The negative atmosphere at the Lane affecting the team

[Nocando]

I think it's quite sad and I hate hearing it.

I don't remember booing our own team in "the old days". We would hang our heads, get angry and go into a depression when we lost and we'd rant about it and let off steam against whichever players we thought had played badly after the game was over.

When our supporters cheer the team on and chant and sing, the players do say that it feels like having an extra man on the pitch. So perhaps jeering and booing makes them feel they're playing at a tangible psychological disadvantage. I don't think it can help.

The fact many teams will say it's important to shut the crowd up or (as I have heard about us specifically) get the fans on the backs of the players shows that this is a genuine tactic for the opposition.

It's niave to suggest it has no bearing and is usually done so by those wishing to justify their own actions. There's a common denominator here.

 

[Grey Fox]

Its a catch 22 scenario, basically people who pay money to go to the game want entertainment and if that is given or at least effort is seen to being made then fans tend to be vocal in support. In short the players/team need to give the fans something to shout about, old cliche, but true. On the other hand if players are feeling a bit under par, dure to tiredness a niggling injury or not in form then they need the fans and support to get them going.

There has always been a lot of moaners at WHL (and other grounds), but in past years there was always a sense of humour along with the swearing and gripes when things were not going well, that seems to be missing now and some of the younger fans don't seem to get that they are part of the Spurs family and also part of the solution on the pitch, i.e. the 12th man.

Unfortunately unless we get the banked Kop talked about in the new stadium it will get worse. Until then I think we need to go back to when we had the Shelf as the vocal element of our support (1882?), it was unique and the real benifit was which ever end we were attackin/defending players could hear that support.

 

[Misfit]

The difference is night and day. When I was a ST holder from 99 - 02, we always had the moany bastards but hey we were utter pap. Fair enough. Most of us went along, got the libations in and had a good old sing song.

Since about 06/07 though everytime I've gone back, the atmosphere is worse. The moany bastards have completely stolen a march. It's not so much that the old fans no longer exist but those "middle of the road fans" seems to be being led and swayed by the moany fucks these days and not the hardcore who are still there of course. It's those fans who dont belong to either extreme who ultimately dictate the atmosphere and they're being led down the negative path.

I'm very much hoping the 1882 lot can woo them back.

Yeah yeah, I don't pay my money for a ST anymore etc etc I'll shut up blah blah blah. It's me democratic right to be a proper wanker. THFC owes me somefink peronally. Yadda yadda yadda.

Despite the football on offer being atrocious for the most part, Those 4 yrs were 4 of the best for me. Meeting up with friends, making new ones. Watching our glorious Spurs. And we were awful. Now we actually have a team to be proud of, that offers us good football and a genuine chance of some success, the atmosphere is wank. Apparently, it wasn't all hunky dory the last time we were half decent either but I'm just going by what my Grandad told me there. Maybe the fans just don't like not sucking balls. We're not comfortable being anything other than a tired joke occasionally slipped into a racist sitcom.

 

[Mr Pink]

The atmosphere is becoming worse and worse. Fuck all this chicken and egg thing. IMO the atmosphere should be a lot better regardless if the team is struggling a bit on the pitch.

If the atmosphere was rocking it would make it a far better experience for everyone going and it would lift the team, its human nature - of course it would.

All this the team need to lift the crowd is a cop out IMO. Yeah sometimes it may be the case but when the Lane is so lacking in atmosphere these days its a bit hypocritical to have such an attitude when you look how far we've come and where we sit in the League table.

We are suited to playing away from him with our pace on the counter but I don't think its any surprise that the players probably play more relaxed and with more freedom, sticks out like a sore thumb.
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So not only are we limiting what we can do at home, I would go as far as saying we are shooting ourselves in the foot.

Lets call a spade a spade, the atmosphere is poor and there is a tension that transmits to the pitch that is affecting the team. Yes teams come and sit deep and we can struggle to break them down, but all this poor atmosphere does is the make job even harder. A hostile atmosphere for the opposition would definitely affect them in these situations.

 

[Wiener]

Of course it affects the players. Not sure how much booing affects the team negatively but getting behind them certainly gives them a lift. Personally I wouldn'nt mind if the stewards ejected those fans beeing overly aggressive towards the team or anyine booing. Legally I am sure they could do it so I would dispute the fact that it is their right to boo.

What would really ensure better atmosphere at all grounds would be standing. More fans, cheaper tickets and more fun. Its quite difficult to get too animated while sitting.

 

[Murder She]

To be fair, fans of a lot of English clubs have this debate regularly. I am beginning to side with the argument that fans as a collective, due to high admission prices, have a sense of entitlement and thus feel it is up to the players to give them something to chant about. I also think the introduction of all seaters and the increasing zeal in which stewards enforce the non-standing rules has an impact.

 

[CowInAComa]

of course roaring the team on has an impact. How could it not?? 30k+ people behind you giving you encouragement. Pure human nature - how can you not be lifted or up your game when the ground is rocking, im fucking inspired let alone the players on the pitch.

If it results in turning just 2-3 losses into draws or even wins then its got to be worth it. I reckon old school spurs support would have seen us over the line last season and this, with at least 3-4 points directly attributed over the course of a season.

 

[CosmicHotspur]

Aaaah, football humour mentioned. Yes, it was very corny but it was fun and it does seem to be missing except in some chants now.

Examples repeated time and time again that were kind of ritualistic and caused chuckles:

"Nice ball!"

"Yeah, it's nice and round."

​

"What else did you get for Christmas ref?" (to a ref who endlessly blew the whistle).


"Left back? He should have been left back in the dressing room!"


"Did you leave your specs at home ref?"/" Want to borrow my specs ref ?"


"Three points to Wigan!" (when the ball sailed well over the top of the goal).


"He's got his boots on the wrong feet."

 

[jonnyp]

We have better results in away games this season

That's mainly to do that we are better against sides that attack more/are more open (which most teams try to do at home). We struggle against defensive teams because we lack creativity and rely too much on pacey counter-attacks and moments of individual brilliance (mainly from Bale) rather than creativity and smart movement.

I agree that the atmosphere this season at home has been a lot worse than previous years though, there's longer periods of complete silence and a lot more negative shouting and booing. And I'm pretty sure that it does have an affect on our players but not to the extent that it's the main reason we've been poor at home - that's all got to do with us losing VdV and Modric and not replacing them anywhere near appropriately IMHO.

 

[Sp3akerboxxx]

i don't think Dempsey has been a scapegoat, he has just been really really shit.

 

[playboypaul]

They're professional footballers though, the crowds shouldn't phase them, especially not negatively!

Look at people like Suarez/Ronaldo etc. People hate them and yield abuse at them all game, but they use this as a positive and thrive on that to prove the doubters wrong.

People like dempsey need to just get their head down, concentrate on playing football, not caring about what people think and maybe when the WHL crowd are against him, he should want to do something to lift the crowd

That's generally from the away fans not their own ones though.

 

[playboypaul]

I just wonder how the people who think that the players should 'man up' would feel if they had to endure people shouting at them and moaning that they where shit at their job while they where at work?

 

[HotspurFC1950]

I think it's quite sad and I hate hearing it.

I don't remember booing our own team in "the old days". We would hang our heads, get angry and go into a depression when we lost and we'd rant about it and let off steam against whichever players we thought had played badly after the game was over.

When our supporters cheer the team on and chant and sing, the players do say that it feels like having an extra man on the pitch. So perhaps jeering and booing makes them feel they're playing at a tangible psychological disadvantage. I don't think it can help.

There want booing Cosmic but there was some frustration shown to players like Tony Marchi and John Pratt.

I do not notice any obvious evidence of negativity via TV except when there is mass booing.

 

[idontgetit]

It's not the booing that fucks me off. Generally if you get booed you've done something to deserve it. It's the fucking seething resentment every time a player misplaces a pass. The groans everytime a non-fan-favourite makes a tiny mistake. For the smallest error I hear the kind of sounds coming from fans that you'd only expect if you ran over their dog. And then reversed back over it. It's being completely out sung by away fans. The silence. It is fucking embarrassing and what I'd genuinely say is that the players don't ever look like they are enjoying their football at home. I mean they work their bollocks off but they never look like they're enjoying it or are comfortable. That's why we've hardly thrashed anyone this year when we've been in the position to do it, the players are treating it as a job which means defending that lead for the sake of the points. If they were having fun there's no way they'd be sitting back, they'd all be down the other end trying to get in on the action. "Give me the ball, I want a goal!" How often have the players looked like they've got that mentality after we've gone a goal or two up? It's more like, "shit shit shit what do we do now? I don't want it"

 

[Krafty]

Maybe if Dempsey stopped shooting into the stands from 30 yards I'd be a bit less tense!!!ABHIV&(£GH)*IYBU

Seriously though, I think it's one of those things. Back in the day everything was great, now its crap. In five years time we'll take about the atmosphere in the derby wins against Arsenal, the match against Inter and AC Milan, that time Dempsey got an equaliser in the snow against Man Utd, those were the days, the atmosphere was amazing. Now in 2018 its crap.

 

[alpha]

I think it's quite sad and I hate hearing it.

I don't remember booing our own team in "the old days". We would hang our heads, get angry and go into a depression when we lost and we'd rant about it and let off steam against whichever players we thought had played badly after the game was over.

When our supporters cheer the team on and chant and sing, the players do say that it feels like having an extra man on the pitch. So perhaps jeering and booing makes them feel they're playing at a tangible psychological disadvantage. I don't think it can help.

Totally agree. Quite simply this is true 'support'! It's pointless seeing it any other way. You're there to support!
Simple.

 

[Roynie]

The only player who wouldn't be affected by the fans support, or the converse of booing, would have to be a robot! To have 30K+ fans cheerring you on MUST give you confidence in what you are trying to do. Let's face it we all make mistakes and to get shouted at, or criticised, when you do is very disheartening. However, if someone said "nevermind, I saw what you were trying to do and it would have been great. Don't give up, you'll get there...." it would give a boost to your ego rather than a metaphorical kick in the nuts.

The fans at the games really do need to make The Lane a fortress in terms of suport. The alternative is to make it worse than the Library!

COYS!

 

[spivmaster]

Since the team plays so much better away maybe the solution is to hurl MORE vitriol and hatred towards them. Make them think every game is an away game.

 

[Stoof]

Surely you can tell from the rest of my post that I do too...

Just wheeled that out as their standard defence, then went on to give my feelings about it (however I did censor a second Parentheses at the end of the first sentence, which certainly gave away my true feelings but some delicate souls may have taken offence to it)

Don't you point your parentheses at me.

 

[Main Man]

The atmosphere at the Lane at the start of the season was library-like, mainly 30,00 plus fans trying to work out exactly what AVB was trying to do. Understandable in one sense, completely detrimental in another. I can't help but feel the Home Support could have taken us over the line against Norwich and West Brom for instance.

A couple of enjoyable and productive away days later, the Lane starts to rock again (or perhaps very gently sway). Results pick up, and despite the quite rightful Dempsey bashing every now and then, the atmosphere at the Lane until recently becomes 'ok'.

Man United, Arsenal and Inter Milan were great atmospheres from minute one, and I don't think it is any coincidence we provided outstanding performances in all three games. Yes those games practically guarentee great atmospheres, but surely this is evidence that a rocking Lane produces a 'unified performance of athletes intent on achieving the same objective'.

More recently, the inevitable end of season slump begins after an unfortunate (self-inflicted) defeat away to Liverpool followed by a freak result/performance in Milan. Ultimately, the same 30,000 plus turn up at home to Fulham to seemingly enjoy the sunshine that we have seen so little of forgetting to provide any support or inspiration to the team we all adore. We lose, deservedly - in relative silence, with seeming acceptance and even only a small muttering of discontent.

The tepid atmosphere continues into Basle, which for whatever reason is a complete contradiction to the previous home tie in the same competition. We fall behind to two terribly defended goals, fans favourite Jan is having the worst game of his life - but the penny drops. The fans begin to realise their role, 'if Adebayor is putting the effort in, then perhaps so should we'. We get it back to 2-2, but that is the fans job complete. Now we all sit waiting to concede before we rally to score an equaliser, a la Everton only 3 days later.

The evidence is overwhelming, a rocking Lane produces a good performance. But equally clear is our fans refusal to play the part all season long. Infuriating - and in my opinion the reason we are now favourites to miss out on the Top Four and European Glory.

Come on you Spurs!