What does fan mean you ask. At it's most basic it means this is the team you want to win. Watching football as a neutral is not exciting in my experience. Only a complete football nut (and yes we have some) can get excited about ANY game of football. Most of us I think have to care about one team to have the full experience that you can have apart from playing the game.
It follows that now your selected team has to win for you as much as possible and this leads to all the criticism if you think they are not trying or need better players or management.
If you are content with everything about your team then you have little to say and not606 would be very quiet. I think our best debates follow a defeat because then the passion comes to the fore as fans vent their frustration at what they see as wrong.
It's only now that I suspect most United fans are beginning to realise how good their teams under Fergusson were, while it was happening they probably took it for granted. Fans of a team from the lower leagues might well have more fun because when they do win something their excitement is that much greater because they have lower expectations.
We can all describe what being a Spurs fan means. We like our team to play 'good' football, we know that on our day we can beat anybody but we expect to fall at the final hurdle, because that's what Spurs do. When we do finally win something (and we are close) it will be all the sweeter because of all the 'almost' years.
So Vim don't knock the critics make sure you put the other viewpoint which is what you usually do and I am more often than not with your argument.
I get the frustration following defeat. I'm more phlegmatic these days, but I am still a moody sod for days after we've lost. That said, it doesn't happen as often as it did 20 years ago, when I could rant for an hour after some games, without drawing breath.
However, there seem to be a significant number of people, who class themselves as fans, whose preference is to see the team, management and club in a negative light.
I just don't get this. I can see no point or enjoyment in it. I tend to think that it is mostly restricted to those who don't go to games, watch from their armchairs and accept 'the narrative' of the pundits as gospel. The vast majority of these pundits have no interest in Tottenham, other than seeing us fail to the benefit of their clubs.
It's been noticeable that the players have talked about the positive effects of the atmosphere at the new stadium. That City game in the QF was a benchmark of what we, the fans, can do and the effect it had on the players. As Toby said..."Un-be-liev-a-ble".
Everyone has the right to their own view and to follow football in their own way. However, I think that those who accept 'the narrative' of pundits and portray that attitude, hold us back as a club and I will always challenge it. Our manager thinks it does too. ..
"The doubt is always negative, never positive and that’s because of the history. Because of what happened in the past. We need to fight with this perception and to be proud of the team."
He's damned well right. There is always room for some criticism but the excessive negativity is harmful. Clubs and their managements make good and bad decisions. Players have good and bad seasons. Having a poor one shouldn't result in good players being hounded out of the club by disgruntled fans. It's Gooner behaviour and I want no part in it.