Manager Watch: Ange Postecoglou

[Oscar22]

It’s always been the same both on this message board and across numerous other contexts, there’s always a set of people who feel you aren’t a true fan or that your opinion is less valid if you aren’t standing in the ground every week watching the match.

It completely ignores actual life, geography, cost of living and numerous other things.

Whether you pay for a season ticket and are in the ground each week, or if you pay your Sky subscription to be able to watch as many of our games televised every week as possible, if you live in another country and wake up at 2/3/4am just to be able to watch us play Sheffield United away, or if you simply can’t afford any of the above and rely on places like this for news and look for the highlights on motd or YouTube you’re just as much of a fan in my eyes.

Not everyone can afford to go to football, I know I certainly can’t every week. The idea that you’re less of a fan because you need to spend that money on your kids, food, your mortgage or rent is stupid. Aside from that the ground is never going to be large enough to fit every single supporter in it anyway.

Supporting a football team is something that you make work for you, and the ‘tourist’ fans as they’re referred to in that question are doing what works for them, I’m just glad and proud we have so many people making their own little sacrifices to cheer for our team instead of another.

 

[Gassin's finest]

Maybe I've misconstrued people's interpretation, but when I've mentioned tourists in the past, I don't mean spurs fans who don't live in or aren't from London, or even football tourists who like to just go to football matches because they're footy addicts. I fall into both those categories.

I've meant actual tourists, like sightseer's. Visit London so go see one of these Premiership thingy's. There's definitely been a feeling that the new ground has targeted that day trip demographic with the high prices, skywalks and go karts.

And even then, when I've made that remark, I'm usually being glib and old man about it.

 

[mil1lion]

People who moan about foreign fans are the ones who voted Brexit

 

[mil1lion]

It’s always been the same both on this message board and across numerous other contexts, there’s always a set of people who feel you aren’t a true fan or that your opinion is less valid if you aren’t standing in the ground every week watching the match.

It completely ignores actual life, geography, cost of living and numerous other things.

Whether you pay for a season ticket and are in the ground each week, or if you pay your Sky subscription to be able to watch as many of our games televised every week as possible, if you live in another country and wake up at 2/3/4am just to be able to watch us play Sheffield United away, or if you simply can’t afford any of the above and rely on places like this for news and look for the highlights on motd or YouTube you’re just as much of a fan in my eyes.

Not everyone can afford to go to football, I know I certainly can’t every week. The idea that you’re less of a fan because you need to spend that money on your kids, food, your mortgage or rent is stupid. Aside from that the ground is never going to be large enough to fit every single supporter in it anyway.

Supporting a football team is something that you make work for you, and the ‘tourist’ fans as they’re referred to in that question are doing what works for them, I’m just glad and proud we have so many people making their own little sacrifices to cheer for our team instead of another.

We've had a 61k stadium for only a few years when you consider the COVID lockdown. We have millions of fans all around the world. The more the better as well I say. It's impossible they're all going to have a chance to go watch us live.

 

[ComfortablyNumb]

People who moan about foreign fans are the ones who voted Brexit

I voted Brexit, and have no problem with foreign supporters, so you can fuck off with your Remoaner opinions…

 

[Indacupfortottenham]

I was born and bred in North London and consider myself no more of a Spurs fan than any other fan from any other part of the world! We all love our club end of, anyone that thinks differently needs to give their head a wobble.
Massive respect to those that travel far and wide to watch us home and away, and those ghat get up at crazy hours to watch us COYS.

Love it when you go on holiday and link up with random Spurs fans watching a game from all over the place makes me proud.

 

[leffe186]

Maybe I've misconstrued people's interpretation, but when I've mentioned tourists in the past, I don't mean spurs fans who don't live in or aren't from London, or even football tourists who like to just go to football matches because they're footy addicts. I fall into both those categories.

I've meant actual tourists, like sightseer's. Visit London so go see one of these Premiership thingy's. There's definitely been a feeling that the new ground has targeted that day trip demographic with the high prices, skywalks and go karts.

And even then, when I've made that remark, I'm usually being glib and old man about it.

Yeah I’ve always presumed that this is what people mean if they talk about tourists. In addition I’ve heard a few oppo fans disparage us for the number of Korean fans we have at games - the implication being that when Son leaves they’ll all bugger off too.

I mean, maybe? I won’t lie, I like the idea of us signing the next big thing in Korean footy just to keep it ticking over. I just hope that any “tourists” who come - and I do mean actual tourists, not foreign Spurs fans - fall in love.

 

[leffe186]

I first arrived in Australia when Ange would have been about eight or nine. There was absolutely nothing except pretty enthusiastic support for local clubs with national affiliations (Serbian, Croatian, Greek etc). It was so bad in terms of British football that I subscribed to the air mail edition of the Sunday Times. It used to arrive on a Wednesday and was made from a kind of pink tissue paper. At least I could get the results and, very occasionally, a short article about a Tottenham game.

Of course things gradually improved with things like FA Cup final coverage and programmes like the Big Match but it took the advent of the internet to really allow supporters like me to fully engage with the Club again.

I was born in North Shore Hospital on FA Cup Final day 1973. Early May 6 in Aus when I was born. Dad used to tell the story of blagging his way into the doctors’ quarters so he could watch the game on a tiny set.

Thing is, he grew up in Palmers Green walking to games, and we moved back when I was young so I did the same with him. Our biggest issue was trying to find out what had happened with the Swans or the Bombers.

 

[leffe186]

This has always made me bristle. I was born in the NorthMid; brought up in Southgate and Goffs Oak; first went to the Lane in 1967; spend hours on here; listen to every Tottenham podcast; and by hook or by crook watch every single game Tottenham play.

I’ve lived in New Zealand and Australia for over half my life and very occasionally get home to watch a game or two. Hope no one calls me a tourist when I do.

I’ve lived in the US for the last 15 years - just moved back. A few years back went to a Columbus Crew game with an American mate. We both had Spurs shirts of mine on (he doesn’t support a UK club). When I was getting the beers in a couple of guys were taking the piss out of him for not being a “proper” fan. I remember literally cracking my knuckles before wading in (verbally). I reserve the right to embrace all foreign Spurs fans unconditionally while ripping the absolute piss out of anyone foreign who has gone glory hunting.

 

[Cochise]

I've been living in S. Korea for almost 6 months now, and if only people knew how passionate people here are about Spurs. Best supported club by a considerable margin.

Is it a love for Spurs or a love for Son? Genuine question. He's been here a while, so I'd think there's a deeper attachment there.

 

[Misfit]

Yeah I’ve always presumed that this is what people mean if they talk about tourists. In addition I’ve heard a few oppo fans disparage us for the number of Korean fans we have at games - the implication being that when Son leaves they’ll all bugger off too.

I mean, maybe? I won’t lie, I like the idea of us signing the next big thing in Korean footy just to keep it ticking over. I just hope that any “tourists” who come - and I do mean actual tourists, not foreign Spurs fans - fall in love.

I got speaking to a Korean about Spurs after meeting through work a while back. He freely admitted he watched our games only because of Sonny initially. Now he's a full blown Spurs man.

No doubt many will move on, people are fickle after all, but those who remain will suffer just as much as the rest of us.

I think I remember there being a Korea Spurs fan group long before Son arrived after all. Just multiply its size by about 100-1,000 after his time here I guess.

 

[Trent Crimm]

People who moan about foreign fans are the ones who voted Brexit

 

[soup]

It’s always been the same both on this message board and across numerous other contexts, there’s always a set of people who feel you aren’t a true fan or that your opinion is less valid if you aren’t standing in the ground every week watching the match.

It completely ignores actual life, geography, cost of living and numerous other things.

Whether you pay for a season ticket and are in the ground each week, or if you pay your Sky subscription to be able to watch as many of our games televised every week as possible, if you live in another country and wake up at 2/3/4am just to be able to watch us play Sheffield United away, or if you simply can’t afford any of the above and rely on places like this for news and look for the highlights on motd or YouTube you’re just as much of a fan in my eyes.

Not everyone can afford to go to football, I know I certainly can’t every week. The idea that you’re less of a fan because you need to spend that money on your kids, food, your mortgage or rent is stupid. Aside from that the ground is never going to be large enough to fit every single supporter in it anyway.

Supporting a football team is something that you make work for you, and the ‘tourist’ fans as they’re referred to in that question are doing what works for them, I’m just glad and proud we have so many people making their own little sacrifices to cheer for our team instead of another.

I've got a Chelsea fan mate who watches them most weeks and always throws this at people, but has never been to an England match in his life, so I like to throw it back at him at every international tournament when England are playing.

 

[Hazelton]

I'm fairly local. It was always Spurs or Arsenal in my area when I was a boy and pretty much still is, but my support stems from my Grandad, who travelled over from Ireland and settled in Tottenham, gradually going to games and falling in love, which eventually led to us going to games together and the rest is history. The love of my life, for better or for worse

I've spent the best part of 20 years posting on and moderating Spurs/football forums, talking to fans from all over the globe who knew more and made more of an effort to follow their clubs than I ever have. Some of the best, most committed fans and people I've ever met have been foreign or "plastic", and the best man I've ever met, the reason I support this club, would be seen as "plastic" by some.

At the end of the day this club unites all of us and it may have been forgotten for a period but Ange is starting to make us all see that. We're all Spurs, we've suffered more than most and eventually, hopefully, we'll celebrate more than most as well.

 

[philll]

 

[SirHarryHotspur]

Who asked this dopey question in the first place , Ange really is brilliant with his answers to stupid questions.

 

[easley91]

People who moan about foreign fans are the ones who voted Brexit

Voted brexit and I more than welcome global support, because unlike hardcore supporters they actually SUPPORT the club and players. So this viewpoint can do one.

 

[mil1lion]

Voted brexit and I more than welcome global support, because unlike hardcore supporters they actually SUPPORT the club and players. So this viewpoint can do one.

I voted Brexit, and have no problem with foreign supporters, so you can fuck off with your Remoaner opinions…

bit touchy there

 

[delawarespur]

I love this so much. I started supporting back in 2015, when I had the tv on one morning and spurs were playing away to sunderland. Late Mason winner. Came to adore the club and Dele in particular that season (little did I know the amount of heartache I’d go through the next 8 years lol). Wouldn’t change it for the world.

I live in the US and was lucky enough to see my first game at the stadium vs palace. I have to get up as early as 7 AM to watch the games sometimes (I know other fans have games at much more extreme times that they watch!!!). I can say I lost my voice by the end of the match screaming and chanting, I really tried my best to match the locals’ energy. I sat close to the away fans; one of my favorite parts was them taunting me when eze scored. And then I was able to give it back to them three times, and that is the culture I’ve always dreamed of being a part of. Also, when I asked locals for directions, best pub to go to before the match, etc. they were all lovely and helpful.

From the walk from seven sisters to the stadium, the atmosphere, the performance, the scenes during and after the match, it was an absolute dream come true. I think that the “plastic” term honestly mostly comes from online. I respect all the fans from all across the globe, and I know some have a much more difficult time seeing games than I do both in person, on tv, illegal streams, etc. I had a wonderful time supporting the club I love, and am already dreaming about the next visit I make! Ange totally gets it, and that makes me love him and the club even more.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

His answers in press conferences are just always on point. Outstanding