If you can’t support us when we lose or draw, don’t support us when we win – the notion of the “plastic fan”
The famous Bill Shankly quote is right up there in the title of this piece, but as an avid supporter of a club (despite my position here on a site that deals with all clubs), I feel that I should chime in on this little issue that seems to be taking hold over the last few years.
To put it out there, for those that do not recall, I am an avid Arsenal supporter of over twenty years and even I have been deemed a “plastic” fan. Now, for those that are not familiar with what it means to be a so called plastic fan – it is a fan that is only behind the club or manager when they are winning, but when they lose, they only have negative things to say. Simply put, the notion of being plastic is the literal translation of Shankly’s words, however the problem is that too many who support a club take those words to literally.
In no other support base does this debate ensue more than amongst the Arsenal faithful. The target is usually Arsene Wenger, and whether or not he should remain manager given the trophy drought we have been suffering for what would be nine years should we fail to capture the FA Cup, because let us be realistic, we do not have any chance at all at the league title. One side of the argument states that no matter what, win, lose or draw that you need to be behind the club, the manager and show your support regardless of the circumstances. The other side are firm believers that if things are not going right, then voicing your concern and anger is in fact showing your love and support – which one is correct?
Personally, I feel someone can show support either way, however there are limitations. If a big club is going through a prolonged spell of mediocrity, naturally many who support the club will become fed up with various issues and naturally will want or require a change. If they still remain loyal to that club, but just want answers or something new and fresh, then their heart remains true. Some take it too far and will switch allegiances to another club, and in such a case, clearly never truly supported the club at all.
To go into it a little deeper and looking at Arsenal as the example given they are the club I support, I do feel it is time Wenger is either shown the door or that he simply bows out gracefully come the end of the season. He has done wonders for the club, helped them build a fantastic new ground and has gotten us in a prime financial position and we should all be grateful for that. But the problem is, this is football and he is the manager of a football club, not a corporation or a bank. The problem that I and many other Arsenal supporters have, is that we feel Arsenal have strayed away from putting importance into footballing results and would rather focus on financial results. Further more, no one “upstairs” is putting pressure on Wenger to go on and win things or show true ambition and fight in the transfer market (see this past January) because they are satisfied with the profits he helps them generate – at that point, after almost nine years, yes there needs to be a change. This opinion however, has gotten myself and countless others lambasted and accused of being “plastic” because we are not behind the manager, and that is a great source of tension.
Depending on who you ask, Wenger is either a demigod or a senile old man. Truthfully I believe he is neither, but he is in fact stubborn to the point where he refuses to change his ways while football has evolved around him. Wenger came to us a revolutionary manager but he is currently stagnate while so many around him surpass him in every area of the game. Many feel that you should support the manager no matter what and many have said that to slight Wenger now, means you are plastic. But what is worse, thinking a manager should have a job for life for what he did a decade ago, or to demand more from him, the club and the players when things have not been going the way you hope?
At the end of the day, giving your support to a club invariably means you want the best for that club – you want to see them win things, you want to see ambition and you want the players to be passionate about the club both on the pitch and off it. When those wants and needs are not being met, a supporter does indeed have the right to demand change if what is required is not being met. Truly, the only “plastic” fans are people who bounce around between clubs based off success or only start supporting a club because they became strong. Demanding change during a time of prolonged crisis does not make you less of a supporter and it does not necessarily make you more of a supporter either.
Through it all, yes, Shankly’s words should be taken to heart but only to a certain extent. It is one of those instances where you cannot look at the literal translation, but more so the bigger and deeper picture.