Supporting the team!

[stemark44]

One of the main things that has troubled me recently is the poor support from our home fans and the booing of the team when things don’t go well(our away supporters are magnificent!). Its something that I hate to hear at the Lane and I really think it stifles the progress of the team.I believe that creating negative associations in our players minds will have an adverse effect on the success of the team in the future.

I was watching a program on TV a few nights ago about football and one of the topics that came up was -

Why are football teams generally more successful playing at home?
The game is still 11 v 11 and the football pitch is usually about the same size, as is the ball!

They discussed the fact that players were more comfortable in their home environment; they felt better because they had more support from the fans, they were more content, more confident and they had many more positive memories and images of their home ground. These positive feelings and images helped them to be successful in their own stadium.
Away from home things change, less support from their own fans and lots more negative feelings from the opponent’s fans, unfamiliar surroundings and if the team had played badly there on a number of occasions, these past experiences created very negative memories and images. If players were unable to forget these negative images then it would create a cycle of failure that would be hard to break.

It would be really terrible if our young players had negative memories of our ground because of the actions of some of our fans. This will impact on their development and stop them from expressing themselves as skilful footballers on the pitch both to the detriment of the team and us, as fans.
What are your thoughts?

 

[rez9000]

An excellent point, soundly argued.

I don't like the booing. To hear it at the 125th was absolutely awful. But I do understand (but don't condone) why some fans do it. We were riding on a wave of expectation at the beginning of the season. Not all of us of course, but a fair few. And I'm sure that there may have been times when we gave it large to opposition fans about how we were going to break the Top 4 etc, etc.

So when we find ourselves in the bottom quarter of the table, it humiliates us and some fans give vent, then mob mentality does the rest.

Also, the difficulties the club is going through can give rise to overt negativity, which does nothing to help the situation. Once the negative voices start to shout, it can demoralise the fanbase, making them less likely to cheer the players on, who then find it harder to up their game (although not recently), preventing us from improving, etc, etc.

I think it's important that we keep the support as vocal and positive as possible. Make sure our players know that, no matter what happens, we'll be Spurs forever.

 

[DC_Boy]

I've been going to Spurs since the early 60s and there's always been a significant amount of moaners/whingers at our ground during that time - it really got bad during the Francis era and I missed quite a few games that I would have otherwise gone to because I couldn't stand the appalling treatment some of our players, particularly Armstrong received.

Things picked up a bit during the Hod era, and in Jol's time too for a long period.

but the booing against Everton marked a real turn down, and the undeserved vitriol that players like JJ Lee Salty TG and now Bent have got from some fans over the past 2 years again is a real barrier to me going because I know how upset such comments make me.

I've only been to one prem game this season, the 4-0 Derby game, that was a really great day with positive support and sunshine football but had we lost mmmmmm

 

[Equilibrium]

Our home support has been pretty weak all season to be fair.

 

[PT]

I have only managed the Villa game this season and there is definitely a sense of an undercurrent of impatience at WHL. Different from last season definitely and i'm pleased I don't have a season ticket and have to sit weekly alongside some of the saddos who give it large when it's going wrong on the park. They all know each other and spark each other off - it's like a muppet show.

 

[stemark44]

I've been going to Spurs since the early 60s and there's always been a significant amount of moaners/whingers at our ground during that time - it really got bad during the Francis era and I missed quite a few games that I would have otherwise gone to because I couldn't stand the appalling treatment some of our players, particularly Armstrong received.

Things picked up a bit during the Hod era, and in Jol's time too for a long period.

but the booing against Everton marked a real turn down, and the undeserved vitriol that players like JJ Lee Salty TG and now Bent have got from some fans over the past 2 years again is a real barrier to me going because I know how upset such comments make me.

I've only been to one prem game this season, the 4-0 Derby game, that was a really great day with positive support and sunshine football but had we lost mmmmmm

How does Jermain Jenas or any of these guys sign extensions to their contracts with the amount of abuse they get at the stadium and on these type of forums!

 

[stemark44]

I have only managed the Villa game this season and there is definitely a sense of an undercurrent of impatience at WHL. Different from last season definitely and i'm pleased I don't have a season ticket and have to sit weekly alongside some of the saddos who give it large when it's going wrong on the park. They all know each other and spark each other off - it's like a muppet show.[/quote]

Like the majority of fans I want the very best for the club,the best team,best manager,best Chairman,best Board,the best stadium and especially the best fans in the world who support the club through thick and thin.
If our fans can turn fellow supporters away from going to a game,how bad does it effect our players and how bad does it effect plans to buy new players,who may be unwilling to come and play for us because of the actions of these saddos.

 

[Glenn_Purvey]

I am sitting on the fence with this one,

i think its up to the fans to show their frustration at the way the team is playing what do you want us to do start cheering when we have just conceded a 4th goal at home against Villa in the 55 minute.

i do agree though booing should not be allowed shout at them, swear at them if you want but i hate booing..

 

[PT]

Glenn if I remember rightly there was gallows humour about the time the 4th went in.

Villa started singing "Happy Birthday to You" and WHL applauded the joke as one. Marvelous to be witness to and be involved with. If it wasn't for that spontaneous laff, the lads would have been walking off to spitting blood from the terraces.

 

[DC_Boy]

How does Jermain Jenas or any of these guys sign extensions to their contracts with the amount of abuse they get at the stadium and on these type of forums!

Fair point Stemark - I guess the money might help

Doubtless some of the JJ haters would claim cos no-one else would want him, which of course is blatantly untrue.

 

[DC_Boy]

I am sitting on the fence with this one,

i think its up to the fans to show their frustration at the way the team is playing what do you want us to do start cheering when we have just conceded a 4th goal at home against Villa in the 55 minute.

i do agree though booing should not be allowed shout at them, swear at them if you want but i hate booing..

Glenn, I have no problem with people being ***d off when the team goes 1-4 down at home, but from some/many people the abuse/negatvity (especially towards certain players) sometimes starts before the game begins, and has been known to continue throughout the game, whether the player 'deserves' it or not.

I remember Armstrong's name being booed when the team sheets were read out - what sort of support is that?

 

[Randall Flagg]

Good thread. As far as the booing is concerned, some people really do need their heads examining.

Get behind the team people!

 

[matty182]

Been looking through some old threads and thought i'd bump this, even if one more person sings their heart out tomorrow night and it makes the smallest difference then i'll be happy!!

Also reading through it makes me feel real positive about the team we have at the moment..COYS!!

 

[Riandor]

Nice one Matty!

Would be great to hear the ol faithful singing their hearts out at tomorrows game, this gamen in hand is a must must win if we have real hopes of staying with the Manchester brigade.

Time to be the 12th man people, we can help win the league for Tottenham too!!!

R.

 

[cwhite02]

Was reading the thread and wondering why there was so much talk about old games and then realised it had been bumped!

Maybe the support hasnt reached the levels of previous seasons but I sit in the Park Lane and it doesnt seem to have been too bad to me. Maybe they've moved the mic's so you boys at home can't hear it as well

Maybe one reason is that a lot of the games have been tight, especially the last two. You could feel how important one goal was in the last game and seemed to be celebrated like it was a winner against the scum. I know I was almost flying down the steps next to I sit in celebration.

Hope tomorrow's game goes a little easier and were a couple up before half time. I doubt it and would take a one nil right now.

COYS

 

[montylynch]

Be interesting to see what the team was for games around that time.

That'll probably explain why we were booing !!

 

[class of 62]

Nice one Matty!

Would be great to hear the ol faithful singing their hearts out at tomorrows game, this gamen in hand is a must must win if we have real hopes of staying with the Manchester brigade.

Time to be the 12th man people, we can help win the league for Tottenham too!!!

R.

i doubt it.. the people who used to frequent the more vocal areas of the ground have long since been moved on by people wanting to get into the more vocal areas of the ground to where its supposed to happen who havn't got a clue, you now get the endless "stand up if you hate arsenal crap". & basicallythe people in possession havn't risen to thier predeccessors heights.
can you remember the last time a proper new song was sung & caught on.
the third reich stewarding & threats via "headcam"etc etc towards fans doesn't help either.

only do awaydays now after 45 years of going to the lane.

only my honest opinion.. clientele who go to football have changed drastically in the last few years some say for good but old gits like me disagree.
we've hung on longer to a vocal crowd than most tbh!..

 

[Tryph]

For starters, the atmosphere took a downturn when the drummer stopped turning up (or at least his drum stopped turning up). I am not sure but I heard a rumour that the club refused to subsidise his ticket. If true, that is a shame.

But the atmosphere has not been the same since Jol. Then it was a party every week. I don't know if it was the kamikaze 4-3 scorelines but it was an absolute blast. The Sevilla game I will never forget. We were singing throughout half time. That atmosphere even outdone the Inter game last season.

But it's the same across football. It could be a lot worse. have you heard the atmospheres (or lack of) at the Emirates the Bridge or OT?

 

[Winchy85]

I remember Armstrong's name being booed when the team sheets were read out - what sort of support is that?

Similar in recent years with Ghaly, a little for Jenas and Gomes and large sections for Bentley.

That does piss me off.

I understand the booing at the end of matches if they have been fucking useless, especially when you have paid £70 a ticket + all the extras, you have the right to vent your frustrations, but booing a squad player who has been selected for the game before the game? Fuck off!

 

[Luka Van der Bale]

Will never forget on one of my (few) visits to the Lane a couple of years ago, at home to West Ham in 2008-09, when the teams came up on the TV on the wall. When it came up that Bale was on the bench, the fat bloke behind me went, 'oh for fuck sake, get rid, he's shit!' Some people just don't have a clue. This isn't as relevant now I've written it down as it seemed in my head. Oh well. :lol: