Oh dear don't you get it do you? Like I said Smug
I choose to follow my local team nearest to where I live, Sabadell is a suberb.
Didn't say Barca were a poor football team.

TaxiMark
Sheffield Wednesday Fan
Posted 23 February 2013 - 07:49 PM
I don't mind palace to be fair. Much better club than tinpot Charlton and Brighton

For what it's worth (regarding the Palace plastics):

I'm a dyed in the wool Palace fan (for 40 years now - about 35 where I've been old enough to attand on my own and have done so). I had a season ticket for many years, and let that lapse when family commitments (having kids) took over on my priority list.
I'm still a member, and typically get to about 30-50% of home games and an occasional away game these days (which I'm happy with - they'll always be my team, and when the kids are older and/or keener to come with me).
In fact I took both my kids to their first game to watch us get turned over 1-2 at home to scunthorpe a couple of seasons ago.

Here's the rub: Although I'm still a member, and still able to get tickets, since we've been in the prem I just haven't fancied it! In my mind, it's just not what I love about football (from trips to Bradford to see half a game before it's rained off, to cold days out in Crewe sitting in a pub drinking and chatting with the locals for way too long and missing loads of trains) - I have no desire to mix with "the big boys" and their fans, as I have little respect for them. Give me a pint with a Stockport fan chatting sh*t about football over a cocktail with a Chelsea fan who has no view beyond the top half of the prem any day. I don't even watch the eurpoean football for the same reason - I feel no affinity with those clubs and frankly just don't care!

It's odd - when we go down (as we inevitably will) I'll be back, and roaring us on with the same passion I've always had (and, in fact, have had in previous years in the prem) but it's just so soulless it doesn't get my juices flowing up in this league any more. I respect the fact that it's what we ought to be aspiring to, and for the club, with the cash, it's great of course, but personally I'm thoroughly looking forward to being back with real teams and real fans in the second division (that's the Championshoip to you lot).

* This opinion is mine and I accept it very probably doesn't reflect the views of all Palace fans, as evidenced by the increase in crowd numbers

Well done!! And NOT being sarcastic. I think there is nothing wrong with this view at all. I understand it and respect it. I dont agree with it but my life has been similar to yours in terms of football supporter (life long, season ticket holder, family etc etc).
Where I differ is that I dont have as many fond memories of football in the 70's, 80's, and 90's. Found those days marred by violence, crap view, nasty atmosphere, rubbish food and iffy football (and yes I remember Osgood, Cook , Nevin etc).
I dont actually agree that the away experience is less. Actually its more, although our expectations are much higher then before in terms of the result. Have travelled to many many grounds here and abroad, sampled the local beer, chatted to the locals etc. e.g. German bars are the best!!(Still have the odd pint at Chelsea by the way, its not all cocktails and prawn sandwiches lol).
My issue with this view is that it presents a false picture, based on my own experiences, of the past and that there is a MASSIVE assumption regarding the present fans of the 'big' clubs and how they spend their time. Your's and many other perception on this site of Chelsea fans is just WRONG.

No, people like you despise us whatever we do. Even when we help your club out financially, as we did in 2010.

Yeah , but bet you didnt jump up and down quite as much as I did when we won the champions league.

here is some soul for you!! Not a prawn sandwich to be seen.
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I accept that mine is a massive generalisation (with regard to prem supporters).
Funnily enough I was born in Battersea and large portions of my family are Chelsea, and I can chat football to them knowing their history. My issue is one of first impressions. I'm sure you'll agree that if you're in a pub and meet a Liverpool, Man Utd, and, yes, Chelsea fan, your first impression is "probably an armchair fan, let's keep the conversation off football". Obvioulsy there are many thousands of fans of those clubs who go every week, and have a broad football knowledge, but there's also hundreds of thousands who are just along for the glory ride. I actually feel sorry for a Citeh fan at work - proper Manc born and bred, down here for work, season ticket holder for years (travelling up from London), and now he's lumped in with the glory hunters.

The away experience is lessened, in my mind at least, by sheer numbers, logistics, and the 'football tourists' you get at the big clubs. When you travel in numbers you tend to have pubs allocated etc, much more 'home only' pubs, and, as much as I love my fellow Palace fans like a family (albeit a dysfunctional one) I can drink with them at home - I'd rather drink in a pub mingling with the locals where me and a couple of mates are the only Palace fans in the village (obviously the welcome varies depending on where you go, but I've always found if you go in with a non-aggressive friendly attitude, you're usually welcomed).

I, too, don't miss the violence, but much of the soul has gone out of the game at the highest level, I hope you'll agree.

They were Germans so even I wanted Chelski to win it, maybe just for for Roberto who I've always liked, and a few Chelsea mates at work.

TaxiMark
Sheffield Wednesday Fan
Posted 23 February 2013 - 07:49 PM
I don't mind palace to be fair. Much better club than tinpot Charlton and Brighton