Looking down on 'glory hunters' is arrogance

[lostmyhouseski]

do we need a thread on this every week?

 

[The Indonesian]

Wow. Didn't realize there were so many proper fans who welcomed glory hunters. To be honest I'm just a 16-year old Indonesian kid who only started to like football when my friend asked me to play PES with him 2 years ago. I played as Real, and that's why I prefer them to Barcelona, but by no means do I support them.

I only liked football recently. I started to support City when I saw a headline: "City v United, FA cup semifinal Derby" on the sports page in a newspaper. I asked my friend "Which one do you support?" he answered like how most Indonesians would. "MU of course!!" I decided to be different and supported City instead. I try to read as much as I can about our (yes, our) history and try not to turn off the TV every time we're about to lose (like many Indonesian glory hunters).

Most Indonesians have almost no choice but to be glory hunters because honestly, the PSSI (Indonesian FA) s*cks. I mean, two years ago there were 2 top flight leagues here! (one illegal) and last year there were actually 2 FAs!!!! Couple that with the fact that a lot of "hard core" fans (I choose not to be one of them just for safety, though I acknowledge them as true fans.) are hooligans that bring a bad name to local clubs. (especially Persebaya, the Indonesian club I try to support) Naturally Barcelona, United, Milan, and Chelski are the popular clubs.

Back on topic, I follow the club on a daily basis. The first 4 tabs every time I open my browser are: The OS, mangafox (yes I am a manga geek. A mild one though.), BM, and the Manchester City page in Bleacher report (because goal.com is rubbish.)

I read a lot on the forum (every day about 4-5 threads) since I found it but I almost never post though, because I'm paranoid and I'm afraid people will bash me for being a kid/late football fan/glory hunter. This thread honestly reassured me that I won't always be bashed like that.

One last thing, I want to support City financially but that's impossible considering I'm a 16-year old who doesn't have much money, one US$ is about Rp.9000 (a cheap piece of bread is usually 1000) and the price of real football shirts are 200.000+ here!

Sorry about my bad English and/or manners. Again I am very paranoid.

 

[MSP]

Don't be paranoid mate, there is absolutely no reason why would you give a single shit about some random forum member and his thoughts about anything, specially your decisions.

Just enjoy yourself and don't ever, ever purposely put yourself in degrading position to anyone :)

 

[Quicksilva21]

People get up at all hours around the world to Watch City and have done for years.....

I don't begrudge those who have only being doing it for months...

 

[NickGw2]

Every time I see one of these threads or read the comments on The Sun articles about plastic this or plastic that it cracks me up. It also worries me that I am probably thought of as a glory hunter because I come from " a country where soccer is the 5th sport ". Then I realise that I sometimes fall into this accusatory thought process also. You see I got a City shirt (1999/2000 Eidos) when my Mom went home for her Moms 9th B-Day in 2001. My cousin gave it to me off his back. He was a die hard......hooligan too probably. The shirt came with a cigarette burn on the sleeve (you know how polyester melts) from a fight he got into after the game the night before which he slept in jail for. I wore it without knowing much about the team (or the sport). Fast forward 4 years and a Scottish neighbor of mine was astonished I was a City fan. I explained the situation. Well, this piqued my interest so I started watching. I instantly felt right at home since we were a mid level club just like my beloved Texas Rangers. It had been 12 years since the Boys had won anything. The Mavs were never going to win anything, and my Canucks ( lived in Vancouver bc for 2 years and this is were I learned about hockey so they are my hockey home team) will never win it all. I fell in love. It was hard catching all their games as Fox Soccer tended to show mainly the big 4. I did get an eye opening appreciation for the sport ( now my co-favorite with the NFL). It was very rare for me to see anyone with a city shirt. Now when I see them I think.....yeah, cause we are winning. Did you have to choose between that and your ManU shirt? However with the new rules and mg new understanding of how players are bought I welcome any and all fans as it will on,y help us build in the future. Now when I go to an FC Dallas game I see quite a few City shirts......though I am now usually in FCD shirt. Oh and to everyone that says American Soccer is shit, I can not argue with you. The difference is mind boggling. I try to get friends to watch an EPL game to see how the sport should be played. And I love giving my plastic friends crap now that we are great. I think I narrowed that down quite well.

 

[Why Always Ste]

Was you at York away, Steve?

Which one, Home or Away? :P

I remember the home game vaguely, Didn't go to Bootham.

I think the clue was in the question 'Did you go to York away?'

Why would you have an 'ironic sneer' when someone says they went to York away and you didn't?
Very strange.

Because its been overused so much on here as this symbol of "being a bigger blue than you" that when some genuine blues I've met offline have said they went to this fixture myself and many others have laughed it off.

Almost like saying you've fucked Pam Anderson because you have a picture with her at Maddam Tusseuds.

It's just a laugh. Nothing personal.

 

[jamielowndes]

I dont really have a problem with the gloryhunters.


TBH the Bosnian army of Edin Dzeko fans is kind of amusing. Its all they ever talk about. Edin Dzeko could run for Prime Minister there and win without even trying.

 

[Don Karleone]

If the new fans are going to stick with us through the crap times then the more the merrier in my opinion. The specific player "fanboys" are only a temporary problem because once that player leaves so will they so I don't see a problem there either to be honest.

 

[ox-blue]

Most fans will buy a shirt and then if they have children they will latch think of £££££££££'s rolling in with a rising wage bill and the ffp coming in we need these types!

 

[Palerider]

If the new fans are going to stick with us through the crap times then the more the merrier in my opinion. The specific player "fanboys" are only a temporary problem because once that player leaves so will they so I don't see a problem there either to be honest.

I think the "sticking with us" is the key point. If you start supporting City for whatever reason then as long as it's lifelong you are a City fan. It's obvious to anyone with half a brain that the more successful a club then the more people start supporting that club. That's how United and Liverpool gained their worlwide support. Surely that's part of our business plan for the future? If we are to remain a "contender" then we need to become self sufficient and that means gaining more fans and crucially taking advantage of the increased support. How else would we progress? Even in our 4 team Champions League Group we have the 3rd highest average attendance. We simply have to grow. At the moment we are not paying our own way. The only way to pay our own way in the future ( with our current wage bill ) is to grow ( sorry that word again ). The next five years will be crucial we simply have to get it right otherwise a lot more people might get that chance to go York away!