|
| As long as the match is entertaining! | | Date Created: Apr 05, 2005, 01:36 AM |
|
In tonight's Tele, Stuart McKinlay fell foul to one of the biggest misconceptions in sports journalism, that football fans more than anything else want to watch entertaining football. This is of course utter tripe, with just enough of a hint of truth in it to make it printable.
"Both the Ports and Glens have failed to score in their last two outings. Maybe they've been saving them up for a tasty battle in the rematch.
What the fans wanted to see on Saturday and what they will be desperate for tomorrow night, is a spectacle, an entertaining game and most importantly goals. Come on boys, show us what you can do". |
Of course, while fans would like to see their team win with style (the afterglow from the trouncing of Linfield in this season's cup replay lasted a full 2 weeks!), in big cup matches against difficult opposition, fans just want to see their team win to get through to the next round!
A West brom fan, watching his team play Arsenal in a crunch end of season match in their fight for survival, isn't really looking for an open brilliant, high scoring game of football in which Messrs Henry, Reyes and Pires show their undoubted world class skills in a 6-4 thrilling defeat for the Baggies. |
The thing that I find funniest when journalists make these comments, is that it is the media and journalists themselves who really want and need these high scoring, entertaining thrillers, and who have absolutely no preference about who wins the match.
Yes, across the board all Irish League fans would like to see a more entertaining league with a better standard of football, but deep down we all have our own allegiances and these are what matter most.
So first and foremost, Mr McKinlay, I can assure you that Glentoran fans simply want to win this evening. If we can put in another performance like the one against Linfield, all the better and hopefully that would auger well for the next 4 league matches. But if you believe that in an Irish Cup semi-final fans would rather their team involved in an all-time classic which they narrowly lost, than getting to the final after the most drab, lifeless, soulless game you have ever seen, then you have never supported a football team. |
|
|
|
|
|
