Gabriel Obertan has been the subject of much disgusting and unmerited abuse from the fans who are supposed to get behind the team through thick and thin. It’s embarrassing that we are cheering at one of our players going off, what must the rest of the team think of us for that? They will all be thinking they’ll be next. You expect this from yobbish fans like Liverpool but not our fans, who I believe to be the best in the world. It tainted the superb victory we earned on Saturday.

The fact he was cheered off by our fans sickens me a little, he doesn’t deserve that, he is a young lad trying his best and we will see why Pardew rates him so highly if we give him a chance to show us. His cross to Ba at Stoke was a nice cross as he put it in the space behind Ba, where he was most likely to win it. It showed great understanding for the game of football. It’s not just Pardew that rates him; Coloccini, Gutierrez, Cabaye and Ba have all said he has talent so they all have a better idea than us, as they see him every day. He is a great squad player who could go on to be a first team player, so why the fans expect him to be a world-beater is beyond me.

I don’t understand the anger towards him. What do we expect him to do, be as good as Messi and go on amazing runs and score numerous goals! We are a team trying to secure a place in the top half not trying to get into the top four! Fans are getting too personal and he isn’t a weak link. He is part of the chain and we play as a team. There is no need to direct the anger at one individual. As a team we play well and Obertan has been a key part of our team and morale. We shouldn’t demand for better individual performances, we should be looking for team performances and that’s what we are getting.  In fact the fans getting on Obertan’s back could affect the team and that’s why I’m angry at our fans for potentially halting the team’s progress. The fans have no position to criticise him, as he is trying his best, and seems to love it here. He has been very complimentary about the fans and we repay him by giving him stick, it shows us in a bad light, and we are not like that.

Other complaints are that he shouldn’t be starting, and I’d agree as an impact player maybe the best way to find Obertan’s best form, using his pace against tiring legs. We saw him take advantage at Bolton when Paul Robinson was tiring the way he found it easy to get the ball past him. The fact is we don’t have many other options on the right wing. I’m a firm believer that Ben Arfa should play there, after all when he does, he always plays well. However Pardew sees Ben Arfa as a support striker, so Obertan is the only player Pardew is willing to play there. Also if Danny Simpson’s injury is bad then Ryan Taylor may have to go at right back, so he wouldn’t be an option for the right wing.

Overall my point is we should get behind Gabriel Obertan and that isn’t just because we should always back our players, which we should, but because he has the talent to become a good player for us. If we continue to be negative about him, it could cause us to lose what he could potentially offer. He is young and will make mistakes; he is still learning the game and doesn’t fully back himself when he is in attacking positions. Also he has Danny Simpson in support who is hopeless in attacking situations and leaves Obertan with no choice but to go it alone. When he learns how to best use the ball in certain situations he will be a force in this division, especially with the pace he possesses.