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Everyone’s a critic

5 min read
by The Fighting Cock
First game back at the lane for me on Saturday. I was on muddy Clapham Common last week, having a whale of a time watching Chase and Status. I usually go to the Spurs with my old man. We always talk through the game before, during and afterwards. I do the same with my my […]

First game back at the lane for me on Saturday. I was on muddy Clapham Common last week, having a whale of a time watching Chase and Status.

I usually go to the Spurs with my old man. We always talk through the game before, during and afterwards. I do the same with my my two mates who are season ticket holders. Meet up beforehand, throw around some expert analysis before heading into the ground. That’s half the reason we go, the banter. We like to to be armchair pundits, we like to think we know best.

Saturday was a rarity for me, I headed down there on my own, for my first attendance of the season. Paxton end, always Paxton. It’s where my Granddad stood as well as my Dad and his brothers. My Dad always has a story or two to tell about watching games from the Paxton End. Being a sentimental old fool why break with tradition? If it was good enough for Granddad George then it’s where I want to be. If I ever get my season ticket, then I want it to be in the Paxton.

I’ve had some great times sat in the North Stand as well as some real downers. Whatever the outcome I’ve always been comfortable, surrounded by my fellow supporters. It’s not the first time I’ve gone solo. I’ve attended a few games in the past where I’ve got chatting to the people around me and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Europa League last season, good example. Sat there with some of the real stalwarts who paid twenty quid to sit in the cold and watch our ‘reserves’ despite the lack of Champions League glory.

So as I walked down the High Rd I never felt for a second I would feel out of place. Despite my usual companion not being there I would surely have some decent supporters around me to chat to. Well after Saturday, I might just have to break with tradition. I felt sick, angry, embarrassed and above all disappointed to be associated with some of those so called ‘fans’ sat around me.

Some of the comments I heard from them were atrocious. It was like I was surrounded by at thirty Simon Cowells who spent the entire game bemoaning Spurs, our players, our manager and our performance.

Some of the choice comments:

‘Livermore has been useless, absolutely useless, he’s not good enough’
‘I want my Harry back’
‘Typical Spurs, we haven’t got a clue’
‘Vertonghen is ****
‘I knew we’d go to pot when AVB joined’

[linequote]I felt sick, angry and above all embarrassed to even be associated with some of those fans sat around me.[/linequote]

Now I don’t mind some criticism. As I said, we are all armchair pundits. But we are also the supporters. The twelfth man. When the chips are down it’s up to us to raise a song and get behind those lads. Even when we’re not playing well.

Not once did I hear anyone seated near me try and get behind the team. Every time I yelled my support, or joined in a song there was just me and a few other rebels in the Paxton giving it a go. Everywhere else, flat line, nada, nothing but misery.

Then there was the booing at half time, we weren’t even losing. Sure we weren’t playing great, but come on. When that started I shouted out ‘Don’t f-ing boo!’ There were a few embarrassed faces sloping off to the khazis.

It was genuinely one of my worst experiences at the lane and I’ve seen some bad games over the years. As everyone walked out, I stood up, one of a very small group in the Paxton and clapped. There was a tut from the couple next to me as they had to squeeze past to get to the exit.

Sorry, how rude of me.

As I clapped I felt a little bit pathetic. Hoping that amongst the boos, one of the team might look up and see me there and think ‘Actually we didn’t play that well, the fans are really unhappy, but that guy there, he’s behind us, so next time we’ll do better.’

The Norwich supporters sung something along the lines of our support not being up to par during the game (although I think it contained a few more swear words). Thing is they had a point. It was left to the Park Lane to come back with a choice song regarding their relationship with their mothers, so we could retain some dignity. I hate it when we are out-sung by the away support.

A horrible malaise has crept into WHL while the passion has started to leave through the back door. I’ve always felt Flav goes a bit overboard with his comments about the supporters on the podcast. But today I’m right behind him, 100%. If you don’t want to support then get out, because I know enough people who would buy your ticket and support the team.

Three games in, new manager, new players, new system, playing a team on Saturday that set itself up specifically to make it difficult for us to play. They all do it now, ten men behind the ball and don’t let them through. We should be flattered. Ok, so we haven’t quite worked out how to deal with that and yes, I get it, it is frustrating to watch.

[linequote]If you don’t want to support then get out, because I know enough people who would buy your ticket and support the team.[/linequote]

Maybe I’m a realist but I wasn’t surprised by the result but I saw enough to make me think that we are not far off of clicking, we just need a bit more time. I want us to build and develop, we have to, times are a changing. So I want to see us follow this project through and create something great.

Sure, like all the other false dawns this may fall flat on it’s face. I suspect that some of our fans are just waiting for it to happen. They believe the anti-AVB media or their mate the Chelsea supporter who warned them. But even if it does fail, the badge, the shirt, the history and the Lane will all still be there.

The problem now is the ‘fans’, they won’t give it any time They want their instant gratification and they want it now. The last few seasons have been some of the best, an upward curve, with some great performances. In some of our ‘fans’ mind this means we should be up there by now, winning every game.

Even then, you have to ask, would these so called fans be happy…?

[author name=”Benjoss[/linequote]

All views and opinions expressed in this article are the views and opinions of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of The Fighting Cock. We offer a platform for fans to commit their views to text and voice their thoughts. Football is a passionate game and as long as the views stay within the parameters of what is acceptable, we encourage people to write, get involved and share their thoughts on the mighty Tottenham Hotspur.

24 Comments

  1. Borris
    03/09/2012 @ 11:21 am

    HI.

    I was at the west brom game. I live in bstoke and I play/manage on a wknd so I havent been able to get up to anywhere near the amount of games Id like to but once i stop playing that will change…

    ……………I was pissed off and embarassed at the WBA game. Posted a little line on another blog the night i got back, saying,.. If you were at the game today. And you booed.. You ARE a dick….2 blokes behind me at WBA game talking utter sh*t.. Then booed..

    I turned round and said are u serious? – They told me to f**k off! – I wanted to smash their faces in and drag them out. NO RIGHT TO BE THERE!!! Support the team of f**k off1!!!!!!!##

  2. john
    03/09/2012 @ 11:29 am

    Point is we were finally after so many years settled and now were back into a ‘rebuilding’ process its bollocks! we shouldn’t even be in this position, i sat in the paxton end on saturday and while i didnt boo, im almost glad we did as a message to daniel levy, someone i think the sooner gets out of our club the better..as far as sitting in the paxton end, never again always sit in the park lane or the shelf where there is half an atmosphere. If things don’t go well now, its got to be all down to 1 man n thats levy, a man who chops and changes without any logic, he let some personal vendetta with Harry get in the way of what should be a professional relationship, and whether he liked him or not he should have acknowledged what Harry done for the club..i hope every true yid understands its all his fault not AVB’S if things go tits up, and with a bit of luck (and abuse) we get him out
    Up the spurs!

    • Andy
      03/09/2012 @ 11:40 am

      So it’s also Daniel Levys fault that we showed relegation form at the tail end of last season? That we LOST the corresponding fixture under redknapp? That, when needing a goal to secure champions league, he brings on Parker not Defoe?

      • john
        03/09/2012 @ 1:52 pm

        no all managers make mistakes, and harry certainly wasnt perfect..but we were stable finally after years of instability! dont u get it? Everything weve been building for the last few years has been chucked away and for what? What did he do wrong? got us 2 top 4 finishes in 3 years! We should always back the team no matter what but this time its Levy who me along with quite a few other people i know that get down the lane are p***** off with…he did exactly the same to Martin Jol who was loved by everyone and was doing well..he demands top money every last penny for our players, and yet wont go anywhere near other clubs valuation of players? hes a p****! he should have got moutinho in at all costs, he was the only quality player we could have got to replace modric and failed to do it, he should have got him in at all costs, before signing a keeper (albeit a good 1) for 12 million when weve got 3 very good ones at our club, it wasnt a priority, a modric replacement was!

  3. AUSSIE - SOUTH AFRICA
    03/09/2012 @ 11:43 am

    I cant agree more with you guys ,Living and watching the game from 6000 miles away in South Africa I felt helpless and ashamed by the Boo boys . Booing puts more pressure on the team ,Get behind the team Give the lads and AVB a chance, new system , new players new manager . we just need a leader on the pitch to help gel the team .
    It costs me 700 pounds just to get to the UK let alone buy a ticket but I will be there !!!!!!!!!!!!
    Come on you Spurs .
    Tottenham for ever

  4. Jacky Treehorn
    03/09/2012 @ 11:45 am

    AVB should start by picking the best players.He is doing himself no favours.
    Even when he brings on a sub he takes the wrong player off.What is the matter with him.
    I will be interested to see the team he picks for this saturday,if he starts with livermore
    he will have lost my support. It was livermore who gave away a stupid freekick that started
    the pressure on our goal that lead to their equaliser.

  5. TomElRumi
    03/09/2012 @ 11:47 am

    Excellent post, entirely in agreement with my experience of Saturday at the Lane. I was totally embarrassed by the constant moaning and lack of support, and in disbelief at how quickly some “fans” have turned on new/young players and our new manager. I really wonder what new players and a new manager must think of the club with such immature impatience displayed this way, just 3 games into the season.

  6. Richard
    03/09/2012 @ 11:51 am

    Well Said!!

    I was at the WBA game last week and felt the same way. I am fed up of having to defend our fanbase…unfortunately there are so many idiots showing up at the Lane in the last few years that we are all branded as fickle and not willing to back our team in times of trouble!! Barring the Paxton and the Shelfside, there is no passion from our support during the games, people seem to forget that we are there to ‘support’ the team and not just show up to be entertained!! Look at the dross that Stoke fans show up to watch every week and yet they are the loudest fans in the Prem…unfortunately we are going the same way as Utd in that we are overrun by the prawn sandwich brigade!! The only way for us to overcome this problem is for the TRUE fans like ourselves to keep paying the money and keep showing up and singing over these idiots who are giving our club a bad name!! Sadly nowadays I am ashamed to be a Spurs fan…not because of the standard of the team but because of the standard of the support and that is something I thought I would never have to say about our great club!! Some of you need to take a long hard look at yourselves and remember why you chose to support Spurs in the first place!!

  7. Brock
    03/09/2012 @ 11:54 am

    I’m from Australia. i was up at midnight on Saturday night, not drinking, just to see Tottenham play. I don’t claim to have any birth-right attachment to the Spurs, but I love watching us play and being a part of one of the biggest teams in world sport. But watching the game from the other side of the world, I was ashamed to be a fan when I heard the boos from the stands.

    What chance have we given the team or the manage? it’s the third game of the season. What player enjoys playing badly? Anyone who has played any sport knows what its like to be losing, and how bad it feels. Then to have someone boo at your performance, probably when you know you aren’t playing as you can, that would destroy all confidence. i was disappointed like everyone else at the game, but i’m not disheartened.

    To people that claim we have sold too much of our team and changed too much, i ask this. How many 1st XI players have been sold and replaced? The answer is two. it is a ridiculous statement especially considering the players that have come in, and the work that has obviously gone on behind the scenes to get the best possible position for spurs. I’m the furthest from a religious person you will find, but I say have some faith, if we SUPPORT the team, and stick with the plan, the team will gel, the results will come, and Tottenham will prevail. Plenty of teams have gotten off to worse starts and finished better than where we are aiming (I assume top 4 is the goal for the season).

    The last thing I will say is that we have to support AVB. Everyone outside Tottenham is expecting/wanting him to fail. We can’t be sucked into believing what is written and said about the man. He has got to the position he is in for a reason. He is talented. Give him time and support, and he will respond with the most precious thing we as fans can expect. Great football, something to cheer about, and success.

  8. Brock
    03/09/2012 @ 11:55 am

    sorry about the essay

  9. Matt
    03/09/2012 @ 11:57 am

    Great post and 100% correct.

    Thanks you, hopefully enough ‘fans’ read this to sort their head out.

    It’s despicable.. We weren’t great on Sat, it’s our worst performance of the season and we drew. (better performance and result as in the same fixture last year under Harry). Our only loss so far was against a very good Newcastle team away and we lost to a penalty. We were by far the better team that day, as we were against WBA for most of the game also. We missed a playmaker the other day, we were much better once Dembele came on, add Dempsey to that (hopefully with just 1 DM) and a fit Adebayor (who also made a difference) then I can’t see why things wont be looking up in a months time once everything gels.

    Recently Spurs fans have been sounding like Man Utd fans… This is not the club to support if you expect to win every single game.

  10. mattylaw
    03/09/2012 @ 12:00 pm

    I totaly agree… Although I couldn’t not make it to saturdays game I was there last week. At the end of the game a young lad who was there with his girlfriend said ‘ F*** off tottenham you bunch of f****** w******’ and when myself and some others aplauded bale as he clapped the fans another voice said ‘don’t f****** clap Bale he was s***’. As a 23 year old who’s first days at the lane began watching Christan Gross Blue and White Army with the likes of Chris Armstrong and Jose Dominguez, I was angry at what was happening around me. I’m really looking foward to getting down the lane for ‘the 1892 movement’ and for one game everone to sing for the shirt, for the love of tottenham, win lose or draw

  11. Spurs 1999
    03/09/2012 @ 12:01 pm

    To those that boo’ed at the game, justify it however you like, you lot are a disgrace.

  12. Leigh
    03/09/2012 @ 12:06 pm

    I’m totally in agreement as well. Firstly, we were crap on saturday but i hate it when fans boo there own team. I know fans have paid top prices to attend and are entitled to boo if they wish but what does it achieve. Booing won’t bring redknapp back, it won’t get parker and kaboul of the treatment table and it won’t reopen the transfer window to give us another shot at signing moutinho. It seems too many fans now expect us turn sides like wba and norwich over regardless of how we play. Many seem to of forgotten that we barely beat wba and lost to norwich at home last season. Three games in and i’ve already heard fans saying AVB will be gone by ovtober. Talk about giving the redknapp fans/avb haters in the press the exact ammo they need. I’ve already got my days off booked for carlisle and the europa league games so i’m far from giving up. COYS

  13. Yorkspur
    03/09/2012 @ 12:10 pm

    Totally agree. It was a frustrating game but what exactly will booing achieve? it was hardly a minority of fans either, it was deafening. The number of fans walking out before the end, some of who left the moment Norwich scored – it was 1-1! If we were 3-0 down i would understand.
    Bale however was getting a bit irritating. He just wont stay on the left, leaving it either exposed or someone else having to cover and put themselves out of position. His booking as well, arguing for about a full minute while Norwich had the ball – it may well have been a corner, but he just made himself look impetuous and foolish. Maybe a spell at left back would be of benefit to him, starting his runs from deeper, and he could hardly wander of from there

  14. ollie
    03/09/2012 @ 12:20 pm

    Im 19 and had season ticket for 8 years and never once have i booed, i think its disgraceful, the only way to make someone work harder is to motivate, if you now anything about motivation. Are you motivated in your job if someone tells you your shit no your not, so lets sing come on you spurs to motivate them that shows your not happy and you want better. i support AVB as it will take time to build this team with new players and new tactics, ferguson had a bad first season at united.

    To be critical of a performance that i felt was poor was livermore, now he is a good squad player but he needs to start being more direct instead of passing back or sideways and he needs to get better at tackling because he gives away fouls in dangerous areas, which we struggle with, reminds me of Didier Zokora. one problem i had with AVB was that he takes sandro off who is the best defensive midfielder we got because of his skill, directness, excellent tackling ability. Tom Huddelstone is not the answer either as although i like his great passing and shooting ability, he does not have the mobility to play in midfield because he is slow.

    Now to the next game we will have dempsey who will be a good player and a full game for dembele, i would also like to see caulker pair vertonghen. we are not far off as newcastle game i thought we were the better team and the same against WBA until last 15. in january we need two players and they are moutinho and damaio/llorente. i think m’villa will not be needed as parker will be back soon as AVB said he will start training after international break. i would pull all are internationals out and get them to train for two weeks, so they can build and gel together but this wont happen. i think the moutinho deal is done for january.

    Im happy with levy as i don’t want the club to make losses and pay ridiculous fees, not to mention the new stadium being built. i just hate people who think signing and selling players are easy, they say just pay the fee and give him the money. no it does not work like that there are many thing to agree such as bonuses, length of contract, wages, clauses, who gets money from sale, signing fees and much more.

  15. Rastayid
    03/09/2012 @ 12:26 pm

    I’ve been to both home games this season and have been disappointed in our performances. But it really F****s me off with all these plastic supporters start mouthing off about how things are, some were starting before the whistle even went for kick off. Over the last three seasons we have lost at home to the likes of Norwich Wigan and Wolves and we’ve still done ok so shut your F****ing mouths and get behind the team we’re three games in FFS. I agree that some of the players ain’t looking up to scratch and AVB has made silly decisions defending 1-0 leads but at the end of the day we need to support our team not get on their backs already. Chelsea are the sort of mugs who want it all now now now because they’ve paid for success, we want our team to earn it and as much as it pains me to say it we should look at west hams supporters, they were still there behind their team when they were relegated, I wonder how many of you mouthy plastic C**ts would be there next season if we went down. TTID not just when its good.

  16. Rastayid
    03/09/2012 @ 12:28 pm

    Good article by the way.

  17. Dave G
    03/09/2012 @ 1:29 pm

    This is the first time I ever written anything, but I fet compelled,as there’s so many different views on what’s going wrong and why.
    Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and from what I’m reading, it’s because those of us who are season ticket holders and go to EVERY home game and those that follow us home and away understand more about the problems
    and are less tolerent than those who can only manage the odd game or only comment from what they see on Sky or listen to on the radio and what they hear on talksport.(or should I say talks**t). You should NEVER boo the team during play, but at half time and full time, every paying customer is entitled to vent their feelings, just so maybe some of those overpaid prima donnas get an idea of how we feel. I’ve supported the team for over 40 years,I was gutted that we never qualified for the CL and I just can’t accept the rubbish that is happening on the pitch. Apart from playing the wrong tactics, there is no passion out there. Even my Sunday team could hold out against a Spurs side playing at 5 miles an hour passing sideways and backwards! It’s o.k. being 20 something ,clinging to the belief that AVB will turn it all around. But let me tell you now, the man is clueless, He still doesn’t know his best team and how anyone in their right mind can leave Dawson out the squad, keep Livermore on the pitch for 90 minutes, take off Dofoe and put on Huddlestone to try and shut up shop against Norwich, deserves to be hung by his bollocks. I believe Levy took a massive gamble with AVB. Despite Levy’s differences with Harry, he thought that AVB could take us to the next level. Those people that wanted Harry out, I’m sure now deeply regret what they wished for. With Harry at least you know what you get. He can motivate the players, which is half the battle and although maybe not as tactically astute as some managers, finishing 4th,5th and 4th and getting to the latter stages of cup competitions with the possibility of winning trophies was fine by me.His major achievement, was to to turn the club I love from being a laughing stock, to one that is respected all over Europe. As someone mentioned, this could be Ramos 2. If we don’t get a minimum of 12 points from our next 6 games, AVB MUST GO.

  18. Dab
    03/09/2012 @ 2:40 pm

    I have to say I am appalled by some of the comments and attitudes on here, not surprised though. Football has become an absolute joke with it’s demand for instant success. As for all you singing Redknapp’s praises by your reasoning that a certain number of games requires a certain number of points then sacking Redknapp was definitely the right thing to do. He collapsed the end of the 2010/11 season and also even more spectacularly last season! Finally we get a manager with some drive, ambition. someone who has won things, regardless of what league, and has some knowledge of the game and it’s tactics and you want him out. He wasn’t given the players he wanted but hasn’t moaned and is only 3 games into his tenure but yet you are calling for his head already. Makes me sick. Reading the comments about the team being booed made me embarrassed to be a spurs fan. We get enough grief from fans of other club and then mindless morons like the ones booing give them more ammunition. Grow up and get behind the team! COYS!!!

    • Dave G
      03/09/2012 @ 3:17 pm

      Forget the comments about booing or even about Harry. Look at the facts. In the 3 games we have played so far, we have got progressively worse. Decent enough performance against Newcastle but very average against West Brom and then poor against Norwich. All 3 games have not been played at the high tempo which gave us the success of last season. The 2 home games have been played at training ground
      pace and with the exception of Sandro and Dembele there’s not enough passion and desire out there.
      AVB might have drive and ambition but if you’ve watched the same 3 games as me, tactically aware??
      You must be joking.

  19. peter
    03/09/2012 @ 6:34 pm

    good article and good comments

    it does irritate me to see livermore being made the scapegoat..I really don`t think he played that badly in all 3 games. the problem is that he plays exactly the same game as sandro and it is not necessary for them both to play in same position

    i remember our last really successful side to win some trophies in the 80`s (when avb was still in nappies!) played without any defensive mid-fielders!!….has the game really changed that much that we now need 2? that is like playing with a goalkeeper and 6 defenders, and only 4 attacking or creative players?? (and at home to norwich)

    anyway what do i know, i am not a master tactician!

  20. SevenSisters
    03/09/2012 @ 7:23 pm

    Booing helps nothing. The sound of laughing makes you happy, the sound of crying makes you sad, booing will only only make things worse. Let’s get behind them for fuck sake.

  21. Jack Whitthread
    11/10/2012 @ 10:13 am

    Excellent Article, Some Very Good Points Made, As Well As Some Off The Comments, Keep It Up. COYS

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