1) the PA as is currently set up is mostly heard on either end 2) it has nothing to do with people being "stupid" but rather how everything's gone so far to this point.
so how does everyone hear the chants in the middle to begin with? does he still have mr megaphone or does he just yell...and why would that work for chants but not for "make some noise"
I wasn't insulting you. Did I state you are dumb? No. I just can't think of a more apt description for what you said. I wasn't even trying to be a douche. People will have a harder time yelling than singing a melody? In what universe? If we're talking the realm of reality: 1.) There are more people in the non-middle sections than in the middle sections. 2.) From my observations, at least in 139/140 and the half of 138 close to 139, there are lots of new faces every game in the non-middle sections. These people are most likely sports fans and not necessarily soccer supporters. They might be completely down and get into the experience, but they're probably still just fans of sports in general. 3.) Philly sports fans can make lots of noise. We like to do that. Watch any Philly sports team. When it's not the simple "Let's go ____" chants, it's often just noise. And that noise is loud. People yelling their hearts out. Every single one of us knows how to make noise. Every single one of us understands how to scream until we can't scream anymore in a situation that's important. When we were doing the "just make noise" thing, we were loud as shit. Smashthevan can back me up on this, people got the idea when we were yelling "MAKE SOME FUCKING NOISE" and doing the hand signal one would naturally do to accompany this. Way, way, way, way, way less people do the current chant than there were who just yelled loudly. As a matter of fact, listen to how much louder the boos are for Beckham's corner than the chants for our corners in the last game. Yeah. People get the idea. If nothing else, the halting, quiet nature of the song naturally kills energy. If we're going to do a chant, that's the worst one I can think to do. Do something loud and fast, without pause. *********** If this discourse wasn't intelligent enough for you, we could also meet in a cafe and discuss the finer points of Foucault's analysis of discourse itself, including the hot button topics of "who sets discourse" and "what are the ramifications for society as a whole". Which, apparently, is not most young women's idea of a first date, sadly. Go figure.
It probably wasn't personal... every time you were saying 'discourse,' she confused it with 'intercourse.'
Oh, I doubt that. Because the exact phrasing was, "Hey baby, wanna go out for some philosophical discussion, maybe a little coffee, some sportfucking?"
To this, I would say that the PA isn't really necessary. The universal throw-your-arms-in-the-air, bring-the-noise gesture is easy enough, recognizable enough, and a lot easier to spread through a section from the bottom up because it relies solely on a visual cue, not an audible one. Against FCD at the Linc, Seitz was raising his arms up to the crowd towards and after the 90th minute, and the WHOLE crowd responded enthusiastically, understanding right away what he wanted them to do. If Corey and the other capos do the same, all the folks who can see them (admittedly, not all), will get the idea. They, in turn, will make a ton of noise and a few will do the same gesture to cue in the rest of the River End. Just a couple of arm raisings as the corner is getting set up, and the wall of noise is built. And, upon seeing the gestures of Corey/capos (sorry for the lack of names for the others, but corey is the one I see from 137 big ups to the others though), the rest of the stadium (or at least those in the corners might get in on the action, which adds to the effect. Getting the non-REers to do that is a lot more likely than getting them to sing a song. As far as the "expectation" hypothesis goes, I think that that is something that should be addressed. Perhaps the fact that people expect 90 minutes of continuous organized chants isn't the best thing. Don't get me wrong, as a supporters' group, organized chanting is our backbone. But there are times in a game where it's just time to make a TON of noise and get behind your team, cheering each and every attempt and piling on the pressure on the opponents. Against SJ earlier in the year, as we were pushing for the winner (which SJ ended up getting ) late in the match, the RE was just cheering and going nuts for the last 7 or so minutes of regulation, trying to will on the Union to a goal. For me, that was one of the most memorable moments of the season in terms of atmosphere, because every little touch, pass, and positive play was met with a roar of encouragement. For a cross-sport reference, I attended a Pens-Flyers playoff game a couple of years back, and the Wach was literally roaring for 10 straight minutes as the Flyers pressed for an equalizer. It was unbelievable raw emotion that fed itself and really did as much as possible to help the team. That kind of display deserves a spot in the match day repertoire, however big or small it may be. While organized chants are essential, there should also be some slack for times of raw emotion and ad-libbed insanity. And, so long as everyone is on that same page, it still is organized, albeit in a different manner. So, late in a match where our guys are pushing for a winner, or as a crucial CK or FK are being set up, maybe the capos should consider the ol' "make some f*cking noise" arm-raising motion. Just because it's not a song doesn't make it wrong or bad or un-supporters group-like. It's just different. Variety is the spice of life. And if we're to do our job as a supporters' group - that being to push the Union on to victory - we have to be willing to adapt and be open to all suggestions. In a group of 5,000 people (2,000 of which are in the RE), there are bound to be some damn good ideas, as well as some bad ones that get put into place. An objective examination of all of them is the best way to figure out what to do going forward, and we can't afford to have pride get in the way of that on either end. (not directing this all at you Bolton, btw, much of this has been in general)
It certainly was independent when you helped to found the club, Dills, and I'm sure we all want to keep it that way. But it can't be independent fully if we work with the club to get our own supporters section, discounted tickets, and to help promote the team in the media. As we've seen, we're clearly being used to mold crowd reaction. And if there are people here who buy into the notion that we're somehow responsible for how much money the club is making, then how independent is that?
So to summarize (the relevant bits, at least): 1. Stop the DCU chant (and it really is tightly linked to them, even if other clubs around the globe use it) because it's a DC chant, corner kicks are a dumb time for it, and we don't even do it correctly anyway. 2. For Union corners, stick with what we went to after finally (and rightly) dumping ZOLO: make a ton of noise. Philadelphia sports fans are very adept at this. 3. For people that need to be told to make noise, have a capo make the international "make noise" gesture. Other options include a large sign that says "NOISE". I'm on board for all of this.
and wasnt your logic for the anti YSA chant originally "everyonne in the MLS does it already" even before the FO started bitching? someone misread, and misinterpreted the whole point of this thread.... and to think you're a west ham boy like myself.... I agree. how about this, if you start being nicer to people, I'll teach you how to keep time on the bass drum
Apples and oranges. The argument made was "let's stop this BECAUSE it's such a DC thing," which obviously isn't true.
not apples and oranges... your argument was let's stop YSA, because everyone is doing it. then you defend DC chant by saying, it's not just DC, everyone uses it. I'm just going by your logic here. not only do i think that chant is the lamest fuc king thing I've ever heard, I also think it's a bit hypocritical for you to say it's ok to use the DC chant because everyone uses it (regardless of how untrue the statement is) and then say YSA is not ok to use because everyone uses it.
I said the idea we should stop it BECAUSE it's a "DC chant" is factually incorrect. The argument was made "we shouldn't do this because it's a DC thing and they wouldn't 4LC etc." and I simply pointed out that was not true. I also said further up in the thread that I'd rather do a wall of noise as well. I think there's logistical problems with doing it RIGHT NOW, but definitely something we should think about for next year. And if you still have a problem with the YSA thing, call your ticket rep and discuss it.
Something tells me Middle East peace will happen before the two sides of this thing come together, so can we just drop it? The anti-DCU chant folks can continue to not do it & just make noise The pro-DCU chant folks can continue to do it (well, at least the 1st verse of it, since that is all they seem to know ) These things seem to work themselves out naturally... (I mean, we don't do the Frosted Flakes chant any more, right?) [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAIIb2j-xVw&feature=related"]YouTube - Frosted Flakes we are tigers commercial.mpg[/ame]
ok so DC does it, and who else? toronto? big f ucking whoop. to be honest, I couldn't care less who else does it, fact of the matter is, this is one of our main rivals chant. not only is it that, but it's lame, monotonous, and boring as all hell. I read what you said. I have eyes, and can read at a level suitable to what is needed for forum comprehension. at this point, there's no need to call my ticket rep about YSA, I know you guys have already laid down over the issue, and that's fine I guess (even though I think it's lame) but that issue for me, is squashed. I was just using as a comparison, because it seemed that, while you didn't really like the "dc chant" all that much, you had no problem using it.
Just jutting in to say that I really, really like the idea of singing High Hopes after Saturday's match. I mean, I do have high hopes for the Union being a veritable powerhouse next year. It'd be nice to pass that message along in some manner. Also, those of us who want a wall of sound, we should do our part to help the capos out and shout to MAKE SOME FCUKIN' NOISE. Let the ones who want to go with Dale do their thing, and if we drown them out, y'know...
On the Subject of being heard. We really need to get that Capo stand that we have been talking about since the begining of the season.
while we are discussing uses of chants. lets not use the "we love ya" chant at home games. I realize that the majority of us don't live in chester and technically "followed" the union to ppl park, but shouldn't that be an away game chant? that is seriously one of my biggest problems with chants other then the really terrible "she fell over" chant.
that chant was lame as shit and everyone knows it. being sarcastic about it doesn't make it a better decision.