Where is the love?

By Tan Zhuan Liang

TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT: 18-year-old VfB Stuttgart defender Timo Baumgartl comforted by a fan after losing 1-0 to Borussia Dortmund.
PHOTO: Internet

While the love of football is the driving force behind many a supporter, a run ofbad results often sees fans turning against players and managers alike.

Gone are the days where fans stuck loyal to the bitter death, come hell or high water.

Instead many today demand instant results and are not shy to voice their discontent publicly.

The desire for quick results is prevalent in top football clubs like Chelsea and Manchester United, where the influx of money and expensive acquisitions of talented footballers are seen by fans as a quick ‘fix’ to winning matches and finishing top of the league.

Despite a convincing 2-0 home win against Sunderland, Manchester United players were booed roundly by some for not playing with their usual flair and style under new manager Louis Van Gaal.

After an abysmal showing last season, these fans were quick in expressing their dissatisfaction as they expected quick positive results from their new manager.

Similarly, in the Spanish Primera Liga, star midfielder Gareth Bale became a prominent target for fans to vent their frustrations over the club’s current slump in form after the start of the new year.

Bale has been a target of the boo-boys for his perceived selfishness and lack of defensive efforts in particular and has experienced a dip in confidence as a result.

Of course, it also doesn’t help that team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo shoots Bale scathing looks whenever the Welshman fails to make a pass and to take a chance.

In a particularly eventful evening, Bale was abused by relentless boos from Real Madrid fans for his lacklustre performance in the 4-3 defeat to German club Schalke in the Champions league.

Past efforts

Contributions and loyalty from ex-players have often been erased and forgotten in the modern game.

In a 2-0 win against Southampton, Liverpool and ex-Saint midfielder Adam Lallana was jeered by Saints fans on his return – as was defender Dejan Lovren who also left for Liverpool last summer.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers was gobsmacked and saddened by the reception Lallana received.“He was captain at Southampton for two years, gave incredible service and could have left a number of times but didn’t,” Rodgers said. “To get the reception he did was disappointing.”

However, not all hope is lost.

Loyal supporters

Despite the gulf between fans and players in the English Premier League, fans often have a closer connection to their players in the Bundesliga.

In the dying minutes of a relegation dogfight, 18-year-old VfB Stuttgart defender Timo Baumgartl attempted a back pass to his goalkeeper. However, the ball was intercepted by Borussia Dortmund’s forward Marco Reus, who buried the game with the winning goal. His defensive miscue caused his team to stay rooted to the bottom of the league table.

After the final whistle, a distraught Baumgartl had to face their supporters. But instead of castigating him for his mistake, the Stuttgart fans consoled the crestfallen youngster. A number of them were even seen embracing Baumgartl and giving him words of encouragement.

In a separate incident, Dortmund’s goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller scaled a perimeter fence in order to apologise to an irate group of vocal supporters after his team’s 1-0 loss to the 10-man Augsburg team.

Yet despite their frustrations over Dortmund’s circumstances, some 72,000 fans still faithfully attend each home match.

In the modern game, Bundesliga fans illustrate that their support and love for their team remains even though tough times.

Football family

Back on English soil, there was a rapturous reception for Jonás Gutiérrez, a Newcastle midfielder who came on as a substitute in a match between Newcastle United and Manchester United for the first time since his recovery from testicular cancer.

The Argentinian also received messages of encouragement since his diagnosis 17 months ago from both fans of Newcastle United and derby rival, Sunderland.

Despite the 1-0 defeat to Manchester United, the 31-year-old thanked the fans for their support during his cancer battle.

“I have to say thanks to the fans for all their support they have sent me,” said Gutiérrez. “Football is one thing but being healthy is more important. At times like that you saw where the football family is.”

While a quick fix to success seems like the way forward for many supporters, the humanity and loyalty inherent in football remains intact. The fact that the good is not discussed as often as the bad in football does not necessarily mean the former fails to exist.

Don’t let the media tell you otherwise.