Good evening.
The White Rabbit put on his spectacles. ‘Where shall I begin, please your Majesty?’ he asked.
‘Begin at the beginning,’ the King said gravely, ‘and go on till you come to the end: then stop.’
As discussed at length and almost dare I suggest predicted on this week’s show we are suffering all over the shop. That’s as plain as the nose on your face. But what’s the right response? Is AVB a clown? Are Levy & Co. a shower of bean counting shysters? Do our players need keel hauling and flogging?!
The Blame Game is a doll, eh?. It’s the most inclusive game in the world. Literally anyone can play. You don’t need any ability to reason or analyse. Just a strong desire to pin your metaphoric tail on the metaphoric donkey of your choice.
Before we get going on the ‘attitude’ of the crowd at White Hart Lane, let me not be accused trying to peddle opinion as fact in this respect. How we laughed at Arsenal. The Emptycrates. How we sniggered at ‘Arsenalisation’ and what it meant. They moved from a library into a purpose built monument to ambition and it turned out to have all the soul of an NCP car park.
This week however Arsenal fans have given us an exhibition in how to support. Losing 4-0 to the mighty Reading during the week and they were unrelenting in their support. Song after song. Earlier today they were losing away 0-2 to Manchester United. They sang, ‘We love you Arsenal, we do’ with a passion, a pride and a determination that was nothing shy of historic.
These are supporters who are seriously feeling that most horrible of pangs. Watching a former player be pivotal in their 90 minutes of demise. But they refused to give up. Old Trafford didn’t even really try drown them out because the home tribe acknowledged the away tribe’s strength and their honour.
White Hart Lane to me has for some time become over infested by people who behave as if they are going to the cinema. They take their seats and wait for the performance to please them. People who aren’t part of a tribe anymore. These weaklings have let the burden of expectation turn them into members of an audience, not supporters.
Never in the history of the world has there been such a time for a football fan to voice their opinion. Never. iPhones, android, apps, iOS Face Time, Facebook, Tweet, Skype me baby, call us now – we’re live and want to take your call, blog, use a net book, home office mate, log in to the forum now!
Who needs information.This high off the ground
Just give me confirmation We could win a million pounds
Who needs information When you’re living in constant fear
The first line of defence tends to be the line, ‘I’m entitled to my opinion.’ Of course you are, dear. But given the myriad options available… does enforcing the silent treatment, huffing or booing strike you as being amongst the most constructive options? Is that support?
The second line of defence tends to be the line, ‘Well at least I go!’ This dear reader is the suicide note of suicide notes. Who could possibly regard that of having discernible value? This is like the world’s worst employee pointing to his attendance record. ‘Yeah, I was the cancer of the business, fair cop. But I was never late for work!’
What of the fans that simply cannot attend? Is the girl in India a second rate fan? Is the man in Canada an idiot? Is the mother of 4 in Norfolk a time waster? No. The answer is too many idiots are over inflated with their own sense of self importance and indeed worth.
I’m aware of the pressures modern day fans face. Cost, burden of expectation all that jazz. My response to those of you weak willed enough to hide behind these and other pieces of equally worthless rubbish is simple. Ever thought this isn’t for you? Devote your time to something that gives you actual pleasure. Collect stamps, take up sewing, take a small plot of your garden, tend it and grow something. Root vegetables are as much of a reward to some as a sophisticated vine.
Tomorrow we’ll discuss the squad and the way the boss has used it thus far.
Well said man, since the past 7 years ever since i started watching football, I’ve supported this club. I am from India, where football watchers are divided into Utd, arsenal and Liverpool supporters mostly, maybe some Liverpool fans. My friends always, year after year made fun because of the disappointing results of my club, but hell i never wavered from my support. Yes I like many other expected the win, and was like the team a bit overconfident…but that in no way justified the boos the audience gives to this team. I would die to come to WHL someday and shout my heart out for this team, and yet the privileged 30k odd people who do go there end up booing the team off as if its a fucking away match…Damn the world is full of irony.
Prannay, welcome.
And let me confirm that which probably already know. YOU are representative. Most fans are like you.
That is why the ‘audience’ at WHL is such a let down.
Hope to hear more from you :winke:
Namaste ;-)
Om Shanti :happy:
I supported the team all through the game today but I admit I booed the Defoe substitution, that decision was clueless when we needed to score. The atmosphere was dire but it is a two way street the team have to play their part and today they were found wanting, tepid, cautious, restricted football does not get you out of your seat.
Nicola, we’ll do tactic tomorrow, but do you think your booing was about ‘you wanting to turn the performance of Spurs around’ or a selfish act?
Tell the truth!
Is there any truth in the unrest over too much training? I was at the game today and at one point when we were repeatedly passing around the back for half an hour I seriously thought the players were on some kinda strike, trying to make a point me thinks.
Avb seemed to be applauding the park lane as they threw the ball to brad time after time after yet another wigan shot , thinking they were in on his new tactic .
We were shit , seriously shit and to be honest have been for large parts of the season. Was gonna refrain from any avb judgements til way after crimbo but to me something is very wrong .
Injuries ,yeah blah blah blah. A goal down to wigan and he takes a striker off. It’s not like he was leaving modric, gazza or klinsmann on. We had Dempsey and gulfi weaving there magic FFS
Defoe barely touched the ball all game. I think that fact alone justifies AVB’s substitution. Starting friedel however cannot be justified. He really slows the play down and gives away possesion every time and his reluctance to come off his line has become a hindrance on set pieces. LLORIS IN MR. VILLAS-BOAS!!
To be honest it was an instinctive reaction to an appalling decision, I could have shouted ‘you twat’ but doubt he would have heard
At one point Dawson was warming up in the second half and I expected Bale to make way for him
There was a guy behind me with a face of complete insanity (I jest in no way as I was scared for my son) screaming abuse about AVB and others were doing the same of course but God its ugly to be around, the venom and hate were not where I want to spend my afternoon.I was gutted completely and went home miserable but Harry this is an illness that is infectious as you describe yourself.
Bottom line is
PLEASE STAY AWAY IF YOU WANT TO ABUSE MY BELOVED SPURS!
Strewth we beat Manure 3-2 what a month ago???
Bought nice Spurs hat though so not all bad
Too many morons there like that. I worry for their health, and the poor bruised bodies of their wives later that day.
We were terrible today, and Wigan were as brilliant as they could possibly be. I’ll surely sulk over the weekend. But after that, just as today, I’ll get behind the team again for a (relatively) massive game we next have in Europe.
Please don’t boo. It’s counter-intuitive. Show the team why WE deserve a good performance.
Well, we were at home and Mr Dempsey was playing invisible man (again I might add). AVB takes off our top goal scorer and replaces with Ade. Didn’t make any sense to me at all. Dempsey should have gone. It was glaringly obvious not just to me but also the crowd going by their reaction.
I think there are a number of players in todays team who dont know how to play in their positions because the positions dont make sense they are dempsey and Siggers I think this is beginning to affect the amount of essort they put in .
There are others like Thudd who knows he is no part of AVB’s plans and plays like a plum.
There were players on the bench who do care who played well on Weds. They should have started given Wigan’s expanive open flowing game.
I thought AVB was spineless.
But not as spineless as levy.