As we're unlikely to see terraces again at football, this is the virtual equivalent where you can chat to your hearts content about all football matters and, obviously, Arsenal in particular. This forum encourages all Gooners to visit and contribute so please keep it respectful, clean and topical.
g88ner wrote:There are endless reasons that prevent passionate fans from watching their club live.
If you're deeply passionate about your club, then what gives anyone the right to label you as a "real" fan or not?? - it's not exactly something you can measure, is it?
It's a personal thing, and if your football club is in your soul, and you deeply care about them, then that's enough for me - regardless of whether you're a season ticket holder, Diamond Club member, father of 3 who can't afford to get to games, or even a fan living in Timbuktu.
I think it's a different emotional connection. When you are there live with thousands of your own supporters enjoying/being miserable its different than watching it on the tv. If there was no difference then why do people pay what they do to watch it live especially in this day and age of illegal streams and live sky games.
I don't get to as many games as I would like due to financial reasons but when I do I feel more, I'm not sure what the best way to put this is, emotional as you get swept up in the communal joy/angst.
For example being there for A. Hole's first return gave me an experience that was better than watching it on tv.
I'd go every week if tickets were reasonably priced. IIRC, they went from £16.50 (North Bank Lower, wing blocks) to £33 in 10 years from 1998 to 2008 (Equivalent tickets at AG, lower behind goal). My ticket vs United/Chelsea/Liverpool was the cheapest in the ground, and that was still £47. That is the reason I don't go every week, much as I'd love to.
Back to the original point.... you can be a real fan if you've never seen your team play. I know people in Australia who fucking bleed Arsenal; they're more of a fan than some pompous idiot who sits in club level, never watched football prior to Euro96, spends £4k on a season ticket and spends the entire game on his Blackberry telling people to "siddarn". If you're in the same country as your team and have never seen them play, that is pretty lame though.
g88ner wrote:There are endless reasons that prevent passionate fans from watching their club live.
If you're deeply passionate about your club, then what gives anyone the right to label you as a "real" fan or not?? - it's not exactly something you can measure, is it?
It's a personal thing, and if your football club is in your soul, and you deeply care about them, then that's enough for me - regardless of whether you're a season ticket holder, Diamond Club member, father of 3 who can't afford to get to games, or even a fan living in Timbuktu.
I think it's a different emotional connection. When you are there live with thousands of your own supporters enjoying/being miserable its different than watching it on the tv. If there was no difference then why do people pay what they do to watch it live especially in this day and age of illegal streams and live sky games.
I don't get to as many games as I would like due to financial reasons but when I do I feel more, I'm not sure what the best way to put this is, emotional as you get swept up in the communal joy/angst.
For example being there for A. Hole's first return gave me an experience that was better than watching it on tv.
Great post.
it's like the United supporters which live in the US. They don't understand our history, our roots, the Manc sense of humour like we do because they haven't lived in Manchester or experienced the banter.
there's nothing like being at the match for me, I'd go week-in, week-out if I could afford it.
I'd never stop supporting United. It wouldn't matter if I fell on hard times because I've seen them play more times than I can remember.
Your questions don't really add up, the thread has nothing to do with money. Do you think the Boca fans have money? No. But they find a way to watch their team play because they love them, because they are passionate. They don't sit on internet forums every week claiming to be massive Boca fans, they go and watch their team play.
Luca Helvetica wrote:
I think it's a different emotional connection. When you are there live with thousands of your own supporters enjoying/being miserable its different than watching it on the tv. If there was no difference then why do people pay what they do to watch it live especially in this day and age of illegal streams and live sky games.
I don't get to as many games as I would like due to financial reasons but when I do I feel more, I'm not sure what the best way to put this is, emotional as you get swept up in the communal joy/angst.
For example being there for A. Hole's first return gave me an experience that was better than watching it on tv.
I'm not denying that going to games helps to re-enforce the connection, but I also don't think it makes you any less a supporter if, for a number of valid reason, you can't get to games.
It's not something you can quantify... certainly not by match tickets, that's for sure. If you feel passionately about your club, and you care deeply about them, then you're a fan. It's a personal thing, and only you know whether you're a "real" fan or not.
Monostich wrote:I'd never stop supporting United. It wouldn't matter if I fell on hard times because I've seen them play more times than I can remember.
Your questions don't really add up, the thread has nothing to do with money. Do you think the Boca fans have money? No. But they find a way to watch their team play because they love them, because they are passionate. They don't sit on internet forums every week claiming to be massive Boca fans, they go and watch their team play.
Do you think Boca fans pay anything like what premiership fans pay to watch their clubs?
I could never support a club from where I'm not from, it wouldn't feel right. A lot of you are right with your "Surrey United" comments, I don't understand them twats either, what connections do they have to Manchester United Football Club? None at all, they have seen us win lots of trophies in recent times and probably think "I'll av sum of that guv, they are better than West Aam!"
I hate it. Support the team where you're from, don't go "picking" a team from a hat, or because you like their kit, or their manager, or because they've got Fernando Torres or Thierry Henry; support your local team and TRY go to the matches.
Chunky: OK, using Boca was a bad example but surely you can see the point I am making?
Last edited by Monostich on Wed Feb 24, 2010 4:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Monostich wrote:I'd never stop supporting United. It wouldn't matter if I fell on hard times because I've seen them play more times than I can remember.
Your questions don't really add up, the thread has nothing to do with money. Do you think the Boca fans have money? No. But they find a way to watch their team play because they love them, because they are passionate. They don't sit on internet forums every week claiming to be massive Boca fans, they go and watch their team play.
How do you know that?? Do you also infiltrate Boca Junior forums, you're just trying it on aren't you, by putting this thread up to wind up BrazilianGooner, you really are a fucking A1 arsehole.
Monostich wrote:I'd never stop supporting United. It wouldn't matter if I fell on hard times because I've seen them play more times than I can remember.
Your questions don't really add up, the thread has nothing to do with money. Do you think the Boca fans have money? No. But they find a way to watch their team play because they love them, because they are passionate. They don't sit on internet forums every week claiming to be massive Boca fans, they go and watch their team play.
You didn't comment on why I think it's a wind up but anyway how the hell do you know what Boca fans do or dont do?
OK I'll give you a simple answer, I (personnally) think that because of modern technology you could come from Outer Mongolia and still support an EPL club. Granted they would not hear you cheers during the game but you could still support them.
Luca Helvetica wrote:
I think it's a different emotional connection. When you are there live with thousands of your own supporters enjoying/being miserable its different than watching it on the tv. If there was no difference then why do people pay what they do to watch it live especially in this day and age of illegal streams and live sky games.
I don't get to as many games as I would like due to financial reasons but when I do I feel more, I'm not sure what the best way to put this is, emotional as you get swept up in the communal joy/angst.
For example being there for A. Hole's first return gave me an experience that was better than watching it on tv.
I'm not denying that going to games helps to re-enforce the connection, but I also don't think it makes you any less a supporter if, for a number of valid reason, you can't get to games.
It's not something you can quantify... certainly not by match tickets, that's for sure. If you feel passionately about your club, and you care deeply about them, then you're a fan. It's a personal thing, and only you know whether you're a "real" fan or not.
No I know that that's why I said it was different. You can't quantify it, less or more of a fan is a dangerous territory to get into.
I would argue though that if you could afford it, live in the same country therefore it wouldn't take too long to get to that you should have perhaps made it to one game at some point i.e in Kent there are two types of scousers and Mancs that I am aware of those that go to games when they can (i.e money etc taken into account) and those that could (i.e have the means) but choose not. Those "fans" do annoy me a little when they preach!
