AVB - Right or Wrong?

[Dier Hard]

So AVB has today taken the time in his post-match interview to have a dig at the Spurs fans who went to the game today for giving a negative atmosphere.

"I compliment the boys for what they did - great work rate. Not only that but we played away from home. We didn't have the support that we should have had in a game that we needed a win," he told Sky Sports.

"There was much anxiety present in the fans which transmitted to the players, so this victory is down to the players. We did it with no help today."

It's taken me, and I'm sure a few others to warm to AVB and I really was starting to come around to the guy, even if performances haven't been easy on the eye, he's getting results. However after these comments he's really not helped himself out in my opinion and to be honest I'm quite ****ed off with what he said.

To say first of all that "we played away from home" is a really sarcastic comment to make towards your own fans, yes admittedly the Lane was quiet, no one will deny that but what does he expect when week-in, week-out, paying fans are being treated to what is boring football? The negative performances are wearing off on the fans, as more time goes by where we don't score, the more anxious and nervous the fans get, especially after what happened in our last home game.

Then he mentions how they did it with no help. I can fully appreciate the fans can act as a major motivational booster and somewhat "12th man" but ultimately, the 11 players on the pitch are what win games. They're paid ridiculous amounts of money to play football and our players in particular are paid to play at a high standard, certainly one that should be capable of beating Hull at home. I never think a team has a divine right to win a game but at home, Spurs should be dominating teams like Hull regardless of whether the fans are loud or not and shouldn't have to be relying on penalties to take 3 points.

I may have taken the comments too much to heart but I think it's bang out of order to criticise the people that contribute massively to paying their extraordinary wages. We're entitled to sing, shout, be silent, sit down, stand up, moan, praise, it's part and parcel of being a fan in the business that is football nowadays.

So that's my piece, what does everyone else feel about comments?

 

[District Line]

Wrong.

Have a dig at the players/owner/chairman by any means but attacking the fans (especially your own) is wrong in so many levels, especially the ones that pay big money to go. That's one of the reasons why Benitez has long been the antithesis of Chelsea Football Club.

 

[junction8spurs]

I was there today and the football we witnessed was dire.
How can anyone expect the fans to get excited or passionate about that?

The atmosphere at the lane has been getting worse over the last 2-3 years, away games it's becoming more subdued as well.
Who can blame us though when we spend good money to follow our club and we end up watching that crap?

I've missed the 3 away ties in Europe but made all the other games so far this season, and the football we've seen has been methodical, efficient and boring so far. Not a lot to entertain us or get the fans going.


He was wrong to have a dig at us. Maybe he should rethink his strategy and try playing the entertaining football that we want to see instead of boring us each week.

 

[O.Spurcat]

I am no fan of Villas Boas and I find his style of play very tedious. But the reality is that when Redknapp was giving us great flowing football and tons of entertainment and CL football, the atmosphere inside WHL was not really that much better. In fact, apart from a handful of occasions, the atmosphere has never really been the same since Martin Jol left.

I can think of a few reasons why this might be, but I do think there has been a new breed of fan at the Lane over the past few years who demands instant success and whinges at every setback.

Whatever, it doesn't help the situation when a manager says what AVB has said this evening. Comments such as his, do little to help the situation and when Harry spoke out in such a manner, he was slaughtered. So, I expect people to be constant and slaughter AVB likewise.

 

[junction8spurs]

I am no fan of Villas Boas and I find his style of play very tedious. But the reality is that when Redknapp was giving us great flowing football and tons of entertainment and CL football, the atmosphere inside WHL was not really that much better. In fact, apart from a handful of occasions, the atmosphere has never really been the same since Martin Jol left.

I can think of a few reasons why this might be, but I do think there has been a new breed of fan at the Lane over the past few years who demands instant success and whinges at every setback.

Whatever, it doesn't help the situation when a manager says what AVB has said this evening. Comments such as his, do little to help the situation and when Harry spoke our in such a manner, he was slaughtered. So, Iespect people to be constant and slaughter AVB likewise.

Well said, can't disagree with any of that especially the bit about a new breed of fan.

 

[Dier Hard]

Wrong.

Have a dig at the players/owner/chairman by any means but attacking the fans (especially your own) is wrong in so many levels, especially the ones that pay big money to go. That's one of the reasons why Benitez has long been the antithesis of Chelsea Football Club.

Over the years I've paid thousands towards Spurs and so to see our own manager come out and slate people like myself, I find it really insulting.

I was there today and the football we witnessed was dire.
How can anyone expect the fans to get excited or passionate about that?

The atmosphere at the lane has been getting worse over the last 2-3 years, away games it's becoming more subdued as well.
Who can blame us though when we spend good money to follow our club and we end up watching that crap?

I've missed the 3 away ties in Europe but made all the other games so far this season, and the football we've seen has been methodical, efficient and boring so far. Not a lot to entertain us or get the fans going.

I've been going for about 8-9 years now, missed about 3 homes games in that time, go to about 6 away ones and like you say over the past 2 or so years the atmosphere has declined. Some of it I believe is down to plastics, they've only come to see the likes of Bale (when he was here) and all our new high profile signings but some of it is down to the performances. I can understand the mentality that fans should sing and chant throughout regardless of result but when you're paying shed loads of money, your expectation levels rise and therefore if you're not seeing the standard you'd expect, you can't help but go a little quiet. I'll never boo the players and always join in with chants but I have noticed at how content (if that's the right word) I am to just sit there at times in anxiety hoping we'll do something special rather than trying to cheer the team on to do it.

 

[Spursguru]

What is the point of singing, or what is the advantage of singing...it's to get the guys up and playing, get them confident.

So if they are going to play the same methodical brand of dull football regardless of noise, what is the point?

He should have had a litle think to himself first before having a pop at the fans though. This is not SAF asking utd to be louder in Europe, this is a guy that has 2 full seasons in management. He has a lot to learn unfortunately.

 

[junction8spurs]

I've been going for about 8-9 years now, missed about 3 homes games in that time, go to about 6 away ones and like you say over the past 2 or so years the atmosphere has declined. Some of it I believe is down to plastics, they've only come to see the likes of Bale (when he was here) and all our new high profile signings but some of it is down to the performances. I can understand the mentality that fans should sing and chart throughout regardless of result but when you're paying shed loads of money, your expectation levels rise and therefore if you're not seeing the standard you'd expect, you can't help but go a little quiet. I'll never boo the players and always join in with chants but I have noticed at how content (if that's the right word) I am to just sit there at times in anxiety hoping we'll do something special rather than trying to cheer the team on to do it.

Likewise,I'll never boo any of our players no matter how poor they are or how much I don't like them (gallas & no10!). I'll try and get behind our team every game but it's getting harder each week watching these sort of displays.

 

[District Line]

If you can't offer quality you have to offer energy. There was a fantastic atmosphere at the Stadium of Light today. Evident lack of quality right throughout that team but there was energy and players throwing themselves at the ball from the first whistle. I get the impression that with Spurs, not only is there a lack of quality/cutting edge but also a lack of energy about the team. There's nothing to get the fans enthused.

 

[Dier Hard]

If you can't offer quality you have to offer energy. There was a fantastic atmosphere at the Stadium of Light today. Evident lack of quality right throughout that team but there was energy and players throwing themselves at the ball from the first whistle. I get the impression that with Spurs, not only is there a lack of quality/cutting edge but also a lack of energy about the team. There's nothing to get the fans enthused.

Spot on.

 

[Spursguru]

If you can't offer quality you have to offer energy. There was a fantastic atmosphere at the Stadium of Light today. Evident lack of quality right throughout that team but there was energy and players throwing themselves at the ball from the first whistle. I get the impression that with Spurs, not only is there a lack of quality/cutting edge but also a lack of energy about the team. There's nothing to get the fans enthused.

Yeh, what he said.

 

[littleDinosaurLuke]

Managers should be savvy enough to know that fans are fickle, whichever club they support. They expect their team to win the game they are playing, show undying commitment and loyalty and to royally entertain them in the process. Every club will have a sizeable group of fans who will boo the team if their expectations are not met. It wasn't so long ago that Arsenal fans booed their team every game and severely criticised Wenger and/or the board - but at present they are cock-a-hoop. But afterwards, on reflection, these fans will cherish the win, look at the league table and feel quite content with the job the manager is doing in getting results from a fledgling team. AVB has been a bit naive with his comments.

 

[Spursguru]

Managers should be savvy enough to know that fans are fickle, whichever club they support. They expect their team to win the game they are playing, show undying commitment and loyalty and to royally entertain them in the process. Every club will have a sizeable group of fans who will boo the team if their expectations are not met. It wasn't so long ago that Arsenal fans booed their team every game and severely criticised Wenger and/or the board - but at present they are cock-a-hoop. But afterwards, on reflection, these fans will cherish the win, look at the league table and feel quite content with the job the manager is doing in getting results from a fledgling team. AVB has been a bit naive with his comments.

This is not the first time this has been said about him though, as when he was at Chelsea he was really edgy with the media which seemed to provoke them.

That and his constant..."we have a project" nonsense.

 

[Boss]

I don't want to be a hypocrite on this issue and if you remember Redknapp insulted the fans once towards the end of the season, it was to do with over achieving the fans should be happy, it never went down to well at the time so I think we have to understand Avb doesn't mean to insult the fans, nor did Redknapp.

The difference is, as been said, is Redknapp is an expressive guy who can win the fans over as he brings a sense of adventure and excitement to the club.

Avb is simply a dour man who mumbles his way through interviews and isn't an engaging character so when he drops his professional act and starts insulting fans after overseeing a boring performance, then it's only going to make him even less likable.

 

[remembercolinlee]

If the fans had booed at half time or booed individuals then I would have understood his comments...but as this didnt happen then his comments are suicidal...

I think we played very well v villa in the cup, very well v cardiff, brilliantly at times v chelsea in the first 30 minutes, we played well in parts of the norwich match, quite well against swansea and we were average v palace, arsenal, villa, and hull and beyond awful v west ham...

But none of our matches have seen us be EXCITING and that is what gets crowds to make noise
We are neat and tidy as a team but we go sideways and backs and rarely forwards....I think we've been patient and understanding that the team need time to gel but it appears he doesn't appear to understand that fans need excitement on the pitch sometimes in
order to create and maintain an atmosphere
Edit ... I also think his comments have been overplayed but he should have known better

 

[PleaseNotPoll]

Stupid comments, but the atmosphere at the ground has got worse as prices have got higher.
Seems to be an overall trend throughout the country.

 

[redwhiteandermblue]

If you criticize the boss you're begging to get sacked, however richly deserving the boss is of criticism. All fans are fickle, but Spurs' fans seem to be fickle to the point of self-destructiveness. There seems to be a firm belief that we deserve football that is both beautiful and successful. If you ask me, we don't deserve either with that attitude. However, while that's the case IMO, we remain the boss, along with the sponsors and investors, and criticizing us is foolish.

 

[Deleted #]

He's got a point, along with Arsenal, West Brom and Fulham. I have always found your atmosphere to be almost non-existence.

 

[PavonSport]

As has already been discussed Redknapp did make similar comments a few years back, I believe it was the 'they've never had it so good comment' and I think partly this is the problem. Recent seasons have seen an improvement in the results and challenging towards the top of the table, which in turn have brought expectation from fans to beat without meaning to be disrespectful 'smaller teams'. It's extremely easy for the crowd to get up for and deliver a good atmosphere when it's Chelsea, Arsenal and Man United in town but some fans seem to expect teams like Hull to roll out the red carpet for us and allow us to score 4-5 goals.

I think others have mentioned the new breed of fan, who have come along expecting success and expecting to be entertained and who'll moan if this isn't the case. Ultimately I think this is quite a widespread problem with the teams at the top of the table. You only have to look at the poisonous atmosphere when Arsenal lost to Villa and when Rafa was in charge at Chelsea to see that fans expect success and when it doesn't happen they'll kick off about it.

As much as it was laughed at by some parts of the media United 'singing section' trial on Wednesday and even our own 1882 movement highlight a general lack of atmosphere in the grounds of big clubs and that fans are trying to do something about it. By contrast to the 'top sides' I've seen both Palace matches this week and the support they gave their side who have lost eight out of nine league matches this season was excellent, even though they look destined to go down.

Having said that I don't think it was right for AVB to have a dig at the fans at this moment in time. Fair enough if we've been playing brilliant attacking football all season and the fans create little atmosphere. But currently the football played at home has so far been extremely tedious passing slowly around the back four for most of the game.

 

[KingHotspur]

100% wrong by AvB.

People shouldn't go to the game and boo but I can understand them going and not cheering as loud as before when the football on display isn't exciting.