Reading the thread by TVI about fans expectations got me thinking about identifying with our team, our squad, not about Bruce this one but about my team, is it, is the question. Over the years identifying with the clubs owner and board was never high on the agenda, I remember when it was Mr Cowie, it then became a less respectful Murray right up to a nice warm, in it together Sir Niall. The team however was very different and we had Rowell, Ball, Ces, Benno, Gray, it went on and I know everyone of you will have at least one name. These were our players, Sunderland players, we all wanted to be them, we hurt when they hurt and were happy with them. In Bent I had the nearest to that feeling, he was ours, one of us, then, well we all know what. When I was at Saturdays game, if I think about it, I applaud my team on to the field because they wore the red and white shirt, but were they mine, did I identify with them, no. Maybe when things are going well it's fine, we are happy together, but do we cry together? When you cried on Saturday evening did the players, somehow I doubt it, I bet Bally did.
The connection between the fans and the players is not very strong, but a lot have only just came to be fair.
Kevin Ball and Niall Quinn were the last in the line for ex-players that cared as much as we did while they played. All players since, for me, are here only so long as we fill their pockets with huge amounts of cash and stroke their inflated egos. Sadly, its the way things are now. I can't ever see a time when fans and players will again have the same relationship as we did those two and the likes of Benno and such like, either before and after they played here. Bally, Quinny and Benno are proper legends in my eyes.
It It Still Our Team? It's a good point. I think we like to think it is. After all, the fans were here before, Cowie, Murray,Drumaville and ES and we'll be here when they're gone. I think 15/20 years ago most teams (except the very big ones) were just like the biggest side in there local league. Never much exposure outside their own catchment area. TV money was tiny and we had a couple of national football programmes to watch. The reality now is that the game huge and that is mainly down to Sky. They have marketed the game with billions and it's no longer a sport. It's a business. The owners are businessmen of new. The Cowies and Murrays with a few million are the modern day tramp. They couldn't afford to cut the grass. Scarey though, the players are businessmen, worth millions (and that's the mediocre ones) and tens of millions (half decent). They come and go for money alone. It's a job, a business. The premier league is a rich man's play thing. I don't think it is "our team" anymore. It's so global we're on the outside looking in. Even when we shout about paying for season tickets and match day sales it's just ignored, teams these days can almost afford to run with an empty stadium. Right, I'm rambling so I'll stop. To answer your question. No it's not.
Years ago players grew up wanting to play for the local team ,the downside of having so many imported players the local boys dont get much of a chance of playing for the team they watched growing up. these days players from Africa, Croatia etc have never heard of sunderland , so its all about the money. My old grandfather used to talk about players travelling on buses with the fans to get to ground, modern footballs live very different lives to many who pay to watch them.
Playing for Sunderland is something I would love to do. Getting hundreds and thousands of money is the next superstars' dream.
I suppose the question should be do we identify with any players, at Newcastle you have Taylor, we now have Colback and maybe soon Noble, but. We know if they prove to be any good they will follow Henderson and Caroll
Players now don't care who they play for. It's all about money. I know I care about SAFC tho - as do all of you on here. Here's how I know. When Bent screwed us over I honestly got close to the point of giving up on football totally. Close but thankfully not too close. I'm passionate about SAFC, not football, really, just us. Bent, Beckham, Terry, etc, etc don't care about football either. Its just a job to them. Can we cap wages? No. It's against our principles. Are the buggers grateful for having the BEST job in the world? Of course not. Rant over! x
i think to be fair some of the players have a great link with the fans... the boys who came come throgh the ranks,the younger players (westwood and wickham) and bardsley and larrson (both of who i think whould have felt it loseing last weekend) Modern day footballers have lost the link i think but it hasnt all gone look at darren bent he had a stick of dinamite of his boot for our sing while he was here but the fact our fans turn on the players under bruce and the short patience means the new boys will find it harder to establish the link
