More Guardianista stuff

Don’t tell the Maidenhead Ultras that. They’ll be tutting all week.

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Try telling Atletico Madrid fans or Sevilla fans that you only get an atmosphere at Classico games - Spain pay a lot of their internationals in Seville because it's hot and the fans are rabid.

Spain cannot or will not play home internationals in Catalan ( Barcelona) as none of the locals would go, even if Barca players were playing, don’t know if it’s the same for the Basque region also.

Would have thought Espanyol fans would go to a Spain international in Barca. Admittedly the minority, but quite a sizeable one.

I have lived in Sevilla and regularly watched Real Betis and sometimes Sevilla.

Atmosphere was generally good, as with here there was usually one stand that was vocal at all games and other stands that got louder at certain matches or at particularly exciting games.

Two things I do think are better about English football than Spanish (and I can only speak about Spain, I have no point of reference for other countries):

1. The pace of football in Spain could be quite slow, in a mid-table game at least. Lots of build up, maintaining possession - a percentage game - but I did miss the direct nature of English football at times. More attacks, more excitement.
2. The feigned 'injuries' were ridiculous. Multiple times per game there were 3-4 minute stoppages, someone driving a golf buggy on to stretcher them off the pitch, they'd sit up and run on again soon as it got to the touchline. The crowd had stopped even reacting to this nonsense it was so frequent.


The footy experience was a more family friendly at most games, and much less punitive in general. Bars around the ground always open with a mix of fans, fanzones (whether official or just someone with good speakers creating one outside the ground...!)... obviously if it was Betis vs Sevilla this changed in terns of policing, altho it was mostly the ultras shepherded, and they didn't change kick offs cos of this (although kick offs changed cos of TV worse than here as they could be played at ridiculous times whereas we at least limit the slots)

One thing I think England does much more impressively than anywhere is the depth of our football pyramid and the support down to our level. In Spain (and unless I'm v mistaken, most if not all other footballing countries), by the time you get to the 3rd division crowds are in their hundreds not thousands. And in Spain, there's the dreaded b-Teams in at that level to boot.

The ultras are second to none. It doesn’t matter if that’s the palace boys in the holmsdale, rangers’ bears, juve’s ultra’s or Wisconsin’s wombats! They create something special.

I was merely saying that the atmosphere at British games is better. I’ve been to see Bristol city play Bradford at Ashton gate and I e also seen Malaga, Tenerife and Derry city play, and I can tell you now which was better. I wasn’t trying to be judgmental over others, it’s just what I’ve seen first hand.

There’s no denying that the mainstream leagues in European football have good atmosphere. But, go down the leagues, and you only have to look at how well some clubs travel to away games as opposed to our neighbours across the North Sea/English Channel. Football and passion goes a lot further in England than any other country imo.  

I agree with the many posts above saying that lower league football in England and the morbid, stubbornly loyal support is something to be very proud of.

Lower league football struggles in parts of Europe for a variety of reasons.

In Italy it’s biscotti, match fixings and the domination of the big city teams. Outside of Rome, Naples or the islands, it’s rare to find an Italian football fan who doesn’t support Milan, Inter or Juve. Even in Florence, where Juventus are supposedly despised, there are still many Juve fans.

Then there is the B-team issue in Germany, Spain and Portugal.

I mean, what kind of idiotic, turtle-neck sporting, tampon confiscator would support B-teams entering the English football league system.

What about the biscotti?

Quoted from KingstonMariner

What about the biscotti?

Two teams engineering a result that suits both parties to the detriment of others.

Don’t mistake it with soggy biscuit. With your sodium intolerance you’d dissolve like a slug.

Quoted from KingstonMariner

What about the biscotti?

I think it’s when garibaldi played up front for piacenza

Quoted from Knut Anders Fosters Voles

Two teams engineering a result that suits both parties to the detriment of others.

Don’t mistake it with soggy biscuit. With your sodium intolerance you’d dissolve like a slug.

You mean like the Lancashire Ring (and I’m not talking about Sarah’s winking eye)