overkill
Distinguished Member
Was interesting to see a good article on German football the BBC site. Not just because a good article from the BBC is becoming a bit of a relief, but because it makes some interesting points.
The first is obvious, that no matter how good or bad the football on offer, high gate prices put people off - as it is all over Europe. By contrast, German football entrance fee's are, by English football standards, outrageously cheap. For example, I pay more to see third tier games in England than German fans do for top Bundesliga sides! A question then. Should football fans in this country be doing (for once!) what fans in other countries do, and lobby for clubs to look after them for a change and reduce prices (and wages?).
Second is more contraversial. Many argue that all seater stadia is pretty (if not very) soulless, and regardless of the partizan arguments, many would agree that this is indeed the case. As such, and by contrast, the German FA decided to listen not to a bunch of knee jerk reactionaries, cynical politicians and clubs, but to the fans, and kept terracing. Surprise, as a result the atmosphere at Bundesliga games is pretty much unchanged. Another question. Is this what we lack? Should we ignore those who's arguments are based on emotion not fact or common sense? Terraces don't kill people, poor policing and bad stadia design does.
Third is another contraversial point, and one I'm certain wouldn't work here. German stadia are awash with beer drinkers toting cartons of beer, and creating a pretty laid back atmosphere. Somewhat akin to that at English Cricket grounds. But, even here, could we not argue that football has moved on from those grim days, and that even with a reduction in prices it still wouldn't entice the 'rent a thugs' back?
Obviously, some of these points will not be agreed with by all, and the two leauges scenarios are indeed very different, but, and it's a big but once again, what would we, as English fans prefer? A return to the days when everyone could go to game, or as near as, with the tremendous atmosphere only 20,000 plus on the terraces can generate, or carry on was we are? In sterile but expansive all seaters, where only a privileged few can afford the ludicrous prices, and where atmosphere is increasingly being generated by US style musical 'cheerleading' (God forbid!), and where, again unlike Germany where wages are tightly controlled, a bunch of overpaid, under-achieving, soccer mercenaries serve up rubbish week in week out?
I know which one I prefer. Do you?
The first is obvious, that no matter how good or bad the football on offer, high gate prices put people off - as it is all over Europe. By contrast, German football entrance fee's are, by English football standards, outrageously cheap. For example, I pay more to see third tier games in England than German fans do for top Bundesliga sides! A question then. Should football fans in this country be doing (for once!) what fans in other countries do, and lobby for clubs to look after them for a change and reduce prices (and wages?).
Second is more contraversial. Many argue that all seater stadia is pretty (if not very) soulless, and regardless of the partizan arguments, many would agree that this is indeed the case. As such, and by contrast, the German FA decided to listen not to a bunch of knee jerk reactionaries, cynical politicians and clubs, but to the fans, and kept terracing. Surprise, as a result the atmosphere at Bundesliga games is pretty much unchanged. Another question. Is this what we lack? Should we ignore those who's arguments are based on emotion not fact or common sense? Terraces don't kill people, poor policing and bad stadia design does.
Third is another contraversial point, and one I'm certain wouldn't work here. German stadia are awash with beer drinkers toting cartons of beer, and creating a pretty laid back atmosphere. Somewhat akin to that at English Cricket grounds. But, even here, could we not argue that football has moved on from those grim days, and that even with a reduction in prices it still wouldn't entice the 'rent a thugs' back?
Obviously, some of these points will not be agreed with by all, and the two leauges scenarios are indeed very different, but, and it's a big but once again, what would we, as English fans prefer? A return to the days when everyone could go to game, or as near as, with the tremendous atmosphere only 20,000 plus on the terraces can generate, or carry on was we are? In sterile but expansive all seaters, where only a privileged few can afford the ludicrous prices, and where atmosphere is increasingly being generated by US style musical 'cheerleading' (God forbid!), and where, again unlike Germany where wages are tightly controlled, a bunch of overpaid, under-achieving, soccer mercenaries serve up rubbish week in week out?
I know which one I prefer. Do you?