L.F.C, S.T holder vs. armchair fan..

[Nic83]

What's everyone's view on this in regards to "who the better supporter is"?

IMO, there's no real "better fan" or "worse" fan.

My take:

You are NO less of a supporter or No less knowledgeable about football if you don't go to games.

There could be a number of reasons why you don't get over that often.

EG:

-Don't like to travel
-Not enough time
-Not enough money
-Don't like crowds
-Are just a genuine lazy *******

These are just a couple of a truckload of reasons.

I, myself, only get over to an average of two/three games a season and i only live across the pond.

There will be people that argue the point that you can't know as much about football if you're not a regular which, IMO, is utter cobblers. They will argue that you cant see everything that goes on, on camera but in fact, it is possible to see more from T.V in some cases.

Eg. You have a **** seat in the stadium (If you are at ground level it is hard to look at your players as you would on a chess table, if you get my point)Which is why Allardyce and others like to sit in the stand.

If you are sitting down in the corner, you can't see anything of the "offside" play etc.

Someone who watches a lot of football on T.V will know just as much as someone who goes to matches(more in the case of some)...

The main way of understanding and gaining a good insight on how football should be played is to PLAY it.(At any sort of organised level)

[PLY]

The problem with watching onTV is that you only see a lot of the off the ball running etc. if the pundit chooses to highlight it.

Too many people watch sky and get their opinions from the mouth of Andy Gray

[Bob]

The main way of understanding and gaining a good insight on how football should be played is to PLAY it.

Never a truer word spoken, at least to some level.

But wasn't it GH that said a jockey doesn't have to literally gallop like a horse to know how to have a good race. I'd be surprised if it put it like that You know what i mean though

[Bob]

The problem with watching onTV is that you only see a lot of the off the ball running etc. if the pundit chooses to highlight it.

Too many people watch sky and get their opinions from the mouth of Andy Gray

And that is true also. To get the best understanding of a match it's best to go along. You'd need to go watch it on TV as well to see the minor details.

If you are Rafa you can then pull out that pro player thingy that's like Champie and see how far and quickly players run

[Nic83]

Never a truer word spoken, at least to some level.

But wasn't it GH that said a jockey doesn't have to literally gallop like a horse to know how to have a good race. I'd be surprised if it put it like that You know what i mean though

Yeah mate, i should have put in "any level" in my post......

It doesn't have to be professionally played...

Some of the lads that play professionally don't even have a clue about positioning sense etc!!

[Bob]

Cisse was an obvious one - at the age of 23? if a player doesn't even know basic positioning when you don't have the ball then you have to wonder if he was truly uncoachable!

Geez he was truly awful. How anyone could spend 14m on him is beyond me! Contrast him with Rooney - a master of finding pockets (as was Fowler)!

To be fair, some player's have some attributes, pace being one, that means positioning isn't that important.

[kurtangle01]

I don't think there is such a thing as a "better fan". If you're a supporter of a team then that's all that matters.

There are plenty of fans in the world who are armchair supporters that would give their right arm to be a season ticket holder. They're just not as fortunate to have one.

[Nic83]

Indeed Kurt, mate. Agree 100%.

Imo. Each has it's advantages...

[leftpeg]

Too many people watch sky and get their opinions from the mouth of Andy Gray

Do you mean people like Mark Lawrenson? There seems to be an awful lot of regurgitation in the punditry and commentary fields.

[leftpeg]

I don't think there is such a thing as a "better fan". If you're a supporter of a team then that's all that matters.

There are plenty of fans in the world who are armchair supporters that would give their right arm to be a season ticket holder. They're just not as fortunate to have one.

I'd give my left arm.

[red_in_oz]

I'd give my left arm.

I'd give your left arm too!

[disco]

Good post.

I don't think it differentiates between different fans, but it changes what people 'watch' and therefore what they pick up on, and their opinions.

Two classic examples

• Take the Riise goal in CS for instance. I was quite high up in the stand and could see 2 or 3 runs being made that allowed Riise to run straight through. If you were watching at home, or even were at the game and had a different view, you wouldn't have seen this until a pundit pointed out
• It's also very interesting to compare who people think have done well or not. I've certainly come back from a game thinking someone's done well, only for someone who watched it on TV to disagree (and vice versa )

[brikkis]

I've supported Liverpool all my life. I have been to Anfield twice in my life and have a 100% record. I've seen Bolton And Newcastle play us. We won 1-0 and 2-1 (Redknapp scored the winner against Newcastle with his head right at the end a few seasons back for us to win )

I love the club. I remember falling out with my girlfriend back in 89 because Arsenal beat us 2-0 at Anfield to win the league. She wanted to do something and I was so pissed off we had a major arguement over it. Anyway, I went to Liverpool at home to Bolton last season and had a great weekend but it cost my GF and I £600. Unfortunately I can't afford that sort of doe every week, but if I could I would.

I wouldn't say it makes me any less of a supporter because of the few times i've been.

The only thing that comes before Liverpool now-a-days is my 3 year old Liverpool supporting son.

[brikkis]

I'd give your left arm too!

I wouldn't give my left arm tho.

Nutters

[Harv]

Good post.

I don't think it differentiates between different fans, but it changes what people 'watch' and therefore what they pick up on, and their opinions.

Two classic examples

• Take the Riise goal in CS for instance. I was quite high up in the stand and could see 2 or 3 runs being made that allowed Riise to run straight through. If you were watching at home, or even were at the game and had a different view, you wouldn't have seen this until a pundit pointed out
• It's also very interesting to compare who people think have done well or not. I've certainly come back from a game thinking someone's done well, only for someone who watched it on TV to disagree (and vice versa )

ive only ever been to Anfiled once (watched us lose 2-1 to Southampton in Geds final year). This is due to geographical location (australia). The only way to fully understand football is to PLAY the game competitively. Then you begin to understand the runs, and the tactics better.

You cant compare watching a game from your couch, or from the stands though. They are completely different, from the couch you miss the runs and the atmosphere as someone pointed out. But from the stands...unless you have a prime seat you can miss alot of the action when the ball is at the other end of the pitch.

if i could go everyweek i would

but to call someone a better fan because they go to games is not correct for many reasons