My wish for the new year …
I’m sure you guys missed your favorite ranty American over the Christmas break. The week off has made me think about what needs to happen in the sport next year, but surprisingly it won’t happen.
Unlike Neymar getting every call when he trips over his own two feet or another player isn’t offside but gets called for being offside. Yeah I’m grumpy, but grumpy Stephen means good writing.
One thing that has become clear over the past year, is the total stupidity club owners have acquired over the calendar year. Time and time again we are shown an owner out of touch with reality. Last column I chatted on Celtic but easily could have ranted against Newcastle, Cardiff or Milan. I could go on and on. That’s not touching the junk QPR did.
As long as these owners get your money they don’t have to care about the fans. They’re neutering fans and hiking up the ticket prices. At what end are these owners thinking about their fans? They aren’t. As long as they get their fat paychecks, and operate near the black they’re good.
Here’s what needs to happen. You need to live the sport like I do. Disclaimer, I’m not saying follow Stephen because I’m better than you because I’m not. I’m just getting smarter at following. Do not buy tickets through the club for half a season. Stick it to them. A half a season of declining gate recipes will make the directors stand up. Of course, the argument against this is there’s more fans out there and they’ll just fill in where the people who have left. Well, if you abuse those they’ll go away. All these owners care about is their money and pocket books.
Going with the same line of thinking, there’s so many places to buy apparel nowadays. Ebay, off site merchants and mostly these places have the gear at cheaper prices. The clubs want to gauge us of our money because they change a line or a piece of fabric on it. Fight back, take the game back and start spending money reasonably. Buying a shirt every year for £50 plus is expensive and pointless.
Also don’t buy the public relations coming out of clubs and their “friends” in the media because it will be watered down and boring. They’ll only say good stuff and run from the problem. That’s why this past year the blogs and the podcasts have become more prevalent.
If you want what really happens at Crystal Palace you have at your finger tips many great writers and podcasters who will tell you what is right.
I hope 2014 is the year where the fans standup and take the sport back. The money and the stupidity in the sport has ruined it for a lot of long time fans. The sport is in a downward spiral and that’s awful since this is a sport that can do so much good for so many people. But sadly the fans won’t take the sport back, they’ll just accept what is around, and still follow the norm.
Isn’t that the sign of insanity?
Article written by Stephen Brandt
