Why you shouldn't label us "Euro snobs"

Good on you for having the guts to speak out. The truth is you aren't alone. The other truth is this isn't Australia's problem alone. Having just returned from a holiday in the Middle East and Singapore, it's hard to ignore that while Manchester United and Barcelona are on posters and billboards everywhere, while the EPL, Primera Liga and Bundesliga are widely broadcast on TV and in cafes, bars etc; very little attention is paid to the local leagues of these countries. Sure the local league does make it onto TV, but how many Singaporeans would be familiar with the S-League? How many Emiratis would be familiar with the UAE comp? Most of the grounds appeared to rival only Bluetongue Stadium for size. I can't help but feel that the marketing might of the big European leagues and clubs is crushing local football in developing regions. Like Asia (of which we are now a part). But the supporters cannot be blamed for developing passion for overseas clubs when no appealing local option is available. I was only baffled by the comment about the A-League having not much of an internet presence, I think it's pretty good though limited largely to Australian-based websites, the problem for yourself may be that you don't venture to those very often. By all means, however, follow your passion and don't be swayed by others. I hope your beloved Gunners give you something to smile about soon.

The 2014 team? Looks like you're arguing for the sake of it. It was you that referred specifically to the previous WC and Euro teams.

I'm getting very bored with people who come on these forums and say that they never watch the A-League because its crap blah blah blah blah, its inferior to the EPL blah blah blah. How do you know its inferior if you never watch it or never go to a game? I agree with Fussball, if you've never watched something and then form a strong negative opinion about it, then you have no credibility and you are indeed a snob, because you never made an effort to find out for yourself. Why don't you actually go to an A-League game and then fom an opinion about it to share with us. Not just the standard of play, but the whole sporting experience, especially a Sydney or Melbourne derby or one of the finals games..

Certainly a "EuroSnob". While I think Moss was being a bit tough on the author, I do like this notion of the "consumer". I am just happy to accept that some "consume" because they dont have physical access to a team, while others, like this bloke, "consume" because they dont LOVE football. For me football is a game I love that is on a pitch involving players you can reach out and touch, surrounded by thousands of others with the singing and the chanting and the whole communal experiance. As I see it, a EuroSnob consumer would rather masterbation and cybersex than being with a lover in the real world. If that is "love" - each to their own I guess?

THAT IS @$@% TREMENDOUS!!!!

The "mainstays" are getting older. When ESP plays in 2014 these young stars will be "the mainstays" Mata (Chelsea), Beñat (Real Betis), Jesus Navas (Sevilla), Monreal (Malaga), Carzola (Arsenal), Javi Martinez (Bayern Munich).

That's some impressive Googling...but it only proves Damn's point. Not only are more than half the squad from Bar & RM but the players I specifically named are the mainstays of the team that won the World and EuroCup.

HHHHMMMMM ....mmmmm... You are a very important person in the football landscape .... you follow football ... understand it ... enjoy watching it ... and you can watch lower level park matches and enjoy... Yet cannot connect with the A-League... wonders aloud what affect the SBS Friday night will have on you next year... I respect your openness, honesty and I assume the beginning of a kindling of an interest in the A-League... My guess on football folk is as followers... Hard Core ... local and international say Europe Hard Core - Europe and National side... Watcher .... local and international Watcher ... International Player.... cares about another sport or does not care about sport but plays for fun and fitness... My guess in my table you are a watcher - International .................. Wonders aloud what will make you watch the A-League as well . You commented about media exposure and the lack of it for the A-League... I think you are right once inside the tent so to speak there are heaps of good sites to use ... some 442, goal, TWG [SBS}, this one, heaps of others, each club has a fans forum, .... but in terms of talk back radio, newspapers, FTA TV at best post match results never any pre match analysis or promotion... I guess what you are saying is local football has not been able to make contact with me .... and my question then becomes how does football make contact with you... Again thanks for you open and frank comments and the threat itself...

Fussball my dad hate all english sports teams, but he use to let me watch match of the day on (i think) Channel 7, little did i know, it was maybe 2 weeks old :) you are right, in saying they are all very proud but what people say, and what people watch, are not the same thing....EPL getting huge hike in TV income, the other euro leagues are seeing there TV deals doping (or level) ...and that not a trend that looks like changing any time soon But all good for A-league and Australian football l

@ Adrian Every country I've visited in Europe (I reckon I've been to over 50% of the 53 UEFA nations) is extremely NATIONALISTIC. They are all proud of their culture and - young and old - embrace: traditional holidays, traditional foods, traditional dance, traditional songs, their own language. But, if there's one thing that seems to bind most continental Europeans ... it is a dislike of the English! ;-) I've never ever noticed any "Anglo-snobs", who prefer English cultural icons (or football clubs) to their own.

@AR ESP's 23-man squad, who were Champions of the World in 2010, were drawn from 8 clubs: 6 ESP clubs; 2 ENG clubs 4%: Arsenal 4%: Villarreal 4%: Sevilla 9%: Athletic Bilbao 9%: Liverpool 17%: Valencia 22%: Real Madrid 30%: Barcelona

And not least of all..! Xavi, Alonso, Pique, Puyol...etc etc.

Fuss "The average footballers in La Liga are far more technically-gifted than the average EPL footballer. Which is probably why ESP are World & Euro Champions." And have a look at where most of the national team comes from: Casillas, Valdes, Raul, Ramos, Montoya, Iniesta, Fabregas, Villa, Rodriguez etc...all from Real or Barca. so Damn's point is valid.

That's just blatantly untrue. Like the majority of posters on this site, I'm happy to debate an issue in a civil way and use facts or stats to make my point. And I would never expect peope to always agree with my opinion because if I did, I'd either be autistic or a sociopath. That said, there probably is only one person on The Roar I can think of... who, at the first sight of a view which doesn't strictly adhere to his own, aggressively dismisses people in typical bully fashion...as though his obsessive views on his favourite sport are the only ones worth considering. Come to think of it...this thread is yet another example.

I'm European as well and started this season to watch A-league games over internet streams as my Weekends Breakfast. Although Barcelona is since the 90s and a Trip to the Camp Nou my absolute favourite Club I began to appreciate especially the "Derbies" in Down Under. Because here there are just "old" clubs with a lot of tradition I find it fascinating to see the birth of a new Club like the WSW. How they evolved in just a few months!!! They're my team and I'm sure the passion of the RBB will help to drive the whole A-League and fan culture forward. Keep going!

" And I find the ones expressing a different opinion are often the ones worth listening to." What hypocrisy! If anyone post alternative opinions on the AFL forum, you are aggressive in your retorts.

Fussball where did you live? and how many years ago ? it stand to reason, that the same Euro snobs type people we have in Australia, they also have in Europe..there only so many time people can watch there top team in there league lose in the pay-off round of Europa League , before they start to understand there league is crap :) Also, many of these league have seen TV deal righs, drop..even France saw Ligue 1 get less money in France, even with Al Jazeera running around buying up everthing in France ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Breaking news coming out of France today (not sure if it made media in Australia yet) Football magazine has raised questions about FIFA’s awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, alleging it was tainted by corruption and collusion involving top figures in the game. The magazine also said there was a “secret meeting” at the French presidential palace in Paris on Nov. 23, 2010 – some 10 days before the crucial vote to decide the 2022 competition venue. Attending were then-President Nicolas Sarkozy, Qatari prince Tamin bin Hamad al-Thani, UEFA president Michel Platini and Sebastien Bazin, representing Paris Saint Germain owners Colony Capital, who at the time were in financial difficulty. “During this meeting, the question repeatedly came up of a buyout of Paris Saint Germain by the Qataris, an increase in their shareholding of the Lagardere group, the creation of a sports [television] channel to challenge Canal+ – which Sarkozy wanted to weaken – all in exchange for a promise: that Platini did not give his vote to the United States, as he intended to, but to Qatar.” PSG were eventually bought by Qatar Sports Investment in June 2011. BeIn Sport, a subsidiary of Doha-based satellite channel Al-Jazeera, launched last year and took the television rights to show live French football from Canal+. Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Sports/Football/2013/Jan-30/204258-french-magazine-debates-qatar-world-cup-award.ashx#ixzz2JT0nhtKE (The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)

Damn Straight Yours are some of the better comments I've read on this site. They're balanced, honest and not soaked with the sort of angsty zealotry and "us against them" rhetoric that we read daily from *some* regular posters. It goes without saying that many readers of this site find my innocuous moniker provocative...(I just thought of some silly name when signing up and though "yep, that'll do")....little did I know I'd be labelled a troller and an egg-ball warrior and an instigator!). Anyway, like most people in Australia, I follow pretty much every sport I can, including soccer, so I'll continue posting my thoughts on whatever issue I find interesting. And I find the ones expressing a different opinion are often the ones worth listening to. all the very

Gus What would get you to follow the aleague

The way I thought it was: Do you play with yourself looking from afar with to a magazine containing a pretty girl(EPL) or do you go out and try and pick up a real live local girl(HAL) I know what I prefer;)