Great article. One of the things that contribute to feelings of frustration is that the media by and large fails to acknowledge that the league is set up as you say. There is rarely any genuine acknowledgment of the gulf in budgets between clubs, so while it may be mentioned in the build up, it is never used in the end to say “well what did you expect?”. Instead, the expensive team is lauded and the defeated club is often berated for not trying, for not making it a contest. Its like bragging about the battle of Mboto Gorge, and the British victory over “ten thousand Watutsi warriors armed to the teeth with kiwi fruit and dry guava halves" (one for Blackadder fans). Yet as fans we can’t help but be dragged along with it, and think maybe we SHOULD have tried harder to win a game in which we’re were hopelessly outclassed.
Appreciate the Blackadder connection! You are right, we're dragged along by the narrative that it's a competition when it's not. And sometimes the team end up castigated for being in an impossible position.
Remember we were the only team unbeaten by a London club. That season was a success in my book and almost successful in getting to Europe. Far from position 20 that everyone put us down for.
We’ll have to – as Hecky always says – face one game at a time. We know there’ll be non-contests and great games, but for me, that’s the joy of being a football supporter. I’m a natural born optimist who can always be surprised. But as long as the players give their all and entertain us in any match (that semi-final is a good example) I don’t mind the scoreline.
Of course it’s glorious to win and maybe we’ll have a few surprises up our sleeves (although I’ll re-visit that at the end of the season!) but yes, I say “hear, hear” . . . let us crack on, plod along and keep it real. And enjoy a few away days at some great stadia.
Great article. One of the things that contribute to feelings of frustration is that the media by and large fails to acknowledge that the league is set up as you say. There is rarely any genuine acknowledgment of the gulf in budgets between clubs, so while it may be mentioned in the build up, it is never used in the end to say “well what did you expect?”. Instead, the expensive team is lauded and the defeated club is often berated for not trying, for not making it a contest. Its like bragging about the battle of Mboto Gorge, and the British victory over “ten thousand Watutsi warriors armed to the teeth with kiwi fruit and dry guava halves" (one for Blackadder fans). Yet as fans we can’t help but be dragged along with it, and think maybe we SHOULD have tried harder to win a game in which we’re were hopelessly outclassed.
Appreciate the Blackadder connection! You are right, we're dragged along by the narrative that it's a competition when it's not. And sometimes the team end up castigated for being in an impossible position.
BANG ON!
Remember we were the only team unbeaten by a London club. That season was a success in my book and almost successful in getting to Europe. Far from position 20 that everyone put us down for.
Very true. I don't think we can expect anything like that this time around, and I do think we can expect far more non-contests this time around.
Oh Sam, you’re so right!
We’ll have to – as Hecky always says – face one game at a time. We know there’ll be non-contests and great games, but for me, that’s the joy of being a football supporter. I’m a natural born optimist who can always be surprised. But as long as the players give their all and entertain us in any match (that semi-final is a good example) I don’t mind the scoreline.
Of course it’s glorious to win and maybe we’ll have a few surprises up our sleeves (although I’ll re-visit that at the end of the season!) but yes, I say “hear, hear” . . . let us crack on, plod along and keep it real. And enjoy a few away days at some great stadia.
Thanks for voicing my thoughts!
Sue.