I'm in my local the other night. And I get talking to this fella at the bar laughing about Man U and Citeh going out of Europe. I've never had the pleasure of meeting him before. So, I make the argument that it's better for English clubs to do well in Europe so that we retain our quota of teams etc. He then went onto say how lucky Chelsea were the night before and that by rights, they should of gone out! Anyway, after a quick banter exchange, it becomes apparent that he's a Liverpool follower, and when he realises who I support he rolls his eyes and says '' Straight up, and straight back down.'' Blah blah blah. I then establish that this London accented Liverpool fan hasn't actually been to a game for ever. He just follows them in the pub or on the telly. And when I come to think of it, I have met ( On holiday, or in the pub, or in general life . ) A similar species of football fan albeit Liverpool, Chelsea, Man U, Arsenal etc who believe that they have attained some sort of moral-higher ground because they have decided to choose a bigger club and don't actually support them. These people then decide it's ok to be-little fans of lesser teams who actually go to the games just because they decided to glory hunt. other than punch their lights out. ( I don't really do violence.) What's the best way to deal with these idiots?
The problem is that in 20 years of the PL there has been so much exposure for teams such as Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool (and more latterly Manchester City and Spurs too) that kids are supporting these sides irrespective of where they live geographically. TV coverage is so heavily biased towards the top PL teams, all the money is there and their support is growing all the more because of this. It's a virtuous circle for all of them. So it's no wonder that after these 20 years there are (at the very least) 20-somethings or even 30-somethings like the guy you described. He's chosen is favourite team from the X-Factors that are MOTD and Panini Albums, he's consequently geographically far removed from the city in which the team is based and probably couldn't find it on a map anyway. How do you deal with him? You can't, he's an arsehole. Ignore.
I'll give it a go DT, I can Body-Pop, Moonwalk, and Electro-Boogaloo like you'd never believe. A face -off, Dance -off is the solution. Bring it on on!!! Rock rock to the planet rock...be bop.
I can stand Chelsea, Arsenal, even United fans no bother. But nothings worse than a Liverpool fan bigging it up with the delusion that they're still one of the Super Clubs. How many more decades without a League trophy before they eventually know their place?
Ok ...firstly has it been 20 years of the prem? really? **** i'm getting old!! I meet plenty of them here, be it spuds, scouse, mancs or the scum........ i find the best way to deal with them is to be-litle them.....they have ALL in the past years had an embarrasing defeat or in Chelski case, had players that didnt want to play games for fear of thier lives..... there are only a few of us out here, but we manage to dish it out big time and exaggerate thier failures...we usually get away with it as we are a small club that wins nothing ( accepted)....that kind of kills of any retort.... If that doent work, there's always violence....! not that i advocate that !!
The school I work at in SE London has mainly Man U, Arsenal and Chelsea fans, despite Millwall, the local club, running coaching schemes with Southwark schools...
I just tell them I support a local club and attend games regularly. I then ask them when they last attended a match, raise an eyebrow and fix them with a look of pity / disdain.
I have the exact same argument with so-called 'football fans' over here who haven't been to one League of Ireland match.........ever! But they WILL pay homage, and money, to the PL 'Big Boys' on the 62in TV screen every week! Yup, the League of Ireland standard is not great, but let's remember how many great players came through that League. OK, rant over.....
Looking forward to it. Will have to get some practice in today and wet the shamrock after the Paddys Day parade.
'What's the best way to deal with these idiots?' Adopt the high ground you speak of; and change the subject. No ST, no (further) comment!
You should praise them for deciding to support a team so far away, after all it takes dedication to travel that far to watch your team in the season.... Oh! you don't? Oh!
