The footie thread

[Deleted]

spruance said:

What is it about the team that you support that first attracted you to them, and would you ever consider changing your allegiance or would you stand by them through the bad times as well as the good?

Change allegiance ? Are you MAD man ? I'd rather crawl over hoat coals and broken glass ;D

I have quite a diverse family when it comes to footie. My dad, originally from County Durham, supports Sunderland. My eldest brother supports Leicester (we lived up that way in his formative years). My other brother supports Leeds (he was growing up in the Revie era) and I support Ipswich because by the time I was born, we'd moved here and they were the nearest "big club". I was taken to see them quite a lot when I was young and that's it. Once the die is cast, it cannot be changed.

If all the players were sold to another club, I'd support whoever was brought in as replacements (as I'm sure Welshie would if it happened to Chelsea). It's not the players we support, it's the shirt they play in.

You can have "second teams" (i.e. another team you like and look out for their results) but you only ever support one club. Anyone who changes allegiance in the bad times, is not a proper fan. I could've changed allegiance hundreds of times over the years (Ipswich are notoriously crap with occasional average periods) but I wouldn't. I couldn't. They are my team. I support them, no matter how crap it gets (and when you support Ipswich, you get some true sh*te believe me !!).

FA x

[Spruance]

That's a good point Slugger.

I've never been very keen on football, and remember becoming quite irritated on moving up to the local grammar school in 1970 by the constant questions of "Which team do you support?"

The truthful answer of the 'Boston Barracudas' speedway team didn't seem to satisfy the clamour, and so with the connivance of a friend it was decided that I too would 'support' Liverpool. This only lasted a few months before I lost interest in even maintaining the pretence.

Likewise I can clearly recall being rained off for an outdoor gym session at the same school and reacting with some bemusement at being presented along with the the rest of the class, with the utterly meaningless (to me) task of drawing up an ideal playing formation. That was a long 40 minutes!

I might watch England games here and there but only if I had nothing better to do.

[Spruance]

fatandy said:

Once the die is cast, it cannot be changed.

Yes I can sort of understand that FA. I certainly stood by Boston Speedway until they ceased trading in 1987, although I don't follow them now having since lost interest in that sport too.

I am a fan of Formula One motor racing though and used to favour the Williams team when they were successful, although lately it has been McLaren. Is that like switching from Liverpool to Everton? ;D

[owainglyndwr]

My sort of debate ;D

I couldn't support Manure or anyone but CFC.
I'm a Blue because my maternal grandmother was a Londoner and a die hard Chelsea fan.
Definitely not a gloryhunter because I've supported them for 34 years ( :-/shit ) and seen a few highs and experienced a lot of lows. I like to think the 150+ matchday programmes makes me a true fan and would like to make it more but with modern pricing I can't justify spending xxx amounts of money taking my son (and daughter now she's playing) down to The Bridge.
If Chelsea were to go out of business ... I wouldn't feel right wearing the badge of another team. Plus they'd clash with my tattoos

One word describes it all for me. Loyalty.
Forget your Drogba's and even Terry's who hold clubs to ransom. It should be about pulling on a shirt with pride. Not being xenophobic here but that's why the foreign influx is killing football in any country (IMHO) 'Franco Zola is the only one who excited me at Chelsea.
Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't complain if Ronaldo or Ronahldinio signed in January but part of me couldn't help thinking that they're there for themselves and the money

... apologies if I'm rambling. I went to my uncle's funeral today and The Old Rugged Cross hymn is buzzing through my head.

Which, back to loyalty ... I'm not looking forward to the weekend. Wales losing to The Republic . Most probably dismally and every player will still cash their cheque.

Should International Footballers play for pride not payment??

[Deleted]

Speaking as a bloke who prefers odd shaped balls <ahemsmiley>....

I was originally drawn to support my footie team by the fact that its style of play mirrored my take on life i.e; kick the cover off the ball and see what happens, failing that kick everyone else ;D

Also by our success in Europe....we once beat some Danish 3rd division side in a pre-season friendly

Our facilities at our former ground....watching us massacre Boston Utd 1 - 0 from the "best" seats, whilst rain was trickling down the back of our necks and we would have been better entertained watching paint dry on the Forth Road Bridge

Perhaps maybe, because my team won an award recently.....for the worst ever football kit.

The fact that my Dad may have worn their shirt on the field of play a few times might be said to influential. But as that was before I was born it did NOT influence me, though his personal failure to make it to the "big time" may have shaped my liking for odd shaped balls ;D

Cabbage

PS: My Dad also played for Charlton Athletic in a season when they won what is now called the Premiership. Obviously everyone decent had the flu virus and the FA refused to call the game off, but nonetheless he answered the call of duty, though was never picked to play again. Bloody rubbish my Dad ;D

[Barbara]

yep its the club, through thick and thin, and there have been some VERY lean times being a man city supporter, the crap we have to take from united fans is unbelievable , but they are not really from manchester any way, they are from a place called salford, which is next door, and thats what winds them up. ;D
but the players who leave and go to the enemy, well what can i say that wouldnt get me banned from here. ;D

[MamIDdau]

I had a nightmare the other night that I had a kid who wanted his bedroom decorated with MUFC stuff. I said no way under no circumstances is anything with THAT logo coming into THIS house lol

[Barbara]

my grandson, oliver, is a (i'm ashamed to say it ) manure fan, but his dad, my son in law is a supporter so what can you do??? never mind, my 3 other grand kids have more sense.

[owainglyndwr]

Unfortunately my son is a Man Ure supporter

Sadly I refused to paint his bedroom so the wife did it ;D
The best bit is that one of the teams he plays for arranges the odd trip up to watch City so he's had to join LIVE4CITY ;D ;D

his sister gets great delight in winding him up about not being a real fan

[Babyswan]

yeah, Liverpool supporter here.

Was beginning to lose heart with Rafa, even after winning the CL and getting to the final last year! I was beginning to think it was a return to the Houllier years. The style of play is not brilliant (not that I am any type of expert). But to answer your question, I was thinking of changing support to Arsenal as they do play some nice football. Couldn't even consider manure, or chelski.

Didn't Spurs look well the other night? Why couldn't they play like that for Jol!!!

The most frustrating thing for me is the constant changing of lineup, match after match. Very frustrating, plus the interviews after games, complete poppycock. I watch the Irish version of MOTD with Johnny Giles on the panel. Ahhh, now there's the voice of reason and experience!

I think it's easier for the lads over here to say it like it is, as they don't have to keep sweet with the players/managers in order to get future interviews.

Graeme Souness debuted on RTE last summer for the world cup and it was an eye opener for him to be able to express an opinion without having to couch his answers.

The normal panel is Giles, Liam Brady and Eamon Dunphy, so for me, a retired odd shaped ball player, it's an education!!!

Started supporting Liverpool in the days of Kevin Keegan and John Toshack, when they beat Newcastle 3-0 in the FA cup...'73? '77? but gosh, yes, they are infuriating to watch recently. I suppose not having won the league for 16 or 17 years, I should stand by them a bit more. But it's hard when the league is not a third of the way through and you know they won't win it. IMO, it's between Manure and Arsenal (rocket scientist, I know!)

[Deleted]

Ohh, a football debate

I'm a Hammer because I am - simple as that (and I think something to do with Trevor Brooking and Alvin Martin, and possibly Alf Garnet !!!).....

The OH is a Hammer and so is my brother!! At least no footie arguements in the GH household!!!

I suppose I really should have been a Chelsea Fan because they were the nearest club to where I was born, I don't think I'll be changing allegiance ;D I much perfer Claret and Blue to Blue!!!

[Barbara]

depends on the shade of blue donch ya know ;D

[MamIDdau]

My other argument in my dream about why I didn't want anything with scum's logo in my house was that my OH supports Luton Town (up the hatters!!) and he hates West Ham. I said to him that would he like having west ham decorations in the house and he said he wouldn't care which really annoyed me and I told my child that they could have West Ham, City or nothing. Then my dream changed so I dunno which one they chose. However, I woke up really annoyed with my OH for not backing me up lol

[owainglyndwr]

to our Scottish fans on not qualifying in such a cruel way.

I didn't think it was a free-kick.

Mind you. I didn't think it was a penalty in the Wales game but I'm grateful ;D
It won't be such a bad campaign for us when we beat Germany 5 - 0 on Wednesday to finish 3rd in a hard group ... hopefully giving us an easier qualifying group in the World Cup

[snowowl]

Are you ready for tonight ENGLAND fans? To Croatia.

Come on ENGLAND.

[Barbara]

[nightowl]

Come on chaps (and chapesses)...it's only a game!! ;D

[snowowl]

[borderbabe]

Well the inevitable has happened and McLaren's gone - whose next for the poisened chalice?? I would live to see Martin O'Neill get the job - I think he would soon shake up a few of the over-paid prima donna's of the premiership (and I'm a Chelsea fan BTW!) He's proved it at Leicester, Celtic and now Aston Villa that he can do the job. Let him loose on England!!

[Slugger]

Well looking at the Premier League table, it would seem that the best English manager is Harry Redknapp - we could do a lot worse!

[borderbabe]

Not Harry Please he's doing wonders with my second team Pompey ;D! (I only live 10 miles outside of Pompey and I can the supporters locking Fratton Park to keep him there!! LOL

[Deleted]

Martin O'Neill just doesn't do it for me. He was ok at Celtic but then in that league, pretty much anyone could manage Celtic to the title. He did ok at Wycombe and Leicester but he's hardly setting the world alight at Villa and that's not really "international pedigree" is it !!

I hate Mourinho but he could be a good manager for England. Capello has already said he wants the job and of course Scolari was first choice last time before changing his mind. I don't care, as long as they get someone with a bit of passion, some new ideas and able to motivate the players. Steve McLaren is none of those. Probably the worst England manager ever, tactically inept and about as passionate as a pile of cow shit.

FA x

[Barbara]

but 11 or 13 men are the ones who did'nt DO it,
beckham should have been on from the start IMO, but where was the passion ,why dont they seem to care, and the midfield looked well cra*
so we wheel out a new manager but its still the players who don't perform,
maybe they need more money to motivate them ;D

[Deleted]

I agree that the players share some of the blame but the guy is just tactically inept. We started with one man up front in a game that we needed to get at least a draw from. Then when we were 2-0 down, he brings on another striker so we go 4-4-2. We get back into it and then he reverts almost back to a 4-5-1 and tries to defend a point. The guy is an arse. Sorry but he is. Hasn't a clue about management or team tactics and as passionless as Sven was. As far as I'm concerned, not qualifying is a disaster but at least it has spelled the end of that idiot's reign as manager. Every cloud.......

FA x

[Deleted]

I'm going to apply for the post of England Manager.......I could pick a far better team than McLaren did!!

I personally, don't think that Redknapp would want the aggro of the England job. But I do think that Shearer might be the man - if he's got the requisite badges for coaching.

[Deleted]

No, not Shearer. Brilliant player but no managerial experience. I reckon he's waiting for Big Sam to get the sack at Newcastle before he steps into management.

The best managers are all with clubs and would cost a fortune in compensation. Wenger, Ferguson, Magilton.......

I reckon Jose is the man for the job but he doesn't want it, apparently.

FA x

[Deleted]

fatandy said:

No, not Shearer. Brilliant player but no managerial experience. I reckon he's waiting for Big Sam to get the sack at Newcastle before he steps into management.

The best managers are all with clubs and would cost a fortune in compensation. Wenger, Ferguson, Magilton.......

I reckon Jose is the man for the job but he doesn't want it, apparently.

FA x

Just the right bloke then!!!!

[andy]

Get BARRY FRY in NOW !!!!!! ;D

[Deleted]

andy said:

Get BARRY FRY in NOW !!!!!! ;D

Wasn't up at 07.00 this morning Andy, what did Fry have to say on the matter!!

[Deleted]

The only time we got to a world cup final ('66) or a world cup semi final ('90), the England manager at the time was the ex-Ipswich manager. I expect Jim Magilton will be getting the call this week......................... ;D

FA x