If you want a different Tottenham, go and get it

Sunday afternoon was a depressing time to be a Spurs fan. If ever there was a game of two halves it was the Newcastle game. Quietly impressed with our first half showing, I sat and watched the tribute to the one man who does not seem to split opinion at Tottenham Hotspur, Bill Nicholson. My heart swelled with pride as I listened some of the greats of our club reminisce about the great man. I was ready for a second half of glory glory football; instead, I experienced a terrible showing from the men in white on the pitch and just as bad a performance from the men and women in white off it.

The early second half goal had a naturally crippling effect on the atmosphere around the ground. However, it did not improve, nor was it even given a chance to improve as people (around me, anyway) continued to watch, tut, shake their head or just plain scream at any player that came near enough to be heard.

The minutes applause on the 61st/62nd minute in honour of Bill Nic’s wonderful double winning triumph was not greatly observed. There was even fighting between fellow fans in the Park Lane end. All of which was finished off with a chorus of booing. Plenty of people even stayed behind to boo even more once the players had left the pitch!

[linequote]the voices of discontented are certainly much louder and expletive ridden than the ones still on the fence[/linequote]

Since the final whistle, social media has been awash with hashtags ending in OUT. Levy, ENIC, Baldini and incredibly, Poch were all lambasted for one reason or another. It seemed as if people had really had enough this time: phrases such as ‘it’s time for him to go’, ‘player X has got to play’, ‘he has to start to pull his finger out‘ and my personal favourite, ‘Tottenham Hotspur, what is the point anymore?‘ were thrown around like ticker tape at the Super Classico in Buenos Aries.

I found myself in numerous discussions with people debating what should be done and who was to blame and it quickly became clear that opinion is split when it comes to the way the club is run. Whether it’s the way they go about flogging us tickets and merchandise, our transfer policy or the fabled new stadium. However, the voices of the discontented are certainly much louder and expletive ridden than the ones still on the fence.

It wasn’t just on social media either. Almost everyone I spoke to before, during and after the game seemed to be at the end of their rope with Levy and ENIC or convinced that patience was the key and that things would soon turn around. My own personal opinion on these matters is not relevant in the context of this article, but what I feel is relevant is: what happens next from the people who really have had enough? What now?

Are you really at the point where things at the top of the tree have to change, and change as soon as possible? Are you willing to sit back and continue to be served up commercial turds through the letterbox such as Stubhub?

This list of questions could get long, but if the answer to the majority of them is a resounding ‘Yes’ than there HAS to be a willingness on your part to take action.

Screaming and shouting in the stadium or in the pub, blogging, tweeting, and arguing with your fellow fan will change absolutely nothing. Taking physical action is the only way you and your anger, pain or just downright depression over the way your club is being run can be seen in a serious light by those who would need to see and hear it.

[fullquote]more and more people becoming disillusioned with ENIC but not actually doing anything about it will result in a continued decline in atmosphere[/fullquote]

If people are willing to pay for a ticket to fill WHL with negativity on a match day because they genuinely feel their club is being taken to the depths or set up social media accounts demanding ‘ENIC out’ then YOU have an obligation to get up and do something to really facilitate change.

The consequences of more and more people becoming disillusioned with ENIC but not actually doing anything about it will result in a continued decline in atmosphere and enjoyment at White Hart Lane, no matter what stand you sit in.

1882 is a fantastic example of my point. The movement sometimes draws criticism from others for being ‘manufactured support’ or as a vehicle to promote the The Fighting Cock website, etc. Of course, people are entitled to their opinion. You don’t have to sit with 1882 sympathisers when those games come along. You don’t even have to like what the movement stands for. Essentially, though, you can not critiscise the effort, hard work and dedication by those who created it.

This group of fans saw an issue with the way way there were experiencing a match day within the stadium. So what did they do? They stood up, reached out to other like-minded fans, and actually took action to try and improve an element of Tottenham Hotspur that, in their opinion, was suffering.

There is no reason why fans that disillusioned with ENIC and Daniel Levy can not do the same thing and take action. In fact, if this is the case then it is your duty as fan to do so. You have options.

Get involved with THST, march, protest, boycott home games – anything – but there has to be a collective willingness from similar minded people to take physical action and not just criticise from afar.

[linequote]Fans taking a genuine stand against anything in this modern day version of the beautiful game is a glorious and precious act[/linequote]

Fans taking a genuine stand against anything in this modern day version of the beautiful game is a glorious and precious act. Groups of what otherwise would be strangers coming together to try and protect something that they hold so dear can only ever be a good thing when it comes to football.

Whether or not you agree with the catalyst is almost irrelevant; you have to respect and listen to a collective that, in this day and age, are willing to dedicate their time back up their argument and change a football club, in their opinion, for the better.

Having fans that are active and willing to make sure their voices are heard over such matters is fantastic and you will not find me criticising anyone who stands up for their love of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club!