Is The Blog Too Bland?

Veteran readers of Ed's original blog will know that at times there were more spats between members and online scraps that the diplomatic skills of the United Nations would have been tested to the full to stop the war that was going on.

It even descended into threats of hunting people down, knocking on doors at the dead of night to 'have it out' or arranging meetings for a duel at dawn.

NUFC chat for some became secondary to abuse hurling and childish points scoring.

It descended into that extreme when Ed's health deteriorated and he couldn't police the blog as he had so diligently in the past and his son Neil's work commitments meant he didn't have the time to deal with the nonsense.

One of my priorities on taking over the blog was to not tolerate any of that and in that cause I was ably assisted by the great crew of good posters who came across and did exactly what Ed always wanted the blog to be; a place for NUFC fans to talk NUFC.

It's been a lively and spicy last few days

When the going is good most people are happy(ish) but when the going gets tough that's when the blame game starts and fingers point in every direction.

And so it has been recently on the blog.

From CEO Hopkinson and DoF Wilson, last and this summer's signings, to Jaissle, his 4231, the strikers, who is or is not a 10 and whether the tea lady is using leaves or bags for the half time cuppa... no person or stone is being left unturned at SJP.

I have to admit...

I've hoyed a few curved balls onto the blog pitch recently.

Long time posters will know I wasn't shy in coming forward with my opinions when I was a member and poster on Ed's blog - I even made a case for some of Ashley's decisions in my time and faced a barrage of abuse for it.

Did I care? Not a jot.

Did I care when I changed my mind and got called out for that? Not a jot.

Fans have as much right to oppose my views as I have to make them.

Passion is the spice of life and give me a good argument every time rather than a nodding dog on the back shelf of a Mondeo.

As long as it's (reasonably) civil then bring it on.

So...

I've decided I'm going to practice what I'm preaching.

I think I've dropped too far into an uncontroversial bland style of post writing.

I haven't wanted to stir a fly's nest never mind a hornets.

And, to a degree, the blog has followed along; until the last few days.

There have been views and opinions that are poles apart and guess what - it makes good reading.

To be clear;

I won't be writing clickbait headlines, inventing opinions just to be controversial, nor will I tolerate personal abuse between members.

I'm just going to be more clear on where I stand on what's going on at SJP and I have absolutely no problem at all if you agree, are on the fence, or totally disagree.

Let's hear it, loud and clear.

We've got a great thing going on the blog; there is no other NUFC fan site that comes close to the community, football nous, and craic that takes place here every day.

So... take off the shackles and let your views and opinions rip.

Trust me. You'll feel all the better for it :)

Next Post Friday Morning @ 8.30am: How I'd shake up 4231