It is a virus creeping across the Premier League, infecting with hate everything it touches.
Hardly a new phenomenon, true, but the poison of derision, where angry supporters turn violently on their own players, seems to have become nastier and more sinister with each passing week.
Fans have always vented their fury – but rarely at their own idols – and then for the briefest of outbursts.
But ask Emmanuel Eboue of Arsenal, Liverpool’s Lucas, Gabriel Agbonlahor, almost the entire Middlesbrough team, and they will tell you it is a different story now.
Indeed, just about every club has a whipping boy treated to ‘verbals’ that would never have been heard a few years ago.
Eboue was so abused by his own Emirates crowd against Wigan in December, Arsene Wenger was forced to replace him – even though he had only played part of the game as a substitute himself.
Agbonlahor must have been shocked by his treatment at the hands of the Villa faithful.
He is a local boy, passionate about his club and still learning the game at just 22.
Agbonlahor has enjoyed a magnificent campaign, capped by a call up into the England squad because of his consistent performances.
Yet against Spurs on Sunday he was jeered and ridiculed by those fans he used to stand alongside as a kid.
The striker admitted his “surprise” at the reaction of the fans, and pointedly suggested they have short memories, but stopped short of returning a salvo of his own.
Lucas has openly wondered whether he might have to leave Anfield, such is the force of criticism that has eroded his confidence at Anfield. The Brazilian midfielder, only 22, has already represented his country at international level. Yet at Liverpool, where they always prided themselves on support for their own men, no matter what the circumstances, now there is only venom.
The midfielder was booed by his own fans when coming ON as a sub against Sunderland earlier this month.
Even by modern standards, that takes some beating.
Lucas’s confidence is clearly affected, but he somehow motivated himself sufficiently to make a big contribution in the 4-1 win at Manchester United on Saturday.
“It is hard, I try not to think about what some of the fans say, but I know some people don’t trust me yet,” said Lucas. “That is difficult, but I must try to concentrate on the team, and not let it affect my confidence.
“I have had support from the rest of the team, from Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso. Javier Mascherano is my room-mate and he always has advice.
“They have a lot of experience of this and they tell me to play with confidence because I have quality. I try to do that, and I think I am winning.”
So why is this phenomenon so widespread?
Why, when their young team full of local talent needs all the support it can get in their desperate relegation battle, do Middlesbrough fans sing “We’ve only got one player”?
Why is even Anderson at Manchester United booed by his own fans when the club is still actively pursuing another three trophies this season?
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After a career spent at the peak of his profession, Robbie Fowler was subjected to similar treatment during his brief spell with Blackburn at the start of the season. He has noticed the trend, and believes it is a combination of economic times being hard for fans who pay a king’s ransom to watch their club – and society simply becoming increasingly vicious and cynical.
“It can be pretty horrific these days, and I think a lot of the players have noticed it,” said Fowler. “Every club seems to have a player or players who get dog’s abuse, no matter what they do.
“I got a bit and I was surprised because it doesn’t help the team. But I guess they pay their money and have the right to criticise. When you pay so much to watch, and times are tough, you’ve got to be able to ask for something in return.
“You look around, and maybe society is a bit more aggressive these days, so it’s probably no surprise fans are a bit more impatient.
“It does nothing for a player’s confidence, and as a huge part of the game is about confidence, then the fans are probably not doing any good for their club in the long run.”
To boo or not to boo: Do supporters have the right to turn on their own players?
Yes say Middlesbro fans
Booing players who live in “ivory towers” is the only way fans can show their feelings, the Middlesbrough Official Supporters’ Club chairman said last night.
Sue Gardener was at the Riverside on Saturday as home supporters slaughtered Gareth Southgate’s strugglers.
Gardener insisted: “Booing is the only ways fans can vent their frustration with their team on the pitch if they are not performing as they should be. And a lot of people believe Middlesbrough are not performing as they should be.
“They have paid good money to go to a game and the team did not play well. The majority of fans are feeling frustrated and footballers are not around in the community like they used to be. You can’t tell a player what you think when you see him on the bus or in the pub any more. They live in ivory towers.
“How else, apart from booing on a Saturday afternoon, can you let them know you are not happy?
“It is equally true when we chant a player’s name. You are then saying we appreciate what you are doing. Booing is the other side of the coin. And I hope it works. I hope it gives the team a kick up the backside and helps us stay up.”
No says Mark Lawrenson
You only have to look at Stoke City’s home record to realise the importance of fans getting behind their team.
Stoke fans are passionate, committed and 100 per cent behind their players and it is their excellent home form which gives them hope of staying in the Premier League.
Their fans deserve nothing but respect whereas some Aston Villa fans seem to have short memories.
Gabby Agbonlahor was treated like a god a few months ago when he was helping Villa get into the top four.
Now he’s going through a difficult spell, fans are giving him stick. I hear all the arguments about how much they earn and that they should be able to take abuse.
But I don’t care how much you earn. if someone is telling you that you’re useless all the time, imagine how it would affect your confidence. It’s the same in any walk of life.
Middlesbrough fans have also been jeering their team. But opposition fans will seize on this, knowing the team are nervous at home because of the abuse and it will make things 10 times worse.
Which brings me back to Stoke. The club may not have a wealth of talent but they have committed players who draw on the fans’ passion.
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