Let’s put an arm around Emile Smith Rowe – and reap the rewards

Once upon a time, the area at the front of the Johnny Haynes Stand was a standing terrace known as the Enclosure. There stood a bunch of fans who were generally known for their wit, if not their wisdom, and much of this was imparted to the players from a distance of two or three metres (well, yards back then!).

It was what you might now call banter. But if there was a real edge to it, then that would be directed at the opposition, mostly full-backs or wingers, who couldn’t wait until half-time to get over to the opposite side of the pitch! Some gave back as good as they got, which was fun.

But the line between banter and bullying has become blurred in this internet age. Everyone feels it’s their right to ‘pile on’, as happens on social media. And somehow, the idea that we have the right to give our players endless stick simply because our football club pays them has taken hold. Andreas has been the victim of this, not helping himself by his naïve mid-season interview. He’s come through that trial with flying colours, even though someone sitting near me in the Hammersmith End still unleashes a verbal barrage – unprintable here – every time he doesn’t quite get it right.

Which brings me on to Emile Smith Rowe. A young man of 24, still finding his way in life, who through no fault of his own is Fulham’s record signing. A waste of money? A non-tryer? A sulky character who’s not got over his Arsenal rejection? Surely it’s too early to tell. And, given Marco’s track record with transfers, he’s unlikely to be a total dud.

Yet we won against Spurs after he came off – a fact I’m sure made it a bittersweet afternoon for him. And the sight of Sess, buoyed with the encouragement of 25,000 Fulham fans, scoring at the Hammersmith End will only have rubbed the fact in.

The success of the Lukic-Berge partnership, the industry of Iwobi and the resurgence of Andreas (not to mention Willian), makes it hard to squeeze ESR in – let alone make him the hub of the midfield, as was surely the intention when he was signed. All those players are further on in their careers, of course, and have already proved their worth. It’s ultra-competitive, which is good for us but tough for him.

Yes, he gets his win bonus whether he plays well or badly. But unlike Sess, who was a ‘no risk’ free transfer, ESR is a Fulham asset. And it’s in all our interest that he comes good. He’s unlikely to be anywhere else next season, but this season we could do him, Marco and Fulham a big favour by lending him the same wings we gave Sess and setting him up to be the world-beater we all want him to be.

As a musician, I know if a guitarist launches a solo and is greeted by applause it spurs them on to greater heights. Playing to a hostile, dubious or, even worse, indifferent, audience is unlikely to inspire the same result. Smith Rowe is a flesh-and-blood human being, not a computer-game character. He was bought to be Fulham’s orchestra-leader, but we do seem to take a perverse pleasure in criticising him. Forget the price tag – nurture the potential.

One final point: the excellent This’ll Catch On song for Ryan Sessegnon had a line in it – ‘He’s better than Smith Rowe’ – that gained many an ironic cheer at the Half Moon. I chuckled too, then felt guilty. But when I thought again, I decided it was banter, not bullying. I am sure ESR has a sense of humour… and I know that the day he leaves the pitch smiling will be a good day for him, Fulham FC and us, the supporters.