Is watching football better on the telly?

I'm finding I get less and less of a buzz actually going to the game these days, even a game like Friday was, with a great atmosphere. It's OK when the weather is decent but I found myself sat at CL games, cold and bored out of my skull, thinking "I wish I was at home". So I ditched the CL scheme this season and watch on the TV, which is much better. I switch on at 7:59, switch off at the final whistle, enjoy watching the game while being warm, with a drink in my hand. I get replays and can see everything that's going on.

The downside is the cretins on commentary but I can turn the sound down and just watch the game.
 
The Light Was Yellow Sir said:
Excellent blog. As for your question about fans just being part of the backdrop for the TV, it’s a valid point but one that the teams obviously haven’t picked up on, given the relentless rise in prices for the match going fan. If only we’d all get together and boycott the games, there would be a change of strategy, which is probably why the ‘rivalries’ and parochialism are always emphasised.

Of course, what they could also do, is abandon Saturday at 3 altogether, leaving that exclusively for the EFL, with any Friday/Saturday slots reserved for teams playing CL the following Tuesdays.

I suppose if there is one good thing comes out of this it might be that the fixture times and dates should all be known well in advance (much more so than now)?
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I agree they should ditch 3pm on Saturday completely.

Play one game each on Friday, 12:30 & 5:30 on the Saturday and Monday night. Then 3 games in each of the Sunday 2pm and 4:30pm slots and let people watch whatever games they want. Or maybe 2 each at 12:30 and 5:30 on the Saturday and 2 in each of the two slots on a Sunday.
 
Prestwich_Blue said:
I agree they should ditch 3pm on Saturday completely.

Play one game each on Friday, 12:30 & 5:30 on the Saturday and Monday night. Then 3 games in each of the Sunday 2pm and 4:30pm slots and let people watch whatever games they want. Or maybe 2 each at 12:30 and 5:30 on the Saturday and 2 in each of the two slots on a Sunday.
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There would have to be strict rules that a club can only play one game away on a Friday and Monday otherwise it's hugely unfair on travelling supporters
An exception could be made for geographic distances, such as London clubs playing each other
 
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Better? Almost definitely not. But less hassle? Almost certainly. Particularly if you're travelling any distance to the game. Not to mention the cost. I was over for the game last Friday. Between the flights, hotel and match ticket (even at "mate's rates"), it's a fair wedge to be handing out for one game. I've had the promise of a ticket for Wembley, but I've turned it down for the same reasons.
 
I've missed the last three home games and Wembley due to recovering from surgery.

Have I missed it? In the main, Yeah.
I get anxious about attending matches at least 24 hours before the game. have i missed that?
Definitely not.

Have I missed sitting in traffic and it taking me an hour to get home after the match. Not one bit.

But I've missed the buzz of the stadium. The euphoria of celebrating a goal and dissecting of the game on the way home.
 
blueparrot said:
No, and apart from the just being at a game angle. You see the whole pitch and understand the game better. Remember a game maybe 3 seasons ago when we were in the East Stand 3 rd tier I got an even better appeciation of our movement on and off the ball speed of passing from the back through the pitch, it was a thing of beauty that you never see watching on TV.
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I sit in the gods in the Colin Bell stand and you can appreciate the moves and the angles of passing better from the high vantage point.
 
Watching it on the telly for me is better but it's the atmosphere I attend matches for, obviously that will probably change over time and there wont be any atmosphere other than ice cream music after each quarter, and the odd cheerleader doing the splits as a fat fucker stuffing a hot dog down their gullet watches on.
 
Mr Grumpy said:
Have a day out but if you want a critical viewpoint, stay at home.
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Ha ha you must be on the WUM Grumps. Critical viewpoint - which TV coverage provided that exactly?

If your own critical viewpoint is somehow less than that provided by the TV people, then I suggest that perhaps football is not the sport for you.
 
1961_vintage said:
Ha ha you must be on the WUM Grumps. Critical viewpoint - which TV coverage provided that exactly?

If your own critical viewpoint is somehow less than that provided by the TV people, then I suggest that perhaps football is not the sport for you.
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You ever stood behind the goal at ground level?

The view is crap.
 
I understand completely the question and taking all emotion from the match, it is good watching it on the telly.

But, football is emotional and therefore going to the game trumps it - and it's not just the match itself, it's the meeting up with mates, the travelling to different towns and cities, the sing song in the pub before the match....as we all know, often in the 90's, the actual match got in the way of a good day out as it led to disappointment!!

I always thought not showing Prem games at 3:00 on a Saturday afternoon was also to protect lower league and non league clubs??
People (especially youngsters) would rather watch a Prem game on the telly, rather than be dragged to Port Vale vs Stockport (for example) in the freezing cold.

Also, unfortunately, many of us don't have as much choice attending City as we used to - ticketing, prices, cost of living etc. so more people do end up watching it on the box.

Which is a shame
 
When I'm at home I get annoyed at the constant replays. I just want to watch the football every tiny little bit of it. Replays or showing fans, managers, famous people are all superfluous bollocks to me. I want to be seeing what Kevin is doing while the ball is in our area, or how much work doku is doing off the ball.

And then the pundits and the absolute un-footballeducated tripe that they talk, can't stand it.
 
I didn't realise just how bad a challenge the one on Bernardo was on Friday night. Until I watched it on the TV once I got home. So, the TV experience can be a lot better than the live experience if you want to rewatch incidents instantly to get the full picture of what's happened instantly.

However, nothing beats being at a fantastic game live in the flesh, even if you do miss a moment or two by being at the wrong end of the pitch or going for a piss. Bouncing around my front room after Vinny Kompany puts in that header against the scum to put us top of the league doesn't compare to how I celebrated it inside the stadium surrounded by blues.
 
Match day is so much better for an experience, but when you factor in the travel to and fro, the time it takes, the crazy cost of the modern game for tickets and beer I have no problem watching on the telly.
 
Mr Grumpy said:
Yea, but I'm talking from a technical standpoint not an emotional one.

I struggle to see the action at the other end of the pitch these days, especially if I'm in a crap seat.
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I dont want to sound like a club employee, but there are no “crap seats” at the Etihad now.

I assume you mean the Etihad, or is it another team’s stadium you’re thinking of? I only ask because there is talk elsewhere that you aren’t actually a City supporter, so I’m just wondering if you had a different stadium in mind when making the comment.
 
chesterbells said:
I dont want to sound like a club employee, but there are no “crap seats” at the Etihad now.

I assume you mean the Etihad, or is it another team’s stadium you’re thinking of? I only ask because there is talk elsewhere that you aren’t actually a City supporter, so I’m just wondering if you had a different stadium in mind when making the comment.
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I meant the Etihad.

Last time I was there I was in the corner and struggled to see the other side of the pitch properly after half time.
Granted, it wasn't an expensive or "good" seat and I still had a fab day but struggled to really see what was going on at the other end.

I dunno what to say to you about not being a blue. Who cares?
 
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