The following is an observation from me, generally accepted. Btw I love Muzza, Dunk, Solly etc.
There’s a real disconnect from fans now. When I first followed the Albion in 1976 kids ran on at 90 minutes to pat their heroes, you knew where many players lived and I called round to one or two for autographs, as a clubber I saw players out and about. Simpler times.
Contrast to now. Security is extensive, cordoned off VIP sections of the ‘poshest’ nightclub. We took the piss of club security when Maty Ryan came to sign autographs to one or two remaining NS kids, security people accompany him with the mic talkpiece obviously chatting to the head jobsworth. FFS there’s not a Monica Seles incident waiting in the wings.
Over the top, silly, bizarre times.
Indeed it is over the top. In Sweden, where players make about as much as money as someone in the upper middle class, there is a lot less of this disconnect (aside for the general one that has happened with digital society becoming increasingly more "important" than what goes on locally). We often still see interviews being made at the home of some player or similar. Pretty unthinkable when it comes to the PL.
At the same time its a bit logical with the increase of money and the increased chance of being filmed or whatever whenever you go do something. When it comes to security, we already see a lot of robberies in the homes of different players and without the additional security, I wouldnt be surprised if we saw a bit of kidnappings and shit.
Its obviously a sad development though. Football clubs/players and local communities should be as connected to eachother as possible.