I don't like watching Barcelona or Spain because...

I'm a bit stubborn and I resent being told what's good and what's not. I don't like the assumption that one style of playing the game is inherently superior to another and that there is some kind of moral dimension to it. And that supporting (or "appreciating") what they do means you too are imbued with some of that moral authority, you're somehow better than those other poor fans who don't know what good football is.

I admire what they've achieved. I've visited the Camp Nou several times and the history and tradition of the club is fantastic, as is its presentation. The same goes for Real. But I think if I lived in Catalunya or Madrid I'd support Atletico or Espanyol out of a sense of sheer bloody-mindedness. The megaclubs leave me cold.

I quite like Barney Ronay's (repeated and deliberately provocative) articles on them.
User Posted Link
User Posted Link
I think he's doing a bit of trolling there, but I do sort of agree with it. Especially the UNICEF bit.

I suppose by writing this I'm just as bad as the next and somehow endorsing anti-football. That's not what I'm trying to do though; what irks me most is the given that "if you like football you MUST enjoy them". I do, and I don't.

That's that off my chest anyway.

Posted By: APB on April 19th 2012 at 08:27:37

Message Thread

I don't like watching Barcelona or Spain because... (Other Football) - APB, Apr 19, 08:27:37
- Yep, that's about the size of it (Other Football) - norway, Apr 19, 09:51:29
  - had a good old chuckle at some of last nights posts (n/m) (Other Football) - SCC 28, Apr 19, 10:11:20
    - demanding we enjoy watching Barca thrashing a British team in europe (Other Football) - phrankin, Apr 19, 10:21:50
    - But none of it should ever come as a surprise should it? (Other Football) - norway, Apr 19, 10:20:00
      - yep (Other Football) - SCC 28, Apr 19, 10:30:55
        
        Oh and I see 'Wade' is back too (Other Football) - norway, Apr 19, 11:32:58
      - The same people on here who love Barcelona (Other Football) - phrankin, Apr 19, 10:23:12
        
        I'm no fan of either. (n/m) (Other Football) - APB, Apr 19, 10:28:50
  - Watching a one sided football match between two neutrals is not much fun really is it (n/m) (Other Football) - phrankin, Apr 19, 09:57:18
- ITV implying that Chelsea would need all the luck in the world to beat Barca (Other Football) - Ben, Apr 19, 09:13:27
  - ^ This (n/m) (Other Football) - Brom, Apr 19, 09:14:59
- Some of it isn't Barcelona's fault. (Other Football) - Firstnews, Apr 19, 09:07:56
  - True. (Other Football) - APB, Apr 19, 09:14:14
    - persons on here do the same (n/m) (Other Football) - phrankin, Apr 19, 09:49:17
- No separating Real from Franco. Thus, Real bad; Barca good (Other Football) - BerlinCanary, Apr 19, 09:02:51
  - Bet youve all got hugo boss clothes though?! (n/m) (Other Football) - protheroe fitzgibbon, Apr 19, 11:10:14
  - it's the same reason why i hate all VW cars... (n/m) (Other Football) - Ralf Scrampton, Apr 19, 10:52:28
  - Yes, I take that, to an extent. (n/m) (Other Football) - APB, Apr 19, 09:12:32
  - Jesus gil,athletico's former president had some association with franco too. (n/m) (Other Football) - protheroe fitzgibbon, Apr 19, 09:11:44
- This book review on the current Barca team is pretty good ... (Other Football) - Ottosson Foxtrot, Apr 19, 08:59:58
  - Liked that. (n/m) (Other Football) - APB, Apr 19, 09:24:04
- If you admire football skills, they're great to watch. And Barca play clean football (Other Football) - Higher Wrather, Apr 19, 08:57:22
  - Hmmm. They're not above a bit of gamesmanship. (Other Football) - APB, Apr 19, 09:56:03
- Well said. (n/m) (Other Football) - protheroe fitzgibbon, Apr 19, 08:55:53
- Spot on. (n/m) (Other Football) - Yellalee, Apr 19, 08:49:16
- This (Other Football) - Tricky Hawes, Apr 19, 08:44:36
  - Same as my pal Fulham Steve (Other Football) - KentonCanary, Apr 19, 09:02:11
  - if a match doesn't involve Norwich or England I will (almost) invariably (Other Football) - StraightOuttaBacton, Apr 19, 08:48:55
    - It's a bit Steve Davis, I think. (Other Football) - APB, Apr 19, 09:06:01
    - Yes,i think most of us are like that tbh. (n/m) (Other Football) - protheroe fitzgibbon, Apr 19, 08:58:30
- Thanks APB. I wanted to say something like that. (Other Football) - Bravo win or die, Apr 19, 08:40:12
- cheers they were good reads (Other Football) - SCC 28, Apr 19, 08:37:25

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