Have you ever felt more disconnected?

[anydange]

Probably not tbh. I hated the Sherwood times, mainly because he’s a nob, but this is just so much more than a player or manager leaving. I hate the sense of entitlement our club seems to have adopted solely because we have money. We’ve won nothing to suggest we should be part of the ‘big 6’ and we laugh at clubs like West Ham, Everton etc. for challenging too. Whole club needs to change its mentality if we’re to progress.

We’ve coasted for too long and it’s become stagnant and boring. To the point where a lot of fans aren’t even that bothered if one of our best ever players leaves. That says a lot.

 

[Metalhead]

I'm not sure when I last felt this indifferent or low about Spurs. Perhaps it was the end of the Scholar era?

We often tend to unconsciously adapt expectations based on what we see on a consistent basis. So, for me, from about 1992 to 2005 I never had high expectations for Spurs. Always started the season with a hope we can finish in the Top 6, make a good cup run. So, my expectations were set accordingly. Less anger about losing. More joy in winning. Was not overly emotionally invested. As I knew full well what to expect every single season. Moreover, we also knew not to get to attached to any of our 'superstars', as they'd leave to greener pastures.

Then, in 2005 we went through a big change. Jol, and then to Harry Red. I started to feel a bit more invested in the expectations of success. Suddenly we looked like a team that could actually, and should actually be competing for a top 6 or 5th spot. And should even go from 'hoping' we have a good cup run to 'expecting' we should have a good cup run. So, when losses came, it hurt more. Winning certain games was lovely, but tiny bit more muted in terms of overall enjoy. As I expected it. The most joyous moments were when we would win games we weren't expected to win. Like beating Chelsea for the first time in a zillion years. Or the infamous 4-4 with Le Arse. And, about this time, it actually started to getting very frustrating when a 'superstar' would leave... EG: Carrick, Keane, Berba, Modric. Felt like an insult. We still weren't grown up enough to have the best toys.

When we hired AVB, there were high expectations that we could make a run at the top 4. Again, expectations were elevated, but it was much of a muchness due to the fact that we had come to an end of a particular era when Bale left. It was time to re-build. But this time, it felt like we had a chance to still compete for the top 4, as we got a ton of money for Bale. How it was used is still open to debate, but I'd argue that his leaving, led us to the Poch era. Which is the most successful era I've experienced since the early 1980s. And now expectations were through the roof. Now, we had loads of alleged 'superstars', but the game had changed. We were no longer a feeder club to the big boys. We could hold on to our biggest playing assets. And now, most wins felt like an entitlement. Beat a lower-mid table team 4-0, and it's like, "Yeah, some great moments. But, what about this issue, or that issue, etc". And when we'd lose, it would feel like a huge punch to the gut, and would ruin my day. Or as my wife would say: "Off to the closet of frustration". Winning or losing would impact my mood... significantly. Again, because expectations were so different. And when you are one of the supporters who have been behind the club for over 20 years, you know how rare the Poch era was, and also how afraid we were of slipping back to mid-table obscurity again.

The game we have coming up against the Foxes this weekend, is the least 'excited' I have felt about a Spurs game in probably 15 to 16 years. I just don't give a shit to be honest. In fact, if I'm being absolutely transparent, I'd rather we lose this weekend. Or, I should say, I'd rather we finish 8th or 9th. I don't want anything to in some way, shape, or form, be an achievement, the likes of ENIC can point to and say, 'look, we're back in Europe again'. That's a great big Gaslight. 'Cos it's horseshit. We are not a team at this point in time that is deserving of anything. Those players certainly aren't deserving of any level of recognition at the end of this season.

I also don't have much vested in the manager either. I know I should... but I don't. Because what I want to see, is what won't happen. I want to see wholesale changes at the club. Some that are realistic, and some that are not. I want us to have a big bucket of money for new players, but we don't. I want Levy to actually walk from the football side of Spurs, and hire the likes of a Campos. But I don't see that happening either. I do think it is time for Lewis to cash in his chips and consider selling-up to a group that will bring in a new approach, and hopefully will care more about what happens on the field than off. Will that happen? Very much doubt it. Hard to see a where we go from here, as there's a lot of fixing that needs to be done. I know other feel very differently. And that it's just a case of us missing three or four players, and the squad has been decimated by the monster that is Jose. Perhaps they are right. A new gaffer will come in, and can take the majority of the same squad and get them looking something like a cohesive teams again -- with 'Patterns of Play'!

Lastly, I don't warm to many of our players at the moment. There are some serious attitude issues in the team. And that's the key problem. It's not a team anymore. Just a group of individuals with different needs and agendas. It's not like three or four years ago, when there were so many on the team I adored: Dembele, Wanyama, Jan, Eriksen, Harry, Sonny, Toby. But as we know, some have moved on. Some have stayed, but have either started to recede as a player, or just don't seem to have the right attitude.

Let's be honest and real... Sonny has been a shell of himself since December. Not sure what has happened. But his entire style of playing changed. Far less direct. Far less running. Far less concentration and care. As for Harry... yes, he's had a lovely season. But over the last seven or eight games, we've had a huge 'shit or get off the pot' moment. And he hasn't been fully vested. Maybe he's a bit crocked. Maybe he just doesn't give a shit anymore. I don't know. But I do know he's played much better this season, than he showed during that run of games, when we needed everyone at their very best. Willing to throw themselves into the game. But, I can't say we've seen much of that at all.

I can't simply shrug this feeling off. I am annoyed and disappointed with the whole kit-and-caboodle. Levy has served us well, but every general eventually needs to retire. Lewis should put up or shut up. Time to decide if you want to own an elite football team, or an elite football business. If the latter, than I truly hope he fucks off soon.

As for the players... I wouldn't shed a tear over at least 9 or 10 players leaving this summer. The only ones I will shed a small tear over will be Sonny and Kane... more because it's a bitter end, more than anything else. They should have more to show for their efforts. But, at the end of the day, they also have accountability. And if they're no longer interested or invested... then fine, they can leave. We can use money from the sales of Harry, Sonny, Dele, Lamela, Winks, Aurier, Sanchez, Doherty, Dier, Toby, Sissoko, Lucas and even N'Dombele to finance a wholesale re-build of the team. Of course that's not what will happen. As this is a tricky transfer market to navigate this summer, and too many of the above are on big contracts that many will have no interest in taking on. Hence, why it is so hard to move deadwood.

In short, I think it's time to move on and make profound changes at the club, from head to toe. Sadly, I don't see it happening this summer. However, if we can see the odd hint or two over the next few months that big changes are coming, albeit a slow rolling white squall... I can live with that, and maybe feel more invested. For now though... I'm back in my late 1990s mode. Expectations have been re-set for next season, to hope for a potential top 6 of 5th finish and maybe a nice cup run. The cherry on top, would be seeing a young team improving through the season, to believe and have hope again that a golden era could be just over the horizon.

1981. That's the year I started to support Spurs. Now, 40 years later... five trophies later... and two since 1991... it's really starting to become an existential question of why do I invest so much of myself into a team, for a rather piss poor return on investment? I guess that's what it means to be a Spurs fan. Yes, we get mocked ruthlessly by other fans. Pundits seem to despise us. Young fans around the world who have jumped into the PL fandom, hooked on the mega-rich clubs like Man City and Chelsea, have no idea what it means to be one of us. And can't understand why on earth we'd choose to support one of the biggest also-rans in professional sports. It requires a lot of courage and patience and stupidity to be in love with Spurs. It should be commended. Not taunted, by classless pricks such as John Terry. We stick in there. Through all the bad. The very, very bad. The average. The slightly better than average. And the odd good here and there. How do we do it?

We adjust expectations accordingly.

I particularly resonate with your point about not identifying with the players. Maybe it's because it's been a piss poor season but none of them stand out particularly.

 

[Blackrat1299]

I first became aware of 'Spurs in 1960 when I was 18 and just about to be posted abroad to Germany, and I have followed them ever since. The sad thing is I can't remember anything about the old days, especially the double. I have to assume that I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly of whatever they have done. After 61 years I still follow them, but with a different mindset. When they were on £20 a week, we produced some of the best footballers this country has seen, Ditchburn, Smith, Norman, Blanchflower, Medwin, Jones, Dyson, White, The Duke. Players who got kicked and got back up and got their own back. I have no time for some of the amateur dramatics that we are forced to watch. There is a lot of selfishness within the team, which is apparent when you look at the chances that go amiss. However in spite of all their faults they wear the badge of the club I have stuck with and will continue to do so.

 

[guiltyparty]

I'm not sure when I last felt this indifferent or low about Spurs. Perhaps it was the end of the Scholar era?

We often tend to unconsciously adapt expectations based on what we see on a consistent basis. So, for me, from about 1992 to 2005 I never had high expectations for Spurs. Always started the season with a hope we can finish in the Top 6, make a good cup run. So, my expectations were set accordingly. Less anger about losing. More joy in winning. Was not overly emotionally invested. As I knew full well what to expect every single season. Moreover, we also knew not to get to attached to any of our 'superstars', as they'd leave to greener pastures.

Then, in 2005 we went through a big change. Jol, and then to Harry Red. I started to feel a bit more invested in the expectations of success. Suddenly we looked like a team that could actually, and should actually be competing for a top 6 or 5th spot. And should even go from 'hoping' we have a good cup run to 'expecting' we should have a good cup run. So, when losses came, it hurt more. Winning certain games was lovely, but tiny bit more muted in terms of overall enjoy. As I expected it. The most joyous moments were when we would win games we weren't expected to win. Like beating Chelsea for the first time in a zillion years. Or the infamous 4-4 with Le Arse. And, about this time, it actually started to getting very frustrating when a 'superstar' would leave... EG: Carrick, Keane, Berba, Modric. Felt like an insult. We still weren't grown up enough to have the best toys.

When we hired AVB, there were high expectations that we could make a run at the top 4. Again, expectations were elevated, but it was much of a muchness due to the fact that we had come to an end of a particular era when Bale left. It was time to re-build. But this time, it felt like we had a chance to still compete for the top 4, as we got a ton of money for Bale. How it was used is still open to debate, but I'd argue that his leaving, led us to the Poch era. Which is the most successful era I've experienced since the early 1980s. And now expectations were through the roof. Now, we had loads of alleged 'superstars', but the game had changed. We were no longer a feeder club to the big boys. We could hold on to our biggest playing assets. And now, most wins felt like an entitlement. Beat a lower-mid table team 4-0, and it's like, "Yeah, some great moments. But, what about this issue, or that issue, etc". And when we'd lose, it would feel like a huge punch to the gut, and would ruin my day. Or as my wife would say: "Off to the closet of frustration". Winning or losing would impact my mood... significantly. Again, because expectations were so different. And when you are one of the supporters who have been behind the club for over 20 years, you know how rare the Poch era was, and also how afraid we were of slipping back to mid-table obscurity again.

The game we have coming up against the Foxes this weekend, is the least 'excited' I have felt about a Spurs game in probably 15 to 16 years. I just don't give a shit to be honest. In fact, if I'm being absolutely transparent, I'd rather we lose this weekend. Or, I should say, I'd rather we finish 8th or 9th. I don't want anything to in some way, shape, or form, be an achievement, the likes of ENIC can point to and say, 'look, we're back in Europe again'. That's a great big Gaslight. 'Cos it's horseshit. We are not a team at this point in time that is deserving of anything. Those players certainly aren't deserving of any level of recognition at the end of this season.

I also don't have much vested in the manager either. I know I should... but I don't. Because what I want to see, is what won't happen. I want to see wholesale changes at the club. Some that are realistic, and some that are not. I want us to have a big bucket of money for new players, but we don't. I want Levy to actually walk from the football side of Spurs, and hire the likes of a Campos. But I don't see that happening either. I do think it is time for Lewis to cash in his chips and consider selling-up to a group that will bring in a new approach, and hopefully will care more about what happens on the field than off. Will that happen? Very much doubt it. Hard to see a where we go from here, as there's a lot of fixing that needs to be done. I know other feel very differently. And that it's just a case of us missing three or four players, and the squad has been decimated by the monster that is Jose. Perhaps they are right. A new gaffer will come in, and can take the majority of the same squad and get them looking something like a cohesive teams again -- with 'Patterns of Play'!

Lastly, I don't warm to many of our players at the moment. There are some serious attitude issues in the team. And that's the key problem. It's not a team anymore. Just a group of individuals with different needs and agendas. It's not like three or four years ago, when there were so many on the team I adored: Dembele, Wanyama, Jan, Eriksen, Harry, Sonny, Toby. But as we know, some have moved on. Some have stayed, but have either started to recede as a player, or just don't seem to have the right attitude.

Let's be honest and real... Sonny has been a shell of himself since December. Not sure what has happened. But his entire style of playing changed. Far less direct. Far less running. Far less concentration and care. As for Harry... yes, he's had a lovely season. But over the last seven or eight games, we've had a huge 'shit or get off the pot' moment. And he hasn't been fully vested. Maybe he's a bit crocked. Maybe he just doesn't give a shit anymore. I don't know. But I do know he's played much better this season, than he showed during that run of games, when we needed everyone at their very best. Willing to throw themselves into the game. But, I can't say we've seen much of that at all.

I can't simply shrug this feeling off. I am annoyed and disappointed with the whole kit-and-caboodle. Levy has served us well, but every general eventually needs to retire. Lewis should put up or shut up. Time to decide if you want to own an elite football team, or an elite football business. If the latter, than I truly hope he fucks off soon.

As for the players... I wouldn't shed a tear over at least 9 or 10 players leaving this summer. The only ones I will shed a small tear over will be Sonny and Kane... more because it's a bitter end, more than anything else. They should have more to show for their efforts. But, at the end of the day, they also have accountability. And if they're no longer interested or invested... then fine, they can leave. We can use money from the sales of Harry, Sonny, Dele, Lamela, Winks, Aurier, Sanchez, Doherty, Dier, Toby, Sissoko, Lucas and even N'Dombele to finance a wholesale re-build of the team. Of course that's not what will happen. As this is a tricky transfer market to navigate this summer, and too many of the above are on big contracts that many will have no interest in taking on. Hence, why it is so hard to move deadwood.

In short, I think it's time to move on and make profound changes at the club, from head to toe. Sadly, I don't see it happening this summer. However, if we can see the odd hint or two over the next few months that big changes are coming, albeit a slow rolling white squall... I can live with that, and maybe feel more invested. For now though... I'm back in my late 1990s mode. Expectations have been re-set for next season, to hope for a potential top 6 of 5th finish and maybe a nice cup run. The cherry on top, would be seeing a young team improving through the season, to believe and have hope again that a golden era could be just over the horizon.

1981. That's the year I started to support Spurs. Now, 40 years later... five trophies later... and two since 1991... it's really starting to become an existential question of why do I invest so much of myself into a team, for a rather piss poor return on investment? I guess that's what it means to be a Spurs fan. Yes, we get mocked ruthlessly by other fans. Pundits seem to despise us. Young fans around the world who have jumped into the PL fandom, hooked on the mega-rich clubs like Man City and Chelsea, have no idea what it means to be one of us. And can't understand why on earth we'd choose to support one of the biggest also-rans in professional sports. It requires a lot of courage and patience and stupidity to be in love with Spurs. It should be commended. Not taunted, by classless pricks such as John Terry. We stick in there. Through all the bad. The very, very bad. The average. The slightly better than average. And the odd good here and there. How do we do it?

We adjust expectations accordingly.

Fantastic post. Really empathise with this, I had started writing a post to a response that literally started:

"I think the disconnect has different elements. We were obviously worse in the 90s but I kind of didn’t expect much more. I was younger, Spurs had always been a cup side, never expected much in the league, and it did seem like we got to finals and did win stuff every so often. We felt like an underdog, we never had a great team we had really cool individual players, and while a bit haphazard, you kind of knew where you stood."

But I parked it. And then you write this, and you've said what else I was going to write way better than I could.

This is by no means the worst time, but as you say, expectations shift. And, to use the parlance of the age, you have to 'own' your own relationship with football, and your club. I used to look at Arsenal fans, moaning despite still winning trophies, and think what do they have to whinge about, but expectations of success I find, personally, way harder to deal with than being a plucky underdog that has their day occasionally.

I also don’t want to give it too much gravitas but there was not the proliferation of social media and even the internet really back in previous shit ages, the world really was a different place, you weren't reminded of everything from every angle, all of the time. You could escape football; football, in and of itself, was actually the escape.

Now, top-flight football, as a thing, as an entity, as a package, as an always-on commodity, is a truly fucking miserable thing. I don't think you can truly disconnect the two things. It's almost like the Mourinho paradox: you could tolerate the shit football if we won something, but we didn't; I could tolerate the shithouse Premier League if Spurs won something, but we don't. And so the horrendousness of modern football is laid bare by the predicament

 

[Aphex]

I think this is worse than the Sherwood era.

I distinctly remember thinking Sherwood was an utter cock, but his team selections actually made some sense.

He reinstated Adebayor who was our most talented striker, and Adebayor repaid Sherwood's faith in him. Sherwood also stuck Bentaleb in the team and gave Kane his big break. I remember thinking there was some optimism to play with, not withstanding Sherwood's personality defects.

Under Mason, I feel angry and frustrated. He has repaid the worst performing players in our squad both attitude and ability wise with extended runs in the team, including a fucking cup final.

There is no sign of there being any optimism at all. Frankly I will not start to feel connected with the club again until I see some positive steps taken by the board. They must first demonstrate to me that they recognise what the problems are, and then they must fix them.

That mostly includes getting rid of the deadwood like Wink, Alli, Dier, Sissoko etc

It doesn't matter who the new manager is, if we go into next season with those players still stinking the place out, I'm done. I genuinely think the majority of them are pricks with a way too overinflated opinion of themselves. They need a reality check. They are stealing a living at Spurs, have got far too cosy. They have world class facilities and stadium to play in, without any of the ability.

 

[Metalhead]

I think this is worse than the Sherwood era.

I distinctly remember thinking Sherwood was an utter cock, but his team selections actually made some sense.

He reinstated Adebayor who was our most talented striker, and Adebayor repaid Sherwood's faith in him. Sherwood also stuck Bentaleb in the team and gave Kane his big break. I remember thinking there was some optimism to play with, not withstanding Sherwood's personality defects.

Under Mason, I feel angry and frustrated. He has repaid the worst performing players in our squad both attitude and ability wise with extended runs in the team, including a fucking cup final.

There is no sign of there being any optimism at all. Frankly I will not start to feel connected with the club again until I see some positive steps taken by the board. They must first demonstrate to me that they recognise what the problems are, and then they must fix them.

That mostly includes getting rid of the deadwood like Wink, Alli, Dier, Sissoko etc

It doesn't matter who the new manager is, if we go into next season with those players still stinking the place out, I'm done. I genuinely think the majority of them are pricks with a way too overinflated opinion of themselves. They need a reality check. They are stealing a living at Spurs, have got far too cosy. They have world class facilities and stadium to play in, without any of the ability.

Thing is that Mason has been chucked in at the deep end.

 

[Aphex]

Thing is that Mason has been chucked in at the deep end.

I sympathise but picking Winks in CM is unforgivable. The player is clearly no where near good enough, and Mason has rewarded his atrocious appearances this season with starts including a cup final. His team selections have cost us top 6.

He's completely failed his mini audition. Speaks well to the media though.

 

[Metalhead]

I sympathise but picking Winks in CM is unforgivable. The player is clearly no where near good enough, and Mason has rewarded his atrocious appearances this season with starts including a cup final. His team selections have cost us top 6.

He's completely failed his mini audition. Speaks well to the media though.

Yeah I mean that didn't need someone experienced to know that wasn't a good idea.

 

[Meercat]

Off topic but I think it'll get worse- some kid was talking to me at the kids park (earlier in the season) and he had a city shirt on and within the conversation he was debating if he'll support Liverpool next year. I wonder if that's the majority of kids now, just follow the team winning year on year...

I saw a fascinating interview with Wenger a couple of months back talking about the way the new generationengage with football and how it’s more about short attention span collecting heroes and dream teams, so not supporting a club, but say, following Messi and Zlatan and loving whoever they play for rather than supporting a club through transitions and transfers and identity changes and rebuilds.

 

[Shadydan]

I think this is worse than the Sherwood era.

I distinctly remember thinking Sherwood was an utter cock, but his team selections actually made some sense.

He reinstated Adebayor who was our most talented striker, and Adebayor repaid Sherwood's faith in him. Sherwood also stuck Bentaleb in the team and gave Kane his big break. I remember thinking there was some optimism to play with, not withstanding Sherwood's personality defects.

Under Mason, I feel angry and frustrated. He has repaid the worst performing players in our squad both attitude and ability wise with extended runs in the team, including a fucking cup final.

There is no sign of there being any optimism at all. Frankly I will not start to feel connected with the club again until I see some positive steps taken by the board. They must first demonstrate to me that they recognise what the problems are, and then they must fix them.

That mostly includes getting rid of the deadwood like Wink, Alli, Dier, Sissoko etc

It doesn't matter who the new manager is, if we go into next season with those players still stinking the place out, I'm done. I genuinely think the majority of them are pricks with a way too overinflated opinion of themselves. They need a reality check. They are stealing a living at Spurs, have got far too cosy. They have world class facilities and stadium to play in, without any of the ability.

Nah Sherwood has some howlers, never forget putting Kyle Walker in midfield against Chelsea and putting Siguardson in a cm2 at Anfield.

 

[BujuBanton]

If we appoint nuno it proves that nothing will ever change under ENIC. They have their approach, to fatten the goose as much as possible, glory on the pitch is secondary....at best

 

[Ribble]

If we appoint nuno it proves that nothing will ever change under ENIC. They have their approach, to fatten the goose as much as possible, glory on the pitch is secondary....at best

To torture the metaphor further it only makes sense if said goose eventually ends up on the dinner table though, and for that someone needs to want to eat it!

 

[db1]

I saw a fascinating interview with Wenger a couple of months back talking about the way the new generationengage with football and how it’s more about short attention span collecting heroes and dream teams, so not supporting a club, but say, following Messi and Zlatan and loving whoever they play for rather than supporting a club through transitions and transfers and identity changes and rebuilds.

I can believe that is a thing too. When I've watched some spurs fan views on YouTube, I remember being really surprised that there were some guys calling in commenting that they were a mourinho fan and then talking about the game. I guess there's people doing it just following players too? It's just so weird.

 

[yusrisafri]

Covid has had a very visible impact on football in terms of finances and attendance. But I believe there has also been a profound psychological impact as well.

Football is nothing without fans and their absence from stadiums over the past year has exposed how soulless the game can feel played in an empty stadium.

However It has also exacerbated the dissatisfaction many of us feel with Spurs inability to not just compete but to win. The amount of comments on here over recent months about how apathetic we all feel is quite tragic. It also has brought real risk to the club as we no longer feel as invested emotionally nor are we as keen to invest financially.

I am 48 and have been a fan since the age of 3 when someone bought me a Spurs kit for my birthday. I feel as disconnected today as at any point over the last 45 yrs. I am normally a bag of nerves on match days and am off my seat at every chance or goal. Yesterday I had to miss the first half due to work and I was not bothered.

Kane or no Kane, exciting manager or George Graham I will always be Spurs through and through, I just hope the apathy finally dissipates and the excitement returns.

I feel exactly the same as you mate.

And im 48 as well. Maybe thats why ?

 

[olliec]

Still fuming that winks got in the starting 11 for our cup final over ndombele. Like I said in a post before if we finish below arsenal this will go down as my worse ever season as a Spurs fan. I feel so disconnected with the club and not surprised our best player wants to go. We are an absolute mess and shambles at the moment with no direction.

 

[Danfunkel]

I don't really feel any disconnection currently, then again I've learned now to see it as a sport, a hobby, and nothing more.

I've said to people on here before, especially after defeats, that it's just a game, and move on. But it's perhaps understandably not always appreciated! I do think it's the only way to not get hurt from it though.

 

[Steffen]

No, I have never felt more disconnected. Not in the way you mean, though - I've never felt more disconnected to the rest of the fan base. Every post I see on Twitter, Instagram etc is #enicout, "the club is in ruins" etc. I don't feel that way at all, and I don't like the way some fans claim you cannot be a real Tottenham supporter and still support Levy.
Before reading about Spurs could cheer me up if the results where bad, but now, browsing social media is just depressing.

Hopefully we can get some good news soon, to drown out everything else.

 

[SpursSince1980]

Fantastic post. Really empathise with this, I had started writing a post to a response that literally started:

"I think the disconnect has different elements. We were obviously worse in the 90s but I kind of didn’t expect much more. I was younger, Spurs had always been a cup side, never expected much in the league, and it did seem like we got to finals and did win stuff every so often. We felt like an underdog, we never had a great team we had really cool individual players, and while a bit haphazard, you kind of knew where you stood."

But I parked it. And then you write this, and you've said what else I was going to write way better than I could.

This is by no means the worst time, but as you say, expectations shift. And, to use the parlance of the age, you have to 'own' your own relationship with football, and your club. I used to look at Arsenal fans, moaning despite still winning trophies, and think what do they have to whinge about, but expectations of success I find, personally, way harder to deal with than being a plucky underdog that has their day occasionally.

I also don’t want to give it too much gravitas but there was not the proliferation of social media and even the internet really back in previous shit ages, the world really was a different place, you weren't reminded of everything from every angle, all of the time. You could escape football; football, in and of itself, was actually the escape.

Now, top-flight football, as a thing, as an entity, as a package, as an always-on commodity, is a truly fucking miserable thing. I don't think you can truly disconnect the two things. It's almost like the Mourinho paradox: you could tolerate the shit football if we won something, but we didn't; I could tolerate the shithouse Premier League if Spurs won something, but we don't. And so the horrendousness of modern football is laid bare by the predicament

Really love your point about social media. It’s an extremely important factor in how we receive and respond to information. This is an odd comparison... but stick with me...

Studies of radicalization between today and 80 years often focus on the proliferation and sharing of information. In the 1930s, for example, newspapers, books, movies, radios, pamphlets, magazines, billboard, etc were leveraged to disseminate information, be it false or negative or true or indifferent . But, sociologically this only went so far. Especially when it comes to proliferation and ubiquity. So, where does one go, to create a sense of ubiquity? To where communities of people are gathered... town squares, pubs, theaters, markets, etc. As it was the community that actually held the most impact of spreading ideas. Especially the most influential in those areas. Once embedded in a community , and the idea or info takes hold, it creates the phenomenon known today as the majority illusion. A term we use in propaganda or marketing that refers to feeding those that wield the most influence with the information you want widely disseminated, as it creates an illusion of ubiquity. Obviously, this is done these days via social media. It’s also profoundly more impactful than community based dissemination and has a much further reach.

Coming full circle...

Social media and digital media envelop our everyday lives. It‘s easy to obtain and wallow in cisterns full of information about whatever tickles your fancy. To the extent, that you are in the middle of that cistern and are completely encircled by all of that data. It’s inescapable. But not just info... ideas and opinions too. Message boards, Twitter, Reddit, FB, Insta... you can immerse yourself in all of those. Which becomes a veritable fire hose of thoughts, opinions, conjecture and debate. Most importantly... it’s an echo chamber. For a football fan, it takes the form of places like SC, social media outlets for discussion, and the you add TV, and cable into the mix... it is a 24/7 relationship. Which is certainly escapable, but hard to cut yourself off from it. So... yes, today’s media does make it really hard to have some ‘space’. The only way to do is, is you have to be intentional and wean away from all of those sources. All that info, that is great when it is positive, but can become too much when the info and opinions and ideas are all negative. It’s a psychologically difficult cycle to shield yourself from.

Oops. Sorry about the thesis.

 

[punky]

My connection to the club - as a holistic entity - hasn't really changed. My attitude to the pieces that fit together and make it what it is has though. I still love it. Wasn't any question of renewing my season ticket.

ENIC is ENIC and Levy is Levy. TBH our ownership has been the only constant in the last few years.

The players? Apart from the Newcastle game where we needed 1 point against a relegated club to finish above Arsenal for the first time in umpteen years, I've never been more angry and sad at our players. I've never demanded our players win but i've always demanded that they try. I just don't see that anymore. I never cared about the League Cup but even still that performance was probably closest to lowest ever point for me.

We've dropped well over 20 point from winning games and could end up the 4th best club in London tomorrow. I really don't believe the players care about that.

 

[Annabel]

Sherwood was a stupid era, but it only lasted a few months. The lowest I felt was in the late Sugar era. 1994 - 2001 we were managed by Gerry Francis, Cristian Gross, and George "Arsenal paved in to his patio" Graham. Those seasons I hardly went to any matches. It was a really horrible time for Spurs.
It wasn't until Santini and Jol came in that I got a bit of hope back.