Club or country? Spurs or England?
Monday, September 7, 2009 at 2:06PM Do you care much about the English national team? I'm sure most of you do, but in comparison to supporting Spurs week in week out, do you get as emotionally involved? What's more important? Club or country?
Yeah, I know. You've never heard that question asked before have you? In fact, it's probably best to ignore the question because most would side with their club, because it's the bread and butter of the game.
Club football is massive, but the pressures and expectations of major tournaments still has me nervous, gutted and joyful - pretty much like watching Tottenham.
Obviously, every Spurs game matters far more than the odd qualifying match or friendly. But when we're involved in a World Cup, it's unquestionably important and equally devastating when we are traditionally knocked out by the Q-F's. It just is. Much like any Spurs game just is.
It's a bit like the cricket. Biting nails during The Ashes, not that fussed with the one-day internationals. England games deep into a championship get the hairs on the back of my neck all stand-upish but otherwise, I don't care too much as long as the team play well.
Some might argue this is just a jingoistic reaction on my part, getting carried away with the over-hype of the press and Union Jack flag waving that sweeps across the nation when England Expects. Making England a part-time bonus to club football rather than the be all and end all of supporting. Although I can clearly remember how sick I've felt when the dream is ended in the latter stages of any give World Cup. You can't fake that type of depression.
I won't ask that clichéd question (oh) about whether you would choose to see Spurs win the title or England win the World Cup. Or whether you just watch England and hope the Spurs representatives do well. Or perhaps hope they sit firmly on the bench and don't get to play, avoiding the potential for injury.
I guess, for me, club football is more important because its your identity as a supporter. England, (even if it can be a circus some of the time, not too dis-similar to Spurs I guess) is just as important from an emotional viewpoint. But only at certain moments. Mainly because its more condensed and all hopes fall upon a summer month every other year.
If you check out the link included in this blog post above, you'll find that most of the Spurs fans in the message board thread are not actually choosing between club and country. They don't appear to care that much, if at all, about the national side. It's more a case of, Spurs matters, England doesn't. No so much club or country, but just club.
/discuss
Reader Comments (31)
Im with you Spooky, get very excited at the major tournements, but really get bored with the friendlies, it would help if it england would take games by the scruff of the neck, play exciting football and go for it, but they always seem to scared to get injured.
Although Defoe seems to be the exception at the moment
Is this the same question for ARSEnal fans and supporting all their players in the French team.
Spurs all the way for me, but I support England in most sports even the ones I don't care too much about, like the Ryder Cup. Hate losing to the Americans. Don't even like golf, but I follow it and pray we win. I guess following the national side in football has the bonus that its football, obviously. But would never say I dont care about the national side. Try saying that if Scotland beat us. Or Argentina.
Do the players even care about international football the way they do about their clubs? Cricket has a system that simply exists for the players to aim for international status. County cricket is there to aid the national teams. Can't say that is relevant in this day and age in football.
I used to, I really did.
But those years under Keegan, Sven and Mclaren really killed it off for me.
These days I see it much like cricket (well, not quite as bad as cricket): SHIT, and a waste of time.
It's better now, undoubtedly; but I can't seem to rekindle my enthusiasm for it. I never bother watching it when it comes on TV, although I do wish I'd have seen the Lennon & Defoe show second half on saturday.
And then there's the worry about key players getting injured. I'm not even gonna go there.
Spurs, I'd die for.
England? Nah.
The thrill of a World Cup is rather special though isn't it?
unfortunately football players themselves have put me off international football.
Things I can just about tolerate from Spurs players I can't from the likes of Terry and Gerrard et al.
So I avoid most England football, although I really like the tournaments generally and as much if not more when England aren't playing in them.
World Cups are wonderful footballing experiences, so much emotion and colour. Football of the highest quality, usually. It's almost like a bubble though, because otherwise you tend to look at international football as an unwanted distraction. Prefer club football but club football never reaches the heights of a WC for pure emotion.
All I will say though, is thank god this england game is at home, so the boys don't have to travel far, unlike the sgt and GDS,
just hope it doesnt effect the game on saturday
COYS
Personally, I never understood fans who followed their clubs and were indifferent to their national team (whoever that might be). But the decadence and self-delusion around the entire England set up over the past decade or so has greatly lessened my allegiance to the team. (Terry's unbelievably self-satisfied comments about "honest" England and then Rooney's shameful dive for the penalty on Saturday are just the latest examples.) But like you Spooky I can't help but cheer the team on when it gets down to the serious business. What mugs we are as footie types, eh?
As a long term English exile in a land that loves everything non english, it fills me with pride hearing the national anthem before kick off only for poor performances to ruin it. my god if we get beaten I do not live it down, I must say I really enjoyed the Euro's England did not qualify for as Ireland had no one to cheer on because no one was playing against us, strange how they all follow premiership teams though
stuff england spurs all the way. The only reason i watch internationals is because i hope any of our players dont get injured
i pick spurs over country everytime becuase im welsh and ive pretty much given up on welsh football as a whole, we just to finland 2-0 for fucks sake
lost to finland sorry
Well not all spurs supporters are English for a start!
I get bored with the same old same old England faces with the same (normally England underachieving) players, fat frank, GBH Gerrard, plug ugly Ferd etc etc - and they're still playing Heskey!! (& keeping our JD out!) Get's more interesting when a Lillywhite plays, but then there's the injury nerves.
Will watch England but LOVE Spurs, cannot get all excited seeing the likes of Terry though.Really don't understand why there is a 10 day break before an International but 3 days before the International players have to play for their clubs. Point in question is Palacious, playing at 3am Thursday morning, I believe we play Saturday. This stinks of complete disreguard towards the clubs and therefore the people that fund the game at Club and International level, the SUPPORTERS ! Not only do Club supporters have to spend an evening possibly travelling many miles to watch their teams rearranged game, from a Saturday that is used for a friendly but the International supporters, which is everyone in England, have to travel on a week day, home games possibly are bearable for all but the most northerly supporters but the England faithful who travel to away games lose a day or even two getting to and from the match. Afraid its Spurs all the way for me.
I have to say I truly enjoyed the last Tournament (Euro 08) that we failed to qualify for...some excellent football and completely devoid of the hysterical media crap always trailing the England side when we are involved and the sickening focus on what the WAGS are up to....It was simply all about the football and so much the better for it.
Spain were tremendous exponents of the beautiful game and a joy to see win it with style as well as substance.
SInce FC has taken over I have found my enthusiasm rekindled and have once again enjoyed watching with pride any SPURS talent making a positive contribution while avoiding serious injury. Will be willing JD, and AL or PC if they get a run out, onto great things while supping Hook Norton from the sofa come Wednesday evening....
well I dont know about you but seeing spurs players all around the world cup games
is great for all concerned with the downside being time issues and injuries.....
keano,gio,pav,defoe,crouch,etc etc..........
I'm with you spurssince67 - I enjoyed that way more than I've enjoyed any other international tournament since Euro 96.
For me, being a spurs fan IS being English, I see it almost as a lesson in life.
The build up of anticipation and the ferverent media expectation, only for those hopes and dream to be dashed upon some particularly sharp rocks as they pursue their lemming-like dreams.
Ok so it is an endeavour that almost is the definition of futility. Doesn't mean I don't like the possibility of 'what could be', it keeps the optimistic side of me in check with the cynic.
I feel excited when Spurs play, but when there is an important England game, it's a whole new level.
England all the way.....
I think that the English team should be picked exclusively from teams outside the "top 4" and include more championship players and even lower leagues. I know the team nearly picks itself these days, but is anyone excited by the same old shite faces, can gerhard and lamphard play togevver ? all the usual crap... I personally think the players who are not "superstars" would play with heart and determination, plus the games would be more relevant to more fans, who have generally little to get excited about in their club season.. It would be a bit like the Irish team of old, with all those genuine Irish lads who were too good for the England team, ( i'm Irish, can u tell?). It is just a thought, but i would even cheer for an English team without the tossers, and lets be honest, they are not exactly steamrolling teams with lower ranked superstars.
Spurs all the way.
I like your way of thinking.
I used to really love getting excited about England at a major tournament but I can't support a team with John Terry as captain he's a ball watching, flat footed, thug. I still like to support the team down the pub with my mates cos its unusual for me to have mates around who support the same team, (I live in Newcastle so most of my mates are Toon fans) but it's not like it used to be. Also, when the Spurs lads play I like to see them do well, but I'd rather they were at home not getting injured.
Internationals belong in the summer when the real football isn't on.
Spurs for me,really cant get past john terry being captain the mans not fit to lace ledleys boots let alone represent my country, to many overhyped non performers playing look at the hysteria over that useless gooner walcott scores a hat trick does nothing in the league or for england for nearly a year yet people still hold him above swp and lennon. When theres players willing to bleed for those 3 lions then mayb my choice would be different untill then tottenham will always come first COYS
The Walcott thing is a joke. People say Lennon has no end product...er, really? All 'Theo' does is run very fast and because he wears an Arsenal shirt he's compared to Henry. Give over. Most over-hyped player who, low and behold, has already began to stagnate (before he was injured). Have to laugh when Sven took him to the WC. I reckon Fabio will take him too and I can already see Aaron being left behind regardless of his form.
Country always. Not even worth a debate.
It has got to be Spurs all the way, yes international competitions are exciting and I do want England to win but unfortunately the idea of Lampard, Terry, Ashley Cole and the rest of the flash pricks winning a major championship does not fill me with excitement. Somehow I don’t imagine Waterstones would be able to manage with the autobiographies written by the boring, overhyped and under talented waste of spaces.
Give me an FA cup final win with 30,000 real Tottenham fans any day
COYS
Spurs.
I just don't want to be represented by those self-serving slack-jawed ninnies Terry, Lampard, Rio etc. Thought Joey Barton summed it up perfectly with his "went to World Cup, played sh1t, here's my book" quote.
Love the big tournaments, even more so when England aren't in them. Just how good was Euro 08 from a neutral perspective without feeling obliged to will on a team of turgid cloggers grinding their way to an inevitable QF penalty knock out as soon as they come up against anyone half decent. Good excuse for a piss up though.
The press don't help matters either. They pretend to support the team but manifest problems that aren't there and undermine the team just for an exclusive. Witness the job they're doing on Glen Johnson. And then there are the relentless England related adverts that start a month before the tournament, those poxy little flags on white vans... I need a lie down.
I would like to use this forum to thank our two Croat stars Modric and Charlie for putting Spurs before their country.That whole broken leg thing is all bull, its just a small sprain and he is resting himself for the Manure and Chelsea games and being a couple a days before the transfer window closed he didn't want Ferguson bidding for his services therefore the faking of injury. Samr thing with Charlie,he didn't wanna play mid-week and then with no rest face Manure . So absolutely club before country