Why do some people pretend to support certain football teams?

pgj2015

I know people who wear man U, liverpool jerseys and say they support them yet they never watch matches and dont even know what players they have. anyone any idea why people would do this?

endacl

The craic.

EmmetSpiceland

pgj2015 wrote: »

I know people who wear man U, liverpool jerseys and say they support them yet they never watch matches and dont even know what players they have. anyone any idea why people would do this?

A lot of people get international jerseys of other countries or pick up ones for teams in mainland European teams.

Don’t know many who’d be wearing “premier league” jerseys but not actually supporting the team.

What I have noticed is that you don’t actually see as many Man Utd “fans” as you would have a few years ago.

A lot of the ones I knew are now League of Ireland fans. Claiming they enjoy going to “live” football and that it’s a “purer” form of the game.

Now, don’t get me wrong, it’s great to see the LoI getting numbers at the games but, as I’ve said previously on this site, I’d be worried about those numbers dropping if United sort them sort themselves out. Don’t see it happening for a few years yet though.

All very disingenuous, from where I’m standing.

Arghus

It's awful isn't it?

RacoonQueen

EmmetSpiceland wrote: »

What I have noticed is that you don’t actually see as many Man Utd “fans” as you would have a few years ago.

Baffling. I wonder why that is. :pac:

dxhound2005

pgj2015 wrote: »

I know people who wear man U, liverpool jerseys and say they support them yet they never watch matches and dont even know what players they have. anyone any idea why people would do this?

They must know Roy Keane?

EmmetSpiceland

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Baffling. I wonder why that is. :pac:

Ah, I know they’ve fallen off a bit of a “cliff” but, I mean, it’s only been a few seasons.

I, myself, support a team who went from the top of the old first division into the championship. I’ve friends who still support Aston Villa or Everton.

The guys I know who sudden “follow” League of Ireland are lads who’d have been down the pub on a Sunday shouting at the TV. They’d have considered themselves “die hard” fans.

I assumed that you’d see their fanbase dwindle due to a lack of young people taking up supporting them but didn’t expect their older fans to just stop.

Peatys

pgj2015 wrote: »

I know people who wear man U, liverpool jerseys and say they support them yet they never watch matches and dont even know what players they have. anyone any idea why people would do this?

What did they say when you asked them?

IAMAMORON

The answer is B - This is a Man U bashing thread.

8-10

pgj2015 wrote: »

I know people who wear man U, liverpool jerseys and say they support them yet they never watch matches and dont even know what players they have. anyone any idea why people would do this?

In fairness I looked at the lineup for the Irish match the other night against New Zealand and there was more than a couple Irish players I don't think I'd heard of

IAMAMORON

Peatys

EmmetSpiceland wrote: »

A lot of the ones I knew are now League of Ireland fans. Claiming they enjoy going to “live” football and that it’s a “purer” form of the game.

All very disingenuous, from where I’m standing.

They could save themselves a fiver and watch similar standard in St Annes park every weekend.

Cee-Jay-Cee

pgj2015 wrote: »

I know people who wear man U, liverpool jerseys and say they support them yet they never watch matches and dont even know what players they have. anyone any idea why people would do this?

Maybe they’re pretending not to know any players and secretly watch the matches when they’re at home alone and the reason they do this is because they don’t want to be bored out of their minds by having to listen to Shiite about football and how xxx are playing etc etc from other people who watch football and do nothing but talk about it and automatically think every one else has the same unhealthy obsession with a bunch of **** running around a field after a bloody football.

Zaph

IAMAMORON wrote: »

The answer is B - This is a Man U bashing thread.

El_Duderino 09

pgj2015 wrote: »

I know people who wear man U, liverpool jerseys and say they support them yet they never watch matches and dont even know what players they have. anyone any idea why people would do this?

Yeah I see it loads. It's just what they were taught to do by their dad, uncle, peers or whatever. I know I did it whe I was young. Pretended to like football and pretended to follow Man U. If they had to choose what they like and don't like they wouldn't bother with football and that's exactly what I did.

That's why football coverage is often aimed at the level of soap opera - to give the people who don't actually like football something to read that's relate to their team. If they just gave football analysis, they'd never get clicks from those fans.

pgj2015

Berties_Horse wrote: »

You have little to be worrying about OP. They don't burden me as I don't share the same space as them. Try it sometime, that weight might fall off your shoulders.

im not worried about it in the slightest, im just confused as to why grown adults pretend they are into something when they arent.

Arghus

I've never met someone wearing the jersey of an English side that didn't have some knowledge or interest about the team.

pgj2015

Arghus wrote: »

I've never met someone wearing the jersey of an English side that didn't have some knowledge or interest about the team.

really? i have met a fair few who would struggle to name 1 player on the team. its really strange, it would be like someone wearing a slipknot t shirt even though they like country music and never listen to slipknot.

Relax The Cax

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Baffling. I wonder why that is. :pac:

Its because they're Liverpool fans now

pgj2015

Relax The Cax wrote: »

Its because they're Liverpool fans now

That reminds me of the time bertie ahern was on the premiership show on rte and he said he supported man united and liverpool:pac::pac:

Relax The Cax

pgj2015 wrote: »

That reminds me of the time bertie ahern was on the premiership show on rte and he said he supported man united and liverpool:pac::pac:

He's a Man City fan now.

Relax The Cax

It's the same story with the Ireland team

For the New Zealand game there was less than 20,000 in attendance.
for Denmark there'll be a sell out

Every single person there tomorrow will tell you that thery were at the new zealand match

Dr. Bre

Not just football a lot of people seem to support Leinster but check out their average attendance and it’s not high

riffmongous

EmmetSpiceland wrote: »

A lot of people get international jerseys of other countries or pick up ones for teams in mainland European teams.

Don’t know many who’d be wearing “premier league” jerseys but not actually supporting the team.

What I have noticed is that you don’t actually see as many Man Utd “fans” as you would have a few years ago.

A lot of the ones I knew are now League of Ireland fans. Claiming they enjoy going to “live” football and that it’s a “purer” form of the game.

Now, don’t get me wrong, it’s great to see the LoI getting numbers at the games but, as I’ve said previously on this site, I’d be worried about those numbers dropping if United sort them sort themselves out. Don’t see it happening for a few years yet though.

All very disingenuous, from where I’m standing.

LOI is a very different kettle of fish to the PL though, as you say yourself a lot of premier league fans would have been down the pub on sunday watching it on a televsion.. if they want to watch LOI they've got to go to the game on a Friday evening

Relax The Cax

Dr. Bre wrote: »

Not just football a lot of people seem to support Leinster but check out their average attendance and it’s not high

That's a seriously hefty band wagon.

You dont expect them to go and watch games do you?

Edgware

Peatys wrote: »

They could save themselves a fiver and watch similar standard in St Annes park every weekend.

A fiver!! When were you last at a match?

BDI

I go to work and somebody asks did I watch the match. 5 minutes later I’ve realised that I’m the only one that watched the match the rest read about it in the back of a tabloid or seen the goals on twitter.

People do it to sound impressive or slag each other. A bit childish.

EmmetSpiceland

Dr. Bre wrote: »

Not just football a lot of people seem to support Leinster but check out their average attendance and it’s not high

Leinster has one of, if not the, highest average attendances in the Pro14. Munster and Ulster would be far off either.

And that’s not too bad considering rugby is still behind soccer, Gaelic football and hurling in participation numbers.

Stevieluvsye

EmmetSpiceland wrote: »

Ah, I know they’ve fallen off a bit of a “cliff” but, I mean, it’s only been a few seasons.

I, myself, support a team who went from the top of the old first division into the championship. I’ve friends who still support Aston Villa or Everton.

The guys I know who sudden “follow” League of Ireland are lads who’d have been down the pub on a Sunday shouting at the TV. They’d have considered themselves “die hard” fans.

I assumed that you’d see their fanbase dwindle due to a lack of young people taking up supporting them but didn’t expect their older fans to just stop.

Leeds, Ireland is full of yis

Seperately i have noticed a drop off of sorts in the amount of people i see actually wearing football shirts. Back in the mid late 90's and most of early noughties they were ten a penny.

beauf

pgj2015 wrote: »

I know people who wear man U, liverpool jerseys and say they support them yet they never watch matches and dont even know what players they have. anyone any idea why people would do this?

https://youtu.be/6yN2H3--1aw

I'm curious is there a minimum level of engagement before you're allowed to call yourself a fan or wear a shirt.

People get different things out it. I've never worn the shirts, but I only dip in and out of watching it, preferred playing sport to watching. Supported same team the whole time. Never get too deep into it. Bit of a lightweight I guess.

Bob Harris

Relax The Cax wrote: »

It's the same story with the Ireland team

For the New Zealand game there was less than 20,000 in attendance.
for Denmark there'll be a sell out

Every single person there tomorrow will tell you that thery were at the new zealand match

Do you mean the rugby match against Munster in 1978?

soups05

I grew up never watching football, my whole family are big Liverpool fans but I had more interest in books/star trek etc. When my eldest son was a teenager I wanted to spend more time with him so I started watching the matches with him. He was delighted to teach his old man about his passion.
I started to understand the rules and even got to like the game and the banter which went with it. This was the season after they won the champions league for the 5th time so they were on a high.

Fans will know that the team slowly slipped down the league for the next few years. Then I went back to education, my son left college and started work and we no longer had as much time to watch matches together. That is around the time Liverpool started to climb back up the table.

A pattern emerged, I watched a match, they lost, I missed a match, they won. It became a running joke that I was a secret man unt fan lol. These days I never watch them play, I could not tell you who the players are. I simply do not have the time or the intelligence to memorize all those players, all those games etc.

My son is now 28, could tell you every player in the PL and prob give you a breakdown of each of the last 10/20 seasons of the PL. Who beat his team, who his team beat, etc. I still have about 20 jerseys/ jackets with various styles based on the kit at the time. When fans ask why I don't watch the games I explain the above and joke that I am a jinx. They laugh and we have the banter, but if I suggest that I may watch a game they always, to a man, try to persuade me not to. "just in case".

Fans can be a superstitious bunch lol.

Bigbagofcans

The same way some people wear Ramones t-shirts despite only knowing one song.

But, hey, people can wear whatever they want.

cj maxx

soups05 wrote: »

I grew up never watching football, my whole family are big Liverpool fans but I had more interest in books/star trek etc. When my eldest son was a teenager I wanted to spend more time with him so I started watching the matches with him. He was delighted to teach his old man about his passion.
I started to understand the rules and even got to like the game and the banter which went with it. This was the season after they won the champions league for the 5th time so they were on a high.

Fans will know that the team slowly slipped down the league for the next few years. Then I went back to education, my son left college and started work and we no longer had as much time to watch matches together. That is around the time Liverpool started to climb back up the table.

A pattern emerged, I watched a match, they lost, I missed a match, they won. It became a running joke that I was a secret man unt fan lol. These days I never watch them play, I could not tell you who the players are. I simply do not have the time or the intelligence to memorize all those players, all those games etc.

My son is now 28, could tell you every player in the PL and prob give you a breakdown of each of the last 10/20 seasons of the PL. Who beat his team, who his team beat, etc. I still have about 20 jerseys/ jackets with various styles based on the kit at the time. When fans ask why I don't watch the games I explain the above and joke that I am a jinx. They laugh and we have the banter, but if I suggest that I may watch a game they always, to a man, try to persuade me not to. "just in case".

Fans can be a superstitious bunch lol.

Keep not watching them. They're European champions and undefeated in the PL. If it goes bad I will hunt you down !

IAMAMORON

Irish soccer fans who think they are supporting English soccer teams are only really dipping their toes in the Ocean.

Soccer in England is an institution. It is part of your make up over there. Everyone has a local team who they support and build friendships and family around. It is part of their culture. People from Scunthorpe get the Scunthorpe United tattoo and buy a season ticket. It is very much part of English culture.

English soccer is essentially modern tribalism in a new suit.

When Southampton fans attend the Dell on a Saturday afternoon to watch them play Liverpool FC it is for one reason only.... to slag the shight out of the Liverpool fans, in chorus.

" what does it feel like, to talk like a scouser, to eat shight food, and live on the Dole " etc etc.

That is what it is all about really.... it is ripping the piss out of the other tribes dotted all over the country. Soccer in England is tribal, you would have to admire it really. All the clubs have their own chants and calls. All the clubs have their own slang and local identifiable language, it is beautiful really. That is why they call it the " beautiful game" over there. It is a culture.

It is really sad to see Irish clowns throw on a Liverpool or Manchester United jersey and think that they are part of something or that they belong to something, really really sad. The reality is that all the real Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Man u fans just think you are " another phucking Paddy" and don't really understand why you are supporting their team. They are laughing at you, you are a joke to them, believe.

Any Irish Leeds United supporters out there, or Irish Nottingham Forest fans... don't think you are being cool because your team is shight. The fact is that you will never be from Leeds or the river Trent, you will never belong there and you will never get it. It is not really in your blood.

Irish soccer fans who support English soccer are really just victims of a marketing plan started up by executives in Sky Sports in the early 90's. It is very very sad.

Stevieluvsye

IAMAMORON wrote: »

Irish soccer fans who think they are supporting English soccer teams are only really dipping their toes in the Ocean.

Soccer in England is an institution. It is part of your make up over there. Everyone has a local team who they support and build friendships and family around. It is part of their culture. People from Scunthorpe get the Scunthorpe United tattoo and buy a season ticket. It is very much part of English culture.

English soccer is essentially modern tribalism in a new suit.

When Southampton fans attend the Dell on a Saturday afternoon to watch them play Liverpool FC it is for one reason only.... to slag the shight out of the Liverpool fans, in chorus.

" what does it feel like, to talk like a scouser, to eat shight food, and live on the Dole " etc etc.

That is what it is all about really.... it is ripping the piss out of the other tribes dotted all over the country. Soccer in England is tribal, you would have to admire it really. All the clubs have their own chants and calls. All the clubs have their own slang and local identifiable language, it is beautiful really. That is why they call it the " beautiful game" over there. It is a culture.

It is really sad to see Irish clowns throw on a Liverpool or Manchester United jersey and think that they are part of something or that they belong to something, really really sad. The reality is that all the real Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Man u fans just think you are " another phucking Paddy" and don't really understand why you are supporting their team. They are laughing at you, you are a joke to them, believe.

Any Irish Leeds United supporters out there, or Irish Nottingham Forest fans... don't think you are being cool because your team is shight. The fact is that you will never be from Leeds or the river Trent, you will never belong there and you will never get it. It is not really in your blood.

Irish soccer fans who support English soccer are really just victims of a marketing plan started up by executives in Sky Sports in the early 90's. It is very very sad.

You are incorrect on about 3 or maybe 4 points you make above.

bullpost

IAMAMORON wrote: »

Irish soccer fans who think they are supporting English soccer teams are only really dipping their toes in the Ocean.

Soccer in England is an institution. It is part of your make up over there. Everyone has a local team who they support and build friendships and family around. It is part of their culture. People from Scunthorpe get the Scunthorpe United tattoo and buy a season ticket. It is very much part of English culture.

English soccer is essentially modern tribalism in a new suit.

When Southampton fans attend the Dell on a Saturday afternoon to watch them play Liverpool FC it is for one reason only.... to slag the shight out of the Liverpool fans, in chorus.

" what does it feel like, to talk like a scouser, to eat shight food, and live on the Dole " etc etc.

That is what it is all about really.... it is ripping the piss out of the other tribes dotted all over the country. Soccer in England is tribal, you would have to admire it really. All the clubs have their own chants and calls. All the clubs have their own slang and local identifiable language, it is beautiful really. That is why they call it the " beautiful game" over there. It is a culture.

It is really sad to see Irish clowns throw on a Liverpool or Manchester United jersey and think that they are part of something or that they belong to something, really really sad. The reality is that all the real Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Man u fans just think you are " another phucking Paddy" and don't really understand why you are supporting their team. They are laughing at you, you are a joke to them, believe.

Any Irish Leeds United supporters out there, or Irish Nottingham Forest fans... don't think you are being cool because your team is shight. The fact is that you will never be from Leeds or the river Trent, you will never belong there and you will never get it. It is not really in your blood.

Irish soccer fans who support English soccer are really just victims of a marketing plan started up by executives in Sky Sports in the early 90's. It is very very sad.

My Mammy always told me not to worry about what other people think

IAMAMORON

Stevieluvsye wrote: »

You are incorrect on about 3 or maybe 4 points you make above.

It is the same for IFA fans who go to Anfield or Castle Greyskull on their cheap weekenders. Really sad again.

The locals don't get ye at all. They just think your Irish.

I would have alot more respect for a Crusaders, Glens or Linfield fan who stay at home and listen to Jim Neilly on Cool fm. At least they know where they're from and what they're about.

fryup

tonight you'll have a crowd singing ole ole ole while pretending to be arvent fans of the boys in green...but if they get a trashing watch these same fans leave in their droves before the final whistle

IAmTheReign

EmmetSpiceland wrote: »

Leinster has one of, if not the, highest average attendances in the Pro14. Munster and Ulster would be far off either.

And that’s not too bad considering rugby is still behind soccer, Gaelic football and hurling in participation numbers.

Leinster had the highest average attendance in the pro14 last season by a decent margin, with Ulster and Munster second and third. All 3 clubs were over 75% capacity for the season which is pretty decent considering the amount of dead rubber games in the season. Even Connacht gets better attendances than any of the LOI clubs. Stats are all here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pro14#Attendance

8-10

IAMAMORON wrote: »

Irish soccer fans who think they are supporting English soccer teams are only really dipping their toes in the Ocean.

Soccer in England is an institution. It is part of your make up over there. Everyone has a local team who they support and build friendships and family around. It is part of their culture. People from Scunthorpe get the Scunthorpe United tattoo and buy a season ticket. It is very much part of English culture.

English soccer is essentially modern tribalism in a new suit.

When Southampton fans attend the Dell on a Saturday afternoon to watch them play Liverpool FC it is for one reason only.... to slag the shight out of the Liverpool fans, in chorus.

" what does it feel like, to talk like a scouser, to eat shight food, and live on the Dole " etc etc.

That is what it is all about really.... it is ripping the piss out of the other tribes dotted all over the country. Soccer in England is tribal, you would have to admire it really. All the clubs have their own chants and calls. All the clubs have their own slang and local identifiable language, it is beautiful really. That is why they call it the " beautiful game" over there. It is a culture.

It is really sad to see Irish clowns throw on a Liverpool or Manchester United jersey and think that they are part of something or that they belong to something, really really sad. The reality is that all the real Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Man u fans just think you are " another phucking Paddy" and don't really understand why you are supporting their team. They are laughing at you, you are a joke to them, believe.

Any Irish Leeds United supporters out there, or Irish Nottingham Forest fans... don't think you are being cool because your team is shight. The fact is that you will never be from Leeds or the river Trent, you will never belong there and you will never get it. It is not really in your blood.

Irish soccer fans who support English soccer are really just victims of a marketing plan started up by executives in Sky Sports in the early 90's. It is very very sad.

The point of this thread are people who support these teams but know nothing about them, they're not trying to be super fans just like the locals, it sounds like they just have the jersey for the craic.

If somebody doesn't know the first thing about the team who's jersey they wear, how do you reckon they think it's in their blood?

pgj2015

IAMAMORON wrote: »

Irish soccer fans who think they are supporting English soccer teams are only really dipping their toes in the Ocean.

Soccer in England is an institution. It is part of your make up over there. Everyone has a local team who they support and build friendships and family around. It is part of their culture. People from Scunthorpe get the Scunthorpe United tattoo and buy a season ticket. It is very much part of English culture.

English soccer is essentially modern tribalism in a new suit.

When Southampton fans attend the Dell on a Saturday afternoon to watch them play Liverpool FC it is for one reason only.... to slag the shight out of the Liverpool fans, in chorus.

The Dell? they havent played there in about 20 years.


That is what it is all about really.... it is ripping the piss out of the other tribes dotted all over the country. Soccer in England is tribal, you would have to admire it really. All the clubs have their own chants and calls. All the clubs have their own slang and local identifiable language, it is beautiful really. That is why they call it the " beautiful game" over there. It is a culture.



LOI Clubs do this, all clubs sing songs during games slagging off the rival team, "your just a $hit shamrock rovers" (dundalk fans sing at bohs fans) for example. its not just english teams singing songs like that.

Deebles McBeebles

Is Ericsson playing tonight? He's probably my favourite Manchester Red player. He will surely show the amateurs in the Irish side a thing or 2 about controlling a midpark.

Stevieluvsye

Deebles McBeebles wrote: »

Is Ericsson playing tonight? He's probably my favourite Manchester Red player. He will surely show the amateurs in the Irish side a thing or 2 about controlling a midpark.

No, he signed for France in the last International transfer window i heard

IAMAMORON

Of course they do and fair play to them. That is what it is all about, identifying with something that you want to belong to and getting involved. Good luck to them, League of Ireland fans are great.

In saying all that.... they have to put up with a lot more competition than English or Scottish soccer fans. Take the GAA or Rugby as an example. The fact remains that your average league of Ireland fan is in a different fish tank to your English soccer fan.

I am talking about being from somewhere like Oldham. Supporting Athletic and only drinking in certain pubs around the town. Being in a " crew" and only shopping in shops which are affiliated to Oldham Athletic.

That sort of crap doesn't really exist up in Finn Harps or down in Inchicore.

Deebles McBeebles

Stevieluvsye wrote: »

No, he signed for France in the last International transfer window i heard

My friend, I think you are talking about the imperious N. Golo Kan-Tae, the Irish-Korean lad. France have recently bought his rights but I think its wrong and hope they do rather badly in the next FAI Cup.

8-10

IAMAMORON wrote: »

Of course they do and fair play to them. That is what it is all about, identifying with something that you want to belong to and getting involved. Good luck to them, League of Ireland fans are great.

In saying all that.... they have to put up with a lot more competition than English or Scottish soccer fans. Take the GAA or Rugby as an example. The fact remains that your average league of Ireland fan is in a different fish tank to your English soccer fan.

I am talking about being from somewhere like Oldham. Supporting Athletic and only drinking in certain pubs around the town. Being in a " crew" and only shopping in shops which are affiliated to Oldham Athletic.

That sort of crap doesn't really exist up in Finn Harps or down in Inchicore.

LOI are getting a bit more of the hipster market recently too. Who cares anyway why someone wants to follow the team. More power to them, personally I think soccer is great. More fans the better.

And on the topic of wearing a jersey without being able to name a player, so what? Maybe they just like the jersey. I wear baseball caps of baseball teams I don't support on occasion.

Stevieluvsye

Deebles McBeebles wrote: »

My friend, I think you are talking about the imperious N. Golo Kan-Tae, the Irish-Korean lad. France have recently bought his rights but I think its wrong and hope they do rather badly in the next FAI Cup.

Oh sorry that's right. Athlone should never have sold him in the first place

EmmetSpiceland

8-10 wrote: »

LOI are getting a bit more of the hipster market recently too. Who cares anyway why someone wants to follow the team. More power to them, personally I think soccer is great. More fans the better.

It started as a “hipster” thing a few seasons back alright but there has been a huge swell in support from the United lads who used to mock the league and it’s fans.

veryangryman

fryup wrote: »

tonight you'll have a crowd singing ole ole ole while pretending to be arvent fans of the boys in green...but if they get a trashing watch these same fans leave in their droves before the final whistle

When the party gets sh1te, you leave. This isn't religion lads, and even if it was, people leave early

riffmongous

Stevieluvsye wrote: »

Leeds, Ireland is full of yis

Seperately i have noticed a drop off of sorts in the amount of people i see actually wearing football shirts. Back in the mid late 90's and most of early noughties they were ten a penny.

Probably not the main reason but the price of them nowadays! I used to love getting them as a sort of collecting, especially after a major international tournament and Elverys would have a few oddities on sale for 20 quid.. nowadays your looking at paying around 40 on sale for a shirt from a few years back, and 60-80 for a new one.

Same with rugby jerseys too though, again Elverys used to be great for getting some interesting foreign ones