Why do Irish people support English teams?

Omackeral · 02-06-2019 10:08pm

Franz Von Peppercorn II wrote: »

Always thought a derby is a local rivalry. I suppose Liverpool and Manchester are pretty close, if not quite local.

It's a derby without being a derby, if that makes sense. Same as Real and Barca.

gormdubhgorm · 02-06-2019 10:10pm

odyssey06 wrote: »

Why do you need an area to identify with? Why not just enjoy the sport?
Or like a team for their players or style?
Why care about the sport at all?
Are you a sporting fan or a fan of local things for local people?

Both but local means way more to me.
I enjoy most sports where there is tension/needle in it, contrast in styles if possible.
That normally is best when there is a local rivalry, which is why when you are from that place you are really into it.
The neutral can never get that same feel as the local.
But it great to watch two local rivals take each other on, even when you are a neutral.

Better still when you are a local fan, preparing for the big game against a local rival you are edgy the whole week before.

If you just 'adopt' a team you know in your heart of heart's you are playing the part of the local.
Trying to ape the rivalry the songs the accents, the hate against the rival team.
It is not the same, it is like you are in a play, it seems forced and fake.

Omackeral · 02-06-2019 10:10pm

DeanAustin wrote: »

I agree on the Manc/Scouse scum nonsense by the way. But there is an inherent pseudo intellectual condescension in your posts. Calling fans of English teams consumers and assuming they all have beer guts and watch games in pubs.

I took my little boy to Tottenham for the game yesterday. We both sat in the stadium afterwards devastated and about half a dozen Londoners, dealing with their own disappointment, went out of their way to cheer my little fella up. It was really amazing. One of them even thanked us for making the effort to go over. But every time I take my lad over, we share something wonderful that is far more than just a brand and we feel and are made to feel part of it by the locals.

You sound staunch as f*ck to be honest. I've no doubt your little lad will end up the same. Hope you had a great time regardless of the result.

martingriff · 02-06-2019 10:10pm

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

So why did you pick spurs Hoddle/Waddle/Gazza?

Whether you like it or not you are consumer of the product.
That is why they have friendlies in the USA and Asia
I know you you are now have now made yourself emotionally involved in it which is why the marketers love football.
But you had to artificially create that emotional attachment. you picked Spurs as a five year old.

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.

But then all sports are brands and you are a consumer. It does not matter where that team or person is from you support

D14Rugby · 02-06-2019 10:12pm

Franz Von Peppercorn II wrote: »

Wimbledon. Where the Wombles came from? Fairy tale.

Crystal Palace doesn’t exist either mate.

Anyway I have a solution - follow LOI Monday Tuesday Wednesday and the premier league Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday.

Job done.

Considering people genuinely thought Wimbledon isn't a place I apologise if you are but I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not.

odyssey06 wrote: »

No on Wednesdays you must follow Sheffield Wednesday.

You keep bringing this up but you do realise that the football club was just named the same as the cricket club, the football club never had anything special about Wednesdays, if we were talking cricket you might have a point but we're not so you don't

martingriff · 02-06-2019 10:14pm

Omackeral wrote: »

Generally you'll find it's (B) being denigrated by the Irish public.

''Who do you support?''
''Shels''
''Yeah but which real team?''

''Who do you support?''
''Cork City''
''No, which English team?''

''Who do you support?''
''Bohs''
''That muck?!''

Never in my life have I heard this unless it was in jest.

Donnielighto · 02-06-2019 10:15pm

National team players to to play there.
Teams get supported.
Due to success of the English teams relatively to Irish and the presence of Irish international players in the UK game there is interest leading to newspaper and radio coverage. When tv becomes more prominent it has two impacts houses that have extra channels, all UK, would have English soccer on offer, also due to lack of tv at Irish matches it means that tv viewers in the pub or at home only have one option available to them.

Eventually interest due to the population reaching enough exposure to it becomes self perpetuating, people get their favourite teams for various reasons but if it isn't your dad or brother having supported them it could be an Irish presence at the club or any other of random reasons. If the number of people passing down interest is high enough people will follow it and most of them will have a favourite team for some reason or other while a smaller number will be interested in the league in general. It's a long running soap opera and supporting a a team adds to the drama.

DeanAustin · 02-06-2019 10:16pm

Omackeral wrote: »

You sound staunch as f*ck to be honest. I've no doubt your little lad will end up the same. Hope you had a great time regardless of the result.

Will hopefully get him to some LOI games during the summer. He should know there’s football here too and my LOI team are even more of a **** up than Spurs so I’m looking forward to proper ruining his life...

D14Rugby · 02-06-2019 10:17pm

DeanAustin wrote: »

Even a kid who picks LOI over GAA has to force an emotional attachment by picking one sport over another by your logic.

I agree on the Manc/Scouse scum nonsense by the way. But there is an inherent pseudo intellectual condescension in your posts. Calling fans of English teams consumers and assuming they all have beer guts and watch games in pubs.

I took my little boy to Tottenham for the game yesterday. We both sat in the stadium afterwards devastated and about half a dozen Londoners, dealing with their own disappointment, went out of their way to cheer my little fella up. It was really amazing. One of them even thanked us for making the effort to go over. But every time I take my lad over, we share something wonderful that is far more than just a brand and we feel and are made to feel part of it by the locals.

Also, my favourite golfer growing up was Bernhard Langer. Loved him and still do given what he’s done into his 50s and 60s. Am I a consumer of brand Langer too?

You don't need to pick GAA or LOI you can do both.

I think in fairness a few years back I remember a bit of a fuss about a Premier league chairman calling fans customers or something along those lines.

Here's the thing that's grand but imagine making those memories every Friday night

odyssey06 · 02-06-2019 10:19pm

Omackeral wrote: »

Generally you'll find it's (B) being denigrated by the Irish public.

''Who do you support?''
''Shels''
''Yeah but which real team?''

''Who do you support?''
''Cork City''
''No, which English team?''

''Who do you support?''
''Bohs''
''That muck?!''

Well if you track my comments on this thread at no point have I done that.
If I say muck about a LOI team it's about the team not the LOI

It would be better if we could all just get along... and if LOI fans want to see more LOI fans they need to talk 'up' the experience of being there rather than talk 'down' the TV experience. The local angle I don't think will work either, because if someone puts local above all they will just reinforce their local GAA club.

DeanAustin · 02-06-2019 10:21pm

D14Rugby wrote: »

You don't need to pick GAA or LOI you can do both.

I think in fairness a few years back I remember a bit of a fuss about a Premier league chairman calling fans customers or something along those lines.

Here's the thing that's grand but imagine making those memories every Friday night

Lots of people only choose one sport to really follow.

gormdubhgorm · 02-06-2019 10:21pm

Omackeral wrote: »

Plenty do just enjoy the sports. But ask yourself... Why is the World Cup so big? Why is the GAA Championship so popular? Why are derby games the ones with the best atmospheres. It's tribal. Sport is tribal by its very essence. The two things are intertwined and it's better for it.

That is the word I wish I used.
Tribal.
You don't pick your tribe you are born into it.

Those who pick thier tribe are basically choosing thier extended family.

You are born into a family/tribe and stuck with them whether you like it or not.
Putting on the warpaint of another tribe and tagging along for the experience is hardly the same thing?

That is just my view on it deep down it is your community.
Not someone else's - yours.

Omackeral · 02-06-2019 10:23pm

martingriff wrote: »

Never in my life have I heard this unless it was in jest.

I have. I also was told ''enjoy your Sunday league football'' when I was on my way to a match (on a Friday, no less!). I must tell him to enjoy his British TV show next time his team are playing :P

Omackeral · 02-06-2019 10:24pm

Donnielighto wrote: »

It's a long running soap opera and supporting a team adds to the drama.

So basically it's Eastenders for blokes? Emmerdale away is gonna be tough and then Corrie in the cup

D14Rugby · 02-06-2019 10:25pm

DeanAustin wrote: »

Lots of people only choose one sport to really follow.

I'd say the majority of people don't. Maybe to play but most people I know would follow a few sports

odyssey06 · 02-06-2019 10:25pm

Omackeral wrote: »

Plenty do just enjoy the sports. But ask yourself... Why is the World Cup so big? Why is the GAA Championship so popular? Why are derby games the ones with the best atmospheres. It's tribal. Sport is tribal by its very essence. The two things are intertwined and it's better for it.

Most of the viewers of a World Cup final or All Ireland final are neutrals though.
And a Champions League final v All ireland final, much difference in intensity? Nope.
Sport isn't tribal in its essence, though as humans are a tribal species we tag it as such.
The soccer teams we are discussing in this thread weren't formed by tribes or to encourage tribalism. County or country teams only exist because of clubs - which came first. They were all just groups of players starting out, one team of many in a city or town.

Sport doesn't need spectators. It doesn't need fans. It just needs players and participants.

Omackeral · 02-06-2019 10:26pm

DeanAustin wrote: »

Will hopefully get him to some LOI games during the summer. He should know there’s football here too and my LOI team are even more of a **** up than Spurs so I’m looking forward to proper ruining his life...

Destroy his hopes and dreams. Tell him he's going to watch Celtic vs AC Milan in Champions League and then bring him to Shamrock Rovers vs Longford Town in the League Cup 2nd Round.... in Longford.

OldMrBrennan83 · 02-06-2019 10:27pm

Omackeral wrote: »

Destroy his hopes and dreams. Tell him he's going to watch Celtic vs AC Milan in Champions League and then bring him to Shamrock Rovers vs Longford Town in the League Cup 2nd Round.... in Longford.

Longford is luxury in comparison to most. Down to Ferrycarrig.

gormdubhgorm · 02-06-2019 10:28pm

martingriff wrote: »

But then all sports are brands and you are a consumer. It does not matter where that team or person is from you support

No they are not.
Because when a club involves locals it involves your friends family - community in a club.

Look at the Premier League clubs are followed world wide and the locals give out about the atmosphere because the crowd are there for a spectacle not a game.

If you are local and your team loses you have to rub shoulders with opposing rivals for the whole year. In Ireland the Premier League supporters try to ape that but it seems very forced.

Omackeral · 02-06-2019 10:29pm

I think this saying says it better than anything else.

football-not-a-TV-show.jpg?resize=600%2C402

Omackeral · 02-06-2019 10:32pm

odyssey06 wrote: »

Most of the viewers of a World Cup final or All Ireland final are neutrals though.
And a Champions League final v All ireland final, much difference in intensity? Nope.
Sport isn't tribal in its essence, though as humans are a tribal species we tag it as such.
The soccer teams we are discussing in this thread weren't formed by tribes or to encourage tribalism. County or country teams only exist because of clubs - which came first. They were all just groups of players starting out, one team of many in a city or town.

We disagree. Majorly

odyssey06 wrote: »

Sport doesn't need spectators. It doesn't need fans. It just needs players and participants.

''Football without fans is nothing'' - Jock Stein

martingriff · 02-06-2019 10:32pm

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

No they are not.
Because when a club involves locals it involves your friends family - community in a club.

Look at the Premier League clubs are followed world wide and the locals give out about the atmosphere because the crowd are there for a spectacle not a game.

If you are local and your team loses you have to rub shoulders with opposing rivals for the whole year. In Ireland the Premier League supporters try to ape that but it seems very forced.

My closest LOI is in limerick so by your definition it's a brand. Just because you show a "local" teams does not mean you know anyone in it.

D14Rugby · 02-06-2019 10:33pm

odyssey06 wrote: »

Most of the viewers of a World Cup final or All Ireland final are neutrals though.
And a Champions League final v All ireland final, much difference in intensity? Nope.
Sport isn't tribal in its essence, though as humans are a tribal species we tag it as such.
The soccer teams we are discussing in this thread weren't formed by tribes or to encourage tribalism. County or country teams only exist because of clubs - which came first. They were all just groups of players starting out, one team of many in a city or town.

Sport doesn't need spectators. It doesn't need fans. It just needs players and participants.

You've just added the final bit yourself.
Actually yeah, an all Ireland final is far more intense.
Sport is actually very tribal, every single team was formed by a tribe, it may have expanded as tribes do but at its roots its still a tribe.

Omackeral · 02-06-2019 10:33pm

OldMrBrennan83 wrote: »

Longford is luxury in comparison to most. Down to Ferrycarrig.

They've literally got a wine bar. #notions

gormdubhgorm · 02-06-2019 10:36pm

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.

I saw this fella on you tube.

And I thought jayus fair fcuks to him - and he does not even get to see the home games!

I saw it after a few days Rovers v Bohs was on the telly - looked like a great atmosphere.

So there and then. I booked a ticket to see Rovers v Dundalk next month.

I will be a neutral as I am a GAA head (as some would term me) but will assume it will be tense anyway. Only for 15€ plus 1€ booking fee.

odyssey06 · 02-06-2019 10:37pm

D14Rugby wrote: »

You've just added the final bit yourself.
Actually yeah, an all Ireland final is far more intense.
Sport is actually very tribal, every single team was formed by a tribe, it may have expanded as tribes do but at its roots its still a tribe.

No it wasn't. A group of players that form a club to play a sport isn't a tribe. It's an arbitary happenstance association of people. Some of those players even transfer from one abritary association to another. Clearly, not a tribe.
Humans have overlain pre-existing tribal associations onto sport such as county, province, country. But soccer didn't start out as tribal and in fact most of the most successful clubs are those who are best at attracting new fans and supporters, rather than those then retreat into their locality.

gormdubhgorm · 02-06-2019 10:40pm

martingriff wrote: »

My closest LOI is in limerick so by your definition it's a brand. Just because you show a "local" teams does not mean you know anyone in it.

Wouldn't you get to know them? The same goes for any sport - boxing, rugby, GAA.

Dr Bob · 02-06-2019 10:42pm

RobMc59 wrote: »

I haven't got any argument-it's common knowledge here in the Liverpool area that up until the late 60s/early 70's everton were regarded as Catholic and Liverpool protestant-thankfully that has disappeared and people couldn't care less.

My dad, grandad and great uncle lived and worked there in the late fifties ,early sixties and that's what they told me , that Irish immigrants tended to support Everton.
G.Uncle stayed on and lived around Liverpool for the rest of his life , but My Dad's family came back mid 60s .
MOTD was big here by then and most people started supporting the more glamorous /successful clubs.
Whole family were toffees went back to see games at Goodison and visit family there every few years , I grew up supporting them as a kid (this being the 80s so basically everyone else was either a Utd or Liverpool fan , although I did meet a guy who supported Ipswich town once.), not really into football now but I do like to see them do well.

D14Rugby · 02-06-2019 10:44pm

odyssey06 wrote: »

No it wasn't. A group of players that form a club to play a sport isn't a tribe. It's an arbitary happenstance association of people. Some of those players even transfer from one abritary association to another. Clearly, not a tribe.
Humans have overlain pre-existing tribal associations onto sport such as county, province, country. But soccer didn't start out as tribal and in fact most of the most successful clubs are those who are best at attracting new fans and supporters, rather than those then retreat into their locality.

Lets look at a few, Your favourite it seems, Everton, a tribe of a church, Man United, a tribe of Railway workers, Arsenal a tribe of factory workers, we could go on forever here. Every single football club has roots as a tribe of some sort. Actually no. The big clubs now are actually very similar to those that were big years before the idea of supporting a club from another town even entered anyone's mind

Dr Bob · 02-06-2019 10:44pm

Omackeral wrote: »

I think this saying says it better than anything else.

They've played FIFA , they know its a video game

gormdubhgorm · 02-06-2019 10:47pm

odyssey06 wrote: »

No it wasn't. A group of players that form a club to play a sport isn't a tribe. It's an arbitary happenstance association of people. Some of those players even transfer from one abritary association to another. Clearly, not a tribe.
Humans have overlain pre-existing tribal associations onto sport such as county, province, country. But soccer didn't start out as tribal and in fact most of the most successful clubs are those who are best at attracting new fans and supporters, rather than those then retreat into their locality.

Ah it is a tribe -

It is the whole reason there is Celtic v Rangers etc

It is formed from the basis of societal difference AC Milan v Inter.

Football clubs are the manifestations of local rivalries, tribes or disagreements and splits.

martingriff · 02-06-2019 10:47pm

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

Wouldn't you get to know them? The same goes for any sport - boxing, rugby, GAA.

Why go out of my way to know someone just becaus they play. If I meet them out and about sure but no I will not go let's get to know them

jk23 · 02-06-2019 10:50pm

This guy is a Liverpool fan from Liverpool and he was interviewed a couple of years ago on Liverpool and the top clubs in England It's well worth a listen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmNsWzHgxC8

Dr Bob · 02-06-2019 10:52pm

odyssey06 wrote: »

No it wasn't. A group of players that form a club to play a sport isn't a tribe. It's an arbitary happenstance association of people. Some of those players even transfer from one abritary association to another. Clearly, not a tribe.
Humans have overlain pre-existing tribal associations onto sport such as county, province, country. But soccer didn't start out as tribal and in fact most of the most successful clubs are those who are best at attracting new fans and supporters, rather than those then retreat into their locality.

Going to add something to that as well .
Sports can be a sort of civilized warfare ..it gets to act as a sort of release valve for tension , without all the messy bloodshed of actual war (well until you get into hooliganism I guess)
If I support the local team , and everyone around me supports the same team ...well I'm ordinary . If I support some different team , well that makes me a bit special ..if I meet other supporters here , well we're part of a tribe that's surrounded by other non tribe members , it gives us a kind of bond. And 'your' team winning when you're watching in a pub full of supporters of the other guys is a fantastic feeling (especially if its the 1995 FA cup final and you're in a pub full of smug united supporters

Why that all breaks down when we deal with national games , I dont know..possibly its the fact that the country goes so nuts whenever Ireland start doing well ??

Omackeral · 02-06-2019 10:54pm

Dr Bob wrote: »

And 'your' team winning when you're watching in a pub full of supporters is a fantastic feeling

Imagine being at it instead. 1,000,000 times better.

Greyfox · 02-06-2019 11:43pm

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

That normally is best when there is a local rivalry, which is why when you are from that place you are really into it.
The neutral can never get that same feel as the local...
It is not the same, it is like you are in a play, it seems forced and fake.

You don't have to be from the area to be really into it. The passion, joy, pain, attachment and love is the same for the manu/Liverpool supporter living in Dublin as for the LOI fan. There's nothing artificial about a Dub following an English team, my English team have given me hundredths of wonderful memories, made my friendships stronger, made my family bonds stronger and made my working relationships stronger. There's nothing neutral about a supporter of an English team. The reality is the connection I feel now to my English club cannot be matched by a LOI team.

gormdubhgorm · 02-06-2019 11:44pm

Listen to this for cognitive dissonance -

He gives out about people supporting multiple European teams, but sees nothing wrong with supporting Real Madrid and LA Galaxy.

He tries to argue why he is not a glory-hunter for supporting Real Madrid and just quotes Dennis Bergkamp....basically saying there are a variety of reasons....

He even brings Mecca and Christianity into it as part of his argument....

This Irish fella refers to the disconnect between local fans at Liverpool and the creation of 'Liverpool brand'.

ToddyDoody · 02-06-2019 11:47pm

I don't know why Irish people support English teams but I do think it's time to wind up united. It's going nowhere.

Omackeral · 02-06-2019 11:50pm

Greyfox wrote: »

my English team have given me hundredths of wonderful memories.

That's not a great fraction!

trashcan · 02-06-2019 11:54pm

Greyfox wrote: »

The reality is the connection I feel now to my English club cannot be matched by a LOI team.

That's pretty sad if true, and it's your loss to be honest. If you are a Liverpool or Man U fan you really are just a number. If you support a team here you are genuinely making a difference to that club. I used to "support" Man City as a kid. Imagine the fun I could be having now as my team lords it over the rest in England. The reality is it means less than nothing to me. I realised many years ago that Manchester has nothing to do with me. When I started to go to Richmond Park regularly it all fell into place for me. I've seen us win leagues with five minutes to go, I've seen epic battles with rivals, and even got to see us break a fifty year hoodoo and win the FAI cup. Magical times that could not be replicated by watching an English team winning on the TV.

If that's your bag, then fine, but as I say it really is your loss.

Greyfox · 02-06-2019 11:54pm

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

No they are not.
Because when a club involves locals it involves your friends family - community in a club.

Look at the Premier League clubs are followed world wide and the locals give out about the atmosphere because the crowd are there for a spectacle not a game.

If you are local and your team loses you have to rub shoulders with opposing rivals for the whole year. In Ireland the Premier League supporters try to ape that but it seems very forced.

But my family and friends all support English teams, nobody close to me follows LOI. Well those locals are just been ar**holes. It's not forced it's real, if Liverpool had of lost there would of been a lot of Dubs dreading work on tuesday

SEPT 23 1989 · 03-06-2019 12:00am

trashcan wrote: »

That's pretty sad if true, and it's your loss to be honest. If you are a Liverpool or Man U fan you really are just a number. If you support a team here you are genuinely making a difference to that club. I used to "support" Man City as a kid. Imagine the fun I could be having now as my team lords it over the rest in England. The reality is it means less than nothing to me. I realised many years ago that Manchester has nothing to do with me. When I started to go to Richmond Park regularly it all fell into place for me. I've seen us win leagues with five minutes to go, I've seen epic battles with rivals, and even got to see us break a fifty year hoodoo and win the FAI cup. Magical times that could not be replicated by watching an English team winning on the TV.

If that's your bag, then fine, but as I say it really is your loss.

You will be missed

Omackeral · 03-06-2019 12:09am

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

You will be missed

I think that's his actual point.

chrissb8 · 03-06-2019 12:16am

I find modern football mind boggling really or at least its fans. The cringe on facebook of people living in Ireland and putting up status' like "come on Pool get in there!" or the "YNWA, 6! History made tonight!" Like what affiliation or real emotional investment is there from an Irish person. I used to be a big Utd supporter than I just had a realisation, I don't actually care. There is no real pull towards me supporting them like there might have been with Keane there. You would be better served to support your local team and have that collective feeling so many fans yearn for but delude themselves into thinking they are "part of the club" by supporting L.Pool or Utd.

All I like to do now is simply watch good football and will catch a game of better quality regardless of who Utd are playing. I realised I'm a fan of football, not any one team. You then get the absolute cringe lads down in the pub shouting at the TV or hands on their heads. Give it a rest and grow up. I'm sorry, but if you're gonna get all worked up like a fanny over a ball being kicked about a pitch for a team you don't even have a tangible connection to then you need to look at yourself and think what the hell am I doing.

Yeah, yeah I know. Let them be but fans like that are so annoying and so present you find them hard to ignore and become childlike in their tribalism. There's no core to football anymore it's just jerseys, hollow slapping the crest but leaving next transfer window players and over-analysis coupled with overt seriousness. Seriously, give it a rest. It's just a game of football.

Greyfox · 03-06-2019 12:25am

trashcan wrote: »

That's pretty sad if true, and it's your loss to be honest. If you are a Liverpool or Man U fan you really are just a number. If you support a team here you are genuinely making a difference to that club. I used to "support" Man City as a kid. Imagine the fun I could be having now as my team lords it over the rest in England. The reality is it means less than nothing to me. I realised many years ago that Manchester has nothing to do with me. When I started to go to Richmond Park regularly it all fell into place for me...

It's true and it's no loss to me, my club has definitely made my life better. Yeah I know I'm just a number but I get back more than I give. I actually do think I should be supporting a LOI team too though

Greyfox · 03-06-2019 12:34am

chrissb8 wrote: »

You then get the absolute cringe lads down in the pub shouting at the TV or hands on their heads...It's just a game of football.

What's the harm if it gives them joy? If sport doesn't give you an emotional reaction you should watch something else. It's not just a game... and that's why it's amazing

chrissb8 · 03-06-2019 12:46am

Greyfox wrote: »

What's the harm if it gives them joy? If sport doesn't give you an emotional reaction you should watch something else. It's not just a game... and that's why it's amazing

As someone who plays football themselves 2-3 times a week I have seen fully grown men roar abuse at each other within the confines of a five a side game and Sunday league games.

There's enjoying a game and then there's that level of "passion" (men unable to find the same kind of release elsewhere in their lives) and that's when it gets weird.

I mean yeah, get into a game, it makes it enjoyable but to put so much stock in watching a team with literally one has no affiliation to the geographical location it's in smacks of just a wee bit pathetic. There are levels to it all and some people need a dose of reality to just understanding it's just a game.

Greyfox · 03-06-2019 12:49am

chrissb8 wrote: »

As someone who plays football themselves 2-3 times a week I have seen fully grown men roar abuse at each other within the confines of a five a side game and Sunday league games.

Yeah I've seen this quite a bit and it's wrong

martingriff · 03-06-2019 1:01am

chrissb8 wrote: »

I find modern football mind boggling really or at least its fans. The cringe on facebook of people living in Ireland and putting up status' like "come on Pool get in there!" or the "YNWA, 6! History made tonight!" Like what affiliation or real emotional investment is there from an Irish person. I used to be a big Utd supporter than I just had a realisation, I don't actually care. There is no real pull towards me supporting them like there might have been with Keane there. You would be better served to support your local team and have that collective feeling so many fans yearn for but delude themselves into thinking they are "part of the club" by supporting L.Pool or Utd.

All I like to do now is simply watch good football and will catch a game of better quality regardless of who Utd are playing. I realised I'm a fan of football, not any one team. You then get the absolute cringe lads down in the pub shouting at the TV or hands on their heads. Give it a rest and grow up. I'm sorry, but if you're gonna get all worked up like a fanny over a ball being kicked about a pitch for a team you don't even have a tangible connection to then you need to look at yourself and think what the hell am I doing.

Yeah, yeah I know. Let them be but fans like that are so annoying and so present you find them hard to ignore and become childlike in their tribalism. There's no core to football anymore it's just jerseys, hollow slapping the crest but leaving next transfer window players and over-analysis coupled with overt seriousness. Seriously, give it a rest. It's just a game of football.

My God you sound so elitist. If I am better then you because I support a local LOI team or I am a fan of football as if the rest of us are not. Get off that high horse.If you honestly believe to there owners it's not a business then you are wrong. Cork City maybe because it's a fans consortium.

How do you know those in the pub do not have a connection and what is a connection. They love the sport and they (genuine fans) love the teams. They are no less down the peg just because of you imaginary superiority because you support a LOI team

martingriff · 03-06-2019 1:04am

chrissb8 wrote: »

As someone who plays football themselves 2-3 times a week I have seen fully grown men roar abuse at each other within the confines of a five a side game and Sunday league games.

There's enjoying a game and then there's that level of "passion" (men unable to find the same kind of release elsewhere in their lives) and that's when it gets weird.

I mean yeah, get into a game, it makes it enjoyable but to put so much stock in watching a team with literally one has no affiliation to the geographical location it's in smacks of just a wee bit pathetic. There are levels to it all and some people need a dose of reality to just understanding it's just a game.

But why do they have to have a geographical location affiliation. If that is true I can only support teams in Clare

Why do Irish people support English teams?

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