Yeah today you could actually hear the Army...dont know if that was ESPN's doing or the Army just singing louder, but still not a real variety of songs and chants....hey all you Armyfolk...check out the first page of this thread for some tips... https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=51588
Sam's Army, USA Supporters and others were in a corner section behind one of the goals. Unfortunately, the ESPN camera angle seldom afforded a view of them. That being said I did get a glimpse out of them on TV, and I could certainly hear them, and the numbers looked good considering the nature of the match. The Magpie
Some Classless Chants I was there in Richmond in the East Stand, and it amazes me that Sam's Kiddies get the notoriety they do. Constantly addressing the New Zealand goalkeeper with a "You suck, a--hole!" on his goalkicks certainly was a way to do the US proud. Sam's Kiddies veered away from gamesmanship towards verbal abuse there. Ironic that the England fans in the game against Serbia-Monetnegro were probably better behaved than this group. But why should people expect more from a group that uses jingoistic and trite slogans in promoting their existence? "Expeditionary Force". "Let's Roll". For my money, the fans in the West Stands across the way were far more effective in supporting the game in a sporting manner. The only creative, gamesmanlike (non-abusive) chant I heard was the "Stick to rugby!" chant.
And before you label me a softy . . . I spent a year living in Scotland in the 1990s and witnessed all sorts of racist abuse hurled at players, have been caught in the middle of an Old Firm brawl at a pub, and have seen terrace stampedes. Sam's Army could be so much more productive (and probably effective) if they would drop the personal attacks. But since it is probably about "them" as much as it is the NATS, I am skeptical that anything will ever change. Even the "El Norte" banner was an underhanded jab at the Mexicans.
Re: Some Classless Chants Please explain all the riots the England fans have caused compared to what Sam's Army has done. Please explain the racist chants that occur in Europe.
Re: And before you label me a softy . . . you friggin moron, the LA NORTE banner is an DC United Supporters Group flag. get your fax straight before you go taken underhanded jabs(whatever that is) at people.
My fault. But you prove my point with the name-calling. Why such hostility? Who wronged you in your life?
Re: Re: Some Classless Chants I was referring to the most recent England game. I was not defending Europe in any way. Where do you get that?
Hmm, you're offended so far by the words "moron" and "asshole" and you believe Sam's Army to be harsh and abusive. Forgive us if we fail to take you seriously.
Re: Some Classless Chants First off I would like to say that as someone who has been to a number of US matches that today was my first time sitting with Sams Army. It was without a doubt one of the most amazing experiences I have had at a soccer match. To actually address your points. 1) West Stands ???? Im not sure exactly what group you are refering to, but I saw no other group of supporters standing and chanting throughout the match. 2) All comments including those not suitably G rated for your tender ears are all in good fun. The interaction between the keeper and the Army was hillarious. 3) Personally I thought the "You wish you were Australian" was the best chant. 4) Someone back me up on this but doesn't El Norte refer to a DC fan group that sits in the north end of RFK? As many of the people in the section had come down from D.C. I would suggest that this is a more plausable explanation than your search for hidden insults. 5) Jingoistic? Offensive? Grow up. It was a fun experience that harmed noone and allowed us to display the pasionate support that can help elevate the Nats even in rather meaningless friendlies
Re: Re: Re: Some Classless Chants This name calling stuff is for good fun and humor. I brought several soccer haters into sitting with such supporters and they loved it. Sam's Army makes the atmosphere ten times better.
Re: Some Classless Chants Most of us weren't "Sam's Kiddies", as you put it. Maybe they don't do it at Carolina Courage games, but it's SOP for men's games in this country. And the Kiwi keeper didn't seem to mind. Again, most of us who were there today aren't part of Sam's Army. It's a supporters section. If you're virgin ears can't handle it, get the fuck out (sorry, get the "fudge" out). Don't forget "Don't Tread On Me". Good thing you weren't at the Jamaica qualifier at Foxboro in 2001, we were singing "Fuck Bin Laden" for about a solid hour before kickoff. Your head might've exploded. And again, it's not Sam's Army you're talking about. That must be why the entire US team and 2 New Zealand players (Ryan Nelsen and the keeper) acknowledge the West Stands after the match. As the person who started that chant (ripped off the "stick to cricket" chant we do when we play Jamaica and Trinidad), let me cordially tell you to kindly fuck off. You big hard man you. Get with the program. Sam's Army's influence among the hardcore US fan base is dwindling every day precisely because they DON'T generally do stuff like this. They're not small annoying bugs are they? Then don't call them the "Nats". As Tomas mentioned, La Norte is the name of a DC United supporters group, who many of the guys who were there today belong to. Good thing you weren't with me on the way out when I saw 2 guys wearing Mexico shirts and started yelling "Dos a cero!" at them repeatedly.
Hey dfb were you the guy wearing the BC hat? On a different note can someone clear up the issue between USA supporters/Sams Army? I loved the atmosphere and was happy to add my 2 cents worth of help to it so I want to be connected with which ever or both of the groups that was most involved today. Especially the people who came up with the chants that our Orange loving "friend" so objects to
He's from Jersey so he's got more grease in his hair than Danny Zuko and Kenickie combined...cut him some slack. And yes, the Army could be more productive if they sang American songs instead of sticking with "Insert 4-syllables here" followed by 5 claps or "Ole Ole Ole"
Re: Re: Some Classless Chants how about polish fans with Neo-Nazi flags and chanting monkey sounds at black players and boycotting matches if there is a jewish player. But I still want to know how we are racist. Sams Army, La Norte, Screaming Eagles and USA Supporters Group, do not at all promote racism. Its all in fun, did you notice the Kiwi keeper joking at us? Obviously not. You say that all our songs were filled with foul language etc.. the two chants your talking about are only 2 of 10. Most of the match was spent singing the classic "ooh ohoh USA" song. (add as many Ohhs as you want). selective hearing is not a good thing.
Yep that was me To make a long story very short, about 3 years ago a few of us thought that Sam's Army was getting too tame, so we started our own group which we called the USDA (for US Department of Aggro, a joke on 80s English hooligan groups, later renamed Yank Army because people took it too seriously and thought we really were hooligans). Then about a year ago some people more or less thought we had the right idea except they didn't want to be part of a group at all, so they just call themselves "USA Supporters", I view it more as a collection of individual supporters rather than another supporters group, but all of us(Yank Army and USA Supporters, and La Norte when we play in or near DC) more or less respect what Sam's Army has done in the past but believe that it is time for those of us who are willing to step our support up to the next level, and for those who are not willing, Sam's Army is great.
Good idea, guarantee that only the Army is vocal. Face it, anything more won't catch on. At USMNT games I'd rather have thousands more chanting "insert 4-syllabes here" or whatever rather than only the Army singing songs.