The final straw?

[jimmyb]

I have been a Spurs fan for 40 years.

I have been going to games at the Lane for more than 30 years.

I have had two season tickets for nigh on 20 years.

In all that time, I have borne witness to some truly shocking Spurs performances. I have suffered some dreadful Spurs teams. I have been subjected to some acutely embarrassing results. And I have swallowed some bitter disappointments.

Yet my love of going to games has never wavered.

Until now.

What am I talking about? This current team? This manager? Today's performance?

No. None of those. That would be silly. I have seen far worse teams. Far worse performances. And this manager needs time - to succeed or to fail.

No..........what I'm talking about is, sadly, something that I have all too often had to talk about over the past few seasons - but especially this season.

I'm talking about our fans. I am rapidly coming to the conclusion that our fans are the worst in the entire country. If I was a Spurs player, I wouldn't want to play for us. If I was Gareth Bale, I would be telling my agent to get me out of here as quickly as possible. If I was Jan Vertonghen, I'd be asking myself why the fudge I signed for this club. If I was a kid at his first game, I wouldn't want to support Spurs. I'd look elsewhere for a club upon which to lavish my love and, in the future, my money.

There's just a terrible feeling around the Lane these days. No fun. No passion. No unity. No sense of a club and fans on a shared journey, with a common cause.

And no.....poor performances are no excuse for the utter lack of any support from the stands - a few sorry, half hearted and short lived chants from the Park Lane notwithstanding. As I said, anyone who has been coming to the Lane for any length of time has had to put up with far worse than what we witnessed today, far too often in the past. But we still had an atmosphere.

Today, the only time that the vast majority of fans (to call them "supporters" would be a misnomer) stirred themselves from utter silence was to boo or berate. I wouldn't mind the booing and the slagging off of players and manager if those who were voicing their displeasure had earned it by at least making some effort to get behind the team in the first place. But no, these people prefer to sit in po-faced silence....until something goes wrong, at which point they suddenly find their voices. And then some. Sickening. Disheartening.

Modern football has stripped the game of most of its romance. But, still, I can take financially doped clubs like Chelsea and City in my stride. I can take the erosion of true competition. I can take the inexorable spread of commercialism.

But what I can't take is the metamorphosis of the atmosphere at the Lane from the impressive and electric experience that it once was to the depressing embarrassment that it now is. In short, it's just no fun going to games any more. Time was when it was always fun - regardless of the quality of the Spurs team of the day. Nowadays, it's never really fun - even when we play brilliantly.

Fans have it within them to make games fun regardless of the performance or the result. But they choose not to. Maybe they have forgotten it? Maybe they never even knew it?

Whatever..........unless things change - and quickly - it saddens me profoundly to have to confess that this could very well be the final straw. My days of being a regular at the Lane could soon be coming to an end.

 

[Jurgen the German]

The atmosphere was appalling today. Even towards the end when the team needed us to get behind them, we were nowhere to be seen.

My take is there is a lot of pent up frustration still over the decision to get rid of Redknapp and replace him with AVB. I know a lot of people hate Redknapp almost as much as they hate Arsenal, but despite all his faults, he did a great job at Spurs, and he did whilst playing some fantastic football. If we had replaced him with a proven commodity like Ancelotti, then that would have been completely understandable, but the jury is still out on whether AVB can cut it in the premier league. I hope he can!

It was one thing losing to some pony teams at home under Redknapp, but at least we played good football.

 

[jimmyb]

The atmosphere was appalling today. Even towards the end when the team needed us to get behind them, we were nowhere to be seen.

My take is there is a lot of pent up frustration still over the decision to get rid of Redknapp and replace him with AVB. I know a lot of people hate Redknapp almost as much as they hate Arsenal, but despite all his faults, he did a great job at Spurs, and he did whilst playing some fantastic football. If we had replaced him with a proven commodity like Ancelotti, then that would have been completely understandable, but the jury is still out on whether AVB can cut it in the premier league. I hope he can!

It was one thing losing to some pony teams at home under Redknapp, but at least we played good football.

The atmosphere was dreadful last season too.

And, as I said, we have suffered far, far worse teams, performances and managers in the past. But we still had great support from the stands.

This isn't about AVB or Redknapp.

It's about modern football fans (and, please, no one start talking gonad*s about Ruperts or Tarquins - Spurs fans from all backgrounds are equally responsible for the decline in atmosphere).

It's about the pathetically short time and the pathetically meagre achievements it has taken for our fans to become spoilt, demanding mutes who expect the team to entertain them and to win and who can only find their voices to criticize and to boo.

 

[Belsizespur]

The atmosphere was dreadful last season too.

And, as I said, we have suffered far, far worse teams, performances and managers in the past. But we still had great support from the stands.

This isn't about AVB or Redknapp.

It's about modern football fans (and, please, no one start talking gonad*s about Ruperts or Tarquins - Spurs fans from all backgrounds are equally responsible for the decline in atmosphere).

It's about the pathetically short time and the pathetically meagre achievements it has taken for our fans to become spoilt, demanding mutes who expect the team to entertain them and to win and who can only find their voices to criticize and to boo.

The year we got relegated the fans cheered the team after the last game of the season. We live in a hyper-critical culture where loyalties we used to take for granted no longer apply. If fans feel that players don't give a toss about the club then they clearly feel it's an appropriate response to boo. Even when booing obviously does not motivate the players. BAE tweeted today about booing. Obviously given the ridiculous amount of money it costs to go to a game some fans feel they can express their dissatisfaction at what's unfolding on the hallowed turf. It's a damn shame.

 

[Howard Webb]

It's about entitlement and a misplaced sense of it. I've been going for ( blimey ) 20 years ish, and there's always been booing to some extent. But what I've noticed in recent times is, if we don't batter perceived ( underlined ) teams who it's easier to get tickets for, then the atmosphere goes instantly. It's not specific to spurs either, but for me football is about 2 teams of 11, not one super enhanced team v plumbers. It should always be a close contest, its only a sodding bit of leather but with hype comes expectancy. We've had it very good on the pitch, we should beat Wigan on paper but when football shows up to remind us its actually a lot closer between teams than we are told its suddenly a great shock! BOOO to reality.

Furthermore, as spurs fans of many years, we know we will always have the capacity to lose at home to Wigan. Big deal. What annoys me is, these tacos who moan about 0-0 at ht should just fudge off and let someone who wants to be at the game have their seat. It's these bastards who are pushing the prices up.

 

[Jordinho]

:ross:

Sorry, this is not unique to us. Funny how everyone is complaining. Who are all these terrible fans? Not like those complaining about poor atmosphere ever says anything negative about the team.

 

[Danners9]

after all these years, this is the final straw eh..

Put your toys back in the box and get ready for the next game.

 

[thfcsteff]

I have been a Spurs fan for 40 years.

I have been going to games at the Lane for more than 30 years.

I have had two season tickets for nigh on 20 years.

In all that time, I have borne witness to some truly shocking Spurs performances. I have suffered some dreadful Spurs teams. I have been subjected to some acutely embarrassing results. And I have swallowed some bitter disappointments.

Yet my love of going to games has never wavered.

Until now.

What am I talking about? This current team? This manager? Today's performance?

No. None of those. That would be silly. I have seen far worse teams. Far worse performances. And this manager needs time - to succeed or to fail.

No..........what I'm talking about is, sadly, something that I have all too often had to talk about over the past few seasons - but especially this season.

I'm talking about our fans. I am rapidly coming to the conclusion that our fans are the worst in the entire country. If I was a Spurs player, I wouldn't want to play for us. If I was Gareth Bale, I would be telling my agent to get me out of here as quickly as possible. If I was Jan Vertonghen, I'd be asking myself why the fudge I signed for this club. If I was a kid at his first game, I wouldn't want to support Spurs. I'd look elsewhere for a club upon which to lavish my love and, in the future, my money.

There's just a terrible feeling around the Lane these days. No fun. No passion. No unity. No sense of a club and fans on a shared journey, with a common cause.

And no.....poor performances are no excuse for the utter lack of any support from the stands - a few sorry, half hearted and short lived chants from the Park Lane notwithstanding. As I said, anyone who has been coming to the Lane for any length of time has had to put up with far worse than what we witnessed today, far too often in the past. But we still had an atmosphere.

Today, the only time that the vast majority of fans (to call them "supporters" would be a misnomer) stirred themselves from utter silence was to boo or berate. I wouldn't mind the booing and the slagging off of players and manager if those who were voicing their displeasure had earned it by at least making some effort to get behind the team in the first place. But no, these people prefer to sit in po-faced silence....until something goes wrong, at which point they suddenly find their voices. And then some. Sickening. Disheartening.

Modern football has stripped the game of most of its romance. But, still, I can take financially doped clubs like Chelsea and City in my stride. I can take the erosion of true competition. I can take the inexorable spread of commercialism.

But what I can't take is the metamorphosis of the atmosphere at the Lane from the impressive and electric experience that it once was to the depressing embarrassment that it now is. In short, it's just no fun going to games any more. Time was when it was always fun - regardless of the quality of the Spurs team of the day. Nowadays, it's never really fun - even when we play brilliantly.

Fans have it within them to make games fun regardless of the performance or the result. But they choose not to. Maybe they have forgotten it? Maybe they never even knew it?

Whatever..........unless things change - and quickly - it saddens me profoundly to have to confess that this could very well be the final straw. My days of being a regular at the Lane could soon be coming to an end.

A sad, and very very accurate, essay.

I have sadly found that today there are a lot of impatient, expectant and ungrateful people who miss the point of living,of life. I've had some brick days supporting this club, but somewhere, somewhere, you dig deep and dig out something to make you laugh, some joy, even if it's standing in the tinkling rain and singing the player's names, "such and such's blue & white army" or whatever. We all have opinions on player and managers, and yes, exchange and discuss and argue and whatever, but when at the game, on a day out, fudging well GET BEHIND THE TEAM!!! I know someone who traveled from North Carolina yesterday for the weekend to see the match. He does this three times a season. And whilst he will have a moan when he gets home, he absolutely gives it his all when he's at the match.

I'll tell you something; I wouldn't want that lot in the trenches with me!!!! At least next weekend you know there will be supporters!

 

[thfcsteff]

:ross:

Sorry, this is not unique to us. Funny how everyone is complaining. Who are all these terrible fans? Not like those complaining about poor atmosphere ever says anything negative about the team.

Again, nothing wrong with discussion and disappointment, but at matches, frankly, when the ONLY noise you make is to slag someone off or boo them, I hope said-voice isn't near me...

 

[jimmyb]

:ross:

Sorry, this is not unique to us. Funny how everyone is complaining. Who are all these terrible fans? Not like those complaining about poor atmosphere ever says anything negative about the team.

1. Who said it was unique to us? Uniqueness isn't the issue.

2. Nothing wrong with being constructively critical on an Internet message board. I'm talking about something rather different. Do you go to games? If not, you wouldn't understand.

 

[jimmyb]

after all these years, this is the final straw eh..

Put your toys back in the box and get ready for the next game.

Congratulations on missing the point.

There was no throwing out of toys. No hysterical overreaction. Just a sad lament.

Something has to be wrong when lifelong fans no longer look forward to going to games. And when that thing isn't the team but rather the atmosphere.

If live games no longer create that tangible feeling of an electric current surging from fan to fan and around the stadium; if they no longer foster an intoxicating sense of common purpose; if the crowd is no longer a critical part of the spectacle and the experience; then what do live games offer? A worse view and no replays. You're better off watching from the comfort of your armchair and saving yourself a few thousand quid per annum and hundreds of travel hours.

This isn't a sudden thing. It's been building over the past few years. I'd love it if the club became proactive about this problem. And the fans. Maybe the very worthy 1882 group can succeed in arresting and reversing the staggering decline in the Lane's atmosphere? Let's hope so.

 

[Mulletperm]

after all these years, this is the final straw eh..

Put your toys back in the box and get ready for the next game.

Necessary?

 

[Danners9]

Necessary?

The good thing about football is there is always another game.

Is this thread necessary? after 20 years as a season ticket holder, after 40 years of being a fan. Drama.

 

[Jordinho]

1. Who said it was unique to us? Uniqueness isn't the issue.

2. Nothing wrong with being constructively critical on an Internet message board. I'm talking about something rather different. Do you go to games? If not, you wouldn't understand.

I don't go regularly, but when I go I sing and shout all I can. From what I understand it's just as much to do with STs as the casual tourists or whatever. Yes, people have a ridiculous sense of entitlement and I don't understand why. Whatever we do, some always expect more.

I also wonder how people can be so aggressive towards "haters", but still post so much negative brick themselves.

 

[spitshine]

The lack of atmosphere is most probably attributable to the changing socio economic support of the club, and football in general.
If the majority of the crowd yesterday were blue collar employees, who generally spend a greater proportion of their salary on football, you can almost guarantee a better, raucous atmosphere.

 

[milo]

I think that one of the causes is that the crowd is older than it used to be. Many younger fans are priced out and whilst they are not exclusively responsible for atmosphere, they play a key part.

 

[jts1882]

No doubt the changes in the modern game are a big part of it ... the star today, gone tomorrow turnover of players; the different socio-economics and wider geographical distribution of fans; more commercialism, etc. All tend to dilute the sense of common community within "our tribe".

This is true for all the big clubs. People have recently noted the change since the Sevilla game and I think the following is important ...

Fans have it within them to make games fun regardless of the performance or the result. But they choose not to. Maybe they have forgotten it? Maybe they never even knew it?

... because we have recently become used to more success and a better quality of football. When the team was poor, we had to make our own fun. Now we expect the players on the field to provide the entertainment. Perhaps not surprising, as if the club treats fans as customers, then the fans want value for money for their custom. I think our years of mediocrity on the field disguised this trend, but now we expect more.

 

[Papercut]

Fans from some countries aren't always 'blue-collar', etc but sing hours before the game has even kicked off.

Perhaps we need a few more recognised songs or maybe even an 'amigo'

 

[Danners9]

Congratulations on missing the point.

There was no throwing out of toys. No hysterical overreaction. Just a sad lament.

Something has to be wrong when lifelong fans no longer look forward to going to games. And when that thing isn't the team but rather the atmosphere.

If live games no longer create that tangible feeling of an electric current surging from fan to fan and around the stadium; if they no longer foster an intoxicating sense of common purpose; if the crowd is no longer a critical part of the spectacle and the experience; then what do live games offer? A worse view and no replays. You're better off watching from the comfort of your armchair and saving yourself a few thousand quid per annum and hundreds of travel hours.

This isn't a sudden thing. It's been building over the past few years. I'd love it if the club became proactive about this problem. And the fans. Maybe the very worthy 1882 group can succeed in arresting and reversing the staggering decline in the Lane's atmosphere? Let's hope so.

The atmosphere has been on the decline for years. If you want to draw a correlation between on field success and a rise in expectation you can probably also see a difference in the type of support. Prices go up, expectations go up, fun levels go down. The same as at Arsenal, at Man Utd, probably at Chelsea if they could engage enough brain cells. Even at clubs like Sunderland and Villa.

Games are part of a marketing package, I thought everyone knew? They are one step away from telling ugly people they can't sit in the first few rows or in the line of the camera because Asia and the Middle East wants to see pretty, smiling faces applauding politely. Doesn't mean you have to let them, though.

The way round this, of course, is not to boo or get into a strop.. it is to put the fun back into the game yourself, as you say at the end. Don't moan about others, or put the emphasis on someone else doing something. If you are bothered by it, and you clearly are, then get involved.

It isn't just Spurs.

I couldn't help thinking yesterday that football has jumped the shark. A Happy Days reference regarding the introduction of stupid storylines to keep it all going rather than tackling the real issues. The more sets of fans that stand up to what is happening, the better.

So, as I said, there is another game to prepare for - as there always is. Another chance. If you (the collective 'you', not you personally) are going to turn up to that with the same bricky attitude then don't bother, let someone else go.. maybe a child, not worn down with cynicism and a nagging irritation (sorry, that sounds like herpes) at the way things have changed since he enjoyed the game.

 

[Nutter-Naylor]

Unfortunately I have to agree with pretty much everything Jimmy says.

Going to the Lane these days is becoming a chore and really is no fun at all.

I have been a fan for almost 45 years and been going to games for over 40 years but this could be my last season of attending regularly.

6-8 games next season I think but far more non-league games.

Get to mix with nicer people and have more fun for a tenner.