I think there is a general consensus that we have seen less and less posters on this forum as the 2012 season went on. I know the team's form is no help but what is really going on? I know a number of the old posters over the years still monitor this forum, so I'm asking a favor: Please reply to this thread. Like your old mother I'm going to ask you, why don't you come visit anymore? Is it me? Is it ivonomad? Are you just sick of (posting about) FCD? Be specific. We have all offseason to do this so let's go...
I only joined this forum in 2010, so I am relatively new as compared to others on here. I haven't been on here much since about August, when my wife and I had our first child. Since then I missed every home game and my free time to read this message board and other FCD websites has been limited to when I am at work. That's my excuse.
I joined earlier this year, started following FCD in 2006 just casually, got into soccer again during the 2010 WC (didn't hurt that FCD had a solid year). I commented a lot at my meaningless job in my cubical, but then I hit the 1,000 comments around the same time my laptop stopped working around the same time I quit my job to start law school. So that's my excuse. Law school.
I have kept an eye on things, but being abroad didn't help as I wasn't in the loop. Now that I have moved back, I was a bit surprised to see the number of people I know down to only a handful. Granted it was only at a watching party or two, but it still surprised me at previous watching parties with sucklake being the exception, I remember there being a decent crowd.
I have been very busy lately but I'm always readind the news in the Forum. Well, there haven't been too many news recently..... maybe that's why I haven't been posting too much.... Therefore down in Brazil my beloved Palmeiras is in a very complicated situation, probably is going to be relegated to 2nd Division (League) for next year even being the current Brazilian Cup Champion. It hurts, but as someone (like me) that falls, I know we are going to sand up again ....
Well, I'm pretty new here and joined around June. I forgot my login and kept up with many of the forums by just reading. This thread got me off my lazy butt to click the 'forgot your password?' link.
I come here, like, everyday, but I come as a modest fan. I love the team, but rather only talk about the players, the staff, the culture, and the rumors around the team. But I leave the tactics to you guys, which happens to be a lot of the talking. This season wasn't very good, not much to talk positively about, but I feel it will pick up once more pre season news comes out. Also, new job kept me from watching and going to most of the games.
Always lurking. While my heart and soul belongs to this club, I'm trying to avoid stressing about things I can't control. So I just watch games, follow articles and lurk but try not to get wrapped up in "what could be" and whatnot that most topics are about.
Hopefully you can do better than that . Why don't you make a list of those you miss and others can add to it. We'll track them down and drag 'em back kicking and screaming.
For me, all the major FCD issues have been covered - repeatedly. (Stadium, attendance, coach, owner, front office, poor results, etc.) My opinion on most of those items is generally in the minority. Therefore, I have seen no reason to comment. Doing so would only mean the possibility of facing an onslaught of negative personal attacks. There have been some good discussions here and it can be a source of news coming out of FCD/HSG. So I really come here to get that info.
I check out big soccer every day but since the big soccer format change and the general lack of enthusiasm surrounding the season I don't comment much. However, I just saw Blaz gets a 2 game suspension for the start of next season.
I think internet discussion forums in general might be less popular now that people can spout off to the world on Facebook, Twitter, etc. I joined BS this summer after a friend forwarded me an article. I didn't even know it existed until then. I appreciate the FCD, MLS general, and USMNT discussion. I haven't seen this kind of stuff anywhere else except occasionally on 3rd Degree.
Been following FCD for 2 years now. I mainly lurk when I want to read up to date information on an upcoming game or to read comments on a specific match. I will admit I'm a casual fan. I'll go to a few games, but since I don't like seating on the east side I don't go as often because the price for the west side is a bit out of my budget. I mainly keep up with FCD on the MLS app. Which they've made the highlights very annoying since they have done away with the "FULL HIGHLIGHTS" and now they only have bits and pieces. But good app. Funny how the USA team went with a similar kit as FCD. Now I don't think they're as lame.
I'm basically an MLS neutral, living in San Diego, and having a strong dislike for the teams nearest to me in Los Angeles. (I dislike all Los Angeles sports teams.) But I do have a few MLS favorites that I generally root for, and FCD is at the top of the list. I basically became a fan of FCD in the Kreis/Graziani/Pareja era, particularly with the acquisition of Graziani who I loved watching play, and then further became a fan with DF10, Shea, John and the gang. Hopefully this recent era will last a few more years. It's only this year I began commenting on the site a bit, not wanting to overstep my bounds as a "neutral" coming from the outside. But I've been lurking a lot on the FCD boards and have begun to comment from time to time. Maybe one day I'll get to a game. The closest I've ever gotten to Dallas (besides the airport) is Austin, where my sister and brother in law live. One day I'll plan a trip and make it to PHP, and hopefully won't sit on the sun side.
I've seen your comments in other sections and they are welcome here. Sometimes a neutral is the best medicine anyway. What's needed here is more discussion if anyone has an alternate take bring it on moderators should take care of the negative stuff. It's boring if everyone has the same opinion anyway.
For me it was a combo of work and the poor season. It was hard to stay interested in an weak team when there's so many other things going on - didn't even make it out to the last several home matches, let alone post about them.
for some reason i thought this thread was going to be for supporters to post (hopefully tasteful i.e. shirt ON) pictures of themselves. that said, i have no idea why i clicked on it... as for the answer to the question posed, there are other sites that seem to have more information and get better traffic/discussion nowadays so i tend to frequent those more than this one. also, and prob user error, i get more posting problems than with the old format and then the entire page goes to format "centered" and looks crazy.
I've been mostly lurking for around for almost 10 (!) years now, a STH, 3rd/big D reader etc and I certainly have the dreaded Burn Virus (constant following of FCD games/news and attendent depression). Not eloquent or knowledgable to post too much here but agree the many other new sources, app/twitter, crappy season etc have likely reduced traffic on this board. OTOH Brushes Sand did resurface recently so that is nice.
That's probably part of it. Another is bigdsoccer.com really taking off when it comes to discussion of tactics, roster moves, opta charts, ect. This forum is really just here for people to bitch and whine and knee jerk about whatever sub or lineup Schellas Hyndman did or didn't do. It just gets old.
I think most of the points that have had me more quiet have already been pointed out, though I don't know I was ever really an avid poster to begin with. I still check almost daily, pop into a discussion that interests me. More than anything this season's wash/rinse/repeat feeling has been my biggest deterrent from active discussion. You can only say the same thing so many times in different ways. Just off the top of my head, certain topics I almost surely will not participate in anymore... --Fire SH-- Not gonna happen this season, no point in discussing it --attendance discussions-- Unless there is a amazing idea WITH a pipeline to the FO for actual consideration this is another pointless conversation, mostly because it brings out trolls and everyone who wants to point out every reason why we won't have large attendance rather than could. --anything about another club's FO-- While we can all see good and bad things around the league, I'm not optimistic our "tight" FO will adopt much of it. --anything about a new owner-- In line with the point above. Unless there is actual swirling's of change in ownership this is a fruitless conversation.
IF.. we are going to grow the club in the beer garden direction I would like to see a fleet of party busses. For those of us who live in the 1+ hour drives away.... don't even know if it is even legal, but imagine a party bus with tastefully dressed beer waitresses in FCD regalia transporting from some of the local DFW pubs. Allow those subregional bars with some free in stadium props. Figure out a way for the pub/restaurant to sell the game experience for you. I am not saying that this idea is realistic or not, but imagine a local supporters club that meets at say... Fox and Hound in FW, or Los Sapitos, ect... They meet at the establishment with food and beverage discounts, ride the bus equipped with a plasma TV showing soccer.... and you can purchase drink on the bus, (that is sold by the local pub), with again a very very tastefully dressed young lady wearing modest FCD apparel. All riders are provided with any stadium giveaways, and specific cheers and jeers are directed at other supporters groups prior to the match. Prizes and points are awarded and scores kept of participation and intensity levels. Groups who win are graced with bigger beverage discounts on the ride up. Maybe even soccer royalty and former players participate on the rides and interact with the fans. And the ride back........ 100% analysis and second guessing of every thing on the pitch. I'm telling you, this portable tailgate experience would be a rockin' time for all. The point being, to create a Confederation of soccer rowdies and a fertile training ground for the non-soccer rowdy to really become acculturated to the magic of being a part of a supporters group. Fan by fan, bar by bar, suburb by suburb, soccer gulag by soccer gulag, world domination........ all succumb to the mighty influence of the round football ball.