Toxicity and modern football fans

[C1w8]

The points around fans being customers now and the state of society definitely contribute but its also massive that we are playing horrendous football at the moment, pretty much the worst i've seen in recent memory that's for sure.

Blame that on who you will but it's a massive issue that's contributing to the atmosphere being so bad for us. Its one thing to lose/drop points playing well as there is an element of hope there to carry over into the next games, but when we play as we do as consistently as we do, that kills any sense of hope that we are moving in the right direction, as opposed to just watching our team decline.

Relatively speaking city have regressed this season also (to date, vs the team they were last season) and you'd think the fans would cut them some slack given the success they've had recently, but i also dont believe theyre booing/atmosphere is as bad as ours as they are getting results more often than not.

 

[spursfan77]

I think that society in general globally are in a bad place right now. Post covid high living costs etc, everyone is on a short fuse.

This is part of it definitely. I think the overwhelming 24 hour news cycle and need to be first with truth or lies impacts people too. This site has definitely got more arsey since before covid. It’s a different place since that.

 

[dontcallme]

The points around fans being customers now and the state of society definitely contribute but its also massive that we are playing horrendous football at the moment, pretty much the worst i've seen in recent memory that's for sure.

Blame that on who you will but it's a massive issue that's contributing to the atmosphere being so bad for us. Its one thing to lose/drop points playing well as there is an element of hope there to carry over into the next games, but when we play as we do as consistently as we do, that kills any sense of hope that we are moving in the right direction, as opposed to just watching our team decline.

Relatively speaking city have regressed this season also (to date, vs the team they were last season) and you'd think the fans would cut them some slack given the success they've had recently, but i also dont believe theyre booing/atmosphere is as bad as ours as they are getting results more often than not.

While this is true, we played a lot of truly terrible football in the 90s, but crowd reactions weren't as toxic as they are now.

 

[C1w8]

While this is true, we played a lot of truly terrible football in the 90s, but crowd reactions weren't as toxic as they are now.

Agreed and obviously the memory's hazy given how long ago it was i just dont think i ever went through a spell where i would expect us to be losing at HT every game, with zero shots on goal, and i had a season ticket from say '97

Football has changed now with the top teams keeping 60/70% possession and the bottom teams parking the bus more so in todays game, so we can literally go through most of the game with nothing to show for it except for a couple of corners and zero shots on goal.

I would also add that we have expectations way above (and rightly so) those teams of the 90s, so if we couple todays expectations with our 90s brand of terrible football, its hardly surprising we end up with the atmosphere we have right now.

 

[PLTuck]

A lot of modern fans seem more concerned with what 'banter' they're going to get on Twatter than with being a supporter of their club. Agree with the sentiment that it's the way of the world now and social media has a lot to answer for. Add 24/7 news and instant access to anything to that. I do sympathise for match goers. It's a lot of money on an afternoon out. Away fans are the bedrock of the fanbase. When they arent happy you have to sit up and take notice.

FIFA and FM are weird ones. No one who plays CoD or Battlefield regularly will think they know better than a professional army commander. No minecraft player throws a hissy fit about building architecture. No one who plays racing games will think they can critique Lewis Hamilton based on their gameplay, so why do FIFA and FM players think the real world works like it does in their game? It's bizarre.

Having said that I love it when we sign players that ive had in FM over the years. I used to buy a 14 year old Lennon in the old days and was stoked when we signed him.

 

[dontcallme]

Agreed and obviously the memory's hazy given how long ago it was i just dont think i ever went through a spell where i would expect us to be losing at HT every game, with zero shots on goal, and i had a season ticket from say '97

Football has changed now with the top teams keeping 60/70% possession and the bottom teams parking the bus more so in todays game, so we can literally go through most of the game with nothing to show for it except for a couple of corners and zero shots on goal.

I would also add that we have expectations way above (and rightly so) those teams of the 90s, so if we couple todays expectations with our 90s brand of terrible football, its hardly surprising we end up with the atmosphere we have right now.

For me, I think the toxicity in modern football isn't specific to Tottenham.

Once huge money got involved, we demand more transfer activity than ever before, we criticise underperforming players and constantly reference their salaries and football talk is more business related than football.

As per my first post in the thread, I don't blame the fans for being unhappy. Money ruined the game in many ways.

 

[talkshowhost86]

Modern football wants customers not fans so I don't think anyone at the clubs can complain when the fans then act like customers

 

[C1w8]

For me, I think the toxicity in modern football isn't specific to Tottenham.

Once huge money got involved, we demand more transfer activity than ever before, we criticise underperforming players and constantly reference their salaries and football talk is more business related than football.

As per my first post in the thread, I don't blame the fans for being unhappy. Money ruined the game in many ways.

Agreed, all the points around society, cost of tickets, money in the game etc all definitely play a massive part across the sport. The current state of the team/football being played is just an additional layer to add to it all, it can either reduce the toxicity (dare we look across the way to our neighbours) or in our case amp it up a notch unfortunately. It's definitely another factor though.

 

[mpickard2087]

I don’t like Levy, not for transfers but because he fails to have a comprehensive detailed innovative daring blueprint for the football operation. I don’t like the manager. I don’t like the football. I don’t like the tactics. I really didn’t like Jose. I didn’t like Poch after he detached his bollocks circa 2017. I don’t like roughly 98% of our players. If that’s make you wonder who, no I don’t like Kane. I don’t like Son. I haven’t liked Lloris for over half a decade. I don’t like our transfer policy. I don’t like our scouting and recruitment operation. I don’t like our academy and development work. I don’t like our lack of methodology i.e. developing a Tottenham style of play running throughout the club. I don’t like our fanbase either. I don’t like the football media. I don’t like the constant drama and OTT wild emotional rollercoaster people go on depending on what the results are at that point in time.

So to sum up, I like virtually nothing about this football team. It’s boring, it’s dull, there is no quality, no innovation, no thinking outside the box. No striving to do something spectacular. To blaze a new trail. I personally think the process is pretty crap, so no wonder we don’t get any good outcomes – winning stuff.

Am I entitled? Maybe. Hard to please? Definitely. Bored out of my mind by Tottenham? Absolutely.

I don’t see the point of getting toxic though and letting it become a huge emotional negative. I’ll always watch out of blind loyalty, and family/social reasons. Just the last few years I just semi-detach myself the best I can rather than getting angry. I’ve largely stopped attending live matches, I’ve cut down how much I post on SC, what topics I post on, and what I reply to (and have had spells off it altogether), I focus on everything else going on in my life and other interests. It’s up to Spurs to get me fully involved and invested again, not me doing it out of obligation.

 

[nferno]

Simple really, it’s because fans of other football clubs are pricks and it’s not banter they project it’s just venom.

 

[JSpurs1]

Simple really, it’s because fans of other football clubs are pricks and it’s not banter they project it’s just venom.

One of our fans tried kick an opposing goalkeeper last week. We’re not exactly angels.

 

[Ashesmod]

One of the problems is that Football has become a spectator sport first and foremost. Declining numbers in actually playing the sport mean that many people do not understand the basic game, and as such going to a game is like going to a gig etc. So instead of creating debate a bit like our current political situation it's never about the general discussion between a few people, it becomes a conversation of why I'm right and your wrong.

Football has always had a minority of issues due to the vast amount of cultures, classes, and boundaries it crosses, which some people will always have an issue with. I think some people forget it's a game to bring people together, instead of injure abuse, and torment depending on the Shirt you support.

 

[rossdapep]

If you are on social media and constantly mocking rival fans and bantering them cause your team is doing well.

Are you really winning?

When I was younger I'd get pissed off with a typical shit Spurs performance/result and may have to deal with being mocked on the way to school on a Monday morning. But that was generally it, everything else in my young life would take over.

Today, far too many people live and breathe the 'banter' of football and it's just really tedious.

You're team won...so what? Spend the week wasting time getting into 'banter wars' with total strangers.

I recently deleted Twitter and YouTube from my phone because I felt I was going down that rabbit hole of listening to too many fan opinions on the game and when you hear enough of them bantering Tottenham it can affect your mood. But why should you let it?

I think too many people today don't understand what it means to be a 'fan' of a team. It's not about scoring points on the internet, it's about having a connection with your team and enjoying the wins, for yourself, not 'getting one over' opposition fans you don't know or whose opinions should zero effect on your life.

Personally, I think if you are 'deep in' on social media and are making 90% of your posts about football banter then you are losing and putting that energy to bad use.

 

[Athenspur]

Son Heung-Min is obviously next in line to be booed by Spurs fans. And that's all anyone needs to know about toxicity.

 

[StockSpur]

This is where I am- I do have another interest , which is much more fulfilling although its hard to beat the high moments of football with other hobbies or media- I've been meaning to get into lower leagues, like @Gassin's finest said, and be a 'football supporter' again instead of a 'fan'.

booo!

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

I was thinking from the City game, Pep was complaining after about the City fans not supporting in the first half. There were some Blue Moons and chants but the overwhelming sound was booing. Booing official decisions, booing defending, booing opposition players, and then the booing at half time when 2-0 down.

When you ask fans what they want, they'll all say spending on players and trophies. The City fans should be in the position that we all want to be in- having won 4/ 5 last titles and a bottomless transfer budget. But even they are booing at half-time in a game they'll go on to win 4-2.

We used to ridicule the Arsenal fans for booing and their persistent moaning on AFTV and lack of support all during the years we were on top. Now our fans behave just like that. We boo at the end of the games and at half time and sometimes even our players coming on as subs because they've had some dodgy performances before. The forums and Twitter are full of angry messages about players, Conte, ENIC, Levy. People are trying to start campaigns to force ENIC to sell out to Qataris, never mind the politics. And for what? To be in the City fans position. Booing at half time.

During the Poch years I remember genuine joy around the ground, a feeling of progress and excitement at what we were seeing each week, and nobody complaining about not winning trophies, genuinely. I really miss that, and wonder if it can return. But I think people are so bothered by windups from rival fans on Twitter or Arsenal having a good season and a general sense of entitlement, because it seems the only happy fans now are the ones whose club is in 1st place, and even then they're angry and complaining about referees or lack of "credit" from the media or something. Makes you wonder what it's all about really...

Good post and the modern football fan is definitely more picky that in yesteryear and there is more ‘toxicity’ amongst the fans in general.

I think some of it is in our digital ‘instant’ world fans want to see their team play good entertaining football more than anything these days.

Also the huge amounts of money isn’t the game I think has caused it to become more toxic as money often does to things.

But yes the city fans booing at HT was actually entitlement and very embarrassing for their fan base , no wonder Pep called them out.

 

[lincspurs]

Good post and the modern football fan is definitely more picky that in yesteryear and there is more ‘toxicity’ amongst the fans in general.

I think some of it is in our digital ‘instant’ world fans want to see their team play good entertaining football more than anything these days.

Also the huge amounts of money isn’t the game I think has caused it to become more toxic as money often does to things.

But yes the city fans booing at HT was actually entitlement and very embarrassing for their fan base , no wonder Pep called them out.

I’m sure I read somewhere that they were booing the ref cos of perceived injustices (us fouling them & getting away with it, which is bloody rich coming from them).

 

[carpediem1906]

Just an indication that with entitlement, comes more entitlement. Modern life I'm afraid where everybody wants more and there's no such thing as enough.

Instant gratification society we have

Always expecting something positive (dopamine hit) to happen soon (within the next few mins)

Also seems as if globally, majority of kids are no longer taught to cheer others / team / school / house / cca mates on

Kids getting bored quickly if their “side” ain’t winning or worse, entertaining

2 doomsday scenario possible within 10 years
(1) kids switching club loyalties every few years as opposed to most of our TTID / football fans’ one club attitude
(2) fewer and fewer kids growing up will bother with watching one full football match either live or on tv

 

[chas vs dave]

One of our fans tried kick an opposing goalkeeper last week. We’re not exactly angels.

We have plenty of pricks. Too many for my liking

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Instant gratification society we have

Always expecting something positive (dopamine hit) to happen soon (within the next few mins)

Also seems as if globally, majority of kids are no longer taught to cheer others / team / school / house / cca mates on

Kids getting bored quickly if their “side” ain’t winning or worse, entertaining

2 doomsday scenario possible within 10 years
(1) kids switching club loyalties every few years as opposed to most of our TTID / football fans’ one club attitude
(2) fewer and fewer kids growing up will bother with watching one full football match either live or on tv

This is very true.

The rest of the points I wouldn’t worry about football in the UK will always have hardcore one team for life fans and a very small % of glory hunter fans that won’t change