Interesting concept. Has Wales effectively rejected or resisted neoliberalism in all aspects of society and culture, including its football players, football team, fans, philosophy and results?
There's definitely an entitlement culture. I'm not sure why, though, because living in England these days is, generally speaking, a deeply inferior experience to living in, say, France or Germany. All countries have their problems, but England and the UK, in general, certainly strikes me as being in a gradual, but continuous, decline. The Premier League doesn't help. There appears to be a weird "national pride" in this, yet it is actually the world's first truly multinational league. The vast majority of the top players and managers are foreigners. Heck, a huge proportion of the mediocre players and managers in the league are foreigners. It's, effectively, a franchise - based in England. Why? Money. Not because of any nebulous concept of Englishness. Italy in the 80s, Spain in the 00s. England now. A roulette wheel of money-based attraction. In some ways, in this climate, it's hard to blame the "fans" - especially when so many have poor education and no understanding whatsoever of history beyond world wars.
Much more so than England. The Welsh back nationalist or Labour politicians who are usually to the left of the party. Look at the current Welsh First Minister for example.
The English working class have historically gloried in getting the crumbs off the table of imperialist plunder. They felt they had a stake in empire and therefore identified more with their own ruling class rather than other workers. Add a dollop of market-induced entitlement as paying customers who MUST get what they want, and you end up with the rancid English football fan.
Looks pretty split between Tories / Nationalists in rural areas and Labour in Urban areas. Akin to England then.
A lifestyle brand with a crap football team attached?
Ah, Gareth Bale!
Think that's more of a reaction to Football Insiders latest scoop that Herr Shipman is running scared of Newcastle lol.
Gary Neville was claiming last night that 'Trent' should be in the team. It would be reminiscent of when Maradona was in charge of Argentina and left out Zanetti in favour of that ex-Newcastle winger - the one who had cancer, forgotten his name. Got away with it for a few games before they were slaughtered 4-0 in the QFs by Germany.
