The Price Of Football and Being a Fan

[OneBardGooner]

I think this put's it all into perspective......

The number of pies manure would have to sell every week to re-coup Falcao's weekly wage...


I'm sure there must be a Fat Bap somewhere on here who would happily be paid in pies - instead of Cash!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29622950

Also shows the cheapest S.Ticket at $hitty compared to our most expensive....

Are we not fans - we are (now) customers.

[Tomáš]

How long would it take you to earn a top footballer’s salary?
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-31110113
shocker

[supergooner]

[SteveO 35]

You pay your money, you take your choice. The new PL TV deal will only make things escalate further, Kroenke will put prices up another 5%, 60000 people will pay out every week and then moan because some thick arse *word censored* earning £200k per week falls out of a nightclub or gets caught shagging his brother's wife

[armchair]

http://youtu.be/Pt0cnm4z1_s

[g88ner]

http://youtu.be/Pt0cnm4z1_s

Good for Arsenal!

It's weird that grown men think it's ok to drive to a secluded country road so they can ambush motorists from going about their daily lives and force them into an uncomfortable situation where they feel obliged to stop and talk to complete strangers in the middle of nowhere with little or no security to help them if anything goes wrong.

Players should speed by these weirdos without a seconds thought. If people want to see these footballers, they should attend a game or an organised event, not lay in wait outside their place of work using emotional blackmail by bringing their kids along.

[armchair]

http://youtu.be/Pt0cnm4z1_s

Good for Arsenal!

It's weird that grown men think it's ok to drive to a secluded country road so they can ambush motorists from going about their daily lives and force them into an uncomfortable situation where they feel obliged to stop and talk to complete strangers in the middle of nowhere with little or no security to help them if anything goes wrong.

Players should speed by these weirdos without a seconds thought. If people want to see these footballers, they should attend a game or an organised event, not lay in wait outside their place of work using emotional blackmail by bringing their kids along.

You're using a lot of emotive language and assuming an awful lot there g88ner me old mate.
Grown men in a secluded country road? Yes they are grown men, so what? Most gooners are grown men ffs. Hardly surprising that, is it? Secluded? There are residents houses around there and its a public highway. They have every right to be there so long as they dont break the law.

Ambush motorists? Ffs g88ner wise up. Think before you post. They were standing at the side of the road. If the players wanted to stop, chat, sign an autograph they did. If they didnt want to then they didnt stop. End of. And they do stop. Its only because of the directive from the club after complaints from residents that they have been told to drive on even if they wanted to stop. Now they cant.
Why do you feel the need to insult gooners by calling them wierdos? And then you assume they only brought their junior gunners there as emotional blackmail? These guys only want to meet their idols, get a signature. Nothing sinister.

These are the same footballers who put themselves out there when it suits them. The same footballers that get paid waaay too much by these very fans, not wierdos. .
Please dont try to make this out as some wierdos loitering behind hedges in a darkened country road waiting to do harm to somebody. Nothing is further from the truth and the overpayed pampered footballers are not fearful, shrinking violets either. They can stop or drive on if they want

[g88ner]

http://youtu.be/Pt0cnm4z1_s

Good for Arsenal!

It's weird that grown men think it's ok to drive to a secluded country road so they can ambush motorists from going about their daily lives and force them into an uncomfortable situation where they feel obliged to stop and talk to complete strangers in the middle of nowhere with little or no security to help them if anything goes wrong.

Grown men in a secluded country road? Yes they are grown men, so what? Most gooners are grown men ffs. Hardly surprising that, is it?

Armchair, I get that you don't like my criticism of adults who drive out to these places to flag down footballers as they drive away from work on 10mph speed limit exits... but I genuinely don't understand your above response.

But, for the record, no it's not a surprise most Gooners are grown men. Never suggested otherwise.

Ambush motorists? Ffs g88ner wise up. Think before you post.

Ok, technically it's not an ambush... but it's still intrusive whether it's legal or not. We often have media and greenpeace outside our buildings, and as they're outside of the entrance they're legally within their rights to be there, but it's still annoying and awkward every time I leave.

Its only because of the directive from the club after complaints from residents that they have been told to drive on even if they wanted to stop.

Ah! there you go. It's clearly irritating residents to have these autograph hunters polluting their space (I bet they cause a nuisance parking too)

The same footballers that get paid waaay too much by these very fans, not wierdos.

Ah yes, the money argument crops up again even though it's irrelevant.

I'm amazed this isn't clear, but just because you pay for tickets and merchandise does not in any way entitle you to anything else.

Why do you feel the need to insult gooners by calling them wierdos?

The fact they're gooners is irrelevant. I'm just as critical about the groupies who wait outside music and movies stars houses.

You clearly disagree (many probably do) but I don't think it should be encouraged.

[StuartL]

I can understand why a dad would take his son or daughter to the training ground to get close to the players and hope to get a photo or an autograph that would make their kids day.
Our players have little interaction with todays fans, and the opportunity to meet them in person would no doubt be very memorable.

But from the clubs perspective (almost irrelevant of the neighbours feeling irritated) is that 10 fans outside becomes 50 once word spreads it becomes 200 or more on a daily basis and then it does become a real problem, causing blockage of the road etc.

BTW there is very little outside that earmarks where our training ground is - the club actively discourage fans turning up.

Maybe the club could have a few more interactive junior gunner days / events with the players there - I know they do a Christmas one cause my daughter attended one year.

Almost a side issue but you do also get grown men getting autographs and selling them on ebay, which I also think the club try to discourage.

[Clash]

As much as I hate how much more detached players have become from the fans in the last few years, I think g88 makes a good case here.

I do think there is something weird about adults wanting autographs. Especially male adults. Serious hero worship of any kind really should be for kids only. And some children are probably scared by adults pushing their way in to get an autograph before them.

It may be mildy accpetable to ask for an autograph if you run into someone by chance (as some sort of proof you met them) or if have paid to do a club tour or something. But to actively seek them out by waiting around in a certain spot is too much.

What do you do with them when you get them anyway? File them in a little box with all the others so you can them out to look at lovingly ? Show them to other people? Or these days maybe sell them on e-bay?

And really ... who the fuck wants an autograph of Nacho Monreal?

[armchair]

I do sympathise with residents who may feel annoyed about an increase of traffic into "their" area.
I also feel an affinity with gooners whose only intention is to get a glimpse of their idols, a photo, a bit of a chat, an autograph.
If Im honest I think its just another example of the club alienating fans. Players do stop and sign autographs, say hello. I think its nice of them to recognise the fans in a non contrived and personal, (honest if you like) way. If they dont want to then on they go. No problems.
It is absolutely nothing like the stalking behaviour you have described g88ner. They are not at the players homes. Now the players have been told to drive on even if they want to stop and say hello.
It doesnt sit well with me. Just like calling them wierdos doesnt sit well with me

[armchair]

As much as I hate how much more detached players have become from the fans in the last few years, I think g88 makes a good case here.

I do think there is something weird about adults wanting autographs. Especially male adults. Serious hero worship of any kind really should be for kids only. And some children are probably scared by adults pushing their way in to get an autograph before them.

It may be mildy accpetable to ask for an autograph if you run into someone by chance (as some sort of proof you met them) or if have paid to do a club tour or something. But to actively seek them out by waiting around in a certain spot is too much.

What do you do with them when you get them anyway? File them in a little box with all the others so you can them out to look at lovingly ? Show them to other people? Or these days maybe sell them on e-bay?

And really ... who the fuck wants an autograph of Nacho Monreal?

I had a team autograph from about 1976 or 77. It was just a photocopy from the fan club and when I got it in the post all those years ago I was a bit pissed off that it was a photocopy and not actual personal signatures. We moved house some years later and it got lost.
As an adult now I would so love to have that sheet with the players signatures. For me, for my boy and for nostalgia.

Dont see the problem at all with collecting autographs, on programmes, on shirts on scraps of paper. Why judge people because they collect players autographs? Whatever floats yer boat.

[northbank123]

I know most people think that, given their earnings, footballers should be obliged to do more for the fans. But I think grown adults being willing to go to these lengths makes a pretty good case for keeping them hidden away.

I'm quite comfortable saying that some of this behaviour is weird.

[armchair]

I know most people think that, given their earnings, footballers should be obliged to do more for the fans. But I think grown adults being willing to go to these lengths makes a pretty good case for keeping them hidden away.

I'm quite comfortable saying that some of this behaviour is weird.

But what behaviour is wierd?
g88ner described stalking behaviour. Thats wierd, also illegal. But also not what was in the video clip I posted.

Clash suggested adult football fans wanting autographs is wierd. I can think of things that footie fans do that are more wierd than autograph hunting.

[Clash]

As much as I hate how much more detached players have become from the fans in the last few years, I think g88 makes a good case here.

I do think there is something weird about adults wanting autographs. Especially male adults. Serious hero worship of any kind really should be for kids only. And some children are probably scared by adults pushing their way in to get an autograph before them.

It may be mildy accpetable to ask for an autograph if you run into someone by chance (as some sort of proof you met them) or if have paid to do a club tour or something. But to actively seek them out by waiting around in a certain spot is too much.

What do you do with them when you get them anyway? File them in a little box with all the others so you can them out to look at lovingly ? Show them to other people? Or these days maybe sell them on e-bay?

And really ... who the fuck wants an autograph of Nacho Monreal?

I had a team autograph from about 1976 or 77. It was just a photocopy from the fan club and when I got it in the post all those years ago I was a bit pissed off that it was a photocopy and not actual personal signatures. We moved house some years later and it got lost.
As an adult now I would so love to have that sheet with the players signatures. For me, for my boy and for nostalgia.

Dont see the problem at all with collecting autographs, on programmes, on shirts on scraps of paper. Why judge people because they collect players autographs? Whatever floats yer boat.

Your signed sheet from the 70s I can understand more as it has the nostalgia value to it that most things from childhood have. Similarly I have an autograph book somewhere at my parents house from a Junior Gunners trip to the London Colney in 1985. Names like Sansom, Woodcock, Nicholas and Lukic plus a couple who are no longer with us like David Rocastle and Tommy Caton (all with my 11 year old handwriting under each signature spelling out who the squiggle is). I wouldn't throw it away but it also wouldn't bother me if I never see it again. But then I'm not into memorabilia either.

I try not to judge people too much but we all do it to some extent. Especially with people like train spotters. I just tend to put adult autograph collectors in the same boat. I find it quite strange.