Soccer365 Article by Ziegler

A very interesting article.

 

Hal,

Thanks for the link!

Good article.

 

I'm a little disappointed that the writer made it seem like the comments of a few SEs represented the views of the group. I'm a Screaming Eagle, and I want to see Gazza in a black shirt.

 

But, in truth, the voices of a few, louder SEs, do tend to represent the group...at least to the press.

 

Ditto!

 

Great article. I for one am encouraged by Gazza's arrival and am looking forward to seeing him play. He may be exactly what we need to make a playoff run.

TS.

 

I wonder if this Ziegler fella has heard about Gazza drinking all those whiskey shots the other night.

 

I'll second that emotion

 

I have also paid dues to the SE's and wonder who it is (if they are) speaking for the group. I wouldn't think it is the Supporters Clubs business to be telling the team who we should and shouldnt sign like its some mass collective union of fans. We all cannot even agree on what beer we should have.

 

It's been my experience with the SEs that they're very careful to NOT speak for the group when they're talking to the press.

I imagine that these folks were just expressing their own opinions and perhaps the article just makes it sound like there's a concensus. Anyone who spends 5 minutes on these boards knows that's not the case.

 

The article did say the SE comments were prior to this season. Whoever they were, it might be interesting to ask those same people their opinion today. Not that it's a case of desperation or anything now!

I looked at the poll here on BS a few minutes ago, and it looked like close to 80% in favor of signing him... I guess not to many SE's here!

Just for reference, I am an SE too.

 

La Barra Brava wants Gazza and we cheer louder. He may have a few issues but we like him.

 

Gazza will be signed. Im sure of it. I dont think he will need to impress much. Signing him will do more for the league then for the team, and thats what matters most.

The man is old and had or has bad habits. However, his popularity will bring what MLS had been craving for all this time, world recognition.

Ok so the world knows we (MLS) exist, but people will actually be looking into DC Uniteds web site or this forum to stay in tune with the latest gazza news. DC United will become a team the whole world will know about. Many writters will be employed just to keep up with his or the teams latest actions.

I am tired and need to sleep. I write later.............The dude will be signeddd

 

First off this letter is an opinion letter written by an SE (and as far as I know he's not a journalist). The event he's talking about is the Gold Cup event at Summers that Ray came to when he first joined the team back in the winter. Ray asked people there if they thought getting Gazza was a good idea, most at the time said no. The only reporter around was Dyson and I don't recall him writing anything we said down.

So before people start accusing the SEs of speaking for anyone maybe you should get your facts straight!

K

 

Search the archives of New Republic and you'll find a couple of articles by said Mr. Zeigler. If we still had a BigSoccer archive, you could find links over on Bus and Media. So, I think he's a part time journalist, at least.

 

Could be. At the time Ray was speaking with us no one identified themselves as a reporter so nobody was aware that anything they said was being taken down nor did anyone make any official statement on behalf of the club.

K

 

Hey folks, just to remind everyone what I posted originally....

I said I was disappointed that the writer made it seem like the comments of a few SEs represented the views of the group. I didn't say that was the case, only that the writer spun it a certain way.

 

It's not like anyone hired a banner towing airplane or anything.......

Someone just expressed an opinion. They're allowed.

Or at least they used to be.....

 

Actually, columnist may be a more accurate description.

 

And the columnist (psst, it's not a letter said "a GROUP of Screaming Eagles, one of the team's supporters' clubs, told the manager...."

Doesn't say it was an official Screaming Eagles position (as if there is such a thing re team personnel policy) or that every Screaming Eagle uttered this opinion in unison. Even this reference is in the context of "Some of DC United's hard core fans....are vehemently opposed to the move."

Nobody from the gathering (in a public place) is quoted, it's just an accurate recollection of a general sentiment among the group present at said gathering, cited as a means of tangibly conveying to a much broader readership that some fans didn't/don't want Gazza to be signed.

 

This was the going attitude at the time and even as close as within the last two weeks. No one (or very few) wanted to see DC United become the "Land of the Over-the-Hill Has-Beens" with retreads like Ian Bishop and Ivan McKinley. That was however, before this terrible season and now it seems the worm has turned and anyone (perhaps we can coax Pele out of retirement) would be welcome if they brought a few goals and a win or two...