Falling out of love with Argyle

I think the timing is pretty apposite.

It so happens that this thread germinated from one started on the WSC message board that SFD linked to back along, though I've had the thought ruminating away for a couple of weeks. It was the result on Saturday that really got me thinking and wondering why I felt so little elation, yet we'd gone top of the league. I should have been excited, looking forward to the next weekend, the next game, but nothing.

I'll lay some cards down here - Dick Trickle has pinned me down, if the age under his avatar is correct, then we're possibly the same school year. The thing is I dislike the whole "I've been supporting <insert club name> for <insert number of years (especially if >30)>" and it's use to proclaim how great a supporter that person is. It's almost the fans equivalent of "I'm not racist but..." and is used, almost always, to rubbish the views of the younger generation. Well I'm quite happy for the youth to have their time, traversing the highways and byways following the greens, finding their heroes in the same way I did and looking at the pictures in old programmes of the players I worshipped at their age and thinking "who they?" In a way I wouldn't expect them to understand, just like I would have fouind it strange. The point is why I find myself switching off right now when it could all be about to take off again.

I get the age and circumstance thing, I suppose there are a finite amount of narratives our club can experience and I've seen most of them on repeat, so it's just the players that change. It's that emotional attachment that I'm finding diificult to muster.

And as to whether Adams and Brewster peruse message boards, well if they do madness can only follow. The byline on this site says "... for Argyle Fans", if they want validation from the support they can get it on matchday. I do like what I have seen and read of him and I doubt he'd give a flying one what I think though - I'm not dissenting against him or the style of the team in any case.

Sir John Hawkins point about music chimes with me too. The good thing is that when the trough hits it's never long before something hits to get the connection back. Normally the new Half Man Half Biscuit missive does the trick.

I'm sure I'll be back at some point, I think my OP suggests that. I'm just waiting for the catalyst and if it's not table topping performances I'm not sure what it will be.

Elias wrote:

Beating exetervis the minimum requirement.

Oi, less of your Latin conjugation.

I agree with the OP being pissed off with footie in the Premier League, I've got no bleddy interest in it at all, however is my weekend spoiled when Argyle lose ? Yes it bleddy well is and it's always been that way since I started supporting Argyle in the 59/60 season and will continue that way until I depart for that Green room in the sky, thankfully so far my weekends haven't been spoiled much this season!
But I do agree with the OP's right to sound off but it just seems a strange time to post such a rant

I detest the England & Wales Cricket Board. England's Ashes victory felt much in spite of the way they run the game, and even though there were individual performances to savour, I didn't get much enjoyment out of it. It was a return to winnings ways which glossed over the horrendous mismanagement that had overseen series losses to Sri Lanka, New Zealand, India, the worst World Cup performance ever, and that 5-0 whitewash down under to a very mediocre Australia side. Not to mention the ever lingering, malignant presence of Giles Clarke, Andy Flower's joyless shadow darkening the ECB corridors, the stitch up of the global game, the paywall of SKY TV, and the rest of it. 3-1 against Australia, who we'd played 5 times in the past 6 years - who cares?

You've got to buy into the whole of something in order to enjoy it. P'raps Argyle is a different beast for those who regularly attend, but there isn't a feeling of longevity about this success. The squad is thin, reliant on one or two, and the backing doesn't feel there to sustain a rise through the leagues. It feels like we're here more by chance than any grand design on behalf of the owner. Best of luck to the Scot and his men, and perhaps I'll feel differently once I go to a few games over Christmas and a couple of the south-eastern away days in the New Year get lined up.

Greenlander wrote:

I think the timing is pretty apposite.

It so happens that this thread germinated from one started on the WSC message board that SFD linked to back along, though I've had the thought ruminating away for a couple of weeks. It was the result on Saturday that really got me thinking and wondering why I felt so little elation, yet we'd gone top of the league. I should have been excited, looking forward to the next weekend, the next game, but nothing.

I'll lay some cards down here - Dick Trickle has pinned me down, if the age under his avatar is correct, then we're possibly the same school year. The thing is I dislike the whole "I've been supporting for 30)>" and it's use to proclaim how great a supporter that person is. It's almost the fans equivalent of "I'm not racist but..." and is used, almost always, to rubbish the views of the younger generation. Well I'm quite happy for the youth to have their time, traversing the highways and byways following the greens, finding their heroes in the same way I did and looking at the pictures in old programmes of the players I worshipped at their age and thinking "who they?" In a way I wouldn't expect them to understand, just like I would have fouind it strange. The point is why I find myself switching off right now when it could all be about to take off again.

I get the age and circumstance thing, I suppose there are a finite amount of narratives our club can experience and I've seen most of them on repeat, so it's just the players that change. It's that emotional attachment that I'm finding diificult to muster.  

And as to whether Adams and Brewster peruse message boards, well if they do madness can only follow. The byline on this site says "... for Argyle Fans", if they want validation from the support they can get it on matchday. I do like what I have seen and read of him and I doubt he'd give a flying one what I think though - I'm not dissenting against him or the style of the team in any case.

Sir John Hawkins point about music chimes with me too. The good thing is that when the trough hits it's never long before something hits to get the connection back. Normally the new Half Man Half Biscuit missive does the trick.    

I'm sure I'll be back at some point, I think my OP suggests that. I'm just waiting for the catalyst and if it's not table topping performances I'm not sure what it will be.

suddenly watching schindlers list seems upbeat compared to this!!!!

Mock Cuncher wrote:

3-1 against Australia, who we'd played 5 times in the past 6 years - who cares?

Exactly. No different than the Scotish Premier League where everyone plays each other every day at 10.30am. Less is more for us spectators, but not for the number crunchers that own virtually every sport. They are all car operas selling bloooookes the latest 4x4 and tinnies. It's so contrived and false, so much so that having a short dip in the sea is called "wild swimming" these days. I will be doing a bit of "wild swimming" by Port Isaac on Friday, provided the current suits. I wonder if Sky want to film it. I seem to remember some Landan media luvvie making a couple of tv programs about swimming in a river somewhere recently. Luvva duck.

Angry wrote:

Greenlander wrote:

I think the timing is pretty apposite.

It so happens that this thread germinated from one started on the WSC message board that SFD linked to back along, though I've had the thought ruminating away for a couple of weeks. It was the result on Saturday that really got me thinking and wondering why I felt so little elation, yet we'd gone top of the league. I should have been excited, looking forward to the next weekend, the next game, but nothing.

I'll lay some cards down here - Dick Trickle has pinned me down, if the age under his avatar is correct, then we're possibly the same school year. The thing is I dislike the whole "I've been supporting <insert club name> for <insert number of years (especially if >30)>" and it's use to proclaim how great a supporter that person is. It's almost the fans equivalent of "I'm not racist but..." and is used, almost always, to rubbish the views of the younger generation. Well I'm quite happy for the youth to have their time, traversing the highways and byways following the greens, finding their heroes in the same way I did and looking at the pictures in old programmes of the players I worshipped at their age and thinking "who they?" In a way I wouldn't expect them to understand, just like I would have fouind it strange. The point is why I find myself switching off right now when it could all be about to take off again.

I get the age and circumstance thing, I suppose there are a finite amount of narratives our club can experience and I've seen most of them on repeat, so it's just the players that change. It's that emotional attachment that I'm finding diificult to muster.  

And as to whether Adams and Brewster peruse message boards, well if they do madness can only follow. The byline on this site says "... for Argyle Fans", if they want validation from the support they can get it on matchday. I do like what I have seen and read of him and I doubt he'd give a flying one what I think though - I'm not dissenting against him or the style of the team in any case.

Sir John Hawkins point about music chimes with me too. The good thing is that when the trough hits it's never long before something hits to get the connection back. Normally the new Half Man Half Biscuit missive does the trick.    

I'm sure I'll be back at some point, I think my OP suggests that. I'm just waiting for the catalyst and if it's not table topping performances I'm not sure what it will be.

suddenly watching schindlers list seems upbeat compared to this!!!!

I can relate to some of the stuff on here about falling out of love with the game and Argyle in particular-this is the first season in ten that I haven't got a season ticket and the first for probably forty years that I've voluntarily missed matches, certainly isn't a question of disloyalty. Even though I've got Sky, I've hardly watched a ball being kicked this season-prefer to watch golf or cricket and for someone who fairly religiously watched football for several decades, that is quite a sea change. I've tried to analyse the reasons for it-the lack of connection with the premier league is definitely a factor in the general scenario, as others have eloquently alluded to. As to Argyle-it really hasn't got anything to do with being top of the league or beating Exeter, pleased though I am with the progress made by the club under Derek Adams. Great stuff, i did attend last night and it was actually a pretty good game of football-he's certainly uncovered some exciting talents, although the assertion from someone that Argyle "are playing their best football for decades" needs to be qualified against the standard of opposition, especially compared to the mid CCC years. No, it goes deeper than that and has been building for some years now, a feeling that Argyle are and always will be a going nowhere club in comparison to many of it's former peers who have made significant progress. No amount of short term success will change that view -there has to be some long term planning and action to go with it and it doesn't appear to be on the horizon from this point of view. The club is still stuck in the 1970's [if not earlier] as far as infrastructure is concerned and will always be built on sand unless that situation changes-all very well saying "we're top of the league and beat Exeter, rejoice" but that is so much like the "enjoy the ride" stuff directed at people who dared to suggest that the long term picture was not altogether rosy back in the CCC days. It just came to a head this season and even though i'm delighted that Argyle are doing well, i don't find myself saying "shit, wish i'd gone to the game" after each win. Not saying that I won't go to any matches other than derbies-a half season ticket may well prove very tempting and my allegiance would never switch to anyone else, a Pilgrim until I snuff it- but I can't help feeling that i'm going through the same process as thousands of others over the years whose frustrations with the club eventually led to their permanent non attendance at HP.

We are where we are today because JB hired the right man who then brought in his preferred man as coach. They then procured some rather tasty players and the weeks of ''wait until Carey is injured'' was answered last night. DA is his own man and will do things his way to achieve his mission of promotion. He won't give a flying fig about chat sites, forums or newspaper articles (where is Danny Salman these days? ) He is focussed and determined and so far I like what I see. I really cannot envisage ever falling out of love with Argyle - not ever.

Feel this thread is not about love of Argyle, but being fed up with football in general. Argyle have played a major part in my life. Even moved from North Devon to Plymouth so I could watch the reserves. Was I season ticket holder for 25 years. Became disabled 2 years ago following a heart attack and can no longer attend. But follow their fortunes avidly by radio and computer.

Flat_Track_Bully wrote:

I've never been a regular attender because I live up north. However I understand the sentiments of the OP.

For me I've fallen out of love with the game in general and that lack of interest has permeated down to my view of Argyle. In no particular order:

1) The insidious influence of the Premier League and the Champions League on the financial disparity between clubs. This has massively reduced the unpredictability and therefore excitement of the Premiership. The Prem is the showcase league for football, it's the one that everyone pays attention to regardless of the current status of their club, yet as a competition it is a farce. Most people could probably guess 5 out of the top 6 correct at the start of the season. The majority of teams (as many as 13/14 out of the 20) can only really hope to finish 6th at best. I just can't see the excitement any more in wondering which of the big four will win the title. A knock-on effect of this is that it is hard for fans of lower league clubs such as ours to have any dreams of real success. I know we have never been in the top flight, but up until the mid-90s there was always the remote possibility that we could become a successful top flight club - remember Norwich beating Bayern in the European cup? Teams like Watford, Ipswich and Palace going on good runs and getting near the top. Those days are gone, perhaps for good. Even if the stars aligned and we got a great manager, loads of financial backing and good luck, the best we could reasonably hope for is a couple of seasons finishing 10th in the Prem, before sliding back to inevitable relegation battles - where's the glamour in that? The predictability of the Premiership and exclusion of the majority of clubs from real success just saps away at the motivation for following football.

2)Diving and playacting and the 'permission to go down' attitude. I know to some extent there was always a bit of this in the game, but this cheating is basically accepted as standard now and the football authorities show no real desire to stamp it out. With the exception of drug taking in athletics and cycling, I can't think of another sport where cheating is so 'normalised'. It was actually refreshing to watch the women's football earlier this year and notice that there was barely any time wasting of play acting. I just get tired of watching it in the men's game (+ the associated bad refereeing decisions).

3) The number of transfers and the number of foreign players in all leagues. It's increasingly hard to feel any affinity with a squad of players when it changes so drastically every season. Pretty much every club will bring in 5/6 players minimum every season, most of whom will stay for 2 seasons max. It's hard to feel any emotional attachment to a squad of what you know are largely mercenary football players who have no real affinity to the club or the area. Likewise foreign signings used to be exotic - partly because if your club went to the hassle of getting a players from abroad it probably meant that they would be pretty good, or at least an exciting flair player, even if they couldn't hack it in the league. Now the majority of foreign signings are just the same mediocre level as the local players. It furthers the feeling that you are just watching a bunch of mediocre players getting paid over the odds for doing something they just consider a job, and would be doing for any club in the country if enough money was waived in front of them

4) The ridiculous hype surround football, especially the Premiership, just puts me off. No doubt it is necessary to sell newspapers/merchandise and (more likely) to cover up just how predictable most football is. The consequence of this hype is it makes football more like a soap-opera than a sport, and I've no real interest in the personal lives, or the inane opinions of the majority of people around football.

5) The sort of characters who own the majority of football clubs now. There have always been some (very) dodgy owners of football clubs, but the majority of big clubs are owned by business conglomerates or individuals who have made their wealth in pretty unsavoury ways. Football is either just a plaything, or an opportunity to make money for them. The dedication of fans (sorry, 'customers') is just used to allow these owners to screw as much money as possible out of people for the minimum of effort. Being a 'true fan' is pretty much tantamount to being a 'mug' in my book - it means you'll cough up your £20 per match + buy the merchanidise no matter how dire the 'product' is. It's harder to accept sticking with a team through the bad times when you know there are a bunch of businessmen behind the club who cant believe their luck that they still have as many 'customers' for the terrible service they are providing.

Rant over

pepsipete wrote:

Feel this thread is not about love of Argyle,  but being fed up with football in general.  Argyle have played a major part in my life.  Even moved from North Devon to Plymouth so I could watch the reserves.  Was I season ticket holder for 25 years.  Became disabled 2 years ago following a heart attack and can no longer attend.  But follow their fortunes avidly by radio and computer.

It's the team you follow not the politics.....good post pete.....

What a very illuminating thread. Sometimes, 'less' can be 'more' but usually and in this case, it isn't.

" Ah shaddap and enjoy the ride ! "

Greenskin wrote:

Angry wrote:

Greenlander wrote:

I think the timing is pretty apposite.

It so happens that this thread germinated from one started on the WSC message board that SFD linked to back along, though I've had the thought ruminating away for a couple of weeks. It was the result on Saturday that really got me thinking and wondering why I felt so little elation, yet we'd gone top of the league. I should have been excited, looking forward to the next weekend, the next game, but nothing.

I'll lay some cards down here - Dick Trickle has pinned me down, if the age under his avatar is correct, then we're possibly the same school year. The thing is I dislike the whole "I've been supporting for 30)>" and it's use to proclaim how great a supporter that person is. It's almost the fans equivalent of "I'm not racist but..." and is used, almost always, to rubbish the views of the younger generation. Well I'm quite happy for the youth to have their time, traversing the highways and byways following the greens, finding their heroes in the same way I did and looking at the pictures in old programmes of the players I worshipped at their age and thinking "who they?" In a way I wouldn't expect them to understand, just like I would have fouind it strange. The point is why I find myself switching off right now when it could all be about to take off again.

I get the age and circumstance thing, I suppose there are a finite amount of narratives our club can experience and I've seen most of them on repeat, so it's just the players that change. It's that emotional attachment that I'm finding diificult to muster.  

And as to whether Adams and Brewster peruse message boards, well if they do madness can only follow. The byline on this site says "... for Argyle Fans", if they want validation from the support they can get it on matchday. I do like what I have seen and read of him and I doubt he'd give a flying one what I think though - I'm not dissenting against him or the style of the team in any case.

Sir John Hawkins point about music chimes with me too. The good thing is that when the trough hits it's never long before something hits to get the connection back. Normally the new Half Man Half Biscuit missive does the trick.    

I'm sure I'll be back at some point, I think my OP suggests that. I'm just waiting for the catalyst and if it's not table topping performances I'm not sure what it will be.

suddenly watching schindlers list seems upbeat compared to this!!!!

Great stuff, i did attend last night and it was actually a pretty good game of football-he's certainly uncovered some exciting talents, although the assertion from someone that Argyle "are playing their best football for decades" needs to be qualified against the standard of opposition, especially compared to the mid CCC years.

Why is it relative? I never said it was our best team but that we are playing our best style of football for decades. We have a playmaker, fantastic wing options, a pretty good defence and just need to get the number 9 firing to his full potential. We play football on the ground and spring forward with a counter attacking force that is great to watch.

Even the most cynical minded of you would struggle to be disappointed with our performances.

This team is a touch more exciting to watch than Holloway's, in my opinion, but can't see it surpassing Shilton's boys for entertainment value.

Pity they are either on loan or 1 year contracts.

Shaddap and enjoy the ride

Hugh Watt wrote:

Shaddap and enjoy the ride

Youm naaaat a praaaaaper faaaaaaan ! Peeps..............Believe everything..........Buy everything.......Don't fink, just support........Exeter is our cup final !

It would also be interested to hear from people who have fallen in love with Argyle again.....don't be shy Tring

For the record... I've never ever fallen out of love.

Rickler wrote:

For the record...  I've never ever fallen out of love.

But have you ever been IN love in the first place?

I dread to think what this conversation would be like if we were bottom......good grief *rolls eyes*

Looking at Gill's GOS photoshoots from the tent and away days, is akin to enduring an episode of Jeremy Kyle.

Tringreen wrote:

Looking at Gill's GOS photoshoots from the tent and away days, is akin to enduring an episode of Jeremy Kyle.

Did Dave get his pasty though.

Hugh Watt wrote:

Tringreen wrote:

Looking at Gill's GOS photoshoots from the tent and away days, is akin to enduring an episode of Jeremy Kyle.

Did Dave get his pasty though.

He always does............

Tringreen wrote:

Hugh Watt wrote:

Tringreen wrote:

Looking at Gill's GOS photoshoots from the tent and away days, is akin to enduring an episode of Jeremy Kyle.

Did Dave get his pasty though.

He always does............

Yes, but what time did he have it?

SteelCannon wrote:

I dread to think what this conversation would be like if we were bottom......good grief *rolls eyes*

Ferzackerly the same but with a few "I told you so"s thrown in