Dzeko's Right Boot
Well-Known Member
Mad Eyed Screamer said:Dzeko's Right Boot said:Good thread, and good OP.
The thing America is missing is the thing you can't manufacture, but can't quite put your finger on. For example, come Sunday morning I'm going to be buzzing about finally seeing my team play at Eastlands since we won that historic match with THAT historic goal. We're going to park in our usual spot, cross the road at the same place we've crossed for the last 10 or so years, walk past where The Bradford used to be and hopefully see us beat Southampton in what I see is revenge for them beating us in our last day at Maine Road. This kind of 'tradition', though still young at Eastlands, is something I hope to follow for a long time. A good example of this is Dog Poo Alley at Maine Road. Everyone knew what it was, but the club didn't create it. Nobody can explain why it became colloquially known as Dog Poo Alley, it just was. Just like the 'famous Kop atmosphere', West Ham fans singing "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles" and the almost-fabled idea of walking down Wembley Way. It's a feeling created by the fans, by history. No amount of PR or posters or 'gimmicks' is going to create this kind feeling. Call it a culture clash or whatever, I just can't see football taking off in America.
Are there any club rivalries in the MLS?
There are but the distances between most means that fans do not travel.
The New England Revolution's (based just outside of Boston) nearest teams are New York Red Bulls followed by Montreal!
New York to Boston is the equivalent of London to Manchester. They played each other the other Sunday evening (7.30pm!!) and NY bought 150 fans!
A fair few Revs fans will go to Montreal and make a weekend of it in Canada, but still only taking one hundred odd or so - and a fair few of them living on the Maine / Vermont / Canadian border so not far to travel
To be honest, it is great to go to a game knowing you are not going to get your head kicked in, but then again, sometimes that little edge about the game creates something unique and that is an ingredient missing that you talk about
Yeah, that's what I'm trying to get at. Inter-city rivalries are what make the English game much edgier than a lot of other leagues. Even teams that don't have others occupying the same space beg for enemies (Newcastle and Sunderland). I don't know if you miss it or not Mad Eyed Screamer, but if I ever move to America one day then I know I'd definitely miss seeing my mates on Monday morning, having a little dig at how United did the past weekend then having a long discussion about everything English football-related that happened the past two days. I love it, the rivalry is probably my favourite part about supporting a football team. IMO, it's a shame that a lot of Americans aren't as obsessed as a lot of us back in England. Obviously as you said, there are a fair few who are big, passionate fans of their teams.
Mind you, I'm sure a lot of Americans say the same about us and NFL.