diminishing interest

[Cheesebored]

Personally I'm delighted to see so many people disillusioned and not bothered one way or another, might be able to get tickets for away games for the kids at last once it starts up again.

 

[Houston_Blade]

Saying "you're only losing interest because United are crap" to fans who have watched us week in week out for the shambles of the last 40 years, is actually quite insulting.

Not really, I can't prove it but I can imagine that if we were top of the 'league of cheating, diving, abhorrent wankers' the outlook of our fans would be a lot different. The league is setup in a way that it will never be the case but it always has been. So to turn around and not like football because Liverpool, Arsenal, Man Utd, Chelsea and Liverpool cheat a lot is disingenuous because they've been doing it for years, just because it affects us and suddenly it's a massive issue all of a sudden.

People moan about VAR and I also hate VAR, however the Snodgrass disallowed goal last season at BDTBL was one of the best moments I've ever encountered live and I loved VAR at that moment because of the adrenalin it gave me. I hated it in equal amounts when Shelvey scored for Newcastle.

There was massive apathy under the Adkins and latter Clough eras, it's human nature that when things aren't going so well people lose interest.

As I've said, it's much better attending games than watching at home, but we'd be happier watching if we were winning some.

 

[Working Class Hero]

Not really, I can't prove it but I can imagine that if we were top of the 'league of cheating, diving, abhorrent wankers' the outlook of our fans would be a lot different. The league is setup in a way that it will never be the case but it always has been. So to turn around and not like football because Liverpool, Arsenal, Man Utd, Chelsea and Liverpool cheat a lot is disingenuous because they've been doing it for years, just because it affects us and suddenly it's a massive issue all of a sudden.

People moan about VAR and I also hate VAR, however the Snodgrass disallowed goal last season at BDTBL was one of the best moments I've ever encountered live and I loved VAR at that moment because of the adrenalin it gave me. I hated it in equal amounts when Shelvey scored for Newcastle.

There was massive apathy under the Adkins and latter Clough eras, it's human nature that when things aren't going so well people lose interest.

As I've said, it's much better attending games than watching at home, but we'd be happier watching if we were winning some.

Well I can tell you from my own personal point of view, that under the Adkins and Clough eras I still watched every game, and still watched other Premier League football as a neutral. This year I haven't.

Obviously interest is lower when United are crap, but it's everything else that's making football in general less watchable.

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

My interest in the game is way down at the moment the only football I watch on TV is our games but I still can't get excited about that it is so dull and boring, lifeless and sterile. Three minute waits while VAR checks things, hopeless standards of refereeing, diving cheating and girl like screams as they throw themselves to the floor, rule changes and more rule changes when the original change is shown to be a load of cobblers is all turning me off the game, that and the sheer greed of the big six clubs.
Still it is not just football at the moment I loathe going to the shops I can't be arsed with all the messing about with face masks, hand jels and all that shite, not interested in going to the pub or for a meal it is like living life in an open prison, count me out. Not even sure I will go back to the lane when crowds can go back as it will only be small numbers to start with, socially distanced of course one way systems and all that shit, I don't know if I can be bothered with it anymore.

Agree and empathise with you on both of the points of your post.

If it's any consolation, I do genuinely believe we have passed the halfway point of the pandemic and the restrictions and, whilst it might not seem it, there is a glimmer of a tiny bit of light at the end of what has been and will be a very long tunnel.

I also think and hope that there will be a seismic sea-change in British political thinking as a result.

 

[Badger Blade]

Echoing a lot of what others are saying where football in general lacks any kind of excitement without a crowd or being able to be there. At the moment, it doesn't feel real and might not to some of the players, hence some of the performances and freak results. It's akin to sitting in a room watching a teenager playing on Fifa and thinking "why don't you spend your Saturday afternoon watching actual football instead of playing at it on this" then you realise that is the real football.

I don't think it helps when the kick off times are all staggered either, I like having the games all on at the same time then catching the late kick off. It goes back to an interview with Brian Clough from yonks ago, to paraphrase, we're seeing too much football and it's not an event or an occasion worth getting excited about any more. My interest at the moment is very much a passing one where I'll have a glance at the scores, look at my super 6 then go back to whatever I was doing without any crap performances ruining my weekend any more.

I hate the fact that one of my biggest passions in life has been reduced to this level of apathy courtesy of the incompetence of the idiots who somehow get to power, whether that's Boris, the FA, the Premier League, Mike Riley, VAR and all the rest of the fun police.

I've just come back from visiting family in Sweden where society is functioning almost normally and I'd happily up sticks there tomorrow if I could and wouldn't miss this place one bit.

 

[brownblade]

I'm not watching anywhere near as many matches as I would in a usual week. Obviously it's not the same overall.

But I'd never miss a Blades game.

 

[Blade.com]

Got the loss of interest bad. In fact that bad, it didn't even cheer me up that the S6 brigade lost to possibly the worst Championship side that's ever played in the Championship.
Come on somebody gis some good news even if its a lie.

 

[United Aren't Back.]

I'm done, lost all interest. Partly due to no crowds, partly because of our form/performances, and partly because of VAR and ever changing rules. My 60 year old dad who has followed the Blades everywhere since he was a kid has completely lost interest, he didn't even watch us against City even though he had it available to him.

Oh.
Ta ra then.

 

[Ridgeway Blade]

Sideways rain, sloping pitches, usually boggy, what’s not to love?

Dinosaur Dave, 1991

And no nets too. Concord, windy up there when it wasn't elsewhere.

 

[Rufus Smalls]

Sideways rain, sloping pitches, usually boggy, what’s not to love?

Dinosaur Dave, 1991

....... and that was just the cricket pitches in Summer !!!!!

 

[Caveblade]

This is bollocks, if we were top of the league with no crowds everyone would be loving it. We're shit without crowds so it's easy to not be interested.

I say every week that I'm not bothered about watching the match, but I still do. I've never really been interested in other teams' matches and the lack of crowds hasn't really changed that.

It's not losing derekacorah it's the fact that you realise that competing in this league is utterly impossible even with £120 million in revenue. We are here to make up the numbers, the modern game is so slanted in favour of 6 or so clubs. That's why I am so pissed off along with the constant meddling with laws, cheating, VAR etc.
If Man It's and Liverpool have their way it will ramp up to a whole other level of inequality where domestic football may just become an irrelevance.

 

[Houston_Blade]

It's not losing derekacorah it's the fact that you realise that competing in this league is utterly impossible even with £120 million in revenue. We are here to make up the numbers, the modern game is so slanted in favour of 6 or so clubs. That's why I am so pissed off along with the constant meddling with laws, cheating, VAR etc.
If Man It's and Liverpool have their way it will ramp up to a whole other level of inequality where domestic football may just become an irrelevance.

It’s always been the case though, it’s not a new thing!

 

[HackeyBlade]

Oh.
Ta ra then.

Excellent contribution

 

[Boxer Blade]

I find I am also losing interest in football so I just look out for Wednesday's results and going on their forum, if you aren't enjoying football try it ,I can guarantee you will enjoy it until we are back playing in front of crowds again, last Wednesday nights game against the Millers was a real tonic I can tell you.

 

[Ridgeway Blade]

Echoing a lot of what others are saying where football in general lacks any kind of excitement without a crowd or being able to be there. At the moment, it doesn't feel real and might not to some of the players, hence some of the performances and freak results. It's akin to sitting in a room watching a teenager playing on Fifa and thinking "why don't you spend your Saturday afternoon watching actual football instead of playing at it on this" then you realise that is the real football.

I don't think it helps when the kick off times are all staggered either, I like having the games all on at the same time then catching the late kick off. It goes back to an interview with Brian Clough from yonks ago, to paraphrase, we're seeing too much football and it's not an event or an occasion worth getting excited about any more. My interest at the moment is very much a passing one where I'll have a glance at the scores, look at my super 6 then go back to whatever I was doing without any crap performances ruining my weekend any more.

I hate the fact that one of my biggest passions in life has been reduced to this level of apathy courtesy of the incompetence of the idiots who somehow get to power, whether that's Boris, the FA, the Premier League, Mike Riley, VAR and all the rest of the fun police.

I've just come back from visiting family in Sweden where society is functioning almost normally and I'd happily up sticks there tomorrow if I could and wouldn't miss this place one bit.

Part of the issue with Sweden coping better is the density of population - just 64 people per square mile while UK has 727. Population of 10 milllion compared to 67 million in the UK and Sweden is geographically 85% larger than the UK. I know figures aren't everything we have many cities of high poulation and high densities. 1.6 million live in Stokholm but the rest of the poulation ids very widely spread in comparison to the UK. Sweden has not ignored the impact altogether and has taken steps to stop the virus but its deaths per capita is still quite high.

I would love to be back at BL as normal but I honestly can't see when that will be. At 71 years old, I hope it is not too long and that I am around to go!

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Im sure Im not alone in saying the draw of behind closed doors football diminishes every week
not because we only have 1 point , all football has lost its punch
not just football, tv shows with no audiences are just as drab
But my only concern is the dearth of passion in the game
All the cream of football are playing in an atmosphere similar to a game on pitch 7 of concord park on a foggy sunday morning
my first recollection of going to Bramall Lane was the noise , the tangible atmosphere of hope and expectation oozing out of every fan
We are getting pasteurized football devoid of flavour
The longer it goes on the more sterile it becomes

I truly worry interest will wane and effect football for years to come

If it was at all possible to suspend football for a season, and guarantee stadiums full of fans on it’s return. I would have been up for that (A bit like having a fallow year a Glastonbury). But of course we can’t do that as too many livelihoods are tied up in the game. TV and associated sponsorships and merchandising are keeping the clubs afloat.
But I must admit I haven’t watched us on TV this season at all. I prefer to listen on the radio commentary while taking the dogs for a walk.
Being a Blade for 47 years I’m starting to realise that 99.9% of my passion for SUFC has been formed from purely going to the game.

 

[Caveblade]

It’s always been the case though, it’s not a new thing!

It's not a new thing, but the addition of VAR etc just adds to the disenchantment. It's actually a 20 odd year thing,
Whilst we have always had dominant clubs the prem was it ever intended to benefit the big clubs. For someone who has watched football from the 70s it has changed massively and not for the better. We will never see another Robson, Clough or Revie or even have the hope that maybe just maybe one day our club will win something.

Life is all about opinions, I respect yours but I see life through slightly more jaded glasses.

 

[bartman]

I'm not watching anywhere near as many matches as I would in a usual week. Obviously it's not the same overall.

But I'd never miss a Blades game.

I'm similar. I rarely watch a game now unless we are playing. VAR, many players falling over when an opposition player is near them and overpaid "superstars " are just some of the reasons. And is the product worth the money ?

 

[Sheffsteel]

Well I can tell you from my own personal point of view, that under the Adkins and Clough eras I still watched every game, and still watched other Premier League football as a neutral. This year I haven't.

Obviously interest is lower when United are crap, but it's everything else that's making football in general less watchable.

I also attended most games under Adkins and Clough and I’d still feel slightly nervous/ tense before every match in league 1.
Now that I’m watching games on tv with ZERO in attendance it just feels like a pre season friendly....and my attitude matches this.
I know it’s a genuine PL match with massive implications but it feels really weird that I’m not there....and I do feel distant.
However once I’m back inside BDTBL I’m pretty sure my enthusiasm will return.

 

[kevreedy]

I have Bt sport so I could watch the match live. I didn't bother.
Prefer to listen to radio Sheffield live.don,t even watch the champions league and Europa league.
Just lost interest.

 

[Houston_Blade]

It's not a new thing, but the addition of VAR etc just adds to the disenchantment. It's actually a 20 odd year thing,
Whilst we have always had dominant clubs the prem was it ever intended to benefit the big clubs. For someone who has watched football from the 70s it has changed massively and not for the better. We will never see another Robson, Clough or Revie or even have the hope that maybe just maybe one day our club will win something.

Life is all about opinions, I respect yours but I see life through slightly more jaded glasses.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a miserable bastard and I watch pretty much no football other than the Blades and haven’t done for a good few years, apart from VAR though it’s not changed much in the last few years.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Personally I'm delighted to see so many people disillusioned and not bothered one way or another, might be able to get tickets for away games for the kids at last once it starts up again.

You’ll never beat the cartel. I bet there’s people rotting in the grave still using their loyalty points.

 

[Tarqs]

Totally get you. Post lockdown I've become so detached from the game. I used to live for football almost, watched most games, played sundays. Now I don't play anymore, can't attend the matches, the games are soulless and I find myself not interested anymore.

I haven't watched Soccer Saturday, MOTD or any other games not involving us. No european ones, cup finals, nothing. I just really can't be bothered with it anymore, it's no longer entertaining.

My vastly diminishing love of football is probably parallelled with my complete disinterest in life at the moment. It's a horrible world we're currently living in and at times I don't even want to be part of it anymore.

 

[hidesbehindapseudonym]

Totally get you. Post lockdown I've become so detached from the game. I used to live for football almost, watched most games, played sundays. Now I don't play anymore, can't attend the matches, the games are soulless and I find myself not interested anymore.

I haven't watched Soccer Saturday, MOTD or any other games not involving us. No european ones, cup finals, nothing. I just really can't be bothered with it anymore, it's no longer entertaining.

My vastly diminishing love of football is probably parallelled with my complete disinterest in life at the moment. It's a horrible world we're currently living in and at times I don't even want to be part of it anymore.

Feel exactly the same. This morning I was very down. Nothing has changed since yesterday except my head knows we are headed into an other lockdown.

 

[blade67]

This is bollocks, if we were top of the league with no crowds everyone would be loving it. We're shit without crowds so it's easy to not be interested.

I say every week that I'm not bothered about watching the match, but I still do. I've never really been interested in other teams' matches and the lack of crowds hasn't really changed that.

I agree. Moaning Minnie's the lot of them.

It's crap without fans, it's crap that we are losing every game. Everything else is just moaning.

Bring on the spring. Fans back for the Liverpool home game. You heard it here first

 

[hidesbehindapseudonym]

Totally fed up. More to come.

 

[Drunk blade]

I agree with the opening post to a certain extent but I think its more watching us that I can't stand... I feel tense and nervous before and during the games and they are essentially played out like training matches with us waiting to concede

The games where you don't give a shit about the teams are OK to watch as long as you turn the fake crowd noises off...

 

[Kevincarterversion2.0]

Completely agree. The sanitised, lockdown-football, plus our awful form means I have not watched MOTD at all so far this season.

 

[Crafty Blade]

Obviously its not the same, given its equally about the day out on the beer as it is the match for me. But i still look forward to our games, its something to punctuate the week, especially going into lockdown 2. Trying not to let results overshadow things, but when were allowed back properley i can see attendences only going up tbh

 

[BettingBlade]

I suppose the biggest question is, what theme will this forum take on when we all give up with football?

We already know politics is out of the question.