It Could Get A Bit Messi In Here - The Football Thread.

[Joe Mac]

Match going fans are different. Newer, global fans don't have that same connection, but they are no "lesser" than any person who's been a ST holder for years.

From a Spurs perspective, match going fans would have called for Jose's head back in January had there been fans in the stadium. He would have been gone a long time ago. Global fans were split 50/50 on should he stay or should he go up until the Europa exit. And even then there was still a large contingent who wanted him to stick around. As a global fan you don't live and die with the team as much. It's not as much as a part of you as a match going fan who lives in the area. You can turn off the TV and not worry about it. Match going, local fan can't really do that. They may walk by the stadium every day. Talk with family or friends who've been supporting fo 40 or 50 years. It's a much bigger part of their lives so their support is very, very important.

These clubs wanted to reach a global audience and have these clubs be destinations for traveling global fans to see a match. But filling the stadium with tourists kills everything about what makes these clubs so great. You need both and you can't bin one for another.

It’s funny because my experience of our match going fans are almost the complete opposite to that when compared to our global fan base. Maybe it’s the fact that our two biggest periods of success were under managers who had 25+ year spells in situ. I’ve always been reluctant to publicly call for a managers head even when, like with Jose, I am relieved that he’s gone.

One of the biggest points of contention of mine in respect of global fans is with the impatience with young local talent coming through the academy. There was a strong strain of “we never boo our own” and “we support our kids” running through the local fan base. Seeing young local kids getting their debut and a run in the team is the best thing ever! It’s what football is all about to me. Then you see the more remote global fans screaming “bin Rashford he only gets in because he’s a Manc” “sign XYZ superstar instead” and you just lose all hope lol!

 

[mdmost]

United fail at that. They are, and Liverpool are also guilty of this, complicit in land banking property in the area around OT and leaving it vacant and to fall into disrepair to diminish the value of the area in order to make it easier and cheapwr to buy up what remains. Under the Glazer’s the lack of investment in OT has become embarrassingly clear.

That was on the the things I noticed around Anfield when I was there. There were already some properties being condemned and turned into future properties to be sold by FSG's real estate arm. There was no way those were going to be affordable housing for the area's residents. It was going to be shiny pads for FSG clients or rich non-Liverpool residents to use on match weekends.

 

[JohnnyCashFan]

Anyway, back to the important things in football: what number should I put on the back of my dog's new Scotland strip? What number does a cockapoo called Joffrey feel like? He feels like a marauding left back to me...

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#3 for Robbo of course

 

[Joe Mac]

That was on the the things I noticed around Anfield when I was there. There were already some properties being condemned and turned into future properties to be sold by FSG's real estate arm. There was no way those were going to be affordable housing for the area's residents. It was going to be shiny pads for FSG clients or rich non-Liverpool residents to use on match weekends.

And also to make it easier for expansion. It’s how they were able to get the space, in a heavily urbanised area, to expand the stand a couple of years back. There was a journalist who did a big expose on it a little while back but I can’t remember who or what paper, I’m getting forgetful! As I say, they’re far from the only ones at it though!

 

[mdmost]

And also to make it easier for expansion. It’s how they were able to get the space, in a heavily urbanised area, to expand the stand a couple of years back. There was a journalist who did a big expose on it a little while but I can’t remember who or what paper, I’m getting forgetful! As I say, they’re far from the only ones at it though!

I'm just thankful the Tom Hicks Stanley Park stadium plans were quickly knocked away by the city. I have a special hatred for Hicks and his son as they tanked multiple Dallas area franchises when he was the owner by doing exactly what he was trying to do in Liverpool. He was overleveraging his debt in new stadium projects, all the while tanking the clubs with little spending. It also makes me ill that he's a University of Texas alum but the donor system in college is possibly one of the worst aspects of sports in our country. Especially compared to what little the talent is given in compensation.

 

[Thackeraye]

And also to make it easier for expansion. It’s how they were able to get the space, in a heavily urbanised area, to expand the stand a couple of years back. There was a journalist who did a big expose on it a little while but I can’t remember who or what paper, I’m getting forgetful! As I say, they’re far from the only ones at it though!

Rangers were guilty of doing this as well - there was always talk of them building a casino and entertainment complex around Castle Greyskull, so there were loads of old buildings just sitting there.

Agree on the youth talent at the big clubs; one thing they need to be doing more, both for fan/local links and as a purely financial thing - a loss can be turned into a profit pretty quickly if a big academy name is sold for decent cash.

 

[Joe Mac]

Rangers were guilty of doing this as well - there was always talk of them building a casino and entertainment complex around Castle Greyskull, so there loads of old buildings just sitting there.

Agree on the youth talent at the big clubs; one thing they need to be doing more, both for fan/local links and as a purely financial thing - a loss can be turned into a profit pretty quickly if a big academy name is sold for decent cash.

Yeah totally. I know from a United standpoint that apart from the savings and local links a Rashford/Greenwood provides that their academy finances itself through the sale of players who just aren’t quite there.

City and Chelsea’s academies are hugely impressive at that too although those two haven’t been quite so good at getting the best ones into their first team squads. Maybe we are beginning to see more signs of that now.

 

[wokeupnew]

It’s funny because my experience of our match going fans are almost the complete opposite to that when compared to our global fan base.

That was my point, mostly, unless I didn't make that clear lol. Global fans POVs are sometimes wrong or deluded or entitled. Every once in a while a new fan thinks the transfer market is like FIFA, just pay the fee and a player is yours, etc.

 

[Joe Mac]

That was my point, mostly, unless I didn't make that clear lol. Global fans POVs are sometimes wrong or deluded or entitled. Every once in a while a new fan thinks the transfer market is like FIFA, just pay the fee and a player is yours, etc.

Oh sorry I read that first paragraph as the locals being less patient than the wider fan base lol.

I think that the flip side being the most successful English club whilst this boom was happening is that amongst the more clued in we have the largest amount of the clueless to who think that success is an entitlement and not earnt. Maybe if I supported another club I’d have a less cynical POV?

 

[Skacel]

Anyway, back to the important things in football: what number should I put on the back of my dog's new Scotland strip? What number does a cockapoo called Joffrey feel like? He feels like a marauding left back to me...

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Shop for Scotland Football Team Shirt (Personalised) at Urban Pup, providing the fashion conscious with stylish dog clothes. Designer Pet Fashion Clothing Boutique. Dog Coats, Dog Collars, Dog Carriers, Dog Accessories, Dog Harness

www.urbanpup.com

Has to be 23 for Consi Boogie - who has also been described as a marauding left back (maybe?).

 

[Englishbob]

Just to add a perspective on homegrown fan vs global fan. I am an Ipswich fan for 40+ years. Im 54. I can't help it. Ive lived in the USA for 25 years and still follow from afar despite not being able to watch them. I did watch them play Arsenal in a league cup semi a few years ago in the local 'pub'. We lost.
Anyway, I also, as a sports fan,decided to follow NFL and MLBand I adopted local teams to me from Cincinnati. I no longer really care what happens to them because they are not in my heart. Only Ipswich is.
I dont understand adopting a team because you enjoy a sport. I still watch NFL but don't care about the Bengals any more than I care for the Seahawks for example. I care even less for college sports cos watching kids play sports is weird

 

[JohnnyCashFan]

Just to add a perspective on homegrown fan vs global fan. I am an Ipswich fan for 40+ years. Im 54. I can't help it. Ive lived in the USA for 25 years and still follow from afar despite not being able to watch them. I did watch them play Arsenal in a league cup semi a few years ago in the local 'pub'. We lost.
Anyway, I also, as a sports fan,decided to follow NFL and MLBand I adopted local teams to me from Cincinnati. I no longer really care what happens to them because they are not in my heart. Only Ipswich is.
I dont understand adopting a team because you enjoy a sport. I still watch NFL but don't care about the Bengals any more than I care for the Seahawks for example. I care even less for college sports cos watching kids play sports is weird

I usually go to a baseball game (back in the day) to take a nap

Your in a pretty good spot between Cincinnati and Columbus for MLS soccer when it's safe again. We look forward to going to a Atlanta match again down the road.

 

[Englishbob]

I usually go to a baseball game (back in the day) to take a nap

Your in a pretty good spot between Cincinnati and Columbus for MLS soccer when it's safe again. We look forward to going to a Atlanta match again down the road.

Sure, I'll go to see a game, prolly Cincy cos they have that Dayton Dutch Lions relationship, but will they become a passion? I doubt it.
What's funny is I went to a few Dayton Dynamo games 3 years ago and was way more invested. Probably cos they were local. They since disbanded ☹

 

[Englishbob]

I guess also, local is relative. A 1 hour drive, and I emphasize drive, to me is not local. Walking, or a 10 minute Uber opens up way more options the same way a train ride does.

 

[sahomerrocks]

Perspective from an American soccer fan who doesn't consider myself a fan of any clubs from the top 5 leagues. I wake up every weekend and watch the best European matches available to me, but I don't follow a specific team. Closest would probably be BVB as they've had no qualms playing young Americans in important games the past few years. I just know which clubs I hate

1. I'm glad ESL fell through and I like the current UCL and think a 36 team format would be even better. This video of Tadic vs RM is probably my most watched youtube video during the past year and that can't happen with ESL.

2. I think everyone is still overestimating how much shame plays a role in the decision making of these American billionaires. American baseball is a case study in how fans don't matter toward profitability. It's similarly a league that doesn't have a salary cap, but is widely believed to be subject to, and has past issues with collusion to keep player's salary down as a function of revenue. It's something already being tested in League One. I believe this is the end game for the formation of the ESL and don't think it's a coincidence FSG was heavily involved. FFP with built-in profits and without having to actually earn any extra revenue.

 

[mdmost]

The memes have been the best.

 

[wokeupnew]

There's this hilarious facebook group started by Serie A fans that make football memes with the Office. Check it out if you're into that

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Some good ones:

 

[Jan]

So Perez is saying no one officially withdrew from super leagu, yet. Because that would include paying a hefty fine ( 300 million $ is rumored, but they deny this amonu)

The Super League deny that the penalty for leaving is 300 million euros

Florentino Perez is refusing to give up on the flopped Super League, but the Real Madrid president is yet to reveal how costly backing out of the "binding contract" could be for ea

www.marca.com

 

[wokeupnew]

So Perez is saying no one officially withdrew from super leagu, yet. Because that would include paying a hefty fine ( 300 million $ is rumored, but they deny this amonu)

The Super League deny that the penalty for leaving is 300 million euros

Florentino Perez is refusing to give up on the flopped Super League, but the Real Madrid president is yet to reveal how costly backing out of the "binding contract" could be for ea

www.marca.com

I wouldn’t believe anything Perez says, he’s so full of shit.

 

[Jan]

I wouldn’t believe anything Perez says, he’s so full of shit.

But he's not alone in reporting that the 12 clubs signed a binding document ghat has financial penalties in the case of opting out. We'll see if there is a legal follow up.