[Albion] I Just Don’t Care Anymore

[Peteinblack]

I wonder if part of the issue is that for many weeks and months this year, we have been without several of our best and most inventive players. The lesser lights have done their best, but aren't yet ready to play starring roles and whilst I don't mean to pick out just one individual, Fati came with huge expectation and excitement and delivered nothing. A damp squib on firework night. The outcome is that every match seems very similar, regardless of personnel or opposition and we are stuck in a loop of underperforming your and De Zerbi's expectations. Our manager's body language reflects the same as your post. Chin up. When we reconvene next season, we'll have our stars back, some new ones, and they will be physically and mentally fresher, like you. There will be more shots, goals excitement and you'll get back your love of the Albion. A local non league side can never replace that.

Brilliant summary - this certainly reflects my feelings in 2024; want to get this damp squib season over, get our injured players back for August, plus hopefully sign a few additions over the summer to fill some of our glaring gaps, and hopefully have better 2024-25. Not being in Europe next season should help in terms of playing one game each week, and so being able to maintain much more consistency in terms of less need to keep rotating or resting players, and hopefully fewer games will also mean fewer injuries.

I think part of my waning enthusiasm since Christmas is also due to a loss of faith in RDZ - unprecedented injury problems aside, I don't hold him in the same high regard as I did last season. Can't help feeling that there's a bit of Gus Poyet about him - initially exciting flair football and a charismatic leader, but then seems maybe to start believing the hype around them, and giving the impression that they are bigger and better than the club, and hinting in interviews at their dissatisfaction with the senior management of the club and at allegedly not being backed enough in terms of resources.

I'm certainly not actively hoping RDZ leaves this summer, but if he does (and I think he will, perhaps by 'mutual agreement'), I won't be as upset or worried as I would have been if he'd left last summer.

 

[Commander]

The 23/24 season represents my 30th season of supporting the Albion and as we all know this has been a truly historic year for the club. Starting my Albion supporting journey back in 93/94, never did I envisage we’d be beating the likes of Man U and Liverpool (amongst many others) in the top flight of English Football.

Which makes my recent indifference to football all the more difficult to understand. Not too long ago, my whole working week would be solely focused on the game at the weekend. The pre and post match drinks, visiting new town/cities, the smell of the pitch, the atmosphere and 90 mins of escapism.

None of that invokes any kind of excitement in me anymore, yet given the recent success of the Albion I know it should. As recently as Fulham away I shamefully walked out after 15 mins for, no other reason than sheer boredom - back to the pub I went. Ajax away, whilst fantastic to go there and win, didn’t quite fill with me the euphoria it previously might have done.

So I then ask myself is this just part of getting older where one starts finding enjoyment elsewhere? Possibly, but I’m only 39.

Is it the Premier League? So focused and hell bent on getting there, that the destination is never as good as the journey? Possibly, but given this seasons Europa exploits you could argue against that.

Or through our success, are we now just too far removed from the ‘grass roots’ of the game? Has the monetisation of football evaporated my enjoyment from the game I once loved? I’ve certainly not ruled out taking in some non league football to reignite some passion.

I don’t know what the answer is, but it started creeping in pre COVID and whilst for a short while it abated following numerous national lockdowns, the ambivalence has very much returned. I’ve renewed my Season Ticket for a 14th year and will in all likelihood attend a handful of away games once again, but my hopes for renewed invigoration are decreasing with every passing season.

The truth is I just don’t care like I once used to and whilst I know I should probably pack it all in and cancel my ST (or adopt a local non league team), I can’t bring myself to do it.

Have a break from it. Go and watch a non-league team for a year. Or don't watch football at all for a bit. That's the answer.

 

[dwayne]

We really aren’t that expensive championship clubs charge the same as the Albion. I agree for the likes of West Ham, Spurs and the like there is no way I would pay £80-100 for a football match.

Yep ticket prices are really cheap relative to other activities. And the premier league has the £30 cap on away tickets which is incredible value.

 

[Colonel Mustard]

The 23/24 season represents my 30th season of supporting the Albion and as we all know this has been a truly historic year for the club. Starting my Albion supporting journey back in 93/94, never did I envisage we’d be beating the likes of Man U and Liverpool (amongst many others) in the top flight of English Football.

Which makes my recent indifference to football all the more difficult to understand. Not too long ago, my whole working week would be solely focused on the game at the weekend. The pre and post match drinks, visiting new town/cities, the smell of the pitch, the atmosphere and 90 mins of escapism.

None of that invokes any kind of excitement in me anymore, yet given the recent success of the Albion I know it should. As recently as Fulham away I shamefully walked out after 15 mins for, no other reason than sheer boredom - back to the pub I went. Ajax away, whilst fantastic to go there and win, didn’t quite fill with me the euphoria it previously might have done.

So I then ask myself is this just part of getting older where one starts finding enjoyment elsewhere? Possibly, but I’m only 39.

Is it the Premier League? So focused and hell bent on getting there, that the destination is never as good as the journey? Possibly, but given this seasons Europa exploits you could argue against that.

Or through our success, are we now just too far removed from the ‘grass roots’ of the game? Has the monetisation of football evaporated my enjoyment from the game I once loved? I’ve certainly not ruled out taking in some non league football to reignite some passion.

I don’t know what the answer is, but it started creeping in pre COVID and whilst for a short while it abated following numerous national lockdowns, the ambivalence has very much returned. I’ve renewed my Season Ticket for a 14th year and will in all likelihood attend a handful of away games once again, but my hopes for renewed invigoration are decreasing with every passing season.

The truth is I just don’t care like I once used to and whilst I know I should probably pack it all in and cancel my ST (or adopt a local non league team), I can’t bring myself to do it.

I’m envious. I seem to have become ever more obsessed with footbal. It takes up far too much of my time. I’d love to grow disenchanted.

 

[GJN1]

Nick Hornby’s ‘Fever Pitch’ touched on these themes of getting older and feeling differently.

Brighton is a shining beacon of a club at the top of the game, but football is a cess pit of charlatans, con men, cheats, chancers, all with the unifying goal of milking us all dry.

It’s not Brighton’s fault but the game’s actual soul went a long time ago. They try to sell each game as a magical event, but at the end of the day, a football match can be a bit shit, and often is. We’ve kind of lost the acceptance of that, like Maximus asked, “are we not entertained?” - not this week mate no….

 

[Dave the OAP]

The 23/24 season represents my 30th season of supporting the Albion and as we all know this has been a truly historic year for the club. Starting my Albion supporting journey back in 93/94, never did I envisage we’d be beating the likes of Man U and Liverpool (amongst many others) in the top flight of English Football.

Which makes my recent indifference to football all the more difficult to understand. Not too long ago, my whole working week would be solely focused on the game at the weekend. The pre and post match drinks, visiting new town/cities, the smell of the pitch, the atmosphere and 90 mins of escapism.

None of that invokes any kind of excitement in me anymore, yet given the recent success of the Albion I know it should. As recently as Fulham away I shamefully walked out after 15 mins for, no other reason than sheer boredom - back to the pub I went. Ajax away, whilst fantastic to go there and win, didn’t quite fill with me the euphoria it previously might have done.

So I then ask myself is this just part of getting older where one starts finding enjoyment elsewhere? Possibly, but I’m only 39.

Is it the Premier League? So focused and hell bent on getting there, that the destination is never as good as the journey? Possibly, but given this seasons Europa exploits you could argue against that.

Or through our success, are we now just too far removed from the ‘grass roots’ of the game? Has the monetisation of football evaporated my enjoyment from the game I once loved? I’ve certainly not ruled out taking in some non league football to reignite some passion.

I don’t know what the answer is, but it started creeping in pre COVID and whilst for a short while it abated following numerous national lockdowns, the ambivalence has very much returned. I’ve renewed my Season Ticket for a 14th year and will in all likelihood attend a handful of away games once again, but my hopes for renewed invigoration are decreasing with every passing season.

The truth is I just don’t care like I once used to and whilst I know I should probably pack it all in and cancel my ST (or adopt a local non league team), I can’t bring myself to do it.

You are me and I claim my £5. Although it’s 49 years for me

 

[CheeseRolls]

The 23/24 season represents my 30th season of supporting the Albion and as we all know this has been a truly historic year for the club. Starting my Albion supporting journey back in 93/94, never did I envisage we’d be beating the likes of Man U and Liverpool (amongst many others) in the top flight of English Football.

Which makes my recent indifference to football all the more difficult to understand. Not too long ago, my whole working week would be solely focused on the game at the weekend. The pre and post match drinks, visiting new town/cities, the smell of the pitch, the atmosphere and 90 mins of escapism.

The truth is I just don’t care like I once used to and whilst I know I should probably pack it all in and cancel my ST (or adopt a local non league team), I can’t bring myself to do it.

A bit like the old how do you tell if someone is a vegan "joke", don't worry someone will tell you if they are a lifelong fan with a near perfect attendance record. At the same time we have plenty of massive albion fans with a huge gap in attendance from the Goldstone through to the Amex, that is if they were old enough.

During the dark days of the club we needed every single fan to do their bit both supporting the team and campaigning for a stadium. If you feel the need to walk away or take a break, then now is a good time, especially if you are not enjoying it.

People (including me) love to moan about modern football, but you only have to see a season fizzle out like this one is to realise the benefit of, European places, multiple cup competitions, increased relegation and play offs. When are the fixtures out?

 

[GJN1]

Have you considered you might actually be suffering from depression ? ( serious question).

A loss of interest in something one used to find absorbing and interesting is quite a common symptom - one I suffered from myself in my 30s ( just saying).

This is true. Happened to me. Can suffocate everything.

 

[herecomesaregular]

These threads pop up every single season. You're getting older and... that's it. Things aren't as exciting as they used to be and shagging the same girl all the time is getting sometimes a bit monotonous. Plus we've haven't been really shit for years now, sometimes we're just a bit...omg... average. If you're leaving a game after 15 minutes then you do need a break. Less can be more. Such is life.

 

[Billy the Fish]

I found some photos yesterday of our trips to Hereford away , Southend and Lincoln and that is a stark reminder of how far we have come.

Those games were much more fun than the current offering. Lincoln and Southend are both great away trips.

 

[Commander]

Those games were much more fun than the current offering. Lincoln and Southend are both great away trips.

They were. But I don't know if that is more because we were a lot younger then. I look on those days as the glory days in many ways. But if in my 20's I'd have been going away to Old Trafford, Anfield, Stamford Bridge etc. then I'm pretty sure I would have had just as much fun.

 

[Justice]

The OP wasted a ticket for Ajax away plenty would have loved to have gone if you weren’t feeling it why go?

 

[Victor Chandler]

This is true. Happened to me. Can suffocate everything.

Agreed. Also happened to me. Suggestion for the OP... Might be worth following this up even if it seems ridiculous. Helped me no end.

 

[jackalbion]

Yep ticket prices are really cheap relative to other activities. And the premier league has the £30 cap on away tickets which is incredible value.

The £30 cap is the best thing the premier league ever introduced, really makes away days more affordable. In the minefield of corporate football.

 

[The Fits]

I'm 43.
I reckon if some of you are feeling 'meh' it's life rather than the football.
Life can be pretty 'meh'.

 

[Ratso2005]

I turned 51 in 2023 and it was my favourite year of being an Albion fan since I started going 39 years earlier.

 

[Berty23]

I am 44 and live in Warwick so home games are a mission. I get to 3 or so home games a season and local away cup games if we can. I mostly enjoy football because it is a day out with the 15 year old son. He loves it. Much of my enjoyment is now seeing how much he loves it. Like many others I enjoyed the ups and downs of promotion or relegation most seasons. I have loved the European season but we have been crippled with injuries.

I am feeling a little meh about it now but I suspect it is because this is the first season we have not had anything left to play for for ages. Obviously the battle for promotion lasted years with a relegation battle thrown in for fun. Then we got promoted and we struggled so every game mattered. Potter arrived and we improved to be best we had ever been. Rdz arrived and we wanted Europe.

This season we had Europe and were in the cup and then suddenly out of Europe and the cup. We won’t be “better than last season” we won’t go down. So results now are pretty much meaningless. Maybe we could string results together to get into Europe but I can’t see it.

In fact for this weekend’s match I went and played golf with my son instead. Had no idea what the result was until we finished. For the first time in ages I did not care. I was amazed that he was not fussed either. Maybe after the intensity of last season we are emotionally ruined.

I also blame RDZ for some of this and the way he talks us down.

I am hopeful that we have a good summer window, have players fit and we can have a good go again next season and get back into it.

 

[poidy]

Don’t get this at all personally, best time ever supporting the club, remember going to multiple away games and having no hope. The European tour has made me want European football even more, spending time with my best mates doing what I love doing. Yesterday, as poor as the result was, had a fantastic day with great friends, going on a long trip up north, into a “interesting” town. Seeing familiar faces as the day went along, it’s great. One mid table season in the Premier League doesn’t change that. After going to a few games with my friend who’s a Torquay fan, relegated to the conference south, financial problems and no hope, it’s a) made me discover how lucky I am to support Brighton, and b) made me realise how much football clubs (like ours) are important as football and community institutions. Getting stabbed made me realise this as well. How important the community around these clubs are. We aren’t a big club who win things all the time, and I wouldn’t change that for the world.

I think this is exactly the point. Not sure your age but guessing mid 20’s? Which takes me back to my earlier points, that my earlier self would have shared your viewpoint, but at 39 I’m just a bit meh about it all.

Whether the same ambivalence befalls you when approaching 40 we’ll never know…unless you bounce this thread in 15+ years to tell me you still love it!

Hopefully you have the same passion but judging by the general views on this thread, I’d say that is by no means a given.

So many factors will determine that - financial position, mortgage, job, other hobbies/passions, family, children, health and even then it’s difficult to pinpoint the root cause.

It’s not a conscious decision and if one could flick a switch and reinstate the love and passion of yesteryear, then for most we absolutely would.

 

[Milano]

It's age. Everyone thinks the decades of being teenager/20s is the best ever. For me the late 80s & early 90s seem amazing, because I was happy go lucky and everything was new to me, I bet for my Dad it was a bit shit, the 50s was far better. Guess what for teenagers/20s today then they'll look back in 20 years and think the 2020s was the best decade and so it continues.

It's how the leave brigade got Brexit through, it was marketed as back to the 1950s/60s, who aged 60-70 wouldn't vote for that??!!

 

[RandyWanger]

Don't worry, just after we limp over the line in 12th having not won a league game since 10th March and RDZ goes after a glass ceiling type comment, the club will release Stand Or Fall for us to buy for £45 on YouTube as none of the streaming services will pick it up. That'll get your mojo back.