What's worse, horrifying relegation battles or terrifying title chases?

[Lavinda Past]

Mid table mediocrity was a dream in the 80s

Exactly why many fans (at most clubs) still celebrate hitting that magical 40 points mark.

It's the little things in life that give the most satisfaction.

(So my missus keeps telling me) :-)

 

[Gone for a Burton]

Strangely enough, I found much of the 80s and 90s (probably 85 onwards) to be a 'fun' time to be a Blue attending away games.

Gallows humour aplenty, it was a period of great banter and many lasting friendships were forged in the face of adversity.

Home games were not so much 'fun'... more a case of going through the motions; doing something on a Saturday that we'd done for years. It was better than going shopping with the missus (but only just some weeks).

Obviously, it's more satisfying to win than lose. However, whether it's been a title season, promotion season, relegation season, a 'close thing' season, or an aimless drift in mid-table, I always enjoyed going to matches.

As I've got older, I must admit that I've found relegation battles to be more passionate than title battles. There's a greater feeling of unity between genuine fans, and a lot less 'glory hunting' or 'bandwagonning'.

Luton aside, I didn’t really mind the relegations because they were rarely a surprise.

The togetherness of the fans, our black humour plenty of wins and the strong feeling that we’d get promoted at some future time made it bearable.

However, losing the PL title to the rags or dipper rats at the end of, or last game of a PL season (particularly 2012) would have been truly awful !!

 

[aguero93:20]

Home games were not so much 'fun'... more a case of going through the motions; doing something on a Saturday that we'd done for years.

Probably like an all expenses paid trip to the Caribbean compared to 06/07 though.

 

[Stephen230]

We’ve been spoilt really. I doubt there’s a club in the whole football league who’ve had fewer seasons over the last 30/40 years, when they’ve not been involved in a title challenge, promotion or relegation battle.

 

[Keeper!]

We’ve been spoilt really. I doubt there’s a club in the whole football league who’ve had fewer seasons over the last 30/40 years, when they’ve not been involved in a title challenge, promotion or relegation battle.

Very true and those horrible times sure made us appreciate this amazing last decade.

 

[Lavinda Past]

Luton aside, I didn’t really mind the relegations because they were rarely a surprise.

The togetherness of the fans, our black humour plenty of wins and the strong feeling that we’d get promoted at some future time made it bearable.

However, losing the PL title to the rags or dipper rats at the end of, or last game of a PL season (particularly 2012) would have been truly awful !!

The game died more than a little when the PL was created imo. All seater stadia, buying tickets in advance, clubs monetising the 'fan experience', pundit overkill, the gradual increase in football tourism... It's all nibbled away at the basics of being a fan, and has created a fake / plastic environment around successful clubs.

Call me old fashioned, but I feel there's a lot more genuine passion around relegation battles than title / top 4 races.

 

[Brightwell Bros.]

Thought it was a silly question initially, but then I had a think about it. The pressure of having to win every game is certainly "tenser" than the pressure of trying and pick up 4 or 6 points from the last 5 games. And the fatalism of it all is a touch easier. But obviously the joy of winning it all completely outweighs everything else, and I'd much, much prefer the "horror" of a second place finish and a final defeat than Championship football.

 

[Keepingthefaithsince1976]

Mmmm now let me think....tough one this.

 

[mikeyboy]

Horrifying relegation battles are far worse, similar pressure but the standard of football is shite.

Put it this way I used to dream of title battles when in relegation dogfights.

 

[Exeter Blue I am here]

I've found the title chases to be the more stressful. Very simple reason. We've gone head to head with Liverpool (twice), United and Arsenal, 3 of the media's biggest darlings, with all the spew-inducing, one-sided, pro-red guff you'd expect, on top of all the normal stressors. The run-in against Liverpool, where we had to win 13 games on the spin, made me feel physically ill. I've never wanted us to win something as badly as that, in my whole life, just to shut the Scouse propaganda machine up. We reaped sensational rewards at the end of it all, but man, the journey!