Alex

HCAFC ⚫️🟠

[Hull City @HullCity]

Came through the back door. Left with three points. 🤪🚪

[Hull City @HullCity]

Tipped for relegation, written off, overlooked.

And here we are, lifting the Championship Play-Off Final trophy at Wembley 😄🏆

#hcafc

[Sky Bet Championship @SkyBetChamp]

What a job this man has done! 👏

#EFLPlayOffs | #EveryMinuteMatters

[Sky Sports Football @SkyFootball]

"Oli McBurnie, he's got the EYE OF THE TIGER!" 🐯🔥

[Hull City @HullCity]

Premier League 26/27. 😁

#hcafc

[Hull City @HullCity]

WE ARE HULL CITY. WE ARE PREMIER LEAGUE!

#hcafc

[Guillem Balague @GuillemBalague]

Seeing the video of Robert Sanchez telling the Chelsea fans to relax as it was only half time, made me want to talk about something that has been on my mind for a while: why football stadiums are becoming more impatient, more toxic and polarised.

The pandemic changed our routines and it accelerated a transformation that was already happening in society: overnight, our lives moved onto screens. We watched sport through devices, we debated online, we consumed information in fragments and, importantly for this point, we lived inside a constant stream of opinions.

And with that, something else grew stronger: extremisation.

We have become less able to accept what doesn’t match our own perception. The world has turned into a place where difference is a threat and disagreement feels personal. 

Even when those opinions are built on incomplete information, we treat them as unquestionable truths. The most important voice is no longer the most informed one, but the loudest one, the strongest in the moment.

And football, as always, reflects society.

In stadiums now, we increasingly see impatience that would have been unthinkable years ago. Fans protesting a team even before half-time. Whistling after one mistake, even teams that are top of the table. Demanding changes immediately, as if football were a video game and not a complex sport shaped by confidence, form (both appearing in waves during a campaign), injuries, personalities, the limits of a squad or the finances.

We forget that coaches work every day with these players. That they know the realities behind the scenes. That progress is not always instant. But patience has become rare, because the modern world trains us to expect immediate solutions.

What’s worse is that creating a toxic atmosphere no longer feels like a problem for many supporters. The priority becomes: “I want what I want, and I want it now.” Even if it damages the team. Even if it poisons the environment. Even if it turns the stadium into a place of tension instead of support. I cannot think of anything worse than your own fans chanting, “you are going to be sacked in the morning.”

This phenomenon is particularly noticeable in England right now, where protests and frustration inside grounds are becoming more common. Perhaps it is less frequent in Spain, where there is still — sometimes — a different relationship with suffering, with time, with process, with football clubs and the role of fans. At Real Madrid, the whistling to the team lasted a game and it was a protest against the sacking of Xabi Alonso, or a message to the players. The following game, they had moved on. I feel that is legitimate. But the trend is spreading. 

The truth is hardly any club lives in happiness anymore. And I feel it is not because football has changed dramatically, but surely because society has.

The modern fan experience is shaped by constant noise, constant judgement, constant outrage. And football, which used to be an escape, has become another space where people project frustration and impatience.

It’s not really about the manager. Or the player. Or even the result. What we are hearing is basically about the world we have become. Although I do feel there is another way. 

I know none of this is new. But how about if we thought we might not be right. Someone else might be. Or changing an opinion. Or listening a bit more. Or considering we might not know everything. And respect our differences.

[Ian Wright @IanWright0]

Now more than ever let's get behind & support these young people. We can all see what's happening & who's being set up to be the face of defeat. We are going to be gas lit with explanations & justifications, but those deciding who goes on the back pages know what they’re doing. Let's keep our energy focused on giving these players pure love & support throughout the tournament.

[Alex @Opray1997]

UK gov to call for immediate ceasefire in Gaza - Sign the Petition! https://t.co/TcHFFVjqHB via @UKChange

[James Foster @JamesEFoster]

Couldn’t have said it better myself.

Well said, Eric Cantona.

[Owen Jones @owenjonesjourno]

This is one of the most despicable episodes of our time.

Our politicians, media outlets and commentators are cheering on a massive war crime.

They must never be forgiven for this, the blood on their hands must never, ever be washed away.

[Ash Sarkar @AyoCaesar]

The Islamophobic and anti-Palestinian racism that's being normalised in British media is nothing short of disgusting. Heard someone saying on Radio 4 that people in Gaza "hate Jews more than they love their own children". How is that allowed to pass without comment or criticism?

[Alex @Opray1997]

You’ve got to be joking me…

[Farrukh @implausibleblog]

Susanna Reid, "You said in the past, it's a landmark moment as we bring HS2 to Manchester..Investing in transport links is essential to levelling up.. Why have you changed your mind?"

Grant Shapps, "Corona virus"

[tomhwilliams23 @tomhwilliams23]

My unpopular footballing opinion is that Gareth Southgate gets far too much hate as England manager 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

I think we take our success for granted

I remember the 08 Euros - we didn’t even qualify!

England have qualified for 26 major tournaments

We’ve reached the semis 6 times

2 of those were under Southgate

We’ve reached 2 finals

1 was under Southgate

His worst finish at 3 attempts was the Quarter Finals

He doesn’t get everything right. I don’t agree with his decision over Jordan Henderson

But who would you rather have in charge? And bare in mind - international football is very, very different

It’ll be unpopular I know 😅🤷‍♂️

[Alex @Opray1997]

Chin up ladies, we go again onto the next one.
You’ve done us all proud 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[Lionesses @Lionesses]

Our @FIFAWWC dream comes to an end at the final hurdle.

[Alex @Opray1997]

Bloody hate football 💔🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[Alex @Opray1997]

Get yourself on a plane and support them. Come on @Lionesses

[The Prince and Princess of Wales @KensingtonRoyal]

Good luck for tomorrow @Lionesses 💪🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[Stig Abell @StigAbell]

Lucy Letby refusing to come into court to hear all the verdicts. She should be compelled to sit in front of everybody in that court now and during the sentencing. She should not be allowed to skulk away from the enormity of her appalling actions. Drag her into court if needed.

[NHS Million @NHSMillion]

We couldn’t agree with this more.

Please RT if you do too.

[bryz @RatcliffeEra]

⚠️Trigger Warning ⚠️

My view on the Mason Greenwood situation.

I did not want to comment but I think with a decision on his return looming, the more people voicing their opinion, the better.

——————————————————

Mason Greenwood did not make a ‘mistake’.

People refer to what happened as if it were a singular incident or an accident. The reality is much worse.

4 years of physical & mental abuse and sexual assault/attempted r*pe is not a mistake, it’s a choice. A choice that he made on multiple occasions.

He should not be associated with our football club in any way.

If we bring him back, it sends a terrible message to female players, young players, and fans around the world.

It needs to be known that we do not tolerate these actions.

If you’re excusing what happened because he had a half decent season back in 2019 then you need to give your head a wobble. This narrative that he was putting out insane numbers is a lie. He was an exciting prospect, nothing more.

Lastly, he was not found innocent, the case was dropped. We’ve all seen the evidence and it’s damming. Just because his girlfriend has chosen to forgive him, does not make his choices any less horrific.

I’m shocked that people feel sorry for him. He should count himself lucky he’s not in a prison cell.

@ManUtd @ManUtdWomen