Calling teams from abroad 'we' and 'us'

Omackeral

Do you do this?

Do you refer to Manchester United/Liverpool/Celtic/any other team from Britain as 'us' or 'we'. If so, why? Are you ever pulled up on it or is it the norm among the people you socialise and work with? Would you raise an eyebrow at someone who does it? How about if someone did for the likes of Barcelona or Juventus? Would that be different? Not judging (yet!) but curious to see how many folks on here do this.


Yes I know there's a football forum but this is moreso a social question so asking it here.

Mahony0509

I don't, personally. In terms of soccer I'd refer to Cork City as we, as I support the league of Ireland first and foremost. A lot of Irish people seem to have this imaginary connection to foreign teams, so much so that they feel as if they represent that team, by saying 'we'.

Omackeral

Mahony0509 wrote: »

A lot of Irish people seem to have this imaginary connection to foreign teams, so much so that they feel as if they represent that team, by saying 'we'.

It's usually the historically succesful ones too. You get the reasoning that a lot of Irish went to Manchester, London and Liverpool but it's rare you see many Crystal Palace or Oldham Athletic fans around. Funny that.

endacl

A team I haven’t played for will always be ‘them’.

Mahony0509

Omackeral wrote: »

It's usually the historically succesful ones too. You get the reasoning that a lot of Irish went to Manchester, London and Liverpool but it's rare you see many Crystal Palace or Oldham Athletic fans around. Funny that.

I'm not sure about you but I'd rather watch Cork City than that tripe that is Manchester United.

dfx-

I don't have a huge problem with it, it's a conversational tick moreso than anything else

Kermit.de.frog

A guy I know is one of those arm chair Irish Republican Brits Out types.

He supported Manchester United and always referred to them as "we".

I think with the Irish it is an inbuilt inferiority complex with England in particular. This has a funny way of manifesting itself with soccer. Many will automatically say "we" when referring to a premier league team. I don't think they realise it - just instinctive.

Skylinehead

I do. Anyone that cares has little to be at.

Tom Mann Centuria

When I'm talking with like minded fans I do, it's just short hand, easier than constantly saying Barnestoneworth United.

shaunr68

Voted yes. I was born in Liverpool and occasionally refer to Liverpool FC as "we" despite having about as much individual connection to Fenway Sports Group Liverpool Football Club as I have to Clare County Council or the Battersea Dogs' Home.

Don't see it as a big deal to be honest, but would like to ask the OP's permission to use "we" in this context.

Ninjini

If you didn’t play on the pitch with the team, you shouldn’t say “we” won/lost.

bucketybuck

Its shorthand. Simple as that.

Its really stupid to think that people are wrong to use shorthand during conversations.

mzungu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN1WN0YMWZU

Alf Veedersane

On January 1st 1989, I saw my first live football game. It was Man Utd vs Liverpool. Utd won, my eldest brother liked United so they became 'my team. I loved playing football and having a team was central to that.

As someone that loved football and watching United, they became inextricably linked to my love of football.

I'm older now and I don't say 'we' but I imagine many of my vintage do. I don't see it as a big deal.

Allinall

Omackeral wrote: »

It's usually the historically succesful ones too. You get the reasoning that a lot of Irish went to Manchester, London and Liverpool but it's rare you see many Crystal Palace or Oldham Athletic fans around. Funny that.

You do realise that Crystal Palace is in London , and Oldham is a suburb of Manchester ?

Ken.

You can thank me now for improving your poll.

8-10

The football teams mentioned by the OP are pretty global in nature. I would think the majority of United and Liverpool fans are not from the UK for example

So it's not a big deal at all.

bobbysands81

I own shares in Celtic so, as a part owner, I feel I deserve the right to use “we” and “us” etc...

bobbysands81

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

A guy I know is one of those arm chair Irish Republican Brits Out types.

He supported Manchester United and always referred to them as "we".

Never got why people have an issue with Irish Republicans supporting English soccer teams.

Losty Dublin

Allinall wrote: »

You do realise that Crystal Palace is in London , and Oldham is a suburb of Manchester ?

Oddly enough, that may be his actual point here

harry Bailey esq

Tom Mann Centuria wrote: »

When I'm talking with like minded fans I do, it's just short hand, easier than constantly saying Barnestoneworth United.

They got off to a flying start, but just nosedived after Christmas.

dd972

Mahony0509 wrote: »

I don't, personally. In terms of soccer I'd refer to Cork City as we, as I support the league of Ireland first and foremost. A lot of Irish people seem to have this imaginary connection to foreign teams, so much so that they feel as if they represent that team, by saying 'we'.

Ah yes, that strange, foreign, alien entity across the water, I'm thinking of popping over there to see what it's like, any tips on the language or the food, have they got pubs over there?

Omackeral

Allinall wrote: »

You do realise that Crystal Palace is in London , and Oldham is a suburb of Manchester ?

Eh yes, which is why I included them.

yesto24

Don't know how to post a YouTube link and too drunk to be told tonight how to do it.
But check out Mitchell and Webb football.
They have done this thread and it was funnier than any post and it was ten years ago.
And it's not just an Irish thing for those of you who just love to put themselves down.
Ah I see I am 28 minutes too late.
Ah well point still stands

harry Bailey esq

Like the poster mahony the Cork City man, I too am first and foremost LOI, I follow my local team, which in my case is Bohs. We won or we lost would never be uttered by me about anyone else unless it was in reference to the Irish team in a crucial game. With that being said, nothing wrong with having a pint and watching a decent premiership game, but while the guy who goes to Old Trafford thrice a year is considered a superfan, the likes of meself and mahony that go to Dalyer and Turners Cross respectively and pay our fifteen quid every second Friday evening be it under sun, rain, hail, or snow are deemed to be stuck in the past and know nothing of football. One clown that posted even suggested LOI supporters are armchair republicans, although the same clown would probably call Irish league football 'garrison games'.

darkdubh

I find these guys funny the way they go on like they think they're on the team board of management.

Arghus

In some ways it is a bit silly, but if you follow a team for a while you do begin to identify with them, it's understandable - so I'm prepared to allow it.

Omackeral

Arghus wrote: »

In some ways it is a bit silly, but if you follow a team for a while you do begin to identify with them, it's understandable - so I'm prepared to allow it.

I think if a fella from here called Barcelona or Bayern Munich 'us' they'd be laughed at or deemed weird.

Robsweezie

on first glance it seems a bit naff, but football does help develop a sense of belonging and bonding in men, so the inclusive 'we' can be a good thing for them. brings people together.

Lyle Lanley

Ninjini wrote: »

If you didn’t play on the pitch with the team, you shouldn’t say “we” won/lost.

Bollocks to that. Maybe if you're talking about the general Irish football supporter, to whom football is nothing more than a reason to be in the pub in the afternoon you might have a point. But when you follow your team home and away, when you give up hours every week to help out (be it as a board member, matchday steward, selling raffle tickets, whatever) you're more part of your club than some player that comes in for a season or two.

dreamers75

I "help" "my" team so I think I can call them "we".

They are irish and quite close to my house.

I laugh at lads in work calling each other manc scum or scouse scum.......they all from ballyer...

YFlyer

Ninjini wrote: »

If you didn’t play on the pitch with the team, you shouldn’t say “we” won/lost.

Hahahaha

YFlyer

darkdubh wrote: »

I find these guys funny the way they go on like they think they're on the team board of management.

Hahahahaha

Sam Quentin

To me, well it doesn't seem very Irish.
I can never say much about it as I would probably fall out with lots and LOTS of 'Irish' people!?
Personally I never was comfortable with this obsession, time wasting that lots of Irish people have for English soccer teams.
This is not an anti English attitude that I have, my ex fiancé was English and I lived in England for a number of years, it's just the whole energy,time, emotion etc etc that goes into it...

RobertKK

As a shareholder in Manchester United, I feel entitled to say 'we'.

John_D80

RobertKK wrote: »

As a shareholder in Manchester United, I feel entitled to say 'we'.

If you had shares in apple would you say things like “we’re launching a new iPhone” or “our iPad”?

Of course you wouldn’t because you’d sound silly. Just like people sayin “we” in reference to a football team they have never played for. It’s actually even more cringey when people think owning shares of a limited company makes them part of the club.

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

Zebra3

Omackeral wrote: »

Arghus wrote: »

In some ways it is a bit silly, but if you follow a team for a while you do begin to identify with them, it's understandable - so I'm prepared to allow it.

I think if a fella from here called Barcelona or Bayern Munich 'us' they'd be laughed at or deemed weird.

Or York City or Mansfield Town.

Will I Am Not

It’s said out of convenience mostly, especially online.
Drogheda United are the closest club to me. They are in a different county and don’t represent me at all but I’m sure the op wouldn’t mind me calling them ‘us’ or ‘we’.

There’s also a local team that play in the Leinster Senior League and they do represent the town I’m from but that can be overlooked to support the bigger LOI team instead. LOI fans are funny like that.

Ninjini

Lyle Lanley wrote: »

Bollocks to that. Maybe if you're talking about the general Irish football supporter, to whom football is nothing more than a reason to be in the pub in the afternoon you might have a point. But when you follow your team home and away, when you give up hours every week to help out (be it as a board member, matchday steward, selling raffle tickets, whatever) you're more part of your club than some player that comes in for a season or two.

That’s great for people to be so invested in something. I admire the passion and dedication. Selling a ticket still isn’t playing on the pitch though. The team play and win or lose.
If someone is heavily supportive of a band or musician and goes to a few different gigs and buys loads of merchandise etc. can they say “we played a great gig last night”? No, because they weren’t on stage actually performing.
They might contribute to the atmosphere etc. but they didn’t play.
Just my opinion.

darced

This post has been deleted.

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

Will I Am Not

Patww79 wrote: »

Where did they opening post mention the league of Ireland?

He said “change the record” for a reason.

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

Kolido

I would use us/we when referring to Liverpool, I'm a fan, so why not? Where they are located is neither here nor there!

El Tarangu

Why only teams from abroad?

As in, if I said "we won the All-Ireland last year" in reference to Dublin, it would be more or less equally (in)valid as me saying "we won the Premier League last year" for some EPL club - in either case, I had nothing to do personally with the triumph of each team.

Too Tough To Die

I stopped when Mourinho took charge.

Gwynplaine

I cringe when I hear it. Unless you're on the actual team. I don't say for county or country. "We" won the 6 nations. Yeah it was a tough slog watching it on the sofa.

dxhound2005

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

A guy I know is one of those arm chair Irish Republican Brits Out types.

He supported Manchester United and always referred to them as "we".

I think with the Irish it is an inbuilt inferiority complex with England in particular. This has a funny way of manifesting itself with soccer. Many will automatically say "we" when referring to a premier league team. I don't think they realise it - just instinctive.

I'm Irish (one of "the Irish") and I have no inbuilt inferiority complex with England. Have you?

The_Kew_Tour

We Won The Cup or Grand Slam?

Unless you're a player or in management doubt you can really say it in that context.

But I say we all the time for my teams and if upsets people then lucky you.

suicide_circus

It's a way of realising your shattered boyhood dreams of professional sporting glory by living vicariously through actual athletes on the telly.