Boos or Whistles?

[JT]

Whenever I watch European soccer on TV I have always noticed that fan discontentment was expressed by whistling. Lately, however, I have noticed less whistling at EPL games. Here in the States, as many of you may know, we "boooooooo!" to express our displeasure. Is it whistling or booing in the UK?

[Mr Blue Sky]

It's mainly booing to express displeasure in the UK. The only time the crowd whistle en masse is towards the end of a game when trying to influence the referee!

I think Spanish fans whistle more to express displeasure, from the games I've seen.

[Moon-Crane]

Yes, i'd say booing is the preference in the UK. Whistling is more a Continental Europe thing.

[JT]

Has this always been the case? Seems to me that 20 years ago or so it was mostly whistles in the UK.

[Mayday Malone]

neither.

[Moon-Crane]

Has this always been the case? Seems to me that 20 years ago or so it was mostly whistles in the UK.

The only time i can recall whistling is when fans are desperate for the final whistle when their team is holding on to a vital win.

[JT]

Has this always been the case? Seems to me that 20 years ago or so it was mostly whistles in the UK.

The only time i can recall whistling is when fans are desperate for the final whistle when their team is holding on to a vital win.

Yes, like today when Man U was up 1-0 over Tottenham and the ref gave 4 min. extra time. I heard the whistles then!

[Moon-Crane]

Has this always been the case? Seems to me that 20 years ago or so it was mostly whistles in the UK.

The only time i can recall whistling is when fans are desperate for the final whistle when their team is holding on to a vital win.

Yes, like today when Man U was up 1-0 over Tottenham and the ref gave 4 min. extra time. I heard the whistles then!

Exactly like that, in fact Tells you a lot when Man Utd are desperate for a 1-0 home win.

[Mr Blue Sky]

Has this always been the case? Seems to me that 20 years ago or so it was mostly whistles in the UK.

The only time i can recall whistling is when fans are desperate for the final whistle when their team is holding on to a vital win.

Yes, like today when Man U was up 1-0 over Tottenham and the ref gave 4 min. extra time. I heard the whistles then!

Exactly like that, in fact Tells you a lot when Man Utd are desperate for a 1-0 home win.

I know, they're looking a shadow of the team they were last year.

[Mr Blue Sky]

By the way JT, it feels weird having you here without a huge political debate raging! You think maybe I should start one?

[JT]

By the way JT, it feels weird having you here without a huge political debate raging! You think maybe I should start one?

I'm a big soccer fan. In fact, I used to get into heated debates (not surprising, eh?) with a lot of my fellow Americans over the merits of soccer. Most of them were in the 80's and 90's when soccer bashing was more intense. Most of the talk in the mainstream media here regarding soccer is over the merits of the Game itself, although the Game has made tremendous strides here over the last 20-30 years. More and more tv/radio sports commentators/analysts have soccer backgrounds.

Maybe someone should start a separate political forum again, where only the bold and combative would go (BGF might want to opt out).

[JT]

So whats up with Man U anyway? Is it just a matter of integrating the new signs in to the team- like at Chelsea last year? So far just a few newbies have been on the field simultaneously (Nani, Hargreaves, Tevez). They dominated the first game but only came out with a draw. Soccer (football) is sometimes like that.
I didn't see the loss. I did see the Tottenham game. They didn't look quite their old flowing self.

[Moon-Crane]

It's the lack of Midfield goals at the moment, it seems. Utd, aside from Van Nistelrooy, have never really had a regular 20+ goals per season player. Up front they currently have Rooney (injured), Saha (injured) and Tevez (short of games?) with Solskjaer announcing his retirement through injury.

I think Ronaldo was their top scorer last season, with others chipping in a good dozen or so each. They need Scholes, Nani, etc, to start scoring regularly.

In spite of the fun of seeing a top side stutter at the start of the season, i can't see it being a major problem for long. Normal service will resume soon, i'm sure.

[Mr Blue Sky]

By the way JT, it feels weird having you here without a huge political debate raging! You think maybe I should start one?

I'm a big soccer fan. In fact, I used to get into heated debates (not surprising, eh?) with a lot of my fellow Americans over the merits of soccer. Most of them were in the 80's and 90's when soccer bashing was more intense. Most of the talk in the mainstream media here regarding soccer is over the merits of the Game itself, although the Game has made tremendous strides here over the last 20-30 years. More and more tv/radio sports commentators/analysts have soccer backgrounds.

We're getting plenty of MLS coverage over here now Beckham's playing for the Galaxy. I can imagine the novelty will wear off pretty soon since they're now on a five game losing streak!

Maybe someone should start a separate political forum again, where only the bold and combative would go (BGF might want to opt out).

BGF was quite ferocious the last time I debated something with her!

But yeah, I keep meaning to start a new political thread. I'm interested in the foreign perception of Britain as a training ground for Islamic fundamentalists...

[Moon-Crane]

Was i seeing things or is our friend Tim Lovejoy hosting the MLS show on Channel 5?

[JT]

We're getting plenty of MLS coverage over here now Beckham's playing for the Galaxy. I can imagine the novelty will wear off pretty soon since they're now on a five game losing streak!

The LA Galaxy are a horrible team right now! Their patchwork defense is a joke, their midfield is feeble despite America's most talented player- Landon Donovan - and Beckham. Unfortunately, their coach Frank Yallop - a transplanted Brit - is probably on his way out.

But yeah, I keep meaning to start a new political thread. I'm interested in the foreign perception of Britain as a training ground for Islamic fundamentalists...

Start it. I'll participate (the lone voice from the Right) as much as time will allow. As for Islamic fundamentalism in Britain or Western Europe in general - I think the excesses of liberal cultural diversity is biting itself in the rear-end. It may be noble in the abstract, but Islamic fundamentalist use it to their advantage in their sordid strategy.

[JT]

Was i seeing things or is our friend Tim Lovejoy hosting the MLS show on Channel 5?

The "MLS show"? An entire show airing in Britain on the MLS? Thats interesting. I watch a soccer show on the Fox Soccer Channel. Its a good one, anchored by two transplanted Brit Americans. They feature the EPL, as well as the MLS, US national team, and other leagues and national teams as well. Its a call-in TV show. Tonight they interviewed MLS's Chivas USA (the other LA team) coach Preki (transplanted Yugoslav and ex US national team player), who when asked what one player he would want to start a team, replied "Michael Essien". One of the commentators is a Chelsea fan.

[Moon-Crane]

Was i seeing things or is our friend Tim Lovejoy hosting the MLS show on Channel 5?

The "MLS show"? An entire show airing in Britain on the MLS? Thats interesting. I watch a soccer show on the Fox Soccer Channel. Its a good one, anchored by two transplanted Brit Americans. They feature the EPL, as well as the MLS, US national team, and other leagues and national teams as well. Its a call-in TV show. Tonight they interviewed MLS's Chivas USA (the other LA team) coach Preki (transplanted Yugoslav and ex US national team player), who when asked what one player he would want to start a team, replied "Michael Essien". One of the commentators is a Chelsea fan.

Yeah, we have a highlights show once a week on Five, and FiveUS shows live games.

I sometimes watch live Premier League games online via a Fox Soccer Channel stream. not too bad really.