*Official* English Football Season 2008-2009

[Johnners]

Haha, deadset, that is the most ridiculous statement of the year. I love some of the crap certain people come out with re: who is/isn't a "fan", if only you knew how stuck up you sounded.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

"Poor people aren't allowed to be fans of my club!"

 

[GIMH]

It's different with you guys but in the lower leagues when you average 6-7,000 a game, then a big game comes along and suddenly we have 15,000 "fans" it is very annoying.

Almost as annoying as losing to Grimsby

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

It's different with you guys but in the lower leagues when you average 6-7,000 a game, then a big game comes along and suddenly we have 15,000 "fans" it is very annoying.

So what? What if people can't afford to go to games every week, or if they work weekends, and strategically pick games to go to, or get off work to go to the big games? I love my Rugby League club to death but I barely make it to more than 2 games a season, for no other reason other than it's a choice between going to a game or eating that week.

 

[GIMH]

Look, there are all sorts of reasons why people can't make every game I know that having sadly seen my attendance drop off a little these last two years. If people can't afford it, they can't afford it, that's why I've dropped aways a lot these last couple of years (going to Leicester next week though and targeting 10 this season, gun)

However, Tranmere play 23 league games against crap oppositon a season
If we are lucky, we might, just might, get one decent tie at home against a Prem side. Whatever date it falls on, the crowd generally doubles from the league attendance. When we went to Wembley in 2000 we took 30,000 fans, the next week we played Blackburn at home and got about 8-9,000 (this was in the Championship). If a few more of those fans actually supported Tranmere when it mattered instead of following the red and blue ****e for 90% of the season then jumping on the bandwagon when we have a rare success, then we might actually do alright, and be at least in the Championship. Instead, attendances are poor, in turn we can only afford **** players, we play **** football and attendances drop further.

Simply put, yeah, there are people who pick and choose because they have to, but it would make more sense to wait until you have the Leeds, Leciester, Forest games. The crowds at these games suggests that this isn't really the case, people just don't bother coming because they don't want to - fair enough, their choice, but then when we do have success and they are giving it the "we are the greatest" and you can't get your usual seat for a Cup game, it really grates

I think this is an English thing tbh, we do have a different sporting culture, specifically with football. I'd never say you can't be a supporter if you don't go the game, as there could be a good reason why you don't, but people who just turn up for the glory, no better than the Liverpool & United fans that people regularly chide at

 

[Magrat Garlick]

I think this is an English thing tbh, we do have a different sporting culture, specifically with football.

Yeah, in any other country third division clubs are lucky to get triple digit crowds

 

[Johnners]

"Poor people aren't allowed to be fans of my club!"

Same goes for people who're a good 3 hours away from the closest venue iirc.

 

[Barney Rubble]

Not getting into this "true fans" debate, TBH. No-one else can tell me how much I care about my team.

I realise that conflicts with what I said about United fans before, but that's different, and I really can't be bothered with the lengthy debate that would emerge if I explained why.

 

[grecian]

Well, coming from Exeter, I'm not really bothered. I do get the anger when 30,000 (ffs) turn up at Wembley, yet we can only get about 6 thousand for a big cup game, like last night. No doubt because we lost it will sink to three and a half by Saturday.

Yet Exeter is out in the sticks, many people move away. If I look at my circle of friends from my teens, everyone of them has relocated ( I try not to take it personally). My brother lives in Stockport, yet many still have an affinity with the club, some of which grows when they're away from the city, oddly. I really don't expect people to make over a 5 hour round trip to watch a home game. Many people nowadays work shift-work, too and it's not easy to get time off.

Interestingly enough, in the Express & Echo, both the fans who write about us for the paper, live in that there london, and often don't get to games.

Yes, there are tons of Manure fans, who have never been to Old Trafford, here. Yet you can't blame them really. I just take the thin satisfaction that after years of struggle, near-bankruptcy, the footballing equivalent of purgatory (i.e. the Conference), ridicule from rivalries, that Rob Edwards goal at Wembley, and Danny's equaliser at Darlo, gave me fifty times the satisfaction that those plastics getting another two cups going to the theatre of crass commercialism.

 

[GIMH]

Haha, gun post.

So let me clarify, I wasn't actually endorsing the true fan=goes to every game theory. Merely stating how annoying it is that a large number of people badnwagon jump when there is a big game. I could appreciate a Tranmere fan who had moved to, say, Colchester, choosing to come back for a big game as opposed to a small one, it's the bloke who lives in Rock Ferry and just turns up, sits in my seat, and tells me to sit down and stop swearing whenever we play Newcastle or whatever. GAGFC.

As an aside, I have a mate (yes, shock horror, hahaha, GAGF, etc) who a few years back was doing shift work and basically had to book time off a few weeks in advance each time if he wishes to attend a game. We had a big cup game against Bolton and a pathetic Tuesday night dull game against Plymouth (I think they are the ones grecian supports). Which one did he choose? The Plymouth game, because "the league is the bread and butter", WAG

 

[grecian]

Haha, gun post.

So let me clarify, I wasn't actually endorsing the true fan=goes to every game theory. Merely stating how annoying it is that a large number of people badnwagon jump when there is a big game. I could appreciate a Tranmere fan who had moved to, say, Colchester, choosing to come back for a big game as opposed to a small one, it's the bloke who lives in Rock Ferry and just turns up, sits in my seat, and tells me to sit down and stop swearing whenever we play Newcastle or whatever. GAGFC.

As an aside, I have a mate (yes, shock horror, hahaha, GAGF, etc) who a few years back was doing shift work and basically had to book time off a few weeks in advance each time if he wishes to attend a game. We had a big cup game against Bolton and a pathetic Tuesday night dull game against Plymouth (I think they are the ones grecian supports). Which one did he choose? The Plymouth game, because "the league is the bread and butter", WAG

Yeah, well the fact the plastic fans, don't want to stand (even though in the Big Bank, that's not a problem) or sing, and yet do want to whine and bitch constantly during the match, is why I'm quite happy if the ****s don't turn up, every game. TBH, it seems that only 3 thousand for every place are hardcore.

Didn't enjoy Wembley first-time round, but second-time, there were designated singing blocks, which was cool, and the stewards didn't bother us. Same at Darlo, the stewards looked at practically everyone standing up, and obviously couldn't be ****ed to do anything about it

Yes, GAGFC (or whatever it is you rude people say around here), for the green slime comment. Nice of them to do their bit for the survival of Luton, though.....

 

[Neil Pickup]

I did love the stewards' half-arsed approach. I did get told to take my feet off the back of the chair in front of me before the game, mind...

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Not exactly English football, but amazingly funny regardless

Anorthosis Famagusta (Cyprus) 3-0 Olympiakos (Greece)

Note that Anorthosis haven't actually played in Famagusta since the 1970s due to Turkish occupation, and are thus keen on having their city name mentioned.

 

[Craig]

Not exactly English football, but amazingly funny regardless

Anorthosis Famagusta (Cyprus) 3-0 Olympiakos (Greece)

Note that Anorthosis haven't actually played in Famagusta since the 1970s due to Turkish occupation, and are thus keen on having their city name mentioned.

 

[Barney Rubble]

Not exactly English football, but amazingly funny regardless

Anorthosis Famagusta (Cyprus) 3-0 Olympiakos (Greece)

Note that Anorthosis haven't actually played in Famagusta since the 1970s due to Turkish occupation, and are thus keen on having their city name mentioned.

Haha, wow. Strange results all over the place in Europe this season. Fantastic stuff.

 

[Tom Halsey]

Haha, deadset, that is the most ridiculous statement of the year. I love some of the crap certain people come out with re: who is/isn't a "fan", if only you knew how stuck up you sounded.

Yes, indeed it does look ridiculous, my apologies. Should have said it differently, type of "fan" I'm on about does more than just not go to matches.

So let me clarify, I wasn't actually endorsing the true fan=goes to every game theory..

Nor am I, not every game, or even most games - there are obviously external factors which come into play here, and I myself don't and can't go to anywhere near every game. But I do apply for every game that I can get to (that isn't a Mickey Mouse Cup game).

What ****s me though are the fans who live in America and became interested in football through Beckham's move to LA Galaxy, and decided they'd support United because they're one of the best teams. They typically think Christiano Ronaldo is the greatest footballer of all time, have not heard of Johnny Carey and certainly not Billy Meredith. Additionally they could name only two of the side that started the European Cup final in 1968. This type of fan is increasing in number, and "support" lots of different clubs. However, having our reputation, they typically follow Manchester United more than a lot of other clubs, unfortunately. There are "fans" in England that, broadly speaking, belong in this category as well. These people have no reason for supporting the club other than bandwagon jumping, but are the reason why Manchester United fans have a reputation as being plastic despite not being, to my mind, a Manchester United fan. This pisses me off.

Annnnnyway, as people are probably bored of this debate by now, can I point out how good Liverpool were last night? Awesome, going on that performance it's their year at last IMO.

 

[GIMH]

Annnnnyway, as people are probably bored of this debate by now, can I point out how good Liverpool were last night? Awesome, going on that performance it's their year at last IMO.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

AFAIC it is, if you're not a regular matchgoer you're not a fan IMO.

That's rubbish. For various reasons, some of us cannot go to matches regularly. That doesn't make us any less passionate about the team. There are several regular matchgoers who are more indifferent than several who don't go to matches.

Worth noting that it's a TT$13:£1 conversion rate for me, and I'm based in Southampton, so it's quite obvious why I cannot attend Liverpool matches. I don't see how that makes me less of a fan.

 

[Tom Halsey]

That's rubbish. For various reasons, some of us cannot go to matches regularly. That doesn't make us any less passionate about the team. There are several regular matchgoers who are more indifferent than several who don't go to matches.

Worth noting that it's a TT$13:£1 conversion rate for me, and I'm based in Southampton, so it's quite obvious why I cannot attend Liverpool matches. I don't see how that makes me less of a fan.

Yes, that post was bollocks, as I said a few posts above, apologies.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

That's rubbish. For various reasons, some of us cannot go to matches regularly. That doesn't make us any less passionate about the team. There are several regular matchgoers who are more indifferent than several who don't go to matches.

Worth noting that it's a TT$13:£1 conversion rate for me, and I'm based in Southampton, so it's quite obvious why I cannot attend Liverpool matches. I don't see how that makes me less of a fan.

Not happen to notice the page above you?