Vital Spurs Debate Section

Tottenham: Accepting, ‘No Guarantees’.

|

I started to write a two-sentence comment but it grew. Sorry!

It seems to me that when Spurs drop a point (or three) some supporters forget everything that went before, take it very personally, and spit venom all over the club. I use the term ‘supporters’ very loosely as this kind of attitude is as far away from being a supporter as you can get (there is a definition of ‘supporter’ in the dictionary). Why do some supporters take it personally? What makes them think a club exists purely for THEIR personal gratification …. which is far removed from reality?

We lose a game and some supporters get angry. We fail to win a trophy and some supporters get angry. The club fails to do what THEY want in the TW and some supporters get angry. Both disappointment and satisfaction sit on a supporters shoulder. Disappointment is a huge part of being a football supporter and we all express it …. but where the hell does all the anger and venom come from. Where did some supporters get the attitude that one set-back is the end of the world as they know it? How the hell have they managed to survive the rest of their lives? Why aren’t they total basket-cases? Fortunately, most supporters are more realistic.

What do these supporters fail to understand about the fact that Football is an entertainment WITH NO GUARANTEES! Most supporters who understand the game deal with any failures and triumphs as they happen because the game is an ongoing parade of failures and triumphs. Why then do some supporters have the attitude that the game should only be a series of triumphs? Or even one triumph! Where is the logic in that?

Many clubs in the English leagues have no idea what a triumph or trophy looks like. They have a trophy cabinet devoid of trophies. But their supporters enjoy supporting their team week after week because of the entertainment value and because every point their teams gains is its own little triumph, and they have hope that something even more special is on the horizon. And supporters survive on hope!

The past three PL seasons have seen Leicester, Chelsea and City win the title, one time each. But across those three seasons Tottenham have been the most consistent club, played a great deal of brilliant football, and been a joy to watch. Does that mean nothing? Why would all Tottenham supporters not feel blessed by that? I want to win every game 3-0 and every trophy that’s on offer. If I was stupid I’d become very angry when we don’t.

I’ve always found it interesting that all of the so-called ‘optimists’ and supporters with ‘rose-coloured-glasses’ can accept ‘dropped points’ with just a degree of disappointment, but without the need to denigrate the club and players they are supposed to be supporting? Why is that? Is it because they lack passion or because they understand the way football works, and accept it?

Losing to Wolves was the biggest disappointment to me for a very long time. Not because we lost a game but because a fine run had taken us to a position where anything was possible. But after the disappointment came the realisation that there are still 18 games left and so anything is still possible. To me, Football is the most exciting roller-coaster ride of all …. win, lose, or draw (remember draws?).

If Tottenham does not win anything this season it will because other clubs deserved it more and were better on their day. It won’t be a personal slight or attack aimed at supporters. And it won’t be from a lack of trying or to invite anger and venom from ‘supporters’.

To be clear …. I am not talking about the normal criticism and discussions or arguments that most supporters engage in on forums such as VS (which has some awesome posters or I wouldn’t be here). I am talking about the anger, venom, and derision aimed at a club by supporters who expect, like a child, that they should have everything they want …. and if it doesn’t happen just the way they want, someone is to blame. Really? The people to blame are themselves …. for not understanding the game and for being a victim of their own unrealistic expectations.

So, here’s some fatherly advice! If, being a football supporter continually brings the emotion of anger and resulting venom into your life and you cannot deal with it, find an interest more soothing to pursue …. such as knitting! The advice is free. Gotta love football!

Share this article