Set pieces on the rise, fans transformed to customers and conspiracies seen in every decision – is football losing its fun?
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nglish football has always mirrored the passions, conflicts, identities and inequalities of the age. After the golden 1960s, the decay of the 1970s and ensuing disasters of the 1980s came the cap-sleeved, rebounding self-confidence of the 1990s. The 21st century so far has taken in globalisation and wanton commercialism. After that rabid, often reckless push for continued growth, society and the game alight on the uncertainties that encapsulated 2025.
To catch the 20 Premier League clubs in live action this season, and this writer completed the full set on Tuesday witnessing Arsenal’s second-half demolition of Aston Villa, has been a study in that uncertainty. From the grumbling of fans, to the ever-fragile egos of managers, to players slugging through the gristle of 90 minutes of hard-pressing slog, a leading question comes to mind: is anyone actually still enjoying this?
Perhaps Sunderland and lately Leeds, in bucking the trend of promoted clubs sinking back down, can say they are. “Well-run” paragon clubs such as Brighton and Bournemouth have hit glass ceilings. From the disappointments of Liverpool’s rebuild to ailing projects at Manchester United and Chelsea down to the death spiral played out at Molineux, just about nobody is happy nowadays. Even within Crystal Palace’s 2025 annus mirabilis came a regrettable schism in the support base. If falling out over chants of “stop the boats” isn’t a reflection of modern times, then what is?
