Heading over to Helsinki’s Olympic Stadium for a head-to-head contest to dodge relegation with Finland, I’ve heard numerous fans of Ireland ponder – should we lower our expectations and gear up for a possible relegation?
Upside: Facing lower-tiered teams enhances our win potential. Isn’t ruling in League C better than working as a subordinate in League B? Downside: It brings to light our current downfall and raises questions about our acceptance of potential losses.
Last month, Glenn Whelan echoed similar thoughts on Virgin, pointing out that we’ve grown exceedingly comfortable with losses. Although he reflected upon the players, the sentiment grips everyone else just as much.
It poses a question – has the fear of loss clouded our judgement all along?
Ireland has seen a streak of eight losses in a row in serious league matches – exempting two victories against Gibraltar. It’s the worst any of us can recall. In the forthcoming four days, this losing streak could be extended to ten.
Hallgrímsson, while at Wednesday’s stadium conference, resisted terming our current streak a ‘losing run,’ preferring the phrase ‘downward spiral’ instead. But isn’t spiralisation worse? By default, streaks have an expiry, spirals continue to spiral relentlessly.
This raises a question – should we get comfortable with the idea of losing? What if we move past the discomfort of being engulfed in endless losing streaks or spirals, open our minds, and attain a state of acceptance. A place where there are no expectations or wants, a state where no results, good or bad, influences our team or us.
Sounds liberating, doesn’t it? When expectations diminish, every little achievement feels like a bonus. This mindset can effortlessly lead one towards an ethos of gratitude. It can incite happiness from even imagining a goal. Amidst this, embracing the reality of hitting rock bottom becomes more comfortable. You grow to accept and endure the challenges.
However, some Irish fans, yet to master the art of acceptance, are walking the contrary path. The pain of seeing Ireland lose still lingers for them.
The initial duo of years under Stephen Kenny’s management witnessed solid support from spectators, mostly once stadiums reopened. Indeed, the loudest fans proved their loyalty and resilience even as former-player commentators lent their disapproval towards Kenny’s underwhelming results. This fervor waned solely in his last couple of months.
Nonetheless, Kenny didn’t assume the position unheeded; there was a ready, enthusiastic fanbase from the get-go. In contrast, Hallgrímsson emerged unexpectedly, without a clear supporter base. The audience remains hesitant on their positivity, and yet there’s a discernable sting in the growing negativity.
The fans seemingly didn’t radiate much ire following the England match, citing an overarching skill gap. However, the match against Greece stoked their resentment. It was hardly a shock when the spectators jeered the final score of 0-2, but they additionally booed Will Smallbone’s announcement as ‘man of the match’, alongside Matt Doherty’s arrival on the field in the 75th minute.
There are valid concerns regarding how this could impact the players; repeated losses are sufficiently disheartening, even without domestic supporter backlash.
Frank Lampard, however, attributes his drive to memories of when he was ridiculed by his own supporters at West Ham, at the tender age of 18, while he was being wheeled away with a fractured leg. Alex Ferguson’s illustrious career is testament to the efficacy of pressure. Furthermore, Brennan Johnson’s current splendid form followed the deletion of his social media accounts, a reaction to criticism from his fans. Lampard’s experiences illustrate that hostility and fear, as distressing as they may be, can serve as potent motivators. Perhaps a dash of ‘tough love’ from the supporters could coax this team back to form.
The athletes may privately assure themselves that the Irish fans haven’t garnered the privilege to jeer at them. Especially since, for the majority of the England match and throughout the one against Greece, the crowd maintained a respectful silence. Clearly, the initial wave of enthusiasm during the England match was absent during the Greece game. As Glenn Whelan noted in the post-Greece match analysis, “The spectators kept relatively quiet tonight, but we’ve given them no reason to cheer”.
Whelan’s statements could suggest an unwillingness to criticise not just the players but the fans too, thus avoiding conflict from multiple directions. However, if we consider his words to their fullest extent, they seem to imply that the team must perform well to ignite enthusiasm amongst supporters.
In our current football climate, a logical buyer would move their allegiance to England. But those who choose not to do so are granted the understated pleasures of supporting a team that often doesn’t succeed.
This outlook presents a strictly business-like perspective of the bond between a team and its followers. It used to be that fans were considered the so-called “12th man”, implying they share an obligation with the players to remain hopeful and persistent, even when prospects seem bleak.
Consider, for instance, a player who matches the lukewarm engagement of Ireland’s recent crowd. Such a player would likely face accusations of dispassion or lack of desire, as Doherty experienced following the Greece match. Were that player to defend their performance by blaming a lacklustre team dynamic, they’d be unlikely to play again.
Perhaps supporters are merely customers now. If that’s the case, it’s difficult to rationalise the behaviour of disappointed Ireland fans. They willingly invest in a team renowned for falling short, only to express dissatisfaction when the performance isn’t up to par. Wouldn’t it make more sense to explore other options? England boast a highly skilled team that includes many renowned players from leading European clubs and prove victorious in the vast majority of their matches. Logically, supporters should shift their loyalties towards them. Yet, those who stand by Ireland, against all odds, are afforded the unique satisfaction that comes with unwavering loyalty, despite frequent let-downs.