To boo, or not to boo

The booing of Liam Ridgewell for his error that resulted in a Charlton Athletic goal has brought into focus whether or not it's 'right' to abuse your own in such manner.

Does such personal vilification galvanise the individual, or turn him into a bag of nerves? Is it deserved? Should booing be at least held over until the end of a game, with
unqualified support of everybody until then?

These are the kind of arguments that have been raging and it has put Blues fan against Blues fan in many cases, as it did on Saturday when some fans tried to back
Ridgewell with a song in response to the booing and ironic cheers.

From Ridgewell's perspective, he was genuinely shocked by the response the next time he touched the ball following the cock-up that allowed Andy Gray through to put Charlton
2-1 up.

Speaking to him afterwards, he didn't try to make an excuse for his error, he knew he should have got some sort of contact on the ball, either with his head or foot, as it dropped over his shoulder.

He admitted, though, that he was 'disappointed' that he was singled out and, for the 15-minute spell up to half-time, he was definitely rattled and his play was affected.

Not that he wanted sympathy, but Ridgewell probably felt that, whatever his limitations, he has never not given his all to the Blues cause.

Fans pay their money, take their choice, so they can boo if they want. No problem with that.

I guess that the reaction on Saturday was of frustrated anguish at Blues going ahead, then going 2-1 down so quickly, with Ridgewell the central figure.

The perception is that he made gaffe after gaffe last season as Blues got relegated, and there were times when he seemed to be a magnet for mishap and didn't help himself.

But he's not quite the chaotic figure he is supposed to be, and the defence was under so much pressure when Blues were battling relegation.

And we're not talking about a £15 million top drawer centre-half, at his peak at 28.

Interestingly, Alex McLeish had mixed feelings about Johan Djourou, who was on-loan from Arsenal. He felt his rawness, positional play and concentration levels caused
problems, but he managed to steer clear of the glare of the spotlight, helped in part due to his athleticism.

Being ex-Villa, Ridgewell has always been on a hiding to nothing. He made the cross-city switch a year last summer knowing it would bring extra pressure.

Contrast that to Gary Cahill. Blues were convinced they had him at one stage and were taken aback when he opted for Bolton Wanderers. Only Cahill knows for sure, but the
suspicion remains that he took the easy option.

McLeish was also surprised that some Blues fans turned on one of their players in such manner. He has been trying to preach a message of positivity and togetherness ever since he was appointed, with the fans playing a major part in that.

But he walked into a unpredictable den of moods swings, from one extreme to another, ever since the 2006 relegation.

It's been a while since a player was so loudly booed (although it was not sustained) by the Blues faithful. Perhaps Mario Melchiot was the last, after he mucked up and let Spurs in to score.

I remember Leigh Jenkinson getting some grief when he dipped his toe into a tackle. Damien Johnson and Paul Furlong for their shirt-throwing antics, and rightly so.

And it's been ages since names were booed when read out over the PA beforehand.

That reminds me of a funny quip by Robert Hopkins, who once turned to a team mate in mock suprise and said: 'Dean Peer? I thought your name was Dean Peer Boooo . . . !'.