Being considered a Eurosnob is exactly the thing that is off putting and for all the great Nix fans, there's a few who think that 7 years fanship give them some kind of right to judge. One of the worst experiences was giving the Nix another shot a few year back, went to a few games and they made a finals game. Lots of fence sitting fans turned up, an opportunity for them to get a great experience but instead a large portion of the YF crowd chanted "Where were you when we were shit?" - humorous to the faithful, a bit of a kick in the balls and a negative experience for those who could have been swayed. It's ironic that those who cry EuroSnob tend to be FeverSnobs. I find being a fan hard to just 'turn on', you have to feel an affinity with a team, the experience last weekend went a long way toward that thanks to some great people I met, a pity not all just welcome a new potential fan to fill a seat, buy some beers etc.
Sorry, but for the people that have supported the Phoenix (and Knights, and the Kingz) from the beginning, they do have some right to chant that - and even then it's quite obviously with tongue firmly in cheek.
Anyone that is a) in Wellington/from Wellington and b) a football fan has no excuse for not supporting the team and at least getting along to a few games; especially if the reason is because 'the football isn't good enough'. That kind of apathy is why we are struggling for crowds, not because a handful of people are put off by humorous chants. Playing like Barcelona isn't what it's about - it's about having a local team to support that you can truly feel like you are a part of; and in this, the Phoenix have done pretty damn well I reckon.
No excuse? That's a pretty narrow view based on your own personal preferences and situation. Travel & overall costs, place you live, time pressures from family, work and other commitments. For me to make an effort, I needed to be given more of a reason to come along than other more dedicated fans. I would never say "How can they be at the game on a Sunday night when they have work/school tomorrow?" just as a hardcore fan shouldn't say "You have no excuse for not being here, the rest of your life isn't that important".
As a big supporter of the Wellington Firebirds for years there was thought of berating crowds for turning up for finals cricket in the early 2000's after being a core of limited support through the regular season games. I was just happy that the fans were turning up, showing an interest and maybe more would come back next year.
While the chant if far from the biggest problem and apathy is a concern, nothing changes apathy like a bit of entertainment and entertainment at it's finest is finals football, something the Nix have been a million miles away from in the past few years. A better team, showing some real direction and style has re-ignited my interest along with some of the great Nix fans I met on the day.
Yeah to put it bluntly there is a active YFCJ ( Yellow Fever Circle Jerk).
Chant's like
"Where were you when we were shit?" are born from the CJ. They are only amusing from inside the CJ. Fairly typical behavior.
They feel entitled and have superiority fantasies just because they may have been on board early in the piece and protect their little sand castle by attempting to make everything outside the CJ, inferior in some way.
They don't seem to be very bright as they do the opposite of attracting new fans.
For example, imagine I owned a shop that had grown from nothing. Now my original customers make all new customers feel inferior just because they are the originals, what would I think of them doing that?
Tossers.
A lot of these YFCJ types have no nous. eg. " Let's act exclusive, piss off the newbies and families and then go on our forum asking why crowds are shit."
They even do this when the Nix travels to provincial centres. A lot of bagging the town after the game. Again, not very bright. New fan prospects could easily read the forum and what would they think?
Tossers
Forum wise, if anyone speaks of obviously flaws in the team, tactics or something that's outsides the YFCJs understanding, someone from the YFCJ will bag them out without construct. If there are a few of the YFCJers online you will getting figuratively covered in their self righteous splooge.
Reminds me a little of cult victims in denial.
And they for the most part are the best ad to grow the game, or the worst.
Phoenix the business is running at 65% of breakeven. By the way, breakeven is crap. A bit like being happy with the Nix finishing 6th out of ten teams just to play finals, even though they have no show and call it a successful season.
Like being happy to only ever get clothes on HJs
The YF for the most part need to get their hands of it and start being more inclusive.
When was the last time YF printed one page of 'family friendly' chants and gave the whole crowd a copy.
Even if only a few join in that would be a win.
Three good chants are better than 10 half arsed ones.
3,500 more people. Where are they. The 4,000 have come and gone
It would be interesting to know the spectator pretension rate. I bet it's not good.
"Anyone that is a) in Wellington/from Wellington and b) a football fan has no excuse for not supporting the team and at least getting along to a few games; especially if the reason is because 'the football isn't good enough'. That kind of apathy is why we are struggling for crowds, not because a handful of people are put off by humorous chants. Playing like Barcelona isn't what it's about - it's about having a local team to support that you can truly feel like you are a part of; and in this, the Phoenix have done pretty damn well I reckon."
" 'the football isn't good enough'. "
Is a very good reason. Money and the value it gives is not the same for a fan (fanatic) as it is for the spectator.
And spectators are what is needed to turn a profit.
" That kind of apathy is why we are struggling for crowds, not because a handful of people are put off by humorous chants."
YFCJ?
Apathy of others. Really?
Humorous chants. Really?
" Playing like Barcelona isn't what it's about "
Well going to the ridiculous really doesn't help. I think people would be happy enough to see some football, some skills and foremost giving 100%, which often is not the case.
All bad is not all the YFCJ.
The promotion of the Nix in Australia is non existent. A million kiwis in OZ. Even a small % conversion would give needed $'s in merch. My impression from years in Wellington that the Nix management is always a little half arsed compared to the promotion aussie teams give themselves.
Anyways the whole wellington shit box needs to sharpen up or
1. The team will move to Auckland or
2. The team will move to Australia.
Hey maybe then the YFCJ can get on the forum to blame everyone else that pro football is no more in Wellington.
"Phoenix till they lose"
