Fragile Fanbase

[Wiener]

It's not really a laughing stock though either is it?

We're an established top 6 club, generally, in the best domestic league in the world. The best stadium, best training facilities.

What's to laugh at?

Yeah it'd be nice to win the League every year but fucking hell; have a look around.

Some fans just can't handle standard football banter because they are weaklings. It's banter; the trophy cabinet is empty.. so fucking what? Did anyone die?

Not the way I’d put it but spot on.

 

[muppetman]

Good post OP.

So many posters were up for the new regime … until we lost a game.

So many understood the rebuild would take time … until we failed to sign a specific player.

Yes, we’ve all been here before but this is what’s available to us. We can’t swap team, Panto villain Levy won’t vanish and take all our problems with us.

We’ve got plenty to be positive about but you’d never know it on here.

 

[chas vs dave]

How's Joe Lewis, or Enic, not a sugar daddy? Is Fenway sports group a sugar daddy?

They haven't put a penny in. Isn't that one of your complaints?

Tony bloom put 400m into Brighton.

 

[vegassd]

I know, I know. We’ve had years of torment and we have PTSD every time we lose or something goes wrong but we’ve got to snap out of this horrible irritating cycle of being doom and gloom merchants at every little bump in the road.

I get what you're saying, but I honestly think that each one of us needs to take responsibility for our "consumption" of Spurs-related content, including this forum. There's no point trying to tell negative people to not be negative in my opinion.

The posters on this forum will all have different involvements with the club. Some people will spend thousands per year and go to every match possible, whilst others will only watch MOTD, and every shade of fan in between. Throw in different upbringings and all of life's little obstacles and of course people will have wildly different views, and different levels of tolerance of the truth.

I also think there is an element of drama that comes into play. If somebody is trying to say that we are shit, then throwing in a load of stats about "worst XYZ since the 1960s" or whatever makes that person feel like their view is somehow more valid, or at least will stand out. I personally think it's a bit bonkers, but people are entitled to embellish their views like that.

For me, I found three things have really changed my approach to Spurs, football in general, and this forum in particular:

1. The Mourinho through to Conte football was so depressing I stopped watching entirely. I actually found this to be hugely beneficial to my personal life, particularly in the aftermath of the lockdowns. I was able to detach my emotional state from the club and it was huge. I appreciate not everyone will want to do this, but for those who can it's definitely worth trying if you're finding the gloominess overbearing.

2. A quote from the comedian John Robins (a Liverpool fan) about football, published in 2018.

I would argue the reason that Euro 2016 was so incredible was because it was such an outlier in the history of international football in the UK. Everyone loved Wales' story because it was such a contrast to decades of moaning, anger, frustration, and negativity that is the overwhelming feature of football in my opinion.

The reason I've started to dislike football over the past couple of years is because it dawned on me that most football fans dislike football most of the time. They dislike everything about it. The wages. The manager. The ticket prices. The board. The owner. The players not putting the effort in. The new ground. The old ground. Renaming the ground. The time the match starts. It's a swamp of endless bile.

I was genuinely taken aback when I first heard it because it seems to encapsulate most of the grumbles on SC. But it helps to show that these grumbles aren't something unique to Spurs and Spurs fans - they are things that apply across the board. For me, that somehow lightened the load, and helped me to mentally accept that this negativity is not something that can be wished away.

3. The forum ignore list is amazing! I used to be of the opinion that I would never use it because it somehow made me "weak", and showed that I couldn't tolerate an opposing point of view. Turns out I was being an idiot!

I started using the ignore list more frequently over the last few years and it's really helpful. I typically use it now for people who I think are overly and overtly negative or aggressive - not because I disagree with those people, but simply because their posts don't add anything to my life. I have about 50 people on it, and I'm confident I am not missing out on anything interesting.


So with all that said, I don't think that describing our fanbase as "fragile" is accurate at all. I think our fanbase is probably typical of most clubs who are established in the top league of their country. And what you or I might see as fragile, someone else might see as forthright.

The approach I have adopted recently is to accept that people are going to lose their shit at the slightest thing... and just to let that happen. I'm trying to post a bit more often on here myself because I do enjoy SC, but I'm also trying to limit my posts to things I find interesting, and things that can have some truth/factual data applied.

Bit of a long post, but wanted to share.

 

[Donki]

How is discussing our team being *fragile*. We don’t wanna become like the Dippers and be totally blinkered in our views. I have seen nowhere where Ange has been called Tim Sheewood? This is a bit hyperbolic, this is a fan forum and a bloody good one everyone is entitled to have an opinion and that’s the way it should be. Also if your argument stands up why is Levy allowed to get so much grief, without being labelled a fragile fan?

 

[jolsnogross]

They haven't put a penny in. Isn't that one of your complaints?

Tony bloom put 400m into Brighton.

Not one of my complaints. Spurs spend lots of money. It would be great if it wasn't Levy setting the strategy underpinning all the expenditure since he doesn't know his arse from his elbow.

Brighton are super well run. Good strategists. Liverpool, at least recently, with League title and CL, have been outstanding and I think defy your earlier point about an aimless mid-table team that turned things round not just to qualify for Europe, but play fantastic football to win the biggest prizes.

 

[onthetwo]

couldnt find him on Youtube.....

 

[easley91]

I'll be honest, this fanbase is so on the edge it's not even funny. Don't want Fati on a straight loan, then Brighton gets him on a straight loan and you all lose your collective ****.

Ange tells you days before Fulham he'll make changes because he needs lads to get game time and we have 3 away games in a week. Queue the shock when he makes 9 changes. We could actually have won it had Hojbjerg didn't blast wide, and we only lost on penalties to a Prem side.

Players not leaving the club isn't always on Levy and the club. We can accept the deal, whether it be a transfer or loan, but if the player doesn't fancy it then it doesn't happen.

There have things that have happened to me this year that have lead me to be less bothered about the off field stuff like transfers, and let me tell you I feel much better about things. Take everything with a pinch of salt. Would I prefer this or that player over ones we maybe more likely to sign? Sure. But I will be behind whoever comes into the club.

Whoever is in our squad come Saturday morning, I will back them 100% until they give me a reason not to.

We do have a fragile fanbase I'm afraid.

 

[TheChosenOne]

I'll be honest, this fanbase is so on the edge it's not even funny. Don't want Fati on a straight loan, then Brighton gets him on a straight loan and you all lose your collective ****.

Ange tells you days before Fulham he'll make changes because he needs lads to get game time and we have 3 away games in a week. Queue the shock when he makes 9 changes. We could actually have won it had Hojbjerg didn't blast wide, and we only lost on penalties to a Prem side.

Players not leaving the club isn't always on Levy and the club. We can accept the deal, whether it be a transfer or loan, but if the player doesn't fancy it then it doesn't happen.

There have things that have happened to me this year that have lead me to be less bothered about the off field stuff like transfers, and let me tell you I feel much better about things. Take everything with a pinch of salt. Would I prefer this or that player over ones we maybe more likely to sign? Sure. But I will be behind whoever comes into the club.

Whoever is in our squad come Saturday morning, I will back them 100% until they give me a reason not to.

We do have a fragile fanbase I'm afraid.

Seems like we have a ton of ‘fragile fanbase’ experts on here as well.

It’s a forum FFS.

Care in the (Spurs) Community

 

[SamR]

I appreciate the sentiment of this thread and it’s really interesting to read perspectives.

I think our fan base will be supportive of Ange and that’s really all we can be asked of.

Bringing perspectives up again, we all have different time horizons. Our short horizon is satisfied when we play well and get a win. We get that positive feeling and life’s good for a moment. Treat every game as they come would be a dream mindset to live by.

A loss or bad performance however has a much deeper negative response and triggers our long term horizon - which to be frank has been in bad shape for many years.

Unless we keep winning, it’s very hard to change our feelings as we all know the club has been badly managed. When our managers have been sacked and shared the same criticism as the fans, it’s a cultural issue that needs radical change.

I’d go as far to say most fans would probably accept the 2-3 years of a rebuild if Levy stepped aside and we were on a new journey as club.

I guess where I’m going with all this is that getting behind the team is a nice sentiment, but difficult to fulfil when we have a deep issue that hasn’t been resolved and without fan pressure to influence Change, we may be stuck with our feelings for many more years to come.

 

[sundanceyid10]

I appreciate the sentiment of this thread and it’s really interesting to read perspectives.

I think our fan base will be supportive of Ange and that’s really all we can be asked of.

Bringing perspectives up again, we all have different time horizons. Our short horizon is satisfied when we play well and get a win. We get that positive feeling and life’s good for a moment. Treat every game as they come would be a dream mindset to live by.

A loss or bad performance however has a much deeper negative response and triggers our long term horizon - which to be frank has been in bad shape for many years.

Unless we keep winning, it’s very hard to change our feelings as we all know the club has been badly managed. When our managers have been sacked and shared the same criticism as the fans, it’s a cultural issue that needs radical change.

I’d go as far to say most fans would probably accept the 2-3 years of a rebuild if Levy stepped aside and we were on a new journey as club.

I guess where I’m going with all this is that getting behind the team is a nice sentiment, but difficult to fulfil when we have a deep issue that hasn’t been resolved and without fan pressure to influence Change, we may be stuck with our feelings for many more years to come.

I like the new manager but I can see him ending up like the others. Hamstrung by ineptitude above him, yet it will be him who carries the can for it if things don’t work out, as Levy blames everyone but himself even in the face of him being the sole common denominator in all our failings constantly.

 

[KingNick]

How's Joe Lewis, or Enic, not a sugar daddy? Is Fenway sports group a sugar daddy?

WTF!? Being rich does not itself = being a sugar daddy

 

[KingNick]

It's not really a laughing stock though either is it?

We're an established top 6 club, generally, in the best domestic league in the world. The best stadium, best training facilities.

What's to laugh at?

Yeah it'd be nice to win the League every year but fucking hell; have a look around.

Some fans just can't handle standard football banter because they are weaklings. It's banter; the trophy cabinet is empty.. so fucking what? Did anyone die?

Spot on.
Maybe this is purely a spill over from social media and shit like AFTV and the fake outrage from dicks like "Expressions"?
Are spurs a laughing stock? Of course not.
Are there things to banter us about? Most definitely. Show me a club where there isn't

 

[DogsOfWar]

The state of this forum at the moment is an absolute embarrassment.

I'd suggest all the bedwetters maybe give football a rest for a while and spend that time helping out at a hospice or a homeless charity to re-align their priorities.

Grown men crying about not signing someone with half their knee missing to kick a lump of leather around a football pitch.
It's really not that important.

If a game of football really makes you this angry then it's probably you with the issue and not the club.

 

[Stevespurs71]

The state of this forum at the moment is an absolute embarrassment.

I'd suggest all the bedwetters maybe give football a rest for a while and spend that time helping out at a hospice or a homeless charity to re-align their priorities.

Grown men crying about not signing someone with half their knee missing to kick a lump of leather around a football pitch.
It's really not that important.

If a game of football really makes you this angry then it's probably you with the issue and not the club.

Some of us are angry because we know how this will pan out, it’s a new season but the same tired old cliches are 48 hrs away. The CLUB is the embarrassment for the way it rinses & repeats bullshit!!! See how optimistic everyone is when JM or YB get injured & we have to play Skipp & Lo Celso for a run of games. Just my opinion

 

[RuskyM]

The state of this forum at the moment is an absolute embarrassment.

I'd suggest all the bedwetters maybe give football a rest for a while and spend that time helping out at a hospice or a homeless charity to re-align their priorities.

Grown men crying about not signing someone with half their knee missing to kick a lump of leather around a football pitch.
It's really not that important.

If a game of football really makes you this angry then it's probably you with the issue and not the club.

Quite something that the same lads who continually deride professional footballers for their ‘weak mentality’ regularly have tantrums when we don’t sign players they‘ve never had an opinion on before.

 

[DogsOfWar]

Quite something that the same lads who continually deride professional footballers for their ‘weak mentality’ regularly have tantrums when we don’t sign players they‘ve never had an opinion on before.

It's a strange mentality where they are in a perpetual state of anger towards the game/club as touched on by vegassd in his earlier post.
One minute they are angry because we aren't buying a player, then they are angry at a player we are linked to not being good enough, then they get even angrier when we 'miss out' on them, before returning to being angry at not signing anyone again.
I find a constant state of anger over something as trivial as a game of football weird.

 

[chas vs dave]

The state of this forum at the moment is an absolute embarrassment.

I'd suggest all the bedwetters maybe give football a rest for a while and spend that time helping out at a hospice or a homeless charity to re-align their priorities.

Grown men crying about not signing someone with half their knee missing to kick a lump of leather around a football pitch.
It's really not that important.

If a game of football really makes you this angry then it's probably you with the issue and not the club.

Mate, I've been through family cancer issues, loss of my child to social services due to her being exposed to gang violence, the complete breakdown and dissolution of my marriage, loss of hearing and balance to tinnitus. Throw in depression and job losses and its been a shit 2-3 years.

Luckily, I'm through the back of it. It has done one thing, given me perspective on whats most important.

I'm not losing my shit over spurs not signing player x or y. Spurs is supposed to be my sanctuary and escape from said shit. If I take no joy from it, I will just find something else.

Ange has reignited my love for spurs so far.

And yes, I still get annoyed when we get dumped out by Fulham. I've learnt to not hold onto the negativity.

 

[easley91]

Mate, I've been through family cancer issues, loss of my child to social services due to her being exposed to gang violence, the complete breakdown and dissolution of my marriage, loss of hearing and balance to tinnitus. Throw in depression and job losses and its been a shit 2-3 years.

Luckily, I'm through the back of it. It has done one thing, given me perspective on whats most important.

I'm not losing my shit over spurs not signing player x or y. Spurs is supposed to be my sanctuary and escape from said shit. If I take no joy from it, I will just find something else.

Ange has reignited my love for spurs so far.

And yes, I still get annoyed when we get dumped out by Fulham. I've learnt to not hold onto the negativity.

Very sorry to hear all that mate. But through different reasons, I have come to the same conclusion. I am not that bothered about who we sign or sell in the grand scheme of things. Of course I have my personal opinion on who I would prefer to bring in and let go, however I don't write players off or lose my mind at any name when they're linked in the media. It is what it is.

And likewise, Ange has brought me more joy already now than I have had since last summer for certain.

 

[easley91]

Deadline day and a transfer window is the perfect case study for this. Just read the ITK thread to see how many worlds are ending..