Don't kill me, I need your help

[Joser]

Ok so let me put it this way. I am a soccer fan from America and I was never really into Euro soccer until about 3 years ago when a coworker from North London got me into watching. I started following Arsenal, which was his team. So now before you flame an Aresnal fan, hear this:

Now three years later I find myself in the same situation I did when I first followed them.........I secretly hate them. For a long time I've hated Arsenal for many reasons. Selling out and changing the logo, the absoloute divers they have on the pitch, and I find myself more and more attracted to the Spurs. I find the Spurs interesting on many levels and for many reasons. One being that a month after my birth in 1982 The Spurs were FA cup winners and a Spur was English footballer of the year, and second I happen to be an English studies major whose favorite character in all of English lit and history is Harry Hotspur.

in short (in long I guess) I have two questions.

1. How do I break it to my friends (namely the Arsenal fan) that I am no longer a supporter.

and

2. Will I be welcomed here as a Spurs supporter. I know a lot of wankers like Everton fans seem to think that if your not a fan since birht your not a fan. On that note, thank god I wasn't born an Everton fan.

Thanks,

[DigitalTron]

Glad to have you support Spurs, and as far as I'm concerned, you're accepted! Welcome to the Spurs board. Don't take us too seriously, because we do get riled up every once in a while, but you'll find this a fun and friendly board.

IMHO, acceptance is individual, so there will be no global/universal acceptance, but if you're a respectful poster you will be accepted by the regulars here. :)

Well, you mentioned that those people are your friends. If they are your friends, they will tease you and rub Arsenal's success in your face (or ear as the case may be), but they shouldn't hold it against you that you like a different team. Disappointed, maybe, but if they get pissed at your or disavow the friendship ... then were they ever really friends to begin with?

Just tell them that you started following Arsenal because your friends followed them, but that now you decided that your favorite team is Spurs, and that you hope it doesn't cause any problems for them. It's your choice, they should respect that.

Well, regardless of what choice you make (Spurs, Arsenal, or another team), you're always welcome to post here.

-Digital

[soccernutter]

Welcome to the boards.

As usual, digital has spoken well.

[Joser]

Wow Digital wrote the single best reply I've ever heard, thanks.

Reading some of the posts on the Spurs board makes me happier I'm making the switch. Some of the post about Arsenal fans having it easy, and equating them to being Yankees fans really connected with me. It's always bothered me that Arsenal has Wiltord Henry Kanu and Bergkamp but still bought Reyes. It's ridiculous frankly to have that many strikers. Not to mention it bothered me when SOl jumped ship to the Gunners.

Glad I'm welcome by at least two of you, and glad to see some MLS fans on this board, even though one of them likes LA. Just kidding.

[The Double]

Originally posted by Joser
and equating them to being Yankees fans really connected with me.


:D

Check out the avatar.

Welcome to the board.

Iason K.

[comme]

Welcome, the power of the dark side has clearly been exorcised.

[Joe E]

WOO HOO! VICTORY!
he's like our very own luke skywalker. or maybe keanu in the matrix when the true nature of the universe is revealed to him.
i wonder joser whether you are aware of the other villanous chapters in ar**al's history that makes them such a repellant team, i.e that they were originally based in woolwich in south london, moved to north london stealing half of our fanbase, and then in the period after WW1 bought their way unfairly into the top flight, causing spurs to be relegated as a result. don't you feel better now. and you might not have picked a bad time to come on board. i have been gloomily predicting relegation for much of this season but now with the deadly keane and defoe partnership showing such incredible form, if we can get the right manager and signings in the summer, we could actually achieve something next term. mind you, it is spurs...and you will learn to never get too optimistic about anything. ah, you've made me so happy..someone has seen the light.

Originally posted by Joser
Ok so let me put it this way. I am a soccer fan from America and I was never really into Euro soccer until about 3 years ago when a coworker from North London got me into watching. I started following Arsenal, which was his team. So now before you flame an Aresnal fan, hear this:

Now three years later I find myself in the same situation I did when I first followed them.........I secretly hate them. For a long time I've hated Arsenal for many reasons. Selling out and changing the logo, the absoloute divers they have on the pitch, and I find myself more and more attracted to the Spurs. I find the Spurs interesting on many levels and for many reasons. One being that a month after my birth in 1982 The Spurs were FA cup winners and a Spur was English footballer of the year, and second I happen to be an English studies major whose favorite character in all of English lit and history is Harry Hotspur.

in short (in long I guess) I have two questions.

1. How do I break it to my friends (namely the Arsenal fan) that I am no longer a supporter.

and

2. Will I be welcomed here as a Spurs supporter. I know a lot of wankers like Everton fans seem to think that if your not a fan since birht your not a fan. On that note, thank god I wasn't born an Everton fan.

Thanks,

[Joser]

Thanks so much to those of you who replied again. Yeah I was slowly starting to notice the evil in Arsenal, and I feel better now. I just couldn't help but feel that the current Champions League run wasn't based of talent or sheer skill but money rather, and frankly I don't care for that. I want a team who wins behind teamwork and fights against the odds, not buy their way around them. I think now was my best time otjump ship because no one would accuse me of band wagon jumping, because clearly I jumped off the bandwagon.

Heres hoping the Spurs do the right things this offseason and have a great run. Either way I'll be here. Just call me Luke Skywalker :)

[Rambler]

I also add my greetings to this board. You made the right decision, you'll find supporting the Spurs is a lot more character building then supporting the fiendish team down the road - bit like supporting the mets I guess ;)

Just a few things to tell your crowing Arsenal mates, we were the first team of the last century to do the domestic double (Fa and league championship in same season) the first English club to win a european trophy and ahem, the first club to be floated on the stockmarket (ok you can leave that one out). We have had a more colourful history than the traditional "boring" Arsenal (ok they arent boring anymore but they will revert to type when wenger leaves) and I predict the glory days are not far off for us again.

And Arse-nil (another old nickname of theirs) may have a crop of good strikers, but then so have we :)

[Danners9]

Defection is the route to happiness!

Welcome aboard.

[The Double]

Originally posted by Rambler
bit like supporting the mets I guess ;)



Will you guys stop already? ;)

[Greddy]

Originally posted by Joser
Now three years later I find myself in the same situation I did when I first followed them.........I secretly hate them. LOL. Imagine how many of their supporters are still living the lie. Please people, don't be afraid to come forward and seek help. Many times, it's the bravest thing you can do.

[Californiaspurs]

Fellow Spurs AND Quakes fan here!

I can relate to your story, even tho' I started as a Spurs fan at a very young age.

None of my family was the slightest bit interested in footie (except my youngest brother who for some reason picked Leeds but switched to Spurs... wonder why lol). But watching the highlights show every weekend I found myself more and more anticipating the Spurs game.

For some reason, I wrote to the club to ask for free matchday progammes and amazingly, they sent a package of them to me! As I flipped through them I was transported - all the legendary names in the line-up - into a world of legends and magic: it was my Harry Potter.

I couldn't wait to one day go the shrine but it wasn't to be until I was about 13 and finally persuaded my old man. We saw Spurs vs Leeds in the Upper East Stand. I remember looking down at the Park Lane terrace and thinking how exciting it would be to be in there.

But my best mate at school, who wasn't a footie fan at all, had a football connection. His Dad was the Chief Medical Officer at Highbury and we could go anytime we wanted and sit in the directors box, which I did, once, for Arsenal vs Manchester United. I met the players, ate the free food, and toured the marbled halls. When asked what team I supported, I said "Spurs" and that, basically, was the end of the free ride.

Anyway if I'd played my cards right I could have been the ultimate "hanger on" at Arsenal with all the trimmings, but amazing though the place and people were, it just didn't give me the thrill that, say, even flipping thru those THFC programmes did.

So not quite the same situation as you, but for the longest time I couldn't bring myself to hate, or even dislike, Arsenal because of my VIP treatment. Chelsea was always the bogey team for me because of their vicious fans and some of the batterings exchanged in the Park Lane End.

Only recently have I grown to loathe Arsenal mainly for their modern day fans who, like Man Utd, are just too irritating and lacking in character to be tolerable. CFC fans by contrast have improved over the years so that I actually like most of them I meet nowadays (but don't tell anyone).

[Rambler]

I know what you are syaing Calispurs, Arsenal used to have some quite colourful fans down at Highbury (I suppose you had to be a bit mad to be a Goona back then with all that boring crud they used to play) now every man and his dog is a Goona and they are just not the same. They are definitely turning into another Man U. They don't call Highbury the Library for nothing.

As for Chelsea, still can't stand them !

[Danners9]

Chelsea are like Boycie from Only Fools and Horses.

All the money, but none of the class. Nouveau Riche.

[Joser]

Californiaspurs

Great story, it's those kind that make me appreciate my new choice even more. Yeah I'd have to say following arsenal lately hasn't been much fun. What is there to dicuss about on an Arsenal board when they never lose? I need ups and downs, I need passion and excitement, not the lame feeling one gets when they expect to win every weekend. Tottenham just seems to exude that passion for football that I love. I watched Defoe score the other day and the passion on his face and the crowd's reaction was enought to convince me. At Arsenal it's nothing to see Henry poke one in and they react exactly like that: nothing.

[sendorange]

They've always been like that at A*senal. No passion at all.

[musicl]

Good to hear you are support a good club in Spurs. I know people who have supported Man Utd the changed to Spurs (not the same as from Arsenal but there still is a big rivary between them).

Originally posted by Joser
I just couldn't help but feel that the current Champions League run wasn't based of talent or sheer skill but money rather, and frankly I don't care for that.
Havent Spurs spent more money on players over the past 2 or so years??

Originally posted by Joser
I want a team who wins behind teamwork and fights against the odds, not buy their way around them.
Isnt that one of Arsenals great strengths at the moment that they have brilliant teamwork and togetherness.

Spurs Leeds match: I think I was at that match, Spurs lost, Alan smith either scored or got sent off?

[sendorange]

Spurs beat Leeds both times this year.

A*senal don't have great teamwork, it's more of a thuggish tendency to swarm all over the ref and opposition in one large group. Take away their cheating and they're a pale shadow of a team.

[tomas_brolin]

well i started supporting arsenal for the reason that ljungberg is one of my favorite players so i decided to support them based on that. but little did i know i was a closet spurs fan also. being an american i support spurs on the fact that keller is on the team. now i love spurs more than ever! i throughly enjoy how keane plays and i was one of many that were overjoyed by his display at the world cup. so now i dont hate arsenal but im decreasing ever so slightly as a gooner. now i will say i dont hate arsenal even tho its given i should because i support spurs. my primary hated teams are man u, chelsea and everton to be honest.

you dont have to believe what i am saying, but now i am a spurs fan at heart and its for all the right reasons and now the spurs ahve a pretty darn good future! :) so looks like im stuck as a spurs fan for life!