trashcan wrote: » I'd call that a fan, not a supporter. If people think that's me being superior, then so be it.
odyssey06 wrote: » "The great fallacy is that the game is first and last about winning. It is nothing of the kind. The game is about glory, it is about doing things in style and with a flourish, about going out and beating the lot, not waiting for them to die of boredom." - Danny Blanchflower Football is about glory. If by using the phrase glory hunters it was meant as a cheap insult it just shows up your limited parochial view of the game.
Agent Coulson wrote: » Oil money can buy a lot but it can't buy fans like this.
odyssey06 wrote: » If all that matters is the local element that's a narrow parochial view I do not subscribe to.
Omackeral wrote: » Counterpoint; you'd be laughed at or called weird if you were from Longford and supported Kerry in GAA because they're better. You get a pass from doing it in football/soccer though. That's just an observation.
odyssey06 wrote: » They arent clubs though. It would be the same re: international soccer teams in a world cup scenario.
Omackeral wrote: » Clubs represent areas. That's why they're generally named after places. Where do you think Leeds are from? Where do you think Bristol Rovers are from?
odyssey06 wrote: » 76 pages in. Havent heard a single good reason why you shouldnt support a non local team.
odyssey06 wrote: » You should only support Liverpool or Leeds Utd if they are the closest team to you if localism is all that matters and never pick a higher team in the pyramid.
gormdubhgorm wrote: » Does it? How does it do that exactly. I am sure Danny Blanchflower was not one for hype...? What he was talking about was style of play.... I consider myself a Dub - support the Dublin footballers (home and away) and hurlers (mostly home). There is a sense of place following them and identity. Parnell Park and Croke Park are only short spins away from where I live now and where I grew up. I also enjoy following sport I would not considering myself a big LOI fan - but I am going to see Rovers v Dundalk because I think there will be tension in it and it will be competitive. As regards to me calling Irish fans 'glory hunters' that is exactly what they are as most chose a Premier League team when they were 10 and that team were doing well. Maybe gloryhunters is a wrong term - a brand consumer might be a better one. They are more attracted to the brand rather than a sense of place a real community. It is an articifal creation of a 'community' like a manufactured boyband group. They even imitate the accents of the Engish when singing songs etc. That is just odd in my view. It just adds to the artificial nature of it. Even funnier the Irish consumers of traditional English teams/brands have the gall to look down on those who recently support the newer team/brands who are funded by new money oil etc From the Liverpool - Tottenham Final thread the day after Liverpool won - I know Ireland not the only country to fall for this branding - It really brings it home they are targeting consumers from no matter where they are from, with completely different justifications - the adverts contradict each other! But people will still trick themselves with thier false association 'we' etc and 'more than a club' - 'or a special club'. However, it is not just the fact that Irish people associate themselves with these brands, what annoys me even more is that they also degrade anything Irish and automatically assume it is inferior. But, these type of people do not seem to understand the sense of natural sense of community and place - which they have to go elsewhere to look for it. Local is no longer good enough there is no glamour and hype. I ask you to point me to all those Irish premier league supporters of Brighton, Burnley, Sothampton, Watford. Why are the Irish premier league supporters always Man United, Chelsea, Man City, Liverpool and Arsenal That is because they are the top teams in England. How many Man City/Chelsea jerseys would you have seen in Ireland 20 years ago?
odyssey06 wrote: » They dont. Or Everton woud only have Methodists players and supporters. Why does Bristol need a Rovers if there is a team called Bristol City? There were and are lots of clubs in England at all levels of the pyramid in every town and county. They all started out for players to play. They werent formed to give fans sth to look at. Some attracted more fans than others. You should only support Liverpool or Leeds Utd if they are the closest team to you if localism is all that matters and never pick a higher team in the pyramid.
Omackeral wrote: » Why do people always support their county in GAA if there are better ones elsewhere? Same argument but yet to hear an answer from you. Seems like it's one convenient rule for one thing and a different one for the other. Barnsley matches are usually attended by people from Barnsely... mad that.
D14Rugby wrote: » Bristol Rovers were originally named after the local rugby team then called Eastville, an area in Bristol, Brstol City were originally called Bristol South End, so thats why you have both of them. Actually most clubs were formed with the aim of both giving players the opportunity to play and as a gathering point for the community, like GAA clubs all over Ireland. Well you'll probably find everyone that has those two teams as the closest ones to them does support Leeds or Liverpool
gormdubhgorm wrote: » I think it is to do with 'brand value' It seems to go against the genuine reasons of supporting a team in my view. People are basically sheep and want to be seen to be associated with the glamour teams/brands.
odyssey06 wrote: » Strange that an event in Barnsley would mostly be attended to by people in Barnsley.
gormdubhgorm wrote: » Support your local economy. Increase sense of community. Increase the standard of the local team and therefore increasing the standard of the competition they are in. When this happens local talent will stay in Ireland longer and be less likely to be chewed up and spat out by bigger leagues. The local lad in your team will actually be local and the community will see him everyday - so the players are more accessible.
Omackeral wrote: » That's not strange at all. I'll tell you what is strange though... two pillocks from Clondalkin/Portlaoise/Ballygobackwards calling each other Manc scum and bin-dipping Scousers in a pub on a Saturday.
odyssey06 wrote: » For 90% of people in this country if you base your sporting association on local community angle only then it would be a GAA team that would benefit not soccer.
DeanAustin wrote: » All this talk about consumers and brands is remarkably condescending. I’ve supported Spurs since I was 4 or 5. They’ve broken my heart and they’ve given me some glorious days. I’ve felt it. I’ve never been as ecstatic as the 91 Cup win or the quarters and semis of the CL this year. It’s a bit different to my iPhone or can of Coke which, much as I like those brands, don’t elicit much emotion from me. But they’re brands I consume. Being a Spurs fan has been part of my identity for 35 years. People who know me associate Tottenham with me which is not to say I’m some sort of super fan or have the crest tattooed on my face. They just know I love the club and get huge joy from following and supporting them. And I don’t know how old you are, but when I started following football and Spurs, it was far from as glamorous as now. In the 80s, football had a terrible name and was not all over the media in the way it is today. I have been an LOI season ticket holder but can’t get to every game these days. By comparison to the PL, it’s not in the same stratosphere. It is light years behind in every single respect and I can fully understand why lots of people don’t follow it at all.
odyssey06 wrote: » To be honest it would still be strange even if one was born in Manchester and the other born in Liverpool. It's all so arbitrary. Why get worked up about 22 men kicking a ball around a field if you're not one of the players subs or coaching staff? When 22 men and a round ball and not 30 men and an oval ball? Or 22 men and wickets? If you live in either city want to get worked up about it when it's Manchester United v Liverpool, go ahead, it's all arbitrary. If you live in Dublin and want to get worked up about it when it's Manchester United v Liverpool, go ahead, it's all arbitrary. You get out of it what you put into it.
gormdubhgorm wrote: » I can see why people go mad over the glamour English teams jerseys stretched over the beer guts in the pub - a brand, something to do. But if it was a team which represented the place you live look how different the atmosphere is. It seems more real to me anyway. Dublin games, club gaa games, Ireland games etc. Or if you are into Rugby your province etc. Or your local LOI team. Then it is not forced, otherwise it seems artificial to me. Irish people going on about mancs and scouse scum it gets silly. And the putting on of accents when singing songs.
odyssey06 wrote: » One could just as easily say that if you can only support the team where you happened to be born or reared - a decision you likely had zero conscious input into then yes - you are a sheep. People are basically sheep and don't want to be seen to be different.
Omackeral wrote: » I'm part owner of my club so I'm literally part of it. It's enjoyable. It's a place where I've formed life-long friendships. It gives me joy and pride and ups and downs. It's a great sense of community. Doesn't feel arbitrary.
gormdubhgorm wrote: » No you are invested in the community a sense of place. It is a pride about your area, your identity your roots. Are people being different by supporting one of the top teams in England? The way it is in Ireland you are being different by not claiming to 'support' an English team. It is almost expected/assumed if you are interested in sport at all!
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