New York Times article about Premier League

[Garrick]

Please tell me this isn't an actual opinion on the RS?? Surely it's just someone who is conflating the qualities EFC are renowned for with the name of the city?

 

[SerenityNigh]

Those people are opinion formers, though and where they lead today the herd follows.

They start bigging Liverpool up in that fashion and the obvious bollox contained within articles like that become accepted truths among the wider, non esoteric populace.

It was one such fellow, Nick Hornby, whom is credited with creating the atmosphere which saw soccer in England leaving its traditional "blue collar (to borrow a phrase from the piece)" fanbase to becoming the sport of the self proclaimed avant garde breed of fan who wanted going the match to be akin to going to the theatre when his book, excellent read it must be said, Fever Pitch was published circa 1990.

The result was that Arsenal, previously regarded as a dour, efficient type of team became very fashionable in the early to mid 90s.

They had the great good fortune to appoint Arsene Wenger as manager and they were able to morph into the image Hornby had created for them......but the template for all that happened in the Wenger years was fashioned by the romanticism of Hornby's tome.

The long term effect of this, of course, has been the game becoming infected with PC gauleiters like David Baddiel taking it upon themselves to tell football fans what they may or may not chant at games.

And the traditional "blue collar" fan is being priced out the game.

I don't know that a Style column has as much sway as you suggest (although you may be arguing that the new casual supporter can wield disproportionate power), and I'm not certain that NYC pseudo-intellectuals that read Fever Pitch are the cause for Arsenal's increasing ticket prices, but otherwise I largely agree with your comments.

 

[degsy]

But on the LFC supporter claiming they are the People's Club, that just confirms that American kopites are largely cut from the same cloth.

See below

 

[obc]

from my experience, we have less Yankopites and more YankManc's, Yankskis, and others.

in Tucson, it's not surprising any more to see a car with an LA Laker flag, along with Pittsburgh Steeler and NY Yankees bumper stickers. Prime fodder for the Devil. Bandwagonning gloryhound genetic defectives.

guess the success of this season paired with NBC broadcasting matches is leading to a new breed of AmeriKopites. Probably rooted for someone else a couple seasons ago.

Truthfully, I'll nod in respect to any American who roots for a team with a <100,000,000pound payroll. They root for a David, not a a Goliath. next beer is on me, lid.

Root for a money club, whatever.

 

[obc]

Deadspin response... interesting read.

 

[Rook]

Deadspin response... interesting read.

NY times Style articles are the worst of the worst. Everyone in that picture are punchable

 

[toffeejack]

haha people's club.

as long as you're not a murderer or a thief, black, don't support racism or don't condone cheating, or revel in deaths/serious injuries, then yeah, i suppose they are the people's club :s

 

[toffee matt]

haha people's club.

as long as you're not a murderer or a thief, black, don't support racism or don't condone cheating, or revel in deaths/serious injuries, then yeah, i suppose they are the people's club :s

The footballing equivalent of the edl or the bnp?

 

[toffeejack]

The footballing equivalent of the edl or the bnp?

i was thinking more hitler's germany

 

[toffee matt]

i was thinking more hitler's germany

I guess kkk fills the Hitler role to a t

 

[toffeejack]

I guess kkk fills the Hitler role to a t

minus the moustache yeah. ha.