Football Fandom: An Intriguing Paradox (1/2)

This post will be split into two parts. The first part will address football fandom in general. The second will address the concerns that some have raised about modern football fandom. 


Football fandom is an interesting topic within itself. One that encompasses different types of experiences. What I will focus on is the football and symbolic experience that arises from choosing to support a club. As a result, it can often lead to the establishment of an identity with the club. As the club becomes increasingly intertwined in an individual's life, their emotions and thoughts seem to become less balanced. In a sense, fans see themselves as mini-ambassadors of the club they support. So much so, that in some of their actions, they seem to portray that they take the club's problems as their own. Fans can be construed to be less balanced in their views as it as seen as sticking up for their club. Hence, why we see some of the actions that we do in recent times.


In a general sense, the football experience of fandom comes from different mediums. Mediums which can be accessed via media or by attending the game live. Although going to the match versus watching it on television is not the same, the experience in watching a game of football is shared. This provides the individual an opportunity to enter into a world that is potentially different from their own. For the matchgoers, there are plenty of examples that encompass the football experience. This arises even before the match has started.

Meeting up with mates/fellow fans before the game.

Pre-match discussion as the stadium fills and the atmosphere builds

An opportunity for banter between different sets of fans

Exploring the stadium and taking in the atmosphere of the occasion

When the match gets underway, vociferous chants, flag waving, scarf holding, video and image captures and more ensues. By partaking in these activities, fans encompass the ideal of the common experience. For some, experiencing the drama that comes with a football match with other people becomes more important than the match itself. It is often a series of events that one finds to be quite unforgettable. However, this is only one avenue of the common experience. 


Watching the game in a local pub provides another opportunity for the common experience. In a more relaxed setting with beers and eyeballs fixated on the TV screens, fans share a similar experience to those at the match. Although they are restricted by camera angles and replays that might miss out on some occasions that the matchgoer would be able to savor.


Nonetheless, this shared experience gives the individual a chance to become acquainted with the routines for how one can express their fandom. The diversity in which this is expressed can also be argued based on the environment a set of fans stem from, however that is not the main premise nor idea that is central to football fandom. More importantly, it presents the opportunity to learn more about and discuss the state of the club and its performance on and off the pitch. In some ways, it is an arena to air one's views and see how they compare and contrast with others. For an individual that is relatively new to this type of experience, they almost become as impressionable as a child as they take in the sights and sounds and behaviors of the other fans surrounding them. There is something about tapping into this sort of identity that channels this behavior modification that so many seemingly undergo. Not only does it bring about a sense of identity but also a sense of unity.


This brings the individual to the symbolic experience. The symbolic experience enhances the football experience by bringing further meaning to simply watching a football match.


Let's take Manchester United for example. Beyond watching matches, there is another aspect of supporting the club. The social and political implications suggest that it's about more than what occurs on the field. Implications such as who the club affects as well as the conduct that the club carries on a daily basis. With the rise of the Internet and social media, fans now have more access than ever before in terms of learning about the club, players, staff, coaches etc. In this sense, it allows for one to learn about important events in the club's history (i.e. 1958 Munich Air Disaster). Furthermore, one can become further acquainted with the club's ideals, values and its mission. It can be looked upon as a company. One that connects with a wide variety of people and is of high value to them. By becoming further acquainted with the club in this manner, it becomes easier for one to integrate the identity they've established with the club into their own life. Therefore, when the attention shifts back onto watching United play in a match, the individual now subconsciously has a perspective or in other words, a compass that integrates the symbolic experience they've chosen to embrace with the football experience that is already of some importance. 


Hence, this is why symbolic experience enhances the football experience. It becomes a justification for the manner in which one chooses to go about their version of fandom. When a disparity arises between the two experiences (football and symbolic) we get incidences like FCUM or the Green and Gold Campaign where what happens on the pitch is not as important as what's happening off the pitch. This puts the individual in a troubling situation as feel they have only two options (FCUM or Manchester United) despite the fact that they have more choices.


Now onto part 2.

Why I think we need Sneijder

With the recent developments over the Sneijder saga, I couldn't resist but to write some of my thoughts at the prospect of Wesley Sneijder joining Manchester United. After watching Sir Alex's latest press conference, I thought some things were very telling.  His focus was on youth and seemingly on the quality they bring. He wants to give them the credit he feels they deserve and I credit him for that. No one man is bigger than the club. We all know that Sneijder will be a very welcome acquisition. Fergie will not implement youngsters ala 94-95 season or start of 95-96 season. The environment of PL football and let alone modern football has changed and he can't do things as he used to. It doesnt mean he wont blood youth but he'll do it in an even smarter way. If you're for this transfer you could look at it like this.

Sometime ago Cantona says he sees a bit of himself in Sneijder. Now whether that's flattery is up to people's discretion. My point is when Fergie blooded through those youngsters, he found the catalyst in Cantona to give the necessary inspiration to the entire squad but more importantly the youngsters to get over the hump. Although Cantona and Sneijder are two different players and different mentalities so to speak, I still think Sneijder would be an inspiration to some of the youngsters we have here. We already have Scholes who is a genius by far and that's a blessing already. However Scholes has retired now so his inspiration is more so restricted to the training field as well as his words of advice. Sneijder imo, just brings that class and we've seen some of his inspiring performances, whether it was at Real, Inter or for Holland. The man is class and I'd think it would be a bit harsh to think otherwise. It doesn't matter if you've given up hope on his transfer or dont even want him to come or even think he is coming. He brings something special to just about any club he joins.

Now he may not have the same leadership qualities as Cantona but I definitely see him as a player that leads by example and I think it would be fantastic if our youngsters could learn from Sneijder. It would be his last move and I'm sure we could get 5 good years out of him. Imo, that's more than enough to steady the ship until the youngsters are truly ready to take the mantle. Right now, I see them as very close but not quite there yet. If we did sign Sneijder, I'd be a bit surprised if we signed anyone else as I think we would be covered for some time. Maybe a more defensively minded player but I dont think that's necessarily imminent at this point. Anyone that's been watching closely knows where our weaknesses lie in central midfield. While Sneijder might not be the most ideal fit in our minds, he would go some way in improving the quality that's in our squad let alone giving us more options as a team.

People have already said it but we cant replace Paul Scholes. The diminutive striker that molded his game into an all-around midfielder and one of the best if not the best CMs the premiership has ever seen. It's a shame his true quality won't be recognized and revered as it should. Even those in media that sing his praises dont get close to fully appreciating what a gift he is. Only fellow players, United fans, and managers seem to see his true quality. It proved that it's not all about size but what's in your cranium that matters. As I was always taught, 90% of the game is mental and 10% is physical and Scholesy's mastery of the mental game was more like 120%. He's just that fantastic.

Now we have the prospect of acquiring another special midfielder in Wesley Sneijder and I hope he does come for some of the reasons I've stated above but even if he doesn't, I'll put trust in Sir Alex. He's been such a long-time servant at this club that despite his mistakes, he has a much better idea than I ever would what this club needs. If it's not Sneijder then it's not Sneijder. We'll just have to move and get on with it anyway.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. The beautiful aspect of this club is that no matter what we don't stand still. Our lads proved it after the horrible tragedy that was/is the Munich Air Disaster. Winning the European Cup in 1968. We've shown it again with the reign of Sir Alex's dominance as we've done what no one expected. With the players we let go and the many times the media wrote us off at our peril. We've always responded. Sadly, all good things come to an end and I dread the day the man leaves the club as we all will. Even still, as long as our next manager respects and embraces our history and traditions that make up the club then I'm confident that this club will go on in the right manner.