Things you really hate about the Premier League

[ChrisFilter]

I've never criticised anyone following Grimsby or Doncaster - both teams I'm rather fond of - but I do find it hard to take lectures from 'fans' who never actually get off their arse to support their team, or any other team, for that matter.

Murdoch-financing sofa fans, if you will.

I think you're being a little binary, old chap. I've watched non-league football fairly regularly. I'm the proud owner of a TWFC scarf, no less, and have watched them home and away - oh, the drama of the A26 derby with Crowborough! I don't really have spare time like you do, however, and it'd be highly selfish of me to spend family time and money on regular 12 hour round trips to watch Leicester play.

Transient populations have had an impact on football watching, also. It's not all evil.

 

[ffsear]

Nothing wrong with being a sky sports customer. I love football, all of it. I'll watch Wycombe V Oxford if its on TV! But you should always get out and try and support your team when you can.

 

[The Octagon]

Worst thing about the Premier League?

How it's pricing has led to the creation of a new breed of smug, patronising non-league afficionados who've abandoned their teams and rocked up en masse at the nearest bandwagon club because it's cool.

Well done, you've discovered lower league football, doesn't suddenly mean all football above it is now beyond the pale ffs.

Most interesting season in years for me, and I don't even support a Premiership team.

"Why I love Dulwich Hamlet" would have been a more honest thread title would it not?

 

[tommers]

Boom. Somebody finally said it.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

non-league afficionados who've abandoned their teams

Isn't it closer to the mark to say that they feel their teams have abandoned them? That's how I feel about football in general nowadays.

 

[Tony_LeaS]

Worst thing about the Premier League?

How it's pricing has led to the creation of a new breed of smug, patronising non-league afficionados who've abandoned their teams and rocked up en masse at the nearest bandwagon club because it's cool.

Well done, you've discovered lower league football, doesn't suddenly mean all football above it is now beyond the pale ffs.

Most interesting season in years for me, and I don't even support a Premiership team.

"Why I love Dulwich Hamlet" would have been a more honest thread title would it not?

That seemed far too bitter. Even as a Hamlet fan id say most of them still support and follow their clubs, however come to us because 1) its cheaper, 2) its a good laugh for us and 3) its a nice community, even if we have the H-word associated. Even as a very disgruntled Fulham fan who dropped the club after they thought charging 40 quid to games against Bournemouth, its a farce.

I might be new to non league and the way football is down here, but everything's better. Even cold days into the depths of Kent losing to teams that you didn't even know existed.

Not a go at you, but I feel like it was a little generalised. Just my two cents though!

 

[editor]

I think you're being a little binary, old chap. I've watched non-league football fairly regularly. I'm the proud owner of a TWFC scarf, no less, and have watched them home and away - oh, the drama of the A26 derby with Crowborough! I don't really have spare time like you do, however, and it'd be highly selfish of me to spend family time and money on regular 12 hour round trips to watch Leicester play.

Transient populations have had an impact on football watching, also. It's not all evil.

I'd never pay money to Murdoch and I'd never dismiss non league teams and fans like you did.

 

[editor]

Isn't it closer to the mark to say that they feel their teams have abandoned them? That's how I feel about football in general nowadays.

Yep. Cardiff City certainly had no problem disenfranchising and abandoning a large chunk of its support when the call of corporate cash came, and many of those fans had helped keep the club alive when they were struggling in the basement.

 

[editor]

Nothing wrong with being a sky sports customer.

That very much depends on your politics (or lack of).

 

[The Octagon]

Isn't it closer to the mark to say that they feel their teams have abandoned them? That's how I feel about football in general nowadays.

It's a sport, I don't think it owes me anything and how my club behaves certainly doesn't affect my interactions with other fans and the community.

If you're not enjoying it then fine, but it's the preachy nature of the thread that irritated me, as if those of us who still enjoy Premier League football are willing dupes. It's condescending and unnecessary, why not just support your club and shut the hell up about other people's choices?

 

[editor]

How it's pricing has led to the creation of a new breed of smug, patronising non-league afficionados who've abandoned their teams and rocked up en masse at the nearest bandwagon club because it's cool.

There was nothing fucking 'cool' about watching Hamlet play five years ago - not sure if there is now, either - but yoy;re certainly coming over as extremely smug and, patronising.

And if you think there's something cool about watching your team hoof a ball around in front of microscopic crowds in ramshackle non league grounds in the middle of nowhere, you clearly haven't a clue what you're talking about.

Oh, and just look at the coolness and hipness on display here. So trendy!

Dulwich Hamlet tear apart Cray Wanderers 6-0 in festive goal feast

 

[editor]

It's a sport, I don't think it owes me anything and how my club behaves certainly doesn't affect my interactions with other fans and the community.

If you're not enjoying it then fine, but it's the preachy nature of the thread that irritated me, as if those of us who still enjoy Premier League football are willing dupes. It's condescending and unnecessary, why not just support your club and shut the hell up about other people's choices?

Hang on: why shouldn't people priced out, disenfranchised or excluded from the Premier League complain about it?

 

[littlebabyjesus]

It's a sport, I don't think it owes me anything

Ok, that's where you and I clearly disagree. It's a sport, one that has developed through time to become a national pastime. It ought to be part of a national culture, something we can all feel we have a stake in, something that belongs to all of us. Such an idea may sound strange now, but it was once a pretty common one.

 

[The Octagon]

There was nothing fucking 'cool' about watching Hamlet play five years ago - not sure if there is now, either - but yoy;re certainly coming over as extremely smug and, patronising.

And if you think there's something cool about watching your team hoof a ball around in front of microscopic crowds in ramshackle non league grounds in the middle of nowhere, you clearly haven't a clue what you're talking about.

Oh, and just look at the coolness and hipness on display here. So trendy!

Dulwich Hamlet tear apart Cray Wanderers 6-0 in festive goal feast

Well done on missing the point.

I didn't say it was glamorous, and I have no problem with non-league (I watch Staines Town occasionally with mates when I get the chance, and they're in the same league as Dulwich), but you clearly think that you're more of a 'proper' football fan than those who still enjoy watching the top teams in the country.

It's patronising and boring, and the thread was clearly just an excuse to do so.

 

[editor]

I'm still fucking furious over what happened at Cardiff City. It feels like my club has been taken away from me by a billionaire and the hole modern football industry. I'm glad I turned my back on it though - it made me realise what a despicable, soulless industry it has become.

 

[editor]

Well done on missing the point.

I didn't say it was glamorous, and I have no problem with non-league (I watch Staines Town occasionally with mates when I get the chance, and they're in the same league as Dulwich), but you clearly think that you're more of a 'proper' football fan than those who still enjoy watching the top teams in the country.

It's patronising and boring, and the thread was clearly just an excuse to do so.

Er, no. That's not what I said at all. What I actually said that was that I have more respect for fans who get off their arses and attend games - at any level - and actually support their club, rather than sitting on the sofa and feeding a vile cunt like Murdoch money every week whilst delivering lectures on what a big fan they are. Or telling other fans that their football is "shit" and that they're "only there for the community."

 

[Pickman's model]

Er, no. That's not what I said at all. What I actually said that was that I have more respect for fans who get off their arses and attend games - at any level - and actually support their club, rather than sitting on the sofa and feeding a vile cunt like Murdoch money every week whilst delivering lectures on what a big fan they are. Or telling other fans that their football is "shit" and that they're "only there for the community."

nowadays of course you can often get a free feed of games so you don't need so much to shovel coins into murdoch's mouth.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

nowadays of course you can often get a free feed of games so you don't need so much to shovel coins into murdoch's mouth.

Yay. Unreliable low-res illegal streams. Modern technology.

 

[editor]

nowadays of course you can often get a free feed of games so you don't need so much to shovel coins into murdoch's mouth.

So 'supporting' your club even less. Not that I give a fuck about Murdoch losing money.

 

[tommers]

nowadays of course you can often get a free feed of games so you don't need so much to shovel coins into murdoch's mouth.

I haven't paid West Ham anything apart from the odd half time cup of coffee for a few years now. I don't know if that makes me good or bad.

I wish there was some definitive system of measuring your worth as a fan, then I could make sure I was on the right side.

 

[Pickman's model]

I haven't paid West Ham anything apart from the odd half time cup of coffee for a few years now. I don't know if that makes me good or bad.

I wish there was some definitive system of measuring your worth as a fan, then I could make sure I was on the right side.

do you still wear the doc marten's top?

 

[tommers]

do you still wear the doc marten's top?

1975 Retro

But I don't wear football kits to football. I'm not playing.

 

[Favelado]

Ah, a Sky customer. A Murdoch funder. Enjoy (lol) 'supporting' your team on that comfy sofa.

.

Your giving your money to property developers aren't you?

 

[editor]

Your giving your money to property developers aren't you?

That's some formidable stretching but even if I went along with that convoluted attempy at a comparison, they're going to fall very, very short on the 'evil, global, competition-crushing tycoon with a vile right wing agenda' stakes.

 

[ChrisFilter]

Yay. Unreliable low-res illegal streams. Modern technology.

Full HD, actually.

 

[ChrisFilter]

Er, no. That's not what I said at all. What I actually said that was that I have more respect for fans who get off their arses and attend games - at any level - and actually support their club, rather than sitting on the sofa and feeding a vile cunt like Murdoch money every week whilst delivering lectures on what a big fan they are. Or telling other fans that their football is "shit" and that they're "only there for the community."

Blimey. Bad day at the office?

Can't you do both? I enjoy football. I go to games when I can and watch it on telly when I can't.

You seem to really struggle to empathise with people whose situation differs from your own. I work a 50 hour week and outside of that spend time with my family. I pay money to watch my favourite sport on telly from time to time. That doesn't make me a baddy or invalidate my opinion.

And the majority of the Hamlet fans are there for the 'community' and I think that's being entirely fair. There's also a decent number who go because they think it's cool - it's a real affectation.

I'd love to see where I claimed to be a 'big fan'.

 

[ChrisFilter]

Yep. Cardiff City certainly had no problem disenfranchising and abandoning a large chunk of its support when the call of corporate cash came, and many of those fans had helped keep the club alive when they were struggling in the basement.

Well this is the crux of it really, isn't it? Modern football killed your club. That's a hideous thing and it sickens me, but it doesn't make me some corporate mug because it hasn't (yet) happened to my club.

 

[ChrisFilter]

I'd never pay money to Murdoch and I'd never dismiss non league teams and fans like you did.

Straw man, much? I said the football was shit. It largely is. Doesn't mean it's not entertaining. And there's nothing dismissive about saying non-league fans enjoy the community aspect.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

There's also a decent number who go because they think it's cool - it's a real affectation.

Are there? You think people choose their leisure activities based what they think is cool? I think barely anyone over the age of about 18 ever does that.

Aren't you falling into the very trap you warn against - that of judging who is or isn't a 'proper fan'?

 

[ChrisFilter]

Are there? You think people choose their leisure activities based what they think is cool? I think barely anyone over the age of about 18 ever does that.

Aren't you falling into the very trap you warn against - that of judging who is or isn't a 'proper fan'?

People do all sorts of shit because it's cool. Zeitgeist.

I'm not debating what constitutes a proper fan. There are many shades of grey.