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"Seeing the video of Robert Sanchez telling the Chelsea fans to relax as it was only half time, made me want to talk about something that has been on my mind for a while: why football stadiums are becoming more impatient, more toxic and polarised.
The pandemic changed our routines and it accelerated a transformation that was already happening in society: overnight, our lives moved onto screens. We watched sport through devices, we debated online, we consumed information in fragments and, importantly for this point, we lived inside a constant stream of opinions.
And with that, something else grew stronger: extremisation.
We have become less able to accept what doesn’t match our own perception. The world has turned into a place where difference is a threat and disagreement feels personal.
Even when those opinions are built on incomplete information, we treat them as unquestionable truths. The most important voice is no longer the most informed one, but the loudest one, the strongest in the moment.
And football, as always, reflects society.
In stadiums now, we increasingly see impatience that would have been unthinkable years ago. Fans protesting a team even before half-time. Whistling after one mistake, even teams that are top of the table. Demanding changes immediately, as if football were a video game and not a complex sport shaped by confidence, form (both appearing in waves during a campaign), injuries, personalities, the limits of a squad or the finances.
We forget that coaches work every day with these players. That they know the realities behind the scenes. That progress is not always instant. But patience has become rare, because the modern world trains us to expect immediate solutions.
What’s worse is that creating a toxic atmosphere no longer feels like a problem for many supporters. The priority becomes: “I want what I want, and I want it now.” Even if it damages the team. Even if it poisons the environment. Even if it turns the stadium into a place of tension instead of support. I cannot think of anything worse than your own fans chanting, “you are going to be sacked in the morning.”
This phenomenon is particularly noticeable in England right now, where protests and frustration inside grounds are becoming more common. Perhaps it is less frequent in Spain, where there is still — sometimes — a different relationship with suffering, with time, with process, with football clubs and the role of fans. At Real Madrid, the whistling to the team lasted a game and it was a protest against the sacking of Xabi Alonso, or a message to the players. The following game, they had moved on. I feel that is legitimate. But the trend is spreading.
The truth is hardly any club lives in happiness anymore. And I feel it is not because football has changed dramatically, but surely because society has.
The modern fan experience is shaped by constant noise, constant judgement, constant outrage. And football, which used to be an escape, has become another space where people project frustration and impatience.
It’s not really about the manager. Or the player. Or even the result. What we are hearing is basically about the world we have become. Although I do feel there is another way.
I know none of this is new. But how about if we thought we might not be right. Someone else might be. Or changing an opinion. Or listening a bit more. Or considering we might not know everything. And respect our differences."
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Every Town fan could do with reading this from Guillem Balague on 18:50 - Feb 1 with 1350 views
I appreciate your efforts here. The answer to society's woes is what you touched on earlier in your post:
The pandemic changed our routines and it accelerated a transformation that was already happening in society: overnight, our lives moved onto screens.
It's often said by forum members here that when they meet other forum members in real life, they share a pint and the need to find differences gives way to looking for connection.
We need to step away from our screens more frequently, engage in face to face communication and regain our humanity. We might even save our local pubs in the process.
[Post edited 1 Feb 19:02]
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Every Town fan could do with reading this from Guillem Balague on 18:51 - Feb 1 with 1344 views
The game is so over analysed now. Blame Sky tv for that, and every other sports channel trying to copy them as they try to create a "product" to sell and justify their ridiculous fees for what used to be a simple game for the nan in the street to go and watch.
Oh, that’s good. Too many points to pick out, they’re all very good. I found grounds noticeably more fractious and toxic after returning from the Covid absences. I’ve wondered if it was me changing, getting soft as I get older, or an increase in snorted up gangs of yoofs that seem to be attending. But that’s an elegant answer and seems born out by a general impatience and anger we find elsewhere in society recently.
Every Town fan could do with reading this from Guillem Balague on 19:10 - Feb 1 by Swansea_Blue
Oh, that’s good. Too many points to pick out, they’re all very good. I found grounds noticeably more fractious and toxic after returning from the Covid absences. I’ve wondered if it was me changing, getting soft as I get older, or an increase in snorted up gangs of yoofs that seem to be attending. But that’s an elegant answer and seems born out by a general impatience and anger we find elsewhere in society recently.
Absolutely. And it's so sad it's happening at Town when the club's history is one of steadfast support.
I saw someone on twitter calling the team 'gutless c*##' on Saturday which I thought said everything about the state of play.
We've got the best manager we've had in 25 years, a stadium and club that is now saying regular investment, we're in the hunt for top two (I still think we will win the league) and we are light years away from the nightmare of the Evans years and yet someone on social media is more interested in posting to try and get attention for themselves.
People can't be very happy to be doing that and in such number.
No problem with proper analysis of the game but the entitled nonsense we've seen this season is anything but that.
I hope George scores the most important goal this season and sticks it right up the grown men performatively giving him abuse.
Support the team. Then whatever happens you can know that you've done your best.
5
Every Town fan could do with reading this from Guillem Balague on 19:19 - Feb 1 with 1095 views
The world's become a more stressful place. Whether that's work. Personal life. You listen or watch the news it feels like a sht storm every day.
Footballs become an escape from reality and because of that the reality of football has been lost.
For 90 minutes youre not thinking about those things. But that pepped up anger. Frustration from the week before carries into matches for some. That fun sport everyone looked forward to watching has become a success quest. Mixing fans with supporters and mixing those with football tourists looking for their football fix but a winning fix.
For me. The minute sky took over football. The Russians and the oil men followed with their money. Arsenal. Spurs. West ham. City. Have all got rid of their homes bigger stadiums to house more and more football fans.
Pepe came over and introduced football chess.. football became a strategic game more than who could play better on the day.
Goal keepers became ball players. Defenders having to turn into midfielders.
Ill be honest. On the forum. Ill have a moan. But I never took that into PR when I went. That time was spent watching singing and being part of a supportive crowd. Id have a good moan after.
But I mentioned things a little while back this season. Qpr fans booing when we beat them. What were they booing for? League favourites ipswich beat you... it wasnt a shock result.
Football and the meaning of football changed when Trevor Francis moved for 1 million. The fa and their contempt for things like fa cup replays etc.. introduction of var. Its all changed the sport we love.
Give us back replays. Take away the the 300k wages. Bring back Highbury etc. Make football a battle between players not a game of chess. Get keepers kicking it long. Get strikers heading it down to a partner.
Anyways I've said a lot. But not really sure what it says. LOL
Every Town fan could do with reading this from Guillem Balague on 19:17 - Feb 1 by jasondozzell
Absolutely. And it's so sad it's happening at Town when the club's history is one of steadfast support.
I saw someone on twitter calling the team 'gutless c*##' on Saturday which I thought said everything about the state of play.
We've got the best manager we've had in 25 years, a stadium and club that is now saying regular investment, we're in the hunt for top two (I still think we will win the league) and we are light years away from the nightmare of the Evans years and yet someone on social media is more interested in posting to try and get attention for themselves.
People can't be very happy to be doing that and in such number.
No problem with proper analysis of the game but the entitled nonsense we've seen this season is anything but that.
I hope George scores the most important goal this season and sticks it right up the grown men performatively giving him abuse.
Support the team. Then whatever happens you can know that you've done your best.
Think there maybe a few other factors e.g. cost of living and for some football may be a release from a stressful job as most people seem to be overworked these days.
Living in Britain right now isn't great and they say people take things out on those they love...
Every Town fan could do with reading this from Guillem Balague on 19:17 - Feb 1 by jasondozzell
Absolutely. And it's so sad it's happening at Town when the club's history is one of steadfast support.
I saw someone on twitter calling the team 'gutless c*##' on Saturday which I thought said everything about the state of play.
We've got the best manager we've had in 25 years, a stadium and club that is now saying regular investment, we're in the hunt for top two (I still think we will win the league) and we are light years away from the nightmare of the Evans years and yet someone on social media is more interested in posting to try and get attention for themselves.
People can't be very happy to be doing that and in such number.
No problem with proper analysis of the game but the entitled nonsense we've seen this season is anything but that.
I hope George scores the most important goal this season and sticks it right up the grown men performatively giving him abuse.
Support the team. Then whatever happens you can know that you've done your best.
Controversial, and will surely get down votes, but I think Royle and McCarthy did better jobs than McKenna over their entire spells, considering the budgetary constraints they were both under.
McKenna met expectations in 22/23 and exceeded them brilliantly in 23/24. We floundered last year, albeit not surprisingly but hardly exceeded expectations, and are struggling to look like a coherent unit, game in game out, this time around.
That's not to say I think he's an awful manager, he should be sacked, he isn't doing a good job. But I disagree with your comment that he's the best manager we've had in 25 years.
Every Town fan could do with reading this from Guillem Balague on 19:19 - Feb 1 by FrimleyBlue
The world's become a more stressful place. Whether that's work. Personal life. You listen or watch the news it feels like a sht storm every day.
Footballs become an escape from reality and because of that the reality of football has been lost.
For 90 minutes youre not thinking about those things. But that pepped up anger. Frustration from the week before carries into matches for some. That fun sport everyone looked forward to watching has become a success quest. Mixing fans with supporters and mixing those with football tourists looking for their football fix but a winning fix.
For me. The minute sky took over football. The Russians and the oil men followed with their money. Arsenal. Spurs. West ham. City. Have all got rid of their homes bigger stadiums to house more and more football fans.
Pepe came over and introduced football chess.. football became a strategic game more than who could play better on the day.
Goal keepers became ball players. Defenders having to turn into midfielders.
Ill be honest. On the forum. Ill have a moan. But I never took that into PR when I went. That time was spent watching singing and being part of a supportive crowd. Id have a good moan after.
But I mentioned things a little while back this season. Qpr fans booing when we beat them. What were they booing for? League favourites ipswich beat you... it wasnt a shock result.
Football and the meaning of football changed when Trevor Francis moved for 1 million. The fa and their contempt for things like fa cup replays etc.. introduction of var. Its all changed the sport we love.
Give us back replays. Take away the the 300k wages. Bring back Highbury etc. Make football a battle between players not a game of chess. Get keepers kicking it long. Get strikers heading it down to a partner.
Anyways I've said a lot. But not really sure what it says. LOL
Think you're spot on. Money has ruined it.
A lot of fairweather fans who treat it just as entertainment now. And if they're not winning so they can make their social media posts then they don't like it.
Football is not a product and it's not a toy.
How many of the boo boys were here during the actual tough times?
[Post edited 1 Feb 19:27]
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Every Town fan could do with reading this from Guillem Balague on 19:24 - Feb 1 with 1042 views
Every Town fan could do with reading this from Guillem Balague on 19:21 - Feb 1 by pointofblue
Controversial, and will surely get down votes, but I think Royle and McCarthy did better jobs than McKenna over their entire spells, considering the budgetary constraints they were both under.
McKenna met expectations in 22/23 and exceeded them brilliantly in 23/24. We floundered last year, albeit not surprisingly but hardly exceeded expectations, and are struggling to look like a coherent unit, game in game out, this time around.
That's not to say I think he's an awful manager, he should be sacked, he isn't doing a good job. But I disagree with your comment that he's the best manager we've had in 25 years.
Come on.
Mick was probably the only one who could have saved us that first season when he came in.
He did well to keep us afloat
Royle was superb.
But KM football has been the best I've seen. Up there with Burley for me.
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Every Town fan could do with reading this from Guillem Balague on 19:31 - Feb 1 with 953 views
Every Town fan could do with reading this from Guillem Balague on 19:24 - Feb 1 by jasondozzell
Come on.
Mick was probably the only one who could have saved us that first season when he came in.
He did well to keep us afloat
Royle was superb.
But KM football has been the best I've seen. Up there with Burley for me.
Though McKenna's had more financial support than the pair of them put together. Both Royle and McCarthy managed us on a shoestring. If we want consider a fan base being "ungrateful" then we can look at the atmopshere between 2016 and McCarthy's departure in 2018. A 2-2 draw at home to Middlesbrough led to chants of "We've got our Ipswich back". Hmm. In the end, 2014/15 probably hurt him in the eyes of the fans in the long run, because it was unsustainable. But I can only say this in hindsight.
Every Town fan could do with reading this from Guillem Balague on 19:31 - Feb 1 by pointofblue
Though McKenna's had more financial support than the pair of them put together. Both Royle and McCarthy managed us on a shoestring. If we want consider a fan base being "ungrateful" then we can look at the atmopshere between 2016 and McCarthy's departure in 2018. A 2-2 draw at home to Middlesbrough led to chants of "We've got our Ipswich back". Hmm. In the end, 2014/15 probably hurt him in the eyes of the fans in the long run, because it was unsustainable. But I can only say this in hindsight.
I didn't like the treatment Mick got towards the end. You're right about that period.
But Mick didn't help himself. Needlessly antagonistic and the football had become unwatchable.
But Evans really to blame.
0
Every Town fan could do with reading this from Guillem Balague on 19:36 - Feb 1 with 892 views
Every Town fan could do with reading this from Guillem Balague on 19:34 - Feb 1 by jasondozzell
I didn't like the treatment Mick got towards the end. You're right about that period.
But Mick didn't help himself. Needlessly antagonistic and the football had become unwatchable.
But Evans really to blame.
That's true. The them v us attitude did provoke tensions more than necessary and McKenna's done a good job not to fall into the same trap, as the temptation must be there at times.
Every Town fan could do with reading this from Guillem Balague on 19:36 - Feb 1 by pointofblue
That's true. The them v us attitude did provoke tensions more than necessary and McKenna's done a good job not to fall into the same trap, as the temptation must be there at times.
Thats why i mentioned it a little while back. I know there was a small group showing a bit of jeers towards him and I know hes not happy with some of the crowd noise.. but dont go down the path of them v us.
Every Town fan could do with reading this from Guillem Balague on 19:36 - Feb 1 by pointofblue
That's true. The them v us attitude did provoke tensions more than necessary and McKenna's done a good job not to fall into the same trap, as the temptation must be there at times.
Yeah. Evans let it all drift and it got ugly.
Remember the last presser?
'Miiiiccckkk!'
0
Every Town fan could do with reading this from Guillem Balague on 19:50 - Feb 1 with 732 views
It does feel the pure joy of football has been sucked out of the game. Look at goal clips from Town games around 93 to 95, the footy was poor, low crowds but people jumped out of their seats with real excitement. See also clips from Duncan years. People cared back then but the game wasn’t analysed to death. It was escapism on a Saturday for a couple hours then everyone got on with their lives. How did things change for the worse, so badly?
Every Town fan could do with reading this from Guillem Balague on 19:50 - Feb 1 by Illinoisblue
It does feel the pure joy of football has been sucked out of the game. Look at goal clips from Town games around 93 to 95, the footy was poor, low crowds but people jumped out of their seats with real excitement. See also clips from Duncan years. People cared back then but the game wasn’t analysed to death. It was escapism on a Saturday for a couple hours then everyone got on with their lives. How did things change for the worse, so badly?
Problem is too. Its evident KM learned from our time in the prem that we need to be prepared better for when we go up. Our style has changed. Our speed of play dramatically changed and its tough at times to enjoy it after we watched 2.5 seasons of attack first defend second.
Every Town fan could do with reading this from Guillem Balague on 19:21 - Feb 1 by pointofblue
Controversial, and will surely get down votes, but I think Royle and McCarthy did better jobs than McKenna over their entire spells, considering the budgetary constraints they were both under.
McKenna met expectations in 22/23 and exceeded them brilliantly in 23/24. We floundered last year, albeit not surprisingly but hardly exceeded expectations, and are struggling to look like a coherent unit, game in game out, this time around.
That's not to say I think he's an awful manager, he should be sacked, he isn't doing a good job. But I disagree with your comment that he's the best manager we've had in 25 years.
Every Town fan could do with reading this from Guillem Balague on 19:50 - Feb 1 by Illinoisblue
It does feel the pure joy of football has been sucked out of the game. Look at goal clips from Town games around 93 to 95, the footy was poor, low crowds but people jumped out of their seats with real excitement. See also clips from Duncan years. People cared back then but the game wasn’t analysed to death. It was escapism on a Saturday for a couple hours then everyone got on with their lives. How did things change for the worse, so badly?
I think it's down to social media and forums. Can you imagine what the reaction would have been like during the latter half of 1993/1994 and 1994/1995? People feeding each other negatives then going to the ground. If Mick McCarthy had it bad, I dread to think how people would have reacted towards Mick McGiven.
Every Town fan could do with reading this from Guillem Balague on 19:17 - Feb 1 by jasondozzell
Absolutely. And it's so sad it's happening at Town when the club's history is one of steadfast support.
I saw someone on twitter calling the team 'gutless c*##' on Saturday which I thought said everything about the state of play.
We've got the best manager we've had in 25 years, a stadium and club that is now saying regular investment, we're in the hunt for top two (I still think we will win the league) and we are light years away from the nightmare of the Evans years and yet someone on social media is more interested in posting to try and get attention for themselves.
People can't be very happy to be doing that and in such number.
No problem with proper analysis of the game but the entitled nonsense we've seen this season is anything but that.
I hope George scores the most important goal this season and sticks it right up the grown men performatively giving him abuse.
Support the team. Then whatever happens you can know that you've done your best.
Hirsty is an interesting case.
This season he’s got 6 in 25 appearances so far Last time in this league in 23/24 he got 7 in 26
That’s not to ignore the fact that he’s missed more big chances this year and looks short of confidence. But his numbers around chances and goals is very similar to 23/24 when everyone thought he was great. We’re using him slightly different this season too, and he was much more involved in the buildups in 23/24 but this year Clarke and Philogene are far more likely to hold on to the ball.
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