I think, the weekend just gone, I discovered why:
A). I haven't been to ER for about 6 years
B). I might be about to go again
I went to Dortmund, with my lad, to watch the Ruhr Derby at the weekend.
The game, sadly (Like a lot of derbies) was pretty average, however ...
There were 82,000 in the ground and we were fortunate enough to be in
'The Yellow and Black Wall' (24,000 fans, STANDING, in one stand!!!) It
was a great footy experience and proof, if it were needed, that the
Germans have got it right. End of.
Firstly, as many know, ticket prices ... 16 Euros to watch a Bundesliga
game!!! 200 Euros for a season ticket!
Secondly, the ethos behind German football. It is infinitely more
connected to the locals than just about every single Premier League team
could dream of. The fans have a say, they have a voice (Especially
during the game having been constantly drip fed the local brew, alcohol
bans? In the ground? No chance :) but, and I think this is what I am
coming round to with LUFC, a team that at the very least tries and can
compete. I have, sadly, felt a disconnect between me and the team I
started supporting in 1972 (Everton at home, 2-1) over the past few
years, due to owners, pointless managers, journeymen players who don't
REALLY give a damn, let's be honest, Shite football against shite
opposition with shite players. There ARE better things to do with my
time and money.
Now, and I pray that; when re-writing the history of LUFC in 10 years or
so; the games against Blackburn, Cardiff, Blackburn in the EFL and
Ipswich could be pivotal for us. I think the best thing we've done in
the past 10 years, is appoint Garry Monk but I feared, along with many,
that the curse of the mad owner would bite and we would continue on our
way to obscurity. But he bought that most vital ingredient for a
football manager, and team, during that period. Time. Time to continue
working with, what is now, a young and hungry squad. No, they're not
World beaters yet, but they're a team you can begin to rally round, who
at the very least will compete and TRY! And THAT, as I listened and
understood from my (Extremely friendly and fun) hosts at the weekend, is
what REALLY matters. A team you can actually walk away from a game
thinking "Well, we won/lost/drew (That bit isn't the key) but we gave it
our best shot and it was a good game" and I feel, from what I've seen
and heard about us this season, is what is coming back to ER.
Obviously I caveat this with a major health warning that by Christmas we
could have lost 6 in a row and be on to our third manager this
season!?!?!?
StigOfTheBackOnlineDump
On 02.11.2016 20:25, Matt Anderson wrote:
Great question. We played Northampton and Yeovil back in the day and
their fans turned out in droves to see the mighty leeds team. Since
2004ish our team has been made up of journeymen, loan players, league
1&2 players and misfits. No one really of note. They wear the leeds
shirt but they are not bremner hunter charlton radebe batty yeboah
etc.... But they sell out and now we are selling out to a team we
consider a peer
On 2 Nov 2016, at 13:18, "[email protected]" <[email protected]> wrote:
The OS has announced that even with the ESU open the game v Newcastle
is a complete sell out (with a couple of weeks to go)I have a genuine
question to occasional visitors to ER (the name 'part-timers' is a bit
derogatory and this is not a 'better fan than you' type email)How do
you decide which games to go to ?I have pretty much gone every week /
had a ST for as long as I have been a fan so it has never been a thing
for me - unless I am holiday etc I go to the game, simple as that.
I realise that every fan picks their 'level' of fandom - but I just
wondered how you pick and choose ?I go and watch Leeds United and
therefore have little or no interest in who we are playing - I can
only ever recall wanting to watch two opposition players - Gazza post
Italia 90 and Paulo Wanchop (who in the event was injured on the day)
I think if I was having to choose, for whatever reason, then I would
not go when it is on TV, I would prefer teams like Burton who I have
not seen before,and if money is the issue - cheaper games.Yet our
history seems to show that fans turn up to watch games against what
are viewed as 'bigger teams' eg Scum, Scouse Arsenal in Prem and
Huddersfield and now Newcastle (and no doubt Villa) in this Division.I
get that a winning team also brings fans back.I understand that you
may take your kids to the nearest game to their birthday or as a
Christmas treat etc, or non UK fans going to games when they are in
England
But my genuine question is to those who could go every week but who
opt to pick and choose their games, how do you choose ?Dave
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