people off yesterday, but if they'd known they were going to be under cover and part of someting that felt a lot more positive, Im sure they'd have gone....I would!!! So I believe it's time to stop pussyfooting around, get inside that stadium and show sisu we really do care about our club and mean business, and we're not going to go away. And frankly I don't care if it means putting a few bob in sisu's pocket .... money really isn't the most impotant thing here at the moment...getting back to the Ricoh is....first things first!

I couldn't disagree more.

Hundreds of thousands of football fans around the country will have been SHOCKED to see Coventry City playing in front of EMPTY stands Northampton.

There were plenty of shots of the Hillites before during and after the game and I would say that the dire weather amplified their commitment and emphasised the message of the boycott. I applaud the Hillites and those who continue to stay away.

Make no mistake, yesterdays coverage will have been a major embarrassment for SISU and a powerful statement from the fans.

Money is the most important thing to SISU. It's the only thing they understand and they are hurting badly.

Keep away from Sixfields but full support at away games I say.

NOPM

 

[Cheshire Sky Blue]

Watching the game on TV yesterday it struck me how ineffectual the protest and presence on the hill is. I haven't been to Sixfields yet, believing it the right thing to do if we are to make our feelings felt. But I'm beginning to think the protest from the hill isn't working and it's time to move the protest inside the stadium. We all want to see the football, and I'd be prepared to go and watch a home game if I knew I would be part of a mass and prolonged noisy protest throughout the game, with as many eyecatching banners as possible. This laid back approach we're adopting at the moment and hoping for results is not working. Packing the stadium, causing real focus, stretching the police resourses to marshall us and being passionate in our demands, might be a better way. As they kept saying on Sky ''Coventry are too big a club....etc etc', and they're right. So I'm saying this 'big' club deserves big support, big protest worthy of our true status and history. The weather probably put a lot of people off yesterday, but if they'd known they were going to be under cover and part of someting that felt a lot more positive, Im sure they'd have gone....I would!!! So I believe it's time to stop pussyfooting around, get inside that stadium and show sisu we really do care about our club and mean business, and we're not going to go away. And frankly I don't care if it means putting a few bob in sisu's pocket .... money really isn't the most impotant thing here at the moment...getting back to the Ricoh is....first things first!

You clearly never experienced the protests against SISU at the RICOH did you. Any banner that had any reference to SISU was not permitted, Those that became too vocal or visible were hassled and bullied by overzealous thugs pretending to be Stewards. Do you really think Sixfields would be any different?
Your assertion that the Hill is ineffectual, is in my view wrong. It shows the tip of an iceberg of refusal by City fans to prop up SISU's failed business. I watched the recording of the game over night, and I felt the Sky were on balance very fair. The Hillers did get shown more than once and that SISU OUT banner was seen at each goal.
Your theory that packing the stadium would cause real focus is in my view entirely without foundation. Packing Sixfields would be used by SISU as a ' The fans all support us and how we work' propaganda.
You are correct to say that the Club deserve big support, but SISU do not. They have by their own actions dismembered a great club with great traditions. The TV Pictures of that desolate stadium will have sent a profound message to the football world & I hope to SISU.
Now is not the time to go jelly kneed, now's the time to consolidate. To press home the fact that SISU can not bully their way into the City of Coventry.
You say that money is not the most important thing at the moment. I think this where you are most wrong in all you say. Money here is the key thing! It is why SISU tried to damage a charity, why they wanted to 'appropriate' a fantastic civic facility without paying the correct amount of 'money for it. And it will be the lack of it that will see them go.
Well done the Hillers, well done those that made the decision to stay away. But the biggest well done is to the team and SP, who again battled for our pride. See you at the away games!!

 

[Noggin]

Big lesson from yesterday was that while we cannot get anything like total unity, those of us with a broadly similar view i.e. we agree we need to protest and aren't ever going inside sixfields, need to be united. There was no consensus about what to do yesterday and to a large extent it was about making the best of a bad job. But is having some people on the hill, some at The Old Shepherd, the Trust promoting Riley's (although 1 or 2 well known faces were spotted on sky!) really the best way to go?

You are right it's not the best way to go at all but surely you realise you personally were a massive part of the problem, you were one of the main reasons for the split and your email ended up in the paper further damaging the hill protest. Yesterday wasn't a lesson, everyone already knew what you just said we learnt.

Sorry to say this because I'm fully aware I'm doing nothing and you are, but while your heart was clearly in the right place, you were trying to prevent bad press because of a little arguing, your "protest" was harmful to a united protest not helpful.

 

[standupforcity]

Nice try, Timmy Wimmy*!!! You come on here pretending to be a fan and trying to get the protest inside; then once the fans are in you'll take our banners off us, hand-cuff us to our seats and stick gaffer tape over our mouths! In the meantime, you're counting the money you've made from us and telling the press that more fans are starting to attend like you predicted!!!

(*If this isn't Tim Fisher, then I apologise to this genuine fan who is just suggesting an alternative approach for how the fans might protest against CCFC playing its games outside of Coventry.)

I'm glad you added the apology at the end because I am a genuine fan and have been since 1965 when I was a kid...so my passion and genuine concern and suggestions are real!!! I'm struggling like everyone else to fathom a way to beak this deadlock!!!

 

[standupforcity]

That'll show em. Turn up at a football match, make some noise and all with the promise you'll be back again - as a paying customer! I can hear the foundations of their empire crumbling already.

Great attitude! Another one with no sense of passion or fight!!! Pathetic!!

 

[standupforcity]

You clearly never experienced the protests against SISU at the RICOH did you. Any banner that had any reference to SISU was not permitted, Those that became too vocal or visible were hassled and bullied by overzealous thugs pretending to be Stewards. Do you really think Sixfields would be any different?
Your assertion that the Hill is ineffectual, is in my view wrong. It shows the tip of an iceberg of refusal by City fans to prop up SISU's failed business. I watched the recording of the game over night, and I felt the Sky were on balance very fair. The Hillers did get shown more than once and that SISU OUT banner was seen at each goal.
Your theory that packing the stadium would cause real focus is in my view entirely without foundation. Packing Sixfields would be used by SISU as a ' The fans all support us and how we work' propaganda.
You are correct to say that the Club deserve big support, but SISU do not. They have by their own actions dismembered a great club with great traditions. The TV Pictures of that desolate stadium will have sent a profound message to the football world & I hope to SISU.
Now is not the time to go jelly kneed, now's the time to consolidate. To press home the fact that SISU can not bully their way into the City of Coventry.
You say that money is not the most important thing at the moment. I think this where you are most wrong in all you say. Money here is the key thing! It is why SISU tried to damage a charity, why they wanted to 'appropriate' a fantastic civic facility without paying the correct amount of 'money for it. And it will be the lack of it that will see them go.
Well done the Hillers, well done those that made the decision to stay away. But the biggest well done is to the team and SP, who again battled for our pride. See you at the away games!!

I appreciate your response and hear what you say, and it feels like genuine debate from a fellow caring fan. But I have to say that I found the protest from the hill embarressing, and the Sky coverage minimal considering the opportunity, and I couldn't help wondering how many would have been there if it had been Portsmouth for instance...a club that knows how to make it's presence and passions felt...and finally win the day. Our efforts at this stage pale into insignificance by compassison.

 

[Spionkop]

KG7, you obviously don't see the much bigger picture going on here.

 

[skybluetony176]

I appreciate your response and hear what you say, and it feels like genuine debate from a fellow caring fan. But I have to say that I found the protest from the hill embarressing, and the Sky coverage minimal considering the opportunity, and I couldn't help wondering how many would have been there if it had been Portsmouth for instance...a club that knows how to make it's presence and passions felt...and finally win the day. Our efforts at this stage pale into insignificance by compassison.

did you find it as embarresing as the "home crowd", or the fact that the sky camera's had to go to northampton to film our "home game"

if you have some bright idea's i would be happy to hear them as i'm sure everyone else would. but just so you know handing money over to shitsu is not a bright idea, unless you want to be one of their investors and even then your reasoning would be questionable.

 

[RegTheDonk]

Sorry standupforcity, while the effectiveness of the protest on the hill is debatable, the only reason that Joy, Waggott etc have hinted a return to the Ricoh (even if it does mean buying it) is because we aren't filling sixfields.

Under your plan, Fisher will be breathing a sigh of relief that the money is starting to flow back in, justifying his decision to take us out of Cov - and strengthing his hand in the battle to starve ACL, and showing the FL that CCFC is still breathing.

 

[standupforcity]

did you find it as embarresing as the "home crowd", or the fact that the sky camera's had to go to northampton to film our "home game"

if you have some bright idea's i would be happy to hear them as i'm sure everyone else would. but just so you know handing money over to shitsu is not a bright idea, unless you want to be one of their investors and even then your reasoning would be questionable.

Another fine excuse to not get involved...sitting on the sidelines is not the way forward, but each to his own. Armchair critics tend to have little clot!

 

[standupforcity]

Under your plan, Fisher will be breathing a sigh of relief that the money is starting to flow back in, justifying his decision to take us out of Cov - and strengthing his hand in the battle to starve ACL, and showing the FL that CCFC is still breathing.

I would agree, this aspect is a concern, and I would like to think you're right, but at the moment I can't see it...

 

[Cheshire Sky Blue]

I appreciate your response and hear what you say, and it feels like genuine debate from a fellow caring fan. But I have to say that I found the protest from the hill embarressing, and the Sky coverage minimal considering the opportunity, and I couldn't help wondering how many would have been there if it had been Portsmouth for instance...a club that knows how to make it's presence and passions felt...and finally win the day. Our efforts at this stage pale into insignificance by compassison.

I am sure that most of us on SBT are true fans, and all of us at the end of the day want City back in Coventry. If you felt embarrassed by the Hillers, I did not. I actually felt humbled that those guys were representing ME on that hill, and I was not there with them. It may not be the biggest, noisiest, dramatic demonstration, but it is dignified, When work permits I will join them, why don't you come along?

 

[fernandopartridge]

A bit like how the protests at the Ricoh worked?

The protests at the Ricoh were a bed sheet in the top of a massive stand in a ground that was less than a third full.

 

[fernandopartridge]

You have to realise that absolutely nothing we do will change Seppala's plan, that's her whole schtick: the immovable object. It's genuinely better for her (personally) to liquidate the club to prove a point than to move back to the Ricoh as a tenant.

I'd say you have a choice to make: if you don't mind Sisu as our owners, get along and back the boys, make lots of noise, hang banners, let them know your feelings but don't expect change. If you would rather we hit the reset button than carried on with Sisu as our owners, stay away and try and force their hand that way.

You have contradicted yourself.

 

[sky blue zam]

The only time I will step foot inside sixfields is when we are on sky and a mass exodus is planned after 10 minutes.

 

[torchomatic]

You'll never step inside Sixfields then.

The only time I will step foot inside sixfields is when we are on sky and a mass exodus is planned after 10 minutes.

 

[jimmyhillsfanclub]

The only time I will step foot inside sixfields is when we are on sky and a mass exodus is planned after 10 minutes.

...which could have been achieved as that idea was floated back on the 8th August.....

...but as a group of fans....we have no leadership and so as a group of fans all we achieved yesterday was an EPIC FAIL.

Shame.

 

[skyblueref]

Just going back to something Fisher / Seppla have said in the past and I in no way in favour of them although I admit I do enjoy watching my team play on a Sat/Sun I'm sure one of them have said they have enough money to run the club so a few thousand missing fans isn't going to impede much. Going back to someone else's comment it is up to Sisu and ACL to agree terms for the Ricoh as the only thing Sisu is really losing on is the income for catering / tickets etc. THIS IS THE PROBLEM!

 

[standupforcity]

I am sure that most of us on SBT are true fans, and all of us at the end of the day want City back in Coventry. If you felt embarrassed by the Hillers, I did not. I actually felt humbled that those guys were representing ME on that hill, and I was not there with them. It may not be the biggest, noisiest, dramatic demonstration, but it is dignified, When work permits I will join them, why don't you come along?

Same as you...when work permits I'll be there. And just to be clear...I didn't find the hillers themselves in any way embarressing.....only what seemed a missed opportunity.