|
Post by dwr17477 on Jun 28, 2020 8:20:29 GMT
I for one have not missed football. Started off in the seventies as a avid goalkeeper, regular attendee and collector of football cards. Through the years nothing much changed and even went to Staffordshire University so that I could get to the Vic during the Ball/Macari era. Was so grateful that we got back to the top flight and sustained our status with pride and passion for the vast majority of that time. So I have been through the ups and mainly downs over 45 years of supporting Stoke and football generally.
Now? I couldn't be less bothered. Why? Is it because life outside of football is more fun and less stressful even with all that life throwd at you?
Have gloryhunters and the media's love affair with the usual suspects taken it's toll after having to listen to Matt from Kent declare his love for Liverpool despite not being able to pinpoint geographically where the damn place is on a map or Nick from Barrow make the choice of supporting Manchester United because his dad opted for Liverpool and he had to break the mould(both true personal experiences among many)?
Could it be talk of a European League actively encouraged by supporters of clubs like Stoke letting them(the shit, etc) get away with fulfilling their dreams and leaving clubs like Stoke to languish in a league system that even if you won the damn thing it'd be a hollow victory because without the so called elite involved what have you actually won? Jack Shit.
Or is it that we have a club who threw away all they had around the end January 2016? From there, there were many points when poor decisions were made - each one a nail in the coffin of the club's latest demise into the abyss of 3rd tier football being left with an absolute shambles of a squad unable to fight their way out of a paper bag.
I think it's a combination of all of these that have eroded my enjoyment of football. The suspension of the league was a breath of fresh air for me - circumstances aside. I have not missed it one jot and if they called a halt to it tomorrow I'd be relieved...I think disillusioned is the word.
|
|
|
Post by JoeinOz on Jun 28, 2020 8:23:15 GMT
Well, it isn't compulsory.
|
|
|
Post by werrington on Jun 28, 2020 8:29:29 GMT
Another woe is me thread ....The premiership has killed a large section of our support
What they really mean is they can’t accept Stoke playing poorly and struggling
|
|
|
Post by Gods on Jun 28, 2020 8:36:01 GMT
Bad moment to take any decisions about quitting the club. A relegation dog fight to escape league 3 in front of zero fans in the middle of a global pandemic with the final body count still far from complete is hardly business as usual over the period you describe. The sun will shine again, one day
|
|
|
Post by werrington on Jun 28, 2020 8:38:53 GMT
Bad moment to take any decisions about quitting the club. A relegation dog fight to escape league 3 in front of zero fans in the middle of a global pandemic with the final body count still far from complete is hardly business as usual over the period you describe. The sun will shine again, one day It’s called being a football fan of 90% of clubs Liverpool or Manchester City is the club for many along with being born in France They’d love football then
|
|
|
Post by Gods on Jun 28, 2020 8:44:00 GMT
Bad moment to take any decisions about quitting the club. A relegation dog fight to escape league 3 in front of zero fans in the middle of a global pandemic with the final body count still far from complete is hardly business as usual over the period you describe. The sun will shine again, one day It’s called being a football fan of 90% of clubs Liverpool or Manchester City is the club for many along with being born in France They’d love football then Yep, for fans of nearly all clubs the whiff of crushed expectations is never too far away. I heard Liverpool fans described as 'long suffering' over the last 30 years on the news several times this week. And thought to myself in fairness they have won the European Champions League twice in that period, not too shabby when you think about it! I suppose suffering like beauty is in the eye of the beholder :-)
|
|
|
Post by benjaminbiscuit on Jun 28, 2020 10:49:26 GMT
Bad moment to take any decisions about quitting the club. A relegation dog fight to escape league 3 in front of zero fans in the middle of a global pandemic with the final body count still far from complete is hardly business as usual over the period you describe. The sun will shine again, one day One way of looking at it , Mine is we are one day closer to scholes departure and short of being in carmountside I’m holding on for that moment regardless because then and not before then recovery can begin
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2020 10:58:06 GMT
Fair weather fans eh.
I wish I didn't fucking care, because right now it's genuinely quite depressing to me quite how badly we're doing. If I could choose to care less I honestly probably would because it is hard to enjoy the weekend, or the week at times.
|
|
|
Post by spitthedog on Jun 28, 2020 11:05:03 GMT
Lets face it you have to somehow enjoy the suffering.
I cant imagine supporting a big club so its really outside of my experience, though Stoke is a big club to some.
The problem with a club like Stoke is we are caught in between 2 stools, there is the dream of achieving big hanging over us, we came tantalisingly close twice in my lifetime with the actual realisation that its hardly likely to actually happen. A couple of Wembley Cup Finals is not bad compared to some though.
Even during the heydays (Huddy, Greenhoff, Shilton) there were dark days, I remember losing 2-0 at Coventry on Boxing Day, i think it was a 3rd consecutive defeat etc, etc. Even if we get that near again we still get to throw it away at some point its the nature of the game. I reckon 98% of football clubs are badly run.
My second team is in the Northern Premier Division One South East, they'll never do anything realistically (they don't want promotion because of the expenses it will incur) but I love football at that level, even when its crap!!! every tackle can be a Cup Final if you want it to be. I guess its all in the mind.
Yesterday was desperate stuff but like most on here, next week I'll be back for more!!!
|
|
|
Post by maninasuitcase on Jun 28, 2020 11:16:56 GMT
Lets face it you have to somehow enjoy the suffering. I cant imagine supporting a big club so its really outside of my experience, though Stoke is a big club to some. The problem with a club like Stoke is we are caught in between 2 stools, there is the dream of achieving big hanging over us, we came tantalisingly close twice in my lifetime with the actual realisation that its hardly likely to actually happen. A couple of Wembley Cup Finals is not bad compared to some though. Even during the heydays (Huddy, Greenhoff, Shilton) there were dark days, I remember losing 2-0 at Coventry on Boxing Day, i think it was a 3rd consecutive defeat etc, etc. Even if we get that near again we still get to throw it away at some point its the nature of the game. I reckon 98% of football clubs are badly run. My second team is in the Northern Premier Division One South East, they'll never do anything realistically (they don't want promotion because of the expenses it will incur) but I love football at that level, even when its crap!!! every tackle can be a Cup Final if you want it to be. I guess its all in the mind. Yesterday was desperate stuff but like most on here, next week I'll be back for more!!! Who's your second team then?
|
|
|
Post by spitthedog on Jun 28, 2020 11:23:54 GMT
Lets face it you have to somehow enjoy the suffering. I cant imagine supporting a big club so its really outside of my experience, though Stoke is a big club to some. The problem with a club like Stoke is we are caught in between 2 stools, there is the dream of achieving big hanging over us, we came tantalisingly close twice in my lifetime with the actual realisation that its hardly likely to actually happen. A couple of Wembley Cup Finals is not bad compared to some though. Even during the heydays (Huddy, Greenhoff, Shilton) there were dark days, I remember losing 2-0 at Coventry on Boxing Day, i think it was a 3rd consecutive defeat etc, etc. Even if we get that near again we still get to throw it away at some point its the nature of the game. I reckon 98% of football clubs are badly run. My second team is in the Northern Premier Division One South East, they'll never do anything realistically (they don't want promotion because of the expenses it will incur) but I love football at that level, even when its crap!!! every tackle can be a Cup Final if you want it to be. I guess its all in the mind. Yesterday was desperate stuff but like most on here, next week I'll be back for more!!! Who's your second team then? Sheffield FC....there you go, Ive come out...I feel better already
|
|
|
Post by maninasuitcase on Jun 28, 2020 11:26:42 GMT
Like the OP i hadn't missed the footie at all. Its kinda felt like the summer break where my weekends are spent catching up on long overdue DIY tasks. Even within 5 minutes of kick off my enthusiasm was rather lacking, however like a typical addict to sport, as soon as the match kicked off my curiosity got the better of me and once again i find myself in the midst of watching my team.
Following stoke is a labour of love and there are those on here with far more years of support than my feeble 25 years, the ups and downs in that time would send lesser folk to hit the bottle, but love or loathe them we keep coming back in the hope of better times.
|
|
|
Post by maninasuitcase on Jun 28, 2020 11:28:39 GMT
Who's your second team then? Sheffield FC....there you go, Ive come out...I feel better already Been past the coach and horses ground many times with work. Quirky place. 👍
|
|
|
Post by chad on Jun 28, 2020 11:33:30 GMT
Disillusioned yep Pissed Off. yep Missing it. no
Ready to give up. Never
|
|
|
Post by nott1 on Jun 28, 2020 11:40:49 GMT
Bad moment to take any decisions about quitting the club. A relegation dog fight to escape league 3 in front of zero fans in the middle of a global pandemic with the final body count still far from complete is hardly business as usual over the period you describe. The sun will shine again, one day One way of looking at it , Mine is we are one day closer to scholes departure and short of being in carmountside I’m holding on for that moment regardless because then and not before then recovery can begin He doesn't pick the team or the tactics or identify the transfer targets......he shuffles paperwork.It's not him who is to blame however much you dislike him!
|
|
|
Post by benjaminbiscuit on Jun 28, 2020 13:15:26 GMT
One way of looking at it , Mine is we are one day closer to scholes departure and short of being in carmountside I’m holding on for that moment regardless because then and not before then recovery can begin He doesn't pick the team or the tactics or identify the transfer targets......he shuffles paperwork.It's not him who is to blame however much you dislike him! For 850k a year he shuffles paper call him a clerk then a make it a round 50k ,he either has the job or he doesn’t as chief executive he stands or falls by performance a shred of dignity and he’d have fallen on his sword with a soft compromise agreement
|
|
|
Post by questionable on Jun 28, 2020 13:39:01 GMT
It takes some doing putting this shit together from top to bottom, the only regret I have is for the suffering long term fans, the Coates family and their upper tier lemmings have destroyed this club for years now.
|
|
|
Post by wagsastokie on Jun 28, 2020 13:51:51 GMT
Lets face it you have to somehow enjoy the suffering. I cant imagine supporting a big club so its really outside of my experience, though Stoke is a big club to some. The problem with a club like Stoke is we are caught in between 2 stools, there is the dream of achieving big hanging over us, we came tantalisingly close twice in my lifetime with the actual realisation that its hardly likely to actually happen. A couple of Wembley Cup Finals is not bad compared to some though. Even during the heydays (Huddy, Greenhoff, Shilton) there were dark days, I remember losing 2-0 at Coventry on Boxing Day, i think it was a 3rd consecutive defeat etc, etc. Even if we get that near again we still get to throw it away at some point its the nature of the game. I reckon 98% of football clubs are badly run. My second team is in the Northern Premier Division One South East, they'll never do anything realistically (they don't want promotion because of the expenses it will incur) but I love football at that level, even when its crap!!! every tackle can be a Cup Final if you want it to be. I guess its all in the mind. Yesterday was desperate stuff but like most on here, next week I'll be back for more!!! My second club is the same level isthmian division one North You're right about the tackles But the bit I enjoy the most is the banter with your mates standing behind the goal pint In hand (plastic glasses) Knowing whatever the result your last words to each other will be see you next match With modern football you might be able to meet up in a pub but you can't stand together during the match the social aspect has pretty much gone
|
|
|
Post by wilcopotter on Jun 28, 2020 14:23:23 GMT
Disillusioned because; The surrender of Premier League status. Shite managers since. Even shiter expensive players that don’t care. Probable relegation. A team with no ground and money being promoted and taking our place (but fair play to them). Possibly one of our own players on loan being promoted above his relegated parent club (that must be a first if it happens).
That said, will still be there next season, because I’ve seen it all before. Though, do understand why some individuals may choose to say that’s it.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2020 14:28:49 GMT
The problem is that genuine fans , have no connection with the only here for the money element in the club , and I mean one hundred per cent only here for the money... with no interest in the Stoke the town , Stoke people or Stoke football ... Tony scholes , Tom Ince , Jack butland , Kevin wimmer blah blah
If you have ,no pride in yourself , and your motivations are purely selfish , and that applies to all of the above ...you will generate zero passion from the fans .
Nobody is going to get a excited , about being taken for a mug ...certainly not a whole town
Sad for those who embodied what Stoke city really is ...Andy Wilkinson , Lou macari , Dennis Smith and many more
And sad for genuine fans , who ever never played or managed the club
451 433 532 is all meaningless to Stoke fans now
The club need to remove the cancer , scholes Ince butland wimmer and co
Draw a line , start afresh , go back to being a proper football club , represented by people who care .
|
|
|
Post by chad on Jun 28, 2020 14:41:17 GMT
It takes some doing putting this shit together from top to bottom, the only regret I have is for the suffering long term fans, the Coates family and their upper tier lemmings have destroyed this club for years now. “The Coates family have destroyed this club” Been a supporter long have you ????
|
|
|
Post by Billy the kid on Jun 28, 2020 14:46:45 GMT
its mismanagement of the highest order, but its not a lack of funds or good will from the owners. Naive to place sure trust, loyalty and faith in those that are clearly not up to the task. Imagine this shit show without a pot to piss in and a huge £200m debt.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2020 14:58:43 GMT
I share a lot of the sentiments the OP mentioned and I’ve read the posts since then.
For me, it’s not about being successful, I’ve followed Stoke for long enough for that not to be an issue. It’s not about relegation either, I’ve seen enough of those over the years, even had a season ticket for the Holocaust season and went to every game. It’s not about money, the stadium, parking or whatever else gets moaned about.
The one thing it is about is this current squad of players and their apparent apathy towards our club and it’s support. I’ve seen some bad Stoke sides and I’ve seen some bad Stoke players but I’ve never seen a Stoke side that seemingly doesn’t care as much as this lot.
I’ve actually enjoyed the break from football. It’s taught me there are a lot more things to life and right now, spending a lot of my time and money on this lot is not high up on my list of things to do. Will I still go and watch them ... ? if I’ve nothing better to do I guess so. Will I renew my season ticket... ? Not a chance. Do you care... ? Probably not. Do I care anymore... ? Nah, I don’t think I do.
|
|
|
Post by danceswithclams on Jun 28, 2020 14:58:47 GMT
The problem is that genuine fans , have no connection with the only here for the money element in the club , and I mean one hundred per cent only here for the money... with no interest in the Stoke the town , Stoke people or Stoke football ... Tony scholes , Tom Ince , Jack butland , Kevin wimmer blah blah If you have ,no pride in yourself , and your motivations are purely selfish , and that applies to all of the above ...you will generate zero passion from the fans . Nobody is going to get a excited , about being taken for a mug ...certainly not a whole town Sad for those who embodied what Stoke city really is ...Andy Wilkinson , Lou macari , Dennis Smith and many more And sad for genuine fans , who ever never played or managed the club 451 433 532 is all meaningless to Stoke fans now The club need to remove the cancer , scholes Ince butland wimmer and co Draw a line , start afresh , go back to being a proper football club , represented by people who care . If Tom Ince bought a house in Bentilee and did his shopping exclusively Longton Market he'd still be shit. You're hankering for a mythical golden age that never really fully existed. The vast majority of modern day players (rightly or wrongly) couldn't give a fuck about the area the club they play for is located in. The trick is to buy players with motivation and professional pride. All this 'they must love the city' nonsense is as irrelevant as people continually harking back to 'the blitz spirit' when endlessly arguing about Brexit/Covid-19/BLM/Transexual Donkey Rights* *delete as applicable or until you have lost the will to live
|
|
|
Post by wagsastokie on Jun 28, 2020 15:20:54 GMT
The problem is that genuine fans , have no connection with the only here for the money element in the club , and I mean one hundred per cent only here for the money... with no interest in the Stoke the town , Stoke people or Stoke football ... Tony scholes , Tom Ince , Jack butland , Kevin wimmer blah blah If you have ,no pride in yourself , and your motivations are purely selfish , and that applies to all of the above ...you will generate zero passion from the fans . Nobody is going to get a excited , about being taken for a mug ...certainly not a whole town Sad for those who embodied what Stoke city really is ...Andy Wilkinson , Lou macari , Dennis Smith and many more And sad for genuine fans , who ever never played or managed the club 451 433 532 is all meaningless to Stoke fans now The club need to remove the cancer , scholes Ince butland wimmer and co Draw a line , start afresh , go back to being a proper football club , represented by people who care . If Tom Ince bought a house in Bentilee and did his shopping exclusively Longton Market he'd still be shit. You're hankering for a mythical golden age that never really fully existed. The vast majority of modern day players (rightly or wrongly) couldn't give a fuck about the area the club they play for is located in. The trick is to buy players with motivation and professional pride. All this 'they must love the city' nonsense is as irrelevant as people continually harking back to 'the blitz spirit' when endlessly arguing about Brexit/Covid-19/BLM/Transexual Donkey Rights* *delete as applicable or until you have lost the will to live So when are you starting the thread on Confused donkey's
|
|
|
Post by Rose City Potter on Jun 28, 2020 15:40:02 GMT
I would not say that I am disillusioned. HOWEVER I have had a gut full of quite a few of the current squad. We are all aware of the problems that got us to this point. I think that the thing that irritates me is the complete lack of backbone and fight. I genuinely have never cared when we lose if every player has put a shift in.
As far as this season goes I have lost interest. The same way that when it gets to April and there is no chance of promotion or relegation. I just don't care. Wherever we end I will support them just the same.
|
|
|
Post by thevoid on Jun 28, 2020 15:48:44 GMT
The problem is that genuine fans , have no connection with the only here for the money element in the club , and I mean one hundred per cent only here for the money... with no interest in the Stoke the town , Stoke people or Stoke football ... Tony scholes , Tom Ince , Jack butland , Kevin wimmer blah blah If you have ,no pride in yourself , and your motivations are purely selfish , and that applies to all of the above ...you will generate zero passion from the fans . Nobody is going to get a excited , about being taken for a mug ...certainly not a whole town Sad for those who embodied what Stoke city really is ...Andy Wilkinson , Lou macari , Dennis Smith and many more And sad for genuine fans , who ever never played or managed the club 451 433 532 is all meaningless to Stoke fans now The club need to remove the cancer , scholes Ince butland wimmer and co Draw a line , start afresh , go back to being a proper football club , represented by people who care . If Tom Ince bought a house in Bentilee and did his shopping exclusively Longton Market he'd still be shit. You're hankering for a mythical golden age that never really fully existed. The vast majority of modern day players (rightly or wrongly) couldn't give a fuck about the area the club they play for is located in. The trick is to buy players with motivation and professional pride. All this 'they must love the city' nonsense is as irrelevant as people continually harking back to 'the blitz spirit' when endlessly arguing about Brexit/Covid-19/BLM/Transexual Donkey Rights* *delete as applicable or until you have lost the will to live You'll be telling me the Portuguese contingent at Wolves weren't drawn there for the grey peas, sexy accent and Black Country Living Museum next....
|
|
|
Post by Goonie on Jun 28, 2020 15:54:37 GMT
Well, it isn't compulsory. It's that kind of liberal attitude that is ruining the game/society/gender politics/ anything ever 🤣
|
|
|
Post by Goonie on Jun 28, 2020 15:56:23 GMT
If Tom Ince bought a house in Bentilee and did his shopping exclusively Longton Market he'd still be shit. You're hankering for a mythical golden age that never really fully existed. The vast majority of modern day players (rightly or wrongly) couldn't give a fuck about the area the club they play for is located in. The trick is to buy players with motivation and professional pride. All this 'they must love the city' nonsense is as irrelevant as people continually harking back to 'the blitz spirit' when endlessly arguing about Brexit/Covid-19/BLM/Transexual Donkey Rights* *delete as applicable or until you have lost the will to live You'll be telling me the Portuguese contingent at Wolves weren't drawn there for the grey peas, sexy accent and Black Country Living Museum next.... I suspect they were all would be anthropologists wishing to sample an alien language/culture/environment 🤣
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2020 16:58:35 GMT
Have I missed something ? I thought the season had been cancelled already GD PS I'm busy drinking beer in our opened pubs with no social distancing and no masks and life is back to normal in sunny Guernsey. No covid 19 cases for nearly two months :-)
|
|