Tottenham parted ways with manager Thomas Frank on Wednesday, a move that was widely anticipated given the team's recent struggles.

Booing has long been a staple of the football experience, with fans expressing their dissatisfaction with a particular play, player, or team performance.

The question remains, however, whether fans are more likely to boo their own team and manager nowadays, and if so, what factors are driving this behavior.

This season has seen several high-profile instances of fan discontent in the Premier League, with Thomas Frank's tenure at Tottenham being a notable example.

The final straw for Frank came in the form of a 2-1 loss to Newcastle on Tuesday, which was met with boos from the home crowd.

Frank had acknowledged the frustration of the fans in one of his final interviews, stating that he understood their discontent given the team's poor run of form.

"I understand the frustration, and I also understand that it's easy to point at me," Frank said, recognizing the scrutiny that comes with being a manager.

Frank is not the only manager to have faced criticism from fans this season, with Arne Slot and his players also experiencing booing from a small section of Liverpool supporters.

The phenomenon of booing is not limited to the Premier League, as evidenced by the treatment of Brian Sorensen by Everton fans in the Women's Super League, which ultimately contributed to his dismissal.

Former England player Wayne Rooney has spoken about the prevalence of booing throughout his career, recalling that it was a common occurrence.

"It's always been there," Rooney said. "Fans have their opinions, and sometimes they're with you, and sometimes they're against you."

Rooney attributes the increased attention on booing to the rise of social media and the presence of more TV cameras at matches.

While Rooney acknowledges that booing can be a problem when it crosses the line into abuse, he generally views it as an acceptable part of the game.

Joe Hart, another former England player, shares Rooney's perspective on booing, seeing it as an inevitable aspect of the sport.

"You get booed by the away fans, that's just part of the game," Hart said. "If I was being booed, I was probably doing something wrong."

Both Rooney and Hart believe that booing has always been a part of football, but they differ on whether it had a significant impact on their performances.

Hart claims that booing did not affect him, saying, "I've got no scars from it, put it that way. I was focused on my game, and whether I was getting applause or boos, it didn't make a difference."

Former midfielder Danny Murphy also recalls experiencing difficult moments during his career, including being booed by Fulham fans during a relegation battle.

Murphy views booing as a challenge, saying, "You have to take it as a chance to overcome it, to try and do better. If you're playing Premier League football, that's your job."

Murphy believes that players must learn to cope with booing, recognizing that it is an inherent part of the game.

"You can't have it one way and not the other," Murphy said. "If you're going to enjoy the praise of the fans when things are going well, you have to be able to handle the criticism when they're not."

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The origins of booing can be traced back to thousands of years of human evolution, with experts suggesting that it is a deeply ingrained behavior.

Stephen Smith, chair of the British Psychological Society's Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology, offers insights into the psychological factors driving booing.

According to Smith, human decision-making is often driven by emotions rather than logic, with 85-90% of decisions being irrational and emotionally driven.

Smith describes the sound of booing as "guttural" and "vibrating through the bones," suggesting that it is a primal expression of discontent.

The emotional aspect of booing is contagious, with Smith explaining that it only takes a few individuals to start the behavior, and then others will follow suit.

Smith believes that booing is a natural way for fans to express their displeasure, with the emotional part of the brain driving the behavior.

Smith also suggests that the psychological contract between clubs and fans has changed, with clubs now viewing fans as customers rather than loyal supporters.

This shift has led to a breakdown in the relationship between clubs and fans, with fans feeling that their loyalty is not being reciprocated.

As a result, fans are more likely to express their discontent through booing, which Smith views as a manifestation of the broken psychological contract.

The changed dynamic between clubs and fans has contributed to an increase in booing, with fans feeling more entitled to voice their dissatisfaction.

The question of whether booing one's own team and manager is ever justified is a complex one, with fans offering varying perspectives on the issue.

Spurs supporter Ali Speechly says she would never boo her own team, but can understand why others might do so, citing the correlation between ticket prices and fan expectations.

Speechly believes that when fans feel they are not getting value for their money, they are more likely to express their frustration through booing.

Fellow Spurs fan Darren Harvey takes a different view, saying he would boo if the team was consistently underperforming.

Harvey acknowledges that booing can be a way to fit in with the crowd, but also recognizes that it can be a spontaneous reaction to a disappointing performance.

A Manchester United fan, however, takes a more traditional view, arguing that fans should support their team through thick and thin, rather than booing them.

This fan views booing as a sign of disloyalty, suggesting that fans who engage in this behavior are "spoilt" and lack patience.

Ultimately, the debate surrounding booing highlights the complex and often conflicting emotions that fans experience when supporting their team.

An anonymous supporter suggests that substance abuse may be a contributing factor to certain behaviors.

A fan notes that the inability to purchase alcohol at matches leads some spectators to overindulge beforehand, potentially creating a more volatile atmosphere.

A witness to the Euros final between England and Italy recalls observing fans openly using cocaine, highlighting the presence of alcohol and drugs as a factor in diminished inhibitions among spectators.

The mainstream media, including the BBC, plays a significant role in drawing attention to instances of booing when they occur.

In the case of Frank, the fact that a substantial number of Tottenham fans have engaged in booing this season is considered newsworthy and thus receives media coverage.

Social media also has a significant impact, with influencers possessing large followings able to shape public discourse.

According to Speechly, social media may encourage booing by amplifying negative sentiments: "Those who spread negativity tend to garner the most attention online."

"Certain individuals can create a frenzy, which is then followed by numerous fans who have consumed this narrative online, arriving at the stadium already fueled by anger and hostility."

Determining whether fans are more likely to boo their own team and manager nowadays is a complex issue, and one that may be impossible to prove conclusively.

In comparison to previous generations, it is likely that booing is more widely discussed today due to the increased presence of media outlets, making it challenging for fans to avoid this commentary.

For a final perspective, we turn to someone who has personally experienced being booed.

Murphy remarks, "Ideally, booing wouldn't make sense, as it can negatively impact player performance and ultimately the team's result, but this isn't always a rational scenario."

"While we don't live in a world where everyone acts logically, the passion of football fans is a key aspect of what makes the game so compelling."

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