Changing allegiances

Maximus Alexander · 19-09-2012 09:32AM

cambo2008 wrote: »

And who made you an authority on what makes a real fan??
I can guarantee you I'm as passionate if not more about Manchester United as you are about Rovers.
It dominates my topics of conversation in work,with friends etc.
Results can affect my mood for days.
I'm excited as f**k about Sunday and I could be like a demon for the following week or in top form and slagging off my mates and workmates.
I've only ever been to Old Trafford a handful of times and have not been at all in years.

So anyone that wants to preach about what makes a real fan can f**k right off as far as I'm concerned.

Yeah I find this "real fan" mentality bizarre. I've never heard anyone accused of not being a "real" Michael Jackson fan because they didn't grow up in Gary, Indiana.

- bo - · 19-09-2012 09:33AM

Man United (bought the jerseys, one trip to OT in 1998) until the age of 11 or so and slightly beyond..

Then got brought along by my Dad to Dalymount in the 99/00 season and that changed everything - European nights, awkward trips from Navan/Athlone to the arse-end of the country, several trips abroad, to eventually volunteering a good bit of time to do some work each week for the club.

It is different when you're properly involved. If we were to go to the wall I'd either have to follow whatever reincarnation there was of the club (if there was one), painful as that would be. Or else just be a fan of the league and head along to the odd match in Dublin/Drogheda every so often. But I'll never support another club from Ireland.

froog · 19-09-2012 10:00AM

i enjoy watching english football but i find the irish fans of teams a bit insufferable tbh. when an irish man u fan gets into a raging argument with an irish liverpool fan it's beyond ridiculous.

imagine two english lads with no connection to ireland fighting over cork and dublin in the GAA. you'd laugh wouldn't you? exact same thing.

willowthewisp · 19-09-2012 10:47AM

The_Kew_Tour wrote: »

Then he would have supported Arsenal. United were rock bottom then.

Who said anything about him supporting man u??
Is it not obvious that he was a gloryhunter because he chose to defect from Liverpool to Arsenal because they pipped them to the title in 1989.
Or do you just familiar with the Premier League era?

The_Kew_Tour · 19-09-2012 10:48AM

willowthewisp wrote: »

Who said anything about him supporting man u??
Is it not obvious that he was a gloryhunter because he chose to defect from Liverpool to Arsenal because they pipped them to the title in 1989.
Or do you just familiar with the Premier League era?

Yep hand up I got it wrong.

Pierce_1991 · 19-09-2012 11:01AM

My younger brother, who is 10 now, started out like myself and my dad as a big Arsenal fan. When he was about 7 or 8 he got really into it, had posters on the wall, constantly looking up news and stats etc. But last season he lost interest and decided to support Liverpool, even got a jersey. Liverpool are probably my least favorite club apart from Spurs so this really hurt me I must say. He says he's an Arsenal fan again but I fear he'll never be a football fan in any real sense. Shame, he had a lot of potential.

Also knew a guy who was a huge Fulham fan till he was about 14 or 15 and just switched to Liverpool.

Kirby · 19-09-2012 11:13AM

I just like football. I have no real allegiance. I follow and support all the teams. It's great....I always win

kryogen · 19-09-2012 11:19AM

My own personal view is that you don't just decide to support a team, something in you draws you to the team, whether its a geographical connection or something else. Being an Everton fan one year and deciding to support Spurs the next year is pathetic in my eyes.

I do have a cousin who was an Alan Shearer fan, plain and simple, he had a Shearer Southampton jersey, Blackburn jersey and Newcastle jersey

Will I Amnt · 19-09-2012 11:21AM

froog wrote: »

imagine two english lads with no connection to ireland fighting over cork and dublin in the GAA. you'd laugh wouldn't you? exact same thing.

No it's not even remotely like the exact same thing.
Is every town in England crammed with supporters of different county GAA teams??
No.
If GAA was as popular in England as EPL is here then it would be the exact same thing.

19-09-2012 11:22AM

Does he wear a match of the day t shirt now?

grenache · 19-09-2012 11:31AM

invinciblePRSTV wrote: »

Know of a guy who was an Arsenal fan, but then switched to Nottingham Forest following their successful 94/95 season and Arsenals/George Grahams indiscretions that season.

That worked out well for him. Tbf i think he stuck with them.

At least following Forest is a challenge. And more fun.

Is that dude from Limerick, I think I know him.

bohsman · 19-09-2012 11:37AM

Maximus Alexander wrote: »

Yeah I find this "real fan" mentality bizarre. I've never heard anyone accused of not being a "real" Michael Jackson fan because they didn't grow up in Gary, Indiana.

If you find supporting a football team similar to liking a musician then I honestly don't think you are as big a fan as those living in the clubs city going to their games regularly.

kryogen · 19-09-2012 11:45AM

rarnes1 wrote: »

Does he wear a match of the day t shirt now?

Always used to think he actually only did it to wind me up, ****ing hate Alan Shearer, you just gave me an idea for his birthday though

19-09-2012 11:49AM

Would be a good one alright

froog · 19-09-2012 11:56AM

cambo2008 wrote: »

No it's not even remotely like the exact same thing.
Is every town in England crammed with supporters of different county GAA teams??
No.
If GAA was as popular in England as EPL is here then it would be the exact same thing.

if it was, it would still be ridiculous someone from england supporting a county they have no connection to and getting into crazy arguments with other english supporters of a county.

LiamoSail · 19-09-2012 12:01PM

Maximus Alexander wrote: »

[

Yeah I find this "real fan" mentality bizarre. I've never heard anyone accused of not being a "real" Michael Jackson fan because they didn't grow up in Gary, Indiana.

If you want to use a Michael Jackson comparison, I'd say it's more akin to all those mad fans who used to. cry and shout ''I love you Michael'' at him, despite not really having any connections with the man whatsoever

Maximus Alexander · 19-09-2012 12:32PM

bohsman wrote: »

If you find supporting a football team similar to liking a musician then I honestly don't think you are as big a fan as those living in the clubs city going to their games regularly.

I'm honestly not bothered about how big a fan you or anyone else thinks I am. My fandom is not a contest, nor does it exist to impress you.

Maximus Alexander · 19-09-2012 12:35PM

LiamoSail wrote: »

If you want to use a Michael Jackson comparison, I'd say it's more akin to all those mad fans who used to. cry and shout ''I love you Michael'' at him, despite not really having any connections with the man whatsoever

That's pretty much my point. People develop emotional attachments to all sorts of things for all kinds obscure reasons and it can manifest to bizarre levels. Who are we to judge? Why should somebody's love for something have to be justified according to an arbitrary rule set?

Will I Amnt · 19-09-2012 12:50PM

froog wrote: »

if it was, it would still be ridiculous someone from england supporting a county they have no connection to and getting into crazy arguments with other english supporters of a county.

No it's not.
Where did this idea that you should only support a team from the country you're from come from??
It doesn't happen in any other walk of life.

Should we only watch Irish made films?
Should we only listen to music made by Irish artists?
Load of bollox tbh.

froog · 19-09-2012 12:59PM

cambo2008 wrote: »

No it's not.
Where did this idea that you should only support a team from the country you're from come from??
It doesn't happen in any other walk of life.

Should we only watch Irish made films?
Should we only listen to music made by Irish artists?
Load of bollox tbh.

i've no problem with lads supporting a team in england, but when lads take it to the extreme i find it a bit farcical. saying "we" and getting into heated debates, calling fans from other clubs "scum" etc, and as in this thread, ridiculing people who switch teams.

_blank_ · 19-09-2012 01:17PM

There's a poster in here, fairly prominent in the United thread, all "we" and "us" and happy when they win, unhappy when they lose, seems to know a good bit about youth players, always reads up on transfers, keeps up to date with injuries, watches Ferguson's press conferences on the Friday - all that stuff.

In fact, in real life, I know for a fact that he's a Leeds fan.

kryogen · 19-09-2012 01:54PM

Des wrote: »

There's a poster in here, fairly prominent in the United thread, all "we" and "us" and happy when they win, unhappy when they lose, seems to know a good bit about youth players, always reads up on transfers, keeps up to date with injuries, watches Ferguson's press conferences on the Friday - all that stuff.

In fact, in real life, I know for a fact that he's a Leeds fan.

Name and shame please.

Being a United fan and a Leeds fan or vice versa just does not make a bit of sense to me

19-09-2012 01:55PM

C'mon Des, don't leave us hanging like that!

_blank_ · 19-09-2012 02:00PM

kryogen wrote: »

Name and shame please.

Being a United fan and a Leeds fan or vice versa just does not make a bit of sense to me

rarnes1 wrote: »

C'mon Des, don't leave us hanging like that!

No, the person wouldn't be a person who'd I'd have any kind of friendly relationship with, so it wouldn't be fair to do that, in fact, it's against Boards.ie rules to "out" someone, to disclose information that would reveal who they are, if they wish to remain anonymous.

kryogen · 19-09-2012 02:06PM

Des wrote: »

No, the person wouldn't be a person who'd I'd have any kind of friendly relationship with, so it wouldn't be fair to do that, in fact, it's against Boards.ie rules to "out" someone, to disclose information that would reveal who they are, if they wish to remain anonymous.

A person you wouldn't have any kind of friendly relationship with hardly narrows it down

Fair enough though, I can think of some ways around the rules but it is not exactly worth it really

_blank_ · 19-09-2012 02:08PM

kryogen wrote: »

A person you wouldn't have any kind of friendly relationship with hardly narrows it down

What, I'm a very popular guy.

Look at all my thanks!

I meant it's not someone I know in real life and would have "banter" with (I hate that word by the way). Like a Mr Alan, or someone like that.

bullvine · 19-09-2012 02:09PM

kryogen wrote: »

A person you wouldn't have any kind of friendly relationship with hardly narrows it down

Fair enough though, I can think of some ways around the rules but it is not exactly worth it really

Its you Kryogen, its always been you!

IvySlayer · 19-09-2012 02:26PM

kryogen wrote: »

Name and shame please.

Being a United fan and a Leeds fan or vice versa just does not make a bit of sense to me

It's Keno.

Gavin "shels" · 19-09-2012 02:47PM

The_Kew_Tour wrote: »

If you were as good as to tell your own Supporters to go to Tolka every week rather then showing up at Cup finals maybe you could have a decent crowd now and then

In all fairness a lot of those were family members and what not, there was a group of about 20 girls who knew one of the players and it was their firt Shels match, our keeper had a mountain of family and friends and our 3rd choice even had family and friends at it, so times that by about 20+ players and you'll realise most went to see their mate or family member win a trophy.

tim_holsters wrote: »

You seem to be implying that fans who support a team from a country other than their own may not be as passionate as the supporters from the country where their team is situated. If this is so you are wrong.

Selective reading, read my comment again, I said people who go to matches are more connected, I even used a Man Utd season ticket holder from Ireland as an explain.

LiamoSail wrote: »

I'm a Liverpool fan, but I disagree strongly. How can someone not from an area, with little or no connection to that area, who goes to a handful of games a season be a more passionate supporter then some who's community the club represents, who goes regularly and who has grown up in the city right in the middle of the local atmosphere

As I said, I'm a Liverpool fan but I'm from Ireland. I've cousins and friends in Liverpool an go over a few times a year, but Liverpool is just that, somewhere I go a few times a year, it's not home.

There is no way I could genuinely feel as passionately about the club as someone who grew up in the area does. Locals support the club because its their club, in their city, it makes sense. Most people over here choose their english club on the basis of who everyone else in their school, or their da's school or older brothers school was supporting

To suggest that someone with no tangible connection to an area can support a club that represents that area as passionately as someone who's community is represented by that club is neglecting the sense of tribalism in football and the extent of the sentiment of the club representing the city, a city that isn't your own.

I'm not saying you can't support a club from a different city, I do it myself. Just that you can never have the connection to the club that locals do

Great post.

cambo2008 wrote: »

I'm excited as f**k about Sunday

I get excited about going to the pub aswell...

Maximus Alexander wrote: »

Yeah I find this "real fan" mentality bizarre. I've never heard anyone accused of not being a "real" Michael Jackson fan because they didn't grow up in Gary, Indiana.

What a stupid argument.

_blank_ · 19-09-2012 02:54PM

Gavin shels wrote: »

In all fairness a lot of those were family members and what not, there was a group of about 20 girls who knew one of the players and it was their firt Shels match, our keeper had a mountain of family and friends and our 3rd choice even had family and friends at it, so times that by about 20+ players and you'll realise most went to see their mate or family member win a trophy.

And.

My mother, my sister, my wife, my dad, my brother's fiancée and my sisters fella all came. 6 people all attending the match who wouldn't normally go (7 if you include me, before Gav starts

).

I'd say there were a few more like that.

Changing allegiances

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