Club v Country (Football)
- Thread starter Biffo
- Start date
RubberBuccaneer
Hedd Wyn
At the game on saturday, there were a fair few northern flags, but what always strikes me about England games is the flags from small towns and villages that don't have a ' natural ' football club to follow.
It may be that those who like football but don't have a league side put their efforts into England.
Certainly in years gone by, at the home internationals , it was mainly Chelsea/Millwall/WHU that came to Cardiff for the game. As in the chant to the English fans ' Chelsea where are you' followed by half the away fans waving.
It may be that those who like football but don't have a league side put their efforts into England.
Certainly in years gone by, at the home internationals , it was mainly Chelsea/Millwall/WHU that came to Cardiff for the game. As in the chant to the English fans ' Chelsea where are you' followed by half the away fans waving.
chieftain
Mega Gammon
I enjoy watching England and Spurs playing and find it hard to seriously watch football if niether of them are playing (other than certain exceptional games) for me watching "my team" provides me with a lot more interest than just watching football games in general
I guess I'm a Spurs and England fan more than a fan of football in general
I've had some great times watching England play.... Euro 96 was great fun in the pubs I was in
I guess I'm a Spurs and England fan more than a fan of football in general
I've had some great times watching England play.... Euro 96 was great fun in the pubs I was in
Onket
Je suis [CONTENT REMOVED]
Biffo said:
Probably not.
I think this is because teams of Premier League sides have the opportunity to see their own team representing their country. I think I'd rather see my club win a European trophy than England win the European Championships. As I support Swindon Town I'll settle for England winning for the meantime.
When it comes to the World Cup I think this should all go out of the window & supporters of every club should support England.
Never supported 'England' as a kid - always supported and went to watch Norwich at least every home game.
Fell into the whole media patriotic thing a few years back but now I couldn't care less about them when there's proper football to follow.
It'll still be good to watch them in the summer (presuming they get through) but lately (Euros) I've been finding myself less bothered to sit through an England game.
Definitely more club for me.
Supporting England is for the suits and townies.
(And why doe sone have to support a big English team?)
Fell into the whole media patriotic thing a few years back but now I couldn't care less about them when there's proper football to follow.
It'll still be good to watch them in the summer (presuming they get through) but lately (Euros) I've been finding myself less bothered to sit through an England game.
Definitely more club for me.
Supporting England is for the suits and townies.
(And why doe sone have to support a big English team?)
steeplejack
trapped lbw for a duck
This thread has brought together some weird allies:
Chorlton (NI exile and diehard hater of international football)
mattkidd12 (Home Counties Trot who supports , er, Chelsea)
Rocket Romano (Geordie Tory with a soft spot for MK Dons)
It really saddens me just how bitter some people are about the fact that we have international teams. So one of your £120 000 a week stars might take a knock. Diddums.
Ask any player which competition they want to play in and it'd be a World Cup finals. If England do win the World Cup next year in Germany (about as likely as me signing for Arsenal, but there we have it) I bet all this bitter shite would just,well,melt away.
Only Chorlton would be left, in that instance, I'd reckon.
Chorlton (NI exile and diehard hater of international football)
mattkidd12 (Home Counties Trot who supports , er, Chelsea)
Rocket Romano (Geordie Tory with a soft spot for MK Dons)
It really saddens me just how bitter some people are about the fact that we have international teams. So one of your £120 000 a week stars might take a knock. Diddums.
Ask any player which competition they want to play in and it'd be a World Cup finals. If England do win the World Cup next year in Germany (about as likely as me signing for Arsenal, but there we have it) I bet all this bitter shite would just,well,melt away.
Only Chorlton would be left, in that instance, I'd reckon.
This is the issue with some of the bigger 'corporations' but not with all teams in the league.steeplejack said:
I just can't remember myself or any of my mates being bothered about England when we were growing up. I think Italia90 started the media obsession with 'England' and this has, due to our media dominated society, snowballed into making England fans of everyday people - eg. people like my mum.
g force
Affects Shatner's Basoon
I'd love Spain to win the world cup (yeah I know, not gonna happen 
) but more than Barca winning....I don't know.
But, you cannot deny a player playing for his country - it's a great honour and one that clubs should respect. Ask any player whether they'd prefer to win the World Cup, European championship, or their respective league, hell even the CL and I bet 99% would plump for the first two.
) but more than Barca winning....I don't know.But, you cannot deny a player playing for his country - it's a great honour and one that clubs should respect. Ask any player whether they'd prefer to win the World Cup, European championship, or their respective league, hell even the CL and I bet 99% would plump for the first two.
steeplejack
trapped lbw for a duck
Fair enough- I don't mind people not being bothered and don't think watching the national team should be compulsory or anything....just weird to hear claims of 'its shite' 'I don't care' 'I'd rather have three club points' etc from alleged 'football fans' (Chorlton excepted, it's to be expected from the old curmudgeon). Never mind eh Chorlton- can't be long before FCUM sign an international from the Cayman Islands....
The reality is that supporters of small teams, or indeed many teams outside the top dozen or so in England & Scotland, only get the chance to see the likes of Raul, Henry, Ronaldinho, etc, in internationals. I think that's a good thing that people have the chance to see the top players live.
To me the World Cup Finals are still the pinnacle of a football career- much more so than the 'Champions' League, usually breathtakingly dull until the last couple of rounds.
The reality is that supporters of small teams, or indeed many teams outside the top dozen or so in England & Scotland, only get the chance to see the likes of Raul, Henry, Ronaldinho, etc, in internationals. I think that's a good thing that people have the chance to see the top players live.
To me the World Cup Finals are still the pinnacle of a football career- much more so than the 'Champions' League, usually breathtakingly dull until the last couple of rounds.
steeplejack
trapped lbw for a duck
I don;t think you'll find much love for the SFA amongst many Scots fans, either.
You're the only one who argues that we should do away with international football on that basis though, no?
You're the only one who argues that we should do away with international football on that basis though, no?
steeplejack said:
I have to say, as a West Ham fan, our staying in the Premiership comes before anything. I'm afraid that I'll choose us staying up and England not winning the world cup over us going down and England winning it. However, providing we do stay up and get a respectable finish, I'd choose England winning the world cup and us finishing, say, 13th over England not winning it and us finishing about 8th.
A choice between West Ham winning the Premiership and England winning the World cup - now that is a tough one. Since West Ham have never won the premiership (Or top division) it would probably have to be that, but only just.
steeplejack said:I don;t think you'll find much love for the SFA amongst many Scots fans, either.
You're the only one who argues that we should do away with international football on that basis though, no?
And Rocket Romano.
Mattkid12 does like the world cup - check his answer to my poll on the other thread - he just doesn't support England cos he's a trot and supporting England would be horrid and racist...
steeplejack
trapped lbw for a duck
Ah yes- the old 'I only support the non-imperialist countries' chestnut....
steeplejack
trapped lbw for a duck
Well, it's the only chance I ever get to see such players live, so i must be patronising myslef.
steeplejack said:I don;t think you'll find much love for the SFA amongst many Scots fans, either.
You're the only one who argues that we should do away with international football on that basis though, no?
No, don't be silly - there are a multitude of reasons - each country having there own - Scotland - I wish the SFA fuck all - i could never support scotland because of the SFA, but that has little to do with my feelings on england, wales etc etc. Altho one thing has always confused me - say i did support scotland - am i supposed to forget that bob malcolm his a hateful little cuntsock and give the knuckledragging fuckspud my support for 90minutes because he represents the same chunk of land as to which i am from? I couldn't watch scotland without hoping that fucker gets his legs broken in 3 places (once on the pitch, once in the ambulance and once in the hospital) and i am amazed at how, say a liverpool fan can suddenly forget for 90 minutes and support the nevilles or that anyone other than the most derranged arsenal fan or his mother could possibly hope that ashley cole enjoys any success whatsoever. Who, in the name of christ, can give floppy-chops rio ferdinand support??
I couldn't give a fuck about NI for pretty obvious reasons i would have thought - and republic of ireland - ma feelings aren't particularly strong but ii don't live there and have to put up with the facepainted no-nowt twunts like i do with these englandshire hoors.
steeplejack said:Ah yes- the old 'I only support the non-imperialist countries' chestnut....
I would prefer to watch league football, regardless of whether it's Chelsea or not, over international football anyday. I miss league football when the qualifiers are on.
However, saying that, I do enjoy World Cups and European Championships.
RenegadeDog said:
I don't agree we should do away with international football on the basis that its still very clearly popular with a lot of people. Now we're seeing the Premiership bubble, to an extent, burst it'll be interesting to see how international football holds especially now that Sven and a lot of other coaches have effectively killed the international friendly and England are continously drawn to mediocre teams in their qualifying groups.
England winning the World Cup would not change my perspective nor waiver my beliefs, it'd be excellent for the country, though without doubt the tabloids would be appalled that we played a 4-5-1 and demand a replay.
In the end, club over country for me. I have an emotional attachment to my club, something which I don't have or ever will do, to England and thats probably the up and above reason. Its nothing to do with £90k a week players getting inured, we don't need international games for that! If Owen or Dyer or Given or whatever wants to go out and play for their country then thats up to them, but don't expect me to get excited for them
steeplejack
trapped lbw for a duck
Chorlton said:
We've had this debate before, but....
1. The SFA have always been wankers. Always. I read a story that they demoted Cowdenbeath from the old First Division, and fined them heavily at the end of WW2. The reason? because Cowdenbeath had been unable to fulfil their last peace time fixture in 1939, after all their players had enlisted in the army.
it's not news. nonetheless, for me, internationals aren't about david taylor or Jim farry or any of the anonymous be-blzered administrators; it's about 11 guys in a dark blue shirt representing where I'm from against the best sides in the world, when the side qualifies for the finals.
2. I mean this seriously, now: it can't be healty carrying around that much hatred. I used to watch Wales when I lived there. I absolutely loathe Robbie Savage, but I still wanted Wales to win. It is possible to set aside enmity. that said, I'm told more than a few wales fans guffawed loudly when Michael Hughes of Northern Ireland decked him at the Millennium Stadium.
3. Again, if you go with a group of mates its pretty possible to avoid the jester hat crew who ken fuck all about football. But then one would need to care about internationals in the first place, which- fair enough- you don't.
I agree with starfish's position BTW- I support my club and country equally.
fair play to mattk12 and rr for their replies.
Swindon and England. I get more of a buzz watching my country than I do watching my club these days. Last Saturday I could have gone to Walsall to see Swindon lose, but instead I went to Cardiff to watch England win. No contest. After last night's debacle though, I might knock football on the head altogether...
steeplejack said:
i was genuinely surprised in a conversation with a friend last week when i discovered that he dosen't wake up angry each morning - he reckoned that was the normal way to wake up.
i don't leave my bed until i have a full 5 minute foul mouthed tirade against a current or ex-rangers player
copngratulations to all scotland fans on here on their win last night.
(am i still allowed to uttlery dispise walter 'dr doolittle' smith tho?)
steeplejack
trapped lbw for a duck
who was it this morning- Novo? Prso? Bob Malcolm again?
wasn't convinced by 'Wattie's' appointment at all myself, but I'm delighted to have been proved utterly wrong so far.
Very weird to see Father Burns beside him in the dugout, though.
steeplejack
trapped lbw for a duck
Murray and Mcleish cop it both barrels from Chorton, this morning...
