Annoying Monday morning soccer conversations

**Charlie Darwin** · 04/11/2010, 3:10 PM

Belfield Park used to be a bitch to get to. You'd almost think they located it there to discourage people...

**Dodge** · 04/11/2010, 3:31 PM

Originally Posted by Aberdonian Stu

Well there's that Dodge and all of those are valid but I think the drunken yobs and cold are generally more tolerable in grounds where there is likely to be a buzz, hence the college game (almost all on-campus in college towns) or more centrally located pro stadia tend to not have this debate as much.

I'm not arguing that College and NFL are comparable. Different worlds IMO and nothing beats the Collega spectacle in huge Penn State or Michigan crowds (and many, many others). But thats kinda the point. People go to college games looking to get raucous, while many go to NFL for a variety of reasons (the sport/the experience/to be seen). I think only Green Bay (and New Orleans of late) could argue that their atmosphere is as fanatical as the NCAA games

Central grounds definitely help. Its far less daunting thinking you'll have to give up 4/5 hours getting in and out of the stadium

**BonnieShels** · 05/11/2010, 8:07 AM

The atmosphere is the biggest convert factor I think. Think about how many decent games on the pitch were ruined by a lack of atmosphere. And think about how many games were improved in memory when the atmosphere rose.

**peadar1987** · 05/11/2010, 11:28 AM

http://foot.ie/threads/143613-Magner...ue-of-Football

This is turning into one of those discussions. Witness the fella near the bottom of page 2 who says he'd have no problem going to watch LOI so long as he wouldn't have to watch rubbish players like Keith Fahey! Some people are so far out of touch with reality it makes my head spin!

**BonnieShels** · 05/11/2010, 2:11 PM

Ah, but wait til Monday...

The teuwl was talking to me today. Trying to explain the delicate little passing game that Dortmund used last night was hard. All contributed was "Man City were ****e".

**danthesaint** · 05/11/2010, 6:32 PM

had another discussion with a liverpool fan (who has never been to liverpool) today.

but was funny when i called over a dutch lad who supports Groningen in the dutch league, he was going mad at the liverpool fan saying how can you support a team when ya have never been there. I was cracking up laughing

**peadar1987** · 05/11/2010, 6:51 PM

Ireland is actually a joke among foreign football supporters because of this. Supporting a crap team they can respect, but glory hunting will earn you their lifelong contempt.

Also, gripe with barstoolers #298, when an Irish Man U "fan" boasts about how much of a die hard fan they are because they still worship one of the richest and most successful clubs in the world, even though some people call them a glory hunter. World's smallest violin, anyone?

**danthesaint** · 05/11/2010, 7:01 PM

one of the lads facebook status' earlier on, thought was funny

I saw a group on Facebook saying 'Manchester United is my Religion, Old Trafford is my Church'.

I'm a Christian and I never go to my Church either.

**Fivesilver** · 05/11/2010, 8:00 PM

Heard a bloke I know the other day going on about 'Mackem scum'. As far as I'm aware, he's never been to Sunderland, he doesn't know anyone from Sunderland . . .
This is apparently to do with his occasionally wearing a Newcastle shirt.
Of course, being able to throw terms like 'Mackem' around also demonstrates a high level of knowledge and sophistication.
Speaking of Sunderland, I wonder have Oxfam managed yet to shift all those shirts they were inundated with after the whole Keane thing went pear-shaped?

**bullit** · 05/11/2010, 8:06 PM

Originally Posted by Fivesilver

Speaking of Sunderland, I wonder have Oxfam managed yet to shift all those shirts they were inundated with after the whole Keane thing went pear-shaped?

I felt particulary sorry for the poor staff of Boylesports who used to cringe for having to wear the Sunderland replica shirt every Saturday at work.

**bluemovie** · 05/11/2010, 11:30 PM

A mate of mine is an outsourced cameraman for Sky Sports. He's a fan of both the Blues and Liverpool. When he met Jeff Stelling (the king of English football), you can guess which impressed Stelling more. He knew the Blues were successful in the 60s and 70s, played United and Celtic in the European Cup and even that Bobby Charlton played for us. Far more interested than he would have been in a conversation with a 'die-hard' Liverpool fan who'd been to Anfield a few times.

**Charlie Darwin** · 06/11/2010, 12:06 AM

I get the feeling Hartlepool's finest isn't all that interested in the Premier League despite presenting a show that's focused on it. He always seems to get so excited about announcing the latest updates from Cowdenbeath or Hayes & Yeading.

**Bluebeard** · 06/11/2010, 3:17 AM

Top chairman Hayes and Yeading has - he's written about our promotion challenge on more than one occasion this season in his programme notes. That's the real reason Jeff cares about H&Y - he knows the Blues connection!

Because, as we all know, Jeff is a glory hunter. He's turns up at the RSC twice or three times a year for the glamour games with Wexford and Limerick, wearing all the gear and him hardly in from Luton 20 minutes. With his fancy travel agent ticket in the expensive seats with all the other blow-ins from London and England generally. Apparently he is a pain in the hole at the Sky studios on a Saturday morning if the Blues win, coming in wearing his Blues scarf talking about how "we" thumped Salthill and how "we" are going to get back on top of the table and how worried he is about how "we" are going to do in the big game with Monaghan. And apparently it's worse if they lose: he'd be moaning for hours on end. Dirty glory hunter, and he living within a half hour of Chelsea, but no, they are not good enough for him to watch. No, he'd choose to spend over 4 hours getting to Waterford for some flashy tie with Finn Harps rather than get in his car and drive to Stamford Bridge.

**Charlie Darwin** · 06/11/2010, 3:43 AM

I hear the locals in Waterford hate all the daytrippers from Hartlepool and Middlesbrough. It's embarrassing - English fans are a laughing stock in this country.

**Fivesilver** · 06/11/2010, 6:59 AM

Originally Posted by Bluebeard

Top chairman Hayes and Yeading has - he's written about our promotion challenge on more than one occasion this season in his programme notes. That's the real reason Jeff cares about H&Y - he knows the Blues connection!

Because, as we all know, Jeff is a glory hunter. He's turns up at the RSC twice or three times a year for the glamour games with Wexford and Limerick, wearing all the gear and him hardly in from Luton 20 minutes. With his fancy travel agent ticket in the expensive seats with all the other blow-ins from London and England generally. Apparently he is a pain in the hole at the Sky studios on a Saturday morning if the Blues win, coming in wearing his Blues scarf talking about how "we" thumped Salthill and how "we" are going to get back on top of the table and how worried he is about how "we" are going to do in the big game with Monaghan. And apparently it's worse if they lose: he'd be moaning for hours on end. Dirty glory hunter, and he living within a half hour of Chelsea, but no, they are not good enough for him to watch. No, he'd choose to spend over 4 hours getting to Waterford for some flashy tie with Finn Harps rather than get in his car and drive to Stamford Bridge.

**MariborKev** · 06/11/2010, 1:02 PM

Out working with a client, got the "Any plans for the weekend? question.

I was like "Naw, football season is over to be honest I dunno what I'll be doing with my weekends for the next few months"

"What season"

"League of Ireland"

"Right, and you'd got to games would you"

"Yeah, we'll I don't get to every home game with living in Dublin but I missed less than half a dozen home and away"

"Jees, sure it is just so much easier to watch them on TV"

Cure rolly eyes.

**Dodge** · 06/11/2010, 2:20 PM

Yeah, thats one of the follow up questions I nearly alawys get with these types

"So, you go to all the games then?"

Its like they're astounded that not only do we have an interest in it, and not only do we go to home games, but we actually travel around the country to see games.

When I respond positively, the answer I usually get with raised eyebrows is "jaysus"

**SkStu** · 06/11/2010, 2:31 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Yeah, thats one of the follow up questions I nearly alawys get with these types

"So, you go to all the games then?"

Its like they're astounded that not only do we have an interest in it, and not only do we go to home games, but we actually travel around the country to see games.

When I respond positively, the answer I usually get with raised eyebrows is "jaysus"

thats just them realising that there's something not quite right with you Dodge.

I think we've all been there!

**holidaysong** · 06/11/2010, 2:34 PM

It's fun to have one of these threads once every few months so we can all have a good rant and a moan. I'm going to London in a couple of weeks for a 'barstooler' weekend with thischarmingman. I might pretend to be a die hard Fulham, QPR, Leyton Orient (or whatever club we choose to visit) for the day and see how it goes. Maybe RT� will pick it up and turn it into as series... 'The Other Side of the Barstool'.

**OneForTheFuture** · 06/11/2010, 3:01 PM

Originally Posted by holidaysong

It's fun to have one of these threads once every few months so we can all have a good rant and a moan. I'm going to London in a couple of weeks for a 'barstooler' weekend with thischarmingman. I might pretend to be a die hard Fulham, QPR, Leyton Orient (or whatever club we choose to visit) for the day and see how it goes. Maybe RT� will pick it up and turn it into as series... 'The Other Side of the Barstool'.

That sounds like a party game for 4 men of a certain persuasion