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.
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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, Apr 19, 08:27:37