MoogleViper Posted May 23, 2008 Posted May 23, 2008 It's easy for anyone to passionate in front of a tv. Not everyone can afford to go to every match.
Haver Posted May 23, 2008 Posted May 23, 2008 And those of us who watch, or in my case listen to games at home are not the ones slicing each other's throats off.
Roostophe Posted May 23, 2008 Posted May 23, 2008 I became a Villa fan for a few reasons: They're the team my family support. They're the nearest professional club to me. They won the League Cup in 1996 - My first Villa memory. I would love to go down the Villa much more. (My dad told me he used to be able to go in and watch the 2nd half for free back in the 70's.) But I just wish I had the money to do so. This is where I give the Sky part a thumbs-up. I can watch the Villa play without having to fork out loadsamoney to do so. Because I am a Villa fan, a top-flight club that haven't won a single trophy in the last 12 years (excluding the Intertoto Cup), I chose to also follow and support two other clubs. One is Greenock Morton, a lower league club so I can know what it is like to follow a lower league team. And the other is Celtic, a big club who are always winning trophies. Even though they are both based in Scotland, I choose to support them, and plan to go up and watch them play sometime. It's okay to support a club nowhere near where you live. Especially if there isn't a club anywhere near your hometown. But just so long as you know your stuff about the team, and not like Roger Nouveau the Football Fan off The Fast Show, you're an okay supporter by any standards.
Deathjam Posted May 23, 2008 Posted May 23, 2008 People have pretty much summed up my views. When I started supporting man utd, I was only 6 and was in a new school with people pressuring me into picking a team to support. So I went with my fave player at time, eric cantona, and he was at Man united then. My geography is pretty bad today, but I had no idea where manchester was back in those days, and no idea about the ideals of supporting a team. My dad wasn't really into football back then and even so, these days hes a glory hunter jumping ship from leeds, to liverpool, to man united, to real madrid, and now chelsea. He emigrated from africa though, so money really talks in his eyes. Anyways after picking my team, my friends told me of my folly, but it was too late. I picked my team and I am with them till I die. I started off bad, but I may as well carry on in good fashion. I also follow crystal palace's progress, and was really gutted when they went down a few season's ago. My parents never had the money or time to go to footy matches, so now I am taking care of my own funds, it will be up to me these days. Still matches are really expensive, and at the moment I can't even afford sky so its radio and match of the day for me. But I have taught myself so much about the game, the markets, other leagues and such that I feel that I am a true supporter, regardless of my location.
Ramar Posted May 24, 2008 Posted May 24, 2008 Not everyone can afford to go to every match. That's understandable in some cases. For example, being a 'fan' for near 20 years and the closest you've been to Old Trafford is Watford Gap is bloody shocking. Most Arsenal matches I'm shedding out £46, I went to around 20 or so games this season. And I work part time in a super market, whilst being a student. It can be done. And those of us who watch, or in my case listen to games at home are not the ones slicing each other's throats off. That's a fair comment, it is a few who go to games that sometimes cause violence. I can't see why you've said that though, no one here has claimed to be a football hooligan. And no one has said that hooliganism is the way to show support for your team [though some older factions of the stadia around the country may beg to differ].
BlueStar Posted May 24, 2008 Posted May 24, 2008 Not everyone can afford to go to every match. Not when you support one of the big four who charge £50 a ticket and you have to do a 200 mile commute to get to their home ground, no. I went to a Whitley Bay match a few weeks ago and it cost me £4 on the gate. When Sunderland were in the Championship they offered cheap tickets for games they thought they'd have trouble selling out (most of them ) offered £5 tickets to kids for some matches and my mate at Sudnerland Uni could just go to the university reception and ask if they'd been given any tickets and they'd usually have some he could have for free. If your local club is outside the top division, or even the top four, and you can get to it to public transport then you've got a much easier time following them financially. And those of us who watch, or in my case listen to games at home are not the ones slicing each other's throats off. The Chelsea fans in London seemed to cause more trouble than the ones in Moscow.
Noodleman Posted May 24, 2008 Posted May 24, 2008 I went to a Whitley Bay match a few weeks ago and it cost me £4 on the gate. When Sunderland were in the Championship they offered cheap tickets for games they thought they'd have trouble selling out (most of them ) offered £5 tickets to kids for some matches and my mate at Sudnerland Uni could just go to the university reception and ask if they'd been given any tickets and they'd usually have some he could have for free. If your local club is outside the top division, or even the top four, and you can get to it to public transport then you've got a much easier time following them financially. I'm sure ive posted this before but this is our (Colchester United) season ticket prices for next season: The cheapest ones are £460 we will be in league one. Half the premiership clubs have cheaper season ticket prices then we do. Ipswich our "biggest" local club in the division above us have cheaper season tickets. Last time we where in League one (2 seasons ago) seasons tickets where just under £300. That is why I don't have a season ticket anymore, that and I wont be in the country for the whole of the 2008/09 season.
MoogleViper Posted May 24, 2008 Posted May 24, 2008 The football holigan argument is a load of rubbish. You very really see it nowadays. And with firms most of it is organised and out of the way. My dad was a football hooligan when he was younger. He used to follow Chesterfield (My granddad supports them and they are a local team, although he supports Leeds and yes he is a glory supporter from the 60s) and they were always fighting on the streets outside of the stadium after every match. He's had a few mates who have lost eyes from football violence. It was common for people to turn up to work on a monday with fresh cuts and bruises. How often do you see violence like that now? I see it often because I live near Worksop. But whenever I go to Leeds I never see it.
gmac Posted May 24, 2008 Posted May 24, 2008 The cheapest ones are £460 we will be in league one. Half the premiership clubs have cheaper season ticket prices then we do. Ipswich our "biggest" local club in the division above us have cheaper season tickets. Last time we where in League one (2 seasons ago) seasons tickets where just under £300. That is why I don't have a season ticket anymore, that and I wont be in the country for the whole of the 2008/09 season. bloody hell, that's more expensive than my season ticket at Celtic
MoogleViper Posted May 24, 2008 Posted May 24, 2008 Somebody my dad is plastering for just bought season tickets for himself, his wife and his 2 kids for Derby for about £450. The cheapest at Leeds next season is £440. And it hasn't even been decided what division they'll be in.
Deathjam Posted May 24, 2008 Posted May 24, 2008 Actually, after doing a little thinking, wouldn't this 'support your local team' idealogy stem from the fact that teams in the past would be made up of people from the surrounding towm, the local boys, whom had grown up in that town and wanted to show their love and respect by playing for their town. Thus, friends and family would support that team, to support that person or persons as they have a connection. But as the sport has become more successful, some of these historical facets have been lost. Players are exchanged between teams, even if they are the enemy (Ashley Cole, Eric Cantona, Rio Ferdinand, etc. ) and players are imported from overseas and of course they will initially have no connection to the people. Thus, this 'support you local team' has lost its meaning somewhat. Then again, change is neccessary, as back when the game was first formed in the medieval times, pitches were whole fields, teams could consist of villages so something like 50 people and they could be uneven. I can't remember if I read if there was even a referee so it could be really brutal. My point? What you think are the rules of etiquette when it comes to supporting a team were different before you were born, and as the game evolves, they will probably change further. Meh and if I decided that I should support a local team, I can't anyways because if I wanted to show I was a true supporter, then I am supposed to stick to my chosen team till I die. Im damned if I do and damned if I dont.
BlueStar Posted May 24, 2008 Posted May 24, 2008 England has an Italian manager, France has people from their colonies playing, Ireland has just about anyone playing for them, we have the children of immigrants in the England squad, I'm off to support Brazil. I'd be interested to see what medieval football looked like, I have to say. The players who play for your city's football club may have come from further afield but they now live and work in that town, along side the people there. There's an affinity with the people you live with, even if they weren't born near you, is there not? You have people in your local pub who you drink with, play pub football with etc who you count as from the area , as friends and neighbours, who may have moved there for work or whatever, don't you? People can support other people's teams all they want, but the justification for it often appears feeble to me, that's all. I'll finish with something I think I've posted before in this thread, a post on a footy board that I quite liked The prostitutes of football . Manchester United, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich etc that is. Supporting these teams, as glory seekers in their respective countries do, must be akin to seeking fulfilment from the services of a paid escort and never feeling the happiness or pain and the ups and downs of a genuine relationship. Those who "choose" these teams know they'll always look good, deliver the goods and provide instant satisfaction, never having to suffer the anguish and tribulations of a long term marriage to a real football team. I hope we get behind our team like never before on Saturday, showing what true support is about, and come what may we know it's better to be in a relationship like ours than the one those in the away end have with their team.
MoogleViper Posted May 24, 2008 Posted May 24, 2008 Actually, after doing a little thinking, wouldn't this 'support your local team' idealogy stem from the fact that teams in the past would be made up of people from the surrounding towm, the local boys, whom had grown up in that town and wanted to show their love and respect by playing for their town. Thus, friends and family would support that team, to support that person or persons as they have a connection. I said that last page.
Ramar Posted May 24, 2008 Posted May 24, 2008 Why do I get the impression Deathjam would be the kind of fan that supports the ridiculous 39th fixture.
darksnowman Posted May 24, 2008 Posted May 24, 2008 Phew, 2-0 at half time to the Gers. 1-0 was unstoppable, even Gerrard-esque. 2-0 was... how did the keeper not save it??
Charlie Posted May 24, 2008 Posted May 24, 2008 I can't understand why fans support clubs that aren't within travelling distance, whats the point being a fan if you're not going to go to matches.. Most Arsenal matches I'm shedding out £46, I went to around 20 or so games this season. And I work part time in a super market, whilst being a student. It can be done. Different people have different priorities in life. I would much rather pocket that £46 than spend it on a football match which lasts an hour and a half. I support Celtic and just because I don't want to pay £30 every other week to go and see them play doesn't mean I'm not a true fan.
Platty Posted May 24, 2008 Posted May 24, 2008 No talk of tomorrows big game.. Wow.. I went to Spain on monday and only got back early hours of this morning. Well I expect a little hype from the fans. I remember when we got to the final me and Stocka wouldn't shut up about it. Stocka even went. People don't have to post every emotion on the internet. As I said I was in spain hyping away So anyone who doesn't live right next to the team they support isn't a real fan. Right. Gotcha. Seems that way. I live in London but have been a life long Man United fan all my life. My dad is from salford, all my family support Man United but apparently cos my parents decided to live in London I should support my local team. Which is a choice between Thamesmead Town, Welling United or Charlton.... I can't understand why fans support clubs that aren't within travelling distance, whats the point being a fan if you're not going to go to matches.. I've been going to see Arsenal since '95, at first only a few games a season, up to now where its practically every week. It's become part of me now, and I can't see it any other way. Being a Man united fan was drummed into me since I was kid. ie told thats who we support in this family, dressed in a united kit, taken to old trafford, told to hate man city and liverpool. Yes I don't go to many matches due to cost/travel. But that does not make me any less of a fan. I was born in 1983 and for as far as I can remember I have always supported them even before the premiership years. I remember the days when we were finishing about 11th/12th in the old division one. I don't need to justify why I support a certain team and nor should anyone else. Support who you want. People need to realise that not everyone that lives miles away from the club they support are glory hunters. Generalisation is a bad thing. Anyway my thoughts on the final: I was in Spain and was rather drunk by the time of kick off. I thought the first half we outclassed chelski all over the pitch and thought they were very lucky to get the goal on half time. 2nd half was a different story and they were all over us but rio and vidic played their hearts out and to be honest we only just held on. Extra I felt chelsea again were the better team but we both had some chances however I just knew it was going to go to penalties. I'm crap with penalties I just can't watch shoot outs for united or England so everytime we took one I was out of the room. I still have seen any of the united ones. I came back in for the chelski ones and the relief was the JT miss was unreal. I had a feeling Anelka would miss and he did. Loved it and despite what you may think and me being biased I think we deserved it for the way we have played over the whole competition.
Noodleman Posted May 24, 2008 Posted May 24, 2008 Well played Hull, Dean Windass such a hero :awesome:
darksnowman Posted May 24, 2008 Posted May 24, 2008 It somehow got back to being 2-2 with Rangers, but fortunately the cup was won 3-2.
Eddage Posted May 24, 2008 Posted May 24, 2008 Gutted that Bristol City lost, was a great goal to win but Bristol definitely deserved something out of the game. Oh well, they'll win the championship next year!
Platty Posted May 24, 2008 Posted May 24, 2008 We all knew it was coming: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/7418774.stm
Roostophe Posted May 24, 2008 Posted May 24, 2008 Dean Windass' goal was beautifhull. Well done to Hull. Maybe they'll be more of a challenge than last season's Play-Off winners. ¬_¬ We all knew it was coming: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/7418774.stm Blimey. You're right, it was expected. But, in the long run, was it a good idea? Just don't know.
Platty Posted May 24, 2008 Posted May 24, 2008 Dean Windass' goal was beautifhull. Well done to Hull. Maybe they'll be more of a challenge than last season's Play-Off winners. ¬_¬ Blimey. You're right, it was expected. But, in the long run, was it a good idea? Just don't know. And to add who would want that job knowing if you don't win trophies then you're sacked. Only someone that's tempted by a big wage packet.
Daft Posted May 24, 2008 Posted May 24, 2008 Holy shit Grant's been sacked. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11668_3605961,00.html I was starting to like him but I'd still rather have some who had some vague personality and didn't look like Big Boss Nas. Edit: Ok, I'm super slow. Just seen this has been posted! Sorry. Mourihno on his way back? :p http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article1202378.ece The Sun, I ALWAYS trust them!
Platty Posted May 24, 2008 Posted May 24, 2008 10 minutes too slow :p Jose will never come back whilst Abramovich is in charge.
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