Today, Football is a global sport. In the Premier League for example, we have footballers from all across the world, overseen by managers from different nations themselves. The viewership has increased over time prompting broadcasting companies and the football associations to push new boundaries and surge into previously untapped markets for novel viewership. Football has the power to move millions in more ways than one, as evidenced in Rwanda where the sport played a key role in uniting a nation recovering from the repercussions of civil war.
While most of fans view every supporter as equal, there are unfortunately a few who are under the impression that local fans are superior. While this is in no way demeaning of their efforts to support the club they love, football has moved beyond borders over time. Most top clubs have more than hundreds of millions of supporters from across the world and foreign fans have become a key component of the global brand that clubs seek to build and grow – for example, the La Liga now has a deal in place to play league games in the United States of America.
I have with me 5 rival fans who talk about how they first heard the club they supported, their views on some fans not calling them true fans, their struggles at keeping up with the club and we discuss about Arsenal and things they would love their clubs to implement to better fan interaction.
Q1) When did you start supporting and what made you start supporting the club you follow?
Manas(Liverpool fan):- Around 2001. My favorite color has always been red & that evening the red team won. I was 11 & it was tbe Merseyside derby and Gary McAlister scored right at the end at Goodison.
The next time I think it was red vs white and I happened to come back from school & get my 45 minutes of TV time. Riise scored that free-kick vs Man United.
It was all by chance, but I heard the commentator mention Liverpool twice when I saw football. My parents got us a new computer and I read more & more about Liverpool as a kid. My favorite color turned to curiousity, passion & love.
Aryan(Manchester United fan):- It’s difficult to pinpoint the exact year but I was fortunate to visit Old Trafford while vacationing in England in the early 2000s, this was before I even began supporting Utd. Was gifted some Utd shirts (Ronaldo 7). They were one of the few Premier League teams on TV in India in the mid 2000s, when there was little to no Indian football available. There were hardly any recognizable local teams to support and football culture almost inexistent, that sphere was dominated by cricket. In time I learned about their history, Busby Babes, things beyond Rooney & Ronaldo which was the craze back then, there’s no looking back now…
AD(Manchester City fan):- I started supporting city in and around 2010, when they were tied to Manchester United in the league cuo and it was a riveting 2 legged tie. I Always cheered for underdogs and Manchester City stuck with me and I started following more of their matches. I was 13 then. With city anything could be possible. I read more about them and hence became a blue.
Yash(Chelsea fan):- It was the year when Chelsea got the league and FA cup double was my first foray in league football. Watched the 06 WC in Germany as part of a school project. Liked what I saw but never really followed up on it. I still remember Lampard scoring a goal and going all wild, running around with ecstacy. The blue jersey of Chelsea. Watching Drogba bully defenders. I particularly liked to see Petr Cech in goal. Loved that as a small kid. The intimate atmosphere of Stamford Bridge helped too. Read about them a bit. Always found Jose Mourinho arrival press conference pretty charismatic. The special one joining a special club. I knew this is where my heart will be.
Dhruv(Tottenham Hotspur Fan):- In 2009 my parents got me a PSP and FIFA 09. I was a casual watcher of football games before this. While I was playing the game, I came across this team called Tottenham Hotspur. I loved this one player called Gareth Bale, he used to take on everyone with his pace and his trickery. After playing PSP for hours my parent’s used to confiscate the PSP for that day so I used to see Gareth Bale videos on YouTube for the remainder of my day. I researched more about the team like it’s players, history and stuff. Fell in love with the club in an instant and till date that’s probably the best decision I’ve ever taken in my life no matter what others say about it. Everywhere I go I Proudly say that I support TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR!
Q2) How has being in different time zones affected you in terms of following the club and watching matches? Have you ruined your sleep cycle watching the club you follow?
Manas:- My livelihood depends on sport, so I am not the one to complain. But yes, I bet we all have had difficulty staying up for a 130 am midweek kickoff after a tough day at college or work & it gets worse the next day morning if Liverpool loses.But it’s a small price to pay isn’t it? The time away from football now has shown all of us how we took things for granted.
Aryan:- I’m often crossing time zones so VPNs and streaming services are a part of football life. Before streaming was as seamless, I used to record games on TV stay away from the score and watch them as live matches. Used to be difficult watching TV on school nights back in the day. Things are much easier with technology today. I’ve stayed up till 3/ 4am to watch some amazing Champions League victories and also watch us humiliated 4-0 by MK dons and crash of the cup on penalties against Middlesbrough, it’s all about the journey. Even fallen asleep a couple of times watching Louis Van Gaal teams!
AD:- Its particularly hard when there are Mid week fixtures and given the amount of games city plays , on those days I barely get 3-4hrs of sleep. CL and Cup ties usually air in India b/w 12:30 am – 1:30 am by the time I go to bed its 3 – 3:30 am ,and next day I would have school /college /work and it would be really difficult ,but wouldn’t mind it all because I would be content after watching my team play and win but when we would lose I would just wait for the next fixtures to arrive because its pure PTSD until we win again.
Yash:- A little bit. Although it’s primarily for Champions League football. PL is pretty time friendly for Indian viewers. Champions League is where sleep takes a bit of hit. But it’s fine. We make our little arrangements. That’s the least we can do for the best sport in the world.
Dhruv:- It was difficult in the start because when you’re in grade 6 or 7 you can’t stay up late at night because you have school the next day but with time I convinced my parents and they also understood that Watching his team play makes him happy (even though it’s traumatizing).
Q3) What are your thoughts on xenophobia against foreign fans by a small section of local fans?
Manas:- I have encountered a bit of trouble when I was in Kiev for the Champions League Final. I had the time of my life for 7 days with my friends but there was just one occasion where few people spoke about our accent & how “obviously we are scousers”. It exist but everyone else was kind and it felt like one big family. I have been to Liverpool thrice and never encountered anything. Just love and disbelief that I have traveled all the way just to watch Liverpool. On social media you see it the most because people can say the nastiest of things without getting into major trouble. There are narrow minded people everywhere & we will encounter them in all walks of life so I personally don’t pay much attention to them.
Aryan:- Firstly, we must accept that The Premier League and its clubs wouldn’t be where they are without the foreign fans, you have foreign players, coaches, support staff, why the problem with foreign fans? Most local fans I know are open and accepting but there is a small problematic bunch in every fanbase. Where do you draw the line, local club? Same country? Runs in the family? Across Europe?
Football is global sport that unites everyone and xenophobia in 2020 is ridiculous. The way I see it everyone’s a fan, some hardcore, some laid back but there’s no need for one upmanship or name calling. I can state the crazy things I’ve done/ seen other foreign fans do regularly for their clubs but with age and maturity you realize you don’t need to prove yourself to anyone, much less to some self-appointed gatekeepers of who can and cannot support a football club. Just enjoy the journey of supporting your football club.
AD:- Its actually quite sad and hurtful ,because we are as passionate if not more, we plan our weekends around the matches, we lose sleep and stay up, we go for screenings. We are constantly talking about it on different social media platforms, we show off our jerseys with same pride. Its actually major part of our lives.
Personally, I have been called a stinky Indian, that I belong to the slums of Mumbai, that I should stick to cricket and support our local teams just because we have some banter or difference of opinion. Definitely we are not competing with match day going fans, but we are as passionate and deserve to be treated with respect after all we spreading the Goodwill of the club miles away from it and helping it to be established as a global brand. City is not just a club for me, its a culture.
Yash:- The awareness is constantly increasing. Being global is the single biggest source of revenue and a marker of how big a club is. It takes sheer ignorance and incredible naievity to think of foreign fans as outsiders. Locals do fill up the numbers but a club truly becomes massive with all the global support it can garner. I tend to not pay much attention to any sort of xenophobia. That comes from a place of ignorance and I don’t think that’s worth my time. Majority of fans of almost all the clubs have been extremely kind and supportive. We are truly united by our love for the game.
Dhruv:- For me personally I’ve never had any Spurs fans tell me why don’t you support your local team or anything. But I have read a few tweets directed at others. These people really need to understand that this is how a club grows when they attract fans from a different country.That’s the beauty of this game that it unites all of us together!
Q4) What do you think your club should do to involve foreign fans more?
Manas:- I think Liverpool does quite a lot when it comes to fan engagement & the non live content made by Liverpool is one of the best in the business. The legends have come down to India a few times already & the club has organised a few events. In India, there are many officially affiliated fan clubs, maybe eventually award each fan club with one season ticket. The stadium might redone again from 54000 to 61000, it could be done. We all would all want a preseason game in India but none of the big boys have done it yet. The NBA had two games in 2019, it’s a start & I feel the world of sport must have noticed.
Aryan:- I think they are doing what they can, pre-season tours, club legends and ambassadors visiting various countries, trophy tours, official supporters club, some game timings shifted to maximize overseas viewership . At a personal level I’ve been fortunate to picture myself with the last Premier League trophy that United won and meet several United legends in India itself. Social media has bridged the gap more than ever. Just the other week Marcus Rashford was wishing safety for the people in Mumbai about to experience a cyclone, a few days later he did an interview for Indian fans with Yuvraj Singh (Indian Cricket Legend). Borders matter less than they’ve ever done and I feel the clubs and leagues are doing more to accommodate overseas fans, they’re on the right path.
AD:- I think city is actively doing a lot already its really easy to set up official supporter’s group and they are constantly engaging with those supporters group and also helping them expand. CFG is a huge brand now, recently they bought controlling shares of Mumbai City FC and that has contributed in an increase in recognition of City brand in the country.
Also twice now City have toured the trophies that we have won in previous seasons in different cities of India like Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune etc. With Paul Dickov, Micah Richards, Joleon Lescott. That’s a great initiative. Next step should bw to invite supporters group to match-days twice a year from different parts of the world and have an interactive sessions with the local fans.
Yash:- Tours. That’s the easiest way to garner foreign support. Clubs have to identify their biggest markets. It’s been nice to see them pay more attention to markets like China, India, Usa etc.. Tie ups with local clubs is another step in the right direction. We’ve seen clubs like Atletico Madrid try that in India. No wonder signing a starlet from a relatively new country with a lot of untapped football watchers is something that clubs have in their mind. Salah(Egypt) for Liverpool and Pulisic (USA) for Chelsea are some of such signings. They’re obviously not signed just for their marketability but that’s certainly a factor nowadays.
Dhruv:- I still think we can grow as a club and attract many fans with the help of tours. Last season we saw Spurs come to Singapore to play friendlies which was a very good step to get Asian fans much more involved. Big names like Harry Kane, Dele and Son were involved, and to see them live is a dream come true for many a fans.
Q5) What are your thoughts on Lacazette. How do you rate his tenure with Arsenal so far ?
Manas:- I don’t think his career has ever got going. I remember all the Arsenal supporters being optimistic when be signed and I was sure he would take Arsenal to the next level but it hasn’t happened.
There has to something wrong happening or some issues Wenger, Emery & now Arteta, none of them have started him regularly. He is 29 & it won’t be the worst decision to cash on him.
Aryan:- An area Arsenal can improve upon in the long term, he should be at his football peak but is not exactly standing out. He is not the most prolific and I feel Arsenal have struggled to find that Van Persie replacement. Overall I’d rate his time as underwhelming as I saw him as a top future striker when he played for Lyon.
AD:- I rated lacazette very highly ,he won the golden boot at Ligue 1 and I thought at the time it was a great signing. He was clinical as well during his time in lyon scoring 25+ goals in twice in last 3 seasons in ligue 1 is really impressive. But Arsenal and PL is a different ball game altogether. It takes time to adjust to the physicality of the league, also Arsenal was in a transition phase co incided with Ozil’s dip in form, no real creativity in the MF and managerial changes hampered his game and confidence and since then its been a massive dud. I would rate him 5.5-6/10 his time at Arsenal till now.
Yash:- Laca deals with it fair bit of criticism. Not unexpected when you have a ST ahead of your name and play alongside someone as prolific as Aubameyang. He came with a reputation. Averaging almost a goal a game, he backed it up really well in his first season. He’s dropped deeper and deeper during his stint with Arsenal. He’s growing into a role where he is made to do a lot of off the ball work for Arsenal. Arsenal’s lack of creaters is a concern. Ozil no longer being the player he was, Sanchez leaving… these are two big losses for that Arsenal midfield. They aren’t creating enough. He’s averaging pretty much the same amount of shots as his most successful season. But the quality of his shots have been down. With Martinelli knocking on the doors, pretty much kicking it down, it’s growing increasingly difficult for him to hold onto his place. In an ideal world, Arteta would probably like to cash on Laca, tie up Auba on a deal and hope Martinelli’s progression goes exactly the way Arsenal predict/hope it goes. He’s a good player, but I think Arsenal can do better than him. However, in a window complicated by post COVID impact, we will see teams getting a bit more conservative about people coming in. Laca just might get another chance.
Dhruv:- He’s had his moments and also sometimes he’s been way off the price tag for which Arsenal signed him for. As of late his away form has not been good for which he’s receiving criticism from Arsenal fans and rightly so. It is expected when you’re the club’s Player of the year the preceding season. The fans are bound to have high hopes from you! He has been okish for Arsenal so far.
Q6) Martinelli- a future striker or winger?
Manas:- Too early to tell but he has become a fan favorite so early in his career. I have seen him play a few times and his pressing, defensive contribution, workrate is phenomenal. I am sure Arteta will get best out of him.
Aryan:- He looks very promising indeed, has great attributes at his age. To me he looks like an inside forward from the left. Reminds me Cristiano or Henry of the past or of the Martial & Rashford conundrum, both have been played as wingers, inside forwards and strikers by past managers and everyone saw them in different positions. Martinelli trialled at Utd who did not sign him, which might turn out to be an error in the future. He’s done well so far and we might see a Greenwood vs Martinelli debate in the future as fans on both sides have started already.
AD:- Definitely a striker. He doesn’t have great taken on ability or crossing in the matches that I have seen him when he was deployed on the LW because of Saka playing at LB. He has great positional sense if a striker and his finishes also signify that. Great movement inside the penalty box.
Yash:- A future striker for me but think he can work and do wonders as left winger as well. He reminds me of early Ronaldo.
Dhruv:- I think his position totally depends on Aubameyang and his contract issues. But as of i think he’s still raw and young but the man has got loads of potential to be a top class STRIKER.
Q7) Which Arsenal player do you think never reached his full potential?
Manas:- Lucas Torreira & Kolasinac started their careers so well and there was a huge hype but that didn’t workout(until now). So many that come to mind honestly, some might even say the likes of Mustafi, Ozil & Lacazette have never lived to their potential.
Aryan:- From the older players I’d pick Wilshere (injuries), Nasri (city move) and Walcott (growth plateau). From the more recent ones I’d say Bellerin due to injuries, but he still has time
AD:- There can only be one name and its Jack Wilshire. Man had everything, his 1st touch, his ball retention, possession in tight areas, vision but his body put him down. I really rated him when he burst onto the scenes. Its just sad how his career turned out. Bonefied baller on his day still.
Yash:- It has to be Diaby. He had multiple 30+ seasons with Arsenal. He is someone who would look like a world beater on his day. Had good passing range, was a technical player and could play box to box. Injuries ruined what could have been a very exciting midfield option for Arsenal for years to come.
Dhruv:- As much as i hate that guy I’ll have to say JACK WILSHERE. Man at the age of 19 bossed at the Camp Nou with Xavi in that Midfield. Again I’d like no career to be cut short because of injuries but that man had some potential and loved the club he played for.
Q8) Unbiased thoughts on Arteta.
Manas:- He is one of the guys who you can’t dislike, even when he was at Everton, he had the respect of many Liverpool supporters. He haas won trophies with Arsenal and he would know the expectations. In my opinion, did the right thing by being the assistant for three odd years in the league and working with one of the best. He seems to be a very calm guy and would not get on the wrong side of the big egos of the modern day footballer. I like him, I think he is worth giving time.
Aryan:- Ideologies take time to implement, some more than others. He’s been around for only a couple of months and it’s way too early to judge. He has a style he wants his team to implement and a lot would depend on recruitment and ultimately performances to call him successful or not. It’s nice to see managers stubbornly stick to their vision of football as I feel that is what brings success and stability in the long term.
AD:- Mikel Arteta is how you describe a task master. He specifically knows what needs to be changed in a player to get the best out of him. Sterling is a great example. He worked on his body shape, movement and how to attack the box and look at him now. Also his work with Rodri is underrated.
Pepe is in good hands. He is a great tactician as well, and had an immediate impact on Arsenal’s defence. I think he can take Arsenal to top 4 next season given he get his players and start challenging for silverware. I hope one day he manages City.
Yash:- Arteta is an excellent coach. He has a serious reputation for it. And for good reason. Anyone would die to spend time with Pep Gaurdiola, arguably the greatest modern day tactician in the sport. The mood at club looks certainly different from the doom and gloom that accompanied Emery. There seems to be a clearly defined structure in place. He likes his width, working perfectly for people like Saka.
The reality is Arsenal is a long way off to truly compete with the elite. The situation won’t get magically resolved given the complexities of this transfer window, even more so due to COVID. In all honesty, this might be the worst group of players on defense Arsenal has seen in a long time. And Arteta has managed to make them give better defensive numbers.
He seems like a good fit. The mood is better, there is coherence in what Arsenal do. They’re still long way off from the European elite but with Arteta, you do get the feel that Arsenal are on the right track.
Dhruv:- As we saw this week Arteta had a plan in place before all the hardwork he did for 3 months went in vain because of 2 individual errors. He used to be an assistant to one of the best minds this sport has ever seen. The task ahead of him is not at all easy but if he gets the players he demands and proper backing from the board he can be very good.
Q9) What is the one thing a rival club is doing and you would love to see it being implemented at your club?
Manas:- Not much. We all wish we had the spending power but whatever Liverpool is doing at the moment is working. Why change it? These are good times for us as supporters (knock on wood)
Aryan:- Liverpool ever since Klopp took over- hiring the right support staff, significantly incorporating data in management and footballing decisions, supporting them in their ideas and recruitment even when it doesn’t work out initially. To sum it up- hiring the right people and backing them!
AD:- I think how Liverpool has been doing their transfer business is fascinating and would love to have that in our club , those effective bargain signings are needed at city.
Yash:- It has to be recruitment. And Chelsea have taken baby steps towards that. Manchester City have been outstanding on that front. Txiki is responsible for recruitment, with Kevin De Bruyne, Gabriel Jesus, Aymeric Laporte and Ederson among the starlets coming in under him. Chelsea are following suit and so far the club have done well on that front in a market where we need to extremely careful. We avoided overspending in January and waited for better deals.
Dhruv:- Only thing I want my club to do is make some sensible signings which we haven’t done for some time. The likes of Chelsea, United and Liverpool are all buying players which they require to strengthen the squad. A LB, CDM and CB. These are the positions we have to invest in otherwise the gap between Tottenham and other teams from the top 6 will be humongous.
Q10) Your favourite player in your team. What do you like about him?
Manas:- This is a tough one. Actually it’s impossible to pick one player because the entire team is unbelievable. If I’m at gunpoint and I had to pick one person from the club, it would be Klopp. I really don’t think I need to state the reason here
Aryan:- Paul Pogba – He truly stands out and it is difficult to see such a rare combination of supreme technical ability paired with monstrous physicality. The likes of Zlatan & Cristiano come to mind but in different roles. He’s also a great professional as mentioned by his managers while his club and France teammates look at him as a leader and motivator. He’s missed most of this season due to injuries and I’d love to see him at United for at least another year if not more.
AD:- Kevin De Bruyne. He is the most complete midfielder and the best midfielder in the world right now. He can play false 9 and also a DLP too.
Yash:- He’s not the best player of the team obviously but my answer is Ruben Loftus Cheek. He offers the dynamism that no other Chelsea midfielder provides. Chelsea lack goals from midfield. It’s been a long term issue. For his size, he’s one of the most agile player in this league. Has a good burst of pace, excellent dribbling. Chelsea have struggled to break down low blocks. His runs offer a different attacking outlet. Chelsea lack power shooters in their side other than Mount. He’s a big boy, can use his body to effectively shield the ball too. He’ll come back from a potentially career ending injury for many players. There’s a nervous energy in the air regarding him. He’s done well in training so far. I’m extremely excited to see him in action.
Dhruv:- It’s either of Harry Kane or Giovani Lo Celso. Harry as we all know a big superstar but probably Lo Celso edges it for me. If it wasn’t for him we probably would be struggling a lot. He has to carry the team almost every game but that’s what you really want a big money signing to do. So yeah for me it has to be Lo Celso followed by Harry Kane.
I would like to thank all the people involved for giving me their valuable time. Stay safe.
