Before I had time to comprehend what had just happened, the ball found itself at the feet of Roberto Soldado. Watching on a stream that thankfully hadn’t stuttered in a few minutes I was convinced this was our break through, it wasn’t. Instead we had to endure another 30 minutes of tension and David Marshall making […]
Hate for Hate Sake
Before I had time to comprehend what had just happened, the ball found itself at the feet of Roberto Soldado. Watching on a stream that thankfully hadn’t stuttered in a few minutes I was convinced this was our break through, it wasn’t. Instead we had to endure another 30 minutes of tension and David Marshall making a name for himself.
In the long run the three points that Spurs collected and the team continuing to gel are more important than any individual performance. However, as the euphoria of watching the Spurs players bundle on top of Paulinho faded, a question came up that had me pondering Spurs fans, and in this of course I include myself.
If the game had finished 0-0 how would we have reacted to Soldado’s missed chances?
Look at this question from a different angle.
Had it had been Jermain Defoe who had squandered the chances what would have been the reaction?
To take this question even further.
What if it had been Emmanuel Adebayor?
For our last home game I sat in the Paxton end. It was the first time I was back there since our 2-1 win over QPR last season where I spent 90 minutes in the most negative atmosphere I have experienced at the Lane for some time. I vowed to steer clear of the Paxton, however, due to forgetting the on-sale date for the Norwich game, I took the only ticket under £40 left online and I found myself back there.
Whilst Spurs received widespread media coverage for the chants that were emanating from the Park Lane and Shelf, the comments that were springing up around me were far more offensive. As a man who is at home swearing or wandering the virtual streets of Los Santos, bad language doesn’t offend me, but what I found interesting was the context and the direction of it.
Why do some players attract abuse and others escape it?
On Sunday had Glyfi Sigurdsson’s shot that rebounded off the bar fell to Adebayor and the Togolese striker fluffed a golden opportunity, Twitter would have been in a meltdown. The abuse would have ranged from comic to borderline racism.
Had that miss occurred at White Hart Lane, what would have been the crowd reaction? The gentleman that spent most of the Norwich game, when he was at his seat, calling Andros Townsend “greedy female genitalia” would surely have suffered an embolism.
Adebayor is a £5 million signing from Man City, Soldado £26 million from Valencia. Why does Adebayor warrant abuse but Soldado doesn’t?
[linequote]Kyle Walker, Young Player of the Year 2011/12 has to deal with an unacceptable level of abuse. If BAE attempts to dribble out of a tight corner, people shake their heads and smirk: “Typical Benny.” [/linequote]
From the moment Adebayor signed full-time at Spurs there has been a narrative around him. Towards the back end of last season when he found some form the comments and derisory remarks still lingered. You may point to the Arsenal connection but we have seen something similar happen in our full-back positions.
Benoit Assou-Ekotto is without doubt an entertaining straight talking footballer. Under Harry Redknapp he hit levels of performance that no one other than Damien Comolli thought he was capable of, yet under AVB he lost some of that form.
However, despite a catalogue of average performances and rumoured unprofessionalism, he never once had to face a fraction of the grief directed at the full-back on the opposite side.
Kyle Walker, Young Player of the Year 2011/12 has to deal with an unacceptable level of abuse. If BAE attempts to dribble out of a tight corner, people shake their heads and smirk: “Typical Benny.” Should Walker attempt the same, abuse rains down upon him. There is a clear level of tolerance within the crowd. Some players can make countless mistakes before they are attacked, others don’t have that luxury.
The former Sheffield United player has the ability to become our right-back for the next 10 years, yet we are treating him with disdain. Walker always gives 100% for the shirt and is determined to make it as a top class right back, yet still this isn’t enough.
I am not claiming this is a issue only in the Paxton end, this is a social media/SKY TV watching/home and away attending problem at Spurs.
Why abuse Walker yet honour BAE? Why allow Soldado off the hook? And why label Adebayor a mercenary but no one else?
As we have seen thanks to an FA Statement and a comedian attempting to reignite his failing career, crowd reaction is one of the few elements left in football that can’t be micro-managed. However as Spurs fans we should all be pushing in the same direction, supporting the players, the team and not treating individuals differently.
Spurs lose as a team and win as a team, it is never as clear cut as this or that players fault we lost or drew. We are not and never will be a one man team. At Tottenham we are witnessing the birth of a new team, we should take this as an opportunity to unite ourselves and build a support to match what is occurring on the field.
On Saturday Chelsea come to the Lane, the masters of division, homemade banners and hate. It’s time to start supporting every single player, regardless of history, current form or Twitter likability. Stop singling out certain individuals, stop the tutting and groaning epidemic and instead lift your voices in support.
Love the Shirt.
[author name=”ARLombardi” avatar=”https://si0.twimg.com/profile_images/378800000190788876/b1d0a1120760e39338a815ea5827d7f8.jpeg” twitter=”ARLombardi” website=”arlombardi.com” tag=”ARLombardi[/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.
33 Comments
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23/09/2013 @ 5:59 pm
…..maybe i should finish reading your article but i had to stop when you asked why adebayor gets stick from the crowd. He deserves it, that’s why. His attitude is a disgrace, his lack of interest in results frightening… he’s a greedy money grabbing (insert appropriate insult here) and lets not forget the will he wont he go to the african cup followed by his wil lhe won’t he come back… he’s a joke. He goes where the money is, he is satisfied with taking a paycheck for doing nothing. His attitude…. man… I’m delighted he is no where near the first team squad, he’s a bad egg.
23/09/2013 @ 6:03 pm
p.s. He is the single reason we DID NOT GET TOP 4. He played so many games last season, sorry, he was in the team but didnt play, he just hogged a jersey and while the rest of them were busting guts he was flopping about, daydreaming about who knows what… He walked out on the goons, he flopped at city, real wouldnt take him after his loan spell, city didnt want him back… does that tell you something about his attitude? if i were levy id pay him off and dump him. he expired 2 years ago… pps… he deserves a bit of stick
24/09/2013 @ 9:08 am
Can you really blame our failure to finish top 4 solely on one player? Was he playing in goal or defense for the bad goals we conceded? I’m not defending his performances but saying our failings last season were all his fault is a bit naff.
24/09/2013 @ 12:42 pm
had he played to his abilities like he did when he was whoring for a contract the season before we would 100% be in the champs league this year. so yes, it is totally his fault…and Levys for buying him
23/09/2013 @ 6:04 pm
What a complete load of rubbish. Obviously having to choose you seat shows you’re nothing more than a part time fan. Abuse is either built up or comes for a reason for which this can all be expected of the players you mention. soldado is a world class player who obviously shows why he’s a spurs player and will be a hero.
So what if walker was voted PFA young player of the year. As someone who goes home and away (do you know whT tht means) he’s awful, a complete liability, nothing but pace to support him. You could write your article for any team and support in the country but then you’d need to go to more than a couple of games a year.
23/09/2013 @ 6:20 pm
Bit harsh. As someone who works shifts and has numerous financial commitments, I too don’t get to every match. But I go to the ones I can ;this doesn’t make me less of a supporter of the mighty Spurs than you. I do reserve the right to moan if someone is having a poor game, but equally we should all be shouting our loudest to get behind whichever 11 men are on the pitch wearing our shirt.
23/09/2013 @ 6:23 pm
what is your definition of a part time fan by the way?
23/09/2013 @ 6:08 pm
finished reading your propaganda… yes, it’s about the team, that’s what the issue is, adebayor doesn’t give a monkeys about The Team, The Fans or the results… he’s a disgrace to the Shirt and I hope never to see him in it again
23/09/2013 @ 6:12 pm
Never a truer word said if Defoe had gone five games and only scored 2 penalty’s firstly he would been dropped after 3 games secondly he nearly scored against Arsenal and he was on for less 20 mins I no Ady Defe Lennon are pretending to be injured just like Bale did. The reasons Lennon for is best mate leaving Huddlestone and Spurs buying Lamela and Ady over last seasons African fiasco where he called AVB a lier for saying he could go in public and behind the scenes saying he cant . The one i really feel for is Defoe if you score four and still end up a sub then when do you get your chance i no Defoe would have scores at least one of those 29 chances we created and even Ady. The pair of them suffered from Bale taking one of there places meaning one or the other was left benched going stale and without Huddlestone play making passes only Bale scored. When Huddlestone came back all our strikers fired goals and we never lost a game our defense failed us with 2-2 draws Wigan Chelsea. What i want is AVB to say to all three get fit and join our great start because we can keep relying on Kanes inexperience or last min Goals.
23/09/2013 @ 9:12 pm
Defoe is a victim of his natural talent to score goals. Managers have relied on it in the past and not developed the rest of his game; So if he doesn’t score he does nothing? His movement and awareness under AVB has improved. Saldardo does more than it seems. The goal against Cardiff he moved in with lemela and then slowed down to hold off other players, creating space. Not that Lamela needed it, but it was done none the less. Just one small example of how Saldado’s brain works when he’s on the pitch. He’ll start scoring soon, and be worth ever penny spent. His one touch football is real solid, there’s nothing flukey about any of it. We’re looking good!!
23/09/2013 @ 6:14 pm
Soldado was excellent. His movement is brilliant; he works the space well; he brings players into play; he ties up the centre halves. This boy is the real deal. Defoe does nothing other than score goals and run offside much as I love him. Soldado did superbly for the chance that Eriksen almost followed in; his first time shot off the crossbar was saved luckily by a goalkeeper having one of those days; the ‘offside’ effort shows how well he works the line and how intelligent he is. I am not knocking Soldado because he is bringing so much to the team and will go on a run of goals very soon. Top, top player. Not sure everyone realises just how good he is.
23/09/2013 @ 9:28 pm
Mark, I should have read your comments before replying above. Saldardo looks to have a football brain few can rival. And he’s in front of goal. Slight change of subject, but… Team spirt looking good!
24/09/2013 @ 5:43 pm
Leslie – great minds think alike. Agree totally. Also I think the players love AVB – he has learnt from his spell at Chelsea, but frankly what chance do you have with the characters they have?
23/09/2013 @ 6:18 pm
Sad to say I am in agreement with the ranting loser above, in as much as I think Adebayor has done little to encourage any degree or patience which makes his situation very different to Soldado, i cant accept the dogs abuse for Walker, a young promising player who clearly works his socks off and wants to do well for the shirt.
You know you are with a nobhead when they start using the ‘better fan than you card’ because they have been to more games.
23/09/2013 @ 6:27 pm
Wouldn’t quite say he fluffed it. Besides, wasn’t he in an offside position?
I do agree though, fans always go on about managers picking the starting 11 based on ego over performances, yet continually attack the same players despite their performances.
On the topic of Walker, if you would bother to read up on how a 4-2-3-1 / 4-3-3 system operates, you would see just how little he actually is “out of position” or any of the other nonsense he’s often struck with. He’s a good player with excellent pace and ball control and has improved tenfold since his defensive performances got better. People rave about his lack of a footballing brain, yet forgive Townsend (or just stick their tongues in their cheeks) when he squanders another build up phase with an erratic attempt. I don’t give two shits if you go to every game, home or away. That doesn’t prove, in the slightest, that you know anything about football other than how to drive to a stadium.
23/09/2013 @ 6:33 pm
for those justifying abusing our own players please sell your season ticket, give your seat to someone else, stop polluting the lane with your nonsense. For the 90 minutes the players are on the pitch you should concentrate on SUPPORTING the side and the players in it. No one in that team does anything shit on purpose.If you think they’ve played badly then by all means boo at the end of the half/match if you really have to.
If a player misses a shot then what do you think will help THE TEAM? Getting on his back so his confidence drops further, or singing his name so he knows we’re still behind him and trust him to come good?
If the moaners spent half as much energy at games singing pro-spurs songs, or even booing opposition players, we would have a stunning and intimidating home atmosphere at every game. Which, by the way, would make all our match day experiences (which we pay a pretty penny for) so much more enjoyable.
23/09/2013 @ 6:38 pm
Good article! Couldn’t agree more. Reading many of the Spurs blogs and websites, the level of criticism meted out to some of the players is astonishing and highly unwarranted, especially young players, like Townsend, Rose, Walker.
Many of these same, so called, ‘fans’ bleat hysterically about “home grown players” and bemoan the fact we never produce any and then when we finally have some young homegrown players of genuine quality and potential, they lack the decency, good manners and common intelligence to allow them the time to develop without showering them with brickbats and opprobrium!
The current criticism of Townsend, in particular, is truly astonishing. Here is a kid with a great attitude, aggressive, highly focused and determined, with the self-confidence to try and make things happen. Yes, right now, he is trying to assume the mantle of Gareth Bale a little too much on his own, but I would far rather have a player like that, than a shrinking violet who just passes the buck every time they have possession.
This kid has a real chance to be a top player and the idiots who are piling on him with the OTT criticism should just fuck off. Given time to develop and to analyse and refine his own play with good coaching and to improve his judgment in certain game situations, his decision making will improve and with determined practice so will the accuracy and potency of his shooting! I actually thought he showed better judgement and played better against Cardiff than against Norwich and I was glad AVB started him over Lamela.
However, the “duel” between Townsend and Lamela, is a prime illustration of your point. Lamela, has already been annointed as the ‘chosen one’ and is someone who can do no wrong in the eyes of many fans, and yet his Spurs career has actually started quite slowly and in my opinion, he has not yet warranted a start in the EPL over Townsend. Evidently AVB feels the same way and that also sends out a good message to our homegrown players that just because he (Lamela) cost a club record fee he is not going to just be handed a starting position at the expense of Townsend, but is going to have to earn it.
I have never understood and have no time for so-called supporters who go to matches and shower criticism and abuse on our own players.
God knows having watched numerous games in the 60’s and 70’s and having suffered through viewing absolute dross like, Willie Young, Laurie Brown, John Pratt, Mark Kendall, and many others of exceptionally limited talent, I know it’s tempting, but in the old days, good old Cockney humour was used to vent the frustration rather than some of the vile abuse that one witnesses nowadays. The vile abuse was saved for the opposition!!
In summary, support the shirt and if the guy is giving his best, i.e. giving 100%, like Walker, Townsend and Rose, then that is all you can and should ask for as a supporter.
23/09/2013 @ 6:47 pm
I agree with virtually all of what you said. I don’t particularly care all that much for Townsend. In fact I’d say Townsend was our worst attacking player against Cardiff (although it sings credit to him and the rest, since he still wasn’t bad).
I don’t have the exact stats stored, but I’m pretty certain Lamela has more assists? Obviously it’s too early to compare the two and good squad rotation will hopefully allow both to prosper.
24/09/2013 @ 9:10 pm
I love Andros because he gets at people and I have been watching him since he was a kid, but he’s not got that much quality. Away from home when it’s about keeping the ball, he won’t feature much and in time I fear he will get over looked and behind Lennon, Lamela and Chadli. He’ll always give 100% and is a great addition to the squad, but I think he will go the same way as Caulker. It does demonstrate that we are now producing good players through our Academy and the £8.5m for Caulker shows that it’s not just about bringing them into the first team if someone is prepared to pay serious money for them. Livermore, Caulker, Townsend, Kane, Carroll, Mason, Pritchard, Smith, Archer, Obika will all have decent careers and make us money and have come through at roughly the same time.
23/09/2013 @ 6:44 pm
Much agreed Lombardi, great article. The comment above exemplifies the type of ignorance that makes supporters act like idiots. ‘Im only going to look at half the story, but comment vitriolicly anyway.’ Slagging off our own team is not supportive. If you slate your own players at the lane, where they and other fans can hear you, I don’t think you can call yourself a supporter at all.
23/09/2013 @ 7:44 pm
Agreed. True fans love the club and the enjoyment of being part of that. Booing players directly offers nothing.
23/09/2013 @ 6:56 pm
Adebawhore has had enough patience from me, sick of hearing his name. I agree with the support though it needs to be all round support to the benifit of the TEAM!! This to the number 1 spurs fan, there is no one more loyal than you peter. Loyal being the wrong word though as u must be one of the runts that abuse our own players. As u go to every single game u must have been jumping and fist pumping, screaming and just all roind going mental when young kyle walker buried an absolute belter against the scum???we won that game peter. Try supporting the lad u massive end of bell. What about rose shall we launch him too or shall we support? Something you claim to do but spend alot not supporting. We only hold 36 000 due to prem rules on seating if we could stand you could prob double that figure. There is a huge amount of spurs SUPPORTERS that cant get in. So mr number 1 die hard fan do u no what you really are? A crabsneck! Yup a crabsneck! A crabsneck I hear you say but a crab has no neck! That is true so that makes you irrelevant!
23/09/2013 @ 7:19 pm
Dont agree with the whole article BUT quite simply you are 100% correct that we should support and back every single Tottenham player. He is selected, he has the shirt on and we should be behind them ALL !!
23/09/2013 @ 7:40 pm
If you are shi* in bed does it help if your wife boos you?!
I’ve been a Spurs fan since I was 9 years old (30 years). When I was a younger my Dad had season tickets for us all. Since then I’ve been able to go a few times per season and now thanks to the internet rarely miss a game. As fans we can see when a player does not really show the passion we ask. Others that do are sometimes loved more for that than their contribution on the pitch. For me, I have a deep routed loved for the club. It goes beyond players and managers. In any other situation (and for people who don’t love sport) it doesnt make any sense to love or have an obsession for an inanimate object in such a way. This is what it is to be a fan of your football club.
It is fair to have frustrations about mistakes or continued shortcomings – failure to score from corners for example – but I find absolutely no justification for continued barracking or negative speak over individual players who consistently show their commitment and desire. I despise so called fans who think this adds anything to the result on the pitch or their enjoyment of the game (or return on their £ investment).
The two names you focus on a prime examples upon which to focus. Adebyour whatever his fitness or problems last season failed to show enough desire either on the pitch or through some level of comment to the fans. He must have known his performances did not look good. If it was the way the team was playing that didnt suit him I believe something more could have been done to let us the fans know this and not let us think he didnt give a toss. My conclusion on this subject is the club should have known what they were getting into with this man and he has remained true to form. Clive Allen on TalkSport said he was a challenging player to work with. Despite all of that does booing him during a game give him confidence to score? If you are shi* in bed does it help if your wife boos?!
On to Kyle Walker. An England player, Young Player of the Year and as far as I can make out a great player in development. If all those that choose to boo him rather that support him in his development know better than the Spurs and England hierarchy then I suggest they take their coaching badges and become football managers. I dont expect perfection from Spurs players. I expect talent, commitment and a heart for the club. Kyle Walker shows this and deserves more respect as a Spurs player from the fans.
I dont go to a game for a good old moan and a winge. I go with blind optimism that we will win and it will be an awesome match. If we lose I am gutted for the rest of the weekend. But the optimism remains and I never boo a player or my team during a game. Save it for half time, the final whistle and the chit chat in the pub after if you have to. Get behind your team and love the mighty Lilley Whites. Come on you Spurs!
23/09/2013 @ 8:00 pm
“Why allow Soldado off the hook? And why label Adebayor a mercenary but no one else?”
this question is a bit silly.
Soldado is a new player and his performances are good.I’m sure Adebayor was not treated with derision when he was new at Spurs. If Soldado had gone a whole season and managed just 5 goals, then it would be different. Do you see fans cursing Adebayor before a game?
More importantly, its the attitude. Soldado has class. Adebayor cant score and he’s got bad attitude.
23/09/2013 @ 8:34 pm
Kind of agree with the sentiment.
Personally I don’t get how people give Ade so much stick and more to the point why it helps.
However some people get songs sung some don’t – some get a song on reputation rather than performance.
If I were to take on the Soldado over Defoe argument I’d say this, how many times has Defoe missed the chance or penalty to lose us points (he has scored 4 of his last 10 penalties)? Soldado may not have scored but is helping us win, and whilst Jermaine rolls out the ‘getting the result is the important thing not my goals’ I really do care more about winning than who plays or scores
23/09/2013 @ 8:49 pm
Good article. Been going to Spurs over 35 years now and it has always been the same. Its the one thing that really hacks me off. Yes i cant stand Adebayor because of his poor attitude, but I would not abuse him while he has the Spurs shirt on. I cannot understand the abuse of Walker or rose, both good players who will serve us well, but when they make one small mistake or even a few in Walkers case people are on thier backs. I even remember a certain Mr Bale also getting a load of stick. I do not think anything motivates opposition teams more than home fans giving thier own players stick. Funnily, though it has actually got better over the last 15 years or so! Fans do get aggrieved and nothing is worse than a highly paid player not even bothering to put in a shift, indeed some believe for the money they earn a bit of stick is part of life. For me our players get enough abuse at away grounds, so we do not need to single out players for further abuse. Believe me I have heavily criticised players, but to mates at the pub or even in a balanced blog, but not when they wear the shirt. COYS
23/09/2013 @ 9:42 pm
Fucking hell were top of the league and u dickheads are arguing with each other surprise surprise through a CPU coz doubt u would in a pub near the lane! Of course we should stick together now and not give players stick but with adebayor if he played to his max last season(chelsea game) we would of walked top 4 so no one to blame but himself coz when he’s at it he’s pretty unplayable, as for walker he’s got everything to be a top right back over than intelligence and a lot of that blame should go to the coaches for not reigning him in a bit and getting him to concentrate on being a right back coz he’s attacking qualities are already good. Lamela does need to start getting games under his belt coz he’s some player was class last season for roma and we young players like townsend will always have ups and downs we can’t run him into the ground so his form goes bad then confidence so we’ll see rotation coming up, embrace it though brothers its all good coys!
23/09/2013 @ 10:33 pm
Even with injuries we have the depth of squad now, if key players get enough time on the pitch, to do Cheatski in good and proper next weekend. Strategy and tactics must focus on their weak points. GoYS!
23/09/2013 @ 11:22 pm
Some one asked the question,who can be discribed as a part time fan.Well I am certainly in that category,as an xpat who has been living in nz for many/many years now.But in my time I followed Tottenham,all over the uk,as a young lad,and Europe as well.So I suppose it’s who one considers a fan.When one gets too the uk,White Hart lane is normally our first destination(after family).And regardless of where one lives in the world.Genuine supporters of teams,will still follow their team,as fanatically as any home based fan.As my wife,can well inform you.
24/09/2013 @ 12:01 am
Well said. The hate for Walker and Adebayor is as over the top and unnecessary as it is misdirected and wrong
24/09/2013 @ 12:51 pm
the walker bashing is wrong because regardless of the odd mistake he always gives his all… adebayor however was lazy, useless and cared nothing for the club or fans last season – evident in his consistently poor performances and blase attitude. that is why he gets booed. Stop trying to defend him people, don’t you realise he is the Ultimate Mercenary? African Cup of nations… not signing the deal to join spurs until after pre-season…. not caring about his team mates etc etc et fcuking cetera…. google him, compare his first season to last season…. but you ALL obviously disagree with AVB’s decision to demote him to the development squad… I guess that means you are not supporting AVB… you all think he is wrong? cop on.. adebayor is rotting where he deserves to rot.
24/09/2013 @ 4:23 pm
The next one to suffer the abuse will be Dembele i think , we slate players that aren’t loyal to the club but on the other hand we as fans aren’t loyal to players when they under perform (in our eyes). Walker is very good and has his flaws, but is all the hate necessary. Do we want Hutton back ? Or Chimbonda or …
Part time fan, always nice to see that kind of remarks from a fellow fan to another. The need to feel better then your fellow man and as such claim that your opinion is more valid than somebody else’s is something i dont understand (unless you are a gooner and as such show that you know nothing about football and you’r opinions on the subject should always be disregarded)