How do you deal with your team being crap?

[bandini]

This is a very serious question: what do you do when your team is just flat out crap? Whether it's for a few months, a few seasons or maybe it's something you've had to put up with your whole life but we've all had to deal with it at some point or another.

How do you deal with it? How do you keep yourself motivated as a fan and not lose heart when you keep watching losses and draws?

[Jager]

True fans stick by their team, through thick and thin, and to me, the diehards are the true great fans.

Regardless if they win or not, just seeing the game played is enough really.

[jec1]

I'll still support them but I avoid going to games if they keep losing, Why waste money when you know your team is crap, it's that simple!

I agree, the atmosphere & experience is great but I hate when my team loses.

the diehards are the true great fans

For instance, the toronto FC football club were an expansion team this season, and they sucked balls throughout the season yet they sold out everygame, ranked higher in attendance then the clubs that had a higher winning percentage.

[Deuce]

Ummm you just go cause you love the team, if you don't love the team you will find ways to give up on them because it wasn't really you loving the team but more you loving their success. When the Revs were horrendous for the first 6 or so MLS seasons we still supported them just waiting for them to get good.

When the Red Sox hadn't won a championship in 86 years it just made winning one all the more sweeter, your a fan cause you love the sport and you love the team, if you don't love the sport and the team you will give up on them.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Originally Posted by bandini

This is a very serious question: what do you do when your team is just flat out crap? Whether it's for a few months, a few seasons or maybe it's something you've had to put up with your whole life but we've all had to deal with it at some point or another.

How do you deal with it? How do you keep yourself motivated as a fan and not lose heart when you keep watching losses and draws?

I hate losing, I get pissed off whenever Porto or Bayern lose (imagine when both lose on the same weekend ), so imagine how tough it was for me when Porto had that absolutely atrocious season after winning the CL, we were playing like a 2nd division side, lost 90% of our biggest matches of the season (CL games against the top teams and the matches against the big boys in portugal) and we were lucky enough to get 3rd place (also because the other teams were crap) but still I just couldn't stop supporting Porto because it's the team I love, just like football is the sport I love.

If we are true fans, we must keep supporting our team, even though they are playing crap, because they will eventually get better and will please the fans with an amazing win. For instance, Porto lost to Benfica at home (the first time that happened in about 15 years), but then they beat the crap out of Sporting, the final score was 3-0, just 2 weeks after the defeat, and in the build up for that match, 95% of us Porto fans thought we would be crushed and we got the win against all odds..

One of the things I remenber doing, was reliving some of Porto's greatest moments, after a terrible loss. I remenber after the loss against Benfica, I watched a DVD of Porto's CL win and that got me going again, I even went to the stadium the game after..

So basically, just keep your faith man, i know Spurs have been terrible this season, but think of all the "lucky wins" ( I know you'll understand what I mean ) you got last season, like the 2-1 win against Chelsea! The team will eventually start playing better, even if you have to call Ricardo Rocha to header the ball on the ground, the players will end up getting a big win over a rival or in a very important match and will find their form and confidence, then you'll be back on top again.

[bandini]

I should have started by saying that I am one of those guys that has always supported my team through thick and thin. It just gets really tough when you keep seeing them on the wrong end of the table. Just interesting to hear how others deal with it. I also have much respect for season ticket holders of teams that don't do well. Now there's a true sacrifice because you're putting your money where your mouth is.

[robinho]

true fan will keep supporting his team even if his team was'nt doing good because the team's bad performance will not keep long with the fans supprot and they will be back again to thier real and good performance

[bandini]

I also find that a lot of young kids these days are just about glory hunting. They just pick the team that is winning and support them. Then when the team does crap they jump ship. Makes me sick to see that.

[Super Pibe #7]

Originally Posted by bandini

I also find that a lot of young kids these days are just about glory hunting. They just pick the team that is winning and support them. Then when the team does crap they jump ship. Makes me sick to see that.

haha man so true. I get accused of being a glory hunter as well, by people that don't know me. Since i support barca and well look at the side we have now

I'm lucky there aren't that many people in my school that support barcelona. Still haven't met a fellow barca fan.Though i do get slated for supporting a non english team

About supporting a crap side. Well i know this guy who is a crazy benfica man, loves football so much and now he has ripped up his season ticket/doesn't watch games etc. Since they sign players like adu etc and the side looks like a joke.

Guess it is because of Guttmann's curse

[Buddha14]

Funny you should bring this you being a spurs fan there up shit creek without a paddle . My dad supported them ever since they were in the 3rd division but he wont quit. Ill never quit pompey my sister is a bandwagon jumper arsenal won the title she jump the bandwagon she always gives me shit about how there not in europe biut i dont care we have a great team and a great manager. when pompey were rock bottom in 2005/06 by january and i had heard that harry had come back i knew we had a chance and i didnt jump the ship. by the 92th minute against city ive never been more proud to be a pompey fan. after enduring so much pain before then i felt like quitting but my dad told me about his spurs commitment. so i took his advice 'always believe' and look at us now

[NJ10]

Its a pain in the arse, especially when you are giving up your time, your money and your energy to support them. For instance, Ive just come back from a 24 hour trip to Turkey to watch us play as bad as I have seen since.....well, last week...at Besiktas. I even got a bit of grief from my girlfriend cos she hasnt been too well, and tbh with Xmas coming (and a potential trip to Marseille), it was money wasted, and when you see players out there who simply arent good enough or, worse, are not putting in 100%, it does make you wonder why the fuck you put yourself through it.

And then you have those moments, those unbelievable, spine tingling moments where the world is football, that just remind you how everything is fucking wonderful and makes you forget all the bad times. Owen v Arsenal, Gary Mac in the derby, God against Alaves, Gerrard v Olympiakos, Luis v Chelsea, Dudek in Istanbul, Gerrard v West Ham......they're what make it all worthwhile. The bad times make those moments even sweeter.

[bandini]

Originally Posted by NJ10

And then you have those moments, those unbelievable, spine tingling moments where the world is football, that just remind you how everything is fucking wonderful and makes you forget all the bad times. Owen v Arsenal, Gary Mac in the derby, God against Alaves, Gerrard v Olympiakos, Luis v Chelsea, Dudek in Istanbul, Gerrard v West Ham......they're what make it all worthwhile. The bad times make those moments even sweeter.

well put mate. That's what it's all about. Just need to remind myself sometimes because it's been a while since I've had one of those moments

[NJ10]

Originally Posted by bandini

well put mate. That's what it's all about. Just need to remind myself sometimes because it's been a while since I've had one of those moments

I can imagine mate. But im sure Spurs will sort it out eventually, they have too many good players to keep playing so poorly. Maybe now Jol is gone, the indecision around the place will subside.

Just go and stick a Gazza DVD on! That will work.

[bandini]

yeah. I was looking at some kebabs the other day and thinking of Gazza. That boy had some amazing skill.

[DavidMc]

All part of being a supporter, you know your club is going to go through a bad spell, even the best clubs do, but its the real fans who stick by their club through good times and bad times.

It just makes the good times more enjoyable when they come around.