Atmosphere at the soccer better?

[WCgirl]

Can't say I've ever been to an A-league game live, but I've watched bits and pieces on the tv and been to see local games and I just find the entire thing completely boring. Its a bunch of "men" playing off for frees so that someone can finally get a shot on goal. I do believe that playing requires a certain amount of skill/talent, but excitement is rare, and spectacular moves (if you'd call them that) happen perhaps two or three times a match.

Maybe its because I have no interest in the games, but the "atmosphere" doesn't seem to match up to that of an AFL game

 

[bomba4eva]

Been to plenty of Victory games last two seasons and am a member this season so can distinguish between the two codes as to which has the better atmosphere and tbh the soccer definitely has its times where the whole ground is buzzing from a super strike or incident which does not occur frequently, while in footy the free flowing quick scoring nature of the game always has something exciting happening and there are plenty more games in the afl where the roof can almost been blown off than at the a-league games.

 

[mattwinter]

Completely wrong. Sydney is not losing fans at all. The home crowd averages are up on last year, and the club has increased membership every year.

They have also sold out a practice match at the 80K telstra stadium against LA galaxy in a weeks time.

I would hardly call a 17K crowd in QLD on the weekend as 'going crap'

Behind Union, are you serious?

If you want to say football is behind swimming, then you better put AFL behind it as well. - as according to the ABS, both are.

By the way, the Swans have never sold out Telstra Stadium, Sydney FC's home crowd next Tuesday will be higher than the Sydney Swans biggest ever home crowd...

 

[smasha]

I don't know why La Galaxy are playing up there seeing as Victory is the biggest club in Australia.

The scent of money does it's stuff.

 

[smasha]

Best post on this thread for quite some time.

It's like Days Of Our Lives - the same theme emerges almost at regular intervals, goes through the predictable motions, is dealt with, and then rears up again an almost predetermined number of pages later. Just with different charaters involved. Hell, there was even the "soccer is so boring, that's why they riot" chestnut again a page or two back!

There was 75,000 of us at Old Trafford yesterday - men, women, boys and girls. It was far less threatening than a Tiges/Bombers or Crows/Anyone game. Two Rovers blokes ejected over the entire two hours. There's more than that thrown out during one single over at the cricket!

Spot on mate.

I lve Richmond through and through but I've seen more punch ups at the afl than at an Aleague game.

This riot thing is a media build up.

I have a video of Sheeds farewell game and you can hear the commentator going on about a fight in the last quarter brushing it off with"aah it's just a few old blokes having a biffo".

"I wonder what the media would do if this same "biffo " happened at a Victory game?

They'd probably use the words riot or violence.

People are stubborn minded and shallow and don't want the World game to shine in this country.

FFS-stop being ignorant mules and embrace both codes.

The World Game is here no matter what the afl thinks.


P.S. this is not really an afl hating post.

Just embrace both games.

 

[GhostofJimJess]

Just embrace both games.

Exactly. The capacity to enjoy AFL and the capacity to enjoy soccer are not mutually exclusive concepts.

When I moved away from Australia a few years back, and therefore away from my beloved AFL matches, I needed another avenue to achieve sporting gratification. I already had an appreciation for soccer - bloody hell, I'm a sports fanatic in just about any form - but being able to attend live EPL matches, Champions League and the World Cup in Germany took that appreciation to a whole new level.

Critics of soccer fail to have any real credibility until they've served their time in the cauldron of a real world class soccer match. With all due respect to the A-League which seems to have come on amazingly despite still being in its relative infancy, it should not be used as a basis upon which to judge World Football played at its best. It remains, onfield, about League One standard, the odd team occasionally showing glimpses of maybe Championship level.

Similarly, it would be unfair of newcomers to Aussie Rules to write it off as passe based solely on viewing Williamstown v Springvale. The VFL or SANFL versions share the same playing field, rules, and very occasionally even crowd numbers, but they are not the true exemplication of Aussie Rules played at its very highest order. Nobody can truly judge Aussie Rules until they've been in amongst the throng at the MCG, Subiaco or Football Park and experienced a match played at its quickest, strongest and most passionate, by its very best players, with four Premiership Points up for grabs.

I really enjoy watching soccer on TV. It is quite conceivable, like when I was living in Australia and having AFL at the beck and call of my remote control, that I will watch five soccer matches on a given weekend. Thanks to the wonder of Champions League and digital TV, I find I can watch about 8 soccer games simulataneously some Tuesday and Wednesday nights, and not a miss a trick in any of them (much to the chagrin of my wife and children)

But the gap in excitement level of watching a world class soccer game on TV and watching it live is quite considerable - a hell of a lot wider gap than AFL on telly v live. Being in behind the goals at Highbury, or the San Siro, or Stamford Bridge is a truly intense experience. The match is so much quicker, so much more strategic, and miles and miles tougher when in you're right there witnessing it, away from the sterility of the two-dimensional TV-sized format. And despite being at some of the greatest AFL/VFL matches of the past 25 years, I have no personal sporting equivalent that can match the feeling of being there live watching the Socceroos in Germany last year.

But I still crave my fix of Tiger games and indeed anything AFL. I can't wait to be back at the MCG one day to rekindle my passion for live AFL. All things considered, it's the greatest sport on Earth.

This thread is about the 'atmosphere' at the soccer, and if you are a soccer fan, the 'atmosphere' would be better for you, for me, its crap, bordering on embarassing, grown men, chanting childish rhymes, hugging each other, even after a nil all draw, etc etc, and I think a lot of 'football' people would agree with me, if your a 'football' fan, the 'football' atmosphere would be better for you! Theres plenty of room for both, I wish I could enjoy both, if I could, more power to me!

There's no doubt that any sport needs a significant level of emotionality to be truly appreciated. I had no real emotional attachment to rugby union prior to living out of Australia - the legacy of being a Victorian I'd imagine. But living in Europe and adopting a rugby union club in which to get involved made me love that sport too. As a consequence, I hung on just about every result in the World Cup.

I have a very strong emotional attachment to the performance of the Richmond FC, and this leads to a strong attachment to AFL in general. As a result, I could easily sit down and enjoy a St Kilda v Brisbane or Melbourne v Essendon match, despite not following either side. These games still have great meaning to me and provide me with great enjoyment because they belong within the context of the emotional attachment I have to my own team.

Until you have a soccer/rugby/AFL team whose fortunes really have some serious emotional meaning to you, it is a waste of time trying to pretend you are actually watching the same game as someone whose whole weekend depends on the performance of the team they love.

 

[Stealthy]

Much of the success of football in Australia relies on the success of the national and olympic team. This is what gets people interested and will hopefully pay dividends with increased crowds at A-league games and even better atmosphere. Last night was a great night for both teams in London and in Gosford. The display against a world class Nigeria squad last night was very promising and as for the Olyroos, well they've now got their foot in the door for Beijing. Exciting days ahead.

As for atmosphere...give me a break.

 

[Stealthy]

Put Vinnie Jones or Duncan Ferguson on a footy field up against the likes of Chris Scott, Mark Riccuito or John Brown and we'd see how "hard" they really are.

It's easy to cultivate an image of a hard man when you're playing against ponces in a non-contact sport... In the land of the blind the one eyed man can be king.

Fair enough you like the physical contact between men in tight shorts..., but think you're missing the point of roundball. It's more about skill, technqiue, fluidity,guile etc than the "rough and tumble" pinball nature of AFL.

Different preferences.

 

[Stealthy]

Btw you sound like a pretentious douche with that "in the land of the blind" gandalf sh1te.

Let me guess, you drive a Hummer for compensation in the downstairs department. Idiot.

 

[Visions]

Both games have different types of atmosphere because they have different sets of supporters.

I don't rate Australian soccer, and hence dont go watch it, but I would choose a European soccer atmosphere to an AFL one anyday.

If it came down to playing the sport, then which one would you prefer to be? A world class soccer player or a world class AFL player? No brainer in my opinion.

The one that pays more, and gives you more recognition around the world.

 

[sunnyTEE]

Soccer is the worst sport, supported by the biggest bunch of drongo's ive ever laid eyes on.

 

[HavUEvaSeenTheRain]

If it came down to playing the sport, then which one would you prefer to be? A world class soccer player or a world class AFL player? No brainer in my opinion.

The one that pays more, and gives you more recognition around the world.

I'll go with a world class NFL player now that would be the life.

 

[drewie_rama]

Soccer is the worst sport, supported by the biggest bunch of drongo's ive ever laid eyes on.

from a collingwood fan?
Do us a favour and just look at your own household, within lies the answer

 

[doppleganger]

But little money spinners like the Beckham LA Galaxy tour, and next year's World Cup qualifiers against some of Asia's best teams will fill the stadiums and bring in a few million per game.

The Beckham money spinners do more harm than good IMHO.

I am a massive AFL fan, and also follow the EPL, Champions League and in particular Liverpool very closely. Wake up at 4.30am to watch any liverpool champions league games live and what not. The champions league final when Liverpool stormed back to beat AC is one of my fav sporting moments.

But the problem with the friendlies, is that sure you have the big names rock up, the crowd comes, but once the game starts the players aren't playing with any passion.....and the game is a fizzer....the atmosphere at the Aus v Greece friendly at the G in front of 95K people during the game was pathetic.

Soccer wont take off in Australia in terms of a live viewing audience because ur not watching the best players.......that is why AFL, NRL will hold sway in the respective cities.

When it is a olympic or world cup qualifier, and Australia is playing, of course there will be a good atmosphere......but same thing can be said for any sport in a marquee event, they are the GF's, the ANZAC day, or the SOO of the sport.

 

[sunnyTEE]

from a collingwood fan?
Do us a favour and just look at your own household, within lies the answer

Trust an essendon supporter to enjoy soft, nancy garbage. Could you please let my know what the question is that i'm looking for an answer for? Or has your quest for an intelligent, meaningful post backfired dramatically?

BOOM BOOM

 

[vinnie]

The Beckham money spinners do more harm than good IMHO.

But the problem with the friendlies, is that sure you have the big names rock up, the crowd comes, but once the game starts the players aren't playing with any passion.....and the game is a fizzer....the atmosphere at the Aus v Greece friendly at the G in front of 95K people during the game was pathetic.

Soccer wont take off in Australia in terms of a live viewing audience because ur not watching the best players.......that is why AFL, NRL will hold sway in the respective cities.

When it is a olympic or world cup qualifier, and Australia is playing, of course there will be a good atmosphere......but same thing can be said for any sport in a marquee event, they are the GF's, the ANZAC day, or the SOO of the sport.

Total crap in my opinion.

Point one - I was at the Aus Greece game (you weren't) and the spectacle of seeing our best in a national outfit, was awesome. Yes, I agree the game had a meaningless result but how is that different to watching your AFL team pplay in the second half of the season when you know they can't get in the finals? Should you stop going to watch them?

Point 2:'Soccer wont take off in Australia in terms of a live viewing audience because ur not watching the best players'
So what does this suggest about watching VFL, SAFL and WAFL then, if you're not weatching the best players. SHould supporters of these leagues abandon their sport and just focus on AFL? You can't have it both ways. You write crap. The A-league for me have nothing to do with the best in the world. In fact, its one major advantage soccer has over other footy codes - it ain't a negative, it the strongest positive. I can watch the best young talent in Australia at the moment (Milligan Syd, Zullo Bris, Broxham MV, Burns SA) and know they will represent the country at a higher level as a socceroo - and I hope they get into a major overseas club - this frees up space for younger players to come through. AFL simply cannot match this, I'm sorry.

 

[Ronin]

Get over it soccer is still behind Rugby legue , Union AFL swimming ect . It's going crap in Perth and Qld and loosing fans in sydney .

Hahahahahaha, great to have a dyslexic comedian joining this board.

Keep it coming buddy, as it is great to have a laugh on a Friday.

 

[vinnie]

Get over it soccer is still behind Rugby legue , Union AFL swimming ect . It's going crap in Perth and Qld and loosing fans in sydney .

Crowds up 15% from last year, and that's after lower crowds for Melb Victory. So where are all the extra people coming from?

More people see soccetr than cricket in Brisbane. 15K watched QLD Roar, compared to a measly 7K at the Aust/Sri Lanka test game.

More people watch soccer than AFL in Sydney. In August, 70K watched socceroos play, compared to only 48K down the road to watch the swans.

Soccer has never been going better!

 

[High Voltage]

Much of the success of football in Australia relies on the success of the national and olympic team. This is what gets people interested and will hopefully pay dividends with increased crowds at A-league games and even better atmosphere. Last night was a great night for both teams in London and in Gosford. The display against a world class Nigeria squad last night was very promising and as for the Olyroos, well they've now got their foot in the door for Beijing. Exciting days ahead.

As for atmosphere...give me a break.

Exactly, just like much of the success of cricket in Australia relies on the success of the national team.

You won't hear many bemoan that cricket is screwed in Australia becuase 500 people attended a NSW v Tasmania Pura Cup match?

 

[HFC082]

Of course the atmosphere is better at the Football. AFL has no atmosphere.

 

[RUNVS]

Of course the atmosphere is better at the Football. AFL has no atmosphere.

Why on earth did you bring this topic back. What can be said now which hasnt been said in the other 110 pages.

 

[BIGBEZ]

Why on earth did you bring this topic back. What can be said now which hasnt been said in the other 110 pages.

Check out the 'Poll Hijack' thread, I think hes just bitter on us football supporters, for calling football, football, not soccer, mabee hes trying to drum up support from the pencil necked soccer fans, who knows?

 

[vinnie]

The Beckham money spinners do more harm than good IMHO.

Soccer wont take off in Australia in terms of a live viewing audience because ur not watching the best players.......that is why AFL, NRL will hold sway in the respective cities.

So does that mean people shouldn't bother watching VFL or even local footy b/c they are not watching the best? They should only watch AFL and nothing below that level?

The A-league is growing hugely in this great country, and smashing crowd records ni communities the AFL hasn't even dared to tread (NSW coast) b/c youngsters are watching the best this fine country has to offer. It doesn't matter to those attending, if there are better players in Mozambiquie, Tehran or Rio. WHo cares about them. The youngsters like seeing great soccer players like Kruse, Patafta, Krullo that they can llok up to, that don't dive, that tackle hard and score goals. And yes, some Aussies do go overseas to pursue their ultimate dreams at the highest level in sport - and this is why soccer is so alluring.