(Insert Team Name) ‘til I die!
(Insert Team Name) ‘til I die!
I know I am, I’m sure I am
Insert Team Name) ‘til I die!
If you’ve ever been to a soccer game, or perhaps seen one on TV you likely will have heard this chant, or at least one very much like it. But how true is this, do we support our teams ‘til we die no matter what? Are there no limits to our support, can we ever be swayed from our undying devotion to our club?
For me this issue has been particularly relevant over the last six months. If you’re not familiar with the financial crisis surrounding Rangers I won’t go into detail here, the information’s easy enough to find online, but in short the Rangers company is being liquidated and a new company formed in it’s place. There have been shady backroom deals, sickening hatred from supporters and rivals alike, players are abandoning ship right and left, and now no one knows what league, if any, Rangers will be in this season.
So this begs the question; is this even the same club I began following 15 years ago? A saying that I’ve seen show up on Twitter and Facebook a lot lately is; “The Plc is gone, but the club form by four men with a dream will live on forever”.
But what is that club now? The players I followed are gone and the name and crest are owned by a man I cannot trust. So what is left? The fans of course. It is the fans who will carry on the legacy is it not? Together we will stand side by side and never surrender our club.
But....
Then I read things like the thinly veiled threats of violence against Green made by David Leggat. While I know there are many reasonable and rational Rangers fans out there too often I have seen Mr Leggat's sentiments echoed by supporters on forums and twitter. And it leaves me to question If I can in fact stand side by side with these people I would have considered brothers and sisters just a year ago.
And if the only remnant of the club I fell in love with, the fans, is not a group I can consider myself proud to be a part of can I truly say I still support Rangers?
In all honesty I do not know the answer to this question. As an American who has never had the opportunity to be in the stands of Ibrox I certainly will have different views than those born and bread into the blue.
July 4th is the American independence day, it is also the day the SPL will vote on the future of Rangers. I pray that this independence day I will be able to celebrate, not only a victory for Rangers but that we as fans can proudly stand together and follow on.
My fellow Rangers supporters I urge you to convince me my perceptions are wrong and I should be proud to stand by you. Talk me back from the ledge.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Friday, June 8, 2012
Favorites Football Club
Since I gave so much negativity in my last post I'll post my all-time favorite players. Again as with my least favorites I'm only using players I've seen play; so no Maradona, Best, or McCoist. I feel like I should point out a couple of honorable mentions. Barry Ferguson would likely top my list but his life-time ban from Scottish Football keeps him off my list. Similarly Stefan Klos would be my starting keeper if not for his signing may be the start of Rangers overspending which lead to their current financial crisis. So without further ado here is my all-time favorite starting 11.
Goal Keeper-
Tim Howard
Who else could it be? Timmy Howard, few Americans has given us more reason to cheer.
Defender-
Carlos Bocanegra
Captain America, may not be the most talented defender ever but his leadership and passion are unequaled. And then there was this:
David Weir
Davy Weir, a rock on the backline for 20 years.
Roberto Carlos
He had to anchor a back line while Ronaldo and Ronaldihno were doing madness up front.
And then he did this:
Fabricio Coloccini
Speed and strength, with a dash of leadership and flair. A recipe for a great defender
Midfielder-
Roy Keane
When I first started watching soccer Keane was tearing up the Premeire League on one of the few teams I could regularly catch on TV.
David Beckham
Like Keane Becks was one of the top players during my formative soccer watching days. While he has certainly been over-saturated in the market a few times he has been a far better ambassador for the game then some crazy old South Americans.
Clint Dempsey
From the crazy celebrations of the 2006 WC to the goal scoring machine at Craven Cottage the Duece may just be the best US player of all time. We'll see once he lands at a Champions League team this summer.
Carlos Valderama
First, how can you not love that hair? But more importantly his inclusion in the inaugural MLS season lent some needed legitimacy to the fledgling league. Also he added some much needed star power after the 1994.
Forwards
Peter Lovenkrands
The Great Dane has played for both Rangers and Newcastle. While never a prolific goalscorer his speed and work effort gives defenders all kinds of fits
Brian McBride
Who else could it be? SLU record setter and Fulham great. But this bloody image of him has cemented his place as a hero of American soccer.
Bench
Claudio Cannigia
Speed, skill, and killer hair. But I caught him a little too late in his career for him to break into my starting 11.
Allan McGregor
One of the smartest keepers I've ever seen, but his off the field stupidity keeps him out of the first 11.
Demarcus Beasley
Probably more speed than skill, but always fun to watch
Madjid Boughera
Brilliant defender, but never seemed to fully live up to his potential
Henrik Larsson
Yeah I actually put him on my list. He was one of the most entertaining strikers I've ever seen. If he just hadn't played for that one little club he would've easily made the starting 11.
Goal Keeper-
Tim Howard
Who else could it be? Timmy Howard, few Americans has given us more reason to cheer.
Defender-
Carlos Bocanegra
Captain America, may not be the most talented defender ever but his leadership and passion are unequaled. And then there was this:
David Weir
Davy Weir, a rock on the backline for 20 years.
Roberto Carlos
He had to anchor a back line while Ronaldo and Ronaldihno were doing madness up front.
And then he did this:
Fabricio Coloccini
Speed and strength, with a dash of leadership and flair. A recipe for a great defender
Midfielder-
Roy Keane
When I first started watching soccer Keane was tearing up the Premeire League on one of the few teams I could regularly catch on TV.
David Beckham
Like Keane Becks was one of the top players during my formative soccer watching days. While he has certainly been over-saturated in the market a few times he has been a far better ambassador for the game then some crazy old South Americans.
Clint Dempsey
From the crazy celebrations of the 2006 WC to the goal scoring machine at Craven Cottage the Duece may just be the best US player of all time. We'll see once he lands at a Champions League team this summer.
Carlos Valderama
First, how can you not love that hair? But more importantly his inclusion in the inaugural MLS season lent some needed legitimacy to the fledgling league. Also he added some much needed star power after the 1994.
Forwards
Peter Lovenkrands
The Great Dane has played for both Rangers and Newcastle. While never a prolific goalscorer his speed and work effort gives defenders all kinds of fits
Brian McBride
Who else could it be? SLU record setter and Fulham great. But this bloody image of him has cemented his place as a hero of American soccer.
Bench
Claudio Cannigia
Speed, skill, and killer hair. But I caught him a little too late in his career for him to break into my starting 11.
Allan McGregor
One of the smartest keepers I've ever seen, but his off the field stupidity keeps him out of the first 11.
Demarcus Beasley
Probably more speed than skill, but always fun to watch
Madjid Boughera
Brilliant defender, but never seemed to fully live up to his potential
Henrik Larsson
Yeah I actually put him on my list. He was one of the most entertaining strikers I've ever seen. If he just hadn't played for that one little club he would've easily made the starting 11.
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