I make you right. Lets face it - under the old system we would have been out in the group stages last year i am on the cup scheme to gaurantee a final.ticket,should we get there, and get away tickets. If you are not fussed about the latter and are a ST holder, I can understand why you dont bother.
I dont blame fans for not turning up and I dont see it as embarrassing (I gave up bothering about being teased when I left the schoolyard).
You have to produce a compelling product and the group stage now is not it.