I was sorry to see Arsenal lose the ‘Game of the Season’ to Manchester City and thought them a little unlucky. Ok, ‘sorry’ is perhaps stretching it. I don’t care very much. But I would rather Arsenal win the league than those Mancs. Still, Arsenal’s fans deserve what they get for having booed their side at the end of the home defeat to Bournemouth. Spoilt rotten. In the semis of the Champions League and top of the Premier League, even the intimation of defeat has become an anathema to the fans.
To be fair to the Gunners faithful, they are by no means alone in this. I’ve noticed over the last couple of seasons home crowds in the Premier League booing when they don’t get the result they wanted. There is something childish and petulant about this as well as something foreign – it is a trend which has been imported from the continent, along with booing the opposition when they have the temerity to launch an attack. I suppose it is the consequence of living one’s life vicariously through the endeavours of 11 flawed human beings.
Down below the Premier League we don’t behave like that. My club stands a chance of automatic promotion, but there will be no booing at The Den if we fail, or lose in the play offs. Just a shrug of the shoulders and maybe a few overturned coaches and police cars. Or look at the loyal fans of Sheffield Wednesday. They lose almost every week but still get rousing support. The demand for continual, uninterrupted, success seems to turn football supporters into needy princesses. It’s all a little embarrassing.
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