DB interview

[b4life]

Dean Brennan - genius! So glad we have him at our club. Come on you Bees!

[WhetstoneBee]

Dean Brennan - genius! So glad we have him at our club. Come on you Bees!

Slightly concering if this is the Barnet Supporters’ Association response a prolonged rant about on Barnet supporters.

[b4life]

Dean Brennan - genius! So glad we have him at our club. Come on you Bees!

Slightly concering if this is the Barnet Supporters’ Association response a prolonged rant about on Barnet supporters.

Just showing my personal support for Dean Brennan. He has a point about the lack of support but there were some mitigating factors e.g. idiotic scheduling by the league. No excuse for any of our supporters to have a go though, is there? I am sure it will a much more positive vibe on Saturday, let's all try to focus on the positives, of which there are many. We're hoping to set something up with Dean in the near future, watch this space.

[John Hunt]

Dean Brennan - genius! So glad we have him at our club. Come on you Bees!

Slightly concering if this is the Barnet Supporters’ Association response a prolonged rant about on Barnet supporters.

How can this be construed as the BFCSA response from a personal account? Even if it was it's a positive response in support of a manager who is feeling a bit low.

[Nudger70]

Love that interview especially the way DB won’t be taken off topic despite several attempts. Reminded me off the Roy Keane prawn sandwich rant. Think some supporters have taken our NL favourites title to their heads.

[Norfolkbee]

I would love to come to every midweek game, but, now living on the Somerset/Devon border makes this nigh on impossible. Perhaps I should change my username.

[WhetstoneBee]

Dean Brennan - genius! So glad we have him at our club. Come on you Bees!

Slightly concering if this is the Barnet Supporters’ Association response a prolonged rant about on Barnet supporters.

How can this be construed as the BFCSA response from a personal account? Even if it was it's a positive response in support of a manager who is feeling a bit low.

It’s really not at all personal but I’m afraid I do find it concerning that people running the BFCSA, which is supposed to represent supporters’ concerns, are praising a rant in which it’s suggested that fans unhappy about the matchday experience in relation to Legends Bar etc. should just shut up, stop “moaning” and spend more money. I personally don’t think DB dismissing supporters’ valid frustrations about the matchday experience in that way is “genius”, I think it’s unreasonable, unnecessary and unhelpful. Can the BFCSA effectively represent fans’ concerns to the club if a common view on the committee seems to be that it’s the fans themselves that are in the wrong and should just stop morning?

[Jimbokav1971]

Dean Brennan - genius! So glad we have him at our club. Come on you Bees!

Slightly concering if this is the Barnet Supporters’ Association response a prolonged rant about on Barnet supporters.

How can this be construed as the BFCSA response from a personal account? Even if it was it's a positive response in support of a manager who is feeling a bit low.

It’s really not at all personal but I’m afraid I do find it concerning that people running the BFCSA, which is supposed to represent supporters’ concerns, are praising a rant in which it’s suggested that fans unhappy about the matchday experience in relation to Legends Bar etc. should just shut up, stop “moaning” and spend more money. I personally don’t think DB dismissing supporters’ valid frustrations about the matchday experience in that way is “genius”, I think it’s unreasonable, unnecessary and unhelpful. Can the BFCSA effectively represent fans’ concerns to the club if a common view on the committee seems to be that it’s the fans themselves that are in the wrong and should just stop morning?

If you don't like the way that members of the BFCSA conduct themselves in a private capacity, (even when not representing the BFCSA), then would a reasonable suggestion be for you to stand yourself the next time a position becomes available?

I don't know who is whom on here a lot of the time because of usernames, but what I do know is that I absolutely believe that even members of the BFCSA have a right to voice their own personal opinion on here, (and anywhere else for that matter). If, (in the main), that seems to suggest that the the personal views of members on the BFCSA agree with DB's position as voiced in the latest interview, then it might be suggested that it's pretty representative of the supporter base as a whole, in that we should be more supportive and less critical at times.

DB's point wasn't initially about service levels at the Hive. He moved onto that in terms of general negativity that he feels is misplaced considering the investment from the Chairman, (and the significant negativity directed at him), in both the playing squad and The Hive, (and strides made to improve admittedly poor service levels), but also the Back to Barnet campaign which is surely even being supported by fans who refuse to ever go to The Hive and hate TK with a passion. Positivity everywhere! (almost).

But yet we're moaning about not being more direct?

Now if that sounds like I'm being harsh on you I apologize, because even last season I wasn't overly keen on the way we were playing, and in particular I wasn't particularly fond of watching Harts. It was boring and not..... searching for the right word here..... I honestly don't know. It just wasn't enough... "something" for me. I voiced that opinion but was in a HUGE minority, (albeit not completely alone), so I basically tried to shut up and got on with it and basically tried to look for the positives, (of which there were many). My unhappiness with watching up play with Harts at our core last season didn't make me right or wrong. It was just my personal opinion, (that has now thankfully changed as DB, (and Harts), have adapted the way we play.

What I'm saying is that you can disagree with the majority and don't feel you have to conform to the more popular opinion, but you also shouldn't expect to have your minority opinion reflected more generally within the fanbase, (or specifically in this instabnce, those who represent the fanbase via the BFCSA), but if that still doesn't sit well with you, then the alternative is, for you, or someone who shares your views, (on this or any other matter), to get elected to the BFCSA. Then you will not only be able to voice your personal opinion, but also make an impact on the position that the BFCSA takes on any matter.

[EastBarnetFan]

And just like that, DB becomes a known figure to football fans across the UK through the viral effect of social media. Great PR move and the comments/responses has been overwhelmingly positive. "CHARACTER!" (can we get that on a t-shirt?).

It must be said, the football of late has been exceptional to watch. I mean look at that first goal from Chapman and the quick build-up. It's on a different planet to not just a few seasons ago but over the decades when it comes to non-league viewing. Football has changed (Guardiaola-esque) and DB is taking full advantage of it. Where is the hoof ball I remember as a kid? Largely gone.

[EastBarnetFan]

Also fair play to the interviewer, who would have been completely blindsided by DB's words and tried to calmly steer the conversation away but DB wasn't having any of it. He'll remember that one for a while!

[WhetstoneBee]

Also fair play to the interviewer, who would have been completely blindsided by DB's words and tried to calmly steer the conversation away but DB wasn't having any of it. He'll remember that one for a while!

Yes, thought he handled it really well!

[b4life]

Dean Brennan - genius! So glad we have him at our club. Come on you Bees!

Slightly concering if this is the Barnet Supporters’ Association response a prolonged rant about on Barnet supporters.

How can this be construed as the BFCSA response from a personal account? Even if it was it's a positive response in support of a manager who is feeling a bit low.

It’s really not at all personal but I’m afraid I do find it concerning that people running the BFCSA, which is supposed to represent supporters’ concerns, are praising a rant in which it’s suggested that fans unhappy about the matchday experience in relation to Legends Bar etc. should just shut up, stop “moaning” and spend more money. I personally don’t think DB dismissing supporters’ valid frustrations about the matchday experience in that way is “genius”, I think it’s unreasonable, unnecessary and unhelpful. Can the BFCSA effectively represent fans’ concerns to the club if a common view on the committee seems to be that it’s the fans themselves that are in the wrong and should just stop morning?

I don't know if you're a member of the BFCSA. If you were, you'd know that we've been campaigning for a better matchday experience for over 3 years. A number of our suggestions such as safe standing, discounts for kids, fixing the scoreboards have been implemented. The catering looks to have improved too, always things to do though! For the bar, we've suggested pre-poured pints and we're hopeful that happens too. Constructive criticism is fine, but 'moaning', does that really achieve anything? If you were TK or DB and you'd invested heavily in the squad and safe standing, wouldn't you be disappointed in a 1200 crowd for a team that finished 2nd last season? I've met Dean many times, I know his 'rant' was not directed at the loyal fans who cheer us on every week, but we also have a responsibility. We'll continue to push your concerns and issues but also acknowledge when the club has done it's bit too.

[adher36]

The BFCSA would be totally right to echo DB's views. They have worked so hard to make the Hive a better place and they have successfully done so with better catering options, quicker bar service and safe standing which people had people crying out for. Plus they are playing a key role in getting their club back to actual Barnet where they belong. What more can they do??

Yet it is just been thrown back in their face by people who can't be bothered to show up at the Hive to support THEIR club.

Just like it is thrown back in Brennan's face. A man who has done an objectively incredible job turning around a team languishing at the bottom of the table into one which were favourites for automatic promotion from this incredibly difficult division. All whilst playing attractive football. With a 100% home record including one 7-0 win and against two of the other favourites for the title. Leading to hardly anyone bothering to turn up because it is a tiny bit wet.

So Brennan's interview absolutely nailed it about our dreadful supporters, and the BFCSA definitely have the right to agree with everything he said.

[EastBarnetFan]

Yes it must be commented on the fact that the matchday experience is improving. Bit by bit it's getting there:

- New screens. Very visual, love the graphics
- Safe standing. It's not East Terrace of old but our ability to stand has been answered and I've taken advantage of it
- Better catering. Bovril is back on the menu.
- Quicker to get a drink in the legends when I've been there.

Well done BFCSA for helping make this happen!

Minor gripe (I couldn't resist..) - QR code/turnstile at the safe standing doesn't work for many people. 3 games and in and many are stuck outside. Mine seems to work but stewards are a bit clueless to support. Needs to be fixed from above. Tech issue.

[becbee]

Agree re BSFCA. I am not on the committee nor ever likely to be but I do appreciate the efforts of those who are. Ultimately though, the BSFCA cannot force the club to do everything we might hope for, they are there to consult and to hopefully bridge the gap between the club and the fans. They make what would seem to be reasonable requests but it's up to the club whether or not they are acted upon. Plus they have to keep the relationship cordial - which is something which didn't happen with their predecessors.

Last Tuesday was a bad evening to have a home match but we won't have the excuses of an evening clash with England, awful weather and traffic issues to contend with again this season. Maybe next close season Barnet should request that we do not have home clashes with Wembley matches? A small point but one that could have helped this week.