Ugly
Monday, October 22, 2012 at 6:23PM Seems there are efforts to rationalise the Kyle Walker abuse by suggesting the player should man up and accept supporters will get upset. Some will always want to share their frustrations because social media allows such communication to play out impulsively very publicly for everyone to see after the fact (comments are frozen in time for all to see and refer back to). It's anti-social media at the best of times. There is nothing to rationalise here, just some harsh realities to accept as the ugly side of following football rears its head once again.
The below quotes are from Tottenham supporters.
I was at the game and was unbelievably frustrated by what walker did in the build up to the 4th goal and I think his defensive performances this season have been disappointing. If a player makes a crucial error like that then of course supporters are going to have a moan at the time.
But once it's done you have a duty, in my opinion, to get behind the guy and let him know that there's a way back from a spell of poor form.
You don't go on twitter calling him a c**t, or whatever it is people did.
I can understand the frustration and the moaning, but some of it gets quite vitriolic and aggressive. Why act like that towards your own player. I think a lot of people have trouble in understanding that these people are humans.
Bottom of Park Lane were on him like hounds on a limping fox yesterday after the fourth went in, almost as bad as they gave to Ashley Cole. Pretty dangerous for the team if you start abusing your own players worse than the opposition's. Some of the fans during the last couple of years have really done their best to hack off the fans that will support the team no matter what and no matter who they are.
Atmosphere only perked up when we went 2-1 up, I can't put my finger on why. I thought the atmosphere would be malevolent but it was tame, might have been a bit more intense had JT played.
This goes beyond one player's loss of confidence.
You might argue that Kyle should not have removed his Twitter account. He should have simply logged off and taken a sabbatical. Either way it's just a Twitter account. It's completely his prerogative whether he wants to remove it or not. Much like you and I are free to do the same. And let's be honest, most footballers post irreverent stuff about Nandos or just re-tweet shout outs - but it's also their prerogative to use it as they see fit. See BAE and Adebayor for examples on how they entertain us and themselves. There is nothing to stipulate how you should go about micro-blogging. So it shouldn't be a big deal either way but the fact he did remove it suggests he's hardly chuffed scrolling through the colourful messages left for him. Walker has today said it wasn't Spurs fans criticising him but rather people trolling and he's thankful for the support shown since Saturday.
The actual problem away from the social media aspect is pretty much illustrated in the quotes shared above. Our fans are still behaving erratically whether it's at the ground or elsewhere. Kyle Walker along with other footballers simply need to be prepared for the fact that some will always respond in this manner. You've got to be thick-skinned. We've always had an element of fickle and easily frustrated fans for as long as I can remember. We like to scapegoat. Just suck it up as best you can and try not to laugh at the irony that the same fans probably cheered you on when your form was solid and you were being lauded with awards and will cheer you on again when you regain that missing confidence and self belief.
The concerning trend is that the element of fickle and easily frustrated supporters is festering into a far nastier element and for what reason exactly? Are we a club in turmoil? Are we in crisis? Are we destined for mid-table mediocrity? Do we genuinely have nothing to smile about? Are the players out of form so bad, so beyond repair that the way to deal with them is to abuse them? Why do we possess a defeatist attitude before a ball is even kicked? Are we under that much pressure as supporters?
What? I can hear you. I'm back with this same agenda. I can only be reflective with what is currently happening so look closer to home if you're bored of this argument.
Walker's feet probably haven't touched the ground since his hedonistic rise. There's probably been plenty of hype to help him on his way, disguising some of the weakness that need development. The Chelsea performance will hopefully be a catalyst to some soul searching for the player and man-management from Villas-Boas and his coaching team.
Yes, things get said in the heat of the moment, some supporters react without thinking because the heart consumes the mind and it's all reactive and sometimes regretful but always because of the love we have for the club. Makes us do crazy things. Some players will rise above it, others won't.
I've said it before and I've been told much like it's Walker's prerogative to do what he wants, supporters have a right to support the team in the manner they wish to. There's something unnerving and unattractive with the attitude of a fair few of us that think a culture of blame is the way forward. That trend has been ever present this season. Some of our faithful still find it easier to heckle than support, they find it easier to scapegoat and ignore compassion and objectivity. Other's only find their voice when we're winning.
It's an emotive experience, always, supporting Tottenham. At the moment, the despondent trend is one of a minority but it persists in making plenty of noise.
That's done. Back to the football. Which is that thing that happens on the green field that is meant to bring us so much joy. Chelsea aftermath chit chat on the way.
Reader Comments (20)
There is a fringe element within Tottenham support who will always bemoan the endeavours of our Head Coach and the squad, sadly this element is growing through Internet sites with nothing to report but negativity, some bloggers find it easier to castigate players after a game than look for the positives. They expect Barcelonesque performances from a squad depleted through injury, a fledgeling squad yet to gel, granted there were schoolboy mistakes, no player was above criticism but they are our team, the guys we want to in time challenge for honours and we will be the first to bask in the glory of their triumph.
The Lane is far to quiet on match days where once it rocked on FA Cup nights, European nights and When we welcomed the Gunners, let's hope the new Stadium will recreate the Atmosphere we once had. TOOTH
I know I am bias. I know that all of the information I use to make my limited opinion on a players personality is via some form of propaganda, be it spurs or general media platforms, but I genuinely believe that we have one of the nicest group of players you could have at a football club. As I say, I appreciate I do not know these guys, it's not like any of us are lucky enough to have a pint and a chat with some of our players, but in interviews I have watched and in clips of training, you can really see a group of smart, nice lads. Parker, Brad, JD, Azza, Gareth, kyle, naughton, thudd, the snake, kaboul, the list goes on. I may be wrong and they are all cunts, I might be right but you still might think "so, who gives a fuck if they are sound" but it has always mattered to me. I guess when I was growing up supporting spurs in the 90s (I'm 28) you get used to supporting a team for more than just whether they win or lose (especially if its spurs and you lose all the time like we did back then) it's based on principles and values, values both on and off the pitch. There is no real point to this post other than the fact it deeply saddens me when your read idiotic comments from fans saying the most ridiculous, hateful shit towards our own players. I was born in walthamstow so I always felt spurs chose me rather than the other way but from my understanding based on what fellow spurs fans have told me, this is a common feeling. Remember why you chose spurs. I don't feel any of the current players or coaching staff have gone against any of the principles I hold dear. Love the fucking shirt. COYS
Empty vessels make the most noise. If anyone deserved flak, it was Gallas. To err once with a clearance back into the danger area is a mistake, but to do it twice in one match for a veteran is unforgivable!! I hope BAE or Naughton can allow Vertonghen to move back to centre back to allow Gallas a rest and play in the cups or EUEFA league instead of the premier league.
I'm sick to death of the post match keyboard warriors we have. Every team has them but I have left forums due to not wanting to converse with such a lack of intelligence.
I found this to actually be quite saddening. He's been having a rough spot, hardly calls for him to be abused the way he does. We all forget the good he has done. It would be stupid if he decided he wanted to go somewhere else where the supporters don't give him as much stick as we've been. Thoroughly disgusted.
If you match in most of the game Chelsky, you take the lead in the second half coming from behind and finally you lose that important and prestigious game because of stupid individual mistakes, you have no reasons to celebrate as a Spurs fan.
Except if you are a mediocre person and you think Spurs are in the same level as Fulham, QPR or WH.
Spurs participate in a COMPETITION and have certain targets which can be achieved only by collecting a certain number of points.
They don't play for fun or for exhibition.
Pointing the finger at those responsible for that defeat it's rather normal.
After all they don't play for free but mostly they are getting a high salary.
When you get a high salary you have also high responsibilities and you have to play in a proper and responsible way in return and avoid making mistakes that cost dearly to your team/employer.
Otherwise you simply aren't a good professional.
All is being asked from such a player to do is to play concentrated for one and a half hour!
That's all!
Failing to do that, he isn't worth the money he is getting.
I sent a tweet to Brad Friedel. I hope he got to read it. I thanked him for his service in the previous season and requested him to, kindly, step-aside and allow our more talented and way younger goalie to play in his position. I hope he won't take it personally...Actually, I hope he does and decides to leave. The sooner the better. I like AVB. But he is obviously too scared to do the right thing here. Granpa Friedel sucks!
Its business Yo!
I felt bad for Kyle Walker. Especially when I read his pre-accounttermination tweet about him always giving 100%. I believe he always gives 100%. But something is clearly wrong. If you doubt it, take a look at the Torres chance that narrowly missed the left upright. Walker is basically having a stroll. He's so casual its actually amusing. As for the mistake he made...he had started an unnecessary fight with Mata way earlier and he was trying to to prove a point to Mata when he got mugged and embarrassed. What came next (the vitriol) should have been expected and embraced as a hash life lesson.
Spooky needs to read some of his previous works. We are not the only ones to criticize a player after an annoying performance. For the record, I'm not one of the Walker tweeter haters. I actually sent a tweet to the other Kyle asking that he let his bro know we love him.
Man I wish these people would just give up their season tickets so fans like me can get one and actually go support the team whatever.
Embarassing the way some fans near me in the shelf behave every week, booing, insulting our own players etc. I watched the match with a Reading fan this weekend who was genuinelly shocked after the game at a) how negative some of our fans were throughout b) how quiet the atmosphere was first half compared to how loud it was beginning of the second. We all should be getting behind the players...if you're not capable of doing that then don't bother turning up there's plenty of other people on the waiting list who want to actually support, not attack our great club! Coys
Spooky - as ever - on the button.
Luke - as a fellow E17er, though a LOT older, I'd like to say thanks for the lovely post and say that I agree, perhaps naively with every word you say. And if I AM naive about OUR club, I don't care!!
loanX - you sound like you should buy shares in a merchant bank (I hope you realise that could be rhyming slang) rather than support a football team that struggles to be as great as those with far more cash.
COYS!!
TommyHarmer, first, buying proper players isn't only a matter of money but rather of proper knowledge and ability to spot some important traits and skills on a player.
Second, to be ambitious with your club isn't something bad and being mediocre it isn't great.
If you don't like competition you can watch a circus performance or the Harlem Globetrotters.
Spurs are competing to win games and not for exhibition reasons.
They spend also a lot of money to that reason.
Maybe you don't care when your club fails to win a game or its players fail to do properly what they are paid for but there also other supporters who really care about those things!
It's a matter of how ambitious someone is with his club.
Luke - Funny you should mention not being "lucky enough to have a pint and a chat " with the players. That wasn't always the case. I've been a spurs supporter since the mid 1950's, in those days it was quite normal for some of the players to go for a pint along the Tottenham High road. Even some of the visiting club players joined in. I well remember chatting to Cliff Jones, Bobby Smith, Bill Brown, and Derek Tapscott when he was playing for Arsenal along with a couple of other Arsenal players.
Those were the days. Too much social snobbery these days.
@loanX: "Ambitious with his club"
I'm sorry, what do you mean by this? Have you donated a few million to the club for transfer fees/wages? Are you on the training staff, or tactical staff? You have no impact on what happens on the field, so how can you be ambitious for the club? You're a supporter, your job is to support. Buying a ticket doesn't mean anything more or less.
Good ol' Google:
"1. A strong desire to do or to achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work.
2. Desire and determination to achieve success."
You can be ambitious for yourself, that's great (depending on who you tread on to achieve, I guess) - but not for a third party.
Spooky;
The headline Ugly is very fitting. For so called Spurs fans to use the social media to abuse one of our players is absolutely not acceptable. Yes, - Walker did suddenly not have one of his best days, - however there is no doubt that he is a huge talent and I am sure that with the nurture of our mangement team, - he will in time turn out to be a top, top player for us !
It saddens me that the boo boys, - now again raises their UGLY head and follow up with social media abuse of our induvidual players ! Please stop this nonsense and get behind the team, in good as well as bad times !
Love The Shirt Love the Spurs !!!
You can make post match comments about a player . after all that is what it is all about. But to directly insult a player personally is disgusting. I still do not think much of Livermore but when he puts on the white shirt i am 100% behind him and even after a stinker i would not discuss it with him personally. I suppose that we all forget the "anus index" which indicates that one out of three of us is a potential anus: a scary thought.
These morons can now be thanked for the new CFC interest in Walker although this could just be the "usual bull effluent in the media".
I don't have a twitter site. My grand daughter does and showed me what was on it.
There was a collection of the most mundane, trivial, personal accounts that leave me wondering as to the mental age of the people who have the bare faced audacity to write about their private lives and those of their friends.
It is of profound indifference to me, and I suggest to the world, that Aunt Mary has just had a corn removed, or that her best friend is in the club with no idea who the father is. BIG DEAL.
The site is only suitable for the "Brain Dead" or persons who probably are, and if they aren't, should be, in a lunatic asylum.
Anyone who goes on this site deserves everything they get as far as I am concerned. You could find more intelligent life forms by trawling a cesspit.
The demented ravings are so banal that Twitter should be declared a crime against humanities sanity.
Flew in from Chicago to see game, only just made it as plane was delayed, sat in J Block where a couple of years ago we gave arsenal hell during the Danny rose game
Seems like now it was full of tourists and hipsters who have only known the club since bale got good, I was disgusted by the all of support obviously nobody remembers how bad we were for years, when 5th place used to be miraculous
We need to stop the air of entitlement and keep singing whatever happens, makes no sense to be quiet the players CAN hear us you know!!
Walker has been poor no excuse , why not play smith against Southampton? Just I give Kyle something to think about?
to loanX (sorry I'm late back, but I don't hang around on here all day)
I thank you for your wonderful expertise, as I said before: you should have been a merchant banker. Aside of whether buying a ticket entitles you to do any more than support 'your' team, may I just add that Spurs have competed in a match with a team which significantly outspent them in the close season. They struggled hard to get players and clearly tried for Hazard and Oscar not to mention Marin, plus earlier Cahil, and were beaten to all of them by the Russian with the fat wallet. Despite this, as I say, they COMPETED ..... they weren't out of it until Walker's unfortunate error (caused, probably, by trying to retain the ball in order to attack). Chelsea were the better team but WE were without a number of key players and showed despite losing why we will figure this season. That is as a result of the astuteness of Levy and AVB, but this seems to be unrecognised by you. As far as you're concerned, by an ingenious display of wheeler-dealing, ('Arry-style perhaps) YOU would have strengthened the team in a stroke, and we would have blown Chelsea out of the water to the sound of the 1812 Overture. Please, PLEASE ..... tell us all EXACTLY how, o wise merchant banker??!! Or are you just frustrated because we lost and in need of a club (say Chelsea) that doesn't?
COYS!!!
I don't think Kyle deserves vulgour abuse, he has been poor this season. I think the main person to blame for our collapse is Gallas, the guy was at fault for all the goals and plays dangerous. He cannot compose the team and get them to calm down which brings additional pressure, the arm band needs to be past on to Jan the Van. He has been amazing always composed and always thinking on his head. The amount of times i have grown frustrated at reckless tackles and stupidity from Gallas, it is about time people relise the real cause of our problems. This man is a constant thorn in our progress. Soon as Kaboul comes back or ekotto then i want this guy benched!!! :)
Yeah,that's the way to do it, Sam - defend Walker by assassinating Gallas!!