LONDON — Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou mentioned on Friday that individuals who label supporters of Premier League golf equipment residing exterior of the UK as “plastic followers” are being “actually harsh” and “disrespectful.”
Final Wednesday, Spurs introduced a 6% rise within the worth of season tickets from subsequent season and a removing of concessions for brand spanking new season ticket holders aged 65 or over, prompting a backlash from fan teams such because the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Belief who mentioned they have been “dismayed” by the transfer.
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Requested whether or not Premier League golf equipment are prioritising attracting “vacationers” or “plastic followers” who’re prepared to pay essentially the most to attend a recreation, the Australian coach informed a information convention: “See that is actually harsh.
“I am going to inform you why: As a result of I am most likely plastic and vacationer as a result of I used to be coming from the opposite aspect of the world actually captivated with soccer and if I may get entry to see a Premier League recreation, that was the world to me.
“So, to label folks plastic or vacationer, I do not suppose that is honest simply because folks reside on the opposite aspect of the world. This soccer membership has supporters everywhere in the world, has supporters everywhere in the UK that do not all the time get entry to the video games of people that reside right here.
“And I feel we must always all the time have the flexibility to accommodate them and provides them that feeling. It does not make them any much less passionate.
“I feel it is actually disrespectful to name followers who’re prepared to go to the expense of coming midway around the globe [as plastic fans]. You do not know how passionate they’re about their soccer membership.
“Perhaps they’ve solely began supporting it within the final two years, who is aware of? I do not know. However that does not diminish who they’re, I do not suppose.”
Requested whether or not he felt golf equipment are being confronted with a “balancing act” over whether or not to prioritise followers primarily based within the UK or these residing overseas, Postecoglou mentioned: “Properly it is a balancing act provided that your finish means is not about rising your soccer membership and I am speaking about in each facet.
“It is why we do excursions around the globe is to take this group to locations on the planet the place I do know persons are passionate.
“I do know there are passionate Spurs supporters in Australia, simply as passionate as they’re right here.
“They do not reside right here, they can not come to the video games, they can not purchase a season ticket. The truth is, I’ve had mates in Australia who do purchase season tickets and may solely get right here a few occasions a 12 months as a result of that is how passionate they’re.
“So long as your general goal is to develop your soccer membership, then I feel you may discover the steadiness you want.”
Spurs may leapfrog fourth-placed Aston Villa with a win over Fulham within the Premier League on Saturday, however can have to take action with out defender Mickey van de Ven who suffered a hamstring damage final weekend.
The Netherlands worldwide has emerged as one among Spurs’ most vital gamers this season after arriving from Wolfsburg final summer time.
Postecoglou revealed that January recruit Radu Dragusin will make his first begin for Spurs in Van de Ven’s absence on Saturday.
“It is a good alternative for him [Dragusin],” Postecoglou mentioned. We clearly introduced him in with a view that it was fairly evident that we have been very brief in that space and he’d had superb half season in Italy [with Genoa].
“He is needed to be affected person for his alternative, which isn’t shocking as a result of Mickey and [Cristian] Romero have been excellent for us, and with solely a recreation every week nearly, typically not even a recreation, he is needed to be affected person however he is labored exhausting at coaching.
Postecoglou additionally confirmed that Richarlison is in line to return to the squad having recovered from the damage that has seen him miss the final two matches, whereas Manor Solomon is not any nearer to recovering from the intense knee damage that has stored him out since October.