leffe186

Naive question, but how much unique support do lower league or conference teams have? Would a good proportion of the fans that go to watch, say, Brentford have no other affiliation, and be happy to watch their team playing league one or league two football forever? Even more so teams like Carlisle, where there's no obvious local 'big club' alternative? Not a naive question at all mate, I'd be interested to know too. I mainly grew up in London, where there are countless local teams, and Brentford would be a decent example. I'd expect most of their fans to be fully-fledged Brentford, with a reasonable number of fans of other London clubs (Chelsea, Arsenal, maybe even QPR) who go there regularly because they've been priced out. When I was a kid and Spurs were either not playing or away at a game we couldn't get to, we'd usually go see Orient or another London club. There are incredibly intense followings of some very small teams here - and a huge number of small teams to boot. A look at the followers of Blyth or Gateshead would be interesting - I'd imagine a good number of their fans are Newcastle, yet there will be many who simply support Blyth or Gateshead. They might look out for Newcastle's results, in the same way I look out for Orient's, but if they play each other in the Cup, you know who they're rooting for.

Where did you hear that?

It depends upon what you think supporters, or indeed football teams full-stop, are all about. Personally, I like to think that a football team represents its locality, or family/tribal connections - but I would say that, as I used to walk to Spurs with my Dad. What was your local team where you grew up? Why didn't you support them? (Genuine questions). If you believe that a team is supposed to represent their locality/family/tribe, then anyone born there or with a connection is naturally going to resent anyone else there who chooses some other team. That resentment is going to be increased if they perceive them as having chosen another team because they were successful. My mate at school supported West Ham for random reasons, but I didn't hate him for it at all. I had several Liverpool-supporting North Londoners to hate instead. If you believe that you can choose to support anyone you want, and the location doesn't matter, then yeah, it's ridiculous. I don't think along those lines, although I recognize that that's pissing against the wind. Absolutely. Both arguments generally boil down to who is the better fan, or who is the better club - neither of which ultimately mean anything. When I lived in Falkirk, I went to watch Falkirk and East Stirling more than any other club. When I lived in Kidlington, I went to watch Kidlington. I love that clubs are rooted in their communities, but if we want to compete at the top level we have to accept that will be diluted. I think we maintain that paradox in our head - for example, I pour scorn on Chelsea, Man U, Liverpool and Arsenal fans out here (U.S.A.) yet think any local Spurs fans are amazing.

I highly doubt that is true. True or not, that is a cracking story.

Only just seen the Liverpool highlights. What an appalling little s*** Suarez is. /brokenrecord

I can't remember the last time I felt genuinely shocked when seeing BBC News. Jesus. His poor family.

Aye - can't stand City but have a couple of decades worth of Liverpool hatred overriding that. Plus a renewed surge in my dislike for Man Utd after Fergie's complete lack of class yesterday means I'll find them trailing 7 points behind City quite enjoyable, especially as we'll have contributed to it. My sentiments to an absolute tee.

Terrible decision!

Wolves are getting absolutely muntered here.

Another miss. What a game this is.

Appropriately enough, I was crimping off a length at the exact same moment. Cracking game this.

I actually really like this Milan kit. Hate the Barca one.

Offside anyone?

In England... Leyton Orient - my second team, used to go there with my Dad if we couldn't go to Spurs away. Barnet - similar reasons Watford - ditto (my Dad actually has a season ticket there because he goes with a couple of drinking mates, yet he's Spurs) There's loads of teams that I have slight soft spots for - for example, I'd be quite happy if AFC Wimbledon go up. Scotland... Falkirk and East Stirling - used to live in Falkirk. Raith Rovers - my dad likes them because they used to be his Subbuteo team (note to younger viewers: this is a bit like liking them because of FM). France... Do not give a monkeys. If forced, would probably say St Etienne due to lingering 70s trendiness. Italy... Milan - not really sure why, but I liked them before the 4-0 Barca final and remember at the time thinking that was the best performance I had ever seen. Spain Real Valladolid - I'm really not that fussed, but I know the place and the kit is also cool. USA Columbus Crew - the local team, well, local in American terms (less than 300 miles away).

Reckon Bayern will rest a few mind having already won the group, not that it wouldn't be difficult if they did. I was laughing, then I remembered that City will go into the Europa anyway. God I hate that rule.

I read this and thought you were about to make a really cutting analogy about what a lazy/dour so and so she was. Little did I suspect she supported them. "My wife is Villa. She's predictable, boring, turgid, and she's got a gigantic, useless black man attached to her left side." Actually spat out my coffee. Pack it in lads, got an exam to sit.

I read this and thought you were about to make a really cutting analogy about what a lazy/dour so and so she was. Little did I suspect she supported them. I have to sit an exam now, and all I can think of is what football team my wife is like. If I told her she was like Villa there would be a flash of happiness, then she would go ballistic.

My wife is Villa. I have not mentioned the game yet today, and I don't intend to mention it. Hell hath no fury...

So can we shake hands on the final table as it is now?

Sky stats - Spurs 71% possession. 15 shots to 3. Passing accuracy 89% versus 67%. Were Villa really that poor?

Cross by Bale, missed by the defender, off Given's back and tapped in by Adebayor. Thanks. In a library trying to avoid reading qualitative research about self-injurious behavior. Looks like Villa were indulging in some of the same.

Can someone talk me through the second goal?

There was a period of time when Villa fans reckon he hit the weights too hard and lost some pace.

We're not clinical enough. Last time we were truly clinical we scored 9 - though you could argue that we were pretty efficient against Fulham.

Developing into a worrying trend, that.