As Spurs fans, we have been through our fair share of despair, optimism, false hope and new beginnings. This has, by some, been used to excuse the lack of atmosphere this season at The Lane and even the weather has been mentioned as a factor in our fans being so muted at home.
Since I can remember, we have mocked the lot down the road as having fans that created an atmosphere that was 'just like a library' and revelled in the fact that our support, especially away from home, was arguable one of the best in the Premier League.
However, on not just one occasion this season, I have been left scratching my head in disbelief at the subdued nature of our crowd, which has been more suitable for sports such as snooker or cricket. Where did it all go wrong on the terraces? It has long been recognised that the crowd can be a 12th man and push the team onto a victory when a draw seemed likely or even influence the referee when we need that edge of luck or decision to go our way.
Against Basle last night there were over 30,000 crammed into White Hart Lane for a Quarter Final - YES A QUARTER FINAL - of a European trophy in which Spurs have a rich and famous history and one in which AVB wants victory so desperately for Spurs. However, one could be mistaken for thinking they were watching a 2nd Division game with nothing to play for and relegation guaranteed.
Could you imagine the same match having been played in front of Newcastle fans or under the lights at Goodison? The atmosphere would be as electric as the lights which flood the stadium and win, lose or draw they could say they did everything possible to spur their team on. The fans at The Lane last night may as well have stayed at home to watch on TV for all the 'support' they were offering our struggling team out there on the turf. I struggle to understand why some pay £30+ to sit in our temple, worshipping our heroes and offer nothing in the way of support.
I, as I'm sure most of you do, get tired and annoyed at the way the media portray fans of certain clubs as being 'the worlds best', when in reality they just sing when the going's good and a few swinging their shirt over their enlarged stomachs catch the directors eye. Having said that, on more than one occasion this season, our supporters have been easily out sung at home and the only loud noises came from a few boo-boys at the start of the season.
On Sunday we face Everton at home in what could be the defining game of our season. Those going to White Hart Lane must not only be the 12th man but must offer a level of support that takes the roof off our famous stadium and send shivers along Evertonian spines. We must cheer, intimidate and encourage in equal measure and ensure that each one of our 11 warriors on that pitch realise that they have a support army behind them ready to go into battle for our team. With that support we CAN realise our ambitions. With encouragement our stars WILL raise their game. With voices lost our supporters SHOULD leave The Lane knowing they did everything and more to send the mighty Spurs marching on! COYS!
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Its because the working class fans have been driven out by the high prices. The suits/office boys that have replaced them seem more interested by their gadgets than the football. it was £37 + admin/postal for Thr night BTW.
ReplyDeleteErmm, what, the working class fan has been priced out in the space of 1 season has it, mr comment 1?
ReplyDeleteThe reason is simple, if unpalatable to the hoardes of spurs 'fans' who don't actually go to matches and hog Internet chat rooms. It's because football under AVB is methodical and dull. There's no joy in it. Under Harry it was the opposite, a Roller coaster, cavalier attacking football that got the crowd off their seats. It didn't always work of course and I'm not saying we were more effective under Redknapp (though statistically we actually were), but it was a damn sight more exciting.
Thank god for bale this season otherwise I'd have fallen asleep in most games
Rednap would never have bothered with Euro Cup besides, last season he only had the league to focus on and he blew it. AVB is no better though as they are both as bad as each other.
DeleteBoth as good as each other I think you mean.
DeleteMr comment no 2. Nothing to do with the manager. Losing 2 of the best players we've had for years (Van de Vaart & Modric) and replacing them with mediocrity is the reason. The only person to blame is Levy.
ReplyDeleteSorry but I am with Mr comment 2. It is the boring way we are now playing. I have been a Season ticket holder for years and regular for decades. This is the most boring football I have seen. Bale has created an illusion we are doing well.
DeleteThe style of play has had an impact in my opinion. Lots of possession in meanginless areas of the field. Lack of guile and creativity.Apart from flashes of brilliance from Bale it has been dull and mediocre football. We need the VDV's, Modrics and Berbatovs to set the games on fire with the unexpected. That will get the fans fired up and roaring. The ground has become a library because for the most part the team is playing like a bunch of accountants.
ReplyDeleteIt's quiet becasue the inevitable doom is coming - another Europa Cup next season.
ReplyDeleteSpurs BEST ever prem season still not good enough to finish above Arsenal's WORST ever season...
all together now... "We're 1 point abouv you!!!" Yeah, but from this time next week you'll be choking on your Mind The Gap bile you've been mouthing off all season. Don't you EVER learn!
Now be good boys, know your limits, and keep your 2-bob mouths shut!
You fucking idiot. Arsenals worst ever premier league season saw them finish 10th. Spurs have had more points than Arse did in that season in 15 of the 20 years of the PLs existence, you fking stupid cunt!
DeleteYes, the unattractive football must be a factor, and why so many bloggers and posters persist in praising the 'high-pressing modern' game supposedly favoured by AVB, which actually consists of pointless and punchless possession, is one of life's great mysteries - wishful thinking leading to self-delusion in my opinion.
ReplyDeletecomment 2 summed it up perfectly
ReplyDeleteSo, according to the comments so far, it's NOT the fans' fault but someone else's. Sorry, that just doesn't wash. I sit in the Paxton and apart from a few of us there are not many who join in, unless we've just scored or we're playing the Arse.
ReplyDeleteWe pay our hard earned cash, watch a pile of rubbish and get criticised for not being loud enough. Ahhh... the joy of being a Spurs fan.
Deletebecuase it was cold on thursday lol i was there
ReplyDeletei was at the game and couldnt believe the lack of support. our away support is brilliant and i will be in switzerland on thursday to give the basel crowd a drop of some proper yido noise. The WHL faithful will need to raise their game tomorrow. COYS!! x
ReplyDeleteGood article. We have developed a sense of entitlement. A few years ago we created a wall of noise at home to Seville in the Europa. Now its like we are too good for it. the team battle back from 2 down, creating an atmosphere and hostile environment for Basle could have seen us get a winner. Instead we couldn't be arsed. The away support is great but that doesn't excuse not singing at home. Those same away fans must be there!
ReplyDelete'creating an atmosphere and hostile environment for Basle could have seen us get a winner'. So could Scott Parker's open goal. Performance creates atmosphere and there were certain players who turned up thinking they had already won. Totally disorganised.Billy G worried me from the point they were in the tunnel at the start of the match. He was eye balling one of their players like he had shagged his mrs. Brad needs to use his height advantage to help his back 4 by getting involved in set pieces. Sorry, this is not what you want to hear but Spurs need to sort it out before it will be abuse they will be hearing from the terraces
DeleteThis was supposed to be a transitional season following the departure of Harry along with Van Der Vaart, Modric and Ledley King. It is a credit to Spurs that they are currently third. Spurs are now without Bale, Lennon and Defoe for at least the next two games. Don't forget Kaboul has been missing since August and Sandro is sorely missed. So Spurs are fielding an inbalanced team with no real creative midfielder and no prolific striker. It is unlikely that we will make Champions League this season as we did not buy the required players in January, and to be honest we have been unlucky with injuries to so many key players. It doesnt matter whose fault it is. Next season we will be stronger, its a trend. 50 years of average cannot be turned into glory in a few seasons. While we are undoubtedly getting stronger, our rivals may be pipping us to the Europe places, but are getting progressively weaker. It is just a matter of time. Maybe next season?
ReplyDeleteIs finishing above Arsenal once in a blue moon too much to ask for? How about being realistic and less naive about competing on two fronts? We did not have the squad to begin with and AVB is in it for himself and his CV. Champs league is the one. Any long serving Spurs fan will tell you that we have alway been a cup side because of inconsistency. We have nothing to prove in that respect but we do in respect of competing amongst the top tier where we belong.
DeleteThe crowd just behaves like the “sleeping” and naïve new manager! It was a terrible mistake to appoint such an inexperienced and rather naïve than keen-minded manager at Spurs. He is totally unable to “read” and subsequently to neutralize and counteract the rival team tactics. Like it happened on Thursday, intelligent managers can make a monkey out of AVB even with squads that cost ten times less than that of Spurs! He needs to gain experience first working for some time in lower division clubs before he (ever) moves to the PL level. That he once won an European title with Porto had to do more with the world class players (specially the strikers) in their squad who could win a game thanks to their excellent individual actions and scoring ability. Like it is the case this season with Bale.
ReplyDeleteLast time I looked at the PL table we were in 3rd place. Not too bad for an inexperienced and naive manager who is easily made a monkey out of, apparently.
Deletebring the fucking drum back!!!
ReplyDeleteFor a very long time the Spurs faithful has portrayed itself as being sanctimoniously "better" than the lot down the road. "Better" in the sense that they don't get on their players' backs when things go wrong......."Better" in the sense that they don't whinge so much......"better" in the sense that they understand that things don't always go according to plan and they should stay loyal to manager and players through thick and thin.
ReplyDeleteWell, guess what?
There is a large minority of Spurs fans who boo their players even half way through a match. A large minority who hurl abuse at certain players and therefore make them play even worse than they already are. A large minority who are so unintelligent and negative that they think it clever to be pessimistic even before the game has kicked off and are perversely delighted when their expectation seems to be coming true.
They are pathetic.
They are not real supporters.
They should stay away from the ground.
They mainly inhabit the North stand upper.
( wish they would all go and support Kidderminster.
Get a life, you guys! Your negativity is costing us at least four points per season.
What are you on about? I was in the North (Paxton) Upper on Thursday night and I can assure you there wasn't anyone within my hearing booing our lads. Yes, there was frustration because we weren't playing well and when passes went astray but that would be the same at any ground. Admittedly there wasn't a lot of vocal support that night in comparison to other games but there wasn't any real criticism either. Were you at the game? Because I find your comments a bit offensive towards 30,000 supporters who came out on a freezing Thursday evening to be at a match that they could have watched at home on ITV.
DeleteEvery EPL football ground should have standing areas re-installed behind the goals, in the lower tiers.
ReplyDeleteIt should not be too difficult to only allow season ticket holders to safely stand in these areas.
It would put an extra few thousand on the capacity and generate the atmosphere that made those games of the past so memorable.
The all seater stadiums were an attack on working class culture. The hooliganism was disgusting and it needed to be sorted but what we have now is stadiums that have no soul and supporters who turn up expecting to winn every week and be entertained.
I love the remark about the drum.
Do we all have such short memories!!!
ReplyDeleteYes we played great football under Harry but if Harry was in charge this season all we would have heard is "We have sold our best players and we have had half the 1st team out for most of the season, what am I supposed to do work miracles." I remember Harry saying last season "if we make the top 4 it will be a miracle, we are only Tottenham".
We are only Tottenham!!! That's why we had to make the change and get somebody who believed we could challenge at the top and more importantly give the players the belief we could challenge at the top. AVB has had to make do with what he has got this season after losing VDV, Modric and King, then deal with serious injuries to some of our main players. Do you hear him moan and make excuses,No. We are still 3rd in the table, yes you read that correctly 3rd in the table and we are all moaning about the manager, players and everything else. I don't think any of us would care how we played this season if we made the top 4 and that is the most important thing, we are asking the players and the manager to do everything the least we can do and the only thing we can do on matchday is make our voices heard and get behind the team and get them to where we want them to be, top 4. We as supporters should give it everything we have and have no complaints ourselves at the end of the season, remember if we do make the top 4 it gives us more chance to get the players we want in the summer so lets do our bit and give our boys as much encouragement as we can give them, if we dont make it we got plenty of time in the summer to moan!!!! Come on boys we can do it and let's start by giving Everton hell on Sunday. COYS
its funny how some supporters on here are still on about REDCRAPP its a football team u are supposed to support not an arswipe of a manager like REDCRAPP
ReplyDeletewhat was it 3wins in 15 and season before 4 in 13 talk about flowing football u delusional lying twats
dont give us this free flowing football crap with that team we should have easily qualified for europe
i agree with the other comments above
as well and a couple of people mentioned the paxton rd whole heartly agree its pathetic support they even started booing on thursday because a player made mistakes ,they will come out with we pay our money why dont you pay it down QPR and dont come ****** back
some of u people on should be ashamed to be spurs fans if u really are
Blaming AVB for all our ills as one guy said and so have a lot of my mates i am glad to go to away games
see u in basle no doubt we wont see the moaning bastards on here over there
we had this all season soon as we play a bad game 12games undefeated a record for spurs 9away wins another record
next game fulham the paxton boo them
missing half a team since last season
but u ****** idiots boo
WELL DONE THE PAXTON for helping them
arse wipes down the road
and sorry about the expletives but them paxton idiots make my blood boil !!!!!
2 top 4 finishes and a champions league quarter final. Yep, it was bad under Harry, wasn't it?
DeleteYou don't actually go to games, do you
Great debate guys keep them coming but please don't let it turn into a slanging match and stick to the football chat. Cheers. Ps don't forget the e-Spurs Forum www.e-spurs.freeforums.net
ReplyDeleteoh yea chesthunt boy are u a QPR fan now as REDCRAPP gone there 2pts from 8 games oh sorry its 4pts from just 13 games[whats that a quarter of the season ]and where is he still
ReplyDeleteAS you dont seem to support ToTTENHAM
continully slagging of AVB
i suggest like some of the paxton twats
u should pay your money SOMEWHERE ELSE!!!!! LIKE QPR
i dont like this blame on the 'negative style of football' rubbish! it doesnt matter if we are playing rubbish or well, if there are 5,000 or 30,000, or if adebayor or defoe is upfront.. support shouldnt change.
ReplyDeleteBlimey,thought WHL had 4 sides to it.Been going for 52 years,last league game I missed at home was in 1972,been in Paxton lower since the shelf was made all seats,now I find It's all our fault it's been quiet lately,if I stop going will it get better?
ReplyDelete