BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)

Subject: RE: BS: Football
From: Senoufou
Date: 10 Jan 18 - 12:49 PM

I know nothing about football (and could care even less!) But I'm told Norwich City aren't doing too well at the moment. Neither are Man U.
Husband is a Premier League tart though, and has a top for every team, which he wears on a whim. And a Cote d'Ivoire one (Les Elephants)

Subject: RE: BS: Football
From: Mr Red
Date: 10 Jan 18 - 11:31 AM

It's just that Mr Red got me gander up with his sideswipes at footie fans

"More than a religion proved". Ya can't ask them to accept responsibility because of it. Not a sideswipe, a direct hit, deflected by the "not me" stratagem. It was the other tribe obviously!

And as for tribal - even a good hearted crowd are tribal. These days we don't see as much of the Milwall syndrome but it is not unknown to have an undercover French policeman in a gang of French supporters at the world cup in ie England. And if you saw Eurosport - the football ads are predominently about anti-racism. If you contrast that with a sport like MotoGP where they provide stands for Rossi yellow and Marquez orange but I ain't never heard of any antagonism because there are also Ducatista, Suziki supporters, KTM clan, Aprilia afficianados etc. More tribes, more dilute rivalry. A different kind of crowd who applaud the riders as they do their slow-down lap. F1 is in the same category (AFAIK). Tennis I would expect even more so. etc

Two teams invites more robust rivalry and it has been seen demonstrably so. Football must police itself it it wants to be respected by the majority (who don't give a toss about the over-priced game that we majority have to subsidise).

Large crowds are dangerous, tribal ones moreso. It needs regulation and review - constantly. The crowd dictate that. The rest of us demand it. The crowd think it is nanny state until ........... then they blame everyone else.

Subject: RE: BS: Football
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 10 Jan 18 - 11:19 AM

In the west country region where I grew up, there was no real football teams to get excited about..

When I was 7, I was obviously caught up in the world cup winning hysteria.. but that didn't last too long.

Then I was introduced to Rugby at grammar school.
We weren't allowed to play football.

It seems to me that the brutal blood and mud fouling and punch ups footie of the past,
has been so emasculated and sanitised,
no wonder the modern game is such an anodyne fashion entertainment so increasingly appealing to teenage girls...

We watch rugby and boxing in our house.

My mrs is Welsh and proudly tribal when it comes to rugby,
she gets a real bloodthirsty adrenolin buzz off watching the tackles and bad tempered exchanges.
And now that channel 5 is showing free to view boxing with occasional Welsh boxers,
She can be heard shouting & screaming at the telly from outside our bay window onto the road....

Subject: RE: BS: Football
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 10 Jan 18 - 10:56 AM

'tribalism' is probably a very appropriate term due to the need (often) to segregate opposing groups of supporters.

Subject: RE: BS: Football
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 10 Jan 18 - 10:08 AM

Never got too much into footie myself but I used to enjoy watching Speedway at Belle Vue in the late 60s. I can sort of understand the 'tribalism' (probably should use a better word) as it happens, to a greater or lesser extent, in most sports.

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: Football
From: Raggytash
Date: 10 Jan 18 - 10:05 AM

Quite honestly Steve the diversion was much needed relief from the lack of comprehension in some quarters.

Having said that I don't really comprehend the tribal nature of football. I've witnessed it often enough but I can't get so emotionally involved over 22 men kicking an inflated pigs bladder around a pitch watched by 50,000 referees.

I'm pickling Gherkins today, can't beat a pickled Gherkin.

Subject: RE: BS: Football
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 10 Jan 18 - 09:42 AM

Sorry for mucking your thread up, Raggytash. It's just that Mr Red got me gander up with his sideswipes at footie fans.

Tell you what. I'll copy and paste my post here right now and perhaps some kind mod would delete the post from your thread...?

Football non-fans constantly attacking football for being tribal is, ironically, tribal. So you don't like football. Well a lot of people do. A couple of years ago I tried, months in advance, to get a ticket for a relatively humdrum, non-crucial home match at Anfield (Liverpool vs Villa). No chance.

There a lot wrong with football. Players' pay at the top of the game is scandalous. Most league footballers don't get tens of thousands a week, however. We tend to dwell on the most egregious examples, which are actually a small minority. Ticket prices are outlandish in consequence (though you'd pay approximately as much for a decent seat at the opera or for a symphony concert). There's far too much corporate involvement. Some top clubs are bankrolled by billionaires who can buy or sell clubs at will and that's not really fair. Transfer fees at the top are ludicrous, and they are boosted further by parasitic agents taking huge slices of dosh. Television rights are bought for billions a year. We all pay for that eventually via advertising, even though you have to pay to see the matches on the telly. Which I do.

But wassup? It's a perfect example of capitalism in action. So is Tesco, Asda and Morrisons, but I still use them. Another thing that will, I know, never convince the footie-haters: at its best, which is often, it's a beautiful, flowing game that requires consummate skill, tactics and fitness. It isn't popular for nothing. And its popularity, whether you like it or not, crosses class boundaries. It's a great diversion for millions of people who haven't got much colour in their lives. And what's so wrong with diversions? And, let's face it, Liverpool FC are simply the greatest in waiting...

Subject: RE: BS: Football
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 10 Jan 18 - 07:10 AM

Televised Subbuteo...????

Subject: BS: Football
From: Raggytash
Date: 10 Jan 18 - 06:44 AM

I can't say I'm really bothered all that much about football, I will watch the highlights and occasionally put on a whole match and read a book while it is on raising my head only when the commentary indicates something "exciting" is happening (it rarely is).

Contrast this to Hurling or Gaelic Football. In these two sports the action is fast, flowing, fluent, furious and fascinating. The players are all amateurs, they play merely for the glory and a successful team will be thought of as heroes long after they retire.

All in all much better games to watch.